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There are many things that are being said about the shortcomings of the Copenhagen negotiations, but with the science telling us we must take action now if we are to protect our climate as well as the people impacted by climate change and the rich bio-diversity of this planet we call home, there is little time to debate the outcome. The time has come to act.
Coming out of Copenhagen, we have a political agreement by the leaders of the largest emitter nations who, eye ball to eye ball, hammered out the Copenhagen Accord; an agreement that goes beyond Kyoto to secure first time commitments to reduce emissions from the US as well as developing countries like China, India and Brazil.
Admittedly, the agreement does not go far enough to keep the average temperature of the earth from exceeding two degrees centigrade, but these new commitments by the US and by developing countries are a historic step forward, as President Obama noted in comments after the agreement was struck. The objection to the agreement of small island nations like Tuvalu, that face extinction if further progress is not achieved, is understandable. Clearly, this first step can not be the last.
For Americans who recognize the risks of climate change, there is one overwhelmingly important task that flows from this agreement: we must pass a clean energy and climate bill in 2010, and with mid-term elections bearing down on us, it is essential that Congress act before Earth Day, April 22, 2010.
President Obama has taken the political risk to commit the United States to the vision of a clean energy future with greenhouse gas emission reductions consistent with the legislation now pending before the Congress. It is now up to us to compel the Senate to act. We must not fail, we can not fail, in taking this first step toward a clean energy future protected from the risks of climate change.
Glen Besa, has spent the last two weeks in Copenhagen as a member of the Sierra Club's delegation to the UN Climate Conference. He is the director of the Virginia Chapter of Sierra Club.
Just about every one has scene the Sci-Fi classic, The Day the Earth Stood Still (1951). (I did not see the recent remake.) In some ways what is happening today in Copenhagen is a real day when the earth stood still awaiting an outcome at the UN climate negotiations.
As in the movie, the fate of the earth is being decided, but this time the threat is not alien, it is of our own making-climate change. Just as in the movie there is high drama but here it is world leaders who must decide the course we will take.
Unlike in the movies, there will be no dramatic final ending here this week. Whatever the outcome, we face months or years of additional negotiations and years of hard work fighting fossil fuel interests who will resist implementation of any international agreement or federal legislation adopted by the US Congress. After Copenhagen, the work begins again!
Since those of us in Copenhagen are locked out of the UN negotiations, you can join us watching history being made (we hope) on line at :
As world leaders gather in Copenhagen to negotiate a new global climate agreement, 350.org is hosting candlelight vigils around the world, with several such vigils taking place in Virginia.
Folks in Southside Hampton Roads will gather starting at 6:30 on Friday, December 11 at the Unitarian Church of Norfolk, 739 Yarmouth Street on the Hague. Speakers include ODU Professor and scholar David Burdige, Department of Ocean Earth and Atmospheric Sciences. For more information, contact Rev. Phyllis L. Hubbell, 410-916-1793, phubbell@uuma.org.
Click here to cast your vote in the Angry Mermaid Award and help decide which company or lobby group is doing the most to sabotage effective action on climate change.
Voting is open until Sun., Dec. 13, 2009. The winner of the Angry Mermaid Award will be announced in Copenhagen on Tues., Dec. 15, 2009.
"Crucial UN climate talks take place in Copenhagen this December. While people, organisations and social movements around the world are calling for strong action to prevent climate change and ensure climate justice, big business has been lobbying to block effective action to tackle the problem, while also seeking to benefit from it. Lobbying is defined as attempting to influence the decision-making process.
The Angry Mermaid Award has been set up to recognise the perverse role of corporate lobbyists, and highlight those business groups and companies that have made the greatest effort to sabotage the climate talks, and other climate measures, while promoting, often profitable, false solutions.
Named after the iconic Copenhagen mermaid who is angry about the destruction being caused by climate change, the Angry Mermaid Award winner will be decided by a public poll. Read the story of the Angry Mermaid.
Video from the Angry Mermaid is below the fold. Image above by Polyp.
Dana Milbank wrote a piece on yesterday's hearings on the Senate climate bill in today's Washington Post. It was good to here that the vast majority of the committee (Republican and Democrat) could acknowledge that climate change poses a serious threat... Sen James Infofe excepted, of course.
"Eleven academies in industrialized countries say that climate change is real; humans have caused most of the recent warming," admitted Sen. Lamar Alexander (R-Tenn.). "If fire chiefs of the same reputation told me my house was about to burn down, I'd buy some fire insurance."
Now we just need the political will to do something about it. Our own former Sen. John Warner (R) has shown remarkable leadership in this area and we can only hope that Republicans and Democrats alike will take a cue from him to get serious about our climate crisis and stop treating it as a partisan football.
