Is America really waking up?

Waking up and catching up in The Economist.

This is a well-written article that reflects the slowly but surely changing green tide of environmentalism in the U.S. Although the shift in partisan control over both the House and the Senate is primarily responsible, it's still too early to say whether the transfer of power will actually result in the 'dramatic change' implied in the article.

However, there certainly are indications that environmental currents really are moving in the U.S. In addition to the launch of U.S. CAP (see previous entry), Exxon Mobil- who was notorious for paying scientists to argue against anthropogenic climate change - even admitted that climate change is real, thereby warranting action.

Apocalypse now: early warning signs of climate

WRI contributed to the data reflected in this map, which is available for purchase from Environmental Defense for $5.

I don't get paid enough

As a "technical advisor," I get questions from consultants, businesses, etc. who are attempting to calculate emissions to develop their greenhouse gas inventories. I don't know why I found this e-mail so hilarious. Maybe it's the fact that 1) the subject is completely nonsensical; 2) the body of the e-mail is blank.

I'm sorry, sir ... but I don't even know where to begin to help you.

Wake Forest gets a 'D' for sustainability

The Endowment Institute gives Wake Forest University a big fat overall 'D' for sustainability. The report scores universities based on administration, climate change and energy, food and recycling, green building, investment priorities.

Interestingly enough, the report cites the Student Environmental Action Coalition as the "strongest force for sustainability on campus." If this is true, the university's sustainable outlook is bleak. When I was a student, SEAC had weak influence and minimal presence on campus. I wouldn't exactly count holding an annual 'Earth Day' fest on Davis Field with free, university-purchased beer a "strong force" for sustainability.

Keeping Austin weirder ... and greener

This year's South by Southwest will be 'cleaner'.

The annual music and film conference will be carbon neutral. The article in the Austin Business Journal gives a shout out to WRI, and specifically, the Greenhouse Gas Protocol Initiative, the project I work on.

---
Una Johnston, SXSW's UK and Ireland manager and the company's environmental consultant, says she used the standards, guidelines and tools contained in the World Resources Institute's GHG Protocol to calculate the carbon emissions for the year Sept. 1, 2005 to Aug. 31, 2006.

Call on Gore

If you thought climate science wasn't sexy already, Ministry of Sound created a dance video version (to Eric Prydz) of "An Inconvenient Truth", which received two nods from the Academy yesterday.

Tuning into climate ... finally

WRI President Jonathan Lash and GE Chief Executive Jeffrey Immelt featured in the NY Times for the U.S. Climate Action Partnership.

On the eve of President Bush's State of the Union Address, the CEOs of 10 major companies and heads of four environmental groups will convene in Washington, D.C. to deliver a mandate to Congress - it's time for a firm nationwide cap on carbon dioxide emissions.

Perhaps representation from industry heavyweights such as Alcoa, DuPont, BP, Duke Energy, Lehman Brothers, and, of course, GE ,will hammer home the point that coordinated, immediate action is necessary to combat climate change, and, most importantly, industry isn't opposed to regulation. As economic losses are oft-cited as reasons for failing to enact policies to curb greenhouse gas emissions, the partnership will hopefully provide the much needed impetus for Congress to gather enough momentum to pass legislation that will finally regulate the world's largest emitter of greenhouse gases.

Watch C-SPAN's coverage of the press conference held this morning at 11:30 am regarding the partnership's policy recommendations, which can also be downloaded at US CAP'S home page. Also, read CNN's recap of the event.

Also, these editorials shed further light on the current political climate:
Climate Policy's Odd Man Out by Sebastian Mallaby

Senators Bingaman and Boxer in the Dallas Morning News

A warning from the garden by Thomas Friedman

Forbidden lattes?

Online campaign aims to rid Forbidden City of Starbucks