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Bloomberg Proposes Hybrid Taxis
-- Mike -- 05/22/2007
He's says he's not thinking about running for president, but that hasn't stopped some pundits from buzzing about a possible White House bid by New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg. While it remains to be seen whether Bloomberg will actually throw his hat in the ring, this news article certainly caught my eye:
Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg announced today a plan to replace the city's entire yellow cab fleet with environmentally friendly hybrid vehicles over the next five years.
The proposal is the latest push in Mayor Bloomberg's PlaNYC to create a more environmentally sustainable city and to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 30 percent by 2030.
Click here to read the entire article.
Watered Down: The White House, The Smithsonian & Global Warming
-- Chris -- 05/21/2007
It was revealed today that the Smithsonian "watered down" the science of a global warming exhibit last April that focused on the effects to the Arctic. There was revealed to be an intentional altering of facts and the way facts were presented in such a way to cast doubt on whether or not global warming was actually occurring and if it was caused by humans. It seems the Smithsonian knows which side it's bread is buttered on, and "toned down" the exhibit for fears of angering the White House or Congress, according a former administrator at the museum. Why would the Smithsonian care about angering Washington? Almost all of the Smithsonian's budget comes from tax-payer dollars, therefore any risk of provoking "ire" from key politicians also means a risk of provoking funding cuts.
This is yet another example of why we need presidential leadership on global warming.
Click here to read entire article.
Richardson Unveils Global Warming Plan
-- Mike -- 05/17/2007
Governor Bill Richardson today unveiled his plan to fight global warming, which includes a proposal to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 80 percent by 2040 and by 90 percent by mid-century. Said Richardson: "I am issuing a call to action, for Congress, the energy industry and the public. I am calling for a new American revolution, an energy and climate revolution."
As the Associated Press reported, Richardson invoked President Kennedy's call for the Apollo space program - saying that the nation needs a "man-on-the-moon" effort to develop technologies that will cut energy costs and halt global warming.
Specifically, Richardson's plan calls for creating a market-based cap-and-trade system, increasing fuel economy standards to 50 miles a gallon and establishing a national renewable electricity standard of 30 percent by 2020 and 50 by 2040. Additionally, Richardson said he wants to fund programs to develop wind, solar and biomass energy.
Military Officials Connect Global Warming to National Security
-- Emma -- 05/16/2007
During a hearing of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, Sen. Joe Biden described global warming as "a new and very different national security challenge." His statement came after eleven retired generals and admirals issued a report on the national security aspects of climate change. The kind of catastrophes likely to result - including rising sea levels, flooding, lack of access to clean water, and barriers to food production - almost always mean war. Particularly in already unstable regions, national governments will be incapable of coping with the worst effects of climate change. "Climate change will exacerbate many of the causes of instability that exist today-those instabilities are part of the underpinnings of extremism," retired ambassador and admiral Joseph Prueher testified before the Senate Foreign Relations Committee.
Using Somalia as a model, retired Air Force general Charles Wald explained how environmental crises can lead to social and political breakdowns. Nigeria could potentially follow the same pattern if the Niger delta flooded or oil installations were damaged due to climate change. Not only could this cause chaos in the region, but the repercussions could harm American interests as well. "Ungoverned places filled with desperate people are also the perfect recruiting ground for terrorist groups," he said. Meanwhile, retired vice admiral Richard Truly warned that along the densely populated coasts of India and Bangladesh, rising sea levels "measured in inches" could turn millions of residents into refugees.
As Sen. Biden explained, the issues of national security, energy, and climate change all present the same challenge: "A strong domestic and international response that increases our energy security, that slows, stops and reverses the buildup of greenhouse gases."
Dodd Kicks Off Energy Tour in Iowa
-- Steve -- 05/07/2007
About 50 people packed the back room of Jimmy's American Café today to hear Senator Chris Dodd, D-Conn. The senator was in Des Moines for a lunch meeting with the Twenty First Century Forum, an organization of committed young professional Democrats whose purpose is to provide a forum to discuss and debate political, social, economic and business related topics.
The national and local reporters lined the back of the room with the political paparazzi up front on all sides of the candidate, and where were the voters? Stuck in the middle. Maybe in another state the voters would be put off by this arrangement, but not in Iowa, we delight in this display, it means our opinion counts.
The focus of Senator Dodd's next few days in Iowa is energy and with this in mind, he outlined several issues and connected his experience as a Peace Corps volunteer in the early 60's to his work in the US Senate and how he would address our countries energy needs.
Regarding global warming Senator Dodd has been on record supporting a strong ‘cap & trade' policy. He said, "As president, I would not only expand the ‘cap & trade', but I would enact a corporate carbon tax. We cannot be serious, in my view, about acting on the urgent threat of global warming without making us less captive of Middle East oil or investing in renewable energy, unless we have a corporation carbon tax."
Dodd outlined that the resources raised by this tax, estimated to be $50 billion, would be used to invest in new renewable energy technology, research and development. Dodd said this would add momentum to the nation's economy and drive new businesses to create new high skilled jobs that sequentially would help address the income inequality of the middle class.
Gore Asked About ‘08 Candidates
-- Mike -- 04/25/2007
Appearing today at the kick off of the Tribeca Film Festival, former Vice President Al Gore was asked whether he believes the presidential candidates are doing enough to discuss global warming on the campaign trail. Replied Gore:
"I think that there should be a much greater focus, sure. We have a chance to see, by the time this campaign enters its next six-month period, that this discussion may become really front and center, I hope so."
Where the people will lead, the leaders will follow
-- Kevin -- 04/25/2007
The Associated Press ran an interesting story on April 22 about how numerous presidential candidates are coming to Iowa with pledges to address global warming. Most notable was the following paragraph:
While former Vice President Al Gore has helped drive the debate with his film "An Inconvenient Truth," the increased level of interest in the presidential campaign is caused by a sense of urgency among the electorate on issues including climate change as well as health care and deficit, Obama said.
In other words, our campaign is working!
Good Morning Global Warming
-- Mike -- 04/20/2007
I woke up this morning, stumbled out of bed and turned on the TV to check out the morning news programs. The very first thing I saw was a report on ABC's Good Morning America about wind farms in Upstate New York. I turned the channel to CNN's American Morning and they were airing a report on carbon trading. Regular readers of this blog may accuse of me of beginning to sound like a broken record, but seriously...is there really any doubt that solving global warming is now a significant part of the national dialogue?
Dodd Announces Global Warming Plan
-- Mike -- 04/19/2007
Chris Dodd today announced his plan to address global warming. As the Associated Press reported, Dodd's plan includes a tax on corporations for their carbon dioxide emissions, which the senator says is the best way to reduce emissions and curb global warming. Dodd says the tax revenue, which he estimates at about $50 billion annually, would be used to develop renewable energies and to reduce prices for consumer products.
Additionally, Dodd's plan calls for increasing auto fuel economy standards to 50 miles per gallon by 2017 and mandating that the government use clean-energy vehicles and green technology in all its offices.
Dodd's proposal sets a goal of reducing greenhouse gas emissions 80 percent by 2050.
Kerry: Endorsement Depends on Global Warming
-- Mike -- 04/16/2007
While speaking at a Denver bookstore to promote his new book, "This Moment on Earth," Senator John Kerry told the crowd of more than 250 just how important the issue of global warming is to him.
According to 9News, Kerry said that "he had no desire to endorse any candidate for [president] right now, choosing to wait to see how they addressed the issue of global warming."
