Climate Change

Great new ad from Operation Free

Our national security organizations are taking climate change seriously and congress needs to do the same:

• The DOD has put climate change into their quadrennial defense review which was released this week.
• The CIA has created a center on climate change.
• The Marines are committed to reducing their carbon pollution by 30 percent by 2025
• The Navy is committed to reducing their carbon pollution by 50 percent by 2020 of homeland bases.
• The Navy is also going to sail a green battle group in 2020, using alternative fuels.
• The Navy is also testing a F18 that runs on biofuel.
• The Marines have a FOB or forward operating base training facility that is net zero.
• Many bases have implemented smart grid technology and renewable energy sources.
• The Pentagon (building) was weatherized and rehabbed to become LEED certified and their energy bill went down from 2.9 million to 2.2 million a month.

Please Retweet the video if you can:
RT @ceworks: Check out Operation Free's latest video on clean #energy and #climate change: http://bit.ly/djOmJQ #p2 #secureamerica

Organized by the Bonnaroo Music & Arts Festival, HeadCount and the NRDC Action Fund, the Best of Bonnaroo collaboration marks the first time free music has been used to prompt Americans to contact their elected officials.

The Best of Bonnaroo compilation of 17 different live performances from the festival is available for free at www.Musicforaction.org. Before downloading the music, visitors are asked to email their Senators, the President, or their local newspapers about climate change.

"This generation has an opportunity to be remembered as one that confronted environmental challenges and took responsibility for the future,” said Jack Johnson, whose song “Inaudible Melodies” can be heard on the compilation. “With that opportunity comes the responsibility to speak out."

America is closer than ever to passing its first federal climate change-related legislation, but many hurdles remain. The House of Representatives approved an energy bill last June that would reduce emissions of heat-trapping gases and encourage the development of green jobs. President Barack Obama then told world leaders that the U.S. will reduce carbon emissions by 17 percent over the next 10 years (compared to 2005 levels). However, there has been little movement in the Senate, leaving one crucial step incomplete. Literally the whole planet is waiting to see what the U.S. will decide, as India and China are not likely to act without the U.S. doing the same.

With climate change legislation now at a critical juncture, several organizations teamed up to use the gift of music to inspire citizens into action. HeadCount – a nonpartisan civic engagement organization best known for registering voters at concerts – conceived the idea as a way to point new voters toward being informed and active citizens. The NRDC Action Fund – an advocacy group committed to passing legislation that jump-starts the clean energy economy and reduces pollution – stepped in with resources, research, strategic guidance and a base of 250,000 supporters.

“The musicians we work with are very passionate about this topic and have great power to drive change,” said HeadCount’s Executive Director Andy Bernstein. “Their music will serve as a soundtrack for action.”

“Forging a clean energy future means healthier kids, a safer world, and more jobs,” said Heather Taylor-Miesle, director of the NRDC Action Fund. “This is our moment to demand that Congress put us on the path to a clean energy future by beginning to address climate change. We are excited about the opportunity to work with musicians and new activists throughout the country to make it happen.”

Here is the full track list for the Best of Bonnaroo download compilation:

Wilco - Bull Black Nova
Pearl Jam - Animal
Jack Johnson - Inaudible Melodies
Dave Mathews Band - Rapunzel
Death Cab for Cutie - Cath...
Ani DiFranco - Fuel
Phish - Kill Devil Falls
Gov't Mule - Banks of the Deep End
O.A.R. - Delicate Few
moe. - Not Coming Down
Raphael Saadiq -100 Yard Dash
Bob Weir & RatDog - Throwing Stones
The Disco Biscuits - And The Ladies Were the Rest of the Night
The Decemberists - The Wanting Comes in Waves/Repaid
My Morning Jacket - Oh! Sweet Nuthin’
Guster - Happier
Phil Lesh and Friends - Box of Rain

Visit Musicforaction.org to take action for climate change and download the free compilation!

