Download this release (.PDF) (.DOC) Contact: Cosabeth Bullock 202-478-6128 202-904-7466 cbullock@mrss.com Washington, D.C. — A bill introduced today by Rep. Doris Matsui (D-CA) will significantly advance states’ efforts to reduce transportation-caused greenhouse gas emissions, while providing a broader range of low-cost travel and living options to their residents. Rep. Matsui’s groundbreaking bill, referred to the [...]

In an interview last month, President-elect Barack Obama described America’s addiction to oil as a ‘shock and trance‘ cycle, in which increasing oil consumption creates skyrocketing energy prices, leading to calls to for bold solutions and energy independence — that is, until prices temporarily drop and our political leaders conveniently avoid tough issues like energy [...]

In their third and final presidential debate, Barack Obama and John McCain batted their plans back and forth on environmental issues like oil dependence and climate change, but didn’t offer too many new ideas. (Grist — Kate Sheppard)

The New York Times editorial board applauds California’s passage of an anti-sprawl bill and urges other states to follow its lead.

With a new bill signed on Tuesday by Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger, California’s planning agencies gain new ammo in the fight against sprawl, carbon emissions, and climate change. (Associated Press — Steve Lawrence)

A new study from McKinsey and Company shows American consumers as having either direct or indirect control over 65 percent the country’s carbon emissions.

The city council of Hailey, Idaho — which is already working to reduce the town’s greenhouse gas emissions — voted this week to support a campaign for federal transportation reform led by U.S. PIRG. (Idaho Mountain Express — Tony Evans)

With worldwide carbon emissions increasing by 2.9 percent from 2006 to 2007, worst-case scenario predictions from climate change scientists are looking increasingly prescient. The Intergovernmental Panel on  Climate Change now predicts that global tempatures could rise more than 11 degrees by the end of the century.

Examining the implications of the financial crisis and the opportunities for recovery, commentator James K. Galbraith argues that the United States can go after a vast unmet need in our economy by building a program of “energy conservation, reconstruction and renewable power.” (Washington Post)

A writer at the New York Times‘ Freakonomics blog wonders if Lance Armstrong’s comeback from retirement could push even more people to strap on a helmet and pedal their way to work.