Climate Change

Fellow Story

This is what democracy looks like

Thirty-five thousand Americans marched around the White House in biting winds and cold sunlight on Sunday in the largest demonstration for climate action in history.
February 19, 2013
Fellow Story

Plug-in Cargo Ships on West Coast of California

It is estimated that shipping produces 4 to 5% of global carbon dioxide emissions. In most cases, these ships are powered by diesel fuel. On today's report we learn about an innovative California technology aimed at reducing this pollution. 2007 Switzer Fellow Francisco Donez is an environmental engineer with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Region 9.
February 6, 2013
Fellow Story

von Meier awarded $4 million for work on electric power grid monitoring

The University of California, Berkeley, got a $4 million grant for three years' work on electric power grid monitoring. UC Berkeley's California Institute for Energy and Environment, or CIEE, will oversee the research, working with Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory and the UC Center for Information Research. Alexandra von Meier is co-director of electric grid research at CIEE and will lead the project. Read more
December 28, 2012
Fellow Story

Beal says warming climate and green crabs may spell end for Maine's soft shell clams

Brian Beal, a University of Maine at Machias biologist, has been studying the decline of clam populations in the state and said warm weather, coupled with an extremely successful predator, historically spells disaster for clams. Green crabs, originally from Japan, were first recorded on Long Island, N.Y., in the mid-1860s and weren’t seen in Casco Bay until the early 1900s, Beal said. The green crab populations have been kept in check by severe cold snaps, Beal said, experienced frequently throughout the last century, allowing clams and other shellfish to recover.
December 27, 2012
Foundation News

Do the Math - fossil fuel divestiture gains steam

A month ago I was pleased and proud to be in attendance at the Portland, Maine stop for Bill McKibben’s “Do the Math” tour. His month long series of rallies helped build a campaign that is rapidly gaining attention – to recognize that if we...
December 13, 2012
Fellow Story

Chase against extending Yankee reactor's life

On the evening of Wednesday, Nov. 7, more than 250 members of the public from Vermont, New Hampshire and Massachusetts packed the elementary school gym in Vernon, Vt., for the first of two public hearings held by Vermont’s three-member Public Service Board. The topic at hand was whether the board should grant the Entergy Corp. a certificate of public good that would legally authorize the company to run the Vermont Yankee nuclear reactor for 20 years past the original 40-year license period, which ended last March. Read more
November 21, 2012
Fellow Story

Jones launches new online tool for estimating long-term climate change from today's actions

The climate change debate typically divides Americans into two camps: Hot and cold. I’m starting my own camp: Hungry. Climate change guru Andrew Jones presented his group’s new online tool, climateinteractive.org, on Tuesday at the Savannah International Clean Energy Conference. The website is built around a computer simulation tool that helps users visual the impacts of energy decisions on long-term climate.
November 21, 2012
Fellow Story

Luers warns tread carefully when linking extreme weather to climate crisis

Many climate advocates hope that the recent bout of extreme weather will awaken Americans to the dangers of climate change. Advocates and scientists have pointed to superstorm Sandy and the Texas drought as clear and present signs of the climate crisis. Although the public does seem to be taking notice, I fear these efforts could backfire if we do not proceed cautiously with our framing around extreme weather and climate change. Our challenge to solve the climate crisis could become more difficult in the end.
November 20, 2012
Fellow Story

Menten now with Marin Energy Authority

Visit Menten's LinkedIn profile
November 13, 2012
Fellow Story

Aldy delivers clear explanation of climate change consequences for US

Watch the video
November 12, 2012