One of the greatest organizing projects ended at the Capitol this week with Environmental Protection Agency Administrator Lisa Jackson who spoke on the importance of a clean energy economy to protect our air and provide clean water to all communities across the country, especially for young people and future generations.

The seven day bus trip was part of the Hip Hop Caucus Clean Energy Now Tour and 30 national partnering organizations representing African American organizations and youth to bring awareness to the threat of global climate change.

The Hip Hop Caucus Clean Energy Now! Bus Tour kicked off in New Orleans and rolled through Indianapolis, Arkansas, Missouri, and Washington, DC for a variety of events including community rallies, roundtables on college campuses, tours of clean energy job sites and musical events.

Watch here the final event with tons of awesome youth standing up for our future.

Peter Levine asks this question in tracing the evaporation of the active citizenship theme from the campaign to the White House.

Service and transparency are not nearly "edgy" enough; there is no fight in them. People are angry - from the Tea Partiers to MoveOn. When citizens try to solve serious social problems, they identify enemies. They do not just hold hands and serve together; they strike back at those whom they perceive as threats. "Active citizenship" reduced to non-controversial "service" or downloading government data completely loses touch with the legitimate anger of the American people.

The White House chose to make health care its major focus and included no aspects of civic engagement in the deliberations about the bill, in its advocacy for the legislation, or in the design of the statute. There could have been real public discussions, instead of sham "Town Meetings" that were really speeches by politicians with time for Q&A. Progressive volunteers could have been encouraged to conduct face-to-face dialogues in their communities and to form relationships with one another (instead of merely finding themselves on the receiving end of an email list). The legislation could have included health co-ops as an experiment in engaging citizens in policy.

As Levine notes to close out his piece, the climate legislation, currently "stuck in the Senate," makes for a good starter kit for this new, authentic political dialogue, in which the grassroots is mobilized and the American people are asked to participate. It's audacious in that it could shift the debate away from special interests (or at least make their involvement more transparent), and it could restore more faith in our government. An addendum might be asking C-SPAN to cover these dialogues across America and any administrative meetings in Washington. Obama has already admitted he messed up by not involving C-SPAN in health care discussions.

Update:

TALKS JUST EXTENDED TO THE WEEKEND.

So much has happened while so little real progress has been made.

Obama’s speech essentially reiterated the US’s already stated position – mitigation commitments by all major economies, transparency by both developing and developed countries alike and $10 billion in the short term, $100 billion in the long-term by 2020 for climate finance. The speech was primarily directed at the Chinese. The president didn’t say anything new. The 17% number has not moved and he didn’t specify what the US contribution would be to the climate finance fund. In talking with journalist and delegates from developing countries, that’s exactly what they wanted to hear. The speech is being interpreted as take it or leave, which may play well with the domestic audience but has not gone over well here.

After the speech Obama met with Chinese president Wen Jenbao, no word on the outcome. Ban Ki-Moon just asked requested to extend the conference into the weekend. This could mean two things – we are close to an agreement but leaders need some more time or not enough progress has been made on the last day. This meeting with 193 representatives from each country and over 100 heads of state in attendance is becoming a bi-lateral meeting between China and the US. For all we know right now, the Chinese have not agreed to the American proposal.

There’s a draft text that was leaked early this morning that shows how far apart from consensus countries really are. Very, very troubling.

It’s late afternoon here in Copenhagen, there was a scheduled signing ceremony for 3pm. Everyone is still waiting, still guessing as to what will happen. The pessimism is growing.

The scene inside the Bella Center is frenetic. Hundreds of journalists are all trying to piece this puzzle together. You find TV cameras stalked outside meeting rooms, where they don’t know who’s inside, but whomever they are they want that quintessential shot.

