Michael Oko's Blog: Solving Global Warming

New Emails Reveal Respect for Science

2009-12-10T22:11:55Z

Even as Sarah Palin weighed-in on the email controversy yesterday in the Washington Post and via Facebook, NRDC’s Climate Center Director Dan Lashof reminded us that “facts are stubborn ."

This morning, Alan Leshner, CEO of the American Association for the Advancement of Science and executive publisher of the journal Science, asserted, in the Washington Post, that Palin "distorted the clear scientific evidence that Earth's climate is changing, largely as a result of human behaviors." And 1,700 British scientists reaffirmed today that the science behind global warming is sound.

While the furor around the hacked emails continues to swirl, there’s a largely untold aspect to the story: the lengths that the scientists have gone to respect scientific process.

Here are a small sample (My colleague Pete Altman also blogged on this earlier today.):

Mann to Cook re long-term trends and how to resolve differences: “There are some substantial scientific differences here, lets let them play out the way they are supposed to, objectively, and in the peer reviewed literature.” April 12, 2002.

Steig explaining goal for paper that explores the Holocene climate record and ice cores. “An example might be that the "thermal maximum" was actually warmer than present – a major issue of contention in the popular literature - and was more-or-less simultaneous in both polar regions. If this is correct, it will be a useful service to the paleoclimate community to demonstrate it. Alternatively, we may find after carefully looking at the data that we CANNOT reach such a conclusion. This would be an equally important result.” [Bold added.] 12/12/2000.

Mann to Cook in an exchange about the possibility of Cook’s research being used to attack Mann: "Lets figure this all out based on good, careful work and see what the data has to say in the end. We're working towards this ourselves, using revised methods and including borehole data, etc. and will keep everyone posted on this." May 2, 2001.

We also have new expert analysis by groups that have reviewed the emails and here is what they've found:

The PEW Climate Center concluded: “The vast majority of the 1000+ emails are routine and unsuspicious. Perhaps one or two dozen of the email exchanges give the appearance of controversy, though no unethical behavior has yet been documented. Although a small percentage of the emails are impolite and some express animosity toward opponents, when placed into proper context they do not appear to reveal fraud or other scientific misconduct.”

Similarly, the Union of Concerned Scientists has also posted their debunk, agreeing that the emails "do not indicate that climate data and research have been compromised."

While we are likely to hear more noise about the emails in the coming days, I hope that those who truly understand the science-- and the need for action-- will stand up and be heard.

A Party for "Clean Energy Common Sense"

2009-11-12T18:39:10Z

On Tuesday evening, I joined with colleagues at the National Press Club, in Washington D.C., to celebrate the launch of the new book by NRDC's president, Frances Beinecke. The book, Clean Energy Common Sense, is a call to action on global climate change.

About 200 people gathered at the Press Club, including EPA Administrator Lisa Jackson, as Bob Deans, co-author of the book, took the podium. He gave a moving introduction to Administrator Jackson, referring to her strong leadership and early successes in addressing some of the top environmental issues in our country. He talked about the common ground we share with the EPA and the challenges ahead.

He also described the remarkable journey of this book, which was written as a straight-forward and practical guide on climate change. At just over 100 pages, it can be read on an airplane or train ride. Completed in just two months, it contains the most up-to-date information available.

Watch a short video of the event here:

After Administrator Jackson said a few words, Frances delivered a speech in her typically grounded, yet impassioned manner. She talked about the urgency of addressing climate change and the opportunity we have in taking this on. She thanked her collaborators, including Bob, and the staff and supporters of NRDC. (The book's dedication reads: "To the staff and board of the Natural Resources Defense Council - past and present - for their commitment to our mission to safeguard the Earth.")

Frances also had kind words for Lisa Jackson, who she referred to as a "powerful leader" for the EPA. She reiterated that NRDC will fulfill its "watchdog" role by keeping a close eye on the EPA to ensure it carries out its responsibilities to protect the planet -- our air, water, lands, public health, and climate. It was clear that these two women have a mutual admiration that goes beyond their professional positions.

Frances signs a book:

After the speeches, the crowd dispersed to get food and talk with colleagues. It was great to see so many "friends of NRDC" in the room, including current staffers, former staffers, donors, board members, Hill staff, members of the administration, journalists, and colleagues from partner organizations. By 8pm, the crowd was thinning out, but not surprisingly plenty of people seemed content to hang around a while longer to talk about the issues of the day, the excitement of the new book, or just catch-up with old friends.

As I headed out, it occurred to me that the party was about more than just this book, it also reflected the spirit of NRDC, which has been relentlessly tackling the toughest environmental issues and fighting to protect the planet for nearly 40 years.

