Regional Perspectives on Climate Change in Northern BC, Prince George, February 20, 2003 From Julia James at C-CIARN: This workshop brought together researchers and stakeholders to exchange information on climate change vulnerability and adaptation in Northern British Columbia. It was organized in collaboration with the Ministry of Water Land and Air Protection, C-CIARN BC and the University of Northern British Columbia. The proceedings from this workshop are now available in PDF format on the C-CIARN BC website: (follow link below) Julia James Coordinator C-CIARN British Columbia Canadian Climate Impact and Adaptation Research Network Institute of Resources and Environment University of British Columbia 436A-2206 East Mall Vancouver, BC Canada V6T 1Z3 Phone: (604) 822-4428 Fax: (604) 822-9250 http://c-ciarn-bc.ires.ubc.ca
weblink: Conference Proceedings • from: C-CIARN-BC • in detail XlnkS59B XlnkC1851
Tag Archives: Reference
Southeast False Creek Sustainable Community Public Open House
Southeast False Creek Sustainable Community Open House: When: May 24, 2003 Purpose: to review and comment on the preliminary Official Development Plan for the Southeast False Creek mixed-use Sustainable Community Development Where: Mount Pleasant Neighbourhood House. Please view the attached poster below for full details and contact information.
• from: City of Vancouver • document: Southeast False Creek Open House • in detail XlnkS598 XlnkC178F
Behaviour
Way to act or react, but seen from outside a living organism. Opposed to motive or motivation. Behaviourism is a method of psychological inquiry, an empirical science that study nothing but what ‘an organism does and says’. It is a rather crude materialistic theory that wants to reduce life to a series of stimuli-response and ignores any internal drivers: sentiments, conscience, soul. The development of marketing ‘science’ is largely based on behaviourism theory.
• in detail • see also: Social Marketing XlnkS596
EcoSystem
A dynamic complex of plant, animal and microorganism communities and their non-living environment interacting as a functional unit. Ecosystem is the set of relational structures linking living organism and their inorganic environment. (Ellenberg 1973) Humans are part of the ecosystem. Ecology ( from “Oikos”: house, habitat and “logos” economy) is the science that studies ecosystems and more generally, all life conditions.
• in detail • see also: The Biosphere XlnkS58C
Economy
One of the three facets of the concept of sustainability.
- The production, distribution and exchange of goods.
- Cost reduction, frugality.
- Housekeeping.
Originally, it means the law or administration (nomos) of the house (oikos). Etymologically similar to ecology the science (logos) of the house (oikos) Another indication that economy and ecology cannot be separated. Good housekeeping means not to spend more than we earn or own. Good ecology should be the same. In the modern language, economy means to produce wealth and money rather than reducing expenses. It is driven by market laws such as supply and demand. If everything were for sale, the economy would reign alone. We can escape it only by what has no value (free exchange and non-profit activities) or no price (ethic, dignity, justice).
• in detail XlnkS573
Weathering Change: Northern Climate Exchange quarterly newsletter
Follow the link below to view the Northern Climate Exchange’s quarterly newsletter. Also available through this site are a variety of climate change resources and publications, including: – “An Exploration of Potential Directions for Climate Change Policy in Northern Canada” – “Background Document to Climate Change Policy Options in Northern Canada” – Workshop proceedings – Past issues of Weathering Change
weblink: publications website • from: Northern Climate Exchange • in detail XlnkS571 XlnkC1891
Quesnel Transit: A Brief History by Harlene Hunt
Follow the link below to learn how Quesnel developed an effective transit system for its community of 11,000.
• document: Quesnel Transit • in detail XlnkS569
Complex
Indicates a set of things or ideas that resists to an immediate understanding. Synonym of complicated in a more forceful sense. Everything around us is complex. Nature is extremely complex and likely beyond our comprehension. Universe is complex and has resisted to any unified theory to date. Our economical, technical and social systems are also becoming increasingly complex. One factor that increases complexity in our live is the relentless march of technology, which is itself driven by social factors or the ferocious competition of modern society. Taken individually new devices seem reasonable and helpful: airplanes, cars, e mail system allow us to communicate or move faster. Taken together, and used by everybody in our society, these devices make our lives more complex and difficult. …Or can be used to unforeseen purposes, such as weapons or hate propaganda. Increased complexity arises when discrete elements combine to produce unanticipated effects. One of the challenge of sustainable engineering is to design devices and technical elements that can be used by all, in great quantities, in harmonious combination with everything else, without any side effect and with minimal impact on the environment or the society. A very complex task, indeed.
• in detail XlnkS565
The Sustainability Advantage
The Sustainability Advantage by Bob Willard. Mr. Willard takes on the challenge of making sustainability appeal to business executives who are not necessarily interested in environmental and social sustainability. As he points out, saving the world is not a priority of most business executives. Instead we must appeal to what is important to them; things like profits and employee retention. The trick is that sustainability benefits employees, appeals to public shareholders and ultimately leads to a more profitable business. In his book, Bob Willard outlines 7 key benefit areas- with measureable effects- resulting from corporate commitment to sustainability: 1. reduced recruiting costs 2. reduced attrition costs 3. increased employee productivity 4. reduced expenses in manufacturing 5. reduced expenses at commmercial sites (energy, water, consumables) 6. increased revenue/profit share 7. reduced risk, easier financing Through a description of these benefits, Willard makes the connection between sustainability and the financial success of a company. These areas have also been compiled into a working spreadsheet that can be used to measure the effect on revenue of, for example, increasing employee productivity by 1% or reducing manufacturing costs by 3%. Both the book and the worksheets are available on-line through the link below.
weblink: publisher’s website • in detail XlnkS563
Stromeinspeisungsgesetz
Stromeinspeisungsgesetz is the name of a German law that created the boom of the renewable energy market in the 1990’s. In 1990, Germany had virtually no renewable energy industry. At the end of the 1990’s, Germany was well ahead of the rest of the world, both in wind energy and Solar photoVoltaic. Stromeinspeisungsgesetz means Electricity-Feed-in Law. It was passed in late 1990 and required utilities to purchase all the renewable energy generated in their sector and at the minimum price of 90% of retail price. The second law passed by the Bundestag in 2000, the “Renewable Energy Law, went one step further and required the utilities to pay for the cost of connection from the renewable energy system to the grid and established specific per kilowatt-hr tariff based on the real cost of generation. This removed some hidden subsidies to nuclear energy, which had huge real costs – when taking into account plant decommissioning nuclear energy costs about 10-14 cents /kwh. It gave also a boost to wind power which has the lower costs in terms of REAL cost (wind real cost= 4 ~ 6 cents /kwh) Both Electricity-Feed-in Law and Renewable Energy Law had an enormous impact on Germany’s renewables industries. Above all, they ended price uncertainties and provided investors’ confidence.
• from: World Watch Institute • in detail • see also: State of The World 2003 XlnkS561 XlnkC17DD