Over 3.2 million fans have descended into Germany over the past couple weeks for one of the largest spectator sports in the world, The World Cup of Football (Soccer). While most Americans pratically drift through this period without even noticing–often confusing it with “that sailing cup thing”–the rest of the world eagerly watches as the events unfold to the final on July 9th.
As one of the leaders in renewable energy and sustainability, it is a fitting coiencidence that this year’s host country is Germany. Not only will the event bring money and spectacle, but it will also give exposure to the green projects, ideas, and practices underway.
Germany has created a site called “The Green Goal” to highlight their efforts this tournament. Treehugger.com summarized their efforts best with this small blurb back in early June,
“If you make it here to Berlin, you will enjoy games in the stadium with the largest rainwater collection cistern, 1400 cubic meters (368,000 gallons), in Europe; Nuremberg is a close second. If your visit to the World Cup passes through Kaiserslautern, Dortmund or Nuremberg, you will enjoy power from one of the world’s three largest solar power installations at football stadiums (or take a day trip to the world’s largest solar plant, period–also in Germany). Recently the stadium in Munich joined Nuremberg in receiving the strictly audited EMAS certification for environmentally conscious design and management. At any stadium, you will get your drinks in reusable containers, paying a small deposit to ensure return (or offset the loss of “souveniers”).”
The entire tournament is also completely carbon nuetral with donations from business partners of €1.2 million off-setting the estimated 100,000 tons of incremental CO2 emissions attributable to the championship competition. The credits will be offset by carbon-nuetral hydroelectric power.
In the spirit of the games going green, GG thought we might take it a step further and highlight the sustainable efforts of each country in the Sweet 16. They’re small summaries, but hopefully, they can give you an idea of where each country is headed and what obstacles they face. Please feel free to add any additional information for any country in the comments below! Enjoy–and Go U.S.A!—um, I mean Ghana!
England:
This summer, England is facing a drought that has already begun to show its face. Many parts of the country have water restrictions for gardens and washing cars. Drops in river flows and increased temperatures in those rivers are a threat to the fish & local wildlife.
Meanwhile, London is already preparing for the Olympic games in 2012 , which will be “the ‘greenest’ games in history.Local green blogs include Camden Kiwi and City Hippy. The latter of which recently published a World Cup inspired post on Ethical Football Gear.
Finally, we came across a very interesting video on Greenpeace UK, What are we waiting for? This worthwhile 18-minute film discusses, “how can we combat climate change and ensure energy security without nuclear power,” while focusing on waste heat in the UK and best practices found in other countries.
Argentina:
Like many countries with an industrializing economy, Argentina is suffering from issues such as deforestation, desertification, and air & water pollution.
The Secretary of the Environment and Sustainable Development offers information on many eco-topics relevant to the nation. This “Tree of Life” is available as an interactive puzzle to educate how the native forests provide goods & services. Also focusing on deforestation, Greenpeace Argentina created a special site focused only on this issue: Paren los Desmontes.
Greenpeace Argentina was also recognized recently for a campaign for the Zero Waste law that was run through cell phones – utilizing text messaging. They currently have over 12,000 users that receive free eco-alerts via text messaging.
Mexico:
Mexico, a country with one of the largest cities in the world, also has enormous shoreline covered in beaches. The interior of the country is also home to also forests and deserts. Because of this varied environment, Mexico faces various issues. From pollution and waste to sea turtle protection and revitalization of beaches, and from deforestation to a focus on clean water, Mexico has got a lot going on. As with all of the other countries in our feature, below we only talk about a couple of programs, though much more information exists.
The state of Nuevo Leon, in the north, runs a program called PROESTARE , State Program for Reforestation. Its focus is on planning trees and native plants to mitigate the effects of pollution and deforestation. State nurseries currently produce 400,000 pine seedlings and 30 species of native plants to help bring back the Nuevo Leon forests. The State of Mexico is also running a similar program.
