 Environment
- What is. Here we run through questions that arise when
experts and publications speak about the subject. But what are
the three general terms that define the word environment? The
Concise Oxford Dictionary summarizes as follows:
-
our physical
surroundings, conditions and circumstances etc in which a
person lives
- external
conditions as affecting plant and animal life
- the totality of
the physical conditions on the earth
With the above in
mind, browse through the following questions to delve further
|
What is meant by the words 'greenhouse effect' and
greenhouse gases'?
|
|
 Keeping a Roof
Over our Heads - Greenhouse gases are naturally occurring gases
in the atmosphere but an increase of these gases has been
caused by man's activities and through the production of
burning fossil fuels, CFC's etc. The gases form a dense
layer around the earth which prevents the sun's rays escaping
back into space, trapping them like that of a greenhouse.
Hence the term "the greenhouse effect".
|
What is 'fossil fuels'?
|
|
Living off the Past - Fossil fuels derived
from sources such as gas, oil and coal. The by-products of
these cause greenhouse gases which are believed to be the
major cause of climate change and have damaging effects on
biodiversity.
|
What is biodiversity?
|
|
Variety, the Spice of Life - Biological diversity, or
‘biodiversity’, is defined as the richness of the natural
world - the variety of plants and animals, together with the
soils, rocks and water on which they depend. But the best
people to tell you about this is English Nature with their
leaflet on Biodiversity. This is a must read.
Click Here
Taunton Deane Biodiversity Action Plan Click Here |
What is climate change?
|
|
The World Moods
- Climate change could be a huge cost to us environmentally,
socially and economically so knowing about this subject is
important. Who better tell us
 about
climate change than the UK Climate Impacts Programme.
Click Here
|
What is renewable energy?
|
|
Your Next Benefit
- Renewable energy is energy that has been derived from
renewable or replaceable sources such as the sun, wind, water
and plant
 material.
Combined with energy efficiency it offers a viable and potent
solution to countering the effects of global warming. By
installing any one of the renewable energy technologies,
you will be making a major personal contribution to the
wellbeing of future generations and you could also benefit
from lower fuel bills. Visit the DTI's Renewables Energy
site -
click here
 or
Clear Skies for more info.
Click Here
|
What is biomass?
|
|
The Living Dead
- Biomass is a term used to describe all living things
whether plant or animal. It also includes dead things as long
as the nutrients they contain can be easily recycled by
decomposition. Coal and oil, which are made up of the remains
of living creatures, have been altered to such an extent by
time and geological
processes that they are no longer considered biomass. Before
the First World War, 40% of the UK’s agricultural land was
devoted to the production of biofuels - mainly timber. Today
we have other biofuels such as Willow, animal manure and farm
slurry but a type of woody grass called Miscanthus
has proven to be a good source of biofuel.
|
What is EIA?
|
|
Environmental Impact Assessment - (EIA) is a procedure for
considering the potential environmental effects of land use
change. EIA helps to inform decision-making and enables
decisions on land use change to be taken with full knowledge
of the likely environmental consequences. Legal requirements
for EIA already apply to projects which are subject to the
Town and Country Planning system; separate EIA legislation is
also already in place for other types of project including
forestry and certain land drainage operations.
|
What is ESA?
|
|
Environmentally Sensitive Areas - (ESA) is a Scheme that
was introduced in 1987 to offer incentives and encourage
farmers to adopt agricultural practices which would safeguard
and enhance parts of the country of particularly high
landscape, wildlife or historic value. There are now 22 ESAs
in England, covering some 10% of agricultural land.
Click Here for More
|
What is Local Agenda 21?
|
|
On Behalf of Local People, Agencies and
Organisations - At the 1992 'Earth Summit' in Rio which
drew up a framework for future action on sustainable
development across the globe, local authorities helped lead
the way in promoting
Local Agenda 21, a comprehensive action plan at the
local level for the 21st Century. It is a process of
involving people and organisations locally in working up a
shared strategy for the future of their area in the 21st
century.
To visit Somerset's Local Agenda 21
Click Here |
|
|
|
|
South West
Environmental Profile
