Frankly Green

Bush Makes His Climate Pitch

President wants 'goal' to curb emissions, but not mandatory action

MSNBC News Services Sept 28, 2007

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WASHINGTON - President Bush on Friday urged nations to set a goal for curbing emissions tied to global warming, but stopped short of accepting mandatory curbs laid out in an existing U.N. accord.

"By setting this goal, we acknowledge there is a problem, and by setting this goal, we commit ourselves to doing something about it," Bush said in a speech that capped two days of talks at a White House-sponsored climate change conference. "We share a common responsibility: to reduce greenhouse gas emissions while keeping our economies growing."...

British, German delegates react
Europeans say technology is crucial but not a substitute for binding targets on emissions.

"One of the striking features of this meeting is how isolated this administration has become. There is absolutely no support that I can see in the international community that we can drive this effort on the basis of voluntary efforts," John Ashton, a special representative on climate change for the British foreign secretary, said in an interview. "I don't think that this meeting by itself moves the ball very much at all. The much more significant meeting this week was at the U.N., where there was a sense of urgency."

German Environment Minister Sigmar Gabriel gave the equivalent of two cheers - not three - for Bush.

"This here was a great step for the Americans and a small step for mankind," he said. "In substance, we are still far apart."

Delegates were also gearing up for a possible confrontation about the meeting's written conclusions. Gabriel said Germany would not support them if they did not reflect the fact that most of the countries present wanted binding targets.

The Bush administration strategy includes creating a process for more such talks and a possible long-term global goal for reducing emissions, with each nation permitted to draw up its own strategies and plans.

Split Over Global Warming Widens Among Evangelicals

Texas Christians Cite Conflicting Scripture;

Staying 'On Mission'
By ANDREW HIGGINS September 28, 2007

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WACO, Texas - Suzii Paynter, director of the public policy arm of Texas's biggest group of Baptist churches, traveled to central Texas early this year to talk to a local preacher about a pressing "moral, biblical and theological" issue. She wanted to discuss coal.

Christians have a biblical mandate to be "good stewards of God's creation," Ms. Paynter says she told the Rev. Frank Brown, pastor of the Bellmead First Baptist Church here in the county where President Bush has his ranch. So, Texas Baptists should demand that controversial plans to build a slew of coal-fired power plants be put on hold.

Mr. Brown was not impressed. God, the pastor said, is "sovereign over his creation" and no amount of coal-burning will alter by a "millisecond" his divine plan for the world. Fighting environmental damage is "like chasing rabbits," he recalls telling her. It just distracts from core Christian duties to spread the faith and protect the unborn.

I guess that protecting the unborn does not include providing clean air for a pregnant mother to breath or clean water to drink. Rather it requires that you bury your head in the sand and leave the problem for someone else to solve.

I do believe that most Christians, even conservative Christians, believe that global warming is an issue we (Christians, non-Christians, atheists, agnostics... everyone!) need to address and, as this article points out, many are changing their behavior to make a difference.

Wal-Mart Takes Green Approach to Detergent

Retail giant to offer only concentrated kind that cuts back packaging
The Associated Press - Sept 26, 2007

I think it is great that Wal-Mart is using their clout to force these positive changes down their supply chain. This is low-hanging fruit! Most laundry detergent is water and the game has historically been to make a huge container of detergent diluted with water so the buyer thinks that they are getting more for their dollar. This move puts an end to that silly game and in doing so saves a lot of energy and resources (as I have said many times before - if you don't like Wal-Mart, vote with your dollars).

I would also note that Method Home was the real pioneer in making laundry detergent in a concentrate. Method makes a 3X concentrate laundry detergent that is excellent! And notice how much less packaging the Method bottle uses versus this Tide bottle. The 32 oz. Method bottle does the same 32 loads of laundry as the 100 oz. Tide bottle!!! So with the Tide 100 oz. bottle you get 3x more packaging, plastic and waste!!

I also found this dirty little secret that some detergent makers use to get consumers to use more detergent than is necessary. You may be getting 25% less than you think!

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BENTONVILLE, Arkansas - Wal-Mart Stores Inc. said Wednesday it will sell only concentrated liquid laundry detergent in the United States, a move the world's biggest retailer says will save millions of pounds of packaging each year.

Wal-Mart said its stores account for 25 percent of liquid laundry detergent sales and that its effort will save 400 million gallons of water, 95 million pounds of plastic and 125 million pounds of cardboard. The company would also save fuel by transporting less mass.

Wal-Mart has emphasized sustainability as a way to be environmentally friendly and cut costs.

