Thousands of Colleges and Universities Have Declared Climate Emergencies

Higher education institutions are coming together to declare a climate emergency and collectively commit to action. Thousands of colleges and universities around the world have made declarations "in recognition of the need for a drastic societal shift to combat the growing threat of climate change".  These schools join thousands of emergency declarations around the world.

Fossil Fuel Subsidies are Funding Global Warming

Fossil fuel subsidies are growing as we are running out of time to act on the climate crisis. With a few exceptions most nations are increasing their fossil fuel subsidies. The energy policies of nations like the United States and Australia convincingly demonstrate this point.  Countries like China and Canada try to have it both ways. On the one hand they engage in climate action and on the other they are increasing subsidies to the fossil fuel industry.

Trump's War Against Cleaner Cars

In March U.S. President Donald Trump directed the EPA to dismantle the Obama administration's vehicle emissions standards. These regulations mandated company wide averages of 51 MPG by 2025 and cut carbon pollution by 140 million metric tons per year compared to the Trump administration’s proposal.

Although Congress gave California the right to set its own mileage standards, Trump is moving to revoke the state's mpg waiver. California's Advanced Clean Car Rule forces automakers who sell cars in the state to reduce pollution from by 40 percent compared to 2012 levels starting in 2025.

The U.S. Spends 10 Times more on Fossil Fuel Subsidies than Education

There is something profoundly wrong with countries that spend more on fossil fuels than they do on education. Fossil fuels are the leading cause of climate change while education is essential to the health and well being of both individuals and the societies they inhabit.

According to a recent International Monetary Fund (IMF) report, the U.S. spends ten times more on various forms of fossil fuel subsidies than it does on education. The U.S. fossil fuel industry receives 649 billion in subsidies, that is ten times more tax dollars than the public education system.
To make matters worse, the Trump administration has sought to increase support for fossil fuels while decreasing support for education.

Businesess and Employees Supporting the Climate Strikes

Thousands of companies joined millions people in the recent student led climate strikes on September 20 and 27. These strikes are an urgent call for governments to act on climate change. Some companies gave their employees paid time off to participate in the strike while others closed their doors.

Well known corporate brands like Patagonia, Ben & Jerry's, Burton, and Lush Cosmetics shut down both their manufacturing and their bricks and mortar retail outlets. They also encouraged their employees and customers to attend the strikes.

On September 20th more than 7,000 businesses and websites participated in a digital climate strike including some of the world's largest companies. Tumblr, WordPress, Imgur, Kickstarter, BitTorrent, Tor, BoingBoing, Greenpeace, Change.org, among many others spread the word on social media, donated ad space or put banners supporting the strikes on their sites. Seventh Generation donated its commercial airtime for the week to youth climate strikers.

Event - Conference on Ecology, Ecosystems and Coastal Management

The 4th International Conference on Coastal Ecosystem and Management during October 23-24, 2019 in Frankfurt, Germany. The theme of this year's event is Scientific Insights towards Ecological Restoration. This conference covers the latest information and includes keynote Speakers, presentations, exhibition, lectures, symposia, and workshops that will help take your research to the next level.

At the Ecology and Ecosystem 2019 Conference global academic leaders will share their research including in the fields of microbial ecology, nutrient transformation, energy & environment, climate change, environmental toxicology, and genetics. It will also address the latest advances in computational approaches in the field of soil management and research on ecosystem sustainability as well as many other topics.

Event - Conference on Pollution Control & Sustainable Environment

The 7th International Conference on Pollution Control & Sustainable Environment will take place on March 02-03, 2020 in Rome, Italy. The theme is Accelerating Innovations for Environmental Sustainability. One of the greatest problems that the world is facing today is that of environmental pollution, increasing with every passing year and causing grave and irreparable damage to the earth. Environmental pollution consists of five basic types of pollution, namely, air, water, soil, noise and light. Chlorofluorocarbons (CFC), released from refrigerators, air-conditioners, deodorants and insect repellents cause severe damage to the Earth’s environment. This gas has slowly damaged the atmosphere and depleted the ozone layer leading to global warming.

