The report by the Environment Protection Authority (EPA) also concludes that ground water use in the northern Adelaide plains and parts of the state's south-east and surface water use in some parts of the Mount Lofty Ranges are unsustainable.
SA Environment Minister Jay Weatherill says the Government will consider the 41 report recommendations.
"The health of rivers, streams and wetlands of the River Murray flood plain is declining due to the extraction of water increasing salt levels, drought and non-delivery of environmental flows," he said.
"The Coorong and lower lakes are in the poorest condition ever recorded.
Wednesday, November 26, 2008
Sunday, November 23, 2008
Environment Agency to build up to 80 wind farms
Among the stretches of water which the Environment Agency is considering for wind farm development are part of the River Thames; the River Medway in the North Downs; and parts of the Fens which rank among the best bird watching locations in Britain.
Campaigners have also warned that one of Britain's most beautiful landscapes will be "destroyed" by a series of wind farm developments being proposed by companies close to Exmoor National Park.
Both sets of plans will stimulate new debate over the spread of wind farms, which critics say is threatening to spoil thousands of acres of countryside while having minimal impact on the fight against climate change.
According to one researcher, Professor David MacKay, a physicist at Cambridge University, an area the size of Wales would need to be turned over to wind farms to generate just a sixth of Britain's energy demands.
Campaigners have also warned that one of Britain's most beautiful landscapes will be "destroyed" by a series of wind farm developments being proposed by companies close to Exmoor National Park.
Both sets of plans will stimulate new debate over the spread of wind farms, which critics say is threatening to spoil thousands of acres of countryside while having minimal impact on the fight against climate change.
According to one researcher, Professor David MacKay, a physicist at Cambridge University, an area the size of Wales would need to be turned over to wind farms to generate just a sixth of Britain's energy demands.
Wednesday, November 19, 2008
Pirates Exemplify Shifting Risk Environment
Three recent news stories have underscored the need for insurance underwriting to adapt to a constantly changing environment, as ISO CEO Frank Coyne recommended during his recent address at ISOTech: the California wildfires, the rise of deer collisions in the Eastern United States and the increasingly brazen and ambitious pirates of Somalia.
The wildfires show that attention to circumstances ought to affect how one takes on new business. While the unusually intense Santa Ana winds driving the scope of the fire are not predictable over the long run, other factors are. For example, unusually rainy seasons over the past two years have caused the build-up of fuel making it far likely that fires would destroy property if they were to be ignited. Also, property owners in pursuit of a more natural environment are building in wilder areas that are more subject to wildfires, according to RMS.
State Farm has calculated that deer-related automobile crashes have risen about 15 percent over the last five years, according to a report by the Property Casualty Insurers Association of America. The report doesn't comment on the possible cause of that increase, perhaps because it would be difficult to discern. Population is a likely factor, but so may be construction, which provides deer with food sources in more traveled areas. Whatever the cause, insurers need to adjust their pricing according to increased probabilities of deer-related collisions, based on the reported incidence of such crashes or other sources, such as information from state wildlife organizations about population changes.
The wildfires show that attention to circumstances ought to affect how one takes on new business. While the unusually intense Santa Ana winds driving the scope of the fire are not predictable over the long run, other factors are. For example, unusually rainy seasons over the past two years have caused the build-up of fuel making it far likely that fires would destroy property if they were to be ignited. Also, property owners in pursuit of a more natural environment are building in wilder areas that are more subject to wildfires, according to RMS.
State Farm has calculated that deer-related automobile crashes have risen about 15 percent over the last five years, according to a report by the Property Casualty Insurers Association of America. The report doesn't comment on the possible cause of that increase, perhaps because it would be difficult to discern. Population is a likely factor, but so may be construction, which provides deer with food sources in more traveled areas. Whatever the cause, insurers need to adjust their pricing according to increased probabilities of deer-related collisions, based on the reported incidence of such crashes or other sources, such as information from state wildlife organizations about population changes.
Tuesday, November 11, 2008
Green Obama Dreams: Environment Bloggers Weigh in on The Historic Day
Kenyan blogger Juliana Rotich is the editor of Green Global Voices, which monitors citizen media in the developing world, and is a regular contributor to this page. Thomson Reuters is not responsible for the content - the views are the author’s alone.
Tim Hurst of Ecopoliticology blog posts an entertaining video titled ‘5 Green Obama Dreams’. The video mentions his posts on high resolution energy resource maps and the solar powered lawnmower.
On the DotEarth blog, Andrew Revkin muses on the significance of Obama’s election, writing…
Tim Hurst of Ecopoliticology blog posts an entertaining video titled ‘5 Green Obama Dreams’. The video mentions his posts on high resolution energy resource maps and the solar powered lawnmower.
On the DotEarth blog, Andrew Revkin muses on the significance of Obama’s election, writing…
Friday, November 7, 2008
How Obama Will Tackle the Environment
Yesterday, enviros were congratulating Obama on his victory. Now, they're looking ahead. Here's some post-election chatter:
—Grist wonders who will fill Obama's environmental cabinet positions. Some names being tossed about include Ed Rendell, Tom Vilsack, Bill Richardson, and Al Gore.
—Dean of the Nicholas School of the Environment at Duke University, Bill Chameides offers an open letter to Obama about the four most important environmental issues he'll face. They include: Stimulating low-carbon energies, retooling energy infrastructure, moving forward with global warming plans, and becoming an international leader on climate.
—The New York Times' Dot Earth is seeking the 10 best climate proposals, as determined by reader rankings. They will be sent to Obama's transition team. Send 'em in.
—Obama will send his own energy representatives to the UN's climate change talks in Poznam, Poland, in three weeks.
—Grist wonders who will fill Obama's environmental cabinet positions. Some names being tossed about include Ed Rendell, Tom Vilsack, Bill Richardson, and Al Gore.
—Dean of the Nicholas School of the Environment at Duke University, Bill Chameides offers an open letter to Obama about the four most important environmental issues he'll face. They include: Stimulating low-carbon energies, retooling energy infrastructure, moving forward with global warming plans, and becoming an international leader on climate.
—The New York Times' Dot Earth is seeking the 10 best climate proposals, as determined by reader rankings. They will be sent to Obama's transition team. Send 'em in.
—Obama will send his own energy representatives to the UN's climate change talks in Poznam, Poland, in three weeks.
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