Case Study : GSK Nutritional Healthcare: Market leader makes customer care miles better
Care isn’t just part of the name at GSK Nutritional Healthcare. It’s at the heart of its customer help lines. But Ashley Thomas knew that the company’s legacy telephone technology was becoming a bit of a hindrance. Keen to boost customer service with new technology, a review of the market led Ashley to BT Cloud Contact
Car-free cities: healthier citizens
No cities are yet fully car-free, but many have managed or plan to restrict access to city centres for privately owned combustion-engine passenger cars. Health benefits will come from reduced traffic-related air pollution, less noise and lower levels of heat emitted from vehicles. The greatest health benefit, however, is likely to come from increased physical activity as people walk, cycle and move to catch public transport, according to a review of the potential health benefits of car-free cities.
Careful urban tree planting and pruning needed to reduce trapping of air pollution
Careful planting and pruning is needed to ensure that air pollution in tree-lined streets is minimised, new research suggests. While planting trees in urban areas can have many benefits, such as enhancing biodiversity, trees can trap particulate matter pollution, say the study’s authors.
Carbon emissions linked to rise in hay fever and asthma in Europe
Pollen allergy is a common cause of allergic respiratory diseases such as hay fever and asthma. A recent continent-wide study suggests that rising carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions over the last 30 years may be increasing pollen counts especially in European cities, which could have serious consequences for public health.
Carbon capture and storage could affect air pollution
A new report suggests that underground carbon storage projects in Europe could lead to positive and negative effects on air pollution, depending on the pollutant in question. Carbon capture and storage (CCS) is considered in European legislation as a ‘bridging technology’ – a medium-term solution to climate change. Although the overall air quality impact of CCS is expected to be positive, the legislation notes that the technology should not be seen as a replacement for commitments to developing a greener and more energy-efficient economy.
Carbon nanotubes could be released by plastic as it degrades
Carbon nanotubes (CNT) could be released into the environment as the plastic they are embedded in degrades, a new study suggests. The research found that general wear combined with exposure to UV light and moderate humidity would expose CNTs, posing a potential threat to human health.
The economic benefits of carbon storage in the Mediterranean Sea
Carbon storage in the Mediterranean Sea could be worth up to 1722 million Euros a year, a new study has found. The researchers performed a combined ecological-economic assessment, finding that the sea takes up an estimated 17.8 million tonnes of CO2 every year, providing important climate change mitigation.
Choice of tree species and site can increase plant diversity in plantation forest
Careful choice of tree species and sites could transform plantations into refuges for woodland plant diversity, new research from Ireland suggests. Plantations of native species on or near historic woodland and those with adequate light levels below the tree canopy were found to support more plant species.
Nutrient footprints of different food groups calculated
Carbon footprints are an established means of communicating one aspect of a product's environmental impact. New research suggests additional 'nitrogen footprints' for food products could give consumers a more informed choice and help reduce eutrophication in water. However, it warns that there are environmental trade-offs for some food groups, for example, oil products have a small nitrogen footprint, but a fairly large carbon footprint.
Carbon labels most effective when combined with low prices
New research in Australia has investigated the impact of labelling groceries with their level of CO2 emissions. A convenience store that introduced these labels found that the share of green (low CO2 emissions) purchases increased by 5 per cent. If these products were also low priced, the share of green purchases from the store increased by 20 per cent.
Green innovations could cut carbon emissions from road projects by a third
Carbon emissions from Dutch road networks could be reduced by almost a third if more innovative materials and processes were used, a new study suggests. Researchers assessed the potential benefits associated with 10 innovations in road construction and maintenance, and compared them to conventional materials and processes.
Urban planning could change driving behaviour
Car use could be reduced through careful urban planning, according to the results of a new German study. By combining data on driving behaviour and high-resolution satellite imagery, the researchers show how patterns of land and car use are connected.
