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NYC Highline Garden

No, cities are not actually leading on climate. Enough with the mindless cheerleading

by Sam Brooks, Greentech Media The idea that cities are leading on climate change is applauded over and over and over. There’s just one problem. It’s not actually happening. Retrofit programs for buildings and homes aren’t delivering results. Power distribution remains rooted in century-old thinking and technology. And those cities that claim to be on […]

Scott Pruitt

Donald Trump Picks Scott Pruitt, Ally of Fossil Fuel Industry, to Lead E.P.A.

By Coral Davenport, New York Times WASHINGTON — President-elect Donald J. Trump has selected Scott Pruitt, the Oklahoma attorney general and a close ally of the fossil fuel industry, to run the Environmental Protection Agency, a transition official said, signaling Mr. Trump’s determination to dismantle President Obama’s efforts to counter climate change. Mr. Pruitt, a […]

Donald Trump’s interview with the New York Times offers hope on climate

In an interview with the New York Times on Tuesday, Donald trump provided some hope to climate protection advocates: “On climate change, Mr. Trump refused to repeat his promise to abandon the international climate accord reached last year in Paris, saying, “I’m looking at it very closely.” Despite the recent appointment to his transition team […]

California civic leaders champion climate change

While the national stage is looking rather bleak, in California there’s plenty to be grateful for when it comes to climate protection champions in public service. Governor Jerry Brown has been leading climate protection efforts for several years.  In September of 2016, he signed SB 32, which requires California to slash greenhouse gas emissions to 40% […]

Hundreds of U.S. Businesses Urge Trump to Uphold Paris Climate Deal

By Merrit Kennedy, NPR Hundreds of businesses such as Starbucks, General Mills and Hewlett Packard are asking President-elect Donald Trump to follow through on U.S. commitments to combat climate change. They argue it’s good for business. Trump has threatened to scrap the Paris agreement and invest in the “low carbon economy at home and abroad.” […]

Month of unprecedented global cooperation on climate change

October has been a remarkable month for global cooperation on climate change mitigation.  Three landmark agreements illustrate a new willingness to work together to tackle the problem. October 5th: Paris Agreement reached threshold to take effect November 4th October 6th: New accord to reduce greenhouse-gas emissions from aviation established October 15th: Deal to phase out […]

McKibben says there’s nothing radical about climate protection

Bill McKibben, a world leader on climate protection, spoke at Sonoma State University on October 19. For me he proved the value of preaching to the choir. I came away completely inspired. Highlights of what McKibben said: The most important thing an individual can do is not be so much of an individual. It’s not […]

Electric vehicle ownership just got even better

Sonoma Clean Power has recently launched a new, $2.5 million venture to help people buy electric vehicles and install at-home charging stations.  The measure will target the largest source of pollution in Sonoma County, tailpipe emissions. Starting October 27 and through January 5, Sonoma Clean Power will offer its customers $2,500 discounts — on a first-come, first-served […]

Greenhouse Gas Emissions Went Down in 2014

The Center for Climate Protection just released its Greenhouse Gas (GHG) Emissions Report for Sonoma County for 2014. The report calculates GHG emissions from major sectors to reveal trends that demonstrate progress toward the County’s goals. The report shows us that in 2014, Sonoma County produced about 3.6 million tons of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. […]

This is not normal

When we hear about abnormally hot weather, we think of heat waves. In Chicago in 1995, the heat index hit 120 for three days in a row, killing hundreds of elderly people. In France, thousands of people died during seven days of severe heat in 2003. Those events are awful for their destructive force, but […]