Can climate-friendly cuisine help save the planet? Welcome to Zero Foodprint week

No one was surprised that the cows were a major culprit. But quail eggs? That was unexpected.

Sous chefs prep for dinner service at Benu, an
environmentally friendly restaurant in San Francisco. 

When the fashionable San Francisco eatery In Situ did a top-to-bottom review of its carbon footprint, they found a lot of issues. That was the point.

Now it is among 60 restaurants promising a carbon-free dining experience this week. Why? Because this is San Francisco, and chefs want to ensure that Gov. Jerry Brown’s global climate summit is fit for foodies, complete with esoteric menus worth a cameo on “Portlandia.”

But the movement is no joke. Food is fast emerging as one of the more intractable — and overlooked — climate problems. Hence Zero Foodprint week.

Read the story from the Los Angeles Times by Evan Halper - “Can climate-friendly cuisine help save the planet? Welcome to Zero Foodprint week.”

German cities to trial free public transport to cut pollution

“Car nation” Germany has surprised neighbours with a radical proposal to reduce road traffic by making public transport free, as Berlin scrambles to meet EU air pollution targets and avoid big fines.

Public transport is hugely popular in Germany, with 10.3
  billion journeys being made in 2017. A plan to trial free
public transport is part of an effort to reduce road traffic.

The move comes just over two years after Volkswagen’s devastating “dieselgate” emissions cheating scandal unleashed a wave of anger at the auto industry, a keystone of German prosperity.

“We are considering public transport free of charge in order to reduce the number of private cars,” three ministers including the environment minister, Barbara Hendricks, wrote to EU environment commissioner Karmenu Vella in the letter seen by AFP Tuesday.

Read the story by Philip Oltermann, and agencies, on The Guardian - “German cities to trial free public transport to cut pollution.”

Prof Sachs gives good advice, but sadly "no one" is listening

Prof Jeffery Sachs.

Professor Jeffrey Sachs is a man of good advice.

Sadly, those who should be listening, from Australia’s PM, Tony Abbott, down don’t appear to be listening.

Prof Sachs, who is presently in Australia, talks about his disillusionment with Australia’s behaviour in a story in today’s Age headed: “Abbott out of step on climate change, says Professor Jeffrey Sachs”.

The Professor said the Abbott-led coalition was surprised by the sharp reaction to its recent budget, and then added that Mr Abbott would be further surprised by global reaction to its climate policies.