Recognising that the necessary skills were not available locally, 3 delegates of eThekwini Water and Sanitation traveled more than 14,000 km from the eThekwini municipality of Durban, South Africa to Dublin, Ireland to receive training that will help them to reduce pollution in Durban.  The training was provided by NOONAN, Ireland’s largest facility management company and a registered training provider for the Water Services Training Group in Ireland.

The South African delegates, Ms Claudia Botha, Mr Mike Hebbelman and Mr Sunil Ramkissoon received best practice training on the management, licensing and control of fats, oils and grease to reduce the impact on their environment and the people of South Africa.

When the fats, oils and grease produced in food preparation and cooking are discharged to drains, it congeals and accumulates in pipelines causing blockages. These blockages result in raw sewage overflowing into streets, homes, rivers and streams impacting the water supply needed by the local population and introducing serious and life threatening ailments such as bacillary dysentery, hepatitis, meningitis and typhoid fever to the community.

The training provided by NOONAN will help eThekwini Water and Sanitation to reduce pollution in the eThekwini area by implementing an effective fats, oils and grease inspection program which will improve the quality of life for all of the local communities.

The upcoming conference will bring together leading scientists from across the world to present up-to-date research findings on research to find ways to reduce greenhouse gas emissions from agriculture. Globally, animal agriculture contributes significantly to agricultural greenhouse gas emissions. This is also the case in Ireland because of the size and importance of our beef and dairy industries in our economy. “Generally, Irish dairy and beef farmers are very good at producing milk and beef with a low carbon footprint, but we must continue to improve and reduce the greenhouse gas emissions associated with milk and beef production. This is important both for the national inventory of GHG emissions, and also because food retailers and consumers are increasingly interested to know that producers are working to improve their emissions profile,” said Conference Chairman, Dr. Frank O’Mara from Teagasc.

Announcing details of the upcoming conference, Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine, Simon Coveney, TD, said: “The challenge of limiting greenhouse gas emissions is a high priority for Ireland. We must work to ensure that the ambitious targets for green growth in Food Harvest 2020 can be met while also achieving our greenhouse gas emissions targets. Only through research and innovative new ways of producing food can we reduce emissions from our animal production systems while increasing output.”

This conference will present the state of the art in research on animal greenhouse gas emissions. “Leading researchers will deal with topics such as methane emissions from ruminants, emissions from manure, how to assess emissions from farm systems, and how solutions can be put into practice. The conference is highly relevant for Ireland, and Irish scientists will share and exchange information with their international colleagues;” said Conference Secretary, Dr. Tommy Boland from UCD.

The conference was last held in Banff, Canada in 2010, and previous conferences were in New Zealand, Switzerland and Japan. Selecting Ireland as the venue for the 2013 conference is an acknowledgement of the leadership Ireland has taken on this issue internationally, and the contribution that Irish scientists are making to global efforts to tackle this problem

AN Irish engineering firm has signed a deal with a Canadian counterpart to develop gas processing businesses across the globe.

Dublin’s PM Group said it has reached agreement with the Alberta-based Gas Liquids Engineering (GLE) to work together to open new markets for processing natural gas.

Details of the agreement were announced during an Enterprise Ireland trade mission to Canada which is being led by Trade Minister Joe Costello.

PM Group director Colm O’Mahony said the deal was “significant”.

“It will help GLE to smooth local fluctuations and enable both companies to continue to grow. We are currently active in bidding in several regions around the world,” he said.

Welcoming the announcement Mr Costello commented: “This agreement clearly demonstrates the opportunities that exist for collaboration between innovative Irish companies and successful international organisations.

“PM Group continues to provide an outstanding example of what can be achieved by ambitious Irish companies in global markets,” he added.

PM Group and GLE started working together last year when they signed an agreement to provide engineering services in the gas processing industry in Canada.

GLE president Doug MacKenzie said he was “excited” by the deal. “Over the past year we have developed an excellent working relationship with PM Group and now have a great offering for clients internationally. PM Group allows us to access a highly skilled workforce and a well placed international office network,” he claimed.