And it was about the significance and opportunity in this moment, as Congress deliberates action on clean energy and climate, Obama prepares for a trip to China, and nations work together to develop the framework for a global agreement in Copenhagen. This is a moment that holds great potential for strong action on climate and clean energy-- it is a moment for collaboration and to rise above individual concerns to address this pressing global problem. It is a moment for action and for common sense to protect our planet.

President Obama Calls for Action on Climate at the UN

2009-09-22T15:34:21Z

"Unease is no excuse for inaction."

These were President Obama's words at the United Nations in his most significant speech on climate change since taking office, setting the tone for a bold vision that will hold the U.S.-- and the world-- accountable for its actions on one of the great challenges of our generation. President Obama clearly signaled that the previous eight years of excuses, denials and delays on climate change are no longer acceptable.

"This is a new day. It is a new era. And I am proud to say that the United States has done more to promote clean energy and reduce carbon pollution in the last eight months than at any other time in our history."

From his first days in office, the president has indicated that he is prepared to take a strong leadership role on climate-- both internationally and domestically. In this speech, the president delivered on both fronts.

Reminding us of the work that the administration has already done and the economic promise of a clean energy future, he remarked:

"We're making our government's largest ever investment in renewable energy . . . Across America, entrepreneurs are constructing wind turbines and solar panels and batteries for hybrid cars with the help of loan guarantees and tax credits -- projects that are creating new jobs and new industries."

With high profile meetings at the UN in New York and at the G20 meetings in Pittsburgh, this is an opportunity to demonstrate that the U.S. is ready to take on a leading role in securing an international climate agreement later this year:

"Because no one nation can meet this challenge alone, the United States has also engaged more allies and partners in finding a solution than ever before."

At home, there are new developments, as well. President Obama reminded the world of the historic vote in the House of Representatives and of the need for the Senate to move forward with a comprehensive clean energy and climate bill. And he indicated that he will continue to engage with Congress as the process unfolds.

"Most importantly, the House of Representatives passed an energy and climate bill in June that would finally make clean energy the profitable kind of energy for American businesses and dramatically reduce greenhouse gas emissions. One committee has already acted on this bill in the Senate and I look forward to engaging with others as we move forward."

In the Senate, Senator Boxer and other leaders are preparing to unveil new legislation on clean energy and climate that will provide a framework for the Senate to move forward this year. The EPA has also signaled that it is ready to act to reduce carbon pollution through strong actions, such as the new fuel standards for cars and trucks that were proposed last week.

This week, climate change will be front and center in the media and public's eye. I hope that our leaders in Congress are watching. We need them to be bold and to rise above partisan and petty bickering to engage with this vital issue. We need to ensure that America shows true leadership on this global issue by limiting our carbon pollution and helping to unleash a worldwide transition to clean energy sources. By taking these steps, we can strengthen our economy and our security.

As President Obama said,

"If we can resolve to work tirelessly in common effort, then we will achieve our common purpose: a world that is safer, cleaner, and healthier than the one we found; and a future that is worthy of our children."

Van Jones: Still A Hero

2009-09-07T19:53:22Z

This was a tough weekend for environmental advocates, as Van Jones, one of the newer heroes of the environmental community, was forced to resign from his post as the "green jobs" advisor in the White House Council on Environmental Quality.

Jones burst on the environmental scene around 2007 backed by charismatic flare and the power of a strong idea-- that environmental policies could lift-up people across the economic spectrum largely through new clean energy jobs. The organization he founded, Green For All, and his best-selling book, the Green Collar Economy, are a reflection of this idea, which has become a driving force behind action on clean energy and global warming.

I happened to cross paths with Jones nearly 10 years ago, in my former career in documentary films. In 2000, I was working for Witness, a human rights organization (then headed by Gillian Caldwell, coincidentally another convert to the issue of climate change, who is now leading the environmental group 1Sky) on a juvenile justice project, called Books Not Bars. The project was the brainchild of Jones, who was then an influential advocate for human rights and poverty issues in Oakland, CA. The goal was to encourage the promotion of education to overcome our national epidemic of over-incarceration of young people. I remember meeting him once or twice, but, mostly, I remember seeing videos of him at rallies, where his confidence, strong ideas and passion fired-up the crowds. He is one of those charismatic speakers who is able to connect with youth, activists and policy-makers alike.

When I arrived at NRDC in 2008, I was not surprised to find that Jones was working in the environmental community-- redefining the connection between environmental action and poverty.

As I soon found out, Jones's ideas had already taken power-- he had influenced policymakers like Nancy Pelosi, written a best-seller, and was soon tapped to join the Obama administration. To me, it was an exciting choice that represented President Obama's commitment to bring-in fresh voices to advance his clean energy and climate agenda.

Now, just 6 months later, Jones's star has-- at least for the moment-- been dimmed.

