Infographic - Solar Energy Employment 2010 - 2015

Nature Conservancy Canada Matches Volunteers to Projects in Canada

Are you interested in volunteering your time to conserve nature in Canada? If so there is a new portal that helps interested volunteers to find conservation projects near you. The Nature Conservancy Canada (NCC) matches people with volunteer opportunities that are organized by province. These projects support the health and well being of a wide range of Canada’s natural places.

Projects cover things like animal surveys, building homes for wild birds, making trails, and wildlife counts.

To go to the site click here.

Obama and Hollande Call for Climate Action

The French and American Presidents have called for an ambitious global climate agreement. The French President, Francois Hollande has joined forced with US President Barack Obama to ask the world to increase clean energy, create jobs and help developing countries transition to a low carbon economy.

President Hollande arrived in the US on Monday, the same day that the leaders issued an op-ed that was published in the Washington Post and Le Monde newspapers.

Webinar - Engaging Employees to Build a Sustainability Innovation Culture

This complimentary 45 minute webinar from the Ethical Corporation will take place on Feb 12th at 1 pm GMT. around employee engagement. The conversation will address ways of building a sustainability innovation culture in your organization. Speakers include Christine Diamente from Alcatel-Lucent, Andrew Cave from Royal Bank of Scotland and Sarah Ellis from Sainsbury’s. These three individuals will share the latest insights to help you get your employees on board to build a sustainability innovation culture.

You will learn about ways to:

The Paradox of President Obama's All of the Above Energy Strategy

Staying within prescribed climate change limits will be difficult under Obama’s all-of-the-above strategy. Although Obama may be the greenest President in American history he is not doing enough to stave off the worst impacts of climate change. In his State of the Union address, he did talk about the veracity of climate change and the need to further reduce America’s greenhouse gas emissions, however his ongoing support for fossil fuel extraction is dangerous and imperils hopes that we can tackle the issue of climate change before we reach irreversible tipping points.

The President made many laudable points during his address including his desire to increase protections for air, water, land and American communities. He quite correctly explained that, “we have to act with more urgency because a changing climate is already harming western communities struggling with drought and coastal cities dealing with floods.”

The President touted the growth of solar power saying: “[W]e’re becoming a global leader in solar too. Every four minutes another American home or business goes solar, every panel pounded into place by a worker whose job can’t be outsourced.”

Breakdown of Renewable Energy Jobs Around the World

There is a vast and growing workforce associated with renewable energy. The meteoric growth of these clean sources of energy will only continue as we approach the deadline for an international climate agreement that is certain to limit greenhouse gas production. To meet targets that will be put forth in this agreement we will need to transition away from fossil fuels and ramp-up an already fast moving renewable energy sector.

According to a report from the International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA) the industry currently employs 5.7M people. Most of the jobs are in China, the EU, Brazil, US and India. Here is a quick summary of the number of jobs in each of the top three nations as well international forecasts for the future :

Event - Good Jobs Green Jobs Conference

Good Jobs Green Jobs Conference, will take place on February 10 - 11, 2014, in Washington, D.C. This year’s Conference is focused on repairing the systems Americans rely on every day, whether getting us back and forth to work, supplying our power, keeping us safe from storms and floods, communicating with police and fire during emergencies, or ensuring the institutions where our children learn are safe and healthy.

President Obama's 2014 State of the Union Address: Summary and Green Highlights

President Obama's 2014 state of the union address did reference carbon pollution and the need for more action on climate change, but environmental concerns did not receive the attention that some had hoped for.

The President's focus was on continuing to grow the nations economy and provide more jobs. He citing the "more than 8 million new jobs our businesses have created over the past four years." Much of his speech addressed the issue of education. He boasted that "America's graduation rate to its highest levels in more than three decades." The President further elaborated his focus on education stating that America needs to focus on building "tomorrows workforce." He talked about innovative private sector funding for pre k, and making it easier for kids to afford college. He also explained that he has directed Vice President Biden to work on new training and apprenticeship programs.

Video - Hope for 2014: What Obama is Doing to Combat Climate Change

President Obama's Climate Change Strategy announced in the summer of 2013, gives us reason to hope that the world's wealthiest and most influential nation will assume a leadership role in efforts to combat climate change.

2013 Year End Review: US Environmental Success Stories

In 2013, concerned people, organizations and companies in the U.S. and around the world helped move environmental causes forward. From new legislation to the protection of habitats and ecosystems, here is a sampling of U.S. environmental achievements in 2013.

