Neal Pierce, a writer for The Washington Post, issues a call to action for the U.S. consider innovative green strategies for metropolitan planning similar to those in Europe. In the article, “Learning From Europe’s Regions: Climate Change Makes It Urgent April 20, 2008,” he reports that the U.S. cannot afford to wait any longer to consider such strategies as a result of global climate change. The first conference, held on April 20, 2008, between the National Association of Regional Councils (NARC), Network of European Metropolitan Regions and Areas (METREX), and other councils, produced a “Declaration of Cooperation Between Metropolitan Regions and Areas of the Unites States and Europe.” 

To read more of Pierce’s article and his recommendations, see http://www.postwritersgroup.com/archives/peir080420.htm.

Saul Griffiths is one of this year’s MacArthur genius awards In the linked power points below, he goes through what changes he would have to make in his personal lifestyle so that he consumed as much energy in a year as the average human on earth.

After briefly skimming the material, I actually was a little bit intrigued by some of the information. There’s an example of how much energy is used from an apple falling off a tree, sitting in our fridge and then us eating it. I could only image how much more energy is involved after transportation… (look to the end of the slides).

He also shows you some things that we all should be doing anyways that will help our environment. Though I’m not sure how “spending more time with the family” family will help out?

Anyways, take a look at the following slides. They are fairly interesting.

Notes | Full Slides and Notes | Slides

Web link

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The following report highlights the need for action on climate change and draws heavily on the connection between the environment and development.

http://go.worldbank.org/J20HF0QLL0