Category Archives: Resource Based Economy

Students and staff at the University of Sussex in Brighton have set up a new recycling initiative collecting second hand duvets to be given new life in childrens car seats and as equestrian venue flooring.

At the end of the academic year, duvets and pillows from the universitys halls of residence and summer schools will be collected and used for childrens car seat interiors and to cover floor surfaces in horse riding arenas. The fabric can also be used to fill new mattresses and some will be donated to dogs charities for bedding.

A report from the Waste and Resources Action Programme (WRAP)suggests that, despite there being 12,000 to 15,000 textile recycling centres across the UK. Because recycling rates are weight-based, the lightweight nature of duvets means they may not be considered a priority waste stream to divert from landfill by local authorities. As such, many end up being just thrown away.

The duvet recycling scheme at the University of Sussex, in partnership with Veolia, is one of a number of sustainable initiatives introduced by Geography student Megan Youngs during her internship year with SEF in the University Estates Team. Alongside the duvet scheme, she also helped introduce a Tetra Pak bin on campus and launched a partnership with recycling company TerraCycle, which collects cigarette stubs with the aim to recycle them into plastic products, while remaining tobacco or paper is composted.

Youngs, now in her third year at the university, has been shortlisted for Student Sustainability Champion of the Year at the Green Gown Awards. She said: It was really fantastic to be given the freedom and responsibility during my internship to put some of my ideas into action on campus. It was great to feel that I was making a difference and I really hope to see these schemes grow over the next academic year and see what other waste reducing and sustainability innovations the university can explore going forward.

Based in the green hub that is Brighton, the University of Sussex has seen a drive towards sustainability across the board.

Life Sciences Technician, Crispin Holloway, has contributed to the universitys sustainability goals by helping set up a collection scheme for the polystyrene boxes used to deliver scientific equipment on campus.

In Brighton and Hove, polystyrene is not collected at the kerbside, however, scientific equipment suppliers New England Biolabs (NEB) offer a return scheme whereby they donate 15 pence to the Woodland Trust for every polystyrene box returned to them by customers.

Currently, however, customers are only returning 18 per cent of polystyrene shipping boxes to NEB, something Holloway aims to change: We all now know about the serious damage single use plastics have on ecosystems and the environment. Our labs take deliveries of materials needed for research in polystyrene boxes. Some can be reused as ice buckets but the majority go to waste or worse, mistakenly put into recycling bins, contaminating all the recyclable waste.

Most polystyrene products are currently not recycled due to the lack of incentive to invest in compactors but thanks to the assistance and buy-in from colleagues and the support and know-how of Cat Fletcher we now have a solution to our problem through upcycling.

Cat Fletcher, the Brighton-based Co-founder of reuse site Freegle UK and winner of the 2019 Resource Hot 100, has established a new partnership to collect other non-returnable polystyrene boxes from laboratories on campus at Sussex that can then be reused and repurposed in gardening, for example.

The universitys catering organisation Sussex Food employs initiatives across all its cafes on campus and the team is always looking for further opportunities to reduce waste and recycle more, says Alison OGorman, Deputy General Manager.

Sussex Food has recently been noted as one of the top collectors of crisp packets in the country as part of another link-up with Terracycle.

Forty-five thousand crisp packets, which are notoriously difficult to recycle due to their composite layers of plastic and metal, have been collected on campus and extruded into plastic pellets. The aim is to use these pellets to make new recycled products. However, on a wider scale, crisp packet recycling is not economically viable and research is being undertaken to explore alternative packaging materials for crisps, using amino acid nanosheets.

As well as recycling crisp packets, OGorman says: We participate in the Simply Cups scheme where our collected cups are reformed into stationary and furniture. Our Mug for Life, which includes giving away cups for life to freshers each year, has increased reusable cup use up to 35 per cent and we have ambitions to make that 50 per cent or more by September 2020.

We now have three sites which have taken the plastic free pledge and we are purchasing an aerobic digester to turn our food waste and take away packaging into material suitable for Biomass heating systems and as a fertiliser for use on campus which will create a circular economy for this waste stream.

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University of Sussex recycling scheme gives new life to old duvets - Resource Magazine

PHILADELPHIA--(BUSINESS WIRE)--

Project Management Institute (PMI) today released its 2019 Pulse of the Profession In-Depth Report: AI @ Work: New Projects, New Thinking. The report, a companion piece to AI Innovators: Cracking the Code on Project Performance, explores how artificial intelligence (AI) is changing the way projects are managed and delivered globally.

As AI projects become the norm, project managers need to better understand what technologies will help them streamline and improve their AI-based project work -- or they risk being left behind. The new report highlights the top AI technologies project leaders are currently leveraging to boost project management productivity, and how to incorporate AI technologies into their overall project work.

While project leaders are tapping into AI technologies to boost project productivity and quality, unlocking AIs full potential requires building and constantly refreshing knowledge of emerging technologies. In fact, the report finds that organizations and their project leaders will need a high Project Management Technology Quotient (PMTQ) a way of evaluating an organizations ability to manage and integrate technology based on the needs of the organization or the project at hand to turn AI strategy into reality.

In todays increasingly project-based economy, the most forward-thinking organizations know that the success of their strategies hinges on how well they can execute projects. And the race toward AI mastery is no exception, said Michael DePrisco, vice president of global solutions at PMI. As we see AI technologies continue to be integrated into organizations, the research indicates that project managers, especially those with a high PMTQ, are well prepared to play an integral role in implementation.

Of the respondents to the study, 50 percent reported a high PMTQ (Innovators) and 10 percent reported only sometimes or never practicing the principles of the PMTQ (Laggards).

A majority of both groups say their project management skills and experience are a good foundation for managing AI. But the Innovators have the upper hand: 74 percent of Innovators say theyre confident their current skill set enables them to work with AI, compared with 51 percent of Laggards.

Even more so, Innovators cite having more awareness and experience with several AI technologies, including knowledge-based systems, decision management, speech recognition, and expert systems. These respondents also report delivering better outcomes when using AI technologies, including a decreased amount of time spent on activities like monitoring progress, managing documentation, as well as activity and resource planning.

The top technologies respondents cite as enhancing productivity are:

The top technologies respondents identify as increasing quality are:

While it is clear AI can make a difference in value delivery, it is up to organizations and their project leaders to identify and understand which technologies can best help them achieve their specific goals and deliver long-term success.

Read more about 2019 Pulse of the Profession In-Depth Report: AI Innovators: AI @ Work: New Projects, New Thinking. The Pulse of the Profession In-Depth research was conducted online in June/July 2019 among 780 project management practitioners globally.

About Project Management Institute (PMI)

Project Management Institute (PMI) is the world's leading association for those who consider project, program or portfolio management their profession. Founded in 1969, PMI delivers value for more than three million professionals working in nearly every country in the world through global advocacy, collaboration, education and research. We advance careers, improve organizational success and further mature the project management profession through globally-recognized standards, certifications, communities, resources, tools, academic research, publications, professional development courses and networking opportunities. As part of the PMI family, ProjectManagement.com creates online global communities that deliver more resources, better tools, larger networks and broader perspectives. Visit us at http://www.PMI.org, http://www.projectmanagement.com, http://www.facebook.com/PMInstitute and on Twitter @PMInstitute.

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PMI Study Reveals Top Productivity-Boosting AI Technologies, According to Project Managers - Yahoo Finance

Landscape architecture can mitigate carbon emissions, but it is also implicated amoung the causes.

This week, LAM is joining more than 250 media outlets for Covering Climate Now, flooding the zone, as it were, with climate coverage in the run-up to the United Nations Climate Action Summit on September 23. Landscape and landscape architecture are deeply implicated in the future of climate progress, or a lack of it. Over the past decade, LAM has dug into climate issues of landscape in numerous dimensions, mapping the big resource picture as well as local attempts to fend off increasingly apparent hazards of global warmingfrom the procurement of materials to the integrity of the food supply chain. Each day this week well bring you excellent stories from recent years that follow landscape architects acting and thinking about climate change and the landscape.

