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June 8, 2010Connecting the BP Spill with Pt. ReyesCheck out RRI's editorial on the billions in uncollected revenue from public resources here | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0) June 7, 2010Cities' Role in International Climate TalksMexico City Mayor Marcelo Ebrard calls for a more powerful role for cities in international climate negotiations here. He's pictured on Huffingtonpost.com with Martha Delgado, Mexico City's Minister of the Environment, who can be seen discussing her hopes for the plan on RRI.org's homepage. Mexico City's Green Plan - a comprehensive, integrated, long-term climate plan - may join the ranks of those of the Netherlands and New Zealand as it follows its 15-year trajectory. Meanwhile, stay tuned for RRI's newest report on Green Plans around the world, to be released later this summer. | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0) April 22, 2010Mexico City's Green Plan featured on Huffington PostIn Mexico City Mayor Ebrard's own words: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/marcelo-ebrard/earth-day-and-the-worlds_b_541708.html In just three years the city's made remarkable progress on air quality, transportation, and water management. ...and if you speak Spanish: | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0) March 3, 2010UK Releases Sustainability UpdateResource Renewal Institute previously designated the UK as a Green Plan nation. The UK recently released a progress report on its sustainability indicators on a regional basis around the country. The indicators highlight issues within the priority areas of Sustainable Consumption and Production, Natural Resources, and Sustainable Communities. For the full update go to this webpage (give it a few seconds to download) and scroll down to Local and Regional News: | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0) January 25, 2010France`s Sustainability BarometerIn a next step in developing its Green Plan, France issued a set of progress indicators for its National Sustainable Development Strategy. The strategy marks environmental and social progress in `the role of ecosystems` for general welfare. The French Green Plan was initiated in 2007 through a series of national dialogues that will allow for acceptance of initiatives for sustainable behavior. Forty-five indicators, within four broad themes, were developed to inform national and local government, business, NGOs, and citizens about environmental and economic pressures and progress. The indicators include sustainable management of biodiversity, changes to and/or loss of natural habitats, consumption and production, individual resource and energy use, recycling rates, waste generation per sector (household, agricultural, industrial), public health, social integration, governance and knowledge improvement. The indicators will assist the EU in preparing a comprehensive environmental index for use in conjunction with the more traditional GDP. One measure drawing some controversy will be of imported CO2 from foreign trade. | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0) January 5, 2010French Carbon Tax to be RevisedThe French Constitutional Court annulled France`s carbon tax on the basis that it allowed exemptions for 93% of industrial emissions, including politically connected farmers and fishing operations. The exemptions were the result of compromises to maintain competitiveness, according to the government. President Sarkozy`s administration said it will resubmit a revised program. France is a Green Plan nation listed on Resource Renewal Institute`s Green Plans in Action page. | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0) December 28, 2009Netherlands Advances Mileage FeeNetherlands, one of the first Green Plan nations, has enacted legislation to reduce auto emissions and reduce driving time and traffic jams by taxing mileage driven, at 3 cents/kilometer (1 km = .6 mile) beginning in 2012, rising to 6.7 cents by 2018. The tax will be higher during rush hour and for higher polluting vehicles. The transport ministry expects fatal accidents to decrease 7%, carbon emissions by 10%, and kilometers driven by 15%. Autos will be fitted with a GPS device that will send information to a central billing point. | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0) December 22, 2009Eye on Earth: Europe's Interactive Air, Water QualityThe European Environment Agency and Microsoft have teamed up to allow interactive viewing of air and bathing water quality throughout Europe via Eye on Earth. The site`s user interface provides interactive information from Europe-wide to street level, based on data from air-quality measurement stations and citizens` input across Europe. It translates scientific data into easily understandable terms. The website is viewable at http://eyeonearth.cloudapp.net/ | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0) Columbia River Ecosystem in Judge's HandsThe Columbia River salmon v. cheap hydropower battle went to court in late November on a long-standing case, at what Federal Judge James Redden called the most important hearing. This past fall the Obama Administration added additional terms to a biological opinion for managing the river prepared by the Bush Administration. The salmon and steelhead are on the brink of extinction. The fate of such indicator species tells us this important Northwest ecosystem that everyone depends on is failing. Previous biops during the Bush years were thrown out of court for violating the Endangered Species Act by using made-up science, among other missteps. The judge has praise for the current plan but has asked for more briefing. RRI’s report on the Columbia problem is on our home page, www.rri.org. | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0) December 18, 2009Live blogging via the UK's Guardian
While I am out (have to eat sometime!), check out the blow-by-blow here. | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0) |
SearchRecent PostsConnecting the BP Spill with Pt. ReyesCities' Role in International Climate Talks Mexico City's Green Plan featured on Huffington Post UK Releases Sustainability Update France`s Sustainability Barometer French Carbon Tax to be Revised Netherlands Advances Mileage Fee Eye on Earth: Europe's Interactive Air, Water Quality Columbia River Ecosystem in Judge's Hands Live blogging via the UK's Guardian
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