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4 Undeniable Signs We’re Making Progress on Climate Change

Stretch as far as eye can see the grass and the horizon distance, wind turbine.

Seven months ago, I made a strong statement that may have left some people shaking their heads. I said that we can turn the corner on climate change – end the centuries-long rise in greenhouse gas emissions and see them peak and begin to decline – in just five short years.

As it turns out, 2015 is shaping up to be a year of giant steps toward that goal.

In a deeply reported New York Magazine piece, political writer Jonathan Chait calls it “the year humans finally got serious about saving themselves.” Says Chait, “The world is suddenly responding to the climate emergency with – by the standards of its previous behavior – astonishing speed.”

I agree. Here are four reasons I believe we’re headed in the right direction: Read More »

Posted in Air Quality, Clean Power Plan, General, Renewable Energy / Also tagged , | Read 4 Responses

Why 2015 is the Year for Clean Energy in the U.S. and China

https://www.flickr.com/photos/solarwindtec/7800628878/in/photolist-dXjdBi-anWxfb-dgWcSW-dgZvkB-7hJAVA-oADrZt-4QEpJW-cTjgcm-peEhiU-dgYUsC-pkqkDK-mDanui-9heXvG-9hbP4n-5om1Mv-fK8tQM-81zuQr-nChZ1E-9agPX3-8mBp5i-awgMXU-55CNL1-boqXjN-4JJdcJ-eaJzoj-6xGhiZ-cbVJd1-jryJPW-8rUQ8b-4QpriF-cTjcNQ-cTjg29-bpgZbn-36jEtS-36fbZT-36fbF6-36jETW-36jNXo-36jQF1-36fdKr-36fdXB-36fddR-36jMmd-36f2V4-36jHf1-36f9Ka-36jJsQ-36jNjW-36f8Y8-36f6XcWith a new year comes new promises and new opportunities – and that also goes for the United States and China, the world’s biggest climate polluters.

The good news is both nations appear ready to embrace solar and other renewables, investments that will cement their recent, bilateral agreement to tackle climate change.

Here are five signs renewables will finally gain traction in China and the U.S. in 2015 and continue to grow in coming years:

  1. China’s solar investments are not slowing down.

Even in the very near-term, China is poised for dramatic solar adoption. The country was rushing to build 10 gigawatts of solar photovoltaic projects in the fourth quarter of 2014 alone, enough to power more than 7.5 million homes.

And 2015 shows no signs of slowing down, as China and other solar energy markets across the world are expected to continue to gain ground. Read More »

Posted in Clean Energy, Renewable Energy / Tagged | Read 4 Responses

US-China Climate Pact a “Game Changer” for Clean Energy

By: Karin Rives, EDF Voices editor

climatepact_378x235For the first time, the world’s two largest greenhouse gas emitters have pledged to reduce carbon pollution. This is a game changer, writes Fred Krupp, president of Environmental Defense Fund, in a Wall Street Journal op-ed piece.

The agreement between the United States and China will be a giant boost for clean-energy markets.

Having the world’s two largest economies competing to accelerate the adoption of no-carbon and low-carbon technologies will send one of the most powerful market signals we have ever seen, Fred writes.

China, spurred by its smog-burdened cities and the growing costs from the impact of climate change, will be increasing its already substantial investments in solar and wind, working with the U.S. on new approaches to cleaner energy and reducing the country’s reliance on fossil fuels. Read More »

Posted in Clean Energy, Climate, Renewable Energy / Also tagged | Comments are closed

EDF Climate Corps Heads Overseas: Next Stop China

By: Liz Delaney, Senior Manager, EDF Climate Corps Operations

Reinhard Krause / Reuters

Reinhard Krause / Reuters

China is, in many ways, the epicenter of the world’s efforts to curb climate change. The rapidly growing nation’s need for energy is soaring – demand is expected to double by 2020 – and China has surpassed the United States to become the biggest emitter of greenhouse gases.

So it makes total sense for the Environmental Defense Fund to expand its unique fellowship program, Climate Corps, to China this summer to help leading global brands there find energy efficiency and sustainability solutions that help them thrive. EDF is partnering with Apple, Wal-Mart, McDonald’s, Cummins and Legrand in China, initially placing six graduate students to work with the companies. Read More »

Posted in Air Quality, Clean Energy, Climate, Energy Efficiency / Also tagged | Comments are closed