The Horrors of Halloween Waste

While Halloween may be a retailers dream, from an environmental perspective it is a nightmare. On this day consumers generate a mountain of waste including tons of non-biodegradable candy wrappers and plastic items like decorations and costumes. Halloween appears to be growing in popularity and it is expected that Americans will increase their spending in 2016. 

During the period between October and December, retailers make up as much as 30 percent of their yearly sales numbers. According to the National Retail Federation (NRF). As reported by Fortune, Americans are expected to spend a record 8.4 billion on costumes, candy, decorations and greeting cards this year.  The two worst Halloween buys for the environment are decorations and costumes. Both are commonly made of plastic that end up in landfills and do not break down. Plastics also contain endocrine-disrupting phthalates toxins including bisphenolic compounds like BPA.

Surpassed only by Christmas, Halloween is the second biggest decorating holiday of the year. Americans are expected to $2 billion on decorations, and $390 million on greeting cards, according to a National Retail Federation survey. Consumers spent $2.44 billion on costumes in 2014 and in 2016 the amount spent on costumes is expected to be $3.1 billion.

Each year the Halloween spend has been increasing. The 2014 spend breaks down to an average of $77.52 per person representing a 63 percent increase over 2005. The average spend was $74.34 in 2015 and it is expected to reach a record breaking $82.93 this year. The average spend on costumes is expected to be $27.85, and candy is expected to average $22.37 per person.

Halloween candy has gone from $1.16 billion in 2005 to $2.5 billion in 2016. Chocolate is the favorite Halloween candy, with more than 90 million pounds being sold, followed by candy corn, more than 35 million pounds are produced each year.

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Countries Leading the Renewable Energy Revolution

According to the Renewables 2016 Global Status Report, as of early 2016, there was a total of 173 countries that had renewable energy targets in place. China is leading renewable energy growth, followed by the US, Japan, the UK, and India. China also leads in non-hydro renewables, followed by the US, Brazil, Germany, and Canada. However, the per capita renewables is led by Denmark, Germany, Sweden, Spain, and Portugal. When country's GDP are factored, the biggest investors were small countries like Mauritania, Honduras, Uruguay and Jamaica.

Europe is showing that 100 percent renewable energy is possible. The Renewables 2016 Global Status Report shows that in Europe green energy is now the leading source of electricity, providing 44 percent of total EU capacity in 2015. Germany is one of the world's renewable energy superpowers. The country generated so much renewable energy last spring that utilities paid users to consume electricity.

We have seen renewable energy records set in Portugal and at least ten other countries are showing real leadership on the renewable energy front. Despite the nation's political ambivalence, we are seeing leadership from countries like Australia with projects that include the Clements Gap Wind Farm.

In the US the renewable energy industry will be buoyed by the extension to the wind energy Production Tax Credit (PTC) and Investment Tax Credit (ITC). According to some congressional support for wind will double the number of installations between 2016 and 2020. U.S wind power now has more than 70 GW of installed capacity.

Led by China Asia will continue to be the undisputed leader in wind energy. In addition to China Japan, India, Vietnam, Mongolia, Indonesia, Pakistan, Thailand, and the Philippines will all likely see tremendous growth in wind power.

Although there are strong regional and global powers, renewable energy is a global phenomenon and almost every country on earth is onboard. POIU 

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Event - Renewable Energy World International

This event will take place on December 13-15, 2016 in Orlando Florida at the Orange County Convention Center (North and South Halls). Renewable Energy World International tracks are designed to be made horizontally applicable across all technology sectors. Hear from our track champions on what is being covered during these impactful conference sessions.

Building Relationships

Make connections with 20,000 other renewable energy professionals from around the globe. Learn from each other during multiple networking events.

Expand Your Knowledge

Hear from industry experts on topics such as Energy Storage, Distributed Energy Resources, Large Scale Renewables, Global Markets and Utility Integration and more. Conference Tracks CPC Pre-Conference Tracks CEU Training Courses

1,400 Companies to Choose From

Explore the newest technology and see products/services in power generation, renewables, and nuclear. Make deals right from the show floor.

To register click here.

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Event - Smart City Expo World Congress: Projects and Urban Solutions

Smart City Expo World Congress(SCEWC) will take place on November 15-17, 2016, in Barcelona, Spain at the Gran Via Venue. This event will offer insightful debate, exclusive networking and experience exchange, that's driving Smart Cities forward. The are a vast array of inspirational sessions, keynotes and roundtables. Gain extensive know-how from the more than 50 cities, countries and joint pavilions striving to shape the cities of the future. WSCEWC is the international summit of discussion about the link between urban reality and technological revolution. Since its first edition in 2011, it has succeeded to become a referential global event to support the development of our cities.

The congress will bring together over 400 global influencers and innovators to share knowledge, debate the challenges faced by our cities, encourage out of the box thinking and inspire a worldwide call for action in order to develop smarter and more sustainable cities. This professional, institutional and social meeting point is a leading platform of ideas, networking, experiences and international business deals that gathers together the highest level of stakeholders, in the context of urban development.

Governance

Citizen empowerment, commons, engagement, infrastructure management, open data, performance measurement, public services, right to the city, service integration, transparency.

Economy

Business model, economic development, financing models, public-private- people partnership, social economy. Mobility Data management, electrical vehicles, intelligent transport systems, pedestrians, public transport, sustainable mobility, traffic management.

Society

Co-creation, co-production, education, empowerment, equity, inclusive, living labs, livable cities, quality of life, social innovation. Sustainability

Alternative resources, climate change, low carbon, public space, regional development, renewable energy, resilience, urban development. Data & Technology Big data, cloud, cyber platform, cybersecurity, data analysis, data protection, internet of things, networks, peer-to- peer, sensors.

Safety

Public safety, cybersecurity, vulnerabilities, emergencies, data center, cloud, public services, data protection, cyber threats, infraestructures, data privacy, data management, data protection, data property, surveillance.

Keynote Speakers 2016 - This year's globally influential smart city innovators

• Ellen Macarthur The Fundamental Role of Cities in Catalysing Transition Towards a Circular Economy November 16th 10:00 – 10:30
• Parag Khanna Why We Need More Connected Cities? November 16th 16:45 – 17:15
• Susan Etlinger Artificial Intelligence in the Digital City November 17th 11:10 – 11:40
• David Bollier The City as a Commons November 17th 16:30 - 17:00

Click here to get information on passes and prices.

