Wal-Mart Promotes Cleaner Production & Energy Efficiency Among Its Central American Suppliers
Tuesday, January 13th, 2009From Wal-Mart: Wal-Mart Stores and World Environment Center Launch Cleaner Production Partnership in Central America The World Environment Center (WEC), in partnership with Wal-Mart Stores, Inc., today announced the launch of a major initiative which aims to increase cleaner production and energy efficiency (CP/EE) practices in two countries, El Salvador and Guatemala. The project is […]
McDonald’s Claims First “Ecological Restaurant” in Latin America
Tuesday, December 16th, 2008McDonald’s just inaugurated what it claims to be the first “ecological restaurant” in Latin America — well, at least, the first one of their chain, anyway. Take a look at why McDonald’s calls this an ecological restaurant and see if you agree: Arcos Dourados (“Golden Arches”), the company that manages the franchise network of McDonald’s […]
LAC Water Center Created / Crean Centro del Agua para ALC
Sunday, November 23rd, 2008Temas Note: While the idea of a center focussed on water and sanitation issues in the Latin America and Caribbean (LAC) region generally appeals to me, I have to ask why in this form, in this locale, and with these sponsors? Doesn’t the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) already have a Pan American Center for […]
Toward a Green Building Rating System for Mexico
Tuesday, October 2nd, 2007Quiz time, folks. Did you know that Mexico has one of the two Latin American buildings that are Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) certified? That nine other Mexican projects await LEED certification by the US Green Building Council (USGBC)? That Mexico has had its own green building council since 2005? That the Council […]
Groundbreaking Project of Carbon Credits for Avoided Deforestation
Tuesday, August 7th, 2007Synopsis in English: Last week the Environment Ministry signed an agreement with the World Bank for the first project in Colombia, and one of the first in the world, involving the sale of carbon credits for “reduction of emissions from deforestation” (i.e., “avoided deforestation”). The project involves some 1,410 hectares in San Nicolás Valley in […]
What the WWF-Coke Freshwater Partnership Means for LAC
Wednesday, June 6th, 2007On the face of it, this is good news for a couple of reasons. First off, I applaud that a huge water user (176 billion liters worldwide in 2006) and consumer such as Coca-Cola has decided to increase their water use efficiency, recycle the water they use in manufacturing whenever and wherever possible, and to […]
A Sustainable Energy Plan for Barbados?
Tuesday, February 27th, 2007In an earlier article, I looked at the sustainability of Brazil’s long-range energy plans. Today I examine Barbados’ recently announced 20-year plans. The government of Prime Minister Owen Arthur recently presented to Parliament a ambitious draft national energy plan that has numerous environmental elements in it. While some have applauded its stated intentions — reduction […]
Sparking Creative Eco-Thinking
Thursday, September 28th, 2006I ran across a news brief about this contest the other day over at Treehugger. if you’re not familiar yet with Treehugger, you should check it out. A great site on ecological issues and thought, particularly eco-design and environmentally friendly products and services. [And no, they did not pay me to say that!] General Electric […]