Climate 411

A Carbon Cap Would Revitalize Our Economy

By Sheryl Canter / Published: July 7, 2008

Sheryl CanterThis post is by Sheryl Canter, an online writer and editorial manager at Environmental Defense Fund.

Fareed Zakaria has a great editorial in today’s Washington Post. It describes how the U.S. economy would be revitalized by a carbon cap that spurs clean energy development. Here’s an excerpt:

Washington’s inaction also stands in contrast to intense activity in the private sector, fascinatingly described in Fred Krupp and Miriam Horn’s new book, “Earth: The Sequel.” Krupp heads the Environmental Defense Fund, but this is not a gloomy global warming tirade. It’s an optimistic account of the progress being made by American industry in renewable energy. The authors explore every new technology, from solar to wind to geothermal, and introduce the men and women who are inventing the future.

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We’re On Treasury & Risk‘s Top 100 List

By Sheryl Canter / Published: July 7, 2008

Sheryl CanterThis post is by Sheryl Canter, an online writer and editorial manager at Environmental Defense Fund.

The June 2008 issue of Treasury and Risk lists Gwen Ruta, vice president for Corporate Partnerships at Environmental Defense Fund, as one of the year’s 100 most influential people in finance, along with movers and shakers like Al Gore and Carl Icahn:

Gwen Ruta, Director of Corporate Partnerships, Environmental Defense Fund
Kohlberg, Kravis, Roberts put the nonprofit group on the corporate map when it asked EDF to assess the environmental performance of its U.S. companies. It’s Ruta’s job to help business partners create best practices when it comes to protecting the earth.

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Gas Prices Too High? Take the Bus!

By Andy Darrell / Published: July 3, 2008

Andy DarrellThis post is by Andy Darrell, vice president for Living Cities at Environmental Defense Fund.

NJ Transit bus, photographed by Adam E. Moreira

The high cost of gas has pushed retail gas purchases down 2 to 3 percent. What are people doing instead? Taking public transportation!

The first quarter report from the American Public Transportation Association (APTA) found that use of public transportation is skyrocketing in tandem with gas prices. Last year 10.3 billion trips were taken on U.S. public transportation — the highest in 50 years. Ridership on streetcars, trolleys, commuter rails, subways, and buses are all up. Even Amtrak ridership is soaring.

This shift presents an historic opportunity.

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The Problem with the Pew Poll

By Sheryl Canter / Published: July 3, 2008

Sheryl CanterThis post is by Sheryl Canter, an online writer and editorial manager at Environmental Defense Fund.

According to a poll conducted in June by the Pew Research Center, soaring gas prices have caused a significant shift in American attitudes in just four months. American priorities, they say, have shifted strongly towards energy exploration and drilling, and away from conservation.

Is environmentalism dead, or is this result mainly due to how Pew framed the survey questions? I think the latter.

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Mapping the Green Economy

By Jackie Roberts / Published: July 2, 2008

Jackie RobertsThis post is by Jackie Roberts, director of sustainable technologies at Environmental Defense Fund.

Shifting to a low-carbon economy means creating renewable energy and energy efficiency technologies. This will take a lot of work, but in a good sense. We’ll see increased investment, new businesses, and new products to manufacture — the creation of many new jobs.

The ball won’t start rolling in earnest until the U.S. passes cap-and-trade legislation, but movement has already started. For example, check out this map we created of green businesses and their suppliers in Ohio:

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Posted in Economics / Read 9 Responses

Climate Bills Introduced in the House

By Carol Andress / Published: July 1, 2008

Carol AndressThis post is by Carol Andress, who manages outreach to the U.S. House of Representatives at Environmental Defense Fund.

 

Two new cap-and-trade bills were introduced in the House in June:

  • Investing in Climate Action & Protection Act (Markey, D-MA, H.R. 6186)
  • Climate MATTERS Act (Doggett/Blumenauer/Van Hollen, H.R. 6316)

They aren’t the first cap-and-trade bills to be introduced in this Congress, but they bring the discussion to a new level.

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