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Green Buildings Deliver Results (Videos)

Green buildings deliver climate friendly results. A green building can reduce greenhouse gasses, minimize waste, and decrease water usage. A number of studies have independently documented measurable results.

A California study by William Eisenstein, Ph.D. of UC Berkeley indicated that green buildings are associated with much lower GHG emissions as compared to traditional buildings. Certified commercial green buildings cut greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions from water consumption an average 50 percent. Green buildings reduce solid waste management-related GHG emissions by 48 percent and lowered transportation-related GHG emissions by 5 percent.


In the video below Eisenstein explains his research findings.


A new Canada Green Building Council (CaGBC) report shows how a greener built environment can reduce emissions, stimulate the economy, create jobs and even enable Canada to exceed its national emission reduction targets.

National emissions reduction targets

As reviewed by Canadian Architect, the report shows how green buildings can play a salient role in meeting the federal government’s 2030 target of a 30 percent GHG reductions below 2005 levels. Buildings accounts for approximately one-third of Canda's annual emissions.

Citing research from WSP Group and Acton White Associates, the report says that by upgrading existing buildings with measures that improve energy efficiency and reduce GHG emissions Canada can meet its national emission reduction targets.

The report finds that by supporting green building efforts, by 2030, Canada will reduce GHG emissions by 19.4 million CO2e tons (or 44 percent) from the 2005 baseline, with energy-related cost savings of $6.2 billion and direct and indirect GDP impacts of $32.5 billion.

Recommendations

To help advance the widespread use of green building design the report suggests that governments should offer incentives for energy efficiency improvements. These improvements include but are not limited to recommissioning, deep retrofits, renewable onsite energy systems, and switching fuel sources to renewables in existing buildings commercial, institutional and high-rise residential buildings over 25,000 sq.ft. Other helpful initiatives suggested by the report include building energy benchmarking, reporting and disclosure.

The report also suggests supporting a national net zero building initiative to foster innovation and create a Canadian standard. Another. If all new buildings above 25,000 sq. ft. were net zero by 2030 we could avert 7.5 megatonnes of GHG emissions. This represents a 17 percent reduction in the sector compared to 2005 levels.



Government buildings

On its own, the government can reduce the GHG emissions in its own buildings by adopting advanced high-performance green building measures for federal building renovations, new construction, and leased properties.

Implementing energy efficiency programs for federally-owned buildings over 25,000 sq.ft, which account for three to five per cent of building sector emissions, will result in 480,000 tons of GHG emissions reductions and cost savings of approximately $170 million, annually.

Jobs

Investing in green building also serves as an economic stimulus and creates jobs. The report indicates that the adoption of green building upgrades would benefit 16 sectors. The report also claims that ramping-up green building would create jobs in the manufacturing, professional services, trade, real estate, construction, and telecommunications sectors.

The total number of jobs created in Canada would be around 260,741 equivalent full-time jobs annually. These jobs would provide a labor income $26.8 billion (in current dollars) by 2030. Construction alone would generate $5.2 billion in taxes accruing to the federal, provincial and municipal governments by 2030.

In the US, green building employed 2.3 million Americans in 2015 and it is outpacing overall construction growth. This is the finding in the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC) study from Booz Allen Hamilton (NYSE:BAH). As explained in a press release: "By 2018, the study finds, green construction will account for more than 3.3 million U.S. jobs–more than one-third of the entire U.S. construction sector–and generate $190.3 billion in labor earnings."



We have not even scratched the surface on the number of people that will ultimately be employed by the green building sector. There will come a day when green buildings will be the rule.

The social cost of the GHG emissions avoided by green building in Canada would be almost a billion dollars ($960 million) by 2030. As Adam Bonislawski wrote in an April 2016 Blueprint article, that the benefits of green building are reminiscent of Brudtland's three-legged stool. The title of the article says it all, "Green Buildings: Good for the Environment, Occupants, and the Bottom Line"

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Climate Gets Woefully Little Time in the Presidential Debates

Over the course of the four debates (three presidential and one vice presidential) environmental and climate issues have been all but ignored. The first debate spent the most time on climate change, although that was less than a minute and a half and unsurprisingly, Hilary Clinton did most of the talking.  Donald Trump has avoided the topic altogether.

According to Grist the conversation on climate in the first presidential debate amounted to just 82 seconds! By the fourth debate it declined to around 2 seconds.

Another Grist article by Emma Foehringer Merchant says that there was a total of five minutes and twenty five seconds spent talking about climate change and other environmental issues in the first two presidential debates.

She breaks it down as follows, 1 minute, 22 seconds in the first presidential debate, and 4 minutes, 3 seconds in the second. Climate got just a split-second in the vice presidential debate. In the final debate Hilary very briefly mentioned climate change.

Some say the reason that so little time was attributed to climate change is the fact that the debate moderators did not ask related questions.

Climate and environment were ignored by moderators despite a public attempt to push moderators to ask the questions.

In September, the League of Conservation voters, Daily Kos, Fiends of the Earth, and Media Matters circulated a petition calling for more  climate questions in the debate.

Joe Romm from Climate Progress’, called the lack of interest by moderators “criminally irresponsible’ and the New York Times referred to the "failure of journalism."

However, as climate denier Anthony Watts points out, the reality is that the absence of questions reflect the general lack of interest in climate change.

"in the real world, few people care anymore," Watts said. He then cites polls that corroborate his thesis. According to Watt, in a survey of U.S. Voters, climate change came in last.  Watt cites a worldwide poll conducted by the U.N. suggesting that climate ranks "dead last" in 2016 with almost 10 million votes cast. Finally he points to a September 2016 poll from the Associated Press that indicates 42 percent would not want to pay even a dollar more for electricity to combat climate change.

This begs the question "what are a journalists responsibilities?"  Is a journalist meant to pander to popular ignorance? According to Watt the answer is yes.

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Renewable Energy Business Leadership: Tools and Guidance

Corporations are moving in droves to secure a supply or renewable energy to power their operations. Whether they build renewable energy generation capacity onsite or they source that power from a third party, the trend is unmistakable. There are a number of good reasons why corporations are doing so, the attractiveness of the environmental benefits are buoyed by the fact that renewable energy pricing is far less volatile than fossil fuels. The move towards renewables is being driven by the realization that such acquisitions benefit the bottom line.

A range of business initiatives show the business community is increasingly invested in renewable energy. In recent months there was the new RE100 initiative that is calling on 1000 businesses to commit to secure all of their energy from renewable sources. In the US, some 154 companies employing 11 million people have committed to 100% renewable energy. The RE100 lists 86 corporations that have made the 100% renewables commitment.

