The Moment of Truth: California Cap-and-Trade Policy vs. Prop 23

On November 2nd, California voters will vote on Proposition 23, which is an attempt to postpone the CO2 cap-and-trade legislation initiated by the 2006 AB (assembly bill) 32. It stipulates that in order for regulations to be put into place, unemployment must drop from 12% to below 5.5% and remain there for four quarters.

On Friday, the Air Resources Board released its most current draft of regulations. It reads like standard cap-and-trade policy: set a cap for CO2 from heavy emitters, allot credits (for free), and then allow these companies to sell/trade these credits each year. The program is set to begin in 2012, and if it functions properly, emissions will be reduced 15% by 2020.

Current polls show that California voters are split 33% for and 48% against Prop 23 (with the rest undecided). Hopefully, these numbers are accurate, and the policy freeze won't pass.

Cap-and-trade was a great success for reducing SOx emissions and acid rain. Who's to say it won't work for CO2 and global warming? If any state can start us off, it's The Golden State.


I hope all of you vote on Tuesday, especially if you're registered in California.

The Storms Are Coming...

As I was leaving Tech yesterday, I witnessed a tree-sized branch crash down onto black convertible. Poor guy. This disaster is evidence of a larger phenomenon. On Tuesday, the Great Lakes region witnessed the lowest barometric pressure in history.

A satellite image from Tuesday afternoon.

This Midwestern "megastorm" caused 24 tornadoes and 282 instances of damaging winds.

Climate scientists say that global climate change will lead to more severe storms. Is this evidence or a coincidence?

Innovative Spray Bottles by Replenish

Consumer product companies have always had the knowledge, resources, and consumer base to make their products more sustainable. Over the past few years, they've found the will power to complete the equation. Think about the products you've been seeing on the shelves: 3x concentrated detergent, water bottles made with 30% less plastic, and the unfortunate SunChips bags.

Here's another one, and it's called Replenish (thanks Kutgun). Watch the short video to see how it works:

It proves that the a simple design can have a great impact.

Get Rid of Old Electronics, Make Some Money, and Save the World

Gazelle is a company that will buy your old, unused, and broken electronics (phones, gaming systems, computers, cameras, etc.).



Here's a short video. It's simple:

1. You fill out a form, which asks for the device's name, details, and existing condition.
2. Gazelle instantly estimates the device's worth and shows you its market value history.
3. If you agree to sell it, Gazelle with ship you a prepaid box for your device.
4. Once the device is received, Gazelle will pay you through Paypal or by check. You even have the option of donating to charity.
5. If your device isn't worth anything, Gazelle will still ship it to a recycling facility for you.

DO IT! Make some money while saving the environment from toxic e-waste.

Addendum: I wanted to add this link. Apparently, a blogger at the NYTimes also had e-waste on her mind yesterday. She describes way to get rid of batteries and printer cartridges.

Here's to you, Sierra Club

The Economics of Ecosystems and Biodiversity (TEEB) team, which is largely funded by the UN, recently released a 3-year study showing just how beneficial ecosystem preservation can be (NYTimes). The study is enough to convince even the most steadfast skeptics. To those who believe anything can be engineered:

• $3.7 trillion - can be saved by 2030 if we conserve forests, which help absorb CO2 emissions. 
• $50 billion/yr - is how much fisheries could be making if they all harvested in a sustainable manner. 
• 30 million - is the number of people reliant on coral reefs for food and income. 1/4 of all aquatic species are located in coral reefs.
• $20-67 million -  could be saved over a four year period from planting trees in Canberra, Australia.  These trees regulate micro-climate and reduce urban pollution.
• $213 million/yr - is generated in agricultural production as a result of bee pollination of fruits and  berries (equivalent to what is generated from honey/beeswax directly).

There are no replacements for the myriad of services ecosystems provide. As much as we think we know, the intricacies of biological systems are yet to be understood. Every day, new behaviors and functions are discovered. Oftentimes, our actions have repercussions on living systems we never would have imagined. If mangroves and wetlands had been left undisturbed, there is no doubt that the destruction caused by the tsunami in Asia and Hurricane Katrina would been tamed. 

Wetland preservation could have severely reduced the devastation of Hurricane Katrina. Wetlands are also pivotal in waste detoxification and degradation.

Benefits of ecosystems:

1. Provisional - food, water, crops medicines
2. Regulatory - CO2 sequestration, climate regulation, pest/disease control, waste detoxification and decomposition, protection from natural disasters
3. Supportive - nutrient cycling, soil formation, photosynthesis, seed dispersion
4. Cultural - biophilia (humans <3 nature), religious and spiritual values, recreation