Sustainable land use for mitigation

Big Street Bikers is supercharging its network of Locky Docks free secure parking and charging stations for cycles, e-bikes and e-scooters with 100 more to be rolled out across New Zealand.  “Mercury has been a cornerstone partner of Big Street Bikers since day one, as we recognise transport is New Zealand’s biggest opportunity to reduce emissions – and our sector can help with that,” says Mercury sustainability general manager Lucie Drummond.  “We’re excited to help get more Kiwis on to bikes, e-bikes and e-scooters, as convenient and cleaner ways to get around, as the network expands.”  Analysis of the 10 existing Locky Docks in Christchurch by consultancy Sense Partners found they contributed to 250,000 fewer vehicle kilometres travelled, 58 tonnes of CO2 abated and $1.7-$2.3 million in physical benefits annually.  Big Street Bikers co-founder Cleve Cameron says Locky Docks are “mode shift machines”.  “The wayfinding and secure storage Locky Docks provide makes them an excellent complement to improving cycling infrastructure. By making it safe, secure and normal to bike to more regularly, we can accelerate climate action and enhance the wellbeing of our streets.”  Sense Partners economist Shamubeel Eaqub says expansion of the network can bring proportionally greater benefits.  “Based on our analysis, the next 100 Locky Docks could reduce vehicle kilometres travelled by 2.5 million kilometres a year,” he says.  “The Locky Dock network also provides exceptional value – $1.50 (at our most conservative measure), up to $4.60 for every $1 of cost (at our most optimistic). That comes from reduced car operating costs, reduced pollution costs, health benefits from cycling and more.”  The next 100 Locky Docks are planned for existing locations – Auckland, Wellington, Hamilton and Christchurch – and new locations such as Tauranga, Whakatane, Napier, New Plymouth, Wairarapa and Dunedin.  Each Locky Dock station has a screen displaying safe cycling routes to make commuting easier and CCTV cameras for extra security.  They are locked and unlocked using the Bikeep app available here.  Meanwhile, transport minister Michael Wood is expected to help launch “The Big Switch” on Friday November 25 in the way people move around New Zealand’s cities from streets made for cars to streets made for people.

The Louvre Abu Dhabi has been announced as the ‘Sustainable Building Design of the Year’ and ‘GCC (Gulf Cooperation Council) Project of the Year’ at the MEP Middle East Awards.  As Executive Architects, Pascall+Watson worked in partnership with French architect Jean Nouvel to create the striking museum, which opened in November last year.

Asda has today opened its new sustainability trial store and unveiled a new plastics reduction strategy with a promise that customers will not pay more for greener options.The supermarket has partnered with some of the UK’s most popular household brands including PG Tips, Vimto, Kellogg’s, Radox and Persil to create the store located in Middleton,…

Indian Institute of Technology (IIT), Madras is developing an innovative model to tackle electronic wastes (e-waste) by linking stakeholders in the formal and informal economy, according to officials. Called “e-Source”, the exchange platform that will serve as an online marketplace for Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment (WEEE) and facilitate a formal supply chain between various stakeholders (buyers and sellers). The initiative is being spearheaded by Indo-German Centre for Sustainability (IGCS). According to officials, the initiative aims to make ”Waste Electrical Electronic Equipment” (WEEE) a key resource in the evolution of a circular economy by establishing traceability and recovery of post-consumer e-waste in the market.

Currently our economy operates in a linear way. Take, Make, Dispose. It’s based on the industrial revolution, and we know this way of doing things has limits. Some of those limits we are reaching even today. But there’s a different economy we could create. The Circular Economy. This week we explore the ‘Circular Economy’ with #1 Circular Economy advocate, Dame Ellen MacArthur. This brand new economy is all about designing out waste and pollution, keeping products and materials in use, and regenerating natural systems. It incentivizes manufacturers to create and maintain better products, stops the Global North from polluting the Global South, and has the potential to regenerate wildlife and ecosystems that are on the brink of collapsing.