reinventnow

In addition to making the yellow cab brigade entirely green within five years, the city will require all new vehicles entering the fleet after October 2008 to achieve a minimum of 25 miles per gallon. A year later, all new vehicles must get 30 miles per gallon and be hybrid. Bloomberg made the announcement on NBC’s “Today” show. (NYC’s taxi fleet going green by 2012 - Yahoo! News)

With their ban on trans fats last December, New York seems to be legislating a step-up in personal and global health consciousness.

Mayor Michael Bloomberg, who banned smoking in bars and restaurants during his first term, is somewhat health-obsessed, and even maintains a monthly weight-loss competition with one of his friends in order to stay slim. (New York City passes trans fat ban - Diet & Nutrition - MSNBC.com)

I’m on the hunt for examples where people and corporations make decisions for themselves on these issues. It’s too bad that the government has to step in to coerce the populace to make good decisions.

I still feel that the only way to make any significant change at a national or global level you have to change economics behind the decisions. New York City is legislating a change in the economics (by imposing fines on those who violate it), but what if there were clear and affordable choices that took us towards a more sustainable future?

How can we change the economics of consumption so that personal and global health is the easy choice?

technorati tags:hybrid, transfat, newyork, environment

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