The recent salmonella outbreak caused by contamination in peanut plants in the United States has raised new fears about domestic food security. To date, eight people have died in connection with the contamination and 600 hundred have become ill. A recent video from the New York Times recaps the development of the outbreak and challenges […]
One-third of the annual crop yield in the United States is placed into the production of alternative fuels such as corn-based ethanol. The development of this kind of energy, known as “biofuel,” is in large part the result of a desire in the U.S. to shift away from dependence on foreign oil and the harmful […]
… and I say, it’s alright. Here are a couple of items that should make you feel warm. First, RenewableEnergyWorld.com has a look at the US Utility-scale Solar Picture. How are we doing? Well, the Solar Electric Power Association (SEPA) “…is aware of contracts totaling over 1500 MW of PV and 4000 MW of concentrating […]
The Foreign Policy Association has chosen to focus on last year’s global food crisis as part of the Great Decisions series for 2009. In addition to the article by Elaine Monaghan in the briefing book, and online resources, the FPA has also produced an episode of the Great Decisions Television Series on the global food […]
Among the several tacks that Obama and Co. are taking on climate change, one very critical one is in international relations. The State Department has named its envoy on climate change, Todd Stern, and the Secretary of State is heading to Asia next week for extensive meetings in Japan, Indonesia, Korea and China. Secretary Clinton […]
Change is what the Obama campaign was advertising. They won and I, for my part, am not complaining about false advertising. I’ve been raving here (and here, and here, among other places) about how the new administration is really rolling up its sleeves and getting down to cases on climate change, renewables, the green economy, […]
Adobe Dreamweaver CS4 + Adobe Fireworks CS3 + Wave Arts Power Suite Senate Environment and Public Works Committee Chair Barbara Boxer had a press conference earlier this week, as I noted under Keeping Up the Pace in the post just below. I watched some of it today on C-Span while I was having lunch. In […]
No, we’re not Microsoft, but I’ve got some news you should be getting, if not critical software updates. Smart Grid – Smart idea for US energy policy is the title of the recent editorial from the “FT.” They say that the smart grid “would be a national asset comparable to the interstate highways launched by […]
My dictionary defines vector as “an organism (as an insect) that transmits a pathogen.” Researchers from Australia and the University of Wisconsin-Madison (my alma mater) have been looking at the species of mosquito that carries dengue fever. Their studies indicate that climate change, on its present track, will increase mosquito habitat across much of Australia, […]
The 27-nation European Union has come up with its proposals for how to proceed after the Kyoto Protocol expires in 2012. As you know, the world is going to sit down in Copenhagen in December and finalize an agreement. (See Further Thoughts on Poznan here from December.) EurActiv reports here that “According to the Commission, […]
A truly thoughtful essay from Harry Eyres, Freedom and the price of oil, appeared in this past weekend’s “FT.” It’s a meditation, to a great extent, on the ecologist Ivan Illich. Eyres writes of Illich: “He had the barmy-seeming idea that we would do better – that is to say would lead more human, fairer […]
Obama takes steps to reverse Bush climate policies is the headline from Reuters. For one thing, the new President has instructed the EPA to revisit California’s application to institute carbon dioxide limits on motor vehicles sold there. (See California Standards here.) See also this from the “Washington Post” today, including the video of Obama’s announcement […]
New International Agency – AFP (via Yahoo) had this to say the other day: Germany hails creation of global climate-change agency. More than 100 countries are to be represented in Bonn next week for the founding conference of the International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA). Here’s how the new agency describes itself: “Mandated by governments worldwide, […]
Remember Drill, Baby, Drill? Well, it’s going to be more about actual good public policy based on sound science in the brave new world of the Obama administration. From “The Economist” comes Blessed are the geeks, for they shall inherit the Earth. I’ve touched on some of these folks at Obama’s Team and Obama’s Team, […]