Wednesday, March 6, 2013
Tuesday, March 5, 2013
Monday, March 4, 2013
U.S. EPA Honors Arizona State University’s Sustainable Cities Network
News Release:
ASU Receives Environmental Award for Collaborative Sustainability Efforts
For Immediate Release: March 4, 2013
Tara Morgan, 480-727-9447, Tara.Mogan@asu.edu
U.S. EPA Honors Arizona State University’s Sustainable Cities Network
ASU Receives Environmental Award for Collaborative Sustainability Efforts
SAN FRANCISCO - The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s Regional Administrator Jared Blumenfeld today recognized Arizona State University’s Sustainable Cities Network in a ceremony on campus today. The Pacific Southwest Region’s 2012 Green Government Award was presented to Anne Reichman, Program Manager for the Sustainable Cities Network at ASU’s Global Institute of Sustainability.
“EPA applauds the Sustainable Cities Network and its work to bridge the gap between the university’s research and communities working to advance solar and renewable energy, mitigate urban heat islands, and deal with water challenges associated with a changing climate,” said Blumenfeld. “The dialogue fostered by the Network is crucial to the development of a green future for Arizona.”
The Sustainable Cities Network (the Network) is a collaborative program created by Arizona State University’s Global Institute of Sustainability (GIOS) to increase regional dialogue and action amongst Arizona communities. In partnership with local city, county and tribal leaders from the Valley, GIOS established the voluntary Network in late 2008, linking together municipal and tribal sustainability practitioners from over 25 jurisdictions and Maricopa County. Through the regular meetings of its five workgroups, the Network educates and works with local community partners to streamline green city operations and design sustainable neighborhoods.
The Network has been successful in obtaining grant funds to further workgroup initiatives associated with green infrastructure, low impact development (LID), and streamlining solar processes. The Sustainable Cities Network is one of the first university/community-based sustainability outreach programs in the country. It serves as a successful model that can be replicated by other universities to create community engagement focused on greening government and increasing local sustainability.
The EPA Pacific Southwest Region’s Environmental Awards program acknowledges commitments and significant contributions to protecting the environment in California, Arizona, Nevada, Hawaii, Pacific Islands and tribal lands. Groups and individuals were selected from nominees received this year from businesses, government officials, tribes, media, academia, environmental organizations and community activists. For more information on the other 2012 award winners please visit: http://epa.gov/region9/awards
The Global Institute of Sustainability is the hub of Arizona State University’s sustainability initiatives. The Institute advances research, education, and business practices for an urbanizing world. Visitwww.sustainability.asu.edu and follow on Twitter at www.twitter.com/asugreen.
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INHOFE APPLAUDS FWS DECISION TO GRANT EXTENSION ON LESSER PRAIRIE CHICKEN LISTING
News Release:
Inhofe joined five Senators on Feb. 20 in sending a letter to Director Ashe requesting the extensions to list the lesser prairie chicken, which can be viewed by clicking here. Senators on the letter included Sen. Tom Coburn (R-Okla.), Sen. John Cornyn (R-Texas), Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Texas), Sen. Pat Roberts (R-Kan.), and Sen. Jerry Moran (R-Kan.).
INHOFE APPLAUDS FWS DECISION TO GRANT EXTENSION ON LESSER PRAIRIE CHICKEN LISTING
March 4, 2013
WASHINGTON, D.C. -- U.S. Sen. Jim Inhofe (R-Okla.), senior member of Senate Environment and Public Works Committee (EPW), applauds U.S. Fish and Wildlife Services (FWS) decision to grant a 60-day extension on the comment period to list the lesser prairie chicken as a threatened species upon the submission of a range-wide conservation plan.
"The Fish and Wildlife Service and Director Dan Ashe have remained attentive and engaged as my colleagues and I have worked with them to find a balance on preserving the lesser prairie chicken population without harming local economic growth," said Inhofe. "I appreciate Director Ashe's quick response to our letter and for agreeing to our request for an extension on the public comment period. As Ashe has recognized, Oklahomans have led the volunteer efforts towards achieving a not-warranted status for the lesser prairie chicken. With this new extension, I encourage affected businesses, farmers, and ranchers to comment on the positive outcomes of their conservation work so that a listing is not warranted.
"Additionally, I will work to ensure our state agencies, property owners, and job creators have adequate time to ensure local control over the conservation of the lesser prairie chicken. The agriculture community has already developed a Candidate Conservation Agreement with Assurances (CCAA) to protect property owners, and I will work towards additional CCAAs affecting other key Oklahoma job creators as well."
A link to Director Ashe's response letter can be viewed by clicking here.
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Media Advisory: EPA’s Pollinator Summit on March 5
EPA News Release:
WASHINGTON - The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) will hold a public meeting with key stakeholders to collaborate on activities to protect honey bees and other pollinators from pesticide risks.
Bees are an important component of agricultural production and are critical to food and ecosystems. The summit will be an opportunity to advance our collective understanding and efforts to protect them.
The EPA has been working aggressively to protect honey bees and other pollinators. The summit is part of the agency’s ongoing collaboration with beekeepers, growers, pesticide manufacturers and federal and state agencies to manage potential risks to bees.
WHAT: EPA and USDA Pollinator SummitWHO: Officials from EPA, USDA, agricultural workers and farmers; beekeepers; pesticide industry and trade associations; environmental, consumer, and farm worker groups; animal welfare organizations; pesticide users and growers; pest consultants; state, local and tribal governments and academia.
