Climate Change Action

Here are the links from a few emails i have recieved recently but dont have time to say more about. They are an interesting bunch. I`m more than happy to recieve emails about climate related topics; i will link to a site or document if i believe it will be of interest to my readers; if i`m not to busy i may also write an article about it or even pass it around my online contacts.

1. http://www.ifenergy.com/ An interesting energy website run by Michael Olivo of Chicago.
2. Tendances Carbone A monthly newsletter with information about the EU carbon Markets.
3. WISIONS A website created by the Wuppertal institute

Background to WISIONS

Sustainable development is possible. Numerous innovative and valuable
contributions, from different countries, fields and institutions, have shown
that an appropriate reconciliation of economic, ecological and social factors is
not unrealistic utopia. We have made a promising start, but the greatest
challenge facing us in the 21st century is to learn how to use the world's
resources more efficiently, and in an ecologically sound and socially balanced
way.Yes, progress is being made, but a dozen years after the UN Conference on
Environment and Development in Rio de Janeiro, many people and developing
countries still lack access to resources and clean technologies. At the same
time, people continue to live using unsustainable ways of consumption and
production.

To meet global challenges like climate change, water scarcity and
poverty, it is necessary to foster projects of potential strategic global
importance. We can do this by supporting them so they can be implemented
locally. Also examples of good practice need to be actively promoted to a wider
audience.

4. http://www.greenlightloans.com Essay Competition: Why its Good to Live Green

Greenlight is inviting consumers to write about why it's "Good To Live
Green" as it relates to protecting the environment in the home, office, school
or auto. Entries of 500 words or less will be judged on creativity, articulation
and strength of theme. The essays must be submitted through
www.greenlightloans.com by July 20, 2006, and winners will be announced the week of August 7, 2006

5.Oxford Institute for Energy Studies: Two New Articles by Benito Muller
6. Tiempo Climate Newswatch: Latest Newsletter
7. Annex 1 Working Group on Climate Change: 5 New Reports

The site includes five new reports released by the Annex I Expert Group in May 2006.
Adaption to Climate Change Key Terms, OECD/IEA, Levina, E. and Tirpak, D. (2006)
Domestic Policy Frameworks for Adaptation to Climate Change in the Water Sector, Part I: Annex I Countries, OECD/IEA, Levina, E. and Adams, H. (2006)
Issues Related to a Programme of Activities under the CDM, OECD/IEA, Ellis, J. (2006)
Sectoral Crediting Mechanisms for Greenhouse Gas Mitigation: Institutional and
Operational Issues, OECD/IEA, Baron, R. and Ellis, J. (2006):
The Developing CDM Market: May 2006 Update, OECD/IEA, Ellis, J. and Karousakis, K. (2006)
8. Arcitechture 2030 First US City Signs up to the pledge, well done Santa Fe!
Cities across America have just taken an historic step in addressing the issue of global warming. The US Conference of Mayors has made a commitment to reduce global warming pollution from buildings in order to protect the world for future generations.On Monday, June 5, 2006, the US Conference of Mayors adopted the "2030 Challenge" (Resolution #50) for ALL buildings. The resolution was put forward by the mayors' of cities from the 4 corners of the continental U.S. - Chicago Mayor Richard Daley and Albuquerque Mayor Martin Chavez, Miami Mayor Manuel Diaz and Seattle Mayor Greg Nickels.As buildings are responsible for emitting half of the green house gas emissions that cause global warming, cities are committing to implement an immediate 50% fossil fuel greenhouse gas (GHG) emission reduction standard for all new and renovated buildings (50% below the national average for each building type) and setting benchmarks and timelines to increase the reduction standard for new buildings to carbon-neutral by 2030 -meaning they will use no fossil fuel, GHG emitting energy to operate.
Last week on May 31, 2006 the City of Santa Fe became the first city in the US to formally adopt the "2030 Challenge". This means that all new city buildings, starting immediately, will be built to use 50% less fossil fuel, GHG emitting energy. By year 2030 all new city buildings in Santa Fe will be built to operate without emitting any greenhouse gases.Additionally, New Mexico Governor Bill Richardson issued his first executive order this year requiring that all new state buildings and major renovations meet the 50% fossil fuel greenhouse gas emissions reduction standard called for by Architecture 2030. This is another important step in the "2030" initiative to address major greenhouse gas reductions in the Building Sector. The 78,000 member American Institute of
Architects formally adopted the "2030 Challenge" in January 2006. As this initiative spreads across the country and around the globe, it will be the most significant movement to influence architecture and building design since the industrial revolution.
Please stay tuned...Architecture 2030