The Paris Agreement on climate change, created by the consensus of 197 nations, went into effect in November 2016 and has enormous implications for the practice of landscape architecture. If adhered to by its signatories, the agreement signals the end of the fossil fuel era by midcentury, well within the life spans of many landscape architects currently practicing. Though it may seem wonderfully green, this energy transition poses profound questions for the practice of landscape architecture at a time when the discipline is needed more than ever.

The Paris Agreement foretells a civilization powered nearly exclusively by renewably generated electricity, not fossil-fueled fire, like today. This will impose severe limits on landscape architectures materials, construction methods, and professional mobility. The agreement also portends a society with much less energy overall, as fossil fuels currently make up more than 80 percent of total energy consumed and cannot be easily replaced. These stark realities will challenge landscape architects to adapt to the impending zero-carbon future.

Last year set the record for the hottest year in measured history, breaking 2015s record, which itself broke 2014s. The earth is rapidly warming owing to the use of fossil fuels, which spew huge amounts of carbon dioxide (CO2) into the atmosphere. Annual global mean surface temperatures are already close to 1 degree Celsius higher than preindustrial levels. Ominously, average temperatures in some months of 2016 were more than 1.5 degrees Celsius above preindustrial levels. This means the planet is now approaching the upper range of temperatures that have existed for the past 10,000 years. That stable climatic period, the Holocene, coincides with the development of human civilization. If humans continue to heat the planet, civilization will be moved outside of its known safe operating space.

To avoid this scenario, the Paris Agreement seeks to hold global warming to no more than 2 degrees Celsius above preindustrial levelsand to pursue efforts toward a more ambitious limit of 1.5 degrees Celsius. Alas, the climate is already near that threshold. If anthropogenic warming continues at this rate, the global temperature could increase by as much as 4 degrees Celsius within this century. This would result in a climate that has not existed on earth for millions of years, far longer than the 200,000 or so years that modern humans have been around.

A recent report by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change found that the last time the earth was that warm, about 125,000 years ago, sea levels were 15 to 30 feet higher than today. That amount of sea-level rise now would lead to a radical reshaping of the earths coastlines, affecting hundreds of millions of people and all of the global economy, over a ridiculously short time frame. With an increase of 2 degrees Celsius, global farming would also be dramatically affected by either too much or too little water and destructive storms.

The incredible impacts associated with this heating would likely disrupt the lives of hundreds of millions, perhaps billions, of people, potentially leading to severe and perpetual conflicts.

It must not get to that point. The Paris Agreement plots a path to ensure that it doesnt. As a first step, the world economy must cease annual increases of CO2 pollution. This has occurred over each of the past three years, possibly attributable to energy efficiencies, increases in renewable energy, and the retirement of many coal-fired power plants. The next step, however, is more difficult: getting annual CO2 production to near zero within the next 30 years. This is the largest challenge, because the industrial economy measures growth by increasing, not decreasing, CO2 emissions every year. The final step will require simultaneously offsetting all small but unavoidable CO2 emissions to achieve a net balance of zero carbon emissions. Doing all this, right now, will result in a two-thirds chance of limiting temperature increase to no more than 1.5 degrees Celsius. Those are humanitys best odds.

How will our enormous civilization and economies be powered, if not with fossil fuels? The answer: renewably generated electricity. This has two implications for landscape architecture. First, within our lifetimes, there will likely be significantly less energy to use than today. And it means the end of most carbon-fueled fire, upon which much of current landscape architecture practice depends. These implications will fundamentally change landscape architecture.

A world without fossil fuels will be an all-electric one. Renewable energy technologies, such as solar panels and windmills, produce electricity. Fortunately, much of the world is already wired for electricity. However, it is a mistake to assume that all that is needed is to swap fossil fuel-powered energy generators with renewable ones. It is not a matter of simply unplugging dirty energy and replacing it with green renewables.

The first problem confronting us is the sheer scale of the energy that needs to be replaced. Today, only about 10 percent of the United Statess energy comes from renewables. Nuclear power provides about 9 percent of the energy in the United States, but this means that 80 percent of our energy is derived from fossil fuels. This is the scale of the problem: transforming renewables from 10 percent of our energy use to at least 90 percent. This is a staggering task, yet one that will need to be done within 30 years to meet the agreements goals.

Unsurprisingly, there are no real-world simulations as to how this will be possible. Still, the need to quit fossil fuels is growing every year. Therefore and soon, while fossil fuels are being phased out, there may not be any near-termand possibly not even long-termreplacement of that lost energy.

Renewably powered energy has some known limits. Intermittency is obvious: The sun doesnt always shine nor does the wind always blow. That leads to the second limit: storage. There are currently no industrial-scale technologies that can store large amounts of renewable energy. The third limit springs from the first two. The existing electric grid is a centralized system, sending out energy as it is needed to where it is needed, whereas renewable energy sources are scattered and intermittent. All this indicates that meeting current energy demand with renewables will require extensive, and expensive, system redesign.

Other issues remain unresolved. To generate anything near current energy consumption, an all-renewable future will require enormous spatial footprints of solar and wind factories. Although the switch to renewables may be ultimately positive, there will likely be serious economic, environmental, and social ramifications with these fixtures sprawling across the earth and seas.

Then again, visions of large-scale renewable energy factories may be a mirage. There is no proof that the mining, transport, and transformation of raw materials into renewable energy collectors, nor their installation, can be done without fossil fuel inputs. It is not idle speculation to ponder if an industrial-sized windmill can be used to generate all the energy needed to make another industrial-sized windmill from scratch.

So, while it is not possible to estimate exactly how much energy will be available in an all-renewable future, it will likely be significantly less than we have been accustomed to. Limited energy availability, and the resulting high cost, will pose ethical questions for landscape architecture practitioners: For what projects, and for whose benefit, shall we use that limited energy?

Energy limits are one side of the transition. The other side reveals the energy substitution challenges landscape architects face. Renewable energy simply cannot do all of the things that fossil fuels can. Right now, carbon-based fire is at the core of the economy, powering most of societys primary machines, transportation, and much manufacturing. Renewable energy is not fire and cannot be used like fire.

For landscape architecture, the end of fossil-fueled fire is critical to materials and construction methods. Many of the primary building materials used by landscape architects require high temperatures that are primarily made with fossil fuels and that do not have a ready renewable energy substitute. Producing cement and steel requires extremely high temperatures presently achieved by the direct burning of fossil fuels. There have been experiments in developing methods to use electricity to create the needed temperatures, but there is no guarantee that there will be significant amounts of electrically made cement and steel in the future.

Additionally, there is no way to eliminate the release of large amounts of carbon dioxide that occur simply as a by-product of the production of cement, steel, and plastic. In the zero-carbon future, all the carbon released from such industrial processes must be directly offset through sequestration in plants and soil. This may be minimal, given the imperative to restore a stable climate by drawing excess carbon from the atmosphere, not simply by attempting to balance current emissions.

The ultimate result is that, in our all-electric future, there will likely be much less of the building materials we use now. This raises other ethical questions for landscape architects: For whom and to what purpose should these limited materials be used?

An all-electric future also directly affects current construction methods. Carbon-fueled machines are taken for granted on most projects. Without fossil fuels, heavy machinery must be powered with either electricity or some combustible substance such as biodiesel. It is not feasible to electrify these machines using a fixed electric grid; imagine an excavator or backhoe connected to an overhead power line or even a power cord. Also, it appears that switching heavy machines to electric battery power is not possible given the physics of batteries. Alternative fuels such as biodiesel will likely be limited as well. Scaling up biofuels to come anywhere near the 35 billion barrels of oil a year the global economy currently consumes could negatively affect food production as energy crops are substituted for food crops.

Future travel of significant distance will also be at the mercy of electrical grids and even the wind. Trains and sailing ships will likely have a future, while airplanes and long-haul trucks might not. This will determine material choices and supply chains, but also the ability to serve clients. The travel radius imposed by the zero-carbon reality may be considerably smaller than today.

