a. A algae, the alternative
So-called micro algae hold enormous potential when it comes to reining in
both climate change, since they naturally absorb large amounts of carbon dioxide,
as well as energy production, since they can easily be converted to a range
of different fuel types.
When the gas is mixed with water and injected into the tubes, the algae soak
up much of the carbon dioxide, or CO2, in accordance with the principle of
photosynthesis. The pioneering technique, called solar biofuels, is one of
a panoply o novel methods aiming to crack the problem o providing energy but
without the carbon pollution of costly fossil fuels- with oil at record high
prices – or the waste and danger of nuclear power. Studies re underway
worldwide, from academia in Australia, Germany and the US, to the US Department
of Energy, oil giant Royal Dutch Shell and US aircraft maker Boeing.
b. Back to Wood in Sweden
Record-high gasoline prices have stirred up anger and anxiety around the world.
But in a small village in northern Sweden, retiree Tore Blomqvist is happily
cruising around in his car. Swedes commonly used wood gas during the was,
when fuel was spares and expensive. Wood gas is produced by burning wood in
a container in the back of the car. He said the savings were worth it: a recent
500-kilometer drive from the village of Dala-Jarna in central Sweden to his
home in Odland in the north cost him only four bags of wood, or 10 kronor
($17). In comparison, the same journey on gasoline would have cost him around
70 kronor ($118).
CLIMATE CHANGE NOT YET HOT
Eighty three per cent of the industry has a fair understanding of climate
change. Forty-one per cent of the industry surveyed said it had a clear strategy
in place to address the issue o climate change while a further 42 per cent
claimed to be in the process of developing carbon strategy. The study, carried
out by KPMG, covered 70 business leaders from a broad range of industries
and sectors. A detailed carbon impact mitigation plain of a company would
start with a measurement of the company’s present carbon footprint –
total amount of greenhouse gases emitted over the full lifecycle of a product.
While a number of companies of Indian businesses claimed to be aware of the
need to reduce their carbon impact, most companies had not taken the first
step of measuring their current carbon footprint. The survey found that Indian
businesses believe that international collective agreements will bring about
positive incentives to change, even in the wake of India’s stance not
to accept binding emission reduction targets. The industry felt that government
should take a lead in education and adoption of technology to counter climate
change. But government is not doing enough in these areas at present, the
industry said. The desire of Indian businesses to respond to climate changes
