What You Should Know About Energy Conservation

WE DEPEND on energy to heat and cool our homes, fuel our vehicles, and accomplish many of our daily activities. Yet people around the world are facing serious energy challenges.

For Gary, from South Africa, "the rising cost of fuel" is a big issue. Jennifer, from the Philippines, is worried about reliable access to energy, since "power interruption is a common problem." Fernando, from El Salvador, says he is "concerned about the ecological impact." In many places around the world, energy sources pollute the environment.

Naturally, you may wonder, 'How can I deal with these energy challenges?'

We can all choose to use energy wisely. Both conserving energy and using it efficiently bring benefits. By consuming less, we save money on our energy costs. We also help protect the environment, not adding unnecessarily to the growing energy demand.

Let us consider three areas in which we may be able to use energy more wisely: our home, transportation, and daily activities.

HOME

Use heating and cooling equipment conservatively. A study conducted in one European country revealed that turning down the thermostat during winter just two degrees to limit heating was the most energy-saving behavior over the course of a year. Derek, who lives in Canada, agrees. "By wearing sweaters in winter instead of turning the furnace all the way up, our family saves energy," he says.

The same principle applies to cooling in warmer climates. Rodolfo, from the Philippines, limits the use of his air conditioner by carefully setting the thermostat. Why? He states, "We save money and also conserve energy."

Keep windows and doors closed when heating or cooling your home. We can avoid wasting energy by preventing heated or cooled air from escaping outdoors. For example, leaving a door open in cold weather greatly increases the amount of energy required to heat a building.

Beyond simply keeping windows and doors closed, some people have further reduced energy loss in their homes by installing better insulation and energy-efficient windows.

Switch to more energy-efficient lighting. "Instead of using traditional incandescent bulbs, we switched to new energy-efficient light bulbs," says Jennifer, quoted earlier. While new energy-efficient lighting products typically cost more up front, they consume much less energy during their lifetime, saving you money in the long run.

TRANSPORTATION

Use public transportation if possible. "I use the train or cycle to work whenever I can," says Andrew, from Great Britain. The book Energy: What Everyone Needs to Know reminds us that "automobiles consume at least three times more energy per passenger than busses and short-distance trains."

Organize your trips. By planning ahead, you may be able to trim the number of trips you need to make, reducing your energy consumption while saving time and money.

Jethro, from the Philippines, sets a monthly fuel allowance for his car. "This makes me plan my trips more efficiently."

DAILY ACTIVITIES

Reduce the amount of hot water you use. According to one study, "residential hot water heating consumes on average 1.3% of total energy used in Australian cities or 27% of total household energy use."

Since heating water consumes energy, using less hot water conserves energy. With good reason, Victor, from South Africa, says: "We try to use as little hot water as possible when showering." According to scientist Steven Kenway, "saving hot water represents a real win-win-win," because "it cuts energy and water use for consumers, reduces energy demand for utilities, and helps households . . . save money."

Turn it off. This includes lights, appliances, and electronic devices, such as TVs and computers. Even when turned off, many such devices still consume energy in standby mode. Some experts recommend unplugging them from their power source or using a switchable power strip to turn off this standby mode for further energy savings. Fernando, quoted earlier, has adopted this habit, "I turn off lights and unplug appliances that I am not using."

We may personally have little control over the cost of energy or the environmental toll to produce it, but we can choose to use energy wisely. People around the world are finding ways to do just that. True, conserving energy may require more effort and planning, but consider the benefits. Valeria, from Mexico, says, "I save money, and I protect the environment."

Extreme Weather

Are you one of the millions who have been affected by extreme weather? Dangerous weather and its damaging effects come in many forms. Hurricanes, typhoons, cyclones, and tornadoes often cause storm surges, flooding, or wind damage. Heavy rain may trigger landslides, and storms can bring lightning strikes that start destructive wildfires. Droughts, heat waves, and winter storms can be equally devastating.

In many areas of the world, catastrophic weather is becoming increasingly frequent and intense. "The number of people affected by disasters also continues to rise," reports the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies, "as more and more floods, storms and droughts in particular wreak havoc on lives and livelihoods, displacing millions of people each year."

