Well, it’s just been a week full of videos, hasn’t it. For those interested in Sen. Tom Udall’s address to ESA at the recent annual meeting, below is a video of his Regional Policy Award acceptance speech. You can also read the full transcript of the address here.
[toggles title=”In This Issue”] [toggle title=”EPA ENDANGERMENT FINDING: CHAMBER OF COMMERCE CHALLENGES FINDING, SEEKS TRIAL ON CLIMATE SCIENCE”] As the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) prepares to formalize its finding that greenhouse gases endanger public health, the US Chamber of Commerce has filed a petition with the agency, calling for a proceeding in which the science behind the finding would be…
[toggles title=”In This Issue”] [toggle title=”CLIMATE AND ENERGY LEGISLATION: BOXER AND KERRY COMPLETING CAP-AND-TRADE PROVISIONS OVER BREAK, EMISSIONS ALLOWANCES LOOM LARGE”] Congress will return from August recess on September 8, giving Senate committees with jurisdiction over the climate and energy bill three weeks to complete markups before the September 28 deadline set by Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-NV). Environment and…
This post was contributed by ESA’s Director of Public Affairs, Nadine Lymn. While other voices boldly make authoritative assertions over issues that may be deeply nuanced, scientists tend to communicate their considerable knowledge in ways which make them sound wishy-washy at best and completely uncertain at worst. This was the theme of a symposium session, “Global Sustainability in the Face…
Program Chair Scott Franklin and ESA President Sunny Power at the scientific plenary and ESA Awards session. This post was contributed by ESA’s Director of Public Affairs, Nadine Lymn. At the start of this morning’s Scientific Plenary & ESA Awards Session, ESA President Alison “Sunny” Power gave her State of the Society address. Much like the U.S. presidential “State of the…
The ESA meeting kicked off last night with the opening plenary session and presentation of the ESA Regional Policy Award. ESA’s Director Katherine McCarter welcomed everyone to the meeting, citing the fact that her first ESA meeting as director was also in Albuquerque in 1997. She pointed out that the meeting’s theme, “Ecological Knowledge and a Global Sustainable Society,” is…
[toggles title=”In This Issue”] [toggle title=”CLIMATE BILL: AMIDST CONGRESSIONAL HEALTHCARE DEBATE, CLIMATE ISSUES STILL ON LAWMAKERS’ MINDS”] As the August recess approaches, Congress has shifted its focus to healthcare reform. Still, the Senate is preparing to mark up climate legislation in September and a number of loose ends continue to generate discussion. Some issues to watch when Congress returns: Carbon…
ESA released a position statement today on the proper place of ecological and environmental capital in the nation’s economy. As the United States and much of the world try to recover from the current economic crisis, ESA recommends that long-term sustainability should be prioritized in the restructuring of business models and economic growth. A key to this task, the statement…
The ESA podcasts page has been revamped! Check out the new look for your favorite ESA podcasts on the new ESA podcasts page. Or, if you’re an ESA podcast newbie, here’s the rundown of the three series: Beyond the Frontier features interviews with the authors publishing in the ESA journal Frontiers in Ecology and the Environment. The authors to discuss…
[toggles title=”In This Issue”] [toggle title=”CLIMATE AND ENERGY BILL: HOUSE PASSES WAXMAN-MARKEY; SENATE ACTION IMMINENT”] On June 26, the House voted 219-212 in favor of the Waxman-Markey climate and energy package. The bill’s success came after significant negations between Energy and Commerce Chairman Henry Waxman (D-CA) and Agriculture Committee Chairman Colin Peterson (D-MN). Peterson had previously vowed to vote against…
