Region: National

The Election, Vehicle Emissions, and State Climate Plans

If the California car waiver survives a possible Trump presidency, we may have the overruling of Chevron to thank.

If one single thing about the election keeps state environmental regulators up at night, it’s how much a Trump victory would impact their ability to cut transportation emissions. As it turns out, Trump’s leverage would be reduced, ironically enough, because his conservative Supreme Court appointees  helped overrule the Chevron doctrine.  Trump can still cause a …

CONTINUE READING

Hurricane Milton and this Climate Moment

We’re witnessing the collision of extreme weather, climate science, national news and politics. The question of “Who pays for climate disasters?” is about to become even more important.

When President Biden addressed the nation yesterday from the White House, he warned that Hurricane Milton could be one of the most destructive storms in more than a century, but he stopped short of explaining why — that climate change, fueled by our burning of fossil fuels, is making oceans warmer and storms stronger, capable …

CONTINUE READING

Texas and California Are Not Opposites. Contrary to What You Might Think.

These two states are often portrayed as epitomizing two possible futures. But the differences are more nuanced than you think.

here’s a common idea that Texas and California represent two opposing poles of America. They’re admittedly very different places on many dimensions. But in some respects, they are surprisingly similar, and some differences aren’t as big as they seem.  

CONTINUE READING

With 4 Weeks Left, the Election – and the Future of Climate Policy – Hang in the Balance

The White House and control of the House remain toss-ups.

Yhe outcome of the 2024 election will be pivotal for climate and energy policy.  With a month to go, things are still incredibly close.  Harris has a tiny edge in the electoral college and the Republicans have similar edges in the House and Senate.So hang onto your hats for the final stretch of this rollercoaster ride.  A last-minute “October surprise” is still possible, and it’s also possible that polls will turn out wrong.

CONTINUE READING

The Two Races Most Likely to Determine Control of the Senate

The outcomes will shape environmental policy in the new Congress.

To keep control of the Senate, Democrats must hold on to the White House and two Senate seats in red states.  If Republicans win in Ohio or Montana, they are virtually guaranteed to flip the Senate, with important consequences for environmental policy.

CONTINUE READING

A Data-Driven Case for Level 1 EV Charging in Multifamily Housing–and its Equity Implications

New data insights from a community choice aggregator elevate the role of Level 1 charging in an equitable (and rapid) EV transition

Discussions about Level 1 (L1) and Level 2 (L2) electric vehicle charging generally posit a simple tradeoff: L2 (which requires a dedicated high-capacity electrical hookup) offers greater speed and convenience, while L1 (which can run on a standard 120V outlet) offers broader scale and affordability. L1’s benefits find particular traction in residential charging spaces–where drivers …

CONTINUE READING

Mrs. Palsgraf, Meet Enviromental Law

A case involving a freakish accident with fireworks casts a big shadow in environmental law.

Today in my first-year Torts class, I teach the Palsgraf case, one of those cases that every lawyer knows by heart.  More about Palsgraf in a moment. It’s a tort case, so it won’t surprise you that oil companies use similar arguments against having to pay damages for climate change.  But it may be more …

CONTINUE READING

The Walz-Vance Debate and Environmental Policy

After Hurricane Helene, Vance and Walz were pressed on climate change during the VP debate. Here’s everything they said on energy and the environment.

The subject of climate-fueled disasters figured prominently in the vice presidential debate. The CBS News moderators asked a question about climate change within the first few minutes, although the multi-faceted answers weren’t always factual and much of the post-debate discussion in newsrooms and spin room interviews centered on contentious yet civil exchanges on immigration and …

CONTINUE READING

Climate Politics and Policy in Nebraska

In a divided nation, could the Cornhusker State turn out to hold the balance of power?

In what has turned out to be an interesting Senate race, Republican incumbent Deb Fischer is facing Independent Dan Osborn (I).  Fischer has a lifetime score of 8% from the League of Conservation voters and hates EVs. Osborn seem pro-renewables. The outcome could determine control of the U.S. Senate.

CONTINUE READING

Climate Policy After the 2024 Election

In this UCLA Emmett Institute webinar, panelists discussed the climate implications of the 2024 election from the state, national, and international perspective.

Climate certainty. Legislative action. Whipsaw regulations. An exodus of civil servants. Chinese leadership despite being the world’s largest emitter. Those are a few of the possible outcomes of the Nov. 5 presidential election, according to our panelists.  More than in any previous election, the two major candidates’ track records on environmental policies are well-established and …

CONTINUE READING

Join Our Mailing List

Climate policy is changing rapidly. Stay in the loop with expert analysis via email Monday - Friday.

TRENDING