Signs Of The Times
Look around town for the Climate Museum 10 distress sign installations
August 31, 2018
Printable Solar Power Panels
Cheap + easy to make, printable solar panels get a pilot installation in Australia
Help Wanted: Two Manager Positions
The Municipal Art Society is hiring a Senior Project Manger for Planning + a Communications Manager for Social Media/Publications
Now For The Hard Part
Poised for a 100% zero-carbon electric power law, how might California get it done by 2045?
Insuring The Sun
Oregon solar projects buy insurance to guarantee against failures to generate contracted-for power
Transit Review: Take The N Train
The Municipal Art Society is moved by the newly renovated N train stations in Astoria
More EV Sales, Faster
Cumulative passenger EV sales are set to hit 4 million this week and the next million EV sales will take just over 6 months. We expect the five-millionth EV to be sold in March 2019.
— BloombergNEF (@BloombergNEF) August 31, 2018
Learn more in this report excerpt: https://t.co/Ev7T0mfSly #EVrevolution pic.twitter.com/hHkLnqBfyy
Canadian Province Abandons Climate Plan
Canada's climate action plan loses Alberta in fight over oil pipeline
The Grapes Of Climate Change
Bordeaux wine makers, facing hotter weather, must change their venerable ways or become climate losers
August 30, 2018
Urban Climate Action Is Great But...
...Without US commitment it's not enough to prevent giant climate disruptions
August 29, 2018
PV Slump Linked To Consumer Complaints
Unhappy rooftop PV leasers linked to slumping installations on Long Island
Quote Of The Day
"...a reminder of one of the great truths about climate change, and one that is hardest to grasp: In our rapidly changing world, no place is too distant or too far away to matter. Like it or not, we are all in this together. When ice melts in the Arctic, the west burns." Jeff Goodell
The Arctic Meltdown And You
If you think the massive Arctic meltdown won't change your life, think again
Canada: Climate v NAFTA
The pro-climate position staked out by PM Trudeau, could be put to the test in the Canada/US NAFTA negotiations
August 28, 2018
Sallan Climate Week Event Partner Honor
Congrats to @MichaelGerrard for this well deserved award!! https://t.co/xuWIjvIMLR
— Kit Kennedy (@NRDCKit) August 28, 2018
Learning To Live With The Heat
The number of US heat-related deaths dropped from 1987-2005, but not because the temperature's gone down
Facebook: 75x20
Facebook to cut its GHG emissions 75% by 2020, adding to corporate climate commitments in an era of the opposite in Washington
August 27, 2018
Urban Public Opinion On Climate
As most Americans live in metro areas, their views on climate change + action ought to carry some political weight
Catch The Wind
Rhode Island education, business + government planning youth job-training for employment in the wind power industry
Germany: Don't Aim Higher Now
German Prime Minister Merkel is cool to proposals for raising EU climate action targets
1 Million EV's In Europe
Here's a sales trend that's a climate friend
Climate Primers
Want to Talk to YOUR Kids About #ClimateChange? Here's 12 books that’ll help https://t.co/JPh8r6kDYP via @SierraClub @takvera @remain_Hopeful @jakki2004 @AUdebm @HelpsCharlie @mikecoulson48 @applemacbookpro @apothecary21c @AnalizeThis @littleredblog @nickiknowsnada @washumom pic.twitter.com/ub3LjVnGWJ
— Allan Margolin (@AllanMargolin) August 27, 2018
Climate Change - Health Disruptor
"Climate change is sickening" is the scientific truth
John McCain - GOP Climate Maverick
Does the McCain climate legacy signal the past or the future for his party?
August 24, 2018
Looking For The Missing Piece Of Pie
Amazing that fine journo's like NYT's @bradplumer don't even mention secret sauce in shrinkage of US coal mining/burning in past dozen yrs: the flat-lining of electricity use. Big green slice in our 2017 pie chart hints at what their readers are missing: https://t.co/r0vbjEc35U pic.twitter.com/056dlqZlJn
— Carbon Tax Center (@carbontaxcenter) August 24, 2018
Houston After Harvey, What Resilience Needs
"If the money doesn’t feel safe—if it isn’t going to be protected from flood risk, along with the workers who work there—it’s going to go elsewhere.”
Social Science At Work: Building Energy Retrofit Decisions
Decision making in multi-family has a dynamic that makes decisions to improve building energy performance a challenge, according to new research
Climate Denialism, GOP Warm Up For Trump Denialsim
Paul Krugman speaks truth to power, but is the GOP listening?
