Archive for March 2013

Home Archive for March 2013

Event - Fuel-Efficient Car Show at the Silver Diner

March 31, 2013 Add Comment Edit

The Fuel-Efficient Car Show at the Silver Diner will take place on May 19, 2013 at 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. in Cherry Hill, NJ. Have high gas prices got you down? Come check out dozens of car models that get at least 35 MPG highway, including hybrids, electric cars, and high-mileage cars that run on gasoline and diesel.

There will also be a fully-electric, zero-emission motorcycle that runs up to 113 miles on a charge, and an electric charging station.

In Cherry Hill, NJ, car and truck emissions account for nearly 30 percent of our greenhouse gasses. Be part of the solution and drive a fuel-efficient car!

Sponsored by Cherry Hill's It's In Our Power campaign.

For more information, contact Nancy Axelrod at naxelrod@chtownship.com

Event - New England Independent Schools Sustainability Conference: GSAx Northeast

March 31, 2013 Add Comment Edit

GSAx Northeast will take place on April 15, 2013, between 9am and 3pm, in Windsor, Connecticut. This event is Hosted by Loomis Chaffee and Co-Sponsored by Suffield Academy and the Green Schools Alliance. Educators and students will be present at this conference which focuses on what really works in independent schools. Participants can attend workshops and meet vendors providing innovative, energy-saving solutions.

GSAx Regional Conferences, Training Workshops and Resource Fairs, co-sponsored and hosted by a GSA School, bring schools together with experts, businesses and non-profit organizations to share knowledge and grow the movement.

Featured Speakers

Opening Keynote: Sajed Kamal, EdD
Author, Renewable Revolution

With over 30 years experience in the renewable energy field, Sajed Kamal has set up projects in the US, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Armenia and El Salvador. Award-winning poet, artist and educational consultant, Kamal is the recipient of the US EPA's "Lifetime Achievement Award" for the New England Region. Bill McKibben writes: "Kamal reminds us... that we must make the transition toward renewable energy as soon as is humanly possible... Even more powerfully, though, he reminds us how possible that transition is." Author of several books, Kamal lectures and consults internationally.

Closing Remarks: Dave Chameides
Chasing Sustainability

Dave Chameides, AKA "Sustainable Dave," kept all of his trash and recycling for an entire year in his basement to better understand his waste footprint; in the process, was able to cut his yearly trash output to a mere 30 pounds and live to tell the tale. His story became an international sensation.

Chameides is the Director of Sustainability at the Shalhevet School in Los Angeles. He continues to teach Chasing Sustainability, the environmental seminar he created 3 years ago, to schools, businesses and other groups.

For more information or to register, click here.

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Event - EcoLinks2013: Environmental Educators Conference

March 31, 2013 Add Comment Edit

EcoLinks2013 - Environmental Educators Conference will take place on May 3 - 4, 2013 in Peterborough, Ontario, Canada.

EcoLinks is a professional conference for all educators who want to incorporate environmental content into any subject and at any grade. The event is focused on practical, hands-on workshops. There will be informative classroom sessions as well as opportunities to get out into the beautiful adjacent nature areas for hikes, dip-netting, paddling on the river and more.

Meals will be provided and onsite accommodations are available through Trent University. Single and multiple day registrations are available.

For more information and to register click here.

Event - IAIA13 Impact Assessment: The Next Generation

March 31, 2013 Add Comment Edit

IAIA13 Impact Assessment: The Next Generation is the 33rd Annual Conference of the International Association for Impact Assessment, it will take place on May 13-16, 2013 at the Calgary Stampede BMO Centre in Calgary, Alberta, Canada.

The IAIA13 theme focuses on how impact assessment (IA) itself will evolve in Canada as well as in the rest of the word as we face global changes (e.g., climate change, biodiversity loss, soil degradation and loss, ocean productivity changes, loss of aboriginal cultures, and more) as well as changes in IA regulations and procedures. The “next generation” refers to both a new generation of practitioners and new approaches to IA practice.

A sample of proposed sessions include:

Engaging aboriginal communities in IA and mitigation
Emerging good practices in responsible oil and gas operations
What gets measured gets managed: applications of IA for corporate responsibility
Designing and implementing strategies for a biodiversity action plan
Guidelines and tools for integrating climate change in IA
To be or not to be? Alternatives analysis in impact assessment
Using health impact assessment to achieve sustainable goals
Consulting and engaging indigenous communities in the extractive sector
International Guidelines for SEA: the next generation

Many more session topics are proposed, along with training courses, technical visits, and networking opportunities.

IAIA conferences are interdisciplinary, and more than 800 delegates from over 90 nations are expected to attend.

