The Go Green Debate

Marlo Lewis & Dennis Avery talk about the problems with government subsidies for ethanol producers on CNBC’s Squawk Box.

Are you curious on where the presidential candidates stand on global warming issues and how they compare to each other?

Well the crew over at The Heat Is On put together this great quick-reference guide that breaks down the current positions of the presidential candidates on topics such as fuel efficiency and renewable electricity standards.

On November 10, the presidential candidates spoke at the Iowa Farmers Union Convention in Des Moines, Iowa on some environmentally concerning topics. View them below in no particular order.

Senator Barack Obama speaks on Renewable Energy & Land Stewardship.

Senator John Edwards on Buy Local & Carbon Footprints.

Senator Hillary Clinton speaks on Renewable Energy, Bio-Fuels & Energy Plan.

Senator Joe Biden on Renewable Energy & Energy Policy.

Senator Chris Dodd on Conservation & Carbon Tax.

What are the presidential candidates suggesting to reduce Americans’ environmentally destructive high level of animal product consumption? Check out this funny video where PB&J Girl and PB&J Boy have a suggestion to this global problem. (There is no audio, so no need to adjust your sound.)

Is your hometown one of the most eco-friendly cities of the world?
Grist reports the top 15 greenest cities of the world. They compiled a list of cities deserving recognition for making impressive strides toward eco-friendliness, and helping their residents live better, greener lives.

Top 15 Greenest Cities
1- Reykjavik, Iceland
2- Portland, Oregon, U.S.
3- Curitiba, Brazil
4- Malmö, Sweden
5- Vancouver, Canada
6- Copenhagen, Denmark
7- London, England
8- San Francisco, California, U.S.
9- Bahía de Caráquez, Ecuador
10- Sydney, Australia
11- Barcelona, Spain
12- Bogotá, Colombia
13- Bangkok, Thailand
14- Kampala, Uganda
15- Austin, Texas, U.S.

Runners-up
Chicago, Illinois, U.S.
Freiburg, Germany
Seattle, Washington, U.S.
Quebec City, Canada

Climatologist Mike Hulme examines frequent misconceptions about the science and politics of global climate change.

The United Nations Climate Change Conference started today and will go through December 14th in Bali, Indonesia. The conference will have representatives from over 180 countries that will start negotiations on a new international climate change agreement.

The United Nations Department of Public Information will be providing full coverage of the Conference, including webcasts of main events and press conferences in Bali, radio coverage, photos and News Center stories. In addition, for the first time, the UN is introducing an experiment in on-line reporting from Bali for the entire duration of the Climate Change Conference.

This is part of the UN efforts to lower the conference’s carbon footprint and to emphasize the importance of this global issue by encouraging participants to view the conference online instead of flying in for the events.

Would you choose to not have a family to save the planet?

Well that is exactly what Toni Vernelli & Sarah Irving did.
Meet the women who won’t have babies - because they’re not eco friendly.

Toni at age 27 was sterilized to “protect the planet”. Her boyfriend at the time, now husband, was very supportive, being an environmental activist himself, gave her a card on the morning of surgery saying “Congratulations”.

Sarah at age 31 & after a year of dating her boyfriend, Mark Hudson, started talking about sterilization. At the age of 37, Mark had a vasectomy and the couple felt incredibly relieved there was no chance of them having a baby.

“Scientist of the world unequivocally say that global warming is here and it is caused by man. Now weather or not the US wants to jump on board doesn’t mean that intelligent people in business can’t see the light.

- Paul Comey, V.P. Environmental Affairs, Green Mountain Coffee Rosters

Above is a quote from Eco Biz, an original series of short news and human interest segments by the Sundance Channel that explore the people and businesses driving change in a new wave of environmental innovation. Check out the full segment below.

Google can’t wait for advances in potential technologies that will save our planet, so they are taking things into their own hands. In the past year or so, they has spent millions on funding green initiatives. Their latest is Renewable Energy Cheaper Than Coal, which will focus on advanced solar thermal power, wind power, geothermal systems that will help save our planet.