US Colleges and Glos County sign climate pledge

Wanted to share some good news from the states - following the success of Mayors in the US signing up to tackle climate change we now have 280 institutions signing on to the American College & University Presidents Climate Commitment. It is modeled after the pact so far signed by 532 mayors (representing 66 million US citizens) across the country - the agreement commits schools to promoting research on global warming, keeping track of emissions, and aiming for carbon neutrality. The effort is being led by President Michael Crow of Arizona State University, which plans to turn down the AC, increase solar power, and provide free bus passes to students, faculty, and staff. Read more here.

Meanwhile at last Gloucestershire County Council have signed a pledge to tackle climate change - read more here - the Nottingham Declaration was also signed earlier this year by Stroud District - and Cheltenham in 2005 when I attended their launch while Stroud Town signed back in April 2001. Most scientists indicate the targets the Declaration suggests are now wholly inadequate - nevertheless it is important to make a public statement to tackle climate change.

Lastly in Iceland artist Katie Paterson set up last week microphones submerged deep in a glacier - by dialing a number you could hear live the glacier in it's death throes. See glorious photos and more details here - sadly numbers are not working now but we shouldn't need this to make us act - but good on this artist for bringing this issue to a wider audience....