In the wake of such events, people suffer not only physically but also emotionally. They may face the trauma of having lost their possessions, their home, or even a loved one in death.

If you've been affected by the effects of extreme weather, let's look at what can help you cope.

When Disaster Strikes​—Steps That Can Save Lives

BEFORE​—PREPARE!

NO ONE is immune to disaster. Preparation is your most important key to survival. But what does preparation involve?

▶Prepare mentally. Acknowledge the fact that disasters happen and that you and your loved ones are potentially at risk. It is too late to prepare after disaster strikes.

▶Learn about disasters that can happen in your area. Know where shelters are. Consider whether the construction of your home and its location are as safe as possible. Remove fire hazards. Install smoke detectors, and change their batteries at least once a year, if not more often.▶Prepare emergency supplies. Power, water, phone, and transportation services can fail. If you own a car, try to keep the fuel tank at least half full, and always have food, water, and an emergency kit in your home.​▶Have access to the phone numbers of friends, both near and far.▶Make and rehearse an escape plan. Know the nearest exits in your building, as well as the emergency plan of your children's school. Set up family meeting places​—such as a school or a library—​one nearby and another outside your neighborhood. Authorities recommend that you practice walking with your family to those meeting points.▶Plan to help others, including the elderly and the infirm.

▶Have access to the phone numbers of friends, both near and far.

▶Make and rehearse an escape plan. Know the nearest exits in your building, as well as the emergency plan of your children's school. Set up family meeting places​—such as a school or a library—​one nearby and another outside your neighborhood. Authorities recommend that you practice walking with your family to those meeting points.▶Plan to help others, including the elderly and the infirm.

DURING​—ACT QUICKLY

"When fire broke out, most people didn't panic​—they delayed," relates Stefan. "Some turned off a computer or filled a water bottle. One man said, 'Maybe we should just wait.'" Despite the hesitancy of others, Stefan shouted: "We need to get out of here now!" At that, his coworkers snapped out of denial and followed him down the stairs. "If anyone falls, pick him up and keep moving," Stefan kept calling out. "We're all going to make it!"

▶In a fire. Stay close to the floor, and move quickly to the nearest exit. Smoke makes it hard to see, and most fire deaths are caused by smoke inhalation. Leave behind personal items. Seconds can make the difference between life and death.

▶In an earthquake. Get under sturdy furniture or next to an inside wall. Expect aftershocks, and get outside and away from buildings as soon as you can. Trained rescuers may not arrive for hours, so try to rescue others if you can.

▶In a tsunami. If the water suddenly rushes away from the shore, move quickly to higher ground. Expect more and larger waves.

▶In a tornado or a hurricane. Go to a storm shelter without delay.

▶In a flood. Stay out of flooded buildings. Avoid wading in or driving through water. Floodwater can contain sewage and conceal dangers, including debris, open manholes, and downed power lines.

▶Did you know? Two feet [0.6 m] of moving water can carry a car away. Most deaths in a flood result when people try to drive through moving water.

▶If the authorities order evacuation, leave immediately! Let friends know where you are, or they may risk their lives looking for you.

▶Did you know? Text messaging may be more reliable than telephone voice service.

▶If the authorities direct residents to remain at home or shelter in place, stay inside. In case of an outdoor chemical, biological, or nuclear accident or attack, stay indoors, turn off ventilation, and seal all doors and windows. In a nuclear event, go to the lowest internal part of your building to reduce exposure to radiation. Listen to local TV or radio news. Stay indoors until authorities announce that the threat has passed.

AFTER​—STAY SAFE!

To avoid disease and danger, consider the following recommendations:

▶Stay with friends, if possible, rather than in a camp.

▶Keep your living space sanitary.

▶Use personal protective equipment when cleaning up debris. If possible, wear gloves, sturdy shoes, a hard hat, and a dust mask. Beware of electrical wires and hidden embers.