Demand

Currently, demand for renewable energy is outpacing supply. As explored in an article published in Forbes by Letha Tawney, the Director Of Utility Innovation and Polsky Chair For Renewable Energy at WRI, corporate contracts for renewable energy acquisitions in the US nearly tripled from 2014 to 2015. However, there is still a far way to go as renewables account for only around 10 percent of the total share of energy used. Almost 100 companies demonstrated interest in renewables at a REBA summit last May.

As Tawney states, "since there’s plenty of corporate demand, the problem is supply...it’s excessively difficult for large companies in the United States to buy as much renewable energy as they want."

To help address this demand shortfall multinational corporations are joining together to demand more renewable energy. A total of 60 companies and over 50 leading project developers and service providers participating in a network called the Renewable Energy Buyers Alliance (REBA), that aims to break down barriers to lower-carbon energy.

The White House has recognized REBA and WRI, for joining the Clean Energy Ministerial initiative to scale corporate procurement and drive additional deployment of renewables and help to secure agreements consistent with the Paris Climate Accord.

Market forces have already been shown to be killing the fossil fuel industry. The demand for renewables is a classic example of how market forces can be used to propel a rapid increase in renewable energy in the US. As Tawney says, this is "a market force to be reckoned with."

Support tools

There are also some changes that are making it easier for business to purchase renewable energy in the US including facilitated procurement tools. As reviewed in a Triple Pundit article by Jim Pierobon, there is a new interactive map from the World Resources Institute that enables users to click on a state to see renewable energy options and related utility offerings and see what is going on in other states.

A new resource from the World Resources Institute, called the interactive Corporate Renewable Energy Strategy Map shows where heavy energy users can buy renewable electricity. The state-by-state map displays options at the scale companies need from local utilities and at prices the Institute considers "affordable."

The data for each state includes renewable energy mandates, tax incentives, green tariff programs, and other utility or government offerings for states in which the aforementioned are available.

The WRI plans to track and update the map with deals utilities are cutting with customers. This map will drive renewable energy by helping businesses to make decisions about where they may want to expand based on the existence and cost of renewables in that state. This will also help states to compete among one another to ensure that they have an attractive renewable energy offerings that encourage businesses to build in their state. States without renewables (such as Southeast U.S.) will lose out unless they begin to provide corporate clients with the renewable energy supply they are seeking.

This map reflects the fact that each state has something different to offer prospective corporate buyers. To make it easier for corporations to buy renewables, WRI and its three partners created “Buyer Principles” organized for the REBA Summit.

Greater choice in our options to procure renewable energy Cost competitiveness between traditional and renewable energy rates Access to longer-term, fixed-price renewable energy Access to projects that are new or help drive new projects in order to reduce energy emissions beyond business as usual Increased access to third-party financing vehicles as well as standardized and simplified processes, contracts and financing for renewable energy projects Opportunities to work with utilities and regulators to expand our choices for buying renewable energy

Vertical integration

There appears to be a movement in the direction of a one stop shop regarding renewable energy. As quoted in an Environmental Leader article, Chris Robinson, a research associate on the Energy Storage team at Lux Research, said that the industry is moving toward a one-stop-shop business model. "we do see the commercial space moving toward vertical integration and will in many ways involve the same players as the residential space."

Through his work with Tesla and other endeavors Elon Musk has demonstrated that he is an innovative leader of the emerging low carbon economy.  Telsa's residential and commercial scale energy storage solutions are a case in point. He is forging a new business model that will help to provide onsite solar and battery systems in one package. This is due to Tesla’s proposed $2.6 billion merger with SolarCity (the vote by shareholders will take place next month).

If the SolarCity deal goes through the merger would fully integrate residential, commercial and grid-scale solar generation and storage.  This would be the world’s only vertically integrated sustainable energy company. "By joining forces, we can operate more efficiently and fully integrate our products, while providing customers with an aesthetically beautiful and simple one-stop solar + storage experience: one installation, one service contract, one phoneapp," Tesla said on their blog.

"A one-stop shop for customers would give Tesla better access to solar customers and also allow SolarCity to leverage Tesla’s brand and storefront locations," Robinson said.

Alan Russo, senior vice president of sales and marketing at REC Solar said his company is betting on a different paradigm. They believe, "customers are seeking greater choices, not fewer...[customers] also want to work with a proven energy partner with deep roots in the energy business that can reliably reduce energy costs while helping to make their organizations greener and more sustainable."

REC Solar is building a partner network of engineering, procurement and construction (EPC) companies and solar developers and giving them direct access to REC Solar’s commercial power purchase agreement.

Apple

Apple has been at the forefront of renewable energy development and in a move announced in June, they launched a subsidiary to sell renewable energy back to the grid. W  first ever decline in sales was front page news, Apple continues its sustainability leadership with, among other things, a commitment to go 100 percent renewable.

The Apple Campus 2 that is currently under construction in Cupertino, California is expected to have a solar capacity of 14 megawatts and baseload biogas fuel cells rated at 4 megawatts.

As reviewed in a Sustainable Brands article, Apple has created a new wholly-owned subsidiary known as Apple Energy LLC and filed an application to the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC), which regulates power companies, to be able to sell electricity and other power grid services to non-utility customers. Apple is not looking to be a utility, rather, this may be best understood as, "a sound business decision based on the fact that the company will sometimes generate more power than it is consuming and at other times be using more than it is generating." In their application to the the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) to sell "capacity, and certain ancillary services," which could may translate to more competition in the batteries, charging stations for electric vehicles or perhaps even electric vehicles themselves.

Guidance

As explained above, many corporations are interested in renewables and distributed energy resources (DERs) in particular, however, this can be a daunting task for many companies. According to Environmental Leader, in an effort to benefit from cost-efficiencies and reduce environmental impact, a total of 15 percent of companies are currently leveraging DERs at the majority of their sites. To help with the complex process that requires significant project management and capital expenditures, Ecova has launched a new e-book called, Considering Renewables: Five Key Considerations for Integrating Renewables into Your Procurement Strategy. The book is designed to help you explore whether DERs are right for your organization, when to make the investment and how to make a strong business case for DERs.

Considering Renewables analyzes trends from commercial and industrial leaders nationwide, giving you insight into how your peers are addressing stakeholder priorities, managing financial risk and seizing today’s renewable opportunities. Whether you’ve already started integrating renewables or are just beginning to consider them, Considering Renewables can help you lay out your organization’s roadmap for DER success.

