Earth Hope

No camouflage:

SL Military going green!

Sajitha PREMATUNGE

For so long social unrest was the product of economic hardships, religion and racism. But as the Minister of Environment and Natural Resources, Patali Champika Ranawaka pointed out at the sub-regional workshop on 'ODS phase out in Military Applications' held last Thursday and Friday, there will come a time when climate change will become the trigger for terrorism. "We already see this in Africa," said the minister.

Minister Champika Ranawaka speaking at the workshop. Pic: Chinthaka Kumarasinghe

The workshop which was a collaboration of UNEP, Multilateral Fund, National Ozone Unit and Ministry of Defence, was held with the presence of representatives and delegates in defence sectors of sub-regional countries in the Asia Pacific region - Bangladesh, China, India, Iran, Indonesia, Malaysia and Pakistan. UNEP that has previous experience in capacity building in phasing out ODSs in military applications is expected to play a major role in spearheading this endeavour, in terms of providing technical expertise and training. Dr. W.L. Sumathipala, Director, National Ozone Unit, revealed that the main ODSs, in terms of military applications, are halons and CFC.

CFC and HCFC are refrigerant used in air conditioners in military vehicles and medicine storages and halon is a fire fighting agent used in tanks, aircraft, ships and submarines.

"Since we are a signatory of the Montreal Protocol we cannot exempt the military", explained Dr. Sumathipala. Major General Chandrasiri, representative of the Ministry of Defence, said that the military is committed to being in full compliance with the Montreal Protocol in the face of great natural challenges, and acknowledged that rather than a burden, such precautionary measures offer great advantages.

Madhav Sarma, Former Executive Secretary, Montreal Protocol Secretariat,

UNEP and Member Technology and Economic Assessment Panel of the Protocol, said that during the implementation of the Montreal Protocol the lack of communication between defence departments of different countries proved to be a problem they were later able to solve. Workshops such as these are believed to enhance regional corporation in terms of environmental conservation.

He also pointed out that it's more economically as well as environmentally viable for militaries to 'go green' that deal with environmental repercussions posed by ODSs.

He suggested that future discussions should incorporate phasing out ODSs but also the use of chemicals in warfare. Sri Lanka became a signatory of both Vienna Convention and Montreal Protocol - most effective mechanism for reducing ODS (Ozone Depleting Substances) - in 1989. Since then the Ministry of Environment and Natural Resources has been fervent in its pursuit to fulfill the main objective of the Protocol - phasing out the consumption and production of ODS. Sri Lanka has time and again proven its capability of being one of the most promising compliant State of the Protocol since the beginning.

Due to the effective implementation and adoption of the protocol, approximately 90% of production and consumption of major ODSs halons and CFC have been phased out.

However although halon and CFC is not used in new military applications they are still required to support existing systems that were developed before environmental concerns regarding ODSs were raised.

defence departments and military organizations in Asia Sub-region are now eager to find better, more eco-friendly alternatives. The Protocol has been successful in bringing down the use of ODS by military to just 1%.

"Our objective is not to hinder military activities" said Madhav Sarma "but to reduce environmental degradation caused by such activities." He recognized the fact that the security of all countries concerned are of utmost importance.

Minister Ranawaka pointed out that reducing poverty and elevating living conditions at the risk of environmental degradation are futile.

"No amount of development is of any use if it is at the risk of

environmental deterioration," said the minister.

He reiterated the importance of adopting ozone friendly substitutes for ODSs.

Polluter must bear cost of pollution

Fumes from vehicles account for 25 to 30% of asthma, cough, headaches, burning of eyes and throat and bronchitis. It has increased mortality by 7%. Fine particles in black fumes can easily get into lungs. These are cancer causing agents and can even enter the blood stream. Consequently a form of vehicle emission testing is mandatory for any country.

The inception of the Vehicle Emission Test in Sri Lanka was the result of a suit filed in the Supreme Court by a Sri Lankan citizen against the Forest Resources and Environment Minister way back in 1998.

Vehicle emission account for more than 60% of air pollution.

He claimed that his basic human rights were violated, having to breath the polluted air of the city. He further argued that the air quality has deteriorated beyond the limits indicated in the National Environmental Act of 1994 and that the transport sector is to be held responsible.

As a result of the suit it was ordered to alleviate the quality of vehicles and to increase fuel efficiency to minimize air pollution.

