Now we here at fungreenfair.com are no fans of "scientifishtic" reasoning but apparently the planet is getting warmer because of a phenomenon called Global Warming. Apparently, lots of scientists think humans cause heating (of course so do cows)... But apparently, some politicians aren't so sure...
The Union of Concerned Scientists have lots of interesting views about the environment, nuclear war and human rights [Cartoon Contest on now!]. I came across the UCS site whie reading an incredible blog by a climate insider...
Former assistant secretary of energy for energy efficiency and renewable energy during the Clinton Administration, Joseph Romm is the editor of Climate Progress. Joe is a Senior Fellow at the Center for American Progress.
Joe actually has the solution to Global Warming...if only we had the political will:
So here is the basic solution. I have thrown in a couple extra
wedges since I have no doubt that everybody will find something
objectionable in at least 2 of these wedges. This is what the entire
planet must achieve:
1 wedge of vehicle efficiency — all cars 60 mpg, with no increase in miles traveled per vehicle.
1 of wind for power — one million large (2 MW peak) wind turbines
1 of wind for vehicles –another 2000 GW wind. Most cars must be plug-in hybrids or pure electric vehicles.
3 of efficiency — one each for buildings, industry, and cogeneration/heat-recovery for a total of 15 to 20 million GW-hrs.
1 of coal with carbon capture and storage — 800 GW of coal with CCS
1 of nuclear power — 700 GW plus 10 Yucca mountains for storage
1 of solar photovoltaics — 2000 GW peak [or less PV and some geothermal, tidal, and ocean thermal]
1 of cellulosic biofuels — using one-sixth of the world’s cropland
[or less land if yields significantly increase or algae-to-biofuels
proves commercial at large scale].
2 of forestry — End all tropical deforestation. Plant new trees over an area the size of the continental U.S.
1 of soils — Apply no-till farming to all existing croplands.
Climate
Progress is dedicated to providing the progressive perspective on
climate science, climate solutions, and climate politics. It is a
project of the Center for American Progress Action Fund, a nonprofit, nonpartisan organization.
Image via: Coulomb Technologies
Sonoma County, CA is preparing to install 200 new ChargePoint electric vehicle charging stations throughout the county. The infrastructure is being installed in preparation of electric vehicles being sold like hot cakes starting over the next few years, but the plan hinges on a little thing calle...
Photo credit: Louise GalvinLouise Galvin, hair colorist to the stars and the woman behind the eponymous haircare line, can add another pip to her collar: Louise Galvin is U.K.'s first beauty company to become carbon-neutral.
Pumped full of naturally derived ingredients like essential oils, natural extracts, and vegetable-based moisturizing and conditioning agents—no sulfates, parabens, silicone, petrochemicals, synthetic fragrances, or polymers, thanks—Galvin's cruelty-free follicle-primping products maintain cl...
Before: how not to grill--high flame, smoke and charring. Photo via flickr by (appropriately) Combust
When barbecuing your free-range meats and line-caught fish this July 4th, be sure to whip up some marinade first. Yesterday, I offered ten ways to avoid carcinogenic HCAs and PAHs when grilling (or any high-heat cooking, for that matter). Thanks to a comment from a reader, I dug digger into tip # 4, the marinating suggestion that lessens HCAs, and discovered some compelling results and recommended recipes for significa...
Those prices are in Yuans per liter, I think.
Fuel Subsidies Punish Virtue
The Chinese government has recently decided to raise fuel prices by about 10%, the third increase in the past few months, following a 6-7% increase on June 1st, and a 3-5% increase in March. The stated goal is to bring the price of fuel in China closer to what the market price is. From a green point of view, this is good because subsidized fossil fuels only encourages waste, over-consumption, and the buying of vehicles that aren't fuel efficient. It also artificially reduces the competitiveness of technologies that aren't based on fossil fuels, slowing down their adop...
Photos via Critical Bench, and the Guardian
We're well aware that more and more products are apt to be labeled with false green claims to try to grab the attention of increasingly green consumers--and 98% percent of them were guilty of exactly that last year. Now consider the federal, USDA regulated
Assembly Room, Independence Hall, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, where in 1776 the Declaration of Independence was signed; and, in 1787, the U.S. Constitution was drafted. Image credit:Flockr, Dailyville photostream. Excerpted.
Perhaps that title is becoming common from those of us who've been fighting for clean energy for the U.S. instead of the same old dirty fossil fuels, but as chants of "Drill, baby, drill!" continue to emanate from some corners, we must stick with it.
We've hit summer's stride - It's time for the 4th of July holiday weekend, people are traveling, ...
Photo credit: Colette
Renowned Parisian retailer Colette and the cutest car this side of Sanrio have put up a united fashion front, rallying five designer labels from Paris, New York, Berlin, Brazil, and Denmark to produce a tres exclusive, tres limited-edition collection of bags, jewelry, tees, and accessories for the urban car brand.
Revolving around the themes of urban mobility, design, and sustainability, the co-branded
Photo: Wikipedia, CC
The Incredible Shrinking Sheep!
Could the changing climate be shrinking animals? That seems to be the case for the Soay sheep of Scotland. "The island of Hirta, on the western coast of Scotland, is home to a special breed of sheep. Soay sheep, named after a neighbouring island, are the most primitive breed of domestic sheep and have lived on the isles of St Kilda for at least a millennium." These sheep are already smaller on average than other breeds of sheep, but according to a recent study, they have been getting even smaller......
Image via friends v1Stephen Colbert took on the Supreme Court case that outraged environmentalists everywhere--you know, the one that ruled that toxic waste from a gold mine could be dumped in a lake, subsequently eradicating all life within. Colbert's take will most likely make you even more angry, but at least it's funny as hell. Watch the video after...
Photo via the Takeaway
As fighting between the Taliban and the Pakistani military escalated in South Waziristan, millions of people were forced to flee their homes—it was Pakistan's biggest exodus since the country's founding in 1947. The two million refugees now face a slew of severe health risks—among them, a contaminated, damaged water supply and insufficient access to health care.
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