Climate Politics
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Why scientists aren’t more persuasive, part 2
In 2007, NPR broadcast a now-infamous climate debate on the proposition “Global warming is not a crisis.” In theory, this sounds like an easy win for the “nay” side — “crisis” is obviously the mildest of words to describe the greatest preventable existential threat to the health and well-being of future generations. But in practice […]
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The new dean of the Washington press corps advances the cause of economic illiteracy
If you’ll pardon me, I’m going to keep harping on this theme. This column from Dan Balz — the New Broder — is absurd for any number of reasons, but I particularly want to draw attention to this bit, which distills Very Serious conventional wisdom: Nor is it evident that [Obama] has dealt realistically with […]
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McCain and Obama need to talk real farm policy
John McCain and Barack Obama need to start talking farm policy. With less than a month before the November elections in a year marked by a world-wide food crisis, energy shortages, climate change, and an international credit crisis, agriculture should be a prominent issue in every media event. Current farm policies are more about corporate […]
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Two very un-green candidates compete for South Carolina Senate seat
In the South Carolina Senate race debate over the weekend, the two candidates were asked directly about climate change and energy concerns. Via Think Progress, here’s what Democratic candidate Bob Conley had to say on global warming: Conley: It really is the arrogance of man to think that we are having any effect. I’m an […]
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Lawmakers use financial crisis as pretext to screw with climate legislation
In a post yesterday I drew attention to an emerging battle over macroeconomics. To put it crudely: does the financial crisis mean the next president will need to trim his ambitions and focus on reducing the deficit? Or does it call for substantial public spending to get the economy moving again (deficit be damned, at […]
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Huge new hydroelectric dam under construction in Brazilian Amazon
A new $5 billion hydroelectric dam now under construction on a tributary of the Amazon River in Brazil will seriously mess with the area’s unique environment and wildlife and displace thousands of indigenous residents, critics say. Up to 3,000 families will be displaced when the dam’s reservoir floods, and the project will also likely affect […]
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Obama’s proposal for an economic ‘rescue plan’ includes green features
In Toledo, Ohio, on Monday, Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama unveiled his “Economic Rescue Plan for the Middle-Class” — a new $60 billion economic stimulus package, to be added to an already-proposed $115 billion stimulus proposal. As he introduced his new plan, he made several references to energy issues. “I won’t pretend this will be […]
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McCain spins concerns about nuclear safety as anti-troops
“By the way, the next time Senator Obama tells you that nuclear power has got to be made safe and environmental and all that, take him over to see one of our Navy ships with nuclear power plants on it, my friends. And ask the men and women who serve proudly on those nuclear powered […]
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Cause and defect
“How in the hell — heck — are you going to change it unless you know what caused it?” — Democratic vice presidential candidate Sen. Joe Biden, commenting on Republican VP candidate Sarah Palin’s repeated contention that the cause of climate change is uncertain
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At the Arctic frontlines of climate change, politics not seen as answer
Donald Mearns, his wife Meeka, and dog Akuliq overlooking Pangnirtung Fjord. Photo: Donald Mearns Global warming has been a top issue for much of Canada’s federal election campaign, which ends Tuesday when Canadians will pick a party to form a new government. First affected by changes in the environment are Canadians who live on the […]
