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Lt. Govs. to Consider Global Warming Resolution at Meeting
-- Mike -- 07/24/2007
This week, at the National Lieutenant Governors Association summer meeting, lieutenant governors from around the country will have the opportunity to add their voices to the growing chorus of leaders calling for strong federal action to combat global warming.
At the meeting, Wisconsin Lt. Gov. Barbara Lawton will introduce the "Energy Independence and Climate Protection Resolution," which already has more than 15 co-sponsors. The resolution encourages the federal government to establish clear timetables for carbon emissions limits and a flexible, market-based system of tradable allowances among emitting industries. Additionally, the resolution encourages the federal government to adopt higher fuel economy standards for automobiles and trucks.
This resolution, which has the bi-partisan support of more than one-third of the nation's lieutenant governors, is yet another example of how elected officials "outside of the beltway" are sending a message to to the president - and those hoping to be president - that the federal government can no longer ignore global warming.
UNH Scientist decries climate nay-sayer
-- brucebc -- 07/24/2007
Today's New Hampshire Union Leader features an op-ed written by UNH scientist & professor Dr. Cameron Wake that explains the fallacies in an earlier column written by a global warming denier. Last week, a local citizen and former meteorologist published an op-ed column expressing that climate change is not happening and is not a human-caused event (if it is happening). In today's column, Dr. Wake explains:
His is just the latest in a campaign of attempts to confuse the general public about global warming. Typical of naysayers, Ward wrote a column for a newspaper where his erroneous results and false statements are not reviewed by other scientists, rather than publishing results in peer-reviewed scientific literature, which is the foundation for the dissemination of scientific analysis.
Luckily for all who're interested in real scientific analysis, Dr. Wake goes on in his excellently written column to inform readers about the real scientific consensus and the data that's actually been recorded by scientists in the region and around the world.
Jack Bauer Takes on Global Warming
-- Mike -- 07/21/2007
As a fan of the TV show 24, I was pretty excited to hear that the series is taking steps to reduce its carbon footprint.
"'24,' the Emmy Award-winning series from Imagine and Twentieth Century Fox Television, will strive to become the first television production ever to save enough energy and reduce enough carbon emissions over the course of a season to render its entire season finale "carbon neutral," it was announced today. In addition to making significant changes to its own production practices, the series aims to educate and inspire its millions of viewers to take climate change and the fight against global warming seriously and personally, before it's too late...."
Click here to see a video of Kiefer Sutherland (a/k/a Jack Bauer) talk about global warming.
Restoring our Global Prominence
-- Mark -- 07/19/2007
China is attempting to lead the world again. The Netherlands Environmental Assessment Agency recently reported that China has overtaken the United States in carbon dioxide emissions (by about 7.5 percent in 2006). But this is not the only area where China is "leading" the US - this same report also notes that they are looking for ways to cut their emissions.
In many ways, the next United States President will have a great opportunity to restore our reputation worldwide by taking a leading stance against climate change. On Monday, July 23, the Democrats are holding a debate in Charleston, South Carolina. The day before the debate, conservation, religious, and community leaders will be gathering at 1 p.m. in downtown Charleston's Marion Square Park to call for presidential leadership on climate change. In South Carolina's lowcountry, we have a lot at stake in the climate debate.
Edwards links jobs, energy
-- Kevin -- 07/19/2007
Speaking in Fort Dodge, Iowa, on July 12, John Edwards discussed the potential for creating rural jobs while solving global warming. Here's how the Des Moines Register reported it the next day:
"Edwards predicted enormous economic potential for rural areas if America focuses on new energy sources, such as wind and biofuels. He said at least 1 million new jobs will be created by such changes, which must be made to head off global warming. Small towns should be able to share in those jobs, he said."
New Jersey takes leadership on global warming
-- Anthony -- 07/13/2007
As a native of New Jersey, I know very well that the state is known for the pollution from its oil refineries and chemical plants. But New Jersey took a major step forward in the fight against global climate change.
The state legislature has passed and Governor Jon Corzine has signed into law tough global warming reduction legislation. Specifically, the law states that New Jersey must reduce its global warming emissions 80% by 2050.
Governor Corzine and the state legislature demonstrated the political leadership required to successfully control the devastating human contribution to global climate change and begin taking steps to prevent catastrophic consequences that will befall the planet if left unchecked.
After signing the legislation, Governor Corzine boldly expressed: "We want to send a message to Washington: wake up!"
In response to the new law, former Vice President Al Gore said, "From now on when I give my slideshow around the world, I'm going to include New Jersey prominently."
What New Jersey did is what the country needs to do today. While the Garden State and other states are making a difference through these state-level global warming emission reductions, global warming knows no boundaries: the federal government needs to act immediately, and that is why global warming is and will continue to be a priority to voters in the 2008 presidential election.
Great NH editorial on wind power and global warming!
-- brucebc -- 07/12/2007
On Wednesday, Foster's Daily Democrat ran a great editorial on wind power's potential in New Hampshire and Maine and that the future of renewable energy is strong and an important element in the fight against Global Warming. This is yet another piece of evidence that makes clear that in the Granite State, alternative energy sources and moving away from coal are a goal that has broad agreement.
Live Earth 2007
-- Anthony -- 07/09/2007
This past weekend, an estimated 2 billion people tuned into the Live Earth concerts taking place on all seven continents. The event - to raise awareness of the threat posed by global warming - was the largest of its kind ever.
I attended the Live Earth concert at Giants Stadium in East Rutherford, N.J., with several colleagues. As an undergraduate student originally from Northern New Jersey, but currently living and working in Washington, D.C., I was proud that my home state hosted North America's concert.
Throughout the day, the grounds of the sports complex were bustling with concert goers perusing the booths of organizations seeking to raise awareness of their global warming-related causes. Inside the stadium, public service announcements via the stage scroll screen and videos highlighted statistics regarding energy consumption and conservation between musical acts. Recycling and compost bins as well as corn-based biodegradable plastic beverage cups could be seen everywhere. It truly was a look at the Green Revolution.
The Live Earth concerts brought international attention to the issue of global warming. Each of us learned learned how we could reduce, offset, and even eliminate our own carbon footprints. Additionally, each of us recognized the importance of national and international initiatives to collectively confront global climate change.
In order to accomplish such measures, citizens the world over must demand that their elected leaders have the political leadership to make the tough decisions that will be required of them on this critical issue. For this reason especially, Live Earth emphasized the increasing importance of solving global warming as a priority to voters in the 2008 presidential election.
What’s their position on…
-- Mike -- 07/09/2007
Where do the candidates stand on fuel efficiency? What about a carbon cap? Or a renewable electricity standard? Click here to view the most recent version of our chart detailing where each of the candidates stand on these and other important global warming issues.
Romney: Use Less Oil By Becoming Energy Independent
-- Mike -- 07/05/2007
I happened to catch C-SPAN's coverage of a Mitt Romney event in Creston, IA, from earlier this week. During the Q&A, Romney was asked how he would work with Congress to get things done. Romney responded that he is "willing to work across the aisle" on, among other issues, "using less oil by becoming energy independent in this country."
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