Climate Change: Recent Headlineshttp://www.understandingvt.org/climate-change-recent-headline/en-US2008-12-03T06:45:54ZSquarespace Site Server v5.0.0 (http://www.squarespace.com/)At University of Vermont, study examines climate's effect on fall colorshttp://www.understandingvt.org/climate-change-recent-headline/2008/9/29/at-university-of-vermont-study-examines-climates-effect-on-f.htmlVCF Staff2008-09-29T19:50:48ZVermont Public Radio reports that the University of Vermont's Maple Research Center is "trying to determine if a warming climate could be dulling New England's fall foliage." The group is "studying how temperature affects the development of autumn colors and whether warming could mute them, prolong the foliage viewing season or delay it." The study is funded by a three-year, $45,000 U.S. Department of Agriculture grant, and the group is "planning to measure color-producing chemicals in leaves exposed to varying temperatures in hopes of finding a pattern."

]]>Carbon auction results due Mondayhttp://www.understandingvt.org/climate-change-recent-headline/2008/9/26/carbon-auction-results-due-monday.htmlVCF Staff2008-09-26T20:16:00ZVermont Public Radio reports that the results of the three-hour Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative (RGGI) auction -- the nation's first greenhouse gas auction -- are set for release on Monday, September 29th. "The auction was run by World Energy, an operator of online green exchanges," and "a coalition of 10 northeastern states is hoping the auction will help curb global warming." The auction "bids will be used to determine a clearing price based on supply versus demand. " Notably, "the cap-and-trade program is viewed as a model for a national program. It includes New York, Connecticut, Delaware, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, New Jersey, New Hampshire, Rhode Island, and Vermont."

]]>First US greenhouse gas auction set for Sept. 25http://www.understandingvt.org/climate-change-recent-headline/2008/9/22/first-us-greenhouse-gas-auction-set-for-sept-25.htmlVCF Staff2008-09-22T20:30:00ZVermont Public Radio reports that "Vermont and nine other northeastern states this week will take steps to check global warming when they conduct the nation's first carbon auction, taking the same approach that curbed lake-killing acid rain." As part of the action, carbon credits will be sold during a series of quarterly online auctions. "Vermont stands to reap a benefit because with the low carbon-emitting profile of its electrical system, the state has ample carbon credits to sell." Notably, "the cap-and-trade greenhouse gas reduction program, which aims to hold carbon dioxide emissions steady through 2014 and then gradually reduce them, is widely viewed as a model for future programs around the globe."

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]]>Almanac calls for cool winter, cool decadeshttp://www.understandingvt.org/climate-change-recent-headline/2008/9/10/almanac-calls-for-cool-winter-cool-decades.htmlVCF Staff2008-09-10T16:32:47ZVermont Public Radio reports that the Old Farmer's Almanac, which hits newsstands today, predicts a cooler winter this year and a cooler half century. Indeed, the Almanac says "a study of solar activity and corresponding records on ocean temperatures and climate point to a cooler, not warmer, climate, for perhaps the next 50 years. Editor-in-Chief Judson Hale said it remains to be seen whether the human impact on global temperatures will override any cooling trend."

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]]>CLF outlines five steps for New England to fight climate changehttp://www.understandingvt.org/climate-change-recent-headline/2008/7/29/clf-outlines-five-steps-for-new-england-to-fight-climate-cha.htmlVCF Staff2008-07-29T19:04:38ZVermont Public Radio reports that Conservation Law Foundation (CLF), a regional environmental group, has released a report that outlines five steps Vermont and New England must take over next five years to combat climate change. The report said that "75 percent of transportation dollars should be spent on public transit and programs to fight sprawl"; "the region should spend at least $1 billion dollars on energy conservation measures for homes and businesses"; and New England should "build at least 2,000 megawatts worth of new wind power projects in the next five years." The CLF also "wants to see two of the region's coal-fired power plants shut down and replaced with generating stations using lower-carbon fuel."

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]]>Vt. officials lead on system for carbon emissionshttp://www.understandingvt.org/climate-change-recent-headline/2008/7/9/vt-officials-lead-on-system-for-carbon-emissions.htmlVCF Staff2008-07-09T17:51:16ZThe Rutland Herald reports that "Vermont has been instrumental in shaping the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative (or RGGI), which is designed to help the Northeast aggressively cut its carbon pollution." Vermont's role in RGGI is "partly accidental: The state has little in-state fossil fuel generation and so has few power brokers in the sector influencing its energy policies." In addition, "two Vermonters, Richard Cowart, who runs the Regulatory Assistance Project, and Jeffrey Wennberg, former commissioner of the Department of Environmental Conservation, helped develop RGGI," which is considered "the most ambitious approach to limiting carbon pollution." Notably, "because of their experience with the initiative, Vermont may be poised to play a national role as Congress inches closer to enacting legislation on global warming."

