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Bush no longer matters on climate

Sebastian Mallaby notes the recent heating up of the climate change issue and correctly teases out the main political implication: Bush has become irrelevant.

Lots of talk, little action

The media is abuzz that Bush will unveil new energy proposals in the State of the Union address. But it really is a "dog bites man" story.

Has any president ever talked so much about a problem while doing nothing to address it? The President's sweeping rhetoric on energy independence, unfortunately, has never been accompanied by serious policies -- he has actually cut funding for the key energy-saving technologies -- which is one reason our dependence on imported oil has kept rising throughout Bush's presidency. So we should take any new words in the 2007 address with many, many grains of salt.

Here are the relevant excerpts about energy from Bush's previous State of the Union addresses:

Only 2,012 Days to Go

London Olympics striving to be all green, all the time We were about to write yet another blurb on the current climate-change climate when we remembered: today marks 2,012 days until the London 2012 Olympics! So here’s a quick rundown of plans for the “greenest games to date.” Organizers say they’ll cut Olympic Park carbon […]

Season Shot: Ammo with flavor

Here's something for Mr. Khosla to throw some money at: Season Shot, ammunition that dissolves upon baking, leaving behind only the delicious flavor of your choice -- Cajun, Lemon Pepper, Garlic, Teriyaki, or Honey Mustard.

Think this doesn't belong on an environmental blog? Think again. According to Season Shot's creators:

Sound and fury, baby

I suppose it’s pointless speculating about what’s going to be in Bush’s State of the Union tonight. Pointless … but fun! Before we get to the green stuff, it’s important to understand the remarkable context of the speech. Bush is reviled. His popularity is yet again at an all-time low in the polls. The American […]

Davos attendees to focus on global warming

Admittedly, I don't know much about the World Economic Forum, other than that these annual meetings are usually protested by the likes of causes I tend to support. (A cabal of the powerful the wealthy gathering to cement their status is one image that comes to mind ... but this may be an unfair judgment given the number of exemplary altruists on the guest list.) Nonetheless, it caught my attention when the business reports said climate change would be the focus of this year's summit.

Among the highlights:

So says Kissinger

So says Henry Kissinger.

Planning to work for firm that had lobbied him

What’s the sleaziest possible way former Rep. Dick Pombo (R-Calif.) could cap his career as a corporate bootlicker in the U.S. Congress? If you guessed "working for the same shills he worked for in Congress, only officially," well, you may be on to something! Details below. Back in March, Paul D. Thacker wrote a piece […]

Lots of posh enviro stuff, but no celebs

I got a press release a few days ago inviting me to the “Ice Lounge,” an “exclusive” green event at Sundance that promised me Lindsey Lohan, Josh Hartnett, and Justin Timberlake. All I had to do was make a reservation, since it was in a “gated” area. After doing that, I thought I was well […]

Eric Brody of outdoor-apparel company Nau answers questions

Eric Brody. What work do you do? I am the sustainability manager at Nau Inc. My other involvements include founder and coordinator of Portland Green Drinks; executive committee member for the Sustainable Packaging Coalition; and advisory committee member for the Oregon Natural Step Network. How does your work relate to the environment? Nau, Inc. is […]