Event - Waste Recycling Congress 2019

The 10th World Convention on Recycling and Waste Management will take place October 21-22, 2019 in Sydney, Australia. The theme is Reduce and Recycle Waste for Sustainable Waste Management.

This event provides a global platform to share thoughts on recent advances and technological breakthroughs in the recycling and waste management. This Congress includes networking, B2B Meetings and opportunities for collaborations in related fields.

Student Strike on September 27th is the Largest Climate Mobilization in History

The climate march on Friday September 27th was an historic event with millions of people participating in thousands of marches all around the world. The largest climate march took place in Montreal where 500,000 protestors joined Greta Thunberg to call for climate action. This was the largest single climate march ever. A total of almost a million Canadians took part in some form of action on this day. This is prescient for Canadians who are voting in national elections on October 21. On September 20th 4 million people took part in almost 4,500 climate strikes in 132 countries. There were 800 events in the U.S. including a massive march in New York City ahead of the U.N.'s Climate Action Summit. These climate strikes are of global importance as they are part of a game-changing movement.

Montreal Hosts the Largest Climate March in History

New IPCC Report Reveals Accelerating Ice Melt and Sea Level Rise

Climate impacts are accelerating and this is expediting the timelines for the melting of the cryosphere and sea level rise. This is the conclusion of the most recent report from the U.N. Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC). As with other IPCC studies, the latest report is a synthesis of the most up to date science.

The report indicates that ocean surface temperatures have been steadily warming since 1970 and in the last quarter century they have been warming twice as fast.  The relatively new phenomenon of ocean heat waves have doubled since the 1980s and they have become more intense. The report states increasing rates of melting ice sheets in Greenland and the Antarctic are contributing to accelerating sea level rise.

Greta's Scowl Speaks for Millions

This short Guardian video proves the adage that a picture is worth a thousand words. It shows Swedish climate activist Greta Thunberg scowling at U.S. President Donald Trump. Her silent scowl quickly went viral as it reflects the sentiments of millions of people around the globe.

Greta Thunberg Reprimands World Leaders and Draws the Line

On September 23, Swedish activist Greta Thunberg delivered a powerful speech at the Climate Action Summit.  Fighting back tears and struggling to restrain her rage, Greta scolded global leaders telling them that the eyes of future generations are watching.

Climate Action Summit is our Last Best Hope

A last ditch effort is underway to pull the world back from the brink of disaster. On September 23, the UN convened an urgent meeting to increase climate action. In addition to showcasing new initiatives, this event was also an opportunity to tell the world that we must do more to combat climate change. UN Secretary-General António Guterres called for action from government, business and civil society.

World Conference on Climate Change and Earth Science

The 7th World Conference on Climate Change and Earth Science will take place on October 16-17, 2019 in Tokyo, Japan. This conference will include presentations and exhibitions based on the theme: "Global Climate Challenges, Adaptation and Management". 

This prescient conference will bring together specialists, analysts and researchers to explore common concerns and approaches to controlling the crisis.  The event will unite scientists from ecology, environmental toxicology and bioremediation to address the need to reduce power consumption, especially related to the burning of fossil fuels.

Event - World Congress on Green Chemistry and Recycling

The 6th World Congress on Green Chemistry and Recycling will take place on October 14 and 15, 2019 in Seoul, South Korea. The theme of the Congress is Advancements in Recycling for a Sustainable Future.

This event will include speakers, exhibitions and workshops from leading experts who will share their knowledge and their research in recycling and environmental sciences.

Green chemistry has an important role to play in the design of the products and processes that will minimize or reduce the production of hazardous materials. The main aim of recycling is to conserve energy, slow down global warming, lower waste products in landfills and reduce pollution.

