Climate Politics

Industry & green groups join up to back climate bill

A coalition of corporations, green groups, and unions issued a joint statement to senators yesterday declaring their support for the Lieberman-Warner Climate Security Act, which will hit the Senate floor on Monday. Among the endorsers is General Electric, one of the five largest companies in the world — definitely a big pick-up for the legislation. […]

Obama & Clinton shill for coal in Montana

The Flathead Beacon in Montana pinned down interviews with both Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton ahead of the state’s Tuesday primary. The paper asked questions on domestic oil and gas drilling, the preservation of public lands, and coal. The whole thing is interesting, but the candidates’ responses on coal were the most notable: Q: But […]

Obama says climate and energy would be top priorities at start of his admin

It’s a bit buried here, but Marc Ambinder notes that at a fundraiser in Denver on Wednesday night, Barack Obama said his first-100-day priorities would include sending a “signal to the world” on energy and climate change. Wish that were a bit more specific, but hey, at least it’s in there.

LCV urges prez candidates to be leaders on climate bill

The League of Conservation Voters just issued a statement on John McCain’s plans to skip out on next week’s voting on the Lieberman-Warner Climate Security Act. Spokespeople for Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton have said they aren’t sure whether the candidates will make it back to the Hill to vote. Here’s LCV’s official statement: “Surely, […]

Overdue federal report acknowledges climate-change realities

Under pressure from a court order, the Bush administration put out a new report on climate change yesterday that comes to the conclusion that “most of the recent global warming is very likely due to human-generated increases in greenhouse gas concentrations.” The report covers familiar (to anyone who’s been paying attention) ground — the impacts […]

Republicans for Environmental Protection explains McCain ranking (or lack thereof)

Republicans for Environmental Protection gave John McCain a “no score” on its just-released 2007 congressional scorecard, as David pointed out earlier. McCain missed all 14 of the votes on which REP scored senators, but the group opted not to give him a zero. Grist called David Jenkins, government affairs director for REP, to find out […]

EDF airs another ad in support of the Climate Security Act

Environmental Defense Fund is running another ad in support of the Lieberman-Warner Climate Security Act, this one in Washington, D.C., and other markets around the country. It features a talking, businessman-shaped candle melting while offering a bunch of the tired excuses one hears about why climate legislation is a bad idea. “Sure, climate change is […]

Hansen: Governors aren’t getting it

My recent experience with governors raises a question about whether this is an effective way to communicate about climate change. (Apologies for the length -- you may skip the three tales and go to the bottom line.)

Dear Governor Pawlenty [PDF]

Minnesota Gov. Pawlenty presides over a population that appreciates nature. Explorer Will Steger has done a marvelous job of informing the public there about climate change in the Arctic, the threat of climate change to species and indigenous people, and the relevance of climate change to Minnesota. Early actions made it appear that Minnesota would be a leader, defining energy policies and directions that would be a great example for other states.

Specifically (get this!), in spring 2007 Minnesota passed and Gov. Pawlenty signed a law called the Next Generation Energy Act of 2007, requiring 25 percent renewable energy by 2025 and a 1.5 percent per year improvement in energy efficiency.

Some people used this to help paint Gov. Pawlenty green, second in greenness only to Arnold Schwarzenegger among Republican governors. Pawlenty, according to the Washington Post, is at the top of the list of candidates to be John McCain's running mate. Coincidentally, the Republican convention will be in Minnesota in September. But ... read on.

McCain to skip another crucial climate vote

Unbelievable. Sen. John McCain — who just weeks ago said of the Climate Security Act, "I hope it will pass, and I hope the entire Congress will join in supporting it and the President of the United States would sign it" — now says he won’t show up to vote on it. He won’t vote […]

U.K.’s former prime minister says symbolic vote on Boxer-Lieberman-Warner matters to the world

In March, British prime minister Tony Blair launched the Breaking the Climate Deadlock initiative to promote a new global agreement on climate change.

Today he has an op-ed the in the Washington Post, "Leading On Climate Change: How Action in Congress Can Move the World," in which he argues,