Click here to access the Considering Renewables e-book and learn what renewables and other DERs can do for your business.

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Trump's Energy Lies from the Second Presidential Debate

Donald Trump has been lying his way through the entire presidential campaign.  A position could not be considered distinctively Trump's unless it was supported by lies and energy is no exception. By way of supporting his energy policy Trump has rattled off a long list of falsehoods.

Now that Trump's political obituary is  being written and we are all catching our breath after dodging his fossil fuel powered bullet, lets take a look at some of Trump's energy lies.

As reported by Ben Adler in an October 10th Grist article, here is a review of some of Trump's energy lies from the second debate.

Trump said, "energy is under siege by the Obama administration. … We are killing, absolutely killing, our energy business in this country." No, its  not. as Adler points out, "total U.S. energy production has increased for the last six years in a row. The oil and gas sector has been booming during the Obama presidency, as have the solar and wind industries. Coal companies have been struggling — but that is largely not the fault of President Obama, just as the oil boom is largely not something he can take credit for."

Trump suggested that by supporting the expansion of fossil fuels he will "pay off our national debt. They will pay off our tremendous budget deficits." Adler responds saying: "There is no remotely credible economic analysis to suggest that Trump’s proposals for expanded domestic fossil fuel extraction would generate enough additional tax revenue to close the budget deficit, much less pay off the existing national debt. It’s particularly implausible when you consider Trump’s massive tax-cut plans that would make both the deficit and debt considerably larger."

Trump also tried to say that he supports alternative energy saying, "I’m all for alternative forms of energy, including wind, including solar, etc." He went on to say: “There is a thing called clean coal … Coal will last for 1,000 years in this country.” Adler once again sets him straight saying, "Trump’s energy plan offers nothing to increase solar or wind energy production, but instead focuses on boosting fossil fuels." Adler also takes Trump to task over "clean coal" saying that, "no one has actually significantly cut emissions at an economically viable coal plant. The promises of clean coal projects have not been fulfilled."

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GRI's New Sustainability Reporting Standards are Leading the Way Into the Future

GRI is the gold standard in sustainability reporting and they have just updated their guidelines. GRI is the world's leading sustainability reporting organization their state of the art guidelines are the most widely used in the world. GRI was founded in Boston in 1997, its roots lie in the US non-profit organizations the Coalition for Environmentally Responsible Economies (CERES) and the Tellus Institute. GRI regularly updates their reporting guidelines.

According to Environmental Leader, sustainability reporting is now a mainstream practice with 81 percent of S&P companies publishing such reports.  Research published in the MIT Sloan Management Review, suggests that three quarters of senior executives in investment firms agree that a company’s sustainability performance is important to consider when making investment decisions.

While such reporting has been largely voluntary there are a number of jurisdictions (eg UK and France) where financial disclosure on sustainability is becoming mandatory.  The European Union will require financial disclosures on sustainability by companies starting in 2017. For more than five years the pressure has been building on stock exchanges to have their listed companies provide sustainability disclosures.

A studyfound that companies are spending too much time and resources creating lengthy reports that few read. The report suggests a new type of reporting and transparency that has a greater impact on improving performance.  GRI continues to innovate to address the problems referenced in this report. Here is a brief summary of their initiatives in recent years culminating in the new reporting standards that were released on October 19, 2016.

G4

The revisions contained in the G4 revisions of 2013 were in part in response to reactions to the exposure draft that was circulated for public comment in 2012. The G4 revisions have made the guidelines more user friendly and accessible. This was also the year GRI synced with other global frameworks including the OECD MNE Guidelines, the United Nations Global Compact Principles and the UN Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights. The G4 focused on flexibility and the inclusion of material sustainability information in integrated reports. It also emphasized transparency, and updated disclosures on governance, ethics and integrity, supply chain, anti-corruption and GHG emissions. The G4 is scheduled to be phased out by July 1, 2018.

GRI & CDP

The Global Reporting Initiative and the CDP released a guidance document in March, 2016, to help companies report on their climate-related impacts and avoid duplicating their disclosure efforts. The guide shows how the GRI’s G4 Guidelines can be used to answer the CDP’s climate change questions.

The Next Era of Corporate Disclosure

In March of this year Global Reporting Initiative launched a new reporting tool that maps out the future of sustainability reporting and disclosure. The digital publication is titled, The Next Era of Corporate Disclosure: Digital, Responsible, Interactive, it is the culmination of the first year of GRI’s Sustainability and Reporting 2025 project which aims to generate a discussion about the future of sustainability reporting and disclosures.

The report says that organizations will increased their focus on climate change and move from annual reports to sustainability data exchange.

As quoted in an Environmental Leader article, Nelmara Arbex, GRI’s chief advisor on innovation in reporting, outlined five things companies should do now to prepare for this next phase of corporate disclosure.

1. Do a careful materiality analysis not only considering the past activities but future plans, considering as much as possible the impacts of the supply chain, or post-consumption issues.
2. Publish the information in a clear way. Make it direct and to the point, in easy to find digital formats. Include supply chain information.
3. Ask external reliable organizations to check the disclosures published.
4. Do not mislead those using your report — such as shareholders and other decision makers — with information that is not critical to tackle real issues.
5. Prepare the disclosure to be shared, analyzed and discussed by many. And this, Arbex says, “will change the way you make decisions and structure your business.”

SDGs

The GRI’s G4 reporting guidelines offer guidance on how to link sustainability disclosure to the UN's Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). In May 2016, GRI and the UN Global Compact renewed their partnership to support SDGs. This partnership is focused on helping the private sector to align themselves with SDGs by measuring and reporting their efforts.

Sustainability Reporting Standards

On October 19th, 2016, GRI released its latest reporting guidance which have been developed through more than 15 years of a multi-stakeholder process. ​To create these standards the Global Sustainability Standards Board (GSSB) drew upon input from business, labor, government, investors, civil society, academia and sustainability practitioners.

The latest evolution of GRI’s reporting disclosures are for any company, in any industry. They are designed to make it easier for companies to report on their sustainability initiatives and progress. The new guidelines are titled GRI Sustainability Standards and they provide a much needed common language for sustainability reporting.

