Climate Change

This world icon is getting a makeover.  The ESB is “…undergoing a major sustainability retrofit to become a leading example of economic and environmental revitalization.”  This is a critical milestone in the battle to lower energy use and thus lower GHG emissions because the building is so famous and glamorous.  The project partners have created […]

Computers – This is, as you might suspect, an area where lots of energy gets consumed.  According to Emerson, at their “Energy Logic” webpage:  “Data centers in the United States alone soaked up about 61 billion kilowatt-hours (kWh), or $4.5 billion worth of electricity in 2006. If current energy usage trends continue, a U.S. Environmental […]

Black Carbon in Waxman-Markey – As we’ve seen here, particulates from uncombusted materials – coal, diesel, and biomass – have a much bigger impact on the climate than previously recognized, not to mention the devastating direct health impacts.  (See under Soot here and at Black Carbon and Solar Cookers.)  It is entirely worth noting that […]

Henry Waxman, the chair of the House Energy and Commerce Committee, and Ed Markey, chair of the Energy and Environment subcommittee, have just released a “discussion draft” of a comprehensive clean energy and climate change bill.  The legislation is titled “The American Clean Energy and Security Act of 2009.”  (Security is such a reassuring word, […]

I don’t know much about President Obama’s game, but I’m guessing, based on his aggressive moves on climate change and energy since just about the moment he took office, that he’s not shy about driving hard to the inside to make points.  I’ve been writing here since November about his appointments and initiatives and I’ve […]

Quote of the Week – From Spanish Prime Minister José Luis Rodríguez Zapatero:  “To change the world’s energy model is the most significant challenge facing humanity in this generation, not only for the impact on climate change but also for its effects on the economic model.”  I think he’s got it.  By George, he’s got […]

Mountaintop Removal Mining – The Beginning of the End? – I have written here a number of times about the crime of mountaintop removal mining, most recently in “Appalachia’s Agony”.  Now the EPA has responded, finally, to the SOS of the residents of West Virginia, Kentucky and the other states where the mining companies have […]

Last year Earth Hour was a hugely visible event.  This year, on March 28, it’s going to be an even bigger global phenomenon.  As of now, they are saying that 2,712 cities, towns and municipalities in 83 countries are on board.  See the website for more information and how you can participate in your part […]

Maldives – This island nation, about a thousand miles southwest of Sri Lanka in the Indian Ocean, has declared its intention to become the world’s first carbon-neutral country.  President Mohamed Nasheed made the announcement after a screening of the new climate change film, “The Age of Stupid.”  President Nasheed has also said that he will […]

There is an absolutely fabulous story in today’s “NY Times” called Is a Food Revolution Now in Season? There is also a great story on the new White House vegetable, fruit and herb garden from Thursday by the veteran food reporter, Marian Burros, and a “Room for Debate” page on it.  Check out the “Week […]

China and Trade – Steven Chu suggested at a recent hearing in the House, as Reuters reported here, that “…once Washington develops a system limiting carbon emissions, if other countries do not impose a cost on carbon emissions the United States will be at a disadvantage.”  Chu said that one idea in the mix is […]

I got back about an hour ago from walking my daughter to school.  We live in a big city with a big park through which my wife or I walk the kid.  It was snowing this morning – one of those intense squalls that come to us here in late winter and early spring.  It […]