To see the preliminary program, submit abstracts, sign up for up-dates or register, click here.

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Event - UNCCD Scientific Conference on Desertification, Land Degradation and Drought

March 31, 2013 Add Comment Edit

The Third Special Session of the Committee on Science and Technology (CST S-3) with the UNCCD 2nd Scientific Conference on Desertification, Land Degradation and Drought and the Eleventh Session of the Committee for the Review of Implementation of the Convention (CRIC 11) will take place from 9-19 April 2013, at the World Conference Center in Bonn, Germany.

The issue of encroaching deserts has become urgent because of renewed droughts that have plunged millions into poverty in Africa’s Sahel belt last year and in East Africa the year before.

The scientific meeting is scheduled to take place under the UN's global desertification convention which is known by the acronym CCD. There 193 countries that have signed on will be meeting to address the issues related to water scarcity. The Conference theme is, “Economic assessment of desertification, sustainable land management and resilience of arid, semi-arid and dry sub-humid areas.” At CST S-3 scientists, governments and civil society organizations are to carry out the first ever comprehensive cost-benefit analysis of desertification, land degradation and drought.

This event is organized by GRF Davos under the guidance of the CST Bureau. The agenda of CST S-3 includes a focus on the refinement of the impact indicators to be used to assess the direction of change in land productivity and livelihoods. Also, for the very first time, governments will provide concrete data on the status of poverty and of land cover in the areas affected by desertification in their countries.

Immediately following these meetings, the Eleventh Session of the Committee for the Review of the Implementation of the Convention (CRIC 11) will take place at the same venue from 15-19 April. The same will be preceded by regional meetings preparatory to the CRIC11.

For documentation about the UNCCD 2nd Scientific Conference, including the program, short and extended abstracts and live streaming click here.

For the official documentation about CST S-3, including the meeting times and agenda click here

For the official documentation about CRIC 11, including the meeting times and agenda click here.

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The Symbolism of Easter in an Ecological Context

March 31, 2013 Add Comment Edit

Easter is associated with new life, rebirth, and renewal. From an ecological perspective this is precisely what is required as we engage the serious work of being better environmental stewards. A number of symbols have become part of the Easter tradition. Some are directly related to the life of Jesus Christ and some have a pagan background.

For Christians, Easter is a celebration of Christ's resurrection, the ultimate symbol of rebirth. Easter's pagan roots date back to the 8th century, specifically an Anglo-Saxon fertility goddess known as "Eostre," whose name may be derived from "eastre," meaning spring.

The Easter Egg is taken from Celtic and Teutonic pagan traditions. Eggs are directly associated with springtime festivals in many older texts and narratives. From a Christian perspective, Easter eggs are said to represent Jesus' emergence from the tomb and resurrection.

Decorating eggs for Easter is a tradition that dates back to at least the 13th century. One explanation for this custom is that eggs were formerly a forbidden food during the Lenten season, so people would paint and decorate them to mark the end of the period of penance and fasting, then eat them on Easter as a celebration.

Judaism celebrates Passover around this time of year and it commemorates the Hebrews' escape from Egyptian enslavement and thus is symbolic of freedom from bondage.

With so many around the world seeking to renew our relationship to the Earth, Easter is particularly relevant in modern times.

Easter is an opportunity to reconsider our relationship to this planet, and a good time to reflect on the truly transformational work that lies ahead. Easter is also an inspirational homage to the possibility that we can live in harmony with our environment.

Video - World Water Day: What Individuals Can Do

March 30, 2013 Add Comment Edit

United Nations Regional Information Centre (UNRIC) - Video in English created by United Kingdom based students at the University of Creative Arts in Farnham, for World Water Day. The contribution is part of UNRIC's partnership with Fabrica.

To help promote a series of UN International Days, prestigious European design schools and academies produce short videos part of a partnership between UNRIC and Fabrica, the Benetton research centre on communication.

The schools belong to a network established by Fabrica to promote youth creativity. Video content produced by the students is promoted by the UN and showcased on Benetton storefront Live Windows.

Author: Rory Tatton
Tutor: Craig Burston
Institute: UCA Farnham, United Kingdom
Cover: Gastón Lisak (Fabrica resident)
Music: Jhon William Castaño (Fabrica resident)

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Video: World Water Day: Problems and Solutions Animated Short

March 30, 2013 Add Comment Edit

This animated short video offers a condensed review of water related issues in the developing world and what we can do to address it.

