Articles

Agrichemical industry steps up pressure on White House organic garden

Use our pesticide, or the spinach gets it.I’m no expert on the mafia, but I have seen the first two Godfather movies and Goodfellas, oh, a few times. One thing I’ve learned: “protection” is a major mob racket. It works like this: a thug drops by your shop monthly and makes small talk. You hand […]

Tom Philpott Politics

Republicans [sic] for Environmental Protection

Climate change is real, it’s caused by humans, and it will create serious risks for our nation’s security, economy and quality of life — and sooner than we think. That’s the unmistakable message from scientists who have devoted their professional lives to understanding how human activities affect climate. One of them is Dr. Katharine Hayhoe, […]

Joseph Romm Politics

Energy-related CO2 emissions declined by 2.8 percent in 2008

The Energy Information Administration has released its flash estimate for 2008 energy-related CO2 emissions here. Factors that contributed to the 2.8% decline in CO2 (and a 2.2% drop in total energy use) include: Energy prices In 2008, gasoline and diesel prices were at their all-time peak level Near the end of the year, despite lower […]

Joseph Romm Climate & Energy

Auto industry’s litigation strategy may have backfired in showrooms

Telling it like it is: President Obama meets with auto industry executives Tuesday in the Roosevelt Room of the White House before moving to the Rose Garden to announce new fuel and emission standards for cars and trucks.Official White House Photo by Pete Souza None of the employees at Turlock Auto Plaza in California’s smoggy […]

Janet Wilson Technology

Putting the US in a Strong Position to Secure an International Climate Agreement: Waxman-Markey Bill

The Waxman-Markey “American Clean Energy and Security Act” (HR 2454) is now out (see here for the full bill and here for NRDC’s top line summary of the entire bill). The House Energy and Commerce Committee is focused this week on intensive sessions to pass the bill (you can watch it all live on the […]

Jake Schmidt Climate & Energy

Tax junk food, but also subidize veggies

Soda can … harm your health.The taxman cometh for soft drinks. Or so it appears these days. We already know they’re on the table as a possible funding source for Obama’s health care reform. And behind the scenes, the co-author of an influential paper on the potential positive effect of soda taxes, New York City’s […]

Tom Laskawy Politics

Republican counter-strategy on climate: Revenge!

How much smaller can the climate denial tent get? We’re about to find out. With companies as diverse as Nike, Johnson & Johnson and Ford Motor Company having joined the call for comprehensive clean energy & climate legislation, the Republican Party has come up with its counter-strategy: “To fight bill, GOP turns on business,” declares […]

Miles Grant Technology

Utilities and coal-state Democrats are wrecking our last chance on climate change

Utility companies and their coal-state apologists in Congress are wrecking America’s last, best chance to solve global warming. By insisting on free pollution permits, utilities are creating a climate bill that is complicated, unfair, and destined to fail in future years. It’s now up to Congressman Charles Rangel (D-N.Y.) and the House Ways and Means […]

Mike Tidwell Politics

Rally in Seattle Thursday for climate, clean energy, healthy communities outside EPA climate hearing

I have a fair number of readers in Seattle, so I’m happy to pass on this rally notice from Climate Solutions (reprinted below). The 20-person nonprofit with a great name is organizing a rally in Seattle Thursday, noon, outside of the EPA hearing on the endangerment finding. They have more than 1,500 people attending so […]