Landscape architects might wonder if these stark implications are just fake news. Unfortunately, climate change is not a hoax, and neither are the limits of an all-renewables-based economy. There appear to be no solutions to our predicament if we continue to burn fossil fuels. Current carbon emissions cannot be mitigated through massive tree planting. To do so would take tree planting over an area larger than the state of California just to offset one years global carbon emissions. We will run out of planet on which to plant trees, let alone food, before we run out of fossil fuels. While both reforestation and afforestation, in appropriate landscapes, are vital responses to global warming, their primary value is in drawing down carbon from the atmosphere, not masking massive emissions.

The various rating systems, known by their acronyms, are not a complete answer at this point. These systems rely on carbon efficiency as one measure of compliance in supposedly green projects. Carbon efficiency is important in the short term, but it is not the same as zero carbon, which means all carbon emissions on every project are directly balanced by documented sequestration in plants and soils.

Finally, there is a persistent belief that there are technological solutions to our predicament. But technology is not energy. Technology simply allows society to exploit energy in ways deemed beneficial. Ultimately, there appears to be no realistic technology that will allow society to keep burning fossil fuels without unimaginable consequences.

Our society is in the early stages of an epochal transition. The shapes and limits of the near future are becoming clear owing to the needed and urgent responses to climate change. However, even if nothing meaningful is done in response to climate change, humanity still faces the realities of resource depletion and ecosystem destruction. Addressing these crises is equally as vital as addressing climate change. For even in climate denial, those issues will remain, and then the climate will have been heated, perhaps intolerably. There is no escaping what Robert Louis Stevenson once termed the banquet of consequences.

Ultimately, the Paris Agreements imperative to end the fossil fuel era presents several fundamental questions for practitioners and teachers of landscape architecture, the answers to which may determine the fate of the profession. Some of these questions are: What is the essence of landscape architecture? Who benefits from landscape architecture? How is the work of landscape architecture done? How do the products of landscape architecture evolve? The longer it takes to address these questions, the more difficult it will be to adapt to the zero-carbon reality.

The world needs landscape architects more than ever, to help society adapt to climate change, to assist efficient and artful carbon drawdown, to restore ecosystems, and to improve quality of life for people. Yet, many of the tools and processes now considered essential to those tasks soon wont be available because of carbon limits. Landscape architects must learn instead to work within the parameters of the zero-carbon future. In doing so, they will gain the practical experience and, more important, the moral authority to be the leaders of the climate-saving energy transition.

Steve Austin, ASLA, teaches landscape architecture, urban planning, and construction law at Washington State University.

This story is part of Covering Climate Now, a global collaboration of more than 250 news outlets to strengthen coverage of the climate story.

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CAN WE GET TO ZERO? - Landscape Architecture Magazine

PHILADELPHIA, Sept. 18, 2019 /PRNewswire/ --Livent Corporation (LTHM) is pleased to announce a collaboration with E3 Metals Corp. (ETMC.V) ("E3 Metals") whereby the two companies will seek to advance the development of E3 Metals' proprietary direct lithium extraction process. Work under this agreement will focus on E3 Metals' petro-lithium brines located in the Leduc Formation in Alberta, Canada.

Livent Corporation (PRNewsfoto/Livent Corporation)

Livent will contribute its technical expertise and up to US$ 5.5 million to the joint development project. In exchange, upon completion of the project and satisfaction of the full US $5.5 million in funding, Livent will have the opportunity to convert its investment into a 19.9% ownership stake in E3 Metals and appoint one member to its Board of Directors, provided Livent maintains not less than a 5% equity interest.

Paul Graves, president and chief executive officer of Livent commented, "Livent has been a pioneer in the lithium industry for over 60 years. Collaborating with E3 Metals provides an opportunity to build on our rich heritage of innovation and to bring exciting new possibilities to our customers around the world."

About Livent For more than six decades, Livent has partnered with its customers to safely and sustainably use lithium to power the world. Livent is one of only a small number of companies with the capability, reputation, and know-how to produce high-quality finished lithium compounds that are helping meet the growing demand for lithium. The company has one of the broadest product portfolios in the industry, powering demand for green energy, modern mobility, the mobile economy, and specialized innovations, including light alloys and lubricants. Livent employs approximately 800 people throughout the world and operates manufacturing sites in the United States, England, India, China and Argentina. For more information, visit livent.com.

About E3 Metals Corp.E3 Metals is a lithium development company with 6.7 million tonnes lithium carbonate equivalent (LCE) inferred mineral resources1 in Alberta. Through the commercialization of its proprietary ion exchange lithium extraction technology, E3 plans to quickly move towards the production of high purity, battery grade, lithium products.

E3 Metals combines a significant in situ resource and innovative technology solutions that have the potential to deliver lithium to market in one of the best jurisdictions in the world. The development of this lithium resource through brine production is a well-understood venture in Alberta, where this brine is currently being produced to surface through extensive oil and gas development.

For more information about E3 Metals, visit http://www.e3metalscorp.com.

Safe Harbor Statement under the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995: Certain statements in this news release are forward-looking statements. In some cases, you can identify these statements by forward-looking words such as "may," "might," "will," "should," "expects," "intends," "plans," "anticipates," "believes," "estimates," "predicts," "potential," or "continue," the negative of these terms and other comparable terminology. These forward-looking statements, which are subject to risks, uncertainties and assumptions about Livent, may include projections of Livent's future financial performance, Livent's anticipated growth strategies and anticipated trends in Livent's business. These statements are only predictions based on Livent's current expectations and projections about future events. There are important factors that could cause Livent's actual results, level of activity, performance or achievements to differ materially from the results, level of activity, performance or achievements expressed or implied by the forward-looking statements, including a decline in the growth in demand for electric vehicles; adverse global economic conditions; the success of Livent's research and development efforts; volatility in the price for performance lithium compounds; risks relating to Livent's planned production expansion and related capital expenditures; reduced customer demand, or delays in growth of customer demand, for higher performance lithium compounds, the potential development and adoption of battery technologies that do not rely on performance lithium compounds as an input; risks inherent in international operations and sales, including political, financial and operational risks specific to Argentina, China and other countries where Livent has active operations; customer concentration and the possible loss of, or significant reduction in orders from, large customers; failure to satisfy customer quality standards; fluctuations in the price of energy and certain raw materials; failure to achieve the expected benefits of Livent's separation from FMC as well as the other factors described under the caption entitled "Risk Factors" in Livent's 2018 Form 10-K filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on February 28, 2019, the first quarter 2019 Form 10-Q filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on May 8, 2019, and the second quarter 2019 Form 10-Q filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on August 7, 2019. Although Livent believes the expectations reflected in the forward-looking statements are reasonable, Livent cannot guarantee future results, level of activity, performance or achievements. Moreover, neither Livent nor any other person assumes responsibility for the accuracy and completeness of any of these forward-looking statements. Livent is under no duty to update any of these forward-looking statements after the date of this news release to conform its prior statements to actual results or revised expectations.

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Livent and E3 Metals Announce Joint Development Agreement to Advance Lithium Extraction Process and Technology - Yahoo Finance

The majority of plastic that is produced becomes waste. Considering how plastic can take up to 500 years in order to decompose, recycling must take precedence and reduce the negative impact that this material can have on our planet. However, not all types of plastics are recyclable. For example, black plastic food trays are still impossible to recycle and tend to end up as waste.

The PowerHouse Energy Group is taking these non-recyclable plastics and turning them into raw materials (feedstock) which can be converted into gas. In order to do this, the British start-up has created the DMG System, which carries out this process in an environmentally responsible and economically viable manner. The DMG technology can actually be used to dispose of a wide range of waste products by using them as feedstock. This is subsequently converted into their EcoSynthesis Gas during a combustion-free process.

Their technology leaves a minor footprint which utilizes less than half an acre, making it ideal for a variety of situations. On top of that, the gas produced by PowerHouse Energy is in turn able to be used to produce chemical precursors, enables extraction of a stream of ultra-pure hydrogen gas, or is capable of generating electricity for use within a business enterprise.

Innovation Origins talked with director David Ryan about the 8- year-old start-up and the challenges of bringing this technology to the market.

