Welcome back to the Planet Forward blog for another edition of green news weekly.  This week we highlight the top 10 most energy efficient US States; how Coca-Cola is helping protect polar bears through the World Wildlife Fund (WWF); plus Calcutta is labelled the world city most at risk from the impact of climate change.

Massachusetts Ranks No. 1 in Energy Efficiency
The American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy released its fifth annual State Energy Efficiency Scorecard and Massachusetts took away the top spot from previous leader California.  Massachusetts is presently on course to decrease its electricity demand by 2.4 percent.  The Council conducted analysis on “state energy efficiency programs and policies in the residential, commercial, industrial and transportation sectors, including utility programs, transportation policies, building energy codes, state government initiatives and appliance energy standards.” 

According to the Scorecard, the top 10 most energy efficient states are: 

1. Massachusetts

2. California

3. New York

4. Oregon

5. Vermont

6. Washington

7. Rhode Island

8. Minnesota

9. Connecticut

10. Maryland

50. North Dakota came in dead last.

The Coca-Cola Company and World Wildlife Fund Partner to Protect the Polar Bear’s Home.   Starting November 1, 2011, Coca-Cola Co. is turning its red cans white to help raise awareness with the “Arctic Home” campaign to protect polar bears and their habitats.  1.4 billion white cans will display an image of a mother polar bear and her two cubs.  “Coca-Cola is making an initial donation of $2 million to WWF and inviting others to join the effort.  Anyone who wants to help the polar bears can text the package code to 357357 to donate $1 to WWF. They also can donate online at ArcticHome.com, starting November 1. Coca-Cola will match all donations made with a package code by March 15, 2012, up to a total of $1 million.“ This marks the first time in history that Coca-Cola cans have changed from red to support a cause.

“We want to help the polar bear — a beloved Coca-Cola icon since 1922 — by helping conserve its Arctic habitat.  That’s why we’re using one of our greatest assets — our flagship brand, Coca-Cola — to raise awareness for this important cause. And by partnering with WWF, we can truly make a positive difference for these majestic animals.”  - Muhtar Kent, Chairman and CEO of The Coca-Cola Company

“Polar bears inspire the imagination. They’re massive, powerful, beautiful and they live nowhere else except the Arctic. Their lives are intimately bound up with sea ice, which is now melting at an alarming rate.  By working with Coca-Cola, we can raise the profile of polar bears and what they’re facing, and most importantly, engage people to work with us, to help protect their home.”  - Carter Roberts, President and CEO of World Wildlife Fund

Calcutta leads world city list most at risk from climate change.  The Climate Change Vulnerability Index (CCVI) released by risk analysis and mapping firm Maplecroft “features subnational maps and analysis of climate change vulnerability and the adaptive capacity to combat climate change in 193 countries.” With Calcutta as the most extreme risk city, the CCVI rates 30 countries at ‘extreme risk,’ with the top 10 comprising of Haiti, Bangladesh, Zimbabwe, Sierra Leone, Madagascar, Cambodia, Mozambique, DR Congo, Malawi and the Philippines. The CCVI “analyses the exposure of populations to climate related natural hazards and sensitivity of countries in terms of population concentration, development, natural resources, agricultural dependency and conflict.” Principal Environmental Analyst at Maplecroft Dr Charlie Beldon asserts “Cities such as Manila, Jakarta and Calcutta are vital centres of economic growth in key emerging markets, but heat waves, flooding, water shortages and increasingly severe and frequent storm events may well increase as climate changes takes hold.”

Stay tuned for the next edition of green news weekly.

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