In his words, Jones was taken down by a "vicious smear campaign" by those who are "using lies and distortions to distract and divide." These include far right-wingers, especially Glen Beck of Fox News, who launched a vicious campaign against him, labeling him as a socialist and worse. This is the type of nasty politics that the opponents of change have been using for years, tying together loose rhetoric, misinformation and fear to block change for America. This clearly goes beyond any one action or individual-- and speaks to the worst aspects of our current political culture.

There is a cautionary note here, especially since Jones has many similarities with Obama. He's a smart, driven, 21st Century, African-American leader. Both have a rare combination of intelligence, bold ideas and charismatic personalities. And, of course, Jones, like Obama, was a progressive "community organizer," who suddenly found himself in the center of the D.C. political scene.

This combination of qualities is extremely threatening to many on the far-right, where bold ideas and action stand in contrast with stasis and incrementalism that is commonplace inside and outside of beltway. Sadly, the Glen Beck-crowd used their own extremist, fiery rhetoric and big media platforms to take down Jones.

If there's a silver lining, it's that, as the blogger Kate Shepperd has argued, Jones may now be liberated by working from the outside, where he can return to mobilizing and exciting young people and activists, who need his energy and strong voice. Interestingly, in August, I was at the Netroots Nation conference (where Jones was the keynote speaker in 2008) and at one roundtable discussion I attended, Jones was picked as the runaway favorite as most people's environmental hero. His heroic status should only grow greater now that he's been pushed to the outside.

This is an important moment. Congress is returning from a volatile August recess, and the Senate will soon take up energy and climate legislation. Now is the time for people who care about jobs, clean energy and the climate to come together and focus on these serious issues. We need leaders who are willing to present big ideas and take tough action for America's future. We know that the opposition will take their shots -- but our leaders cannot back down. The opposition is out of solutions and their only recourse is to try to block progress for our country.

As our elected officials come back to Washington this week, they will have one less champion. But, at this moment, we need even more leaders, like Van, to continue to push-- from inside and out-- for action that will move America in a new direction by shifting to clean energy that will create jobs and protect our planet.

An Astroturf Double-Header Hits Houston and D.C.

2009-08-19T05:10:09Z

Somehow it's fitting that Houston -- home to the Astrodome, where the Astros used to play baseball -- would be the latest place that we'd find Astroturf.

We had a double-header today with two more revelations about phony acts designed to spread fear around clean energy and climate legislation.

First, there was an "Energy Citizens" rally in Houston - brought to us by the oil industry supported American Petroleum Institute (API). On Monday, I wrote about the critical media coverage in advance of the American Petroleum Institute's "Energy Citizen" rally kick-off in Houston.

And, today, Clifford Krauss and Jad Mouawad at the New York Times weren't exactly buying it, either. As they describe:

"Hundreds of people packed a downtown theater here on Tuesday for a lunchtime rally that was as much a celebration of oil's traditional role in the Texas way of life as it was a political protest against Washington's energy policies..."

Naturally, the scene was rounded out with people wearing "I'll pass on $4 gas" t-shirts. This, of course, is dripping with irony since the last time America had $4 gas was last summer, as the oil industry reaped record profits.

Even the city's hometown paper - the Houston Chronicle - was rolling its eyes about the whole thing. In a pointedly-titled article, "Energy workers rally against climate plan," the Chronicle noted that Chevron, among others, was actively pushing its employees to attend this event:

"Chevron has invited Houston employees and retirees to participate in the event, and will provide transportation, so they can be part of the policy discussion, said spokesman Scott Walker in an e-mail."

Meanwhile back in Washington, D.C., another batch of forged letters was uncovered by the Select Committee on Energy Independence and Global Warming.

The Wall Street Journal Environmental Capital blog reported on this most recent embarrassment for ACCCE:

"The bad publicity keeps coming for the American Coalition for Clean Coal Electricity. On Tuesday, the chairman of the House Select Committee on Energy Independence and Global Warming, Rep. Edward Markey, (D., Mass)., announced that his investigation of the group - which represents major coal producers, electric utilities and railroads - has discovered five new letters fraudulently sent by Bonner & Associates. Bonner is a Washington-based company subcontracted by the coalition to influence members of Congress on the recently-passed House climate legislation."

As noted by the Washington Post, one of the letters was written on the letterhead of the North Carolina-based Senior Center Inc., which the Post describes as "a 49-year-old organization in Charlottesville that offers services like classes, sports and blood-pressure screenings."

Needless to say, the organization's executive director, Peter Thompson, felt "victimized" by this abuse.

Chairman Markey issued the following statement (as reported by WSJ):

"We've seen fear-mongering with our nation's senior citizens with health care, and now we're seeing fraud-mongering with senior citizens on clean energy," Mr. Markey said in a written statement. "We must return to an honest discussion of the issues, and ensure that this sort of campaign does not further poison the well of trustworthy debate."

This captures the heart of the matter because whether its fake letters or fake events, both are intended to spread fear and doubt in the minds of Americans.

