Paris: It's A Start
COP 21 can produce a viable climate action plan, then it's up to governments, citizens & institutions to deliver the results & patience is a must
November 30, 2015
Paris: Good Intentions Won't Save Us
When it comes to effective climate action coming out of COP21, you know the old adage about good intentions...
Obama's COP21 Speech
President Obama's speech at the Paris climate summit
What Americans Want
Signing a binding climate treaty to limit GHG emissions is favored by 2/3 of Americans
Paris: Carbon Tax Shout-Out
32 bold-face names sign on to a call for a carbon tax at the Paris climate summit
A Mad, Bad Idea
Wrong On The Climate Facts
Misunderstandings about national security & El Nino, when it comes to climate change, clarified here
The Making Of A Climate Justice Activist
An interview with Wen Stephenson about his path to full-time climate activism & his new book What We're Fighting For Now Is Each Other
November 27, 2015
FEMA: Plan For Sea-Level Rise
Mapping sea level rise could become part of federal emergency management preparedness
India: No Fossil-Fuel Phase-Out
India would rejects any climate summit proposal to phase out fossil fuel burning by 2100
Domestic Climate Discord
“We believe you have a duty to acknowledge to negotiating nations at Paris 2015 that the centerpiece of the President's domestic CO2 reduction program is being challenged in court by a majority of States and will likely be struck down.” Patrick Morrisey, Attorney General of West Virginia, in letter to John Kerry, US Secretary of State
Latin America: Climate Action's Economic Benefits
Gains in Latin American economies make the case for the benefits of taking climate action
Barriers To An All Renewables World
If social & political blockages would melt, the world could be powered with 100% renewable energy by 2050
Oregon OK's New Energy Storage Rules
Battery storage ownership becomes an option for Oregon electric power utilities
November 25, 2015
How To De-Carbonize Investments
Learn about Portfolio Decarbonisation Coalition, which is shifting investments https://t.co/tFWA5K0HG3 #LPAA #COP21 pic.twitter.com/KUvoCGK6Vx
— UN Climate Action (@UNFCCC) November 25, 2015Peru v Germany
A Peruvian farmer sues a giant German utility, claiming its fossil fuel emissions endanger his family, livelihood & hometown
Paris: The Serious Comics
The fragile framework
#COP21 the Comic
https://t.co/uyIaHmnW1X #climatechange #comics #graphicnovel pic.twitter.com/BcnmTSN93E
— CECHR (@CECHR_UoD) November 25, 2015November 24, 2015
Speak Climate Better
Here are the latest market-tested words for selling climate action https://t.co/jcMLZfPh1j pic.twitter.com/gX58tLh8Ul
— grist (@grist) November 24, 2015The Hiatus That Wasn't
Think there was a pause in global warming starting 15 years ago? Think again
Explaining Persistent Climate Skepticism
Will you be surprised by this explanation of why many Americans are climate change doubters?
EU: Mind The Energy Revolving Door
The energy-industry-EU-energy-policy-making personnel revolving door ensures sustained focus on fossil fuel interests in a climate-challenged world
Portland: Resolved Against Fossil Fuel
A resolution calling on Portland, Oregon to oppose expansion of fossil fuel transit & storage facilities passes the City Council
Chicago: New Clean Tech For Old Building
Chicago's 85-year old Merchandise Mart keeps young by installing a money-saving energy storage battery
MTA: No Fare, No Way
The MTA nixes a free-shuttle bus proposal for service to La Guardia Airport that would cut car use
EfficienSEE
See the fuel & energy performance of your NYC apartment building
November 23, 2015
Voter Interest In Climate Action Rises
Maybe, just maybe commitment climate action could be a winning election strategy now
Grass Roots - Where The Action Is
True of false? Climate grass roots, not big green groups is where hope for big changes can be found
Prince: Syria War Linked To Climate Change
The UK's Prince Charles draws a connection between the war in Syria & regional climate change impacts
Legal Eagles: Public Trust And Climate Change
While upholding the 'public trust' doctrine for protecting natural resources, a Washington State court denies the climate claims of some atypical plaintiffs
GOP v GOP
The first head of the EPA (appointed by Richard Nixon), accuses presidential contenders Trump & Rubio of ignoring climate science for political gain
Why Numbers Count
Here's why passing the 400 ppm threshold for CO in our atmosphere matters to scientists
How To Keep Climate Hope Alive
By signing on to mechanisms that will compel carbon cuts after the delegates leave Paris, the climate summit will have done its job
50x30 in NY - Thou Shalt
NY's renewable energy goal, 50% by 2030, to become a requirement per Governor Cuomo
November 20, 2015
Power Grid At Risk
What are US power grid operators doing to secure this critical infrastructure from cyber attacks?
