I have to admit to a fascination with the current US election campaigns.  As the world's largest economy, we all have a stake in what happens on the 4th November 2008.  Sadly, news this week has put further weight behind my personal fear that economic difficulties will shunt environmental issues to the sidelines.

"Clinton pushes gas tax holiday"

Widely reported this week (here) is the curious concept of a tax holiday.  I cannot help but observe that in the UK a gallon of petrol is fast approaching £5 - that's $10.  In the US the average seems to be around $3.50!  This really proves my point, incomes in Europe and the US aren't too different, yet we Europeans cope with higher petrol prices.  How?  It is clear to me that in the US they are stuck in a vicious circle.  They have got away with having huge, inefficient cars for decades, but now the cost of that inefficiency is beginning to be felt where it hurts.

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I'm making a point of staying out of non-environmental issues on this blog.  But when the collision is so close, I can't help but comment.  This morning I heard about a knock-on effect of the closure of power stations in the Gaza strip.

Untreated Sewage

The reporter spoke from a beach next to an outlet pipe from a sewage plant.  Under normal conditions, the plant would treat the sewage before ejecting it - whether this is acceptable is another question!  The reporter made a point of highlighting the look - a grey discolouration in the water - and the smell - overpowering and evident.  Further unfortunate and telling evidence of our priorities as a race.  

On this evidence, it seems we still cannot rise above our differences and tackle the collective threat.  I still believe, though, that the environment can be a unifying issue.  It is still one of the few areas where the global incentive is the same, whatever country you belong to.

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Check out yesterday's report on You and Yours (audio).  A planning application for wind turbines in the Humber Gateway has recently been objected to by the Ministry of Defence because it may interfere with a radar installation.  A text report here.

Huh?

So the Ministry of Defence cannot handle interference from stationary, permanent objects?  How can they not be able to find a technical solution to this?  Surely the problem has been encountered before?  What do they do about other similar objects - surely trees are often similar in size and shape and even move in the wind.

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Well, well, well.  Eco-towns!

The first barrier to jump is of course "eco".  Firstly, what is "eco"?  Secondly, how can this standard be achieved?  Then you've got to ask the question - would the homes be built anyway - eco or not?  Then you have to consider why the homes are being built.  Finally, you come to the question why are they branded as "eco".

What is Eco?

No answers here I'm afraid.  Perhaps "eco" is in the eye of the beholder.  Whatever it is, there is an implication of sustainability, environmental benefit and quality.   To say the least, it is - or it should be - a high bar to reach.

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The Age of Sustainability?

It occurred to me this morning, listening to the news, that the agenda is increasingly being defined by environmental considerations. Today, we have a new terminal opened at Heathrow, hammering home the juxtaposition that so many politicians hold over the environment and aviation.

Meanwhile EU leaders agreed at least in principle to cut emissions from 1990 levels by 20% by 2020. And our leader Gordon's efforts to cut the rate of VAT on Energy Saving Lightbulbs seemed to be making inroads, against expectations.

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