Thursday, 02 Jun 2005

Lights, Climate, Action

Schwarzenegger declares war on global warming

"I say the debate is over. We know the science, we see the threat, and the time for action is now." With those words, California Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger (R) yesterday defied Bush administration orthodoxy, announcing ambitious plans to reduce his state's emissions of greenhouse gases. The Governator issued an executive order that would set targets -- cut emissions to 2000 levels by 2010, 1990 levels by 2020, and 80 percent below 1990 levels by 2050 -- that are less stringent than the Kyoto Protocol's in the short-term, but one of the world's most aggressive in the long-term. Some analysts say that if the targets are met (a big if, obviously), California would cut more emissions than Japan, France, or the U.K. Schwarzenegger was vague about how the targets would be met, but his eco-adviser Terry Tamminen said that accelerating current programs and adopting proposals the governor has already made would achieve the short-term goals, and that a cap-and-trade system was not out of the question for the longer term.


Many eco-activists in the U.S. and Central America have been vigorously fighting against the Central American Free Trade Agreement, saying it would wreak as much environmental havoc as its big brother, NAFTA. Many members of Congress have their reservations too, and it's far from certain that they'll ratify the trade treaty in accordance with the Bush administration's wishes. But not a peep on the matter has been heard from the four major international conservation groups who do extensive work in Central America: World Wildlife Fund, The Nature Conservancy, Conservation International, and the Wildlife Conservation Society. What gives, dudes? Liza Grandia and fellow international activists want to know.

Maybe She's Born With It, Maybe It's Labeling

USDA won't certify personal-care products as organic

Makers of "natural" cosmetics, lotions, and potions, and the consumers who love them, are vexed by the U.S. Department of Agriculture's recent decision not to certify personal-care products as organic. The little green USDA organic seal, which now adorns many food products in the U.S., will not be applied to soaps, shampoos, and the like, meaning consumers will have no standardized way of determining whether such products have been manufactured with real organic ingredients, or without synthetic chemicals. Many small businesses that make personal-care products had been led to believe a certification program was imminent and spent many thousands of dollars ensuring standards would be met, since the organic label was expected to give smaller companies a rare edge in the competitive industry. The USDA decided it wouldn't certify cosmetics last year, but was forced to backpedal due to public complaints. This time, the agency says it'll stick to its guns unless compelled to change by Congress.

It's a Lap Dog's Life

Blair heads to D.C. to beg for Bush's support on G8 climate agenda

U.K. Prime Minister Tony Blair has put his political life on the line to support the Bush administration numerous times, citing the "special relationship" between the two countries. Ha ha, sucka! Next week Blair will fly to Washington, D.C., to beg the Bushies to support his ambitious agenda for July's meeting of the G8 countries, but they have been -- and show every sign of continuing to be -- entirely intransigent on the subject. At the center of Blair's agenda are climate change and aid to Africa. On the climate issue, Blair wants Bush to agree to a new cap on carbon emissions, acknowledge the validity of climate-change science, and invest in new green technologies. Harlan Watson, Bush's chief climate negotiator, said in May that the administration would agree to the third, but that's it. Blair also wants a pony, a chocolate ice-cream cone, and a stop to all the poodle jokes, but he's probably not going to get those either.

You Take 'em Both, and There You Have ... Um, Stapleton

Denver neighborhood on former airport site exemplifies "new urbanism"

A new mixed-use development in Denver, built on the former site of Stapleton International Airport, is being touted as a model of "new urbanism." Stapleton's homes are situated close together, with garages in back and porches in front, creating walkable neighborhoods, and plenty of open space has been set aside for parks. But the money to finance such a major project -- believed to be the largest effort to utilize vacant or underused urban land -- has to come from somewhere. Enter: Quebec Square, a nearby big-box shopping center complete with Wal-Mart, Sam's Club, Home Depot, and a 5,000-car parking lot, providing much of the property- and sales-tax revenue needed to finance Stapleton's development. That doesn't sit well with some of the more socially conscious residents. Unfortunately, it's a necessary evil, says John Huggins, the city's economic development director: "Residential development doesn't pay enough taxes to pay for the services it requires." Sigh.