A new Washington Post/ABC poll shows broad support (57%) for the Obama Administrations efforts at energy reform.
In addition to the findings in the chart above, some other key findings:
Around 75% support energy conservation requirements for consumers and businesses
91% support development of new wind and solar projects
80% support requirements for greater fuel efficiency
Efficiency and renewable energy have the potential to transform our economy and Americans get it. We want to be able to take advantage of energy efficiency to save money and help the environment at the same time. We also need and want leadership from our leaders in Washington and candidates running in Virginia.
Visit ConservationMajorityVA.org to learn how to get push this positive vision for Virginia's clean energy future during the 2009 Election season.
Here's a painfully funny video from the Alaska Wilderness League to support a petition drive to President Obama to protect America's Arctic.
"Isn't it finally time to protect the treasures of America's Arctic from destructive drilling? Last year, there were more than 90 oil spills per day in the United States.
All of America's polar bears live in the Arctic Ocean, migratory caribou still roam free in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge, and birds from around the globe congregate at Teshekpuk Lake in the National Petroleum Reserve-Alaska. These are natural treasures that belong to us all. We have a duty to protect them."
This morning, CCAN staff, volunteers and concerned Americans nationwide staged series of beach-themed rallies in around fifty cities across the country. Held in partnership with 1Sky, the festive gathering sought to urge our Senators to enact climate legislation that ensures a real cap on CO2, dictated by the EPA, as well as creating strong provisions for domestic renewable and clean energy development here at home.
We arrived in force at Senator Jim Webb's office (VA) at around noon, sporting swim trunks, floral leis, and signs reading, "Don't send clean energy out with the tide!" and "Clean energy jobs NOW!" as Richmonders downtown looked on during the lunchtime break. While volunteers passed the time, playing a makeshift game of beach volleyball, spirits were high and good times were certainly had. Glen, the inflatable dolphin, also made an appearance.
This is not to say, however, that today's participants were ignorant of the severe implications of a world climate crisis. Despite the relaxed attire and positive attitudes, all involved exuded deep concern and real frustration at the marginal progress that Congress has made so far in taking a strong approach to fixing the potentially fatal issue of global climate change.
This is the year for a clean energy bill and we need to tell our senators it's time to act. Let's turn up the heat on bold climate action.
On Monday, August 10th, we're holding a beach party to welcome our senators back home for the month and to tell them we need a strong clean energy jobs bill.
It is past time for the U.S. to take action on climate change. Please come and show your support for strong legislation that ensures:
•Serious steps to reduce greenhouse gas emissions as soon as possible
•Clean energy jobs through effective renewable electricity and energy efficiency resource standards.
•Transitioning away from fossil fuels and towards a clean energy future.
So, grab your beach gear, your camera, your flotation devices, and your flip-flops and join us for a beach party our senators will never forget.
IN VIRGINIA BEACH: Join us in front of Senator Jim Webb's office in Virginia Beach.
WHERE: 222 Central Park Ave., Town Center in Virginia Beach
WHEN: 12:00 to 12:30 pm
RSVP: Click here to RSVP
IN NORFOLK: Join us in front of Senator Mark Warner's office in Norfolk.
WHERE: 101 W. Main Street, Suite 4900 in Norfolk
WHEN: 12:00 to 12:30 pm
RSVP: Click here to RSVP
IN ROANOKE: Join us in front of Senator Jim Webb's office in Roanoke.
WHERE: 3140 Chaparral Dr # C-101, Roanoke (near Roanoke County offices)
WHEN: 12:00 to 12:30 pm
RSVP: Click here to RSVP
IN RICHMOND: Join us in front of Senator Jim Webb's office in Richmond.
WHERE: 507 East Franklin Street in Richmond
WHEN: 12:00 to 12:30 pm
RSVP: Click here to RSVP
North Carolina citizens have a chance to comment on their perceptions of the risk from a rise in sea level and what to do about it.
The state Division of Coastal Management said the online poll will help identify perceptions held by the public as it develops a policy on the issue.
Tancred Miller is the primary author of the survey and says the state is seeking everyone's perception regardless of their knowledge about the topic or whether they believe it.
The survey is here at www.nccoastalmanagement.net. Curious as to the questions, I took the survey - of course identifying myself as a resident of Virginia Beach and the Sierra Club as my affiliate organization. The survey is on the flip. What's interesting is the items suggested as possible adaptations and mitigation. I wonder how well a survey such as this would go over in Virginia.
With U.S. Senator Mark Warner at his side both at a press event in Roanoke and later via conference call, Democratic candidate for governor Creigh Deeds yesterday announced "a comprehensive plan to create jobs and renew Virginia's economy through targeted tax cuts for small businesses, innovative partnerships to generate new jobs in the alternative energy industry, creative initiatives to jump-start an economic recovery in rural regions, as well as a commonsense approach to finally solve Virginia's statewide transportation challenges through responsible, bipartisan leadership".
