New fund to offer grants to groups working
on energy and sustainability projects

Community groups seeking funding for energy-, sustainability- and climate-related projects have a new source of funding starting this week. Clean Air-Cool Planet is accepting applications for its Community Catalyst Fund, offering grants of $250 to $5000.

“Too often, groups of citizens with good ideas and the desire to make a difference reducing energy use and greenhouse gas emissions in communities are stymied in their efforts for lack of a little money,” said Adam Markham, CEO and President at Clean Air-Cool Planet (CA-CP).

“Our goal is to see that those small financial hurdles can be overcome, allowing groups to move forward with projects and programs that will bring much greater rewards to their communities,” Markham said.

For more information, and to apply, visit our Communities page.

Happy about Homestar

Clean-Air Cool Planet applauds the Obama Administration for its endorsement of the Homestar program, one of the recommendations that Clean Air-Cool Planet made in its Presidential Leadership Initiative (PLI) report, submitted to the President in January, 2009. The report was a compendium of 25 early-action initiatives that the Administration could use as building blocks for a successful climate change policy.  Read more...

 

Furman University: Piloting the Carbon Reduction Process on Campus

Furman University in Greenville, South Carolina is leading the way in integrating the best approaches to reducing energy use, saving money, and cutting down on greenhouse gases. We are providing a unique case study showcasing their climate action strategies on campus that are integral to their overall plan.

The case study includes information that can be used by institutions that are interested in managing their energy consumption. To view the case study, please visit the "What's New" section on our campuses page.

Our Approaches to Regional Climate Solutions Spotlighted by National Association of Development Organizations

"A Time for Action: Regional Efforts to Mitigate Climate Change," issued by NADO, highlights the "all-inclusive approach" of Clean Air-Cool Planet to fighting global warming. The report to planners explores the potential for regional councils and planning commissions to help communities think about economic progress through the lens of global warming solutions. The partnership between CA-CP and regional planning commissions is featured in the 12-page report, available for download here (PDF).

US Joins Copenhagen Accord

Pledges reductions “in the range of 17%” by 2020, in line with 83% by 2050. US Special Envoy says US “is committed to working with our partners around the world to make the Accord operational and to continue the effort to build a strong, effective, science-based, global regime to combat the profound threat of climate change.”

Read the submission.

Reflections on the Copenhagen Accord

CA-CP’s Policy VP, Brooks Yeager, finally made it back from COP 15, and offers Reflections on the Climate Change Challenge after Copenhagen, calling the Copenhagen Accord “the key that should unlock Congress’s ability to pass” effective climate legislation.  Read Brooks’s reflections and our Copenhagen blogs.