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By Tony Dokoupil | NEWSWEEK
Published Aug 15, 2009
From the magazine issue dated Aug 31, 2009
 

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At least they are if you live in the Big Apple. A New Yorker leaves a smaller carbon footprint drinking a French Bordeaux shipped across the Atlantic (2.93 pounds of carbon per bottle) than drinking a Napa merlot (7.05 pounds). That's because when it comes to calculating carbon costs, the method of transportation matters as much as the distance. Shipping freight by sea generates less than half the emissions associated with airplanes and tractor-trailers.

NEXT: We Should Love Our Cars

© 2009

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Member Comments

  • Posted By: More Than A Hybrid @ 09/19/2009 1:42:15 AM

    I recently launched a website, www.morethanahybrid.org, to raise awareness on Global Warming. Please feel free to post a comment, become a fan on facebook and/or share with everyone you know. The People Who are Crazy Enough to Think They Can Change the World are the Ones Who Do.

  • Posted By: AaronEllis @ 08/28/2009 12:06:40 PM

    It is fascinating to learn that moving goods via water vs. over land is better for the environment. I would like to know the source of the comparison because it would be interesting to learn at what ratio of water distance over land distance do the environmetal benefits begin to wane? In other words, how much further can a bottle of wine travel by ship compared to train or truck before the carbon footprint between the water vs land modes become the same?

  • Posted By: earthorbitsthesun @ 08/20/2009 4:40:27 PM

    It's water ah-duh! This country needs to pull the proverbial head outta of the stank area; Reverse Osmosis is the best water 99.9% pure, even worse having only a healthy diet provides all the water, minerals and vitamins your body needs, except under heavy excursion and considering we are one of fattest Nation's on the planet not much of a problem here!

    I always get a laugh when I see someone drinking a designer, someone elses tap water!

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