A Mountain Higher than Everest
A 21-page report on climate change was released on Friday by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change. It was compiled by 2500 scientists from 130 nations, working from the results of 16 climate modelling groups from 11 countries operating independently. For those with a mind, it ended the debate on whether or not global warming is really happening. The report declared it to be "unequivocal" that the change is occurring. Predicting that temperatures would rise 3.2 to 7.2 degrees Fahrenheit by 2010 and that sea level would rise from 7 to 23 inches, or more, the report brought immediate response from governments worldwide, even though it pointed no fingers.
Susan Solomon, a U.S. government scientist and lead author of the study, said she felt that such action would be beyond the scope of the scientists involved. "... not trying to make policy prescriptive statements, but making policy-relevant statements'' is what she felt to be the study's best chance to "serve society". Even though the study refrained from accusations, there were those who reacted as though they'd had their fingers burned by it. "We are a small contributor when you look at the rest of the world" said U.S. Energy Secretary Samuel Bodman on Friday. Really? That would explain why the U.S. is single largest contributor to global warming, producing about a quarter of world's carbon dioxide emissions, would it? Either that, or it would explain Bodman's statement as one issued by a naughty boy who knows someone has seen him with his hand in the cookie jar.
Others reacted like little brats, determined to do what they want and refusing to take direction from anyone. Read the response from India's Ministry of environment and Forests and tell me if you can't just imagine the foot-stamping and yelling "you're not the boss of me" when Pradipto Ghosh said "(the report) doesn't commit governments to any course of action".
I am sure there is no country that can really claim innocence for itself, but some certainly seem more ready than others to quit the caviling and finger-pointing; ready to get down to action. Italy's environment minister Alfonso Pecoraro Scanio phrased it well when he said, "While climate changes run like a rabbit, world politics move like a snail: either we accelerate or we risk a disaster".
Canada's emissions are a third higher than the levels the country had agrees to reach by 2012, and our P.M. has been busily turning his back on Canada's commitment to Kyoto. Unfortunately, our Prime Minister is on record as having said that the Kyoto protocol is "a socialist scheme" to steal the wealth from the rich countries and give it to the developing nations. Harper says Kyoto's goal is unachievable, and declares that anyone who proposes immediate change is dreaming. He insists that first his government needs to "stabilize emissions" a little bit of babble-speak for "we ain't about to do dick-all".
The only thing is, the precedent for immediate change has already been set. It has been proven to be very possible, by more than one example setter, although I'd like to be able to direct Harper's attention to one in particular, if I could. I'm talking about "InterfaceFLOR Commercial", a corporation involved in the design, production and sales of broadloom carpet, panel fabrics, and upholstery fabrics, that sets itself the goal to become the world's first "environmentally restorative company" by 2020. Their website makes for some fascinating reading; some real food for thought. I wonder - if Stephen could picture his children caught in the web of global woes that he is contributing to; could he use that picture as impetus to sit down for some research and reading at Interface's site?
Interface has been in business for more than 30 years, so you know for sure they've got something right in the world of flooring. Something else they really have right is their vision. They vow to become a company that "shows the entire industrial world what sustainability is in all its dimensions", a company that has achieved its "Mission Zero" and eliminated "any negative impact our flooring and fabric companies may have on the environment by the year 2020". A lot of pretty words, so far, but the proof is in the pudding, right, so take a look at what Interface is doing to back up those words.
On October 25, 2006, Interface announced its partnership with Subaru to reduce overall greenhouse gas emissions associated with Interface's light duty fleet. In the partnership, Interface switched to Subaru's Outback, the highest rated small SUV in the EPA's "Green Vehicle Guide". The burning of fuel in Subaru's vehicles is so efficient that the exhaust from the tailpipe can actually be cleaner than the air people are inhaling in some of America's smog cities. Subaru, in their part of the partnership, is sponsoring the planting of thousands of trees to make the operation of the vehicles "climate neutral" for the first 60,000 miles, since the planting will equate to the sequestration of 21.6 metric tons of carbon per vehicle.
In November 2006, Interface's new facility in Shanghai received LEED Gold certification from the U.S. Green Building Council in its Commercial Interiors category. The Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design certification was given because of such factors as 60% of the Shanghai facility's furniture being reclaimed or re-used, as well as its level of water conservation and energy efficiency.
If you've got the time and an interest in the future of your planet, click here and you can browse the articles detailing the achievements made by Interface in their implementing of MissionZero . If, by any chance, you are in the market for some new flooring, and the report issued on Friday last has you wondering how you can turn your purchase into a contribution to saving the environment, you might like to know the following: InterfaceFLOR announces: "Even after you are done with them, FLOR products can be cleaned and repurposed with a charitable organization. We offer recycling and disposition options for all of our products to avoid landfilling."
The founder of Interface, Ray Anderson, doesn't whine about how impossible it is to reach the goal of sustaining the environment. He acts on his conscience, and remembers the children of tomorrow, at the same time as his company continues to turn a good profit. If for no other reason than to show the money-minded Stephen Harper that making a profit and good stewardship of the Earth our children will inherit do not have to exclude each other, he needs to spend some time learning about Interface.
