It looks like the EU’s ambitious energy policy, aimed at a 20% reduction in CO2 by the year 2020, is being outpaced by an unlikely group—a number of cities from its own member states:

To date almost 550 towns and cities across Europe, and further afield, have made the formal commitment to go beyond the EUs 20% CO2 reduction objectives. Local and urban authorities are key to reducing greenhouse gas emissions and combating climate change. At present urban areas are responsible for 80% of CO2 emissions and energy consumption, with the growth rate of 1.9% of energy use in cities (versus 1.6% globally). Therefore, it is only through decisive action at the local level that the challenge of climate mitigation can be overcome.

A model for American cities, perhaps?

Click here for more on the EU’s carbon-reduction efforts.

Just how green is your beer? It could very well be a little greener than it was last year…along with your milk and your phone service.

Anheuser Busch, the maker of iconic American beer brands like Budweiser, Verizon, Bartlett Dairy and Derle Farms are among the growing number of companies that are greening their delivery fleets by use of natural gas delivery trucks. Bartlett and Derle are among the first in the dairy industry to adopt CNG technology.

The New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA) and the New York City Department of Transportation (NYC DOT) have awarded 14 companies over $6.6 million to introduce these compressed natural gas (CNG) trucks as well as electric, and hybrid-electric vehicles to City fleets.

The funding is being awarded through the New York City Private Fleet Alternative Fuel/Electric Vehicle Program, which is designed to assist private and not-for-profit fleets operating in New York City to purchase new vehicles or to repower vehicles with alternative fuels or advanced technologies that improve efficiency and reduce emissions. The new clean fuel vehicles (137 in all) will displace over 5.8 million gallons of petroleum over their lifetimes as compared to conventional vehicles. They will cut harmful pollutants by 790 tons of Oxides of Nitrogen, 2,791 tons of Carbon Dioxide, 5 tons of Hydrocarbons, and 18 tons of Particulate Matter over the lifetime of the vehicles. The greatest gains will come from the 72 shifting to CNG.

“This is exactly the kind of public/private cooperation that is quickly producing the kind of change in transportation fuel that Energy Vision advocates,” said Joanna Underwood, Energy Vision’s President. “Natural gas, the one 100% petroleum-free fuel option, is here right now, and its use means one big step on the path to real, sustainable fuel and energy independence.”

Energy Vision celebrated its second anniversary in NYC on Dec 4th, at a reception held in the historic townhouse of film writer and TV producer Tom Fontana. The evening Co-Chair, Blythe Danner, presented EV’s first two “Energy Vision” awards to National Grid’s CEO, Robert C. Catell, a leader in promoting clean alternative vehicle fuels, and to Ed Begley, Jr, Actor/Environmentalist, who pioneered in “walking the walk” with his green lifestyle. Ed got a new show (Congratulations, Ed!) so couldn’t come to New York. But we enjoyed his remarks! Scroll down for photos from the event, along with a video from Ed.

Descriptions for the photos below are as follows:
1) Evening Co-Chair, Blythe Danner, host, Tom Fontana, and EV President Joanna Underwood
2) Former Commissioner of Sanitation and EV Board member Brendan Sexton, and environmental attorney Michael Gerrard
3) A mezzanine view of the EV’s December 4th reception
4) Evening Co-Chair Joan C. Pearlman with Neil Zeller of “Limo Green”
5) EV award winner Robert B. Catell, exec chairman of National Grid US, Joanna Underwood, and Rocco DiRico of the NYC Department of Sanitation
6) Evening Co-Chair Cynthia Adler announcing the green auction
7) Artists Sam Wiener and Lynne Mayocole
8) Dr. Noel J. Brown, President and CEO, Friends of the United Nations
9) Designer Altyn Chiang and EV’s Jennifer Fortin
10) The Bryan Mawr College contingent with Co-Chair Blythe Danner: (l to r) Dr. Bonnie Cunningham, Camille Jones, Joanna Underwood, Jessica Amelar, Nancy Kirk, Jessica Kirk, and in front Alison Baker, and Taylor Stacey
11) The Honorable Virginia Stern, Dr. Mark Stern, and Dr. Lucy R. Waletzky
12) Phil Shabecoff, EV Board member, former lead environmental writer for the New York Times, and author

Also, see Ed’s Energy Tips on YouTube

Read about intern Emily McGlynn’s experience at Energy-Vision. Emily has been an intern with Energy Vision for two years. She is a 2009 graduate of Bryn Mawr College and was chosen in 2008 to be a Truman Fellow.

Civic Matters – Sustainability in the Transportation Sector — An Activist’s Journey.

Putting alternative transportation fuels to work….

Attention Municipal, solid waste, and sustainability leaders in NJ – Come learn how alternative fuels use can contribute to a cleaner environment and greater energy security for your state.

This EV-Rutgers sponsored statewide conference will show municipal leaders, refuse/recycling truck fleets, environmental advocates, and civic leaders the environmental and economic benefits of getting on board with alternative fuels. A natural gas refuse truck — the cleanest and quietest truck available today – will be demonstrated!

EV-Rutgers Alternate Fuel Conference Flyer

EV-Rutgers Alternate Fuel Conference Agenda

Our Relationship to Resources, Satya January 2000

Education for Sustainable Development, Encyclopedia of Life Support Systems

This chapter appeared in Our Fragile World: Challenges and Opportunities for Sustainable Development, the forerunner to the web-based Encyclopedia of Life Support Systems. It discusses the formal and informal teaching and learning needed — the shifts in thought and action — for young people to live in harmony with other human communities, other species and the larger world environment. by Joanna D. Underwood and Mia MacDonald 2001

What is Education for Sustainable Development?, Earth Ethics, Spring 2005