When I was growing up, I used to think that Astroturf has no place in baseball. And, I know for sure it has no place in a productive, honest discussion about America's clean energy future.

Astroturf Gone Wild: Summer of Fakes and Deception

2009-08-17T06:25:10Z

Up until a few weeks ago, the only time I thought of Astroturf was in relation to high school soccer and leg burns. But, with each passing day, I'm learning more and more about front "Astroturf" groups that have been fueling angry crowds and shouting matches at this summer's town hall meetings.

The list of groups and affiliations is long and growing. They have leaders like Newt Gingrich, Dick Armey, and George Allen, and are backed by organizations such as the oil industry's American Petroleum Institute and the coal lobby group the American Coalition for Clean Coal Energy (ACCCE). Not surprisingly, the more we learn about these groups, the more we find out about their shady connections and methods.

As Ian Talley of Dow Jones described on Friday:

Astroturf groups, while meant to look, act and smell like community groups, are primarily funded by corporations, trade associations, political interests or public-relations firms.

He goes on to expose Americans For Prosperity, one of the most-active front groups:

The chairman of its affiliate organization, Americans For Prosperity Foundation (which unlike AFP can lobby politicians) is David Koch, co-owner of one of the largest private companies in the U.S., Koch Industries Inc. Among the conglomerate's revenue earners are its refining, oil pipelines and chemical units - including Koch Carbon, which produces greenhouse-gas intense products such as cement, coal, paper and petroleum coke.

Joining together with the National Association of Manufacturers and 10 other industry groups opposed to the climate bill, the American Petroleum Institute this month founded "Energy Citizens" to rally in 20 states across the U.S.

On Sunday, the Washington Post's David Fahrenthold also picked up on the "Energy Citizens" and the front-group dynamics:

A petroleum industry trade group is asking oil companies to recruit employees and retirees to attend rallies attacking climate-change legislation, an approach to grass-roots politics that resembles strategies used recently by some opponents of health-care reform.

Blogger Kevin Grandia was one of the first to uncover the revelations around API's funding of sham town hall events, when he reported that:

The email memo (download a PDF copy), which appears to come from the desk of American Petroleum Institute President Jack Gerard, asks API's member companies to recruit employees, retirees, vendors and contractors to attend "Energy Citizen" rallies in key Congressional districts nationwide. API is focusing on 21 states that have "a significant industry presence" or "assets on the ground."

Taking a page from the playbook of Astroturf campaigners currently crashing health care town hall events across the country, API hopes to similarly sully productive communications between Congressmembers and their actual constituents. Gerard states that API is ready to bus in company members and provide logistical support, and reveals that API has retained "a highly experienced events management company that has produced successful rallies for presidential campaigns, corporations and interest groups."

Similar scare tactics were carried out by the National Association of Manufacturers last week, which released an analysis that clearly exaggerates the cost associated with clean energy and climate legislation. NRDC economist Laurie Johnson remarks: "It's a story they've repeated over and over, against virtually every piece of environmental legislation. And every time history has proven them wrong." In her words, it's a case of "opinions masquerading as facts."

The problem with these groups is not that they are mobilizing activities or exchanging opinions. Everyone has a right to have and express his or her opinion. But the problem, as I see it, is that they are determined to sow fear and they are distorting where most Americans are on these issues.

Senator Specter (D-PA), who has attended a series of heated town halls, said on NBC's Meet the Press (as reported in the Washington Post): "I think we have to bear in mind that, although those people need to be heard and have a right to be heard, that they're not really representative of America, in -- in my opinion."

I couldn't agree more. America deserves to have a serious debate over important issues -- like health care and climate change. Unfortunately, this summer it seems like we are going to have less honest dialogue and more fake front groups.

Forty years ago, we had Woodstock and the summer of peace and love; now it looks like we're left with Astroturf and the summer of fakes and deception.

Moving Cooler: New Analysis of Transportation Policies Unveiled

2009-07-28T02:37:10Z

The Natural Resources Defense Council is co-hosting an event today at Union Station in Washington D.C. to release a new report on transportation efficiency, called Moving Cooler. More than 200 people are expected to attend, including members of the Administration, Congress, media and other policymakers.

This report marks the first-ever comprehensive analysis of transportation efficiency and its relationship to greenhouse gas reduction and consumer savings. It presents an objective and scientific analysis of more than 50 scalable transportation strategies to reduce GHG emissions.

The report brings together an unusual coalition, including: the American Public Transportation Association; Shell Oil; the Federal Highway Administration; the Federal Transit Administration; environmental groups; and others.

Among the top findings are that transportation policies can (1) cut our dependence on oil, (2) reduce global warming pollution and (3) save consumers money.