The latest incarnation of GRI's corporate reporting guidance elaborates on G4 topics such as GHG emissions, energy, water and labor practices.  However, they are designed to be more even more straightforward than the G4 guidelines. Each of the 36 modular standards includes detailed information on reporting requirements, recommendations, and guidance. The fact that it is modular enables companies to focus on areas that are material to their operations. It also allows smaller companies to use the standards. Each standard can be revised independently.

These new reporting guidelines are essential to realizing the goals set at COP21 in Paris. In a Triple Pundit article, Thomas Schueneman has suggested that the new standards give the business community a social license to operate.

Training and Information

ISOS Group offers training and GRI has an online Q&A to help organizations transition from G4 to GRI Standards. GRI is organizing free launch events around the globe in November: in North America on the 2nd, 16th and 29th, in Africa on the 10th, in Australia on the 15th and 17th, in Asia on the 21st. For more information or to register for a launch event visit the GRI website here To download the new standards click here.

The new GRI Standards will take effect on July 1, 2018.

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Sustainability Professionals Discuss the Benefits of Constructive Disagreement

If you want the best to come out of your sustainability efforts subject them to scrutiny and invite diverging views. The world in which we live is full of echo- chambers when what we need is sustainability thought leadership that invites dissenting points of view.  We should welcome debate that leaves no stone unturned and no sacred cows unchallenged. We should be leary of fulsome exchanges that do not deepen or broaden our understanding of an issue. The goal is to arrive at the best possible strategy and the best possible practices.

This train of thought was precipitated by a recent LinkedIn thread which made a similar point. The thread occured on a Sustainability Professionals board and it was started by Hamish Taylor. "Constructive disagreement is so much more powerful than passive collaboration," Taylor said.

While some may prefer mutual back slapping and shared agreement, this will not necessarily produce the best results. So much is gleaned through constructive disagreement. In this context passive collaboration may even be construed as a disservice to an organization or an idea.

Taylor described a "wonderful experience in which a multi-stakeholder initiative involving several competitors in a pre-competitive environment demonstrated how the power of constructive disagreement and active debate trumps passive collaboration by far."

Almost all successful managers know that great leadership encouages disagreement.  This view was eloquently articulated in an Inc article by Mark Peter Davis, CEO, Kohort & VC, High Peaksin. A recent Huffington Post article by Mark Gough, described collaboration as the "art of constructive disagreement."

However, it is important to have some shared assumptions among stakeholders. As Taylor points out, in the example he referenced, the alignment on key issues was strong and the commitment to do good is shared. But Taylor says it is even more important to "actively argue and take different perspectives in order to advance the strategy and [an] action plan."

Jef Conley said, "This is quite productive when both parties share respect for the others' right to fact-based, experience-honed viewpoints. Otherwise, it's just politics and religion."

Taylor urges people in similar situations to "speak up, make their disagreements heard because that makes the alignment process on agreed actions so much stronger and credible."

According to Taylor this leads to "genuinely sustainable change."

Talor specificall argues that this approach delivers "more power to SDG#17 Partnership for the Goals".

A number of sustainability professionals left comments supportive of Taylor's thesis. Kate McHugh responded by saying that she thinks this also "applies to personal and business relationships."

Kim Springer explained that her staff practice constructive disagreement with her.  "I'd much rather be challenged and have a good, healthy debate, with any of my program's stakeholders," Springer said, "than be leading down a lesser path. It's a sign of engagement and a good day."

Zvi Blank said it best when he stated,  "any competent corporate leader prefers to have “Nay” subordinates over “Yeah” ones. That way he (she) can get the true picture of the company’s status."

Gretchen Reinhardt elaborated further on the theme in this thread saying, "Respectfully engaged conversations speak to one another rather than about one another."

Ian Commons rounded out the conversation with the following statement, "Dialogue between intellectuals genuinely looking for solutions is indeed an inspiration and a much needed breath of fresh air, there are far to many conversations that are no less than provocative with no intent to benefit."

Taylor said, "I had several constructive disagreements in the last two days - all of which have produced significant step-change thinking on Sustainability strategy and deliverables... it is well worth having a difference of opinion on a regular basis!"

A discussion about the value of constructive disagreements, should occur very early in the partnership process. The earlier such an approach is discussed the less painful it will be to disengage if there is too much daylight between fundamental assumptions.

For  a more detailed discussion of the steps involved in constructive disagreement click here.

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Event - The Green Expo

This event will take place Wednesday to Friday, October 26 to 28, 2016 at the WTC in Mexico City. Exhibition hours are from 12 to 19:00 hrs. Congress Hours are from 8:00 to 18:00 hrs.

The Green Expo® is the leading Exhibition and Congress where solutions and new technologies presented by ecological and sustainable companies to the public and private sectors, who are looking for up to date products and services, thus creating a profitable sustainable industry. The technology and solutions presented by companies in the environmental, renewable energy, water and green housing are generating economic benefits and are setting the standards for the future in Mexico.

The Green Expo® is an excellent opportunity for you to meet the decision makers, not only from industry, but also academics, scientists, and regulatory officials.

The Green Expo® is positioned as the environmental event for networking and doing business. Our Mexican and International exhibitors present their products and services to the thousands of visitors from all industries looking for ways to become more profitable while also doing business in a more sustainable way.



Click here to register.

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Event - Green Schools Summit

The tenth anniversary of the Green Schools Summit with take place on November 2 - 3, 2016 in Pasadena, California. The first - and the largest - statewide green school event, the summit provides a unique opportunity for leaders from the nation's largest public education system to discover new ways to create healthy, efficient learning environments.

Green schools play a vital role in creating a greener future. They will likely be the first place most students encounter determined efforts to conserve energy and water or to reduce waste. They can help students understand the relationships between human needs and activities and the ecosystems on which all life forms depend.

Summit Co-Chair Tom Torlakson, the State Superintedent of Public Instruction, has launched initiatives for environmental literacy and efficient, 21st century facilities. California has long been on the leading edge of the green schools movement; it was here that the nation’s first green building rating program for K-12 schools was created. Through the Education and the Environment Initiative, the state created the country's first K-12 environmental literacy curriculum.

The range of benefits from high performance facilities is great, from cost savings that can free up funds for core needs to improved student performance. Districts that have made a strong commitment to sustainability have also earned respect and gratitude from the communities they serve. State Architect Chet Widom, the Summit Co-Chair, briefs attendees on energy innovation on California campuses.

Through an Expo featuring green products and services, concurrent education sessions, keynote presentations and an annual Leadership Awards program, the Summit offers a unique opportunity to discover what's new, what is working and what is on the horizon. Explore these pages for more information, and come back for updates. Concurrent education session. Become a Partner in Learning - Meet at the Summit!

