Sunstein and the Environment
To the dismay of many environmentalists, President Obama has selected Professor Cass Sunstein to head a key department at OMB. This department has been in charge of applying cost-benefit analysis to environmental regulations. For example, the Center for Progressive Regulation (CPR) has issued a report expressing great concern about the selection. According to CPR: …
Continue reading “Sunstein and the Environment”
CONTINUE READINGConservation in a warming world
The latest issue of the journal Science includes another reminder that our current approach to conservation is ill-suited to a world where the climate is changing rapidly. A study led by Phillip van Mentgem of the U.S. Geological Survey (323 Science 521 (Jan. 23, 2009), subscription required) finds that trees are dying more rapidly in …
Continue reading “Conservation in a warming world”
CONTINUE READINGSecretary Clinton makes her first environmental law mistake
As Cymie notes, Secretary of State Clinton seems committed to working for a new climate agreement. And that’s a good thing (although as I have argued elsewhere, it’s really USTR that should take the lead on climate change negotiation.). But Clinton should stop digging a hole for herself. She said that the Committee will be …
Continue reading “Secretary Clinton makes her first environmental law mistake”
CONTINUE READINGDoes Anybody Know Who the Commerce Secretary Is?
Does anybody really care? Really. Its budget of between 6 and 7 billion dollars is by far the smallest of any Cabinet Department. That kind of money would be a rounding error for the Pentagon or HHS; hell, the Pentagon lost that much money in transit between Washington and Baghdad. And what really does it …
Continue reading “Does Anybody Know Who the Commerce Secretary Is?”
CONTINUE READINGObama and Climate Change
The Obama Administration will face hard regulatory choices on climate change almost immediately.
CONTINUE READINGUndoing the new ESA consultation regulations?
Nick Rahall (D – W.Va.), joined by 12 co-sponsors, has introduced a joint resolution under the Congressional Review Act to overturn the Bush administration’s midnight regulations on ESA section 7 consultation. Some of the many problems with the new regulations have been explained in comments submitted by Berkeley Law profs Eric Biber (coordinating the work …
Continue reading “Undoing the new ESA consultation regulations?”
CONTINUE READINGHitting the right notes on science
The environmental science community is welcoming the new Obama administration with open arms. That’s no surprise, of course — there was never any love lost between environmental scientists and the George W. Bush administration. But for the science community this transition is more than the departure of an enemy. So far, the new president is …
Continue reading “Hitting the right notes on science”
CONTINUE READINGAudacious Energy Policy
In his inaugural address, this morning, it took President Obama a mere 228 words to mention the word “energy”. This is instructive when compared to George W. Bush’s second inaugural address in which he waited until – well, um…, he never used the word “energy”. But, to be fair, neither did Jimmy Carter, who took …
Continue reading “Audacious Energy Policy”
CONTINUE READING