A new study showed that a solid majority of Americans accept the reality of global warming and are calling for action on climate change.

Video - NRDC Environmental Victories in 2013

This NRDC video shows what people can achieve when they work together. NRDC Members helped to secure many environmental successes in 2013, this video summarizes some of those victories.

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Video - Nature's Beauty: Life is a Gift and the Only Appropriate Response is Gratefulness

Event - Good Jobs Green Jobs Conference

This event will take place on February 10 - 11, 2014 in Washington, DC.  This year’s Conference is focused on repairing the systems Americans rely on every day, whether getting us back and forth to work, supplying our power, keeping us safe from storms and floods, communicating with police and fire during emergencies, or ensuring the institutions where our children learn are safe and healthy. It's time to repair these systems today to create quality, family-sustaining jobs, to address the threat of climate change, and to ensure the health and safety of our workplaces and our communities. Join thousands of business and community leaders, union members, and environmentalists at Good Jobs, Green Jobs 2014 and take up the call to Repair America.

Event (Symposium) Green Growth, Green Jobs: Integrating Employment and Environmental Policies Across Europe

This symposium will take place on 29 January 2014, from 10:00am - 4:30pm at NH Hotel du Grand Sablon in Brussels. In the EU, more than 20 million jobs are already linked to the environment and the figure will increase as the EU continues its commitment to growing the economy while protecting natural resources.

A key objective of Europe 2020, the strategy for growth and jobs, is to address the need for sustainable and inclusive growth through the promotion of a competitive and greener economy in the EU. As part of the strategy, the EU has committed to offer its support to businesses so they can achieve the shift to a greener economy whilst remaining competitive on the global stage.

Obama Increases Federal Renewable Energy Adding to His Climate Action Plan

In his most recent effort to combat climate change, US President Barack Obama has indicated that he will triple the amount of federal energy derived from renewable sources. This is another significant step forward in the effort to curtail US greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. Although impeded by Republicans at every turn under Obama's leadership federal agencies have already decreased their carbon emissions by 15 percent.

In response to Republicans hell-bent efforts to shut down his legislative agenda, the President has once again been forced to use his executive privileges to advance the federal governments efforts to combat climate change. His latest executive order was signed on Thursday December 5, and it will nearly triple the federal government's use of renewable energy from 7 percent to more than 20 percent.

Infographic - New US Clean Energy Jobs by State in Q3

Source: Environmental Entrepreneurs

According to the new report "Clean Energy Works For Us: Q3 2013," more than 80 clean energy and clean transportation projects have been launched in the third quarter of this year and together they could create more than 15,000 jobs. Top states included California, Nevada, New York, Michigan, and Texas. States in the Southeast also posted strong numbers, though North Carolina lagged compared to its neighbors. Nationally, renewable power generation is expected to create 6,700 jobs — more than any other sector E2 tracked this quarter.

Video - Gratitude for Nature (2012): Documentary Filmmaker Louie Schwartzberg Tedx

Nature's beauty inspires gratitude. In this video Louie Schwartzberg addresses flowers and the fate of the bees which are so dependent on flowers. In the same way that the bees are dependent on flowers for their sustenance we are dependent on the bees to pollinate our crops.

Video - Gratitude for Nature (2011): Documentary Filmmaker Louie Schwartzberg Tedx

Nature's beauty is the focus of the work of filmmaker Louie Schwartzberg. He is an award-winning cinematographer, director and producer who captures breathtaking images that celebrate life — revealing connections, universal rhythms, patterns and beauty. His stunning time-lapse photography, accompanied by powerful words from Benedictine monk Brother David Steindl-Rast, serves as a meditation on being grateful for every day.

Video - Thank You for Taking Action to Save the Climate!

While it may seem like a daunting task, people all over the world are working hard to save the climate from the ravages of global warming. People who have lived through climate disasters are giving thanks, people who are deeply concerned about the fate of our climate are giving thanks. This profusion of gratitude goes out to all those who do not succumb to hopelessness and strive to protect our planet from climate change.

Obama Signs a Climate Change Resilience Executive Order

On the morning of Friday November 1, 2013, President Obama signed an executive order (EO) designed to prepare the country for climate-related disasters. Climate change adaptation cannot wait for the Congress, so the President is using his executive privileges to do what they won't.

This is a tangible follow-up to his Climate Action Plan which the President unveiled in June. Obama has clearly grown weary of Republican obstructionism in Congress. Their knee jerk opposition to almost anything that he or the Democrats propose is making a farcical comedy of America's democracy (particularly anything to do wilth climate change).