It wasn't all bad
In 1996, the city of Vaxjo, Sweden, resolved to wean itself off fossil fuels. Today, its greenhouse gas emissions are down 30 percent and Vaxjo is on track to cut them 50 percent by 2010. Most of the reduction has been achieved by replacing oil with wood chips at the main heating and power plant; the ashes are dumped in the forest as nutrients. “People used to ask, ‘Isn’t it better to do this at a national or international level?’” said Henrik Johansson, Vaxjo’s environmental controller. “We want to show everyone else that you can accomplish a lot on a local level.”
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.
Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
-
Gavin Newsom mulls California redistricting to counter Texas gerrymanderingTALKING POINTS A controversial plan has become a major flashpoint among Democrats struggling for traction in the Trump era
-
6 perfect gifts for travel loversThe Week Recommends The best trip is the one that lives on and on
-
How can you get the maximum Social Security retirement benefit?the explainer These steps can help boost the Social Security amount you receive
