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How cities can be protected from sea-level rise

https://agenda.weforum.org/2015/07/how-cities-can-be-protected-from-sea-level-rise/?utm_content=bufferf036a&utm_medium=social&utm_source=twitter.com&utm_campaign=buffer

By Sally Brown

Extreme storms and rising sea levels will threaten the existence of coastal cities worldwide, unless preventative action is undertaken. With population growth and sea-level rise set to continue, research has estimated that by 2050, we can expect more than US$1 trillion worth of damages per year to be incurred by 136 of the world’s largest cities, if there is no attempt to adapt.

The game changer came in 2005, when we saw one of the most active hurricane seasons in US history. Hurricane Katrina, the fifth hurricane of that season, resulted in nearly 1,600 deaths. Almost half of these fatalities occurred in New Orleans: 80% of the city was flooded, at a cost of US$40 billion. When the water subsided, so did the population: ten years on, the city that used to house 500,000 is now home to only 300,000 people.

There are a number of ways to go about changing cities to account for rising sea levels: we can raise coastal defences, build houses on stilts, or simply move cities and their populations away from the coast. Which of these strategies works best was one of many questions set out in Climate Change: A Risk Assessment – a new report led by Sir David King and the Foreign and Commonwealth Office.

Constant threat

Globally, sea levels have been remarkably stable since civilisation started to develop several thousand years ago. During the 20th century, sea levels rose about 17cm, at an average rate of 1.8mm per year. Over the past few decades, that rate has doubled to more than 3mm per year. This trend is expected to continue and accelerate. According to the latest Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Changereport, the sea level is projected to rise up to 1m by 2100. If the large ice sheets ofGreenland and Antarctica melted, even higher rises are considered possible, albeit highly uncertain.

Importantly, if carbon emissions are stabilised, or even decrease, the sea level will continue to rise for many centuries, as the deep ocean slowly warms and the large ice sheets reach a new equilibrium. Simply put, sea-level rise is here to stay. It is likely to lead to greater flooding, salinisation (the build up of salt in surface and groundwater) and erosion in coastal areas, affecting millions of people worldwide and costing billions of dollars of damage.

The high costs of economic damage and loss of life are becoming less acceptable in a world where extreme weather events can be accurately forecast and coastal protection is possible. In many parts of the world, damages and loss of life remain high, as seen during Typhoon Haiyan, which hit the Philippines in 2013. Preparing coastal cities for extreme events and adapting them to cope with sea-level rise remains challenging: King’s report highlights the engineering, financial and socio-political limits of the adaptation challenge.

But cities are starting to embrace these challenges. For example, last year, Bostonput forward the bold, novel idea of becoming an American Venice – a city full of canals to hold water as sea levels rise. New York has considered building a barrier to keep water out, in light of the fact that, with a 1m rise in the sea level, a 1-in-100 year event (that is, a severe storm one would expect to occur once every 100 years) could become 200 times more likely to occur.

London has also developed a range of flexible options that would protect the Thames Estuary against up to 5m of sea-level rise. These include raising defences, implementing flood storage and constructing a new and bigger Thames Barrier further downstream.

Developing better cities

In developing countries, few cities are preparing for sea-level rise, despite the awareness that this is a long-term hazard. Developing cities also frequently have rapid population growth. In Shanghai and Kolkata more than 400,000 people live less than 2m above the present-day sea level. A rise of 1m will increase the frequency of a current 1-in-100 year event by 40 times in Shanghai, and about 1,000 times in Kolkata.

Local ground subsidence is another factor to worry about. This involves the sinking of the land relative to the sea due to natural and sometimes human processes (such as groundwater withdrawal). Local ground subsidence will worsen conditions in about a quarter of coastal cities – namely, those built on susceptible deltaic soils (those at the mouth of a river).

Small islands and their cities are also under serious threat from sea-level rise as they are low-lying, remote and dispersed in their territories, and often have limited financial resources. Far from being a green, spacious island, Malé – the capital of the Maldives – is one of the world’s most densely populated cities. Building protective structures is one way of reducing the impacts of extreme events: Malé is surrounded by a sea wall and giant tetrapods (a four-pronged concentrate structure about 2m high). But a lack of space limits future coastal protection.

To overcome this, a new island has been constructed, Hulhumalé, with sea-level rise also in mind. The solution to sea-level rise is simply to build upwards: The island was raised to 2m above present day sea level to protect against storms. This buys time, but moving into the late 21st or early 22nd century this may not be enough. Other Maldivian islands are following suit, with the Safer Islands programme selectively raising parts of islands. This may help the parts of the country, but clearly much more work is required to ensure the long-term prospects of this fragile island nation.

Ultimately, these case studies show us that there’s no one-size-fits-all approach to adapting cities to rising sea levels. Rather, the best bet for cities to adapt against rising sea levels is to dare to be different. Both engineering design, government authorities and social attitudes must acknowledge that change needs to occur, if we’re to avoid disaster.

This article was originally published on The Conversation. Read the original article. Publication does not imply endorsement of views by the World Economic Forum.