Carbon dioxide successfully stored in volcanic rock — could help mitigate climate change
Storing atmospheric carbon dioxide (CO2) has the potential to mitigate the impacts of changes in climate. Researchers have now developed a way to inject CO2 into volcanic rock, and tested it in Iceland. Over 95% of the injected CO2 was mineralised (converted into a solid) within two years, instead of taking centuries or millennia as previously anticipated. The technique demonstrates potential for the permanent and safe storage of CO2 within basaltic rocks.
Carbon footprint of food waste not necessarily related to its weight
The carbon footprint of food waste should be taken into account alongside the the weight of food wasted, says a new study. The research examined three years of food waste data from six branches of a Swedish supermarket and calculated the waste’s carbon footprint. On the basis of their footprint, key products that could be targeted for waste reduction include beef mince, meatballs and cream, the results suggest.
Carbon footprint higher in Finnish cities than in rural areas
Despite better public transport and more energy-efficient housing, city dwellers have a larger carbon footprint than those in rural areas, according to a recent Finnish study. This is partly explained by the phenomenon of ‘parallel consumption’ in which people extend their living space by using services that the home also provides.
Carbon footprint of food adds up along the food chain
A recent study from Finland on the carbon footprint of food can help producers and consumers make choices that lower the food chain’s impact on climate change, by highlighting hotspots in the food chain for improvement and revealing food’s overall impact.
Carbon footprinting errors caused by differences in power supply
The actual carbon footprint of products and services can differ considerably according to how energy used to manufacture the product was generated – for example, whether it was generated by fossil fuel or renewable sources. A recent US study has therefore recommended that differences in regional power supply should be acknowledged by life cycle assessments of products and services.
Carbon emissions linked to rise in hay fever and asthma in Europe
Pollen allergy is a common cause of allergic respiratory diseases such as hay fever and asthma. A recent continent-wide study suggests that rising carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions over the last 30 years may be increasing pollen counts especially in European cities, which could have serious consequences for public health.
Careful guidance needed for farmers using biochar with pesticides
Biochar is increasingly mixed into farm soils to improve crop productivity and maintain carbon stocks. However, it can change the way that pesticides applied to the same soil behave, according to a new study. The researchers suggest that farmers may also need to follow new guidelines on pesticide application if they add biochar to their soil.
Carbon storage of urban green space estimated
For the first time, researchers have applied a carbon footprint analysis to calculate carbon sequestration by an urban green space. Their results indicate that urban green space can act as a carbon sink, but its design and maintenance influence the amount stored.
Carzato launches Online Retailing Experience platform
Carbon Emissions Are Falling, But Still Not Enough, Scientists Say
Several countries around the world are emitting less carbon due to the pandemic slowdown, but the climate will continue to warm.; Credit: Andy Buchanan/AFP via Getty Images
Lauren Sommer | NPRWith the dramatic reduction in car traffic and commercial flights, carbon emissions have been falling around the globe. If the slowdown continues, some are estimating the world could see the largest drop in emissions in the last century.
Still, overall greenhouse gas emissions in the atmosphere are still going up and the decline will likely be smaller than what scientists say is necessary to avoid the worst impacts of climate change.
So far, the effects are just starting to appear. In China, the first country to lock down, greenhouse gas emissions dropped an estimated 25% in February as factories and industrial producers slowed output. That decreased coal burning, which has come back slowly since then.
"A month or two of shelter in place will drop carbon dioxide emissions a few percent here or there, but it won't change the year substantially unless we stay like this for some time," says Rob Jackson, environmental scientist at Stanford University.
The declines are still too small to be read by greenhouse gas observatories around the world, like the one on top of the Mauna Loa volcano in Hawaii, given the natural changes in atmosphere this time of year. Because much of the Earth's land mass is in the northern hemisphere, plants and forests there cause carbon levels to fluctuate as they bloom in the spring, drawing carbon dioxide from the air.
If countries continue shelter-at-home orders, emissions declines could be greater. The U.S. Energy Information Administration estimates U.S. emissions from gas and energy use could drop more than 7% this year, similar to a 2009 decline during the financial crisis.
Worldwide, early estimates put global emissions dropping around 4%. Still, that's less than the 7.6% the U.N. says is needed to avoid the worst impacts of climate change by limiting warming to 1.5 degrees Celsius.
