Environment

China Unveils Climate Change Strategy

- Adam Clare

China uses a lot of energy and its economy has been growing very quickly, which means that their carbon output has also been increasing. China has already taken some steps towards greening their economy and now they will continue that trend. China’s climate change strategy looks like a good step.

The country stressed that economic development comes first with a focus on sustainability. They also maintained their stance that developed nations need to take more action on climate change because most of it is their fault. I totally agree with China on this last point.

But it also stressed that the country’s first priority remained “sustainable development and poverty eradication”.

“China is a developing country. Although we do not have the obligation to cut emissions, it does not mean we do not want to shoulder our share of responsibilities,” Ma Kai, chairman of China’s National Development and Reform Commission, said.

Edit: And if the government wants to try anything funny, the Chinese will create flash protests with their mobiles.

Noah’s Ark Version 2.0

- Adam Clare

On Mount Ararat, Greenpeace volunteers are working feverishly to make Noah’s Ark to raise awareness about global warming. This is a neat and creative idea. The message about climate change is targeted at politicians.

Volunteers are racing to complete the wooden vessel under bright sunshine by end-May, to coincide with a summit of leading countries next month in Germany where climate change will be high on the agenda.

Tesla Motors Humming Along

- Adam Clare

Tesla makes electric cars that go fast, real fast. Auto Blog Green is wondering if we’ll soon see “gas stations” for electric cars in California.

The company won a grant to develop recharge stations to power the electric vehicles in an effort to encourage people switching from infernal-compustion engines to more environmentally friendly alternatives.

When CARB solicited proposals this year, they said that, “Electric fuel vehicles have the largest potential to reduce climate change emissions and petroleum dependency relative to any other alternative fuel vehicle under consideration.” The awards list shows more money being sent to biofuels ($12 million for ethanol and biodiesel) than EVs and PHEVs ($5 million), though.

Previously on Things Are Good.

Building a Green Home in the Land of Oil

- Adam Clare

Calgary is absolutely flush with oil and oil-related wealth, it is also the last place in Canada that you’d think you would find a green huose being built.

Well, the Ramsay House Project is a project that a family of Calgarians are undertaking to live in a sustainable way. It’s great to see that in a province that hates the Kyoto Accord that people are still caring for and about the environment. You can follow the Ramsay House Project at their site and they also include information on how to build green into your house (if you have one) too!

Green Cabs Start to Appear in NYC

- Adam Clare

When news first broke about all those yellow cabs going green in New York City I was pretty excited. Now they are being rolled out and all the yellow cabs in NYC will have to be green by 2012! They taken a good initiative and made it better.

“There’s an awful lot of taxicabs on the streets of New York City obviously, so it makes a real big difference,” said Bloomberg. “These cars just sit there in traffic sometimes, belching fumes; this does a lot less. It’s a lot better for all of us.”

There are currently eight vehicles on the city’s “approved” list when it comes to hybrid vehicles to be used as yellow cabs: the Ford Escape Hybrid; the Honda Accord Hybrid and Civic Hybrid; the Lexus RX400h; the Saturn Vue Green Line; and the Toyota Highlander Hybrid, Camry Hybrid and Prius. As more manufacturers roll out fuel efficient hybrids, the number of possible candidates is sure to increase. Vehicles like the Saturn Aura Green Line and rumored Ford Fusion hybrid are likely to join the list.

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