Obama gave a speech at Carnegie Mellon University, where he talked addressed this issue. “The catastrophe unfolding in the Gulf right now may prove to be a result of human error – or corporations taking dangerous short-cuts that compromised safety. But we have to acknowledge that there are inherent risks to drilling four miles beneath the surface of the Earth – risks that are bound to increase the harder oil extraction becomes. Just like we have to acknowledge that an America run solely on fossil fuels should not be the vision we have for our children and grandchildren”.

In his speech he stresses the need to once and for all embrace a clean energy future. He encourages people to continue making the effort to make everything, from homes and businesses, to cars and trucks more energy efficient. Right now it is a priority to invest in clean energy research and development.

Even though the BP oil spill is a catastrophe in every aspect, it may still lead to positive changes. It is a good opportunity to reflect about how we are using our natural resources and how we are inevitably compromising our planet. This spill may serve as an example of the risks we are taking in continuously using up our resources. Hopefully new eco-friendly technologies will be put in motion to bring lasting changes to America and the rest of the world.

Via: Climate Progress

NASA has a group of people specially dedicated to studying the Earth; the Earth Science Division. This is the one that will receive this new award, with which it will fix up instruments, and boost its mission.

Edward Weiler, associate administrator of NASA’s Science Mission Directorate, said: “This administration has a clear priority for science in general and Earth science in specific”. The $2.4 billion represent a 60% increase in NASA’s Earth science programs’ budget.

So what is it this division studies about the Earth? Ecological situations, climate change and how fast it is happening, the melting of glaciers, the origin and fate of greenhouse gases (GHG) like carbon dioxide, as well as ocean temperatures, and coastal wetlands’ health.

Concerning the study of carbon dioxide, last year, NASA launched the Orbiting Carbon Observatory, which unluckily crashed immediately after launch. Thanks to the new funding, it will be rebuilt and relaunched.

Further, the new available money will help replace the GRACE satellites, which study the Earth’s gravity. And what has gravity got to do with climate change? Weiler says GRACE has helped study gravitational fields to measure the amount of ground water in some regions in California. Apparently, ground water amounts are decreasing, and global warming is one of the causes.

The more efforts we dedicate to studying the Earth and its troubles, the higher chance there is we will find solutions. Let’s hope NASA will provide useful information on our planet.

VIA: Inhabitat / NPR

President Obama’s State of the Union address yesterday night was, in my mind, expertly delivered. Like a good politician, Obama played to various interest groups and in no area did he do this more than in the energy sector.

He spoke of the ‘overwhelming scientific evidence on climate change’ and of the need to pass a ‘comprehensive energy and climate bill’. This received a standing ovation. However, so did his arguments that a ‘new generation of safe, clean nuclear power plants’ was needed; that new offshore areas needed to be opened up for oil and gas exploration; and that continued investment in bio-fuels AND ‘clean-coal’ was necessary.

To his credit, his speech really centered on creating jobs, and clean energy jobs were a main component of that proposal. Arguably, for the US to put all its eggs in one, truly, ‘clean’ energy basket might not be the best strategy for its future. But haven’t we seen the effects of faulty nuclear power plants? Haven’t we been living with coal for long enough? However ‘clean’ coal may get, it will never beat wind or solar power in this regard. No matter how refined nuclear waste becomes it will never be as safe either. There are plans to try to ‘recycle’, which just means ‘re-use’, nuclear waste but we do not have efficient ways of doing that at the moment and even if we did the question about where to put the waste when we’re done is far from clear. Hiding it deep underground is the best example of sweeping garbage under the rug I have ever heard of.

As always, I was impressed by the President’s ability to deliver a speech, but this time his message only rang half as strong. New jobs in the clean energy sector could help pull the US out of its recession and put it on a path to a more sustainable future. But there was a lack of urgency in his tone and a hint of complacency, or appeasement, in his comments on oil, coal and nuclear power.

Compromise is often necessary, but let us hope it does not go too far.

