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Are Companies Really Reducing Emissions? | Earth Wise

December 21, 2022 By EarthWise Leave a Comment

Many companies around the world are declaring tremendous progress in reducing their greenhouse gas emissions.  Sometimes these claims are the result of actions that really do  reduce emissions but other times they are the result of something called “market-based accounting”. Businesses buy credits from clean energy providers that allows them to say they are running on green power when they actually are not.

The market analysis firm Bloomberg Green analyzed almost 6,000 climate reports filed by corporations last year and found that over 1,300 of them employed market-based accounting to erase over 120 million tons of emissions from their records.

Some clean energy contracts do have major climate benefits.  For example, companies like Amazon, Nestle, and Target have signed long-term power purchase agreements that ultimately help renewable developers finance new energy projects.

On the other hand, renewable energy credits are often short-term transactions with existing facilities and do little to stimulate investment or otherwise lead to greater use of green power.  They simply shift around ownership of existing renewable energy without doing anything new for the climate.

Some companies have made meaningful cuts to their pollution by putting solar panels on their roofs, upgrading their lighting and air conditioning equipment, and so on.  But many are reluctant to spend their capital in this way, even if it eventually saves money through lower electric bills.

Customers and shareholders want to see corporations do their part in reducing emissions.  But too many are making grandiose claims enabled by market-based accounting while doing far too little to help the environment.  Dubious claims of climate progress are not harmless; it is essential for the world’s companies to really do their share.

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What Really Happens When Emissions Vanish

Photo, posted July 16, 2014, courtesy of Mike Mozart via Flickr.

Earth Wise is a production of WAMC Northeast Public Radio

Regulating Plastic Pollution | Earth Wise

August 11, 2021 By EarthWise Leave a Comment

Instituting regulations for plastics that transcend borders is complicated but necessary

Much of the world is united in the desire to do something about the problem of plastic waste.  But putting in place regulations that transcend national borders is complicated.

One hundred fifteen countries have established bans on plastic bags, but globally, there are seven different definitions of what is considered a plastic bag.  Things like bag thickness can determine whether something even counts as a plastic bag.  These differences create loopholes that enable illegal bags to be used.  For a global company like Nestle, which sells food products in 187 countries, it means complying with 187 different sets of national regulations on plastic packaging.

At least 100 nations have expressed support for a global plastic treaty.  Preliminary talks are dealing with issues like setting a specific date to eliminate plastic from spilling into the ocean, creating a harmonized set of definitions and standards, coordination of national targets and plans, and creating a fund to build waste management facilities where they are most needed in less developed countries.

New plastic waste is created at a rate of over 300 million tons a year.   To date, 75% of all plastic ever produced has become waste, and plastic production is expected to triple by 2050.

With public concern about plastic waste growing and increasing support by countries around the world, there is growing optimism that a global treaty to address plastic waste could be approved on a pace that could make a difference.  Negotiations for international treaties can drag on for a decade or more.  There is not that kind of time to spare in this case, so perhaps urgency will drive more efficient action.

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Global treaty to regulate plastic pollution gains momentum

Photo, posted February 3, 2015, courtesy of Thad Zajdowicz via Flickr.

Earth Wise is a production of WAMC Northeast Public Radio.

New Zealand Bans Plastic Bags

September 3, 2018 By EarthWise Leave a Comment

https://earthwiseradio.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/09/EW-09-03-18-New-Zealand-Bans-Plastic-Bags.mp3

In an effort to tackle plastic pollution, New Zealand is joining a growing list of countries banning single-use plastic bags for good.  Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern says in a press statement that the ban was necessary to safeguard New Zealand’s clean and green reputation.

[Read more…] about New Zealand Bans Plastic Bags

Are We Drinking Plastic?

April 26, 2018 By EarthWise Leave a Comment

https://earthwiseradio.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/04/EW-04-26-18-Are-We-Drinking-Plastic.mp3

Almost everyone everywhere comes into contact with plastic everyday.  Its use has increased 20-fold in the past half-century, and production is expected to double again in the next 20 years.  But is plastic so ubiquitous that we are unwittingly drinking the stuff?

[Read more…] about Are We Drinking Plastic?

Saving Borneo’s Forest

July 3, 2017 By EarthWise

https://earthwiseradio.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/07/EW-07-03-17-Saving-Borneos-Forest.mp3

Borneo is the third-largest island in the world, home to part of Indonesia, part of Malaysia, and the small sultanate of Brunei.   It is also home to the oldest forest on earth – 130 million years old – which is more than twice as old as the Amazon rain forest.

[Read more…] about Saving Borneo’s Forest

Tricks In Our Treats

October 31, 2016 By WAMC WEB

https://earthwiseradio.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/10/EW-10-31-16-Halloween-Candy.mp3

Halloween is traditionally a day when we choose to ignore the inconvenient truths about candy.  Many of us overindulge on sweet treats and give little thought to what’s inside… particularly with respect to nutrition. 

[Read more…] about Tricks In Our Treats

Pumpkins And Climate Change

November 24, 2015 By WAMC WEB

https://earthwiseradio.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/11/EW-11-24-15-Pumpkins.mp3

Climate change, with its rising temperatures and extreme weather, threatens many food production systems, including coffee, chocolate, wine, maple syrup, and seafood, among many others.  And now pumpkins – the type many of us will enjoy in pies this week – can be added to that list. 
[Read more…] about Pumpkins And Climate Change

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