It's Getting Hot In Here

Today the Yale Project on Climate Change Communication released a new report entitled “American Teens’ Knowledge of Climate Change” based on a national study of what teens aged 13-17 understand about how the climate system works, and the causes, impacts, and potential solutions to global warming. This research provides an assessment of how much American teens have learned about climate change in and out of school. For comparison, they also report how teens’ knowledge compares with that of American adults. The report is available online here.

Overall, they found that 54 percent of American teens believe that global warming is happening, but many do not understand why. In this assessment, only 6 percent of teens have knowledge equivalent to an A or B, 41 percent would receive a C or D, and 54 percent would get an F. Overall, teens know about the same or less about climate change than adults. The study also found important gaps in knowledge and common misconceptions about climate change and the earth system. These misconceptions lead some teens to doubt that global warming is happening or that human activities are a major contributor, to misunderstand the causes and therefore the solutions, and to be unaware of the risks. Thus many teens lack some of the knowledge they need to make informed decisions about climate change both now and in the future as students, workers, consumers, homeowners, and citizens. For example, only:

•  54% of teens say that global warming is happening, compared to 63% of adults;
• 35% of teens understand that most scientists think global warming is happening, compared to 39% of adults;
• 46% of teens understand that emissions from cars and trucks substantially contribute to global warming, compared to 49% of adults;
• 17-18% have heard of coral bleaching or ocean acidification, compared to 25% of adults. Continue reading ‘American Teens’ Knowledge on Climate Change’

The rules of the game have just changed. Less than ten days ago, the Republican Party rode a massive wave into Washington. For the next two years, gone are the days of heart-wrenching testimony from young citizens impacted by climate change and gone are the days of AutoTuned lawmakers discussing the economic benefits brought about by clean energy legislation. We’re operating under new circumstances.

Going forward into the 112^th Congress, the smart money is on inaction, delay, and discord. The punditocracy and inside-the-Beltway flacks are bracing themselves for government shutdowns, a fight over health care repeal, and investigations into the Obama Administration. If there’s one thing I’ve learned from this movement, it’s that committed youth clean energy and climate activists don’t give up easily, and I can’t imagine us starting to quit any time soon. Since the rules and expectations have changed, it’s time for us to change too.

Congressional Republicans have already started claiming that the American people have given them a widespread mandate to cut government spending, reduce the deficit, and jumpstart the American economy. In general, these are folks who have an abysmal record on climate and can’t wait to twiddle their thumbs while the world burns. But, since they’re now in charge of “the people’s branch,” youth climate advocates would do well to listen to what our opposition is asking for and see if we can find some common ground.

As the New York Times reports, “Reducing red ink — the $1.3 trillion deficit — will be a major test of Congress’ split-party makeup following elections that partly focused on runaway government spending.” Sounds like it might be time for some unsexy messaging – let’s talk about the deficit, baby. The National Debt was on tip of everyone’s tongues this election season – from Rand Paul to President Obama, American politicians seem to be seeking a way to cut our mounting deficit.  One unexpected way to do this? Put a price on carbon. Continue reading ‘Cut the Carbon, Cut the Deficit: Where Do Climate Advocates Go in the 112th Congress?’

All around the country it seems that environmentalists are forced to play defense in this election: prop 23 in California, the many members of Congress who voted for the weak American Clean Energy & Security Act, and various Senators with good environmental records.

But there’s one race in the heart of the heartland where we can make a huge victory for sustainability: Francis Thicke’s in Iowa.

Francis Thicke is an organic dairy farmer with a PhD in soil science. He is challenging a Big Ag-backed incumbent to be the next Iowa Secretary of Agriculture. Besides the US Secretary of Agriculture, Iowa’s is the most influential in the country when it comes to the operation of our food system. Electing Francis Thicke would be a huge gain in preparation for the next federal Farm Bill. So what happens in Iowa matters for the whole country. Michael Pollan and Bill McKibben agree.

Here’s the campaign ad, written and produced for free by young people working on the campaign.

And if you need another reason to get involved, polls show the race is very close.

Guest post By Leigh Ewbank. Leigh is a Melbourne native and a 2009 summer fellow at the California-based progressive think tank, the Breakthrough Institute. Leigh consults on framing and messaging and is Director of Online Communications for Beyond Zero Emissions.