VIA: Youtube

BBC

Some of the initiatives they have agreed on are the following:

The US and India will foster development and deployment of clean energy technologies. An Indo-US Clean Energy Research and Deployment Initiative has been launched. This includes a Joint Research Center. Some of the priorities of this initiative include energy efficiency, smart grid, second-generation biofuels, and clean coal technologies such as carbon capture and storage. Also solar energy, sustainable transportation, and wind energy development.

Specifically, concerning solar energy, the U.S. National Renewable Energy Lab (NREL) will work with Indian Solar Energy Centre so as to create a nation-wide map of solar energy potential.

On the other hand, both Singh and Obama will try to encourage investment in clean energy projects in India.

They will also help each other regarding adaptation to climate change, looking for ways to reduce greenhouse gas emissions from forests and land use.

Both leaders said that Copenhagen must result in a treaty that covers mitigation, adaptation, finance, and technology. Further, they both claimed to be determined to reduce emissions and said they are most willing to accomplish these pledges.

Another interesting project is the idea India has of creating a National Environmental Protection Authority, which will receive help and guidance from US Environmental Protection Agency. India’s project has the objective of establishing a more effective system of environmental governance, regulation and enforcement.

And lastly, the US National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration will work with India’s Ministry of Earth Sciences to help forecast monsoons and prevent risks related to climate change, which could harm both people and crops.

Let’s hope all these fantastic initiatives and ideas are put into practice and inspire other nations to get together to fight climate change, and develop renewable energies.

Via: America.gov

Climate Progress

Their plan focuses mainly on clean energy. The idea is that the implementation of clean energy will be studied and fostered, and that emissions will be hopefully reduced thanks to natural gas and the development of carbon capture technology.

Main actions to be taken

The US and China will create a common Clean Energy Research Center, that will enhance joint research and the development of clean energy technologies. At least $150 million in the next five years will be dedicated to the Center, and split between the two countries.

Electric vehicles are another key element of the plan. An Electric Vehicles Initiative will be launched, seeking to develop joint standards, educational projects, and demonstration projects.

Energy efficiency could not be left behind, so an Energy Efficiency Action Plan will be established. The US and China will unite their efforts in improving energy efficiency in buildings, industrial facilities, and consumer appliances. Also, common standards will be set. A forum to discuss such topics will, from now on, be held once a year.

As for renewable energies, the two Presidents announced the creation of a Renewable Energy Partnership, through which they will help each other to enhance the development of renewable energy in their countries. They will share information on grid modernization. A forum will be held, also, once a year.

China and the US want to work together to achieve cleaner uses of coal. This is related to their quest for investigating and developing carbon capture and storage.

It is encouraging to see two super powers trying to work together to find possible solutions to the environmental crisis we are all in today. As Al Gore says, “if you want to go far, go together”. Let’s hope all these plans are in fact carried out.

Via: Treehugger

More: White House

We were talking yesterday about the importance the US has for the Copenhagen Conference. Being the US one of the most powerful nations in the world, and one of the main greenhouse gas emitters, it is crucial for the US to lead the way and accept to be legally tied to reducing its greenhouse gases. If the US does not get involved, many others might wonder, why should we?

For the US to be able to commit, it needs the Senate to pass the climate bill developed by Senators Barbara Boxer and John Kerry. However, there is much opposition from the Republican Party.

Obama is almost certain that the so-called “Clean Energy Jobs and American Power Act” will not be approved on time. Nevertheless, he still thinks COP15 can be successful, for it can work as a political framework for commitment and future action.

As he recently declared: “I think the question is can we create a set of principles, building blocks, that allow for ongoing and continuing progress on the issue and that’s something I’m confident we can achieve.”

If you still doubt whether climate change is or not a big deal, let me tell you that the scientific evidence that shows that we are on the brink of catastrophe is abundant. Further, emissions need to peak in 2015, if we want to avoid a major climatic crisis. Yvo de Boer, Executive Secretary of the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change, has said, “a climate deal in Copenhagen this year is an unequivocal requirement to stop climate change from slipping out of control.”

Via:

Telegraph