The good news 
Bill Gates talking about zero (and we don't mean binary)
It isn’t very often that you hear a man of science talk about miracles. But miracles are exactly what Bill Gates prescribes for the big changes needed in our climate future. Lending a different voice to the movement to combat climate change, Gates addresses the big energy alterations needed in order to address worldwide problems resulting from global warming. His goal: Get emissions down to zero.

• From TED.com

California approves stringent pollution curbs
Newly adopted cap-and-trade regulations in California will reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 15 percent below 2012 levels by 2020. Winning in an encouraging 9-to-1 vote, the program will work to cut emissions statewide, with plans to trade carbon credits with other places such as New Mexico and British Columbia. The program will put the state ahead of the rest of the country in terms of greenhouse gas regulations.

• From The New York Times

The few. The proud. The green.
Renewable energy for the U.S. Navy and Marine Corps may be a matter of life and death. It has been found that for every 24 fuel convoys the U.S. military runs in Afghanistan, one person is lost to injury or death. Finding more energy-efficient ways to run U.S. bases in Afghanistan is one of many sustainable changes; amphibious assault ships run by hybrid gas turbines and fighter jets powered by 50-50 jet and mustard seed fuels are now a reality. As Thomas Friedman points out in this column, working to break our oil addiction because of a war partly driven by it would be an interesting twist of fate.

• From The New York Times

Some other news
Fox News boss ordered staffers to cast doubt on climate change science
Fox News’ Bill Sammon issued a memo after the network’s White House correspondent, Wendell Goler, announced that the United Nations' World Meteorological Organization found the decade of 2000-2009 was "on track to be the warmest on record." The memo, sent to Fox News staff, dictated that any statements about climate change be followed by notifications that “such theories are based upon data that critics have called into question.

• From The Huffington Post
• Previous article on email from Sammon

Cancun: What fell short and what it could mean for the world's poor
What fell short:
The United Nations Climate Change Conference in December concluded with a lower level of success than anticipated. Allowing countries to make voluntary pledges to cut emissions is a cause for concern for many who say that levels of commitment will be much lower than necessary.

• From the International Forum on Globalization

What it could mean for the world's poor: 
An increase in weather extremes could mean greater losses for those who live in developing nations; a 2007 International Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) report showed that a greater frequency of drought and flooding could be a result of climate change.

• From SolveClimate

Greenhouse gases reach record levels
A November report from the World Meteorological Organization (WMO) tells us that greenhouse gas levels are at their highest level since pre-industrial times. Also, an increasing concern is methane release from permafrost and wetlands.

• From the World Meteorological Organization

Fun stuff
Save the earth without leaving your couch
What does one do after adventuring across the North Pole? The obvious answer: Create a video game. David de Rothschild, a British explorer who trekked the North Pole to raise awareness about the melting pole, has developed a video game that allows kids to actually save the planet from global warming. Called Adventure Ecology, the game encourages players to battle pollution, stop deforestation, and take down villains like Global Warming, Agent Waste, and Professor Ignorance, among others. Kids are encouraged to come up with their own solutions to these problems, all the while learning about the issues.

• Play the game.
• More information from PlentyMag.com

Report: Global warming issue from 2 or 3 years ago may still be a problem
A new report from the Onion has the world talking about a surprising revelation: Global warming is actually still happening!

• From the Onion

Events
IT energy savings for non-techies
A free webinar from ENERGY STAR will help your organization save energy from computer usage. Robert Huang teaches this hour-and-a-half-long session in language that even those of us who aren't versed in the world of technology can understand. 

• Thursday, January 13 at 12:00 p.m.
• Register at ENERGY STAR
 

Climate Change Advisory Committee meeting
Pennsylvania's Climate Change Advisory Committee (CCAC) works to plan and implement climate change issues in the commonwealth. It addresses climate change issues according to four categories: natural resources, public health and safety, infrastructure, and tourism and outdoor recreation.

• Thursday, January 20 from 10:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.
• Rachel Carson Office Building, 400 Market St., Harrisburg
• More information from the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection

Interested in seeing a community wind farm in your area?  
Here's your chance to find out how! Windustry will host a two-day conference entitled “Community Wind across America” to put information in your hands. Learn about funding and starting a community wind project. Anyone interested is welcome to attend.

• Tuesday, February 8 at 7:30 a.m. through Wednesday, February 9 at 5:00 p.m.
• Penn Stater Conference Center Hotel, 215 Innovation Blvd, State College
• More information  and registration

2011 Good Jobs, Green Jobs national conference
Now in its fourth year, this premier event will highlight successful state and local initiatives; emerging and growing green sectors; efforts to create a Green Infrastructure Model through smart transportation and urban development; successful work-development programs and model partnerships between government, the private sector and local interests while demonstrating the breadth of the coalition working to build a green economy and to create the good jobs that come along with it.

• Tuesday, February 8 and Wednesday, February 9
• More information