Move beyond coal, now!
From its rejection of the Kyoto Protocol to its fierce opposition to the EU aviation emissions trading scheme, the U.S. has a long history as a bad actor in the international climate fight. So how is it that the U.S. now leads the world in cutting CO2, with emissions dropping 7.7% in the last five years?  Because a historic transition away from carbon intensive coal is well underway. That transition, and those who are leading the call to Move Beyond Coal, Now!are on the front lines of the most important climate fight today.  This fight isn’t being fought in the halls of congress, or the halls of EPA, it’s being fought in community after community across the US. The victory belongs to communities around the country that stood up for their health and fought every single coal-fired power plant proposed under the Bush administration, halting an impressive 170 projects. These activists are now calling for clean energy and efficiency to replace the nation’s existing dirty and outdated coal fleet, and with over 120 coal-plants retired, and 170 coal plants defeated to date, it’s clear that they are winning. What many people don’t realize is that the same thing is happening in Europe.
See http://www.dailykos.com/story/2012/08/22/1122177/-Move-Beyond-Coal-Now-The-Global-Anti-Coal-Movement-Is-Here.
Grassroots Movements Driving Back Coal Worldwide
The global grassroots movement against dirty, polluting coal-fired power has added another continent to the ranks of those finally moving away from the carbon-intensive fuel source: Australia. This July, the government of Australia announced that it is cancelling an A$100 million grant to Australian conglomerate HRLfor a 400-megawatt coal-fired power plant in Victoria.  This is likely to be the death blow to what many believe is the last coal plant planned for Australia.
See http://sierraclub.typepad.com/compass/2012/08/grassroots-movements-driving-back-coal-worldwide.html.