Global warming, climate change, activism
Posted in Alberta Tar Sands, Canada, Greenwashing, Politics on Apr 13th, 2009
Reason #2 to Boycott Shell* The Pembina Institute — a sustainable energy think tank — has accused Royal Dutch Shell of abandoning written agreements to reduce GHG emissions at two Canadian tar sands projects. Before the Candian government had approved the projects at Jackpine Mine and Muskeg River Mine, Shell had committed to setting pollution [...]
Posted in Climate Change Science, Climate Change Solutions, Energy Efficiency, Politics, USA on Apr 1st, 2009
On global warming and energy independence, President Obama’s team continues to make exceptional moves. This week, Rep Henry Waxman and Rep Edward Markey released a draft of a comprehensive energy bill that hits as many high notes as a Pavarotti opera. Joe Romm has an excellent analysis. Here’s the nitty gritty: The early version of [...]
Posted in Clean Technology, Climate Change Solutions, Energy Efficiency, Politics on Mar 27th, 2009
In the wake of the AIG scandal, it’s refreshing to see that some companies are tying company bonuses to significant achievements for both the corporation and society. National Grid — a London-based utility company — has has become the latest and biggest UK firm to link the company’s success in reducing its carbon footprint to [...]
Posted in Canada, Climate Change Solutions, Energy Efficiency, Politics, USA on Mar 22nd, 2009
It’s easy to grow weary of the excuses and the bullshit. In Canada, we pretend that nation is singular and unique, that it’s somehow harder for Canadians to cut their greenhouse gas emissions because of our special circumstances. The Great White North, so cold and vast and unforgiving. It’s easy for the British to cut [...]
Posted in Alberta Tar Sands, Canada, Politics on Mar 16th, 2009
Andrew Nikiforuk‘s important book — Tar Sands: Dirty Oil and the Future of a Continent — is available until March 20 as a free, downloadable PDF. thanks to publisher Greystone Books. You can also pick it up at Amazon and Chapters.
Posted in Canada, Climate Change Consequences, Climate Change Science, Politics, UK, USA on Mar 16th, 2009
We have to change the terminology; according to scientists who attended the International Climate Change Congress in Copenhagen, the phrases “climate change” and “global warming” need to be retooled to better represent the stark reality that we are now facing. A climate catastrophe — or climate breakdown — would seem to be better choices for [...]
Posted in Climate Change Consequences, Politics on Mar 16th, 2009
The world’s leading climate scientists convened in Copenhagen a few days ago, so it was a busy week for environmental news, and it begins with a startling report by British Antarctic Survey scientists. In a nutshell, many coastal areas in both the developed and developing world are at great risk for devastating floods over the [...]
Posted in Old King Coal, Politics, USA on Mar 3rd, 2009
The number of climate change lobbyists in Washington, DC has tripled in five years, according to a new report from the Center for Public Integrity. The study says that in 2008, 770 companies and industry groups spent $90 million US on 2,340 lobbyists — about five for every member of Congress. In 2003, slightly more [...]
Posted in Activism, Old King Coal, Politics, USA on Mar 2nd, 2009
In a move rife with symbolism, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid have asked a Washington, DC power plant to cut its GHG emissions by switching its fuel from coal to natural gas. “The Capitol Power Plant continues to be the No. 1 source of air pollution and carbon emissions in [...]
Posted in Climate Change Science, Politics, USA on Mar 1st, 2009
At his January inauguration, President Barack Obama promised to “restore science to its rightful place” and his budgetary plans propose to do exactly that. In particular, climate-change research would receive a large funding increase and several departments and agencies will be required to refocus their efforts to better understand global warming and what it means [...]