Dissatisfied with the policies of both major political parties, the Australian climate movement are attempting to make climate change a key issue in the final days of the 2010 federal election. A coalition of leading progressive and environmental organisations will hold Walk Against Warming demonstrations in the nation’s capital cities at the weekend. ‘By coming together one week before the election,’ says event organiser Victoria McKenzie-McHarg, ‘the community has a real opportunity to put climate change back on the election agenda, and push our leaders to put policies on the table that will actually cut emissions.’

The Australian Youth Climate Coalition is running its own initiatives to get climate change on the agenda. The youth-run organisation will hold the final of three Power Shift conferences this weekend. In an effort to influence the election, each of the conferences were located in areas that ‘represent crucial senate races and marginal seats in the Federal Election,’ according to AYCC spokesperson Lucy Manne. ‘Young people will make up 20 per cent of the voting population this election,’ Manne explains, ‘and the Power Shift conferences will ensure that the issues they care about will be heard.’ Continue reading ‘Australia Campaigners to Make Climate a Key Issue in Last Days of Election’

On April 30th, 2010, 50 or so students from across Vermont came together with clean energy advocates from across the state to urge the candidates for governor of Vermont to ensure that the aging, leaking Vermont Yankee nuclear plant is shut down on time in 2012 and replaced with 100% clean electricity. Our first big action in the Race to Replace Vermont Yankee was a massive bike mobilization that brought passionate advocates from Montpelier, the state capital, to Burlington, the biggest city in the state. Check out our video:

Vermont’s abundant clean energy resources, from numerous micro-hydro sites to bountiful wind going untapped, make Vermont Yankee an unnecessary resource for the state. In order to renew Vermont’s economy, spur job creation in a state where young people are leaving in droves, and ensure Vermont’s status as a clean energy leader in the country, advocates are rallying round the 2010 governor’s election as an opportunity to point Vermont’s energy future in a new direction. Most importantly, we’re having a lot of fun while doing it!

All summer long, a crew of organizers from across Vermont will be working to push the candidates towards a bold clean energy plan, mobilize young clean energy voters to get out and vote, and raise the salience of clean energy in the election as a whole. While we’ve got an unlimited amount of people power, we do have a little bit of a shortage of dollar power, so it would be awesome if we could have the support of the youth climate movement to help guarantee Vermont is put on a path towards a clean energy future. Thanks!

Today the Yale Project on Climate Change released its latest (3rd) report: Americans’ Actions to Conserve Energy, Reduce Waste, and Limit Global Warming. In brief, they found that there is a significant gap between Americans’ conservation attitudes and their actual behaviors. For example:

• 88 percent of Americans say it is important to recycle at home, but only 51 percent “often” or “always” do;
• 81 percent say it is important to use re-usable shopping bags, but only 33 percent “often” or “always” do;
• 76 percent say it is important to buy locally grown food, but only 26 percent “often” or “always” do;
• 76 percent say it is important to walk or bike instead of driving, but only 15 percent “often” or “always” do;
• 72 percent of Americans say it is important to use public transportation or carpool, but only 10 percent say they “often” or “always” do;

On the positive side, large majorities of Americans think these actions are important. Yet there is also plenty of room to improve. It is important to recognize, however, that each behavior confronts its own set of barriers. For example, public transportation may not be locally available or convenient. Policies to lower these barriers will make it much easier for people to act in ways consistent with their values.

The survey also found that, in the past year, approximately 1 out of three Americans have rewarded companies that are taking steps to reduce global warming by buying their products, while slightly fewer report that they have punished companies that have opposed steps to reduce global warming by not buying their products. Finally, in the past year 12 percent of Americans have contacted government officials about global warming. Of these, 72 percent urged officials to take action to reduce global warming.

A copy of the report can be downloaded from http://environment.yale.edu/uploads/BehaviorJan2010.pdf

The CBC (Canadian Broadcasting Corporation), Canada’s largest news service, asked this question yesterday on their Power & Politics program. My answer is below, and you can add yours or ‘agree and disagree’ with posted comments by clicking here.

No and yes.

The federal government knows, and agrees with, what the science is saying. The sticking point is it is acting in a manner that assumes Canada deserves to pollute more than other rich and industrialized countries.