Against the backdrop of climate and energy legislation and a transportation bill later this year, this report provides an analytical foundation for policymakers to make informed decisions about our nations transportation policies. Now it is up to our leaders to make the right choices when it comes to our reforming our transportation system to meet the challenges of the 21st century.

<a href="http://www.coveritlive.com/mobile.php?option=com_mobile&task=viewaltcast&altcast_code=6bced2fe8b" mce_href="http://www.coveritlive.com/mobile.php?option=com_mobile&amp;task=viewaltcast&amp;altcast_code=6bced2fe8b" >Moving Cooler</a>

Climate and Energy Legislation: "Now is the Time to Act"

2009-06-25T19:09:20Z

With the energy and climate legislation coming to a head in the House this week, things are definitely heating up in Washington. Latest reports are saying that the House will vote on the American Clean Energy and Security Act (ACES) on Friday or Saturday, which means that we're less than 3 days away from the biggest environmental vote in a generation.

While the excitement is building, there is quite a lot of nervousness in the air.

Perhaps in response, President Obama (aka Mr. Cool) just delivered some words of reassurance.

In a speech at the White House, Mr. Obama urged the House to pass this legislation-- legislation America needs to get moving in a new direction, to create jobs, reduce our dependence on oil, and cut carbon pollution which is hurting our climate.

As he said, "The nation that leads in the creation of a clean energy economy will be the nation that leads the 21st century global economy. Now is the time for the United States of America to realize this too."

He went on to say that "Now I urge every member of Congress - Democrats and Republicans - to come together and support this legislation."

And he stated-- in a tone somewhat reminiscent of FDR-- that:

"We cannot be afraid of the future. And we must not be prisoners of the past. We have been talking about this issue for decades. Now is the time to finally act."

This speech comes on the heels of a rally that NRDC helped to organize with labor, business, faith, veterans and others on Capitol Hill yesterday. The rally included representatives from about 15 different organizations and senior House members- including Chairmen Waxman, Chairman Markey, Rep. Van Hollen and Rep. Lujan-all speaking up on the need for strong action on climate and energy.

It was great to see Mr. Waxman and Markey - who are approaching "rock star" status in the environmental community for their leadership and commitment on this issue. (You can see a recap of the live Twitter feed that we did via "Cover It Live" here.) You could definitely feel the growing excitement as we move up toward this historic vote-- as Mr. Markey put it, the most important vote on energy and climate in American history.

As we countdown to the vote, we are seeing a growing coalition of partners in the environment, labor, business, faith and many others, coming together to support this bill. While we remain optimistic that it will pass, it is clear that the vote will be close.

Hopefully, with courageous leadership, backed by srong public support, this will turn out to be a historic moment. Let's hope we can look back on this week and say that our leaders made the right decision to unleash our clean energy future and protect the planet from the impacts of global warming.

The Barton Plan: No Time for Party Crashers

2009-05-14T18:55:41Z

We've all been there: You're at a party, and it starts to get a little late. Suddenly, someone stumbles into the room ranting and raving. Everyone was having fun, but now the music stops.

Well, that's what we're seeing today with Congressman Barton's so-called energy plan. This "alternative" proposal is a distraction from the hard work and effort that Chairmen Waxman and Markey have put into the comprehensive clean energy and climate legislation (the American Clean Energy and Security Act) that is now moving ahead in the Energy and Commerce Committee.

Yesterday, President Obama praised Waxman's leadership and the "extraordinary progress" in moving ahead with a plan that will provide clean energy, create jobs and cut carbon pollution. NRDC's president, Frances Beinecke, also recognized the effort it took to bring together diverse voices and find a solid approach to energy and climate that will get America moving again.

According to most reports, this legsliation is now on track to be passed through the Committee by Memorial Day and will taken up by the House soon after.

As I said in a press release earlier today:

"The Barton plan reflects old, worn-out thinking that will do nothing to cut the pollution that causes global warming or reduce our dangerous dependence on oil. For months, Chairmen Waxman and Markey have conducted an open dialogue, giving members from Virginia to Ohio a chance to weigh-in on the current legislation. It is this plan, not the Barton alternative, that will create jobs and protect the planet."

The Barton plan reflects the status quo thinking that got America into this mess. But we need real solutions to make America a leader for the 21st century. We need true leadership for America, not more party crashers.

100 Days and Counting: A Fast Start for President Obama

2009-04-28T17:51:13Z

As President Obama wraps up his first 100 days in office, it's clear that he's set a high bar for the direction that he intends to lead the country. With an approval rating well over 60% and a majority of the country believing that the country is headed in the right direction, Mr. Obama is off to a fast start. Of course, the true test will be whether he can deliver on this early promise, but so far he's shown a strong commitment to address our nation's top energy, climate and environmental issues.

Even before he took office, his first appointments showed that he was ready to turn a page from the past eight years. His choices of Carol Browner as the energy and climate "czar", Dr. Steven Chu as Secretary of Energy, and Lisa Jackson as the EPA administrator showed that he was ready to put core environmental issues-- and scientific integrity-- front-and-center on his agenda.

