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Which is greener, a real or fake Christmas tree?
(Photo: Jorge Barrios / Wikipedia) For many families, the centerpiece of Christmas celebrations is the luminous, awe-inspiring tree set up with care in the living room. But with all the options now available, how do you know which Christmas tree is the greenest choice for the environment? Should you go for a real, fresh tree, as nearly 29 million households do, according to the National Christmas Tree Association? Most Christmas trees are now raised on established farms, meaning deforestation isn’t an issue, but they must be shipped, often from long distances. They do require pesticides and fueled vehicles to maintain, and may end up taking up space in landfills. On the other hand, most artificial Christmas trees are made in China, typically from oil-derived, pollution-releasing polyvinyl chloride (PVC). A number have been found to contain lead. Once finally disposed of, artificial trees will last for centuries in landfills. These days, roughly 70% of Americans choose artificial. Advocates of “going artificial” point out that a one-time purchase of a fake tree can save gas otherwise used for annual trips to a tree farm or shopping center, not to mention for cross-country shipping of the tree to point of sale. If your family keeps the faux fir for many years, even generations, the oil savings could certainly add up to more than what it took to make and ship the product in the first place. But that is an “if,” and all too often people upgrade to a fancier model or abandon their old one after a move or after the boughs get bent in the attic. So on balance, what’s the greenest Tannenbaum? It depends on a number of factors, including where you live, how you celebrate and precisely what you buy. So there is no one-size-fits-all answer. Going with a real tree? Try to choose something locally and organically grown. You’ll cut down on CO2 emissions and help prevent the environmental degradation wrought by pesticides on big conventional operations. Local Harvest features a list of beautiful live Christmas tree providers across the country. If you like, you may even be able to cut your own! When you are finished with your tree, make sure it is converted to mulch or compost. Going with an artificial tree? Then try to find one made in the U.S., which greatly decreases the chances for contamination with lead or other toxins, preserves domestic manufacturing jobs and reduces shipping. For example, check out Holiday Tree and Trim Co. of New Jersey. If you must get rid of your artificial tree, check with local charities, shelters and churches to see if they can use it. Most recycling programs do not accept them, and they’ll take many centuries to degrade in landfills. Want an even more “clear cut” answer? Buy a living, plantable “bulb” tree. Inside, the tree can wear ornaments and garland, and after Christmas it can be transplanted outdoors. You’ll be adding to the planet’s lungs and fighting global warming, as well as providing wildlife habitat. If you live in an apartment, or don’t have room in your yard for an evergreen, see if you can donate it to someplace in your community. Or save all your money and simply decorate an outdoor tree for Christmas. True, unless you live in a warm climate, you aren’t likely to want to open presents in your yard. But you may be able to decorate a tree that’s close enough to a window to set the mood. You can also fashion your own “tree” from natural materials like driftwood, pine boughs, felled branches, and the like. You won’t be contributing to any new resource use and will be giving your own creativity a chance to flourish.More from The Daily GreenRoyal Tannenbaums: How to Pick the Best and Greenest Christmas TreeFestive, Money-Saving LED Holiday LightsOne-of-a-Kind Gifts Made From Recycled MaterialsSafe, Sustainable Toys for Babies and ToddlersTis the Season for Ugly Christmas Sweaters!Reprinted with permission of Hearst Communications, Inc Check out Yahoo! Green on Twitter and Facebook.
Countdown to consensus on action against global warming?
EarthTalk is a Q&A column from E/The Environmental Magazine Dear EarthTalk: What do organizers hope to accomplish at the upcoming (December 7-18, 2009) United Nations Climate Change Conference being held in Copenhagen? — F. Rojas, Oakland, CA The upcoming COP15 meeting in Denmark — so named because it is the 15th such international gathering of the Conference of the Parties (COP) under the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change — is the world’s next big chance to take decisive multi-lateral action on reducing greenhouse gas emissions substantially enough to ward off cataclysmic climate change. Negotiators from all over the globe hope to come to terms on a binding agreement regarding emissions reductions that both developed and developing nations can agree to. The stakes are high: This conference represents the final step in negotiations years in the making — and the results could chart a course toward success or failure in human efforts to control the carbon beast we set free in the industrial revolution. Officially, the stated goal of COP15, according to United Nations organizers, is “to stabilize the amount of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere at a level that prevents dangerous man-made climate changes.” They add that “this stabilization must occur in such a way as to give the ecosystems the opportunity to adapt naturally” without compromising food safety or hindering sustainable social and economic development around the world. Organizers, delegates and a wide range of other participants — some 10,000 people are expected to attend — are still holding out hope for the establishment of an ambitious, legally binding global emissions reduction agreement to take effect beginning in 2012. That is when initial commitments made under the Kyoto Protocol, an earlier international climate treaty that the U.S. refused to join, expire. One sticking point is whether or not the Obama administration will risk agreeing to major emissions reductions without the prior consent of Congress. The most promising U.S. climate legislation, the so-called Kerry-Boxer Bill, is currently under consideration in the Senate but likely won’t be voted on until February 2010 or later; traditionally the American government likes to iron out its policy legislatively at home before agreeing to international commitments. But bi-partisan backers of the bill in the Senate say they can agree on terms now that will be acceptable to enough to their colleagues for later passage, enabling American negotiators at Copenhagen to have some guidelines at the COP15 bargaining table. China and much of the developing world would like to see industrialized countries cut their greenhouse gas emissions 40% below 1990 levels by 2020, but analysts say such drastic cuts are unlikely to fly with U.S. politicians. Climate champion Al Gore is urging COP15 delegates to create a binding legal framework where commitments can be ratcheted up with time as governments begin to realize the benefits of switching to larger amounts of renewable energy and participating in the development of green technology. Beyond the big question of U.S. participation, COP15 negotiators will be trying hard to forge a consensus on a wide range of related issues, including: what year should be set as the baseline against which specific reduction targets will be measured; the duration of the emissions reduction commitment period; whether or not to call for curbs on deforestation, especially in developing countries’ tropical rainforests; and whether or not to tighten rules governing the methods used to reduce emissions. GOT AN ENVIRONMENTAL QUESTION? Send it to: EarthTalk, c/o E / The Environmental Magazine, P.O. Box 5098, Westport, CT 06881; submit it here or via email. Read past columns here and check out the recent book Earthtalk: Expert Answers to Everyday Questions about the Environment Friend us on Facebook and Follow us on Twitter.More from The Daily GreenWin a Trip to Copenhagen to Report on the Critical Climate Change DebateMeeting of the Minds: Elite Leaders Meet to Rethink CitiesWhat’s at Stake in the Copenhagen Climate TalksWhich Countries Pollute the Most? You Might Be SurprisedThe 350 Climate Campaign Claims a VictoryReprinted with permission of Hearst Communications, Inc