The government should step up to the plate and commit to doing our part. Canada is now among the top 10 greenhouse gas polluters in the world and is among the top 3 polluters per capita. Yet, every single G8 country is doing more than Canada on global warming. The US, for example, is investing 14x more in renewable energy per capita this year than Canada.

[Read: It's like showing up to a world pot-luck where every one else has cooked a meal and Canada thinks it's appropriate to show up with a bag of potato chips.] Continue reading ‘“Do you think the government is serious about climate change? Should it be?”’

Stories from across the country are coming in about some great actions to hold our elected leaders feet to the fire. BIG card deliveries, rallies outside of Capitols, lobby days inside. Check out just a few of the highlights below! And then start to plan your own, its not too late!

http://www.powervote.org/nov18

A post-election poll confirmed that “18-24 year-olds outpaced other age groups in their support for clean energy as a fix for America’s ailing economy, with 87 percent support.” Now that the election is over, we can’t let them forget it! Plan on action and tell us about it in the comments!

In the Rockies, Power Voters from Univ. of Northern Colorado and Univ. of Colorado, Boulder are printing out some big welcome cards, taking them to campus on Monday to get hundreds of signatures, then delivering them to their reps on Tuesday!

Students from four different campuses in Florida are headed to their State Capitol in Tallahasse where they’ll get a lobby training and then meet with the offices of Representatives Boyd and Nelson, along with meeting with 6 state reps. Meanwhile events are sprouting up all over Flordia, notably in Miami and the University of South Florida in Tampa.

Folks with the Maryland Student Climate Coalition are joining DC residents, CCAN, 1Sky and a host of other allies on Capital Hill to demand Obama and the new Congress to take “Climate Action Now.” The rally will serve as an energizer for when they storm the Capitol Building and talk with as many reps as possible.

S.P.E.A.K. at University of Tennesse, Knoxville are creating a HUGE 15 foot greeting card. That card is going to be nearly as big as the stack of Power Vote Pledges they collected this fall.

Chelsea of the Black Mesa Water Coalition is working to secure a meeting with newly elected Congresswoman Ann Kirkpatrick.

A green jobs campaign is underway at Clark University, and students there are using the Nov. 18th to demand green jobs now of their representatives.

And this is only the beginning.  There are a ton of things going on out there.  Got something planned? Post it in the comments!

Unroll the green carpet, strap on an eco-gown, and get voting! The first annual “Foolies”- the official awards of Fossil Fools Day- have begun.

Vote in the online poll and this year’s winners will get a “special” delivery of their awards on April 1st, Fossil Fools Day . Vote today!

Nominees for this year’s top prize include the CEOs of General Motors, Bank of America, ExxonMobil and Dynegy, as well as the premier of Alberta, Canada.

Organized by the Energy Action Coalition, Co-op America and Rainforest Action Network, the “Foolies” recognize the world’s biggest contributors to our devastating global addiction to fossil fuels. The awards feature five different categories: Fossil Fool of the Year, Outstanding Performance in Corporate Greenwashing, Most Inauspicious Newcomer, Lifetime Achievement and Biggest Human Toll.

Check out the full listing of the nominees and VOTE TODAY!

Continue reading ‘Announcing the Foolies’

On the eve of the South Carolina democratic primary, some battles are being fought on stage, and others in the parking lot.

This primary season, leading up to arguably the most important presidential election in recent history, has been a circus. Even outside the candidate events, voters waiting in line to cheer Huckabee or Obama might see confederate-flag-jacket donning Ron Paul supporters espouse southern pride, orange-shirted volunteers collect petitions about Darfur and PETA organizers dressed up as pigs holding puzzling signs that say “Stop Global Warming, Tax Meat.” And while all the presidential campaigns try to capture the media’s attention by printing more and bigger signs, and turning out louder supporters, they can’t quite keep the menagerie at bay.

In a way, this is all good for democracy – it shows that volunteers and organizations are pressuring candidates on specific issues, many of which the candidates have not sufficiently addressed on the stump or in debates. Politicians have a knack for beating around the bush. But, when a corporate-funded group joins the cast, as the euphemistic Americans for Balanced Energy Choices (ABEC) has, the parking lot battles really begin. Continue reading ‘Let the Games Begin’