Online event - Future of Renewables Global 2020 Virtual Conference

This free virtual conference will take place on December 8-9, 2020. Binging together CEOs, innovators, investors and policymakers in the final push for a clean and sustainable future. Sixty of the most powerful renewable energy leaders will speak to 10,000 virtual attendees to set the stage and chart the path for the global renewable business models of the future. If you want to de-risk your renewables business model and learn how mitigate these challenges,, you cannot afford to miss the strategic solutions and upcoming industry trends.

Why John Kerry is the Right Man to Tackle Climate Change

John Kerry will serve as the Special Presidential Envoy for Climate in the Biden administration. He has a distinguished track record on climate issues in both the Senate and as Secretary of State in the Obama administration. He was instrumental in securing the landmark Paris Climate Agreement. Under Kerry the US doubled its financial contributions to vulnerable countries impacted by climate change.  

Eco-Psychology Course at Saybrook University

A course at Saybrook University examines the role of humans as part of the web of life. The relatively new area of eco-psychology explores human nature and the human capacity to influence the environmental crisis. Coursework at Saybrook University is founded on humanistic psychology and it relies on the basic values of understanding and improving systems throughout the world.. The solutions, like the world itself, are ever evolving. With our planet changing so drastically over the last hundred years and the future all but in question due to climate change, eco-psychology is more important than ever for clinicians and thinkers alike.

Webinar | Unearth the Possibilities

This webinar on soil technologies will take place on December 1, 2020, 2:00 PM-3:15 PMET. The Unearth the Possibilities webinar will present on planned research in areas like precision agriculture, in situ and remote sensing technology, waste and water management, resource exploration, and more. It will review the planned research and membership structure of the Center for Soil Dynamics Technology, a proposed NSF Industry-University Collaborative Research Center project.

Online Event - From Paris to 2030

From Paris to 2030 is a free live virtual event that is taking place December 9, 2020. Five years after the landmark Paris climate agreement, most countries remain far behind on meeting their 2030 emission-reduction targets, and will now have to double or even triple their commitments in order to prevent dangerous levels of global warming this century. 

What we can Learn from the Pilgrims this Thanksgiving

The origins of Thanksgiving date back to a 1621 feast in which the Wampanoag people helped the Pilgrims to survive in the New World. We can draw inspiration and wisdom from the plight of the first English settlers who colonized this country.  If we peel back the sanitized renditions of this narrative we are confronted by unspeakable hardships. These settlers were ravaged by malnutrition and disease and most did not survive their first winter.  

This year the COVID-19 pandemic makes this a Thanksgiving like no other.  While many Americans are heeding advisories from public health officials and foregoing the usual gatherings, others see this as a political issue that infringes on their personal freedoms. This is a nation that is divided even on issues as fundamental as managing a deadly virus. 

COVID-19 and Other Crises Reviewed in a Year Over Year Assessment of GHG Emissions

There have been at least three times that we have seen reductions in greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions in recent years. The COVID-19 pandemic is also expected to cause a decrement in emissions. The virus has caused a 17 percent reduction in atmospheric carbon emissions during parts of this year and may decrease CO2 emissions by 4.2-7.5 percent in 2020 compared to 2019. These estimates from the United Nations' World Meteorological Organization (WMO) are yet to be confirmed but they corroborate earlier data that shows the COVID-19 pandemic has driven down GHG emissions. This was initially observed in China as the first nation in the world to be stricken with the virus. As the virus spread around the world, we saw similar reductions in emissions in other countries. In previous years we have seen reductions in emissions correlated with economic crises and other factors. Some excellent data elucidating this trend comes from the International Geosphere-Biosphere Programme (IGBP). This organization launched a research programme dedicated to studying the phenomenon of global change. The data collected by the IGBP has been compiled in a table (see left) that helps us to seen to monitor year over year changes in GHG emissions.

Trump’s Coup Attempt and his Scorched Earth Policy

U.S. president Donald Trump and his allies are doing everything they can to tie President-Elect Joe Biden's hands before he is inaugurated. They seem intent on burning down the house as part of a scorched earth policy designed to make life as difficult as possible for the incoming administration. They are poisoning people with baseless accusations of electoral fraud and impropriety, while resisting science based action to combat COVID-19.  They are firing key personnel, hiring loyalists, announcing sanctions, withdrawing troops and rattling the sabers of war.  All the while they are continuing their assaults on environmental protections and climate action.