For more updates follow me on twitter #simeontalley

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On the final day the process of negotiations have moved from talks between delegates to direct communication between heads of states. As I write this, President Obama is in talks with other leaders over the remaining unresolved issues. CNN’s Ed Henry tweeted that President Obama has scuttled his schedule and is in a meeting with Ethiopia (representing China) Russia, South Africa, India, Mexico, Spain, South Korea, Norway and Columbia. Accompanying President Obama to Copenhagen is a renewed sense of optimism for the prospects of success at COP15.

We know where the fault lines lie. Essentially where we were two weeks ago - emission cuts that would limit temperature rise below 2 degrees Celsius by 2020, climate finance and if developed countries like China, India and Brazil will agree to a system of international monitoring and verification. Whatever form of the final deal, it must include a nod towards or even a better, a specific timeline or deadline for a legally binding agreement.

What do we know now in the eleventh hour? These types of talks will proceed in the future on a two-track process – a Kyoto Protocol track and a long-term cooperative agreement track. The G-77 favors the KP route, while the US along with other developed countries tried and failed to remove the Kyoto negotiating process from the Copenhagen proceedings. We know that China can nix any final deal it doesn’t approve of but, that the Chinese position has slightly softened. That African nations long distrustful of the US in these types of proceedings effectively elevated their issues and concerns in Copenhagen. And that President Obama will have to charm and cajole this international body forward or risk another major embarrassment in Copenhagen.

No one, I mean no one really knows that the outcome of all of this will be. However most are hoping for success.

Dispatches from Copenhagen

The climate change talks taking place in Copenhagen are on life support. One week in to the conference, and with one week to go, progress towards a worthwhile climate change deal has been slow. In order to salvage COP15, negotiators will have to double down in order to reach a deal.

Monday’s major news was a group of African nations walking out on negotiations and in dramatic fashion - late in the evening hour - choosing to come back to the negotiating table. Last week it was reported that the Danish government had met with a group of rich nations including the US outside of the formal process and agreed to a draft “text”. A text that could eventually become the agreement that the Copenhagen conference produces. Several poor nations were angered by what they perceived as a backdoor deal that favored rich nations. The mood has been sour and souring ever since, culminating in today’s walkout.

The walkout by African nations would have made a Copenhagen deal impossible and it reflects long held divisions. Organized as the G-77, developing nations want developed nations to commit to 40-45% emissions reductions from 1990 levels by 2020. And if you’ve been following international negotiations at all, you know that developed countries so far committed have committed to considerably less. The US’s commitment to 17% reduction from 2005 levels by 2020, is estimated to be only a 3-4% reduction from 1990 CO2 levels. And hell is more likely to freeze over before a change in US position.

G-77 countries want more ambition by way of emission reductions and adaptation financing. So far, developed countries haven’t budged. With one week to go and only two days until heads of state start to roll in, negotiators have to find a way to reach consensus in order for the Copenhagen conference to have a positive outcome.

An EU Commissioner characterized the atmosphere as “frozen”. And that’s a fairly accurate description of where we stand currently.

Youth attending the conference have certainly made a their presence felt. US Youth representing the large youth delegation, have organized events every single day of the conference calling for a fair and ambitious (FAB) deal. After all, its young people who’ll bear the brunt of the negative effects of inaction on climate change.

Yes, Copenhagen is nearing, which is partly why the White House hosted a Clean Energy Economy forum with young progressive leaders last Wednesday, though there were a few patriots from the other side of the aisle also in attendance. Thanks to FM friend Sujatha from the PIRGS, we got invited to attend this forum as press (our video from the event is being edited now and should be up soon). The real push for this forum came from the Energy Action Coalition and its executive director Jessy Tolkan. Kudos, EAC.

As a first-timer to the White House, I followed the flock of well-dressed young leaders to an entrance and was promptly rejected and then redirected to the press entrance. This is proof that bloggers get some respect from the WH - thank you. My shots at how the WH ran the event come later; first, the good stuff.

