When President Obama flew to Copenhagen in Air Force One this week for the U.N. global climate change talks, he had to harm the world before he could try to save the world.
The U.N. estimated 40,500 tons of carbon dioxide were pumped into the atmosphere during the 12-day conference — 90 percent of it from flights. The rest came from waste and electricity related to transport to and from the conference center and lodging in and around the Danish city, The Associated Press reports.
The big-picture issue of a global warming agreement takes precedence over gaudy carbon footprint, of course, but the irony is too stark to ignore. Here are some more eco nuggets from the conference.
— Most of the leaders were flying either on commercial airlines or government-owned jets, and Sweden was one of the few to announce plans to offset those aviation emissions — something it does routinely.
– President Obama traveled on Air Force One, French President Nicolas Sarkozy in his special Airbus and Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva on a presidential jet nicknamed “Aerolula.”
– Organizers from the Danish government said they reduced emissions 20 percent through a number of energy efficiency measures, promoted public transport, encouraged hotels to provide environmentally certified rooms and installed efficient lighting in the conference center.
– Norway’s Prime Minister, Jens Stoltenberg was criticized at home for deciding to take a private jet from Oslo to Copenhagen rather than one of the 17 shuttles that daily make the hour-long run between the two Scandinavian capitals.
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48%
The percentage of office workers who say they plan to give co-workers holiday gifts this year, according to a recent survey sponsored by staffing service OfficeTeam, The Associated Press reported.
36%
The percentage who expect a gift in return.
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