Green cities - Leeds as an example!

Green cities

Green cities - Leeds as an example!

Green cities

Which are the UK’s most polluted cities?

Britain is one of the most congested countries in the world, with some studies suggesting that the average British motorist spends over 200 days of their life in traffic jams. London is the worst city, with around 35 per cent of the capital’s roads regularly congested according to the satnav company TomTom. Other cities with high levels of traffic congestion include Edinburgh, Manchester, Bradford, Oxford and Birmingham.

 

It isn’t just the frustration and inefficiency caused by traffic congestion that is a concern. Traffic pollution is believed to be responsible for a growing number of new cases of asthma in children. A report in the Guardian also claims that poor air quality is the cause of more than 4,000 deaths in London each year. So bad is the pollution in our capital that the EU is threatening to impose fines for failure to meet legal limits.

 

With a growing UK population density it is clear that we cannot continue to fill our roads with increasing volumes of traffic. This simply isn’t sustainable in the long-term and it poses a growing problem to our health, particularly children who live in the most polluted cities.

Road pricing – a green solution to an impending traffic crisis?

 

A report by the RAC Foundation predicts that traffic levels could increase by 33% within 15 years, due to a combination of population rises, economic recovery and road spending cuts. Unless radical changes are introduced, the result will be increasingly gridlocked traffic, greater congestion and a rise in air pollution.

 

The report goes on to suggest that a "pay-as-you-go" system could solve the problem. In a nutshell, drivers would pay per mile travelled. There remains debate on whether this will be on motorways only, or if it would be extended to other major roads. Car sharing is another initiative being promoted more heavily.

 

Whilst many people are instinctively opposed to road charging of this nature, because it’s viewed as just another tax, many acknowledge that it would make them re-consider their journeys and amount of time spent driving.

 

Regardless of the particular approach to the problem, it’s clear that traffic levels cannot be allowed to rise by over 33% with widespread gridlock ensuing. That scenario would ultimately cost motorists more and cause greater damage to the environment.

 

For eco-conscious individuals, this is a nightmare scenario – long stretches of roads with cars sat bumper to bumper cloaked in a thick shroud of smog.

 

Many insurers offer discounts for drivers who drive fewer miles, away from major roads and outside of the ‘rush hour’. It now looks as though the government will be forced to follow suit through some financially based form of incentive.

EU to introduce law to force car manufacturers to cut carbon emissions by a third by 2020

According to a leaked report in the Guardian, the EU is to impose a 95g CO2/km limit by 2020. It then intends to reduce this limit even further in an attempt to encourage manufacturers to make more hybrid and electric cars.

 

Though car manufacturers have voiced concern about tough new regulation, arguing that it could harm the industry in the face of difficult economic conditions and increased foreign competition, there would be benefits for motorists in the form of big savings in fuel. The new law would also encourage the motoring industry to invest in newer technologies and innovation to meet the new targets. Obviously, the reduction in emissions would also help to combat climate change (exhaust fumes are currently responsible for around a third of Europe’s greenhouse gas emissions).

Dinosaurs, Mother Nature and Human Destiny

Dinosaurs, Mother Nature and Human Destiny

Scandal of the rainforest killings

Rainforests

Is your weekly shop killing the orang utans and the rainforests?

Orang utans and the rainforests

Protecting the tiger from extinction

Tiger extinction

Big increase in demand for eco-friendly products - what's behind it?

Eco friendly shopping

Katharine Botanicals

Utilising natural ingredients to create a beautiful range of skincare products, Katharine Botanicals is well suited to delicate skin. They offer mother and baby care so you can sooth your stretch marks and keep your baby’s delicate skin feeling beautiful as well as a range of natural remedies for psoriasis. You can also enjoy their Pure Indulgence face cream; they have nourishing skincare for all skin types. Have a look at their vegan range of skin care and they never test their products on animals. www.katharinebotanicals.com

Light Switch Timer - A timer which fits over your switch by Switched on Products — Kickstarter

Light Switch Timer - A timer which fits over your switch by Switched on Products — Kickstarter

The green economy

The green economy

The environmental cost of technology

The environmental cost of technology

Bee Happy Plants

Bee Happy Plants sell ‘Wild Species’ plants which are ideal for all bees and pollinators, and propagate our wild species plants (to Soil Association Organic standard) from seed, also selling seed of these species. Wild flowering plants have evolved over millions of years with their pollinators. They also have the ability through healthy gene-pools, by growing from seed, of evolving to adapt to changing environmental conditions, it being the mechanism by which all species on earth have so far survived.

Loss of wild species plants ultimately means loss of their pollinators. www.beehappyplants.co.uk

Natural Friends - Ethical Dating

Natural Friends was created in 1985 as the UK's first ethical 'green' dating and friendship site for environmentally-sensitive, country-loving, health-conscious people aspiring to tread lightly on the earth. They attract members with a diverse range of backgrounds and interests, unique individuals looking for a compatible partner to share interests such as outdoor activities, musical and creative events, human and animal welfare, conservation and personal development. Join today for free and your chance of finding a soulmate who will match your values and expectations will improve immeasurably. www.naturalfriends.co.uk/