We were very pleased to receive this morning a letter from the United Nations Environment Programme that recognizes the unsustainable nature of current levels of charcoal production and consumption in sub-Saharan Africa, and the threat this poses to the progress on the MDGs. The letter, signed by Mr. Mounkaila Goumandakoye, Director and Regional Representative of UNEP in Africa, also expresses the agency’s support for The Charcoal Project’s effort to organize the first International Conference on Charcoal, scheduled to take place in the first half of 2012 in Africa. Although we regret UNEP’s Executive Director, Achim Steiner, will not be able Continue reading
Fuels
Various types of fuels
NEWS: U.S. Expands Biomass Research
NEWS: The New York Times. 4/15/2011. “On Friday, the departments of Agriculture and Energy announced that up to $30 million would go toward supporting research and development in advanced biofuels, bioenergy and “high-value biobased products” over the next three to four years.”
Foreign investment to protect Ghana forest not keeping up w destruction
NEWS: Indiscriminate felling of trees for firewood and charcoal to either sell or for domestic use is a routine for most locals in Ghana.
At the same time it’s a major contributing factor eating up the forests.
About 69 percent of all urban households use charcoal for cooking and heating and the annual per capita consumption is around 180 kg. The total annual consumption is about 700,000 tons, 30 percent of which is consumed in the capital Accra, according to the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO).
Why the UN’s report on the State of the World’s Forest is James Cameron’s worst nightmare.
The UN year of the forest in 2011 is being launched with a number of reports outlining a positive role for forestry industries and biomass in particular.
The UN’s flagship study, The State of the World’s Forests 2011, paints a healthy picture for energy crop growers, calling for greater industrial integration, increased productivity and the rapid adoption of technological advances.
Ugandan schoolmaster leads way in seeking energy efficiency & sustainable renewable fuels for schools
Born to a very poor family, orphaned at a young age, Henry Twinemasiko is providing hope and education to 1,650 schoolchildren in this remote corner of Uganda.
Henry’s next mission is to bring clean-burning biomass fuels and green technology to the schools and the community’s 15,000 inhabitants.
At The Charcoal Project we are proud and humbled to be Henry’s partner.