UN Youth Climate Summit

The inaugural Youth Climate Summit, is an action-oriented intergenerational event that will take place on Saturday September 21, 2019 at the United Nations headquarters in New York. The event brings together young leaders who are seeking change at a pace and scale needed to meet the challenge of the climate crisis.

This summit will provide a platform for leaders between the ages of 18-29 to share their solutions, it will also give them access to decision makers. Those under 18 are also given the opportunity to attend through a nomination process.

Canada Votes: The Climate Platforms of the Four Major Federal Parties

Climate change is an important election issue in the 2019 Canadian federal election. The four major parties are in agreement about the climate crisis, but they have very different ideas about how to address it.  They agree on the scientific consensus that humans are responsible for climate change and they all share the view that we need to reduce our greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. However, the four main parties differ on how much GHGs should be cut and how this can best be achieved.

Here is a detailed look at the climate platforms of the Liberal Party, the Conservative Party, the New Democratic Party (NDP) and the Green Party.

Climate Strikes Call for Urgent Action

Global climate strike in March 2019

The climate strikes on September 20th and 27th are a plea for government action. As part of a week of climate action events are taking place around the world coinciding with the United Nations climate summit that is taking place in New York City on September 23rd.

Attendance at the protest in the Big Apple will be buoyed by the fact that NYC public schools have given students the day off if they want to participate in the strike. The students who attend are expected to lead class discussions about the day of action when they return to school.

Canada Votes: Why the War against Climate Change is the Key Issue in the 2019 Federal Election

There are a host of important issues confronting Canadians in the 2019 federal elections but none have more far reaching consequences than the existential threat posed by climate crisis.

Man-made greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions are warming the Earth and breaking heat records.  Scientists warn that unchecked emissions have catastrophic implications for human health and the economy. Climate impacts include food insecurity, flooding, storms, heat waves and wildfires. The UN has warned that climate-fueled disasters are now a weekly phenomenon and this will continue to augur unprecedented biodiversity loss as the climate continues to warm.

Event - Global summit on Climate Change

The 6th Global summit on Climate Change will take place on October 21-22, 2019 in Amsterdam, Netherlands. The theme for the 2019 edition is Climatology, The Science of Global Weather Systems over the Long Term.

At this summit there will be inspiring speakers and a diverse assortment of scientists and researchers who will present on a wide range of topics. Core subjects include but are not limited to climate, greenhouse gases, oceans and forests.

Event - ANDREC: Columbia's Renewable Energy Congress

ANDREC will take place on October 8-10, 2019 in Bogota Columbia.  This event brings together the renewable market in Colombia, including local and international developers, EPCs, installers and investors.  ANDREC 2019 will host 400 attendees and 100 speakers. It will unite Colombia’s government stakeholders and early stage renewable energy developers, consultants and operators with a host of international players from project development, investment and technology manufacturers. There will be more than 30 hours to help attendees network with over 200 senior decision makers.

Event/Workshop - Ocean Energy Europe (OEE2019): Unlocking the Potential of Ocean Energy

The annual Ocean Energy Europe Conference and Exhibition (OEE2019) will take place on September, 30, - October, 1, 2019 in Dublin, Ireland. This event is the meeting point for the whole ocean energy sector. Experts and public and private stakeholders from the ocean energy field, will gather to discuss the latest progress and identify the most relevant opportunities for scaling-up ocean energy technologies deployment with a special emphasis on Small Island Development States.

Climate Excerpts from ABC News' 3rd Democratic Presidential Debate

On September 12, 2019 the leading Democratic presidential candidates came together in Houston for ABC News' third Democratic debate. The ten candidates who participated in the debate are former Vice President Joe Biden, New Jersey Sen. Cory Booker, South Bend, Indiana Mayor Pete Buttigieg Former Housing and Urban Development Secretary Julián Castro, California Sen. Kamala Harris, Minnesota Sen. Amy Klobuchar, Former Texas Rep. Beto O'Rourke, Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders, Massachusetts Sen. Elizabeth Warren, and Entrepreneur Andrew Yang. The moderators were George Stephanopoulos, David Muir, Linsey Davis and Jorge Ramos.

