Grist has an excellent post called The Top Green Stories of 2007.  While they highlighted some of the biggest news, good and bad, I tried to focus on the most positive developments, some of which didn't get the media attention they deserved.  Overall 2007 was an amazing year for the environmental movement, but we've still got much work to do.  At NWF, we're all working hard to make sure that 2008 puts 2007 to shame in this category.

1.  A company called Nanosolar has created solar panels that are more efficient than coal.

"With a $1-per-watt panel," [CEO Martin Roscheisen] said, "it is possible to build $2-per-watt systems." According to the Energy Department, building a new coal plant costs about $2.1 a watt, plus the cost of fuel and emissions, he said.

2.  Congress passed a landmark energy bill, which does the following:

The bill increases vehicle fuel economy standards by 40 percent and will save consumers $40 billion a year at the pump and help spur innovation and new American jobs. Its improved energy efficiency standards covering a wide range of products, lighting and buildings will also benefit American consumers. The Energy Bill also improves provisions that boost homegrown biofuels and reduce our dependency on oil. The improvements include performance-based standards to ensure biofuels significantly curb global warming pollution and help to ease some of the impacts of biofuels production on wildlife and native habitats. National Wildlife Federation has advocated for these additional standards as important protections for the future of wildlife.

3.  Al Gore co-hosted Live Earth:  The Concerts for a Climate in Crisis:

Live Earth was a monumental music event that brought together a global audience on July 7, 2007 to combat the climate crisis. Live Earth staged concerts in New York, London, Sydney, Tokyo, Shanghai, Rio de Janeiro, Johannesburg and Hamburg - as well as special broadcast events in Antarctica, Kyoto and Washington, DC - and featured feature more than 150 of the world's best music acts - a mix of both legendary music acts like The Police, Genesis, Bon Jovi and Madonna with the latest headliners like Kanye West, Kelly Clarkson, Black Eyed Peas and Jack Johnson.

Gore also shared the Nobel Peace Prize with the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change.

4.  Investments in green technology more than doubled over the past year:

While the coal and nuclear industries spent the year petitioning the government for handouts, people with their own money on the line flocked to the hottest investment since the internet: green tech. Where 2006 saw $1.2 billion dumped into the clean-tech sector, 2007 saw $2.6 billion in the first nine months alone.

5.  Nine Midwestern governors and the Premier of Manitoba signed an historic greenhouse gas accord:

This has powerful implications not just for state and regional progress, but for global warming policy nationwide. In addition, it lays out a detailed road map of supporting policies and regional partnerships to acheive the following, amongst other things:       

25 by 25 in renewable energy and fuels (25% by 2025).

2% energy from efficiency by 2015 and 2% per year thereafter.

Carbon pipeline sited and permitted and carbon storage regs by 2012, all new coal plants to capture and store CO2 by 2020.

6.  Over 5,000 college students came together at Power Shift 2007 to demand action on climate legislation.  This Discovery Channel video explains.  Here is another video of NWF's own Derek Brockbank, at Power Shift.

7.  In Bali, world leaders expressed their willingness to aggressively reduce greenhouse gas emissions.  NWF CEO Larry Schweiger explains: 

Bali laid the groundwork for developing a fair climate plan that addresses the needs of nations representing those most vulnerable to the very real consequences of global warming. It also set the stage for deploying on a global scale the kind of clean energy technology needed to move beyond a fossil-fuel based energy future.

8.  The Climate Security Act has gone further than any climate bill has ever gone in Congress.  A vote is expected in the full Senate in the next few months.

"This evening’s vote marks a new era in Congress and a new approach to global warming. After years of empty promises in Congress, this evening’s victory is a sign that the leadership and political will are at hand to get the job done. "The Senate Environment and Public Works Committee, led by Sen. Barbara Boxer, D-Cali., has sent to the full Senate meaningful global warming legislation that would quickly put the nation on the right path to reducing the pollution causing global warming.

Learn more about the markup at Hill Heat.