The Secretary of the Environment and Natural Resources now conducts testing of the waters in many of its beaches, to check for bacteria and the safety of the water. Through their website it is possible to check the results for individual beaches across the country.
Sweden:
Ranked number two in environmental standards in the world, Sweden is much more advanced on the green side than most. The environmental issue that Sweden most faces is acid rain . The main cause of acid rain is sulfur in the air. When the rain falls, it acidifies lakes and bodies of water, depletes the soil, and causes other damage to forests and wildlife.
A foundation, Keep Sweden Tidy , provides many resources and eco-programs, including Agricultural Scrap Campaign (recycle old farm equipment), Junk Car Campaign (to report junk cars, 120,000 collected to date), and A Cleaner Environment (litter reduction program).
In 1998, the Swedish government created a goal : “To pass on to the next generation a society in which all the major environmental problems have been solved.” That’s a nice goal. Their focus is on 15 areas: reduced climate impact, clean air, natural acidification only, a non-toxic environment, a protective ozone layer, a safe radiation environment, zero eutrophication, flourishing lakes and streams, good-quality groundwater, a balanced marine environment, flourishing coastal areas and archipelagos, thriving wetlands, sustainable forests, a varied agricultural landscape, a magnificent mountain landscape, and a good built environment.
Ecuador:
Charles Darwin turned the eyes of the world toward Ecuador with his visit to the ecological diverse Galapagos Islands in 1831. Located about 1000km off the coast, this fragile chain of islands was the inspiration for Darwin’s Theory of Evolution. Sadly, over-fishing, habitat destruction, and a rise in international demand for sea cucumbers and shark fins has not left the area untouched. The islands were even faced with an oil spill in 2001 that is still having rippling effects on the habitat.
To the mainland we go where the standard evils: deforestation, desertification, water pollution, and oil waste are changing the landscape. Massive shrimp farms have invaded and destroyed coastal mangrove habitats. Oil prospecting/drilling throughout the rainforest is leaving scars and waste that contaminate ground water and uproot organisms already endangered. “Between 1964 and 1992, a unit of U.S. oil company Texaco pillaged the frontier town of Lago Agrio and the surrounding areas nestled close to the Ecuadorian Amazon. The multinational, the indigenous in the area say, spilled over 18.5 billion gallons of highly toxic waste into 600 open, unlined pits over 2,000 square miles among an indigenous community of 30,000, pumping over 1.5 billion barrels of oil out of Ecuador.”
Currently, there are plans to develop a 15MW wind farm in the Loja province to support mining efforts. This essentially solves one problem to encourage another—deforestation and pollution.
Germany:
While most countries are struggling to revive efforts to build more nuclear power plants, Germany actually has a mechanism in place for ending the use of such power over the next 15 years. Facing some of the same issues as other developing nations: emissions from coal-burning utilities, acid rain, raw sewage contaminating water, Germany has a secret weapon: renewable energy.
Let’s talk wind: As of September 2005, Germany had 15,688MW of wind installations delivering 6.2% of the country’s electrical energy—the world leader in total and annual rate of installations. To put it another way, Germany has about 125% more installed wind energy capacity than either the U.S. or Spain!
Even with about half the solar potential of the Unites States, Germany was nevertheless the fastest growing PV market in the world in 2003—with about 400MW of PV installed. Germany also leads Europe in total and annual installations of solar thermal collectors for water heating. It’s amazing what an involved government can accomplish, with consistent, long-range support for energy-efficiency and renewables. Amazingly enough, 90% of wind turbines are owned by private citizens working through cooperatives.
Portugal:
Since Portugal joined the European Union in 1986, it has undergone substantial development. Sanitation levels have improved greatly, but only 42% of Portugal’s population has access to good quality drinking water. 75% of urban solid waste is treated and disposed of properly—the remaining 25% becomes raw sewage and a serious environmental problem. Soil erosion, air and water pollution, and limited domestic energy reserves also contribute to overall problems.
