AFSCME Information Highway

Source: AFL-CIO Executive Council statement, March 04, 2008

A Green Economy should be tied to the goal of improving workers' rights, fair trade rules, and rebuilding manufacturing with full employment goals.

There needs to be strong domestic investment to capture new green technologies for export.

We need to cut green house emissions from existing coal and other fossil fuels, while ramping up renewable energy, energy efficiency, advanced auto and other green technology.

Public policy should concentrate on building the full domestic supply chain in green technology, including upgrading training to create a supply of trained employees for new green industries.

See also:
Presentation

Greener Pathways: Jobs and Workforce Development in the Clean Energy Economy
Source: Apollo in association with the Center on Wisconsin Strategy and the Workforce Alliance.

Posted by Info Center at 5:11 PM in Economy | Environment | Permalink

Source: Mary Filardo, EPI Briefing Paper, April 29, 2008

From the summary:
The nation's 97,000 public school buildings comprise an estimated 6.6 billion square feet of space on over 1 million acres of land. And while states and local communities invested over $500 billion in K-12 school building improvements from 1995 to 2004, considerable additional investments are needed to ensure that the nation's public schools are healthy, safe, environmentally sound, and built and maintained to support a high-quality education.

Today, many of the nation's schools face the combined challenges of deteriorating conditions, out-of date design, and changing utilization pressures (including intense overcrowding in some communities and rapidly declining enrollments in others). These combined deficiencies impair the quality of teaching and learning and contribute to health and safety problems for staff and students. Building design and facility conditions have also been associated with teacher motivation and student achievement.
See also:
Press release

Posted by Info Center at 9:44 AM in Economy | Education | Environment | Infrastructure | Permalink

Source: American Public Health Association

The American Public Health Association (APHA) today unveiled its first-ever blueprint for combating the health impacts of climate change, representing the culmination of a process involving some of the nation's leading public health and climate change experts.

The blueprint's top recommendations for the public health community call for:
• Education and outreach, working to ensure that public health concerns are included in policies and programs related to climate change;
• Research such as vulnerability assessments for specific communities and federally funded analyses of how the health impacts vary by region and population;
• Advocacy, including helping decision makers understand the climate-health connection and strengthening the capacity of the public health work force to prepare and respond;
• Support of best practices that build on existing public health programs that can help address climate change and that promote the development of healthy communities; and
• Healthy behaviors such as helping the public health system go green, and walking or biking instead of driving a car, and reducing, reusing and recycling.

Full Document (PDF; 199 KB)

Posted by William at 11:11 AM in Environment | Permalink

Source: Todd Tucker and Mary Bottari, Public Citizen, Global Trade Watch, February 2008

From the press release:
Public Citizen today identified changes needed to World Trade Organization (WTO) rules and the investment provisions of the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) to implement a dozen of the presidential candidates' key health and climate policy proposals.

The changes were detailed in a report, "Presidential Candidates' Key Proposals on Health Care and Climate Will Require WTO Modifications, Overreach of WTO Highlighted by Potential Conflicts with Candidates' Non-Trade Proposals."
...
Although they have nothing to do with trade, key health care cost containment proposals on the creation of health insurance risk pooling mechanisms, reduction of pharmaceutical prices and electronic medical record-keeping, a proposal to expand coverage by requiring large employers to provide health insurance and a proposal to establish tax credits for small employers as an incentive to provide health insurance fall within WTO jurisdiction. In addition, proposals that address climate policy, such as increasing Corporate Average Fuel Efficiency (CAFE) standards, banning incandescent light bulbs, establishing new regulation of coal-fired electric plants and establishing national renewable portfolio standards (RPS), green procurement proposals and green industry subsidies come under the jurisdiction of existing U.S. WTO commitments.

Posted by Info Center at 1:24 PM in Environment | Health Reform | Politics | Trade | Permalink

Source: Claudia Copeland, Congressional Research Service, January 23, 2008

Policymakers are giving increased attention to issues associated with financing and investing in the nation's drinking water and wastewater treatment systems, which take in water, treat it, and distribute it to households and other customers, and later collect, treat, and discharge water after use. The renewed attention is due to a combination of factors. These include financial impacts on communities of meeting existing and anticipated regulatory requirements, the need to repair and replace existing infrastructure, and concerns about paying for security-related projects.

