Vintage Year For Energy Efficiency
Appliance energy efficiency standards get a big boost this year & consumers are winners
December 30, 2015
This Year Here
The view from far above: How the earth changed in 2015 https://t.co/bH3hqY45WA via @YaleE360 pic.twitter.com/xoKBLsNIAE
— Hugh Byrne (@greenbiztweets) December 30, 2015Coal: Australia's Teachable Moment
What can Appalachia learn from Australia about fostering solar power?
To Bring In The New, Plan For The Old
Now is the time to plan for good North American EV battery disposal policies
China: Bad For Coal, Good For Earth
China steps up its crackdown on coal while boosting its renewable energy capacity
America's Climate (Un)Consciousness
Amercia's Climate Consciousness
Greener Hotels In The Big Apple
16 of NYC's major hotels take the Carbon Challenge to cut their GHG emissions 30% over the next decade
December 29, 2015
A Better Climate Metric
Seesawing sea surface height corresponds with global temperatures https://t.co/CTUkRz0OTi @erbenson1 #AGUblogs pic.twitter.com/zPKMJoVeCs
— Am Geophysical Union (@theAGU) December 29, 2015Solar Tech Advances
Japan & China are on the leading edge of advances in thin solar film technology, but they're not alone
The Future Of Our Climate
Back To The Future...
...Go by EV in climate-friendly 21 Century California
Cheap Oil - Carbon Villain
Cheap oil means cheap gas & this means rising carbon pollution
The Genaeology Of 'Global Warming'
Who first used the phrase 'global warming' and when?
100x50 For NY
NY Renews - a coalition of environmentalists, labor unions, EJ and faith-based groups - will campaign to shift energy in the state to 100% renewables by 2050 while growing good jobs locally
December 28, 2015
China: Filming Coal
Behemoth is a Chinese film that holds a mirror up to the nation's coal mining & consumption
Milan/Rome: Bad Air Days
Milan & Rome briefly limit center city traffic to combat persistent air pollution
Top Eco News 2015: The Sport Page
The greening of US sports is becoming the rule, not the exception
Plants As Power Plants: 1922
1922: Scientists try to find alternative power sources, replicating processes of plants. https://t.co/y427lFNj2G pic.twitter.com/Ra4vx2EeU3
— NYT Archives (@NYTArchives) December 28, 2015WTC: Mass Transit Boondoggle
What $4 billion buys in NY/NJ mass transit
State Climate Politics: Compare and Contrast
Florida, a state so vulnerable to climate impacts, shows how much difference an election for Governor can make
Top Eco News 2015: Weird Weather
Global record-busting heat isn't the only weird weather trend of 2015
Top Eco News 2015: Greens KO Pipeline
Environmentalists key to pulling the plug on the Keystone XL oil sands pipeline project
Leasing The Wind
Taking a page from the solar playbook the wind power industry seeks growth in lease deals
The Big Solar Book
The Ivanpah solar power plant gets its own photo-essay book
December 21, 2015
Joy To The World
13 Winning Images From Comedy Wildlife Photography Contest https://t.co/r5bKQrR1Rp @FunnyPhotoAward @safarisnapper pic.twitter.com/js6h3UkJMO
— EcoWatch (@EcoWatch) December 21, 2015Coal v Voters
.@POTUS says fighting #climate polices "[not] a winner for Rs in long term"; vetos challenge to coal regulation #CPP pic.twitter.com/guvK7Z54G4
— Yale Climate Project (@YaleClimateComm) December 21, 2015Burlington: All Renewable, All The Time
Wind, hydro power & biomass now create 100% of the electric power for Burlington VT
Israel: Knesset Signs Its PV Progress
The Israeli Knesset may be the world's first legislative body with a real time display of the energy & money saved, as well as the CO2 emissions cuts resulting from its PV installations
Bejing: Shrouded In Smog
Beijing's sky-high toxic air levels mean a third Red Alert day
NYC Building Retrofits Update
Mayor de Blasio lauds government efforts to green NYC municipal buildings
Bronx Can Give Local Food Growers A Boost
Working together, Cuomo & de Blasio can make the Hunts Point Market more accessible to local farmers & fresh food more available to NYers
Be Careful Who You Call A Climate Denier
What did a leading climate advocate get wrong in her attack on nuclear power supporters?
December 19, 2015
NY Farmers Lease The Wind
The popular solar industry lease model attracts farmers with its no up-front-cost approach & zero energy bill
Chicago: The Year In Benchmarking
Chicago's newest benchmarking annual report provides in-depth information & analysis on the energy performance of 1,840 Windy City buildings
December 18, 2015
The Year In Climate Graphics
The most revealing cllmate & energy information charts of 2015
NYPH: 2015
Recapping New York Passive House 2015 projects
Silver Lining In Budget Deal
The last word (for 2015) weighing the pros/cons of extending wind & solar tax benefits in exchange for lifting the ban on crude oil exports
Energy Efficiency Game Changer
Following the Paris climate accord, the US releases the biggest energy efficiency rule ever
NOAA Submits Subpoenaed Material
Responding to a GOP-led House Committee subpoena the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration turns over some 100 documents related to its climate science research
Family Feud Over Clean Energy Strategy
Should the most climate-friendly energy policy prioritize technology innovation or deployment?
