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Here’s a look at the headlines of the week on the environmental front. Have a great weekend, and let me know if there are any big news stories I seem to have missed.
Republican presidential nominee John McCain announced last Friday his decision to take Alaska Governor Sarah Palin as his Vice Presidential running-mate. As opposed to the Democratic National Convention last week, there has been very little mention of the environment at the Republican National Convention this week (in fact, not one utterance of “environment” in McCain’s acceptance speech), and Grist sheds a light on Palin’s relationship with the environment: The eco-rundown on Alaska guv Sarah Palin, John McCain’s veep pick
The EPA on Thursday issued new rules on the allowable emissions from lawnmowers and speedboats. By 2011, gas-powered lawnmowers must see a 35% reduction in smog-forming emissions, and there must be a 70% reduction in emissions from recreational watercraft: EPA Tightens Engine Standards on Surf and Turf; Environmental Defense Fund Welcomes EPA Standards for Nonroad Gas Engines; EPA Issues New Engine Rules
The EPA has also criticized the fuel-economy standards set by the DOT for on-road vehicles. Currently, the DOT is calling for a 31.6 mpg average for all vehicles by 2015; the EPA has announced concerns over the methodology that was used to read these figures, and essentially would like to see a further increase in vehicles’ fuel economy: U.S. EPA criticizes DOT over fuel-economy standards; EPA: Transportation Dept off base on fuel estimate
In Ecuador, voters will have the chance to decide in a referendum to the constitution later this month whether or not to officially acknowledge the rights of nature among other reforms. Should it pass, the reform would mark a revolutionary shift in how governments recognize the world around them: Ecuador’s Correa has majority before key vote: poll; Putting nature in Ecuador’s constitution; Ecuador constitution would grant inalienable rights to nature
And last, lest we forget that global-warming is a real issue that greatly affects the world’s landscape and not simply a political ideology, two stories from the BBC report on ice-shelf loss in Canada and stronger tropical storms throughout the world: Major ice-shelf loss for Canada; Warming boosts strongest storms
To wrap up the week, here’s this Friday’s News Roundup. Have a great Labor Day Weekend, everyone!
Seattle is lining-up to become the first US city to charge for all types of disposable shopping bag. The measure follows the lead of many European nations and the plastic-bag ban in US cities like San Francisco. The move would be an important measure in encouraging consumers to think about paying for the use of a disposable bag, but Seattle voters may have a chance in the coming months to repeal the legislation, which is otherwise set to go into effect January 2009: City OKs 20-cent fee on plastic, paper bags | Seattle’s Bag-User Fee Spurs Backlash | Seattle voters may end up with last word on bag fee
No more than a month after threats emerged from five US states to sue the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) over lack of emissions regulations from ships, aircrafts and off-road vehicles, the EPA is again under fire from twelve US states who plan to sue against further violations of the Clean Air Act in their failure to regulate emissions from oil refineries: E.P.A. Sued by 12 States to Regulate Oil Refineries | States Sue EPA Over Refinery Emissions
Multiple speakers at the Democratic National Convention this week have highlighted the importance of securing a more sustainable energy economy for the US, and declare Barack Obama as the major-party presidential candidate for the job: The best set of videos, interviews, articles and more highlighting the environmental-focus at the convention can be found within Grist’s stories about the Democratic National Convention
Here’s a quick look at some of the headlines from this week:
A video was released on YouTube this week documenting a police assault on a non-violent protester taking part in New York’s Critical Mass last Friday:
The Officer, the Bicyclist and the Video
Police Investigate Officer in Critical Mass Video
The EPA has come under fire for failing to adequately regulate greenhouse gas emissions in coastal states:
EPA Managers Warned Not to Answer Inquiries
Senate Democrats call for EPA chief to resign
Earthjustice Will Sue EPA to Reduce Global Warming Pollution from Ships and Aircraft
A large ice-chunk this week broke off of the largest remaining ice shelf in the Arctic:
Huge Chunk snaps off storied Arctic ice shelf
Canadian Arctic sheds ice chunk
Arctic ice bigger than 2007, but thawing long-term
Officials are taking action in an attempt to reduce air pollution in preparation of the 2008 Summer Olympics in Beijing next week:
