Climate News Live

New Jersey enacts legislation setting global warming targets far into the future.  "New Jersey became the third state in the nation to enact a comprehensive greenhouse gas reduction law Friday, requiring the Garden State to significantly cut emissions of global-warming gases.  Al Gore, the former vice president turned environmental activist, was on hand as Gov. Jon S. Corzine signed the "Global Warming Response Act" into law. California and Hawaii have adopted similar laws, and eight other states are considering them." 

The Washington Post, July 6, 2007. 

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Proposal would be used to demonstrate public's reluctance to incur additional costs.  "I sincerely doubt that the American people are willing to pay what this is really going to cost them," Dingell, D-Mich., said in an interview Friday on C-SPAN's "Newsmakers," which is to air Sunday.  His proposal would boost the federal gasoline tax by 50 cents a gallon, he said, and establish a "double digit" tax on each ton of carbon dioxide emissions. The federal tax on a gallon of gas is now 18.4 cents and has not risen in 14 years."

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The latest trend in energy-saving ideas.  "The Southeast Como Improvement Association will hand out retractable clotheslines at its cookout. A group called Bike On will teach immigrant women to ride bikes. Bedlam Theatre will give $2 to every patron who doesn't arrive by car.  Those are among the energy-saving ideas being funded by micro-grants from the city of Minneapolis to 20 local neighborhood, church and nonprofit groups." 

StarTribune, July 9, 2007.  

http://www.startribune.com/462/story/1293160.html

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Little-known plant offers big-time promise.  While the seashore mallow might be handy for a quick snack, the sturdy plant has provided Gallagher food for thought in addressing a smorgasbord of environmental problems, from global warming to the disappearance of coastal farmland.
Gallagher, a marine biosciences professor, says the seeds are a promising source of biodiesel, with an oil composition similar to that of soybeans and cottonseed.
Unlike soybeans and corn, which require annual plantings to feed the growing appetite for biofuels, the pink-flowered seashore mallow is both a perennial and a halophyte, or salt-tolerant plant, that grows in areas where other crops can't.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/07/10/AR2007071000247.html

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Republican Governors continue to focus on climate change.  "Florida Gov. Charlie Crist said yesterday that he is set to sign executive orders tomorrow matching California's standards for greenhouse gas emissions from automobiles, adding the nation's fourth-most-populous state to the roster of those embracing aggressive new limits on vehicle emissions.  Tearing a page from the playbook of a fellow Republican, California Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger, Crist said he would also set a goal of slashing the state's greenhouse gas emissions to 20 percent of 1990 levels by 2050, in line with targets that many scientists say are necessary to contain global warming."

The Washington Post, July 12, 2007. 

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/07/11/AR2007071102139.html

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Southern States maintain the status quo, fighting change to alternative energy.  "Six of the nation's 10 largest sources of carbon dioxide emissions are coal-fired power plants in the South, but year after year Southern lawmakers balk at pushing utilities toward cleaner renewable energy...Southern lawmakers - responding to heavy lobbying from local utilities - argue their region isn't conducive to solar or wind power like the sun-baked Southwest or the open plains of the West.  But many leading scientists and environmental advocates say Southern states have plenty of alternative-energy potential. Utilities have simply grown comfortable with cheap, dirty coal and haven't been forced to change, they say." 

The Washington Post, July 14, 2007. 

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/07/14/AR2007071400273.html

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Capital investment needed if technology is going to have real impact as an energy source.  "It is no wonder solar power has captured the public imagination. Panels that convert sunlight to electricity are winning supporters around the world — from Europe, where gleaming arrays cloak skyscrapers and farmers’ fields, to Wall Street, where stock offerings for panel makers have had a great ride, to California, where Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger’s “Million Solar Roofs” initiative is promoted as building a homegrown industry and fighting global warming.

But for all the enthusiasm about harvesting sunlight, some of the most ardent experts and investors say that moving this energy source from niche to mainstream — last year it provided less than 0.01 percent of the country’s electricity supply — is unlikely without significant technological breakthroughs."

http://www.nytimes.com/2007/07/16/business/16solar.html?_r=1&oref=slogin

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Frustrated by EPA's inaction, Senators Boxer (D-CA) and Nelson (D-FL) work to speed up the Agency's decision-making process.  "The Environmental Protection agency would be forced to speed up its decision on whether to approve California's clean vehicle regulations under a bill introduced July 12 by Sens. Barbara Boxer (D-Calif.) and Bill Nelson (D-Fla.). The Boxer-Nelson bill would direct EPA to make its decision on the state's rules within 30 days of enactment, or no later than Sept. 30."

BNA Daily Report for Executives, July 16, 2007. 

http://pubs.bna.com/ip/bna/der.nsf/eh/a0b4w8z4a1

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In an effort to secure more than $500 million in federal funding, Governor Spitzer and New York City Mayor Bloomberg agree to traffic congestion proposal.  "After negotiations continued beyond what supporters said was a federal deadline of midnight, Gov. Eliot Spitzer and New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg on Tuesday had a new tentative proposal for a Manhattan traffic congestion plan to pitch to the state Legislature, a spokeswoman for Spitzer said...Bloomberg's plan includes an $8 toll for cars and a $21 toll for trucks to enter Manhattan's most heavily traveled business district during workdays, with the money going toward transportation improvements." 