Trump is no Kingmaker

Many predict that U.S. President Donald Trump will be a kingmaker, however, there is more than ample reason to suggest that his brand is dying. Exhibit one is the million MAGA march in Washington DC on Saturday November 14. Attendance at this event was more than 980,000 short of the million people the White House had hoped for.  The administration lied about attendance in even more spectacular fashion than they lied about crowd size at Trump's inauguration. 

Online Event - IRSEC 2020

The 8th edition of IRSEC  will take place from 25 to 28 November 2020. This edition is focusing on workshops, totally online, and free of charge. A rich and varied scientific program is expected. Several workshops and special sessions are scheduled. November,  23 and 24 will be consecrated to Tutorials and other IRSEC activities.. Keynote talks in Workshops and Special Sessions will tackle cutting-edge technologies and hot topics related to Renewable Energy, Energy Storage, and Energy efficiency.  More than thirty confirmed international experts from 17 countries will present the latest news in the fields of Renewable Energy, Energy Storage, and Energy efficiency. In addition, a virtual exhibition is prepared to host national and international industrials.

Online Event - MaRS Impact Week 2020

The first-ever MaRS Impact Week will take place from November 39 - December 4, 2020 and it will tackle some of society's greatest challenges — from smart cities and climate moonshots to ESG investing and creating a fairer version of capitalism. This five day immersive online event is Canada's leading conference. It is for people who believe that innovation can create a better world 

Environmental Plebiscites: Municipal Referendums and State Ballot Initiatives

The November 3rd election not only elected an environmentally responsible president it also gave Americans a chance to vote on environmental issues in five state ballots and two city referendums. Americans  weighed-in on clean energy, fossil fuels and wildlife.

Issue 1 referendum in Columbus, Ohio asked the electorate in that state to vote on whether they want to the city to run on 100% renewable energy by 2022. It gives the government the power to buy renewable electricity for residents of Columbus (passed).

Measure 4 in East Brunswick, New Jersey asked voters to decide if they want to give residents and businesses access to 100 percent renewable energy by 2030 (passed).

Polls Suggest that Climate Action could Unite Americans

Americans desperately need to find common ground and climate science may prove to be a catalyst that helps to bring people together. Despite deep divisions there is reason to believe that the environment is a shared concern that can foster unity. We are seeing increasing support for climate action in the U.S. including the Green New Deal  This is due at least  in part to COVID-19. A poll from the Yale Program for Climate Communication indicated that 70 percent of voters favor federal stimulus funding for clean energy rather than fossil fuels.  In 2019 it was becoming clear that Americans were increasingly at odds with their government on climate action and in 2020 climate change was a ballot box issue that contributed to president-elect Joe Biden’s decisive victory.  

Virtual Event - Big Path Capital’s Company Showcase

This free virtual event will take place on Tuesday, November 17, from 12:00 PM to 2:00 PM ET. This event is an opportunity for institutional investors, family offices, funds, investment advisors, and foundations to hear from pimpact and sustainable private companies including the 10 best-in-class impact companies. This event will focus on pre-screened companies that are generating returns and creating impact. Throughout the program, the format provides opportunities to meet CEOs. Big Path Capital has worked with over 50 Impact Private companies. In our twelve-year history, over 5,000 Impact Investors have attended Big Path events.

Biden is the Last Great Hope for our Planet

Joe Biden will be the next president of the United States and this could pull us back from the precipice and change the course of history. The former vice president garnered more votes than any candidate since the dawn of the republic more than two centuries ago.  A Biden presidency will preserve democracy and return the U.S. to a fact-based approach to governance. Science will once again take its rightful place informing policy including national efforts to manage COVID-19. However, the most important corollary of this election may be reviving hope that we can act in time to preserve the future of life on the planet.  President-elect Biden's platform includes the most ambitious climate action plan every put forward by a major U.S. party. This election was timely as we are teetering on the cusp of the collapse of civilization and our window of opportunity to act is rapidly closing. A 2018 report from the UN Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) said the world has less than a decade to slash greenhouse gas emissions and avoid the most disastrous climate impacts. 