▶Keep your daily routine as normal as possible. Your children need to see that you are calm and hopeful. Do school lessons, play, and worship as a family. Do not dwell on news coverage of the tragedy, and do not take out your anxiety or frustration on family members. Accept help, and help others.

▶Acknowledge that disasters cause loss. Government and other relief efforts focus on helping people to survive, not on replacing everything that was lost. To survive, we need clean water, food, clothing, and shelter from the weather.​

▶Recognize and address emotional injury. This often surfaces after the initial shock has passed. Symptoms include anxiety, depression, and mood swings, as well as difficulty thinking, working, and sleeping. Talk to caring friends.

"They assured me that my grief was part of a natural healing process and that it would pass," Stefan says. "After six months, the nightmares lessened. Other symptoms have lasted longer."

Many, like Stefan , experience "survivor's guilt." "I still wonder if I could have saved more people," he says.

DO YOU HAVE WHAT YOU NEED?

Disaster management organizations urge families to store and annually update emergency supplies. Of course, needs will vary according to your location and circumstances, so check with local emergency management services for recommendations that could be applied in your area.

In general it is recommended that you keep at least three gallons (11 L) of water per person and three days of nonperishable, ready-to-eat foods.

Also, some families have prepared "go bags" with such items as the following:

▶Blankets, complete change of warm clothes, and sturdy shoes

▶Flashlight, radio (battery or windup), and spare batteries

▶First-aid kit and a whistle to signal for help

▶Eating utensils, can opener, pocket tool set, and waterproof matches

▶Dust masks, waterproof tape, and plastic sheeting for shelter

▶Toothbrushes, soap, towels, and toilet paper

▶Child-care supplies and special-needs items for seniors or the disabled

▶A waterproof container with needed medication, copies of prescriptions, and other important documents

▶List of emergency contacts and meeting places and a local map

▶Credit cards and cash

▶Extra set of house keys and car keys

▶Paper, pencils, books, and games for children

▶Bible

World Bee Day

20 May 

Three out of four crops across the globe producing fruits, or seeds for use as human food depend, at least in part, on bees and other pollinators.

We all depend on the survival of bees

Bees and other pollinators, such as butterflies, bats and hummingbirds, are increasingly under threat from human activities.

Pollination is, however, a fundamental process for the survival of our ecosystems. Nearly 90% of the world's wild flowering plant species depend, entirely, or at least in part, on animal pollination, along with more than 75% of the world's food crops and 35% of global agricultural land. Not only do pollinators contribute directly to food security, but they are key to conserving biodiversity.

To raise awareness of the importance of pollinators, the threats they face and their contribution to sustainable development, the UN designated 20 May as World Bee Day.

The goal is to strengthen measures aimed at protecting bees and other pollinators, which would significantly contribute to solving problems related to the global food supply and eliminate hunger in developing countries.

We all depend on pollinators and it is, therefore, crucial to monitor their decline and halt the loss of biodiversity.

Bee engaged with youth

In recognition of the pivotal role that youth can play in addressing challenges bees and other pollinators are facing, World Bee Day 2024 focuses on the theme "Bee engaged with Youth." This theme highlights the importance of involving young people in beekeeping and pollinator conservation efforts, recognizing them as the future stewards of our environment.

This year's campaign aims to raise awareness among youth and other stakeholders about the essential role of bees and other pollinators in agriculture, ecological balance, and biodiversity preservation. By engaging young people in beekeeping activities, educational initiatives, and advocacy efforts, we can inspire a new generation of environmental leaders and empower them to make a positive impact on the world.

Fostering more diverse agricultural systems and reducing reliance on toxic chemicals can facilitate increased pollination. This approach can improve food quality and quantity, benefiting both human populations and the ecosystem.

We need to act now

Bees are under threat. Present species extinction rates are 100 to 1,000 times higher than normal due to human impacts. Close to 35 percent of invertebrate pollinators, particularly bees and butterflies, and about 17 percent of vertebrate pollinators, such as bats, face extinction globally.

If this trend continues, nutritious crops, such as fruits, nuts and many vegetable crops will be substituted increasingly by staple crops like rice, corn and potatoes, eventually resulting in an imbalanced diet.

