ANYONE who envisages a future based on a hydrogen economy would do well to accept that doubts are growing about the use of hydrogen on a large scale. A spate of studies suggests that it could cause some disastrous biological and atmospheric effects (快猫短视频, 15 November 2003, p 7). I asked transport ministers if they agreed that a new body is needed to examine both the positive and negative implications.
David Jamieson, the Department for Transport minister with responsibilities for cleaner vehicles and fuels, replied that the energy white paper published in February last year acknowledged that there is still much uncertainty about the use of hydrogen in transport. The government plans to assess the energy implications of both a hydrogen economy and of large-scale use of biomass-based fuels. As a first step, an energy-environment consultancy called E4Tech will produce a technical analysis of projected transport demand for hydrogen and biofuels under different scenarios, Jamieson said. The analysis will provide the basis for the overall policy assessment.
But he was unenthusiastic about setting up a UK body to examine the likely effects of switching to a hydrogen economy. He emphasised that international collaboration is essential in such transitions. The UK already participates with the International Energy Agency in implementing agreements on hydrogen and fuel cells, and is part of the IEA鈥檚 Hydrogen Coordinating Group. It has also joined the US-led International Partnership for the Hydrogen Economy.
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Splendid! But just how serious are these talks? I fear there might be an element of window dressing.
NOISE, especially military sonar signals, can kill whales from symptoms similar to the bends (快猫短视频, 11 October 2003, p 10). Mark Simmonds, director of science at the Whale and Dolphin Conservation Society, claims there needs to be a complete re-evaluation of the threat that noise can present to marine life. I asked Ben Bradshaw, the fisheries minister, what he thought.
Bradshaw replied that the government cares about the effect that noise can have on the marine environment and the mammals that inhabit it. The UK is working with other countries through the Agreement on the Conservation of Small Cetaceans of the Baltic and North Seas to prevent disturbances to cetaceans, including noise.
The minister added that the correlation between naval exercises and stranded cetaceans is worrying. When planning naval exercises, the Ministry of Defence now considers the possible effect on cetaceans. There are also measures to protect marine mammals when seismic surveys are planned. If seismic vessels are to work where cetaceans are likely to be abundant, trained observers must be on board to make sure guidelines are followed, and to record the effects of the exploration.
Seismologists tell me they can use pinger devices to keep cetaceans safely at bay during marine surveys. But that, of course, is merely replacing one noise with another.