WHEN: Tuesday, March 5, 2013, from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. EST
WHERE: Live streamed webinar will be conducted over Adobe Connect:https://epa.connectsolutions.com/crosspollinate/
This meeting is also open to the public at 2777 S. Crystal Dr., Office of Pesticide Programs, First Floor Conference Center, One Potomac Yard (South Bldg.), Arlington, VA 22202. Seating is limited. Comments may be made during the public comment session of the meeting; invited presenters will provide briefings and information on their current activities.
For seating reservations, please email Pollinator_Summit@epa.gov. For further information or to request accommodations of a disability, please contact Mary Clock-Rust (Clock-Rust.mary@epa.gov).
More on the Pollinator Summit, full agenda and instructions on how to access the webinar:http://www.epa.gov/oppfead1/cb/csb_page/updates/2013/pollin-summit.html
More on pollinator protection: http://www.epa.gov/opp00001/ecosystem/pollinator/index.html
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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE March 4, 2013
Media Advisory: EPA’s Pollinator Summit on March 5
WASHINGTON - The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) will hold a public meeting with key stakeholders to collaborate on activities to protect honey bees and other pollinators from pesticide risks.
Bees are an important component of agricultural production and are critical to food and ecosystems. The summit will be an opportunity to advance our collective understanding and efforts to protect them.
The EPA has been working aggressively to protect honey bees and other pollinators. The summit is part of the agency’s ongoing collaboration with beekeepers, growers, pesticide manufacturers and federal and state agencies to manage potential risks to bees.
WHAT: EPA and USDA Pollinator SummitWHO: Officials from EPA, USDA, agricultural workers and farmers; beekeepers; pesticide industry and trade associations; environmental, consumer, and farm worker groups; animal welfare organizations; pesticide users and growers; pest consultants; state, local and tribal governments and academia.
WHEN: Tuesday, March 5, 2013, from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. EST
WHERE: Live streamed webinar will be conducted over Adobe Connect:https://epa.connectsolutions.com/crosspollinate/
This meeting is also open to the public at 2777 S. Crystal Dr., Office of Pesticide Programs, First Floor Conference Center, One Potomac Yard (South Bldg.), Arlington, VA 22202. Seating is limited. Comments may be made during the public comment session of the meeting; invited presenters will provide briefings and information on their current activities.
For seating reservations, please email Pollinator_Summit@epa.gov. For further information or to request accommodations of a disability, please contact Mary Clock-Rust (Clock-Rust.mary@epa.gov).
More on the Pollinator Summit, full agenda and instructions on how to access the webinar:http://www.epa.gov/oppfead1/cb/csb_page/updates/2013/pollin-summit.html
More on pollinator protection: http://www.epa.gov/opp00001/ecosystem/pollinator/index.html
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Friday, March 1, 2013
EPA Recognizes IBM for Climate Change Leadership
IBM News Release:
EPA Recognizes IBM for Climate Change Leadership
WASHINGTON - 01 Mar 2013:
IBM (NYSE: IBM) today was recognized for its supply chain leadership by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). IBM was presented with a 2013 Climate Leadership Award in Washington, D.C. by the EPA, the Association of Climate Change Officers, the Center for Climate and Energy Solutions, and The Climate Registry.
IBM was cited for its ambitious emissions reduction goals, and for being at the leading edge of setting requirements for suppliers to measure, disclose and reduce their operational greenhouse gas emissions.
The Climate Leadership Award is a national program that recognizes exemplary corporate, organizational and individual leadership in response to climate change. This year's recipients, who come from the public and private sectors, have demonstrated leadership in managing and reducing greenhouse gas emissions in internal operations and through the supply chain as well as integrating climate resilience into their operating strategies.
The Climate Leadership Award is a national program that recognizes exemplary corporate, organizational and individual leadership in response to climate change. This year's recipients, who come from the public and private sectors, have demonstrated leadership in managing and reducing greenhouse gas emissions in internal operations and through the supply chain as well as integrating climate resilience into their operating strategies.
"I commend IBM for leading by example with the company's outstanding actions to help reduce carbon pollution," said Gina McCarthy, assistant administrator for EPA's Office of Air and Radiation. "IBM and all our Climate Leadership Award winners are tackling the challenge of climate change with practical, common sense and cost-effective solutions to improve efficiency and cut waste."
"For IBM, environmental leadership is essential to building a smarter planet," said Wayne Balta, IBM Vice President, Corporate Environmental Affairs and Product Safety. "We are always looking for ways to improve environmental performance throughout the company, including supply chain management that advance sustainability."
IBM is committed to doing business with environmentally responsible suppliers. In 2010, the company communicated a new set of requirements to its "first-tier" suppliers -- those firms with which IBM holds a direct commercial relationship – requiring them to establish and sustain amanagement system to address their corporate and environmental responsibilities. Specifically, suppliers are required to:
- Define, deploy, and sustain a management system that addresses corporate responsibility, including supplier conduct and environmental protection
- Measure performance and establish quantifiable environmental goals
- Publicly disclose results associated with these environmental goals and other environmental aspects of their management system
- Cascade these requirements to their own suppliers
IBM's sustainability initiatives go well beyond its corporate practices. Most recently, IBM is collaborating with the University of Michigan's Erb Institute for Global Sustainable Enterprise, together with the World Environment Center, on a program that offers graduate students opportunities to work with leading global companies while pursuing their studies in sustainability development. The program, called the Erb/WEC Fellowships, is a part of IBM's efforts to develop next-generation skills and real-life learning opportunities for tomorrow's workforce.
For more information go to: http:///www.ibm.com/environment.
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