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Video - The Big Thirst the Business of Water

March 30, 2013 Add Comment Edit

The golden age of water—where water is unlimited, safe, and free—is over. Award-winning investigative journalist Charles Fishman reports on his three-year odyssey to uncover how the world of water is changing and the enormous implications for each of us, no matter where we live. This video briefly explores the cutting edge of waters bio-chemistry. Our relationship with water is one of the deciding things of the next century.

Water is not only a matter of life and death. Dirty water is not only deadly, treating water-born illnesses is a very expensive proposition. India spends more on diarrhea than the total economic output of half of the nations in the world.

The US uses more water in a day than oil throughout an average year, and more water in four days than the entire world uses oil in a year. However, the US uses less water than it did in 1980. In the last 25 years the country has more than doubled its water productivity. This makes the point that it is possible to be a modern economy and use substantially less water.

We need to pay attention to what businesses are doing, this includes both risks and the opportunities. Positive change starts with putting a price on water. This will not only reduce use it will drive innovation. Fishman goes on to cite three examples of water innovation by businesses around the world.

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Video - World Water Day 2013: Message from UN General Secretary Ban Ki-Moon

March 30, 2013 Add Comment Edit

World Water Day (22nd March 2013): Video Message from UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon on the importance of Water Cooperation, the theme of World Water Day 2013.

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The EPA's New Tier 3 Standards Offer Environmental, Economic and Employment Benefits

March 29, 2013 Add Comment Edit

The Obama administration has unveiled a proposal that will benefit the environment and the economy. The Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA) historic new rules, known as the Tier 3 standards, will reduce sulfur in gasoline and tighten car and truck emission standards. The rule is still undergoing a White House budget office review, but it is expected to come into effect nationwide in 2017, except for California where it is already in place.

The new rule is part of a global trend that will bring US sulfur content in gasoline closer to current norms. Tier 3 will see a 60 percent reduction in the sulfur content of gas which translates to content reductions from 30 parts per million (ppm) down to 10 ppm.

Tier 3 standards will also reduce vehicular emissions including nitrogen oxides, carbon monoxide, and volatile organic compounds. The rule is expected to reduce nitrogen oxides by as much as 80 percent, which would eliminate 260,000 tons of the pollutant, or the equivalent of taking 33 million cars off the roads.

"We know of no other air pollution control strategy that can achieve such substantial, cost-effective and immediate emission reductions," said Bill Becker, executive director of the National Association of Clean Air Agencies.

According to the EPA by 2025, the new clean air regulations may result in tiny cost increases at the pump (one penny per gallon) and in the price of new cars ($130 per vehicle). However, the agency points to the tremendously valuable health benefits which are many times greater than the nominal costs.

According to a Navigant Economics Study these health benefits will have an estimated value of $5 to $6 billion annually by 2020, and $10 to $11 billion annually by 2030.

“The path from a car’s tailpipe to our lungs is surprisingly short, and more than one in three Americans live in areas where air pollution levels exceed at least one federal limit,” said Michelle Robinson, director of UCS’s clean vehicles program. “Today’s proposal is a common-sense step that will protect our health while growing our economy.”

Predictably the oil industry and their Republican minions tried to get the EPA to delay its ruling. The American Petroleum Institute resisted the move through obfuscation by saying that Tier 3 standards will cost consumers an additional 6 to 9 cents a gallon. The real reason for their resistance may be the fact that Big Oil does not want to invest the $90 billion required to secure compliance.

Quoting an anonymous senior administration official, The Huffington Post said that only 16 of 111 refineries would need to invest in major equipment to meet the new standards. Of the remaining refineries, 29 already are meeting the standards because they are selling cleaner fuel in California or other countries, and 66 would have to make modifications.

The new rule has garnered diverse support from health groups, consumer advocacy organizations labor unions, as well as environmentalists.

“The chorus of support for these new standards is as widespread as it is unprecedented,” said Robinson. “Obviously, oil companies work for their own best interests, but when it comes to Tier 3, it’s only a solo act.”

The support of one group in particular stands out as especially significant. The new standards have earned an endorsement from the Union of Concerned Scientists (UCS) who applauding the government's efforts to "clean the air" and "create jobs."

In addition to direct economic benefits, the Navigant study cited above also found that the Tier 3 program will create almost 5,300 permanent jobs in the operation and maintenance of new refining equipment, as well as more than 24,000 new jobs over a three year period for equipment installation at US refineries.

© 2013, Richard Matthews. All rights reserved.

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Canada Withdraws from UN Efforts to Combat Desertification

March 29, 2013 Add Comment Edit

The Canadian government, led by Prime Minister Stephen Harper, has opted to withdraw from the UN's global desertification convention which is known by the acronym CCD. Of the 193 countries involved, Canada is the only country to pull out.

