Monthly Archives: March 2008

Do-It-Yourself Policy Simulation

By Sheryl Canter / Bio / Published: March 13, 2008

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

There’s no longer any serious disagreement about our need to reduce greenhouse gas emissions to stop global warming. The debate now is about the best way to go about it. Opponents claim that the cost of adopting a cap-and-trade system would be ruinous to the U.S. economy. Leading economists who have studied the issue say that’s wrong.

Now you can decide for yourself. Yale economics professor Robert Repetto synthesized the results of thousands of policy simulations from 25 economic models to identify the seven key assumptions that account for most of the differences in the models’ predictions. He then used this information to create a new Web site that allows you to choose your own assumptions.

Yale Model Results

Posted in Economics / Comments are closed

That Scary Washington Post Article

By Sheryl Canter / Bio / Published: March 12, 2008

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

On Monday, the Washington Post reported that new studies say carbon output must be near zero to avert danger. They referred to two recent studies, one published in Geophysical Research Letters and one in the journal Global Biogeochemical Cycles.

I asked the scientists here at EDF about this. It turns out what’s missing from the Washington Post article is the time frame. Yes, we have to bring emissions to near zero, but it doesn’t have to be tomorrow. And moreover, this isn’t news!

Posted in News / Read 2 Responses

Interview: Hope, Optimism, and Profitability

By Sheryl Canter / Bio / Published: March 11, 2008

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

Verdant Power Turbine In yesterday’s post, Environmental Defense Fund President Fred Krupp wrote about his new book with Miriam Horn, Earth: The Sequel.

The popular environmental blog Treehugger just published an interview with them about the book and their experiences writing it. They discuss emerging clean energy technology, and give interesting anecdotes about people they met along the way. Here are some excerpts:

Posted in Energy / Comments are closed

Global Warming’s Silver Lining

By Fred Krupp / Bio / Published: March 10, 2008

This post is by Fred Krupp, President of the Environmental Defense Fund.

The Sequel

Earth: The Sequel tells the story of an exciting race that is just beginning – the race to develop low-carbon energy in time to turn our greatest environmental crisis into our greatest economic opportunity.

Many people have expressed surprise that I’d write a book like this about a problem so serious. And global warming is serious. With each passing year, scientists get more and more alarmed at the increase and extent of disturbing impacts. But this book is not about the doom and gloom of global warming. In fact, it’s just the opposite.

Posted in Energy / Read 6 Responses

Cow Manure and Pretty Pictures

By Sheryl Canter / Bio / Published: March 7, 2008

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

PG&E Gets Energy From Cow Manure – BioEnergy Solutions has a long-term contract to deliver 3 billion cubic feet per year of pipeline-quality, renewable natural gas to Pacific Gas and Electric – a first in California. The gas is produced from dairy cow manure. Energy Trust in Oregon is working on a similar project.

Framably Pretty Green Living Tips – There are dozens of small things you can do to reduce your carbon foot, and they add up to make a difference. But how do you remember them all? You could tape an ugly old list to the wall (which you’d never look at), or you can print out this colorful diagram. Gristmill describes it as "a Cliff Notes version of climate-friendly lifestyle choices."

Posted in What Others are Saying / Comments are closed

Earth: The Trailer

By Sheryl Canter / Bio / Published: March 6, 2008

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

There’s a new book coming out on Monday that explores the hopeful side of global warming. Huh? What’s that?

It’s called "Earth: The Sequel", written by Fred Krupp (president of EDF) and Miriam Horn, and it’s all about emerging technology in the fight to stop global warming. There are trillions of dollars pouring into clean energy solutions, and people are doing such cool things.

You can learn more about the book from an informative video narrated by Fred. You also can pre-order the book from here.

Posted in Energy / Comments are closed