BBC Failing on Environmental Performance
by Sami Grover, Carrboro, NC, USA on 02.16.07
As a rule, Treehugger likes the BBC. It’s been a good source of environmental stories for us, and their reporting tends to be relatively accurate and unsensational. We were disappointed then to hear from the Guardian, another Treehugger favorite, that the BBC are failing on their own environmental performance. Apparently, according to the BBC’s own figures, carbon emissions went up last year, from 0.15 tonnes per broad cast hour, to 0.25 tonnes. Total waste per employee also rose from 250kg to just under 300kg. There are figures on the inside calling for change, however. Jeremy Paxman, one of the BBC’s star presenters, recently attacked the corporation for its ‘laughable’ environmental policies. We aren’t saying we won’t report on BBC stories in future, but it would certainly be nice to see them walking their talk. :: BBC :: The Guardian
Amazing, A site about green issues in America commenting on a Great British institution that has done more good for the environment than treehugger can do in a lifetime.
I would wager that you at treehugger aren't even capable of telling us your carbon emissions or weight of waste per employee? If so I would love to see how the Great New Yorkers (the most polluted place I have ever been) perform......
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Authors response:
Thanks for the comment Martin, though I am not sure what you'd have us do. Because much, but by no means all, of our content is North America focused, this means we can't report on issues in the UK? Because the BBC has some very, very good environmental reporting, which we acknowledge fully, it does not also have a responsibility to reduce its own emissions?
For an interesting post on New York's pluses and minuses, ecologically speaking, check out:
http://www.treehugger.com/files/2006/10/new_york_city_waste.php
Treehugger is not, and does not claim to be, the BBC. We have very different roles. However, I agree it would be interesting to do an energy/waste audit of Treehugger, though we don't quite have the resources of the BBC when it comes to hiring consultants. Maybe one day... In the meantime, I know that my Treehugger work involves very little travel, no commuting, is done on an energy efficient computer under a compact-flourescent bulb, sometimes listening to a hand-cranked radio and it rarely, if ever, involves any printing. This is a good start I think.
Thanks Editor, Great to hear you are keeping it Green in NYC.
Sounds like you work in a Victorian factory :-)
Keep up the good work.
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Authors note:
Thanks Martin, though I'm no editor, just the humble author.
And yeah, kind of like a Victorian factory, with added high-speed broadband... and a never-ending supply of organic fairtrade chocolate (which I haven't yet calculated the emissions or waste from). ;-)