Obama May Pick Nobel Prize Laureate As Energy Chief

There’s an article up under their dramatically titled “Transition to Power” section on CNN Politics about Obama’s possible selection of Nobel Prize winner Steven Chu as his administration’s energy chief. A brilliant move in my opinion, let’s get people in who really do know their stuff. I’d much rather have someone who won the prize for physics rather than for peace.

[Source – CNN]

Experts Suggest Household “MoT” For Energy Efficiency

According to experts our homes and offices should be tested regularly in the style of an MoT for energy efficiency. It’s an interesting idea but I’m not sure I can get on board with it entirely. It’s the government’s responsibility to achieve the cuts in emissions over the coming years but I’m not sure how regularly testing houses will help. Passing this kind of responsibility on to the public when it’s more a case that government have the ability to impose tough restrictions on the worst offending companies seems a little Machiavellian. This is all good as an idea, we all need to do our bit to an extent, but when you see that one outcome could be for households to get a hike in council tax if they’re a consistent poor energy performer then it starts to look a little unfair.

[Source – The Guardian]

Bush Making Good On Environment In Final Days

The word is that President Bush will apparently be going ahead with the creation of a large marine conservation park before he steps down. I guess given his shattered legacy there are worst things to go out on.

[Source – New Scientist]

Climate Change Forum Opens In California

A forum on climate change has been kicked off by Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger in Beverly Hills. Barack Obama was on hand via a recorded message to stress the importance of decreasing the United States’ dependence on oil. Obama also further pressed home the need to view the situation as one that is linked to the current financial crisis, that environmental concerns play a key role in the current economic downturn.

[Source – Huffington Post]

Soviet Collapse Good For The Environment

Compelling evidence has been put forward that the gradual collapse of the former Soviet Union is actually going some way to help the rest of the world achieve the targets set out by the Kyoto Protocol. Add that to the current economic woes and you have a potent combination for combating global warming.

[Source – New Scientist]

Al Gore Doesn’t Want The Job

Environmental superhero Al Gore does not want the post of ‘Climate Czar’ under Obama. I had to read through the article twice to check that he had been offered the role in the first place, such is the image I have of Mr. Gore thanks to South Park.

[Source – Washington Times]