Politics and Policy

"It's Alive!"    Back To Top

GMOs & the Next President

During 2007, The Campaign generated thousands of letters into the offices of the presidential candidates. As a result, both of the remaining Democratic candidates are on board in support of mandatory labeling of genetically engineered foods if elected President. Read More

The Cloned Food Labeling Act

Cloned Food Labeling Act - Amends the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act and the Federal Meat Inspection Act to deem as misbranded a food or meat food product that contains any part of a cloned animal and does not bear a conspicuous label including a notice of that information. Read More

Unapproved Biotech Corn Grown

Although contaminated corn seed has been grown since 2006, it was apparently never detected till January this year. The US Government was told about the problem on January 25th, and has taken nearly a month to come up with a response to tell the rest of us. Read More

A New threat to Rainforests    Back To Top

"Big Profits, dirty hands"

An ongoing investigation by Netherlands-based Greenpeace International of Brazil''s booming Read More

Reducing Emissions from Deforestation

Delegates meeting at the U.N. climate conference in Bali agreed to include forest conservation in future discussions on a new global warming treaty, reports the Associated Press. The move could lead to the transfer of billions of dollars - in the form of carbon credits - from industrialized countries to tropical nations for the purpose of slowing greenhouse gas emissions by reducing deforestation rates." Read More

All Aboard!    Back To Top

Federal Qualms Leave Dulles Rail at Risk

Federal officials remain skeptical of the plan to extend Metrorail to Dulles International Airport and might reject it, even though their consultants recently found that the proposal meets requirements for full funding, government and project sources said. Read More

High Speed Passenger Rail Act

The following is a first draft of a new "High Speed Passenger Rail Act", based on Act V - "The Passenger Rail Restoration Act" of Energize America version 5. The first portion consists of background information on the energy benefits and previous legislation, and the second is the actual proposed act. Your comments will help make this a more solid proposal that could make a real difference to the future of this nation! Read More

Paul M. Weyrich, John McCain & Light Rail

Another top leader in the Reagan coalition and the conservative movement says he will not vote for John McCain if the Republicans nominate him as their candidate for president of the United States. That non-endorsement is based (but only in part) upon McCain's attitude on rail transport, amidst questions about the current administration's maneuverings with a DOT commission.
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Road Lobby Backed Anti-Train Efforts

A road builders' lobbying organization gave $330,000 of the $1.3 million collected for a petition drive aimed at derailing Florida's bullet train project, according to a campaign finance report.... Two major Central Florida theme parks, bypassed on a planned route that does connect with Walt Disney World, were also major contributors to the kill-the-rail project.
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An Invisible Threat    Back To Top

Binational Toxics Strategy Mercury Workgroup

Under EPA Region 5, several midwestern state EPAs have sought to protect the Great Lakes from mercury through the Great Lakes Binational Toxics Strategy Mercury Workgroup, a cooperative effort between U.S. EPA Mercury and Environment Canada. The Workgroup is focused on sharing information about cost-effective options for reducing use and emissions of mercury in the Great Lakes. Read More

Fish Advisory Information by State

Stay up to date with health and safety advisories about fish with these state links from Waterkeeper Alliance. Read More

Major Court Ruling on Mercury

A February 8, 2008 federal appeals court ruling requires new coal-fired power plants in the U.S. to adopt stringent toxic air pollution control measures meeting the most rigorous standards under the Clean Air Act, according to the Natural Resources Defense Council. Read More

Mercury Exposure & Your Health

All about mercury from the U.S. Dept. of Health & Human Services Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry, including the most frequently asked health questions about mercury. Read More

U.S. EPA Mercury Homepage

General information on Mercury as an environmental agent, including what EPA is—and isn't—doing to curb power plant emissions. Also information on energy-saving Compact Fluorescent Lightbulbs (CFLs) which contain small amounts of mercury. What to do in case of breakage, and how to properly dispose of CFLs. Read More

Born to Be Wild    Back To Top

Contact Directories

How to reach members of Congress, and other government resources that pertain to wilderness. Read More

The Wilderness Act of 1964

For you government wonks, read the text of the Wilderness Act. Read More

Wilderness Legislation

Follow the status of Wilderness legislation in Congress and in the states. Let your representatives know you support Wilderness Areas. Read More

Bring Back the Electric Cars    Back To Top

Environmental Assessment of Plug-In Hybrids

Go way into the issue: A recent study by the Electric Power Research Institute (EPRI) and NRDC looked at the U.S. fleet of light-duty and medium-duty cars and trucks. The study focused on plug-in hybrid electric vehicles (PHEVs) and projected changes in power generation technology from 2010 through 2050. Read More

Plug-In Hybrid Vehicles Could Help

An editorial by a local citizen of Springfield, Missouri. Read More

Prius Plus Project Wiki

The PriusPlus project is an open source project set up to develop a method to convert a '04-'07 Toyota Prius into a Plug-in Hybrid. The project is a combination of hardware and software development to allow qualified individuals or individuals working with a qualified electrician to convert their own car to a PHEV. Read More

Take This Car And Plug It

An in-depth article from IEEE on what happened on the way to a "hyrogen economy" and hydrogen fuel cells: plug in electric cars, and their many proponents. Read More

The History of Electric Vehicles

The history of electric cars from 1890 through modern times. Read More

Will a Revolutionary Energy Breakthrough Help?

