Postcards from UN Climate Change Conference

Wed, 10 Dec 2008 10:32:32 GMT

Photo Credit: Wikimedia Commons Postcards from Poznan Keeps Climate Advocates in the Loop During the UN Climate Change Conference that started last week in Poznan, Poland, two globally oriented Earthjustice lawyers are sending updates from on the ground via the organization's Postcards from Poznan Project. More on the conference's goals below the fold.... Read the full story on TreeHugger

Chevron Cleared of Charges in Nigerian Human Rights Case

Thu, 04 Dec 2008 09:30:00 GMT

Photo Credit: San Francisco Sentinel The jury in a San Francisco federal court this week cleared Chevron of charges for human rights abuses committed in NIgeria. More details on the decision and its impact below the fold.... Read the full story on TreeHugger

San Francisco May Charge Drivers for Hitting the Streets

Wed, 26 Nov 2008 09:30:00 GMT

Photo Credit: Paul Chinn, The Chronicle City May Be the First in the US to Charge Drivers a Toll for Choosing Cars Next Tuesday, San Francisco's Board of Supervisors will review plans to charge drivers on the city's roads to ease congestion and encourage car-free transportation. More on the emissions reducing tolls below the fold.... Read the full story on TreeHugger

California Prepares for Rising Sea Levels

Wed, 19 Nov 2008 11:30:01 GMT

California, a leader in climate change policy, made a move this week to prepare for the worst. Governor Schwarzenegger signed an executive order calling for a study of how rising sea levels along the state's 800 mile long coast would affect infrastructure, water supply and land use. More below the fold.... Read the full story on TreeHugger

Climate Refugees in Maldives Buy Land

Sun, 16 Nov 2008 13:38:26 GMT

Rising Sea Levels Move Maldive Residents to Buy Land In Case of Disaster The Maldives plans to move money from tourism to purchase land in case of climate disaster. Eighty percent of the island country, comprised of 1,200 islands, rests at only one meter above already rising sea levels. More on these future climate refugees below the fold.... Read the full story on TreeHugger

Ohio Town Sees Green Opportunity in Devastating Economic News

Fri, 14 Nov 2008 09:00:00 GMT

With Job Cut, Ohio Town Looks to Green Economics Wilmington, Ohio got word this week that DHL would cut 9,500 jobs. The small town in farm country lays at the center point between Cincinnati, Dayton and Columbus and is a central distribution hub for the shipping company. DHL's announcement means 7,000 job cuts in Wilmington, more than half of the city's total population. Locals believe, though, that this devastating news may bring the opportunity for a greener Ohio, starting with the creation of thousands of green jobs in the small town of Wilmington. More below the fold.... Read the full story on TreeHugger

Whales 0, Navy 1: Court Rules In Favor of Lifting Restrictions on Harmful Sonar Use

Wed, 12 Nov 2008 12:00:00 GMT

Supreme Court Sides with the Navy Today the Supreme Court lifted restrictions on Navy sonar use, a practice that has been found to disorient and beach whales. The defeat was felt among environmentalists across the States. More below the fold.... Read the full story on TreeHugger

High Speed Rail from San Francisco to LA Will Make an Even Greener California

Sun, 09 Nov 2008 09:00:00 GMT

220 MPH Train Will Be Built in California California voters approved a key measure Tuesday that will link cities across the coast on a high speed rail system that will travel at 220 MPH. Right now the drive from San Francisco to LA takes at minimum 6 hours along long roads that are often traffic packed. If a Californian opts for the train, the Amtrak Coast Starlight's journey takes a minimum of 12 hours and is known for running behind thanks to other freights on the tracks. The new high speed rail, proposed by the California High Speed Rail Authority back in May, will link these two major cities by a 2 hour and 40 minute trip at around $55 for a one way fare. More below the fold. ... Read the full story on TreeHugger

California Voters Say Yes to Animal Rights

Wed, 05 Nov 2008 10:37:43 GMT

Photo Credit: SF Gate Prop 2 Headed to Victory Yesterday, California voters appeared to vote overwhelmingly in favor of Proposition 2, a historic move that brings animals legal rights in the land of factory farming. Prop 2 guarantees farm animals improvements in their current large scale farm conditions, requiring farmers give them space to turn around, spread their wings, stand up and lie down. More below the fold.... Read the full story on TreeHugger

Chevron in San Francisco Court for Nigerian Human Rights Case

Fri, 31 Oct 2008 11:30:00 GMT

Chevron Faces Torture, Wrongful Death, Assault, And Other Claims Chevron is in San Francisco Federal Court this week, defending itself against charges that it helped kill two Nigerian villagers who were protesting the companies' lack of social responsibility and regard for the environment. At the heart of the case is the question of whether Nigerian protesters did so peacefully or with force. More below the fold.... Read the full story on TreeHugger

