« February 2008 | Main | April 2008 »

March 31, 2008

We're In Hot Water

Dive into an explanation of climate change and ocean warming. Learn what recent "cooling" really means. Get it?

A Big Win For Bloomberg

Contrary to polling predictions, the City Council voted 30-20 in support of Mayor Bloomberg's congestion pricing plan. Now it's up to Albany. Get moving

Suck It Up

Capturing and storing CO2 from myriad small emitters at centralized locations may be more than sci-fi, but no one can price this, yet. Post & comments

See For Yourself

Use meta-modeling to explore assumptions and consequences of the economic impact of US climate change policies. Look in

Weather & Water Prices Wither Grapes

Australia's wine industry could be threatened by heat and drought, which drives up the price of water for irrigating vineyards. New Zealand's grape growers could benefit. Climatewire[Subscribers only]

The Electric Truck Is Coming

Hybrid electric-diesel trucks will hit the US market this year. Start here

Is Google All Wet?

Google server farms devour hydro-power. The company plans to build more of them but not everyone is happy. Search that

Climate Signals

A NYC victory on congestion pricing and a win for wind power off Cape Cod would signal public will on the climate change front. Stay tuned

March 27, 2008

Kansas Coal Plant Risky For Customers

A financial analysis of the coal plant proposal rejected by the Governor of Kansas reveals that it would have put ratepayers at risk. Fine print here

Poll Asks Wrong Question

A Gallup poll finds that Americans value environmental protection above economic growth, but why ask a question that pits green against growth? Rethink, rephrase

Kyoto Flopped. Now What?

Kyoto didn't deliver says one critic, but that's no excuse for climate action inertia. Let's all opt in, tax carbon and get it right this time. Right here

Bad News & Good News In New England

New England lags in cutting GHG emissions, but emissions did fall and might be falling faster now. Get the news

A Greener Pension Portfolio

By 2010, TIAA-CREF will makes its 43 million square feet of real estate holdings 10% more energy efficient. Next up, its 12,000 unit apartment dwelling holdings. Look ahead

A Menu Of Green Building Options

Useful information at your fingertips! Seven easy ways to improve the energy performance of existing buildings and a list of green building certification and upgrade programs. You choose

Will Sugar Be Sweet For Shell?

Royal Dutch Shell invests in research on converting sugar cane into gasoline and producing a 50-50 blend. Look into it

March 26, 2008

What To Do With The Money

It's easy to agree that a carbon tax would create a reliable revenue stream, but it's harder to agree on what to do with that money and what difference it would make. Spend some time

Students Vie For Green Design Prize

Tour the Pratt C40 green design competition. Get inspired

Livingston: Mayor With A Message

The re-election campaign of London's Mayor Ken Livingston will highlight the urban fight against global warming. 60x25

March 25, 2008

Florida Eyes Califorina Sunshine

A Florida power company wants to build a solar thermal plant in the Mojave Desert and sell its renewable power on the California grid. Greenwire [Subscribers only]

Is PV The Next Killer App?

Now that Silicon Valley is getting a Chinese order for thin film solar technology that's five times bigger than semiconductor orders, the cost of photovoltaic power may be ready to fall. Plug in

Greener Cleaner Bathrooms

Hey girls (and guys too)! Here's some useful knowledge. No scrub

Danes Do It Right

Denmark has bragging rights about a carbon tax that cuts emissions. Here's how it's done. Just ask

Top UK Scientist Warns On Biofuels

Requirements for biofuel gasoline additives should be put on ice pending a sustainability review says government's chief environmental scientist. Exercise caution

March 24, 2008

New Climate Investors

Money is flowing into UK climate funds, but only a trickle comes from the US. The energy efficient building technology sector has big growth potential. Spend a moment

Congested Council

Approval of Mayor Bloomberg's congestion pricing plan requires a City Council vote, but now seven "undecided" voters appear to be going negative. Some $350 million in federal transit funding hangs in the balance. Check in

Biofuels Jolt Commodity Prices

The skyrocketing global growth in biofuels is sending up the price of food crops and increasing GHG emissions. Shocked?

Green Your Interior

REGREEN offers guidelines and case studies for sustainable, high efficient home remodeling. Look inside

Limits To Growth: Take Two

Common measures of economic progress ranked in terms of rising consumption are no longer sustainable. Get ready

Netherlands: No To Atoms Now

At present, the Dutch government will not seek more nuclear power. It will look to coal with carbon capture technology instead. Read more

Can Clean Tech Weather The Credit Crunch?

Financing clean tech projects is tough in this stormy investment climate, but long term prospects remain bright. Get the forecast

Censoring Science

Read or hear the interview with James Hansen and author Mark Bower. Click

March 21, 2008

Energy Efficient Building: Locks & Keys

A new report by the International Energy Agency (it's not free) identifies financial barriers to energy efficient building and offers policy makers an array of solutions. Executive Summary

March 20, 2008

Coal Around The World

Take a tour of the booming global business of coal production and consumption. Hop on

Carbon Capture Competition

English and German companies compete to be the first to construct a coal-fired power plant with carbon capture and storage features. Look ahead

Wave Hello

Wave and tide power are generating renewable energy right now but when will there be more? Plunge in

March 19, 2008

Under The Sea

Coal-rich Australia will look for potential offshore carbon sequestration sites under an amended Offshore Petroleum Act. Go fish

EU: Climate Leakage

The big climate topic at at the March EU ministers meeting was fear of carbon leakage; that's the possibility of energy-intensive industries moving to less carbon-regulations countries if the EU imposes fees on the auction of CO2 emissions permits. Plug?

