DNC carbon challenge: getting anyone interested

The DNC is worried because hardly any state convention delegations are participating in its carbon credit challenge:

Just three of 50 state delegations have committed all their delegates to being "carbon-neutral" during their stay at the Democratic National Convention, a fact that has green planners wringing their hands over how to get more states signed up, faster. . . .

On a DNC map [my linkie] that tracks state participation, large chunks of real estate remain starkly white, nearly three months after the party announced the initiative. Those states that are 100 percent committed are coded dark green, and those that are partly participating, are pale green.

When the D-blog reported on this nearly two (2) weeks ago, only California was "coded" dark green. Now Nevada and Vermont can be added to the list of dorkiest states.

Colorado, the host state with 70 delegates, is among those that remain white on the map. . . .

The DNC's director of greening, Andrea ["Hotsie-Totsie"] Robinson, estimates that each delegate's trip to Denver will generate roughly 1 ton of carbon. About 5,000 delegates will attend.

She hopes to make a strong pitch to state party executives when they gather in Denver this weekend for more convention planning.

"For some of them, it's not that tangible yet," she said.

Republicans mock:

The Republican Party has no similar program under way for the Minneapolis-St. Paul convention and labeled the Democratic call for purchasing carbon offsets "elitist" and "out-of- touch."

"The GOP convention is implementing numerous conscientious and realistic environmentally friendly initiatives," said spokeswoman Joanna Burgos. "After all, the Republican Party is the party of Teddy Roosevelt and many other notable environmentalists."

(I could have kept going.)

Taylor Bates, an 18-year-old Democratic delegate from Vermont, opted to fund the full cost of his state's delegate challenge - about $200 - because, he said, the donations go to the fight against global warming.

That's the kind of money we're talking. Even California's credits probably cost less than $500. Tells you how deep the concern goes. The kid still believes, anyway:

"The challenge hits at the heart of the problem. It funds enterprises that can make this world a greener place. It's going to wind turbines and organic farms. I don't see how that's elitist," he said.

Bates said he plans to raise the money to cover the carbon offset costs by selling memorabilia from the convention.

"I can find the money somehow," he said.

Stupid kid.