The late Arthur Clarke was asked a couple of questions on the occasion of his 90th birthday: Q: What do you think is the single most important advance that humans will make before the 21st century is out? A: If I had three wishes, I would ask for these: 1. A method to generate limitless quantities of clean energy; 2. Affordable and reliable means of space transport; and 3. Eliminating the design faults in the human body. Read More

Build It Green    Back To Top

Buildings for the 21st Century Act

The House Committee on Ways and Means passed a tax package that would redirect $16 billion in tax preferences and incentives to expand energy conservation efforts and increase renewable energy production. Read More

Energy Efficient Buildings Tax Deduction

The Energy Policy Act of 2005 created a new tax incentive for constructing energy efficient commercial buildings. Read More

Green Building Legislation

The American Institute of Architects offer a map displaying states with legislation mandating the use of green/high-performance building standards for new state-funded building projects and renovations. Read More

Clean Up The Mines    Back To Top

$250 Million Settlement Over Asbestos

W. R. Grace & Company, a worldwide chemical company driven into bankruptcy by hundreds of millions of dollars in asbestos poisoning claims, has agreed to pay the federal government $250 million for environmental cleanup around its mining operations in Libby, Mont. Read More

1872 Mining Law Summary

A summary of provisions in the antiquated 1872 Mining Law which is still the overarching law of the land. Read More

Senator Cantwell on 1872 Mining Law

Recently, Senator Maria Cantwell (D Washington) announced efforts to reform the 1872 Mining Law. Follow the links in this blog piece from the Seattle PI for more about these efforts. Read More

Consider the Alternatives    Back To Top

Clean Energy Update

For the first time, the House passed an energy bill that requires utilities to acquire energy from clean, renewable sources like the wind, sun, the heat of the earth's core, or energy crops." Read More

Funding Solar Energy Projects

U.S. Department of Energy Secretary announced the selection of 13 industry-led solar technology development projects for negotiation for up to $168 million (FY''07-''09) in funding, subject to appropriation from Congress. These projects will help significantly reduce the cost of producing and distributing solar energy. " Read More

Green Power Policies

A number of states have adopted policies requiring or encouraging electricity suppliers to offer green power options to consumers. Click on your state for summaries of these policies and links to the full text of the legislation or public utility commission rules. Read More

National Association of State Energy Officials

The National Association of State Energy Officials (NASEO) is the only nonprofit organization that represents the Governor-designated energy officials from each state and territory. Maybe you're not a state energy official, but you can see what they're up to. Also links to all state energy offices, and other useful information about governmental energy policy.
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Do Your Share(s)    Back To Top

Corporate Social Responsibility

Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) refers to operating a business in a manner that accounts for the social and environmental impact created by the business. CSR means a commitment to developing policies that integrate responsible practices into daily business operations, and to reporting on progress made toward implementing these practices. Read More

Disclosure of Proxy Voting Policies and Proxy Voting Records

These amendments require registered management investment companies to disclose the policies and procedures that they use to determine how to vote proxies relating to portfolio securities. The amendments also require registered management investment companies to file with the Commission and to make available to shareholders the specific proxy votes that they cast in shareholder meetings of issuers of portfolio securities. Read More

The Global Reporting Initiative

The Global Reporting Initiative (GRI) has pioneered the development of the world's most widely used sustainability reporting framework and is committed to its continuous improvement and application worldwide. This framework sets out the principles and indicators that organizations can use to measure and report their economic, environmental, and social performance.
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Down the Drain    Back To Top

Clean Water Trust Fund

Three Congressional leaders on clean water are calling for a Government Accountability Office study of ways to meet the nation''s water infrastructure needs. Read More

Clean Watersheds Could Cost

A total of $202.5 billion is the nationwide capital investment needed to control wastewater pollution for up to a 20 year period, according to a new report by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency." Read More

Federal Support for Water Infrastructure

Water Environment Federation members and the general public are powerful partners in our efforts to ensure Washington lawmakers understand the critical clean water issues confronting communities all across America Read More

For The Birds    Back To Top

Imperiled Bird a Victim of Politics

Bureaucrat uses politics instead of science to get the Mountain Plover off the endangered species list Read More

Partners in Flight

A public/private collaboration to save birds in North and South America. Read More

Spotted Owl in Trouble

Many aspects of the Western Oregon Plan Revisions (WOPR) by the BLM will put the Spotted Owl and Marbled Murrelet in jeopardy. The comment period has passed, but follow the links in this article to learn about this important issue going forward. Read More

The 2007 Audubon WatchList

Audubon and the America Bird Conservancy have joined forces to rally conservationists around America's most imperiled birds. WatchList 2007, a new analysis from these leading bird conservation organizations, uses the latest available research from the bird conservation community along with citizen science data from the Christmas Bird Count and the annual Breeding Bird Survey to identify 176 species in the continental U.S. and 38 in Hawaii that are in need of immediate conservation help. It is a call to action to save species fighting for survival amid a convergence of environmental challenges, including habitat loss, invasive species and global warming. Read More

Go Organic    Back To Top

Just Foods

Get involved with RAFI USA in promoting a systems-approach to achieving a more sustainable food and fiber supply. Read More

NCSA's Organic Committee

NCSA's positions & policies on current issues before the government & what you can do to help. Read More

Organic and Beyond

Policy, legal actions, & politics from Center for Food Safety Read More

What is Organic Agriculture?

Comprehensive article on organic agriculture, including history, about the USDA label, farming methods, and more. From the National Sustainable Agriculture Information Service. Read More

God's Green Earth    Back To Top

Climate Change: An Evangelical Call to Action

The same love for God and neighbor that compels us to preach salvation through Jesus Christ, protect the unborn, preserve the family and the sanctity of marriage, and take the whole Gospel to a hurting world, also compels us to recognize that human-induced climate change is a serious Christian issue requiring action now. Read More

ENERGY STAR for Congregations

Most congregations can cut energy costs by up to 30% by investing strategically in efficient equipment, facility upgrades and maintenance. With free, unbiased information and technical support from ENERGY STAR, your congregation can more easily improve stewardship of your budget''s energy dollars, and of the earth by reducing energy waste and energy costs, while protecting the environment. Read More