As Anderson says, the work to save the Earth is daunting, a "mountain to climb that is higher than Everest" but it can be done, and it can be started right now.
Susan Solomon, a U.S. government scientist and lead author of the study, said she felt that such action would be beyond the scope of the scientists involved. "... not trying to make policy prescriptive statements, but making policy-relevant statements'' is what she felt to be the study's best chance to "serve society". Even though the study refrained from accusations, there were those who reacted as though they'd had their fingers burned by it. "We are a small contributor when you look at the rest of the world" said U.S. Energy Secretary Samuel Bodman on Friday. Really? That would explain why the U.S. is single largest contributor to global warming, producing about a quarter of world's carbon dioxide emissions, would it? Either that, or it would explain Bodman's statement as one issued by a naughty boy who knows someone has seen him with his hand in the cookie jar.
Others reacted like little brats, determined to do what they want and refusing to take direction from anyone. Read the response from India's Ministry of environment and Forests and tell me if you can't just imagine the foot-stamping and yelling "you're not the boss of me" when Pradipto Ghosh said "(the report) doesn't commit governments to any course of action".
I am sure there is no country that can really claim innocence for itself, but some certainly seem more ready than others to quit the caviling and finger-pointing; ready to get down to action. Italy's environment minister Alfonso Pecoraro Scanio phrased it well when he said, "While climate changes run like a rabbit, world politics move like a snail: either we accelerate or we risk a disaster".
Canada's emissions are a third higher than the levels the country had agrees to reach by 2012, and our P.M. has been busily turning his back on Canada's commitment to Kyoto. Unfortunately, our Prime Minister is on record as having said that the Kyoto protocol is "a socialist scheme" to steal the wealth from the rich countries and give it to the developing nations. Harper says Kyoto's goal is unachievable, and declares that anyone who proposes immediate change is dreaming. He insists that first his government needs to "stabilize emissions" a little bit of babble-speak for "we ain't about to do dick-all".
The only thing is, the precedent for immediate change has already been set. It has been proven to be very possible, by more than one example setter, although I'd like to be able to direct Harper's attention to one in particular, if I could. I'm talking about "InterfaceFLOR Commercial", a corporation involved in the design, production and sales of broadloom carpet, panel fabrics, and upholstery fabrics, that sets itself the goal to become the world's first "environmentally restorative company" by 2020. Their website makes for some fascinating reading; some real food for thought. I wonder - if Stephen could picture his children caught in the web of global woes that he is contributing to; could he use that picture as impetus to sit down for some research and reading at Interface's site?
Interface has been in business for more than 30 years, so you know for sure they've got something right in the world of flooring. Something else they really have right is their vision. They vow to become a company that "shows the entire industrial world what sustainability is in all its dimensions", a company that has achieved its "Mission Zero" and eliminated "any negative impact our flooring and fabric companies may have on the environment by the year 2020". A lot of pretty words, so far, but the proof is in the pudding, right, so take a look at what Interface is doing to back up those words.
On October 25, 2006, Interface announced its partnership with Subaru to reduce overall greenhouse gas emissions associated with Interface's light duty fleet. In the partnership, Interface switched to Subaru's Outback, the highest rated small SUV in the EPA's "Green Vehicle Guide". The burning of fuel in Subaru's vehicles is so efficient that the exhaust from the tailpipe can actually be cleaner than the air people are inhaling in some of America's smog cities. Subaru, in their part of the partnership, is sponsoring the planting of thousands of trees to make the operation of the vehicles "climate neutral" for the first 60,000 miles, since the planting will equate to the sequestration of 21.6 metric tons of carbon per vehicle.
In November 2006, Interface's new facility in Shanghai received LEED Gold certification from the U.S. Green Building Council in its Commercial Interiors category. The Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design certification was given because of such factors as 60% of the Shanghai facility's furniture being reclaimed or re-used, as well as its level of water conservation and energy efficiency.
If you've got the time and an interest in the future of your planet, click here and you can browse the articles detailing the achievements made by Interface in their implementing of MissionZero . If, by any chance, you are in the market for some new flooring, and the report issued on Friday last has you wondering how you can turn your purchase into a contribution to saving the environment, you might like to know the following: InterfaceFLOR announces: "Even after you are done with them, FLOR products can be cleaned and repurposed with a charitable organization. We offer recycling and disposition options for all of our products to avoid landfilling."
The founder of Interface, Ray Anderson, doesn't whine about how impossible it is to reach the goal of sustaining the environment. He acts on his conscience, and remembers the children of tomorrow, at the same time as his company continues to turn a good profit. If for no other reason than to show the money-minded Stephen Harper that making a profit and good stewardship of the Earth our children will inherit do not have to exclude each other, he needs to spend some time learning about Interface.
As Anderson says, the work to save the Earth is daunting, a "mountain to climb that is higher than Everest" but it can be done, and it can be started right now.
1 Comments:
Great post!
I'd like to bring you Ray Anderson's comments from The Corporation. Check out this YouTube video.
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