The New York Times, July 17, 2007. 

http://www.nytimes.com/aponline/us/AP-NY-Traffic-Fee.html?_r=2&oref=slogin&oref=slogin

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While a consensus on 'how' to address climate change is still lacking, the need to do so is not.  "The Business Roundtable, which represents 160 chief executives of leading U.S. companies, said that "collective actions" should be taken now to begin reducing heat-trapping "greenhouse" gases that scientists believe are warming the earth.  "The consequences of global warming for society and ecosystems are potentially serious and far-reaching," the business group said. "Steps to address the risks of such warming are prudent now even while the science continues to evolve."

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/07/17/AR2007071701405.html

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Nichols looks to move quickly on implementing rules to cut California's emissions.  "Environmental lawyer Mary Nichols, the newly appointed head of the powerful California Air Resources Board, assured state legislators Tuesday that her mandate from the governor is to "speed up, not slow down" the state's ambitious effort to slash global-warming pollution." 

Los Angeles Times, July 18, 2007. 

http://www.latimes.com/news/local/la-me-nichols18jul18,1,4522053.story

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Airline hopes to capitalize on public support for green initiatives.  "In the past six months, environmental concerns have become a priority for the airline, David Cush, senior vice president of global sales, said in an interview. Both corporate accounts and individual customers increasingly are asking the airline for information about its environmental policies, he said. In about 30 days, Mr. Cush said, the Fort Worth, Texas, airline plans to roll out a broad marketing strategy to address environmental questions.  "Globally, airlines account for only 3% of total carbon emissions," Mr. Cush said. Overall, he said flying is less harmful to the environment than traveling by car, although planes are less energy-efficient than trains."
http://online.wsj.com/article/SB118472521761269886-search.html?KEYWORDS=%22global+warming%22&COLLECTION=wsjie/6month

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The Maryland County is working to move forward on new environmental standards for builders.  "Howard County Executive Ken Ulman sharply defended his effort to require stricter environmental standards for commercial and residential builders after the measures drew sustained criticism during a lengthy County Council hearing this week...While nearly everyone expressed support for protecting the environment, representatives of home builders and office developers criticized what they consider defects in the bills."

The Washington Post, July 19, 2007. 

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/07/18/AR2007071801127.html

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Study calls for diversification of energy sources, increased efficiency for automobiles.  "Because the world’s population is growing and living standards are rising worldwide, energy consumption globally is expected to rise by more than 50 percent over the next 25 years. But finding supplies to match that growth is going to be increasingly tough and will require huge new investments in coming decades.
The support for that conclusion is a 476-page study titled “Facing the Hard Truths About Energy” that involved 350 participants, suggestions from more than 1,000 people, submissions by 19 foreign governments from Australia to Saudi Arabia, and dozens of subcommittees."

http://www.nytimes.com/2007/07/19/business/19oil.html?_r=1&oref=slogin

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The threat of climate change is adding to the already existing problems that have plagued the Chesapeake Bay.  "Climate change has already begun to alter the Chesapeake Bay, warming and raising its waters in a way that could unbalance delicate ecosystems and doom low-lying islands, according to a report released yesterday by the Chesapeake Bay Foundation."

The Washington Post, July 20, 2007. 

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/07/19/AR2007071901112.html

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Environmentalists and some within the Navajo Indian Tribe are worried about the impact of a new coal-fired power plant.  "With population swelling across the West, supporters of a proposed coal-fired power plant on the Navajo Nation reservation say the thirst for electricity is becoming too much for existing plants.  But some Navajos and other opponents of the $3 billion Desert Rock Energy Project argue they should not have to sacrifice their health or environment to provide power for cities thousands of miles away."

The New York Times, July 20, 2007. 

http://www.nytimes.com/aponline/us/AP-Navajo-Power-Plant.html?_r=1&oref=slogin

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With critics skeptical, company looks to test 'green thumb' in deep blue sea.  A small California company is planning to mix up to 80 tons of iron particles into the Pacific Ocean 350 miles west of the Galapagos islands to see whether it can make a splash in the markets where people seek to offset their greenhouse gas emissions.  Planktos -- with 24 employees, a Web site and virtually no revenue -- has raised money to send a 115-foot boat called the Weatherbird II on a voyage to stimulate the growth of plankton that could boost the ocean's ability to absorb carbon dioxide from the air. The company plans to estimate the amount of carbon dioxide captured and sell it on the nascent carbon-trading markets.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/07/19/AR2007071902553.html

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Addressing climate change while protecting local economic growth and development.  "States should develop creative approaches to climate change, just as they have with challenges such as health care, despite their different economic interests, governors said Saturday...Talks on state-level climate policy were planned for the annual National Governors Association meeting this weekend at a resort on Lake Michigan, where receding water levels have touched off debate over the effects of global warming on the Great Lakes." 

