I don’t know much about President Obama’s game, but I’m guessing, based on his aggressive moves on climate change and energy since just about the moment he took office, that he’s not shy about driving hard to the inside to make points. I’ve been writing here since November about his appointments and initiatives and I’ve […]
Quote of the Week – From Spanish Prime Minister José Luis Rodríguez Zapatero: “To change the world’s energy model is the most significant challenge facing humanity in this generation, not only for the impact on climate change but also for its effects on the economic model.” I think he’s got it. By George, he’s got […]
Mountaintop Removal Mining – The Beginning of the End? – I have written here a number of times about the crime of mountaintop removal mining, most recently in “Appalachia’s Agony”. Now the EPA has responded, finally, to the SOS of the residents of West Virginia, Kentucky and the other states where the mining companies have […]
Last year Earth Hour was a hugely visible event. This year, on March 28, it’s going to be an even bigger global phenomenon. As of now, they are saying that 2,712 cities, towns and municipalities in 83 countries are on board. See the website for more information and how you can participate in your part […]
Maldives – This island nation, about a thousand miles southwest of Sri Lanka in the Indian Ocean, has declared its intention to become the world’s first carbon-neutral country. President Mohamed Nasheed made the announcement after a screening of the new climate change film, “The Age of Stupid.” President Nasheed has also said that he will […]
There is an absolutely fabulous story in today’s “NY Times” called Is a Food Revolution Now in Season? There is also a great story on the new White House vegetable, fruit and herb garden from Thursday by the veteran food reporter, Marian Burros, and a “Room for Debate” page on it. Check out the “Week […]
China and Trade – Steven Chu suggested at a recent hearing in the House, as Reuters reported here, that “…once Washington develops a system limiting carbon emissions, if other countries do not impose a cost on carbon emissions the United States will be at a disadvantage.” Chu said that one idea in the mix is […]
I got back about an hour ago from walking my daughter to school. We live in a big city with a big park through which my wife or I walk the kid. It was snowing this morning – one of those intense squalls that come to us here in late winter and early spring. It […]
It hasn’t been very long, as these things go, that this World Cup class assemblage of players has been in place. Many of the top deputies at the agencies and staffers at the White House are still in the pipeline. Yet, as we’ve seen, they are moving and, dare I say it, grooving. They’ve definitely […]
There really is a Murderer’s Row of environmentalists, renewable energy advocates and all-purpose rainbow warriors coming into the Obama administration and springing into action. The three newest additions to the team are very strong. Gina McCarthy is Commissioner of the Connecticut Department of Environmental Protection (DEP). The “Hartford Courant” reports here that McCarthy is being […]
That’s the title of the editorial from yesterday’s “NY Times” about The Crime of Mountaintop Removal Mining. I’ve been writing about this travesty for nearly a year here. My concern was triggered by this truly outstanding documentary, Burning the Future: Coal in America, and meeting the filmmaker and having him in my climate change class. […]
“And suddenly there came a sound from heaven as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled all the house where they were sitting.” I don’t mean to get Biblical on you, but that describes the sensation I’m getting these days. If you prefer Bobby Dylan, then how about “You don’t need a weatherman to […]
You can’t praise Betsy Kolbert enough, in my opinion. She has been the must lucid, grounded, smart and committed journalist writing about climate change for several years. In The War on Rachel Carson here from a couple of years ago, I wrote “Nota Bene – I put Betsy Kolbert in a class with Rachel Carson. […]
The International Alliance of Research Universities (IARU), ten of the world’s leading research universities, and the University of Copenhagen, organized a conference that took place in Copenhagen this week. The scientists, economists, journalists and others gathered heard some startling news in a series of updates on the science of climate change. The IPCC issued its […]
I’ve been lauding the new Presidential administration’s approach. See “Climate of Change” and “The Eagle Has Landed” and other posts going back to November. The new EPA has taken another critically important step: They are going to create a comprehensive, nationwide reporting system for greenhouse gases. This system is a critical component for any federal […]