Archive - Feb 5, 2009

In case you missed the live 1Sky Twitter updates, here are some of my notes from the lecture of John Fyfe, Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) scientist.

7:35 PM— John Fyfe, senior research scientist for the Canadian Centre for Climate Modeling and Analysis, presenting the “The Science of Global Climate Change" at Whitman College.

President Barack Obama is in full media blitz mode, hitting the airwaves and the Internet to rally support for his economic stimulus package. By now you probably read his op-ed in the Washington Post. But did you notice how much ink (or pixels) he devoted to green priorities? Some excerpts:

This plan is more than a prescription for short-term spending -- it's a strategy for America's long-term growth and opportunity in areas such as renewable energy, health care and education.

Last week, the House passed an economic recovery bill containing over $100 billion for green projects--thanks to activists like you who took the time to write, call, and visit Congress. That's the largest investment in green projects we've ever seen, and it could create over 2 million jobs that this country needs urgently. But now the action moves to the Senate, where those green projects are in grave danger of being axed from the stimulus bill. Please call your senators today and tell them to keep the economic recovery package green.

Just how involved should scientists be in shaping policy?

This question recently popped up in the blogosphere after the American Meteorological Society (AMS) awarded its highest honor, the Carl Gustaf Rossby Research Medal to James Hansen of NASA's Goddar Institute for Space Studies. Hansen is one of the country's most respected climate scientists, as well as one of the most visible figures pushing for greenhouse gas reductions, so his award was rather controversial.

Senator Barbara Boxer's climate change principles, which she announced in a press conference last Tuesday, are a solid basis for action to tackle the climate crisis. Senator Boxer is the Chair of the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee, and will be a key player on any legislation to stem global warming. (You can watch a replay of the press conference on the committee's website.)