On the Care of Creation

An Evangelical Declaration on the Care of Creation The seminal document of The Evangelical Environmental Network, founded in 1993. Read More

The Cornwall Declaration

The Cornwall Declaration was written in October 1999 - the creation of a gathering of 25 theologians, economists, environmental scientists and policy experts. The declaration, acknowledged that ""concerns about the environment have grown in recent decades, the moral necessity of ecological stewardship has become increasingly clear."" But it also criticized the aspects of the environmental movement for putting forth ""certain misconceptions about nature and science, coupled with erroneous theological and anthropological positions. " What do you think?" Read More

Going, Going...    Back To Top

Encyclopedia of Life

Visit the first release of the Encyclopedia of Life portal. This is the very beginning of a journey to document all species of life on Earth. Comprehensive, collaborative, ever-growing, and personalized, the Encyclopedia of Life is an ecosystem of websites that makes all key information about all life on Earth accessible to anyone, anywhere in the world. Read More

NOAA Office of Protected Resources

The Office of Protected Resources (OPR) is a headquarters program office of NOAA's (National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration) National Marine Fisheries Service (NOAA Fisheries Service, or NMFS), under the U.S. Department of Commerce, with responsibility for protecting marine mammals and endangered marine life. OPR works to conserve, protect, and recover species under the Endangered Species Act (ESA) and the Marine Mammal Protection Act (MMPA) in conjunction with our Regional Offices, Science Centers, and various partners.
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Schoolyard Habitats Program

The National Wildlife Federation has assisted over 2,800 schools and outdoor education providers nationwide in the development of outdoor habitat areas designed to protect wildlife and enhance the educational experiences of students, teachers and community members. Read More

U.S. Fish & Wildlife: Endangered Species Program

Before a plant or animal species can receive protection under the Endangered Species Act, it must first be placed on the Federal list of endangered and threatened wildlife and plants. The Fish and Wildlife Service in the Department of the Interior and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA)-Fisheries in the Department of Commerce share responsibility for administration of the Endangered Species Act. Read More

Watchfrogging Political Corruption

The Center for Biological Diversity has made it a constant priority to keep close tabs on the government agencies administering lands and programs that most affect endangered species — in particular the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, which implements the Endangered Species Act, as well as public-lands agencies such as the Forest Service and the Bureau of Land Management. Recently their focus has been on politically motivated, often illegal bureaucratic interference in decision-making that should be based strictly on science. At the Fish and Wildlife Service, undermining and manipulation of scientific data for the benefit of private interests reached a new height under the Bush administration. Read More

Green Collar Jobs    Back To Top

Green Jobs Victory for 1Sky

Climate policy took center stage in the Washington Legislature this year. It was a classic battle pitting Hope against Fear of the Unknown. Conservation groups and anti-poverty advocates, venture capitalists and faith leaders, labor unions and businesses worked together to pass ''Climate Action and Green Jobs" (HB 2815). The bill links limits on climate pollution with workforce training to ensure that the clean energy transition delivers widely-shared prosperity. Read More

HR 3221-the New Direction

This legislation puts us on a path toward energy independence, strengthens national security, grows our economy and creates new jobs, lowers energy prices, and begins to address global warming. Read More

The Green Jobs Initiative

This is a joint initiative by the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), the International Labor Organization (ILO) and the International Trade Union Confederation (ITUC), which has been launched to assess, analyze and promote the creation of decent jobs as a consequence of the needed environmental policies. It supports a concerted effort by governments, employers and trade unions to promote environmentally sustainable jobs and development in a climate-challenged world. Read More

The Workforce Alliance - contact your Senator

President Bush''s FY 2009 budget cuts employment and training funding by more than $2 billion. Urge your Senators to sign a Dear Colleague letter seeking to maintain current funding levels for WIA and the ES in FY09, along with appropriate increases to match rising costs. Read More

Greener By the Dozen    Back To Top

Environmentally Preferable Purchasing Guide

From copy paper to cleaners, automotive fluids to landscaping products, every product you buy affects human health and the environment in many and often unintended ways. In today's marketplace, it can be challenging to make purchasing decisions that avoid pitfalls and make the best overall sense - even identifying options and alternatives is no easy task. But with the Environmentally Preferable Purchasing Guide, help is at hand! This Guide is a reference tool for government and school purchasers who want to buy more wisely. Identifying examples in over 30 product areas, the Guide will help you find ways to reduce workplace hazards, consume less energy, and protect natural resources. From Minnesota Solid Waste Management. Read More

King County's Environmental Purchasing Program

A member of the steering committee of RPN, King County, Washington''s Environmental Purchasing Policy reflects a long-term commitment to the purchase of environmentally preferable products. In 1989, King County adopted its original recycled product procurement policy in response to overburdened landfills and the need to create markets for newly collected recyclables. Because every purchase has an impact on human health and the environment, the goal of policy is to mitigate these impacts whenever practicable. Environmentally preferable procurement considers multiple product attributes, such as toxicity, durability, recycled content and conservation of resources, in addition to price, performance and availability. Read More

San Francisco Chooses EPEAT

Mayor Gavin Newsom issued Executive Directive 08-01 which will measure and reduce the environmental impact of information and communication technology (ICT). Based on the experience of commercial buildings, approximately 20-25% of building energy is attributable to ICT. Because of this impact, ICT has significant potential to enable innovative solutions to the environmental challenges of energy use and can be an effective tool to advance sustainable economic development. Actions called for in this Directive aim to reduce municipal government''s ICT-related greenhouse gas emissions by 24% by 2012. Read More

Grow a Green Marketplace    Back To Top

FTC review of Green Marketing Guides

FTC Video of Carbon offsets/Renewable Energy Workshop Read More

Introduction to The Green Marketplace

Green consumers have become a driving force behind how companies do business, and they are creating a new economy based on justice and sustainability. These consumers, described as LOHAS (Lifestyles of Health and Sustainability) consumers, put $230 billion dollars into the economy each year-and those numbers are growing. Go in depth as Co-op America explains green consumerism from the business side of things. Read More

