- Home
- Articles posted by: Rona Fried (Page 2755)
Negotiations on existing World Trade Organization (WTO) rules and a new “global, free logging agreement” proposed by the U.S. are high on the agenda for the WTO meeting in Seattle, November 29 – December 3. The meeting opens the next major world trade negotiations due to start early in 2000. Ministers and senior officials from over 150 governments are expected to attend. The goal is to reduce tariffs on wood and paper products – but the results threaten countries’ attempts to protect their forests through mechanisms like certification, banning log exports, and preventing migration of invasive species. In addition, phasing out tariffs is bound to fuel consumption and demand, already predicted to rise. Indeed, a recent study by the Finnish consulting firm Jaakko Poyry estimates that tariff-free trade will result in a three to four percent increase in forest product consumption. And the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization’s “State of the World’s Forests 1999” report forecasts a 25 percent increase in worldwide industrial wood production and consumption by the year 2010.
Read More
Six years ago, the compactors at Baxter Healthcare’s Renal Division were picked up four times a month. Now, they average four pick-ups a year. The trash disposal cost dropped from $20,000 per employee to $1500 per year! At this facility, where administration, engineering and R&D activities take place, virtually no stone is left unturned. In addition to the standard materials recycled (office paper, aluminum, corrugated), there’s a long list of others: transparencies, toner cartridges, fluorescent lamps, computers, and metal scrap. Employees exchange surplus office supplies, use rechargeable batteries, donate packaging peanuts to a local shipping store, and magazines and books go to local libraries. Copy machines are set to default for double-sided copying. There’s a junk mail deletion program. The Purchasing Department orders recycled materials for all office supplies by default and to reduce packaging (and shipping costs) they place orders weekly instead of daily. A 10-person Pollution Prevention Committee, dubbed Trashbusters, oversees Baxter’s recycling and waste reduction activities. Every month, several Trashbusters visit about 30 employees in their offices to inspect wastecans for recyclable materials. Offending employees are “busted,” while employees doing a good job are rewarded with a token gift, like a box of candy. They encourage employees […]
Read More
The National Tour of Solar Homes is held every October throughout the United States. Homeowners open their doors to visitors to demonstrate the renewable energy and conservation features of their homes. The tour highlights renewable energy technologies that are working right now, in real places, for real people. People in 100 communities in 42 states are offering tours. Homes on the Tour feature many different technologies including PV, solar hot water, solar thermal, passive solar design, daylighting and wind power. Last year, 12,000 people visited more than 700 homes and businesses in this one day national effort to promote solar energy. Information is available at the American Solar Energy Society website.
Read More
Endangered species often make their homes on private land. The Environmental Defense Fund has an online library of information on incentives for landowners to conserve these irreplaceable species under the Safe Harbor agreements. [sorry this link is no longer available]
Read More
In 1993, DuPont was the first company to sign on to the U.S. EPA/DOE Climate Wise program. Now, the company has reached its goal to reduce its global greenhouse gas emissions by 45 percent by the year 2000. Although production increased by over 35 percent during this period, total energy consumption remained flat. At a PEW Center for Global Climate Change conference this month, DuPont announced its commitment to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 65 percent by 2010, while holding energy use at 1990 levels. Dennis Reilly, COO, also announced the company’s plans to supply 10 percent of its energy from renewable sources by 2010. If DuPont were to meet 10 percent of its energy needs with renewable energy now, the company would consume 17 percent of total U.S. capacity and four percent of world capacity for wind energy. To increase renewable energy capacity significantly, Reilly emphasized the need for incentives. At current prices, using renewable energy carries a cost penalty. For DuPont, it would mean an increased cost of $60-90 million dollars a year. “Credit for early action” and other incentives offer the possibility of eliminating cost penalties and encouraging, and possibly accelerating, the growth of cost- effective sources […]
Read More
This group, created to develop international greenhouse trading systems, launched this June in London. It is the brainchild of the UN Commission on Trade and Development (UNCTAD) and a committee of the World Business Council on Sustainable Development (WBCSD). Membership is open to all businesses and associations. The association hopes to attract a broad base of business and industry sectors and wants to ensure membership from both developed and emerging countries. The U.S.-based Emissions Marketing Association is supporting the effort. Frank Joshua at UNCTAD: frank.joshua@unctad.org Dave Moorcroft at WBCSD: moorcroft@wbcsd.ch
Read More
The Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA) has committed $6 million to construct a number of renewable energy plants for the eight million residents it serves in seven states. By next summer, it will generate 6MW of power from eight PV generating stations, two or more windfarms and an waste-to-energy plant – enough to supply energy for 15,000 residents. If customers sign on in sufficient numbers with the estimated $2-$10 premium, the program will be expanded from eight to 159 distributors by 2003. This pilot represents less than one percent of TVA’s capacity of 28,000MW. TVA operates 29 hydroelectric dams, 11 coal and three nuclear plants.
Read More
In an innovative partnership, Westvaco Corporation is allowing the Nature Conservancy the right to “identify areas of unique biological or other significance” on their land. A five year agreement stipulates the company will restrict those areas from logging. A recent Wall Street Journal article (September 9) questioned the company’s motivation. Is it responsible forest management or “nervousness over possible government regulation of logging on private lands?”
Read More
In a creative twist for marketing gas guzzling SUVs, a folding electric scooter from Zapworld.com is included with the purchase of new Lincoln Mercury Mountaineer SUVs. The premium was available in California and Hawaii in June, and in the Washington D.C. area in August/September. The battery-powered ZAPPY scooter folds into the size of a small suitcase and can be used as stand-alone personal transportation or in conjunction with a car, bus, boat, train, airplane or RV. The battery charge lasts for several miles at bicycle speeds and can be recharged at any household outlet or by a cigarette lighter with an optional mobile charger. It retails for $650. The Mountaineer comes with an auxiliary 12 volt power outlet, so owners can recharge their ZAPPY while driving. When parking or traffic is a problem, it can be used around town for short trips, for errands, or simply for fun. [sorry this link is no longer available]
Read More
By combining small customers – business and residential – into a purchasing block, local governments can negotiate energy prices and other preferences such as green power. This policy statement by the American Solar Energy Society explains the concept and details how this strategy offers protection for small consumers in a deregulated market. It lays out steps to take at the state and local level, as well as ways for individuals and organizations to take action. For a copy, contact ASES
Read More
Page 2,755 of 2,804« First«...102030...2,7532,7542,7552,7562,757...2,7602,7702,780...»Last »
Loading...