The Irish firm was set up in 1973 and now has operations across the globe, from China to the US.

“This is not just a cost-saving issue – it is also about opening up access to a hidden treasure of accurate and updated data, collected by public bodies for their own use. Private firms and citizens, who all pay taxes, have a legitimate right to this information” said Ivailo Kalfin (S&D, BG) who led Parliament’s negotiating team.

The EU Commission estimates that the overall economic gains from savings and creating new goods and services could amount to €40 billion a year in the EU.

Keeping costs down
The new rules will enable companies or persons to get access to data such as maps, statistics, weather data, infrastructure listings, data from publicly funded research projects, and digitised books from libraries, which they can then use to develop their businesses. For instance, a software application company could use existing public data to develop new products, such as real-time public transport schedules, mapping services, or data bases on commercial activity and infrastructure planning in the region.

“This could be used to create new services and applications that save time and money and boost the economy. This would be particularly useful for small and medium-sized firms which lack the resources to gather these data themselves”, Ivailo Kalfin commented.

MEPs amended the proposal to ensure that companies can access data for free, or for a minimal charge, other than in a few clearly-defined cases.

They also ensured that if an authority denies access to public information or imposes abusive charges, it will be possible to appeal against its decision quickly and cheaply or at no cost.

Limiting exclusive access to data
MEPs set clear limits on the scope and duration of contracts whereby the authorities assign companies exclusive rights to digitise and manage public data.

The law was approved by 486 votes to 62, with 10 abstentions and endorsed an informal deal approved last week by the Council.

During 2012, in addition to its regular, on-going activities and specific work for the EU Presidencies of Denmark and Cyprus, major priorities included water, resource efficiency, the green economy and ecosystem accounting; climate change mitigation and adaptation; implementation and development of information and communications technology (ICT) to support environmental observation, monitoring, reporting, assessment; supporting environmental reporting and the implementation of SEIS and INSPIRE.

The report also includes details of internal processes in the EEA, including management processes and details of how the organisation manages its own environmental impact.

The European Commission has reiterated its readiness to pursue discussions with Chinese exporters and with the Chinese Chamber of Commerce in order to find a solution so that provisional duties can be suspended and a negotiated solution achieved.

The EU decision comes after a nine month investigation, launched in September 2012, during which the Commission found that Chinese companies are selling solar panels to Europe at far below their normal market value, which causes significant harm to EU solar panel producers. The fair value of a Chinese solar panel sold to Europe should be 88% higher than the price to which it is actually sold. The dumped Chinese exports exerted undue price pressure on the EU market, which had a significant negative effect on the financial and operational performance of European producers.

The duties will be imposed in two stages, starting with 11.8% for the first two months and followed by 47.6% for another four months to alleviate the harm that is caused to the European industry by this unfair trade practice, dumping. In total, this provisional duty will be in place for a maximum of 6 months. The provisional duties are far lower than the 88% rate at which the panels are being dumped because the EU applies the so-called ‘lesser duty rule’, imposing only enough duty needed to restore a level playing field. The provisional duty, in addition to restoring fair competition, will ensure the continued development of an innovative green energy sector in the EU.

The Commission will now continue its investigation and hear the views of all interested parties. It remains ready to intensify talks with China to find alternative satisfactory solutions through a negotiation. On 5 December at the latest, the EU will have to decide if definitive anti-dumping duties will be imposed for a duration of five years.

Highly innovative EU companies are currently being exposed to immediate threats of bankruptcy because of unfair competition from Chinese exporters, who have taken over  more than 80% of the EU market and whose production capacity currently amounts to 150% of global consumption. In 2012, China’s excess capacity was almost double total EU demand. The Commission’s assessment indicates that imposing provisional measures will not only secure the existing 25,000 jobs in EU solar production, but also create new jobs in the sector.

