The Essentia Blog

Global warming won’t make the wine production of Napa and Sonoma Valleys go sideways if UC Davis has anything to say about it.  The Pacific Ocean has been warming up and cooling down California’s coast before global warming even came into focus as an issue.  Vinters have been adjusting their methods for years based on the unstable California climate.

However, if climate change produces a prolonged drought, there will have to be some major changes in which grapes are used in California wines.  They are exploring certain kinds of grapes at UC Davis that could replace Pinot Noirs and Chardonnays such as Spanish and Argentinian grapes that grow better in warmer climates.  They are also looking at moving to cooler climate areas and participating in water conservation programs.

While the 2008 arctic ice melt season did not itself break any records, more sea ice melted in August of 2008 than in any August, ever. Researchers believe that if the current rate of decline continues, all arctic sea ice will vanish by the end of the century.

In August of 2008, arctic sea ice retreated at a rate of 32,700 square miles per day, according to NASA researchers. In August of 2007, the sea ice loss was at a rate of 24,400 square miles per day.

Ten states in the US Northeast recently formed the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative in order to form the first US cap and trade greenhouse gas emission market in the absence of guidance from the Bush administration.

12.5 million permits were featured in last week’s auction, which each represent 1 ton of carbon dioxide emissions. Power plants must stabilize emission levels at current levels by 2012 or turn in their carbon dioxide permits.

The states involved will spend the money raised on alternative energy initiatives and other programs aimed at reducing the impact of the cap and trade costs on consumers.

Have you ever wondered if the company you’re buying a product from gives a hoot about the Earth?

Well ClimateCounts.org has a scorecard which measures companies on their commitment to tackling global warming. Using this scorecard while shopping is an easy way make your purchase count in all the right ways.

Climate Counts use a 0-to-100 point scale and 22 criteria to determine if companies have:

• MEASURED their climate “footprint”
• REDUCED their impact on global warming
• SUPPORTED (or suggest intent to block) progressive climate legislation
• Publicly DISCLOSED their climate actions clearly and comprehensively

Among the Worst
35 Kellogg
25 Disney …. for shame!
22 Levis
21 ConAgra Foods (brands they make)
15 Clorox
15 Liz Claibourne
14 CBS
13 Sara Lee
11 Apple
1 Yum (brands they make KFC, Taco Bell, Pizza Hut)
0 Jone Apparel Group (brands they make)
0 Wendy’s Intl
0 Burger King

Among the Best
82 Nike
78 Stonyfield Farm
77 IBM
74 Canon
70 Toshiba
71 General Electric
49 Starbucks

Download your pocket climate card here