With the exception of Yang all the candidates addressed climate change during the debate. Here are the climate focused excerpts from the third Democratic debate arranged according to the three salient themes:

Coalition of Universities Band Together to Buy Renewable Energy

Twenty-one state and private universities have come together to form a renewable energy purchasing consortium. The coalition is called NYCARES which stands for New York Campuses’ Aggregate Renewable Energy Solutions. Participating schools include 16 campuses in the SUNY system, four private colleges, as well as Cornell University Ithaca campus. The universities are looking to source large-scale solar photovoltaic, wind, hydroelectric, and energy storage projects. The initiative was started in 2018 and will begin soliciting projects no later than 2020. The advantages of the consortium include lower costs, protection against volatile gas prices and research opportunities.

Republicans are the Leading Purveyors of the Fossil Fuel Industry's Climate Denial

Republican presidents were once advocates of environmental protection, but in recent years they have devolved into obstructionist purveyors of disinformation. Republicans are mired in the bombast of the old energy economy, their anti-science rhetoric forms the backbone of their climate denial. In stark contrast to the GOP's denial, Democrats welcome science and champion climate action.  In a recent town hall Democratic presidential contenders staked out strong leadership positions on the climate crisis.

A Brief History of the Democrat's Climate Awakening

There are clear signs that climate change has emerged as a central issue for Democrats going into the 2020 presidential elections. This is the first election cycle in American history where climate change will be a front and center issue, at least for the Democrats. President Obama deserves credit for leading Democrats in the fight for climate action. While his legacy of climate action is laudable it is being systematically dismantled by the Trump administration. This is in part why the current slate of Democratic candidates are making the climate crisis a central plank of their presidential campaigns. The Dems' focus on climate action has been more than a decade in the making. Here is a brief review of the long and winding road that has led us to the present moment.

Building Sustainability: BCIT Training the Next Generation

The British Columbia Institute of Technology (BCIT) is training the next generation of ecocity builders. BCIT's wide-ranging sustainability focused education includes green roofs, living walls, smart micro grids, high performance buildings, zero emission transportation, innovative health care and data analytics.

BCIT is a public, post-secondary, polytechnic institution that comprises six schools. BCIT explores the opportunities afforded by an increasingly complex world. The school's small classes, applied academics and hands-on experience shows students how to turn challenges into solutions.

Webinar - Delivering Effective Outcomes (EIA)

Delivering Effective Outcomes from EIA – Mitigation, Net Gain and Adaptive Management training webinar will take place on September 12, 2019 13:00. This is the third in a series of six webinars designed to help EIA practitioners understand and prepare for future challenges.

Ten Climate Proposals from the Leading Democratic Presidential Candidates

For the first time ever, all of the leading Democratic presidential candidates agree that climate change is a high priority issue that demands urgent action. They all released climate proposals ahead of the historic climate town halls on September 4th.

There is a great deal of agreement between the leading Democratic contenders. They all want to reverse Trump's actions and rejoin the Paris Climate Agreement. They all support zero-emissions, carbon-neutral electricity, the electrification of transportation and ending federal fossil fuel subsidies.

The candidates also share a common focus on socioeconomic disparities. They want to address inequality through climate action that assists vulnerable people in minority and other disadvantaged communities. They all offer varying degrees of support for the Green New Deal.

Event - Future Energy East Africa

The Future Energy East Africa, will take place on September 17 – 18, 2019 at the Kenyatta International Convention Centre (KICC) in Nairobi, Kenya. This is the largest and longest running regional power conference and exhibition in East Africa. With over 400 regional conference delegates, this is the leading strategic energy conference and trade exhibition as well as a well-known and trusted brand.

