Thursday, July 13, 2006
Zero Waste / Mainstream Wake Up
Wal-Mart Goes Green?
ELIST, Jun 29, 2006 (EcoNews) - Taking a leaf from the book Natural Capitalism (and guided by the Rocky Mountain Institute), Wal-Mart’s CEO, Lee Scott has set some changes in motion. Last October, he announced a new goal to transform Wal-Mart into a company that runs on 100% renewable energy, produces zero waste, and sells products that sustain the world’s resources and environment. To this end, Wal-Mart is investing $500 million annually in technologies and innovation that will reduce greenhouse gases by 20% by 2012; open a prototype store that uses 30% less energy and GHGs by 2009; reduce solid waste from US stores by 25% by 2009; increase fleet efficiency by 25% by 2008, 50% by 2015; and double the selection of organic food. With its huge market clout, Wal-Mart hopes it can influence global markets. The shift in attitude is apparent on Walmart’s website, http://www.walmartstores.com: "Zero net waste is good for business, it's great for the environment, and it even creates jobs; recycling is far more labor-intensive than dumping, after all. We think it just makes good sense.” http://www.earthfuture.com/econews/back_issues/06-06.asp
Wal-Mart Goes Green?
ELIST, Jun 29, 2006 (EcoNews) - Taking a leaf from the book Natural Capitalism (and guided by the Rocky Mountain Institute), Wal-Mart’s CEO, Lee Scott has set some changes in motion. Last October, he announced a new goal to transform Wal-Mart into a company that runs on 100% renewable energy, produces zero waste, and sells products that sustain the world’s resources and environment. To this end, Wal-Mart is investing $500 million annually in technologies and innovation that will reduce greenhouse gases by 20% by 2012; open a prototype store that uses 30% less energy and GHGs by 2009; reduce solid waste from US stores by 25% by 2009; increase fleet efficiency by 25% by 2008, 50% by 2015; and double the selection of organic food. With its huge market clout, Wal-Mart hopes it can influence global markets. The shift in attitude is apparent on Walmart’s website, http://www.walmartstores.com: "Zero net waste is good for business, it's great for the environment, and it even creates jobs; recycling is far more labor-intensive than dumping, after all. We think it just makes good sense.” http://www.earthfuture.com/econews/back_issues/06-06.asp
Climate Change Solutions
Quebec unveils carbon tax to help meet Kyoto goals
QUEBEC, June 16, 2006 (Globe and Mail, Rheal Seguin) — Quebec plans to adopt tough vehicle emissions standards and will become the first province to levy a "carbon tax" on oil and gas companies as part of an ambitious plan to fight global warming. The tax will raise about $200-million a year over six years, provincial government officials said yesterday, and will finance a $1.2-billion Green Fund to make reductions in greenhouse gas emissions called for under the international Kyoto accord. Premier Jean Charest and Environment Minister Claude Béchard said that from 2006 to 2012, the province will tax oil and gas companies for hydrocarbon products sold in bulk to retailers -- non-renewable fossil fuels such as heavy oil, gas, natural gas and propane. The Green Fund would be used to finance projects such as improvements to public transportation, education about emission cuts and ways to make buildings more energy efficient. Quebec already has the lowest levels of greenhouse gas emissions in the country. http://www.theglobeandmail.com/servlet/story/RTGAM.20060616.wxquebkyoto16/BNStory/National/home
Quebec unveils carbon tax to help meet Kyoto goals
