"If the world were a bank," a French labor leader said in exasperation during the Paris climate negotiations, "it would have been rescued by now!" In this telebriefing, four Northwest climate action leaders share unfiltered ringside observations on the negotiations' final stages. With KC Golden, labor leader Jeff Johnson, clean tech business leader Tim Miller, and Portland sustainability manager Michael Armstrong.
The Paris Agreement sets the stage for the immediate future of coordinated, international climate action. Much of the actual progress will depend on local and regional action; every Northwest oil terminal abandoned, ton of coal left in ground, and solar panel installed, fuels the ambition of the U.S., Canada, and therefore countries around the world to meet and exceed our carbon-reduction goals.
Today in Portland, five west coast mayors announced aggressive commitments to aggressive action on both climate change and equity. The announcement comes directly after a Paris gathering of international mayors talking climate change; it also closely follows the groundbreaking climate resolutions passed last month in Portland. Here's the story of how those resolutions came to be.
Is the US Senate really preparing to eliminate the ban on crude oil export – threatening our communities and setting back our fight against climate change? And are they really doing so on the same week as the Paris climate conference?
Civil-society climate justice advocates and vulnerable nations may be succeeding in their push for a more aggressive target for limiting global warming. This development shows a shift in power towards the priorities of a massive global climate movement–and it's the news from Paris, as much as the climate agreement text itself.
Cities (or "sub-nationals," in international climate negotiations-speak) are at the vanguard of where real climate solutions are being implemented around the world. That will remain true in the years ahead, no matter how ambitious an agreement emerges from the COP21 climate talks in Paris this month--local and state governments will be shouldering much of the load of creative carbon emissions reduction, of energy efficiency improvements, and of access to renewable energy.
Billionaires unite to boost clean energy R&D, deal in the works to extend federal credits for solar and wind, US public opinion backs climate pact, and more news of the week in clean energy solutions.
The Urban Clean Energy Revolution report details the state of play of low-carbon cities and describes a rich array of best practices and examples of urban clean energy innovation and carbon reduction.
Darkness of the most desperate and terrifying kind descended on Paris in the November 13 attacks. The world convenes now in the City of Light, with an ever more urgent and sober sense of the pressing need for global cooperation for peace and justice.
The international climate talks are a moment in time for forward-looking urban leaders to demonstrate the collective political will they have amassed for bold climate action, and to show how far they have already come in reducing carbon emissions.
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US boosts estimate of rooftops’ solar potential, Chinese clean energy investment soars, Colorado buying co-ops cut EV prices below $10K after tax credits, and more news of the week in climate and clean energy.
On April 19, 2016 the Western Washington University Institute for Energy Studies will be holding its first Energy Symposium. Students, faculty, and invited experts in the field of energy will be joining together on Western's campus for presentations, lively panel discussions, student poster sessions, and networking. Space is limited. Register now.
Join Oreogn Physicians for Social Responsibility in celebrating the next generation of peace and environmental activists at the 2016 Greenfield Peace Writing Scholarship Awards Ceremony. This year’s scholarship asked high school juniors and seniors to respond to the following prompt:
“How would a successful movement to confront climate change help create a more just and peaceful world?”
Peabody Coal on verge of bankruptcy, 9 percent more Americans concerned about climate, electricity co-ops lead deployment of solar power in Wisconsin, and more news of the week in climate and clean energy.
United Airlines blends biofuel into its jet fuel at LAX; February smashes temperature records worldwide; federal agency rejects Oregon LNG terminal; and more news of the week in climate and clean energy.
Friends of Cooper Island presents George Divoky: Notes from a Warming, Changing Arctic
Utilities move to cut coal use despite stay on Clean Power Plan, Shell replaces executive who led Arctic oil push, Midwest wind generation sets new records, and more news of the week in clean energy solutions.
Cleaner air ahead! Washington's Department of Ecology is giving itself the opportunity to strengthen new plans to cut carbon emissions and to accelerate our state's transition to a clean-powered, sustainable economy.
The annual Climate Leadership Conference is happening in Seattle March 8-10! Check out the powerhouse of plenary speakers, panels, and workshops. Top climate, energy, and sustainability professionals are coming together to address climate change through policy, innovation, and business solutions.
