What Climate Change Hath Wrought
Weird weather in 2017 was made weirder by climate change + how we know that
December 29, 2017
Gaming Google
Reading: How Climate Change Deniers Rise to the Top in Google Searches by @HirokoTabuchi https://t.co/hCJ1XUMjho
— Lisa Friedman (@LFFriedman) December 29, 2017
Subway Lessons
4 takeaways from 2017 about how the NYC subway system works (or doesn't) + hopes for a better 2018
December 28, 2017
Air Pollution Targets The Old
Fine particle air pollution poses added mortality risks for the elderly
December 27, 2017
Today's News Could Be Tomorrow's SOP
Windy holidays in Germany, and a few hours of sun caused a 74% renewable power peak at noon yesterday. Wind 51%, fossil 14%, nuclear 12% at that moment. pic.twitter.com/4n9dTRsRwP
— Kees van der Leun (@Sustainable2050) December 27, 2017
Year End History Lesson
"Just the other day, I was in my neighborhood Starbucks, waiting for the post office to open. I was enjoying a chocolatey cafe mocha when it occurred to me that to drink a mocha is to gulp down the entire history of the New World. From the Spanish exportation of Aztec cacao, and the Dutch invention of the chemical process for making cocoa, on down to the capitalist empire of Hershey, PA, and the lifestyle marketing of Seattle's Starbucks, the modern mocha is a bittersweet concoction of imperialism, genocide, invention, and consumerism served with whipped cream on top. No wonder it costs so much." Sarah Vowell, author/ journalist
Kids, Lead Paint, NYCHA
What NYCHA knew, what NYCHA did
Sustainability: Ideas of Note In 2017
5 intriguing ideas from 2017 that hold sustainability promise for the New Year
New Year's Wish: Keep Energy Star Safe
"Why mess with a program that is helping consumers, saving energy, improving air quality, & creating jobs?” https://t.co/sOQJWZzEwN
— Yale Environment 360 (@YaleE360) December 27, 2017
States Step In When Feds Don't
NY + seven other states sue the EPA over inaction on interstate air pollution
December 26, 2017
Climate Change Under The Sea
The oceans are buffering climate change on land, but at a price
Green For Harlem Greenway
The city will provide $101 million for developing a greenway in East Harlem
RIP's In 2017
Solar + nuke businesses that died this year
Fossil Packaging Boom
Great. When you can't sell oil for cars anymore, just make more polluting plastic. Shame. $180bn investment in plastic factories feeds global packaging binge https://t.co/m5TbgPOjeL
— Victoria Harmon (@vicharmonnyc) December 26, 2017
Listening Outside Your Box
Intergenerational families try to talk about what's bringing changes to the dog racing sport they love
Germany: When Energy Costs Less Than Nothing
Are episodic negative prices for German renewable energy the best bet?
December 22, 2017
MD's And Scientists Sue EPA
A new law suit challenges removal of EPA science advisors, calling it illegal because it is arbitrarily biased in favor of polluting industries
Miami: Resilience For The Rich
Ultra-luxury towers in Miami are being designed with climate resilience in mind
Irreparable Damage To EPA
Under the current administration, over 700 EPA officials + experts have called it quits
December 21, 2017
Energy Efficiency Market Failure
Is NY making a mistake in relying on market forces rather than policies to advance its energy efficiency goals?
Jakarta: Seas Rising, City Sinking
For a city of some 30 million, climate change adds to other perils facing Jakarta
Passive Houser Grows UP
High rise Passive House buildings become more common + NYC works on policies to accelerate this growth
December 20, 2017
No Way To Run A Subway System
If you ride the NYC subway, you'll experience the consequences of endless maintenance cuts + other decisions that didn't help
DOE Manufactures A Crisis
Reality demands we distinguish problems in the electric power grid as it faces real world energy changes from the 'crisis' claimed by DOE chief Rick Perry
Holiday Tips
Worried about those tricky family conversations about climate change (etc.) over the holidays? @KHayhoe and I have you covered: https://t.co/DrqviBRV6m
— Jacquelyn Gill (@JacquelynGill) December 19, 2017
NY Grid Innovator Takes On Australia
Audrey Zibelman, former head of NY's Public Service Commissioner and REV champion, now expanding renewable energy in Australia
Cities Can Be Rock Stars...
...or they can be test sites for innovative climate solutions
December 19, 2017
Court Limits Gov's GHG Control Power
Refineries, fuel distributors +other major industrial emitters cannot be compelled to cap + cut GHG emissions rules a Washington State court
Shenzen: 100 x 17
The Chinese city of Shenzhen commits to a 100% electric-powered bus fleet by 2017
Lithium Could Be The New Oil
When will electric vehicles overtake the market for fossil-fuel powered ones?
