Energy, Climate Change,
and Our Environment

The President has taken unprecedented action to build the foundation for a clean energy economy, tackle the issue of climate change, and protect our environment.

Energy and Environment Latest News

  • National Security and Fuels of the Future: The Importance of Sec. 526

    Posted by Sharon Burke on July 15, 2011 at 12:26 PM EDT

    Earlier this week, a team from the Army's Tank Automotive Research, Development, and Engineering Command in Warren, MI parked a unique vehicle in the Pentagon courtyard. Dubbed the Fuel Efficiency Demonstrator-Alpha (FED-Alpha), the vehicle has all the capability of an up-armored M1114 Humvee, but with modifications that can improve fuel economy by 70%.

    Fuel Efficiency Demonstrator-Alpha (FED-Alpha)

    Efforts such as the FED-Alpha are important, because each gallon of gas counts in a war. Every military capability, every mission, and every warfighter needs a steady, reliable supply of energy to keep the country safe, today and in the future.

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  • Cleaning Up Schools, Taking Care of Our Space

    Posted by Sam Holtz on July 14, 2011 at 11:53 AM EDT

    Ed. Note: Champions of Change is a weekly initiative to highlight Americans who are making an impact in their communities and helping our country rise to meet the many challenges of the 21st century.

    I applied to be on Grades of Green’s Kids’ Advisory Board because they are working to inspire kids to be green and I wanted to be a part of it. They nominated me for the Champions of Change award because of the work I have done at my school, American Martyrs. I was so excited when they called and told me I had been named a “Champion of Change.”

    As a Champion of Change, on July 8th I was part of a video conference from the White House situation room with kids from all over the country who have implemented environmental changes just like I have.  Seeing and hearing all the great activities they have organized (including mine) showed me that us kids really can make a difference. After the videoconference I was honored and learned some new activities which I will try to put in place at my school. 

    I became involved in ecology because I am worried about what is happening to our planet. I believe we all have a responsibility to take care of our space. It is not up to our parents, or others to pick up after us. I wanted to get others to help me clean up our school so I ran for the position of safety and ecology and I won. After being elected I began making our school green. The first activity I organized was a drive to recycle gently used school supplies. I thought of this idea because I know at the end of the school year everyone just throws their old school supplies away. Filling my garage with pens, pencils, crayons, old notebooks, etc. I sorted it with some help from my friends and we gave the supplies to a less fortunate school in Watts. The smiles on their faces made it all worthwhile and we were keeping it out of the landfill. 

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  • Inspiring Students To Environmental Literacy

    Posted by Alexa Boghosian on July 13, 2011 at 2:01 PM EDT

    Ed. Note: Champions of Change is a weekly initiative to highlight Americans who are making an impact in their communities and helping our country rise to meet the many challenges of the 21st century.

    When I was honored last Friday as a Champion of Change and participated in the subsequent video conference event with the other honorees, it became clear to me that the White House Administration and fellow youth around the nation have a commitment to environmental literacy. This essential commitment will engrain environmental consciousness into the next generation of decision makers.

    During the summer of my freshman year of high school, I was a volunteer docent at "Cool Globes," an environmental exhibit at the California Science Center, providing tours and engaging public elementary schools students visiting on field trips. While volunteering, I noticed that the majority of students visiting the exhibit had difficulty answering what I thought to be basic questions, such as "Why is it important to protect our environment" or "Why is recycling good for the environment?"

    I quickly understood my community's need for environmental education in public elementary schools and decided to create The GreenTeens, a program to increase students' understanding, inspire them to take action, and empower them to lead their communities toward green citizenship.

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  • "Troops to Energy Jobs" Opens New Doors for Veterans

    Posted by Steve Dunwoody on July 13, 2011 at 12:10 PM EDT

    Ed. Note: Cross posted from the Energy Blog.

    Having served in the military, I’m intimately aware of the role that energy plays in our ability to defend and uphold our national security. This became apparent to me in many ways during my time in the field, to the safety of my unit who ran fuel supply convoys in theater and the dangers we faced in carrying our duties, to hearing about the economic struggles of my relatives and friends back home to afford gas to drive and heat their homes. We understand, perhaps better than anyone, that our pursuit of energy independence and national security are closely linked.

