Blog: Climate

Bio-diesel is the name for fuel made from vegetable oils. It is made either directly from crops such as rapeseed, sunflower and soya, or by recycling cooking oil.

Bio-diesel is not zero emission, but the environmental impact of bio-diesel is much lower than that of petroleum-based diesel. The impact on global climate change of bio-diesel is half that of petro-diesel. Bio-diesel produces virtually no emissions of sulphur or hydrocarbons. Emissions of air pollutants such as carbon monoxide and particulates are also significantly reduced.

Greenpeace has been campaigning for more than 20 years to stop oil exploration and drilling in the Beaufort Sea, and our particular focus over the past four years has been BP's Northstar project. Greenpeace has reviewed thousands of documents and permits on the project, and has provided oral and written comment at every stage of the permitting process.

Climate protection and the carbon logic

The 1997-1998 El Nino event with its fires, floods and outbreaks of disease and pestilence, offers a glimpse of the future in a 'warmed' world and illustrates vividly the disastrous consequences that even minor fluctuations in the climate system can bring.

Scientists warn that the rates of climate change are likely to exceed any in the last 10,000 years, making it impossible for many ecosystems to adapt and survive.

Solar electric (photovoltaic or 'PV') panels produce electricity directly from sunlight, the Earth's primary source of energy. Despite its rainy climate the UK would get 2/3 of its electricity from solar if all suitable roofs were equipped with solar panels i . Even on overcast days there is enough diffuse daylight for solar electric panels to generate some electricity.

If it were possible to harness all the sunlight that hits the UK in one average day it would be enough to fulfil the whole of the UK's electricity needs for 2 whole years ii .