Electric Pants, Fuel Efficiency Standards, Mt Everest and Musing Polar Bears – It’s a wRAP May 28th, 2010

This past week, President Obama called for mileage and emissions standards on work trucks and big rigs; a first for the US government, as this class of vehicles has previously been exempt from mileage standards! The Union of Concerned Scientists tells us that while these types of vehicles account for only 4% of the vehicles on the road, they represent close to 20% of the greenhouse gas pollution from all vehicles. This is an additional step to that taken in April when new mileage standards were set for passenger vehicles. Also this week, climate change action was called for from the top of Mt. Everest, where Apa Sherpa called attention to climate change in the Himalayas as he successfully scaled Mt. Everest for a record 20^th time.

In the News this week we highlight a study at UC Berkeley that is working on creating clothing that will generate electricity from body movement. Our Video Peek of the Week comes to us from the UK based Friends of the Earth, and showcases a interesting conversation by two polar bears, that you will want to share with the kids in your life! Check in next week and meet our new “Climate Mama” and be the first to tell your friends about the launch of our Climate Mama “Does and Don’ts Climate Change Campaign.”