The Washington Post, July 22, 2007. 

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/07/21/AR2007072101160.html

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Bush Administration following growing support, reconsidering stance on emissions caps."  "The Bush administration, under pressure from both U.S. business interests and foreign allies, is exploring a range of options to address climate change, including some form of economywide emissions caps.  For an administration that has steadfastly opposed caps, it is an unlikely turn and shows how the White House's thinking continues to evolve after President Bush's surprise promise in May to seek an international agreement on long-term global greenhouse-gas reductions."

http://online.wsj.com/article/SB118514546049774399.html

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Recent flooding in Britain is following climate change predictions..."Though Britain is known for its typically rainy climate, the torrential downpours of the past month have been anything but typical. The relentless rains have brought central Britain the worst floods it's seen in half a century, and some wonder whether global warming might be to blame.  But that link is hard to make, scientists say.
"We can't link any particular event to climate change," said Jay Larimore, chief of the climate monitoring branch for the U.S. National Climatic Data Center. But the downpours and floods are consistent with what climate change models predict will happen, said Tim Evans of the Chartered Institution of Water and Environmental Management in the United Kingdom."
http://news.yahoo.com/s/livescience/20070724/sc_livescience/arebritainsfloodslinkedtoglobalwarming

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Image and money driving latest trend of environmental officers:  “Environmental vice presidents usually spend company money, but this new breed is helping companies make money,” said Eileen Claussen, president of the Pew Center on Global Climate Change. The upshot, said Geoffrey Heal, a business professor at the Columbia Business School, is that “what started out as a compliance job has evolved into one that guards the value of the brand.”
The titles vary, mixing and matching “chief” and “vice president,” “sustainability” and “environmental,” making it impossible to track how many people fill the role. But whatever they are called, the new environmental chiefs — many of them named in the last two years — wield extraordinary power.
They are exploring partnerships with vendors and customers to create green products — and they have the power to close the deal. They are also getting a vote — often, the deciding vote — on product research and advertising campaigns."
http://www.nytimes.com/2007/07/03/business/03sustain.html

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Evidently coffee isn't the only thing Washingtonians care about.  "As members of the governor's Climate Action Team brainstormed and refined strategies for cutting the state's greenhouse gas emissions, about 100 environmentalists rallied to pressure them to take strong action to reduce global warming...At the meeting, team members considered different strategies for cutting releases. They included creating incentives for constructing and retrofitting buildings to boost energy efficiency, setting goals for greenhouse gas cuts specifically for transportation, improving railroad efficiency, improving recycling and composting, and encouraging small-scale energy production such as home solar modules."

Seattle Post-Intelligencer, August 7, 2007.  

http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/local/326697_climate08.html

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Yet another coal-fired plant faces strong opposition.  "Conservation groups launched a pre-emptive strike against the Highwood Generating Station, suing a federal agency Monday to prevent it from lending the coal-fired project more than $600 million.  In a lawsuit filed in Washington, D.C., three groups cited the National Environmental Policy Act in asking a judge to prohibit the agency from approving the loan and disbursing the money." 

Great Falls Tribune, July 24, 2007. 

http://www.greatfallstribune.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070724/NEWS01/707240302/1002

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Recent agreement to cap emissions demonstrates growing trend of states taking matters into their own hands.

"Stepping in where the Bush administration has refused to tread, California Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger and five other Western governors, joined by two Canadian provincial leaders, pledged Wednesday to enforce a tough regional cap on greenhouse gas emissions.

Under the Western Climate Initiative, the leaders agreed to slash emissions of carbon dioxide and other climate-warming pollutants to 15% below 2005 levels in their states and provinces in the next 13 years. That is about the same percentage as California's commitment under last year's landmark global warming law. Overall, the region would cut emissions by 350-million metric tons over that time period."

LA Times, August 23, 2007

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Judge disputes Administration claim to have 'discretion' over reports.

"A federal judge ordered the Bush administration to issue two scientific reports on global warming, siding with environmentalists who sued the White House for failing to produce the documents.  U.S. District Court Judge Saundra Armstrong ruled Tuesday that the Bush administration had violated a 1990 law when it failed to meet deadlines for an updated U.S. climate change research plan and impact assessment."

New York Times, August 22, 2007

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With Iowa as a leader in Ethanol production, refineries are becoming a popular campaign spot.

"Twenty-eight ethanol plants now dot the Iowa landscape, sticking out like spaceships amid the cornfields. The refineries cast a shadow all the way to Washington. Politicians salivate over the idea of green energy, giving ethanol center stage in both Congress and campaigns. Sells, who grew up 30 miles from Iowa Falls, says much has changed since the plant opened in 2004. Corn prices are up, jobs have multiplied and the town is seeing renewed activity in its shops and restaurants. A new hotel opened to support the influx of vendors and visitors, the second for the 5,000-person town surrounded by cornfields and cattle. “Now the farmers have a real purpose,” says Sellers. “Business is booming.”

Politico, August 20, 2007.

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