World Bank uses its connection to help the environment

By drawing on its lending experience and policy dialog with developing countries, the World Bank is identifying, preparing and implementing projects with 3 goals. The goals are to simultaneously reduce poverty, improve the local environment and benefit the global environment.

This opportunity is available to them as one of the three implementing agencies of the Global Environment Facility (GEF). The GEF finances projects that address 6 threats to the global envirionment:

1. Loss of Biodiversity
2. Climate Change
3. Degradation of International Waters
4. Ozone Depletion
5. Land Degradation
6. Persistent Organic Pollutants

Since beginning in 1991, the GEF has provided $6.2 billion and grants. This along with the over $20 billion in co-financing has allowed them to support over 1,800 projects which benefit over 140 developing countries and countries in economic transition.

“How wonderful it is that nobody need wait a single minute before starting to improve the world.” Anne Frank

Students Choosing Green Schools

Berkeley and George Washington Universty are among two institution of higher education addressing sustainability issues. With Eco-Conscious students, recognition of their unique resource for research and activism, and coupled with a desire to compete with academia as thought leaders, higher education is making an impressive drive in all topics environmental.

AASHE is proof that students are no longer choosing soley based on name, reputation or the ability to land the “job-o-choice” after school. A university or college’s commitment to this issue will be a key factor among idealist and realist alike. Eco-Commerce is a viable and growing business market. Many schools have environmental departments as part of their business and law majors, as well as “stand alones“. No longer do students have to decide between “making a difference” and “making the rent”. Correcting past errors and preventing future ones now will put food on the table. It is a choice that is seemingly energizing the current generation of students.

“…a single leaf turns not yellow but with the silent knowledge of the whole tree…” - Khalil Gibran

Bush’s Plan: Stop Growth of U.S. GHG emissions by 2025

Prefixed by the “complicated ” science of climate change, the debate around the issue and an oddly positioned link of his administration’s progress in lowering GHG emmissions with a 17 percent growth in the economy, President Bush began his speech on the climate from the Rose Garden this Wednesday. The root of his words was an announcement of “a new national goal: to stop the growth of U.S. greenhouse gas emissions by 2025.”

The hinges of this plan are:

• Energy Legislation for new fuel economy
• Increased efficiency of lighting and appliances
• Technologies and tax incentives for states to increase renewable power and building code efficiency
• International agreement to accelerate cuts in HCFC emmissions

President Bush provided three areas as the suffix to his plan. He nodded to what has been done so far, what type of regulations is useful and what is not and spoke of the best system of incentives for these changes.

“The difference between offering the exceptional versus the acceptable is in communicating that the receiver is valued rather than an obligation.”

Gore’s New Timetable for Climate Crisis

Providing a new slide show as evidence that the rate of climate change is faster than recently predicted, former Vice-President Al Gore calls for an “urgency” that mimics the “generational mission” of the civil rights movement. Gore speaks on a new reality of climate change backed by slides of figures, charts and graphs. This was followed by period of Q & A. Allow yourself about 30 minutes to view the entire clip.

“Many hands make light work.” - Irish Proverb

Introduction: Clear CO-OP

The challenge of this, both, honors and humbles us. “Honors us” because we are part of the solution. “Humbles us” through realizing we are only a part. We recognize that changing the globe will take a global effort.

This is why Clear Standards offers Clear CO-OP; a proposed partnership of our resources and your insight. The vision is a Green-centric business blog supplemented by your real world knowledge via a discussion forum. Think of it as “an interactive Green news exchange” where you share with international colleagues as we all go about changing the planet. The virtual “Give a penny. Take a penny.” of eco-strategy.

“Perhaps each of us can make it on our own. Question is: ‘Are we brave and wise enough not to?’”