Can tar sands ever be sustainable? (via BusinessGreen)

Canada is moving forward on a wide-ranging consultation exercise designed to reduce the environmental impact of its tar sand developments.

Climate Change Is Bad for Business (via Center for American Progress)

Recent weather-related natural disasters across the world are affecting the bottom lines of multiple businesses and threaten future solvency.

Obama Accelerates Crackdown on Dirty Trucks (via ClimateBiz)

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and Department of Transportation have filed draft standards to reduce greenhouse gas emissions from large trucks and buses.  

Auto union joins labor, green groups on climate bill push (via The Hill’s E2-Wire)

The United Auto Workers announced they have joined the BlueGreen Alliance to push for greenhouse gas limits and other policies to create green jobs.

Higher Temperatures Lessen Plants’ Ability to Store CO2 (via Scientific American)

Rising temperatures have reduced the ability of plants to remove carbon from the atmosphere, according to a new study.

High-Tech Trash Bins Rat Out Residents Who Refuse to Recycle (via TreeHugger)

Cleveland has begun a new program that embeds recycling bins with microchips to monitor if residents are recycling on a regular basis and assess fines for laggards.

Study Finds No Link Tying Disaster Losses to Human-Driven Warming (via New York Times’ Dot Earth)

A survey of nearly two dozen research papers assessing trends in disaster losses related to climate change has found no link between natural disasters and human-driven global warming.

Green living thrives in communes, eco-villages (via USA Today’s Green House)

Several notable eco-villages have sprung up to focus community resources on organic farming, green building, communal spaces and other aspects of sustainability.

Caribbean Storm Damage Costs May Increase by 50% Along With Global Warming (via Bloomberg)

Climate change may add 50 percent to the storm damage costs incurred by some Caribbean nations over the next two decades.

Greens enjoy kingmaker role as Australia heads for hung parliament (via BusinessGreen)

Neither major Australian political party secured a working majority in Saturday’s national elections, putting the country’s Green Party in position to win climate change concessions.

China lays groundwork for electric car charging grid (via BusinessGreen)

The Chinese government is expected to issue regulations for a proposed national electric vehicle charging infrastructure this year.

Cheetos bags, diapers remade into trash cans (via CNET’s Crave)

A recycling company has begun figured out a method to make trash cans out of potato chip bags and disposable diapers.

Europe’s Brisk Energy Transition (via New York Times’ Green)

Renewable energy generation in the European Union grew 8.3 percent from 2008 to 2009, increasing the total amount of renewable energy in the EU’s portfolio to 18.4 percent.

Wyoming Survey Points to High Incidence of ‘Fracking’ Related Health Problems (via Solve Climate)

A new survey of Wyoming residents living near natural gas wells using hydraulic fracturing, or “fracking,” show 90 percent are experiencing negative health effects from chemicals in their water supply.

Judge to rule in 10 days on Cuccinelli climate case against University of Virginia (via Washington Post)

Virginia’s Attorney General has gone to court to secure emails and documents from the University of Virginia in his fraud investigation against a prominent climate scientist.

Global Growth of Plants Is Offset by Drought, New Study Shows (via Yale’s Environment 360)

The steady growth of global plant productivity spurred by warmer temperatures and longer growing seasons in the late 20^th century has been reversed by increased drought impacts.

NM Regulators Hear Greenhouse Gas Debate (via ABC News)

New Mexico regulators have begun a weeklong hearing to determine the feasibility of joining the Western Climate Initiative’s cap-and-trade program.

Scotland bids to host world’s first floating wind farm (via BusinessGreen)

Scotland is working to host the world’s first deepwater offshore wind farm at two potential sites off its coast.

Report Questions Forest’ Effectiveness in Storing Carbon (via ClimateBiz)

Declining tree growth in certain regions of the world may hinder forests’ ability to store carbon dioxide and help meet emissions reduction targets.

UK government distancing itself from setting pollution standards (via Financial Times’ Energy Source)

The new United Kingdom coalition government is moving away from former commitments to increase emissions standards, made while an opposition party.

SF Launches Database of Preferred Eco-Friendly Products (via GreenBiz)

San Francisco has launched an online catalog of products and services that meet the city’s preferred purchasing program standards, which avoid products harmful to the environment.

