Monday, January 24, 2011
Brookline launches climate week
Part I, Part II, Part III, Part IV, Part V, Part VI, Part VII, Part VIII, Part IX
The event was brought together by Climate Change Action Brookline, a group of volunteer activists. Climate Week is co-sponsored by Climate Change Action Brookline, the Selectmen's Climate Action Committee, the Brookline School Committee, Brookline Department of Public Health and Brookline Adult and Community Education.
The full calendar of events is available online.
Tuesday, January 11, 2011
Commerce Secretary denies MA governor request for fishing increase
In a letter to Governor Patrick Friday Department of Commerce Secretary Gary Locke rejected the Governor's request for emergency action to increase catch limits for Massachusetts fishermen.
In the letter, Secretary Locke states that after having the National Marine Fisheries Service review a November request to allow increases in fishing for the upcoming season due to economic downturn, there was no "scientific data that would justify increasing the catch limits."
Patrick wrote the Secretary in November also requesting $21 million in economic relief citing a report from the Massachusetts Marine Fisheries Institute. The Institute is a partnership between the University of Massachusetts, the Massachusetts Intercampus Graduate School of Marine Sciences and Technology, and the Executive Office of Environmental Affairs. According to the letter by Locke, however, the data provided are "insufficient to warrant either a fishery disaster or a commercial fishery failure...".
Conservation Law Foundation Senior Counsel Peter Shelley sided with the Secretary. “With his decision to reject Governor Patrick’s request to increase catch limits, Secretary Locke has rightly rejected the notion that the new fisheries management plan is contributing to an economic crisis in the Massachusetts fishery,” Shelley said in a statement. “Instead of reacting to the self-interested objections of a few powerful fish processors and big commercial operations that seek to undermine the plan he approved, the Governor should direct the Massachusetts Division of Marine Fisheries to conduct an open assessment of the performance of the new system using all available economic, scientific and anecdotal data so that any shortcomings may be quickly identified, documented and fixed. Such leadership would bridge the perceived divide between environmental and fishing interests to achieve a common goal of a sustainable and thriving fishing industry, built on healthy fish populations, diverse and successful fishing operations, and high quality ports.”
Monday, September 20, 2010
Down with Prop 23
Yet again an out state special interest (I still can't believe Prop. 8 passed, what is going in in my home state?) is spinning the people of California's fears of joblessness (granted over 12 percent unemployment is pretty outrageous) but let's remember that the crash of the housing market and overpriced oil and energy expenses (caused not by the law combating pollution but by greedy energy producers upset that California is actually forward thinking) is the reason for California's outrageous state of affairs.
One thing I would like to suggest is folks go to the Facebook page of the proponents of Prop 23 and start flagging it as a scam. Prop 23 is a scam of the worst caliber; it sells itself as a we need to protect jobs, yet those jobs and that revenue are for oil and industries that continue to pollute the planet and the health of Californians and the people of the rest of the world.
Don't buy it California!
Friday, October 30, 2009
The Influence of Climate Change Communications on Public Opinion and Awareness
A CNN poll released
A third poll taken by the Pew Center for The People & The Press in October 2009 reflected that while 73 percent of their respondents believe climate change is a serious or somewhat serious problem, only 24 percent of the poll’s respondents, representing nearly one-quarter of Americans, even know that cap and trade is an environmental policy.
These polls point out the need for better communication of how climate change is linked to the environment and economic, health and other issues. Also needed to be addressed is the public’s awareness of the issue as promoted through the media and through the public’s own behavior. Governments must, therefore, address how the topic is communicated and promote transparency and accountability in its policy-making.
Media Skill-Development, Behavior Change and Public Awareness of Climate Change
[1] Pooley, Eric. How Much Would You Pay to Save the Planet? The American Press and the Economics of Climate Change. Discussion paper published in 2008 by the
[2] Hogan, James and Richard Littlemore. Climate Cover-Up: The Crusade to Deny Global Warming. D&M Publishing, 2009. Pgs. 8-12.
[3] Yale Forum on Climate Change & the Media. Found at: http://www.yaleclimatemediaforum.org/2009/03/comments-on-pooley-analysis/
[4] United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change. Found at: http://unfccc.int/essential_background/feeling_the_heat/items/2910.php on
[5] Platt, Reg and Simon Retallack. Consumer Power: How the public thinks lower-carbon behavior could be made mainstream. Published
[6] Co-Chair’s Summary. Fifth Meeting of the Leaders’ Representatives of the Major Economies Forum on Energy and Climate http://centralcontent.fco.gov.uk/central-content/campaigns/act-on-copenhagen/resources/en/pdf/mef-london-final-communique
Tuesday, October 27, 2009
Solar RD&D Bill Passes Through House
The bill works to establish a framework for the Department of Energy to invest in solar technology, and would authorize $350 million for DOE to enact this RD&D beginning in 2011.
The bill has been sent to the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee for review.
Wednesday, August 19, 2009
API Campaign Attacks Climate Policy
Houston TX
Perry GA
Detroit MI
Roswell NM
Greensboro NC
Farmington NM
Ohio (venue being finalized)
Greeley CO
Nashville TN
Indiana (venue being finalized)
Bismarck ND
Tampa FL
Sioux Falls SD
Greenville SC
Anchorage AK
Joliet IL
Charleston WV
Fairfax VA
Philadelphia PA
Lincoln NE
Missouri - To Be Determined
Arkansas - TBD
In a response, Greenpeace USA executive director Phil Radford wrote to Gerard calling him out on how the memo goes against agreements made by many of API's members through the US Climate Action Partnership, a coalition of corporations and environmental organizations that have worked together to support climate policy.
This campaign presents an excellent opportunity to generate further dialogue on the benefits that passing climate legislation represents. Not only has there been ample research showing job growth within the manufacturing sector, but these are jobs that work to develop a sustainable economy based on clean energy. Rather than continued dependence on oil, and the health and environmental implications that this dependence reeps, efficiency and clean energy can transform the economy towards a sustainable model. Granted, these are not the only changes that need to be made in our economy, but they are a crucial step towards minimizing the impacts of climate change.
The API memo also points out that it is not alone in its dissent. Other organizations, such as the Chamber of Commerce and National Association of Manufacturers, the trucking industry, the agricultural sector, consumer groups, small businesses, and many others pledged to have their membership join in the events in states where they have a strong presence, the memo states. API is, of course, thinking of its bottom line, which is to continue to sell as much petroleum as it can. These other industries are following along the same mode of thought.
Rather than trying to counter the arguments made by these groups, the environmental community should continue concentrating on the benefits that outweigh the costs of action on climate change. Hopefully, the environmental community will take this opportunity to promote dialogue in these same locations, showing that support for a green, clean economy is real and will not be swayed by misinformation and scare tactics.
Monday, August 17, 2009
Climate, Growth and Floods in Mumbai
These visible climate impacts speak to an obvious need for action on climate change. With the negotiations in Copenhagen now four months away, the international community, one might think, would be full steam ahead. Yet, as an article today in Climate Wire reports, "deadlock has plagued the United Nations for months as countries try to finalize a climate agreement that keeps global temperatures from rising above 2 degrees Celsius from pre-industrial levels."
To make matters worse, UN Framework Convention on Climate Change executive director Yvo de Boer is even quoted as saying that "If we continue at this rate, we're not going to make it."
The article also points out that the world is waiting for someone to take the lead. Hopefully, when the Senate comes back into session Sept. 8 the leaders of this country will show that it has the political will to take responsibility for its actions.