We are a waste-to-energy technology company, we are focusing on regeneration of non-recyclable plastics and old components for the production of a clean gas that can be used as a replacement for natural gas in energy generation. Or alternatively, for where there is a market for hydrogen use as a resource. We do this by separating hydrogen from the gas so as to produce hydrogen which is compatible for fuel cells.

Okay, non-recyclable plastics are typically plastics that are contaminated or those for which there is no current recycling scheme. At present, these include black food plastic trays or the hard plastic that we use for garden furniture and such like. Generally, there is no recycling available for these and these kinds of plastics will most likely end up in a landfill.

So, that sort of defines what feedstock is. What we do with it is: we introduce the feedstock into a controlled environment and then melt down the plastics until they are vaporized. We monitor the environment so that we eventually break down all of the long chain hydrocarbons, which gives us a mixture of gas principally made up of methane, carbon monoxide and hydrogen.

Technically, the unit we are currently working with has a capacity for 25 tons, but in our planning application for the first site, we have actually asked for the site to have a capacity of 40 tons. We think that the process will scale up to 40 tons, to a certain extent the process will work better this way.

However, at the moment the plant is working with 25 tons per day. It is a module plant and its a bit like it was dropped out of the back of a lorry. What I mean is that the main process unit itself is a bit bigger than a container, but only just a bit bigger than a container.

That would be a volume of about 30 square meters of gas, 30 to 35 depending on the sort of plastic. The gas has about the same sort of energy value as natural gas. That varies from 30 to 40 megajoules per kilogram.

In the UK and in many parts of the industrial world, it would normally come from plastic recycling companies. Commercial and domestic waste goes to a major recycler. It first gets sorted in a municipal facility. Then it goes on to a plastic recycler who does a more careful selection of the plastic that they want. Lastly, what comes to our process is the plastic they are unable to use. It usually has been through three levels of sorting before it reaches our PowerHouse equipment.

No, no. We are currently developing our first site here in the UK because this is where we are based. But it could be anywhere, and we carry out analysis of feedstock at each location so as to make sure that we are able to fine-tune the chamber conditions for the plastic in those countries. Because plastic, and how plastics are used, does vary from country to country.

We are closer to the old form of municipal gas, before natural gas was ever used. This means we have carbon monoxide content, as well as methane. As such, in some ways it seems like I am going back to the future by generating a municipal gas. Some parts of the world are looking into shifting towards a hydrogen economy. And this is one of the ways for switching over to a hydrogen-based economy, as we are already using a greater proportion of hydrogen in the gas stream.

Yes. So, typically we can produce a volume of between 1 and 2 tons of hydrogen for fuel cell-powered trucks and shipping vessels. Therefore, one ton of hydrogen provides enough fuel for 30 trucks covering 300 miles. Normally, we would replace diesel, which has a daily production of about 70 tons of CO2. And a fuel cell-powered truck only produces water, there is no pollution.

The company should not have gone to the market when it did, which was without the technology. So, there was and is always the market expectation that were ready to go. While it takes such a long time to develop the technology. That was one. The biggest challenge is then securing sufficient funding in order to complete the research and development phase. And at the moment, my biggest challenge will be building the first factory. We have a demonstration-sized plant, but we have to build a full-sized commercial plant. Building that thats my next challenge.

Yes, and the laboratory and the desk engineering and such like. We are confident in the scale-up. Think about it, if you consider that we are introducing a huge amount of plastic into a chamber which it is about 800 degrees C, it is not such a technical challenge to envisage how the plastic will melt and turn into gas. This is why the scale-up issue is, in fact, related to the characteristics of the gas. As in, we need to make sure that the gas we are seeking in the commercial plant, is going to be exactly the same that we find in the demonstration plant. Although we do have a more synergistic approach. We check the work that we are currently carrying out and are using it as a benchmark.

Getting the gas, producing the gasses. We did the desk engineering, the theoretical models and then went on and did the actual demonstration so as to prove that we were getting a syngas comprised of more than 60 percent hydrogen. This is good for precision-engineered hydrogen production. That was fantastic.

The actual commercial contract we signed for our first factory that felt pretty good as well.

This year we are applying for a permit for the first block of land. We are also h0ping to secure funding for 11 plants. Which means that I am talking to pension investment advisors and investment companies, etc., with the aim of funding a UK pipeline for 11 projects. And then next year I will be looking into developing 2 or 3 other sites.

We have a unique product, there are similar companies working on waste oils, although at present, no one else seems to be busy with the waste gas route, specifically not with hydrogen. In this case, we see ourselves as the pioneers within the hydrogen economy.

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Start-up of the day: turning non-recyclable plastics into synthetic gas - Innovation Origins

The importance of data has been talked about again and again. Data is being rightfully called as a resource by many and has been compared to oil. You cant actually see data like you can see other commodities. Also, no one talks about the term Data Industry like there is Oil Industry. Most data companies are viewed as tech companies. I want to give a different perspective of the data industry by comparing it to oil industry as more people understand about oil industry. Also, if we are talking about data as a resource I will write about data resources of India.

Data industry comprises of a lot of companies that use data as a key resource or raw material. Majority of famous tech companies these days are data companies. These companies are called tech companies because we only see their technical products. Most of these companies have built modern systems that collect, process, extract and deliver data. That is a key part of their business and technology.

Statement 1: Data companies are those that use data as a raw material. In general, these companies process data for different use cases and make a product or make a product to gather data and then process data. These companies are worth more than a trillion dollar. Compare it with oil, where crude oil is the raw material, it is processed with the use of heavy machinery and then made into suitable products. Very similar. However, the trading procedure of crude oil is properly defined.

Inference: Data is a valuable resource like oil. You might have read it online before as well nothing new here.

India is very very diverse country with 1.3 billion people. From nature to humans we have a lot of data compared to other countries. We are literally sitting on a data mine. If data is a resource like other resources, that should put us in a strong position globally in the data industry. You would assume that our data is being protected and we are making good amount of money from our data resources. Sadly, this is not the scenario. In fact, the situation is completely different. Although, this is a global issue not specific to India.

Personal data of billions of people in India has already been taken over by large multinational companies. These companies have built great platforms. Can you imagine this thing happening with oil, that a company just comes to India takes oil and says:

Hey, we are going to sell you petroleum out of it, thank us later.

Current laws and regulations are centered around how the company that has collected data, uses the data, that is, processes or extracts the data. One noteworthy thing is that there is no compensation to the data provider. The government is also not benefiting from this trade. Also, these companies are easily able to justify their actions based on current laws and regulations. Most of the companies would term themselves as advertisement companies but are actually data companies, rather data collecting companies. Also, the collected data is sold to many other companies/partners for a lot of money. Again, the data provider gets no monetary compensation. This is also due to the fact that there arent properly defined data trading laws and markets. I am pretty sure there is a black market for data, although I havent verified the claim.

Data drain: Collection of data from Indian citizens to the servers of these companies, located in a few world leading countries.

Statement 2: Crude oil is sold as a raw material. It is sold as a commodity. Data in India is just being collected, processed and sold without the people of India or the government getting anything out of it. This is data loot. Although law doesnt categorize it as loot and we are not being forced to give away data. Its just that we are being tricked.

Imagine this happening in the colonial era, colonial powers coming to India, getting all the raw materials, making products out of it and selling them to us. In my opinion, it is a fair comparison.

When will we start valuing our data resources?

In the current system we look really stupid. The problem with data is that, it is not matter and most of the people who are above voting age dont understand its value. I dont blame them. People are giving away their data for free.

What answers would we give to our future generations?

To them it would be like, we had a lot of data, we didnt know how to use it or process it. We gave it away for free. But hey, we had a lot of data.

China has very effective policies to monitor personal data of their citizens and their country, in general. Many people call it autocratic rule, but again we only see or find out about China what these data companies want us to.

India is a data hub, we have more than 1.3 billion people. We need to protect and safeguard our interests in this regard. We still have a lot of data that needs to be protected. This would be when people actually start realizing the worth of data. I dont see this happening anytime soon.

