Climate Politics
All Stories
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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 […]
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Obama: what swine flu?
Swine wha ….?From an Associated Press account of a Wednesday evening White House press conference: The news conference lasted an hour and covered topics ranging from the outbreak of swine flu — which Obama referred to as the H1N1 virus, evidently in deference to U.S. pork producers — to abortion and the recent flare-up in […]
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Can it be? Even more tidbits from the Energy Efficiency Global Forum?
Here is the third and final collection of tidbits, factoids, and insights from the Energy Efficiency Global Forum. These are drawn from the final plenary session, which was two hours long and absolutely packed with interesting speakers and info. • Nobuo Tanaka, executive director of the International Energy Agency, pointed out that efficiency improvements have […]
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More tidbits from the Energy Efficiency Global Forum
I have a couple of overview-type posts in mind re: the Energy Efficiency Global Forum, but first a couple more Tidbit Posts, sharing factoids and insights that otherwise won’t find a home. Here’s the second of three, drawn from the “executive dialogs” that took place alongside the main plenary sessions. • Lena Ek, member of […]