Due to over-farming and over-grazing in the prairie provinces (Alberta, Manitoba, and Saskatchewan), 200,000 km of the country's breadbasket suffer from desertification. The affected areas cover 80 percent of the country's farm lands.

When it comes to environmental issues Canada is increasingly isolated on the world stage. Withdrawing from a global effort to combat desertification, is but the latest environmental insult from Canada's ruling Conservative government.

The government has passed budgets which gut environmental agencies, This government has pulled out of Kyoto, silenced Canadian environmental scientists and more recently they tried to muzzle American scientists. Canada was also an environmental Pariah at last summer's Rio+20, Through the expansion of the tar sands (the dirtiest energy on Earth) the Canadian government appears to be focusing its energy on expanding its role as a dirty energy superpower. While the Conservative government has abdicated almost all of their environmental responsibilities, they have shown a steadfast commitment to dirty energy.

The Globe and Mail reported that the reason Prime Minister Harper gave for Canada's withdrawal from the CCD was that the program is too bureaucratic and a poor use of tax payer dollars. This is a weak pretext as the Canadian government contributes a paltry $315,000 to the CCD.

Across Canada conservation groups are working in communities and schools to share better approaches to grazing and better farming techniques. While Canadians are doing more to stop desertification, the federal government has decided this is a good time to do less.

Robert Fowler, a former Canadian ambassador to the United Nations, said Canada’s abandonment of the convention amounts to a “departure from global citizenship. It has taken climate-change denial, the abandonment of collective efforts to manage global crises and disregard of the pain and suffering of the peoples of sub-Saharan Africa (among many others) to quite a different level,” Mr. Fowler said in an e-mail.

Even by Conservative standards the Harper government has abdicated its environmental obligations. Conservative Prime Minister Brian Mulroney, helped to negotiate Canada's entry into the UN Desertification Treaty as well as other UN agreements to tackle environmental problems, like UN Convention on Biodiversity.

“Anything that they’re involved in that can lead to more evidence that we’re a planet in crisis environmentally they don’t want to be part of,” said Maude Barlow, head of the Council of Canadians and the author of a forthcoming book on global droughts. “They simply do not want this information coming forward.”

The real reason that Canada withdrew from the CCD may be that the government wants to avoid a forthcoming scientific meeting in Germany scheduled for April. This Conservative government is hostile to unfettered scientific inquiry because it exposes the Harper regime as perpetrators of what can only be described as a multi-tiered environmental genocide.

© 2013, Richard Matthews. All rights reserved.

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Republicans Oppose the PTC but Support Oil Subsidies

March 28, 2013 Add Comment Edit

It is not surprising that many Republicans who oppose the Production Tax Credit (PTC) for renewable energy, support fossil fuel subsidies. Although the PTC was extended through 2013, some Republicans have vowed to continue their push to kill it. Conservatives are well known for their love of free markets and distrust of government subsidies, unless of course it involves fossil fuels. Some Republicans in Congress have made it clear that they will seek amendments that erode the PTC.

Republicans including the 2012 presidential nominee Mitt Romney, wanted to let the PTC expire. Romney and other Republicans who oppose the PTC say it costs too much and props up businesses with government subsidies.

Romney spokesman Ryan Williams said in an email that Romney "believes the government should stop playing venture capitalist and doling out open-ended subsidies, and instead encourage private sector innovation and market competition.” This is part of the same conservative philosophy that advocates for unbridled free markets and supports deregulation.

In September of 2012, 46 Republicans voted against the PTC while in March 2011, 46 Republicans voted against closing tax loopholes that let Big Oil collect $4 billion in annual subsidies.

Some Republicans, including Iowa Rep. Tom Latham, Sen. Scott Brown, and Gov. Terry Branstad support the tax credits for renewable energy because of the jobs they create. It is estimated that the expiry of the PTC would have resulted in the loss of 10,000 jobs in the wind industry alone.

However there are other powerful members of the GOP that remain opposed to the PTC. Representative James Lankford (R-OK), the chair of the newly formed House Oversight Subcommittee on Energy Policy, Health Care and Entitlements, has made it clear that his Subcommittee is suspicious of the federal government's support for renewables including the PTC.

The wind industry may have received a one-year reprieve, but if some Republicans have their way this extension will be clawed back by subsequent amendments.

US Wind Energy Doubles and Eclipses Natural Gas in 2012

March 28, 2013 Add Comment Edit

In 2012 the US added 13.1 gigawatts (GW) of wind power, which for the first time is better than natural gas. New US gas capacity in 2012 was around 8,7GW. In total, 40.5 percent of new US electricity generation capacity came from wind power installations as compared to 33.1 percent for natural gas. (Globally, wind added 44.7GW last year).