Study: Climate change threatens popular seafood (via The Hill’s E2-Wire)

A new study from the University of South Carolina finds higher air and water temperatures along the East Coast has shrunk the range of mussels.

The Nation’s Greenest Colleges (via New York Times’ Green)

The Sierra Club has released a list of the nation’s 162 most environmentally friendly colleges.

Next Saturday We All Start Going Into Ecological Debt (via TreeHugger)

August 21, 2010 has been designated Earth Overshoot Day, the date from which all human actions deplete the world’s capacity to create resources below a sustainable level.

Ga. scientists: Gulf oil not gone, 80 pct remains (via Yahoo! News)

University of Georgia scientists claim as much as 80 percent of the Gulf oil spill is still underwater, disputing a recent government study that found only 25 percent remained.

Brazil: Amazon deforestation down sharply in June (via Associated Press)

The Brazilian government reported Amazon deforestation has fallen 49 percent over the past year.

Get Ready for 300M Smart Meters On the Planet (via Earth2Tech)

A new report predicts 302.5 million smart meters will be installed across the world by 2015, and by 2050 smart meter penetration could reach 100 percent in the U.S., Europe and Asia.

UN’s new big-thinking, high-level sustainability panel revealed (via Financial Times’ Energy Source)

The United Nations announced a new 21-person panel to address global sustainability issues.

Mapping the Shape of California’s Green Economy (via GreenBiz)

California’s green economy now boasts 3,500 companies and workplaces in every major metropolitan area, and has grown 60 percent since 2009.

Administration assures Pelosi on restoration of renewables aid (via The Hill’s E2-Wire)

The Obama administration has assured House Speaker Nancy Pelosi that $3.5 billion in renewable energy loan guarantees, diverted to other initiatives, will be restored in 2010.

Solar Project Envisioned on Dry California Farmland (via New York Times)

A proposed 5,000 megawatt solar energy project on unproductive California farmland may herald a successful new type of renewable project model that ameliorates environmental concerns.

No-Fishing Area Shrinks in Gulf (via New York Times’ Green)

Federal authorities have reopened more than 5,000 square miles of commercial and recreational fishing waters closed from the Gulf oil spill.

CA moves forward on statewide plastic bag ban (via The Philadelphia Inquirer’s Green Space)

California, whose state assembly passed a ban on plastic bags, may become the first state to ban their use statewide.

Without New Recycling Schemes, Solar Industry to Perpetuate e-Waste Problem (via TreeHugger)

Clean tech firms are beginning to address the problem of recycling solar panel e-waste as they approach the end of their useful life.

Nation’s first public quick-charge station opens up (via Autoblog Green)

The first public electric vehicle quick-charge station has opened in Portland, Oregon.

Atlantic Hotter Than Before Katrina, Boosting Storm Forecasts (via Bloomberg)

Sea surface temperatures in the mid-Atlantic Ocean averaged 2.2 degrees above normal from March to June, leading forecasters to predict more hurricanes than average in 2010.

China to unveil $739 billion “new energy” plan soon: report (via Bloomberg)

China will soon publish a $739 billion dollar plan to stimulate newly developing energy industries through 2020.

Secretary-general admits growing UN pessimism over Cancun climate summit (via BusinessGreen)

UN Secretary General Ban Ki-Moon stated the Cancun COP16 climate change summit may not deliver an international agreement to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.

SAP Boosts Renewable Energy Use to 50 Percent (via GreenBiz)

Software company SAP announced half the energy it uses now comes from renewable sources, as it moves toward a five percent carbon footprint reduction goal.

EPA limits mercury and other pollutants from cement plants (via Los Angeles Times)

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has completed regulations limiting the release of mercury and other toxic air pollutants from cement plants.

Are Other Oil Giants Better Prepared for a Disaster? (via Mother Jones’ Blue Marble)

Investors representing $2.5 trillion in assets, led by Ceres, are pressuring oil and gas companies to detail spill preparedness levels.

Gulf’s Wildlife Casualties Rising Fast (via Mother Jones’ Blue Marble)

More injured and dead wildlife has been found in the 25 days since BP capped the Gulf oil spill than when the well was still flowing.

Companies prepare for green jobs revolution (via Mother Nature Network)

A new survey of human resources professionals shows that 40 percent of respondents said their companies are considering how green jobs fit into their business model.

