By Larry Schweiger

I was glad to see renewed momentum this week for bipartisan Senate action on an energy and climate bill. President Obama said yesterday at a New Orleans town hall meeting that the White House is ready to fight for a climate and energy package after the health care debate.

And Senator Graham hit the nail on the head in his response to some pushback at Furman University about his alignment with Senator Kerry this week to support a climate and energy bill that will put America back in control of our national security. I love Senator Graham’s response:

"The reason I’m talking to John Kerry is because I’m trying to find a way to get energy independence off the sidelines and become a reality."

I'm so proud of the leadership of National Wildlife Federation’s affiliate South Carolina Wildlife Federation which is supporting Senator Graham’s work to reduce America’s dependence on foreign oil.

With all this leadership it’s time to get ready for a Senate energy and climate bill before the negotiations in Copenhagen. We’re up next.

By Larry Schweiger

Nice job by Ben Gregg of the South Carolina Wildlife Federation on a National Wildlife Federation telepress briefing today where Ben reiterated what Senators Graham and Kerry said Saturday: that it’s time for climate solutions that will create American jobs and increase our energy independence.

I know both Ben Gregg and Senator Graham personally. They have something in common besides being South Carolinians. Both are men of character who are adhering to their core principles in order to put what’s right for South Carolinians and their country first. As Ben said on the press call today, addressing climate change isn’t about isn’t left or right, it’s about right and wrong. And Senator Graham is adhering to his core principles of energy independence, economic opportunity and national security for America.

What Senator Graham has done has increased the chances that we will get a climate bill this year. I hope other elected officials will take note of Ben Gregg and the vast majority of Americans who want action on energy and climate, and follow in the footsteps of Sen. Graham’s courageous leadership.

By Larry Schweiger

I was interviewed today by Lightning 100 WRLT in Nashville in advance of my book presentation and signing at Lipscomb University Tuesday at 7 pm. Lipscomb understands that students across the country want action on energy and climate change. I’m looking forward to spending time tomorrow with Dodd Galbraith, Executive Director of Lipscomb’s Institute for Sustainable Practice who is helping to show what the path to our clean energy economy looks like.

By Larry Schweiger

Senators Lindsey Graham (R-SC) and John Kerry (D-MA) are showing old-fashioned and responsible, bipartisan leadership to protect our planet.

In their joint Op-Ed Yes We Can (Pass Climate Legislation) in the New York Times, the Senators agree that the United States can lead the world in addressing climate change by passing climate legislation this year that will revitalize our economy with investments in clean energy, create new jobs, enhance our national security and reduce pollution.

As Senators Graham and Kerry said: "…It’s true that we come from different parts of the country and represent different constituencies and that we supported different presidential candidates in 2008. We even have different accents. But we speak with one voice in saying that the best way to make America stronger is to work together to address an urgent crisis facing the world."

The Senators agree with the majority of Americans who want comprehensive climate and clean energy action. Americans are ready for a new direction that will repower our economy with clean energy jobs, break our dependence on oil and reduce climate change pollution.

Senators Kerry and Graham’s leadership is good news for us all at this important time.

 

By Larry Schweiger

Here is my response to the announcement of President Obama’s Nobel Peace Prize today.

Obama Nobel Peace Prize Timely Reminder of Global Opportunity to Confront Climate Change

Senate Now Needs to ‘Answer the President’s Call’ for Clean Energy

RESTON, Va (Oct. 9, 2009) - Today’s announcement that President Obama has won the Nobel Peace Prize recognizes his "extraordinary efforts to strengthen international diplomacy and cooperation between peoples. The Norwegian Nobel Committee also noted his commitment to confront climate change. National Wildlife Federation President and CEO Larry Schweiger had this to say:

"I congratulate President Obama for receiving the prestigious Nobel Peace Prize. The award notes the importance of President Obama’s initiative to lead the country toward ‘a more constructive role in meeting the great climatic challenges the world is confronting.’ The award is a timely reminder that we have an unprecedented opportunity for global progress on climate change. The eyes of the world are on the United States as we head toward the global climate summit in December in Copenhagen.

"President Obama has been making up for the lost years when the United States did little to reduce pollution and sat on the sidelines of the global effort to confront global warming. President Obama’s administration is pursuing the first regulations of carbon pollution from tailpipes and smokestacks, and he worked with congress to include significant investments in clean, renewable energy sources to create clean energy jobs as part of the economic recovery package earlier this year.

"The hardest and most important work is still before us. The Senate needs to answer the President’s call for clean energy legislation that delivers less pollution, more jobs and greater security here in the United States. And we need an effective global agreement sufficient to meet the challenge of global warming and backed by an effective U.S. climate law.

"In his recent address to the United Nations Climate Summit, President Obama warned:

"the security and stability of each nation and all peoples - our prosperity, our health, and our safety - are in jeopardy. And the time we have to reverse this tide is running out."

"President Obama’s personal commitment and continued leadership on climate change is essential to put America, and the world, on a lasting course toward a more secure and stable future."

By Larry Schweiger

I was glad to see the Senate release the Clean Energy Jobs and American Power Act. The clock is ticking ever faster for wildlife and our planet as accelerating climate change threatens wildlife and the services on which human civilization depends. I spoke yesterday at Gov. Schwarzenegger’s Climate Summit about how important this legislation will be to safeguarding wildlife.

Environmental Protection Agency Administrator Lisa Jackson also announced here that EPA will regulate greenhouse gas emissions from stationary sources. Administrator Jackson said:

"We are not going to continue with business as usual while we wait for Congress to act. We have the tools and the technologies to move forward today, and we are using them."

This is good news for the creation of 1.7 million clean energy jobs in America and is some real momentum to safeguard wildlife.

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