9.  Al Gore and Richard Branson announced the Virgin Earth Challenge:

The Virgin Earth Challenge is a competition offering a $25 million prize for the first person or organization to come up with a way of scrubbing greenhouse gases out of the Earth's atmosphere to avoid global warming. The prize was conceived and financed by Sir Richard Branson, a successful British entrepreneur, and was announced in London on 9 February 2007 by Branson and former US Vice President and 2007 Nobel Prize winner Al Gore, creator of the 2006 film An Inconvenient Truth on climate change.

  This prize has created incentives for some amazing technologies.

10. All of the major Democratic candidates for President have plans to combat climate change.  Grist has some excellent tools to compare and contrast:

Compare the candidates' green positions using our handy chart.  And watch video of some of the candidates speaking at the first-ever presidential candidate forum focused on climate change and energy policy, cosponsored by Grist. 

While last week's signing of the energy bill was a great step forward, it doesn't go nearly far enough.  This country has been slacking on fuel efficiency standards for decades, and it is starting to hit Detroit in the bottom line. Let's compare some fuel efficiency statistics by geography and time.

In 1987, Honda Civics got 57 Miles per Gallon.  Due to its increased weight, the 2008 Civic gets only 26-34 Miles per Gallon.

In 1908, the Model T got 25 Miles per Gallon.  In 2004 the average American car got just 21 Miles per Gallon.

MPGomatic has a list of dozens of late 70s and early 80s American cars with great fuel efficiency, many as high as 40 MPG.

The International Council on Clean Transportation has an excellent report called Passenger Vehicle Greenhouse Gas and Fuel Economy Standards:  A Global Update.  It includes this graph which projects global fuel efficiency over the next 10 years.

I'll be buying a car in the next few years, and I'd like it to be an American one.  The car I choose will be largely determined by fuel efficiency of vehicles on the market in my price range.  Hopefully, the American auto industry will get its active together and realize that people are sick of huge, gas guzzling SUVs.  There are millions of Americans like me who would prefer to buy a super-efficient (and cost-saving), small vehicle.

Fortunately, due in large part to the X Prize Foundation, there may be options.  The Aptera Typ-1 is expected to be on the market in early 2008, with the ability to go nearly 300 miles per gallon.

This Message was brought to you by our wonderful naturalist, David Mizejewski. Let us know what wildlife you enjoy in your area!

Just yesterday, President Bush was basking in the glow of the freshly-signed energy bill, taking credit for improved fuel economy standards and expanded biofuels mandates.

But it turns out the White House's green party only lasted until sundown. Just moments after network nightly newscasts started to air the footage of the meticulously-staged signing ceremony, President Bush's own Environmental Protection Agency blocked the effort of California and other states to regulate tailpipe emissions of greenhouse gases. While the new federal energy law would require an average fleet fuel economy of 35 mpg by 2020, California officials estimate their new emissions standard would achieve an average of at least 36 mpg by 2016.

With a single ruling, the White House simultaneously turned its back not only on the Clean Air Act, 18 governors and states (representing half of all Americans), and more than 100,000 public comments, but according to the Washington Post, the EPA contradicted its own staff:

"Environmental Protection Agency Administrator Stephen L. Johnson yesterday denied California's petition to limit greenhouse gas emissions from cars and trucks, overruling the unanimous recommendation of the agency's legal and technical staffs." 

California Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger immediately promised legal action:

"While the federal energy bill is a good step toward reducing dependence on foreign oil, the President's approval of it does not constitute grounds for denying our waiver.   It is disappointing that the federal government is standing in our way and ignoring the will of tens of millions of people across the nation. We will continue to fight this battle.  California sued to compel the agency to act on our waiver, and now we will sue to overturn today's decision and allow Californians to protect our environment." 

As Grist's David Roberts details, it's hard not to conclude this decision was based more on politics than policy:

"This flies in the face of the clear language of the CAA and the just-passed energy bill, both of which explicitly reserve for California the right to exceed federal fuel economy standards. It also directly contradicts rulings in several recent court cases. Johnson's legal reasoning has no support outside of Bush administration political appointees.

In short, as Johnson all but admitted, this decision was made based on a "policy preference" of the White House -- exactly what was prohibited by the Supreme Court's ruling in Mass. v. EPA."Look, President Bush deserves credit for signing the energy bill. As he himself said, the energy bill is "a major step toward reducing our dependence on oil, confronting global climate change, expanding the production of renewable fuels and giving future generations of our country a nation that is stronger, cleaner and more secure."