Hope aplenty, however, with the recent news this past March that a deal had been reached to develop a 5.5MW thin-film photovoltaic module manufacturing facility in Portugal. With one of the highest levels of solar resource in Europe, the installation of this facility is ideal. Also coming soon is a 116 MW solar energy power station—visible from space—and covering over 250 hectare. The output from this facility will power over 130,000 homes throughout the country. Like Spain, Portugal is endowed with large amounts of solar, wind, wave, hydro, and biomass renewable energy. If they play their cards right, they may just have what it takes to become a truly self-sufficient nation.
Netherlands:
The Netherlands is one of the world’s smaller countries, with 15.8 million inhabitants and an area of 41,865 square miles. Still, they’re attacking the problems associated with global warming and peak oil with renewable energy solutions. While this is old data, 2002 stats showed 3.4% of electricity coming from renewables—with biomass leading the pack. The Dutch target for 2020 is 10% renewable energy—though most believe 10% is a fairly conservative number when innovation and the price of future oil are added in. Wind and Solar are steadily gaining acceptance and on the rise. Power derived from wave power is also under discussion; considering the Netherlands coastal real estate. Sadly, poor planning in the development of one of their wind farms may cost them in promoting the energy short term.
Ghana:
Named after the medieval Ghana Empire of West Africa, this country was the first Sub-Saharan nation to gain its independence postcolonialism in 1957. Home to more than 22 million people, Ghana lies on the East Coast of the African continent and is rich in natural resources. The majority of foreign commerce revolves around trade in gold, timber, industrial diamonds, bauxite, manganese, petroleum, silver, salt, cocoa and limestone. Ghana also exports hydropower to its neighbors. The country is home to Lake Volta, the world’s largest artificial lake. More than 60% of the population is actively involved in subsistence farming. Ghana reports that 60% of children with high fevers are treated with traditional herbal medicines that are locally available.
Friends of the Earth Ghana was founded 20 years ago and is made up of 500 active members in 19 groups throughout the country. It’s the largest environmental organization in Ghana.
The Better Africa Foundation works to educate Ghanaians about environmental issues such as the negative effects of vehicular emission. Other groups working on environmental issue in the nation include, Trees For the Future and The Wildlife Conservation Society . You can learn more about the environmental policies of Ghana by visiting their Wildlife Division of the Forestry Commission .
Best of luck to this Cinderella team.
Spain:
A country rich in history as well as a diversity of climates, Spain’s dynamic economy and culture are a testament to the Spanish people. After remaining independent in both World War I and II, Spain developed a mercantile based economy, trading heavily with its European neighbors.
In Spain’s dry climate region of Spain there is a group known as Sunseed Desert Trust . Sunseed, which is a British nonprofit which discovers ways to improve the environment in desertified areas of the world. Mostly run by volunteers, research and living done in simple sustainable ways. The techniques and practices developed here are used in practice as well in sub-Saharan Africa. Every year 300 volunteers work together to develop and maintain this program. Along with Portugal, Spain is the largest producer of natural cork in the world. The harvest of cork is sustainable and produces products well beyond the stopper of your favorite organically grown wine.
Brazil:
The largest and most heavily populated country in South America, Brazil is not only a powerhouse on the soccer field but an example in sustainable development. Such an example is the Brazil Rural Energy Enterprise Development (B-REED) program, Its mission is to develop new sustainable energy enterprises that use clean, efficient and/or sustainable energy technologies.
One of the B-REED projects that I found interesting is:
Village, Mato Grosso- Village sells PV powered water pumping irrigation systems on credit to rural customers. The PV powered pumps will irrigate one hectare each of corn and cassava. The pump will allow for multiple harvests of the crops increasing the farmers’ income approximately 10 times. For a more detail description follow this link , and for a video click here .