Public Comments FTC Green Guides Review

The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) is reviewing its green marketing guidelines. Read the public comments from industry groups like Dow Chemical and the Vinyl Institute, as well as environmental groups and private citizens. A good opportunity to see for yourself where greenwash comes from. Read More

Growing Warmer    Back To Top

Farming in the City

The U.N. Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) reported that urban and peri-urban farms-those within or immediately adjacent to a city-supply food to some 700 million urban residents worldwide. These are mostly small plots-vacant lots, yards, even rooftops." Read More

Leading By Example

State agencies and local governments have many opportunities to lead by example by incorporating pollution prevention (P2) into new and existing programs. Learn how you can improve quality of life, save money and protect the environment in your town." Read More

National Policy Solution

A federal legislative solution can drive American ingenuity, create a new generation of American and meet our moral responsibility to confront global warming to protect our children's future." Read More

Here Comes the Sun    Back To Top

Developing State Solar Photovoltaic Markets

A policy report from the Center for American Progress. Read More

Emissions from Photovoltaic Life Cycles

New photovoltaic technologies, such as the recent introduction of thin-film cadmium telluride (CdTe) materials, have nearly doubled the efficiency of solar cells within the past few years. But the methods of making the materials used for photovoltaic cells, whether from silicon, metal, or other material, have raised doubts about the environmental friendliness of these passive energy collectors. Read More

Go Solar California

The Go Solar California web site is brought to you by California's Public Utilities Commission and Energy Commission. This site provides consumers a "one-stop shop" for information on rebates, tax credits, and incentives for solar energy systems in California. Even if you don't live in California, this web site represents a wishlist for other states. Read More

National Association of State Energy Officials

The National Association of State Energy Officials (NASEO) is the only nonprofit organization that represents the Governor-designated energy officials from each state and territory. Maybe you're not a state energy official, but you can see what they're up to. Also links to all state energy offices, and other useful information about governmental energy policy.
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Third Wave of Solar Power

Interested in the future of Solar technology? Nanosolar is a company that's working to deliver a dramatic improvement in the cost-efficiency, yield, and throughput of the production of much thinner solar cells. Read More

Home on the Refuge    Back To Top

Arctic Oil

We can't drill our way to Energy Independence Read More

National Wildlife Refuges threatened

The impacts of pollution, habitat loss, and invasive species and the added stresses of global warming--could be devastating to the Refuge System." Read More

Hook, Line and Sinker    Back To Top

Overfishing Scorecard

The Ocean Conservancy has worked with regional fishery councils as well as officials in Washington, D.C. to find responsible ways to manage America''s fisheries. We are working toward solutions that allow us to meet current needs without jeopardizing the opportunities for future generations." Read More

Subsidizing Fishing Fleets

Not only have governments failed to take meaningful actions to slow the destruction of the ocean''s large fish, many have promoted it by subsidizing fishing fleets to the tune of billions of dollars each year." Read More

The Law of the Sea

The Division for Ocean Affairs and the Law of the Sea has established links to web sites that are relevant for ocean affairs and the law of the sea issues. They are grouped primarily by types of organizations and bodies. Read More

It's a Plastic World    Back To Top

Biodegradable Products Institute (BPI) Logo Program

BPI is a multi-stakeholder association of key individuals and groups from government, industry and academia, which promotes the use, and recovery of biodegradable polymeric materials. The Compostable Logo is designed to address the confusion that has existed by building credibility and recognition for products that meet the ASTM standards among consumers, composters, regulators and others. It is designed to be easily recognizable and able to be placed on the actual product as well as packaging materials and sales literature. Read More

FTC Plans Green Packaging Workshop

The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) will host a one-day public workshop on April 30, 2008, entitled "The Green Guides and Packaging." The workshop will "focus in-depth on an area in which a wide range of green claims are prevalent." The workshop aims to examine recent and ongoing developments with green packaging claims, consumer perception of such claims, and substantiation issues, and is part of the FTC's regulatory review of its Guides for the Use of Environmental Marketing Claims (Green Guides). Read More

Plastics Container Recycling In Oregon

In its 2003 report to the legislature, the Oregon Department of Environmental Quality (ODEQ) noted the state's total plastic recovery rate was less than 10 percent, compared to 63 percent for paper, 65 percent for glass and 46 percent for metal, and only accounted for one percent of the total materials recovered. Read More

Make New Dirt    Back To Top

Enviro-Links

Environmental Agencies and State Services Read More

It's the Law!

Regulations for organic material and compost facilities Read More

Park it Here    Back To Top

Body and Soul: Urban Parks

The International Urban Parks Conference will be held Sept. 21-23 at the Hilton Pittsburgh and will explore how parks support the physical, emotional, environmental and economic health of cities. Read More

Brownfields Definition

With certain legal exclusions and additions, the term `brownfield site' means real property, the expansion, redevelopment, or reuse of which may be complicated by the presence or potential presence of a hazardous substance, pollutant, or contaminant. Read More

Healthy Cities: Urban Environmental Solutions

If you're wondering why this report has such an optimistic tone, well, it was written in 2000, during the Clinton Administration. Let's hope we can achieve more than just this proposal's optimistic tone in the near future. Read More

Report from Capitol Hill

NRPA had a mighty presence on Capitol Hill on March 13, 2008 when over 400 advocates for parks and recreation trooped the Halls of Congress for a day. Read More

Save the Coral Reefs    Back To Top

Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary

Few marine environments in the U.S. compare to the Florida Keys in terms of natural beauty and natural resources. The most extensive living coral reef in the United States is adjacent to the 126 mile island chain of the Florida Keys. The Keys are located on the southern tip of the Florida peninsula, beginning just south of Key Biscayne and ending just 90 miles north of Cuba. These coral reefs are intimately linked to a marine ecosystem that supports one of the most unique and diverse assemblages of plants and animals in North America. Read More

