By Larry Schweiger

I recently published my new book Last Chance: Preserving Life on Earth.

I believe that we have little time to act to protect the nature of tomorrow. In the book I have attempted to cover the latest science behind the fast-approaching threats and to make the case for wildlife, to offer practical solutions, and to suggest actions we can all follow.

To help get the essential message of the book out to an even wider audience, I will be speaking in a number of cities in the coming weeks and months. I hope you will come to a presentation and share your views on the important steps we must take together to preserve life on earth and safeguard wildlife for future generations.

In order to help protect our natural resources further I’m donating all author proceeds to National Wildlife Federation, which is inspiring Americans to protect wildlife for our children’s future.

I look forward to seeing you soon.

Last Chance: Preserving Life on Earth

NASHVILLE

Tuesday, October 13 @ 7 pm

LIPSCOMB UNIVERSITY

One University Park Drive

http://www.lipscomb.edu/

Wednesday, October 14 @ 10 am

BELMONT UNIVERSITY

Neely Hall, Belmont Campus

http://alumni.belmont.edu/events/event_details.asp?id=76591

Wednesday, October 14 @ 7 pm

ADVENTURE SCIENCE CENTER

800 Fort negley Blvd, Jack Wood Hall

http://www.adventuresci.com/

Thursday, October 15 @ 4:30 pm

UNIVERSITY OF THE SOUTH – Sewanee

Gailor Auditorium

735 University Avenue

http://www.sewanee.edu/

 

LAKE TAHOE

Saturday, October 17 @ 1 PM

Sierra Nevada Alliance Annual Conference: Celebrating the Nature of the Sierra

http://www.sierranevadaalliance.org/conference/

 

SEATTLE

Monday, October 19 @ 6:45 PM

Seattle Aquarium

1483 Alaskan Way, Pier 59

http://www.seattleaquarium.org/NetCommunity/Page.aspx?pid=623

 

WOODSTOCK, VT

Thursday, October 27

Marsh-Billings Rockefeller Park

 

CHICAGO

Thursday, October 29 @ 6:45 PM

Shedd Aquarium

1200 South Lake Shore Drive on Chicago’s Museum Campus

http://www.sheddaquarium.org/adults.html

 

FARGO

Friday, October 30 @ 3 PM

North Dakota State University

Union Hall

http://www.ndsu.nodak.edu

 

CHARLOTTESVILLE

Friday, November 6 @ 10 AM

51st  Annual Garden Club of Virginia Conservation Forum

University of Virginia Darden School of Business

http://www.gcvirginia.org/announcement-content.cfm?ArticleID=7

 

DALLAS

Saturday, November 7 @ 2 PM

Texas Conservation Alliance Annual Meeting

Trinity River Audubon Center, 6500 South Loop 12

http://www.tcatexas.org/documents/AnnualMeeting2009_002.pdf

 

AUSTIN

Sunday, November 8 at 3 pm

BOOKPEOPLE BOOKSTORE

603 N. Lamar

http://www.bookpeople.com/index.php?com=coe

Sunday, November 8 @ 5:30 pm

LADYBIRD JOHNSON WILDFLOWER CENTER

4801 La Crosse Ave.

http://www.wildflower.org/

 

WASHINGTON, D.C.

Thursday, November 12 @ 7 pm

National Wildlife Federation Conservation Achievement Awards Dinner

Mayflower Hotel – 1127 Connecticut Ave., NW

http://www.nwf.org/about/connieawards2009.cfm

 

COPENHAGEN, DENMARK

December 8 – 18, 2009

UNITED NATIONS CLIMATE CHANGE CONFERENCE

http://en.cop15.dk/

DENVER

February 4, 2010

DENVER MUSEUM OF NATURE AND SCIENCE

http://www.dmns.org/main/en/

ST. LOUIS

Monday, February 8 2010

MISSOURI BOTANICAL GARDEN

http://www.mobot.org/

By Larry Schweiger

The United Nations Environment Program released an excellent report summarizing scientific evidence from over 400 sources that have emerged since the 2007 Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change Fourth Assessment Report. This compendium affirms that climate change is happening faster than previous estimates predicted.

