For my job, I’ve started compiling weekly round ups on sustainability and climate change … thought I’d post them here too.

The concept is simple: one top story and then ten other stories that catch my eye each week. I’m happy to comment on any of these if anybody has questions or thoughts. Enjoy!

Story of the Week: CBS 60 Minutes on Clean Coal

60 Minutes this week had a long interview with Jim Rogers, CEO of Duke Energy and one of the few energy execs talking about climate change. The segment examines our country’s power needs and talks just a bit about alternative energy sources.

The show mostly focuses on the idea vs. reality of Carbon Capture and Sequestration, aka “Clean Coal Technology.” Power companies are really pushing CCS as the only thing that’s going to make cap and trade or carbon taxation possible. Here, even Rogers says that we’re decades away, at best. Other sources in the story include Jim Hanson (of NASA) and Joe Romm (Climate Progress). You can almost hear desperation in their voices while talking to the CBS reporter.

The big hole in the story is in the lack of discussion about alternative energy — nuclear, solar, wind — esp given the amount of development happening now in Calif. and Ariz. (solar) and in Iowa and New England (wind). The stimulus bill, along with some recent EPA actions have really sparked alt energy development over the last month or so.

12-minute video.
text.
Reaction from Joe Romm and his readers (some good comments in the comment section)

Also of Note:
Sustainability:

NYT: Composting Dirty Diapers in Toronto

CS Monitor: Too many ’straws’ sucking water out of the Colorado River

WaPo: Dust Storms Escalate, Prompting Environmental Fears

NYT: Missing the Forest for the Trees (an economist on green vs. green):

The Daily Climate: The First Fruits of Cap and Trade

Climate:
NYT: Industry Ignored Its Scientists on Climate

Solve Climate: Are Environmentalists and the Fossil Fuel Industry Calling a Truce?

Cent AmProg: 21 Ways Faith Groups Are Combating Global Warming

Treehugger: The 6 Greenest Republicans in Office

WorldChanging: Geoengineering and the New Climate Denialism

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