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Even without an overall climate strategy, the country is inching ahead on climate action, a new report found.

Read more: ‘Messy’ U.S. climate policy is kinda working

Read more: Edward Flattau: GOP's Renewable Fiction

The LEED green building certification program created by the US Green Building Council has become something of a political football for the past several years. But a recent report from the National Research Council, as well as analysis from the Department of Defense, show that the military should use LEED, despite political pressure opposing it.

Congress has been explicitly hostile to LEED in recent years, with the program specifically called out in the Congressional Prohibition on Use of Funds for LEED Gold or Platinum Certification, which states that "No funds authorized to be appropriated by this Act or otherwise made available for the Department of Defense for fiscal year 2012 may be obligated or expended for achieving any LEED gold or platinum certification."

According to Building Green, "A long-awaited report from the National Research Council gives the nod to LEED Silver ratings "or equivalent" for military buildings. The report looked at a variety of methods of comparing costs and benefits and ultimately confirmed that LEED Silver certification is the preferred model for limiting costs and maximizing benefits."

The military is the largest single consumer of energy in the country. It also controls more square footage of buildings than any other organization. So having a cleaner, more efficient military is not a small matter.

Previously on EcoGeek: US Military Embracing Green Energy

image: US Archives

via: Building Green

Read more: Support for Continued Use of LEED in US Military

The News reporter Jan Khaskheli received an award in recognition of his story for the protection of mangrove forests along the city coastline. 

On the occasion of the screening of a documentary ‘Murder of Mystic’ made by young moviemaker Khalid Hassan, the Pakistan Fisherfolk Forum (PFF), recognising stories in the print media and documentaries by TV channels, awarded shields to journalists.

Those who received awards include Shazia Hassan and Bhagwandas of Dawn, Amar Guriro of Pakistan Today, Mumtaz Shar of KTN TV and Gulshan Shaikh of Sindh TV. Secretary Environment Mir Hussain Ali gave away the Annual Mangrove Awards. The aim is to further embolden writers, poets, artists and environmental activists to pursue their eco-endeavours.

Abu Wada, folksinger from the fishing community, also received an award as a token of encouragement and motivation. 

The documentary focused on the struggle launched by fishermen to protect mangroves and the sacrifice by two PFF leaders Abdul Ghani and Haji Abu Bakar, who fought against the criminal activities of the land mafia along a 129-kilometre extended strip of the Karachi coast. 

The ceremony attracted the KPT, EPA and other organisations working on environmental protection.

Source: http://www.thenews.com.pk/TodaysPrintDetail.aspx?ID=72794&Cat=4