The Refinishing Touch Blog

Since last month's EPA ruling on carbon dioxide and the Clean Air Act which we blogged about we've been keeping a close eye on the debate.

We were heartened last week when Hillary Clinton made a stance in the global warming debate stating we are no longer "absent without leave" and that we are "back in the game."

Clinton was speaking at a session for the Major Economies Forum on Energy and Climate where the US was in the company of Australia, Brazil, Canada, China, Denmark, France, Germany, India, Indonesia, Italy, Japan, Korea, Mexico, Russia, South Africa and the United Kingdom. She emphasized the breadth of impact, declaring that climate change is "an environmental issue, a health issue, an economic issue, an energy issue and a security issue."

The green drum is set to beat faster and louder as we move towards the United Nation's conference on its climate change framework to be held on December 7-18 in Copenhagen for a new global agreement on greenhouse gas emission levels that will replace the Kyoto Protocol, due to expire in 2012.

This increase in debate and the fundamental acknowledgement is good on several levels. First, it's good for the standing of America in an international debate that has gone on without our input. As an economic powerhouse it is key that the US participates and remains active in these debates. Secondly, it increases the noise of the debate at a domestic level.

As individuals we can each make a difference in terms of how we consume products by stopping to think about where we buy, and considering the consumption of resources and their impact.

It's all about everyday things. Just take a minute to look at your desk: think about everything in front of you- from your desk itself, phone, computer or laptop, pens, paper, etc. Now, consider the resources needed to make these and then think of how they will be disposed of at the end of their life. It's shocking to think that a single plastic milk jug takes 1 million years to decompose- an alarming statistic considering the fact that Americans alone are estimated to use 2.5 million plastic bottles each HOUR. Recently, Greenpeace has begun a movement toward increasing awareness of plastic pollution, and its research findings are incredibly eye-opening- take a look at the research note here.

There's a saying about charity beginning at home – when it comes to the subject of environmental sustainability and initiatives this is a steadfast rule.

Labels: Climate Change, Green, Greenpeace, Plastic Pollution

We couldn't blog this week without mentioning the G20 Summit that is happening across the Atlantic. It takes place in London where there has been plenty of unrest, and we're glad to observe it from a distance.

The G20 summit has a primary objective as a forum to cover the economic crisis but with so many global figureheads in one place at one time, there are calls that they shouldn't miss an opportunity to discuss climate change. These calls were quelled earlier in the week when G20 advisers reminded environmentalists that the climate change event of the year is in December, when the UN will hope to reach a global deal to replace the Kyoto agreement.

Granted, the G20 is not the place to discuss green rules for developed countries, but despite the scale of the economic crisis leaders should at least acknowledge a link between the economy, the environment, and how announcements such as Obama's stimulus plan and the myriad of various green initiatives within it all connect.

Meanwhile some environmentalists are challenging the logic of having a global summit once every few years - and the resulting lack of speed in agreeing, let alone implementing any agreements, needs to be dramatically changed. Even at a faster pace we would struggle in the race to keep up with the speed of fossil fuels being burnt, ice cap melting and deforestation. And December is a long way away....

Labels: Climate Change, G20 Summit, green efforts