Economics of climate change

Nicholas Stern, Chairman of the the Grantham Research Institute on Climate Change and the Environment at the LSE, and author of the Stern Review, has argued that it is far more responsible to look at ways to invest in moving toward a low-carbon economy now, rather than wait to deal with the effects of climate change in the future.

He makes this argument through an economic analysis of the costs of investing in reducing carbon emissions, compared to dealing with the costs of floods, famine, water shortages, refugee crises and other hazards stemming from climate change. A webcast of his presentation for the session, 'Business as usual is not sustainable,' at the U.S. Climate Action conference is available here.

On a related note, the LSE hosts a number of events related to sustainability and climate change. There are 'Sustainability in Practice' lectures taking place this spring 2010, and there are also podcasts of past talks on the LSE events archive.

Sound Of Soil: Alunda Church Choir plays the soil of northern Uppland

“The vinyl is dead. Good. Now listen to the beautiful noise of the earth. In this performance Alunda Church Choir, conducted by Cantor Jan Hällgren, plays the soil of northern Uppland (in Sweden)."

Introducing: the terrafon, a large version of the horn gramophone, amplifying the sounds in the track it ploughs. What I like in particular about Olle Cornéer und Martin Lübcke's work with the title "Harvest" is the participation of local ensembles "playing" their soils, the analogue approach and the use of soil as a media: putting the soil on the level with vinyl discs to which one can listen to. These performances offer a complete new experience of soils. I have never had the chance to listen to soil before! Check also Diego Stocco's similar but more digitised work on music from Sand or from a Tree.

SUSTAINABLE BRIXTON - nurture sustainable living

This is a social network about Brixton created to get directly to the people and bring them to the field without many particular interactions that take forever and that bounce you to other pages where you have to manage ever lasting copy-pasting. It is structured with an interactive map that links you to the websites of the activities displayed.
Also you will find an audio guide that you can download and take it with you as you visit the town and you can play it on your mobile phone, iPod or whatever else is your device that you always bring with you.
The guide introduces you to some of the projects and activities in Brixton that help nurturing sustainable living. You will also find some comments from the people who are directly involved in these activities.
Don't forget to get the printable map of the tour as you decide to have this experience.

Here is the link to the web page: http://sustainablebrixton.ning.com/

Advertising campaigns raising the awareness of environmental issues

These campaigns represent the connections between human activities and the effects on the natural environment.

“If we don't stop global warming, nature will” (by WWF for a living planet)

Devices making energy use visible_2

This is designed to make householders aware of their energy consumptionon a daily basis.

This clock visualises the daily energy rhythms of thehousehold and reminds householders of the ordinary kitchen clockin its form, place and use. the clock indicates electrical use of its environmentin real time.

Devices raising awareness of energy use :Wilting Flower"

This flower wilts as you consume power. It allows consumers not onlyto be conscious of their energy consumption, but also to realise theimpacts their energy use has on the environment.

A British designer has come up with the Wilting Flower as a way to raise awareness of home energy consumption. The device is shaped like a flower that provides a visible reminder of how much energy is being used at the moment. When low amounts of energy are being consumed, the flower stands tall and blooms open. Flick on more lights and turn on the TV or video game and the flower wilts and closes up.The prototype is expected to cost about $90 when it comes to the market. So why would someone buy this novelty device when a simple energy monitor would do the exact same thing? Designer Carl Smith, who came up with the Wilting Flower, told the Daily Mail that he hopes people will become attached to the flower and keep it in bloom by changing their energy consumption habits. Other products display energy use on small LCD units which are not as attractive, he says.A wireless connector is connected to the household electricity supply and when more appliances are turned on, the amount of current drawn increases and is relayed back to the Wilting Flower. When the flower displays a blue and greenish light, that means power usage is low. Purple is a bad sign and an indication that the flower is about to wilt and it's time to turn off some of those appliances.

Devices making energy use visible_1

Electronic Cord, designed to make electricity visible.

With regards to saving electricity consumption, it is important to be aware of the use of electricity. Generally, energy is invisible so consumers are unconcious in using energy.

This type device allows householders to realise they are using energy.

*Source_Visual voltage exhibition at design vlaanderen, brussels

Visual voltage is an exhibition which explores the use of energy through smart design.the show is meant to give insight into electricity, energy consumption and environmental issues.the projects on show are all developed by swedish designers and artists, expressing their creative roles as a means to generate awareness and debates on essential issues such as sustainability and energy consumption, shedding new light on how we use electricity.