Tag: fossil fuels

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Greenpeace finds coral reef in Total’s Amazon drilling area – an annotated infographic

E&T magazine

Scientists aboard a Greenpeace ship have discovered that a massive coral reef near the mouth of the Amazon extends further than thought, overlapping areas where French company Total plans to drill for oil. The research could further complicate plans by oil companies to explore an area that some geologists say could hold up to 14 billion barrels of petroleum – more than the entire proven reserves in the Gulf of Mexico. In 2013, Total led a group including Britain’s BP Plc and Brazilian state-run oil company Petrobras in buying five exploration blocks in the Foz do Amazonas basin, but the … Continue reading Greenpeace finds coral reef in Total’s Amazon drilling area – an annotated infographic

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Trump administration reins in US offshore drilling plans; steers clear of Florida coast – an annotated infographic

E&T magazine

The Trump administration was proposing to open nearly all US offshore waters to oil and gas drilling, reversing Obama-era regulations imposed after the 2010 Deepwater Horizon oil rig disaster in the Gulf of Mexico. Interior Secretary Ryan Zinke claimed Obama administration bans on drilling in the continental shelf had cost the United States billions of dollars in lost revenue. The new proposal would make about 90 per cent of those waters available for leasing. The plan gives energy companies access to blocks off California for the first time in decades and opens up the Arctic and Eastern Seaboard. Only the … Continue reading Trump administration reins in US offshore drilling plans; steers clear of Florida coast – an annotated infographic

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New book blog: How energy shapes society in ‘Foragers, Farmers and Fossil Fuels’ by Ian Morris

E&T magazine

It’s not steeped in technology, but this updated book based on the Tanner Lectures delivered by Ian Morris at Princeton University manages to highlight a link with big social issues that could have significant implications for humankind’s future. Everyone’s at least aware of the disparity between access to energy that exists around the world, and how precarious the security of supply is, even in the industrialised West. It’s clear we’re reaching a crucial point where a system based on fossil fuels isn’t going to work in the long-term, but what does that mean for society as a whole? As Morris … Continue reading New book blog: How energy shapes society in ‘Foragers, Farmers and Fossil Fuels’ by Ian Morris

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New Pyrenees pipeline to help cut dependence on Russian gas – an annotated infographic

E&T magazine

The leaders of Spain, France and Portugal are expected to strike an accord in Madrid to build a new pipeline through the Pyrenees that would allow Spain to pump almost 15 billion cubic metres of gas a year northwards – approximately 10 per cent of the supply currently coming from Russia. Click on the graphic for an expanded view. Continue reading New Pyrenees pipeline to help cut dependence on Russian gas – an annotated infographic

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#Fossilfuelfree future still some way off, as G20 nations spend $88bn a year on exploration – an annotated infographic

E&T magazine

Environmentalists, look away now or prepare to feel deep despair. The G20 group of leading global economies continue to spend about $88 billion each year on fossil fuel exploration, increasing the risk of “dangerous climate change”, according to a report by the Overseas Development Institute. The top 20 private oil and gas companies invested just $37 billion in exploration in 2013 – less than half of that being ploughed in annually by G20 governments – suggesting their exploration activities are highly dependent on public finance. So what’s up with all the green energy research? E&T news continues to track the … Continue reading #Fossilfuelfree future still some way off, as G20 nations spend $88bn a year on exploration – an annotated infographic

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#Nasa OCO-2 satellite will measure carbon dioxide levels in Earth’s atmosphere – an annotated infographic

E&T magazine

Nasa is scheduled to launch its first spacecraft dedicated to measuring carbon dioxide levels in Earth’s atmosphere on July 2014. The Orbiting Carbon Observatory-2 (OCO-2) mission will provide a more complete, global picture of the human and natural sources of carbon dioxide, as well as “sinks” – such as forests and oceans – which absorb and trap the gas. OCO-2 will be Nasa’s second attempt to launch a satellite specifically for the purpose of monitoring carbon dioxide. The first OCO launch in 2009 unfortunately failed to reach orbit. At approximately 400 parts per million, atmospheric carbon dioxide is now at … Continue reading #Nasa OCO-2 satellite will measure carbon dioxide levels in Earth’s atmosphere – an annotated infographic