The Partners in Learning program is an opportunity for professional organizations that want to meet onsite at the Summit, a dynamic atmosphere that is designed to inspire, inform and encourage interaction. As a courtesy, Green Technology provides free meeting space for all Partners in Learning. There are also substantial registration discounts for group members that want to participate in Summit activities.

Discounted rates may be available at area hotels to accommodate out of town attendees. If your organization is interested in holding a scheduled meeting at the Summit please call Cindy Dangberg at 626.577.5700. To register click here.

Make sure to see the article titled, "Comprehensive Green School Information and Resources." It contains links to over 325 articles covering everything you need to know about sustainable academics, student eco-initiatives, green school buildings, and college rankings as well as a wide range of related information and resources.

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Best Practices in Green Schools (Video)

The creation of best practices for the green school movement may be among the most important things we can do to curtail environmental degradation and slow climate change. The green schools movement combines a healthy learning environment, science-based information, and nature focused pedagogy that instills motivation.

Ignorance impedes the widespread adoption of sustainability because the children of today are the adults of tomorrow, it is essential that these kids are given the tools they need to understand and act in a way that contributes to a more sustainable society. To raise a generation of children who understand how to be good stewards of the earth we need a compendium of best practices.

It is up to us to provide the knowledge and the skills to help children grow up to be adults capable of addressing the tragic legacy of what we have done to the earth. We owe our children the kind of education that enables them to manage life in the Anthropocene.

To make our schools green we must cultivate and share best practices in the areas of planning, construction, design, curricula and energy management. These efforts can increase efficiency, save money, and empower our youth to meet the climate and environmental challenges of the 21st century.

These best practices address a wide range of issues from maximizing day-lighting through building orientation to glazes that soak up heat from sun. Such schools also incorporate a number of other green school attributes from low-flow toilet fixtures to evaporative cooling. Once the school is built these institutions serve as learning centers related to energy management and conservation.

This September 2016 TEDx talk video features school designer and education professor Jennifer Seydel as she discusses the value of sustainable schools, eco-eduction and best practices in green schools. She suggests a framework for developing greener schools and school districts.

In some state jurisdictions legislation is helping to buoy the green schools movement. In Colorado, state law demands that any school renovation or construction project that requires more than 20 percent funding must target a USGBC LEED certification.

With an ever growing suite of best practices we are already developing models for green schools.

USGBC

No green school focused organization has gained more attention in the United States than the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC). They have a nationwide network of local chapters that all contribute to the mission of transforming the way buildings and communities are designed, built and operated, enabling an environmentally and socially responsible, healthy, and prosperous environment that improves the quality of life. They strive to achieve this mission through education,improving industry guidelines, policy, advocacy, and information and resourcing sharing.



EPA

The US government has also contributed to the green schools movement through the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) which has released energy savings and indoor air quality (IAQ) guidance for schools. This effort includes IAQ tools and best practices. These guidelines give school districts the tools they need to integrate indoor air quality protections into school energy efficiency retrofits and building upgrade projects, thus helping schools implement important energy efficiency upgrades without compromising occupant health. By following the recommendations outlined, school districts can reap the benefits of improved student and staff health and reduced operational costs.



STEM

An initiative to integrate green building concepts into science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) is already providing insightful results.

BIN

Building Information Modeling (BIN) provides digital representations of the physical and functional characteristics of a facility. Such systems provide access to detailed information to allow for better building management



CHPS

The goal of the Collaboration for High Performance Schools (CHPS) initiative is to fundamentally change the design, construction, and operation of schools to protect student and staff health; conserve energy, water, and other natural resources; and reduce waste, pollution, and environmental degradation.

Golden Bridges

The Golden Bridges school San Francisco, California launched the nation's first urban farm school this year. It teaches kids how to grow their own food. Connecting people to our food and the land is an important aspect of forging a sustainable society. The program provides preschoolers through 8th graders with an ecology farm curriculum based on Waldorf Education. A new plant-covered living building will house classrooms and act as a gathering space for the community at the farm. The green roof offers a number of benefits including, water retention (absorb storm water runoff to prevent flooding), insulation, sound absorption, and a habitat for pollinators. The plants also provide green space, air filtration and oxygen. The school also has a social justice vision such that children from all walks of life will be able to attend.

Indian Initiative

The green building movement is gaining steam around the world including developing countries like India. A 2016 green schools initiative in India is currently transforming 1000 church schools into green schools as part of an ambitious partnership between the Church of South India (CSI) and the Centre for Science and Environment (CSE) in New Delhi.

Students in these schools will study environmental science and learn how they can reduce their impact on the Earth. Prof Mathew Kosy Punnackadu, an environmental scientist, writer, and activist, who initiated the Green Church Movement in India, said, The Green School program moves beyond theories and text books and concentrates on 'doing'. This program aims to make students more aware of environmental issues through thought-provoking activities. This involves an environment management system, run by students, which audits the consumption of natural resources within the school campuses and helps schools become good environmental managers. CSE will train eco-teachers in each school and provide manuals and other audit tools. There are also plans to train diocesan leaders to head projects in waste management, renewable energy and tree planting.

Make sure to see the article titled, "Comprehensive Green School Information and Resources." It contains links to over 325 articles covering everything you need to know about sustainable academics, student eco-initiatives, green school buildings, and college rankings as well as a wide range of related information and resources.

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The Climate Implications of Dodging Trump's Fossil Fuel Powered Energy Bullet

Donald Trump's policy positions are about as erratic and dysfunctional as his speaking style, however, from the beginning he has consistently indicated his support for fossil fuels.

Now that it is all but certain that Donald will not be the 45th President of the United States, lets peer into the dark dystopia of a world in which Trump would have been the chief architect of America's energy policy.  The following is a brief summary of the consequences of Trump's energy platform with an emphasis on what this would have meant for climate change.

Trump's position on energy the economy and the environment would have pushed us past tipping points from which we could not recover. This is not hyperbole, we are already more than 1 °C above preindustrial norms and staying within the upper threshold limit of 2 degrees Celsius will be very difficult task even with a consorted global effort. 

Trump's foreign policy ignorance is no secret, it has been noted by almost everyone who has ever participated in or reflected seriously on policy issues. If elected president Trump's stated policy positions would have created unprecedented instability and this would have inadvertently driven up oil prices. This is due largely to his belief that the US should encourage Saudi Arabia to defend itself. This would have started a nuclear arms race in the Middle East.