But his EPA deserves the heat it's getting for its indefensible decision. The blatant contradiction leads to a legitimate question. Are energy independence, climate action, and a clean energy future only goals when the spotlight is shining and the pressure is intense?

Wildlife to Benefit from this "Down Payment" on Strong Global Warming Legislation

The package--which passed the U.S. Senate and House of Representatives in the past week--will help reduce America's oil dependency and take an important step toward reducing global warming pollution.

Listen to NWF Global Warming Director Jeremy Symons talk about the bill on the The News Hour with Jim Lehrer, Dec. 18. (mp3)

Ray Suarez: "Is this going to make enough of a dent in the emissions problem in the United States?"

Jeremy Symons: "It's a down payment on stopping global warming, but we're not done fighting. We need those provisions and we need a comprehensive bill to reduce global warming pollution. And we need to get that done next year."

What is Good About the Energy Bill?

Historic Fuel Economy Standards for Cars and Trucks:

For the first time in more than 30 years, Congress increased fuel economy standards to 35 miles per gallon by 2020 for new cars and trucks. These provisions will save American families $700 to $1,000 per year at the pump, with $22 billion in net consumer savings in 2020 alone.

This is the first increase by Congress since the days of 8-track tapes--marking a significant advancement in our efforts to address our energy security and laying the groundwork for climate legislation next year.

Renewable Fuels Standard:

The energy bill included a new commitment to homegrown biofuels and updates the program to achieve strong greenhouse gas performance standards and includes significant protections for wildlife and biodiversity.

Specifically, the bill includes a prohibition on the conversion of native ecosystems to the production of energy crops. The greenhouse gas performance standards--20% less GHGs for corn ethanol, 50% less for advanced biofuels, and 60% less for cellulosic ethanol and the requirement that land-use changes be accounted for in these targets--help ensure biofuels will contribute to solving global warming.

Incentives for Hybrids:

The energy bill establishes a plug-in hybrid/electric vehicle tax credit for individuals and encourages the domestic development and production of advanced technology vehicles and plug-in hybrid vehicles.

Landmark Energy Efficiency to Bring Down Costs:

The energy bill includes landmark energy efficiency provisions that would save consumers and businesses hundreds of billions of dollars through 2030.

It would require more energy efficient appliances, such as dishwashers, clothes washers, refrigerators and freezers, and would speed up Energy Department action on new efficiency standards after six years of delay. It would require improved commercial and federal building energy efficiency and assist consumers in improving the efficiency of their homes.

A Skilled Green Workforce:

This package creates an Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy Worker Training Program to train a quality workforce for "green" collar jobs--such as solar panel manufacturer and green building construction worker--created by federal renewable energy and energy efficiency initiatives. Major investments in renewable energy could create 3 million green jobs over 10 years.

Making Coal Part of the Solution:

The energy bill includes an initiative that takes aggressive steps on carbon capture and sequestration to take the carbon out of coal--authorizing a nationwide assessment of geological formations capable of sequestering carbon dioxide underground and expansive research and development, including large-volume sequestration tests in a variety of different geological formations. First time ever the incentives for more efficient coal use include a requirement for carbon sequestration.

When you go outside, what do you see?  Trees, plants, a blue sky specked with clouds, maybe a rabbit or deer?  What don't you see?  Kids, most likely.  Specifically, kids outside enjoying nature in unscheduled play.  There is a current trend in society that is keeping people, children especially, indoors and attached to  electronic devices (TVs, computers, cell phones, etc.).  Richard Louv wrote a whole phenomenal book (Last Child in the Woods) about our children's growing "nature deficit."  The statistic that most jars me is that kids are on average spending over 6 hours a day watching TV/playing video games/on the computer/on the cell phone. 6 HOURS.

On top of this, our schools are teaching less about the natural environment, thanks to the unintended consequences of the "No Child Left Behind" law.  So kids in America are getting less time to experience nature on their own time and learning about nature and the environment less in school.  Just exactly what will the next generation know about the environment?  How many of that generation will care enough, without the necessary knowledge, to become future leaders in conservation?