World Leaders Target Climate Change

Many world leaders at unprecedented summit; Bush attends dinner
The Associated Press
Sept 24, 2007

I really try to leave politics out of my posts as the environment and global warming, at their core, are not political issues but I think it is pretty sad that our President did not take part in the UN summit. However, our Republican governor here in CA did take part!

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UNITED NATIONS - With tales of rising seas and talk of human solidarity, world leaders at the first United Nations climate summit sought Monday to put new urgency into global talks to reduce global-warming emissions.

What's needed is "action, action, action," California's environmentalist governor, Arnold Schwarzenegger, told the assembled presidents and premiers.

The Bush administration showed no sign, however, that it would reverse its stand against mandatory emission cuts endorsed by 175 other nations. Some expressed fears the White House, with its own forum later this week, would launch talks rivaling the U.N. climate treaty negotiations.

President Bush didn't take part in the day's sessions, which drew more than 80 national leaders, but attended a small dinner Monday evening, a gathering of key climate players hosted by Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon.

Ban set the day's theme in his opening address, declaring that "the time for doubt has passed" on the issue of global warming. At the day's end, he said he believed the scores of speeches showed a "major political commitment" to success in the global talks...

Schwarzenegger told delegates that U.S. states are embracing emissions caps even if the Bush administration isn't. California's Republican governor and Democrat-led legislature have approved a law requiring the state's industries to reduce greenhouse gases by an estimated 25 percent by 2020.

"California is moving the United States beyond debate and doubt to action," Schwarzenegger said. "What we are doing is changing the dynamic."

Video: Vital Signs of a Warming World

Below is a link to an excellent site that MSNBC has created. The interactive site shows the science, impacts, and scenarios of climate shifts. You will find links to information on the fastest warming state, how wildlife is being affected by our warming planet, what forests can tell us about global warming, possible scenarios and what they mean for certain area, and much more. It's a great site!

Link to Site

Shopping Sustainably is the Key to Eco-friendly Living

By Claire Whitcomb
Universal Press Syndicate
September 16, 2007

Thanks to Elicia V. for this article!

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It's a brave green world out there. Every day, someone is inventing something for the home that you'll want to know about.

Like showers that recycle the water you use, the brainchild of a London design student.

Or Herman Miller's upholstered Mirra desk chair, which is chic, ergonomic and 96 percent recyclable.

Or Veratazzo's eco-countertops, made with ceramic aggregate and recycled glass.

This sort of good news, along with global innovations and a sprinkling of very solid eco-tips, has been gathered into "Worldchanging: A User's Guide for the 21st Century" (Abrams, 608 pages, $26). Edited by Alex Steffen, co-founder of the Web site www.worldchanging.com, the book is billed as a "Whole Earth Catalog" for a new generation.

Indeed it is. Outfitted with a preface by Al Gore, "Worldchanging" is quirky, fun and full of surprises, even for seasoned eco-readers.

Flip through and you can learn how to make iPod speakers out of Altoid tins. You'll also be reminded that dimmers, automatic timers and motion-detection sensors are among the top five things you can do to conserve energy.

"Worldchanging" introduces you to permeable pavement that allows plants and grass to grow through it. And it reminds you that a low-flow showerhead - the fixture that mixes air with water and miraculously produces a strong spray - is a really good idea. Indeed, Americans could save 5.4 billion gallons of water per day simply by installing low-flow fixtures and toilets.

If you want to join those who would rather make it themselves than buy conventional products, "Worldchanging" directs you to www.instructables.com. Started by PhDs at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, it is a repository of instructions for everything from turning a chest of drawers into a pop-up TV center to making your own natural laundry soap.

As much fun as these projects are, the key to a sustainable world is shopping sustainably - buying furniture that won't give off gas, toys that are non-toxic and household materials such as reclaimed wood.

Pulled from demolition sites, warehouses and old buildings, reclaimed wood is like an antique you walk on - old wood that looks beautiful and is full of character.

In terms of new wood, Forest Stewardship Council-certified furniture and lumber guarantees that new trees are planted when old ones are harvested.

Faster growing and as hard as conventional wood, bamboo makes excellent sustainable flooring.

And then there's good old-fashioned linoleum. Made from linseed oil, wood dust, rosin and jute, as well as natural dyes, it's eco-friendly. Marmoleum makes a version that can be installed like puzzle pieces - no glues or adhesives needed.

Be sure to click the link above to learn more about carpet, paint and other building products!

Judge Rejects Carmakers' Emission Suit

By DAVE GRAM
The Associated Press
Wednesday, September 12, 2007; 6:39 PM

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MONTPELIER, Vt. -- Vermont and several other states scored a victory on Wednesday in their battle to get automakers to comply with rules aimed at reducing global warming.

