Climate Politics
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G20 makes itsy-bitsy progress on fossil-fuel subsidies
The G20 summit wrapped up in Toronto on Sunday without much action on one of its most sensible targets: phasing out wasteful fossil-fuel subsidies. Those subsidies amount to a crazy $550 billion a year worldwide, and the G20 agreed to look at how to rid the world of them last fall in Pittsburgh. Whispers before […]
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What Robert Byrd’s death means for the climate bill
Sen. Robert Byrd (D-W.Va.), who died early this morning at the age of 92, fought for most of his legendary career to keep coal mining at the center of West Virginia’s economy. But in the last few months of his life, he hinted at a remarkable change of heart, speaking out on the damage coal […]
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Bigger ‘Dead Zone’ projected for Gulf, even without oil’s effects
A satellite view of past Dead Zone in the Gulf: The red areas show how a vast, nitrogen-fed algae bloom has risen, blotting out most sea life underneath.(NASA)The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration just released a report that contains even more bad news for the Gulf of Mexico. This year’s Gulf Dead Zone will be […]
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Expert measures human cost of Gulf oil leak
Dr. J. Steven Picou is Professor of Sociology at the University of South Alabama. He is currently working on human response to the BP oil spill.Photo courtesy of stevenpicou.com Steven Picou doesn’t have the happiest of jobs. He specializes in the human toll of disasters. As a sociology professor at the University of South Alabama […]
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Republicans oppose Democratic climate plan in favor of alternatives that would cost more and do less
When it comes to climate and energy, most political attention has focused on Democrats, which makes perfect sense — they’re in the majority and they’re the ones putting together a bill. How do you stop an elephant … and its bad ideas?Photo: Jared Rodriguez/truthout.org via FlickrBut it is worth pausing periodically to contemplate the utter […]
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What Role Will Senator Murkowski Play in Climate and Energy Negotiations?
Speaking at a sparsely-attended luncheon in Fairbanks, AK on Friday, Senator Murkowski (R-AL) touted her failed effort to block the EPA from regulating greenhouse gas emissions as a ‘badge of honor.’ She went on to explain why she considered the maneuver, which went down by a 53-47 margin on June 10th, a qualified success. “We […]
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A Salon debate on cap-and-trade and energy politics: day one
Last week, I took part in a debate at Salon.com on the merits of pricing carbon (and related matters). My debate opponent was Steve Everley, manager of policy research at American Solutions and a contributing author to To Save America: Stopping Obama’s Secular-Socialist Machine, by Newt Gingrich. Salon has graciously agreed to let us republish […]
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G8 leaders stand still on climate; will G20 backtrack?
It was a tale of two cities Saturday in Toronto for this climate activist. One of hope and the other of boredom. Saturday morning, I joined Greenpeace, Oxfam, the Canadian Labor Congress, and about 5,000 activists at a peaceful rally calling on G8 and G20 leaders to take stronger leadership on a variety of progressive issues. […]
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Greening homes requires credit, which Fannie and Freddie should understand
Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac have essentially shut down an innovative program that helps Americans green their homes. Here’s more on the story: Jeanine Cotter, CEO of California solar installation company Luminalt, has a good explanation of what keeps homeowners from investing in rooftop solar and retrofits that cut energy waste. In her experience, people […]
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Britain’s Green Deal to unlock billions for home energy efficiency
Energy and Climate Change Secretary Chris Huhne.Photo courtesy Liberal Democrats via FlickrIn the wake of the new budget released in the U.K. on Tuesday, Energy and Climate Change Secretary Chris Huhne has been putting some flesh on the bones of the promised Green Deal for households. Huhne is a Liberal Democrat, so his remarks at […]
