Nov 22, 09
Companies Increase Commitment To Tackling Climate Issues, Report Says
Major corporations in the U.S. have shown an increased willingness to voluntarily reduce their impact on climate change despite a sluggish economy, according to a new scorecard produced by the nonprofit group Climate Counts. Eighty-one of the 90 major companies assessed saw an average increase of 22 percent from last year’s scorecard, with Nike topping the list with a score of 83 out of a possible 100 points. Scores are based on 22-criteria in four general areas: measurement of impact on...
Nike and Pop!Tech Team Up to Find New Low-Impact Materials
The successful solutions event Pop!Tech* is taking their work to a new level. Their latest project is Pop!Tech Labs, which will bring together a group of experts – scientists, academics, corporate leaders and policymakers – to embark on a “year-long innovation journey.” The gathered group will focus on an issue around a specific domain, and will release any inventions under an open license. For their first lab, they will be teaming up with Nike to search for low-impact materials....
Fairtrade is the Best Hope for India's Tea Producers
by Nick Mathiason The Chamraj estate in Tamil Nadu is thriving thanks to the Fairtrade Foundation - but the same cannot be said for the south Indian tea industry The price of basic farm commodities has been hammered over the past 40 years, placing unbearable pressure on farmers. At the bottom of the food chain are smallholders. With processors, brokers, auctioneers, speculators and retailers all taking a cut, there is little left to pay the producer. The situation adds to the rural...
Buffett's Bet on Rail: What Does It Mean for Transport and Energy?
by Elana Schor The financial world was riveted this morning by billionaire investor Warren Buffett's move to take full ownership of the Burlington Northern Santa Fe (BNSF) railroad, a $34 billion deal that ranks as the largest ever executed by Buffett's company, Berkshire Hathaway. But what does Buffett's purchase mean for the nation's energy future? The so-called "Oracle of Omaha" told CNBC today that his decision was "a bet on the country" as well as a bet on the...
Gaming Cap and Trade: Should We Worry?
A look at the evidence - and a path forward. Worries about “gaming” or market manipulation sometimes crop up as an objection to cap and trade, often with reference to recent shenanigans in the financial markets. Some fear that a cap-and-trade system could be manipulated to artificially raise—or lower—permit prices to generate profits for a few at the expense of consumers. While distrust and concerns about scamming a carbon market are understandable, they’re not warranted. To put...
The Cleantech Revolution Sweeps Through America
By Peter Madden and Polly Ghazi The wind of change is sweeping America – literally. Take Texas. Synonymous with the nation’s oil boom era, for the past century its wealth has been powered by gushing geysers and giant oil companies. But green gold is now competing with black, as Texas establishes itself as a powerhouse of wind energy. And the Lone Star State is not alone. During 2008, the US wind industry almost doubled in size, reaching 25,369MW, and passing Germany as the world...
The Revolution Will Not Be Hand-Made: A Quick Sunday-Morning Rant
(A first stab at articulating some ideas. Thoughtful feedback welcome.) We're nearing an inflection point in our discussions about sustainability and building a bright green future. Mainly, this is because we're realizing that our task is larger and more pressing than we thought even a few years ago. It's not enough to be less destructive, to be more sustainable. We need to actually start being non-destructive, being as close to sustainable as we understand how to get. And we need to do it...
Solar Power Potential Is Huge in Developing Countries
The developing world, where 44 percent of people lack access to electricity, could soon be one of the biggest markets for solar power, according to participants at the Solar Power International conference in California. To date, just 1 percent of solar panel production has been installed in poor nations in Africa, Asia, and Latin America, a situation that Michael Eckhart, president of the American Council on Renewable Energy, called “a scandal for our industry.” Eckhart and other...
Green Collar Jobs Start With Basic Skills
By Roger Valdez Recent study reviews challenges and opportunites in renewable energy jobs.
U.S. Awards $3.4 Billion to Create a "Smart" Electric Grid
The Obama administration is awarding $3.4 billion in grants to modernize the national electric grid. One-hundred companies, utilities, manufacturers, and cities will receive the grants — ranging from $400,000 to $200 million — for projects that help build a “smart” grid that cuts energy costs, reduces blackouts, and has the capacity to deliver more wind and solar energy to American homes and businesses. Calling the nation’s grid system “dilapidated,” Carol Browner, the Obama...
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