Portland: Bans New Gas Stations - NOT
Some news about the Portland, Oregon climate action plan is not fit to print
Heat Stress Kills
Death from chronic kidney disease of El Salvador sugarcane workers is tied to heat stress
US Climate Attitude Trends
A national survey finds Americans are talking to each other more about climate change
50 Nifty Climate Solutions
Australia: Wade Into Wave Power
Australia, the island continent, dips a toe into a wave energy microgrid
Hooray For The Millionth Tree
Looks like the millionth tree is ready to be planted pic.twitter.com/iRUpPv4pYF
— Eddie Small (@Eddie_Small) November 20, 2015Get Comfortable While Cutting Your Carbon Footprint
Here's how NYC apartment dwellers can be not to hot & not to cold while doing their bit for cutting the city's carbon footprint
November 19, 2015
Paris: The Forgotten Climate Goal
Will global temperature cap goals, of such importance to low-lying island nations, re-appear at the Paris climate meetings?
For Energy Efficiency/Flow Chart Fans
NREL @Supercomputing #SC15 - #energy efficient HPC in action. Live performance dashboard https://t.co/hoGd2WtL6P pic.twitter.com/wTza9qVl7Q
— NREL (@NREL) November 19, 2015Free In The Heart Of TX
Free nighttime electricity in Texas shows how the clean energy economy welcomes renewables & gives people more choice, convenience & control
Seattle: Reinvents The Sidewalk
Not only will formerly sidewalkless Seattle neighborhoods get their first ones, but they'll also be less costly to install
Solar Investors Are Big Losers
What up with plummeting solar stock values?
Something To Read When Pumping Gas
Gas pumps in North Vancouver, Canada will soon bear labels with climate warnings or climate action advice for drivers
UK: End Coal With Gas And N-Plants
Key to British government carbon-cutting policy is to end coal use by replacing it with natural gas- & nuclear-fueled power plants
Bonds For Carbon Capture
A bi-partisan Senate bill revives a 1970's bond scheme to finance carbon capture & storage projects
November 18, 2015
The Passive House Flip-Book
States Of Preparedness
State-by-state climate preparedness, ranked: https://t.co/XrcMPe82rx #StatesatRisk pic.twitter.com/Pd6VcCgm3H
— ClimateCentral (@ClimateCentral) November 18, 2015UK: There Goes The Sun
UK solar power providers predict collapse of the domestic market in 2016
Climate Research Grants Withheld In Iowa
Two climate science research grants worth $5.17 million are held up, possibly without authority, by an Iowa Utilities Board
GOP Ramps Up Fight With Gov't Scientists
The GOP Chair of the House Science, Space & Technology Committee accuses NOAA of "publicizing" his demand for the internal emails of agency scientists & officials.
Road To Paris: Negotiations Milestone
The world’s wealthiest countries agree to end export credits for the least efficient coal plant technologies, starting 01.01.17
Taking Climate Action - Not
While a majority of Americans believe in human-forced climate change, they are not shifting their consumer habits yet
Shrinking Snowpacks Imperil Drinking Water
As climate change shrinks snow-packs , the drinking water supply of 2 billion people in the northern hemisphere will threatened
Honor Mother Earth In Queens
Sadhana, a NYC-based Hindu group, promotes environmental awareness in Queens & clean up of it beaches and Jamaica Bay
November 14, 2015
In The Eco-Politics Arena
Making the green case for a Clinton Presidency, not everyone will agree
Black Lives Matter - Clean Air Needed
Air pollution is a stealth killer in black communities
November 13, 2015
Watch It Here
Welcome to #24HoursOfReality: The World is Watching. Join us at: https://t.co/aGdf7nwBgc pic.twitter.com/fVN5tgfNRC
— Al Gore (@algore) November 13, 2015Climate Change: No Safe Investors
Both in the short & long runno investment portfolios are safe from losses linked to climate change
Climate Threats To Exxon Investors
Damage to Exxon's coastal oil refineries threatened by climate change could be a big blow to the company's investors
India: Coal Imports Sicken
In Mumbai, India coal imports pose public health & environmental threats
Home Solar - Lower The Credit Threshold
A big solar panel company wants to lower the credit score homeowners need to qualify for its systems
Solar Power With Carbon Emissions
ICYMI, why California's utility-scale Ivanpah solar power plant uses natural gas and emits carbon dioxide
From Granite To Green
Can home energy retrofits be made as popular as kitchen remodeling?