Sadly, we are only skimming the surface of this problem.  Kids not getting outside can lead to health problems, mental and physical.  Without knowledge about the environment learned at an early age, where will the future workforce and policy leaders that we will need to combat the effects of global warming and natural resource depletion come from?  What about this great "green workforce" we've been clamoring for?  Who will fill those jobs?

Thankfully, there are some steps we can take to begin to solve this problem.  The No Child Left Inside Coalition has been pushing legislation that will amend the No Child Left Behind Act to include important  provisions that will teach kids about the environment and provide more outlets to get them outside.

It is an important step, but like the energy bill in the greater global warming process it is only the beginning. 

Bali Forum Backs Climate Roadmap:

Delegates from nearly 190 countries emerged from a final 24 hours of bruising negotiations Saturday with an agreement on a new framework for tackling global warming, one that for the first time calls on both the industrialized world and rapidly developing nations to commit to measurable, verifiable steps.

As Temperatures Rise, Health Could Decline:

Depending on where you are, this is going to be a hotter, wetter, drier, windier, calmer, dirtier, buggier or hungrier century than mankind has seen in a while. In some places, it may be deadlier, too. The effects of climate change are diverse and sometimes contradictory. In general, they favor instability and extreme events. On balance, they will tend to harm health rather than promote it.

Testing the Climate:

The Arctic sea ice is shrinking so fast that within the next few decades, if not years, it could be completely gone in summertime. “The Arctic is often cited as the canary in the coal mine for climate warming,” Jay Zwally, a climate expert at NASA, told the Associated Press. “Now as a sign of climate warming the canary has died.”

Mumbai 'pulls off plug' in campaign against global warming:

Hundreds of citizens in India's financial capital took part in a campaign, aimed at spreading the effects of global warming and the need to conserve energy, by switching off power in several places in the city. The "Batti Bandh" (Lights Off) campaign was initiated by five young executives and was later joined by resident associations, corporates, NGOs and educational institutions.

Small N.H. city takes on global warming challenge:

Now, this lively, tiny city ringed by low hills is turning to behavioral science for solutions. First, a city task force is tackling the barriers to environmentally sensitive behavior - for example, a booth was set up downtown recently to sell energy-efficient light bulbs at a sharp discount. Then, to sustain new habits, they will employ a powerful emotional tool: Social pressure.

What are you reading today?

It's easy to get caught up in the now. I'm one of those people that is so focused on the present or the past that I rarely even have time to consider the future. Well thanks to Desmog blog's 100 Year Letter Project, I was challenged to write a letter to my great, great grandchildren about climate change. Hard task huh? Well, I took a crack at it and I suggest readers do too! Please feel free to leave comments or share your own stories.

Greetings future offspring of my offspring’s offspring,

I write to you from a time of hope and some fear. My childhood was one filled with hikes or ‘explores’ with my father. I was able to spend hours of time playing in the woods and nearby streams while watching all kinds of wildlife. My father and mother instilled in me a love for nature that I carry with me.

I’m curious to know what your world is like. I hope that your parents have instilled in you the virtues that make you a caring and responsible individual. In my day, there were serious environmental issues that concerned me and inspired me to work at a non-profit that protects wildlife and the environment for your future. I just hope we’ve left you more than wildlife in the zoos and books. I hope you get to see animals running free while enjoying the outdoors.

Right now one of the biggest issues we are facing is global warming. Many of us are trying desperately to reduce our impact on the earth. Has your generation figured out how to benefit all members within an ecosystem with smarter consumer products? Are things biodegradable? We have stripped the land and --not to be dramatic-- we’ve been very selfish without meaning to be. I hope that your generation thinks beyond human uses for things and makes them not just sustainable but HELPFUL to other living organisms. I know I sound worried and fearful, but you see, generations before me have overlooked very basic and important responsibilities to future generations, including the idea of a community. That is truly what the earth is, one functioning community. For too long, humans have overlooked the needs of the larger world and all things that don’t blatantly pertain to us. But the point is, they all pertain to us directly.

Anyway, before you worry about these questions I want you to leave my letter and step outside. Take a deep breath, smell the air, feel the wind, and know that this planet is your home. Really know it. Know that in my time, this was the only home we had. I hope that whatever I’ve left you with will be something as beautiful as what I was lucky to have. Because there isn’t a day that goes by that I don’t try and make a better future for you by living responsibly today.