The event was separated into two sessions, the first included speakers such as Labor Secretary Solis, Secretary of the Interior Salazar, Energy Secretary Chu, and EPA Administrator Jackson. Each speaker also answered audience questions in addition to delivering their prepared speeches.

On the HeadCount blog, Andy Bernstein shares his perspective on the second session, a breakout discussion between young leaders and "mid-level executive-branch staffers":

The final hour of the meeting was spent in breakout sessions with middle-level executive-branch staffers. That’s where I really started to drink the Kool-Aid and feel like I was getting an eyewitness view of democracy functioning as it should. Myself and about a dozen attendees sat down with Brandon Hurlbut, the deputy chief of staff to Energy Secretary Chu. He explained he quit his law job in spring 2007 to work on the Obama campaign in New Hampshire and joined the Department of Energy after the election. He shared some of what they’re working toward, such as an energy-efficiency rating system for homes realtors can use to increase property values. “I didn’t quit my job and come here to not get things done,” he said off-handedly at one point.

As press, I witnessed only the forum, which was not as exciting as the breakout session which Andy described in his blog. Andy describes what Congress and the youth activists are able to do well - lobby days.

I don't know if the breakout sessions allowed for digital participation, but if it didn't, then the White House should know that speaking to invite-only youth leaders isn't enough. The Obama administration has used online tools to collect and evaluate ideas and should use this tactic regularly with the collaborative-loving Millennial generation.

The forum itself felt like a pep-rally for young climate activists. Secretary Solis even brought-back campaign slogans and chants, which didn't seem to catch on with the live audience. The campaign is over, now is the time for governing and that's what the young leaders were eager to hear about.

Zachary Stark-MacMillan over at It's Getting Hot in Here expressed some of my own opinions about the disconnect between the administration and youth leaders:

Second, you urged us to take the lead and take action for what we believed was right. This is great advice to give to young people. However, you were speaking the “youth leaders” of the climate movement, to perhaps the most accomplished group of young people in the country. There were young entrepreneurs who have started their own businesses, founders and leaders of student groups, and veteran organizers who have made real change in their communities. We were at the White House because we have taken the lead, we are taking action, and we are powerful. We were at the White House because we want to start working with you on climate change, but if the administration keeps talking about ‘clean coal’, subsides for nuclear power, and 450ppm of carbon in the atmosphere instead of 350ppm, then we have serious disagreements. We need to resolve these issues and move forward together, before we end up fighting each other. We elected President Obama to be a leader on climate change, we would like him to start leading with strong and specific goals, and we will support him.

There was more than just a policy disconnect. When the secretaries were asked directly about how young people can help the administration move forward on climate change, there was the knee-jerk response - vote[!?]. And the other response was to convince your parents. Like Zachary mentioned in his open letter on It's Getting Hot in Here, the administration needs to understand that they are talking to the people who organized one of the highest voter turnout rates in modern history...on a budget. These leaders, regardless of age, are talented innovators and organizers. Telling them to vote and convince their parents is very nearly condescending.

In one week Copenhagen, Denmark will play host to the UN Climate Change conference. In Copenhagen 192 nations will participate in an effort to reach an international climate change treaty to replace the Kyoto Protocol which expires in 2012. The conference begins on December 7th, I'll arrive in Copenhagen on the 12th to observe the proceedings and report on the progress (or lack thereof).

You read the news just like I do, so I won't regurgitate headlines here (at least not in this post). But while the focus has been on what won’t happen in Copenhagen – a binding international climate change treaty. What hasn’t been covered unless you’re paying keen attention are the thousands of activists all across the world who are petitioning their governments and who will descend upon Copenhagen to advocate for a treaty. What you won’t hear about are the hundreds of young people from all across the world who have formed the first officially recognized youth delegation. Young people will actually have an officially recognized voiced in the proceedings in Copenhagen.

