Climate Politics

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  • Preserve states’ right to fight climate change

    In his Sept. 22 U.N. speech President Obama got it right: the battle to arrest calamitous climate change can be won only if each of us enlists, perseveres, and fights “for every inch of progress.” It is, therefore, critical that the nation not embark on that battle with one hand tied behind our collective back. […]

    Dan Galpern Politics

  • China steals Cimate Week spotlight, but U.S. still in the hot seat

    U.N. headquarters: Site of all the inaction.Photo: United NationsThe U.S. was given a starring role at the United Nations Climate Summit on Tuesday, but China stole the show. President Barack Obama had pride of place on the agenda, as the first head of state to speak to the gathered world leaders, ministers, and climate negotiators.  […]

    Emily Gertz Politics

  • Fossil fuel subsidies dwarf clean energy subsidies; Obama wants to eliminate them

    One often hears opponents of clean energy say that renewable sources are too expensive; they can’t get by without subsidies; they can’t compete in a “free market.” One of the many reasons this is a daffy argument is that there is no such thing as a free market, certainly not in energy. Existing energy sources, […]

    David Roberts Politics

  • If you can’t say something helpful, don’t say anything at all

    Cross-posted from Warming Law. The Washington Post has been editorializing in favor of congressional action to address climate change for more than a decade, but an editorial Monday makes us wonder if they mean it. The piece, entitled “Regulating Carbon,” bears a menacing subtitle: The EPA is getting ready. Congress? Not so much. And that’s […]

    Hannah McCrea Politics

  • Lisa Murkowski’s bid to become a climate outlaw

    Cross-posted from Wonk Room. Why is Sen. Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska) behaving like an outlaw? It’s jarring to learn that Sen. Murkowski wants to take away U.S. Environmental Protection Agency authority to limit greenhouse gas emissions from oil refineries, coal-burning power plants and other smokestack industries. As reported in Environment and Energy Daily, Murkowski has filed […]

    Frank O'Donnell Politics

  • The courts weigh in: states win critical round in fight to slow global warming

    With all attention focused elsewhere, a key federal court handed climate and clean energy advocates a major surprise victory yesterday.  In the case, State of Connecticut v. American Electric Power Co. [pdf], the Second Circuit Court of Appeals ruled that a group of eight states, three land trusts and New York City could sue some […]

    Ross Macfarlane Politics

  • Obama gives his first real climate speech — really

    Was the U.N. Climate Summit held in a marble bathroom?Photo: U.N./Marco Castro It was no barnburner of a speech, but President Obama’s address at the U.N. Climate Summit Tuesday morning amounted to the boldest climate change speech of his presidency. That’s because it was essentially the only climate change speech of his presidency. Until now, […]

    Jonathan Hiskes Politics

  • “It’s too expensive to price carbon,” the entrenched interests like to say

    Once the pending climate legislation gets active in the Senate, Americans can look forward to another outpouring of concern about low-income families. What’s especially fun is that we’ll get to hear it from political players who aren’t usually too concerned about equity — from record-breaking profiteers like Exxon to the same elected officials who slash social services. Now […]

    Eric de Place Politics

  • Obama’s climate speech to the U.N.

    President Barack Obama spoke to the U.N. General Assembly on the morning of Sept. 22, as part of the U.N. Summit on Climate Change. Here are his remarks (and video is embedded below): President Obama addresses the U.N. on climate.U.N. WebcastGood morning. I want to thank the Secretary-General for organizing this summit, and all the […]

    Grist staff Politics

  • Sen. Ben Cardin answers Grist’s questions on public transit and mountaintop removal mining

    Beltway observers of all stripes owe Sen. Ben Cardin (D-Md.) a debt of gratitude. In 2006, after 20 years in the House of Representatives, he ran for Maryland’s newly vacant Senate seat against then-Lt. Gov. Michael Steele. Steele’s defeat put him on a trajectory to become chair of the Republican National Committee, where he has […]

    David Roberts Politics