The surprise to some people, including me, is just how bold he has been on clean energy and global warming. For most people, energy is only something we think about when we turn on our lights, power-up our computers, and drive our cars. We don't normally think about where this energy comes from or why it is such a central issue for our country.

But energy impacts our economy, our national security and the climate. Consider that, according to the Department of Energy, "fossil fuels provide more than 85% of all the energy consumed in the United States, nearly two-thirds of our electricity, and virtually all of our transportation fuels." These are the fuel sources that damage our health, link us to foreign governments, and produce the vast majority of carbon pollution.

Another way to think about energy is that five of the top 10 companies on Fortune 500 list for 2009 are energy companies:

Rank	Company	Revenues ($ millions)	Profits ($ millions)
1	Exxon Mobil	442,851.0	45,220.0
2	Wal-Mart Stores	405,607.0	13,400.0
3	Chevron	263,159.0	23,931.0
4	ConocoPhillips	230,764.0	-16,998.0
5	General Electric	183,207.0	17,410.0
6	General Motors	148,979.0	-30,860.0
7	Ford Motor	146,277.0	-14,672.0
8	AT&T	124,028.0	12,867.0
9	Hewlett-Packard	118,364.0	8,329.0
10	Valero Energy	118,298.0	-1,131.0

President Obama has looked to turn the issue of energy from a liability to a strength by moving America to a clean energy future that will be a source of economic power and create millions of new jobs. As President Obama said in his remarkable Earth Day speech: "The nation that leads the world in creating new energy sources will be the nation that leads the 21st-century global economy."

This speech is one of several remarkable moments that NRDC experts found in a review of his first 100 days. And one of the most impressive aspects of this short timeframe is that he has not just delivered the right words; his administration has taken the right actions.

In a timeline of the first 100 days that NRDC launched today, we have documented many of the high points, and a few key actions stand out:

Within days of taking office the EPA announced that it would reconsider the California waiver - which will lead to stronger emissions standards in California and has national implications.
One of the first moves by the Department of Interior, under Secretary Salazar, was the declaration that they would put a halt to leasing of land in Utah for gas and oil. This was a welcome change in direction and a move that NRDC helped to push through.
President Obama and Congress moved forward with a historic economic recovery package included the single largest investment in clean energy in America's history.
In public health, the Obama administration reversed course on the government's position on mercury pollution that will lead to a global accord on this important issue.
In the House, following Obama's leadership, Chairmen Waxman and Markey introduced comprehensive energy and climate legislation that would move America to clean energy, create jobs, and put strong limits on the carbon pollution that causes global warming.
The EPA announced that it would move forward with the Supreme Court's 2007 ruling that carbon dioxide is a danger to public health and the climate.

While there are certainly many issues and challenges ahead, it has been a busy and productive start for President Obama. The "yes, we can" spirit of the campaign has carried-over to the early days of the administration, as the president has laid out a solid foundation on energy, climate and the environment that will protect people and the planet, while enhancing our security and spurring our economic recovery.

President Obama's First 100 Days: A Fast Start for Energy and the Environment on Dipity.

A Week of Words And Action on Energy and Climate

2009-04-24T20:48:25Z

This week, energy and the environment took central stage from the fields of Iowa to the halls of Congress. Between Earth Day celebrations and Capitol Hill marathon briefings, it was all a bit dizzying. And, while not all of the news was perfect, there were many signs of the growing momentum for bold action on energy and climate.

Here's a re-cap of some of this week's highlights and some of the most memorable words that we heard and read:

For Earth Day, President Obama highlighted the economic opportunities around clean energy and global warming solutions.

President Obama said: "The choice we face is not between saving our environment and saving our economy. The choice we face is between prosperity and decline. We can remain the world's leading importer of oil, or we can become the world's leading exporter of clean energy."

In Roll Call, Representative Sherrod Brown wrote a column, including the line: "Inaction is not an option" (See NRDC's Climate Director, Dan Lashof's blog on it. )

He went on to say: "If we care about the world in which we live and the generations that will follow us, then we must no longer dismiss the lethal risks global warming poses to our planet. We must craft an aggressive strategy to combat global warming, and we must do it now."

Business leaders, part of the group Environmental Entrepreneurs (www.E2.org) came to Washington to push the case for clean energy as an economic engine.

The CEO of SynGest and E2 member Jack Oswald was quoted in the Washington Post , saying, "What's going to give us the ability to expand as rapidly as possible is carbon legislation."

On the flip side, Politico ran a story that examined the opposition's approach to global warming, calling it 'schizophrenic.'

The title says it all: "GOP grapples with climate confusion."

And here's another key line: "Outside the Capitol, business groups - a key Republican constituency - are fractured in their opposition to climate change legislation."