Brazil is the world’s largest ethanol producer and runs most of its autos on ethanol made from its sugar cane crops. From the Green Car Congress : “Although Brazil’s carbon emissions are fairly significant in the region, carbon intensity, the amount of carbon emitted per dollar of GDP, is comparatively low.One reason for the comparatively lower carbon intensity in Brazil is the significant use of hydropower in the energy mix, as well as the use of biofuels and other forms of renewable energy. One prominent biofuel in the Brazilian economy is ethanol. The ethanol program was initiated partially in response to the oil shock of 1973, and partly as an alternative to oil to promote self-sufficiency. The ethanol program also has been one of Brazil’s strategies to mitigate the environmental effects of rapid urbanization.”
Australia:
Although some aspects of the Australian environment are in relatively good condition, Australia has many environmental problems: soil degradation, loss of endangered species, declining fish stocks, land clearing, air pollution and shrinking or insufficient water supplies due to changing rainfall patterns and increased incidence of drought. Australia’s “ecological footprint ” (among the world’s top four resource-consuming nations) is 4 times larger than the planet can sustainably support and carbon dioxide emissions per capita are the largest in the world.
In spite of (or perhaps because of) these problems, Australians tend to be aware of and concerned about the environment, and attitudes are becoming noticeably greener in many ways, with sustainability businesses becoming common, energy companies offering 100% renewable energy , the use of plastic bags dropping dramatically, green buildings being planned, ski resorts going green and small improvements in efficiency like traffic lights that use LEDs and alternative energy experiments being introduced.
Italy:
A recent article was brought our attention in the Italian “Ecomafia.” Need to dispose of dangerous waste but don’t want to pay the fees associated with that? Call up one of these illegal groups to take care of the situation for you. Unfortunately, up to 400,000 tons of waste was lost this way in 2005, with the dangerous waste probably being improperly buried or burned.
Additionally, Italy suffers from air pollution from industrial emissions such as sulfur dioxide; coastal and inland rivers polluted from industrial and agricultural effluents and acid rain damaging lakes. More than 60% of Italy’s energy comes from oil and about 30% from natural gas. The remaining is a mix of coal and renewables. Even with this consumption, Italy reamains one of the few non-energy intensive countries in the world. In 1992, it indefinitely extended a resolution banning the use of nuclear power. After being burned by the 1973 oil shock, it introduced progressive electricity tariffs in which households must pay higher tariffs when they consume more electricity, and requirements that electricity producers sell a certain volume of electricity from renewable sources to the grid.
Italy is undertaking serveral renewable projects to help subsizide its reliance on oil. Joint ventures with the EU have allowed the creation of several solar plants that are either on the drawing board or in the process of contruction. According to the National Energetic Plan, the potential application in Italy of wind energy may be estimated at approx. 5 billion kWh/year.
Switzerland:
The Swiss are among the most environmentally conscious people in the world and are willing to back their convictions with money. Instead of disturbing the beautiful Alp Mountain Range with roads for truck transport, the Swiss decided to construc the Basel-Milan rail link to carry freight through the mountains. The project and subsequent tunnels cost nearly $13.3 billion! The ultimate aim is a total ban on carrying freight by road through Switzerland.
The Swiss aren’t perfect (acid rain; water pollution from increased use of agricultural fertilizers; loss of biodiversity) but they sure as hell are making a name for themselves in the world of sustainability. From the Swiss Federal Office of Energy SFOE , “One of the goals of Switzerland’s energy policy is to increase the proportion of electricity produced from renewable energy by 5,400 GWh, or 10% of the country’s present-day electricity consumption, by 2030. Today, approximately 58% of Switzerland’s overall electricity production comes from renewable sources, with hydropower as by far the biggest contributor (97%).” More than 400 companies offer products made with 100% certified renewable energy. As of this year, there are 30 wind plants in operation with a total capacity of 14 GW! The installed capacity in solar power in significantly less, with about 23MW. However, by 2050, Switzerland believe it will be possible to power more than 20% of the country off of the sun.
France:
Viva La France!! France is caught in a sort of environmental schizophrenia–on one side, citizens have become more aware of environmental issues with recent campaigns against infrastructure projects. However, on the other side, France is still a massive supporter and installer of nuclear power. Around three-quarters of the country’s electricity comes from EDF’s nuclear plants, under a vast programme launched in the 1970s after the first oil shock.