Sea Level Rise Eroding Property Values
Coastal state home owners are already starting to pay for flooding linked to sea level rise
August 23, 2018
Albany Not On Track For 50x30
Renewable energy is growing, so why would the state miss its goal of getting 50% of its energy for renewable sources by 2030
Gulp - The Future Of Water In Texas
Think rainwater catchment desalinization + toilet-to-tap replacing dams + reservoirs in Texan cities
NY Farmers In A Bad State Of Mind
Weird weather, tariffs + immigration add up to worries + woes for NY farmers
August 22, 2018
Big Bucks For Big Solar
Capital Dynamics, operator of industrial scale solar power projects, assembles $1.2 billion to go on a renewable energy buying spree
Climate Follies
Name a country with retrograde climate policies, where coal still calls the shots
Quote Of The Day
"The announcement of a replacement rule (for the Obama era Clean Power Plan) may largely represent a political milestone for a President who promised to end his predecessor’s 'war on coal,' but we also view it as a significant policy action that could to make it difficult for a differently oriented successor to establish greenhouse gas (GHG) limits on any stationary sector via executive discretion." Clearview Energy Partners
Spokane: 100x30
The City Council of Spokane, WA votes 6-1 in favor of a bill that requires 100% of the City's electric power to come from renewable energy by 2030
Separating Fact From Fiction
NRDC, a national environmental advocacy organization, spells out detailed rebuttals of claims made by the EPA's proposed all-power-to-coal rule. Here's a 6 point analysis done by The Sabin Center for Climate Change Law
August 21, 2018
Quote Of The Day
"Building a more compassionate society means reminding ourselves of luck, + of the gratitude + obligations it entails, against inevitable resistance." Dave Roberts, journalist
This Will Crack You Up
Top story: Arctic’s strongest sea ice breaks up for first time on record | World news | The Guardian https://t.co/qNwl8A6LyC, see more https://t.co/T6jxIvEylg
— Oorja Chakra (@OorjaChakra) August 21, 2018
Political Power For Electric Power
Will one of Germany's most powerful agency ministers, succeed at expanding the nation's power grid?
What Ails Australia
Despite the clear + present climate change dangers facing Australia, it's government refuses to act, why?
Greens Sue Nuke Power Subsidy
The Hudson River Sloop Clearwater sues NY for what it deems illegal subsidies given to nuclear power plant owners
Think Concretely
Concrete blocks are a new contender in the race to develop energy storage systems
Help Wanted: Deputy Director Of Equity
The Sierra Club seeks an Equity Department Deputy Director to engage in transforming the organization to become more equitable, just + inclusive. Location: Denver (preferred) Oakland, Denver, or Washington DC
Trump Gives Coal A Whole Lotta Love
Trump's war on clean air begins with a move to gut EPA clean power/ climate mitigation regulations. "Fact Sheet" here
August 20, 2018
Winning Climate Cases
Analyzing 26 years of climate litigation reveals what wins in court + what loses
Big Push For Energy Efficient Buildings
Calling for 20% cuts in building energy use by 2030 + bigger cuts by 2050, this now-being-drafted NYC Council bill could be the start of something big
Thought Of The Day
I have a suggestion. How about reporters stop asking whether or not political leaders “believe” in climate change and start asking if they understand it instead.
— Turnip (@Turnip2020) August 20, 2018
NY Looks To Offshore Wind Leaders
With ambitions offshore wind power goals, New York looks for lessons from European industry leaders
Dallas: Tree Planting Made Smarter
The urban cooling impact of planting 1,000 trees in Dallas gets a boost with GIS mapping
Defrosting The Arctic
Scientists discover Arctic sites that don't freeze, even in winter, a worry for accelerating climate change
August 17, 2018
Gear Up To Pay For NJ Offshore Wind
A subsidy to advance offshore wind projects in NJ, will come from surcharge on utility bills
So Last Century, So Now
Early in the 20th Century, NYC architects found inspiration in designing ways for citizens to interact with nature, some projects are being rediscovered now
Toronto: Big Timber For Big Building
The world's biggest 'big timber' building project, sponsored by Alphabet, Inc.,could rise on Toronto's waterfront
Enough With The Trash Already
On Thursday, @NYCMayor signed a bill to reduce permitted capacity for certain waste transfer stations in the Bronx, Queens, and Brooklyn at the Williamsburg Community Center #inBrooklyn. pic.twitter.com/YtpeGOPCbX
— NYC Mayor's Office (@NYCMayorsOffice) August 18, 2018
Big City Booms
Which will be the cities of 1 million or more people in 2035?
