Yesterday another Global Warming news story made the headlines about a New York-sized ice shelf collapsing off Antarctica— a grave reminder of the growing impacts of climate change.  The Wilkins Ice shelf in Antarctica is destabilizing and this month’s ice loss is the latest of 10 shelves on the antarctic peninsula to retreat with more melting expected.   On a positive note, the US is finally moving forward on Climate policy with the Environmental Protection Agency recent finding that greenhouse gases contribute to air pollution that may endanger public health or welfare, which now moves to a public comment period.

In addition, Congressman Henry A. Waxman and Congressman Edward J. Markey released the American Clean Energy and Security Act that requires  emissions to  be reduced 20 percent from 2005 levels by 2020, while Mr. Obama’s plancalls for a 14 percent reduction by 2020. Both would reduce emissions of carbon dioxide, methane and other greenhouse gases by 80 percent by 2050.  The bill would also require every region of the country to produce a quarter of its electricity from renewable sources like wind, solar and geothermal by 2025.

The American Clean Energy and Security Act currently lacks sufficienct votes for passage, but with the global warming crisis intensifying and the time horizon for effective action closing, it is imperative that we take local actions to reduce our carbon emissions and also support renewable energy projects in our own communities.