New renewable projects include a biofuel plant outside of Paris to begin construction in 2008. The plant will use food waste oils and a mixture of virgin olive oil to produce fuel. Last week, France announced plans to overhaul it’s energy program–with targets for 21% of energy from renewables by 2010. A new 300MW wind plant–enough for 150,000 homes–is being contructed four miles from the small Channel resort of Veulettes-sur-Mer–in 2008. A new geothermal plant is also being constructed in Eastern France.
Ukraine:
Pollution and radioactive contaminated land are on the top of the list for the Ukraine environmental issues. The Chernobyl disaster that occurred in 1986 at the Chernobyl nuclear power plant has left the soil , rivers , vegetation, and animals contaminated, even 20 years later. Various programs exist to continue to study and clean these areas.
Industrial pollution remains a big issue, with the toxins released into the air and the water. The water supply in some areas exceeds the safe limits for chemicals by a factor of ten .
President Bush recently gave some remarks to reporters concerning global warming. It’s too amusing to summarize, so I’ll simply let the conversation speak for itself.
If you’re looking for another reason to feel sorry for the human race, look no further than this tragic story. “Bruno, the brown bear who sauntered into Germany through the Italian Alps and eluded pursuers in a month-long mountain odyssey, was shot and killed Monday, to the dismay of many animal lovers.” The hunt itself was government-sanctioned by the Bavarian Environment Minister, Werner Schnappauf, who sided with officials quoted as saying, “Therer was no other solution. Even animal rights activists should understand that this bear killed sheep and tore into rabbits purely for pleasure. Rabbits are also deserving of sympathy.”
There’s an amusing Greenpeace sponsored site over at WhalesRevenge.com that encourages you to sign a petition denouncing Japan’s latest (semi-successful) efforts to bolster commercial whaling. However, that’s not all–there’s a also a flash game you can play where–as a whale–you attempt to dodge Japanese Whaling vessels sending down harpoons–while simultaneously releasing large air bubbles that hit and destroy the ships. Just be careful not to hit any of the Greenpeace ships. The goal is to gather one million names on the petition and send them to the International Whaling Commission. So far, nearly 200,000 people have added their names! What are you waiting for, jump on over, spend some time roleplaying as a whale, get some revenge, and sign your name!!
It appears that even our ocean friends are not immune to the new wave of privacy invasion and personal technology. Canada announced yesterday that “Scientists will implant electronic tags like those used at supermarket checkouts into salmon, tuna, sharks, penguins and polar bears to track the animals’ movements.” Humor aside (from the ocean to the market–barcode included), this project is the result of efforts to manage fishing practices and understand threats. The undersea network will use rings of sensors placed around every continent. As the fish swim by, the sensors will record their movement and direction. “There is already a 1,500-kilometre string of sensors used to track salmon along the entire coast of British Columbia, but O’Dor imagines using up to one million tags. Animal tracking data could also be used to designate new marine protected areas. Since the tags also measure temperature, scientists can monitor the effects of climate change.” The project–expected to start in five years–will carry a cost of $150 million. No word yet on whether or not Dick Cheney is one of the primary investors.
Brittish scientists are looking to harness a small portion of the tremendous amount of energy exerted by people walking in a city, and use it to power electrical lights or devices. According to the article – 8 Watts is generated per person while walking, more even while climbing stairs. This energy will be converted to usable electricity via hydraulic or piezoeletric devices hidden in the risers of stairs.
Via the 
Especially if Paul Monaghan, head of sustainability for the Co-operative group, has his way. His goal is a sea of micro wind power generation throughout not only the backyards of the suburbs, but also on the tops of buildings down town. His Co-op will soon be powered in part by 19 turbines, 3 meters tall. Providing 4% of the buildings power needs and removing tons of CO2 from the air, these micro wind turbines are expected to pay for themselves in 5 years.
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