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Denialists are not the only ones

There are many who scoff at the notion that climate change is really happening; they are one type of ideologue -- the perpetual skeptic impervious to reason and scientific inquiry.

But there is another type.

An interview on planning for climate change

An interview I recently did has been published in the newsletter of Caisse des Depots, a state-owned financial institution that performs public-interest missions on behalf of the French government. Also quoted in the interview is Patrick Criqui, Director of the Energy and Environmental Policy Department of the Grenoble LEPII. You can get the full newsletter here (PDF). It's all about the problems posed by the long timescale climate change operates on, and is definitely worth reading.

Here is the interview:

‘Warming is due to the Urban Heat Island effect’ — No, it isn’t

(Part of the How to Talk to a Global Warming Skeptic guide)

Objection: The apparent rise of global average temperatures is actually an illusion due to the urbanization of land around weather stations, the Urban Heat Island effect.

Lots of random catch-up

Time for some housecleaning. That's right: a link dump! Here's some random stuff I've had open in Firefox (have you seen 2.0?) tabs for varying lengths of time:

It’s like, get busy over there already!

I have been criminally negligent in failing to draw attention to the fact that the folks at Worldchanging have a book out, and it's gorgeous. (Their website's been spiffed up too, with the de rigeur pinstripe background and gradients galore. Slick.)

The WCers are going on tour to support the book, and to draw attention to local worldchanging efforts in the cities they're visiting. To begin with, they'll be in Seattle -- tonight! Go watch Alex rap with Bruce Sterling and hear about the all the stuff the smart people are doing for a change.

You can get tickets here. Check out other dates here.

Congrats to the Worldchanging crew on all the kick-ass developments this past year. Onward and upward!

In a word, yes

In recent years right-wingers in this country, including the president, have scoffed at the idea of global warming and ignored those who expressed concern and called for action. But even among Republicans and conservatives, the need to act to reduce the risks of climate change is looking increasingly like the new conventional wisdom.

The obvious example is in California, where a Sep. 1 story in the Wall Street Journal [$] rightly predicted that a high-stakes deal between a Republican executive and a Democratic legislature "to cut emissions tied to global warming is likely to boost a resurgence in Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger's popularity." In fact the "halo effect" from this deal has remade Schwarzenegger's image among independents and Democrats, which -- baring an act of God -- will easily carry him to victory on November 7.

But the California electorate has long supported environmental regulations for the sake of clean air, clean water, coastal protection, and parks and wild lands.

How is global warming seen in the right-wing media in this country?

Meet this year’s Brower Youth Award winners

Whether it’s the Oscars, the Emmys, or the Webbys, everyone’s wished for the chance to be the one in the seat of honor — the one saying “I’d like to thank the Academy” or even the one who’s “honored just to be nominated.” So as the annual Brower Youth Awards came around this year, we […]

It’s a bad frame in the long term

(Hi, I'm Gar Lipow. I've worked extensively on renewable energy issues, and have written an (as-yet-unpublished) book on alternatives to carbon emissions, mentioned by John McGrath here. I'm going to be posting on efficiency and renewable technologies that can replace fossil fuels as well as on the economics and politics of phasing them out.)

"Energy independence" may be the buzzword in the renewable energy field. Even the invaluable Apollo Alliance emphasizes ending "dependence on foreign oil." The short-term political benefit is indisputable. The term polls in the Nineties, probably ahead of motherhood and apple pie.

But it is a loser in the long run. "Energy independence" reinforces a frame that works against renewables. The connotation: "it is all the fault of those outsiders, those others who addicted us to their seductive foreign oil."

Finding a proper coffee in the Texas hipster mecca

In “Mad Flavor,” the author describes his occasional forays from the farm in search of exceptional culinary experiences from small artisanal producers. For the next week or so, Mad Flavor will be reporting from location in Austin, the author’s hometown. News flash: I’ve found proper espresso in Austin, Texas, home of dozens of cafes. The […]

Hard-knock New England city welcomes region’s largest solar installation

Brockton, Mass., is championing solar power. Photos: SCHOTT Solar This city was once the shoemaking capital of the Northeast, and over the years it was home to boxers Rocky Marciano and Marvin Hagler, earning it the nickname “City of Champions.” Today, however, Brockton, Mass., holds the dubious honor of being one of the region’s trash […]