Love,
Granny Danny

What would you write to your great great grandkids?

Yesterday the Senate passed an energy bill that helps reduce America’s oil dependency and takes an important step toward reducing global warming pollution. Unfortunately, the bill does not close $13 billion worth of tax loopholes and subsidies for the oil industry and reinvest the money in clean and renewable energy technologies. Earlier in the day, 40 senators blocked the bill, forcing Senate leaders to jettison the tax provisions.

Oil companies have given $8 million to senators over the past four years. Yesterday's action by 40 Senators proved they have gotten their money’s worth: $1,600 in tax breaks for every dollar the oil industry has spent in campaign contributions. Here is a breakdown (pdf) of oil and gas company contributions to the 40 senators who blocked a measure to rollback oil company giveaways (source:  Center for Responsive Politics).

Despite this, the bill passed yesterday increases vehicle fuel economy standards by 40 percent and will save consumers $40 billion a year at the pump and help spur innovation and new American jobs. Its improved energy efficiency standards covering a wide range of products, lighting and buildings will also benefit American consumers.

The energy bill also improves provisions that boost homegrown biofuels and reduce our dependency on oil. The improvements include performance-based standards to ensure biofuels significantly curb global warming pollution and help to ease some of the impacts of biofuels production on wildlife and native habitats.

Learn more about the energy bill:
http://online.nwf.org/finishline

This morning the cloture vote (to end filibuster) on the Energy Bill was defeated 59-40.  John McCain was the only Senator not present for the vote.  On the democratic side, just one Senator, Mary Landrieu (LA), voted the wrong way, against cloture.  On the republican side, nine Senators, Lisa Murkowski (AK), Charles Grassley (IA), Richard Lugar (IN), Susan Collins (ME), Olympia Snowe (ME), Norm Coleman (R), Gordon Smith (OR), John Thune (SD), and Orrin Hatch (UT) voted the right way, for cloture. 

Fortunately, Senator Reid has promised to "eliminate the tax title" and hopes to get the revised bill approved later today.  Republican Minority Leader Mitch McConnell of Kentucky predicted the revised bill would be approved with wide bipartisan support.

It is unclear whether or not the changes to the bill will satisfy the Bush administration, which has repeatedly threatened to veto the bill.

Yes, screaming, says a scientist looking at last year's ice melt in the Arctic.

"Ominous Arctic Melt Worries Experts"
By SETH BORENSTEIN AP Science Writer

An already relentless melting of the Arctic greatly accelerated this summer, a warning sign that some scientists worry could mean global warming has passed an ominous tipping point. One even speculated that summer sea ice would be gone in five years.

Greenland's ice sheet melted nearly 19 billion tons more than the previous high mark, and the volume of Arctic sea ice at summer's end was half what it was just four years earlier, according to new NASA satellite data obtained by The Associated Press.

"The Arctic is screaming," said Mark Serreze, senior scientist at the government's snow and ice data center in Boulder, Colo.

Read the entire article...

Grist has an excellent round-up of the news coming out of of Bali over the weekend, including the fact that CNN has left "due to a lack of probable news".  I guess CNN would rather cover O.J. Simpson and Michael Vick than international climate discussions.

An article in today's NYT illustrates the effects global warming is having on ducks in the midwest.  This plays into the new challenges hunters, scientists and wildlife officials are encountering in the efforts to manage waterfowl populations. 

Bloggers are calling for a science debate between the Presidential candidates.  Chris Mooney at The Intersection is taking the lead.

Quick Hits:

Gore Urges Bold Moves in Nobel Speech

A Discussion with NYT's Juliet Eilperin about the Bali Conference

More on Bali:
- Row Over 2020 Emissions Goals Sours Bali Climate Talks

- Good News and Bad News from Bali

- The U.S. is Being it's Usual Obstructionist Self

The Electric Vehicle Acid Test

U.S., China Sign Environmental Cooperative Deal

World Bank Starts Deforestation, Climate Change Funds

Climate Science Manipulation Alleged

Western States Agree on Plan to Make Water Last

Airborne Wind Turbines

Planned Climate Debate a No-Go Due to Low Republican Turnout

Finally, here is Al Gore's Nobel acceptance speech, in full.

