Climate Politics

A dispatch from environment day at the Latino Congreso

Oliver Bernstein is the deputy press secretary for diversity programs for the Sierra Club. He represented the Sierra Club at the Latino Congreso in Los Angeles. Friday, 8 Sep 2006 LOS ANGELES, Calif. “The environment? What’s up with that?” This used to be the reaction of many Latinos to hearing about environmental issues, says Roger […]

British enviros worry Gordon Brown won’t be green

With British PM Tony Blair on his way out sometime in the next year -- though he won't be pinned down on a date -- Chancellor of the Exchequer (aka Finance Minister) Gordon Brown is poised to assume leadership of the Labour Party and hence the British government. What will this mean for the environment? The British press is starting to assess.

Sarah Mukherjee of BBC writes that greens haven't been impressed with Blair's follow-through on efforts to fight climate change, but they're "even more worried about Gordon Brown":

California climate deal could help Schwarzenegger win reelection

He rose to fame as a cyborg warrior fighting to wipe out life on the planet. Now he’s fighting to save it. California Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger is about to sign into law the most ambitious global-warming legislation in U.S. history — and in a twist worthy of a Hollywood blockbuster, the Republican’s support for mandatory […]

Ivory Cower

Ivory Coast government resigns after dumped toxic-waste sickens hundreds Fumes from toxic waste that was recently dumped around Abidjan, Ivory Coast, have killed three people and sickened more than 1,500. Under criticism that the government failed to act decisively, Ivorian Interim Prime Minister Charles Konan Banny took the unprecedented step of dissolving his cabinet, and […]

Enviros are split over Lieberman vs. Lamont

Progressives around the country cheered when Ned Lamont knocked out Sen. Joe Lieberman in Connecticut’s Democratic primary last month, but some enviros held their applause. Joe Lieberman. Photo: Paul Morigi/ WireImage Lieberman — now running as an independent in an effort to hold onto his seat — has, by most accounts, been a standout leader […]

Left and Fright

Is there a place for fear in environmentalism? Fear: it’s as American as freedom fries these days, and the Right isn’t afraid to manipulate you with it. Anger and fear are good motivators, like it or not, and violence is oft cited as effectively “sending a message.” Should environmentalists be focusing more energies on scare […]

A Ploy Named Sue

With feds asleep at the wheel, states sue to protect air and water Frustrated by federal inaction, states and localities are increasingly suing companies and even each other in attempts to curb air and water pollution. Oklahoma, for instance, has filed suit against eight companies that operate chicken farms in neighboring Arkansas, charging that farm […]

Sticker Shock Absorber

Some hybrids can pay back their price premium over time High price of hybrids got you down? According to the gurus at Edmunds.com, the cash some hybrid owners save on gas can make up for the sticker price. Hybrid cars and trucks cost between $1,200 and $7,000 more than their gas-chugging counterparts, but as analyst […]

A Breyer Power

Federal judge rejects Forest Service plan to log in national monument A federal judge put the smackdown yesterday on a U.S. Forest Service plan to allow increased logging in California’s Giant Sequoia National Monument, home to about two-thirds of the world’s largest trees. U.S. District Judge Charles Breyer said the USFS forest management plan lacked […]

Adieu, Advisinator

Environmental adviser to Schwarzenegger steps down Terry Tamminen, influential environmental adviser to California Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger, is leaving his post, taking with him some of the green — ethos, that is. Tamminen, a Democrat, was part of the Governator’s inner circle and an outspoken voice for environmental protection. Republicans in the California legislature won’t miss […]