May 03, 2024

Do your part: Ten steps you can take to combat climate change

May 03, 2024/ Kelly Pemberton

Climate change stands as one of the most pressing challenges of our time, manifesting through extreme weather events, rising sea levels, and devastating natural disasters. These phenomena pose immediate threats to our environment, economies, and communities worldwide. However, the battle against climate change requires more than just an increase in environmental consciousness—it demands proactive, informed interventions across various sectors.

November 16, 2022

How Climate Change Is Affecting Wildlife and Ecosystems

November 16, 2022/ Kelly Pemberton

Climate change is happening, and it's already affecting the wildlife and ecosystems around us. Wildlife and ecosystems are the foundation of our planet, providing us with food, water, and many other essential resources. But climate change is putting these resources at risk, as it impacts the way these animals and ecosystems function.

March 21, 2021

The Philippines Goes Green, Announces Moratorium on New Coal Power Projects

March 21, 2021/ Kelly Pemberton

by Gerelyn Terzo of Sharemoney

Coal is the most common fossil fuel used to generate electricity. In the Philippines, it represents 40% of power production capacity, outpacing all other sources of energy - but it is also the dirtiest.

That’s why the Philippines Department of Energy (DOE) in November 2020 drew a line in the sand and placed a moratorium on any applications for projects on “undeveloped greenfield sites” that rely on coal. Take the Calaca power station, a 900MW coal-fired power plant located in the City of Batangas. It was on course to bolster capacity by some 700MW, plans that were subsequently nixed as a result of last year’s ban.

June 21, 2019

Top 4 ways to lead an eco-friendly lifestyle

June 21, 2019/ Kelly Pemberton

Guest post by Rosana Beechum

Due to the ongoing discussion about global warming and climate change, more people are starting to change their day-to-day behavior to help protect the planet. If you want to contribute to this, you’ll need to start making some adjustments that will help you do your part for the environment. The following tips can not only help you make a difference, they’ll also enable you to lead a healthier lifestyle.

May 29, 2019

How Driving Commutes in Your State are Affecting Global Climate Change

May 29, 2019/ Kelly Pemberton

Early yesterday morning I sat seething in my car after finishing a 1.5-hour commute (one way!) to my kids’ school, a journey that normally takes a little over half an hour. Among my gripes (Why is it that SOME folks just can’t drive in the rain? Why is public transportation here so much slower and more expensive than driving?) and promises (I will carpool to work next year when my kids can take the school shuttle; my next vehicle WILL be 100% electric) was a thought that I have often had while sitting in bad traffic in the metro Washington, D.C. area. How much longer can we keep up this love affair with our gas-powered vehicles before it’s too late to do anything about reversing climate change?

According to scientists, it’s under 12 years.

February 02, 2019

10 ways to consume less and help the planet

February 02, 2019/ Kelly Pemberton

Last week I was lecturing in one of my classes about the birth of consumerism in the 1950’s, showing students a couple of popular ads that linked domesticity, femininity, and sexuality and asking them to comment on what they believed the ad was trying to communicate. The class reminded me that I needed to check my own consumption habits once again. It is a practice I have observed since starting Green and Prosperous several years ago.

January 23, 2019

3 Small Ways We Can Prevent the Next Mass Extinction Event

January 23, 2019/ Kelly Pemberton

Guest post by Rebecca Pryor

For the majority of us out there, the question of mass extinctions through time is hardly a priority in our minds. After all, we have our own busy hectic lives to manage on a daily basis. We may have had a cursory look at them in our Geography class several years ago, but that is about the extent of it. It is a phrase that has been buried in the deep recesses of our minds for a while now, but we need to bring it out to the consciousness of most people out there. Why so? The main reason is to ensure that people are aware of the sheer possibilities of such a colossal disaster taking place in the world of today. The question of mass extinctions over time is especially relevant in a period when we have a renewed focus and added urgency to address the question of global climate change before it’s too late to prevent the next mass extinction event.

August 10, 2017

Could Water Pumps “Refreeze” The Arctic?

August 10, 2017/ Kelly Pemberton

guest post by Ian Craft

Whether you keep abreast of global issues or not, chances are you will be aware of global warming and the threat that it poses to our planet. Polar ice caps are rapidly melting due to steadily increasing global temperatures, and if it doesn’t stop soon then we could be looking at nothing short of a global catastrophe.

So how do we combat this problem before it’s too late? The most effective solution is to reduce our greenhouse gas emissions, but that of course is easier said than done. So as this is not happening, scientists are working hard thinking of alternative ways to try and reverse the situation.

December 04, 2015

Why you should be optimistic about the Paris climate change conference (COP21)→

December 04, 2015/ Kelly Pemberton

The 21st meeting of the Conference of Parties, which refers to the United Nations-sponsored climate change talks taking place in Paris this year, has renewed global discussions about the need for rapid action. Delegates are making global pleas for nations to reduce the amount of greenhouse gases that threaten the long-term security of the planet, and to create the conditions for an alternative energy revolution. The goals of this year’s climate summit are lofty, and may even be achievable. Here are five things you should know about the 2015 Paris climate change conference that will have a major impact on the environment that should give you a reason to be hopeful about our collective ability to meet this challenge within the next decade and a half.

August 06, 2015

Regulating Carbon Pollution through the Climate Action Plan: Window Dressing or Pathway to an Energy Revolution?

August 06, 2015/ Kelly Pemberton

On Monday, President Obama revealed the final details of his Climate Action Plan, partially fulfilling a campaign promise he made in the lead up to the 2008 elections. Some critics of the Plan claim that it will have a negative impact on the job market, especially in the major coal producing states. Other critics say that it does not go far enough to reduce toxic greenhouse gases and is still subject to being undermined by the judiciary...[T]he Plan does raise an interesting question for the long term: is the regulation of carbon emissions merely a form of political window dressing or can it be a lasting solution to counter the negative effects of climate change?

August 22, 2014

What you can do about Climate Change

August 22, 2014/ Kelly Pemberton

The July 3rd post featured my interview with Moms Clean Air Force National Field Manager Gretchen Dahlkemper-Alfonso. This week’s post continues the conversation about the climate change agenda, drawing on information from that interview and from recent studies that suggest that that time for sounding the warning bell is over: now is the time for taking action.

Taking action on climate change is not just something for policy makers and governments to tackle: there are things you can do, too. So we end this post with a list of 6 things you can do to take action on global climate change problems. But before we get to that it’s important to understand something about why action now is so crucial, and so timely…