Green Millennials Change the World, Starting With the US Election

Wed, 29 Oct 2008 13:25:12 GMT

As the US presidential election nears, there is hope that the millennial generation will come out to vote in full force. The environment is at the top of the millennials' list of issues they hope the next president will work hard to address. Generation We has produced this inspiring short on a generation that will shape the green future. ... Read the full story on TreeHugger

On Global Food Crisis, Bill Clinton Says "We Blew It"

Sun, 26 Oct 2008 11:43:52 GMT

Photo Credit: Jason DeCrow, The AP Earlier this week, Bill Clinton said at the UN that, "we all blew it, including me as president" by treating food crops as commodity rather than a right of the poor. Addressing attendees to the week's World Food Day, Clinton took to reprimanding the World Bank, IMF and other global institutions, that with pressure from the US forced Africans to via market models to invest in fertilizers and GMO seeds, leaving them further away from food self-sufficiency. More below the fold.... Read the full story on TreeHugger

Thousands of Sea Turtles Dead in Baja

Fri, 24 Oct 2008 09:00:00 GMT

3,000 sea turtles have washed up dead on the shores of Baja, California in the last five years according to a report published by UC Santa Cruz last week. More below the fold.... Read the full story on TreeHugger

Despite Palin, Beluga Whales On The Endangered Species List

Wed, 22 Oct 2008 12:00:00 GMT

Photo Credit: National Geographic Despite opposition from Governor Sarah Palin, last week the Bush Administration added Alaska's Cook Inlet beluga whales to the endangered species list. The population has decreased from around 1,300 in the 70s to the 375 or so present today. More below the fold.... Read the full story on TreeHugger

Green Economy's a Good Economy in California

Wed, 22 Oct 2008 09:00:00 GMT

Report Shows California's Investment in Green Boosts Economy According to a study released by UC Berkeley this Monday, thinking green will work wonders for the state's economy despite global financial difficulties. ... Read the full story on TreeHugger

Canola Oil Powered Car Wins Race from Berkeley to Vegas

Sat, 18 Oct 2008 01:34:41 GMT

A Vegetable-Oil Powered Car in the Race, Photo Credit: SF Chronicle Escape from Berkeley Last week gasless cars raced across California to Vegas, in pursuit of not only a $5,000 prize but also the chance to show the world the possibilities of running a car without petroleum. The race, Escape from Berkeley, was officially called "Escape from Berkeley (by any non-petroleum means necessary)." More on the race and the winner below the fold.... Read the full story on TreeHugger

Cancer-Linked Contaminants in Bottled Water Says EWG

Fri, 17 Oct 2008 11:42:09 GMT

A report released by the Environmental Working Group this week provides yet another reason not to drink bottled water: disinfection byproducts, fertilizer residue and pain medication. All these chemicals and more were found in multiple brands of bottled water EWG tested. More on the report below the fold.... Read the full story on TreeHugger

Forbes Lists America's Hottest Green Job Markets

Wed, 15 Oct 2008 12:00:00 GMT

Top Ten US Cities for Green Jobs With constant news of the collapsing economy, last week Forbes focused on one area that still has hope: the green job market. According to Global Insight and the US Conference of Mayors, in 2006, 750,000 green jobs were created in the US and it is projected that millions more will be generated in the next decade. Check out the top cities for green jobs below the fold.... Read the full story on TreeHugger

Sustainable Sushi?

Sat, 11 Oct 2008 09:15:00 GMT

Sustainable Sushi Guide to Be Released Now green sushi lovers can finally figure out just how to eat their favorite rolls responsibly. Thanks to the Monterey Bay Aquarium, the Blue Ocean Institute and the Environmental Defense Fund, starting October 22nd you can print out a sustainable sushi card to carry around in your wallet with your sustainable seafood card. Some sushi to avoid and more on the card below the fold.... Read the full story on TreeHugger

San Francisco Mayor Challenges Business to Install Solar

Fri, 10 Oct 2008 09:44:15 GMT

This week, San Francisco's Mayor Gavin Newsom challenged the city's commercial sector to install solar. He offered businesses membership into the Mayor's Solar Founders' Circle as an incentive. More below the fold.... Read the full story on TreeHugger

