Climate Politics
All Stories
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As Kyoto goes live, U.S. green groups offer tepid response
It’s an action-packed week on the climate front: The Kyoto Protocol finally goes into effect today throughout the vast majority of the industrialized world (the U.S. conspicuously not included), and Capitol Hill is awash in climate-related assaults and initiatives. As Kyoto and climate bills heat up, greens’ response is tepid. Congress is facing a double […]
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Join a people’s campaign to ratify the Kyoto Protocol
The much-discussed Kyoto Protocol takes effect today, Feb. 16. In the face of the United States’ continuing refusal to ratify the international agreement, a group of progressive activists is launching a drive to gather millions of signatures from U.S. citizens for a “People’s Ratification of the Kyoto Global Warming Treaty.” Ross Gelbspan, a Grist contributor […]
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Green’s Labor Lost
Enviros, labor unions clash over Clear Skies legislation With the Senate Environment Committee set to vote tomorrow on the Clear Skies Act, both supporters and critics of the legislation are in high gear. Enviros, who have fought Clear Skies since it was first unveiled by the Bush administration three years ago, have been running ads […]
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Dropping the Hybrids Off at the Pool
Hybrid incentive bills introduced in Congress Fuel-efficient hybrids, the cars of choice for greens of means, are a hot topic in Congress, with two bills introduced this month that could further fuel their popularity. One bill, unveiled in the House last Tuesday by California Reps. Darrell Issa (R) and Brad Sherman (D), would let states […]
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Complicating, Circulating, New Life, New Life
GOP congressfolk announce plan to revamp Endangered Species Act House Resources Committee Chair Richard Pombo (R-Calif.) has expressed open hostility toward the Endangered Species Act numerous times, so some conservationists are questioning the sincerity of his recently announced effort to “breathe new life” into the law. Along with Rep. Greg Walden (R-Ore.) and Sen. Mike […]
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A Granholm Don’t Come for Free
Michigan Gov. Jennifer Granholm shows D.C. Dems how to do it With Beltway Democrats in a tizzy trying to figure out how to appeal to the working class, and Beltway environmentalists in a tizzy trying to figure out how to appeal to Beltway Democrats, both groups might want to check out the State of the […]
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Enviros join chorus against class-action bill, but measure still likely to pass
Will class-action plaintiffs still get their day in court? The Erin Brockoviches of America could have a much tougher time going after polluters if the Class Action Fairness Act — which the Senate Judiciary Committee voted to approve last week — is signed into law. The bill, which will be put to a full Senate […]
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Cuts Like a Knife, but It Feels So Wrong
Details of environmental cuts in Bush’s budget emerge Now that the nation’s water is all cleaned up, the Bush administration has proposed sharply cutting a federal assistance program designed to help modernize aging sewer systems and prevent toxic runoff into streams and rivers — from $1.35 billion in 2004 to $730 million. And now that […]
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Imaginary Numbers
Bush’s new budget relies on imaginary Arctic Refuge revenue You’re the president, you’ve promised to cut the country’s enormous deficit in half by the end of your term, and you’re required to produce a budget showing how you’re going to do it. You’ve got a Congress that hasn’t consented to drilling in the Arctic National […]
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Greenpeace shifts tactics as it looks ahead to four more years of Bush
At a time when environmental groups are facing questions about their own mortality and rethinking strategies for surviving Dubya‘s second term, Greenpeace USA — the environmental group best known for in-your-face, laws-be-damned direct action — is getting in touch with its inner Gandhi. Greenpeace rabble-rousing in days of yore. Greenpeace/John Cunningham. In the last few […]
