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Sumitomo Bank is the first domestic financial institution to make loans conditional on environmental performance. It is developing a grading system to rate companies on their willingness to protect the environment, and the bank will offer preferential terms to proactive companies. The system will not only help the bank avoid the risk of lending to companies that default on loans as a result of an environmental problem, but will also encourage enterprises to develop environmentally beneficial products.
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135 acres along the Missouri River (Petersburg, MO) is the future site of the Institute of Ecolonomics. Ecolonomics, a term coined by actor and environmentalist Dennis Weaver, stands for the interdependence of ecology and economics. The site will serve as a university for green business and management, a think tank, and a green business incubator. Weaver practiced for his new role as president of the institute by setting up ecolonomics programs at Missouri Southern State University, University of Colorado/ Denver, and Chattanooga State Technical Community College. Institute of Ecolonomics: http://www.ecolonomics.org/ Source: E Magazine
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In an important legal precedent for the U.S., the Montana Supreme Court unanimously ruled that state residents have an “inalienable right” to a clean environment, making it illegal for the state to allow activities that cause pollution. The ruling states the Montana Constitution protects people from activities that have the potential to cause pollution as well as from known environment damage. Justice Terry Trieweiler wrote, “Our constitution does not require that dead fish float on the surface of our state’s rivers and streams before its farsighted environmental protections can be invoked.” The decision is the outcome of a suit initiated by three environmental groups. According to a 1995 law, a proposed gold mine could receive a state permit without conducting water well pump tests; the groups argued this violated constitutional rights.
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In an important legal precedent for the U.S., the Montana Supreme Court unanimously ruled that state residents have an “inalienable right” to a clean environment, making it illegal for the state to allow activities that cause pollution. The ruling states the Montana Constitution protects people from activities that have the potential to cause pollution as well as from known environment damage. Justice Terry Trieweiler wrote, “Our constitution does not require that dead fish float on the surface of our state’s rivers and streams before its farsighted environmental protections can be invoked.” The decision is the outcome of a suit initiated by three environmental groups. According to a 1995 law, a proposed gold mine could receive a state permit without conducting water well pump tests; the groups argued this violated constitutional rights.
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The U.S. Department of Energy is proposing new energy-efficiency standards for central air conditioning that would increase efficiency by 30 percent. DOE seeks comments and collaboration from the energy industry, energy-efficiency advocates and environmentalists on the final proposal. The new standard is slated to take effect by December 2000. “What is clear regarding power outages is that we’ve got to improve the reliability of the electricity supply and cut peak demand,” said Dan Reicher, assistant secretary for energy efficiency and renewable energy. “The most important way to cut peak demand is to cut air-conditioning load.” Visit the website for more details.
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The EU, Japan, Australia and Taiwan have all mandated GMO labels in recent months and the U.S. is increasingly standing alone in its hands-off policy. At the first of four U.S. FDA public “listening sessions” on bioengineered foods more than 700 people showed up resulting in a flood of comments in support of mandatory labeling. The final meeting is December 13 in Oakland, California, from 9 am to 6 pm at the Elihu Harris State Office Building. The FDA is accepting written comments through January 13, 2000. Dennis Kucinich, D-OH introduced the Genetically Engineered Food Right to Know Act in Congress which could force manufacturers to label GMOs. The bill has 20 cosponsors. The new EU-wide standard requires products to be labeled if more than one percent of total ingredients are genetically modified; products without any GM ingredients will soon receive “GM free” EU certification. As of 2001, the South Korean government will require labels on corn, soybeans and bean sprouts products if GM ingredients exceed five percent of the total. The fines are not hefty, though; $8,630 if products are not labeled and $25,890 or a maximum three-year prison sentence for false labels. Korea imports almost all its soybeans […]
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1,200 manufacturers and 4,000 retail showrooms offer Energy Star energy efficient products. Six companies – Best Buy, Home Depot, Maytag, Philips Lighting Company North America, Sears, and Whirlpool – are offering customer incentives to promote the use of energy efficient products. – This month, Best Buy offers free delivery and financing incentives on Energy Star appliances (clothes washers, dishwashers, refrigerators). – Home Depot is advertising Energy Star Windows with educational displays and promotions. – Maytag is discounting Energy Star clothes washers by $100 starting early next year in concert with a public education campaign. – Philips Lighting Company NA. is discounting Energy Star compact fluorescents at Home Depot. Bulbs will cost under $10. – Sears offers free delivery and free financing on all Energy Star appliances. It will feature new Energy Star heating & cooling systems. – Whirlpool will feature a new SERP (U.S. Department of Energy Super-Efficient Refrigerator Program) refrigerator that is 35 percent more efficient than the U.S. standard. It will be available in the 2nd quarter of 2000.
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American Airlines is the first airline company to adopt the ten-point code of corporate environmental conduct known as the CERES Principles. By endorsing the CERES Principles, American strives toward continuous environmental improvement in all of its operations, and commits to annually reporting on that progress through the standardized disclosure framework developed by CERES and its constituents. Improvements will be in areas where the company is already working, such as recapturing and recycling chemicals used in de-icing, employing electric and renewable energy ground vehicles at airports and retiring old, noisier aircraft. “We cant use anything but fossil fuels, so our improvements are bound to be incremental,” American spokesperson Chris Chiames said. Americans first environmental report using CERES guidelines will be produced next year. According to Brad Sperber of CERES, “Americans decision to engage with CERES is indicative of the new pressures transportation is beginning to feel.” The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Changes recent study of aviations role in global warming has contributed to increased scrutiny, he added. The aviation industry’s distinct environmental challenges include local noise and air pollution, hazardous waste management, fuel efficiency, and global warming. http://www.ceres.org
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European manufacturers of energy efficient office machines will be able to carry the U.S. EPA Energy Star label starting this spring. The EPA and EU are jointly reviewing certification requirements and may release more stringent guidelines next year. Personal computers in Europe will continue to carry the flower eco-label.
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The Wisconsin state legislature passed the “Reliability 2000” bill, known as R2K, making it the first state to create an independent energy efficiency fund and a renewable energy requirement without deregulating its utilities. The Renewables Portfolio Standard starts at a half percent by the end of 2001 and increases to 2.2 percent by the end of 2011. This will triple the amount of non-hydro renewables (400 MW), enough to meet the entire electricity needs of 204,000 homes and to reduce air emissions equal to taking 145,000 cars off the road. The bill also creates a “public benefits” fund that sets aside about $80 million a year for energy efficiency, renewable energy, and environmental research. Find out more at the Customers First! website: [sorry this link is no longer available]
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