Midterm: public policy scrapbook

Here are some pertinent links to supplement my midterm on carbon footprint labeling for consumer products:

¶October 2007: "Food industry rejects "carbon label" idea." European Union agribusiness speaks out against "misleading" carbon labels.

¶August 2008, The Guardian: "Japan to launch carbon footprint labelling scheme." Excerpt: "Although the labeling scheme is voluntary, few firms want to be seen to be lagging behind rivals in the rush to corner the growing market in eco-friendly products."

¶Jan. 28, New York Times (blog): "CO2 Labels for Motorbikes in Europe?" Excerpt: "The European Commission plans to propose rules that would oblige motorcycle manufacturers to label new models with the amount of carbon dioxide they emit."

¶July 2009, Boston Globe: "Wal-Mart using its clout to go green." Excerpt: "By rolling out an environmental labeling program disclosing to consumers the environmental costs of making products sold at Wal-Mart, the $401 billion retail behemoth has transformed green standards from nice-to-have to must-have."

¶October 2009, Boston Globe: "Talking with Timberland CEO on sustainability." Excerpt, Swartz quote: "Business has the ability to efficiently solve problems through innovation, and that expertise should be maximized during the climate debate."

¶October 2009, New York Times (graphic): "To Cut Global Warming, Swedes Study Their Plates." Excerpt: Beef up to 170 times more carbon-intensive than apples.

¶The Global Warming Diet: How carbon food labels would look

¶A Carbon Label for California

¶July 2009, TreeHugger.com: "Wal-Mart's Sustainability Index: The Greenest Thing Ever to Happen to Retail?" Excerpt, in relation to Walmart's "sustainability index": "With inspectors and analysts crawling up the supply chain and peeking into every corner of production in order to deliver a comprehensive environmental assessment, we might see some major changes made by some major companies."