Element Magazine - July 2014 Element Magazine - July 2014 | Page 7

The United Nations Environment Assembly has
estimated the cost of plastic waste damage to the
world’s ocean ecosystems at US$13b a year. The
cost was estimated the financial impact on fisheries,
business such as aquaculture and tourism. “Plastics
undoubtedly play a crucial role in modern life, but
the environmental impacts of the way we use
them cannot be ignored,” added Achim Steiner, the
executive director of UNEP.

The 10-race, all-electric Formula E series begins
in Beijing this September, with ten two-car teams
competing for the championship. With a top speed of
225kph, the cars also have a ‘fan boost’- a 2.5 second
burst of power delivered to the three cars with the
biggest social media following. Also sure to make for
compelling viewing is the ‘car swap’, where instead
of re-fuelling, drivers leap out of one car into another
with a fresh battery.

Regulation on the banning of neonicotinoid pesticides
must surely be a step closer with the recent findings of
the Task Force on Systemic Pesticides, which analysed
800+ peer-reviewed papers on the subject. ‘Neonics’,
as they are known, have been proven to harm insects
such as bees and butterflies, invertebrates such as
earthworms, and even vertebrates such as birds. “The
evidence is very clear,” stated Dr Jean-Marc Bonmatin,
one of the report’s lead authors.

Shell has been accused of ‘doublethink’, by claiming
that fossil fuels will still be a profitable investment,
while recognising the urgent need for action on
climate change. The accusation has arisen from
public correspondence between Shell and the
Carbon Tracker Initiative thinktank. See more of the
dispute at bit.ly/1n8Z5ek

A new report comparing 40 countries on clean
technology, shows middle-ranked New Zealand has
room to improve on encouraging clean technology
innovation. The Global Cleantech Innovation Index,
published by WWF and the Cleantech Group, ranked
NZ 18th out of 40 countries, scoring well on the
general environment for innovation and cleantech
commercialisation – largely because of existing
renewable electricity capacity. But we scored
lower marks on having policies to promote clean
technology and on evidence of new cleantech
innovation emerging here. For more see goo.gl/