17 Nations Beat or Equal All-Time Heat Records This Summer (via TreeHugger)

Preliminary results show 17 nations have already set or matched their all-time heat record this summer.

China to Close 2,000 Factories in Drive to Improve Energy Efficiency (via Yale’s Environment 360)

The Chinese government has ordered more than 2,000 aging steel and cement factories to close in order to improve the country’s energy efficiency.

Nissan, Daikyo will research ways to charge electric vehicles in condos (via AutoBlog Green)

Nissan announced it will jointly work with one of Japan’s largest condominium builders to develop electric vehicle charging infrastructure for condo dwellers.

Japan plans innovative technology for carbon credits program (via BusinessGreen)

The Japanese government has proposed providing millions in subsidies to develop low-carbon technology in developing countries in exchange for carbon credits.

Xcel Shows it Can Catch the Wind in a Big Battery (Greentech Media)

Xcel Energy has successfully tested a battery storage system for wind farms that can absorb 7.2 megawatt hours (MWh) of energy.

Browner: Energy bill success still possible before end of the year (via The Hill’s E2-Wire)

White House energy advisor Carol Browner said President Obama still believes Congress can pass energy legislation this year.

The Smog of War (via Mother Jones’ Blue Marble)

Seven U.S. Senators is lobbying the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency to curtail new rules to protect the public from ozone pollution, or smog.

Vast Ice ‘Island’ Breaks Free of Greenland Glacier (via New York Times’ Dot Earth)

A 100-square mile large iceberg has broken free of Greenland’s Petermann Glacier.

Has a Warming Russia Outpaced the World? (via New York Times Green)

Russian wildfires, heat waves and above-average warming compared to the rest of the world may mean it is experiencing the worst effects of climate change before other nations.

Climate Change May Destroy Up To 80% of World’s Rainforests by 2100 (via TreeHugger)

A new study finds climate change may wipe out 70-80 percent of South American and African, and 60-77 percent of Asian and South Pacific rainforests by 2100.

New Ford Explorer is 85% recyclable (via USA Today’s Drive On)

Ford announced its 2011 Explorer is 85 percent recyclable and 30 percent more fuel efficient.

Peak coal could happen by 2011…if we don’t start any more mines (via AutoBlog Green)

A new report finds the U.S. could experience “peak coal” as soon as 2011 if no new mines are started before then.

Could global climate deal deliver three treaties? (via BusinessGreen)

The Kyoto Protocol could be replaced or extended through three separate international treaties to address individual nation concerns at this year’s COP16 conference.

Walmart Releases Its Roadmap to GHG Accounting (via ClimateBiz)

Wal-Mart has publicly released a guidance document detailing how its’ supply chain carbon footprint can be documented and reduced.

Green Data Center Gear Will Make Up 28% of Data Center Market (via Earth2Tech)

Green data center gear will grow into nearly a third of the overall data center market over the next five years, representing $41.4 billion in global revenue.

Australians’ Views Shift on Climate Change (via Gallup)

The percentage of Australians who are aware of climate change and believe it results from human activities fell nearly 10 percent in two years.

Senators ask EPA to rethink review of smog rule (via The Hill’s E2-Wire)

Seven bipartisan Senators have asked the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency to reconsider national smog limits because of the economic downturn.

The Climate Bill is Officially Dead. Now for Plan B. (via Mother Jones)

The Presidential Climate Action Partnership has outlined five actions the Obama administration can take on climate ahead of the UN Cancun COP16 meeting in November.

Fungus on Track to Extinguish Bats in Northeast (via New York Times’ Dot Earth)

White nose fungus may wipe out all brown bats in the Northeastern U.S. within 20 years.

USA’s greenest cities? You might be surprised. (via USA Today’s Green House)

Twenty-two U.S. cities top a new list of the greenest in the country, ranked by energy use per capita, renewable power investments, efficiency efforts, and conservation incentives.

Biodiesel production shoots up 16% in European Union (via Autoblog Green)

Biodiesel production in the European Union increased 16.6 percent from 2008 to 2009, for a total output of nine million tons.

Academics call for climate insurance role at Mexico Summit (via BusinessGreen)

A new report calls for the COP16 climate summit to include climate change adaption insurance models into this year’s United Nations negotiations.