China: Carbon Market In The Works
A nationwide carbon emissions trading market will start up in China, details still to come
Buildings That Made The Grade
The NYC Council votes on a bill requiring letter grade postings for building energy efficiency performance. RESULTS HERE
December 18, 2017
Carbon Tax: RIP For Now
In today's Congressional climate, a federal carbon tax had no chance, instead, clumsy + costly subsidies ruled
Great Green Go-Sees In NYC
An Energy Vision For Puerto Rico
Renewables + distributed energy resources are central to a proposal for rebuilding the Puerto Rican electric power system
Climate's Not A Threat For POTUS
In Trump's first US Security Strategy update, any mention of climate change as a threat to the nation is MIA
2017: 2nd Hottest
GISTEMP 2017 annual mean will almost certainly (>98%) be the second warmest on record. pic.twitter.com/BcSNtiPT2F
— Gavin Schmidt (@ClimateOfGavin) December 18, 2017
December 15, 2017
Help Wanted: Climate And Energy Program Director
Friends of Earth is hiring a Climate + Energy Program Director responsible for the overall performance of projects undertaken by your team. You will develop strategy, provide direction + supervision to staff, as well develop funding for program campaigns
Finance Shifts On Fossil Fuels
Major global financial interests start to disinvest from fossil fuels
Climate Refugee Destinations
As rising sea levels threaten US coastal population centers, where are people going to move?
Making The Bronx Resilient
Lots of moving parts in planning a Hunts Point resilience project, here's an outreach team webinar
December 14, 2017
Feel The Burn
Extreme heat in 2016 was powered by human-induced climate change + would not have occurred under 'normal' conditions
Mapping Climate Politics
Changing Republican views on climate disruption, mapped state-by-state-Congressional-district scale. Dig into the data
December 13, 2017
NY Role In Reinventing Puerto Rico's Power Supply
1/ Wrote a story today about the new $17 billion plan to rebuild the Puerto Rico grid. https://t.co/fk4Br4FSxd Here’s some extra insights.
— David Ferris (@DavidFerris) December 12, 2017
Climate Role In Hurricane Harvey
Scientists link the torrential rain dumped on Houston by Hurricane Harvey to climate change
December 12, 2017
UK: Climate Action Is 'Moral Imperative'
British Prime Minister May raises climate action higher on the Tory agenda
Climate Change: Wind Power Disruptor
Research predicts that a warming Arctic will slow down winds + reduce wind power, but that won't happen in the Souther Hemisphere
The Problem Of The Permanent Permit
What's the solution to California's carbon cap + trade law loophole that sold non-expiring permits to pollute?
Los Angeles: The Climate's Changed
Climate disruption isn't in the future for Los Angeles, it's now
CA And WA Hold Promise For PR
Leading edge renewable power tech research coming from politically liberal California + Washington State could help create a resilient electricity supply in Puerto Rico
How Consumers Pay Bigly For Zero Electricity
December 11, 2017
VT Works On A Carbon Tax
Will Vermont vote to raise gas + fuel taxes + rebate the proceeds to cut electric utility bills?
Australia: GHG's Break Records
Despite wind power gains, overall Australian GHG emissions at new highs
$50 Million For Climate Action
Microsoft will invest $50 million to expand cloud services + other resources for groups working on climate change + enviro tech
State-By-State Fossil Fueled Energy
most states cutting pollution, but not all. not all. climate change is a regional issue in the US https://t.co/CNRQunStVW pic.twitter.com/CyqgufxO4q
— David Biello (@dbiello) December 11, 2017
Reviving Puerto Rico's Power Supply
Can the lessons NY learned from Superstorm Sandy help Puerto Rico restore + replace its electric power supply downed by Hurricane Maria?
Curb Your BECCS Enthusiasm
Here's why BECCS, a speculative climate capture + storage technology based on burning crops for energy, isn't likely to save us
Get Cooler: Block-By-Block
Los Angeles, San Francisco + Palo Alto pilot a block by block citizen-engaging climate action project
December 08, 2017
Climate Message From 44 - Yes We Can
4 opportunities for U.S. states, cities and businesses to step up for #AmericasPledge https://t.co/brcqiavysJ #actonclimate #climateaction #StepUp2018 #ParisAgreement pic.twitter.com/8qQ0SGt4pY
— World Resources Inst (@WorldResources) December 7, 2017
Build Better Bike Lanes
Design guidelines for inclusive bike mobility plans
Climate Risk Disclosure Now
BlackRock, world' biggest asset manager, urges 120 corporations to disclose the climate risks built into their business operations
Pennies From Heaven
Just in case money doesn't fall from the sky to finance mass transit, congestion pricing or taxes are our choices. So, what's congestion pricing?
