This past week, countries meeting in Doha at the United Nations Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species voted down a proposal by Monaco and the United States to ban international trade in Atlantic bluefin tuna. The species, Thunnus Thynnus, is spiraling toward extinction, and is listed as endangered by …
One hears frequently these days that eco-nomic needs trump eco-logical ones in the public mind – especially here in early 2010. But it is increasingly hard to see a difference between the two at all. Tanya Ott’s recent coverage on WBHM reporting on the challenges the city of Anniston, Alabama …
by Leland Lehrman This cartoon, from the front cover of the February 2010 issue of Funny Times, describes the Fund Balance position with respect to Climate Change. We acknowledge that there remains uncertainty in the scientific community about the extent to which anthropogenic CO2 emissions drive global temperature increases. We …
There are more signs recently of the climate crisis, sustainable industry, and ecosystem repair issues crossing party lines and effecting change in Red States and rural areas. Tanya Ott reports from WBHM in Birmingham, Alabama about “tree-hugging conservatives” in Magnolia Springs, the reclamation of a wetlands and a burgeoning eco-tourism …
This year the Southern Hemisphere is experiencing its warmest temperatures on record. A very straightforward and compelling presentation on the Climate Crisis in this video from Peter Sinclair.
Fund Balance articles can be found under the “Articles” tab in the menu at the top of the page. These articles, selected and written by Managing Partner Walter Borden, range over some of the key issues of our time, issues which must be faced and solved using the best our …
Fund Balance sees Green Computing as an essential component in economic planning for the coming decade and beyond. Many rare earth metals required for key components of workstations, laptops and smartphones are growing scarce. China possesses the most significant deposits of these essential rare earth metals. The PRC government is …
HP has opened a data-center Wynyard, United Kingdom. A so-called Green data-center, it is a retrofit of an overhauled distribution center. This is a great example of how energy efficiency works within basic business balance sheet environments: it can cut costs both through improvement of energy efficiency by utilizing existing …
We have been covering China’s intensive and substanstial focus on Green Technology, Smart Grids and non-petroleum-based energy sources and supplies here at fund-balance.com since our launch in October 2008. Now that a picture of national stimulus spending is emerging for 2010, its no surprise then to see that China will …
Over the past few weeks we have seen communities increasingly turn away from unchecked development and new electricity access, especially from coal burning plants, in the name of preserving clean air and water supplies. Even if it means that short-term economic gain may be traded for a greater quality of …
Over the last two weeks, a substantial amount of journalism has covered stories that converge on a basic theme: China and India are planning for a world where a) Green Technology drives economic activity, and b) the need for Energy Technology, however “Green” will conflict with available natural resources and drive rapidly increasing investment outside of their borders, and equal demand for innovation on both sides.
My top three stories this from this week. — WB The Chinese Government is moving to restrict and in some cases completely block, supplies of Rare Earth Metals (REEs). These metals, such as Neodymium, are critical to building wind-turbines and ultra-efficient motors. I have heard fearful commentary concering their virtual …
Protecting our genetic trust fund, the impact of software on electricity consumption and climate change skeptics make my list of most interesting stories from this past week. An article from today’s San Francisco Chronicle notes that a wave of extinctions, comparable to the one that eliminated Dinosaurs from earth is …
During this week of noisy coverage on Copenhagen I worried that an important component of the sustainability signal would get lost — the crisis in the world’s oceanic and riverine ecologic and economic systems. From this morning’s AP wire. –WB By JOHN HEILPRIN, Associated Press Writer John Heilprin, Associated Press …
China is the World’s leading emitter of Carbon Dioxide. It also has, as usual, a very independent, some would say obstructive, agenda at Copehnagen. The article provides some clues as to why.
The Great Pacific Garbage Patch — as covered by firstaffirmative.com By Sara Laks and Steve Schueth Why is it so important to be a conscious consumer and a responsible investor? Here’s a reason for today: The Island of Garbage swirling in the Pacific Ocean, also known as The Great Pacific …
The Governor of California said an international agreement at Copenhagen will usher in a new era of renewable energy and economic growth through manufacturing green technology. Even if a deal cannot be done between nation states, he said cities and regions such as California are moving forward in transforming their …
Waste plastic from “throwaway” carrier bags can be readily converted into carbon nanotubes. The chemist who developed the technique has even used the nanotubes to make lithium-ion batteries. This is called “upcycling” – converting a waste product into something more valuable. Finding ways to upcycle waste could encourage more recycling: …
WASHINGTON — Off the coast of Washington state , mysterious algae mixed with sea foam have killed more than 8,000 seabirds, puzzling scientists. A thousand miles off California , researchers have discovered the Great Pacific Garbage Patch, a swirling vortex roughly twice the size of Texas filled with tiny bits …
SAN JOSE, CA — Fortune Data Centers’ San Jose facility earned the prestigious LEED Gold certification from the U.S. Green Building Council last week, six months after opening the green facility. With the certification, Fortune Data Centers has joined a very small number of LEED-rated data centers; the company estimated …