Prince Charles has launched a scathing attack upon corporate lobbyists and climate change sceptics for transforming the world in to a ‘dying patient.’
The Prince of Wales was speaking to UK ministers and tropical forest scientists at St James’ Palace as he attacked businesses that failed to care for the environment. Such businesses are unlikely to be in possession of an ISO 14001 certificate, which businesses can implement to reduce their environmental impact whilst still increasing profits. It can facilitate expansion in to new sectors and protect businesses against future legislation by possessing the certificate, demonstrating their commitment to reducing their environmental impact.
Prince Charles called for greater education regarding deforestation so that the world’s forests would be appreciated, hopefully resulting in the slowing down of deforestation. He sees forests as playing a critical role in the environment by providing food, water, energy and habitats for plants and animals. ... read more
In a bid for “Most Churlish Political Maneuver of 2013,” six Republicans on the Senate Environment and Public Works committee have boycotted Obama’s nominee to lead the EPA. Gina McCarthy, Obama's choice, worked under two Republican governors and has a solid, centrist record of administrative achievement. But, of course, that’s not the point. The point is that the only way Obama can affect climate change is to do an end-run around congress by enacting stronger regulations through the EPA. And, if Republicans block his EPA nominee they block his efforts to stop climate change.
Even more to the point is that the Republican Senators who are trying to block McCarthy’s nomination have each received 1 million (Vitter, Inhofe), a half-million (Barasso, Wicker), or hundreds of thousands (Crapo, Sessions, Boozman) in campaign dollars from oil and gas interests over their Senate careers. First-term Republican Senator Deb Fischer took a measly $95,070 from oil and gas, but she’ll catch up. (OpenSecrets.org.) It’s obvious why these Senators take the money -- money wins elections -- but it’s less obvious why their constituents let them. After all, 51% of Republicans now understand that the climate is heating and the boycotting Senators are all from the deep South or the arid west -- regions that will be hit hardest by climate change. I don’t expect a groundswell climate movement to rise up across Ol’ Dixie and cowboy country, but people in these hotter, drier regions are going to suffer the worst from climate change and you’d think they’d want to stop it. They have children too, right?
Yes, but they also (mostly) have conservative ideologies and research shows that even a whiff of environmental protection gives conservatives the hives. A study out of the Wharton Business School found that conservatives were less likely to buy energy-efficient lightbulbs that promised to save money when the packaging declaimed, “Protect the Environment.” They did, however, choose more efficient bulbs with eco-neutral packaging that promised to save money. Predictably, liberals responded positively to greenie packaging -- and were more likely to burn old sneakers for illumination if told it would “Protect the Environment” (Just kidding, that last part.)... read more
I grew up in the Northeast with Dunkin Donuts all over the place. Not gonna lie, I enjoy the occasional chocolate donut and I love their iced tea on a warm day. But, each time I set foot in a Dunkin Donuts I feel my blood boil whenever I see their cups. It's disheartening that they still haven't made strides to phasing out those cups.
Well, over the past few weeks, I teamed up with the good people at Causes.com to create a petition urging Dunkin Donuts to STOP using Styrofoam cups.
In 1985 international action was taken to stop the release of Chlorofluorocarbons (CFC’s), after the realisation of their harmful effects on our atmosphere, specifically the whole that was created above Antarctica.
Recent reports indicate that the whole in the Ozone Layer is starting to close because of the stance against CFC’s. NASA are hopeful the hole will closed be 2050 and late last year reported the whole is the smallest it’s been in over two decades.... read more
Traditional tobacco cigarettes contain around 4000 known chemicals, which can greatly harm the smoker, those who breathe in the second hand smoke, and contribute to air and ground pollution. Many people are aware of the harms of the smoking to the human body, but not everyone is aware of the damage being done to the Earth through smoking.
The cigarette butts that many people feel free to throw onto the ground take around 25 years to fully break down. While they are slowly breaking down, all of the chemicals that are sucked through the filter are also being absorbed into the ground and by plant life.... read more
Dear MBTA (Mass Bay Transportation Authority for the non-Boston area readers),
Thank you for ruining another commute to work. The other day I spent nearly two hours on the red and green line attempting to go from Dorchester to Somerville, roughly ten miles.... read more
The UK Government has just launched their Green Deal earlier this month. It’s the UK’s largest attempt to retro fit homes with insulation and Green technologies. The Governments aim is to cut carbon output by 80% of 1990 levels by 2050, it’s a big ask and can’t be achieved by policy alone. The Governments aim is to get 14 million homes upgraded through the initiative.
Incentives
How are they going to achieve this? Well there is one big incentive to kick things off: no upfront costs to the home or business owner. This will hopefully get people motivated, because apathy is rampant when it comes to Green Technologies. If I said to you that you could save £80/$100 per year by insulating your loft properly you’d probably say yes—but that means clearing out my loft, and that’s a pain!
With constant changes in lifestyle and behavior, there needs to be a motivation or incentive to drive the project forward. Luckily we have created international Gas and Oil markets that keep driving the cost of domestic gas and oil higher and higher; swaying the nay saiers is therefore becoming easier. Everyone understands the simple concept of saving money and finding cheaper alternatives. ... read more
Are business leaders finally discovering that climate change hurts everyone’s bottom line? In the wake of Hurricane Sandy, NYC mayor Michael Bloomberg endorsed Obama over Romney because Obama took concrete steps against carbon pollution, and at the same time he slapped Romney for denying climate change.(1) This was a major departure for any one-percenter, as Bloomberg clearly is, since that group is allergic to talking about climate change. As climate scientists offer more detailed predictions about our overheated future, one fact has become clear: climate change is going to cost everyone a lot of money. The worse it gets the more it will cost. This has been known for a decade, and new businesses are thriving in the areas of alternative energy, conservation, etc., but corporate leaders have remained eerily silent on the reality of climate change, apart from spin and greenwashing.... read more
A little background: On August 2, 2012, Representative Bob Filner and 10 cosponsors introduced the Clean Energy Victory Bonds Act of 2012, H.R. 6275 in the House of Representatives. The bill is officially entitled “To promote the domestic development and deployment of clean energy technologies required for the 21st century” and will allow Americans to invest in Treasury Bonds for as low as $25 each. The bonds will fund clean energy programs that support wind, solar, energy efficiency, and electric vehicles in the US.... read more
Prince Charles has launched a scathing attack upon corporate lobbyists and climate change sceptics for transforming the world in to a ‘dying patient.’ 
In a bid for “Most Churlish Political Maneuver of 2013,” six Republicans on the Senate Environment and Public Works committee have boycotted Obama’s nominee to lead the EPA. Gina McCarthy, Obama's choice, worked under two Republican governors and has a solid, centrist record of administrative achievement. But, of course, that’s not the point. The point is that the only way Obama can affect climate change is to do an end-run around congress by enacting stronger regulations through the EPA. And, if Republicans block his EPA nominee they block his efforts to stop climate change. 
I've blogged in the past about how 
Traditional tobacco cigarettes contain around 4000 known chemicals, which can greatly harm the smoker, those who breathe in the second hand smoke, and 
The UK Government has just launched their Green Deal earlier this month. It’s the UK’s largest attempt to retro fit homes with insulation and Green technologies. The Governments aim is to cut carbon output by 80% of 1990 levels by 2050, it’s a big ask and can’t be achieved by policy alone. The Governments aim is to get 14 million homes upgraded through the initiative. 