August 16, 2018
Let's Look At The Energy Subsidy Record
My new post: Conservatives have long pretended to oppose energy subsidies. Now the blunt truth on energy policy has been exposed ... by Rick Perry of all people! https://t.co/B4ZkMRdXKF
— David Roberts (@drvox) August 15, 2018
Sydney: New Era For Bushfires
Hotter, drier summers plus urban sprawl add up to Sydney a bush fire season that both longer + riskier
August 15, 2018
Democrats Are More Than the DNC
Bill McKibben writes that climate activists must not abandon progressive Democratic candidates because of the DNC decision to take fossil fuel money -- they're different
Blueprint For Green Partnerships
Collaboration is key for a can-do energy performance policy to drive efficiency in NYC's large buildings + to cut its carbon footprint 80% by 2050. Here's the Urban Green Council how-to report
Blue Green Rift For Dems
If organized labor interests are the rationale for the Democratic National Committee reversing its ban on accepting fossil fuel industry money, is this a return to BAU or are other forces in play now?
UK: Weird Weather Bares Ghosts
Extreme drought + heat expose traces of pre-history + medieval times in the UK landscape
Solar Shoving Match
China is challenging a U.S. tariff hike on solar panels before the World Trade Organizationhttps://t.co/YnLi3GBAvq
— Ari Natter (@AriNatter) August 15, 2018
August 14, 2018
Memory Palace
Listen to Nate Dimeo's Memory Palace podcast "White Heat White Light", NYC, Summer, 1892
Weather Forecast - 'Anomalous' Heat
Why are scientists predicting five years of 'anomalous' heat + do other scientists think it's significant?
Charge
Let’s get charging! There are now 305 publicly accessible EV charging sites throughout New York City, and by 2020 there will be 50 fast-charging hubs. pic.twitter.com/OrLVZlIrii
— GreeNYC (@greenyc) August 14, 2018
NZ: Getting Carbon Neutral
There's No Free Clean Energy Lunch
For all the benefits of a switch to electric vehicles, there is also a job cost in the ICE industry
Hottest Saunas Subways In Town
Want to sweat more? Try these 10 NYC subway stations
Halfway To Boiling
If only temperatures of 50 degrees C were just dystopian fantasies
Help Wanted: Sr. Policy Advisor, Land Use/Buildings
The NYC Mayor's Office seeks candidate for a new Land Use + Buildings team that will analyze climate-related threats to NYC neighborhoods, buildings + residents, as well as define + implement cohesive program initiatives
China Doesn't Love NY Recycling
China's sharp cutbacks on imports of recyclable materials drive up costs to NY programs
August 13, 2018
Science At Work: Urban Mercury
Mercury, a known neurotoxin, now has mapped sources in Toronto's environment
"Oil Slick Award" Winner
John Flanagan , the NY Senate Majority Leader, is voted the environmentally worst elected official in the state
Knokke-Heist: On Climate Frontlines
Called Belgium's San Tropez, can this shoreline resort save itself from rising seas?
Visit the BronXchange
Encouraging local, sustainable business + job growth, the BronxXChange is a project of the Bronx Cooperative Development Initiative
Fake News Or Feared News
— Brian Dunning (@BrianDunning) August 13, 2018
NYC Waterfronts: Revival And Reinvention
Reviving NYC's polluted waterfronts won't mean turning back the clock, what does the Hudson Riverkeeper envision instead?
Italy: Energy Politics Now
Domestic political promises fuel pipelines + international politics collide in Italy
Molten Salt For Nuclear Power - The Press Releasase
"Southern Company and TerraPower Prep for Testing on Molten Salt Reactor"#nuclear #energy #climatehttps://t.co/xCEqprRaU9 pic.twitter.com/q14YrR37Ei
— Ken Caldeira (@KenCaldeira) August 12, 2018
August 10, 2018
Start By Talking The Talk
Two folks take a road trip across the country to talk with people, not at people, about climate change
Slimy Politics In Florida
Florida's US Senate race could pivot on an infestation of toxic blue-green algae, as candidates accuse each other of inaction
Update On Antarctic Ice
What happens to Antarctic ice will impact you, here's how
August 09, 2018
East River Greenery
A long time in coming, but now new East River-edge parks in Brooklyn, Queens + the Bronx are open to all
It's Never Too Late
The battery pioneer John Goodenough, at age 96, reinvents this essential gear for EV's
Farewell Fossil Fuel
Bill McKibben's take on California legislation to end fossil fuel use to create electricity by 2045
It's Not Just About Auto Congestion
The human toll of the Uber/Lyft gig economy is also part of this supposedly liberating urban 'disruption'
Help Your Devices Weather The Summer
Advice for keeping your electronic devices cool + operational in the summer heat
August 08, 2018
Don't Follow The Money
BREAKING: Dozens of New Yorkers occupy @NYGovCuomo's office to demand he stand with youth on climate justice by signing the #NoFossilFuelMoney Pledge.
