Going Green Around the World
Posted by lindseyshoe
The US is known as a leader in the global community. But how does this super power stack up against other countries when it comes to going green? Find out where other countries stand on going green and which countries have already gone.
Everyday choices we make as consumers ultimately impact the world, and the environment. Sometimes this impact on the environment is positive, sometimes negative. Last year, The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change concluded that greenhouse gas emissions from human activities rose by 70% from 1970 to 2004. So it is good to know that countries around the world are giving the green light to green practices and putting up stops signs for habits that are not eco-friendly.
Australia Leads the Way in Going Green
Australia has been a leader in environmental consciousness. A 2006 Morgan survey showed that 88% of Australians indicated that if we don’t act now “we’ll never control our environmental problems.”
In June 2008, Melbourne, Australia sponsored “The Green Expo,” a four-day event showcasing green products. The showcase set out to show easy ways that every Australian household and business could reduce their environmental footprint with the latest products, technologies and ideas that “don’t cost the earth.”
Australia was the first to pass a law banning energy inefficient incandescent light bulbs, announcing in 2007 that there would be an outright ban by 2010. Environmental Minister Malcolm Turnbull said that replacing incandescent light bulbs with more energy efficient fluorescent light bulbs would reduce Australia’s current emissions by 800,000 tons by the year 2012.
Other Countries Follow With Incandescent Light Bulb Bans
More than forty other countries, including the U.S., Ireland, Canada, Italy, the Philippines, Cuba, as well as the U.K. and the European Union have since passed laws initiating phase out bans of the sale of incandescent bulbs which aren’t energy efficient. South Korea subsidizes a light-bulb exchange program.
Canada Led with Non-Profit Initiative
In Canada, a non-profit organization called One Change was already leading a voluntary drive to switch from incandescent to fluorescent bulbs with a program called Project Porchlight. Project Porchlight has given citizens one free fluorescent light bulb to try, replacing over 250,000 bulbs in Ottawa before expanding their efforts to other areas.
Japan Uses Unique Eco-Friendly Solutions
When a country gets up to 30 feet of snow, they have to find a way to deal with it. Japan has found a unique eco-friendly way to not only deal with excess snow but to use it. Snow is being collected in winter and stored under insulated material. Testing showed that almost half of snow collected in winter could be stored through September. What is Japan doing with the snow? The snow is being used to cool the airport during summer months by chilling the liquid in the airport’s cooling system. This is a white turned green solution that will cut airport cooling costs by about 30% and reduce about 2,1000 tons of greenhouse gas emission annually.
The U.S. Trails Europe and Asia in Electronics Recycling Laws
Electronic wastes, such as computers and cell phones are being taken back voluntarily by some companies in the U.S. like Apple, Dell, Toshiba, Gateway, Sears and Hewlett-Packard, Sears even encourages this practice by providing those that recycle certain electronics a Sears Gift Card that can be used for future purchases. The European Union has enacted laws that make it mandatory, not voluntary, for electronics manufacturers to take back e-waste. Beginning in the 1990′s, many European countries began banning e-waste from landfills and in 2002 implemented the Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment, or WEE Directive that holds manufacturers responsible for e-waste disposal.
Similar legislation has been enacted in Asia and many are calling for similar federal regulations in the United States. The e-waste laws that currently vary state-by-state are already causing problems for electronics manufacturers and distributors who find it difficult to track and meet varying state laws.
U.S. Reaches a Landmark in Paper Recycling but How Does it Compare to Other Countries?
In 2006, the United States reached a landmark, with over 53% percent of paper consumed being recovered for recycling.
In Europe, the recycling rates for paper are just over 54%, with Austria leading the way in recycling efforts by recycling almost 60% of their paper waste. On the downside are countries like Greece that recycle only 10% of their waste with the remaining 90% going to landfills.
Overall, the U.S. recycles about 28% of its waste which has doubled from just a decade ago. Keep in mind that the U.S. makes up about 5% of the world’s population; but is also the world’s largest trash producing country at over 1,600 pounds of trash per person per year. “Going green” is an apt phrase in that many countries, including the U.S. are “going” but have clearly not “gone” green.