Green Cities Florida Event May 21-22, 2009

Green Cities Florida Event May 21-22, 2009

Submitted by Gabe LeBlanc on Thu, 2009-05-07 18:56
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Green Cities Florida 2009 May 21-22 at the OCCC

Green Cities Florida offers people a way to channel their creative and profit-driven strengths to take advantage of a new wave of green opportunities. Many up-and-coming incentives will influence companies and individuals to change course and re-plot their way through an explosive set of opportunities and, in some case, pitfalls of this rapidly changing economy.

Seattle's First USDOE Builder's Challenge Homes

Submitted by Nate Kharrl on Tue, 2010-02-09 23:45
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Press Release:

Seattle's First USDOE Builder's Challenge Homes

Seattle, Washington February 3, 2010

Seattle area green building has taken many of its early steps toward urban development that includes broad use of sustainable materials, pervious paving, and low VOC finishes. We continue to see greater focus in Seattle’s walkable neighborhoods, a commitment to infill development in areas of the city that are well connected to public transportation and designs that surprise and inspire rather than restrain our longing for originality.

Environmental Groups Move to Block California Green Building Standard

Submitted by Nate Kharrl on Mon, 2010-01-11 17:53
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Environmental Groups Move to Block California Green Building Standard

Environmental groups are fighting the State of California's attempts to incorporate green building practices into the standard building code. Find out why inside.
Green building. Photo by Wonderlane on Flickr

Just days before coming to vote, environmental groups like the Sierra Club are moving to stop new legislation in California that would make energy efficiency and water conservation part of the standard building code. Critics say that this code falls short of standards set by some municipalities, and threatens to dissolve a major portion of the green building industry, specifically green certification schemes like the US Green Building Council's LEED program.

UN Climate Chief Warns Against Mounting Skepticism Through 2010

Submitted by Nate Kharrl on Tue, 2010-01-05 16:19
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UN Climate Chief Warns Against Mounting Skepticism Through 2010

UN Climate Chief Rajendra Pachauri says that skepticism will swell in 2010 without redoubled efforts from grassroots activists.
Rajendra Pachauri

Climate change skepticism is likely to surge through 2010, crippling hopes of preventing the worst effects of global warming said UN Climate Chief Rajendra Pachauri. The IPCC Director cited "powerful vested interests" that he says will be working overtime all through the year to confuse the public and manipulate the political systems of major economies.

Danish Police "Preventatively Detain" 40 Protesters

Submitted by Nate Kharrl on Fri, 2009-12-11 09:38
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Danish Police "Preventatively Detain" 40 Protesters

Copenhagen police detain at least 40 activists today in an effort to prevent violent protesting as CEOs arrive to take their place at the negotiating table.
Copenhagen Bike Police

Just hours before corporate CEO's arrived in Copenhagen to begin weighing in on the proposed COP15 treaty, Danish police rounded up climate activists planning to take to the street and detained at least 40 individuals. The police say there was no reports of violence, and that the arrests were preventative. Small groups of protesters have taken to the streets, banging drums on street corners and chanting "mind your business, this is our climate!"

"Climate Realists" hold Alternative Meeting in Copenhagen

Submitted by Nate Kharrl on Thu, 2009-12-10 11:40
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"Climate Realists" hold Alternative Meeting in Copenhagen

A group of "climate realist" scientists convened in Copenhagen to offer an alternative meeting for those skeptical about CO2 as the driver of global warming.
Václav Klaus, former Czech prime minister and climate skeptic

Reported in the environment section of The New York Times and derided in the editorial section of The Guardian, a small meeting of some of the world's most outspoken climate skeptic scientists convened to discuss the difficulties facing those who share their position. "They’ve got us outnumbered, but we’ve got them outgunned," said Australian geologist Ian Pilmer to the group of about 75 scientists and political leaders.

George Soros Suggests IMF Could Supply Climate Fund

Submitted by Nate Kharrl on Thu, 2009-12-10 10:27
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George Soros Suggests IMF Could Supply Climate Fund

Billionaire investor George Soros believes that climate funding could be sourced from an international gold reserve normally saved for the most dire economic disasters.
George Soros at the World Economic Forum

Billionaire philanthropist and political activist George Soros held a press conference this morning to unveil a plan that he believes could narrow the political distance between developing and developed nations. Recognizing the deadlock caused by the desire of developing nations for climate funding and the industrial world's inability to pay, Soros said that he's "found a way for someone else to pay ...

Top US Negotiator: Climate Reparations? Certainly not from us

Submitted by Nate Kharrl on Thu, 2009-12-10 09:23
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Top US Negotiator: Climate Reparations? Certainly not from us

Top US negotiator Todd Stern flatly told the Chinese delegation that they shouldn't count on getting "climate reparations," and certainly not from America.
Todd Stern's appointment is met with approval by Secretary of State Clinton

Todd Stern, the Obama Administration's chief negotiator stated the president's position on suggested "climate reparations" to the Chinese delegation: "I don't envision public funds, certainly not from the U.S., going to China."

Top Obama Aides Travel to Copenhagen, Promise US Action

Submitted by Nate Kharrl on Thu, 2009-12-10 08:22
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Top Obama Aides Travel to Copenhagen, Promise US Action

Interior Secretary Ken Salazar and EPA Administrator Lisa Jackson traveled to Copenhagen to attend the pivotal climate talks and lobby for the support of the international community.
Ken Salazar

US President Barack Obama dispatched his top aides to represent him in the final days of the first week's negotiations at Copenhagen. According to the conference's schedule, these next two days of negotiations are focused on arriving at a consensus on a framework so that next week's negotiations can focus solely on refining the accepted document. Planned long in advance, EPA Administrator Lisa Jackson and Interior Secretary Ken Salazar were already en route to Copenhagen when the Danish text was revealed at the COP15 climate summit.

Protestor Tensions Elevate at Copenhagen

Submitted by Nate Kharrl on Wed, 2009-12-09 10:38
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Protestor Tensions Elevate at Copenhagen

Danish Police are preparing for two weeks of protests -- some violent -- by raiding activist housing and providing "authorized demonstration routes".
Climate Justice Action

Danish police are preparing for a wave of violent protester action in Copenhagen, already detaining 200 demonstrators in their state-provided quarters to search their belongings for devices that could be used to facilitate illegal activity. Power tools, like an angle grinder, and some "wooden props" were confiscated, as police said that they could be used in violent demonstrations. A spokeswoman for one of the involved groups, Climate Justice Action, said that she was alarmed by the way the Danish police handled the raid. People were enormously frightened and alarmed.