In 2001 the long overdue the Urban Air Quality Management Project was initiated with the help of World Bank grants. The Ministry of Environment, Central Environment Authority, Transport Ministry, the Colombo Municipal Council were some of the stakeholders of Air Resources Management Centre which was also established in 2001.

Arrangements have already been made to establish 32 permanent centres and 20 mobile centres to monitor vehicle emission islandwide, by independent companies such as Cleanco and Laugfs Lanka (Pvt) Ltd. 16 permanent centres and 16 more mobile centres have already been established in the Western province.

Since monitoring activities officially commenced in the Western Province in November 17 last year, it has been made compulsory to obtain the vehicle emission test certificate prior to obtaining the annual revenue licence.

It is imperative that all drivers carry revenue licence, insurance certificate, and vehicle emission certificate - which is valid for one year - at all times. If a certain vehicle fails this test the owner can subject the vehicle for a new test and obtain the certificate without an additional payment within 60 days. Military and land vehicles such as tractors, have been excempted from this requirement and the brand new vehicles for a period of three years.

Maintaining vehicles has many advantages to individual vehicle owners as well as the economy as a whole increases fuel efficiency, extends the lifespan of the engine, saves foreign exchange that would have otherwise been spent on fuel, reduces cost on healthcare, reduces water pollution, reduces harm to aquatic life forms and reduces damage to aesthetic beauty.

Anoja Herath, Assistant Director, Air Resources Management and Relations, Air MAC said that dual purpose vehicles such as vans and two stroke three wheelers are mostly responsible for urban air pollution. She pointed out that contrary to popular belief factories cause less damage to air quality.

However Patali Champika Ranawaka, Minister of Environment and Natural Resources ensured that no factories are exempted of the test. He assured that no large scale industries can operate in Sri Lanka without an EIA (Environment Impact Assessment). The Minister revealed that there are roughly 70,000 industries in Sri Lanka. "Only 11,000 are registered." He also said that they plan to register all large scale industries and explained that even BOI industries are now under scrutiny.

"Vehicle emission account for more than 60% of air pollution." She further explained that based on data collected from November 2008 to March 2009, the authorities may be forced to reconsider their decision of exempting brand new vehicles for three years, if they are not properly maintained. 3.5 lakhs of vehicles have been monitored so far.

Motor Traffic Commissioner General, B. Wijeratne revealed that most vehicles fail the test because they are sub standard. "They have been built before such environment concerns were raised" said the Commissioner. "That is why we have decided to exempt vehicles that were built before 1975", said Ms. Herath. Minister Ranawaka said that they have encountered many obstacles in implementing the Vehicle Emission Test Program because of the lack of equipment, technical expertise, corruption and forgery.

He also revealed that the ministry plans to install air quality monitors imported from India islandwide. "The polluters must bear the cost of pollution" said the Minister. He emphasized the need to switch to hybrid vehicles and vehicles that run on eco-friendly fuel. The ministry plans to introduce more Green economic policies to Sri Lanka in the future.

-SP

Pandas opt for low-cal sweeteners

Red pandas have surprised researchers by demonstrating a liking of artificial sweeteners. The Journal of Heredity research was investigating the sweet taste preferences of carnivorous animals. While some of them preferred natural sugars, only pandas favoured aspartame, neotame and sucralose. The researchers believe the ability to taste such molecules may have evolved because similar ones might exist among the panda's natural foods.

The receptors for sweet substances are formed from a pair of proteins, with the receptors' detailed shapes determining whether they react to natural or artificial sweeteners. The team demonstrated in 2005 that the carnivore family Felidae -

which includes the big cats and the domesticated variety - showed no preference for either natural sugars or sweeteners. They went on to show that Felidae family animals only expressed one of the two genes that code for proteins that together form sweet receptors on animal tongues. The new research investigated a number of animals in a similar taste test at two Swiss zoos, followed by genetic profiling. The animals included meerkats, ferrets, genets, mongoose, and lions as well as the pandas. Over the course of a day, the animals were allowed to choose from two water sources: plain water or water sweetened using one of six natural or six artificial sweeteners.

Message received

In keeping with the prior research, the lions showed no preference for water sweetened in any way. All of the other animals showed some preference for at least one of the naturally sweetened water sources. But pandas alone favoured the artificially sweetened water. Until now it was thought that only primates could taste aspartame, the pandas'

favourite among the artificial sweeteners. The researchers then looked at the genes that code for sweet

receptors. Only the lions suffered from the "pseudogenisation" that prevents formation of the receptors; all of the others had some form of sweet receptors.

