Thursday, 07 Jun 2007

We're Sorry, Angela

G8 participants report climate-agreement highs and lows

We can't possibly do justice to the intricacies of this week's G8 summit in this space. So brace for some injustice: German Chancellor Angela Merkel wants the G8 to agree to cut greenhouse-gas emissions 50 percent below 1990 levels by 2050. U.S. President George Bush doesn't dig that plan, and wants to involve China and India in a vaguely defined "long-term solution." Bush and Merkel met yesterday, after which media around the world reported that her climate hopes were dashed. "There are a few areas here and there we will continue to work on," she said. Today, a glimmer of hope surfaced after Bush met with Tony Blair. The outgoing British prime minister emerged from that chat saying he hoped the G8 would agree to cuts "on the order of" 50 percent -- without, you know, using any actual numbers. Said Bush: "We are deadly earnest about getting something done. The U.S. will be actively involved if not taking the lead in a post-Kyoto framework." The G8 will issue a final climate communique tomorrow.


The sorry state of many of the world's bird species -- like vultures in Southeast Asia and northern spotted owls in the Pacific Northwest -- is turning wildlife biologists into virtual hospice workers: they come to know and care for their patients, but can do little to stop their decline. In British Columbia, some scientists are suggesting that the government round up every last wild spotted owl for a captive breeding program. In the absence of concerted action to protect species and their habitat, are captive breeding programs an answer? Ultimately, how can we save other species from ourselves? Meera Subramanian reflects on the dilemma in Gristmill.

Clean Water Is Highly Overrated

Bush administration limits reach of Clean Water Act

If you assumed the federal Clean Water Act should apply to all bodies of water in the U.S., well, you have made an ass out of u and me. The Bush administration unveiled guidelines this week that say only bodies of water large enough to float a commercial boat in and their adjacent wetlands will get automatic protection under the law, while decisions on smaller streams will be made on a case-by-case basis. The new rules attempt to provide guidance in the wake of a Supreme Court decision that found justices split on whether to limit the act. "In effect, the EPA and the [Army Corps of Engineers] are taking their field staff and the public out to the woods, blindfolding them, spinning them in circles, telling them to 'go west,' and calling that guidance," says Jon Devine of the Natural Resources Defense Council. Democrats in Congress have introduced legislation that would clarify and again widen the scope of the law. But why have clear guidance when you could have arbitrary decision-making?


Last week, a rumble exploded on the streets of San Francisco between a group of farmers and an aging Italian man. The reason? In his latest book, Slow Food founder Carlo Petrini had accused the city's Ferry Plaza Farmers' Market of elitism. And the farmers, meeting him on his U.S. tour, fought back. Now that the dust is settling, Tom Philpott wonders if all of the participants missed a gigantic opportunity to address the issues of food and class that plague U.S. society. Philpott had a chance to catch up with Petrini himself, and reports on the sustainable-food movement's scandal du jour.

The Whine of the Motor

Big Auto pleads for smaller gains in fuel efficiency

The heads of Ford, GM, and Chrysler returned to Washington, D.C., yesterday to try to convince Congress not to hike fuel economy standards. Next week, the Senate will consider a proposal to raise average fleet-wide mileage to 35 miles per gallon by 2020 from the current 25; several bills have sprung up to float more modest increases. At least two, including one cosponsored by Rep. John Dingell (D-Mich.), contain escape clauses for car companies if the new standards prove too difficult to achieve. While the industry acknowledges that some increase in efficiency is due -- mileage requirements for cars have not changed since 1983 -- GM CEO Rick Wagoner said the current proposals "don't look achievable." There's that American can-do spirit! Faced with the usual litany of industry concerns, including health-care costs and trade woes, reps were less than receptive. "I think the issue is over," said Sen. Byron Dorgan (D-N.D.). "I think you've lost that issue. I think your position is yesterday forever."