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Culture and Technology

DESPITE GLOBALIZATION, COUNTRIES PROMOTE ENVIRONMENTAL INITIATIVES IN UNIQUE WAYS.  LEARN HOW CULTURE INFLUENCES ECO-ENDEAVORS ON TODAY’S ENVIRONMINUTE.

IN A RECENT ARTICLE IN THE JOURNAL POLICY SCIENCES, DAVID CALEF AND ROBERT GOBLE COMPARED EFFORTS BY FRANCE AND CALIFORNIA TO PROMOTE ZERO-EMISSION VEHICLES.  BOTH ENACTED LEGISLATION TO INCREASE THE NUMBER OF SUCH VEHICLES ON THE MARKET.  IN FRANCE, PUBLIC INPUT WAS MINIMAL.  BUT IN THE U-S, FINES WERE IMPOSED IF THE TARGETS WEREN’T MET, SO THE EFFORT WAS OPPOSED BY THE AUTO INDUSTRY AND DEBATED IN THE MEDIA.

NEITHER FRANCE NOR CALIFORNIA ENDED UP WITH MANY ELECTRIC CARS ON THE ROAD, BUT CALEF SAYS THE CALIFORNIA LAWS DID SPUR INVESTMENT IN THE DEVELOPMENT OF NEW BATTERY AND FUEL CELL TECHNOLOGIES.  IT’S AN OUTCOME HE ATTRIBUTES TO AMERICANS’ PUBLIC INTEREST AND THEIR FAITH IN TECHNOLOGY’S ABILITY TO SOLVE ENVIRONMENTAL PROBLEMS.

THE ENVIRONMINUTE IS MADE POSSIBLE BY THE HEINZ FAMILY PHILANTHROPIES AND THE HEINZ ENDOWMENTS.  LEARN MORE BY VISITING ENVIRONMINUTE-DOT-COM.     

Find out which cars, trucks, and SUVs will get you the most MPG at http://www.fueleconomy.gov/