Posted by Liz Barratt-Brown in Moving Beyond Oil
Today the Montreal Gazette reported that the lead climate scientist and recipient of the 2007 Nobel Prize on behalf of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, Rajendra Pachauri, said that until technologies are more advanced to address the carbon emissions...continued→
Posted by Liz Barratt-Brown in Moving Beyond Oil
You remember that old expression, the 800 pound gorilla in the room. Mirriam-Webster defines its meaning as: "one that is dominating or uncontrollable because of great size or power, e.g. like it or not, the 800-pound gorilla usually sets the...continued→
Posted by Liz Barratt-Brown in Moving Beyond Oil
Prime Minister Harper is coming to Washington at a time of heightened concern about how tar sands oil is undermining U.S., Canadian and international efforts to curb global warming pollution. He is also coming at a time when all eyes...continued→
Posted by Liz Barratt-Brown in Curbing Pollution , Moving Beyond Oil , Solving Global Warming , U.S. Law and Policy
The huge Congressional climate bill has been formally introduced, the American Clean Energy and Security Act (H.R. 2454). Over a month of discussion and heavy dealmaking has finally come to an end, recalling the famous Otto Von Bismarck quote "Laws are...continued→
Posted by Liz Barratt-Brown in Moving Beyond Oil , Solving Global Warming , U.S. Law and Policy
In a historic vote last night, California's Air Resources Board passed the implementing regulations for the nation's first low carbon fuel standard (LCFS) by an overwhelming 9-1. This vote will put into action the LCFS first proposed by Governor Schwarzenegger...continued→
Posted by Liz Barratt-Brown in Living Sustainably , Moving Beyond Oil , Solving Global Warming
On Saturday, March 28, millions of people and thousands of cities and municipalities participated in "Earth Hour" - a World Wildlife Fund organized event aimed at building awareness and action to stem climate change by turning lights off for the...continued→
Posted by Liz Barratt-Brown
George Woodwell, a long-time scientist on NRDC’s board, has battled for action on global warming for years. Recently, I asked him how he stays so cheerful. Not missing a beat, he said “there is no substitute for optimism. If you...continued→
Posted by Liz Barratt-Brown in Curbing Pollution , Moving Beyond Oil , Solving Global Warming
In a forceful speech tonight, President Barack Obama asked America to join him in bringing about a revolution in how we produce and use energy. Already in his young presidency, he has signaled his desire to regulate greenhouse gases from...continued→
Posted by Liz Barratt-Brown in Curbing Pollution , Living Sustainably , Moving Beyond Oil , Solving Global Warming
The tar sands issue will never be the same after the President's visit to Canada this week. It has been catapulted to the top tier issues between the U.S. and Canada. Now the spotlight will be on what can be...continued→
Posted by Liz Barratt-Brown in Curbing Pollution , Moving Beyond Oil , Solving Global Warming
As the President heads to Canada this week, the Canadian government is expected to table a proposal to "protect" their carbon-heavy tar sands operations in Northern Alberta from future global warming regulation. The Canadians are confident, apparently, that the U.S....continued→
Posted by Liz Barratt-Brown in Moving Beyond Oil , Saving Wildlife and Wild Places
The President will make his first foreign visit to Canada next week. This is a tradition and historically these meetings have been largely ceremonial. Not so this time. Canada is abuzz with speculation about what directions might be set -...continued→
Posted by Liz Barratt-Brown in Curbing Pollution , Moving Beyond Oil , Solving Global Warming
The tar sands as a major source of oil for North America looks most favorable when oil prices are high and oil companies have cash to invest. That has meant a resurgence of interest in tar sands development over the...continued→
Posted by Liz Barratt-Brown in Curbing Pollution , Moving Beyond Oil , Solving Global Warming
In a taped statement yesterday, President-elect Obama addressed an international meeting on climate change hosted by California Governor Arnold Schwartzenegger in and co-hosted by an all-star, bi-partisan group of governors active on global warming issues (see Canada's reaction here). My colleague, Peter Miller, who was...continued→
Posted by Liz Barratt-Brown in Green Enterprise , Living Sustainably , Moving Beyond Oil , Solving Global Warming
Read Nobel Laureate Al Gore's opinion piece today in the New York Times about what this means to him. He comments on how best to channel the energy and enthusiasm for change that is ushering in our 44th President of the United...continued→
Posted by Liz Barratt-Brown in Moving Beyond Oil
Tackling environmental challenges - like global warming - will likely be at the forefront of our new President-elect's agenda. After eight years of the most anti-environment administration in our history, there will be a lot to do to better care for our...continued→