However, the genetic analysis showed subtle differences in the fine structure of the pandas' receptors relative to all the other sweet-toothed animals.

"This may explain why the red panda is able to taste artificial sweeteners," said Xia Li, a researcher at the Monell Chemical Senses Center in Philadelphia and lead author of the study.

"What we don't know is why this particular animal has this unusual ability. Perhaps the red panda's unique sweet receptor evolved to allow this animal to detect some compound in its natural food that has a similar structure to these sweeteners."

The researchers will continue to study the fine interplay between the genes that code for sweet receptors, the molecules the receptors can bind to, and ultimately how that influences animals' diets. "This is the essence of molecular science," said Monell's Joseph Brand, senior author of the research, "asking a behavioural question and getting a molecular answer."

-BBC

Bad Ozone?

Ozone can be found not only in upper atmosphere but also the lower atmosphere. It makes up 0.000004% of atmospheric composition. Although upper atmospheric Ozone is considered `Good Ozone', Ozone in lower atmosphere is considered `Bad Ozone'. Ozone that is produced by Nitrogen oxides, Nitric acids, Nitrates and Nitrous oxides emitted by vehicles and factories and Volatile Organic Compounds such as Benzene, Formaldehyde and Toluene reacting with sunlight. Oxygen in the atmosphere is harmful to human health.

Lower atmospheric thus produced in industrial areas then circulate to other areas as far as 250 miles. Plants are life forms that are most sensitive to anomalies caused by Ozone in the lower atmosphere, subject to physiological stress. Ozone makes their way inside through stoma that circulates air in plants, clogging them making plants more susceptible to disease.

Oxidization of Ozone has extreme effects on plant growth, sometimes resulting in dieback. Research conducted globally in urban forests indicate that this may cause extinction of some species in the long run. The level of Ozone in the lower atmosphere at 0 to 79 ppb (parts per billion) is perfectly harmless to plants. At 80 to 99 ppb plant species sensitive to Ozone are affected and at 100 to 125 ppb most plant species are at risk.

Endemic species are specially susceptible to such anomalies due to there are low tendency to adapt. However invasive plant species competitive nature facilitates further distribution of them under such circumstances. Recent researches indicate that the chemical make up of invasive species are able to contain Ozone oxidization to an extent. Anti-oxides such as Ascorbate, Glutathione, Peroxidase, Polly avene, Carotenoids and Tocopherol reduce and ultimately obliterate any effect of Ozone oxidization. But the inability of endemic plant species in urban forests to adapt has forced them to the brink of extinction.

Courtesy: Ozone News, Quarterly publication of National Ozone Unit, Ministry of Environment and Natural Resources, March 2009, Volume 10

Engineers design fake 'trees' to pull in CO2

One tower uses resin to trap carbon dioxide; energy industry seen as buyer:

Eric BLAND

The illustration shows an artificial "tree" that scrubs CO2 from the atmosphere.

A new kind of tree could cool the planet by removing a major greenhouse gas from the planet's atmosphere.

What researchers are calling artificial trees, actually towers filled with various materials that adsorb carbon dioxide from the air, could play a major role in reducing climate change -- if they prove profitable.

"This is an industry still in its infancy," said Billy Gridley of Global Research Technologies, LLC, the company creating the C02-scrubbing towers.

"This will eventually rival the size of today's energy markets." GRT's artificial tree is based on an environmentally friendly resin, originally advantage of the artificial trees is that they can be placed next to whatever factory needs CO2 without having to ship it in.

Another use for the artificial trees would be in the cap-and-trade carbon credit system. The idea is that companies that produce CO2 would pay another company, like GRT, to get rid of it. The most likely place to put the C02 is in the salt-lined caverns that once held oil, a process known as carbon sequestration.

Wherever the CO2 is placed, at least it is out of the atmosphere, said David Keith, a professor at the University of Calgary in Canada, who developed his own artificial, C02-catching towers years ago and is working to refine his models.

Keith, GRT, and other organizations aren't trying to profit from climate change; they are looking to prevent or at least slow it. "Nobody doubts that this is doable," said Keith. "It's a matter of doing it at cost, and right now it's still unclear how that can be done."