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Ken's Congestion Charge is mutating into an emissions charge with confusing results. Some people point out that, since the area covered is expanding, more residents will be able to travel for free. The Charge is getting increasingly complex and Livingstone doesn't seem to have worked out the difficulties of pursuing this new policy - such as the need to raise targets based on performance over time. The Sunday Times points out others say that increasing numbers of cars - 10% - are now able to sneak in beneath the new £25 fee. Janice Turner in the Times says all these new, free-to-enter runarounds are driven by potential voters.
- Rather like the difficulties faced by consumers trying to choose a truly green energy tariff, whereby British Gas was slapped by Advertising Standards for calling itself zero carbon when it merely offset, the Observer looked into the difficulty of choosing ethical funds. A report by financial adviser called most funds 'surprisingly mainstream.' Several hold oil stocks and many hold bank shares from ethic-free moneylenders. Environmental companies are very low on the list. Surely there's money to be made from windfarms? The rumbling debate continues in the pages of the Telegraph.
- Schwarzenegger and California certainly see money in green technology, or at least he is creating a market for it, the Independent reports. He is introducing an initiative to make businesses in the state cut their emissions 25% before 2020. Politicians take note: it has driven his popularity ratings up above 50% - a 20% over last year.
- The Observer has an interview with Steve Nicholl, the economist in charge of providing the evidence for the 3m new homes. Not even a sop to sustainability. Is this refreshing? I'm not sure.
- The FT highlights a Government report on supermarkets which finds they are using practices that are "unhealthy, unjust and unsustainable." Obesity and waste are "fuelled by multi-buy promotions (and) over-packaging." The report found the Government responsible for a lack of clarity on sustainability, with different agencies sending different messages. No change there, then.
- Oil groups are also attacking governments worldwide for a lack of clarity on policies to curb carbon emissions. Leaders of Royal Dutch Shell, Conoco-Phillips and Shell say that uncertainty will damage investment and destabalise enegy markets.
- More business engagement from the leaders of 12 multinationals who have signed the Tokyo agreement. Heads of Sony, HP, Nike and others have agreed to take 'all necessary action' to avoid increasing emissions.
- Can Britain afford to stand back and watch Global Warming happen? The UK's re-entry into the space race is predicated on just such a fact. The MoonLITE project will see an international space facility built West of London to focus on climate change and robotic space exploration. British observation units will scope out melting ice caps, deforestation and violent weather.
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