Virtual Event - The Battery Show Digital Days Expo 2020

The Battery Show Digital Days expo will take place on November 10-12. At this show participants well get insights, contacts, and suppliers to help propel your career forward. you access to the latest products from some of the top-industry suppliers, networking activities, as well as educational opportunities. 

The features of this show include virtual booths that will showcase hundreds of exhibitor. These booths will have easy-to-find products and services. 

Trump and Biden: Presidential Endorsements

Trump is the most consistently unpopular president in the history of the republic. The most recent polls show the Biden leads trump by an average of 8.8 points nationally. This is the largest deficit by an incumbent president in decades. Biden has the support of Blacks, Latinos, women, seniors, independents and educated voters while Trump has Christian evangelicals, rural voters, older uneducated white men and police associations. Trump has also been endorsed by the Taliban and the Proud Boys. as well as authoritarian leaders like Russian President Vladimir Putin,, Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro, Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán, Pilipino President Rodrigo Duterte, and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. 

Anatomy of a Failed Presidency

US president Donald Trump is a failure. He has consistently foundered throughout his life but the presidency has exponentially amplified the scale of his failings. Despite repeated warnings Trump chose to playdown the Coronavirus and this may prove to be his apex of evil. More than 228,000 Americans have died due to this pandemic and an additional 200,000 are expected to die by the end of the year.  Trump's corruption may be legendary but it is eclipsed by his epic mismanagement of the pandemic.  His inactions will go down in history as one of the most callous failures of any president in the history of the republic. It is not only that he is not doing enough, Trump is a superspreader of both the virus and disinformation. He has actively undermined efforts to manage the pandemic derided his own government’s guidance and mocked those who follow the rules.  These actions are directly responsible for the deaths of tens of thousands of Americans. According to research out of Columbia University Trump could have saved between 130,000 - 210,000 lives had he listened to the science and acted responsibly. 

The Sustainable Jersey for Schools Program

Schools across the country and around the world are working on being more sustainable. Schools are ideal locations for sustainability initiatives because such efforts provide a healthier environment for students, reduces costs and offers a powerful learning opportunity. There is evidence to support the idea that healthier physical spaces benefit students academically and contribute to cost reductions. Exposing students to working sustainability programs offers practical insights into the logistics of such programs. It is one thing to learn about sustainability but quite another to see it in action. 

Georgia Schools' Renewable Energy Leadership

Innovative financing is allowing schools in Georgia to go green. Renewable energy is commonly associated with blue states but Georgia makes the point that this is changing. Since 1996 the state of Georgia has consistently voted red and yet schools in the state are turning to renewable energy to reduce costs. According to a recent report several Georgia universities are taking the lead in clean energy.  A growing number of cities are also following the lead of Atlanta, Augusta, Athens and Clarkston in adopting 100% clean energy goals. 

Event - DISTIBUTECH International 2021

DISTRIBUTECH International 2021 will take place on MARCH 30 -  APRIL 1, 2021 in Orlando Florida. It will occur side by side with POWERGEN International 2021.

This conference will feature 12 hand-selected, timely and relevant topical tracks designed to keep your experience organized and productive.

The Sierra Club's Top 20 Cool Schools

Sierra has been ranking the environmental performance of colleges since 2006. Despite the additional complications posed by the coronavirus pandemic a record 312 institutions participated in Sierra's annual Cool Schools rankings in 2020.  Many schools including the schools on this list have demonstrated that they are both resourcefulness innovative in their efforts to achieve their sustainability objectives.  They are model schools that are leading the way not only for academia but for governments and businesses. 

Biden and Trump's Climate Related Remarks in the Final Presidential Debate

Here is a full transcript of the climate related questions and commentary from the second and final debate between President Donald Trump and former Vice President Joe Biden. The debate took place on Thursday October 22 at Belmont University in Tennessee and was moderated by Kristen Welker.

Kristen Welker: (12:41) Gentlemen, we’re running out of time so we got to get onto climate change, please. You both have very different visions on climate change. President Trump, you say that environmental regulations have hurt jobs in the energy sector, Vice President Biden, you have said you see addressing climate change as an opportunity to create new jobs. For each of you, how would you both combat climate change and support job growth at the same time? Starting with you, President Trump, you have two minutes uninterrupted.

Obama Lays Out the Case Against Trump at a Rally in Pennsylvania

Former President Barack Obama delivered a scathing speech on the campaign trail on Wednesday, October 21, rebuking President Donald Trump.

