Latest Articles

An ideological breakthrough on feed-in tariffs in Britain

In a startling reversal, Britain’s Labour government has put on the table a feed-in tariff proposal for “microgeneration.” The proposed feed-in tariffs will pay homeowners, farmers, and community groups for the electricity they generate with renewable energy. The move represents an ideological breakthrough. Long an ardent supporter of Renewable Obligation Certificate trading systems and plain […]

Environment bigger factor in election than immigration, abortion, gay marriage

I was looking at this recent poll from Pew, and wanted to highlight how many people see environment as a big issue in the election: Environment is more important than immigration, abortion, and gay marriage. Which I think explains why McCain is trying to prove he’s the real environmentalist. (Also, he’s probably a bit worried […]

On economic desertification through water mismanagement

“Unchecked climate change will mean that some parts of the world will simply not have enough water to sustain settlements, both small and large, because agriculture becomes untenable and industries relying on water can no longer compete or function effectively. This will trigger structural changes in economies right through to the displacement of people as […]

Ford rehires truck manufacturers

News from the They Just Don’t Learn Department: Ford will rehire 1,000 workers to build its F-150 pickup truck, expecting boosted consumer demand in the face of falling gas prices.

Feds deny GM request for merger bucks

General Motors’ request for up to $10 billion to aid its potential merger with Chrysler was spurned by the Treasury Department, say sources; instead, the Bush administration will try to speed along implementation of a $25 billion loan to Big Auto to encourage R&D of fuel-efficient vehicles.

Biofuels reps ask EPA to exclude greenhouse gas emissions considerations from rulemaking

The Environmental Protection Agency is expected to release new rules soon regarding the Renewable Fuel Standard established last year under the Energy Independence and Security Act. The legislation required the EPA take into account the life-cycle greenhouse gas emissions from the production of various biofuels, including indirect emissions from things like land use changes. On […]

Gingrich talks up his new book on drilling

The American Enterprise Institute hosted an event with former House Speaker Newt Gingrich last week to promote his new book, Drill Here, Drill Now, Pay Less. Not surprisingly, most of the event focused on drilling, and there was also the anticipated admonition of a regulatory approach to limiting carbon emissions. Gingrich did seem to acknowledge […]

Will a new administration give us the ‘safest food supply in the world’?

How many times have we been told we have the safest food supply in the world? Do we really? I suppose it depends on the comparison. Somalia? Kenya ? Eritrea? In developing countries, close to two million children die every year from contaminated food and water. These countries don’t have much of a food supply, […]

Hansen et al: We must phase-out coal emissions by 2030 and stabilize at or below 350 ppm

In a few days, James Hansen and several other leading climate scientists will release a major new study, "Target Atmospheric CO2: Where Should Humanity Aim?" in the Open Atmospheric Sciences Journal. You can read a first draft of the study and my commentary on it here: Hansen (et al) ultimatum: Get back to 350 ppm […]

Climate change to cause ‘economic deserts,’ U.N. chief says

Parts of the world undergoing severe, sustained drought will likely have to be all but abandoned by humans because water shortages (caused by climate change and overuse of rivers and aquifers) will make them unlivable, the executive director of the United Nations Environment Program warned this week.