Canada Ends Science Gag Order
Canada ends the restrictions imposed by the previous administration on its scientists' public communications
From Roofs To Streets - Combat The Heat
November 11, 2015
Saudi Arabia: Climate Action Plan
Energetic Energy Leadership
.@ENERGY's Kenderdine outlines nation’s energy priorities at #C3Ewomen: https://t.co/KCCiXIjd0H via @MIT News pic.twitter.com/QTnWS6OKNY
— MIT EnergyInitiative (@mitenergy) November 10, 2015Westside CB Sees Amsterdam Ave. Re-Do
Manhattan Community Board (CB) 7 warms to the City's Amsterdam Avenue redesign that would add a protected bike lane & pedestrian islands
Sun Not Causing Warming
Scientists explain why sunlight is not the current cause of a hotter planet
Methane Emissions: Global Climate Crisis
Making the case that leave-it-in-the-ground isn't the only solution to the global methane emissions crisis
Utilities Throw Shade On Solar
How some utilities undercut solar rooftop demand
Mainstreaming Renewables
Half the world's new power plants opened in 2014 use renewable sources
India: Huge Climate Challenges
Everyone recognizes India's immense climate risks & policy challenges, are there any solutions?
Put Exxon On Notice - Stop Bending Science
How does a corporation bend science and why NY's Exxon climate investigation could put a stop to it
November 10, 2015
The RECing Crew
Renewable Energy Certificates (REC's) are green gold, but what are they doing for renewable energy? (Note: 2007 publication, still relevant)
Our Newest Climate Milestones
U.S. data backs up @metoffice report that 2015 will meet/beat 1 deg C warming threshold https://t.co/DepZqfSZDC pic.twitter.com/mID7MXMT8B
— Andrew Freedman (@afreedma) November 9, 2015The Climate's Changed
What today's record CO2 levels mean for all our tomorrows
Why The GOP Can't Support a Carbon Tax
Spoiler alert, you won't be surprised, even given the fate of the planet
NJ: Off-Shore Wind Power Leases
Rights to develop 344,000 acres for wind power offshore of New Jersey are awarded to two companies
Greens Growl Over Clinton Endorsement
A wave of dismay rises over the League of Conservation endorsement of Clinton for President
November 09, 2015
Australia And China: Study South Pole Ice
Understanding how climate change impacts Antarctic sea ice is targeted by joint Australian and Chinese scientific research
An Urban Thought Experiment
Picture what major world cities would look like in a 2 or 4 degree C hotter world
Coal Plunges
2015, the year global coal consumption fell between 90 and 180 million tons - the largest drop on record
Electrifying Public Art
What happens when renewable energy meets public art?
