Climate legislation invites contrasting claims.
| Environmental Change Re-Draws Atlas of Africa Johannesburg/Nairobi/London, 10 June 2008-Africa’s rapidly changing environmental landscape, from the disappearance of glaciers in Uganda’s Rwenzori Mountains to the loss of Cape Town’s unique “fynbos” vegetation, is presented today to the African Ministerial Conference on the Environment(AMCEN). |
| The Bicycle: An Environmental Hero Bicycle sales have been booming in North America in recent years, with some sources saying high gas prices may be responsible for the trend. Bike shops are reporting high profits, bike lanes are expanding, and the web is exploding with useful blogs and websites designed to help cyclists. A few of our favorites are [.] |
| Water’s proof. Ice thickness is just one of the differences in Oneida Lake over the past few decades that scientists say point to a gradually warming global climate. |
| Climate legislation invites contrasting claims. During the brief debate on the Climate Security Act, supporters and opponents traded contradictory claims. |
| Take Action to Support Global Warming Action Global warming is the most serious environmental threat facing the planet today.We need Congress to pass a strong bill to cap and reduce America’s global warming pollution.The Senate has scheduled a vote on the Climate Security Act in early June.You can help us seize this historic opportunity to pass a strong bill.Take these three steps today:
Thank you for your support. Together, we can make history by passing a strong global warming bill this year. |
| OPEC chief appeals for calm over oil LONDON (Reuters) - OPEC’s Secretary General on Tuesday appealed for calm, saying the record-high crude oil price was unbearable and did not reflect any shortage of supply in the market. Abdullah al-Badri also called for measures to curb market speculation, a factor OPEC says is sending prices to unjustified levels. Oil hit a record $139.12 a barrel on Friday and was trading near $136 on Tuesday. |
| Press Release: Statement in Response to White House Opposition to the Climate Security Act
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: From Steve Cochran, Environmental Defense Fund Climate Campaign Director: The White House today put itself on a road to the wrong side of history by opposing a bipartisan bill that will fight climate change, reduce our oil dependence, and restore America’s competitiveness.
They might as well have said, ‘Let’s do more of what we’ve been doing for the economy and the environment. We think its working really well.’
We urge the Senate to choose a better path.
The question for Senators now is whether they stand with those defending the status quo of failed environmental and economic policies, or whether they plan to answer the call of Americans who want real action on climate change and a real solution to rising gas prices.
In opposing the Climate Security Act being debated in the Senate this week, the White House today complained that the cost of gasoline could go up 53 cents over the next 22 years if we finally deal with climate change. They apparently missed the fact that under our current oil-addicted energy policy, gas went up $1.10 in just five months last year – and continues to climb.
The only answer to high gas prices is to break our over-dependence on oil, which is exactly what the Climate Security Act will do. Analysis based on data from MIT shows that the Climate Security Act would reduce oil imports by at least half a trillion dollars through 2030.
The White House also claims that economic output would be reduced by 7% if we took action to reduce emissions – a number at the very extreme end of all analysis that’s been done. All credible academic studies show we can grow our economy and address climate change at the same time – most saying the impact will be 1% or less over twenty years. That’s a far lower cost to our economy than the impact of unchecked climate change. This is a modest investment we need to make for a problem the President himself has recognized as important.
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Environmental Defense Action Fund
Founded in May 2002, Environmental Defense Action Fund is at the forefront of educating legislators about developing new solutions that protect the natural world. Through grassroots and direct lobbying, EDAF amplifies Environmental Defense Fund’s ability to champion laws that are based on science, economic incentives, and, above all, the protection of our environment.
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| Press Release: Statement on Grants to Convert NC Hog Lagoons
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
CONTACT:
Dr. Joe Rudek, 919-881-2913
Georgette Shepherd, 919-880-8033
(Raleigh, NC - June 4, 2008) The NC Department of Environment and Natural Resources today announced that three hog farm operations in Sampson County will receive funding to install innovative waste treatment technologies, the first cost share grants to be awarded under the NC Lagoon Conversion Program established by the 2007 General Assembly. The following statement may be attributed to Dr. Joe Rudek, senior scientist with Environmental Defense Fund. Rudek helped document the air and water pollution associated with the traditional lagoon and sprayfield system and helped shape state legislation that permanently bans open air lagoons for treating hog waste.
"The hog farmers receiving the first grants are innovators. They deserve a salute for their commitment to finding ways to treat swine waste that will protect the state’s air and water quality and the health of communities.
"The technologies selected for funding will use a centralized system large enough to treat nearly 60,000 hogs. This is a great beginning for the state’s push to convert all open air lagoons to modern systems.
"The Lagoon Conversion Program was designed to help farmers make the switch to better systems, and its success over the coming year should spur legislators to provide additional funding in the state budget."
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| Clean Energy from Flowing Waters The flowing waters in the rivers and tidal waves can be a good source of alternative energy. With 70% of the earth’s surface covered with water, a great amount of energy can be produced by placing turbines at strategic locations under strong currents. This method of generating electric power is called hydrokinetic power generation. [.] |
| Get your green pants here. MAS Holdings, Sri Lanka’s largest apparel company, says it has the world’s first carbon-neutral clothes factory. |
| Modest African footprint still approaching limits Individual Africans might consume less on average than residents of any other continent, but rising population is bringing Africa close to its ecological limits, the first ever detailed assessment of Africa’s ecological footprint has found.Africa-Ecological Footprint and human well-being, prepared for WWF by the Global Footprint Network and released at the African Ministerial Conference on the Environment today finds the average African had an Ecological Footprint (an estimate of the area of land or sea used annually in providing for personal consumption) of 1.1 global hectares in 2003, well below the global average of 2.2 hectares per person. |