Unfortunately, it's all too clear that this Congress is going to kick the climate can down the road, increasing the risks for future generations. That said, the President can choose to use his executive authority to act on climate.
As a matter of fact, and as a matter of law, the President is legally required to act on climate, and he's actually breaking the law by not having acted in April.
In a nutshell: The Supreme Court ruled in 2007 that carbon dioxide qualifies as a pollutant under the Clean Air Act. By law, that ruling compelled the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to do a scientific assessment on whether CO2 is a danger to human health. This led to the 2009 EPA "endangerment finding" that CO2 is indeed a threat to public health.
These results mean that the EPA must regulate CO2, according to the Clean Air Act, an act of Congress, whether the current Congress likes it or not.
The EPA issued a strong standard last summer to address auto emissions, but it is well behind on regulating stationary sources such as power plants. By law, the EPA should have issued a standard to limit CO2 from any to-be-built power plants by April 13. This hasn't happened and, consequently, the EPA is in violation of a court order. Some national environmental groups are already on record as saying they'll sue the President if a new standard isn't issued by mid-June.
We say go for it -- it's high time the laws of the land controlled CO2 emissions. And then some.
PennFuture's A Climate for Change header/graphic
Wednesday, May 29, 2013
Wednesday, May 22, 2013
The American climate
News you can use
Time to act
Alarmed, doubtful, or dismissive? These are a few of the "six Americas" that comprise the public and their views on climate change. There is hope, according to the authors of a report. A full 90 percent of those polled say the United States should act -- even if it has economic costs. From The Center for American Progress
The science of extreme weather and climate
This week's destructive tornadoes have again brought into the limelight the questions about extreme weather and climate. This column takes an extended look at the scientific literature. From Think Progress
Crape myrtles creep north
Gardeners around Pennsylvania are experiencing our warming climate firsthand -- in earlier-blooming perennials, shrubs and fruits. Not a problem, some say? Learn what has also happened to native hardwood trees at Longwood Gardens and the resulting pests, weeds and disease. From PennLive
All streets are not created equal
How many trees are in your neighborhood? These statistics tell us where the worst urban heat islands are -- and why this is part of the larger discussion of inequality and climate change. From The Atlantic Cities
Fun stuff
Sunny options
It's the unofficial start of summer - and outdoors time is high on all our agendas. How about forgoing the fuel to boil your water and charge your cell -- with these solar-powered alternatives. Every little bit adds up. From Good and Treehugger
Time to act
Alarmed, doubtful, or dismissive? These are a few of the "six Americas" that comprise the public and their views on climate change. There is hope, according to the authors of a report. A full 90 percent of those polled say the United States should act -- even if it has economic costs. From The Center for American Progress
The science of extreme weather and climate
This week's destructive tornadoes have again brought into the limelight the questions about extreme weather and climate. This column takes an extended look at the scientific literature. From Think Progress
Crape myrtles creep north
Gardeners around Pennsylvania are experiencing our warming climate firsthand -- in earlier-blooming perennials, shrubs and fruits. Not a problem, some say? Learn what has also happened to native hardwood trees at Longwood Gardens and the resulting pests, weeds and disease. From PennLive
All streets are not created equal
How many trees are in your neighborhood? These statistics tell us where the worst urban heat islands are -- and why this is part of the larger discussion of inequality and climate change. From The Atlantic Cities
Fun stuff
Sunny options
It's the unofficial start of summer - and outdoors time is high on all our agendas. How about forgoing the fuel to boil your water and charge your cell -- with these solar-powered alternatives. Every little bit adds up. From Good and Treehugger
Thursday, May 16, 2013
Flying in the face of logic
News you can use
The GOP is at war -- with itself
While polls make clear that action on climate change can be a political winner, the Republican Party's embrace of climate deniers like Marco Rubio and the multi-billionaire Koch brothers makes their position unsustainable in the long term. From Think Progress
An indefensible defense?
You decide. A May 8 Op-Ed in the Wall Street Journal called increased carbon dioxide in the atmosphere a "benefit" which will increase agricultural productivity. The writers explain further why they believe carbon dioxide is not a dangerous pollutant. From Treehugger
Bad combination for the forests
Secretary of the Interior and mountaineer Sally Jewell says the wildfire risks from dry winter across the West are being worsened by the automatic federal budget cuts. In 2012, several states set new records for acreage burned -- a situation that will increase as the climate warms. From Huffington Post
Good news and fun stuff
This story might get your goat
Next time you fly out of the world's fifth-busiest airport, look for these four-legged creatures who are helping reduce one type of pollutant on the grounds. From Good
Chiefs wanted
The Rockefeller Foundation is going beyond sustainability to resiliency. They'll fund Chief Resilience Officers in 100 cities worldwide as part of a Centennial Challenge -- to help cities withstand and bounce back from challenges including natural disasters. From The Atlantic Cities
Feathers and flyways
Billions of birds are heading north on an annual trip to their summer breeding grounds.With all the environmental and human-made threats they face, you can help migrating birds right now. These winter wrens who made their home on a staff member's porch near Wilkes-Barre will be fledging soon -- learn what you can do for birds wherever you live. From Audubon
The GOP is at war -- with itself
While polls make clear that action on climate change can be a political winner, the Republican Party's embrace of climate deniers like Marco Rubio and the multi-billionaire Koch brothers makes their position unsustainable in the long term. From Think Progress
An indefensible defense?