The prospects for a binding deal are slim. More likely its probable that countries will walk away making only verbal or “political” commitments to reduce carbon emissions and agreeing to a framework and a timeline to reach a binding deal at a future session. There’s room to be cynical, but that’s all too easy. Change, is in fact hard work! And, there is plenty of work to do.

Below is a listing of youth specific organizations that’ll have a presence in Copenhagen.

SustainUS

Energy Action Coalition

It’s Getting Hot In Here
(Blog)

G-1 Billion
(Blog)

International Youth Climate Movement

Unite for Climate

Adopt A Negotiator

Sierra Club Student Coalition

Campus Progress

Bumped. -Craig

Dan Reicher, director of climate change and energy initiatives at Google, summed up the effort to pass a U.S. climate-change bill as an “epic, epic struggle.”

This summer, the U.S. House of Representatives passed a climate-change bill that aims to reduce carbon emissions and make investments in renewable energy. The Senate has recently taken up the task of stitching together a bill and, well, the positive and the frustrating aspects of the American political process are on full display. Climate-change legislation languishes and wallows in several Senate committees, and the vested interest of the few hold it captive. Recently, top Democrats said there likely won’t be any climate-change legislation until next year.

This legislative impasse has an immense, tragic importance for young people. And as I will argue in a future post will be a politically important issue for youth in 2010.

It would all be inconsequential if it wasn’t absolutely urgent for the United States to act and act soon. In one week, 192 nations will meet in Copenhagen to forge one of the most difficult international agreements ever — a comprehensive climate-change treaty. The Copenhagen conference is seen by many as one of the last opportunities for the world to lock in a process that reduces greenhouse gases in time to stave off disaster.

Copenhagen will not only be a historic gathering of world leaders, scientists, and thought leaders — it’ll be a critical one as well. The time that remains — the window that we have for a climate-change deal for the world’s 6 billion people — is closing.

It’s an understatement to only suggest that the stakes are high. But success in Copenhagen hinges largely on what the United States will do domestically and will commit to in Copenhagen. While President Obama’s pre-emptive commitment to reduction levels that match those in the House’s version, they still don’t go far enough.

For all our trumpeting of American leadership in the world — and our almost instinctive belief in American exceptionalism — on the most critical issue facing the world today, the world’s greatest power is missing.

But why? What’s holding us back?

Right now, there are 2,810 climate lobbyists registered in Washington, D.C. That’s five lobbyists for every member of Congress. In the lead-up to the House vote on June 26, more than 460 new businesses and interest groups lobbied Congress on its climate-change legislation, according to the Center for Public Integrity, a nonprofit investigative journalism organization. We’re unable to decipher how much money they actually spent on specific climate-change lobbying efforts, because businesses don’t have to detail their expenses for each separate issue they are lobbying in Congress. But say we assume that the issue consumed only 10 percent of their time. That amount comes to more than $27 million in the second quarter, according to the same group.

Not all of these efforts are aimed at defeating climate change. But a lot of them are, and even more are aiming to slow down the pace of change and dilute the level of carbon-reduction targets that scientists say are necessary. Many of the global-warming deniers of the ’90s now argue that climate-change legislation will reduce jobs and hurt the economy. While embracing global warming as fact, their lobbying efforts focus on making sure they can still make a profit in the old-energy economy.

The election of President Obama brought hope in the U.S. and foreign capitals around the world that we would renew our commitment to work multilaterally to address the world’s toughest problems.

Whether its changing the hyper-partisanship in Washington, dealing with the economy, or cap and trade - change is in fact hard!

And on the defining challenge of this generation and the next, it is the efforts of those vested in the status quo that are largely inhibiting progress. It’s a generational failing or, more harshly, a generational atrocity.

How old will you be in 2050? By then, those who are blocking progress now probably won’t be alive. But you will be, when the consequences of our inaction on climate change will really come to bear.

Another great video from orgs who are working to get young people to work on the upcoming legislation on climate change. Its part of the Sierra Club's 2Dirty4College campaign.