As Juliet Eilperin highlights in New Analysis Brings Dire Forecast of 6.3 Degree Temperature Increase, "…climate researchers now predict the planet will warm by 6.3 degrees Fahrenheit by the end of the century even if the world’s leaders fulfill their most ambitious climate pledges, a much faster and broader scale of change than forecast just two years ago."

As my good friend Dr. Bob Corell, who chairs the Climate Action Initiative that reviewed the report, says about this amount of global temperature rise: "We don’t want to go there."

Since 40 to 70 percent of the world’s species will have significant extinctions if temperatures rise more than 7.2°F, it’s time for those of us dedicated to helping safeguard wildlife speak up now.

Our legislators will be releasing a climate plan of action this week. If we let our voices be heard along with the more than 70% of likely voters who support comprehensive climate and clean energy action we can help protect wildlife from the worst impacts of a warming world. If we don’t speak up for wildlife now, who will?

By Larry Schweiger

Today at 3 pm Eastern time Dr. Stephen Schneider of Stanford is hosting a free seminar: "Meaning of Business as Usual."

Since the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change issued its report in 2007, climate impacts are unfolding faster and climate change projections are getting worse. Some models have "business as usual" warming at 5 degrees C.

If we keep this up our business as usual will mean that we won’t have any more business as usual, as climate change disrupts business and impacts wildlife and people around the planet.

Join Dr. Stephen Schneider at 3 pm today to learn the emerging scientific view. The call in information is Call-in Number: 1-712-432-3100 Conference Code: 253385

You can find out more about the conference at the Pittsburgh-G20 Partnership site. I'll be posting more updates during the event to my Twitter feed.

By Larry Schweiger

This week young people across America launched the Consequence Campaign.  They are demanding urgent Congressional action on a clean energy and climate plan that will create millions of new clean energy jobs, reduce our dependence on oil and place limits on global warming pollution.

The message of these young people is clear. They are determined to make their voices count in shaping the future that they and their children will inherit.

Jessy Tolkan, Executive Director of Energy Action Coalition said "Young people have an incredibly important role to play in demanding a clean energy future. They understand that we must pursue a ‘Yes We Can’ approach to our nation’s climate and energy challenges and that there are real consequences-for our economy, our security and the future of our planet-if Congress fails to act."

These inspiring young leaders remind me of what Margaret Mead said about the power of individuals willing to stand together for what they believe in: "Never doubt that a group of thoughtful, committed people can change the world. Indeed it is the only thing that ever has."

Are you a young person willing to stand up on behalf of your future? Add your voice at Consequence.

By Larry Schweiger

The recent report Shaping Climate-Resilient Development by the Economics of Climate Adaptation Working Group had some interesting findings. While poor adaptation to current climate changes already destroys between 1 and 12 percent of GDP annually, if countries make the right investments now they can both offset costs and provide other economic benefits.

For example, in the United States a $150 billion clean energy investment would lead to the creation of 1.7 million jobs. Also, a brief from the New York University Law School’s Institute for Policy Integrity suggests that the energy plan of action recently passed by the House of Representatives would offer economic benefits at twice the level invested.

In the Climate-Resilient Development Report Lord Nicholas Stern says that the window of investment opportunity "…will not stay open for long if we fail to take action on the other half of the climate change puzzle – mitigation of carbon emissions – with fierce urgency. If we fail to restrain and reduce emissions sufficiently, quickly and radically, climate change beyond 2030 – for example in the firm of irreversible sea level rise or desertification – could be so disruptive that we will face major losses that cannot be averted."

Isn’t it interesting that Swiss Re, one of world’s leading reinsurers and a lead contributor to the Shaping Climate-Resilient Development Report, believes that investments to reduce climate pollution and implement climate-resilient development make good business sense?

