Climate Politics

Obama joins Illinois legislators pushing to revive FutureGen

When the DOE announced it was yanking support for FutureGen, I wondered where Obama would come down on it. Pro-Illinois, or pro-green-coal-haters? Here’s our answer: Nine members of Illinois’ congressional delegation are urging President Bush to keep the FutureGen clean-coal power plant on track. In a letter sent to the president today, the bipartisan group […]

More on the powerful legacy Edwards leaves behind in the presidential race

So Edwards dropped out today. (Jockeying has already begun to secure his endorsement.) Here is his graceful announcement: Here is Grist’s factsheet on Edwards’ environmental record; here is our interview with Edwards. It’s practically become a cliche, but it is true nonetheless: Edwards has had an entirely salutary effect on this race, laying out bold […]

Green groups sue over eased restrictions on wolf kills

Seven green groups have sued over a U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service plan that would loosen restrictions on killing gray wolves in Montana, Idaho, and Wyoming.

John Edwards drops out of presidential race

Democrat John Edwards is expected to drop out of the presidential race today following poor finishes in recent state primaries. Edwards played a key role in pressuring the other leading Dems to toughen their environmental stances early on and he stood out among the frontrunners for his opposition to nuclear power, among other things. For […]

Edwards out

As you’ve probably already heard (damn you west coast time!), John Edwards is expected to drop out of the presidential race today. Now all Edwards chatter will turn to the subject of a possible endorsement.

McCain wins Florida after endorsement from pro-climate governor

John McCain has won the Florida Republican primary, a race that pundits prophesy may decide the GOP nominee for president. Environmental issues may have played a part; McCain got a boost in the state when he was endorsed by popular and climate-conscious Florida Gov. Charlie Crist. In pre-race campaigning, McCain took heat from main rival […]

Florida primary

CNN has projected McCain the winner. With 62% of precincts reporting, McCain is ahead of Romney 36% to 32%, with Giuliani’s presidential aspirations going up in smoke, or rather, going up in a 15% debacle. More later. UPDATE: Final is 36-31. It’s a Romney/McCain race and McCain is the prohibitive favorite. He’s now the yardstick […]

Department of Energy backs away from funding Future

The U.S. Department of Energy has told lawmakers that it plans to pull funding for FutureGen, its ambitious and crazily expensive “clean coal” demonstration plant. The feds had planned to cover some three-quarters of the $1.8 billion price tag, and cited ballooning costs as its reason for backing out. The announcement pissed off lawmakers from […]

FEMA said to ignore research on effects of toxic hurricane trailers

While housing Hurricane Katrina refugees in formaldehyde-tainted trailers, the Federal Emergency Management Agency “ignored, hid, and manipulated” government research on the long-term effects of formaldehyde on humans, according to an investigation by congressional Democrats.

Focus the Nation events to heat up campuses across the U.S.

Focus the Nation, a series of climate-change-focused educational events on over 1,000 campuses across the United States, is basically the student-centered cousin of Step It Up. And if you were one of the thousands who attended SIU (or SIU 2), you know that raising climate consciousness doesn't have to be a drab affair. It can be a colorful, creative, youth-infused party of a time. Enter Focus the Nation.

Hoping to pick up where SIU left off, Focus the Nation is gathering together thousands of students and teachers for climate festivities, billing it as the largest teach-in in U.S. history. It all goes down Jan. 31. (Or, you know, whatever the kids say these days.)