The main point: With China almost restricting access to its data resources and India being a data hub, it gives us an excellent opportunity to take initiatives on a global level to start developing an ecosystem where the 3 involved parties, the corporates, the government and data providers benefit more. The world needs an open platform where data can be traded freely, entities buying data arent scrutinized for their usage of data and also data providers get compensated. This will open up a lot of employment opportunities, keep the companies happy and a lot of other consequences. This will give a major boost to our economy. Although, again I dont see India taking this step, perhaps the EU will do something.

Statement 3: Many algorithms (all AI/ML algos) require data for development. These algorithms in turn help in generating profit. I think it is fair for data providers to get some monetary compensation for providing data. It could be achieved via data royalty.

There could be data royalty programs which provide royalty to data providers based on the value of their data. This itself is a very big opportunity. There could be data banks to store data. Data royalty would also suppress these powerful multinational giants and ensure monetary compensation to data provider. Although most people wont understand data royalty at first and it would require much more time to explain, its a thing for future. The first step is in accepting that there is an issue that needs to be addressed.

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Data Laws In India And How Economy Is Suffering - IndianWeb2.com

Alaskans worried that BPs sale of its Prudhoe Bay assets to Hilcorp means Alaskas oil and gas potential is waning can be reassured: Hilcorps growing strength is just the beginning of a new wave of investment and activity heralding a more energetic phase in our resource-rich states top industry. Here are a few examples.

When we faced a potential gas shortage in Cook Inlet in 2012, Houston-based Hilcorp was purchasing mature fields from Chevron and Marathon. Hilcorp then embarked on a vigorous drilling and efficiency program, increasing oil and gas production and ensuring reliable energy supplies for Southcentral Alaska.

Hilcorp next took their plan north, buying in to four of BPs North Slope units in 2014. Most recently they began producing viscous oil from their Moose Pad at Milne Point, increasing field production to levels not seen in years. With declining oil throughput in the trans-Alaska oil pipeline, Hilcorps aggressive strategy is delivering the kind of results Alaskans need, and the jobs critical to our economic security.

Oil Search, a Papua-New Guinea independent new to Alaska, is systematically, deliberately and thoughtfully pursuing its Pikka development, aiming to start oil production in under four years. Pikka will create high-paying jobs and boost state royalty revenue, and could increase pipeline throughput up to 2%. Oil Search and its partners Armstrong, a Colorado independent, and Repsol, a Spanish global oil company, have several other North Slope prospects that may not be far behind.

U.S. major ConocoPhillips may bring its Willow prospect online about the same time as Pikka, increasing oil production by a similar amount. This expansion of development westward from Alpine and Greater Mooses Tooth into the National Petroleum Reserve-Alaska will add critical infrastructure, making other western prospects more commercially feasible.

London-based newcomer Premier Oil, in partnership with Australian independent 88 Energy and Texas independent Burgundy Xploration, plans to drill this winter to further evaluate a block of leases called Project Icewine, 50 miles southwest of Prudhoe Bay. Weve known since the 1960s this area holds potential for oil discoveries, and these optimistic independents believe they can bring this prospective area into production.

Other veteran and new independents have big exploration and development plans. We saw expressions of interest at CERAWeek last March, and Im confident well see evidence of that interest at the states North Slope areawide lease sale on Dec. 11.

Lease sales generate immediate revenue for Alaskans through lease sale bonus bids and rents, and are the third-largest source of revenue generated by the Division of Oil & Gas, after production royalties and net profit shares. Last year, lease sales brought in over $28 million to support the General Fund, Alaska Permanent Fund, and others.

Along with its regular lease offerings, the State plans to offer three Special Alaska Lease Sale Area (SALSA) blocks. These contiguous lease blocks represent a unique opportunity to acquire lease rights combined with a trove of associated well and seismic data and other information compiled by the State. The intent is to jump-start a companys understanding of the North Slope and thereby accelerate drilling and development plans.

Also in December, the Bureau of Land Management will offer leases in the NPR-A and, for the first time ever and after decades of waiting, tracts in North Americas most prospective onshore prospect: the coastal plain of the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge.

Clearly, there are many reasons to be optimistic about the future of oil and gas in Alaska. New technologies, new investments and new players will add more jobs in the industry, more money in the economy and state treasury, and put more oil in the pipeline. Last winter was the North Slopes busiest in 15 years. That trend continues.

James B. Beckham is acting director of the Alaska Department of Natural Resources Division of Oil & Gas.

James B. Beckham is acting director of the Alaska Department of Natural Resources Division of Oil Gas.

Read more:

Opinion: Alaska's oil and gas future looks strong - Kenai Peninsula Online

Oil and Rentier States: How Falling Oil Prices Will Affect the Middle East

Kevin Butler

Introduction

Less than a decade after weathering massive geo-political upheavals from the Arab Springs, the Middle East is on the verge of yet another crisis; the plummeting price of crude oil. Rentier states in the Middle East, have for several decades, secured their status-quo by building an overwhelming portion of their economy dedicated to the sale of crude oil.[i] While the rentier system has been successful in propping up Middle Eastern governments for decades, the downside to this system is the economic and political uncertainty created by the rapidly changing value in a single commodity.[ii] With an anticipated drop in the price of crude oil, the recent stability of the Middle East is likely to become vulnerable as governments begin to experience a significant economic downturn.

Background

The term rentier state comes from the sale of rents, or single commodities, established to fuel a states economy and overall political structure.[iii] For example, a form of universal basic income exists in Kuwait; while this placates the middle class and prevents upheaval, it is only made possible through the sale of massive amounts of its countrys natural resources.[iv] Conventional wisdom suggests the primary recipients of these consequences will be the oil exporting countries such as Saudi Arabia, the UAE, and Kuwait. However, non-rentier states such as Jordan and Egypt find themselves at large risk for upheaval as well; oil profits from rentier states have been subsidizing major parts of the economies of neighboring nations in order to foster alliances and stability.[v] Thus, an oil crisis is set to affect not just rentier countries, but virtually the entirety of the Middle East. The purpose of this project is to analyze the consequences of a possible permanent drop in oil prices, and the possible follow-on effects to the stability of Middle Eastern governments. It is important to note that the Middle East isnt just facing an immediate crisis from the immediate drop in prices, instead it is a long term problem that will take decades to return from.

Methodology

This paper examines the likelihood of conflict in a given nation caused by falling oil prices. First, a correlation between falling oil prices and instability are determined by examining trending data analysis. Second, in order to determine how negative economic factors can contribute to political instability the Human Development Index (HDI) is measured against political instability, coupled with the GDP per capita being measured against the likelihood of conflict in a given area. Third, the estimated value of crude oil is determined from available open source data on projected oil values. Fourth, case studies of the UAE and Egypt are used to predict likely real-world outcomes based on previous trends from both Gulf and non-Gulf states in the Middle East. Finally, anticipated long-term impacts, consequences of falling value, and preventative measures provide an outline for progress moving forward.

Human Development vs Political Instability

The World Banks Human Development Index (HDI) is a collection of data used to track overall progress of a nation regarding the welfare of its people. It combines life expectancy, education, per capita income, etc., to give an overall picture of a nations health. Political stability is an index calculated by several factors that affect a governments ability to effectively formulate and implement sound policies[vi] Figure 1 outlines the positive correlation between stability and HDI, as well as the inverse; lower levels of political stability correlates positively with a lower HDI.[vii] In other words, countries that face instability in their governments are more likely to suffer on a larger scale. Figure 1 supports the theory that a given event in the Middle East that may disrupt governments will likely reverberate on large scale crises across the region.

Figure 1: Political Stability and Human Development Index for all countries

GDP per Capita vs Likelihood of Conflict

If a conflict capable of causing political disruption has the ability to affect an entire nation, then the next step in understanding the impact of lower oil value comes from examining the correlation between the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) and the probability that has on a nations likelihood to experience political conflict. Figure 2 displays the negative correlation between a high GDP and the likelihood of conflict.[viii] The lower a nations GDP, the more likely it is to observe a new conflict. A major problem with the rentier system prevalent in the Middle East is the lack of economic diversity; developed nations trend toward having diversified economies.[ix] Diversity in an economy allows for a failsafe in the event certain industries suffer. The problem with basing an economy around the exportation of a single natural resource is that if the single resource loses value, the entire GDP is at risk of plummeting.[x] For this reason, falling oil values will lead to lower GDPs throughout the Middle East, leading to a higher likelihood of conflict.