To achieve those cuts, scientists say more fundamental changes are needed, like switching to renewable energy.
"This isn't the way we want to reduce our fossil fuel emissions," says Jackson. "We don't want tens of millions of people being out of work as a path to decarbonizing our economy. We need systemic change in our energy infrastructure and new green technologies."
Still, Jackson says the recent changes are providing useful insights.
"It's as if a third of the cars on the road were suddenly electric, running on clean electricity and the air pollution is plummeting," says Jackson. "It's really a remarkable experiment and it shows the benefits of clean energy."
Copyright 2020 NPR. To see more, visit https://www.npr.org.This content is from Southern California Public Radio. View the original story at SCPR.org.
Human Genome Editing Summit Kicks Off in Hong Kong
Carrie Lam, Hong Kong’s chief executive, welcomed hundreds of participants from around the world to the Second International Summit on Human Genome Editing, which began today.
Cardiac Survival Rates Around 6 Percent for Those Occurring Outside of a Hospital, Says IOM Report
Cardiac arrest strikes almost 600,000 people each year, killing the vast majority of those individuals, says a new report from the Institute of Medicine. Every year in the U.S., approximately 395,000 cases of cardiac arrest occur outside of a hospital setting, in which less than 6 percent survive.
Carcinogens and Anticarcinogens in the Human Diet - A Comparison of Naturally Occurring and Synthetic Substances
Cancer-causing chemicals that occur naturally in foods are far more numerous in the human diet than synthetic carcinogens, yet both types are consumed at levels so low that they currently appear to pose little threat to human health, a committee of the National Research Council said in a report released today.
Caribbean Sponge Ecology
This video is from a course on Taxonomy and Ecology of Caribbean Sponges, held in the Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute’s Bocas del Toro Research Station […]
The post Caribbean Sponge Ecology appeared first on Smithsonian Insider.
Carotenoid pigments make extinct duck a rare bird indeed
The pink-headed duck was no lucky duck. In 1948 a single specimen of this waterfowl, Rhodonessa caryophyllacea, was donated to the Division of Birds of […]
The post Carotenoid pigments make extinct duck a rare bird indeed appeared first on Smithsonian Insider.
Carabidae in the colony, seven new beetles that bunk with ants: Q&A with Terry Erwin
Ants dominate the earth’s ecosystems and many are voracious predators that use their mandibles and sheer numbers to pin down and tear apart most other […]
The post Carabidae in the colony, seven new beetles that bunk with ants: Q&A with Terry Erwin appeared first on Smithsonian Insider.
Caribbean box jellyfish now thriving in southern Florida
A box jellyfish from the Caribbean appears to have recently become established in the red mangroves of Florida near Boca Raton.
The post Caribbean box jellyfish now thriving in southern Florida appeared first on Smithsonian Insider.
Carlyle Group to invest up to ₹1,800 cr. to acquire majority stake in SeQuent Scientific
Carlyle Group and existing promoters of animal healthcare company SeQuent Scientific Ltd. have announced that CA Harbor Investments, an affiliated ent
'5 saal phir se Kejriwal': AAP celebrates win
Carrying blue and white balloons, buntings and giant cut-outs of their leader Arvind Kejriwal, Aam Aadmi Party workers went into celebratory mode at the party headquarters on Tuesday as trends showed the party was set for a massive victory in the Delhi Assembly polls. Grooving to the tunes of the party's campaign song - 'Lage Raho Kejriwal' - and drumbeats, hundreds of AAP workers celebrated at the party office.
Carnatic Musicians Demand Apology From Kamal Haasan For Derogatory Comment On Sri Thyagaraja
Actor-politician Kamal Haasan has been trapped in a controversy yet again, and this time it's related to poet-composer Sri Thyagaraja. He commented that Sri Thyagaraja was 'begging in praise of Lord Rama'. Well, this comment has affected many.
