CFLs: A bright idea or passing fad?

Does it feel like everyone has caught on to the recent eco-friendly trends? While it may seem like the world has embraced a greener-is-better attitude, recent sales in the U.S. may point to another reality.

The sale of compact fluorescent light bulbs of CFLs has gone down recently, despite their status as one of the cheapest and easiest ways to go green. In some U.S. states, sales are down as much as 50%.

Greenpeace at it again: their message to the G20

When there’s a gathering of world leaders to discuss global issues, you can guess that Greenpeace will have something to say, and do, about it.

Today the G20, the leaders of 20 countries representing 90% of the world’s economic output leaders traveled from the UN in NYC to Pittsburgh for a two-day summit on the current financial crisis.

Data confirms melting glaciers

Greenland and western Antarctica might be shrinking faster than we think, according to new satellite info courtesy of NASA. British scientists analyzing the data say that the yearly rate of ice thinning from 2003 to 2007 is 50% higher than it was from 1995 to 2003.

What does this mean? It means that the ice sheets, particularly at the edges, are being melted from below by warming water, hinting at global warming and possibly contributing to rising sea levels.

Greening the skies

The airline industry recently hatched a new plan to cut carbon dioxide emissions across the industry, and will be presenting it to the UN today. The goal? Half the 2005 levels by 2050, according to British Airways chief exec, Willie Walsh.

World leaders and Obama eco-gab at the U.N.

Over 100 world leaders are in New York City today, putting their heads together at the United Nations for today’s conference on fighting climate change. President Obama and China’s Hu Jintao took center stage, making remarks on behalf of their countries.

The international community has suggested that despite being global economic leaders, both the U.S. and China are behind on issues of climate change, and together account for 40% of carbon emissions in the entire world: China taking the top spot as the largest emitter, followed by the U.S.