Figure 2: GDP per Capita and the probability of observing a new conflict

Past vs Future Crude Oil Values

Crude oil value is expected to decline steadily over the next several decades. The two main factors are an increase in supply due to future efficiency in extraction methods, as well as the increase in reliance on alternative energy.[xi] The United States success in hydrolic fracturing extraction, otherwise known as fracking has led the U.S. Department of Energy to claim that by 2035 45% of the United States gas consumption will be via fracked oil.[xii] Likewise, the McCinsy Institute, experts in global economic projections, argue that by 2035 alternative clean energy sources (not including fracking) will make up nearly half of all energy demand worldwide.[xiii] Figure 3 displays the anticipated decrease in demand for liquid energy (crude oil) through 2035.[xiv] Consequently, a significant increase in oil supply combined with a decrease in oil demand will likely lead to a slow and steady decline in oil value through at least 2050.[xv]

Figure 3: Global Liquids supply and demand under Accelerated Energy Transition case

Case Studies

United Arab Emirates

The United Arab Emirates provides a good blueprint for Gulf nations moving forward. Despite initially constructing their economy around their sale of crude oil, the UAE has since recognized this weakness, and is currently making attempts at wider economic diversification. The United Arab Emirates have long avoided political instability by ensuring its citizens have their needs met via a robust welfare system. [xvi]Over 90% of employed Emiratis work for the government, and subsidies for peoples normal expensive affairs, such as marriage, are often paid for by the government.[xvii] However, this system is only possible through the massive profits generated by the UAEs exportation of crude oil. In addition, the UAEs homogeny in its economy means even a relatively slight dip in oil prices could threaten their entire country with recession. To the UAEs credit, they have made significant efforts in the past decade to diversify their economy in an attempt to lessen the devastation caused by falling oil value. The now famous tourist landmarks that dot the landscape of Abu Dhabi are a clear example of their attempts to lean into other industries.[xviii] While hedging its bets on tourism certainly isnt the perfect solution, the UAE has at least identified the need to branch out into other industries. Major oil exporting countries in the Middle East would be wise to follow the UAEs lead in economic diversification if they wish to increase their chances of stability in the future.

Egypt

Egypt faces a more difficult future with no clear economic reform plan. While oil exporting gulf states must prepare for an incoming economic recession, non-exporting countries should fear for their stability as well. Nations on friendly terms with OPEC often receive large grants and subsidies in order to keep their own economies afloat during turbulent times.[xix] During the turn of the century, on average, 10% of Egypts GDP came from Gulf state grants and remittances. Following extreme political instability from 2011-2015, OPEC nations sent billions in aid to Egypt for the explicit purpose of ensuring the stability of the government.[xx] While Egypt doesnt have the economic power to mimic the UAEs welfare system, it does still depend largely on subsidies to its citizens to guarantee compliance. However, the risk of reduction of these subsidizes has plagued stability in Egypt for the past decade. In April of 2019 the government announced a new cut to fuel subsidies, citing poor economic development as the culprit.[xxi] Experts fear this recent cut will only contribute to the unstable situation Egypt has found itself since the Arab Spring began.[xxii] Gulf countries facing major economic recession will likely slash foreign aid to non-exporting countries such as Egypt, which in turn, could affect the stability of the entire Middle East.

Impact

Several sectors of Middle Eastern society require reform in avoid long term consequences. While extreme economic reform is necessary, success in the future will ultimately hinge on each countrys ability to adapt politically as well. Preventing collapse after oil falls cannot be singularly accomplished through investment diversity. A fall in oil will affect not just the economy, but the overall social contract governments have held with their people for nearly a century. Certain steps, such as privatization, attracting foreign investment, and integrating into the global economy can only be achieved if political transparency rises and political corruption falls.[xxiii] Breaking of social contracts has already caused major problems in the region. Tunisia, Egypt, Syria, and Yemen have all seen revolutions and civil wars this past decade, in large part due to its citizenry losing trust in their government. According to the Corruption Percentage Index (PCI) developed by Transparency International, Middle Eastern governments ranked among the worlds lowest in terms of transparency for the past decade.[xxiv]

The recent 2019 attacks on Abqaiq and Khurais oil facilities in Saudi Arabia point to major weaknesses in the security of Saudi Arabias oil infrastructure. The attacks reduced the countrys oil output by nearly half that day, dropping the entire worlds supply by 5%.[xxv] The Houthi-led attack displayed a new dynamic in which to fight in the Middle East; by attacking economic infrastructure. Historically, guerilla attacks in the Middle East tended to target political, military, or social targets. This recent attack is significant to future developments because it displays not only the effectiveness of attacking economic infrastructure, but also the security weaknesses of these targets. Rentier states now need to diversify not only due to future dropping oil prices, but also for short term economic reasons as well. If attacking oil refineries continues to be effective, more attacks should be expected in the future. Likewise, if attacks continue, oil markets can become extremely volatile until security issues are resolved. Regardless of whether it jumps or dips, an overall volatile market is a death sentence for rentier states; lack of economic diversification combined with an unpredictable market will drive away foreign investment. Foreign investment is key to allowing rentier states to diversify. Until Saudi Arabia (and all OPEC states) can strengthen security of their facilities to the point where attacks are no longer effective, their ability to attract foreign investment and by extension, pull themselves out of their rentier economic cycle, will continue to decline.

Long term foreign investment is dependent on a given nations ability to persuade shareholders that political turbulence is unlikely to occur. Likewise, successful privatization of industries is dependent on international corporations having high trust and confidence in the reigning government to not drastically change the dynamic of their country.[xxvi] A significant reduction in political corruption, and an increase in political transparency is necessary in countries that wish to join the international economy on a level outside of oil exportation.

Conclusion

Ever since the discovery of oil in the Middle East in the mid-20th century, the region has relied heavily on rentier government systems to secure their stability.[xxvii] However, this system has always precariously depended on the value of a single natural resource in order to prevent total collapse. While rentier systems are prone to economic swings, unemployment is another major concern. Oil extraction and exportation requires such little personnel employment that a massive percentage of Gulf nations need to provide for their citizens via an extensive welfare system. These welfare systems in turn are only made possible through the profits generated from oil. A long-term shortage of profits means governments will no longer be able to placate their citizens with money, and unemployment will start to emerge as a major concern. Given this foundation, falling oil value could threaten to unravel the social contract between Middle Eastern citizenry and their governments. Doing so will likely lead to a major increase in political stability, which in turn could lead to major crises throughout the region. If Middle Eastern countries wish to see a way out of this trajectory, they should look to the example set by the UAE for economic diversification by investing in new industries. However, major economic reforms are only possible if governments reform politically in conjunction. Corruption and political turmoil turn away foreign investors, and thus, any chance at joining the global economy.[xxviii] The Middle East can wade through this incoming crisis, but major economic and political reforms are necessary first. Failure to do so could create extreme large-scale problems in the Middle East, perpetuating the cycle of poor development in the region.

Addendum

The recent 2019 attacks on Saudi Arabias oil facilities required an update to this essay, given their relevance to the subject and the impacts they will have on the region. As of September 17, 2019, the date of this essay, there are still details emerging regarding the attacks. As of this writing, the Houthi rebels have claimed responsibility for the attacks, however, no evidence yet exists to the public that can definitively point to the source. The United States claimed Iran is responsible, France claims they have seen no evidence of responsibility from anyone yet, Iran denies involvement, and the Houthi rebels have claimed responsibility.[xxix] There is some evidence to suggest the point of origin of the strike may be near Iraq or Iran, but no definitive perpetrator can be proven as of this writing.[xxx] Regardless, theorizing who is responsible has no effect on the significance it holds to this essay. While details are still emerging, the fact remains that the recent attacks certainly display a weakness in OPEC security, and display a new dynamic by which to attack these states. For this reason, it was relevant to include under the Impacts section of this essay.

