Can Obama's Inauguration Be Green?

With the inauguration of President-Elect Barack Obama just over a week away, inauguration and party planners in Washington, D.C., are doing what they can to reduce the carbon footprint of what will probably be the grandest event of 2009. The weekend will include two Green Inaugural Balls, one featuring a green carpet made from recycled rug, the other playing host to our most eco-friendly icon of all — Al Gore.

Planners are recycling a float from one of the Reagan inaugurations, saving all that cardboard and chicken wire. The Environmental Protection Agency has even provided a liaison to the Presidential Inauguration Committee who is advising the event planners on best practices.

While people are viewing these efforts as a positive symbol towards the new administration's commitment to going green, critics are saying that the inauguration will still carry a heavy carbon footprint regardless of its eco-friendliness. Given the thousands of revelers flying and driving into the Washington area, these soothsayers may not be that far off the mark.

The scale of the inauguration begs the question about the viability of large-scale, environmentally unfriendly traditions in our new, environmentally aware age. Perhaps we should consider holding a "virtual" inauguration where we utilize technology such as streaming video to include more citizens in the celebration while minimizing the footprint involved with travel? What do you think? You can read more about the green inauguration here. Via Los Angeles Times.