The Guardian has launched a new column called "Greenwash" which attempts to expose the shoddy eco claims of organisations perceived to be jumping on a bandwagon rather than actually cutting the wagon's CO2 emissions. In principle, this sounds like a great idea - shame companies into ensuring they can support their protestations of a damascene conversion to the merits of green living. We hope that some of the blatantly untrue claims are revealed for what they are and that those companies are forced to change their ways.
However, I have a couple of concerns about this initiative; firstly, is it possibly too harsh on companies trying to make a genuine difference? Those who may be over-emphasising their own ethical credentials, but actually are a better choice than the alternative? The Guardian piece quotes Virgin Trains' claim to have 76% lower emissions than planes or cars. Now, this is clearly a very vague statistic masquerading as a very specific one. However, who could really dispute that taking a modern train journey across the country is a better option than driving or flying? So what if this figure isn't really meaningful? Surely, if it encourages green-minded people to take the train rather than driving to the airport (then taking a plane, then driving to the actual destination city), then we all benefit.
Secondly, is now a great time to be scratching too hard at the fashion for green promotion? In a recession, there is a genuine possibility that the green initiatives will be the first to go - seen as surplus to requirements when basic provision of goods and services takes over. This is not to say that companies should be allowed to hoodwink us, and I support the Guardian in exposing bare-faced eco-lies, but how about not kicking too hard, in case the whole idea breaks?
Maybe all of this doubt and tiptoeing is just because I am getting very nervous as the US election approaches and the whole future of the world seems to be balancing on a knife-edge. I have found myself wishing that it was like a UK election where you could sit up all night and watch the drama unfold. Sadly, it seems likely that this election might not be fully decided until challenge after challenge is heard in various courts across the nation. And we all remember what happened in the same circumstances in 2000.
It's not easy being green.