This report identifies a number of issues that have received attention in connection with water infrastructure investment. It begins with a review of federal involvement, describes the debate about needs, and then examines key issues, including what is the nature of the problems to be solved; who will pay, and what is the federal role; and questions about mechanisms for delivering federal support, including state-by-state allotment of federal funds. Congressional and Administration activity on these issues from the 107th to the 109th Congresses also is reviewed.

Posted by Info Center at 5:53 PM in Environment | Utilities | Waste Management | Permalink

Source: Congressional Research Service (via OpenCRS)

Three primary variables drive a state's human-related greenhouse gas (GHG) emission levels: population, per capita income, and the GHG emissions intensity. GHG emissions intensity is a performance measure. In this report, GHG intensity is a measure of GHG emissions from sources within a state compared with a state's economic output (gross state product, GSP). The GHG emissions intensity driver stands apart as the main target for climate change mitigation policy, because public policy generally considers population and income growth to be socially positive. The intensity of carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions largely determines overall GHG intensity, because CO2 emissions account for 85% of the GHG emissions in the United States. As 98% of U.S. CO2 emissions are energy-related, the primary factors that shape CO2 emissions intensity are a state's energy intensity and the carbon content of its energy use.

Energy intensity measures the amount of energy a state uses to generate its overall economic output (measured by its GSP). Several underlying factors may impact a state's energy intensity: a state's economic structure, personal transportation use in a state (measured in vehicle miles traveled per person), and public policies regarding energy efficiency.

The carbon content of energy use in a state is determined by a state's portfolio of energy sources. States that utilize a high percentage of coal, for example, will have a relatively high carbon content of energy use, compared to states with a lower dependence on coal. An additional factor is whether a state is a net exporter or importer of electricity, because CO2 emissions are attributed to electricity-producing states, but the electricity is used (and counted) in the consuming state.

Full report (PDF; 197 KB)

Posted by Info Center at 2:25 PM in Environment | Permalink

Source: Center for Integrative Environmental Research, University of Maryland

The range of climatic changes anticipated in the United States - from rising sea levels to stronger and more frequent storms and extreme temperature events - will have real impacts on the natural environment as well as human-made infrastructures and their ability to contribute to economic activity and quality of life. These impacts will vary across regions and sectors of the economy, leaving future governments, the private sector and citizens to face the full spectrum of direct and indirect costs accrued from increasing environmental damage and disruption.

Executive Summary (PDF; 1.7 MB)
Full Report (PDF; 5.2 MB)
Regional Summaries (PDFs)

Posted by Info Center at 2:41 PM in Environment | Permalink

Source: National Parks Conservation Association, State of the Parks, July 2007

From the press release:
The National Parks Conservation Association (NPCA) today released a report that highlights threats to the natural features and cultural sites in six national parks along the Great Lakes--Apostle Islands National Lakeshore, Wisconsin; Indiana Dunes National Lakeshore, Indiana; Isle Royale National Park, Michigan; Keweenaw National Historical Park, Michigan; Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore, Michigan; and Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore, Michigan.

The report describes these sites and their significance, and summarizes resource conditions. Also noted are funding and staffing considerations, park planning efforts, resource education opportunities, and external support provided by volunteers and partner organizations.
...
According to NPCA's Center for State of the Parks report, the Great Lakes parks face threats from air and water pollution, non-native species that are seriously damaging ecosystems, adjacent development, and funding shortfalls that are threatening every aspect of the parks.
See also:
• Summary

Posted by Info Center at 4:48 PM in Environment | National Parks | Permalink

Source: Rich Anderson, Mayors Water Conference, 2007

Local government spent $82 billion to provide sewer and water services and infrastructure in FY2005, up from $45 billion in FY1992. The local government share of spending on sewer is just over 95 percent, and the state share is just under 5 percent. The local government share of spending on water supply is over 99 percent. Total spending on sewer and water from 1991-1992 to 2004-2005 is $841 billion.

The trend is for greater spending levels. Factors contributing to the increased need for investment include: population growth and land use development; an aging water infrastructure that needs constant maintenance and rehabilitation; and climate change impacts that threaten water supplies from drought; reduced snow-pack; salt water intrusion on coastal aquifers from rising sea levels; increased storms, hurricanes and flooding that require infrastructure hardening.

Local government is the primary investor in public-purpose sewer and water. Costs and spending will increase dramatically over time, and the added costs from climate change impacts are not currently included in infrastructure financing discussions. The nation's cities need more help from the federal government and greater access to private equity to address investment needs over the next 50 years.