You decide. A May 8 Op-Ed in the Wall Street Journal called increased carbon dioxide in the atmosphere a "benefit" which will increase agricultural productivity. The writers explain further why they believe carbon dioxide is not a dangerous pollutant. From Treehugger
Bad combination for the forests
Secretary of the Interior and mountaineer Sally Jewell says the wildfire risks from dry winter across the West are being worsened by the automatic federal budget cuts. In 2012, several states set new records for acreage burned -- a situation that will increase as the climate warms. From Huffington Post
Good news and fun stuff
This story might get your goat
Next time you fly out of the world's fifth-busiest airport, look for these four-legged creatures who are helping reduce one type of pollutant on the grounds. From Good
Chiefs wanted
The Rockefeller Foundation is going beyond sustainability to resiliency. They'll fund Chief Resilience Officers in 100 cities worldwide as part of a Centennial Challenge -- to help cities withstand and bounce back from challenges including natural disasters. From The Atlantic Cities
Feathers and flyways
Billions of birds are heading north on an annual trip to their summer breeding grounds.With all the environmental and human-made threats they face, you can help migrating birds right now. These winter wrens who made their home on a staff member's porch near Wilkes-Barre will be fledging soon -- learn what you can do for birds wherever you live. From Audubon
Thursday, May 9, 2013
Say it ain't so: 400
Other news
The atmosphere's CO2 levels briefly topped 400 parts per million (ppm) --another ominous milestone in the climate crisis -- at an observatory in Hawaii this week. But, alas, that doesn't stop a vocal minority of deniers who've come up with a long list of talking points.
Copernicus also had skeptics -- who persisted for decades after his death --who didn't believe his argument that the sun, not the earth, was the center of the universe. (In 2013, Copernicus' birthday was celebrated with a Google doodle).
But the climate crisis is even more urgent than the 16th century debate over the sun. It's one of the reasons PennFuture has been working on climate change since we were founded -- and recently concluded 100 Days of Action for Climate in Pennsylvania. We're also continuing the fight to confirm Gina McCarthy as EPA administrator: Learn more at www.standwithgina.com.
"It's a natural cycle," "there's no scientific consensus," and "it's a conspiracy" are a few common arguments heavily used by organizations with a stake in dirty fossil fuels. So we know you'll find good use for these 99 climate-denier rebuttals -- whether you submit a comment to your morning newspaper or drop a line at your next neighborhood cookout. From Think Progress
Some good news
How many ways can you say it? Environment + economy are not mutually exclusive (it's right in our PennFuture mission). A new report by the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) makes clear: over the last decade, EPA regulations imposed about $45 billion in costs, but created $640 billion in benefits. From Triple Pundit
Fun stuff
What would Jules Verne think? A plane has begun a historic around-the-world trip one section at a time. Why is this news? The plane -- Solar Impulse -- is a prototype that flies on solar cells and lithium batteries. From Treehugger
To do
Join PennFuture in Pittsburgh for NWF's Google hangout with renowned climate guru and scientist Dr. Michael Mann. We'll have pizza and snacks as we discuss climate science followed by a Q&A session with Dr. Mann. What's a Google hangout, you ask? It's a virtual meeting -- You can participate right in our Pittsburgh office on Monday, May 13, 5:30 to 6:30 p.m. Not in Pittsburgh? You can still participate online from your computer or smartphone.
The atmosphere's CO2 levels briefly topped 400 parts per million (ppm) --another ominous milestone in the climate crisis -- at an observatory in Hawaii this week. But, alas, that doesn't stop a vocal minority of deniers who've come up with a long list of talking points.
Copernicus also had skeptics -- who persisted for decades after his death --who didn't believe his argument that the sun, not the earth, was the center of the universe. (In 2013, Copernicus' birthday was celebrated with a Google doodle).
But the climate crisis is even more urgent than the 16th century debate over the sun. It's one of the reasons PennFuture has been working on climate change since we were founded -- and recently concluded 100 Days of Action for Climate in Pennsylvania. We're also continuing the fight to confirm Gina McCarthy as EPA administrator: Learn more at www.standwithgina.com.