US installed wind energy in 2012 has almost doubled compared to 2011 (6.8GW). Total US utility-scale wind power capacity, through the 4th quarter of 2012 was at more than 60GW. To get an idea of the significance of surpassing the 60GW milestone, that is enough energy to power more than 15 million homes or the equivalent of almost 50 coal-fired power plants. However, unlike fossil fuels, wind energy offers the compelling benefit of having no emissions. The emissions reductions offered by wind power in the US are equal to taking more than 15 million cars off the road.

The surge we saw in 2012 was largely due to the expedited development of new wind farms that sought to capitalize on the US government's Production Tax Credit (PTC) which was scheduled to expire at the end of 2012. The production tax credit provides 2.2 cents a kilowatt-hour for electricity from wind farms. However, a last minute addendum to the fiscal cliff deal, extended the PTC for one year on Jan. 1, 2013.

The PTC has been a growth engine for the wind industry and it has succeeded in giving investors the confidence to invest. In addition to being a true clean energy alternative, wind energy now provides 37,000 jobs in the US. According to the Wall Street Journal, in the last five years the wind industry has created 75,000 jobs with an average annual investment of around $15 billion.

The fact that US wind energy outpaced gas in 2012 is indicative of the increasing maturity of this renewable resource. “It shows that wind has firmly planted its foothold as a valuable energy source,” said Jacob Susman, chief executive officer of New York wind developer OwnEnergy Inc. “Five years ago we had to drag utilities in kicking and screaming. Now they’ve got teams of experts who understand its value.”

Some have argued that the PTC would not be able to drive wind development in the context of low natural gas prices. The theory holds that as long as natural gas prices remain low, the wind industry will have a difficult time competing. The fact that wind energy did significantly better than natural gas in 2012 makes the point that with appropriate support wind energy can outperform gas.

© 2013, Richard Matthews. All rights reserved.

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A Condensed History of the Production Tax Credit (PTC)

March 28, 2013 Add Comment Edit

After 20 years and many extensions, the federal Production Tax Credit (PTC) expired at the end of 2012, but then miraculously it was once again resurrected in an eleventh hour addendum to the fiscal cliff deal. On Jan. 1, 2013, the final vote of the 112th Congress secured the extension of the PTC. Although 60+ tax provisions were due to expire the last minute deal granted the PTC a stay of execution.

In the final hours of the fiscal cliff negotiations, a provision in the American Taxpayer Relief Act (P.L. 112-240) added a $12 billion, one year extension of the PTC. The $12 billion figure ($12.1 billion to be exact) was estimated by the Congressional Joint Committee on Taxation. Just before 2 A.M. on New Year’s Day 2013, the Senate overwhelming voted in favor of the deal (89-8).

Alongside this most recent extension, a change to the PTC was introduced that relaxed the eligibility requirements for the credit. Renewable energy projects now need only ‘commence construction’ by January 1, 2014, to qualify for the credit, instead of the projects being ‘placed-in-service’ by that date. Further the threshold on tax cuts was dropped to $450,000 from $1,000,000.

No discussion of government support for renewable energy would be complete without at least mentioning American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) specifically section 1603 which has had a significant impact on installed renewable energy capacity. (Section 1603 made renewable energy grants available to project developers).

Markets were rattled by the immanent expiration of the PTC at the end of 2012 as concern mounted about an industry which rises and falls on votes by Congress. Nonetheless, the PTC has been a growth engine for renewable energy and it has succeeded in giving investors the confidence to invest.

© 2013, Richard Matthews. All rights reserved.

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US Government Support for Renewable Energy Projects

March 27, 2013 1 Comment Edit

The US federal government has shown that it can collaborate effectively to support the growth of renewable energy across the country. The Department of the Interior has worked with industry, state, tribal, and local partners to approve 34 renewable energy projects on public lands in western states and to build an offshore regulatory framework in the Atlantic.

The renewable energy projects include 18 utility-scale solar facilities, 9 geothermal plants and 7 commercial wind farms. In addition to providing 13,000 jobs, these projects will provide 10,400 megawatts of energy, or enough to power 3.4 million homes, all without the emissions associated with fossil fuels.

The west is not the only beneficiary of the federal government's support for renewable energy. On the opposite coast, Interior and other federal agencies have worked with their state counterparts, academia, and industry to identify six Wind Energy Areas (WEAs) off the Atlantic coast. These assessments examined areas with the greatest wind energy potential and fewest environmental risks.