In the short term, some jobs could be lost among companies installing solar panels. However, as the situation of EU producers improves and imports from other countries increase, these jobs could be recreated. Any job losses would in any case be substantially less than the 25,000 jobs in the EU solar production industry that are likely to be lost forever if measures are not imposed.

The EU decision should also contribute to creating a level playing field for Europe’s renewable energy industry, which is essential to the EU’s renewable energy targets. Unfair trade in solar panels does not help the environment and is not compatible with a healthy global solar industry. The Commission believes that a market that faces dumped imports will drive local producers out of business and discourages EU producers from developing cutting-edge technologies in the renewable energy sector.

According to the latest Mobile Web Watch study by Accenture, some 77 per cent of Irish internet users now use mobile devices such as phones, tablets and netbooks to access the internet. As smartphone and tablet use reaches critical mass, online shopping is expected to continue its migration from desktop to mobile, with more consumers researching their purchasing decisions through their mobile devices.

To meet this rapidly changing consumer behaviour trend, uSwitch.ie has invested in building key elements of its website using Responsive Web Design (RWD), providing the optimal viewing experience for visitors to the uSwitch.ie website. The new responsive web design enables the uSwitch website to resize itself and adapt itself on different screens regardless of the device being used to access it, allowing for easy reading and navigation. As the user switches from their laptop to iPad for example, the website automatically switches to accommodate for resolution, image size and scripting abilities.

Eoin Clarke, Head of uSwitch.ie, says: “At uSwitch we recognise that our customers may not be in front of a laptop and computer when they want to use the site. Nowadays, it’s more likely customers are accessing the web via tablets and smart phones. They want to compare the best energy deals in the market and switch to save money while they are on the move. Our new mobile optimised energy journey means that customers can now switch and save while literally on their commute to work. The uSwitch service is completely free, independent and impartial. Our research tells us that an average energy user can save up to €254 just by switching energy supplier alone.”

The uSwitch.ie website offers a selection of simple tools and calculators to help people to find the best deal to suit their needs, when it comes to energy, home broadband and digital television suppliers. Consumers will also find savings tips and helpful advice when it comes to dealing with suppliers.

Earlier this month, uSwitch.ie was accredited by the Commission for Energy Regulation (CER) inIreland, ensuring the site meets a clear set of standards for accuracy, transparency and reliability. For more information, visit www.uSwitch.ie.

Euan Sutherland, Group Chief Executive of the Co-operative Group says:
“The time is coming when it will no longer make economic sense for ‘business as usual’ and the circular economy will thrive. We must take steps now to see what works in practice and to understand the implications of reworking business models. We have the opportunity to lead this change by rethinking the way we do business because the reality is, it isn’t a choice anymore.’”

Professor Peter Hopkinson is director for the distance learning Innovation,Enterpriseand Circular Economy MBA. He explains: “Today’s economic conditions, characterised by increased price volatility and scarcity on the energy and resources fronts, require a change in perspective. We believe that an innovative approach, which integrates systems thinking and looks beyond the linear ‘take, make, dispose’ model, is the answer that a forward-lookingSchoolofManagementshould strive to provide. We have designed our circular economy MBA to give the next generation of leaders a first-mover advantage, by tackling subjects such as regenerative product design, new business models, reverse logistics or enabling communication technologies, to name but a few elements.”

As highlighted in ‘Towards the circular economy’, an economic report published by the Ellen MacArthur Foundation featuring analysis by McKinsey & Company, there is a substantial business opportunity to be seized, and an unprecedented combination of factors (resources availability, tighter environmental constraints, shift in consumer attitudes, enabling IT) that create the right conditions for a move toward circular industrial practices.

The new distance learning MBA programme combines classic areas of strategy, finance, and marketing within a circular economy framework.

Applications for cohort 1 of the MBA, which starts in July 2013, should be submitted by end June. Applications for cohort 2 of the MBA, which starts in January 2014, should be submitted by end November 2013.

