Thursday 22 April, 2010, might just seem like another day, but for over one billion people in nearly 200 countries, it’s a chance to start something that might make a difference to the state of the planet.

Today is 40 years after the first Earth Day and, say the folks behind the globally organised Official Earth Day 2010 Campaign, the world is in greater peril than ever. And the point of creating and gaining publicity around a special day in the year devoted to the Earth, is to get people of all races and creeds motivated to help create a healthy, prosperous and clean energy economy for today and the future.

Earth Day 2010 is a clarion call for all those millions of people who make personal commitments to sustainability, whether its walking to the office, using less energy at home, or, indeed, mobile phone recycling. And its not just limited to individuals, companies, organisations and governments worldwide can help make a difference.

So don’t forget, whilst you’re thinking of things to help save the world, remember its easy to get cash for mobile phones.

How do you convert 500,000 tonnes of waste into 16 million gallons of green jet fuel every year and effectively take 48,000 cars off the road?

Simple, you get the Solena Group to help you and this is exactly what British Airways has done in order to do its bit for the environment.

British Airways has teamed up with the Solena Group to build the first sustainable jet-fuel plant in Europe which will be used to power its aircraft from 2014.

The process basically provides lifecycle greenhouse gas savings of around 95% when compared to fossil-fuel derived jet kerosene.

The new plant which is likely to be built in East London takes waste materials which would usually go into landfill sites and converts it into aviation fuel.

And the 16 million gallons of fuel is equivalent to making all of the airlines flights from London City Airport carbon-neutral and is also equal to taking 48,000 cars off the road every year.

Solena Group Inc is a world leader in renewable energy systems and from its headquarters in Washington DC, it partners companies throughout the world to produce bio-energy and bio-fuel solutions. And not only will the plant produce airline fuel, it will also generate some 20 mega watts of electricity.

Solena will build and operate the plant and British Airways has agreed to buy the bio-fuel product. Some four sites are being considered in the east of London and its expected to create some 1,200 new jobs.

The bosses are as-one as to the merits of the project, with
Willie Walsh, British Airways’ chief executive, leading the way:
“This unique partnership with Solena will pave the way for realising our ambitious goal of reducing net carbon emissions by 50 per cent by 2050. We believe it will lead to the production of a real sustainable alternative to jet kerosene.”

Next up was Dr Robert Do, chairman and chief executive of the Solena Group who said:
“The Solena - British Airways BioJetFuel project will efficiently convert biomass into clean renewable fuels and electricity and is completely carbon neutral. The plant will be a state-of-the-art renewable fuel manufacturing facility, distinct from a standard waste to energy incinerator facility. It will not produce any polluting emissions or undesirable by-products.”

Not to be out-done in the applause, The Mayor of London Boris Johnson, said:
“I welcome this fantastic new ‘carbon lite’ fuel production facility in London. City Hall has been working with British Airways and Solena to drive this project forward to help untap the massive potential to generate cleaner, less polluting energy from waste, otherwise destined for landfill.”

So next time you take of in a British Airways jet, just think for a minute what might be powering it in the future: the waste of all those Londoners!

The European Union is prepared to put its money where its mouth is with a ‘green’ cheque for between one and three billion euros reports the Financial Times Deutschland.

The monetary commitment is ready to be revealed at the 15th United Nations Climate Change Conference which is currently underway in Copenhagen. It is said, according to a diplomatic source which was unnamed, to be a sign of good faith from the EU and is targetted at climate change mitigation and adaptation in vulnerable third world countries.

News agency AFP also ran with the story, although they said the amount the EU was prepared to spend, between 2010 and 2012, was being kept secret. Their source was a draft text of the commitment said to come from the EU.

The Financial Times Deutschland speculated that money is deemed necessary as a sign of the EU’s belief that support is desperately needed for those countries being affected by climate change now. It is also reported that the EU recognise that their contribution is barely a drop in the ocean against what the final bill might be.