The Green Market Oracle has previously called Trump's energy policy a "fantasy". As reported by Think Progress, Trump's economic plan is a "disaster" for climate and the economy.

Trump has made his support for expanding fossil fuel production clear. In fact, along with immigration, fossil fuels are the bedrock of Trump's campaign. He sees coal as America's energy source for the next 1000 years. He has pledged to put miners back to work, although he neglected to mention where he was going to find markets for this new coal production.

While Trump may support the oil industry, they do not support him. Very early in the campaign, the Koch brothers called Trump "unelectable." Then in a move that smacked of desperation, the Trump campaign attempted to curry favor with the industry by naming oil industry friend Mike Pence as Trump's vice presidential running mate. However, the move did not pay off.

Trump is personally invested in the fossil fuel industry, according to a Greenpeace investigation this includes the highly controversial DAPL pipeline project. 

Trump has also been characteristically bombastic about tearing up anything to do with climate action. Trump has indicated that he would effectively kill climate action including the Paris Climate Agreement. He also said he would eradicate regulations designed to keep America's air, water and ground safe.

A federal election is a binary choice and for anyone interested in clean energy, Hilary Clinton remains our last best hope.  We face considerable uncertainty and the distinct possibility that we will not do enough to stop global warming, and slow sea level rise. However, a Trump presidency would guarantee a climate catastrophe, while Hilary offers a modicum of hope.

We dodged a bullet with Trump's failed campaign, and while many do not realize it, his policies would have been an unparalleled disaster.

Any sane person who has even a passing understanding of climate change must concede that the energy policy of a Trump administration would have augured something roughly equivalent to the end-times.

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Trump's Political Obituary and Life after Being Pummeled by Hilary

A review of the litany of egregious comments from Republican Presidential nominee Donald Trump, his historic failure to secure support, the mindset of those that do support him and the damage he can still wreak on America's Democracy.

The three debates are over and the sun is setting on Donald Trump's foray into politics. It is fitting that Trump's political career comes to an end where it started. Trump rose to prominence as a personality in the casino industry, cutting his teeth first in Atlantic City and then in Las Vegas.

By almost all accounts Trump was decisively trounced by Hilary in the first debate. If fact this was not the first beating administered by Hilary, in June she crushed him in a speech and let it be known that there would be more to come. According to most, the inherent superiority of Hilary over Trump was evident throughout the first two debates. Although with less snorting and slightly more discipline, Trump also lost the final debate.

Donald was beaten by a superior opponent and schooled by a master of policy. Clinton was poised and yes, presidential, while Trump was better in the third debate than he was in the preceding two, he did not look anything like a commander and chief. As explained in a Vox article by Ezra Klein, "Hillary Clinton crushed Donald Trump in the most effective series of debate performances in modern political history."

Clearly Trump's handlers managed to get through to the Donald for the final debate, but it was too little too late. To use a boxing analogy that is getting a lot of play, Trump was in the final rounds and he was behind on points, he needed a knockout to win. He did not get it. To his credit, Trump has taken shots that would have kept a more sensible man down. Let the record show that he died on his feet taking a barrage of blows against which he could mount no defense.

Although Trump was already on the ropes going into the third debate, Hilary hit him with a few good parting shots. Being so far ahead, Hilary could have just tried to run down the clock, to her credit she walked to the center of the ring and traded blows. He called her "nasty" and she called him "Putin's puppet" he then repeated three times, with all the angry frustration of an exasperated ten year old, "no your the puppet".

At the end of the debate she left him looking dazed standing motionless at his podium.

Lets take a look at the litany of egregious qualities that define the buffoon who was vying to be in charge of the world's most potent nuclear arsenal.

Lies

Numerous press reports make it clear that much of what Trump says is a lie. In fact it would be warranted to say that he is a pathological liar. According to the Huffington Post, "Donald Trump lies as fast as he can speak," by their count he lied 16 times in the first debate while Hilary Clinton lied once.

Politico is unequivocal in their assessment that Trump has no peer when it comes to obfuscation. They fact-checked what Trump and Clinton said about energy during the first debate and they said: "The conclusion is inescapable: Trump’s mishandling of facts and propensity for exaggeration so greatly exceed Clinton’s as to make the comparison almost ludicrous...Trump has built a cottage industry around stretching the truth."

According to a five day analysis from POLITICO, Trump averaged about one falsehood every three minutes and 15 seconds over nearly five hours of remarks. That amounts to 87 erroneous statements in five days or one untruth every 3.25 minutes.

On the subject of Trump's subterfuge in the most recent debate, CNN released a video which shows four of his bold faced lies in his own words. 

Insults and attacks

Trump started his primary campaign by insulting all 17 of the people he was running against. He also vented his contempt at venerable Republicans like John McCain. He then went on to make a series of nasty comments at the RNC convention saying that he would put an end to regulations generally and climate action specifically.

Trump has attacked Mexicans, blacks, women, Democrats, Republicans, judges, sheriffs, sound engineers and even the parents of a Gold star family. His racist diatribes and sexist rants seem surreal and they are on a scale that is unprecedented from a modern day presidential contender.

Trump has also shown himself to more than happy to attack members of his own party. He recently savaged Paul Ryan the speaker of the house and the third most powerful man in America. Trump has also repeatedly attacked the GOP establishment.


The list of egregious comments from Trump is too long to repeat in full. Trump's recent iteration of rape culture, and dismissal of the same as "locker room talk," was for some the final affront.

Throughout the campaign Trump repeatedly suggested he has not done anything wrong and he attributed blame to the media (although most Americans get their news from Fox). Trump is so narcissistic that he is incapable of seeing what other people see not matter how often he is told.

Business

While he is celebrated as a businessman he has left a trail of unpaid vendors and multiple business have been forced into bankruptcy under his stewardship. Even Tony Schwartz, the person who ghost wrote Trump's popular book, "The Art of the Deal" has denounced the Republican contender, disagreeing with the myth of the capable business man he created.

While Trump decries the fact that manufacturing jobs are moving out of the US, his various business enterprises have done the same. His clothing lines are manufactured outside of the US and as Hilary pointed out even the steel and aluminum used in his buildings was purchased from Chinese suppliers.

The dark specter of a Trump presidency is receding, and his brand is waning along with it. As relayed in a Fortune article by Geoff Colvin, Mark Cuban and others are saying Trump's brand is in trouble. In fact, another Fortune article by Michelle Toh quotes Cuban as saying Trump's brand may be even worse than Bernie Madoff. The gold plating on the Trump brand has been tarnished and some of the world's most prestigious real estate may soon be looking to change their signage. 

