Climate Politics

Southwest Passage

New Mexico Passes Renewable-Energy Bills New Mexico Gov. Bill Richardson (D) yesterday celebrated the passage of a remarkable package of progressive energy bills, with the vocal support of a broad coalition including utilities, environmentalists, ranchers, and consumers. The centerpiece is a new law stating that all investor-owned electrical utilities in the state must generate 10 […]

Bush EPA dilutes meaning of environmental justice

The U.S. EPA has failed to integrate environmental justice research into the development of its policies, says a report [PDF] released on Monday by the EPA’s inspector general (IG), who operates an independent office within the agency. Play at your own risk. Photo: Environmental Defense. More troubling still, the EPA under President Bush seems to […]

Group Hug

Environmental Cooperation Bringing Hostile Nations Together Frustrated by the glacial pace and pestersome bureaucracy of major international treaties and conventions, a new generation of environmental activists is turning its focus to “environmental peacekeeping”: local, grassroots efforts to forge cooperation on ecosystem preservation among neighboring nations with a history of conflict. Activists say that, rather than […]

Well, Excuuuse Us!

U.S. Seeks Exemptions from Ban on Ozone-Damaging Pesticide The U.S. will seek to make a large number of American farmers and industries exempt from an international ban on the highly toxic and ozone-depleting pesticide methyl bromide, set to take effect next year, Bush administration officials announced yesterday. (We thought they saved this kind of stuff […]

There Are Other Fish in the Sea … for the Moment

Report on Ocean Management Likely Headed for Chilly Reception The sad state of our oceans is poised to make headlines again this month, but ocean advocates worry that the Bush administration won’t take the problem seriously. The Commission on Ocean Policy — a 16-member presidential advisory panel appointed to comprehensively revisit ocean management policy for […]

Missouri River management plan to be election-year hot potato

Basically, the Army Corps has flipped us the bird — at a time when it’s supposed to be saving the birds.” Hello, Big Muddy. Photo: FWS. That’s how Eric Eckl, spokesperson for American Rivers, sums up the Army Corps of Engineers‘ new plan to manage the Missouri River, released on Friday to blistering protest and […]

Split-Level Nuclear Waste

The Bush administration’s scientific distortions threaten the environment

In late February, after a star-studded, bipartisan lineup of Nobel laureates and leading American scientists accused the Bush administration of misusing and distorting science to serve political ends, the initial response from 1600 Pennsylvania Ave. was flat-out denial. White House Office of Science and Technology Policy chief John Marburger dismissed the scientists’ complaints as a […]

Immigration controversy engulfs Sierra Club board election

If the Democratic primaries have proven a little prim and polite for your taste, there’s another upcoming election that may pique your interest. This one is loaded with bitter controversy, nasty accusations, and emotional appeals to democracy and fairness. Its major players have even taken their grievances to court — all before the nearly three-quarters […]

Huge Tracts of Land

Bush Administration Accelerates Oil and Gas Leasing in Rockies The Bush administration, as part of its broader effort to accelerate oil and gas development on the Rocky Mountain front, is moving ahead with plans to lease large tracts of environmentally sensitive land in Utah and southwestern Wyoming. This has prompted protests from varied quarters, including […]