December 17, 2015
Melting Our Future
Centuries of melting Greenland ice may be unavoidable & that means steep global sea level rises
UK: PV Support Goes Dark
Following the Paris climate accord, the UK slashes its rooftop PV support by 65%
Signs Of A Climate Shift
There's evidence for a turning point toward climate action in the US
Buffalo Solar Gets Budget Boost
How the SolarCity plan for Buffalo benefits from Congress budget deal, with it's stock price already up 34%
Mixing Electricity And Water Safely
'Massive' Wind/Solar Boon
While many climate activists are harshly critical of Congress' budget deal, the 5 year extension of solar & wind power production tax credits could be a potent driver for the renewable energy sector
New Zealand: More Oil/Gas Exploration
Following the Paris climate accord, New Zealand gives out 9 new oil & gas exploration permits
December 16, 2015
Back In The Day: Park On Park Avenue
A great view of Park Avenue looking north from 50th Street, 1922 #NYC #history pic.twitter.com/ACl4hBqDMv
— Discovering NYC (@discovering_NYC) December 16, 2015Budget Deal Won't Block Climate Payment
The newly-struck Congressional budget deal allows the US to pay the first $500 million of its Paris climate commitment
Meet CEIP
CEIP is part of Obama's Clean Power Plan drafted to help low-income communities get more energy efficient & boost their use of renewable energy
China: Coal Slowdown Fallout
The human & political cost of China's shrinking coal sector
Quid Pro Quo For Oil Export OK
Getting to yes for a 5-year extension of solar and wind power production tax credits
Reporting Rules For Renewable/Alt Energy
The Sustainability Accounting Standards Board (SASB), releases standards consisting of disclosure guidance & accounting provisions on sustainability topics for use by publicly traded U.S. and foreign companies in their SEC filings
Arctic: More Heat, Less Ice
With Arctic temperatures setting record highs & sea ice melting, local impacts carry global import
GOP Candidates Opined On Foreign Policy...
... but said nothing at Tuesday's debate about the Paris climate accord. Maybe that's just as well given their scorn for climate action
Stringer Backs Coal Divestment
Ridding the NYC Pension System of its $33 million coal investment gets the support of Comptroller Stringer
December 15, 2015
No Buyer's Remorse
Meeting a global carbon limit is cheaper than avoiding one
Holiday Cheer
Utilities make real progress on the energy efficiency front in 2015
Green Leases For Brooklyn
The Brooklyn Boro President partners with big Real Estate to foster energy efficiency & sustainable practices in privately owned building via new lease riders
Your Wind Power Questions Answered Here
Interactive map unveils the mystery of wind turbines https://t.co/4QZtzDByEW pic.twitter.com/H4fxhPXe8J
— ClimateCentral (@ClimateCentral) December 15, 2015Leave It In The Ground
Morgan Stanley sees the Paris climate accord signaling to the oil industry that even known reserves will have to be ‘left in the ground’
India: Sticking With Coal
India plans to be coal-mining & burning dependent for a long time
India: Anxiety Over Russian-Built Nuke Plant
The reliability & safety of a new Russian-built nuclear power plant in south India stirs local fears
Climate Change And Cities
What city leaders need to know to succeed as climate change leaders & the time to start is now
December 14, 2015
WSJ Leaves Business Readers In The Dark...
...For fact-based opinions they should read the Financial Times
Signs Of Urban Air Pollution
New global air pollution map from space shows hotspots and where air has improved. https://t.co/MsQRy9Yk6f #AGU15 pic.twitter.com/wxd9qG59u3
— NASA Earth (@NASAEarth) December 14, 2015Manage What You Map
A new mapping tracker allows New Yorkers to see if progress is being made in benchmarked building energy & water efficiency
Miami's Fate: Sleep With Fishes
Dem Divide On Paris Climate Deal
And The Answer Is...
Will meeting the Paris climate summit goals make electric power utilities indispensible or irrelevant?
December 12, 2015
Economists See Value In Climate Action
A survey of 1,103 economists finds a majority think taking climate action is the rational choice
December 11, 2015
Cities To Watch
The world’s fastest growing #cities https://t.co/4s2HMzJMmR #demographics pic.twitter.com/D1JcYDEP3M
— World Economic Forum (@wef) December 11, 2015COP21 -New York Times Headline
"Scientists See Catastrophe in Latest Draft of Climate Deal", but The New Yorker blog is more subtle
Urban Climate Action Accelerants
What are the three criteria for prioritizing urban climate action agendas?