Car Maintenance Tips During Lockdown: Here Are Some Simple Ways To Keep Your Car In Good Condition
With the COVID-19 virus causing a pandemic of an unprecedented level across the world, most countries including India have ordered a complete nationwide lockdown. This involves everyone staying at home, socially distancing themselves from everyone else. The central government of India
Car Bookings Get Cancelled: लॉकडाउन के बाद कार बुकिंग हो रही कैंसल, ग्राहक मांग रहे रिफंड
कोरोना वायरस संक्रमण के चलते अभी भी बहुत सी जगहों पर लॉकडाउन जारी है। लेकिन उन जगहों पर जहां कोरोना के मामले कम हैं या नहीं है, वहां पर सरकार ने व्यवसाय शुरू करने की इजाजत दी है और ऐसा हुए अभी दो ही दिन हुए हैं।
Coronavirus UK: Car theft rises 60% during lockdown
Car theft has rocketed by up to 60 per cent in parts of the UK as experts warn British motorists their vehicles are at greater risk during the lockdown (pictured, MailOnline map showing rise of car thefts).
Car finance borrowers to get three-month payment holiday, FCA proposes
The FCA said those who used PCPs, Hire Purchase or Conditional Sale agreements to buy a car would be able to temporarily put payments on hold without cars being repossessed.
Car tax proposal buried in Budget could see some drivers pay £2,000
Motorists could be stung with significantly higher car tax after the government suggested it could bring it back in line with C02 emissions to hit owners of the dirtiest models hardest.
Cardiologist shares photo on board a packed United flight out of NYC
Ethan Weiss took to Twitter to share a selfie from his seat on the crowded 737 jet, which took off from New York on Saturday.
Carlyle and GIC call off AMEX travel deal
Private equity group and Singapore’s sovereign wealth fund cite pandemic as reason to halt investment
The Slow Lane: Sharp satire isn’t all it seems
Caricaturist James Gillray was arrested over a print showing politicians kissing a new royal baby’s backside
Carbon Capture and Long-Term Storage: Analysis of 2010 Survey
This is an analysis of a 2010 survey regarding carbon capture and long-term storage (CCS). It provides information that helps understand the hazards of CO2 sequestration and the risks to human health and environmental safety. It also identifies accident scenarios, including those associated with CO2 capture and compression, storage prior to transport and injection for geological storage.
Which careers do students go for? (OECD Education Today Blog)
Career decisions are wrought in complexities. Many students start by looking at their interests, selecting a career in line with their personal affinities or aspirations.
Career education that works (OECD Education Today Blog)
The benefits of employers engaging with education has long been reported and promoted within policy circles.
Cardiovascular Disease and Diabetes: Germany
Germany has reduced the mortality due to cardiovascular diseases (CVD) in line with other OECD countries
Carbon taxes and emissions trading are cheapest ways of reducing CO2, OECD says
Carbon taxes and emission trading systems are the most cost-effective means of reducing CO2 emissions, and should be at the centre of government efforts to tackle climate change,according to a new OECD study.
Carbon pricing efforts are falling short, but even modest collective action can deliver significant progress, OECD says
Current carbon prices are falling short of the levels needed to reduce greenhouse gas emissions driving climate change, but even moderate price increases could have a significant impact, according to new OECD research.
Carbon taxes and emissions trading are cheapest ways of reducing CO2, OECD says
Carbon taxes and emission trading systems are the most cost-effective means of reducing CO2 emissions, and should be at the centre of government efforts to tackle climate change,according to a new OECD study.
Carbon Pricing and Competitiveness: Are they at Odds? - Environment Working Paper
This paper reviews ex-post empirical assessments on the impact of carbon pricing on competitiveness in OECD and G20 countries in the electricity and industrial sectors. Most of these assessments find no statistically significant effects of carbon pricing or energy prices on different dimensions of competitiveness, including net imports, foreign direct investments, turnover, value added, employment, profits, productivity, and innovation.
Carbon pricing efforts are falling short, but even modest collective action can deliver significant progress, OECD says
Current carbon prices are falling short of the levels needed to reduce greenhouse gas emissions driving climate change, but even moderate price increases could have a significant impact, according to new OECD research.