See Sun Rising By 2016
Global solar PV demand will rise 65.5 gigawatts by 2016, predicts market research firm
Deep Retrofit On Roosevelt Island
How to succeed at an ambitious energy performance upgrade at a fully-occupied apartment building on Roosevelt Island
Understatnding Keystone Activism
Why it's so important to keep clear on the distinctions between climate grassroots activism & climate policy making
Big Coal Consents to Risk Disclosure
Peabody Energy enters into an agreement with NY Attorney General Schneiderman to disclose risks to investors posed by declining coal markets & carbon-constraining climate policies
Clinton Picks Up Big Green Endorsement
The League of Conservation Voters is set to endorse Clinton for President
November 06, 2015
Obama Nixes Canadian XL Pipeline
Help Wanted: RGGI Director of Program Implementation
The Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative, Inc. seeks to hire a Director of Program Implementation to be based in New York City. Full job description here
Exxon Knew
As a result of misrepresenting what it knew about climate science, Exxon may have harmed all of humanity
Vancouver: Gas Pump Warnings
Vancouver, Canada contemplates requiring gas station pumps to carry climate change warning labels
Renewable Energy To Double x 2030
The supply of renewable energy in eight major economies is predicted to double in 15 years
The Sunshine Revolution
China & the US are leaders in the solar power revolution that will change the way we use and pay for electricity
November 05, 2015
Weird Weather And Climate Change
Explaining 2014's weird weather events from a climate change perspective
Exxon Investigation Opened
The NY Attorney General opens an investigation into whether Exxon lied to the public about the risks of climate change or to investors about how those risks might hurt the oil business
Coal: Going, Going...
It's the economics that is undoing the coal industry
Exxon: We Didn't Mislead On Climate Science
Exxon's CEO denies that his company misled the public on what it knew about the science of climate change
Cities/States Defend Obama Climate Policy
Legal defense of the EPA Clean Power Plan already has over 2 dozen cities & states on board
Berkeley: GHG Reduction Assessment
First the good news, Berkeley, CA is rating its GHG-cutting efforts next the bad news, its far from meeting its targets
A Thought Experiment
Imagine a GOP thaw in its unwavering opposition to climate science & policy actions
November 04, 2015
Climate Science: Ozone Layer, Friend Of Climate Action
How the campaign to phase-out ozone-eatng substances helps mitigate climate change, but there's more to be done
Uppsala: Disinvestment Leader
Uppsala is the largest Swedish city, so far, to rid itself of fossil fuel investments
Stop Digging Up Fossils
BREAKING: Landmark #Climate Bill Would End New Federal Fossil Fuel Leases https://t.co/cr0ZZkgtHd @CenterForBioDiv pic.twitter.com/h2j0tOSWma
— EcoWatch (@EcoWatch) November 4, 2015Legal Eagles: Learning From The EU Energy Efficiency Experience
Seven types of recommendations for improving US building energy efficiency programs based on EU experience
Mixing Sun And Gas
What to make of the fact that California's giant Ivanpah solar power plant burns natural gas?
Goldman Sachs Ups Its Green Game
Goldman Sachs will increase its clean energy investments from $40 billion up to $150 billion over the coming decade
Climate Mitigation Unlikely, Climate Adaptation Necessary
If GHG emissions cuts are a distant prospect, then climate adaptation measures must be part of every nation's focus
November 03, 2015
Germany/England: Nuclear Futures
Compare & contrast the nuclear power paths of Germany and England
New Life Underground
Spotted at the Lowline Lab today: a newly hatched baby strawberry! Welcome, little guy. pic.twitter.com/2Gr2Z6dJny
— the Lowline (@lowlinenyc) November 3, 2015Japan: Solar Sales Slump
Japanese-made PV panel sales sag in 2015, in part due to a weak domestic market
China: Putting Numbers On Renewables
China's renewable energy investments & installed capacity numbers signal a way greener tomorrow
Gov Dismayed By Nuke Plant Shut Down
Governor Cuomo isn't happy about the announced closure of an upstate New York nuclear power plant
NY: Plan For Steep Sea Level Rise
New York makes it official by creating new rules to help coastal communities construct more resilient buildings in the face of sea level rises up to 6 feet over the coming 75 years
NRP Ombudsman: We Dropped The Ball On Exxon
Exxon's on-going role as a climate denier, despite the climate research by its own scientists, should have been covered by NPR says its own ombudsman
November 02, 2015
Australia: Fossil Fuel Friends, Business Foes
Under the climate-hostile Abbott administration, clean energy investments in Australia plunged 31%
A Potent Climate Action Tool
While many emotions are powerful, shame is special in its potential to change corporate & political climate conduct
Quote of The Day
"We have probed the earth, excavated it, burned it, ripped things from it, buried things in it, chopped down its forests, leveled its hills, muddied its waters, and dirtied its air. That does not fit my definition of a good tenant. If we were here on a month-to-month basis, we would have been evicted long ago." - Rose Bird, Former Chief Justice - California Supreme Court (1936-1999)