by Laura E. Huggins Sedgwick, Maine, is the first town in the United States to pass a food sovereignty ordinance. The town officially declared their right to produce and sell local foods of their choosing, without the oversight of state or federal regulation. According to Grown in the City, “this ordinance allows buyer and seller toContinue reading “Declaring Food Sovereignty”
Author Archives: admin
Earth Hour: To See or Not to See?
Last Saturday night (March 26) was Earth Hour. A time that, presumably, billions of people turn out their lights to support energy conservation. Hilton Worldwide, among other hotels and businesses, claim to participate in this celebration. In its fifth year, Earth Hour was designed for people to show their support for sustainable actions. How couldContinue reading “Earth Hour: To See or Not to See?”
One Person CAN Make a Difference
by Laura E. Huggins Founder and president of Living Lands & Waters, Chad Pregracke, is proof that one person can make a difference. Chad told journalists at a PERC conference back in 2003 about his plans to clean up the cluttered Mississippi River. Turns out he’s doing it! Chad was recognized March 21 at the PointsContinue reading “One Person CAN Make a Difference”
PERC and Grist?
Yes, you read it right! Shawn Regan’s article, “Debunking myths about free-market environmentalism” appeared on Grist. If you missed his piece be sure to read it and comment!
Debunking myths about free-market environmentalism
Originally published at Grist. A recent post on Grist attempted to dismantle the intellectual foundations of free-market environmentalism — the application of markets and property rights to solve environmental problems. But far from toppling a burgeoning movement within modern environmentalism, it succeeded only in misrepresenting the subject. To recap: Clark Williams-Derry claimed that while free-marketContinue reading “Debunking myths about free-market environmentalism”
Debunking Myths about Free Market Environmentalism
As we work on today’s environmental problems, we’d do well to accept free market environmentalism into the broader environmental movement.
Terry Anderson lectures in Prague
Terry Anderson presents the annual Friedrich Wieser lecture at the Prague Conference on Political Economy 2011 to supporters of
the Austrian School of Economics and political economy of freedom.
Tough questions for free market environmentalism?
by Laura E. Huggins Last summer, PERC held a workshop on the tough questions for free market environmentalism (FME). The resulting discussions focused on FME’s strengths and potential limitations. Topics included local versus centralized control, possible free market solutions to climate change, and how liability and torts could be used as an incentive to preventContinue reading “Tough questions for free market environmentalism?”
Green-Washing Energy Efficiency
It is often believed, and in fact intended, that regulations requiring increased energy efficiency will reduce energy consumption. In reality, however, the opposite may be true. Look back to 1975, and the original Corporate Average Fuel Efficiency (CAFE) standards. The CAFE standards required increased fuel efficiency for cars from a fleet average of 18 milesContinue reading “Green-Washing Energy Efficiency”
Green-Washing Energy Efficiency
Regulations requiring greater fuel efficiency in cars create unintended consequences such as more driving and more energy use because of the car’s fuel efficiency.