Presentation

Trump sniffed and snorted his way through three debates. His puerile facial gestures were a constant throughout. During the first debate he interrupted Clinton 25 times in the first 26 minutes and more than 50 times over the course of the evening. During the second debate he loomed over Hilary like some kind of stalker. In the third and final debate he did everything in his power to appear presidential, but after about half an hour he returned to his natural state, repeatedly interrupting, corroborating the perception that he is a bore with the social graces of a water buffalo.

Endorsements and rejections

Trump has not only failed to win the presidency, he has failed in spectacular fashion. He failed to win an endorsement from any living president, and he made modern history by failing to secure a single endorsement from any major newspaper. He has been actively opposed by key military and intelligence officials and many Republicans. He is commonly described as a danger and a threat to national security. 

He is widely disliked by many in his own party. In May Trump was snubbed by New Mexico Gov. Susana Martinez the nation's only Hispanic female Republican governor. After he was caught talking about groping married women, there was another mass exodus of Republican faithfuls. Sen. John McCain, House Speaker Paul Ryan. Utah Gov. Gary Herbert all withdrew their tepid support for the Republican candidate, as did former Utah governor and presidential candidate Jon Huntsman.

Tens of thousands have signed petitions to hold a vote on whether or not to officially declare Donald Trump BANNED and activists across America are organizing to do the same.  Similar sentiments have been expressed in foreign countries like the UK.

Some of those who supported Trump early on have changed their minds after getting to know him a bit better. Billionaire Mark Cuban is one such high profile example.

His own party has largely deserted him. This includes House Speaker Paul Ryan and Senator Lindsey Graham (R-SC) who called Trump, "...a race-baiting, xenophobic bigot." Even people who were once on team Trump have abandoned him. Trump's candidacy was rejected by lifelong Republicans including Daniel Akerson, former CEO and chairman of General Motors who said that he will vote Democrat for the firs time in his life.

Trump’s former policy coordinator, Pratik Chougule bluntly announced:

"Under no circumstances will I support Donald Trump for president." Writing on LinkedIn, the managing editor of the National Interest stated: "I regret my decision last April to join the campaign as policy coordinator. Although I left the campaign in August for a variety of reasons, I wish that I had done so sooner and spoken out more forcefully against a candidate who embodies the worst excesses of our culture."

It would be wrong to say that Trump has no endorsements, he was endorsed by the KKK, the NRA, the regime of North Korean dictator Kim Jong Un, ISIS, Russian President Vladimir Putin and the Russian people. In fact, the Independent reports that Hilary would beat Trump in every nation in the world except Russia.

How does he have any support?

The race may be all but over, but some hard truths remain. Despite all that they have seen from Trump, at least a quarter of Americans continue to support him. So how could a man who says that he wants to deport Mexicans, ban Muslims and kill the children of enemy combatants be taken seriously? How can Americans even consider a man who ran a scam university and cheated veterans out of their charity money, as the next president of the United States? This is a man who has picked Putin as one of his favorite leaders and Trump even invited Russia to engage in more espionage (a total of 17 intelligence and military agencies say Putin was behind espionage that sought to interfere with the American election). He has mocked the handicapped, and he thinks not paying taxes makes him smart. His pettiness knows no bounds, as revealed by his self absorbed feud with a beauty queen.

As Trump said to the people of Iowa, a state he is likely to win, "How Stupid are the people in Iowa." Some neuroscientists have offered a perspective that reinforces Trump's own words. Their explanation about why so many Americans continue to support Trump is a scathing indictment of his base. Essentially they say that Trump supporters may be too dumb to realize they are dumb.

With more than a quarter of Americans saying that the sun revolves around the Earth it is no surprise that a similar number of Americans have pledged their undying loyalty to Trump.

On Meet the Press, GOP strategist Steve Schmidt did an artful job of summarizing Trump's candidacy:

 "[Trump] has no idea what he is talking about from a policy perspective, he lacks the requisite dignity required of someone who wishes to be the head of state of the government of the United States, and someone who lacks the capacity to be the commander and chief of the most power military and the worlds most potent nuclear arsenal.... the presidential race is effectively over, Hilary Clinton will be the 45th president of the United States..."

Destroying democracy

Trump's formal political career is over, he is no longer a serious contender for president. However, Trump's ability to further harm the institution of democracy and continue to tear the fabric of American society is far from over. He continues to suggest that the election is rigged and in the final debate he would not commit to accepting the election results when he loses. As his prospects of winning the election are all but dashed, Trump may play up his dangerous role as an agitator.

It is appalling that Trump is feeding his base the kind of rhetoric that leads to violence. He is falsely saying, without any evidence, that the electoral process is rigged. However, As the Democratic nominee and soon to be president, Hilary pointed out in the third and final debate, when things don't go his way Donald has said everything is rigged from the presidential election to the fact that Celebrity Apprentice did not win an Emmy.

Perhaps the only reason that Trump ran for president was to build support for his forthcoming media enterprise. As reported by Raw Story, Trump's son-in-law is already working to set up Trump's new media brand. These efforts put his opportunistic self-interest on display. His absurd populism is designed to make Fox look like socialist propaganda from the intelligentsia. He knows there is an un-served market for divisive politics that will further polarize an already divided country.

Trump's campaign is a beacon for those disaffected by the erosion of white male privilege and this is the core demographic his media channel will be courting. In the process of pandering to these people Trump's campaign has been more harmful to the institution of democracy than any US political campaign that preceded him.

Hilary will be the 45th President of the United States. The only question that remains is just how bad the Republican blood letting will be. Down-ticket GOP candidates are understandably worried as they know that they will likely lose the Senate and perhaps even the House.

This election Americans are faced with a binary choice. The only sane option is to decisively kick Trump to the curb.  Republicans should also be held responsible as they are not a victim of Trump they created him. The fossil fuel industry supported Republican obstructionism and the Koch brothers helped lay the foundation for the Tea Party. These are the reasons why there is legislative gridlock. Americans are quiet rightly disgusted with politics, and this is the mood that gave rise to Donald Trump.

The best way to hold the GOP accountable is by voting. Republicans will continue to hoodwink the public unless Americans send a strong message. If Americans want to save their democracy, they must deliver a landslide defeat that marginalizes Republicans in all four branches of government.

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