Government proposals to look seriously at the Severn Estuary as a power generator have been welcomed by the WWF charity, though the focus on one specific energy extraction method is causing concern.

After extensive Government testing of barrages, tidal lagoons and a tidal fence in the Severn Estuary, 10 prospective power sourcing methods have been proposed. With all the projects in different stages of development, the Government has to consider all the options for tidal power in the Severn, though the barrage method seems to be their main focus of attention.

Head of WWF in Wales, Morgan Parry, said:

‘We have argued for many years that there are better ways of generating power from the tides than through fixed concrete barrages and we must keep all these options open. The publication of this list shows that there are many options, and Government Ministers have been wrong to focus exclusively on the barrage. We urge the Government to give serious consideration to the alternatives, such as the Tidal Fence and Tidal Steam proposals and to invest time and money in bringing them to an advanced state of readiness.’

Though the Government must be applauded for their testing, it seems that putting all their eggs in to one basket is a concern. With 10 proposed methods of energy retraction, surely all options must be researched in equal measure. Surely it is better to have ten different methods of energy sourcing rather than just one?

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The WWF charity has criticized the G8 for failing to boost international climate negotiations at this year’s summit in Japan. With the current threat of dangerous levels of climate change, the WWF feel the G8 lacked commitment to reduce global emissions by at least 50% by 2050.

The WWF reminded G8 leaders that rich nations must reduce emissions by 25 to 40% by 2020 with science clearly outlining the need to cut global emissions to avoid the worst impact. With the G8 responsible for 62% of the carbon dioxide accumulated in the Earth’s atmosphere, it makes them the main culprit and the biggest part of the problem. With little progress over a whole year of meetings and negotiations, it falls dangerously short of what is needed to protect people and nature from climate change.

WWF said the summit confirmed a recent trend that some larger countries like Canada, Japan and the US emphasised their inability to move on climate change, whilst emerging economies made concrete policy proposals offering more domestic action.

With Japanese Prime Minister Fukuda at the head of the G8 Presidency, it was a case of raising high hopes and delivering little. The WWF has urged the Japanese government to implement an emission trading scheme and to set a domestic emission reduction target in the range of up to 40 per cent by 2020.

Head of the Climate Programme at WWF Japan, Naoyuki Yamagishi, said -

“Prime Minister Fukuda made a huge effort and ended up with a mediocre result, which is the opposite of effective leadership and cannot be counted as success. Rapid improvements at the domestic policy front are his only chance to restore trust in his ability to protect Japan from dangerous climate change.”

> > click here to make a donation to the WWF

> > click here to find out more about the work of the WWF

The WWF charity has launched their own dedicated television channel to help highlight their campaigns and conservation videos to a worldwide audience.

The WWF channel can be accessed through Green TV here, or via the WWF website. Films will be available to view at any time anywhere in the world on the channel as part of its video on demand function, whilst viewers will also be able to search for them using the search functionality. The WWF have long been associated with using films and video to raise the plight of environmental issues and using the internet to to create change.

WWF Video & Audio manager Janine Finlay said –

‘WWF is very excited to be able to partner with green.tv, the leading environmental online TV channel, to offer audiences worldwide a unique insight of WWF’s on-the-ground work in conservation and environmental projects. “Green.tv allows WWF to distribute  full-screen internet TV to audiences worldwide. Our green.tv podcasts will also reach iTunes users around the globe, enabling us to get our messages out to more people than ever before.’

The WWF is a global conservation organization with a global network active in over 100 countries with almost 5 million supporters. Their aim is to stop the degradation of the earth’s natural environment by conserving the world’s biological diversity, ensuring that the use of renewable natural resources is sustainable and promoting the reduction of pollution.

> > click here to make a donation to the WWF

> > click here to find out more about the work of the WWF

The WWF charity has praised the Government’s latest renewable energy strategy which could herald a much needed energy revolution through incentives to entice UK home owners to go green.

The UK is currently the third worst performer in the EU on renewable fuels, with measures now in place to make this energy source more attractive to homeowners. With the Government now realising the potential for clean energy in this country, urgent measures need to be taken to undermine the need for any new coal-fired power stations in the UK.

The WWF has been campaigning for a stronger policy to reduce the environmental footprint of existing UK homes so we can meet the CO2 emission reduction target of 80% by 2050. The Government’s current target of a 60% reduction in CO2 emissions is outdated and doesn’t include the UK’s share of emissions from international aviation. To achieve an 80% cut requires the decarbonisation of the electricity supply plus the application of carbon capture and storage technology across the UK.

Head of Campaigns for the WWF-UK, Colin Butfield, said

‘If the Government implements this strategy it would spark a much-needed green energy revolution. This would reduce our exposure to soaring fossil fuel prices, create jobs and enable the Government to show true international leadership on climate change’

> > click here to make a donation to the WWF

> > click here to find out more about the work of the WWF

Whales are having to migrate further afield due to shrinking Antarctic foraging zones which contain less food, according to analysis on the impacts of climate change by the WWF.

Migratory whales may need to travel an extra 500 kilometres south to hunt out their crucial foraging zone. Species most affected will include the Blue Whale and the Humpback, which are only just back from the brink of extinction.

Both species build up their food reserves which help them survive throughout the year. As foraging zones move southward and reduce in overall area, sea ice is also expected to reduce the abundance of food for whales in the feeding areas. With the level of global warming predicted over the next 40 years, winter sea-ice coverage of the Southern Ocean will be declining by up to 30 per cent in some crucial areas.