Florida Reef Resilience Program

The Florida Reef Resilience Program brings scientists, reef managers and resource user groups together to develop strategies to improve the health of Florida''s reefs and enhance the economic sustainability of reef-dependent commercial enterprises. Read More

NOAA Coral Reef Conservation Program

From mapping and monitoring to managing reef resources and removing harmful debris, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's (NOAA) Coral Reef Conservation Program (CRCP) addresses the priorities laid out in both the National Action Plan to Conserve Coral Reefs and the National Coral Reef Action Strategy. Read More

Reef Base

ReefBase gathers available knowledge about coral reefs into one information repository. It is intended to facilitate analyses and monitoring of coral reef health and the quality of life of reef-dependent people, and to support informed decisions about coral reef use and management. Read More

The Marine Aquarium Council

The Marine Aquarium Council (MAC) is an international, not-for-profit organization that brings marine aquarium animal collectors, exporters, importers and retailers together with aquarium keepers, public aquariums, conservation organizations and government agencies. MAC's mission is to conserve coral reefs and other marine ecosystems by creating standards and certification for those engaged in the collection and care of ornamental marine life from reef to aquarium. Read More

Save the Living River    Back To Top

Dams, Dam Removal, and River Restoration

An analysis of the effect of the removal of the Edwards Dam on the Kennebec River in Maine. This article presents ex-post analyses on the economic impact of dam removal on property values. As more privately owned dams in the United States come up for relicensing, evaluating the impacts with and without the dam will become increasingly important. This work can help inform those analyses. Read More

Lobby Congress on River Action Day

River Action Day is an opportunity for river advocates from across the country to come to Capitol Hill to speak up for healthy rivers. Read More

Who Owns Water?

Curricula from The Ecology Center on water rights. Designed for high school students, but presents an excellent history and discussion of the subject for all of us." Read More

Save the Wetlands    Back To Top

National Wetlands Inventory

From U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service. View maps and data, plant listings, educational material, etc. Knowledge of maps and patience for how the government works is helpful. Site is a bit dense, in more than one way!" Read More

The Plains CO2 Reduction Partnership

The PCOR Partnership is a collaborative effort of more than 40 public and private stakeholders working toward a better understanding of the technical and economic feasibility of capturing and storing carbon dioxide emissions from the central interior of North America. The PCOR Partnership region includes the Prairie Pothole Region, a high-priority habitat conservation area for Ducks Unlimited. This region historically was dominated by grasslands and at one time may have supported more than 48 million acres of wetlands, making it the largest wetland complex in North America. However, fertile soils in this region resulted in the extensive loss of native wetlands as cultivated agriculture became the dominant land use, resulting in the depletion of soil organic carbon in wetlands." Read More

U.S. National Ramsar Committee

The Ramsar Convention on Wetlands is an intergovernmental treaty that was adopted on February 2, 1971. Over 150 countries, including the United States, are parties to the Ramsar Convention. One of the primary obligations of a Ramsar party is to designate sites as ""wetlands of international importance."" More than 1500 sites worldwide have been designated as wetlands of international importance, including 22 sites in the United States." Read More

Save the Whales...Again    Back To Top

Marine Mammal Protection Act

All Marine mammals are protected under the MMPA. The MMPA prohibits, with certain exceptions, the ""take"" of marine mammals in U.S. waters and by U.S. citizens on the high seas, and the importation of marine mammals and marine mammal products into the U.S." Read More

The Ship Strike Reduction Act of 2008

Senator John Kerry introduced legislation in February 2008 that would help protect critically endangered North Atlantic right whales from injury and death due to ship strikes. Read More

Save Your Energy    Back To Top

DOE's EnergyFiles Database

Sponsored, developed, and maintained by the Department of Energy's Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI), EnergyFiles combines information, tools, and technologies to facilitate access to and use of scientific resources. Search over 500 databases and Web sites containing information and resources pertaining to science and technology of interest to the Department of Energy. Read More

Energy Efficiency Legislation & Policy

Updates about energy efficiency legislation and ASE activities supporting that legislation. Keep up with the Energy Bill, tax credits, and legislative efforts to cut emissions and stop climate change. Read More

ENERGY STAR

ENERGY STAR is a joint program of U.S. EPA and the DOE, which offers energy efficient products and practices. Energy efficient choices can save families about a third on their energy bill with similar savings of greenhouse gas emissions, without sacrificing features, style or comfort. And businesses can follow a proven energy management strategy that helps in measuring current energy performance, setting goals, tracking savings, and rewarding improvements. Read More

EnergySmart Schools

States and local agencies are planning to invest more than $60 billion in the next three years to build or renovate schools. Through its public/private partnership, U.S. Department of Energy (DOE)'s EnergySmart goals are to upgrade new schools to 50% better than current energy codes and improve existing schools by 30% in the next three years. Read More

U.S. Clean Energy Programs

U.S. EPA's Clean Energy Programs are designed to help energy consumers in all sectors, state policy makers and energy providers improve their knowledge about Clean Energy technology and policy options by providing objective information, creating networks between the public and private sector and providing technical assistance. Read More

Support Fair Trade    Back To Top

Fair Trade Towns

Make it official. Resources on how to pass a Fair Trade Resolution in your community. Read More

Fair Trade Towns in the UK

Where it all got started. Read More

Farmer Partners

Learn all about the people and cooperative businesses that grow Fair Trade certified products. Read More

