Costa Rica is already a green national leader, but now they’re looking to become the first carbon-neutral country in South America. The past generation of Costa Ricans protected 26% of their land mass as national park and recreation ground, their eco-tourism industry is worth $2 billion per year, and the country has the highest rate of trees planted per capita on the planet, which has actually doubled Costa Rican forest canopy since the 1980s.  And Costa Rica is home to the only carbon-neutral airline, NatureAir, on the planet.  It’s a small airline, but it’s gotten the big ones thinking.

Why Costa Rica? And Why Now?

Costa Rica is simply alive with a youthful vigor. Carbon neutrality is the agenda of the voting population – at least the younger demographic – by and large.  Costa Rican President Oscar Arias has supported the goal since June of 2007, when he made a public commitment and garnered much support for the national green movement.  Here’s what could be a catch, however. Time.com reports that Arias may have “been neither serious nor coherent on the issue of the environment.”  There’s also an environmental minister who resigned due to a mining scandal, as well as potential plans for 125 acres of clear-cutting to accommodate what would be the largest gold mine in Central America, Las Cruches.  Time also reported that Arias has recently lifted a ban on open-pit mining. (more…)

Popularity: 1% [?]

“To create clean energy jobs, promote energy independence, reduce global warming pollution and transition to a clean energy economy.”

That is the objective of the Clean Energy Jobs and American Power Act (S.1733), introduced into the Senate by Senators John Kerry (D-MA) and Barbara Boxer (D-CA). It is the latest climate change legislation to come out of Congress. The political heart of the Kerry-Boxer bill resides in the controversial issue of greenhouse gas (GHG) emission reductions, or in a buzzword, cap-and-trade.

The bill, which on November 5 was referred by committee to the Senate at large, would set up a cap-and-trade market in which polluters could buy, sell and trade emission allowances. In other words, permits to pollute. The rules proposed in the bill to regulate this market are somewhat vast and confusing, at least to those of us not adept in Congressional legalese, and we can only expect the bill to get more convoluted as it traverses the Senate floor. (more…)

Popularity: 2% [?]

Solar radiation is the lifeblood of the earth. Every day, the sun emits enough energy to sustain billions of plants and animals. Everything from the tiniest skin cell to the tallest mountain is dependent on its daily rise and fall, and the same sun rises in New York City as sets in New Delhi. And every hour that sun provides enough energy to power every city, village and home on the planet.

Because the sun is always shining somewhere, and because it knows no prejudice or hierarchy, solar power is as useful in the wealthy and insulated First World as in the stark and shortchanged Third World. In fact, many developing countries, especially those in Africa and Asia, have some of the best solar insulation in the world. In homes and villages far from transmission cables, fresh water and hospitals, the appeal of wireless, renewable energy is all the greater.

Solar power is already having some effect on the developing world. Solar lanterns are being used in India to read and study after dark. Students in Uganda are learning under solar rooftops. And communities in South America are drinking safe, potable water from solar-powered pumps. Much of these initial successes are thanks to individuals and nonprofit groups aiming to spread the solar wealth. Solar Aid and Solar Electric Light Fund (SELF) are two organizations leading in that fight. (more…)

Popularity: 2% [?]