Monthly Archives: January 2008

Global Warming by the Numbers

Sheryl CanterThis post is by Sheryl Canter, an Online Writer and Editorial Manager at Environmental Defense.

I’ve always liked statistics – hard numbers. They can evoke pictures that are both vivid and concrete. For example, did you know that there was a 45 percent increase in the world’s solar capacity in 2005? Or that China is ranked #2 as a global producer of solar cells? (Japan is first; The U.S. ranks fourth.)

These and many other interesting statistics can be found on our newly updated Global Warming by the Numbers page. Which stats jump out most for you?

Posted in What Others are Saying / Comments are closed

WEF Meeting: Report from Davos

Peter GoldmarkThis post is by Peter Goldmark, Program Director, Climate and Air, Environmental Defense.

The high and mighty are gathered in Davos, Switzerland for the annual meeting of the World Economic Forum (WEF), and right there in the center of the conversation, confabulation and champagne is our own Fred Krupp, president of Environmental Defense.

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Posted in International / Comments are closed

Antarctic Ice: Growing or Shrinking?

Lisa MooreThis post is by Lisa Moore, Ph.D., a scientist in the Climate and Air program at Environmental Defense.

On January 13, Nature Geoscience published an article that reports large increases in ice loss from West Antarctica over the past 10 years. It’s a sobering result that’s in line with earlier, independent studies.

But then why do some people say that Antarctic ice is growing?

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Posted in Arctic & Antarctic / Read 7 Responses

We’re Back, and Faster Now!

Sheryl CanterThis post is by Sheryl Canter, an Online Writer and Editorial Manager at Environmental Defense.

We’re sorry that many of you had trouble getting to our pages in recent weeks. Over the long weekend, we switched to a new service that is more reliable and offers more features.

While the pages should be much faster now, there is one remaining inconvenience: If you have registered to post comments, you will need to re-register. We think everything is working smoothly (thank you, Porter!), but if you notice any other problems, please let us know.

We’re glad to have the page-loading troubles behind us, and thanks for your patience.

Posted in News / Comments are closed

Time for Climate Action in the House

Carol AndressThis post is by Carol Andress, Economic Development Specialist at Environmental Defense.

Operation Climate Vote

This post is part of a series on the work of the Environmental Defense Action Fund to enact an effective climate law. You can help by writing to Congress.

The U.S. House of Representatives is back in session this week, and they have some important work to do.

Last month, the Lieberman-Warner Climate Security Act (CSA) was passed out of committee in the Senate. This means that the bill now can be considered by the full Senate – an important step. But for a bill to become law in this country it has to be passed by both the House and Senate, and the House has not yet moved on climate legislation. (See our previous post for more on the legislative process.)

Before the break, the House was preoccupied with the energy bill, but that’s now been passed. Next up should be climate legislation, and support is building for it. Here’s what House members have been saying:

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Posted in News / Read 3 Responses

Emissions Standards not a "Patchwork"

Sheryl CanterThis post is by Sheryl Canter, an Online Writer and Editorial Manager at Environmental Defense.

Just before Christmas – after two years of stalling – the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) denied California’s request to set its own, tougher vehicle-emissions standards. In denying the request, EPA Administrator Johnson said:

The Bush Administration is moving forward with a clear national solution – not a confusing patchwork of state rules – to reduce America’s climate footprint from vehicles."

What’s wrong with this statement? Well, among other things, the word "patchwork". Under the Clean Air Act, there are only two possible standards for motor vehicles:

  1. Federal standards
  2. California standards, which are tougher than federal standards and other states may adopt.

A choice between two options is hardly a "confusing patchwork". So where did this idea come from?

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Posted in Cars and Pollution / Comments are closed