Resources for the Transition
Support Climate Action
Please consider supporting The Presidential Climate Action Project
The Green Economy
Recovery Act Information Center: What You Need To Know
The Apollo Alliance has created an informative web site on the economic stimulus package and its green investments.
Researchers from the Grantham Research Institute on Climate Change and the Environment and the Centre for Climate Change Economics and Policy conclude that about US$400 billion should be spent worldwide on "green" policies and investments which also help economic recovery and lay the foundations of sustainable low-carbon growth. The report, "An outline of the case for a "green" stimulus", points out that this sum represents about 20 per cent of the US$2 trillion, or 4 per cent of global gross domestic product, that governments might spend in the next 18 months on fiscal stimulus packages to lessen the economic downturn. Read more here:
http://www.forceforgood.com/Uploaded_Content/tool/202200918294989.pdf
Environmental Views, Past and Present
President Obama has dismantled many of the Bush administration's policies but will build on others.
By John M. Broder, Andrew C. Revkin, Felicity Barringer and Cornelia Dean, courtesy of the New York Times
The Carnegie Corporation of New York is sponsoring a new web site called "Advice to the President", a nonpartisan collection of recommendations from scores of think tanks, academic institutions, media and nongovernmental organizations, including the Presidential Climate Action Project.
The U.S. Climate Action Partnership -- a coalition of businesses and environmental organizations, has released a new "blueprint" for Congressional action on climate change: http://gristmill.grist.org/images/user/6337/USCAP_Blueprint.pdf
The House released its version of an economic stimulus package on Jan. 15.
Go to: http://www.talkingpointsmemo.com/news/2009/01/summary_american_recovery_and_reinvestment.php
The full House Stimulus Bill can be acccessed here: http://appropriations.house.gov/pdf/RecoveryBill01-15-09.pdf
Barack Obama has issued the preliminary details of his plan to stimulate the economy. Final elements of the plan still are being negotiated with Congress.
The Text of Barack Obama's Economic Speech
The Obama-Biden Plan [PDF/101KB]
Environment America has issued two sets of recommendations for Congress and the Obama Administration on clean energy and economic stimulus:
Clean Energy, Bright Future: Rebuilding America Through Green Infrastructure
Repowering America with a Green Economic Recovery Plan
Obama Transition Team's Economic Stimulus Plan [PDF/145KB]
How would you spend $50 billion? — The Alliance to Save Energy Plan
A blog post that references recommendations to Obama from the Alliance to Save Energy
A coalition of organizations dedicated to energy justice for Native Americans has produced recommendations for the Obama Administration. The coalition includes Honor the Earth, the Intertribal Council On Utility Policy, the International Indian Treaty Council and the Indigenous Environmental Network. [PDF/210KB]
The 2030 Challenge Stimulus Plan
A Transition Team Brief from Architecture 2030 [PDF/294KB]
The Climate for Change
Al Gore’s piece on transforming the economy while confronting climate change.
Courtesy of the New York Times.
Strategy for Green Recovery – Stimulating the Economy Today by Rebuilding for Future Prosperity
Recommendations from the Center for American Progress Action Fund
In November 2008, a very extensive set of recommendations for transitioning to a green economy was submitted to the Obama transition team by a collection of Environmental groups. [PDF/2MB]
Climate Policy as Economic Stimulus: Evidence and Opportunities from the States
Done properly, sector-based climate change mitigation policies can cut pollution, save
money and create jobs. State opportunities can be scaled to the national level. [PDF/1.4MB]
The Apollo Alliance has released the Apollo Economic Recovery Act. Go to www.apolloalliance.org.
Economic Recovery through Investments in our Environment, Energy System and Heritage
A coalition of environmental organizations has sent the Obama Transition Team its recommendations for specific spending that should be part of an economic recovery package.
Rebuilding America with New Infrastructure
National Action Plan for Energy Efficiency Vision for 2025: A Framework for Change
A paper from the EPA outlining the possibilities for energy efficiency between now and 2025. [PDF/1.4MB]
The Tremaine Foundation has released "Good Governance Safeguards for Economic Recovery Programs." It states that investments in clean energy and 21st century transportation infrastructure will be the centerpiece of the emerging economic recovery package. [PDF/63KB]
An America 2050 Press Release ~ Call to New Administration: ONLY One Chance to do this right, Invest Wisely
[PDF/85KB]
The National League of Cities ~ The Future of our Hometowns and the Nation
"In cities across America, environmental issues aren’t trendy; they are fundamental realities that alter the
health, economic viability, and growth of communities." — Kathleen Novak, Mayor, Northglenn, Colorado
Climate Action and Clean Energy
Hurdles (Not Financial Ones) Await Electric Grid Update
Some industry experts argue that the problem of making the electric grid greener goes well beyond upgrading and expanding the existing power lines.
