URGENT, URGENT, EMERGENCY: Secretary of State John Kerry was near his hometown of Boston Thursday to warn world leaders that it might soon be too late to stop climate change.
After touring a wind energy technology facility, he said time is running out and the window for action is closing.
{mosads}He also had some words for climate change skeptics. “If they’re wrong: catastrophe,” he said.
Philip Hammond, Kerry’s British counterpart, had similar words after the two toured the plant together.
Read more here.
Speaking of regrets… Environmental Protection Agency chief Gina McCarthy has one. She apologized on behalf of her generation for failing to realize the impact of greenhouse gas emissions on the planet before it became a problem.
“I want to apologize for my generation,” McCarthy said. “We didn’t get it quick enough.”
Read more here.
LEGO: Yes, we are talking about the toy-brick makers, which nearly everyone played with as a kid. Lego announced that it is cutting its decades-old cord with oil giant Royal Dutch Shell due to increasing pressure from a Greenpeace campaign.
Greenpeace wasn’t happy with Lego for continuing its collaborative deal with Shell, which dates back to the 1960s because of Shell’s oil and gas operations in the Arctic. Lego had used Shell’s logo in many of its playsets.
Lego was clearly miffed by the campaign, calling it inappropriate and claiming Greenpeace shouldn’t have dragged it into the argument in the first place.
“We are determined to leave a positive impact on society and the planet that children will inherit,” said Jorgen Vig Knudstorp, CEO of Lego. “We do not agree with the tactics used by Greenpeace that may have created misunderstandings among our stakeholders about the way we operate.”
Still, when its contract is up in 2016, Lego said it won’t be renewing it. Read more here.
ON TAP FRIDAY I: President Obama will formally designate California’s San Gabriel Mountains as a national monument during remarks in Los Angeles County. The protections will cover 350,000 acres of the mountain range.
ON TAP FRIDAY II: Vice President Joe Biden will swear Elizabeth Sherwood-Randall in Friday as deputy energy secretary in a ceremony at the Energy Department. Ernest Moniz will also speak. Sherwood-Randall started her work this week after last month’s Senate confirmation.
Rest of Friday’s agenda…
Environment America and Food and Water Watch will hold a press conference outside the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) headquarters to urge the agency to reopen its investigations into alleged water contamination by hydraulic fracturing in Pennsylvania, Texas and Wyoming. They will be joined by victims of the alleged contamination and a top official from National Nurses United
Center for Global Development and Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development will hold two events on sustainable development. The consecutive events, to be held at the same location, will focus on the challenges of mobilizing sustainable development and the role that tropical forests play in climate stability and sustainable development.
The World Resources Institute will host the release of a report from the New Climate Economy group led by former Mexican President Felipe Calderon. The analysis will detail real-world examples of how the U.S. is already making economic gains while slashing greenhouse gas emissions.
AROUND THE WEB:
Texas’ Rio Grand Valley had rotating power outages for about two hours late Wednesday, the first such outages since 2011, the Houston Chronicle reports.
Most states aren’t preparing for the effects of climate change, the Los Angeles Times reports.
Following revelations that he had an improperly close relationship with Pacific Gas and Electric Co., California Public Utility Commission head Michael Peevey said he’d step down when his term expires at the end of the year, the Sacramento Bee reports.
IN CASE YOU MISSED IT:
Check out Thursday’s stories…
– Public wants feds to act on flaring, poll finds
– EPA chief apologizes for her generation’s role in climate change
– Thune: Obama oversteps to protect endangered species
– White House pushes climate protections for natural resources
– League of Conservation Voters backs Shaheen in NH
– Senate Dems: Low ethanol mandate would hurt climate
– Sporting groups back Obama climate rule
– Time is running out to address climate change, Kerry says
– Poll: Canadians less supportive of joint energy policy with US
– Rick Perry calls for unlimited oil exports
– Lego to cut ties with Shell after Greenpeace pressure campaign
– Natural gas vehicle group names new president
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