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Author: Sally Brown is Research Fellow at University of Southampton. Ivan Haigh is Lecturer in Coastal Oceanography at University of Southampton. Robert Nicholls is Professor of Coastal Engineering at University of Southampton.

Image: Cityscape of Cape Town in South Africa. REUTERS/Euroluftbild.de.

TAMAN LISTRIK TENAGA ANGIN TANARARA

This Mycologist Holds The Patent That Could DESTROY Monsanto

http://www.trueactivist.com/this-mycologist-holds-the-patent-that-could-destroy-monsanto/

Paul Stamets has figured out how to use mother nature to safely control over 200,000 species of insects.


Credit: DiscoverMagazine

Monsanto, the biotech company found to be the most hated organizations in the world, is responsible for a number of dirty dealings that have earned it such a reputation. The creator of Agent Orange (a deadly herbicide responsible for thousands of disfigurements and birth defects in Vietnam), and glyphosate (recently declared to be “probably carcinogenic” by the WHO), it’s for good reason individuals everywhere are banding together to boycott the giant company and its foul play. (Don’t believe us? Watch Food, Inc.)

But although awareness is being raised every day enlightening individuals on why they should opt for organic seeds, local produce, and support bio-dynamic agricultural methods, few feel confident that their efforts will actually help put the agri-giant out of business. Based upon the following news, however, we believe there’s reason to be hopeful:

In 2006, Paul Stamets, the world’s leading mycologist, was granted a patent that has potential to change the world.

Stated by executives in the pesticide industry, the patent Stamets holds represents “the most disruptive technology we have ever witnessed,” and when they say disruptive, they mean harmful to the chemical pesticide industry.

Credit: IsaacHernandez.com

It seems Paul has figured out how to use mother nature to keep insects from destroying crops, a finding that could make chemically-produced pest control completely obsolete. It is what is being called SMART pesticides.

SMART pesticides provide safe and nearly permanent solution for controlling over 200,000 species of insects – and all thanks to the magic offered by mushrooms.

The Mycologist does this by taking entomopathogenic Fungi (fungi that destroys insects) and morphs it so it does not produce spores. In result, this actually attracts the insects who then eat and turn into fungi from the inside out!

Credit: EWAO

Wouldn’t a better world result if biotech companies has limited control over crops, seeds, and the way populations grow food? Monsanto is already blamed to be responsible for the bee and monarch die-off ; who knows what other horrors could be prevented if its toxic chemical concoctions were no longer needed to grow crops.

Credit: LoveClicks

Monsanto may have generated $16 billion dollars in 2014, but its sales have reportedly been decreasing thanks to consumer awareness and action taken by activists.

By sharing this article, you are playing an important role in helping to raise awareness  about an alternative pest control method that may potentially revolutionize the way humans grow crops.

Want to learn more about Paul Stamets? Here’s a TED Talk he gave in 2008:

Here are helpful links to understand more about the incredible patent Paul Stamets holds:

Here is a link to the patent 7,122,176: http://www.google.com/patents/US7122176

A list of all the patents Paul has applied for: http://patents.justia.com/inventor/paul-edward-stamets

Plenty of information about Paul Stamets: http://www.fungi.com/about-paul-stamets.html

Wikipedia page about Paul Stamets: http://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Paul_Stamets

Original Source: LoveClicks

This Ecocapsule Tiny Home Lets You Live Off-Grid Anywhere In The World!

http://www.trueactivist.com/this-ecocapsule-tiny-home-lets-you-live-off-grid-anywhere-in-the-world/
by Amanda Froelich 

This egg-shaped abode is powered by solar and wind energy, includes rainwater collection and filtration, and even has a kitchenette that can be used to prepare a hot meal.


Credit: Nice Architects

Ambition to live off-grid does not come without its difficulties. First, there is the task of explaining to your friends and family members why you desire to detach from mainstream society and live peacefully in nature. And second, there are the logistics of how you might actually survive the Earth’s fluctuating weather patterns while taking care of basic necessities like running water, a flushing toilet, or even a fire pit to cook food over.

But soon such woes may no longer be a concern, as an ingenious little egg-shaped tiny home has just been unveiled to the world with capabilities that  far surpass most other off-grid abodes.

Credit: Nice Architects

Credit: Nice Architects

Designed by Bratislava-based Nice Architects, the Ecocapsule is a micro-shelter that offers a variety of sustainable offerings. Ultra-portable, the capsule is powered by solar and wind energy, includes rainwater collection and filtration, and even has a tiny kitchenette that can be used to prepare a hot meal.

Truly, this is one of the most impressive off-grid luxury tiny homes we’ve ever seen.

Credit: Nice Architects

In the egg-spaced shape measuring 4.5 meters (14.6 feet) in length, 2.4 meters (7.9 feet) in width, and 2.5 meters in height (8.2 feet), there seems to be enough space to compactly fit all the home necessities.

The total usable floor space is eight square meters (86 square feet), enough space, say the designers, to comfortably fit two adults. The home with a tiny footprint includes a folding bed, two large operable windows, a working/dining area, shower and flushable toilet, storage space, and a built-in kitchenette with running water.

