After recent interviews with large renewable power purchasers, I've learned a few remarkable things. One is that there's a deeper ethic at work than simple branding. And two, leadership is coming from citizens, businesses and local governments, not from Washington, D.C.

"Our long-term commitment to renewable energy is more about contributing to the health of our local economy and less about branding," said Jeff Harvey, chief operating officer for The Holland Inc., which recently purchased 100% wind energy for its 39 Burgerville fast food restaurants in the Pacific Northwest.

"Wind helps our local cattle ranchers because the turbines can be placed on their land," he said. "Because all of our restaurants are located in the Pacific Northwest, and because we buy all local

I received an email the other day from a professor who wanted fresh, expert-certified information about the green job scene. (No snickering about the abysmally low standards for "expert" status, please.) His college planned to offer a new environmental studies degree, and the state legislators wanted to know whether graduates would become gainfully employed in exchange for their four years and $80,000. Picky, picky, picky.

"It'll be a slam dunk!" the prof answered. "Employers will greet our graduates like liberators, throwing flowers at their feet when they enter the lobby!" It was a powerfully convincing argument, but unlike some government leaders we can think of, the governor required actual data before ponying up the taxpayer's cash. This is the kind of limited,

It is very tempting to just answer "Yes" to this question, as it would seem to be a simple matter of fact. However, the reality is that the issue is rather complicated (and often political). For excellent coverage of climate science, I continue to recommend RealClimate.org. But to really answer the question being posed, you have to get into what I call the "sciensocioeconomic" aspects of the issue; looking at climate change in as simple a way as the question above suggests doesn't provide a lot of insight into today's Gordian policy knot. To do that, you have to add some additional questions.

1. Will increasing greenhouse gas (GHG) concentrations raise global temperatures?

We know for a fact that natural levels of GHGs in the atmosphere keep the planet about 59 degrees

An interview with smart-growth expert and author Anthony Flint.

Thanks to an enterprising presentation by an eco-conscious employee, a health-care giant switched to more-efficient bulbs and saved a wad of dough as a result. Here's how they did it -- and you can, too. By Joel Makower

The Swedish meatball of big-box retail is ready to market its macho environmental goals. By April Streeter

A partnership between the Netherlands' development organization SNV and the WBCSD aims at helping companies in Central America and the Andean regions do more "pro-poor business," especially bringing SMEs into their supply chains.

World Bank president Paul Wolfowitz has announced plans to merge the bank's departments that deal with infrastructure and environmental projects into a single unit to promote sustainable development.

Initial corporate sponsors for the District of Columbia's municipal eco-improvement program include DaimlerChrysler, CH2MHILL, Alcoa, and BAE Systems, among others.