A federal judge ruled that states can regulate greenhouse gas emissions from vehicles, rejecting automakers' claims that federal law pre-empts state rules and that technology can't be developed to meet them.

"There is no question that the GHG (greenhouse gas) regulations present great challenges to automakers," Judge William Sessions III, sitting in the U.S. District Court in Burlington, wrote at the conclusion of his 240-page decision.

He added, "History suggests that the ingenuity of the industry, once put in gear, responds admirably to most technological challenges. In light of the public statements of industry representatives, (the) history of compliance with previous technological challenges, and the state of the record, the court remains unconvinced automakers cannot meet the challenges of Vermont and California's GHG regulations."

During a 16-day trial that concluded in May, auto industry executives testified that the regulations _ adopted by California and 11 other states and pending in three others _ would not stop global warming but would impose devastating new costs on the industry.

Slated to start phasing in as of 2009, the limits would require a 30 percent reduction in carbon dioxide emissions from cars and trucks by 2016, a standard the car makers have maintained would require average fuel economy standards for cars and the lightest category of trucks of 43.7 miles per gallon.

Laptop Lunches - Environmentally Friendly Lunch Boxes

My friend Elicia V. sent me the link to Laptop Lunches and gave me the idea for this post. The school that our kids attend requires that lunches have zero garbage waste. We package all food items is reusable containers and all uneaten food is taken either to a worm bin or a compost pile, the material from which is used in the school's garden. It is a really easy thing to do and you don't need to buy products from Laptop Lunches to do it (although their products are nice). All those plastic sandwich and snack bags add up to a huge amount of landfill waste - just see Chris Jordan's work to get an idea of how much waste it actually creates!

Here is a snippet from Laptop Lunch's website:

Laptop Lunches are American-style bento boxes designed to help families pack nutritious, environment-friendly lunches for school, work, and travel. Our sustainable lunch containers--which come with a book of healthy lunch ideas and lunchmaking recipes--are reusable, recyclable, and dishwasher safe. And all of our lunchboxes are lead-free.

Hannaford Plans Call for Environmentally Friendly Supermarket

By Glenn Adams, Associated Press Writer; September 19, 2007

Great to see that Maine is taking the lead on many fronts. I was impressed to learn that Maine is the first state in which 100% of state owned buildings run on power; from renewable sources.

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AUGUSTA, Maine --A northeastern grocery chain said Wednesday it plans to build the first supermarket of its kind anywhere that meets a building industry group's highest environmental standard.

Hannaford Bros. Co.'s plan calls for a supermarket so green that plants will be grown on part of its roof to add insulation and control stormwater. The store is to be built on a former high-school site in the capital of a state that prides itself on environmental leadership.

"This is a great day in Maine," said Gov. John Baldacci, who joined Hannaford's officials for the announcement. He said the 49,000-square-foot store will join a growing list of state and private buildings that require minimal energy, adding, "We are leading by example."

As of this spring, Maine was the only state in which state-owned buildings buy 100 percent of their energy from renewable sources, and was one of the first to use biodiesel to heat state offices. It is home to New England's largest utility-grade wind farm, with at least three more proposed or under regulatory review.

The proposed Hannaford market would be the U.S. Green Building Council's first platinum-certified "green" grocery store in the world, said the chain's President and CEO Ronald Hodge. The nonprofit's council's system carries ratings of silver, gold and platinum, the highest.

Lake Superior is Shrinking, Warming

Average water temperature has risen 4.5 degrees since 1979
By John Flesher
The Associated Press Aug 7, 2007

As I stated in a previous post on this same subject, Lake Superior is the largest of the Great Lakes and could hold all the water from all the other Great Lakes (Michigan, Huron, Erie, Ontario) combined with room to spare. Lake Superior is the largest freshwater lake in the world (by surface area) and contains 10% of all the earth's fresh surface water!

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MARQUETTE, Mich. - Deep enough to hold the combined water in all the other Great Lakes and with a surface area as large as South Carolina, Lake Superior's size has lent it an aura of invulnerability. But the mighty Superior is losing water and getting warmer, worrying those who live near its shores, as well as scientists and companies that rely on the lake for business.

The changes to the lake could be signs of climate change, although scientists aren't sure.

Superior's level is at its lowest point in eight decades and will set a record this fall if, as expected, it dips three more inches. Meanwhile, the average water temperature has surged 4.5 degrees since 1979, significantly above the 2.7-degree rise in the region's air temperature during the same period.

That's no small deal for a freshwater sea that was created from glacial melt as the Ice Age ended and remains chilly in all seasons.