Schwarzenegger signs sweeping global warming bill
California Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger on Wednesday signed into law a sweeping global warming initiative that imposes the nation's first cap on greenhouse gas emissions, saying the effort kicks off "a bold new era of environmental protection. We simply must do everything we can in our power to slow down global warming before it is too late." Mayor Gavin Newsom and New York Gov. George Pataki joined Schwarzenegger for the high-profile ceremony. British Prime Minister Tony Blair, who struck a deal with Schwarzenegger over the summer to develop clean technologies, addressed the ceremony participants via video link. Blair said California had set a "bold target" and called the bill-signing "a proud day for political leadership." (09/27/06) MORE»
Evangelical Christian Lobbyist Pushes Environment
With his pin-stripe suit and media-ready manner, the Rev. Richard Cizik looks like a typical Washington lobbyist, but his is a mission with a difference: persuading evangelical Christians to care about global warming. Cizik is part of an overall ecological push by evangelical Christians known as "creation care," the notion that the environment is a divine creation and must be protected by humans. When confronted with projections that half of all species may be extinct by the end of this century, Cizik sees a "biblical concern." "God made 'em," he said of endangered species. "And He says we are to exercise a stewardship responsibility of this earth. We're tenant-landlords and we will have to return it at some point, at the end of time, to God who made it. And are we going to return it in the condition it was made?" (09/25/06) MORE»
The green house of the future
Radical plans are being drawn up to make Britain's houses the most environmentally friendly in Europe, with new "zero-carbon" developments proposed to cut back on global warming. The measures—being drawn up by Yvette Cooper, the housing and planning minister—will surprise environmentalists, who have long criticised the country's appalling record on building "green" homes. She plans to introduce new codes and building regulations to surpass Scandinavian standards, for decades the best in Europe, and is to launch a competition to encourage builders to produce eco-housing.
(09/24/06) MORE»
White House outlines global warming strategic plan
The Bush Administration's long-term plan for dealing with climate change is contrary to the recommendations contained in a report by the Congressional Budget Office. The U.S. Department of Energy's "Climate Change Technology Program Strategic Plan" includes $3 billion for research into new technologies and recommends voluntary goals for reducing emissions and capturing carbon dioxide, rather than setting caps for emissions. The plan immediately came under fire from senior Hill Republicans as well as scientists and policy experts, after being outlined yesterday to the House Science subcommittee on energy. The CBO report found that the most cost-effective manner to reduce greenhouse gas emissions is to combine a price for emissions with research and development funding. (09/21/06) MORE»
Ag will lead the way on greenhouse gas mitigation, report says
A report from the Pew Center on Global Climate Change points to an early role for agriculture in reducing the gases in the atmosphere that contribute to climate change. The report, "Agriculture's Role in Greenhouse Gas Mitigation," is co-authored by Montana State University economist John Antle. These reports show that America's farms and forestlands have a major role to play in reducing the threat of climate change. Changes in agricultural practices coupled with foresting marginal agricultural lands could offset up to one fifth of current U.S. greenhouse gas emissions, while at the same time creating potential new sources of farming income. The report also estimates that the nation could reduce emissions by 10 to 25 percent by replacing fossil fuels with biofuels made from agricultural crops. (09/21/06) MORE»
Hard Choices for Schwarzenegger
Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger faces decisions this month on two other bills that could dramatically reduce pollution from the auto and energy industries—the state's two largest contributors to global warming. With much less fanfare than for the global warming bill, which Schwarzenegger is expected to sign next Wednesday, Democratic majorities in the state Senate and Assembly approved legislation that would require half of the cars sold in the state to run on alternative fuels by 2020. (09/21/06) MORE»
Thermal Pictures Easily Visualize Energy Waste
This thermal panorama of reds, yellows and greens reveals a view of Cardiff Bay, Wales that few of us will have ever seen before. Instead of looking out on calm waters, the striking image portrays the hotspots of heat escaping from under or un-insulated buildings—all reflecting on the mirror-like image of Cardiff Bay. The thermal picture, released by British Gas, shows how much energy each of the buildings in the capital's waterfront is losing. (09/18/06) MORE»
Greening Supermarkets
Leading supermarkets need to green up their act and do more to help shoppers make greener choices. This is the finding of the first consumer-focused environmental rating, Greening supermarkets, from the National Consumer Council (NCC). The NCC put the top eight supermarkets to the test on four key green indicators—from seasonal food and organics to sustainable sourcing and cutting waste. It found that, while there are real improvements in some areas, not one of the supermarkets is doing well on all fronts. (09/14/06) MORE»
US to cut funds for two renewable energy sources
The US Department of Energy (DOE) is quitting the hydropower and geothermal power research business—if Congress will let it. Together, high-tech hydropower and geothermal resources could contribute at least enough power to replace more than 100 medium-size coal-fired power plants with emissions-free electricity—about the number now on the drawing board. Power from tidal flows, waves, and irrigation canals are expanding the definition of hydropower—none of which are likely to get DOE research funding if the hydropower budget gets whacked, some observers say. (09/15/06) MORE»
Artic Ice Melting 10 to 15 Times Faster
Arctic sea ice in winter is melting far faster than before, two new NASA studies reported Wednesday, a new and alarming trend that researchers say threatens the ocean's delicate ecosystem. In the past two years the melting has occurred at rates 10 to 15 times faster. A second NASA study by other researchers found the winter sea ice melt in one region of the eastern Arctic has shrunk about 40 percent in just the past two years. (09/13/06) MORE»
Renewable Energy a Reality in Downtown Salt Lake City
If you worry about air quality, pollution from power plants, global warming and climate change, then this project is for you. It's a brand new solar array on the Salt Palace Expansion. Sarah Wright, Executive Director, Utah Clean Energy: "Solar energy is here. It's now, it's working." And it's plenty visible. (09/12/06) MORE»
Bank raises $1bn to help firms hit their CO2 targets
Climate Change Capital (CCC), the boutique "green" investment bank, has raised nearly $1 billion (£537 million) to start trading in carbon dioxide emissions. In an indication of how well eco-capitalism is thriving, CCC has raised money from two of the world's top five pension funds and also from Centrica, the British energy supplier. It will start to invest funds in companies based in developing countries and will use Western technology to improve their manufacturing operations, cutting carbon emissions. These carbon gains, or credits, will be sold to European companies that are struggling to meet their own CO2 emission-reduction targets. (09/12/06) MORE»
Solve climate 'whatever it costs'
Human-induced climate change must be treated as an immediate threat to national security and prosperity, says John Ashton, the UK's climate change envoy. He argues that we must secure a stable climate whatever the cost, as failure to do so will cost far more. It is now becoming increasingly clear that it is what we do in the next 15 years that matters most. (09/08/06) MORE»
Our Hungry Planet
As stocks run out and harvests fail, the world faces its worst crisis for 30 years. Food supplies are shrinking alarmingly around the globe, plunging the world into its greatest crisis for more than 30 years. New figures show that this year's harvest will fail to produce enough to feed everyone on Earth, for the sixth time in the past seven years. Humanity has so far managed by eating its way through stockpiles built up in better times - but these have now fallen below the danger level. (09/03/06) MORE»
Tipping Point Could Be in 10 Years
Research presented at a conference in Britain this week shows new evidence of global warming. A deep ice core drilled out of the Antarctic permafrost revealed a significant rate of change in carbon dioxide concentrations that scientists say leave no doubt as to the extent of the build-up of greenhouse gases. A climate change time bomb may be just 10 years away from detonating, according to the latest global warming evidence. (09/05/06) MORE» |
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