In Sunday's New York Times, the reporter, Melanie Warner, (or her editor) poses the question: "Is America ready to give up coal? Describing the situation, Warner writes that: "With concerns over climate change intensifying, electricity generation from coal, once reliably cheap, looks increasingly expensive in the face of the all-but-certain prospect of regulations that would impose significant costs on companies that emit large amounts of carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases. As a result, utilities'... READ MORE»
It took less than a month for the 24-7 news media and political pundit class to pile on President Obama and resume their old habit of underestimating him. "His appointments were not properly vetted". "The stimulus package is a pork-laden mishmash". "He's too nice to the conservatives" "He still hasn't gotten his kids a dog". Through all of the endless analysis our new President maintains his balance and seems to coolly rise above... READ MORE»
Some of us believe environmental sustainability can be a central element of the revival of the American economy. Some think this idea is mushy-headed, idealistic nonsense that should be rejected by hard-nosed business leaders. Wal-Mart, perhaps the best-known example of a company that has done well by doing good, provides evidence of how green business can lead to greenbacks. After the retail giant's reputation took a hit, first for not providing employees with enough... READ MORE»
The power of the American Presidency to move the environmental agenda was never more apparent than during President Obama's recent directive to EPA to reconsider California's request to set tighter air emission and fuel efficiency standards. Under the Clean Air Act, California has long had the authority to exceed federal standards and typically it has made good use of this power. What makes President Obama's directive even more important is that 13 states are... READ MORE»
On January 22, a piece in the New York Times discussed public opinion data on the environment and global warming and noted that support for protecting the environment was slipping in U.S. public opinion polls. According to Andrew C.... READ MORE»
Inauguration day, 2009 was a thrilling affirmation of the United States and the most hopeful day I can remember. The American President is both our head of government and our head of state. He is both prime minister and king. And before about two million people, and millions more on TV and the web, President Barack Obama, again demonstrated the talent to masterfully fulfill both of these roles. From my perspective it was a wonderful... READ MORE»
In this season of hope and frigid fear, the other day on the Hudson River we saw another reason for optimism. When faced with imminent danger, we saw the best in what we all can do together. A jetliner is in trouble and the pilot skillfully steers away from the most populated strip of land in America, and brings his passengers and crew to safety. Ferry captains, firefighters, police, the Coast Guard and many... READ MORE»
The Administration's stimulus plan is now available for review and I urge you to read it yourself and not simply listen to media-tilted or politically biased views of the plan. You can find it at: http://change.gov/agenda/economy_agenda/ . All the predictable ideological voices in Congress and the media have started to weigh in with their short sighted and narrow views of what needs to happen. Some of this is not about saving the economy,... READ MORE»
By | January 4, 2009 | 3:55 pm
While New York City's inadequate waste management system is one of my constant themes or perhaps obsessions, at the end of December, the New York Post published a wonderful "man bites dog:" story: The amount of garbage we are producing is going down! David Seifman, one of the Post's terrific political journalists reported that in New York City: "Household refuse collections dropped 5.5 percent, from 54,205 to 51,250 tons per week, between fiscal 2005 and... READ MORE»
As 2008 comes to a close, it really has been the best and worst of years. The economy, the continuing carnage in Iraq, the persistence of extreme poverty and the steady destruction of the planet are certainly on the negative side of the annual ledger. But, as we look toward 2009 there is reason to be hopeful. At the center of this hope, perhaps already looming larger than life, is our soon to be... READ MORE»
It wasn't all that long ago that supporting nuclear power as a Democrat in New York State was an easy way to lose an election. "In 1992 I was in a three-way race for the State Assembly," said Assemblyman Kevin Cahill, whose opponents in that race were a high school math teacher in his fifties and a "self-described '50's housewife," according to Cahill. "We sat before the active Democrats of our community. And the... READ MORE»
As President-Elect Obama focuses his transition team on a green stimulus plan, here in New York, Governor Patterson is also proposing public policies that serve multiple purposes. While in Washington, they are able to print money and run a deficit, at the state and local level we have to pay as we go. In Washington they make plans to spend money, in New York we need to make plans to raise new funds.... READ MORE»
While New York often looks to California for innovative, environmental ideas, the movie-making business that is centered in Southern California is not known for being frugal or conscious of resource constraints. The creative process dominates, and entertainment is known for excess. "A lot of waste takes place on production sites," said Zahava Stroud, President and Co-Founder of iHollywood Forum, an industry group working to motivate the public to act more sustainably. The forum... READ MORE»
The economy lost 533,000 jobs in November, raising the official US unemployment rate to 6.7%. When you add to that the number of people who have given up their job searches or are working part time when they would rather work full time, our real unemployment rate is probably closer to 12.5%. Over the last year the US economy has lost nearly 2 million jobs. This could be the start of a depression,... READ MORE»
So, you don’t have a job. Could you get one by being green? In the last year, the U.S. Green Building Council has held two green jobs fairs in New York for would-be sustainable designers and the businesses who want them, drawing about 300 people each. At the third, held last Friday at N.Y.U.’s Palladium at 140 East 14th Street, 400 people signed up with walk-ins pouring through the doors. Rather than the fresh-faced... READ MORE»
