The Green Village News Tagged ‘barack obama’

EPA Grants California Greenhouse Gas Waiver

Tuesday, June 30th, 2009

air pollution from car exhuastsFollowing the intervention of President Barack Obama signing a Presidential Memorandum requesting the Environmental Protection Agency to review the decision to deny the greenhouse gas waiver request submitted by California. The waiver will apply to California’s greenhouse gas emission standards for vehicles produced in 2009.

Under the Clean Air Act, California is given the authority to introduce and enforce stricter standards for cars and trucks than current federal law dictates. The original request was submitted in December 2005 by the California Air Resources Board but was denied in March 2006 on the basis that there was no need for California’s greenhouse gas emissions standards to meet “compelling and extraordinary conditions”.

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Obama Accused Of Watering Down Climate Change Bill

Wednesday, June 24th, 2009

the white houseBarack Obama has been accused of watering down the climate change bill following pressure from coal and oil companies. The policy that originally would have required companies wanting to build greenhouse gas emitting power stations and producing carbon emissions to pay for a permit and penalised them per tonne for carbon emitted has been diluted following discussions in Congress.

Criticism is borne from a number of changes, including a dramatic change in the percentage reduction in carbon emissions compared to 1990. This stands to be down to 4%, which Greenpeace’s Joss Garman pointed out on Newsnight tonight ought to be 40%. In addition, the carbon permits that were originally planned to be paid for will now be given out free to 85% of emitters; another aspect of the bill that is receiving criticism.

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A New Greenhouse for The White House

Monday, March 23rd, 2009

The south lawn of The White House is to once again become an organic garden, providing fresh, organic vegetables for The White House kitchen, and leading by example, demonstrating to the American people just what can be achieved in the average garden space. This is the first time that a veg garden has been in use at The White House since the “Dig For Victory” campaigns of World War II.

Campaign group Eat the View, who aim to get high impact gardens installed in high profile places, put pressure on the Obamas to join in and plant a kitchen garden at The White House. First Lady, Michelle Obama has said that the motive behind the kitchen garden is that passers-by will see the garden and the goodness being produced there and be inspired to plant and grow their own vegetables and produce at home.

The drive comes at a time when obesity is at a high in America, and educating people and children alike about the nutrional value of food, and the health benefits that can come from eating home grown veg is high on the agenda. Both in terms of knowing what your food has grown in, and had put on it, and also the exercise you get maintaining the plot, there are no negatives to getting involved and growing some veg for yourself!

Barack Backtracks on Emissions Policy

Wednesday, February 25th, 2009

The Economic Rescue Plan that earned Barack Obama credit with green campaigners last week now sits in the shadow of announcements that the proposed timetable Obama had in place for addressing America’s emissions is being rejigged. Due to the unlikelihood that Congress will pass a motion to restrict carbon emissions before the end of 2009, Obama has been forced to backtrack on plans and delay the time frame in which he was promising action would take place.

White House officials confirm that action will still take place, but exactly when this will be is much harder to pin down. The Rescue Plan saw opposition in Congress, and it is difficulty such as this that has made the White House reconsider the time frames allocated for passing and initiating further green legislation. America is still keen to lead on the green front however, and with the highest emissions per citizen in the world, commitment to act is long awaited and a welcome sight.