Artwork: Mike LaMark

ACTION: Contact EPA’s Office of Chemical Pollution and request a suspension of the neonicotinoid seed coatings until independent scientists verify safety.

We recently reported on the suit against the EPA over honeybee collapse disorder, brought by a coalition that includes the Sierra Club. At issue is the suspicion that the world’s most widely used class of pesticides, neonicotinoids, may be the leading cause of colony collapse disorder. While we wait for EPA to act, on April 29 the European Commission announced steps to ban the use of three neonicotinoid pesticides for a period of two years for corn, rapeseed, and sunflower crops. Two European producers of the banned pesticides, Bayer of Germany and Sygenta of Switzerland, have said their products aren’t to blame for the bees’ decline. See Impact on PA and Fed report below. (more…)

Artwork: Mike LaMark

How much interest is there in Pennsylvania in locally-sourced foods? Vermont-based ‘Strolling with Heifers’ has published its annual Index of ‘locarvorism’ and ranked PA at 32nd, up from 38th last year. VT, ME, ND, IA and MT fill the top six slots, with NV, LA, FL and TX at the bottom. The Index is based on data obtained from farmers markets, consumer-supported agricultural operations, and food hubs.

Artwork: Mike LaMark

ACTION: Contact EPA’s Steve Owens at or call him at 1-202-5642902 to request a suspension of the neonicotinoid seed coatings until independent scientists verify safety.

Where is Rachel Caron when we need her? Two years ago a United Nations report highlighted the collapse of honeybee colonies around the world. Even last year there remained numerous possible explanations of this disorder, but today the most likely cause is believed to be the use of nicotine-based insecticides called neonicotinoids like imidacloprid and clothianidin, marketed by Bayer and Syngenta.

The EPA allowed “conditional registration” of neonicotinoid-based insecticides in 2003 but after a safety study conducted by Bayer itself, in 2010 the EPA granted unconditional use of these insecticides. As part of its Pollinator Protection Campaign, last week the Sierra Club joined beekeepers and other environmental organizations brought suit against the EPA. In referring to the Endangered Species Act and FIFRA, the plaintiffs want the court to remove EPA’s approval of products containing clothianidin and thiamethoxam and issue an immediate suspension of their use.

Amid the reportage of the emergence of Pope Francis emerged the question of whether the new Pope would be as outspoken about protecting our planet as was Pope Benedict XVI. The question may surprise many non-Roman Catholics, and even some Roman Catholics. In fact, a collection of Benedict’s writings on the natural environment and topics such as the right to clean water and climate change was published in 2012 under the title ‘The Environment’. Benedict urged people to connect science and nature, and recognize the reality of climate change and the need to curtail greenhouse gases. In 2011 the Pontifical Academy of Sciences published a report on the retreat of mountain glaciers. Translating theology into practice, in 2007 the Vatican pledged to be the first carbon-neutral sovereign state and in 2010 completed the installation of the largest solar energy installation in Europe. In adopting the name Francis the new Pope gives us hope that he will build on Benedict’s lead, and may all good Catholics take notice.

We can attack climate change by reducing GHG emissions, but also by making our buildings more energy efficient. Two bits of good news this week regarding the latter – several major buildings in Pittsburgh, including Heinz Field, have joined an on-going national campaign to cut energy, water and transportation consumption by 50 percent by the year 2030. In addition, as it opens its new offices for public tours, Phipps Conservatory is well on its way to becoming one of the world’s greenest building.

Want to help convert an empty Pittsburgh lot into an edible garden? On January 26 City Council moved forward a City program to do just that. Grants are available for volunteers, using funds from a group supported by Bloomberg Philanthropies. Installation of cool ‘green roofs” is also in the program. Interested parties should can call the city at 412-255-4765 or visit this Website.

Wondering why corporations have more power than those of us living in our communities? Community Environmental Legal Defense Fund, the force behind fracking bans in many communities including Pittsburgh, will hold a two-day workshop:

Friday evening, January 4, 6pm to 9pm
Saturday, January 5, 9am to 6pm
Friends Meeting House,
4836 Ellsworth Avenue, Pittsburgh, PA 15213

Limited to a maximum of thirty-five participants.

