In response to the latest International Panel on Climate Change report, the most alarming to date, a British environmental organization and publishing industry mouthpiece is promising “a 10% reduction in carbon footprint from 2006 levels by 2015,” reports the Guardian.
The target has been adopted by the industry’s Environmental Action Group (EAG), a panel set up earlier this year by the Booksellers Association and the Publishers Association which brings together high-level figures from Penguin, HarperCollins, Hachette, Random House and Faber.
That figure, however, is non-binding, and is perceived by Greenpeace spokesperson Andy Tait as merely paying lip service to the threat of global warming – not unlike our current government’s embrace of “aspirational goals” in reducing GHGs, come to think of it. Here are Tait’s comments:
Encouraging booksellers and publishers to reduce their carbon footprint by 10% is a positive gesture, but a much more serious impact would be made if the publishing industry insisted that the pulp and paper industry that supplies them cleans up its act. Energy efficiency, clean renewable energy and an end to using paper from ancient forests could transform the industry that supplies the raw materials for our books and magazines.
To put the news in context, the literary blog LitKicks has an interview with Raz Godelnik, CEO of an environmental organization that targets the U.S. publishing sector. Here, he summarizes the damning statistics brought up in the IPCC report:
Deforestation is a significant contributor to climate change. If you look at the last IPCC report that was published this month, you can see that it is responsible for 17.4% of GHG emissions. Only energy supply and industry contribute more….
The paper industry on all its uses (books, newspapers, catalogs, etc.) is a large consumer of the trees cut down worldwide. Just one example – 65% of the trees cut down in the Boreal Forest in Canada are used to make paper – 80% of it goes to U.S. consumers.
For its part, Q&Q is published on 100% Ancient Forest Friendly paper – and we’re not alone in Canada in having made that commitment.
For related reading from Q&Q passim on how the issue has played out in Canada, see below:
Everything’s going green
Greenpeace pushes publishers on paper use
Canadians in Frankfurt push for eco-friendly printing
[...] part of the U.K. publishing industry’s eco-kick, Dorling Kindersley has released a series of green books – greener than all those that have come [...]