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]]>VPR receives Murrow Award for Climate Change Reportinghttp://www.understandingvt.org/climate-change-recent-headline/2008/7/3/vpr-receives-murrow-award-for-climate-change-reporting.htmlVCF Staff2008-07-03T15:30:56ZThe Rutland Herald reports that "Vermont Public Radio has been honored with a 2008 national Edward R. Murrow Award for excellence in broadcast journalism" under "the category of Continuing Coverage for its comprehensive reporting on climate change in 2007." Indeed, "thirteen representative stories were chosen for the entry out of more than 50 stories, interviews, programs and commentaries, including the week-long series, 'The Changing Climate.' They included initiatives in the Vermont Legislature, coverage of the greenhouse gas emissions trial, a Vermont Edition program on carbon offsets, reports on the possible effects of climate change on Vermont's ski and maple industries, an interview with author Bill McKibben and even a story on 'Climate Change, the Musical.'"

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]]>Brattleboro on target to reduce greenhouse gas emissionshttp://www.understandingvt.org/climate-change-recent-headline/2008/5/22/brattleboro-on-target-to-reduce-greenhouse-gas-emissions.htmlVCF Staff2008-05-22T14:44:24ZThe Brattleboro Reformer reports that in 2002, "Brattleboro joined the Cities for Climate Protection program, a nonprofit organization that works with municipalities to develop local solutions to global climate change. As a member, Brattleboro was required to take certain actions," one of which was to create a Brattleboro Area Climate Protection Local Action Plan. In addition, "the town performed a greenhouse gas emissions analysis in 2002 and in 2003" and set two greenhouse gas reduction targets. "The first was to reduce emissions by 10 percent below 2000 levels by 2010 for the town as a whole, and the second was to reduce emissions by 20 percent in municipal buildings and schools and in the town's various operations." According to town energy coordinator Paul Cameron, Brattleboro is "on target to meet or exceed those goals." Cameron added that "a big part of the reason the town is on target is because Fibermark, which at one time was responsible for 19 percent of the town's greenhouse gases, made changes to its industrial process which virtually eliminated its emissions." The town also made a "switch to biofuels for the town's vehicles" and launched a building efficiency program to improve efficiency in 14 town and school buildings. Now, the Brattleboro Selectboard may establish an energy committee to "oversee [the town's] efforts to reduce energy usage and greenhouse gas emissions" and possibly to update the action plan.

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]]>Burlington mayor backs "eco-teams"http://www.understandingvt.org/climate-change-recent-headline/2008/4/23/burlington-mayor-backs-eco-teams.htmlVCF Staff2008-04-23T17:35:58ZThe Burlington Free Press reports that "Burlington Mayor Bob Kiss celebrated Earth Day on Tuesday by urging city residents to form 'eco-teams' with their friends and neighbors to reduce each family's carbon emissions by 5,000 pounds a year." The eco-teams are part of a "citywide campaign called the Kitchen Table Collaborative, a program in which teams of five to eight households meet periodically to brainstorm practical ways to reduce carbon emissions." Kiss explained that he has started his own eco-team in his Germain street Neighborhood and that the team's meetings have "raised his consciousness about unnecessary use of fossil fuels." Kiss added that his family is now "discussing an investment in new, tighter windows to reduce heating costs and emissions" and "are using their electric clothes dryer less and a drying rack in the basement more." Ultimately, "Kiss said his goal is to enlist 80 percent of the city's households to join eco-teams as part of the city's effort to reduce the residential carbon footprint of the city 25 percent by 2012."

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]]>Bush administration wants Vermont emissions ruling set asidehttp://www.understandingvt.org/climate-change-recent-headline/2008/4/22/bush-administration-wants-vermont-emissions-ruling-set-aside.htmlVCF Staff2008-04-22T13:23:38ZThe Burlington Free Press reports that "the Bush administration has urged a federal appeals court to set aside a ruling by a federal judge that said states have the authority to regulate greenhouse gas emissions from vehicles." Indeed, "the Justice Department, in a friend-of-the-court brief filed late Wednesday, said the ruling in Vermont should be dismissed because the case was dependent upon California's receiving a waiver from the Environmental Protection Agency to reduce vehicle greenhouse gas emissions." In response, Vermont Attorney General William Sorrell said that "there's a long way the Bush administration has to go before they're going to uphold the validity of the denial of the waiver. We look forward to that fight." Notably, if enacted, the ruling would require "a 30 percent cut in carbon dioxide emissions from cars and trucks by 2016."

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