Wednesday, 20 Jun 2007

And They're Off

China overtakes United States as world's biggest polluter, agency says

The United States is no longer the world's biggest polluter. That honor goes to China, which emitted some 8 percent more carbon dioxide in 2006 than Bushland, according to the Netherlands Environmental Assessment Agency. But on a per-person basis, Americans pollute roughly four to five times more than folks in China. And while the emissions surge is tied to a booming industrial landscape -- China opens the equivalent of two coal-fired power plants each week -- that growth is spurred in part by Western consumers buying goods made in China, and by outsourced manufacturing. So: still your fault. While China's leaders work on a climate plan, observers say residents are more worried about their immediate environs: "Most people in China are either unaware of or uninterested in climate change," says Zou Ji of Renmin University. "When we become richer and richer, and feel safer and safer, then people will have more time and more resources to pay attention to something not directly linked to themselves."


Which fast-food joint has the most cred on climate change -- McDonald's, Wendy's, or Burger King? A new scorecard from the nonprofit group Climate Counts has the answer; it ranks these and 53 other major corporations on their commitment to reducing their contributions to global warming. The project was the brainchild of Stonyfield Farm CEO Gary Hirshberg, who was surprised by his own company's score. Grist's Kate Sheppard has the scoop.

Quench Warners

Desalination won't solve world's water woes, report says

Another high-tech environmental solution may be going out the window: a new report from the World Wildlife Fund says desalinating water could hurt more than it helps. Estimating that there are more than 10,000 desalination plants around the world, WWF says the energy-intensive practice of filtering salt out of seawater can harm marine life and generates large amounts of greenhouse-gas emissions that may actually threaten the planet's freshwater supplies through climate-change-induced drought and glacial melt. "The quite possibly mistaken lure of widespread water availability from desalination ... has the potential to drive a major misdirection of public attention, policy, and funds away from the pressing need to use all water wisely," the group says. Use water wisely? The world chortles in your general direction, WWF -- as evidenced by Australia's announcement that it will build one of the world's biggest desalination plants to help provide a "drought-proof" supply of drinking water for Melbourne.


If you've been reading advice maven Umbra Fisk's recent columns, you know she's been delving into the mysteries of solar power. Today, she wraps up her solar series with a look at federal and state incentives for sun-powered installations. Yep, that's right, there's money out there with your name on it -- are you beginning to see the light?

Mamas, Don't Let Your Babies Grow Up to Be Gameboys

New U.S. coalition hopes to get vid-kids back outside

More than 50 business leaders, politicians, and activists have formed a national partnership to get America's kids the hell outside. Inspired by recent concerns that too much fun with video games, computers, and TV can lead to obesity and depression, the National Forum on Children and Nature is launching a $20 million campaign to fund 20 demonstration projects across the country. We don't know why it takes $20 million to say, "Turn the TV off and go outside," but we digress. The effort, organized by the Conservation Fund, includes members ranging from Disney to DuPont, from the Memphis Daily News to Montana Gov. Brian Schweitzer (D). "For decades, environmental educators, conservationists, and others have worked, often heroically, to bring more children to nature," says honorary co-chair Richard Louv, whose book Last Child in the Woods sparked the current awareness. "The National Forum on Children and Nature will create a new level of commitment and action. This could be the tipping point."