Intensive farming practices, land-use change, mono-cropping, pesticides and higher temperatures associated with climate change all pose problems for bee populations and, by extension, the quality of food we grow.

Recognizing the dimensions of the pollination crisis and its links to biodiversity and human livelihoods, the Convention on Biological Diversity has made the conservation and sustainable use of pollinators a priority. In 2000, the International Pollinator Initiative (IPI) was established (COP decision V/5, section II) at the Fifth Conference of Parties (COP V) as a cross-cutting initiative to promote the sustainable use of pollinators in agriculture and related ecosystems. Its main goals are monitoring pollinators decline, addressing the lack of taxonomic information on pollinators, assessing the economic value of pollination and the economic impact of the decline of pollination services and protect pollinator diversity.

Along with coordinating the International Pollinator Initiative (IPI), the FAO also provides technical assistance to countries on issues ranging from queen breeding to artificial insemination to sustainable solutions for honey production and export marketing.

How can we do more?

Individually by:

▶ planting a diverse set of native plants, which flower at different times of the year;

▶ buying raw honey from local farmers;

▶ buying products from sustainable agricultural practices;

▶ avoiding pesticides, fungicides or herbicides in our gardens;

▶ protecting wild bee colonies when possible;

▶ sponsoring a hive;

▶ making a bee water fountain by leaving a water bowl outside;

▶ helping sustaining forest ecosystems;

▶ raising awareness around us by sharing this information within our communities and networks; The decline of bees affects us all!

As beekeepers, or farmers by:

▶ reducing, or changing the usage of pesticides;

▶ diversifying crops as much as possible, and/or planting attractive crops around the field;

▶ creating hedgerows.

As governments and decision-makers by:

▶ strengthening the participation of local communities in decision-making, in particular that of indigenous people, who know and respect ecosystems and biodiversity;

▶ enforcing strategic measures, including monetary incentives to help change;

▶ increasing collaboration between national and international organizations, organizations and academic and research networks to monitor and evaluate pollination services.

Why 20 May?

20 May coincides with the birthday of Anton Janša, who in the 18th century pioneered modern beekeeping techniques in his native Slovenia and praised the bees for their ability to work so hard, while needing so little attention. 

Yemeni Honey: a transcendent legacy

Yemeni honey has a history going far back into antiquity,tracing its origins to the tenth century BCE, and gaining global fame for its quality. But the production of Yemeni honey faces daunting challenges. In addition to the damage done by the country's long-running conflict, honey producers like Salim Al-Diwali must also grapple with the unpredictable climate. An initiative from FAO and World Bank has helped beekeepers across the country to increase their productivity and nutrition through better beekeeping practices. These included more efficient handling of the bees and techniques for extracting honey.

Gambia: No sweeter business

Desertification and land degradation are major environmental issues faced in the Gambia. Through a flagship programme spearheaded by FAO and the Gambia's Department of Forestry, the "Community-based Sustainable Dryland Forest Management" project has outfitted groups of community beekeepers, known locally as Honey Enterprise Groups, with beekeeping equipment such as beehives, uniforms, boots, gloves, uniforms and hive tools. With the support of FAO through this Global Environment Facility (GEF)-funded project, the Honey Enterprise Groups are constructing beehives in the forest to harvest honey for their livelihoods.

Climate Change and Our Future

"The climate disaster is here. Earth is already becoming unlivable."—The Guardian.

Mankind faces a crisis of its own making. Most scientists agree that human activity is responsible for global warming. This rise in temperature has already changed the climate and brought disastrous consequences. These include the following:

More frequent and intense weather events, such as heat waves, droughts, and storms, which in turn cause more floods and wildfires.

Melting glaciers and Arctic ice.

Rising sea levels.

The climate crisis has affected every corner of the earth. After documenting conditions in 193 countries, a New York Times report stated: "The planet is sending an SOS." Because of the death and suffering climate change has caused, the World Health Organization has called it the "single biggest health threat facing humanity."

Who Will Save the Earth?