Sweden assumed the EU Presidency for a 6-month rotation July 1-Dec. 31, 2009. One of its goals is to push forward a carbon tax in addition to the EU’s current carbon trading program (See RRI's previous news item). During its Presidency, Sweden’s Environmental Protection Agency will be arranging expert meetings in all of the four environmental areas given priority in the preparations by its Ministry of the Environment: climate, marine environment, biodiversity and eco-efficient economy. More information on Sweden’s national green plan is available at RRI’s Green Plans in Action page.

Sweden has launched a program to help consumers make conscious choices about the impact of their food decisions on global warming, from farm to supermarket. Products with at least 25% greenhouse gas savings will be marked in each food category. The program is a joint initiative by the Federation of Swedish Farmers, two food labelling organizations and various dairy and meat co-ops. It will also create a monitoring system to measure and follow-up the achievements. Criteria for plant production, dairy and fish products were launched June 26 with other product categories to follow in October. Sweden’s Green Plan can be found at http://www.rri.org/greenplans_action.html

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
2009 River Warrior Awards Announced
San Francisco, CA
July 7, 2009

Contact: Elizabeth Baker, ebaker@rri.org

Thirty environmental groups and individuals received $1,000 River Warrior Awards in recognition of efforts to protect and conserve water quantity, water quality, and riparian and aquatic habitat in free-flowing rivers. Two-thirds of the 2009 awardees are based in California, with the remainder working to save rivers and fish in Washington, Oregon, Idaho, Colorado, West Virginia, Michigan, New Mexico, and Alaska.

The San Francisco-based nonprofit Resource Renewal Institute sponsors the award with the hope of encouraging the "valiant, resolute efforts in defending free flowing rivers and the wildlife that depends on them; and in acknowledgement of the commitment, hard work, and dedication of all who work for free flowing water."

River Warrior Award founder and former California Secretary of Resources, Huey Johnson, describes the winners: "motivated by half-crazy passion, River Warrior Awardees struggle in the best of years-never mind the added challenge of an economic downturn in a time of climate change."

There is consensus among fish advocates that salmon and steelhead face extinction within decades without change in water policy that address the effects of climate change.

Experts agree that environmental non-profit organizations will face dire challenges over the next year related to decreased and unpredictable fundraising and increasing need for services. River Warrior Award winner Coast Action Group's entire 2005 budget was $5,470. Its director, Alan Levine says, "CAG has been very effective working on a slim budget. We are hurting now."

The work of River Warrior Awardees shows that streamlined operations, political savvy, and use of volunteers can augment losses in funding.

Gila Conservation Coalition has been working for 25 years to stop dams and water diversions on one of the Southwest's last free-flowing perennial rivers. Water diversions in Arizona prevent the Gila from reaching the Colorado River, but New Mexico's portion that runs through the nation's first wilderness area supports threatened animals, human recreation, and guards against climate change impacts.

Cook Inletkeeper works in southern Alaska to safeguard a watershed that drains an area the size of Virginia. Founding Alaska's first citizen volunteer environmental and water quality monitoring programs, Cook Inletkeeper is creating a basis of support for renewable energy development, habitat protection, and climate change action in Alaska's most populous region.

Huey Johnson smiles as he reveals his inspiration for the awards. "Over a long career I've known many examples of little guys carrying on fierce fights to maintain remote rivers. It's about time they got some recognition."

