global warming Archives - Page 11 of 14 - Chesapeake Climate Action Network

Environmental Protection Agency Administrator Lisa Jackson testified before the Environment and Public Works Committee Tuesday as the Senate drafts its version of a clean energy and climate bill. Grassroots advocates with CCAN and the Avaaz Climate Action Factory, some wearing strong man suits, turned out in force to demand a stronger bill. In honor of Administrator Jackson’s presence, we specifically demanded restoration of the EPA’s authority to regulate global warming pollution from coal plants.

As you know, the House of Representatives successfully passed H.R. 2454, a 1,400-page cap-and-trade bill that was the result of months of negotiations. The bill underwent many changes as its authors – Congressmen Markey and Waxman — negotiated to get the votes they calculated it needed to pass. The result? The House-passed bill just isnt’ good enough.

In one of the most controversial compromises, the House repealed the Clean Air Act provision that empowered the EPA to regulate carbon pollution from dirty coal plants.

Without this provision, the Obama Administration is powerless to stop hundreds of old, dirty coal plants from spewing global warming pollution into the air. Some of the biggest climate polluters on the planet could be let off the hook.

Even worse, the coal industry is trying to build at least 100 more dirty coal plants. For years, environmental and citizen groups have blocked these plants. Right now the Chesapeake Climate Action Network is fighting two proposed coal plants in Virginia alone. If this Clean Air Act provision is eliminated, local groups may be unable to stop another generation of dependence on dirty coal.

Tuesday marked the beginning of a series of hearings and high-level meetings aimed at producing a Senate complement to the House climate bill. CCAN and others will be working non stop to make sure the Senate bill truly delivers on the clean energy future we so desperately need. Want to stay in the loop? Join our special “Hill Force” list and we’ll keep you up to date on how to get involved.

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Harder, Better, Faster, Stronger

Stronger Climate Bill!

Today, I and other CCANers joined with 50+ young people in the Hart Senate Office Building with a one-word message about the upcoming Senate climate bill:

ACES climate change global warming Senate

Health Care Pointless Without Climate Cure

Don’t put climate on back burner

By Mike Tidwell
July 7, 2009
Baltimore Sun

Barack Obama may have made history last November, but he seems deaf to history’s loudest call right now. The president clearly believes that health care reform, above all else, will define his early presidency. But even if Mr. Obama scores total success on health care, few future Americans will care or remember as long as the Earth’s ailing atmosphere goes untreated.

Climate change, it turns out, is the ultimate public health issue. And yet the House of Representatives passed a mere band-aid of a bill last month on global warming. Why so weak? Because Mr. Obama, with his 63 percent approval rating, was surprisingly AWOL for most the climate debate, essentially telling House leaders to hurry up and pass something – anything – so we can get on to the real issue of health care.

But cheap prescription drugs won’t do much good if our cities have filthy drinking water in coming years due to global warming. A “public option” on heath insurance? I’m all for it – but it will mean little if killer heat waves and mega-droughts parch the nation while Florida becomes a chain of malarial islands. Continue reading

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We Need More

Video by Jay!

On Friday the American Clean Energy and Security Act passed 219-212 in an historic vote, but key features of the bill fall far short of what scientists say is urgently needed. The Senate, with President Obama’s leadership, must work to greatly improve the bill.

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What really happened in Bonn?

In our “Countdown to Copenhagen” weekly radio feature, Earthbeat Radio this week interviewed three leading U.S. policy advocates just back from the Bonn climate talks. What sort of leadership did the Obama team show in Bonn? How is the Waxman-Markey bill affecting the road to Copenhagen? Is the White House doing enough at home and aboard? Get answers from Angela Anderson of USCAN, Lou Leonard of WWF, and Karen Orenstein of Friends of the Earth.

Visit www.earthbeatradio.org and just click on “Listen Now.” You can also sign up for our weekly podcast to get the only weekly radio program in America dedicated exclusively to the climate crisis. This week we also look at “managed relocation” of plant and animal species due to climate change and we interview the world’s largest wind turbine company: Vestas of Denmark.

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Truth in Cartoons: Virginian-Pilot editorial cartoon

Cross-posted from Article XI

Right now, a Virginia utility is considering building a massive new coal plant in Hampton Roads. At a time when Virginia – and the nation – must move towards a clean energy future, this $6 billion coal plant is a giant step in the wrong direction.

surrycartoon

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Guest Post: Boucher Disappoints

The following is an article written by CCAN supporter and Boucher constituent Theresa Burriss. The piece first appeared in the New River Voice.

After watching Congressman Rick Boucher gut the clean energy bill in the Energy and Commerce Committee, Theresa felt compelled to act. After reading an article a couple weeks later written by the heads of Dominion, Duke Energy and American Electric Power, Theresa wrote this important piece.

I recall, sometime during my parochial elementary education, learning about the structure of our federal government and the roles of each branch. Although I was impressed with the administration and judiciary, the legislature held more of an immediate, relevant meaning for me.

Legislators, supposedly, represented their constituents and their constituents’ concerns. They were elected by a direct vote in their district or state to act ethically, create and vote on new bills for the betterment of society, and ultimately serve their constituents. Although I was far too young to vote, I, and my peers, still counted as constituents according to Sister Maria.

Now that I’m well past the minimum voting age, I’m reminded of Sister Maria’s government lessons and the ideals associated with them, especially as I continue to read about my own congressman’s latest actions, which fall far short of those ideals. I’ll begin to enumerate my disappointments with Representative Rick Boucher (D, 9th District) by citing a recent op-ed printed in another media source. Continue reading

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A "warm and fuzzy zealot"

CCAN’s first annual MD Climate Champions Awards Ceremony was a resounding success. The highlight of the night may have been when House Majority Leader Kumar Barve, upon receiving his award, thanked CCAN Director Mike Tidwell by jokingly describing him as a “warm and fuzzy zealot.” Nearly 200 people turned out on a rainy Tuesday to eat, drink, celebrate Maryland’s many clean energy victories, and honor those who made those victories possible.

Betsy Taylor received the first award. Betsy has dedicated her remarkable career to promoting social justice and environmental stewardship. She founded and served as director of The Center for a New American Dream. In 2007 she founded and now serves on the board of 1Sky. She’s also an author and has worked with a wide range of philanthropies to guide resources to good causes, especially climate protection.

Jennifer Stanley accepted the next award on behalf of both her and her husband, Ted. The Stanleys have for many years been leading supporters of environmental protection – including strong action on climate change – through their philanthropy. Their foundation, the Town Creek Foundation located in Easton, Maryland, funds much of CCAN’s work, including Earthbeat Radio.

George Leventhal came next. As a Mongtomery County Councilmember, George has achieved many clean energy successes in the past six years. He pioneered the campaign to switch county government buildings