Climate Politics
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Justice Souter has been a dependable green vote
What might the retirement of Supreme Court Justice David Souter mean for the environment? Probably not a lot. Though he was appointed by President George H. W. Bush, Souter has proven a reliable member of the court’s liberal wing, so if Obama appoints another liberal, don’t expect much change. Souter voted with the majority in […]
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15 green-leaning mayors
Climate change is a global problem — but as of yet, there’s no global solution. That’s why mayors across the U.S. are taking action, from building green to organizing bike rides, from redeveloping downtowns to cutting emissions. Here are just a few of the municipal leaders who have worked to take our collective future into […]
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No ‘renewable’ nukes and coal for Indiana
Indiana renewable package: No can do.Photo: JayskIndiana lawmakers finished their legislative session Wednesday without passing a renewable electricity standard, which might be just as well. This was the plan that would have defined “renewable” so as to include “clean coal” and nuclear energy (as reported earlier on Grist). The plan would have required utilities in […]
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Massive economic and policy reform: Easier than you think
It seems to me that we suffer from a failure of imagination. We dream of a low-carbon world, but can’t quite fathom how to get around the massive lobbying clout (and inertia) of the coal lobby. We dream of a world with no more utility obstacles to energy efficiency, but can’t imagine how to undo […]
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Clean energy messaging 101: ‘Green’ jobs are out, ‘clean energy’ jobs are in
As readers know, I try to stay up-to-date on messaging, which is why I have a whole category devoted to rhetoric. I have now sat through a couple of extended presentations about clean energy and climate messaging from people who definitely know how to do this sort of thing. I will present some of the […]
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‘New Scientist’: Swine flu stems from virus that evolved in U.S.
In a pair of articles in New Scientist, Debora MacKenzie links the swine flu virus now spreading across the globe to large-scale pork-raising operations in the United States. In the first article, titled “Swine flu: the predictable pandemic?,” MacKenzie writes that the “virus has been a serious pandemic threat for years, New Scientist can reveal […]
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Changing the climate with China’s military
When I heard President Obama call for more regular dialogue between the Chinese and American militaries, my first thought was, “Why not the environment?” Perhaps it is not a front-burner issue for both institutions — but that is exactly the point. If dialogue is to improve understanding, build ties, and lower the prospects for confrontation, […]
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Industry group’s radio ads target swing votes on climate bill
Don’t believe everything you hear …Photo: baboonThe industry group American Energy Alliance is trying to stir up opposition to the House climate and energy bill with new radio ads targeting key swing voters on the House Energy and Commerce Committee. The ads, aimed at nine Democrats and one Republican, call the bill “an energy tax […]
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Senate Spoil Sports
Most of the news coverage in recent days, understandably has focused on the Markey climate hearings and speculation about when his subcommittee will actually start voting. And now there is scrutiny of efforts by “moderate” House Democrats to gut the Waxman-Markey bill on behalf of Duke Energy, the Edison Electric Institute and other forces of […]
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To get support for a climate bill, offer cash back to Americans, argues Rep. Chris Van Hollen
Rep. Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.) thinks he’s got the key to passing a climate bill this year: send every American a rebate. It’s not a bribe, but a dividend — and one he thinks will help grow support for legislation to cap carbon. Van Hollen, an up-and-coming Democratic leader and chair of the Democratic Congressional […]
