environmental awareness is not just an American thing, although many times it
may seem that way, but even in Europe individual nations are making progress on the public front, spreading awareness and helpful tips
for energy conservation amoung their citizens.
In
Ireland I have seen this campaign firsthand, with television ads promoting
“Change.ie” a site where citizens can log on and learn
about what they can do to help, as well as what their government is doing. The
site includes all the usual sections, including a carbon calculator,
explanations on global warming and greenhouse gases, what different sectors of
the economy are doing, as well as media and environmental impact reports.
The
site also covers the three main tiers of worldwide global climate change, on a
national level, a continental level, and a global level, making the task to
reduce one’s footprint more than just a personal quest.
The
sister site is PowerofOne.ie, which is really a
place for gaining energy saving tips and reading up on both neighborhood and
individual projects. There are energy quizzes and competitions for motivational
purposes.
While
Ireland’s place on the worldwide Environmental Performance Index (EPI) slipped
from 10th in 2006, to 34th in 2007, they have managed to
decrease their greenhouse gas emissions by 0.8% between 2005 and 2006. Today
Ireland is ranked number 35 on the EPI, as released by Yale, with a score of
82.7, beating the United States at number 39 with a score of 81.0.
While
Ireland is not at the top of the list, they are by no means at the bottom
either. Their drive to achieve environmental sustainability is evident from the
muddy, but clean banks of the southern Lee River to the various recycling repositories
found lining the campus of various colleges. Like the US, they are moving to
make the environment a key point of interest for younger generations as well as
acting now to change the way in which its citizen see and use energy.
Far
from just being a market for eco-friendly cars,
Europe, and Ireland by association, is one of the most forthcoming regions when
it comes to making the world a little greener.
You’d think we were on the way to becoming greener and then the current government allows our public bus company in Dublin (who has a monopoly) to:
1) increase fares by 5-10% at the beginning of this year
2) cut 290 jobs from Dublin bus.
3) take 120 buses off the road.
All other public transport also had similar price hikes.
I’m not sure why you would say ”even in Europe” when environmental standards in some European countries are stricter tha they are in North America. Many products sold in health food stores here come from Europe. Recycling is widely enforced, not just suggested, in some European countries, and hydrogen buses and electric trams are fairly common sights in several European capitals.
I think the USA has been so isolated that the ”even in Europe” statements we see are an indication that people aren’t aware of what other countries are doing.
It is time our news was truly global, instead of filtered to make the USA appear more socially advanced than it truly is.
If I were a sensitive sooull, I could take offence at the ’even in Europe’ comments… THe European Union is far in advance of the US regarding environmental issues..
Good thing i’m not sensitive then.. lol..
I suppose I should apologize for the ”even in Europe” comment. I meant it as a phrase to show common ground between the programs we see rising in America and the global front against pollution, not to suggest that the US was any more advanced than European nations. I do agree that in many respects Europe is far ahead of the US and that we have a lot to learn from them. I see it myself everyday- I simply found it interesting that these types of public programs were a common factor.