To follow-up on last week's green spotlight on the holidays, here are some additional green gift ideas you may be interested in.  These ideas are courtesy of NWF's own David Mizejewski.  He is co-host of Animal Planet’s "Backyard Habitat" and "Springwatch" shows and has been seen on Today, Good Morning America, Martha, Mike and Juliet, iVillage Live! and several other national programs. 

Everyday the headlines reflect a change in the way Americans relate to the environment and the way they live their lives.  This holiday season, green is all the rage and now is the time to show your audience exciting ways to spread holiday cheer and do something good for the planet too.

Nature Friendly Gift Ideas:

1. Bird Houses and Feeders:  These inexpensive gifts add personality to any yard and give wildlife a place to call home. Or how about a "do-it-yourself" family project like homemade edible ornaments that will make your yard look festive and feed the birds at the same time?

2. Organic, Sustainable and Free Trade Products:  From coffee and wine to wreaths and flowers, many programs deliver "green" and environmentally friendly products to homes that will be a tasty or beautiful reminder of your holiday spirit.

3. Magazine Subscriptions for Kids:  Get the kids away from the video games with engaging magazines like NWF’s classic, award winning Ranger Rick.   It’s fun and interactive just like Wild Animal Baby and Your Big Backyard for the younger kids.

4. Adopt Wildlife or Wild Places:  From polar bears to plots on the great plains, symbolic adoptions offer gift givers and recipients the knowledge that the donations are being used to help protect imperiled wildlife and habitat across America.

5. Experience Nature:  Technology can help you experience nature.  Take the new I dentiflyer  on a nature hike to identify the calls of 216 birds and frogs.  For the less tech savvy, field guides are a traditional way to connect with nature.  Both make great gifts!

6. Recycled Products:  From fashions to tableware to yard art, there is new life from what was once headed to the land fill. 

Green Holiday Tips:

1. Christmas Trees and Lights:  Buy an organic, locally grown Christmas tree.  Trees provide habitat for wildlife and absorb carbon dioxide while they are growing.  A better idea is buy a living tree in a pot, plant it and enjoy it for years.  New generations of affordable and stylish LED holiday lights are safe and use less energy than ever.

2. Save Paper:  Holiday cards and wrapping paper are two paper-heavy holiday traditions.  Green your holiday this year by using cards and wrapping paper made out of recycled materials.  Get the kids to make your own wrapping paper or cards. Have some fun and use recycled paper decorated with colorful holiday stamps, stickers or freehand designs or a personal touch.

3. Entertaining:  Make your holiday party earth-friendly by serving organic and locally produced foods.  Visit local farmer's markets or natural grocery store for heritage breed turkeys, or really have an impact by going totally vegetarian for the holiday. 

4. Holiday Decorating:  Buy an ornament and a portion of the cost goes to wildlife conservation or to plant a tree.  That’s a simple way to "green" your tree.  Don’t forget about the classics like popcorn, cranberries and ginger bread men to give your tree a nature friendly, homey and nostalgic look.

Have a Green Christmas!

It's December already, and voting in the presidential primary/caucuses is beginning in some states in less than a month. Do you know when you will be voting? Scroll down to see when your state will be voting.

If you live in an early primary state, and haven't yet, please consider asking a presidential candidate a question about global warming. It is important that we make sure global warming continues to be an important part of the dialogue throughout the course of the campaign.

And while you're thinking about the upcoming election, please take a few minutes to sign a pledge stating that you will only vote for candidates who support the 2% solution to global warming.

Republican Primary Calendar (subject to change)

1.3.08:  Iowa
1.5.08:  Wyoming
1.8.08:  New Hampshire
1.15.08:  Michigan
1.19.08:  Nevada, South Carolina
1.29.08:  Florida
2.2.08:  Maine
2.5.08:  Alabama, Alaska, Arizona, Arkansas, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Georgia, Illinois, Massachusetts, Minnesota, Missouri, Montana, New Jersey, New York, North Dakota, Oklahoma, Tennessee, Utah, West Virginia
2.9.08:  Kansas, Louisiana, Washington
2.12.08:  District of Columbia, Maryland, Virginia
2.19.08:  Wisconsin
3.2.08:  Hawaii
3.4.08:  Ohio, Rhode Island, Texas, Vermont
3.11.08:  Mississippi
4.22.08:  Pennsylvania
5.6.08:  Indiana, North Carolina
5.10.08:  Wyoming
5.13.08:  Nebraska, West Virginia
5.20.08:  Kentucky, Oregon
5.27.08:  Idaho
6.3.08:  South Dakota, New Mexico