“At a cost of €20 million this is by far the largest regional seismic survey acquired in the Irish offshore, and will provide a regional grid of high-quality seismic data over Ireland’s frontier basins,” says Minister for Natural Resources, Fergus O’Dowd. “The 18,000 km full-fold seismic survey is also designed to infill data gaps that exist, particularly in the Southern Porcupine, Rockall and Hatton basins.”

He continues: “Most importantly, the survey should go a long way towards revealing the true oil and gas potential o fIreland’s frontier basins. The data should allow resource potential to be predicted with much greater confidence and enable both the industry and the Government to adequately evaluate future licensing opportunities.”

The survey will be untertaken byENI Ireland BV in conjunction with the Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources in the Atlantic waters of the Irish-designated Continental Shelf.

The survey vessel BGP Explorer is operating from Killybegs and the survey will be conducted for a duration of 145 days. Depending on weather conditions, it is possible that part of the survey will be acquired in 2014.

The environment affects human health in multiple ways, according to the report ‘Environment and human health’ published by the European Environment Agency (EEA) and the European Commission’s in-house science service, the Joint Research Centre. While pollutants, noise and other forms of environmental degradation can be harmful, the report underlines the large benefits of access to natural environments for physical and mental wellbeing.

There is large disparity in the environmental conditions across Europe, which is often reflected in different levels of health and life expectancy, according to the report. People with low social status often live in degraded or harmful environments, with potential negative effects on health. Their condition may be further influenced by other factors, including socio-economic status, life style habits and general health status.

As people live longer, the main causes of premature death and disability have become non-communicable, ’lifestyle’-related conditions, such as obesity, cardiovascular diseases, diabetes, and cancer. In so far as these problems may be linked to environmental conditions, it has become increasingly important to address all these issues together, the report says.

People are usually exposed to multiple environmental factors throughout their lives, and more research is needed to understand the impacts, the report says, especially for the most vulnerable in society – including children, the poor and the elderly.

Science needs to move away from focusing on individual hazards and look instead at the complex, combined effects environmental and lifestyle factors are having on our health, the report says.

Key findings are:

* Global sales of products from the chemicals sector doubled between 2000 and 2009, and there is an increasing range of chemicals on the market, including substances affecting human health.

* There is growing concern about ‘endocrine disrupting chemicals’, which affect the hormone system, found in a wide range of common products including pharmaceuticals, pesticides and cosmetics. Effects are not yet fully understood, but the chemicals may contribute to declining sperm count, genital malformation, impaired neural development, obesity and cancer.

* The report highlights evidence showing the contribution of air pollution to cancer, heart disease, bronchitis and asthma and estimates that air pollution reduces each EU citizen’s life expectancy by an average of 8.5 months.  Recent studies of air pollution suggest that exposure in early life can significantly affect adult health, and the effect of air pollution on pregnancy may be comparable to that of passive smoking. Up to 95% of city dwellers are still exposed to levels of fine particulate matter (PM) above World Health Organisation guidelines, the report says.

* In Europe, an increasing health concern in relation to water quality is pharmaceutical residues and endocrine-disrupting substances, which are not always fully removed by water treatment. Water shortages and water quality issues may be further exacerbated by climate change, the report says.

* Noise can seriously harm health, affecting cognitive development, cardiovascular disease and sleep. Noisy areas are often those with high levels of air pollution, and each factor seems to augment the effect of the other.

* Devices emitting electro-magnetic fields (EMF) such as mobile phones are sometimes considered a possible cancer risk, but there is no conclusive scientific evidence supporting this link. Available data are reviewed regularly by the Commission’s scientific committees. The next review will be published in the second half of 2013.

* Nanotechnology applications might be an emerging risk, as little is known about the effects of nanomaterials in the human body. This will require an adequate assessment of potential risks, to guarantee the safe production of nanomaterials and their safe use in consumer products.

* Green spaces seem to have multiple physical and mental health benefits. There are significant differences in access to these areas across Europe  – all cities in Sweden and Finland have more than 40 % green space within their boundaries, while at the other end of the scale all Hungarian and Greek cities have less than 30 % green space.