Total fee is $50, but a partial payment of $25 must be paid by January 1 unless a special arrangement is made (the application form is HERE. For more information, call Wanda at 724-327-2767 or 412-596-0066. (more…)

M. Lamark, Allegheny Group

Shortly after the 2012 UN Climate Change Conference concluded, with tepid support from the US, two publications underlined the need for urgent action by world leaders. First, the comprehensive Global Burden of Disease Study 2010 commissioned by the World Health Organization reveals that death from disease and malnutrition is declining rapidly around the world. This is obviously good news, but the improved longevity will no doubt contribute to world population growth by 2030. Second bit of news was the World Bank report that more people around the world are rising out of poverty. Again good news, but it comes with as yet an un-curbed increase green house gas emissions from fossil-fuel-powered energy production.

Jim McCue is a resident of Hazelwood and an ardent composter. In the following essay Jim writes about what lies at our feet.

Of all the difficulties and amazing opportunities we’re presented with at this moment in history, to me the one blessing/challenge that seems central has to do with the soil. Knowing what real, healthy soil feels and smells like, I am never satisfied until I get it going in the garden area I’m working in. It’s not easy. And it takes time. (more…)

A recent series of articles in the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette described how the UPMC mega-health-complex has accumulated real estate property throughout the Pittsburgh region. This is one aspect of the general concern about UPMC’s status as a charitable, non-profit organization. The removal of taxable sources has a direct effect on the economic health of the local communities. Concerned citizens can sign a petition calling for Allegheny County Council to examine the non-profit status of UPMC

Earlier this year environmental justice groups called on PNC Bank to stop financial assistance for mountain top removal. A greener side of PNC is emerging – leadership in the development of ‘green’ commercial buildings. In June the bank announced that the ‘Tower at PNC Plaza’ will be the greenest skyscraper in the world, with full LEED certification when completed in 2015. At the opposite end of PNC’s ‘green’ building program is a new Net-Zero Energy bank branch building in Florida. But back to Pittsburgh, the new PNC skyscraper just part of a new initiative by Downtown building owners to cut “energy, water and transportation consumption by 50 percent over the next 18 years as part of a national campaign”.

In a region where institutions of higher learning are powerful drivers of the local economy, and where Pittsburgh is trying to be viewed as a ‘green’ city, the national Sierra Club’s sixth ranking of colleges and universities is a little disappointing. The ranking is part of the Sierra magazine’s current issue devoted to ‘Cool Schools’. Heading the list is the University of California at Davis, with Georgia Institute of Technology second and Stanford University third.

The only ‘local’ schools among the ninety-six responding institutions in 2012 were Penn State (35) and Allegheny College (55). Last year theses two colleges were ranked 27th and 40th respectively. Listed last year were Univ. Pittsburgh (52) and Chatham (61). They did not respond this year, nor did Carnegie Mellon, which in 2010 was ranked the highest among ‘local’ colleges at 64th. (more…)

Swainson’s Hawk. Graphic courtesy of NFWS

A challenge for architects and planners is accommodating the needs of flying creatures with man-made structures. At the world’s only LEED certified green convention center, here in Pittsburgh, special plantings on the roof have been certified as a “waystation” for Monarch butterflies as they migrate from the northeast to Mexico. More challenging is the collision of birds with tall glass buildings, a problem that is being tackled by some concerned architects. And then there are those great sources of renewable energy, wind turbines. After the disastrous impact on birds at the Altamont wind farm in the 1980’s, taller and modifed turbines and more appropriate siting is helping to reduce the impact on raptors and bats, but the matter is still controversial both here in Pennsylvania and on Federal land in the West. (more…)

There has been a recent flurry of news about development in Allegheny County. It started with a July 7 critique of haphazard development along the Parkway West by architect John Conti. That was followed by the launching of a development plan for a county-owned site adjacent to the airport at the end of the parkway. On the same day Pittsburgh City Council heard of the benefits of developing and maintaining more greenspace in the city. A few days later Lisa Schroeder of the Riverlife promoted the development of a six and a half mile riverfront park along the Allegheny River north from the Strip district. The riverfront park would sit alongside Buncher Corporaton’s development plan for the Strip District, a plan that could finally include the long-discussed commuter rail service from Pittsburgh to Tarentum.

Tree Pittsburgh icon.

A few days after the formal opening of the Clean Rivers Campaign, it was encouraging to read about the launching of an Urban Forest Master Plan for Pittsburgh. Commissioned by Tree Pittsburgh, and described by Justin Hopper in the Post-Gazette. Although the city’s tree canopy of 42 percent is greater than that of ‘leafy’ cities such as Seattle, Tree Pittsburgh calls for more and healthier trees in the city. That bodes well for needed retention of storm water as suggested by the Clean Rivers Campaign. Tree Pittsburgh will be among the Pittsburgh Greenspace Alliance presenters at the City Council post-agenda meeting at 1:00 pm this coming Tuesday.