The 15th United Nations Climate Change Conference has kicked off and UN Climate Chief Yvo de Boer has already laid down the gauntlet, saying that the negotiations have to produce an ambitious and sweeping agreement which must capitalise on pledges by countries to fight global warming.

The two-week conference is being held in Copenhagen and most see these as not only historic talks, but ones that almost represent the last big chance to get things right.

Chief Yvo de Boar said the time was now up to agree on the framework of a tougher climate deal after a series of troubled negotiations which have deepened a rift between rich and poor nations.

He told press agency Reuters:
“I believe that negotiators now have the clearest signal ever from world leaders to draft a solid set of proposals to implement rapid action…Never in the 17 years of climate change negotiations have so many different nations made so many firm pledges together. Almost every day countries announce new targets or plans of action to cut emissions.”

China, India and Indonesia are amongst a number of other countries which have all rallied behind the flag, announcing new commitments to reduce emissions. South Africa has also announced that it will take its turn, promising to reduce its emissions by 34% over the next ten years. And Japan remains true to its original targets of a 25% cut in emissions by 2020.

The major caveat of course is that these targets are based on every other significant country accepting and meeting their targets.

But these recent offerings from some of the world’s largest polluters provide hope that the 15th United Nations Climate Change Conference can achieve some level of success.

Much rests on the last few critical days of the conference, as leaders from over 100 countries will fly in and try and finalise a major deal, including agreeing on emissions levels and who is going to foot the bill.

Recycling initiatives are always very welcome, but apart from the financial arguments over the effectiveness of the US car scrappage scheme, there’s a ‘green’ controversy brewing over the $3 billion Cash for Clunkers programme…So who’s crying foul and wants one of the world’s largest car manufacturers to pull their weight in mercury?

The programme officially finished on 24th August and has, for most people, been a great success, accounting for the sales of 489,000 vehicles. The principle is simple. In exchange for financial incentives – around $3,500 to $4,500 per vehicle – you sacrifice your old banger for a newer car.

But the people at The Mercury Policy Project (MPP), part of the US-based The Tides Center, are peeved that the re-born General Motors have, according to a number of  reports, decided not to recycle the mercury switches from its cars.

And with an estimated 54% of all vehicles containing mercury from the GM stable, then MPP, as well a number of environmental groups, are not happy with their apparent decision. And it’s not a small problem. Of all cars handed in during the Cash for Clunkers programme, its reckoned that the amount of waste mercury totalled some 1,000 pounds. And experts conclude that if GM’s has decided not to act on the mercury as deemed appropriate by the green lobby, then some half of the mercury could find its way into the environment.

One Michael Bender, a director of the Vermont-based MPP, said:
“With vehicles pouring into scrap yards under the Cash for Clunkers program, GM should pay its fair share. GM’s lack of support leaves others in the lurch. It also detracts further from the financing necessary for the national program to operate effectively.”

He was joined by Charles Griffith, with the Michigan-based Ecology Center, who said:
“GM should not hide behind a bankruptcy proceeding as an excuse for not meeting its on-going obligation to fund a vital program for keeping mercury out of the environment. Americans should demand that in return for the benefits it received under Cash for Clunkers, the company continue meeting its obligations to fund legacy mercury recovery costs from GM end-of-life vehicles.”

And for the future it’s a case of good news, bad news. First, it was in 2004 when mercury switches – used to operate car convenience lights – were discontinued. But here’s the bad news. They reckon that some 100 million were used and unless they are properly recycled, the mercury is released in the air during the scrappage process and adds significantly to global pollution.

Mercury is not very pleasant of course. According to the blurb issued by MPP, it: “…“is a potent neurotoxin that can impair neurological development in fetuses and young children and damage the nervous system of adults. It is toxic, persistent and bioaccumulative. Mercury can be deposited in water, soils, and air where microorganisms can convert it into the highly toxic methlymercury. Methlymercury is also created by combustion of mercury-containing materials like auto switches.”