Support Sustainable Forestry    Back To Top

Bill Moyers Reports: Earth on the Edge

An in-depth profile of Forest Ecosystems from PBS: "Forests, wooded areas, and scattered trees have provided food, fuel, medicines, filtered water, shelter, and building materials throughout time. As countries with ample forests develop, they tend to emphasize timber production over other forest services; we've already seen this process occur in Canada and the U.S." Read More

Bush Administration Strips Protections

The Bush administration took its third swipe at opening protected areas in America''s national forests to logging before it leaves office. A Bush plan announced today puts a ''for sale" sign on trees in vast swaths of the nation''s largest national forest - the Tongass rainforest in Alaska. Read More

Latin American Forests for Carbon Capture

Are high-tech carbon capture and sequestration projects an answer to Latin American deforestation, not to mention a regional and global energy source? Explore the idea in this article. Read More

Stories From Around The World

Read the stories of successful sustainable forestry initiatives from the Forest Stewardship Council (FSC). From handmade musical instruments in the Amazon to transforming the largest lawn furniture company in the world to sustainable practices, people are working together to improve the health of forests, their biodiversity, and the lives of the people who depend on them. Read More

Target: Zero Waste    Back To Top

The Zero Waste Alliance Approach

Help for businesses and organizations ready to make the change to Zero Waste. Read More

Zero Waste in Your Community

From GRRN (Grassroots Recycling Network), resources for Zero Waste Events, Citizen's Agenda, sample Zero Waste Resolutions, and how to approach your local government about Zero Waste. Read More

Teach Your Children    Back To Top

EPA to Establish 1st Ever Federal Guidelines

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Green Clean Schools Act

The bill sailed through the House and the Senate, making Illinois the second state in the nation to require green cleaning in schools. Read More

The Cool Cities Campaign    Back To Top

A Guide to Global Climate Policy

Resources for the Future (RFF) scholars are at the forefront of research on the environmental and economic aspects of climate change. The Weathervane web site provides direct, online access to the most up-to-date findings from this work. Weathervane signals developments and directions in climate policy in the United States and around the world. Read More

All About Kyoto

The Kyoto Protocol is an international agreement linked to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change. The major feature of the Kyoto Protocol is that it sets binding targets for 37 industrialized countries and the European community for reducing greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. These amount to an average of five per cent against 1990 levels over the five-year period 2008-2012. More than 160 countries, not including the United States, committed to the agreement. Read More

EERE Grants for States

The Weatherization and Intergovernmental Program facilitates the adoption of renewable energy and energy efficiency technologies in the United States and across the world. The U.S. Department of Energy Office of Efficiency and Renewable Energy (EERE)'s Weatherization and Intergovernmental Program manages EERE grant and incentive programs to states and Indian tribes. Read More

EERE's Clean Cities Program

Clean Cities strives to advance the nation's economic, environmental, and energy security by supporting local decisions to adopt practices that contribute to the reduction of petroleum consumption. Clean Cities has a network of approximately 90 volunteer coalitions, which develop public/private partnerships to promote alternative fuels and advanced vehicles, fuel blends, fuel economy, hybrid vehicles, and idle reduction. Read More

Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative

The Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative, or RGGI, is a cooperative effort by Northeastern and Mid-Atlantic states to reduce carbon dioxide emissions — a greenhouse gas that causes global warming. The RGGI participating states will be developing a regional strategy for controlling emissions. This strategy will more effectively control greenhouse gases, which are not bound by state or national borders. Central to this initiative is the implementation of a multi-state cap-and-trade program with a market-based emissions trading system. The proposed program will require electric power generators in participating states to reduce carbon dioxide emissions. Read More

U.S. Conference of Mayors Climate Protection Agreement

Read the U.S. Conference of Mayors Climate Protection Agreement. You can see a synopsis and press release here, and download the full text of the agreement in PDF form. Read More

United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change

Over a decade ago, most countries joined an international treaty — the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) — to begin to consider what can be done to reduce global warming and to cope with whatever temperature increases are inevitable. More recently, a number of nations have approved an addition to the treaty: the Kyoto Protocol, which has more powerful (and legally binding) measures. The UNFCCC secretariat supports all institutions involved in the climate change process, particularly the COP, the subsidiary bodies and their Bureau. Read More

The Devil and the Deep Blue Sea    Back To Top

Plastic Debris, Rivers to Sea Project

The Plastic Debris, Rivers to Sea Project is assessing and reducing sources of plastics and trash in urban runoff. The California State Water Resources Control Board, through a Proposition 13 grant, provides the majority of the funding for the Project. The Algalita Marine Research Foundation is implementing the project with the support and assistance of the California Coastal Commission. The primary goal of the project is to reduce the land-based discharges via urban runoff of plastics and other discarded materials that degrade water quality and impair beneficial uses of inland and coastal waters.  Read More

PVC Governmental Policies

San Francisco became the first city in the U.S. to ban phthalates used in soft PVC children''s toys in June, 2006. Similar legislation to restrict phthalates in children''s toys was introduced in 2006 in the states of California, Maryland, and Minnesota but failed after intense lobbying by the chemical industry. Read More

U.S. EPA Marine Debris Abatement

Trash in our oceans—You can be part of the solution: Marine debris, often called litter, has become a problem along shorelines, coastal waters, estuaries, and oceans throughout the world. It is defined as any man-made, solid material that enters our waterways directly (e.g., by dumping) or indirectly (e.g., washed out to sea via rivers, streams, storm drains, etc.). Objects ranging from detergent bottles, hazardous medical wastes, and discarded fishing line all qualify as marine debris. Read More

The Law of Nature    Back To Top

CITES: International Convention

CITES: the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species is an international agreement between governments. Its aim is to ensure that international trade in specimens of wild animals and plants does not threaten their survival. Read More