Read the full speech here:

Dire Scientific Warnings from the Study of Fossilized Shells

A slew of recent studies corroborate the scientific consensus on climate change. It is both a current day reality and a serious threat to life on Earth. In recent decades we have witnessed a sharp increases in the number of floods, storms, heat waves, droughts, hurricanes and wildfires. This is corroborated by the daily news which shows wildfires in the West and storms in the East. Thus far in 2020 we have seen 25 named storms in the Atlantic, making this only the second time that the the World Meteorological Organization has run out of human for storms in the Atlantic. While individual weather events help to raise awareness, it is the long-term trends that reveal that we are in a climate emergency and on the cusp of the collapse of civilization. 

Online Event - Web Summit: Technology at a Crossroads

This event will take place on December 2-4, 2020. Society has reached a crossroads, and we’re facing some critical decisions. Join world leaders, policymakers, activists and innovators online as they sketch out the future we want to see, and discuss the best way to get there. This is the world's fastest-growing technology event and it will bring together top decision-makers from the tech industry, including founders, CEOs and leading innovators. More than 100,000 attendees, 800 speakers, 2,000 journalists,  2,500 startups, from 150 countries will come together. at this event organised by the people behind RISE and Collision.  Subjects include:

Two Town Halls One Clear Leader

President Donald Trump and Democratic nominee Joe Biden participated in head-to-head town halls on Thursday October 15th. The bellicose disposition that defined Trump's comportment in the first presidential debate carried over into his town hall. By comparison Biden's town hall included a series of sober exchanges on a wide range of topics from covid to climate. Obfuscation was the name of Trump's game in the first presidential debate and he stayed the course.

Prestigious Medical Journal Condemns Trump and Urges Voters to Reject Him

The usually nonpartisan New England Journal of Medicine has come out against Donald Trump's bid for a second term. This is the first time in its 208-year history that the world's leading medical journal has come out against a sitting president. In a blunt statement editors at the journal said the Trump administration is "dangerously incompetent."  They cite the fact that this administration "took a crisis and turned it into a tragedy." Without referring to Democratic challenger Joe Biden by name they are urging people to replace President Trump.

Canadian Thanksgiving and Columbus Day

Columbus Day and Canadian Thanksgiving are celebrated on the second Monday in October. In 2020 they are taking place on Monday October 12th.  In many respects these two holidays are diametrically opposed to each other. While Canadian Thanksgiving is a harvest festival, Columbus Day marks the beginning of our systematic destruction of the new world. It is hard to reconcile the start of our exploitation of the Americas with the expression of gratitude for nature's bounty. 

Online Event - The International Economic Forum of the Americas

This online event will take place on October 26-28, 2020. Plenaries, forums and fireside chats will focus on a wide variety of issues including macro issues like shaping the global recovery to the need for meaning and advice on how to run a purpose driven business.   It will also feature segments on trailblazing women in 2020 and prioritizing health to rebuild the economy. Building on the success of the IEFA Online Conversation Series launched in April 2020, the International Economic Forum of the Americas continues its pursuit of bringing together the world’s leaders, legislators, economists, Fortune 500 CEOs and world-class experts, to an active and impactful platform for dialogue, corporate insight and collaboration. 

Virtual Event - The Future of Sustainable Buildings Conference

The Future of Sustainable Buildings Conference will take place on October 27, 2020 1 p.m. - 2 p.m. (EDT). This free live virtual conference is subtitled "How Timber Will Define the Skylines of Our Future". Climate change will impact how we live and design in the future. To slow the rate of climate change we need to rethink the way we build. Sustainable design has many meanings, but  it starts with the recipe of building and the choice of healthy ingredients. 

Virtual Event - 2020 Zero Waste Conference

The 2020 Zero Waste virtual conference will take place on November 13, 2020.  This is one of the world’s foremost conferences on the circular economy and zero waste it will focus on a future without waste that contribute to resiliency, prosperity, and carbon neutrality.  For 10 years, the Zero Waste Conference has been at the forefront of Canada’s circular economy journey.

Sustainable Finance Online Short Course from the Univeristy of Cambridge

Fact Checking Climate and Environmental Statements in the Vice Presidential Debate

Vice President Mike Pence and Senator Kamala Harris participated in the 2020 vice presidential debate on October 7, moderated by Susan Page of USA Today. The debate took place at the University of Utah in Salt Lake City. This is the first and only vice presidential debate of 2020, it was sponsored by the nonpartisan commission on presidential debates. 

