Blog
Africa stands up for binding targets
African negotiators at the UN climate talks in Barcelona refused to continue formal discussions about all other issues until wealthy countries live up to their legal and moral responsibility to commit to deep emissions reductions. Read More
Barcelona climate talks start off on best possible footing, finally
No, developed countries didn’t in fact finally live up to their historical responsibility by committing to deep emissions cuts or significant financing to help developing countries deal with the impacts of climate change. However, yours truly was, for the very first time in her life, upgraded to business class for the transatlantic flight to Barcelona! I can’t imagine a better way to have started the trip and I am hoping that the official start of the talks tomorrow will be similarly hopeful. Read More
International Day of Climate Action
Despite the gloomy weather last weekend in the nation’s capital, a diverse group of local activists filled Malcom X Park on October 24 to show solidarity with people across the globe and call for action to stop pollution and poverty. The event was part of the International Day of Climate Action. Read More
Congress starts pushing to get cruise industry to clean up its act
Earlier today Congressman Sam Farr (D-CA) and Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) introduced the Clean Cruise Ship Act of 2009 with 28 other members of Congress signed on in support. Cruise ships are currently allowed to dump raw sewage and other pollutants just three nautical miles from our coasts. The Clean Cruise Ship Act will put a stop to the lax pollution disposal practices of the cruise industry and protect our coastal waters and oceans. Read More
Controversial nomination advances out of committee
On Thursday, October 8, the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee passed the nomination of controversial nominee Joseph Pizarchik to be the head of the Office of Surface Mining Reclamation and Enforcement by a voice vote. Senator's Bernard Sanders (I-VT) and Robert Menendez (D-NJ) were not at the vote, but they both submitted requests that they be recorded as no votes on the nominee. Senator Ron Wyden (D-OR) also submitted a statement voicing his concern with the nomination. Read More
Air pollution protections under threat
Great Lakes exemption could derail limits for ship pollution For several years, Friends of the Earth and various other environmental groups, air regulators, and public health organizations have worked with the EPA to create an “Emission Control Area” that would dramatically reduce air pollution from large ships – pollution that is responsible for serious health impacts including premature death, lung cancer, heart attacks, and respiratory illness. Read More
Video: How an energy bill REALLY becomes a law
Click "START" to watch the story of how polluter lobbyists turned the House's Waxman-Markey clean energy bill into a toothless law. Read More
The congressional energy bill needs to be fixed
How the clean energy bill was hijacked by lobbyists When the House of Representatives started working on a clean energy bill last winter, we were optimistic. After all, our country had just come off an election in which a large majority voted for bold change and the candidate who most strongly supported clean energy. Congressional leaders were promising to pass a bill to keep the climate stable, provide us with a secure energy future, and create millions of new jobs that could revitalize our economy. Read More
From Bangkok to Copenhagen
Join Kate and Karen in demanding climate justice now! Read More
Verizon Wireless is hearing us now
Verizon Wireless has responded to pressure from current and potential customers who expressed outrage at its sponsorship of a pro-coal, anti-environment rally on Labor Day. In a letter to the Center for Biological Diversity, Verizon Wireless's CEO, Lowell McAdam, asserted that his company's sponsorship of the rally "was not a statement of our position on any public policy issue, and it certainly was not an expression of support for mountaintop removal coal mining or in opposition to climate legislation." Read More