Horizons

Water, water anywhere?You've heard of peak oil, but what about peak water? A new book by Scottish journalist Alexander Bell entitled Peak Water(Luath Press) was launched in Dublin recently. Bell argues that peak water occurs when a region starts to extract more water than nature can replenish. It doesn't matter that there is lots of fresh water on the planet but that there will be very little in places where people live. For example, Pakistan, India and China are heavily dependent on pumping groundwater faster than it can be replenished and diverting rivers which are going dry. Imagine Dublin banning the use of tap water on certain days of the week – this book explains how that could happen.

How green is your tree?

The organisers of the 10:10 campaign to reduce Ireland’s greenhouse gas emissions are encouraging local authorities and town councils to reduce the time Christmas trees are lighting by 10 per cent. Citing Copenhagen as a positive example of how to be festive and environmentally sensitive, campaigners say that city’s Christmas tree lights are powered by volunteer cyclists, whose efforts will prevent nine tonnes of carbon dioxide being produced. Ireland’s 10:10 campaign manager, John Hesnan, explains “We can all help in reducing our country’s emissions with small and simple changes . . . Over Christmas, you can go for a walk instead of going for a drive – dress a little warmer and turn down your heating thermostat.”

Leafing through new books

Two new books about Irish woodlands are highlighted in the current issue of Crann magazine. The first, If Trees Could Talk: Wicklow’s Trees and Woodlands over Four Centuries by Michael Carey (€25) looks at the links between tree cover and the changing economic and political life of the county. He also looks at the great specimen trees that survive to the present day. The second book, If Trees Could Talk: The Story of Woodlands around Belfast by Ben Simon (€12) was inspired by walks with his dog around an old wooded demesne at Belvoir Park in the south of the city. His research led him to discover what has been lost, what has survived and where you can find beautiful pavement plantings and avenues of trees in Belfast.

Eco Web

www.iae.ie

Check out this Irish Academy of Engineers (IAE) site for a new report on adapting critical infrastructure for climate change. Recommendations include designating a central authority to manage and charge for water. Another proposal is to restrict development on floodplains.