The Department of the Interior is also moving forward with the construction of the 130-acre Cape Wind project, which is the first commercial wind development slated for federal offshore waters. Interior has already issued two non-competitive commercial wind leases, one off the coast of Massachusetts’ and one other off the coast of Delaware. It will also conduct the first competitive lease sale for a 278,000 acres WEA off Virgini, Rhode Island and Massachusetts.

Development of these offshore wind farms could support more than 4,000 megawatts (MW) of energy which is enough to supply power to 1.4 million homes.

In addition, the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM) is evaluating a proposal to build the Atlantic Wind Connection, offshore, mid-Atlantic region transmission infrastructure that could carry as much as 7,000 MW of electricity from offshore wind farms.

These results demonstrate that government's are capable of growing renewable energy and providing jobs all while paying due heed to social and environmental considerations.

© 2013, Richard Matthews. All rights reserved.

RGGI is Increasing Renewables while Reducing GHGs and Spurring Economic Growth

March 27, 2013 Add Comment Edit

According to a report released on March 26th, the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative (RGGI) has spurred the growth of renewable energy, reduced greenhouse gases (GHGs) and helped to grow the economy in the US Northeast. Between 2000 and 2010, the economies of the ten Northeast states grew twice as fast per capita as other states while per capita carbon dioxide emissions declined 25 percent faster.

These are the findings of a report released by Environment America. The report titled "A Double Success: Tackling Global Warming While Growing the Economy with an Improved Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative," shows that it is possible to increase renewable energy, lower GHGs and grow the economy at all at the same time.

“By promoting clean energy and energy efficiency programs, RGGI helps keep energy dollars in our local economy while reducing the risk of climate change-related costs,” said Pat Stanton, senior vice president for policy and advocacy at the Conservation Services Group (CSG), a large energy services company. “In the last five years, RGGI has helped to spur CSG’s growth. We have added over 450 new employees and improved the efficiency, comfort, and affordability of thousands of New England homes.”

Recent analyses also indicate that RGGI has produced a $1.6 billion economic boost to the region through 2011 and that strengthening RGGI could produce an additional $8 billion in economic benefits.

“By using RGGI to accelerate investments in energy efficiency, the Northeast states have made RGGI into a winner for businesses and consumers in the Northeast,” stated the Northeast Energy Efficiency Partnerships’ public policy director Jim O’Reilly. “This report shows that RGGI will continue to be a critical tool for states to manage their energy use and maintain our competitive advantage as we emerge from the economic downturn.”

Reducing global warming causing emissions is crucial to preempt an increase in the number of floods to affect the Northeast. These floods impact 1.5 million people in the Northeast living in coastal flood zones. The report indicates that the costs of these floods could reach $212 billion in storm-related economic losses by mid-century.

“In the wake of Winter Storm Nemo, Hurricane Sandy and Hurricane Irene, the Northeast must double-down on its commitment to lead the nation in reducing the pollution that’s warming the planet and changing our climate,” said Rob Sargent, energy program director for Environment America. Sargent went on to say “There’s no time to waste in tackling the climate challenge and it’s got to start right here and right now. The success that these states are having in limiting pollution, promoting energy efficiency and shifting to renewables should give us the confidence that they can continue to show the nation and the world that it can be done.”

In February, nine of the ten states involved in RGGI announced a new agreement to make deeper cuts in power plant carbon emissions that would lead to a 20 percent reduction over the next decade.

The report urged further action including:

New Jersey should rejoin the RGGI program, and lead the way in preventing increasingly severe storms and rising sea levels while bolstering the state’s economy.
Northeast states should adopt limits on global warming pollution that go beyond the electricity sector to include transportation and heating fuels.
Maryland, New Jersey, Connecticut and Massachusetts must implement their laws with binding targets for reducing global warming pollution.
More states should take action to limit emissions, and joining RGGI would be a great step forward.
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency should move forward on limiting global warming pollution from new and existing power plants in all states.

These efforts will not only help to stave off climate change, they will also help provide a healthier environment .

“Reducing emissions from power plants has a direct positive impact on the health of our communities, translating into less asthma, less respiratory disease and less allergies,” said Gary Cohen, president of Health Care Without Harm, which works with the health care industry to promote sustainable practices. “Addressing climate change through RGGI and similar policies will help protect our families from climate-related diseases and other health impacts of extreme weather events.”

“Strengthening programs such as RGGI is a win-win for the Northeast,” said Sargent. “We can reduce the impacts of global warming while powering our clean energy economy.”

© 2013, Richard Matthews. All rights reserved.