With the 80 nation International Whaling Commission meeting in Chile, now is the time for the I.W.C to take the opportunity to look at ways to increase the resilience of whale populations. The WWF will be recommending the protection of critical habitats and for limiting non-climate stresses to whale populations such as overfishing and pollution.

> > click here to make a donation to the WWF

> > click here to find out more about the work of the WWF

Environmental charities WWF and Greenpeace have once again called for greater urgency to the closure of the Mediterranean bluefin tuna fishing.

The conservation groups have obtained evidence that reveals two Italian spotter planes are illegally being used to give aerial assistance to industrial fleets fishing in the central Mediterranean. Aerial spotting is completely banned by international law, as it gives a huge advantage to fleets who’s catches are far exceeding the capacity recommended by scientists.

This damning evidence of illegal plane activity in the Mediterranean adds to the WWF argument that this stretch of ocean is now out of control and must be closed. Marine reserves must be established to protect these breeding areas of Bluefin Tuna to halt the species steady decline into extinction.

Greenpeace and WWF are once again calling on the European Commission to step in and help in the Conservation of Atlantic Tuna. In April false Bolivian and Libyan flags by were flown by illegal tuna vessels involved in the Bluefin Tuna fishery in the same area of the Mediterranean.

If we want fish for tomorrow, we need to create marine reserves today to avoid any further damage to the Bluefin Tuna stock, which is in a critical situation according to the international scientific community.

> > click here to find out more about the work of the WWF

> > click here to find out more about the work of Greenpeace

The RSPCA have slammed the Australian government’s annual kangaroo culling as a ‘killing frenzy’.

The government have increased the numbers allowed to be shot by commercial hunters from 5million every year to 7million.  The Farmers’ Association of New South Wales claim a leap from 8million to over 13million in the past 12 months justify the extra Kangaroo culling. The Association also blame the overpopulation causing damage to fences, crops, and depletion of the Outback’s water supply. But with the meat Kangaroo goods now becoming a multimillion dollar industry, animal rights groups see this as an excuse for commercial gain.

It’s not just animal rights groups who disagree with the cull either. 8 Aboriginal elders scaled the fences of the former naval communications post in Canberra where a cull was taking place. Once inside the elders held a smoking ceremony, to ‘claim back their land’. Local Aborigines have been closely involved in the protest against the cull for several weeks.

Ngunnawal tribe spokeswoman Isobel Coe told police -

“If you are going to treat us like trespassers you will have to arrest us and take us to jail. We are claiming our land and that’s what our sacred fire means.”

It is now possible to help fund the work of the RSPCA by using their charity credit card. MBNA will pledge £20 to the RSPCA for each card issued, with a further 25p being donated for every £100 spent.

> > click here to find out more about the work of the WSPA

Animal charities have now officially listed the Tasmanian Devil on the Endangered Species List. Experts predict that the carnivorous marsupial could be extinct within the next 20 years.

Nearly 64% of all the Tasmanian Devil population have been infected by a deadly facial tumour. The disease itself is spread to each creature through biting, leaving the animal unable to eat, and inevitably leading to organ failure.

Recent research suggests that some devils may have a genetic resistance to the disease. Experts are currently observing a Devil who is showing the first signs of being immune, whilst 47 of the species have been shipped to mainland Australia to help preserve the genetic diversity from total extinction.

> > click here to make a donation to the WSPA

> > click here to save the Tasmanian Devil

Greenpeace and the WWF are calling for the British Government’s energy policy to be in line with the EU’s target for renewable energy by 2020. This however is looking unlikely due to the building of new unabated coal-fired power stations in the UK.

The high emissions from new coal plants would severely undermine progress towards targets under the Climate Change Bill. Allowing new unabated coal stations would also damage the UK’s credibility as a main player in international climate negotiations.

Carbon Capture and Storage (C.S.S.) will help reductions that are needed to avoid climate chaos. However, the technology has not yet been proven on an integrated power plant and it may not be technically possible. Building capture ready stations now would therefore impose unacceptable risks to the taxpayer, who may well end up footing the bill for any future refit.

Greenpeace and the WWF are calling the British Government to focus on renewable energy efficiency, whilst introducing greenhouse gas emission standards for all new power plants. New legal standards should be set to limit the CO2 emissions for all new plants that have yet to secure planning permission.

Any pre planned CCS demonstration plants should be established solely for technical reasons and to also form part of a clear European strategy to assess the various technical options. It is vital for the planets future that regulations are established through independent monitoring to ensure that the storage of all CO2 is safe, and environmentally sound.

> > click here to find out more about the work of Greenpeace

To coincide with the start of BBC2 nature programme Springwatch, all new adult RSPB memberships are offered a copy of Bill Oddie’s ‘How to Watch Wildlife’ book as a free gift when joining online between 23rd May and 30th June.

With the current warm weather, more people are taking advantage of the sun and visiting one of the many RSPB nature reserves around the country. From as little as £2.84 a month, you too can visit one of the 100 beautiful RSPB sites around the UK, whilst also quarterly receiving the member’s only publication ‘Birds’.

You subscription fee covers not only the costs for the upkeep of the nature reserves, but also campaigning against developments that damage bird environments whilst restoring natural habitats.

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