Tag Archives: U.S. Department of State

Daniel Yergin on the “Rebirth of Renewables”

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Daniel Yergin is a Pulitzer Prize winning American author, speaker, and economic researcher. Yergin is the co-founder and chairman of Cambridge Energy Research Associates, an energy research consultancy that is now part of IHS Inc. He is best known as author of The Prize: The Epic Quest for Oil, Money, and Power; and The Quest: Energy, Security, and the Remaking of the Modern World.

Daniel YerginHe recently spoke at the U.S. Department of State on energy issues with the Bureau of Energy Resources.  Check out this short video interview with Mr. Yergin, which he filmed just for you, the Global Conversations: Our Planet community, on what he calls the “rebirth of renewables.”

Powered by Wind and Solar Energy

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Did you know the U.S. State Department gets energy from both wind and solar farms?  The Department works to make facilities and operations both in the U.S. and in embassies and consulates around the world more environmentally-friendly.  That means efforts to operate more sustainability, implement recycling and waste management systems, reduce water usage, reduce emissions, and to use renewable energy.

Below are photos taken at the wind and solar farms from which the State Department gets energy!

Wind turbine at the wind farm from which the U.S. State Department gets energy.

Wind turbine at the wind farm from which the U.S. State Department gets energy.

 

Wind turbines at the wind farm from which the U.S. State Department gets energy

Solar panels at the solar farm from which the U.S. State Department get energy.

 

 

Protecting the Black-eared Mantella

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Today’s story by the U.S. Department of State’s Bureau of Oceans and International Environmental and Scientific Affairs is about a critically endangered frog, the Black-eared Mantella.

Black-eared Mantella (Mantella milotympanum)

Black-eared Mantella (Mantella milotympanum)

The Mantella Milotympanum or Black-eared Mantella is a critically endangered frog from Madagascar forests now only known from a few fragmented

sites. Habitat destruction due to timber harvest, expanded agriculture and settlements and fires are the largest threat most endemic flora and fauna of Madagascar face. Additionally, collection of wild frogs and other animals for the pet trade has resulted in significant depletion of many species and has put the Black-eared Mantella on the brink of extinction. This colorful species lives in forest habitats near swamps. The eggs are laid on land, the larvae are washed into the swamp by rain and as adults they live in the forest. The Black-eared Mantella does not reside on any protected area or reserve, so the future is bleak for this jewel of nature. For further information, check out this site.

This entry reflects the author’s personal judgments and does not represent the views of the United States Government or the Department of State.

Coral Reefs and Solar Power

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Below are two stories about exciting environmental projects made possible in part by a grant from the Regional Environmental Office of the U.S. Department of State.  One features the work of college students protecting coral reef in Vanuatu, and the other explores a solar power project spearheaded by the University of the South Pacific.

Reef Check Vanuatu: Rural Awareness Program

Reef Check Vanuatu Project

Reef Check Vanuatu Project

The Malpoa College Reef Check Team advanced its work on a project called “Reef Check Vanuatu: Rural Awareness Program,” with a small environmental award of $13,000 from the Department of State’s Regional Environmental Office (REO) in Suva in November 2010. Reef Check Vanuatu employed college student volunteers in a coral reef preservation project on Tanna Island in Vanuatu.

Coral reefs, now threatened by overfishing, pollution, and sedimentation, are the locus for a great amount of marine biodiversity in the South Pacific. They are essential to the survival of the ecosystem and provide food and shelter for fish and other marine animals. Many Pacific Islanders depend on these fish and other reef dwellers to maintain a living and feed their families.

Reef Check Vanuatu Project participants

Reef Check Vanuatu Project participants

Reef Check Vanuatu focuses a large component of its activities on building community awareness of the economic and social benefits of reef preservation. The Reef Check team conducted interviews with local villagers and elders, held a workshop for adults from Louanatom Villages on coral reef biology and the need for marine preservation, and developed a reef-check toolkit, posters and printed materials to promote awareness among government agencies and local NGOs. The volunteers produced and distributed 300 copies of the manual and presented educational dramas to more than 250 elementary school students at six schools on similar topics.

The volunteers also led two reef check surveys for community members, providing them with a first-hand look at the health of their local reefs. The team also led half-day reef planting workshops for reef restoration. An inspection a month after the project was completed showed that the community has been maintaining the coral.

Reef Check Vanuatu Project

Reef Check Vanuatu Project

University of South Pacific: Solar-Powered “Fales” for Students

The University of the South Pacific (USP) launched a new solar photovoltaic (PV) system at its Laucala Campus in Suva on December 17, 2010. This renewable energy system, designed by the Head of USP’s School of Engineering and Physics, Dr. Atul Raturi, was funded by the U.S. Department of State’s Small Regional Environmental Grants program. The system uses sunlight to provide a sustainable source of electricity for recently built student study areas called “fales” (pronounced “far-lay”) – eco-friendly structures based on traditional Tongan design.