[toggles title=”In This Issue”] [toggle title=”SENATE ENERGY BILL: ENERGY PACKAGE IS HEADED TO THE FLOOR, INCLUDES EXPANSION OF OFFSHORE DRILLING”] On June 17, the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee voted 15-8 in favor of its massive energy bill, which would, among other things, establish a national renewable electricity standard (RES), overhaul federal financing for clean energy projects, and mandate…
[toggles title=”In This Issue”] [toggle title=”HOUSE CLIMATE AND ENERGY BILL: AG, WAYS AND MEANS THREATEN TO DELAY FLOOR VOTE; PELOSI GIVES COMMITTEE LEADERS JUNE 19 DEADLINE”] House leaders are under increasing pressure to finish work on the massive climate and energy bill as soon as possible, as part of a push to hold floor votes on both climate and health…
[toggles title=”In This Issue”] [toggle title=”HOUSE CLIMATE AND ENERGY BILL: COMMITTEE FINISHES MARKUP, APPROVES BILL; ANOTHER BUSY MONTH EXPECTED”] On May 21, the House Energy and Commerce Committee completed a weeklong markup of the American Clean Energy and Security Act (HR 2454), approving it by a vote of 33 to 25. A number of matters have yet to be decided:…
[toggles title=”In This Issue”] [toggle title=”2010 BUDGET: WHITE HOUSE PROPOSAL INCLUDES SIGNIFICANT INCREASES FOR SCIENCE, ENVIRONMENT”] Earlier today, President Obama released his $3.4 trillion budget proposal for fiscal year 2010, setting the stage for the 2010 appropriations process in Congress. The proposal includes many significant increases for renewable energy and environmental programs, along with $17 billion in proposed spending cuts,…
[toggles title=”In This Issue”] [toggle title=”CLIMATE AND ENERGY LEGISLATION: HOUSE REPUBLICANS AND MODERATE DEMOCRATS SPELL OUT THEIR CONCERNS WITH DRAFT BILL”] On March 31, Representatives Henry Waxman (D-CA) and Ed Markey (D-MA) of the House Energy and Commerce Committee unveiled their draft climate and energy bill (for more information, see the April 2 edition of the ESA Policy News at:…
With massive issues like invasive species, climate change and protection of biodiversity moving onto the world stage, ecological knowledge has perhaps never been in higher demand than today. Support for most (about 67 percent) of biological research in the U.S. comes from the National Science Foundation’s Biological Sciences Directorate (affectionately known as NSF BIO); a similar granting program at the…
[toggles title=”In This Issue”] [toggle title=”CLIMATE LEGISLATION: HOUSE DEMOCRATS UNVEIL DRAFT CLIMATE AND ENERGY BILL”] On March 31, Representatives Henry Waxman (D-CA) and Ed Markey (D-MA) released their draft climate change and energy bill—the “American Clean Energy and Security Act of 2009”— reiterating plans to hold a final committee vote on the measure before the Memorial Day recess. Highlights include:…
[toggles title=”In This Issue”] [toggle title=”PUBLIC LANDS: SENATE USES PLACEHOLDER BILL TO AID PASSAGE IN THE HOUSE”] On March 19, the Senate passed the much discussed public lands omnibus 77-20. The bill includes measures to address land management and water supply issues, and would create or expand a significant number of public lands, including more than 2 million acres of…
[toggles title=”In This Issue”] [toggle title=”2009 BUDGET: WITH DEADLINE APPROACHING, SENATE PREPARES TO VOTE, SCIENTIFIC REVIEW LIKELY TO RETURN TO THE ENDANGERED SPECIES ACT, POLAR BEAR RIDER CAUSES CONTROVERSY”] The Senate is preparing to vote on the fiscal year 2009 omnibus spending bill, following its February passage in the House. The $410 billion measure covers the nine appropriations bills that…
[toggles title=”In This Issue”] [toggle title=”STIMULUS: NOW LAW, STIMULUS PACKAGE IS WINDFALL FOR GREEN ENERGY, SCIENCE”] On February 17, President Obama signed into law the $787 billion American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009, following swift conference negotiations between the House and Senate. Although the negotiations resulted in some minor reductions, the final bill represents a major expansion of federal…