End Notes

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Oil and Rentier States: How Falling Oil Prices Will Affect the Middle East - smallwarsjournal

Moose FM is doing a series of interviews with the MLA candidates in the 16 unacclaimed districts for the upcoming NWT election. Every Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday and Friday from September 16th-26th, two regions will be uploaded to the website to give you the reader, a better idea of what is going on in your district and who may be representing you for the next four years.

Emails were sent out with the questions to every single MLA candidate along with multiple follow up emails reminding the candidates to get back to us. We figured this would be the best way to put out the most amount of information on the candidates as well as best informing you about your districts. If a candidate does not appear in their districts article, it means they did not get back to us with their answers, something they were notified would happen in the sent emails.

For today, the two regions that will be posted are Great Slave and Yellowknife South. This article will be focused on Yellowknife South where Bob McLeod is the incumbent. He was first elected into office during the 2007 territorial election however he did not seek re-election. The two candidates riding are Gaeleen MacPherson and Caroline Wawzonek.

What made you decide to run?

MacPherson I am running for office because my community and territory are facing challenging times and I want to help. With my background and experience, I believe I can help provide solutions to issues such as an uncertain economic situation, the need to improve our public services, to provide better education and training opportunities for our youth or to address the social issues that affect too many of our residents.

Wawzonek I want the next generation of northerners, including my children, to have access to the kinds of opportunities in Yellowknife that my husband and I enjoy. I hear and see many exciting ideas for the NWT that could build future opportunities and I am frustrated when there does not appear to be leadership action to move those ideas forward. I see opportunities for more effective processes and more accountable leadership that is engaged with the front lines of government service. I decided it is time to put my advocacy skills to use to help build future opportunities and move ideas to action.

What qualifications do you have to lead your region as MLA?

MacPherson I was born, raised and educated in the North, my family lives here and I am raising a family here. Ive worked for most of my career in the mining industry and have held a number of progressively senior positions. In those roles, I have worked with senior executives from multinational corporations, with territorial and federal politicians and officials, with Chiefs and communities and with working folks trying to make ends meet. I think it is my ability to work with people, build positive relationships and craft solutions to complex problems that is the most important attribute that I would bring to the role of MLA in the service of the people of Yellowknife South.

Wawzonek

What is the platform youre running on?

MacPherson My platform is based on four key pillars: Growing our economy and reducing the cost of living, improving our healthcare system, educating Northerners and protecting our environment.

Wawzonek My vision is an NWT that is prosperous, healthy and educated. I believe we can achieve this with results-driven leadership that empowers people. We will prosper when we

I think we will improve health outcomes by prioritizing the health of our frontline care providers and focusing on prevention and patient-centred care. I believe in the process of renewing our education system including support for teachers in classrooms and moving forward with a polytechnical university.

If there was one issue affecting your region that you would like to change during your term, what would it be and why?

MacPherson Providing greater economic certainty and reducing the cost of living for Yellowknife South and territorial residents will be an important focus for me if elected. These are the key issues that are at the core of current residents decisions to remain in the North or leave, and we must stem the tide of the outmigration that we are continuing to see.

Wawzonek We need a strong, collaborative and unified vision for our economic future. Our political leadership then needs to be decisive to deliver actions that will help inspire economic growth. I believe the ideas already exist in the NWT to achieve economic prosperity but we need to act on them and see them through to results. For example, reinvigorating our mineral resource sector with stricter regulatory timelines is not a new idea but still projects struggle to move forward efficiently; similarly, we need to move past feasibility studies and make choices to invest in cleaner and less expensive sources of energy.

What is your strategy for tackling climate change in the North?

MacPherson The one area that I would focus on immediately if elected is reducing our reliance on fossil fuels for industry and communities. We need to make additional investments in renewable energy, such as wind, solar and biomass, both in the short and long-term. More importantly, we need to work with the next federal governments to expand our hydroelectric capacity. This will help to lessen our impact on the environment and to reduce our high cost of living.

Wawzonek

What are your current and future plans for the NWTs mining industry?

MacPherson To focus on creating the right incentives for mineral exploration and development to help extend the life of our current mines and, more importantly, to develop the Norths next mines and opportunities for future generations. We also need to do far better with future mines to ensure the jobs go to Northerners and the economic benefits stay here.

Wawzonek The NWT needs to urgently raise exploration investment and support early-stage projects towards successful development. I would start from the 2014 Mineral Development Strategy that was produced in partnership with the NWT/NU Chamber of Mines. We need to review the recommendations from that partnership, improve implementation and determine whether actions are having the intended impacts. The Mineral Resource Act regulations, among others, are an opportunity to take ownership and responsibility for our regulatory systems, ensure that processes are scaled to project sizes and provide certainty and timeliness.

The cost of living is a common issue in the NWT, how do you think the territory should approach the issue?

MacPherson Supporting the Taltson hydroelectricity expansion to create a grid interconnect between the North and South Slave regions and undertaking a review of all taxes is a good starting point for the 19th Legislative Assembly.

Wawzonek In addition avoiding or minimizing further increases in fees for government services, I believe we can have an impact on both the cost of living and the cost of doing business by focusing on energy infrastructure, improving the availability of land access for municipal development and improving options for childcare to support the labour market and reduce household costs. Efforts that target both residents and businesses have potentially double the impact: Reducing the cost of living for residents reduces pressure for higher wages; reducing the cost of doing business should reduce pressure for higher costs of goods and services.

With the population of NWT continuing to shrink, what ideas do you have to combat it?

MacPherson We need to look at making immediate changes that help to reduce the cost of living here in Yellowknife and across the North, thereby making the Northwest Territories a more attractive place to live. Likewise, we need to grow our economy, create more jobs and make the Northwest Territories a more attractive place to invest in.

Wawzonek Make the NWT a destination of choice by acting on a vision to be prosperous, healthy and educated. That includes being a destination of choice for current residents by providing access to education that enables people to be contributing members of their communities as well as programs that help new graduates in trades or degree-based professions stay in or return to the north with apprenticeships and responsive Student Financial Aid programs.

How would you improve post-secondary education in the North, and is a Polytechnic university a good start?

MacPherson Although many Northerners are successful in our school system, our graduation rates continue to trail those in Southern Canada. I believe we need to invest in more teachers to keep our class sizes manageable, but also in hiring more Teaching Assistants who can work with those students who require more support. I fully support the establishment of a Polytechnic university with its primary campus here in Yellowknife. There are so many ways that we can leverage the new university. It can be beneficial in retaining Northerners, attracting new people to the North, and in helping to truly build a sustainable Northern workforce. This can be a great economic diversifier for us. This item would be a priority for me as MLA.

Wawzonek I support an NWT based university to anchor a knowledge economy, create opportunities for residents, and drive diverse partnerships between governments, industry and communities. I believe we should include programs in high-demand professions such as nursing and social work. I also think this is an opportunity to be a leader in our areas of particular strength such as rare earth minerals, technology metals, arctic climate science, permafrost studies and land-based programs. However, we also need to invest in early childhood education so that students have the tools to be ready for post-secondary. We cannot succeed in one without the other.

What support systems do you want to implement to make sure Indigenous communities are not left behind?

MacPherson We need to prioritize building collaborative partnerships with Indigenous Governments. To do this we need better forums that allow for government-to-government dialogue to resolve some of the issues that exist. We need to ensure that we finalize outstanding land claims across the Northwest Territories. This will help to give greater certainty to uncertain regulatory processes and ensure Indigenous communities receive the necessary benefits from all development projects, thereby increasing the likelihood that more land in these areas are opened up to potential development.

Wawzonek

Is there any infrastructure aspects of your region that you would like to see improved upon?

MacPherson We must improve and expand our tourism infrastructure starting with improvements to the Yellowknife airport in order to accommodate international flights, which will help to ensure more tourism dollars stay here in the North rather than other points such as Vancouver, Calgary or Edmonton.