Democratic Primary Calendar (subject to change)

1.3.08:  Iowa
1.8.08:  New Hampshire
1.15.08:  Michigan
1.19.08:  Nevada
1.26.08:  South Carolina
1.29.08:  Florida
2.5.08:  Alabama, Alaska, Arizona, Arkansas, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Georgia, Idaho, Illinois, Kansas, Massachusetts, Minnesota, Missouri, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, North Dakota, Oklahoma, Tennessee, Utah
2.9.08:  Louisiana, Nebraska, Washington
2.10.08:  Maine
2.12.08:  District of Columbia, Maryland, Virgina
2.19.08:  Wisconsin
2.26.08:  Hawaii
3.4.08:  Ohio, Rhode Island, Vermont, Texas
3.8.08:  Wyoming
3.11.08: Mississippi

Holiday decorations don't have to be an energy drain. Nowadays you can deck the halls with boughs of organic holly and string up eco-friendly lights. You can even toast your friends and family with green wines.

When it comes to gift-giving, there are all sorts of green options, like Gavin Hudson's 12 gifts of Christmas. One of our super-activists, Frank Zaski, sent us some great ideas about how we can incorporate giving compact fluorescent light bulbs (CFLS) during the holiday season. Hey, it isn't festive, but it's useful! Here's Frank's advice:

"We know that compact fluorescent fight bulbs (CFLs) are a no-brainer when it comes to saving electricity, money and the environment. However, most people are slow to adopt them and CFLs account for only a small percent of US residential lighting. 

One way it increase CFL usage is to encourage the giving of CFLs for Christmas, Hanukkah, New Years, house warming, birthdays, parties, etc. In addition to the many environmental benefits, an $8.00 three-pack of CFLs can actually result in a $120 "gift" of savings spread over five years."

So let's remember while shopping for the new-fangled green gifts that going with the traditional CFL is still doing a load of good, both for your pocket and for wildlife.

Got any other green gift ideas? We'd love to hear them!

Interested in shopping for gifts through NWF? Here's a quick list of options:

• Purchase NWF's Field Guide to Birds or Insects.

• Give a gift membership.

• Adopt a polar bear or other wildlife species.

Do you have any green gift ideas? Add a comment!

9 Midwestern governors and the Premier of Manitoba yesterday signed an historic greenhouse gas accord.  This has powerful implications not just for state and regional progress, but for global warming policy nationwide.

In addition, it lays out a detailed road map of supporting policies and regional partnerships to acheive the following, amongst other things:

• 25 by 25 in renewable energy and fuels (25% by 2025).

• 2% energy from efficiency by 2015 and 2% per year thereafter.
  

• Carbon pipeline sited and permitted and carbon storage regs by 2012, all new coal plants to capture and store CO2 by 2020.

Six governors, the premier of Manitoba, and the UK minister of environment attended in person, as did a who's who of state, industry and NGO energy players.  

The full signers of the accord are:  MN, WI, IL, MI, IA, KS, and Manitoba with OH, IN and SD signing on as observers.  There was a strong bipartisan message, and a strong message particularly from IA governor Culver about how important it was for Presidential candidates to address this issue.

The momentum right now in the conservation movement is really incredible.  Not only are we on the eve of mandating an increase in fuel efficiency to 35MPG, but we are also just hours away from seeing the first comprehensive global warming legislation to ever pass through a full Senate committee.

Part of this momentum can be attributed to all of the exposure conservation and environmentalism have had over the past several months.  Whether it was Live Earth or The Nobel Prize, global warming and other environmental issues have dominated the headlines in 2007.

Regardless of the many victories we've already seen this year, the real magic is about to take place. On Wednesday, the House will vote on an energy bill with several great provisions.

