Thursday, 22 Feb 2007

Don't Just Kiss Our Babies

New Hampshire climate activists take advantage of election spotlight

The wee state of New Hampshire hopes to take advantage of its front-running primary election to make climate change a priority at the federal level. In March or thereabouts, at least 180 communities, constituting more than 75 percent of the state, will vote on a resolution that calls for the feds to get off their arses and support a national greenhouse-gas reduction program and sustainable-energy research. The (hopefully favorable) results will be compiled by the nonpartisan Carbon Coalition -- composed of greens, business groups, scientists, and others -- and presented to the prez, Congress, and 2008 presidential wannabes. "Given that New Hampshire is such an important primary state, candidates will take this seriously and make it part of their campaign," says optimistic signature-gathering volunteer Caroline Robinson. In 1983, a similar petition on the issue of acid rain had significant impact on the 1984 election and national acid-rain policy. Here's to (some of) history repeating itself.

Plights of the Roundtable

International business group joins chorus begging for emissions regulations

Yet another group of businesses has come out in support of international greenhouse-gas regulation. The Global Roundtable on Climate Change, which includes nearly 100 large companies, issued a statement Tuesday espousing an increasingly common belief: "If we delay too long in beginning the changeover to increasingly de-carbonized energy systems, the eventual costs will only rise and the impact of climate change will only become more severe." The pact urges world leaders to set "scientifically informed" binding limits on emissions of greenhouse gases by 2012, and put a price on carbon dioxide in a global market. It's got the autographs of reps from Air France-KLM, Alcoa, Allianz, Bayer, Citigroup, Ford, General Electric, Goldman Sachs, Munich Re, Swiss Re, Toyota, Volvo, Wal-Mart, and more. Says Alcoa CEO Alain Belda: "I am convinced that we can build a global plan of action on climate change in ways that create more economic opportunities than risks." Welp, that makes millions of us.


Oh what a tangled burrito we weave, when first we practice to deceive: As Mexico struggles to keep costs for its iconic tortillas in check, international companies are playing a bigger role in the market -- and making a bigger profit from it -- than ever before. Tom Philpott explains what the dietary dilemma means for the country's poor, what ethanol has to do with it, and how ADM, "supermarket to the world," stands to benefit.

Kenya Screw Me Now?

African farmers fear impact of U.K. supermarkets buying local

Last month, British supermarket giant Tesco announced a few changes it's making with the climate in mind, including limiting flown-in food. Which is all well and good, unless you're a farmer in Africa wondering what the hell is going on. Some fear that moves in the industrial world meant to reduce the carbon footprint -- and eco-guilt -- of rich shoppers will endanger the livelihood of farmers in developing countries. In Kenya, for instance, 65 percent of exports to the European Union are fresh fruits, veggies, and flowers, and some farmers have replaced their staple crops with European-fancied novelties like baby corn. While Tesco says it will protect African producers, farmers and their advocates are not convinced and say they haven't had talks with the chain. "This announcement from Tesco is devastating," says Stephen Mbithi Mwikya, who heads a Kenyan export association. He fears the green-minded move and others like it, considered progressive in far-off lands, could cripple Kenya's economy.

The Land of Electric Enchantment

Tesla Motors to build electric-car plant in New Mexico

In April, electric-car start-up Tesla Motors will break ground on a manufacturing plant in Albuquerque, which beat out Flagstaff, Ariz., and Pittsburg, Calif., for the honor. The plant will churn out 10,000 WhiteStar sedans a year starting in 2009 -- "zero-emission" cars that will go 250 miles on a full charge and start at $50,000. The 150,000-square-foot plant, which will provide 400 jobs, has officials singing the company's praises. "Tesla is committed to clean energy and so is New Mexico," sang Gov. Bill Richardson (D), while Sen. Jeff Bingaman (D-N.M.) warbled that the state would be "a major participant in seeing electric cars become the cars of the future." The state is expected to put $7 million toward the $35 million facility, as well as various tax credits. Were they swayed by the pungent passion of Tesla chair Elon Musk? "I really believe the future is electric vehicles," the PayPal cofounder said. "I think we will look back upon gasoline-powered cars ... as a temporary aberration."