DNCC Announces “Green Delegate Challenge”
I just received a press release from the Democratic National Convention Committee about their initiative to encourage delegates to commit to offsetting their carbon footprint at the convention in August. This is the first of several announcements to come around Earth Day 2008. From the press release:
As part of the challenge, delegations with the highest percentage of members offsetting their carbon will be recognized in their seating section on the floor of the Pepsi Center during the Convention. Each delegate, alternate and super delegate from that state will also receive a limited edition “green” prize to be announced at a later date. Progress will be tracked on DemConvention.com, with the winning state or states recognized on the website in August. Any delegate who offsets their travel will receive a unique wearable “green item” for Convention week, available only to these delegates, and be recognized individually on DemConvention.com.
“Colorado is going green in ways both large and small, and I’m proud to be a part of the effort to provide Colorado citizens and Convention delegates alike the opportunity to offset our carbon footprint,” said Governor Ritter. “Between the delegate challenge and its comprehensive greening initiatives, the Democratic National Convention can make an important contribution to our New Energy Economy.”
“All of us involved in organizing the Convention have pledged to make it the greenest in history, and we are well on our way,” said Mayor Hickenlooper. “The Green Delegate Challenge is a perfect tool to increase awareness of how carbon offsets can help us reduce our impact on the environment. In addition, this competition gives Convention delegates a fun way to lead by example.”
“The 2008 Democratic Convention in Denver will be historic and will reflect the spirit of the Rocky Mountain West,” said Rep. DeGette. “The ‘greening’ initiatives of the Convention are a trademark of the innovation and prosperity Democrats will offer America. While we will leave our mark on Denver in nominating the next President of the United States, we will do so by reducing our carbon footprint.”
Carbonfund.org has some good carbon footprint offset suggestions.
While I’m glad to see attention paid to the issue of global warming, I can’t help but think that one very large way to stop contributing to it would be to end the war in Iraq and start putting some national resources toward reducing our national carbon footprint. Just sayin’.
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