Endangered Species Recovery Act of 2007

The Endangered Species Recovery Act of 2007, (S. 700) introduced by Senators Crapo (R-ID) and Lincoln (D-AR), and (H.R. 1422) introduced by Reps. Mike Thompson (D-CA) and Don Young (R-AK-At Large), would provide $400 million annually in new tax credits, plus additional deductions and exclusions, for private landowners who take steps to help endangered or threatened species on the properties they own. Learn about the bill from Defenders of Wildlife. Read More

Environmental Conservation Online System

The Environmental Conservation Online System (ECOS) is a gateway web site that provides access to data systems in the Endangered Species and Fisheries and Habitat Conservation program areas, as well as other U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service (FWS) and Government data sources. Read More

Look Up an Endangered Species

From USFWS Threatened and Endangered Species System (TESS): The U.S. Fish & Wildlife's threatened and endangered species database system. Search for listed animals and plants. Read More

NOAA Office of Protected Resources

The Office of Protected Resources (OPR) is a headquarters program office of NOAA's (National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration) National Marine Fisheries Service (NOAA Fisheries Service, or NMFS), under the U.S. Department of Commerce, with responsibility for protecting marine mammals and endangered marine life. OPR works to conserve, protect, and recover species under the Endangered Species Act (ESA) and the Marine Mammal Protection Act (MMPA) in conjunction with our Regional Offices, Science Centers, and various partners.
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Sourcewatch: ESA Reform Coalition

The ESA Reform Coalition is an industry "front" group which seeks to roll back the protections of the ESA. Uncover  their personnel and where their funding comes from through Sourcewatch, a project of the Center for Media and Democracy, which provides profiles on think tanks, industry-funded organizations and industry-friendly experts that work to influence public opinion and public policy on behalf of corporations, governments and special interest.  Read More

U.S. Fish & Wildlife: Endangered Species Program

Before a plant or animal species can receive protection under the Endangered Species Act, it must first be placed on the Federal list of endangered and threatened wildlife and plants. The Fish and Wildlife Service in the Department of the Interior and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA)-Fisheries in the Department of Commerce share responsibility for administration of the Endangered Species Act. Read More

The Right Tree in the Right Place    Back To Top

California ReLeaf Legislative Advocacy Program

In 2006 California ReLeaf hired a professional lobbyist to assist with its state-level efforts. As a result of its work, $20 million was designated for urban forestry programs under California Proposition 84 passed in 2006. Read More

Partnership for a Better Life

Slash-and-burn farming and cutting trees for firewood have been traditional practices for many who live in rural areas of Africa and Asia. Yet, these activities have depleted millions of acres of forest cover. The International Small Group and Tree Planting Program (TIST), a Global Development Alliance partner of the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID), has responded to this problem with programs in Tanzania, Kenya, Uganda and India. Read More

Plant A Tree And Save The Earth?

Can planting a tree stop the sea level from rising, the ice caps from melting and hurricanes from intensifying? A 2006 study says that it depends on where the trees are planted. Read More

Tree City USA

The Tree City USA® program, sponsored by the Arbor Day Foundation in cooperation with the USDA Forest Service and the National Association of State Foresters, provides direction, technical assistance, public attention, and national recognition for urban and community forestry programs in thousands of towns and cities that more than 120 million Americans call home. Read More

They Paved Paradise    Back To Top

Green Infrastructure

From U.S. EPA, descriptions of Low Impact Development techniques and other Best Management Practices (BMP) for stormwater management. A little dry (it is the government), but there are pictures!" Read More

Rainwater as a Resource

As part of its Natural Urban Systems Group, TreePeople has been involved in the implementation of several retrofits designed to restore the natural functions of urban sites. By incorporating stormwater best management practices (BMPs) such as swales, retention grading, cisterns, infiltrators and strategically-planted trees in building and landscaping designs, a multitude of benefits can be realized, including: improved water quality; a decreased risk of flooding; a reduced need for water importation; heat-island effect mitigation; a reduction in contributions to global climate change; and an augmented supply of local groundwater. Read/download the full report. Read More

Reducing Stormwater Costs

A December 2007 study by U.S. EPA showing benefits of Low Impact Development (LID) in Stormwater management. Read More

Rooftops to Rivers

Green Strategies for Controlling Stormwater and Combined Sewer Overflows: This May 2006 report from NRDC is a policy guide for decision makers looking to implement green strategies in urban areas, including rooftop gardens on city buildings, more absorbent concrete, and street planters that intercept rainwater before it hits the ground. Includes nine case studies of cities that have successfully used green techniques to create a healthier urban environment." Read More

Think Globally, Eat Locally    Back To Top

The Agribusiness Examiner

Monitoring Corporate Agribusiness From a Public Interest Perspective; A.V. Krebs EditorPublisher. A collection of in-depth articles. Read More

The Robyn Van En Center

At Wilson College. The national resource center for Community Supported Agriculture. Read More

Too Much Gas    Back To Top

EPA Defends Decision to Block Solution

The head of the Environmental Protection Agency on Friday justified his decision to block California and other states from cracking down on auto emissions by saying the problems of global warming aren't unique to one state. Read More

Tax Incentives

Find out how you can save money through Federal tax incentives on your purchase of a new hybrid, lean-burn, alternative fuel, and electric vehicles!" Read More

Vehicle Emissions Fight

The fight over fuel economy and vehicle tailpipe emissions is just beginning and America's franchised new car and truck dealers are at the center of it, the head of the National Automobile Dealers Association said today." Read More

Turn Up The Heat    Back To Top

Global Warming Science & Policy

From the Union of Concerned Scientists: From nuclear power to senate bills to cap and trade schemes and more. Read More

Sightline's Climate Policy Project

CS07 Climate Map thumbIn 2008, Sightline is working closely with the Western Climate Initiative and other coalitions to help craft a fair, effective climate policy for the Northwest. We're investigating questions from which type of cap-and-trade system is fairest to consumers to how to include transportation emissions in a cap and trade system. Read More

