Monday, 04 Jun 2007

Sounds Familiar

China releases first climate plan, says economic concerns are key

China has released its first-ever national climate-change plan, a 62-page document that pledges to improve energy efficiency, increase the use of renewables, develop drought-resistant crops, and expand emissions-absorbing forests. But the country's leaders emphasized that they don't want to sacrifice economic growth. "We must reconcile the need for development with the need for environmental protection," said Ma Kai, head of the National Development and Reform Commission. "In its course of modernization, China will not tread the traditional path of industrialization, featuring high consumption and high emissions. In fact, we want to blaze a new path to industrialization." Ma also called on the world to "respect the developing countries' right to develop," noting that industrialized countries have an "unshirkable responsibility" to fix the problem they created. Some predict that China will overtake the U.S. this year in greenhouse-gas emissions. But who will lead the way in shirking?


Trying to look your best without dousing yourself in toxic chemicals? Look no further than EO, an organic bath and body care company that pooh-poohs synthetic colors and fragrances in favor of natural essential oils. Founder and CEO Susan Griffin-Black got her start in the clothing biz; under her leadership, EO has introduced the first organic hand sanitizer in the U.S. and become Whole Foods' first co-branded partner. As InterActivist this week, Griffin-Black chats about reasons to avoid diazolidinyl urea -- as if the name itself isn't scary enough -- and more. Send Griffin-Black a question by noon PDT on Wednesday; we'll publish her answers to selected questions on Friday.

Must Be All That Hot Air In Crawford

Texas tops list of greenhouse-gas emissions by U.S. states

Know what would make the climate debate even contentiouser? Some sort of ranking of which U.S. states produce the most emissions. Oh look! The Associated Press has analyzed a set of U.S. Department of Energy carbon dioxide data from 2003! Let the finger-pointing begin. It seems that states with a lot of coal plants are among the worst offenders, with Texas topping the list. Coal-fired power plants in Wyoming produce more carbon dioxide in eight hours than power generators in Vermont (which has a bigger population) do in an entire year. Slightly pink-cheeked officials from some of the spewy states point out that they export much of the energy they produce. Others say the ranking is ridiculous: "If the atmosphere could talk it wouldn't say, 'Kudos to California, not so good to Wyoming,'" says Assistant Energy Secretary Alexander Karsner. "It would say, 'Stop sending me emissions.'" We're thinking it would say a lot more than that -- none of which is publishable on a family website such as this.


Which Hollywood ladies' man is never far from his Tango electric car? What Scandalous star plans to green the Sydney Theatre Company? And who's that curly-haired funnyman building an eco-friendly home? Find out in Grist's star-studded list of green actors, the first in a series of lists highlighting green do-gooders the world over.

With Protectors Like This ...

Wildlife-trade regulators approve massive sale of ivory

The world's only body that can limit trade in endangered species kicked off a 12-day meeting this weekend with one hell of a bang: The Convention on the International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora, or CITES, approved the sale of some 60 tons of ivory by three African nations to Japan. That's what the kids call ironical, because one of the proposals the 171-nation body will consider over the next two weeks is a 20-year moratorium on ivory trading, favored by 20 African countries. The group will also look at dozens of other measures, including possible protections for sharks, gazelles, tigers, great apes, and several hardwood tree species. And for the first time, CITES -- which has overseen the international wildlife trade since 1975 -- may consider the impacts of its enforcements on the livelihood of the poor. "You are making policy for the biodiversity of the future," Gerda Verburg, CITES chair and Dutch agriculture and nature minister, told the group. But no pressure.


Love the bubbly refreshingness of seltzer, but hate the guilt over all those plastic bottles and trips to the store? Like today's letter-writer, you could be a candidate for a durable, reusable soda siphon. Make your own seltzer, and make your own Marx Brothers fun! Advice maven Umbra Fisk spurts out suggestions on how to get the job done.

Calling All Working Assets Customers

Your incessant gabbing can raise money for Grist

As if the free pints of Ben & Jerry's weren't sweet enough, now Working Assets customers can get something even sweeter: the chance to earn money for Grist with the click of a button. Phone and credit-card customers can go to the Working Assets voting page and assign maximum points to Grist (we're in the Education & Freedom of Expression section) -- then a donation magically comes to us at the end of the year. The percentage of votes we get determines the chunk of change we get, so we do need your support. To help us track our progress, please send a note to tstout@grist.org when you've voted. Smooches in advance.