Finally, Senator John Warner (VA- retired) testified to Congress about the importance of climate change from a national security perspective.

As he put it: "Global climate change has the potential, if left unchecked, of adding missions to the already heavy burdens of our military and other elements of our nation's overall national security."

So, what are we to think about all of these words? To me, it says that, after a long delay, Washington is moving again on clean energy and global warming. More and more business leaders, economists, and even politicians are recognizing that the right environmental decisions are the right economic ones.

To close it out, here are NRDC's President Frances Beinecke words from Earth Day: "With a president who shares our environmental priorities, a Congress poised to take action, and business leaders increasingly aware of the opportunity presented by a clean energy economy -- we have the tools to repower America."

(Thanks to Eric Young who contributed to this entry.)

Obama Delivers in Speech to Congress

2009-02-25T05:12:34Z

Before I left the office today, I read an advance excerpt of President Obama's speech to Congress. One line that stuck out was: "We will rebuild, we will recover, and the United States of America will emerge stronger than before."

I mentioned this one of my colleagues, noting that it seemed like a pretty good and knowing that coming from Obama it would sound even better. I got the feeling we were heading for a powerful speech.

And, sure enough, he delivered tonight.

There is no doubt that despite the many challenges facing our country, the president has a clear vision of where he intends to lead the country. As he said, "It begins with energy."

He called on us to double the supply of renewable energy in three years. He also made renewed commitments to invest in new technologies - like wind and solar - and to produce more plug-in hybrid cars.

And, most significantly for the environment, he called for Congress to pass legislation that will create a "market-based cap on carbon pollution."

To be honest, a few months ago, before I started working at NRDC, I may not have noticed this statement. A what? A cap on carbon? But for people on the front lines of the climate crisis, this is one big step-more like a leap-- forward.

If we truly want to meet the challenges of the 21st century and the climate crisis, we need to innovate and transform America's energy sector. We need the kind of bold vision that pushed America to build our amazing highway system and drove the ingenuity behind the technology boom. A cap (or limit) on carbon pollution can be used to generate investments in renewable energy and move us off of old fossil fuels. The capital from a carbon cap can help create jobs and raise us out of this economic slide.

Of course, the hard work lies ahead. Moving cap-and-trade legislation through Congress will likely be a long and complex process. But it can be done.

As Obama said, this won't be easy. But, in his words, "This is America. We don't do what's easy. We do what is necessary to move this country forward."

As he spoke, I thought again how it just sounds different to hear Mr. Obama say this - maybe it's his voice, his confidence or his command of the issues. Maybe it's the hard times. But for me, I can't help but to believe him and to get the feeling that he may just be right.

From Green Jobs to Smart Grids

2009-02-02T23:32:17Z

Last week was a pretty thrilling week for environmentalists. With so much going on each day, I've been wondering what we're going to get as an encore. So far the signs are pretty good.

First off, this week brings the Green Jobs/Good Jobs conference to Washington D.C. (Feb 4-6). Thousands of people are expected to attend this event, hosted by the Blue Green Alliance, which is a coalition of labor groups and environmentalists, including NRDC. In fact, NRDC's executive director Peter Lehner will be one of the speakers. The conference will highlight how we can repower America by moving to a clean energy economy that will create millions of good-paying jobs while reducing global warming pollution.

On a related note, the Obama administration announced on Friday that it's forming a "middle class task force," under the leadership of V.P. Biden, and that the first meeting, slated for February 27, is called, "Green Jobs: A Pathway to a Strong Middle Class." What a great idea: participatory democracy and a government that listens to its citizens.

In Sunday's New York Times Magazine, I read David Leonhardt article about the economic recovery, including his views on green jobs. While Leonhardt brings a health dose of skepticism to the table, one of his conclusions is that green jobs and a shift to alternative energy will "pay a handsome return in the form of icecaps that don't melt and droughts that don't happen - events with costs of their own."

Clearly, energy and environment are on people's minds... even during the Super Bowl. One of the most interesting moments came late in the game - and I'm not referring to the Cardinals' safety or "the Catch" by Santonio Holmes.

What I found really remarkable were the GE ads that ran in the fourth quarter. I expected to see Budweiser Clydesdales and the latest from Go Daddy Go, but I was a bit surprised when the words "Smart Grid" were blasted onto my TV screen.

The smart grid, of course, refers to the modernization of the electric power system ("the grid") that brings electricity into people's homes and businesses. As anyone who remembers the blackout that hit New York City in August 2003 can attest, America's electricity grid is fragile and not well-equipped to meet our country's growing power demands. While it is a huge undertaking, a new power grid would greatly increase energy efficiency, saving consumers and businesses millions of dollars and lowering our global warming emissions. I'll save the details to my energy colleagues, but for me, the real surprise was that GE would spend its time and money (likely in the neighborhood of $3 million) to promote this idea.