U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Policy

Is this enough for you? To implement its climate policy, the Federal government is using voluntary and incentive-based programs to reduce emissions and has established programs to promote climate technology and science. This strategy incorporates know-how from many federal agencies and harnesses the power of the private sector. Read More

Up The Creek    Back To Top

Clean Water Restoration Act

Advocate for passage of this important legislation which will reestablish protection for our nation''s wetlands, streams, and lakes after two debilitating Clean Water Act decisions by the U.S. Supreme Court." Read More

Water Drop Patch Project

A joint project of the U.S. EPA and the Girl Scout Council of the Nation's Capital (GSCNC). The purpose of the project is to encourage girls to: Make a difference in their communities by becoming watershed and wetlands stewards; Use their skills and their knowledge to educate others in their communities about the need to protect the nation's valuable water resources; Explore the natural world to gain an interest in science and math Read More

Vote for the Earth    Back To Top

Follow The Money, Follow The Legislators

Debate on how to solve the country's environmental problems begins in the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee. These issues range from creating cleaner air and water to cleaning up America's Superfund sites to preserving endangered species and wildlife. Contributors to this committee, therefore, are both groups that are fighting against pollution and industries being accused of polluting. Read More

Follow The Money, Follow The Legislators II

The House Energy and Commerce Committee, formerly known simply as the Commerce Committee, is often where some of the biggest legislative battles over the environment get started. Read More

Get Out The Vote Research

Yale University and the University of Maryland have been conducting research to find out what methods increase voter turnout and what interventions don't. Read about their experiments in canvassing, phone banks, direct mail, and more. Read More

Global Warming and National Security

When people think about the relationship between energy and national security, they generally focus on America's dependence on oil from an unstable part of the world, on the susceptibility of our central hub-and-spoke power grid to terrorist attacks, and on the special vulnerability of large power plants, especially nuclear plants. Those are all real security issues, but climate change is also a security issue, even though it isn't usually thought of that way. Read More

The Presidential Climate Action Project

Policy recommendations for the next president on "the three interrelated problems of climate change, energy stability and national security." Read More

We've Got Chemistry    Back To Top

EPA Caves Under Chemical Industry Pressure

Under pressure from chemical industry lobbyists, the Bush Administration fired the chair of an expert science panel at the Environmental Protection Agency that was evaluating the safety of a neurotoxic fire retardant, according to documents obtained by Environmental Working Group (EWG)." Read More

The Kid Safe Chemicals Act

The bill would set as U.S. policy paramount national goal(s) of promoting children''s health, recognizing children''s unique vulnerabilities to toxicants, and minimizing toxic substances in the environment. The bill sets the goal of eliminating ''the exposure of all children, workers, consumers, and sensitive subgroups to harmful chemicals distributed in commerce by 2020. Read More

They Spray - You Pay

Most people who are made ill or whose property is contaminated or made unusable by other people's pesticide use have less protection and recourse under the law than someone whose property is defaced with paint. Read More

Welcome to Solar City    Back To Top

Disclosure of Proxy Voting Policies and Proxy Voting Records

These amendments require registered management investment companies to disclose the policies and procedures that they use to determine how to vote proxies relating to portfolio securities. The amendments also require registered management investment companies to file with the Commission and to make available to shareholders the specific proxy votes that they cast in shareholder meetings of issuers of portfolio securities. Read More

Reducing Local Barriers to Solar Power

On August 13, 2007, the Sierra Club (Loma Prieta, S.F. Bay and Redwood chapters) published a study that compares what 131 municipalities in Northern California charge for the permit to install photovoltaic (PV) solar panels on residential roofs. The Sierra Club is using the study as a platform to persuade cities to reduce their PV permit fees. Read More

Solar America Initiative

The Solar America Initiative is a U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) effort to make solar energy cost-competitive with conventional forms of electricity by 2015. The strategy pursues complementary activities in research and development (R&D) and in market transformation. The goals are to reduce costs through R&D and to eliminate market barriers through deployment.
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The California Solar Initiative

As part of Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger's 3.3 Billion, Million Solar Roofs Program, California has set a goal to create 3,000 megawatts of new, solar-produced electricity by 2017 - moving the state toward a cleaner energy future and helping lower the cost of solar systems for consumers. Read More

The Global Reporting Initiative

The Global Reporting Initiative (GRI) has pioneered the development of the world''s most widely used sustainability reporting framework and is committed to its continuous improvement and application worldwide. This framework sets out the principles and indicators that organizations can use to measure and report their economic, environmental, and social performance. Read More

What's Bugging You?    Back To Top

From Field to Table

The Agricultural Research Service (ARS) is the U.S. Department of Agriculture's chief scientific research agency, finding solutions to agricultural problems that affect Americans every day, " Read More

The Book That Changed History

The most important legacy of Silent Spring, was a new public awareness that nature was vulnerable to human intervention. Rachel Carson had made a radical proposal: that, at times, technological progress is so fundamentally at odds with natural processes that it must be curtailed. Conservation had never raised much broad public interest, for few people really worried about the disappearance of wilderness. But the threats Carson had outlined -- the contamination of the food chain, cancer, genetic damage, the deaths of entire species -- were too frightening to ignore. For the first time, the need to regulate industry in order to protect the environment became widely accepted, and environmentalism was born." Read More

Where, When, and How Many    Back To Top

Bush Budget Slashes Family Planning Aid

President Bush is calling on Congress to slash funding for overseas family planning programs by $134 million (or 29 percent) from the current level of $461 million. Read More

Funding For International Family Planning

Ensuring access to reproductive health care and family planning is a hallmark in our effort to advance the rights and empowerment of women around the world. However, over the past decade, international family planning funds have declined by 40 percent in real dollars even though the number of women of reproductive age in the developing world has increased by 275 million." Read More