Event - Building Sustainable Towns and Cities 2019

The second edition of the Building Sustainable Towns and Cities Conference will take place on September 18, 2019 at the Holiday Inn in London, Kensington, United Kingdom. This conference will include topical conference program with 14 speakers, discussion opportunities, an exhibition, best practices as well as the latest updates on housing and development issues.

Event - Ecocity World Summit 2019

The Ecocity World Summit will take place October 7–11, 2019, at the Vancouver Convention Centre, the world’s first double LEED® Platinum certified convention centre. Ecocity 2019 is where breakthroughs and advances will be shared. At this summit Mayor Kennedy Stewart and a host of local, regional and global experts will come together to build the bridge to socially just and ecologically sustainable cities.

Trump's Dorian SNAFU Reaffirms his Disdain for Science

Image credit: AXIOS

American President Donald Trump's Hurricane Dorian SNAFU has once again demonstrated his contempt for science and his apparent incapacity to tell the truth. There are a host of dangerous implications associated with a president who eschews facts. This includes undermining scientific bodies within government. Trump has made no secret of his disdain for science and his administration has gone after scientists who refute his ignorance.

Trump and Devos Oppose Public Education

Image credit: The People's Perspective & News

Educating children is important to everyone, except perhaps American President Donald Trump.  His administration has sought multi-billion dollar cuts in education funding. The Atlantic reports that Trump's 2020 budget proposal sought a $7.1 billion cut in funding for the department compared with 2019.

Trump also put a hopelessly unqualified person in charge of the department. Education secretary Betsy Devos is the brother of the owner of the infamous Blackwater security firm. She is a supporter of Trump's decision to pull the US out the the Paris Climate Agreement. "The announcement made today by the President is one more example of his commitment to rolling back the unrealistic and overreaching regulatory actions by the previous Administration," her statement read.

Top 10 Democratic Presidential Contenders Participate in Climate Town Halls

On September 4th, Democratic presidential contenders made history with their participation in back-to-back climate focused town halls in New York City. For seven hours, one after another, the ten Democrats vying for the party's presidential nomination spoke on the subject of the climate crisis. All ten of these candidates have put forth climate plans and this represents a historic shift for the party and the country. They all agree about the veracity of anthropogenic climate change and the need for consorted action. This is in stark contrast to the current president and most GOP legislators, who equivocate about the veracity or deny it outright.

5 Reasons Why Teachers are Not Teaching Kids about Climate Change

More than half of American teachers are not talking about climate change in their classrooms and of those that do almost a third incorrectly tell their students that climate change is a natural phenomenon.

According to a recent poll climate change is a very low priority for teachers in the U.S. Almost two thirds of educators who are not teaching it say they see global warming as outside of their subject area. However, science-based training is only part of the problem, parental attitudes are also a concern. Almost a third of educators are worried that parents may complain if they teach their kids about climate change.

Hurricane Dorian Sets Records

Image credit KJCT 8 ABC.com

Hurricane Dorian is yet another wake-up call. Dorian has broken all kinds of intensity records including being the strongest storm ever to make landfall. Dorian slammed into the Bahamas as a category 5 storm bringing with it widespread flooding and wind speeds gusting up to 220 miles per hour.  In its wake buildings have been damaged and destroyed. Five people are known to have died but the casualty count could increase even thought the storm has weakened to a category 2 storm.

Event - Workshop on Accelerating Renewable Energy Investments in Latin America

This workshop will take place on September 10 – 11, 2019 in Bogota, Colombia. Organised in collaboration with the Ministry of Mines and Energy Colombia, IRENA's workshop will explore the current renewable energy policy landscape in Latin America, the growing role of public and private financing for renewables, and the available project facilitation tools for countries in the region.

Event - Iber-REN

This event will take place September 09 - 10, 2019 at the 5 star VP Plaza España Design Madrid. Iber-REN will have 60 speakers and offer two days of premium networking opportunities with 300 key movers and shakers in the Spanish energy market. This event unites the entire Iberian renewable energy value chain.