President-Elect Obama calls for urgent fix to global climate change

At the Governor's Climate Change Summit in Los Angeles this week, President-Elect Obama made strong statements about the global climate changes affecting the world.

"Few challenges facing America–and the world–are more urgent than combating climate change. The science is beyond dispute and the facts are clear. Sea levels are rising. Coastlines are shrinking. We've seen record drought, spreading famine, and storms that are growing stronger with each passing hurricane season," Obama said at the summit.

As if that statement weren't enough, Obama had some other things to say that left little doubt whether he will push environmental policy changes during his presidency. Among them:

• "My presidency will mark a new chapter in America's leadership on climate change that will strengthen our security and create millions of new jobs in the process.
• "Climate change and our dependence on foreign oil, if left unaddressed, will continue to weaken our economy and threaten our national security.”

The Daily Green has an opinion piece responding to what Obama said, if you are interested.

United Nations reports worldwide rising carbon emissions

Worldwide carbon emissions from industrialized countries increased from 2000 to 2006, after showing a slight decline throughout the 1990s, according to a United Nations report released yesterday.

The release of the report comes two weeks before the U.N. is set to meet and discuss the issue at a major review conference. The conference is expected to work on an agreement that will serve as a successor to the 1997 Kyoto Protocol. The United States signed the Kyoto Protocol but never had any plans of taking the necessary steps to ratify it, which would have made it legally binding for the country to reduce the six greenhouse gases named in the protocol.

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Less toxic antifreeze may be on the way

Performance testing of using glycerin, a byproduct of bio diesel production, as a base in antifreeze has shown that it should be reexamined as a possible less toxic base.

This Eco Geek article supports the use of glycerin in antifreeze because the current bases are much more toxic. Check it out for more info on the subject.

How will President Obama's administration impact the environment?

As this blogger points out, "The transition from a Bush Administration to a Barack Obama Administration implies enormous policy differences." That may be quite the understatement.

But what does this mean for environmental and scientific issues?

As far as the environment goes, Obama criticized the Bush administration's stance and reaction to global warming. During the campaign, the President-Elect called for an 80 percent reduction in greenhouse gas emission in the country by 2050.

In the realm of science, the Bush administration drew heavy criticism for allegedly editing federal reports about global warming. Will the Obama administration continue this practice, or will the new President receive criticism for overstating the problems surrounding this issue, as many from across the aisle believe?

One thing's for sure: It will be interesting to see how the Obama adminstration deals with environmental issues and if the new President is able to keep the promises he campaigned on.

Brown is going green

That's right: UPS has joined forces with the EPA to start "greening" its fleet of delivery trucks.

The trucks are powered by an eco-friendly hydraulic hybrid system that combines a diesel engine with a unique hydraulic propulsion system. The technology was developed in the EPA laboratory in Michigan and patented by the government agency.

Government testing has shown that the trucks use 50 percent less fuel and have much lower carbon emissions than regular delivery trucks.

While this initial order is only for seven delivery trucks, the company hopes that the EPA can work out agreements with manufacturers to mass produce the trucks, making them able to be affordably purchased in large quantities.

Click here for more information in a story on cnn.com.

Researchers claim to have proof that global warming is man-made

Researchers at the United Kingdom's University of East Anglia claim to have discovered conclusive proof that humans are responsible for the rising temperatures in the earth's polar regions.

As part of their study, the researchers created statistical models that suggest the warming in the polar regions is not consistent with internal climate variability or natural drivers alone.

For more on this, check out this story on cnn.com.