Giant battery smooths out variable wind power (via CNET’s Green Tech)

Large batteries connected to the power grid are proving to be an efficient way of storing intermittent wind power and providing it during periods of high demand.

Oregon on track to get utility-scale wave farm (via CNET’s Green Tech)

Oregon has taken another step forward to building a 1.5 megawatt wave energy station.

SmartGridCity is a Smart Grid Flop (via Earth2Tech)

State data shows the SmartGridCity project in Boulder, Colorado was mismanaged, leading to cost overruns and low smart meter adoption rates. 

Where Did BP’s Oil Go? (via The New Republic’s The Vine)

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration has released its estimate of how the Gulf oil spill has been removed from the environment.

N.Y. Senate Approves Fracking Moratorium (via New York Times’ Green)

The New York State Senate approved a temporary moratorium on natural gas exploration that combines hydraulic fracturing, or fracking, with horizontal drilling to inject water underground.

Hyundai Says Its Cars Will Average 50 M.P.G. by 2025 (via New York Times’ Wheels)

Hyundai announced its entire U.S. product line will average at least 50 miles per gallon by 2025, an improvement of about 60 percent over its current product lineup.

Russian President: Heat Waves are ‘Wake Up Call’ to Climate Change (via TreeHugger)

Russian President Dmitri Medvedev has stated that his country’s drought and wildfires are signs of climate change which need to be addressed through policy changes.

New garbage patch discovered in Indian Ocean (via Yahoo! News)

Scientists have discovered and mapped a garbage patch gyre in the Indian Ocean, in addition to the two known gyres in the North Pacific and Atlantic Oceans.

US reassures Bonn climate talks that it stands by carbon target (via BusinessGreen)

U.S. diplomats at the UN climate talks in Bonn downplayed the Senate’s decision to abandon climate legislation and reiterated the Obama administration’s pledge to reduce emissions by 17 percent.

Solar Market in 2011: Still Hot, But Not Growing So Fast (via Earth2Tech)

The international solar market is expected to grow 42 percent in 2011 and install 20.2 gigawatts of solar power systems.

Smart meter rollout to reach $25bn in Europe by 2020 (via Greenbang)

The European smart grid is expected to add 133-145 million new installed smart meters by 2020.

Appliance Makers Agree to Build Smarter, Energy-Sipping Products (via GreenBiz)

Home appliance manufacturers have agreed to new energy and water efficiency standards that could save 5 trillion gallons of water and billions of dollars in energy costs by 2040.

Green tech investment surges even as economy lags (via Grist)

Venture capital investment in clean energy and technology surged to $1.5 billion in the second quarter of 2010, a 64 percent improvement over 2009 levels.

Fishing limits proposed to save Alaska sea lions (via Los Angeles Times)

U.S. authorities have proposed shutting down fishing across 131,000 square miles of Alaskan shoreline in an effort to protect declining sea lion populations.

Drought Strains Russian Wheat Supplies (via New York Times’ Green)

European wheat prices have reached a two-year high after Russia announced extreme heat and drought had decimated 20 percent of the country’s winter crop.

GM to Boost Volt PHEV Production Capacity by 50% in 2012 (via TreeHugger)

General Motors announced it will increase production of the Chevy Volt by 50 percent in 2012, from 30,000 to 45,000 vehicles.

Much of the afternoon of Day 2 of the World Innovation Forum in June focused on sustainability in business.  Writer and strategist on green business practices Joel Makower kicked off the discussion.

“We’ve seen three eras of green,” he said.  “First, do no harm.  Then, do well by doing good.  ‘How do you bring environmental thinking into your company, improving the bottom line.’  Now, green creates value.  ‘How does green help you build new business models?’”

He shared stories about companies that are conducting random acts of greenness, and those that are innovating their operations to work within green constraints.  Frito-Lay, for instance, is innovating its processes.  It’s aiming for zero waste by trying to create systems where water gets recycled and energy gets reused.

The key to going green, Makower said, is to make things better.

“Green wins only to the extent that green equals better.  Most green products haven’t been better.  They’ve cost more and been harder to find.”

So, in the case of Frito-Lay, eliminating all waste also has to make the company more profitable.

“Green innovation shouldn’t be different from innovation,” Makower said.  “And green business shouldn’t be different from business.”

How has your organization incorporated green innovation into your products, processes and/or models?