QUEBEC, June 16, 2006 (Globe and Mail, Rheal Seguin) — Quebec plans to adopt tough vehicle emissions standards and will become the first province to levy a "carbon tax" on oil and gas companies as part of an ambitious plan to fight global warming. The tax will raise about $200-million a year over six years, provincial government officials said yesterday, and will finance a $1.2-billion Green Fund to make reductions in greenhouse gas emissions called for under the international Kyoto accord. Premier Jean Charest and Environment Minister Claude Béchard said that from 2006 to 2012, the province will tax oil and gas companies for hydrocarbon products sold in bulk to retailers -- non-renewable fossil fuels such as heavy oil, gas, natural gas and propane. The Green Fund would be used to finance projects such as improvements to public transportation, education about emission cuts and ways to make buildings more energy efficient. Quebec already has the lowest levels of greenhouse gas emissions in the country. http://www.theglobeandmail.com/servlet/story/RTGAM.20060616.wxquebkyoto16/BNStory/National/home
Sustainable Industry
Productivity without Leisure is Like a Cake without Baking Powder
VANCOUVER, BC, April 17, 2006 – In a reply to the BC Progress Board’s recent discussion paper on productivity, the Work Less Party pointed out that the paper has left out a key part the productivity story – leisure. The Progress Board had claimed its paper, "Boosting Incomes, Confronting Demographic Change: BC' 'Productivity Imperative'", “puts BC's productivity performance in context.” The Work Less Party’s reply puts that alleged “context” in context and calls on the Progress Board to engage in a broader dialogue that respects social and environmental aspects of productivity. http://www.worklessparty.org/productivity.html.
Productivity without Leisure is Like a Cake without Baking Powder
VANCOUVER, BC, April 17, 2006 – In a reply to the BC Progress Board’s recent discussion paper on productivity, the Work Less Party pointed out that the paper has left out a key part the productivity story – leisure. The Progress Board had claimed its paper, "Boosting Incomes, Confronting Demographic Change: BC' 'Productivity Imperative'", “puts BC's productivity performance in context.” The Work Less Party’s reply puts that alleged “context” in context and calls on the Progress Board to engage in a broader dialogue that respects social and environmental aspects of productivity. http://www.worklessparty.org/productivity.html.
Our Shifting Focus / Energy
Changing the World, One Light Bulb at a Time
OTTAWA, ON, Apr. 6, 2006 (GoodWork.ca) - The largest project of One Change is Project Porchlight, a campaign that brings volunteers and community businesses together to deliver one, free compact fluorescent light (CFL) bulb to every household in Canada. http://www.onechange.org
Changing the World, One Light Bulb at a Time
OTTAWA, ON, Apr. 6, 2006 (GoodWork.ca) - The largest project of One Change is Project Porchlight, a campaign that brings volunteers and community businesses together to deliver one, free compact fluorescent light (CFL) bulb to every household in Canada. http://www.onechange.org
Exemplary Resources
Sweden Goes For Green as Nordics Mull Energy Future
STOCKHOLM, Sweden, Thursday 20 April 2006 (Reuters, by Simon Johnson) - Twenty years after Sweden alerted the world to the meltdown at Chernobyl, it aims to phase out nuclear power and end dependency on fossil fuels, putting the country in the vanguard of green energy policy. With soaring oil prices, rising demand, uncertain supply and the need to cut greenhouse gas emissions, energy is in focus and the European Union is calling for coordinated policy. - http://today.reuters.com/news/articlenews.aspx?type=scienceNews&storyid=2006-04-21T013257Z_01_L18306615_RTRUKOC_0_US-ENERGY-NORDIC.xml
Sweden Goes For Green as Nordics Mull Energy Future
STOCKHOLM, Sweden, Thursday 20 April 2006 (Reuters, by Simon Johnson) - Twenty years after Sweden alerted the world to the meltdown at Chernobyl, it aims to phase out nuclear power and end dependency on fossil fuels, putting the country in the vanguard of green energy policy. With soaring oil prices, rising demand, uncertain supply and the need to cut greenhouse gas emissions, energy is in focus and the European Union is calling for coordinated policy. - http://today.reuters.com/news/articlenews.aspx?type=scienceNews&storyid=2006-04-21T013257Z_01_L18306615_RTRUKOC_0_US-ENERGY-NORDIC.xml