Obituary: Perry Wallace
Environmental lawyer at the Justice Department + one of the first basketball players to integrate a southern college team, Perry Wallace dies at 69
December 07, 2017
There's Still No Planet B
This classic "Blue Marble" photograph of the Earth was taken 45 years ago today, on December 7, 1972, by the crew of Apollo 17. https://t.co/0tO5zHEofr #bluemarble pic.twitter.com/4qwozp20gC
— NASA Earth (@NASAEarth) December 7, 2017
Tracking Gov's Green Promises
While the list of Governor Cuomo's environmental promises is long, has he fulfilled them?
We Are All California
When it come to climate change harms your state or territory could be next
Light Up The Night With Solar
NYC to dump its dirty diesel special events/public safety lighting + replace it with 530 solar-powered towers
Help Wanted: Deputy Director
The NYC Environmental Justice Alliance seeks a Deputy Director for designing + managing the deployment of NYC-EJA’s advocacy work
Dire Climate Predictions Most Probable Ones
Alarmed by the headline? Read the story
December 06, 2017
Getting To Decongestion
Folks in cities with congestion pricing like it, but getting to yes means electeds must take some heat
London: Can't Outrun The Air Pollution
For older London residents air pollution cancels out the health benefits of exercise
EU: Carbon Still Getting Out Of Jail Free
Most of the carbon credits entering the EU Emissions Trading System are (still) handed out for freehttps://t.co/o3tPoxAw7Q pic.twitter.com/jCJwDVU4qK
— Simon Evans (@DrSimEvans) December 6, 2017
Climate Skeptics: Relaxed About Risk
3 big errors made by climate change skeptics
Miami Developers On Climate Change Risk
California Burning
Why has 2017 been such a bad year for California wildfires?
2017 Retrospective
December 05, 2017
Breathe Easier, Soon
.@MayorofLondon in partnership with #C40 will trial a major new £750,000 cutting-edge street-by-street sensor air quality monitoring system which will be used to analyze harmful pollution in up to 1,000 toxic hot spots across the city. https://t.co/3TsaVz7Ytm #Cities4Air pic.twitter.com/pjnnVgaZQG
— C40 Cities (@c40cities) December 5, 2017
Hope v Fear
Is there evidence for choosing either hope or fear in crafting climate change communications that lead to action?
Help Wanted: Clean Energy Policy Analyst
The Information Technology and Innovation Foundation (ITIF), a science + technology policy think tank in Washington DC, seeks a clean energy innovation policy analyst. The position is funded for 1 year + may be renewed contingent on future funding.
What Money Can Buy
The role of climate science in Congress has been degraded by fossil fuel industry money in politics
Science At Work: Dust Does Climate Change
The major impacts of a warming climate are well known. But some researchers say one major element of climate change is being overlooked: dust. https://t.co/FCwNLvAo7x
— Yale Environment 360 (@YaleE360) December 5, 2017
Throwing Shade On Solar
Three federal developments that could spell big trouble for US solar power
Celebrate 175 Years Of Municipal Infrastructure
The Croton Aqueduct has been reliably bringing drinking water to NYC for 175 years, here's the back story
December 04, 2017
How to Plug In Better
NY to enhance EV adoption + grid resilience by way of $3.5 million for new policy proposals
NYC: Pensions + Fossil Fuels Don't Mix
Why NYC should disclose its pensions funds’ exposure to oil + gas stocks + develop alternative investment strategies to meet their financial goals
Energy Efficiency Is Always A Winner
Utility energy efficiency programs are growing + a good thing as they are the lowest cost way to keep the lights on
December 01, 2017
Trade Tensions: US v China On Solar Panels
Imposing tariffs on imported solar panels could be the latest conflict in US/China trade relations
The Cost Of Weird Weather
2017 #HurricaneSeason costliest ever. Overall losses reached around US$ 215bn, according to preliminary estimates, and insured losses are expected to be around US$ 100bn. https://t.co/1VC7MOyDqL pic.twitter.com/6fnuEXekJL
— Munich Re, US (@MunichRe_US) December 1, 2017
NY-NJ-CT Climate Action Agenda
The Regional Plan Association offers concrete ideas for rising to the climate challenge in the NY metro area
It's Not About You, It's About Your Income
Income levels, not good intentions or individual lifestyle choices, determine carbon footprint sizes