"It's a natural cycle," "there's no scientific consensus," and "it's a conspiracy" are a few common arguments heavily used by organizations with a stake in dirty fossil fuels. So we know you'll find good use for these 99 climate-denier rebuttals -- whether you submit a comment to your morning newspaper or drop a line at your next neighborhood cookout. From Think Progress
Some good news
How many ways can you say it? Environment + economy are not mutually exclusive (it's right in our PennFuture mission). A new report by the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) makes clear: over the last decade, EPA regulations imposed about $45 billion in costs, but created $640 billion in benefits. From Triple Pundit
Fun stuff
What would Jules Verne think? A plane has begun a historic around-the-world trip one section at a time. Why is this news? The plane -- Solar Impulse -- is a prototype that flies on solar cells and lithium batteries. From Treehugger
To do
Join PennFuture in Pittsburgh for NWF's Google hangout with renowned climate guru and scientist Dr. Michael Mann. We'll have pizza and snacks as we discuss climate science followed by a Q&A session with Dr. Mann. What's a Google hangout, you ask? It's a virtual meeting -- You can participate right in our Pittsburgh office on Monday, May 13, 5:30 to 6:30 p.m. Not in Pittsburgh? You can still participate online from your computer or smartphone.
Thursday, May 2, 2013
Welcome back, Climate Digest fans.
We're back talking climate news that's good, bad -- and even entertaining. Like our other e-publications, A Climate for Change has joined the blogosphere - and we want to know what you think. You've sent us emails and questions which we always appreciate -- now you can talk back in the climate conversation.
Have you used the latest NWF report on warming and wildlife for reference for a class or community group? Or maybe you're an angler/hunter who notices the changes in our wild natives of the Pennsylvania woods. Tell us about it -- and we'll share your Pa. stories of the climate crisis when we advocate at the State Capitol and on Capitol Hill like we did this past month.
Are you powering your home with sun, wind or the geothermal power beneath our feet? Share your inspirational photos from all corners of Penns' Woods and tell your stories: in your comments here or on our Facebook page.
You can still find all the past issues you need right on our Climate for Change email archive. We love to find the unusual from around the web, because we all need inspiration. The slide show on sustainable Hobbit houses in this 2012 issue got a lot of clicks. Since most Hobbits don't use the internet, we'll leave it to you, our human readers to tell us what you think -- and what we can all do together to confront the crisis of our age.
Happy May to readers new and old -- and welcome to the climate conversation here at PennFuture.
Have you used the latest NWF report on warming and wildlife for reference for a class or community group? Or maybe you're an angler/hunter who notices the changes in our wild natives of the Pennsylvania woods. Tell us about it -- and we'll share your Pa. stories of the climate crisis when we advocate at the State Capitol and on Capitol Hill like we did this past month.
Are you powering your home with sun, wind or the geothermal power beneath our feet? Share your inspirational photos from all corners of Penns' Woods and tell your stories: in your comments here or on our Facebook page.
You can still find all the past issues you need right on our Climate for Change email archive. We love to find the unusual from around the web, because we all need inspiration. The slide show on sustainable Hobbit houses in this 2012 issue got a lot of clicks. Since most Hobbits don't use the internet, we'll leave it to you, our human readers to tell us what you think -- and what we can all do together to confront the crisis of our age.
Happy May to readers new and old -- and welcome to the climate conversation here at PennFuture.
Quick news from around the web
Some good news
Where are the flying cars? The 70's-era Jetson cartoon family gliding happily home in their car-spaceship isn't a reality yet. But higher-tech, more fuel efficient cars are everywhere -- and model year 2012 autos were the best yet. Why? More from Pittsburgh Tribune-Review and Think Progress
Other news
In more ominous news for the safety of pipelines, ExxonMobil's tar sands pipeline leaked again. It's a glaring reminder that the Keystone XL pipeline carrying climate-killing tar sands is still awaiting approval. Background on Keystone XL from NWF. More from Grist
Fun stuff
Okay, maybe your best dance moves don't rank you up there with Beyonce or Baryshnikov. But if you had this particular dance floor, you'd be helping the planet reduce dirty fuels -- and even run the electricity for the revolving disco ball. Now that's a reason to learn the merengue. From PSFK.com
Where are the flying cars? The 70's-era Jetson cartoon family gliding happily home in their car-spaceship isn't a reality yet. But higher-tech, more fuel efficient cars are everywhere -- and model year 2012 autos were the best yet. Why? More from Pittsburgh Tribune-Review and Think Progress
Other news
In more ominous news for the safety of pipelines, ExxonMobil's tar sands pipeline leaked again. It's a glaring reminder that the Keystone XL pipeline carrying climate-killing tar sands is still awaiting approval. Background on Keystone XL from NWF. More from Grist
Fun stuff
Okay, maybe your best dance moves don't rank you up there with Beyonce or Baryshnikov. But if you had this particular dance floor, you'd be helping the planet reduce dirty fuels -- and even run the electricity for the revolving disco ball. Now that's a reason to learn the merengue. From PSFK.com