Thursday, November 20, 2008
Democrats steered the House toward more aggressively tackling global warming and other environmental problems Thursday, toppling veteran Michigan Rep. John Dingell, a staunch supporter of Detroit automakers, from an important energy panel in favor of California liberal Rep. Henry Waxman.
The switch could help President-elect Barack Obama on Capitol Hill with one of his favored issues: trying to curb global warming by limiting greenhouse gas emissions. But Waxman’s combative stance on climate change and other issues also could alienate Republicans and moderate Democrats, making it harder to get the bipartisan support Obama will need. (link)
Thursday, November 20, 2008
In another day of punishing economic news, Congress voted to extend jobless benefits for the unemployed Thursday and promised to return in December once the auto industry has submitted a more detailed plan as to how it can return to viability if given federal aid.
“Until they show us a plan, we can’t show them the money,” said House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, but the California Democrat also made clear that she rejected those who argue that Detroit “Big Three” should resolve their problems by first going into bankruptcy. (link)
Thursday, November 20, 2008
The new Congress isn’t even seated yet, but the oil lobby is already firing up its campaign for more domestic oil development.
The American Petroleum Institute is poised to spend a serious chunk of change on a multimedia education campaign, called American’s Energy Forum, aimed at voters in key energy areas. (link)
Thursday, November 20, 2008
Nichols’ name is regularly floated as a top contender for the slot of EPA chief in an Obama administration — California senator and Environment and Public Works Chair Barbara Boxer has publicly endorsed her for the position, and she was also one of the top picks in the Grist poll. The New York Times profiled her as a top possibility for the slot. (Nichols was a senior EPA official under Clinton.)
Would she take the job if offered? “I think anybody in my position would be honored to be considered for that job,” said Nichols, “but I’ve heard nothing about the process.” (link)
Thursday, November 20, 2008
Shaken or stirred? The weak euro and credit crunch cocktail has been a deadly poison for the solar world.
Suntech Power Holdingsreported a 20 percent drop in its margins for the third quarter and cut its 2008 forecast Thursday, reiterating challenges already voiced by other solar companies in recent weeks. (link)
Thursday, November 20, 2008
Top Senate Democrats on Thursday said they would introduce major global warming legislation early next year, saying Barack Obama’s election meant a “sea change” in the battle against climate change.
The announcement came just two days after president-elect Obama, in one of his first major policy pronouncements since his historic victory two weeks ago, warned that denial of global warming would no longer be US policy.
“The time to start is now,” said Democratic Senator Barbara Boxer, vowing to step up to Obama’s challenge to combat climate change and create millions of “green jobs” in the reeling US economy.
Boxer, chairwoman of the Senate Environment and Public Works committee which will frame US global warming efforts, said the bill would be consistent with Obama’s campaign promises for large cuts in greenhouse gas emissions. (link)
Thursday, November 20, 2008
The risks of a nuclear weapons being used and wars being fought over dwindling resources will grow during the next 20 years as diminishing U.S. power, a shift of wealth from West to East, the rise of India and China and climate change reshape the world, a new U.S. intelligence study warned Thursday.
“The international system — as constructed following the Second World War — will be almost unrecognizable by 2025 owing to the rise of emerging powers, a globalizing economy, an historic transfer of relative wealth and economic power from West to East, and the growing influence of non-state actors,” the report said.
The U.S. “will remain the single most important actor but will be less dominant,” in part due to its military power and also because many nations will continue looking to U.S. leadership on issues such as climate change and non-proliferation, the report said. (link)
Thursday, November 20, 2008
The Group of Eight major industrialized countries should be doubled to include Brazil, China and India and other nations to better tackle global challenges like climate change and economic stability, a blue chip panel said Thursday. (link)
Thursday, November 20, 2008
A clean-burning diesel sedan, Volkswagen AG’s Jetta TDI, won the “Green Car of the Year” award at the Los Angeles auto show on Thursday, the first time a diesel-powered car has taken the industry’s top environmental honor.
“This signals that clean diesel has arrived,” said Ron Cogan, editor of Green Car Journal, the trade magazine that awards the prize. (link)
Thursday, November 20, 2008
Green IT systems have moved past the stage of marketing hype and are a genuine business imperative for many firms, according to a major new European survey which found that almost half of large UK IT departments now have a green IT strategy in place.
The survey of more than 450 Western European firms, each boasting more than 1,000 staff and at least one datacentre, was carried out by analyst firm IDC and found that IT departments in the UK and Germany had the most progressive attitude to addressing environmental issues with 46 per cent and 51 per cent respectively already claiming to have a green IT strategy in place.
The survey also revealed few signs that the trend is slowing down, with a further quarter of the 74 UK firms polled claiming they plan to implement a green IT strategy in the next two years.
James Quarles, director of sales and marketing at Dell, which commissioned the survey, argued the economic down turn was unlikely to affect green IT programmes. He said that as energy efficiency projects, such as server consolidation programmes and PC turn off software rollouts, delivered significant cost savings alongside any reduction in associated carbon emissions they would continue to attract interest from cash-strapped IT departments. (link)