— Sunrise Movement 🌅 (@sunrisemvmt) August 8, 2018
This is his last chance to stand with us or we will replace him with someone who will. #HeatWeek pic.twitter.com/gM6RmxMvOt
Tax Changes Loom For Wind Power
With the coming phase-out of the production tax credit for wind power projects, what to expect for the industry?
The 'New Normal' Now
Words matter - so what's the debate about calling our climate changed circumstances the 'new normal'?
Too Darn Hot At Night
With a changing climate, overnight low temperatures are going up even faster than daytime highs. https://t.co/6FS4LAYtLS
— InsideClimate News (@insideclimate) August 8, 2018
Down On Tesla Solar Roofs
Is there a cure for what's ails the Tesla solar roof factory in Buffalo?
August 07, 2018
California: We Won't Be Trumped
California is up in arms over Trump's threatened roll back of the state's power to regulate auto emissions, calls it "contrary to the facts + the law" + pledges action
Renewable Energy - Newsmaker
While global energy-related CO2 emissions grew by 1.4% in 2017, this increase was not universal.
— IEA (@IEA) August 7, 2018
While most major economies saw a rise, the biggest decline came from the US, mainly because of higher deployment of #renewables https://t.co/o4CLCFNHcw
Become An Effective Climate Communicator
Here's a website loaded with practical ideas for becoming a better climate communicator to foster civic + political action
Book Review: 1,200 Pages of Climate Catastrophe
Award-winning novelist William T. Vollman writes a 2 volume non-fiction work, which views climate as an unavoidable calamity
The Big Question
What would electrification of buildings' heat + hot water gear mean for consumers + the climate?
August 06, 2018
Green Rating For NY Elected's
How does your state legislator score in the New York League of Conservation Voter ratings?
Summer In The City
Coney Island lit by moonbeams + electric lights in 1927
Ideology In The Driver's Seat
There are so many things wrong with Trump's effort to freeze vehicle fuel efficiency standards, here are just some
Crashing The Grid
Should the US expect Russian cyber attacks on the power grid?
Seattle Goes Bold Green
A bold but underutilized high-performance building model is tweaked with zoning bonuses in a new Seattle energy retrofit initiative
Another Manhattan Beach
Not a novel, not in Brooklyn, but an idea for places to swim of the island of Manhattan
August 03, 2018
Heat Wave Bakes Wheat Crop
World wheat prices up 20% as Europe's heat wave devastates crops
Jamaica Bay - Resilience Rx
Key findings of a Rand Corporation study with a framework for analyzing resilience proposals for protecting Jamaica Bay communities from superstorms + sea level rise
De-Toxing NYC
NYC's Brownfields program for cleaning up polluted industrial sites is 9 years old, how's it doing?
More Ferries Launching
Manhattan + the Bronx will get expanded ferry services starting this month
Greased With Oil
The oil industry is the biggest booster + beneficiary of Trump's move to freeze vehicle fuel efficiency standards
August 02, 2018
That's Rich
Cogent criticisms of Nathaniel Rich's 40,000 word "Losing Earth: The Decade We Almost Stopped Climate Change" published in the NY Times Magazine
Pioneering Energy Justice
Renewable energy + energy efficiency upgrades are on the environmental justice frontier in California thanks to carbon cap + trade revenue
Burn, Baby, Burn
Freezing fuel economy standards is touted by the EPA as as way to cut costs + road deaths, many not convinced
August 01, 2018
The Funnies
Great @CC_Yale article by @karinkirk_mt on how to respond to climate misinformation, including my cartoon debunking of the "climate's changed in the past" argument https://t.co/uK2ZoZe4C9 pic.twitter.com/8uzTrPSFCP
— John Cook (@johnfocook) July 31, 2018
The States That Set The PACE
Which states lead + which lag on PACE, innovative financing paths for energy smart commercial + residential buildings?
Cuomo To Feds - Support Offshore Wind
Governor Cuomo urges the US Interior Department to support New York's 2.4 gigawatt offshore wind power goal
Meet Kelvin Droegemeier
Trump to nominate Kelvin Droegmeier, an extreme weather expert, as his science + technology advisor
The Future Isn't Plastics
The beginning of the end for the Age of Plastics?