Wawzonek We need to catch-up on infrastructure across sectors from communications to transport to energy. I would focus first on greener energy. Providing cleaner, less costly energy through Territory-wide projects in large scale hydro or connection into the southern grid and community-level hydro, wind, solar or biomass could make resource development more economically feasible, reduce operating costs for all sizes of business and reduce our carbon footprint. It will also help companies looking to assure their investors about their carbon footprint as compared to being reliant on diesel. Improving the reliability and cost of energy and heating should also reduce the residential cost of living.

What are your priorities in terms of health care in the NWT?

MacPherson With the completion of a brand-new Stanton Hospital, we have made great headway in developing our infrastructure for the future. However, a modern hospital needs a full contingent of health care professionals. My family has had numerous and very recent family interactions with the incredible team of health care professionals at Stanton. They provide great services but are stretched far too thin. And we are too dependent on locums or sending our residents to the south even for relatively simple procedures. Weve made the expensive investment in infrastructure, so now lets add the necessary investment in people to provide necessary and beneficial services.

Wawzonek

How would you confront substance abuse in the NWT?

MacPherson Residents and visitors alike recognize the challenges we have with addictions in our City. Our strategy must be two-fold. We need to invest in a northern residential treatment centre, outpatient aftercare and supports that help those in our community struggling with addictions. At the same time, we need to ensure the safety of all residents in our community with additional RCMP resources in the City.

Wawzonek

What ideas would you put forward to expand our regions commercial district?

MacPherson While I think it is critical that we continue to support our mining industry, we also need to focus our efforts on diversifying our economy including the development of sustainable tourism that attracts tourists to stay longer and spend more money in the North. This can be done by ensuring we are incentivizing businesses to develop new tourism products and experiences, not just in Yellowknife, but in other parts of our territory as well.

Wawzonek

The two districts that will be featured tomorrow are Kam Lake and Yellowknife Centre.

Original post:

2019 NWT Election Yellowknife South MLA candidates - My Yellowknife Now

Back in February 2016, shortly after the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals officially were adopted, the worldwide trade association representing most of the worlds leading mobile companies launched an industry-wide push to encourage corporate action supporting them.

Now, responding to pressure from investors all around the globe, the group, GSMA, is kicking off a coordinated effort aimed at improving and standardizing how they disclose climate risks.

This week, more than 50 of the largest wireless network carriers representing two-thirds of mobile connections globally including AT&T, BT Group, China Mobile, Deutsche Telekom, NTT, Orange Group, SoftBank, Vodafone, Verizon and a whos who list from around the world collectively agreed to report information about climate impacts, energy transition plans, greenhouse gas emissions and other ESG concerns using the CDP global disclosure system.

What sorts of concerns should investors have? A vivid illustration comes from California. Earlier this month, the Federal Communications Commission requested information about the contingency plans of cellular service providers including AT&T, Sprint, T-Mobile, U.S. Cellular and Verizon in cases where the state's utilities are directed to switch off power during periods of high wildfire risk. According to coverage in the San Francisco Chronicle, towers can operate for four to 72 hours on existing backup systems. Some providers, via the organization Green Touch Consortium, worked on a five-year project toward the goal earlier this decade. As carriers build out next-generation 5G wireless networks, making sure they run as efficiently as possible and that the sources are increasingly cleaner are central concerns.

Being more transparent is just the first step. GSMA is also coordinating the development of what it calls an industry-wide, climate action roadmap," aligned with the Science Based Targets initiative (SBTi), for achieving net-zero emission GHG emissions by 2050, the goal set out by the Paris Agreement. Many individual companies plan to use this initiative as the foundation of dialogues and meetings next week during the climate meetings in New York, including the United Nations General Assembly, as well as at the Mobile World Congress Americas conference in Los Angeles in October.

By choosing one platform for disclosure, the mobile operators are seeking to make it simpler for investors to compare the plans of companies across the wireless communications sector, something they increasingly have been requesting, said Mats Granyrd, director general of GSMA, during a conversion with GreenBiz.

"A lot of investors are keen to understand individually how companies are doing but want to see it done in a consistent way," he said.

Granyrd said many operators that agreed to join the initiative some have opted out for now, citing resource issues or strategic timing or other concerns will be reporting for the first time as part of this collaborative push.

A lot of investors are keen to understand individually how companies are doing but want to see it done in a consistent way.

The bulk of emissions related to a mobile operators own operations lie in Scope 1 (for things such as fleets, buildings and back-up generators) and in Scope 2 (mainly related to the power to run networks and data centers). But GSMA estimates that the large majority of operators total GHG emissions are Scope 3 in nature, embedded across suppliers and other members of the value chain.

Theres much that carriers can do to influence climate action there, the organization believes. That includes connecting corporate buildings and facilities for energy management, supporting vehicle telematics for reducing fuel consumption, diverting emissions that would have been expended on travel and commuting, enabling precision agriculture, empowering rural economies and so on. Those new solutions also will drive additional mobile traffic across wireless networks, so many companies across the industry are focusing on how to ensure that each new generation of connectivity is more energy-efficient than the last.

"The mobile industry will form the backbone of the future economy and therefore has a unique opportunity to drive change across multiple sectors and in collaboration with our suppliers, investors and customers," Granyrd said in the press release for the initiative.

To be clear, not every company in the GSMAs membership is part of this initiative, at least for now. The group includes more than 750 operators, as well as 350 other companies that are part of the industry such as software developers, handset and device manufacturers, internet companies and network equipment providers.

But the operators that have signed up represent about 5.2 billion mobile connections, out of the 7.8 billion reported worldwide at the end of second quarter. (That doesnt include internet of things links.) GSMA expects at least 60 operators to be involved by February, when the organization expects to unfurl a decarbonization pathway framework with the SBTi; to date, a sector-related framework of this sort hasn't been available for companies to consult.

The mobile industry will form the backbone of the future economy and therefore has a unique opportunity to drive change across multiple sectors.

The energy footprint of mobile networks is estimated at about 130 terrawatt-hours annually, with a footprint of about 110 metric tons of CO2 equivalent. Thats about 0.2 percent of global GHG emissions. If you add in the impact of mobile phones, the impact is about 200 MtCO2e, according to GSMA, or about 0.4 percent of global GHG emissions.

The forthcoming decarbonization pathway will allow companies to set their own targets, as well as a timeline for delivery; renewable energy isnt as readily available in some remote or off-grid locations as others, for example. Right now, those transmission sites may run on diesel generators and until broader transmission investments are made, the industry needs to find workaround solutions.

The Global e-Sustainability Initiative (GeSI), which represents information technology and digital infrastructure companies, and International Telecommunications (ITU) are collaborating on the development of the framework. "Were very excited with the pickup and interest of the mobile operators," Granyrd said. "Their reaction has been great."

GSMA considers the disclosure pledge and commitment to science-based goals to be an extension of the industrys intense focus on committing to the SDGs, Granyrd said. The group scores progress on all 17 goals based on how well the industry is delivering on its potential impact.

According to the report, based on GSMA analysis, so far the mobile sector is making the biggest contribution toward SDG 9 (Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure). For example, as of 2017, almost 600 million have access to mobile internet services, most in low-income and middle-income countries, and more than 250 million globally have access to mobile financial services. As of that timeframe, 5 million people had used services offered as part of the mNutrition Initiative, which supports farmers looking to improve their productivity and income. But even then, that work only gets a score of 51 out of a possible 100 for achieving its potential. Two other areas where the industry gives itself a relatively good grade: SDG 4 (Education) and SDG 13 (Climate Action).

The areas in which the sector believes it made the most progress between 2017 and 2018 were on SDG 13 (Climate Action), SDG 11 (Sustainable Cities and Communities) and SDG 3 (Good Health and Well-Being). During 2017, for example, mobile operators involved with the Humanitarian Connectivity Charter supported more than 30 million people recovering from natural disasters and other crises. (You can find the latest SDG impact report here; the 2019 edition is due in coming weeks.)

"We have discrete targets around almost all of the targets," Granyrd said.

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Leading mobile operators pledge collective, consistent disclosure of climate impacts - GreenBiz