http://www.environmentalleader.com/2010/01/29/obama-orders-government-to-slash-ghg-emissions-28/ Environmental Leader Mon, 13 Feb 2012 17:25:03 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.2.1 http://www.environmentalleader.com/2010/01/29/obama-orders-government-to-slash-ghg-emissions-28/comment-page-1/#comment-176508 Matt Courtland of A Sustainable Life Sat, 30 Jan 2010 04:15:11 +0000 http://www.environmentalleader.com/?p=31072#comment-176508 It is encouraging to see our government beginning to act on climate change. It concerns me that their goal of a 28% reduction by 2020 is based on 2008 figures instead of the traditional yardstick of 1990. Carbon emissions have grown considerably in the past eighteen years and a 28% reduction over 2008 levels is only a 3 - 4% decrease over 1990 levels. Economics has never taken into account the true costs of doing business, leaving environmental and societal health out of the system completely. The switch to sustainable business practices should be looked at as an opportunity instead of an obstacle. Almost every product made today needs to be redesigned so its impact on the earth is negligible. This means there is an incredible amount of work to be done and money to be made for those companies that accept the challenge of our time. And if we do this, we can reduce our emissions well below the new goal set by this administration. It is encouraging to see our government beginning to act on climate change. It concerns me that their goal of a 28% reduction by 2020 is based on 2008 figures instead of the traditional yardstick of 1990. Carbon emissions have grown considerably in the past eighteen years and a 28% reduction over 2008 levels is only a 3 – 4% decrease over 1990 levels. Economics has never taken into account the true costs of doing business, leaving environmental and societal health out of the system completely. The switch to sustainable business practices should be looked at as an opportunity instead of an obstacle. Almost every product made today needs to be redesigned so its impact on the earth is negligible. This means there is an incredible amount of work to be done and money to be made for those companies that accept the challenge of our time. And if we do this, we can reduce our emissions well below the new goal set by this administration.

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