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Why aren’t more economists backing win-win climate solutions?
I’ve been reflecting a bit on this post I wrote yesterday on Paul Krugman’s primer on climate economics. Long story short, I wish I hadn’t written it. Not because I’m not interested in (and obviously somewhat exercised by) the role of rational choice theory in mainstream economics, but because it wasn’t the main point I […]
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Climatic Research Unit scientists cleared (again)
Another day, another exoneration for climate scientists. Here’s the Guardian’s headline on the findings of the inquiry panel, which was led by Lord Oxburgh, the former chair of the House of Lords science and technology select committee: Scientists cleared of malpractice in UEA’s hacked emails inquiry Researchers ‘dedicated if slightly disorganised’, but basic science was fair, finds inquiry commissioned by […]
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I'm testifying before House Ways and Means with Pickens, Sachs, GE, and US Chamber
The House Ways and Means Committee will hold a hearing Wednesday on energy tax incentives and the green job economy. It will be webcast here. I’m on the 1 pm panel, the one The Hill says “will likely be a media circus because of the attention [T. Boone] Pickens usually draws.” Here’s the full witness list for my panel: T. Boone Pickens, […]
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Reid affirms plans for floor debate on bipartisan climate and clean energy jobs bill
The Senate’s top Democrat said yesterday he is still dedicated to spending valuable floor time this year on comprehensive climate and energy legislation, but the three sponsors of the plan may have to go member-by-member in order to deliver a package capable of mustering 60 votes. Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.) said he wants to […]
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The Real Problems with Paul Krugman’s Climate Economics Primer
But let’s start by accenting the positive. Krugman’s explanation of mainstream environmental economics is clear and powerful. He recognizes that there really are a lot of free energy lunches lying around uneaten, in the form of potential efficiency improvements. He knows that predictions of economic disaster due to carbon policy are without foundation and […]
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How green are Obama’s potential Supreme Court picks?
Update: Supreme Court nominee Elena Kagan hasn’t said much about her environmental views, but she has a solid record of supporting climate law. Here’s the full story on her green cred. President Barack Obama is reportedly considering about 10 people to replace retiring Supreme Court Justice John Paul Stevens, although popular consensus has quickly […]
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Chicago considers getting serious about coal pollution
The Fisk coal-fired power plant, ChicagoCourtesy swanksalot via FlickrChicago Alderman Joe Moore is taking aim at urban air pollution, introducing a Clean Power Ordinance today that would force overhauls of the city’s two coal-fired power plants, both located in Hispanic neighborhoods. The plan would introduce new limits for particulates (soot) and carbon dioxide, restricting how […]
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The trouble with Brazil’s much-celebrated ethanol ‘miracle’
Not as sweet as advertised: industrial-scale sugarcane production in Brazil.This is a post about Brazil’s sugarcane-ethanol “miracle,” but I can’t resist starting off with a look askance at our own corn-derived ethanol phenomenon. Has there ever been a “green” technology more ecologically discredited than corn-based ethanol? It may yield slightly more energy than it consumes […]
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Mining industry invests in politicans; stopped mine safety laws
A bill to help rescue miners in emergencies and protect miners’ safety was defeated in Congress three years ago. After passing the House, the bill, called the S-MINER Act, died in a Senate committee. Mining interests, who were opposed to this bill, gave twice as much money in campaign contributions to House members who voted […]
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Taxpayer dollars subsidizing destruction
One way to correct market failures is tax shifting — raising taxes on activities that harm the environment so that their prices begin to reflect their true cost and offsetting this with a reduction in income taxes. A complementary way to achieve this goal is subsidy shifting. Each year the world’s taxpayers provide at least […]
