Tmyers

A new study showing that local climate plans fail to reduce carbon emissions is drawing some fire from the environmental left. I will write a separate blog about that study (which confirms much of what we've said in the past), but what interested me was this claim by K.C.

Last week, Crosscut featured an interview with the Chair of the Puget Sound Partnership Martha Kongsgaard. Martha complains about the $1.7 million in cuts to the agency, saying "the enforcement and the effectiveness of what they do and how they carry out their work is really eroded."

One of the mantras frequently heard from environmentalists is "reduce, reuse, recycle." The combination of those three approaches is used because no single approach is suitable for every situation when reducing our environmental impact.

When political desires intercede, however, that simple truth gets forgotten.

Over at the Bainbridge Graduate Institute, which describes itself as "The Pioneer of Sustainable Business Education," the institute is committed to educating about the ways business can promote environmental sustainability. On its web page, BGIs purpose statement reads: "We believe that business—as society’s most influential institution—is a powerful force for social change."

2011 was a big year for environmental news from Solyndra, to Climategate II, and the fight over the Keystone XL pipeline. Locally, we saw Seattle ban plastic bags, the state ban BPA even as a study from the EPA said there was almost no risk, the fight over coal terminals in Western Washington, more ethics questions about how the Puget Sound Partnership spends money, among other issues.

One photo, however, stands out as the photo of the year, demonstrating the promise and pitfalls of our current environmental policy.

Today, the Seattle City Council voted unanimously to ban plastic grocery bags and impose a 5 cent fee on paper bags. The goal is to "reduce plastic litter and protect Puget Sound marine life."

Will it make a difference? Probably not and there are tradeoffs.

For example, paper bags use four times a much energy to produce as plastic bags. The amount of energy, and related carbon emissions, used to create grocery bags, therefore, is likely to climb.

"We've all been duped!"

That is the primary argument the Washington Conservation Voters, the Washington Toxics Coalition and the Environmental Priorities Coalition make in advocating for one of their 2012 "Environmental Priorities" - a proposal to ban "Tris" flame retardant compounds.

The Washington Toxics Coalition and the Washington Conservation Voters argue that the ban on Tris is necessary because: