Environmental Roundup: October 6, 2009

Erich Pica is Friends of the Earth's new president
Erich Pica, one of the nation's leading experts on the impacts of subsidies to the oil and gas industries and other polluters, has become Friends of the Earth's new president. Pica has worked at Friends of the Earth for more than ten years, most recently as its director of domestic programs. Pica's tenure follows that of Dr. Brent Blackwelder, the longest-serving environmental advocate in Washington, who is retiring after compiling a series of campaign victories during his 16 years as president.
Learn more about Erich | Learn more about Brent | Read a Politico story about the transition | Sign up for a conference call with Erich tonight

Energy and climate change bill introduced in Senate
Last week, Senators Barbara Boxer and John Kerry introduced legislation aimed at creating clean energy jobs and reducing emissions of heat-trapping gases that cause global warming. Unfortunately, like its companion Waxman-Markey bill in the House, the Boxer-Kerry bill contains myriad loopholes, is far too friendly to corporate polluters, and would fail to bring about the needed pollution reductions. One positive note: unlike its House counterpart, the Boxer-Kerry bill does not gut the EPA's authority to use the Clean Air Act to fight global warming. The bill is expected to be considered by the Senate's environment committee in late October; we'll let you know how you can work with us to improve it.
Read our news release about the bill | Read the bill (pdf)

40th anniversary celebration
On October 1, Friends of the Earth welcomed more than 200 friends and supporters to the House of Sweden in Washington, D.C. to celebrate 40 years of environmental advocacy, honor Dr. Brent Blackwelder and introduce Friends of the Earth's new president, Erich Pica.
Read More | See Photos of the Event

Verizon Wireless is hearing us now
Verizon Wireless has responded to pressure from current and potential customers like you who expressed outrage at its sponsorship of a pro-coal, anti-environment rally on Labor Day. In a letter, Verizon Wireless's CEO, Lowell McAdam, asserted that his company's sponsorship of the rally "was not a statement of our position on any public policy issue, and it certainly was not an expression of support for mountaintop removal coal mining or in opposition to climate legislation." This explanation falls far short of a definitive public apology and a withdrawal of support from the rally. We have delivered the 4,564 signatures and comments of Friends of the Earth activists to Mr. McAdam, letting him know that his company cannot choose when and where to "walk the talk" on global warming and demanding a definitive public apology.

Reports and report cards from Friends of the Earth
In September, Friends of the Earth released reports on cruise pollution, carbon offsets and carbon markets. Our vessels team has created a useful database cataloging cruise ships and their pollution. Check out the cruise ship environmental report card (and accompanying report) here. "A Dangerous Distraction" exposes the danger of relying on offsets in systems created to stop global warming. Read the report and watch our staffer, Michael Despines, talk about the problem.  Finally, Michelle Chan, our green investments director, released a follow-up to her earlier report on subprime carbon. This report, entitled "Smaller, Simpler and More Stable" (pdf) details how to design carbon markets for environmental and financial integrity.

News
If we don't ride out in front, who will?
Open Left

E.P.A. moves to curtail greenhouse gas emissions
The New York Times

Fossil fuel subsidies dwarf clean energy subsidies; Obama wants to eliminate them
Grist

"The poor are burdened twice"
The New Statesman

Current Actions
Senators: Maintain protections against global warming pollution

Tell Congress to clean up the cruise industry!

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