By Larry Schweiger

In honor of Labor Day, I recommend Interface Founder and Chairman Ray Anderson’s new book Confessions of a Radical Industrialist: Profits, People, Purpose – Doing Business by Respecting the Earth. I agree with Bill McKibben’s review: "If we had a lot more businessmen like Ray Anderson, the planet would be neither bankrupt nor overheated. He is a hero, and this book makes clear why!"

Millions of jobs will be created through investments in the clean energy economy. On this Labor Day, kudos to Ray Anderson, a National Wildlife Federation President’s Advisory Council member, and all the businessmen and women like him, who are showing us the way to a green economy and creating good, green jobs.

By Larry Schweiger

Duke Energy quit the American Coalition for Clean Coal Energy over differences with other member companies who do not support energy and climate legislation.

Duke Energy is a founding member of the U.S. Climate Action Partnership. The Partnership states "…the climate change challenge will create more economic opportunities than risks for the U.S. economy," and includes such icons as Alcoa, BP America, Caterpillar, DuPont and General Electric.

The companies of U.S. CAP believe that swift action on energy and climate legislation "would encourage innovation, enhance America’s energy security, foster economic growth, improve our balance of trade and provide critically needed U.S. leadership on this vital global challenge."

This is in line with what a majority of likely voters also believe. I wonder what the shareholders of the organizations of American Coalition for Clean Coal Energy think about the CEOs of these companies leading them down the path of the old, dirty economy? CEOs like Duke Energy’s Jim Rogers understand the opportunities of the clean energy economy and are positioning their companies to the best strategic advantage.  Their shareholders will thank them.

By Larry Schweiger

Truth is a scary thing when your profits hide behind a lie.

Fox News, the constant defender of dirty coal and big oil, is now out to destroy Van Jones. Why? Because Van is one of the most powerful voices urging America to move away from old, polluting ways to a new energy economy. Van has been a consistent voice for a deeper concern for the poor who live and work in nasty places where harmful chemicals are sprayed on crops that they pick and in urban areas where old power plants belch mercury, sulphates and other harmful contaminants into the air, soil and water.

As Van clearly stated at the 2009 Power Shift conference, change must be fundamental and must go deep enough to protect all people and to secure the future of nature. Here is what Van said to 12,000 college students gathered in Washington D.C. this past winter that got Glenn Beck so stirred up.

“This movement is deeper than a solar panel. Deeper than a solar panel. Don't stop there. Don't stop there. No, we're going to change the whole system. We're going to change the whole thing. We're not going to put a new battery in a broken system. We want a new system.

 “We want a new system. All we do is take out the dirty power system, the dirty power generation in a system and just replace it with some clean stuff, put a solar panel on top of this system. We don't deal with how we are consuming water, we don't deal with how we're treating our other sister and other brothers' species, we don't deal with toxins, we don't deal with the way we treat each other, if that's not a part of this movement, let me tell you what you'll have. This is all you'll have. You'll have solar powered bulldozers, solar powered buzz saws, and biofuel bombers and we'll be fighting wars over lithium for the batteries instead of oil for the engines and we'll still have a dead planet. This movement is deeper than a solar panel, deeper than a solar panel. Don't stop there. Don't stop there. No, we're going to change the whole system.”

Glenn Beck distorts Van’s words to suggest that Van is calling for communism. These words offered as evidence completely out of context, Beck outrageously distorts Van’s call for a new way of thinking about our relationship to nature and to each other by saying,

“When will America wake up? The left has started a revolution. No different than Hugo Chavez. When Hugo Chavez was elected, he was elected by Democratic process. But he did not tell the people when he was running that he was a communist."

Beck is dead wrong about Van Jones. Van’s provocative message is different, very different from the way Beck presents it. He is not proposing communism but access to green jobs for all and a fundamental change in mindset about how we care for nature, our planet and for all people including the poor and those yet unborn. Watch Van’s inspirational speech at the Powershift conference and judge for yourself whether or not Van’s call for some fresh thinking about environmental stewardship is about forming a communistic state or about establishing moral leadership on an urgent issue that threatens us all.

I also urge a careful reading of Van’s best selling book, “The Green Collar Economy-How one solution can fix our two biggest problems.”