Monarch Counters Upset with New San Francisco Museum

Wed, 08 Oct 2008 09:50:07 GMT

Academy of Sciences' Celebratory Butterfly Release Raises Controversy When San Francisco's new Academy of Sciences opened at the end of last month, they celebrated their opening in a beautiful new green space with a ceremonial release of a flock of monarchs. What seemed like an innocent release of a few beautiful butterflies has sparked tensions between the academy and conservationists. More on the controversial move below the fold.... Read the full story on TreeHugger

Schwarzenegger Invites Global Leaders to Talk Carbon Caps

Wed, 01 Oct 2008 10:00:00 GMT

Last week, California's Governor Schwarzenegger announced a meeting in November with several global leaders to discuss greenhouse gas emissions and carbon cap-and-trade markets. California and the other states in the Western Climate Initiative plan to cut carbon emissions by 15 percent from the 2005 level by 2020. More on the meeting below the fold.... Read the full story on TreeHugger

City Solar Tour Makes Its Way to San Francisco

Wed, 01 Oct 2008 09:19:31 GMT

Today the City Tour for Solar made its stop in solar loving San Francisco to educate the city about solar options. The Tour began August 1st and will travel to fifty US cities in one hundred days to teach local citizens and city leaders about sun power. More on the Tour and its San Francisco stop below the fold.... Read the full story on TreeHugger

Green Science Museum Opens in San Francisco: Living, Blooming Design Has the City in Awe

Sat, 27 Sep 2008 14:30:00 GMT

Grand Opening of the California Academy of Sciences Today San Francisco's California Academy of Sciences re-opened in a new awe-inspiring green building. With a two-plus acre green roof resting atop a natural history museum, planetarium and rainforest, Renzo Piano's design is an incredible exploration into the meeting of art and science. More on the Academy and pictures of the new building below the fold.... Read the full story on TreeHugger

San Francisco Signs Onto Green Civic Center Plan

Fri, 26 Sep 2008 09:30:00 GMT

An Artist's Rendering of the Green Civic Center San Francisco, just recently ranked the second greenest city in the US, forged a partnership yesterday with the Clinton Global Initiative to green the city's Civic Center.... Read the full story on TreeHugger

New Green Musicians Signed by CLIF's GreenNotes

Wed, 24 Sep 2008 11:45:00 GMT

CLIF GreenNotes' New Artist Missy Higgins CLIF GreenNotes Helps Five New Musicians Go Green CLIF BAR announced this week five new artists signed on to take part in their CLIF GreenNotes program. GreenNotes helps eco-conscious emerging artists integrate environmentally friendly touring practices. For more on GreenNotes and the new CLIF artists, see below the fold.... Read the full story on TreeHugger

Park-ing Day Takes Over San Francisco's Streets

Sat, 20 Sep 2008 11:39:57 GMT

Park(ing) Day 2008 Commuters to downtown San Francisco had a little more trouble finding spots this Friday. Park(ing) Day took over the streets of the Financial District, creating green parks to hang out, many happy to deter the driving commuters. More on the birthplace of Park(ing) Day and photos of this year's event below the fold.... Read the full story on TreeHugger

California's Green Policy Does Its Economy Well

Fri, 19 Sep 2008 12:01:57 GMT

A study by California's Air Resources Board released this week reported that continuing to reduce the state's greenhouse gases would both boost the state economy and Californians' income. More below the fold.... Read the full story on TreeHugger

The TH Interview: Grace Potter, leading lady of Grace Potter and the Nocturnals

Wed, 17 Sep 2008 12:00:00 GMT

If you haven't heard the name Grace Potter yet, I have no doubt you will in the coming months. A rocker chick straight out of green Vermont, Grace and her band the Nocturnals had their audience to seriously rocking out at Outside Lands a few weeks ago. Their style is American rock with a blend of alt country rock, blues and gospel. Grace's huge voice has been compared to some big names including Janis Joplin and Bonnie Raitt. At only twenty four, her sound is soulful, scratchy, beautiful and bold. I was lucky enough to meet up with her during Outside Lands to get the inside scoop her on eco-chick side. More below the fold. ... Read the full story on TreeHugger

Almond Growers Sue USDA

Sat, 13 Sep 2008 11:00:00 GMT

California Almond Growers Sue Over Controversial Raw Almond Treatment Fifteen almond growers and nut handlers filed a suit against the USDA over a legally mandated treatment of California-grown raw almonds. They growers hope to repeal the mandate. A year ago, the USDA issued a requirement that raw almonds be steam treated or sprayed with propylene oxide (a carcinogen recognized by the EPA) before making their way onto the market. More on the health and market implications of the almond pasteurization requirement below the fold. ... Read the full story on TreeHugger

Recent Posts by TreeHugger's Alex Smith, San Francisco, California