The candidates were seated 12 feed apart and separated by a plexiglass barrier because of a coronavirus outbreak in the White House that has seen more than 30 people infected including U.S. president Donald Trump. 

Trump is a Superspreader of Both the Coronavirus and Disinformation

U.S. President Donald Trump is a superspreader of both disinformation and COVID-19.  It is now widely understood that the event nominating Amy Coney Barrett for the Supreme Court was a superspreader event that has infected dozens of people including members of the white house and the Senate. Polls show that with a month to go before the election Trump trails Democratic presidential challenger Joe Biden by 16 points. Biden leads trump in every category except mendacity. Research out of Cornell University indicates that Trump is the leading superspreader of misinformation.

Announcing the Launch of the Short Film "The Seed"

"The Seed" is six-and-a-half-minute film that takes us on an allegorical journey through a fallen world. This simple yet authentic parable reflects the serious reality of the climate crisis and environmental degradation without succumbing to futility or despair. This simple yet authentic parable was produced by NorthSky Films and directed by Sundance Ignite Fellow, Aziz Zoromba, who has produced and directed award-winning films that have screened at TIFF, SXSW, IDFA, Festival du Nouveau Cinema, RIDM, and more. The Seed was narrated by voiceover artists Ruth Capri and Lileina Joy, whose commercial work was recently nominated for an Emmy. The film's editor and co-producer, Ashley Gilmour, was nominated for a Canadian Screen Award and is a fellow of the Doc Accelerator Program at Hot Docs, as well as an upcoming resident at the Canadian Film Centre. The colourist and co-producer, Max Machado, was the recipient of the Jean-François Bourassa Memorial Award and was nominated for a Canadian Society of Cinematographers Award. The writer, Alexander MacKenzie, has likewise worked on award-winning narrative films, documentaries, and music videos. Richard Matthews is the film's executive producer, and he is a sustainability advocate and the chair of the SEC. He collaborated on the film The Search for Greta Thunberg.

Click here to see the film.

Webinar - Canada’s Clean Energy Landscape

This webinar will take place on Wed, October 21, 2020 2:00 PM – 4:00 PM EDT it will look at Canada’s current wind, solar and energy storage portfolio and project pipeline. The Canadian Renewable Energy Association will leverage its newly aggregated data to provide key insights into renewable energy and storage in Canada. The webinar will feature expert opinion on the rapidly accelerating energy transition, and industry leading guest speakers will shine a light on the true state of the industry in Q4 2020.

Climate, Environment and Sustainability in the Presidential Debate

For 11 minutes climate change took center stage in the September 29th presidential debate in Cleveland, Ohio.  This is not only the first presidential debate between Donald Trump and Joe Biden it is the first presidential debate to focus on climate change for any protracted period of time.  

The debate featured Trump's flagrant disregard for civility and showcased his nightlong battle with both Biden and Fox News moderator Chris Wallace. However it was his failure to condemn white supremacists that made headlines.  After Charlottesville no one should be surprised. What was truly surprising was Trump's tepid admission that anthropogenic GHGs are driving global warming.  Here is the transcript from the section of the debate on climate change starting at the 48 minute mark.

How Environmental Action Can Survive Another Conservative Supreme Court Justice

President Trump's decision to replace the late Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg with Amy Coney Barrett threatens our ability to address the climate crisis, environmental degradation, and biodiversity loss. If she is confirmed Barret is expected to make it difficult to limit greenhouse gas emissions and protect American laws that give people a legal right to clean air, clean water, a stable climate, and healthy ecosystems. Trump's attempt to rush through his Supreme Court pick comes against the backdrop of his efforts to sow fears of election chaos and his failure to manage the COVID-19 pandemic which has led to the deaths of more than 200,000 Americans.

Virtual Event - Cities Designing Smarter Forest Plans and Policies

This online event will take place on Tuesday September 29th (4 PM – 5 PM EDT). This event will be hosted by World Resources Institute and WRI Ross Center for Sustainable Cities. It will highlight the latest research and practice from Cities4Forests, an initiative led by more than 60 cities around the world, to better conserve, manage, and restore forests and other natural infrastructure.