1. Protects wildlife and public lands from oil and gas development.
2. Includes a Renewable Electricity Standard of at least 15 percent by 2020.
3. Includes a fuel economy standard requiring cars to go at least 35 miles per gallon by 2020.

Tell the House to pass the energy bill with the above provisions.  This will be a great first step toward a comprehensive solution to climate change.  Stay tuned, because the Senate will be voting next week.

On Wednesday and Thursday, the Senate Energy and Commerce Committee will vote on the Climate Security Act.  This strong piece of global warming legislation has the bipartisan support necessary to get further than any global warming bill has before.

On Saturday, the National Wildlife Federation is hosting an awareness-raising fundraiser called Turn the Tables on Global Warming.  This event, featuring several popular DJs, is taking place at Fur Nightclub in Washington, DC.  You can learn more on the myspace page.  If you don't live in the area you can still take the 2% pledge.  This pledge says that you will only support candidates who support the 2% solution (pdf) to global warming.

Next week, thousands of NGOs, government officials and policy experts will meet to discuss climate change in Bali.  As an NWF employee in our international department points out, if we don't establish and join international carbon emission agreements, our domestic progress will do little good.  Hopefully we can see some progress coming out of the discussions in Bali.

Thank you to all of the activists who have worked to make such progress possible.  It is more important now than ever that we keep fighting to protect wildlife and our planet.  I ask that you take action now to protect wildlife for our children's future.

Here are 7 things you can do to quickly and easily take action for wildlife.  As NWF President and CEO Larry Schweiger says, "This is not a matter of left or right, it’s a matter of right or wrong."

Is Your Representative one of the Final 50?

Find out if your representative is one of the 50 who need to cosponsor strong global warming legislation today. Help move the House toward passing a bill that protects wildlife and reduces global warming pollution 2% per year.

Help Protect Endangered Plants and Animals!

Congress has a great opportunity to help at-risk wildlife, with a bill called the Endangered Species Recovery Act (S. 700/H.R. 1422). Help reshape how endangered species are managed in the U.S. by speaking up today.

Make Sure the Senate Passes a Strong Farm Bill

Biofuels like corn are a contentious part of the farm bill.  The House passed their version of the Farm Bill. Now it's the Senate's turn. Encourage your senators to support more funding for conservation programs and protect the Conservation Reserve Program from efforts to weaken its value for fish and wildlife.

Speak Up for Clean Water Legislation!

Help restore Clean Water Act protections for America's wetlands, streams, lakes and ponds! Urge your representatives to cosponsor and vote for passage of the Clean Water Restoration Act of 2007.

Protect Orcas from Global Warming!

Global warming is threatening Washington's Puget Sound, home to one of America's most amazing orca pods. Urge Congress to support strong global warming pollution reductions and make sure wildlife is protected from a changing climate.

Protect Waterfowl in the Chesapeake Bay

Global warming is threatening America's Chesapeake Bay and the millions of ducks, geese and waterfowl that call it home. Urge your representatives to take strong actions to reduce global warming and its impacts on ducks.

Protect Florida's Everglades from Development

Five development projects--including two massive golf course communities--threaten an estimated 1,140 acres of wetlands in the Western Everglades, hurting prime wood stork habitat. Voice your concerns with the federal officials in charge.

Click here to learn about other ways you can speak up for wildlife.  With your help we can succeed in protecting wildlife for our children's future.

Thank you.

Hundreds of scientists say the only way to restore salmon to the Columbia and Snake rivers is to remove four costly dams. But federal agencies aren't listening. Instead, NOAA just released a recovery plan that's more "same ol', same ol'," wasting millions of taxpayer dollars on recovery efforts that don't work.

To make matters worse, prominent orca scientists agree that Puget Sound's endangered orcas won't recover without a lot more salmon to eat--and those salmon must come from the Columbia and Snake Rivers.

Help protect salmon--and orcas too.

NWF is gathering as many messages from the general public during the federal comment period to help protect the iconic salmon of the Pacific Northwest and the orcas that depend upon them. The time is now for us to show NOAA and our elected leaders that wild salmon and orcas are national treasures that must be protected and restored.

If you can, please forward this link to friends or post it on your blog or website to help spark as many actions as possible!

TAKE ACTION: http://online.nwf.org/protectsalmon