University of South Pacific Solar Photovoltaic Fales Project

University of South Pacific Solar Photovoltaic Fales Project

Another aim of this project is to spread the knowledge of and build capacity for the use of renewableoff-grid power systems. The Pacific Islands, which currently must import expensive, polluting fossil fuels from outside the region, are increasingly affected by the adverse impacts of climate change. Since 80% of Pacific Islanders have no access to electricity, these types of renewable energy projects are vital to the region’s future.

In its one-year existence, USP’s solar-powered “fales” have increased awareness among studentsand staff about the potentials of renewable energy. They have produced more than one megawatt-hour of electricity savings for the university. (One megawatt can power 1,000 homes in the United States, at the average rate of electricity use, for a year.) The project also reduced USP’s carbon footprint by more than one ton of carbon dioxide. This new solar PV system has become a centerpiece of capacity building efforts at USP’s School of Engineering Physics, where students and technical staff learn about its design, operation, and maintenance.

The success of this renewable energy pilot has also attracted the attention of the EU and a Korean renewable energy research company.

University of South Pacific Solar Photovoltaic Fales Project

University of South Pacific Solar Photovoltaic Fales Project

 

 

 

 

Sea Turtle Conservation

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Today’s blog post about working with sea turtles in Costa Rica is by Brian Drozd, a program officer at the U.S. Department of State. He has over 6 years of experience working for the United States Environmental Protection Agency, where he worked on grants and communications in the Climate Change Division.  His Master’s degree in Natural Resources and Sustainable Development enabled him to focus on sustainable tourism and conservation.

Sea turtle in Tortuguero, Costa Rica (Courtesy Photo)

Sea turtle in Tortuguero, Costa Rica (Courtesy Photo)

In the summer of 2009 I spent 10 weeks working with sea turtles on the rugged coast of Tortuguero, Costa Rica. Working as a research assistant for the Sea Turtle Conservancy, I spent my time walking up and down a 5 mile stretch of beach in the middle of the night looking for green sea turtles to measure, tag, and count the number of eggs they laid. I did this only for meals and a roof over my head. Why would someone do this? Sea turtles have swum in the world’s oceans for 100 million years, and they are in danger of extinction. Threats from poaching, commercial fishing, and climate change, among others, are threatening these animals all over the world. Many people say healthy sea turtles mean healthy oceans.

Sea turtle tracks to and from the ocean. (Courtesy Photo)

Sea turtle tracks to and from the ocean. (Courtesy Photo)

There are many different species of sea turtles, but I primarily worked with green sea turtles. Some facts about these amazing animals:

  • They only lay eggs every 3-4 years, and generally come back to nest on the same beach where they were born throughout their life. One turtle we found had nested on the same beach in 1982!
  • They only lay their eggs at night, after digging a hole that can be up to 5 feet deep.
  • They only come on land to lay their eggs.
  • There are only an estimated 88,000 nesting green turtle females in the world.
Finding a baby leatherback turtle early one morning. (Courtesy Photo)

Finding a baby leatherback turtle early one morning. (Courtesy Photo)

The goal of my time in Tortuguero was to help the Sea Turtle Conservancy collect data to monitor the health and numbers of the sea turtle population. We also worked closely with the local people to educate them about sea turtles and help them conduct their eco-tourism business with the turtles in a safe manner.

One of the most amazing experiences as a research assistant was when we put a satellite transmitter onto a green turtle. Using a transmitter to monitor turtles we are able to learn about their feeding patterns, how long they stay under water, and much more. It is just this kind of valuable information that is helping scientists learn how to better help protect these animals.

Green sea turtle returning to ocean with satellite tracker. She probably weighs 300 pounds! (Courtesy Photo)

Green sea turtle returning to ocean with satellite tracker. She probably weighs 300 pounds! (Courtesy Photo)

Sea Turtles nest all over the world. Large nesting populations are found in many countries in Latin America and Africa, as well as in India, Indonesia, and China. All sea turtles are in need of protection, monitoring, and research in order to make sure they survive for future generations. There are many actions you can take to help sea turtles near your home and around the world. Some of them are: reducing pollution, not eating sea turtle meat or eggs, and protecting coastlines by slowing development and reducing light on nesting beaches. View more tips here and research just a few of the many organizations working to save turtles around the world. I had an incredible time working with sea turtles, and I’m sure you would too!

Interested in learning more?  Check out one of these great sites!