    I also know the struggles faced by many Veterans once they leave the service and try to find quality work. Last year for example, the unemployment rate for veterans who served after September 11th was 11.5% compared to 9.4% unemployment amongst non-veterans. Potential employers don’t always understand the value and experience that Veterans can bring to the workforce. And in some cases, it’s difficult for Veterans to express how the jobs we were trained to do in the military are transferable to jobs on the outside. Veterans have the skills, knowledge, leadership and professionalism to excel in any number of fields – including the energy sector. We simply need a bridge to join the wider workforce and contribute to the jobs of the future.

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  • Young Leaders Taking Charge in Environmental Sustainability

    Posted by Ashley Baia on July 12, 2011 at 5:54 PM EDT

    Ed. Note: Champions of Change is a weekly initiative to highlight Americans who are making an impact in their communities and helping our country rise to meet the many challenges of the 21st century.

    All across the country, young people are taking initiative in their schools and communities to teach others about the importance of environmental stewardship, energy conservation, and reducing waste. This past Friday, the White House honored a group of young leaders who have taken it upon themselves to do just that – educate and change their communities. These young people have taken the initiative to help green their schools and to inform other people, adults and youth alike, about the importance of living a more sustainable life. From teens teaching school-children about environmental issues, to primary school kids starting school gardens and encouraging kids to bring trash-free lunches, these Champions of Change are not only inspiring the adults around them by greening their schools, but they are making sustainability something ‘cool’ and interesting to the kids in their classes and communities.

    I was fortunate enough to meet with these young leaders over a video chat from the Situation Room, and to hear their stories, successes, and struggles first hand. The strength of America’s clean energy future depends on the dedication and innovation of our future leaders, and after spending time with these outstanding individuals, I’m encouraged that this generation is taking it upon themselves to make changes that will help and sustain our world.  

    Please visit the Champions of Change website to learn more about these young people and their work. We hope these Champions and their causes will inspire and energize you, no matter what your age, to educate yourself about sustainability, and to work to make a difference in your own communities.

    Ashley Baia is Associate Director of the Office of Public Engagement

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  • How Kids Can Do Something to Protect the Earth

    Posted by Grace Cortese on July 12, 2011 at 2:42 PM EDT

    Ed. Note: Champions of Change is a weekly initiative to highlight Americans who are making an impact in their communities and helping our country rise to meet the many challenges of the 21st century.

    I am Grace Cortese, and I am 10 years old. You might think I’m too young to make a difference in the environment. The reason I don’t believe that is because of my science teacher, Jillian Esby. She cares a lot about the environment and she teaches us that there are a million ways we can help if we pay attention and are willing to change our habits. Even the little things can add up, like turning out the light when you leave a room, or using both sides of the paper. Now my whole school is doing things to help protect the earth.

    My school has a composter for our lunch leftovers, a waste-free lunch program, recycle bins all over campus and a book swap. Our school made a carpool program to reduce the number of cars on campus, and we have a “Walk to School” day once a year. We also did a really cool thing to eliminate paper napkins and disposable water bottles. Each classroom has a party pack with cloth napkins, plastic cups and plates and we use those for all the class parties and events. My science teacher Mrs. Esby has a “Teenie Greenies” club at lunch and she teaches a class in “up-cycling” after school. Last year, we planted a fruit orchard on campus. We will give the fruit to the local food bank. My school does a lot to help others, too. We collect canned food for the Westside Food Bank and we fix meals for the homeless. Last year we collected 17,720 pounds of food and fixed 285 meals. In second grade, we “adopt a beach” through Heal the Bay and we do beach clean-ups. I learned a lot about the disgusting things that end up in the ocean, like cigarette butts and plastic bags. Last year at school, we had a read-a-thon to raise money for malaria nets in Malawi, Africa for a place called. G.A.I.A. I called my friends, grandparents, aunts and uncles and I raised $2,000! That is enough for 200 bed nets, and I feel really happy that I helped keep kids in Africa safe from malaria.

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