Website Resources

(A) United Nations

United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change

Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change

(B) Global Economy and Environmental Sustainability

The World Bank: Climate Change: "This is the year to lay the groundwork for a new global climate agreement expected at the international climate talks in Paris in December 2015. The good news is that climate action does not require economic sacrifice.  Smart policy choices can deliver economic, health and climate benefits. At the UN Climate Summit in September, more than 73 countries and 1,000 companies and investors signaled their support for action through pricing carbon as a necessary part of the solution to drive investments in a cleaner economy and a foundation on which other climate actions can build." (Quoted from:  http://www.worldbank.org/en/topic/climatechange/overview#1, version of September 30, 2014).

Oxfam America: Climate Change:  Poor communities are hit hardest by climate change, and the "carbon footprint of the world’s one billion poorest people represents just 3 percent of the global total." (Quoted from:  http://www.oxfamamerica.org/explore/stories/climate-change/, version of October 18, 2014).

The Global Commission on the Economy and Climate: It is "a major new international initiative to analyse and communicate the economic benefits and costs of acting on climate change. Chaired by former President of Mexico Felipe Calderón, the Commission comprises former heads of government and finance ministers and leaders in the fields of economics and business.  The New Climate Economy is the Commission’s flagship project. It aims to provide independent and authoritative evidence on the relationship between actions which can strengthen economic performance and those which reduce the risk of dangerous climate change."

Ceres.org: "At Ceres, our mission is to mobilize investor and business leadership to build a thriving, sustainable global economy. Changing capital market practices to incorporate long-term environmental and social risks instead of merely relying on short-term returns as a measure of economic health is a key component of our work."

Oil Change International: Exposing the true costs of fossil fuels (priceofoil.org)

The Global CCS Institute: "Our mission is to accelerate the development, demonstration and deployment of carbon capture and storage (CCS), a vital technology to tackle climate change and provide energy security. Working with and on behalf of our Members, we drive the adoption of CCS as quickly and cost effectively as possible by sharing expertise, building capacity and providing advice and support so that this this vital technology can play its part in reducing greenhouse gas emissions.  Our diverse international membership consists of governments, global corporations, small companies, research bodies and non-government organisations, committed to CCS as an integral part of a low-carbon future."

Carbon Tracker: "Financial specialists making carbon investment risk real today in the capital market."

(C) U.S.A.

Climate change policy information on the website of the White House

EPA's Study of Hydraulic Fracturing for Oil and Gas and Its Potential Impact on Drinking Water Resources (http://www2.epa.gov/hfstudy)

The Water Project of Ohio University: "a public information clearinghouse for one of the Appalachian region’s most important and disputed natural resources (http://ouwaterproject.org/).  Note especially the sections entitled "The Concern" and "Community Opinions", and note that each drill site ("per frack") requires 3-5 MILLION gallons of water (not merely thousands, as reported at one point on the following site):  http://ouwaterproject.org/issues/industry/

U. S. Drought Monitor: http://droughtmonitor.unl.edu/

Politics1.com: "Launched online in 1997, Politics1 is published as a non-partisan public service to promote fully informed decision-making by the American electorate." (The link opens the Ohio page.)

Ohio's Secretary of State: information about elections, registering to vote, and where and when to vote.

Board of Elections of Athens County, Ohio (location for early in-person voting): 15 S Court St #130, Athens, OH 45701; (740) 592-3201.

(D) Fossil Fuels and Fracking

Energy Policy Forum: energypolicyforum.org

International Energy Agency: http://www.iea.org/

Ohio Environmental Protection Agency -- Rules and Laws: http://www.epa.state.oh.us/rules.aspx

Ohio Environmental Council, Fracking: http://www.theoec.org/Fracking

Ohio Department of Natural Resources, Division of Oil and Gas Resources: http://oilandgas.ohiodnr.gov/

Athens County Fracking Action Network (ACFAN): www.acfan.org

Ohio University Consortium for Energy, Economics, and the Environment: http://www.ohio.edu/ce3/index.cfm

Slow Down Fracking in Athens County (SD-FRAC): http://slowdownfracking.wordpress.com/

Ohio University Coal Research Center: http://www.ohio.edu/ohiocoal/

Appalachia Resist! https://appalachiaresist.wordpress.com/

Center for Health, Environment & Jusice: Ohio: http://66.39.116.85/ohio.htm

Appalachian Renewable Energy Consumer Co-ops (ARECC):  http://communitypowernetwork.com/node/9719

(E) Public Affairs Forums and Research Centers

The Institution of Environmental Sciences (IES): It is "a charitable organisation which promotes and raises public awareness of environmental science by supporting professional scientists and academics working in this crucial arena. As a seminal environmental sciences organisation, founded in 1971, the Institution is consulted by the Government and other interested parties on environmental issues.....The IES believes the application of the scientific principle deepens our understanding of the natural environment and sustainable development. The professions have a vital role in the transition to a sustainable society and it is absolutely essential that this transition is underpinned by sound science."

Climate Science, Awareness and Solutions Program at the Earth Institute of Columbia University

Center for Climate and Energy Solutions (successor to Pew Center on Global Climate Change)

The Energy Collective (analysis and commentary on energy policy, climate change, energy technologies and fuels, and energy innovation)

Global Policy Forum: climate change

Carnegie Council for Ethics in International Affairs

(F) Climate Science and Policy

RealClimate: Climate science from climate scientists: "RealClimate is a commentary site on climate science by working climate scientists for the interested public and journalists. We aim to provide a quick response to developing stories and provide the context sometimes missing in mainstream commentary. The discussion here is restricted to scientific topics and will not get involved in any political or economic implications of the science. All posts are signed by the author(s), except ‘group’ posts which are collective efforts from the whole team. This is a moderated forum."

ClimatePolicy: An American Meteorological Society Project: "ClimatePolicy is a commentary that explores aspects of climate change that relate to our policy choices. Policy choices will likely serve the interests of society most effectively if they are grounded in the best available knowledge and understanding. Therefore, we will promote objective understanding of climate change related issues rather than specific policy options."