Global Warming
"Science in the service of life and health"
April 30, 1996
The world's government and scientific communities are in general agreement that as
a result of increased greenhouse gases (GHG's) we are already experiencing substantial
environment damage due to global warming. Since 1991 the founders of GWR&DC have
researched all relevant disciplines in order to develop technologies and resource management
models.
In 1992 the Intergovernmental Panel on Climatic Change (IPCC) convened in Rio de
Janeiro, it was known as the "Framework Convention". A general agreement was reached
to Reduce atmospheric CO2 to 1990 levels by the year 2000? The IPCC reconvened in
Berlin in 1995 with the realization that reductions alone would not address the problem.
"The Joint Implementation Strategy" (JI) was introduced. This is a matrix in which
creative solutions can begin immediately. The premise: What cannot be reduced can
be removed from the atmosphere by growing plants ?
The atmosphere is a global continuum; carbons emitted in industrialized countries
can be sequestered anywhere in the world. Aside from sequestering carbon, reforestation
and afforestation projects in developing countries have tremendously social, economic, and ecological benefits. JI project benefits are multiplies when conducted in developing
nations due to low labour costs, readily available land, and fast growth rates.
Projects are being announced globally as tax benefits and other government incentives
help industry to break inertia.
Sequestration of carbon ?
Berlin was very much in alignment with the JI program. Projects initiated to sequester
carbon can be financially enhanced through finding available to combat desertification.
Over $6 Billion USD in funding from numerous UN and governmental sources has been identified ?
Software based on Ecological Footprint Modeling techniques developed at the University
of British Columbia and elsewhere ? This software will enable governments, industries,
and individuals to determine the size of their ecological "footprints" (environmental impacts) ?
Taking responsibility for your carbon emissions by participating in syndicated projects
?
Internet's World Wide Web to promote individual awareness and economic participation
through project syndication.
Providing consumers with a tool to make informed energy consumption, product, and
lifestyle choices based on environmental impact as well as cost ?
Ecological Footprint Modeling Software for industry is under development in consultation
with governments and industry.
Demonstrate ECO-INTEGRITY ?
Technology that harvests water from the atmosphere and feeds it to tree seedling roots
? Technology can assist in reforestation huge tracts of semi-arid land and is an
important tool in the fight against desertification ?
Technology can be applied to supply clean drinking water with minimal environmental
impact. The amount of energy that goes into bottling, shipping, and disposing of
water bottles is mind boggling. The operational problems, expense, and energy use
associated with desalination plants drive the point home that technology's time has come.
In a semi-arid environment, a 1200 sq. ft. collector is capable of harvesting 20 -
80 litres of water per day. A simple activated carbon filtration system will remove
impurities and particulates.
Carbon sinks for harvesting water from the atmosphere and delivering it to tree seedling
roots ?
Allowing a tree seedling to reach sub-surface moisture supplies and to become established
as quickly as possible ?
World Bank -- six-hundred billion US dollars worth of work needed to meet the world's
water demand over the next decade ?
The European Economic Community spending six billion dollars to fight desertification
in Africa ?
Voluntary carbon sequestration initiatives are now being undertaken by industry and
governments under the terms of the Rio Treaty of 1992 and the Joint Implementation
Strategy of the International Panel on Climate Change (IPCC).
The carbon sink equivalent of at least one million square miles of new forest will
be required in order to build sufficient carbon sinks to offset global warming ?
Focusing solely on rain forest reforestation does not solve the human and environmental
problems associated with the deforestation of much of the developing world ? There
is a critical need for reforestation and afforestation projects that will restore
the climate and ecosystems of these areas and will also provide resources for sustainable
long term economic growth.
The installed cost of Water Harvester/Ground Probe units is estimated at $640 U.S.
per acre. Various U.N. agencies including the Inter-governmental Negotiating Committee
to Combat Desertification have designated six countries in west Africa for pilot
projects. China, Jordan, The United Arab Emirates, Egypt, Turkey, Pakistan, Saudi Arabia,
Syria, and Algeria, to name a few, have also been contacted and are anxious to proceed
with pilot phase projects.
Agro-forestry devices ?
A device that could keep their trees and shrubs green during periods of drought/water
rationing ?
The average family in Southern California spends in excess of $800 U.S. per annum
on bottled drinking water. The financial cost of bottled water is extremely high.
The "ECOLOGICAL FOOTPRINT" of bottled drinking water, in terms of energy costs for
container production, shipping, waste collection, disposal, and so on is extremely
high !
Arid lands near may of the worlds major population centres lie vacant. This is caused
by a lack of water. The value of such land is extremely low. Southern California,
where desert land close to Los Angeles sells for around $200/arce, is a good example.
A self sustaining source of water will greatly increase the value of such land. Therefore, a very significant opportunity exists in the purchase and farming out of such land to developers who are capable of implementing the design, construction and marketing of such self sustained Eco-communities.
As much as 1 pound of water per square meter of surface area could be produced in
a 24 hour period, in regions having high overnight relative humidity.
David M. Morton, P. Eng.
April 7, 1996
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