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Disney announces ambitious 'green' environment goals for its theme parks

By Robert Niles
Published: March 9, 2009 at 11:04 AM
Disney today announced a plan to do its part to fight made-made global warming, by reducing greenhouse gas emissions from the company's properties by 50 percent over the next five years, with the long-range goal of eliminating them entirely.

Disney also seeks to reduce its use of electricity by 10 percent over the next five years. The goals are included in Disney's annual corporate responsibility report, released today in advance of the company's annual shareholder's meeting. Here is the Orlando Sentinel's write-up, too.

The bulk of Disney's greenhouse emissions and electrical use comes from its theme parks, both the Walt Disney World parks in Orlando and Disneyland parks in Southern California. A greener Magic Kingdom would help make the rest of the world a happier place, of course, but not if Disney achieves its environmental goals through having that many fewer people visit its parks.

Readers' Opinions

From Anthony Murphy on March 9, 2009 at 1:29 PM
With the creation of Disney Nature, they are starting to really try hard now. I think its a great thing!
From Derek Potter on March 9, 2009 at 2:35 PM
I'm all for conserving energy for the sake of not being wasteful and for saving money. I don't put a lot of stock into the whole "green" initiative, or the motivation of the people behind it. I like nature, and I do think that global warming exists, but I don't buy the concept that human beings are as responsible as "they" (whoever that is) say we are for the latest warming trend, and I don't buy the notion that we are saving the planet by "going green". It's all about the money guys...it always has been and it always will be. It isn't about global warming, endangered species, or preventing future catastrophe. When the corporations and/or the government (the same government that got us into this mess) are behind it, it's about money and control.

What I do buy into is that we waste endless amounts of the energy that we do have, and that we could invent even more efficient ways to use less energy. Disney is one of those companies capable of making a difference by leading the way in the industry and being an example. It's great that they get the good headlines by "going green", but if anything, do it to help your bottom line and because your mother taught, or should have taught you, to only use as much as you really need.

Sorry for the rant everyone. I will now step down from the soapbox. Disney can really help themselves by doing this. The money they will save by being mindful of consumption will be huge. It's not always a cheap investment initially, but it always pays off down the road.

From Anthony Murphy on March 9, 2009 at 4:08 PM
I kinda believe the opposite, but I was brainwashed by those "liberal biological atheists!" :)


Anyway, it is an intersting thought for all theme parks to ponder. I can only imagine the amount of energy and money is burned every hour by air conditioning in that hot weather. I mean I can only think of Innoventions and its blasting air with those automatic doors that open and close 80 times a minute!

From Brandon Mendoza on March 9, 2009 at 9:44 PM
Besides the amount of air conditioning used everyday, I can see something being done about things like the Autopia... not really futuristic to be using fossil fuels... Leave those to real cars. It's Disney, I'm sure they can simulate real cars when Carsland or whatever it'll be called opens.
From Joshua Counsil on March 11, 2009 at 3:43 PM
I'm with ya, Derek. I'm really sick of these announced green iniatives for that very reason. It's what's "in" right now.

If they are doing it for legitimate reasons and not for promotional consideration, then good for them.

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