Urban leaders are looking beyond their typical toolbox of policies, programs, and partnerships, and experimenting with new approaches to achieve carbon reduction through cleaner energy supply, building energy efficiency, and low-carbon transportation.
A package of hugely important changes to Washington State codes are needed to make buildings more energy efficient and ready for solar and electric vehicle charging.
In the early days of climate action, urban plans to reduce carbon frequently suffered from the laundry list syndrome: cataloguing potential strategies without any evidence of how they would meet long-term goals. Since then, cities and counties have become more sophisticated about cutting carbon, and are developing clean energy transition plans to do it.
Leading urban governments have set aggressive goals such as carbon neutrality and 80% reduction by 2050, and others have committed to sourcing 100% of their energy with renewables. These are not empty pledges, but achievable goals that local officials are already implementing.
Broad coalitions for climate action took bold steps this week in Oregon and Washington, announcing plans to put climate and clean energy measures on the 2016 ballot.
India pledges 40% renewable power by 2030, GOP voters are ahead of candidates on climate, CEO says divestment is scaring investors away from Canadian energy sector, and more news of the week in clean energy solutions.
#PeoplesClimate actions are taking place across the country on Oct 14! In Seattle, join author Naomi Klein and a diverse coalition of local leaders bringing hope and action to the fight against climate change.
Shell Oil's Arctic failure is only the latest indication that expensive bets on long-term fossil fuel development make no sense of any kind. Our transition to a better energy source will take a while—but it's absolutely underway.
In December 2015, international leaders will gather in Paris for what are arguably the most important global climate talks ever. Countries are updating their carbon reduction pledges, which currently fall far short of what is necessary to hold global warming at two degrees Celsius. This represents an ambition gap among national negotiators that the bold climate leadership of city officials around the world can help close.
The Renew Oregon coalition is bringing Oregon businesses together with other voices for climate action. The list of companies backing the Oregon Business Climate Declaration continues to grow, as Portland's Mayor issues a climate challenge to local businesses.
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EU regulators propose ‘stress test’ for banks on climate and energy, March breaks global heat records, Midwestern utility heads for 85% renewable power, and more news of the week in climate and clean energy.
21 nations grow GDP while cutting climate pollution, Renewable Portfolio Standards dubbed an inexpensive success, power prices in negative territory, and more news of the week in climate and clean energy.
As a part of an international climate and energy actionable knowledge exchange, i-SUSTAIN is gathering together experts from Denmark, Sweden and Washington state in Olympia and Seattle from April 11-12, 2016. The April convening focuses on district energy and combined heat and power, with this bi-directional knowledge exchange on climate and energy continuing in 2016 with other key action areas.
An open-to-the-public meeting with the delegates is being offered in Olympia (April 11th) and Seattle (April 12th):
Today Climate Solutions launches our Bright Future initiative to demonstrate that the transition to clean energy and a low-carbon economy is within our grasp.
2.5 million Americans work in clean energy, South Africa and Nevada solar plants provide night-time power, coalition builds behind Clean Power Plan, and more news of the week in climate and clean energy.
US boosts estimate of rooftops’ solar potential, Chinese clean energy investment soars, Colorado buying co-ops cut EV prices below $10K after tax credits, and more news of the week in climate and clean energy.
On April 19, 2016 the Western Washington University Institute for Energy Studies will be holding its first Energy Symposium. Students, faculty, and invited experts in the field of energy will be joining together on Western's campus for presentations, lively panel discussions, student poster sessions, and networking. Space is limited. Register now.
Join Oreogn Physicians for Social Responsibility in celebrating the next generation of peace and environmental activists at the 2016 Greenfield Peace Writing Scholarship Awards Ceremony. This year’s scholarship asked high school juniors and seniors to respond to the following prompt:
“How would a successful movement to confront climate change help create a more just and peaceful world?”
Peabody Coal on verge of bankruptcy, 9 percent more Americans concerned about climate, electricity co-ops lead deployment of solar power in Wisconsin, and more news of the week in climate and clean energy.
Senior Advocates for Generational Equity (SAGE), a non-profit dedicated to raising awareness about the challenges facing future generations, will host best-selling author Paul Hawken in Portland in May as its 2016 Visiting SAGE. Paul Hawken is a world-renown environmentalist, entrepreneur, and best-selling author on sustainability. He will speak about his work with Project Drawdown, a non-profit that is mapping and modeling 100 existing, substantive solutions to reverse climate change.