Canada: Green Building Best Bet

Energy efficient building construction and alterations are the most cost-effective way to slash 1.7 billions tons of GHG emissions every year finds Canadian study. Way in

Past The Comfort Zone

A draft study by James Hansen finds that current atmospheric CO2 levels of 385 ppm exceed a climate stability level of 350 ppm. Rapid action is urged. Read it here [1.1MB]

LSx

The London Sustainability Exchange sees the next decade of development as the opportunity to create a high-performance world city. Big plans are afoot, including tri-generation. Learn more

March 18, 2008

Doubts on Canadian Oil Sands For US Military

US Congressman Waxman requests data from the Defense Department about military projects that might use fuel from Canadian oil sands sources; sources that may be banned by a 2007 US energy law. Drill down

Wind From The East

China's economic development agency recognizes that the country cannot thrive on coal alone and sees wind power as an important resource. What will this mean for other countries' energy options? Look into it

UK: Coal Critics Slam Government

If the British government okays a new coal-fired power plant, critics say that it won't live up to its clean energy promises. Mine that

March 17, 2008

UK: Lowballing GHG Numbers

Official British GHG emissions figures may be 12% too low according to government auditors. What's up?

The Ex-Emerald Isle?

A joint Irish and American report finds that since 1980 Ireland's temperature has soared three time faster than the global average and shifts in rainfall could undermine its agriculture. The Irish at home and abroad must mobilize to combat climate change. Start here

March 15, 2008

More Than Towels

A new generation of green hotels offers more than the chance to reuse your towel to help save the planet. Check in

March 14, 2008

EU: Third Industrial Revolution

The EU is close to a binding agreement on cutting GHG emissions 20% by 2020. Carrying out specific national targets will be key. Move ahead

Growing A Green Urban Economy

The promise of green collar jobs puts US cities on the edge of major changes, but skilled-labor shortages could be a risk. This Apollo Alliance report offers solutions. Read on

March 13, 2008

EU: Eyes On Brussels

Will the EU get the agreement of other nations to cut GHG emissions 30% by 2020? Will EU members agree among themselves on renewable power targets? Stay tuned

Watch Out For Leaks

Economists assert that up to 50% of RGGI's projected CO2 emissions cuts could be lost to leaks. Leaks occur when a utility buys lower cost power from a utility in an non-RGGI state. Their solution is a suite of harmonized state taxes on energy consumption to lower demand. [Psst: A national carbon cap policy is another solution] Study it LINK REPAIRED

March 12, 2008

UK: Drinking & Driving

The British government will raise taxes on alcohol and auto fuel - but delay imposing the "green" fuel tax for six months. Cheers

March 11, 2008

Canada: Crackdown On Carbon

The Canadian government proposes rules for carbon capture and storage at as-yet-unbuilt oil sands operations and coal-fired power plants. Start here

March 10, 2008

How Deep Is The Ocean?

Despite a long-term trend of declining sea levels, projected increases linked to global warming would be much greater. Dip in

A National Security Energy Strategy

High demand for battlespace fuel combined with the military's reliance on the commercial power grid creates unnecessary risks for national security. A Defense Department report recommends five solutions. Yessir

UK: 80x50

A new government climate change committee will consider whether to increase the current goal of cutting carbon emissions 60% by the year 2050 up to 80% and make more use of green taxes. Reach up

Hot & Bothered

New scientific reports indicate that only near-zero global carbon emissions will prevent severe climate change. Listen up

Latin America & The Energy Transition

Petro-politics studies the intersections of political power and carbon-fueled power. Compare & contrast

March 07, 2008

Climate: So Last Year!

There are signs that economic turmoil is eroding the climate and CSR enthusiasm of corporate CEO's. How fickle

March 06, 2008

NYC: The Climate Poll

The good news is that New Yorkers think global warming is a very serious problem. The bad news is they are right. Drill down

UK: Nuclear Real Estate

Auctions begin on land for the next generation of British nuclear power plants and the government will meet with potential investors in new facility construction. Fast-tracking

UK: Castle Goes Solar

Forget dank and dark, hello sunshine. Dunster Castle near the Bristol Channel will install PV on its battlements. Never too late

March 04, 2008

UK: Working On A Carbon Budget

Companies developing carbon budgets find that the hardest part may be the metrics. Take account

March 03, 2008

Measuring LEED

An analysis of 121 LEED-NC buildings finds that 'on average' they save energy. Get the nitty-gritty

Talkin' About Adaptation

The risks and costs of climate change impacts are on the way. The time is now for adaptation planning. Start here [1.3MB]