By Matthew L. Wald courtesy of The New York Times
John Doerr's Five Recommendations for Congress
The legendary Silicon Valley venture capitalist made five recommendations to Congress and President-elect Barack Obama to jumpstart a green-tech revolution and fight global warming. Courtesy of SFGate
A Message to the Nation from the American Response to Climate Change Conference describing a four plank plan to reduce US greenhouse gas emissions. More information from this conference can be found at: http://www.usclimateaction.org/index.php?page=17
Strengthening U.S. Leadership of International Clean Energy Cooperation
A report from NREL on American leadership on clean energy technologies
Biodiversity in a Rapidly Changing World
A list of recommendations issued by the National Council on Science and the Environment ~ December 8, 2008
From the Western Governors' Association ~ A letter to Barack Obama concerning the future of energy. It seems to indicate that the Western governors are ready to join the Obama administration in the transition to a new energy economy. [PDF/118KB]
The State of California's recommendations to the EPA on regulation of greenhouse gases under the Clean Air Act.
From the Council on Competitiveness
Prioritize.
A 100-Day Energy Action Plan
For the 44th President of the United States
Two mystery authors used a pen name – and set off a guessing game in the blogosphere -- when they circulated this insightful list of recommendations for the Obama administration. One of them has revealed his name: Richard Ayres of the Ayres Law Group in Washington, D.C. The other author, still unnamed, reportedly serves on President-elect Obama's transition team.
Climate Communities and the International Council for Local Environmental Initiatives – USA have released the "Empowering Local Government Climate Action Blueprint", a policy agenda for President Obama and 111th Congress. The two organizations invite endorsements from elected officials; more than 375 have signed so far. To endorse the blueprint and for more information, go to www.icleiusa.org or www.climatecommunities.us.
What Should the Next President Do About Climate Change?
Clean Air-Cool Planet has a message for President-elect Obama: Move quickly on climate change. The latest report from CA-CP's Climate Policy Center, Building a Foundation for Success: Recommendations for Early Action on Climate Change, spells out 25 recommendations for the new President's transition and the first 150 days from election day.
The House Select Committee on Energy Independence & Global Warming has prepared a Staff Report for the 110th Congress (October 31, 2008) that details staff findings and recommendations as a result of the hearing and activities of the Committee over that past 18-months. The report identifies the challenges created by climate change and proposes "win-win" recommendations to improve America's energy independence while simultaneously reducing harmful emissions. The report is available from the Committee Website. There is an Executive Summary [PDF/1.3MB] and the Full Report. [PDF/1.5MB]
The Center for Climate Strategies ("CCS") submitted comments to the EPA on November 28th, 2008. They contain information on advance notice of proposed rule making to regulate emissions of greenhouse gases under the Federal Clean Air Act. [PDF/733KB]
The University Consortium for Atmospheric Research has sent the transition team this 12 page paper with specific program, management, and budget recommendations: http://www.ucar.edu/td/transition.pdf [PDF/1.2MB]
National Security and International Climate Engagement
Two reports being released on February 5th, 2009 propose ways for President Obama and Chinese leaders to begin addressing together, as a major priority, how to curb emissions of carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases linked to rising temperatures. From the Asia Society and the Pew Center on Global Climate Change, A Roadmap for US-China Cooperation on Energy and Climate Change. The report outlines the Initiative for U.S.- China Cooperation on Energy and Climate addresses the unfolding global climate crisis and the critical roles that both the U.S. and China must play in forging a solution. The other is from the Brookings Institution, entitled; Overcoming Obstacles to U.S.- China Cooperation on Climate Change. It presents a menu of nine ways to build political support in both countries for sustained cooperation on cutting emissions.
Harvard Project on International Climate Agreements
The goal of this project is to help identify key design elements of a scientifically sound, economically rational, and politically pragmatic post-2012 international policy architecture for global climate change.
National Security and the Threat of Climate Change
Climate change's anticipated impacts such as sea level rise and forced migration can have multiplier effects, accelerating traditional security threats. This concern is the conclusion of 11 retired flag officers in a new report from the CNA Corporation, National Security and the Threat of Climate Change. Video Available
The Age of Consequences: The Foreign Policy and National Security Implications of Global Climate Change
A report from The Center for Strategic & International Studies and The Center for a New American Security.
[PDF/2.1MB]
Science in Government
Long Droughts, Rising Seas Predicted Despite Future CO2 Curbs
Greenhouse gas levels currently expected by mid-century will produce devastating long-term droughts and a sea-level rise that will persist for 1,000 years regardless of how well the world curbs future emissions of carbon dioxide, an international team of scientists reported yesterday.
By Juliet Eilperin, courtesy of The Washington Post
A 50-Year Farm Bill
We need a farm bill that addresses the problems of soil loss and degradation, toxic pollution, fossil-fuel dependency and the destruction of rural communities.
An editorial By Wes Jackson and Wendell Berry, courtesy of the New York Times
The H. John Heinz III Center for Science, Economics and the Environment has published recommendations for Congress, the Executive Branch and States on developing national environmental indicators – a necessary tool to assess national progress on climate change and other important environmental issues. We have indicators for the economy; we need them for the environment.
Read More » [PDF/1.2MB]
 | From the Heinz Center |