"Virginia led the nation in telecom in the 1980s, we helped lead the Internet revolution during the 1990s, and I firmly believe that the next generation of jobs and wealth will be found in the 'green' economy," Senator Warner said. "Creigh has put together a road map that allows Virginia to grasp that opportunity and take advantage of all of those possibilities if we prepare Virginians to take a leadership role in the alternative energy field."
"Virginia must take advantage of opportunities in rapidly expanding fields like biomass production,
wind power generation, and clean coal research", he writes in his plan. "By developing innovative ways of reducing fossil fuel consumption, Creigh will create thousands of new jobs in the Commonwealth and attract millions in new investment from private and public sources".
Standing out within his economic plan is a call for creation of a strong business environment for green energy companys.
"Green energy companies are attracted to states that have made a firm commitment to alternative energy. Creigh believes that we cannot afford to lose opportunities to create good-paying jobs in this high-growth industry, simply because our policies lag behind."
To this end, Deeds proposes expansion of the Solar Manufacturing Incentive Grant (SMIG ) program to all "green energy-related industries". He wants to offer competitive grants to green energy companies that invest at least $50 million
and create at least 200 jobs.
Believing that Virginia's current voluntary RPS is "simply not enough to keep Virginia competitive with states like Ohio, which passed a law requiring that utilities produce 25% of their energy from renewable source by 2025, and neighbors like Maryland, which has a 20% by 2022 mandatory requirement", Deeds proposes a mandatory RPS of 15% by 2020 and 22% by 2025.
The Renewable Electricity Standard as it stands right now within the Waxman-Markey (aka ACES) bill that just passed Congress calls for a 20% standard by 2020. This RES target is a national floor. States are allowed to set higher standards. Virginia's current standards are voluntary and call for 12% by 2022. The Governor's Commission on Climate Change recommended increasing that voluntary call to 15% by 2025.
Click here to read Deeds' entire economic plan. Click here to read how Virginia can easily meet a Federal RES of 25% by 2025.
Congressman Perriello would love for you to join him at a town hall meeting with US Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack and US Secretary of Energy Steven Chu this Saturday, July 18, from 1:30 to 2:30. Please come and ask questions, listen to answers and spend some time with your neighbors.
During their visit, the Secretaries will see first-hand the potential our communities have for being on the forefront of the new energy economy. We hope to impress upon them--and upon those who hear about our region through this visit--that we have the vision and the capacity to realize this potential right here. Central and Southern Virginia served as the cradle of American liberty and also the economic driver of the Commonwealth for more than a century. We can be that again as we blaze a trail toward energy independence and a clean technology future.
I hope you can join us. The town hall will take place on the farm of Buddy Mayhew, on Carters Lodge Road in Chatham, Virginia. Buddy's farm is just 1.5 miles off of Route 29 south of Chatham. Turn on Carters Lodge Road, bear right at the fork and his farm will be 1.5 miles ahead on your left.
What's the "Rural Tour"? "The Rural Tour will crisscross the country so that we can listen to residents in small towns and get their thoughts on how to best rebuild and revitalize America", writes Agricultural Secretary Tom Vilsack. "Our communities, big and small, are struggling, but President Obama and I are committed to doing what we need to to create jobs and stimulate local economies."
Former Sen. John Warner is teaming up with the Pew Environmental Group on a new project that will focus on links between global warming, energy policy and national security, the group announced Tuesday.
The group is the conservation arm of The Pew Charitable Trusts, dedicated to analytical approaches to public policy. Its Project on National Security, Energy and Climate will bring together scientists and military policy experts to look for new ways to combat climate change, promote energy independence, and preserve resources.
"Leading military and security experts agree that if left unchecked, global warming could increase instability and lead to conflict in already fragile regions of the world," Warner said in a statement. "We ignore these facts at the peril of our national security and at great risk to those in uniform who serve this nation."
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As world leaders gather in Copenhagen to negotiate a new global climate agreement, 
This morning, CCAN staff, volunteers and concerned Americans nationwide staged series of beach-themed rallies in around fifty cities across the country. Held in partnership with 
With U.S. Senator Mark Warner at his side both at a press event in Roanoke and later via conference call, Democratic candidate for governor Creigh Deeds yesterday announced "a comprehensive plan to create jobs and renew Virginia's economy through targeted tax cuts for small businesses, innovative partnerships to generate new jobs in the alternative energy industry, creative initiatives to jump-start an economic recovery in rural regions, as well as a commonsense approach to finally solve Virginia's statewide transportation challenges through responsible, bipartisan leadership".
The USDA's Rural Tour comes to Chatham, Virginia this Saturday!
From today's 
