Climate Change Woes

Not so long ago, the European rail company, Eurostar, experienced major equipment malfunctions. During the holiday rush, a train going through the English Channel Tunnel broke down. Passengers were trapped, below the English Channel, for about 15 hours! The official cause was that the worst snowstorm in 15 years produced what ski enthusiasts refer to as “powder” (not sludge) and it stuck to the train. When the train began to warm the snow melted. And the excess moisture shorted the trains’ circuits.

As disturbing as this report was, the unusual weather patterns are much more frightening. Half of the United States was covered in snow over the holiday. Europe had record snow fall. Droughts have plagued Australia. California wild fires were insatiable this year. The list of “firsts in ages” is stockpiling. Climate change is here and coming to a city near you.

Plan to Up Green Technology

The U.S. Patent and Trademark Office is hoping a plan to accelerate green technology patent applications will help create green jobs and promote U.S. competitiveness in the green technology sector.

The expedited program should reduce the patent pending period by about a year. That means patent applications under the program will issue in an average of 28-36 months from the date of filing.

Similar programs have been implemented in the United Kingdom and South Korea.

Eligible patent applications must pertain to inventions that materially contribute to environmental quality, the discovery or development of renewable energy resources, more efficient utilization, and conservation of energy resources, or greenhouse gas emission reduction.