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The US Transportation Sector can Reduce Petroleum Use and GHG emissions by 80% over the Next Few Decades

March 27, 2013 Add Comment Edit

According to a new government study an 80 percent reduction in petroleum use and GHG emissions is possible in the transportation sector by 2050. This is the finding of research by the Transportation Energy Futures (TEF) project, a nine-part study undertaken by the Department of Energy Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy, National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL), and Argonne National Laboratory.

As reported in CleanTechnica, NREL Senior Analyst Austin Brown said: “Transportation accounts for 71 percent of total US petroleum consumption and 33 percent of our nation’s total carbon emissions. It presents significant opportunities to cut oil dependence while taking a bite out of greenhouse gas emissions. The finding that there are many options increases our confidence that a clean transportation solution is possible in the long term.”

TEF project researchers indicated that a combination of energy efficiency and reducing transportation demand can stop and even reverse energy use. This would make it possible "for competitive renewable energy supplies to provide an increasing share of energy."

TEF project researchers put forth three principal aims to achieve major reductions in US petroleum use and GHG emissions:

Increase fuel economy for all types of vehicles.
Reduce use of transportation while providing comparable service (community development, urban planning, trip reduction through mass transit, tele-working, tele-shopping, carpooling, and efficient driving, and better management of freight demand patterns, including trends in operational needs and projections of future use levels).
Expand use of low-carbon fuels, (electricity, biofuels, hydrogen, and natural gas).

Transitioning to clean fuel and zero-emissions vehicles and modifying the demand for transportation are two focal points of the nine referenced in the TEF study. TEF project researchers indicated that reversing the trend of rising energy use in the transportation sector demand changes to the built environment, strategies to decrease personal travel, improvements in energy efficiency, and replacing truck freight with more energy-efficient rail and marine modes.

The keys to reducing petroleum use and reducing GHG emissions are highly energy-efficient vehicles and vehicles that employ cleaner fuels, (particularly in the Light Duty Vehicles). Marine, pipeline, rail, and off-road equipment, are also key to averting projected increases in energy consumption and GHG emissions.

Biofuels from sustainably-harvested biomass “could supply significant shares of the markets for jet fuel, gasoline, and diesel if DOE (Department of Energy) biofuels technology goals are met.” Balance of biomass resource demand and supply, including allocations for various transportation fuels, electric generation, and other applications.

To increase the use of hydrogen and electricity from renewable energy in the transportation sector, requires strong policies and incentives to help consumers overcome cost and range concerns, address automaker production and deployment issues, and encourage energy suppliers to rapidly build infrastructure.

© 2013, Richard Matthews. All rights reserved.

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Top 25 Sustainable Brands on Twitter

March 26, 2013 Add Comment Edit

Here is Triple Pundit's list of 25 for-profit businesses who are using Twitter to support their advocacy of people, planet and profits.

1. @SCJgreenchoices: Daily tweets from SC Johnson’s Global Corporate Affairs, Communication & Sustainability team on environmental topics, tips & green choices.
2. @Unilever: Sharing new content and engaging topics like marketing, business strategy, results, and sustainable living.
3. @SustainableSAP: Tweeting general sustainability and CSR info, and news about SAP’s sustainability solutions/efforts.
4. @CiscoCSR: Sharing resources for nonprofits & NGOs as well as global corporate social responsibility news & updates from Cisco.
5. @WalMartGreen: WalMart believes that together, we will create a more sustainable world to help people live better. 6.
@Ecomagination: GE’s forum for fresh thinking and conversation about clean technology and sustainable infrastructure.
7. @WasteManagement: Waste Management Inc. is the leading provider of comprehensive environmental solutions in North America.
8. @eBayGreen: Join eBayGreen to help the world buy, sell and think green every day!
9. @Stonyfield: Everything you want, and nothing you don’t! Fresh, organic tweets from the world’s leading organic yogurt maker.
10. @TerraCycle: Global leader in collecting hard-to-recycle waste to be recycled or upcycled. TerraCycle turns waste into new items.
11. @BASF: BASF is the world’s leading chemical company. About 113,000 employees worldwide create chemistry for a sustainable future.
12. @SeventhGen: Seventh Generation is committed to being the most trusted brand of household and personal-care products for your living home.
13. @JNJNews: The Johnson and Johnson company, partners and communities are caring for the world, one person at a time.
14. @Recyclebank: Recyclebank rewards you for taking every-day green actions with discounts and deals from local and national businesses.
15. @REI: Recreational Equipment Inc. (REI) is a member-owned coop, circa 1938, providing gear, guidance, and inspiration to get outdoors and explore nature.
16. @NativeEnergy: An expert provider of carbon offsets, renewable energy credits, and carbon accounting software.
17. @DardenSustains: Darden is the world’s largest full-service restaurant company; investing in our culture, restaurants and supply chain. Their focus is People, Planet, Plate.
18. @DuPont_ability: DuPont sustainability news: clean energy, solar, wind, biofuels, climate change, green chemistry and renewably sourced products to help people and the planet.
19. @AnniesHomegrown: Annie’s Foods says… We make good food, but that’s just the beginning. Let’s watch good grow.
20. @OATshoes: OAT Shoes are Shoes that Bloom: bury them after they wear down and flowers bloom, while the shoes decompose!
21. @Sainsburys: This grocery chain believes its values give real competitive advantage, and looks to differentiate on this basis for customers, colleagues, suppliers and stakeholders.
22. @AirBnB: Airbnb connects travelers seeking authentic experiences with hosts offering unique, inspiring spaces around the world.
23. @Interface_NA: Setting the pace for development of quality modular carpet tile using materials and processes that take less from the environment.
24. @SouthwestAir: Environmental Stewardship is a responsibility Southwest Airlines takes seriously, and efficient operations are the hallmark of the company.
25. @Zipcar: A community of folks who’ve found out that car sharing beats the heck outta car ownership.

