Climate Politics

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  • Oil and gas lobbyist pleads guilty

    Rotten at the core, corrupt at the top.

    Adam Browning Politics

  • Rep. Henry Waxman …

    … introduced his Safe Climate Act on Wed. It would reduce U.S. GHG emissions 80% below 1990 levels by 2050. More on the bill here.

    David Roberts Politics

  • Cute kids, people in polar bear costumes, and politicians, unite!

    The eclipse that was Gore’s testimony blocked out the light in D.C., light that might otherwise have been shining on Climate Crisis Action Day, which took place Tuesday. Thankfully, the Post was on it. An estimated 1,500 gathered to hear politicians, environmentalists, some cute kids, and people in polar bear costumes speak and rally for […]

    Kate Sheppard Politics

  • Really the last one, honest

    Readers of this site may well be burnt out on talk of Gore’s testimony to Congress. But if not, do check out Brad Plumer’s wrap-up — it’s good. One point I think bears emphasizing. Almost all the analysis I’ve seen of the event — particularly with regard to the dust-up with Inhofe — discusses how […]

    David Roberts Politics

  • Personal ethics pledge my left foot

    At the Environment and Public Works hearing yesterday, Sen. Inhofe (R-Okla.) displayed an amazing lack of understanding about energy as he tried to get Gore to make a meaningless pledge. Now the EPW Minority web page repeats the inane charge:

    Former Vice President Al Gore refused to take a "Personal Energy Ethics Pledge" today to consume no more energy than the average American household.

    But why should Gore take such a pledge? Gore is a champion of greenhouse gas reductions, not energy reductions. Gore explained he buys 100 percent renewable power and is planning to build a solar power system. Thus the electricity Gore consumes in his Tennessee home does not contribute to global warming.

    Joseph Romm Politics

  • Just doesn’t (or shouldn’t) make sense for conservatives

    During his marathon live-blogging yesterday, David "Boss-man" Roberts wrote about the GOP love of nuclear power: "Why are Republicans obsessed with this? It's mystifying. Don't they have anything else to talk about?"

    Well, they love clean coal too. The question to me has always been why alleged conservatives have so much time for nuclear when it doesn't align with one of their cherished principles: If "big-government nanny-state market interference" had a poster child, the cooling towers of a nuclear plant would be it.

    John McGrath Politics

  • An interview with Rep. Ed Markey about the politics of climate change

    Rep. Edward Markey (D-Mass.) received the chairmanship of the newest House committee — and, along with it, a turf war with one of the oldest and longest-serving Democrats on Capitol Hill, the formidable Michigan Rep. John Dingell. Rep. Edward Markey. The House voted to create the Select Committee on Energy Independence and Global Warming earlier […]

    Grist staff Politics

  • FOX News on Gore’s testimony

    Fox News on Gore’s testimony: Is it me, or does Brit Hume misunderstand science at a pretty fundamental level?

    David Roberts Politics

  • Memo to Inhofe:

    When you’ve lost J-Pod, you know you’ve gone overboard.

    David Roberts Politics

  • Gore gets a warm welcome on Capitol Hill, and a few heated exchanges

    Exhibiting a curious mixture of nostalgia and irreverence, Al Gore returned to the halls of Congress yesterday to make the case for sweeping federal action to fight global warming. Buoyed by his recent Academy Award triumph, Gore testified at hearings in both the House and the Senate. Audiences of hundreds lined the oak-paneled walls of […]

    Grist staff Politics