The Climate Denial Funnies
Ask A Techie
COP21 Signals To Global Financiers
Finance markets reception of the Paris climate summit message will play a key role in determining the impact of COP21
Climate Negotiators Worried By New Climate Science
Motivation for a setting 1.5 degree C goal at COP21 is fueled by the anxiety of small island nations & increased worries about rising sea levels
China: What Climate Damage Looks Like
Picture Shanghai & other coastal Chinese cities in a world 4 degrees C hotter
A Just Transition, A Regenerative Economy
Making the climate justice path with strategic foundation funding in three US communities
December 10, 2015
China: Coal In The Red
Coal firms in China are losing money. A lot, it seems https://t.co/7fuiM6srhx pic.twitter.com/9qXDVwSxLK
— Energiewende Germany (@EnergiewendeGER) December 10, 2015Congress Wants To Know
In letters to 6 fossil fuel CEO's, Congress members seek information on what do these companies know about climate change and what have they done about it
Job Announcements
External Affairs Policy Advisor and Administrative City Planner, both in the NYC Mayor's Office of Sustainability
Australia: Pulling The Plug On Coal
With tighter climate rules, Australian coal burning power plans will close sooner & ease supply glut
US Hits Solar High
US solar installations for 2015 set to reach a record high in 2015
Why Cities Matter In Climate Diplomacy
Urbanization is a hallmark of the 21 Century, what will it take for cities to lead in climate diplomacy?
Nuclear Power And Public Health 2.0
Are current federal rules to predict health impacts of nuclear power outdated?
The PV Image Problem
Too many people think rooftop solar power is just for rich white folks
Scaling Up Green Bonds
How to pay for all that green infrastructure the world needs now
December 09, 2015
Manage What You Measure
The Government Accounting Office calls for creation of a national climate data reporting system to help federal agencies meet their missions
A Tax With (A Tad) GOP Support
What explains support for a carbon tax by some Congressional Republicans?
What Climate Leading Cities Do To Lead
1/2 of #C40Awards winners are US & Chinese cities–find out which cities are leading the way https://t.co/sNgdm3wIQW pic.twitter.com/nBrQsq1mW9
— C40 Cities (@c40cities) December 9, 2015Hot States
JUST IN: #Autumn 2015 was record warm for contig USA per @NOAANCEIclimate #StateOfClimate https://t.co/Xn2KyFT4SN pic.twitter.com/6hsIZrT7xq
— NOAA (@NOAA) December 9, 2015Overheard In Paris
“Just because we can’t have everything doesn’t mean that we shouldn’t do anything. Let’s close out a quarter-century of debate with clarity and confidence, and get a plan.”
Climate Denialism In Action
WARNING this is a bummer to read
COP21: Make Or Break Issue (2)
Will climate negotiators agree to requirements steering investments away from carbon intensive fuel projects?
COP21: Make Or Break Issue (1)
With each nation setting its own carbon cutting targets the proposed 5-year review meant to ramp them up could be the biggest commitment negotiators make -- or don't -- in Paris
December 08, 2015
A Reason To Tweet
Retweet if you agree that we must stop subsidizing the companies and dirty fuels polluting our planet #EarthToParis pic.twitter.com/0ZwQMtr9zv
— Climate Reality (@ClimateReality) December 8, 2015How To Feasibly De-Carbonize
Take a deep dive into one of climate policy's biggest challenges
The Koala In The Coal Mine
Australia has killer climate problems, starting with its destructive droughts & heatwaves
Mirror, Mirror On The Wall...
2 Degree Cap: Science Meme
New research indicates the well-known goal of keeping rising global temperature below 2 degrees C may not prevent major climate changes
Stealth Research For Fossil Fuels
Greenpeace UK blows the whistle on US academics who thought they were taking fossil fuel money to do climate research while staying mum on their funding sources
Utility Dumps Climate Denier
Big electric utility NRG defunds climate-denial organization ALEC
Today's Climate Leaders
How cities & forward-looking businesses will advance climate progress, even if nation states don't
Making Solar Simpler
NYC makes it easier for homeowners to go solar-powered at home
December 07, 2015
Driving To Our Doom
If predictions are right abut the future numbers of fossil-fueled cars, climate benefits of EVs would be too small to matter
Climate Denier Flop
Even with right-wing US group support, a climate denialist meeting in Paris only drew some 30 visitors
Sanders' Got Big Climate Plans
80x50 while downgrading fossil fuel's influence and how to do it
Beijing: Air Pollution Alarm
Anticipating sky-high dirty air levels Beijing issues its first ever "red" alert
Climate Negotations - In the Weeds Thorns
What is 'differentiation' and why is it such a big deal for Paris climate negotiations?