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2009 River Warrior Awards include:

1. Salmon Protection and Watershed Network
2. California Water Impact Network
3. Yellow Dog Watershed Preserve
4. Smith River Alliance
5. Carmel River Steelhead Association
6. Mattole Restoration Council
7. Friends of the Eel River
8. Friends of the Navarro Watershed
9. Friends of Butte Creek
10. South Yuba River Citizen League
11. Tuolumne River Trust
12. Native Fish Society
13. Reed Burkholder
14. Ed Chaney
15. Friends of the River
16. Washington Rivers Conservancy
17. Coast Action Group
18. Battle Creek Watershed Conservancy
19. Russian River Watershed Protection Committee
20. Save the Wild Rogue
21. Watershed Research and Training Center
22. Sludge Safety Project
23. Colorado Water Trust
24. Roaring Fork Conservancy
25. Ballona Institute
26. College of Natural Resources, Utah State University
27. China Rivers Project
28. Gila Conservation Coalition
29. Cook Inletkeeper
30. Save Auburn Ravine Salmon and Steelhead

Sweden is developing a national policy to produce, distribute and use biogas as a vehicle fuel, targeting cars being fossil fuel-free by 2030. It will also give Swedish industry a boost internationally by kick-starting a large biogas technology sector, said the energy ministry: "We see it as a business opportunity as well." Although the focus is on biogas as a transport fuel, Sweden plans on other biogas uses, e.g., a potentially cheap source of energy for industry. May 2010 is the deadline for determining what legislation is required to implement the policy. "The ambition is that as soon as we have the strategy in place we should start working with it," said the ministry. The agriculture ministry has already funded pilot projects to produce biogas from animal waste. For more on Sweden’s Green Plan go to http://www.rri.org/greenplans_action.html

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Huey Johnson Receives Prestigious Conservation Award
San Francisco, CA
July 9, 2009
Contact: L. Axelrod, lynnl@rri.org

Huey Johnson has been selected as a 2009 recipient of the Cornelius Amory Pugsley Medal, the most prestigious award given in the parks and conservation field. The award 'recognizes the lifetime of extraordinary contributions you have provided to parks and conservation through your work with The Nature Conservancy, The Trust for Public Land, the State of California, and the Resource Renewal Institute. [ ] The list of recipients represents an historical honor roll of the field`s leaders.'

The criteria for selection are that:

1. They have preserved, enhanced, or created park values which significantly enriched the lives of people.
2. They reflect originality, intelligent selectivity, courageous decision and actions, dedication to the public weal, sensitivity to the feelings and interests of all concerned, and a sound philosophy of public service.
3. They significantly developed or refined techniques, which will advance the effectiveness of park programs.
4. Their recognition by conferring the award will give encouragement and inspiration to others.

Previous honorees begin with Stephen Mather, the first recipient in 1928, and include Mary Averell Harriman, Horace Albright, John McLaren, Robert Moses, Harold Ickes, Frederick L. Olmstead, Jr., Gilbert Grosvenor, Alfred A. Knopf, Brian O`Neill, Laurance S. Rockefeller, Claudia (Lady Bird) Johnson, L.W. 'Bill' Lane, Jr., Bruce Babbitt, and Stuart Udall.

The award notice quotes Wallace Stegner. 'National Parks are the best idea we ever had. Absolutely American, absolutely democratic, they reflect us at our best.'

The awards are made through the National Park Foundation, chartered by Congress in 1967, and the American Academy of Park and Recreation Administration, whose mission includes promoting broader public understanding of the importance of parks and recreation to the public good. The medals originally were given through the American Scenic and Historic Preservation Society, founded in 1895.

Mr. Johnson`s many previous honors include the 2001 United Nations Sasakawa Award, given annually to one individual for contributions to international conservation, and the 1996 President`s Award for Sustainable Development. In addition to the above entities, Mr. Johnson also founded Green Belt Movement International, the Aldo Leopold Society, Defense of Place, the Grand Canyon Trust, and the Environmental Liaison Center in Nairobi, Kenya.

The awards ceremony will take place October 15 in Salt Lake City.

Read Huey Johnson's defense of Point Reyes National Seashore from private profit at http://tiny.cc/d0cu9.

France, whose Green Plan is known as La Grenelle, is about to become a major solar player, as part of its renewable energy policy. It is partnering with American solar panel manufacturer First Solar to build a plant that will provide an initial 100 megawatt capacity and employ more than 300 people by end-2011.