Credit: Nice Architects

Credit: Nice Architects

The built-in 750W wind turbine and 2.6-square-meter array of high efficiency solar cells (600W output) power the Ecocapsule. A dual-power system and high-capacity battery (9,744Wh capacity) ensures the rounded shell stays operable even during times of low solar and wind activity.

In addition, the high-tech shelter is optimized for rainwater collection. Each Ecocapsule weighs approximately 1,5000 kilograms and can fit inside a standard shipping container.

While you’re not alone in your desire to quickly order an Ecocapsule, they are not yet for sale. At present, only renderings and diagrams of the Ecocapsule are available; however, Nice Architects plans to unveil a prototype at the Pioneers festival in Vienna on May 28, 2015.

Having taken seven years to complete the wondrous Ecocapsule, the Nice Architects plans to release the tiny home for sale later this year. The first produced units are planned to be delivered in the first half of 2016.

As shown below, maybe it could also be a sustainable solution for those who currently live without a safe, secure home?

Credit: Nice Architects

Trik Gampang Bangun Rumah Hemat Energi

http://properti.kompas.com/read/2015/05/16/171640821/Trik.Gampang.Bangun.Rumah.Hemat.Energi?utm_source=properti&utm_medium=bp&utm_campaign=related&


Tidak ada lagi yang bisa kita lakukan untuk memastikan lingkungan lebih aman dan sehat selama bertahun-tahun yang akan datang, kecuali memulainya dari dalam rumah.

KOMPAS.com - Tidak ada lagi yang bisa kita lakukan untuk memastikan lingkungan yang lebih aman dan sehat selama bertahun-tahun yang akan datang, kecuali memulainya dari dalam rumah. 

Meskipun membawa dampak positif, banyak yang bingung bagaimana membuat rumah ramah lingkungan. Untuk menjadikan rumah menjadi hijau, Anda bisa memulai dari lima hal ini.

1. Produk Energi Efisien

Cara termudah untuk membuat rumah menjadi ramah lingkungan adalah dengan membeli atau memilih produk hemat energi. Memang awalnya barang-barang ini cenderung lebih mahal daripada yang biasa, namun produk hemat energi ini dijamin menghemat uang dalam jangka panjang.

Entah itu di dapur, kamar mandi, ruang keluarga, atau ruangan lain di rumah, sebaiknya pilih produk energi efisien yang bisa Anda temukan di toko furnitur.

2. Jendela

Ketika tiba saatnya untuk mencari jendela hemat energi, ada beberapa langkah yang perlu Anda perhatikan. Pertama, Anda perlu memahami berbagai jenis jendela kaca. Kemudian, pilih gaya jendela berdasarkan bagaimana jendela tersebut terbuka dan tertutup, misalnya ke samping atau terbuka bagian bawahnya.

Hal penting setelah itu adalah pada saat pemasangan. Instalasi yang tidak tepat dapat menyebabkan rembesan dan bahkan kebocoran air.

3. Kabinet

Jika Anda ingin mengubah rumah menjadi rumah hijau, ruangan yang paling populer untuk dirombak adalah dapur. Sebuah titik awal adalah dari lemari atau kabinet. 

Ada banyak zat dan bahan yang terlibat dalam produksi lemari berkelanjutan dalam kualitas udara di rumah Anda. Bagi mereka pemilik rumah yang ramah lingkungan, salah satu bahan yang bisa dipasang adalah bambu dan papan biokomposit, lyptus, kayu daur ulang, dan stock cabinet.

Selain itu, Anda juga bisa mencari produk yang bersertifikasi, misalnya dari Green Seal atau GreenGuard, untuk mengetahui apakah produk tersebut memiliki emisi VOC rendah.

4. Pipa

Percaya atau tidak, salah satu cara terbaik menjadikan rumah hijau adalah melalui pipa Anda. Tidak hanya biaya utilitas pipa hijau lebih rendah dalam jangka panjang, tapi pipa hijau akan membuat rumah dan lingkungan sehat.

Pipa rumah mencakup berbagai kategori, mulai dari drainase dan pipa untuk pemanas air, toilet, dan saluran pembuangan utama. Untuk proyek-proyek tertentu, Anda bisa mengisolasi pipa, menginstal pemanas air panas baru, menginstal sistem penyaringan air, memasang toilet dengan aliran air yang rendah, dan memasang keran peredam aliran.

5. Lantai

Saat ini, banyak pemilik rumah yang memilih lantai kayu. Jika Anda ingin menggunakan lantai kayu keras, Anda bisa memilih engineered wood atau kayu olahan. Dalam pembuatannya, kayu olahan membutuhkan kayu jauh lebih sedikit dari kayu keras standar lainnya. Selain itu, pohon-pohon untuk kayu olahan tumbuh lebih cepat daripada kayu keras padat lainnya.

Selain itu, Anda juga dapat menginstal lantai yang terbuat dari bahan yang berkelanjutan, daur ulang, atau reklamasi.