Let me start this post by saying that I am far from being a political expert. In fact, I am probably the last person anyone would want to talk to about politics. That being said, I glanced at an article to day by Scientific American about the new climate bill (S. 1733) that would, at least in part, put more stringent regulations on greenhouse gas emissions. Some senators, Sen. Max Baucus in particular, is warning that the regulations on emissions may need to be lowered to allow the bill to be passed in the Senate. Even though he is suggesting they be lowered, I don't know if by how much and how they will compare to current emission regulations. Usually I am the first person to say that "small steps are just as important as large ones." I definitely believe in this, but regarding this climate bill I have a different opinion. I think it is time for us to not slack off our intentions and put together a bill that will actually have an impact on global warming. Many other nations in the world are taking a strong leading role in country-level climate protection, and we need to do the same. We have already slacked off by not committing to the Kyoto Protocol, and we cannot afford more backing down. When legislators back down on requirements for emissions, I belive it sends the idea to everyone that maybe we don't need to be more eco-friendly. And I think legislators need to set an example for how the rest of the country should approach global warming and climate change - with a positive attitude and the desire to push the limits on our environmental "cleanliness."

Tomorrow is the International Day of Climate Action. This is a part of the 350.org campaign that aims to develop solutions to the climate crisis. Across the world tomorrow, events are taking place to raise awareness of the climate crisis and promote the development of solutions to the crisis. There is an event taking place in Little Rock at MacArthur Park. There will be several guest speakers, including State Representative Kathy Webb and Glen Hooks, regional director of the Sierra Club. This event looks like it is going to be a huge success, with speakers, live music, and various educational booths and demonstrations. A cool feature of every event for the International Day of Climate Action is that people at these events "will gather at some point for a big group photo depicting that all important message. At 350.org, we'll assemble all the photos for a gigantic, global, visual petition." (Source: 350.org) I hope everyone checks this out tomorrow if they are around Little Rock.

Link to Event page at 350.org.

Happy Blog Action Day 2009! Today, all across the globe, bloggers are posting something about climate change in hopes of educating people about problems we are faced with. By creating debate, maybe some change will come to alter the current course of climate change. For a complete list of all the bloggers participating and additional information, check out http://www.blogactionday.org.

I have written about a lot of different issues related to eco-friendly living, and many of these topics are closely related to climate change. One of my favorite is driving and fuel consumption. Driving our cars releases carbon emissions that are a part of climate change. The more fuel we use in our vehicles, the more carbon entering the atmosphere. Slowing down to 55 miles per hour saves fuel, and over the course of your "driving life" you will cause less carbon to enter the atmosphere.

Slowing down isn't the only thing we have to do. We also need to figure out ways to get carbon out of the air. One way is to plant "green roofs." Instead of shingle or metal roofs, green roofs consist of plants that use carbon dioxide in the air and replace it with oxygen. Sure, these may not be possible for everyone, but every new green roof helps lower the effects of carbon emissions in the air. This is not a complete solution, but it may be the first or next step to a world unaffected by severe climate change. An article from Discovery News talks about this issue and sheds some interesting light on what green roofs are all about.

Environmental sustainability shouldn't all be serious; there is definitely room for some light-heartedness. Check out this video that Colin Beavan ("No Impact Man") posted on his blog. I loved it so much that I wanted to post it again on my blog. Hope you don't mind No Impact Man!

Guest Blog Post on Blog Action Day by Simon Owens for CARE

Climate change is not only about melting ice caps and polar bears. Climate change is about people.

Swinging weather patterns are creating disasters on a scale that human civilization has never before witnessed. For the world’s poorest people – the ones least equipped to deal with its effects – climate change is devastating their crops, livelihoods and communities.

"Climate change is worsening the plight of those hundreds of millions of men, women and children who already live in extreme poverty – and it threatens to push hundreds of millions more people into similar destitution," says CARE International’s Secretary General Robert Glasser. "A concerted international response to this unprecedented challenge is required if we are to avoid catastrophic human suffering."

CARE is working toward a world where poor people can create opportunity out of crises like climate change. But the current reality is that climate change makes poor people even more vulnerable.

For instance, agricultural production will likely decline in the poorest countries, especially in sub-Saharan Africa. Less reliable rainfall will likely affect planting seasons, crop growth and livestock health – and lead to increased malnutrition. In other parts of the developing world, flooding will likely further diminish the quality of already-marginal soil and could cause outbreaks of water-borne diseases such as cholera and dysentery.

Climate change also is hurling many poor families into “Catch-22” situations. For example, they may select crops that are less sensitive to rainfall variation, but also less profitable. As incomes decline and people are not able to eke out a living, children are forced to leave school, assets are sold off to afford essentials, malnutrition rates increase and large-scale migration ensues. The end result? Deepening poverty for tens of millions of people around the world.

What Must Be Done?

At the international level, negotiations to develop a new treaty to guide global efforts to address climate change will take place in Copenhagen, Denmark in just a couple weeks. The United States must help lead those efforts, and forge a strong agreement that caps emissions, stops global warming and responds to the effects already in motion. We must do this for the sake of all of humanity.

What can I do to help?

First, you can make a tax-deductible donation to CARE to help poor families access the tools and education they need to adapt to the effects of climate change, make efficient use of their existing resources and overcome poverty for good.

Second, if you live in the Unites States, you can write your senators and urge them to pass the American Clean Energy and Security Act of 2009, a critical step toward U.S. leadership in tackling climate change. U.S. leadership is critical to making the Copenhagen negotiations a success.

Third, you can join the CARE mailing list to be kept up to date on CARE’s activities and other ways you can take action in the days counting down to Copenhagen.

To donate, take action and join our e-mail list, please visit www.care.org/climate

Check back here tomorrow. I registered my blog on the Blog Action Day site. Everyone registered for this even will be posting something related to climate change. The video below explains.

There was an article in the Arkansas section of Wednesday's Arkansas Democrat Gazette. The article, titled "New Alternative-energy panel has some gaps," fills readers in on what's happening with the newly created commission, created under Act 1301. The purpose of the commission is to explore alternative energy sources in Arkansas (solar, wind, biomass, and other alternative energy sources), and examine the possible economic impact from using alternative energy sources. The commission is only authorized to study this issue in Arkansas, and the commission has not other authority. There is already trouble with the commission, though. Three of the 15 members have not been appointed yet (members are not government employees), there is no allocated budget for the commission, and there are no established deadlines for the commission.

All of this being said, the current members on the commission met for the first time this week to get started. This was on their own time and money. This is definitely an improvement over not having an alternative energy commission, but the state needs to do more. The article mentions that some of these issues could be settled in the next legislative session starting on February 8, 2010. Alternative energy is something that Arkansas needs to give a second consideration. I think the majority of people think Arkansas is not well suited for alternative energy, but I have noticed several recent articles bringing this view into question. At least Arkansas seems to be taking the first steps toward a sustainable future.