Source: Triple Pundit

Comprehensive Summary of US Green Legislation

March 26, 2013 Add Comment Edit

It is essential for businesses to keep abreast of the legal imperatives that impinge on their operations. Keeping up with green legislation in the US is no easy task. To help make this effort easier, Greenful has put together a comprehensive summary of environmental legislation from the Clean Air Act (CAA) which was passed in 1967 to Corporate Average Fuel Economy (Cafe) of 2012. Here are 27 links that cover all major green legislation and related amendments:

Clean Air Act

Clean Air Act Amendments of 1990

Clean Air Act PM2.5 Update December 2012

Clean Water Act

Atomic Energy Act

Toxic Substances Control Act

Endangered Species Act

Environmental Justice for Low-Income Populations

Protection of Children from Environmental Risks and Safety Risks

Federal Food, Drug and Cosmetic Act

Federal Insecticide, Fungicide, and Rodenticide Act

Marine Protection, Research, and Sanctuaries Act (MPRSA) (Ocean Dumping Act)

National Environmental Policy Act

Nuclear Waste Policy Act

Oil Pollution Act

Pollution Prevention Act

Resource Conservation and Recovery Act

Safe Drinking Water Act

Shore Protection Act

Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act (Superfund)

Energy Improvement and Extension Act of 2008

Energy Independence and Security Act of 2007

Energy Policy Act of 2005

Energy Policy Act of 1992

Surface Transportation Acts

Alternative Motor Fuels Act

Corporate Average Fuel Economy (CAFE) Final Rule 2012

Source: Greenful

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Webinar - NWF Emerging Leaders Professional Development

March 25, 2013 Add Comment Edit

The NWF Emerging Leaders Professional Development Webinar Series: Finding Meaning, Money and Community in a Changing Word - A Discussion with Billy Parish, co-author of "MAKING GOOD" will take place on March 26, 2013 from 2:00pm - 3:00pm EST. The National Wildlife Federation’s Emerging Leaders Initiative (ELI) will host its second webinar of their Professional Development Webinar Series:

The webinar is free, but registration is required, please click here.

Course - Environmental Law & Regulation

March 25, 2013 Add Comment Edit

The course Environmental Law and Regulation takes place on March 27, 2013, from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m (Check-in time: 8 a.m.)in New Brunswick, NJ.

Redesigned and updated for 2013, this interactive course is "TEAM" taught by NJ's top environmental attorneys, regulators and consultants. Case studies in the areas of air, water and land use will be presented in a way that demonstrates the different roles and viewpoints of all members of the team. A client's perspective will also be incorporated into the case studies. The team leaders for each featured topic will present a lightning-round overview of the important statutes, regulations and case law related to their subject areas so that all discussions have context. The consultant and agency representatives will coordinate with the team leaders to present a real-world view of the operation of the law in question from a permitting, enforcement and litigation point of view as they affect both businesses and individuals.
Agenda: Wednesday, March 27, 2013

8:00-8:30: Registration
8:30-10:45 CERCLA and Spill Act
10:45-11:00: Break
11:00-12:30: Industrial Site Recovery Act
12:30-1:30: Lunch
1:30-2:45: Natural Resource Damages
2:45-3:00: Break
3:00-4:30: LSRP/SRRA
4:30: Adjourn

Rutgers University Course Code: EL0101CA13

For more information click here.

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