I suppose momentum for big ideas has to start somewhere. I just hope that we can maintain progress on these ideas so that they are turned into real action on the economy - and our future.

Obama's Inaugural Speech: Let's Roll

2009-01-21T17:22:42Z

As I reflect on Inauguration Day 2009, a day filled with great promise, I keep thinking about an editorial I came across a few days ago. It was written by Thomas Friedman in the New York Times.

Here's a selection from it-- that I edited slightly:

The most obvious national project that President [Obama] could launch now-- his version of the race to the moon-- would be a program for energy independence, based on developing renewable energy sources, domestic production and energy efficiency. Not only would every school kid in America be excited by such a project, but it would be [Obama]'s equivalent of Richard Nixon going to China...

The only difference is that in the original version the president was not Obama; it was Bush. And it wasn't written this week; it was written in January 2002. The title of the editorial is "Let's Roll," the rallying cry from Flight 93 during 9/11, which went on to be the nation's call to action in the aftermath of the terrorist attacks.

Not only does this editorial demonstrate Friedman's amazing foresight, but it also reinforces how much time we've squandered waiting to fulfill-- or even make significant progress on-- energy independence.

Presidents at least since Richard Nixon have been calling for energy independence, but this call has gained renewed urgency. Not only do we need to end our addiction to oil to free ourselves from counting on countries that don't have our best interest in mind, but the economy is in shambles and the climate crisis threatens our land, water and air. We can no longer separate a transition to clean energy from our economic recovery. By moving to clean energy-- like wind, air and geothermal-- we can create millions of new jobs immediately and enhance our economic stability over the long term.

So, turning to Obama's inaugural speech (which I found to be thoughtful and moving, if not quite soaring), I'd say that the early signs are that we may begin to see real progress on this pressing issue.

Here are a few selections from the President's speech [Bold added]:

"Each day brings further evidence that the ways we use energy strengthen our adversaries and threaten our planet."
"The state of the economy calls for action, bold and swift, and we will act - not only to create new jobs, but to lay a new foundation for growth. We will build the roads and bridges, the electric grids and digital lines that feed our commerce and bind us together .... We will harness the sun and the winds and the soil to fuel our cars and run our factories."
"With old friends and former foes, we will work tirelessly to lessen the nuclear threat, and roll back the specter of a warming planet."

It's clear that Obama gets it. He understands that we need an immediate investment in renewable energy sources and a national commitment to greater energy efficiency. While the challenges that Mr. Obama and our country face are great, we cannot wait another seven years to get started. We need to start today.

Again, in the new President's own words:

"Starting today, we must pick ourselves up, dust ourselves off, and begin again the work of remaking America."

Car Free Day in DC

2008-09-22T20:50:52Z

For those in the Nation's Capital, today marks the first-ever "Car Free Day", an event sponsored by DC Metro. The point is to get as many people as possible to avoid driving and use alternative modes of transportation -- train, foot, bike, or other forms of activity. It's a great idea - and a good way to reduce car emissions and other pollutants. It's nice to see local and Federal government getting in the mix, and there are some cool new initiatives out there to help. The Federal government is even going so far as to offer people the opportunity to "telework" from one the Federal telework centers for the day so they don't have to drive in to work.

Speaking of the government and things you may not have known existed, I was surprised when I recently learned that that members of the House of Representatives can get a lease for a car that's paid for by U.S. taxpayers -- yes, you and me. I found a 2007 report by Taxpayers for Common Sense on what Representatives drive, and there are at least the 130 that participate in this program. To be fair, it's a wide range, but some are real gas guzzlers.

I did a quick check at the gas mileage-using the government's own Fuel Economy website (great site if you are looking for a new car) and found the following. The average city MPG, for the 117 vehicles that had enough information to determine a specific MPG, was slightly more than 17 MPG, while the average highway MPG was just over 24 MPG. There were some outliers on both sides, including a fair number of SUVs and luxury cars. Representatives Miller (CA), Fortuno (PR), and Ross (AR) drive Ford Expeditions; and Rep. Rush (IL) drives a Lincoln Navigator - all of which have a measly 12 MPG city. Rep. Conyers (MI) has a Lincoln Signature LM that, according to the EPA, gets only 10 MPG city. On the upside, there were two Priuses (45 MPG city) on the list from Rep. Becerra (CA) and Watt (NC).

On a related note, the DC city government has really taken a step forward in trying to get people to avoid using cars, when it introduced SmartBike DC. This is a bike-sharing program where people pay a yearly fee to use bikes in three hour increments. There are 10 locations with approximately 50 bikes spread between them. Hopefully, this will catch on and so we can reduce our oil demand and keep our air clean.

And, in case you were wondering, I took the Metro to work this morning, but I'm gearing up to start riding a bike soon.