The Stars Shine In Paris
.@LeoDiCaprio: Ready for 100% https://t.co/BtAL7ylQvD @sierraclub @MarkRuffalo #Cities4Climate #COP21 @AlecBaldwin pic.twitter.com/bs7w2Yr5X1
— EcoWatch (@EcoWatch) December 7, 2015COP21 - The Deciders
Here's a who's who of key players at the Paris climate summit & their aims
Get In On The Quiet Revolution
Until now, only political insiders & policy wonks knew about Governor Cuomo's " quiet green revolution as an economic development tool for in NY
December 05, 2015
Investing With Climate Risk Management In Mind
Even climate-change aware investors are not protecting their assets from climate risks
COP21: Fact v Fiction
Desmog the conservative media fog about key Paris climate talk issues
December 04, 2015
El Nino: Then And Now
The Godzilla El Niño. A comparison of 1997 vs. 2015 sea surface height by @NASAJPL https://t.co/DuOqa5CWrk pic.twitter.com/h7pZb6xFsA
— EGU (@EuroGeosciences) December 4, 2015If You Live Near A Coast - Read This
What's at stake for the world's coastlines at the Paris climate meeting
Mike Bloomberg: Mayor Of Climate Finance-Landia
Educating business about their financial exposure to climate change risks is Michael Bloomberg's newest job
PACE Bonds Help Renovate America
With securitization of PACE bonds for home energy performance upgrades families, job opportunities & the planet are all winners
Listen To Leonard Lopate
Interview with Robert Pollin author of Greening the Global Economy
Ideological Crusader
Lamar Smith, GOP Chair of the House Science Committee, persists in his quest to silence government climate science
Urban Climate Winners
C40 announces 10 cities that have earned climate leadership awards
African Nations: Skpping the Fossil Fuel Era
The African Union & African Development Bank announce a goal of at least 300 gigawatts of renewable electricity-generating capacity for the continent by 2030
Germany: De-Carbonize And Thrive
Lessons learned from German policy about decoupling economic growth from easing its fossil fuel addiction
December 03, 2015
A New Climate For Investor Confidence
How SASB can boost investors' confidence in sustainability reporting
COP21: Sticking With Carbon
India & Brazil reject accepting goals for phasing out their carbon emissions at the Paris climate negotiations
Stop Funding Climate Chaos
The oil subsidies of G-7 nations + Australia dwarf the Green Climate Fund, time to reverse the figures
Wish We All Could Be California...
Google Green
Google's latest search for more renewable energy will nearly double what it's already promised
Ted Cruz: Climate Hero To Some
The Koch Brothers-backed American Energy Alliance calls Ted Cruz its climate hero
December 02, 2015
How Denialist Tail Wags GOP Dog
Why is the GOP the world's only major climate denialist party? (Hint: it's not because Americans have a monopoly on disbelieving climate science)
The Manhattan Chamber Of Commerce Says...
Paris: Think Global, Act Local
Beside hosting COP21 what is Paris doing to fight climate change?
Paris: COP21
It's all about the money on Day 3
Australia: Waves In Its Future
Australians could get 1/3 of their electricity from wave power, after the success of a naval base pilot program
NYC 2,000 EVs x 2025
2,000 electric vehicles & a recharging network will clean up NYC's municipal vehicle fleet by 2025. Download the City's full report here
Edison v Tesla, Round 2
While Edison lost the battle over running the electric grid on DC power, Tesla's AC model may be the loser now
Columbia Pours Cold Water On Exxon Heat
A detailed rebuttal is the response of the Dean of Columbia University's Journalism School to an Exxon attack on its professional ethics
December 01, 2015
Limited Climate Action From CSR
Lessons from the fair-trade coffee campaign highlight the limits to climate achievements from corporate social responsibility (CSR) campaigns
COP21: Dec. 3 Is Building Day
Why the Paris climate summit will focus on buildings this Thursday
Doing What Needs To Be Done
If COP 21 won't produce a climate agreement able to prevent climate chaos, what will?
The Making Of A Climate Justice Activist
An interview with Wen Stephenson about his path to full-time climate activism & his new book What We're Fighting For Now Is Each Other
Clean Energy: The Next Invesment Frontier
Listen up to The Takeaway on-line broadcast on Bill Gates billionaire-wrangling to raise an international clean energy investment fund
Carbon Clock: Tick-Tock Very Fast
There's now an global carbon clock https://t.co/cZ9MH6Zyk3 A+ interactive by @eroston & @business folks #COP21 pic.twitter.com/F5pXeGKGIq
— Brian L Kahn (@blkahn) December 1, 2015NYC Climate Demo
Missed Sunday's NYC climate demonstration? Watch the video and do something today
Reporting On Exxon: Risky Business
Exxon attacks Columbia University over investigative reporting that covered silencing the firm's own climate science research