Tuesday, 07 Dec 2004

Energy Bill

Clinton says clean-energy backers should quit whining and get to work

Former President Bill Clinton yesterday said that energy issues, with their links to national security and environmental decline, "may have a bigger impact on America and the world than virtually all the things that were debated" in the run-up to the recent election. At a symposium at New York University, Clinton chided supporters of renewable energy for "bellyaching and whining" about political barriers, arguing that "it's time to stop worrying about whether the current administration will change its mind" on renewable energy and get to work building a movement that does not rely on Bush's support. He acknowledged that the "new energy economy is diffuse, entrepreneurial, underfinanced, and by and large woefully unconnected politically." But he cited signs of hope that renewables are gathering bipartisan support, a sentiment echoed by Sen. Joe Lieberman (D-Conn.), who expressed optimism about the chances for his Climate Stewardship Act, cosponsored with Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.).

Trash Test Dummies

Two new books explore the joys of salvaging other people's castoffs

As enviros are wont to lament, people throw out too much stuff, much of it perfectly usable (or edible). Some folks don't just lament, however -- they rescue serviceable goods from the rubbish bin. Ted Botha's book Mongo: Adventures in Trash chronicles the lives of folks who eat, wear, and furnish their apartments with other people's castoffs. Davy Rothbart's Found: The Best Lost, Tossed, and Forgotten Items From Around the World presents a treasure trove of discarded letters, emails, and photos. Michelle Nijhuis reviews both in Books Unbound -- today on the Grist Magazine website.

Put It in Neutral

HSBC pledges carbon neutrality

U.K.-based banking company HSBC has announced a management plan aimed at reaching carbon neutrality by 2006. With 10,000 banks in 76 countries, HSBC estimates it will cost up to $7 million to account for the more than 600,000 tons of carbon dioxide the company adds to the atmosphere every year via energy use and business travel. HSBC will use a variety of methods to achieve its goal, including buying green electricity, increasing energy efficiency at its facilities, participating in carbon-emission trading programs, and planting trees. While enviros welcomed the commitment -- rare in the financial-services industry -- some pointed out that the biggest impact HSBC has on the environment is through loans for dams, oil exploration, mines, and other earth-unfriendly projects. Greenpeace's chief U.K. scientist had a peculiarly deflationary take on the tree-planting efforts, asking, "What if there is a forest fire?"

Fond O' Honda

Honda ranked as greenest automaker

Of the six largest automakers selling vehicles in the U.S., Honda is the greenest, according to a new report from the Union of Concerned Scientists. Emissions from Honda's 2003 vehicles amounted to less than half the industry average. Nissan, which ranked second, was the most improved in reducing emissions of carbon dioxide. GM, ranked last, was the only automaker whose emissions worsened in the 2003 model year compared to two years previous. A GM spokesflack pointed out that its ranking was low only because it makes bigger vehicles than the others. (As the kids say: no duh.) Meanwhile, Honda has scored a hit in the U.K. -- not a new car, but a song in an ad touting its cleaner diesel engines. The catchy tune "Hate Something" -- sung by Garrison Keillor, to a cutesy cartoon background full of bunnies and rainbows -- has become so popular that there's talk of releasing it as a single.