5 Plans for Action on Climate Change and Renewable Energy

Recently I came across an article in 'Mother Earth News' by Aly Van Dyke April/May  2009 issue, that I would like to share it with you. 

World leaders and the scientific community have come to a clear consensus that climate change is real -- and is primarily driven by human activities, especially burning fossil fuels.... The good news is the time is right for a sea change in energy policy, especially one that will create new 'green' jobs. The bad news is our window of oppurtunity for change is quickly closing. The more we learn about climate change, the clerarer it becomes that we need to take action quickly. Secretary of Energy Steven Chu has warned of the serious consequences of climate change, saying the American people need to wake up. Some scientists warn that we are already dangerously close to major tipping point.... There are currently dozens of plans and ideas for how we can stabilize our climate. Here are summaries of just a few. While they may have different ideas for how to reduce carbon emissions, all of them are calling for decisive action -- soon....  GREEN GROUPS PROPOSING PLANS -- (a). The American Solar Energy Society (ASES) is a nonprofit organization dedicated to increasing energy efficiency and the use of solar and opther renewable energy technologies.. The ASES says that USA has the potential to generate 50 percent of its electricity from renewable energy by 2030. By 2050, ASES says the the Unted States needs to cut carbon emission by 60 percent to 80 percent of current levels. You can get further details at www.ases.org/images/stories/file/ASES/climate_change.pdf. (b). The Apollo Alliance pools resorces from businesses, environmental organizations and community leaders. Its plan calls for a $500 billion investment in clean energy over the next 10 years, which the Alliance says would create 5 million green- collar  jobs. Read details at - www.apolloalliance.org/apollo-14/full-proposal. (c). The Earth Policy Institute (EPI) is lead by Mother Earth News contributing editor Lester R. Brown, a highly respected scientist and author.Brown's newest book, Plan B 3.0: Mobilizing to Save Civilization, outlines steps needed to cut global emissions by 80 percent by 2020, with wind energy as the cornerstone -- you can read it on www.earth-policy.org/books/PB3/index.htm  (d). The United States Climate Action Partnership (USCAP) is a coalition of big-name corporations and environmental organizations, including Nature Consevancy, the Natural resorces Defence Council, General Electric, General Motors and many more. The group has proposed a framework for new climate legislation that includes cap and trade program for greenhouse gas emissions, aiming to cut 20 percent of greenhouse gas emissions by 2020. Learn more - www.us-cap.org. (e). Repower America is a project of the Alliance for Climate Protection, which is headed by Al Gore. Repower America has proposed a plan to power the United States entirely with clean energy within the next 10 years. The plan also includes big investemnts in energy efficiency and improvements to the electrical grid. Learn more at - www.repoweramerica.org/plan.

We, folks at the GREENWALA can also contribute greatly to the environmental causes, by making the general populace aware of the issues involved and what we can do to educate and publicize this information. I would like to hear your feedback on this issue.