Posted by Info Center at 5:56 PM in Environment | State & Local Finance | Utilities | Permalink

Source: John Mann and Jon Runge, Journal AWWA, Vol. 99 no. 10, October 2007
(subscription required)

From the summary:
The State of the Industry (SOTI) survey, now in its fourth year, has compiled a wealth of trending data on the water industry. These data--reflecting input from utility representatives, service providers, and other professionals across the United States and Canada--help illuminate the water industry's current and future concerns.

Posted by Info Center at 11:21 AM in Environment | Statistics | Permalink

Source: American Rivers, September 6, 2007

From the press release:
More than ten thousand dams across America could become killers if they fail and 1,333 of those dams are considered unsafe. This Sunday, the Association of State Dam Safety Officials (ASDSO) holds their annual conference in Austin, TX. Statistics developed by ASDSO show that an alarming number of dams in the United States pose a threat to human life and many of them are structurally unsafe.

Congress will soon consider the Dam Rehabilitation and Repair Act of 2007 (H.R 3224) which would direct $200 million to states for improving the safety of publicly-owned dams, through either repairing or removing problem dams. To date, only 11 members have signed on to co-sponsor the bill introduced by Congressman John Salazar (D-CO).
+ ASDSO Statistics

Posted by Info Center at 4:10 PM in Environment | Permalink

Source: Patricia Frank, American City & County, Vol. 122 no. 6, June 1, 2007

Hidden among the well-known problems faced by water professionals -- aging infrastructure, dwindling supply -- is another emerging issue: rising amounts of pharmaceutical compounds in surface water and drinking water. And, considering the increasing numbers of people being treated with drugs at earlier ages and an aging population taking multiple medications for a variety of health conditions, more of those compounds likely will find their way into the nation's wastewater facilities.

Early signs of the problem were discovered in US Geological Survey (USGS) research in 1999. Of the 60 pharmaceuticals the agency was testing for, it found 30 of them in 139 streams in 30 states. In addition, 80 percent of the streams had one or more contaminants, 54 percent had five or more, and 13 percent showed 20 or more.

"We can measure over 150 compounds in water alone," says Dana Kolpin, a research hydrologist and member of the USGS study team. "Now, the big question is, what kind of environmental consequences [do they pose] to terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems and, maybe in the long term, even human health. We just don't know what the exposure risk is to many of these compounds."

Posted by Info Center at 1:25 PM in Environment | Permalink

Source: Linda Sikkema and Melissa Savage, State Legislatures, Vol. 33 no. 3, March 2007
(subscription required)

As the Federal government wrestles with its role in controlling greenhouse gasses, one state hasn’t hesitated to attack global warming.

Massachusetts is suing the Environmental Protection Agency to force regulation of greenhouse gas emissions in a case that is before the U.S. Supreme Court. At issue is whether the Clean Air Act requires EPA to control these gases, which contribute to global warming. States are split on either side of the issue in Massachusetts v. EPA, with 11 states siding with Massachusetts and 10 with the federal government.

Posted by Info Center at 5:02 PM in Environment | Permalink

Source: David Foster, New Labor Forum, Vol. 16 no. 1, Winter 2007

The Donora disaster was the root cause of the USW’s subsequent embrace of environmental issues that led eventually to the founding on June 7, 2006 of a new Strategic Alliance between North America’s largest private sector manufacturing union, and the Sierra Club, the country’s oldest and largest grass-roots environmental organization. While the decision to align the USW and the Sierra Club originated in their shared history of supporting environmental protections like the Clean Air Act, the new Alliance was sparked by the accelerating pace of globalization and the seismic social shifts accompanying it. Both organizations realized that for the first time in human history any meaningful improvement in the economic well-being of the world’s population was dependent on the sustainable management of our planted and its resources.

Posted by Info Center at 11:24 AM in Environment | Future of Unions | Globalization | Health & Safety | Permalink

Source: Tomas M. Koontz and Craig W. Thomas, Public Administration Review, December 2006, Vol. 66 supplement

To what extent does collaborative management lead to improved environmental outcomes? Despite the academic excitement over collaborative management, the authors of this provocative article argue that the empirical evidence on existing practices does not match the desired outcome of a better environment. Although we know a great deal about the why, how, and what of collaborative management, it is no panacea. Rather, students of this subject should remain hard-headed realists and focus on whether actual environmental improvement results. Does real-world application of collaborative management processes achieve more or less than alternative managerial methods such as traditional top-down, command and control, or newer market-driven techniques?

Posted by Info Center at 11:23 AM in Environment | Management | Permalink