The Scariest Movie Ever: “President Trump, Part II”
A tale that should send shivers down your back.
Given that Halloween is tomorrow, here's a frighting story-- the tale of what a Trump victory would mean for the future climate. Would a Trump victory be the end of the world? That might be an overstatement. But the result would surely be a surge in carbon emissions, dooming us to even more severe climate change. The federal government has gotten a late start in cutting US emissions anyway, due to Republican resistance. If we fall further behind, we could blow past an...
CONTINUE READINGLivestock Operations Are Responsible for Over Half of California’s Methane Emissions—Why Won’t CARB Regulate Them?
CARB will have the authority to regulate methane from livestock operations beginning in January but has not initiated rulemaking
At a recent California Air Resources Board (CARB) meeting, a staff member responded to a question about why CARB’s program for reducing emissions from transportation fuels incentivized the capture of methane from landfills so much less than the capture of methane from dairies: “Landfills have a different CI [carbon intensity] score because they are regulated,” the staff member explained. (Timestamp at 2:05:10). CARB’s Low Carbon Fuel Standard (LC...
CONTINUE READINGSee You at the Ribbon Cutting
Republicans think clean energy is terrible and woke and they also want more of it.
“You know, I’ve joined many of you on the groundbreakings . . . And as I told my Republican friends, we’ll even do their districts too. (Laughter.) And I’ll be there for the ribbon cutting. (Laughter.)” That was President Biden tweaking the GOP members of Congress who had all voted against the Inflation Reduction Act but will be sure to show up for the ribbon cutting to take credit for new projects. As part of this effort to bring home the benefits of...
CONTINUE READINGSpeaker Mike Johnson Could Be Disaster in the Making
Johnson’s selection as Speaker signals trouble ahead— but could be political good news for Democrats.
So, the Republicans finally settled on a Speaker: Religious Right activist Mike Johnson. Johnson is a climate denier. In 2017, he said: “The climate is changing, but the question is, is it being caused by natural cycles over the span of the Earth’s history? Or is it changing because we drive SUVs? I don’t believe in the latter.” Mike Johnson’s record promises little but trouble, not least for the environment. Having spent all of seven years in the House, h...
CONTINUE READINGThe New Speaker Nominee and the Environment –Whoops, Never Mind!
Who is Tom Emmer and what are his environmental views?
[First posted at 10:18, revised at 2:10] The revolving door for Republican GOP nominees continues. Tom Emmer, who was briefly the [ newly picked] Republican nominee for Speaker of the House on Tuesday, is a relative unknown despite having been part of the House Republicans' leadership team. Emmer, who grew up in an affluent suburb of Minneapolis, became a lawyer and then state representative. He successfully ran to replace Michele Bachman. If you’ve forgotten ...
CONTINUE READINGTaylor Swift and Climate Change Songs
Pop culture is how many of us process what’s going on in the world. That’s why Taylor Swift’s next 'era' should include a climate anthem.
We don’t need Taylor Swift to “fall in love with a climate scientist,” we just wish she’d write a song about the climate crisis. When the breathless coverage of her relationship with Travis Kelce first boosted ratings for NFL football, some suggested Swift should use her star power for good by “dating a climate scientist.” Though they probably meant well, it’s offensive—misogynist even— to suggest that Taylor Swift has nothing more to contribut...
CONTINUE READINGCalifornia Climate Policy: A Preliminary Report Card
It’s a bit complicated, but California definitely has made substantial progress.
We all know that California's climate policies have led the nation. But how well have these policies actually worked? That’s not as easy to answer as you might think. You have to do some digging to come up with the numbers, and their meaning isn’t always completely clear. If you compare California with the country as a whole, however, it does seem clear that our climate policies have had a real impact on emissions. What's the Overall Verdict? California has...
CONTINUE READINGGov. Newsom Goes to China to Talk Climate
Here’s what Newsom will see, say, and do on his China trip. He should also be listening for what California can learn from China.
We’re learning more about what Gov. Gavin Newsom will see, say, and do on his trip to China. All told, Newsom is slated to visit 6 cities in 5 provinces, including Guangdong, Jiangsu, and Shanghai—where he’s signing a new climate agreement. He plans to meet with representatives from the Chinese Ministry of Ecology and the Environment in Beijing, as well as local officials. The trip is entirely focused on climate talks. Newsom should also do some deep liste...
CONTINUE READINGWho the Heck is Patrick McHenry?
And what does he think about the environment?
Patrick McHenry has been Speaker pro tem with limited powers, but there’s talk about trying to bump him up, giving him full power as Speaker for a limited time so the House can get back to work. That might be just a flash in the pan, but he turns out to be interesting enough to write about either way. I guess the first thing we know about Patrick McHenry is that one of his parents had an interest in U.S. history and a sense of humor. Also, he’s from North Caroli...
CONTINUE READINGRecharge net metering (ReNeM) provides win-win-win for groundwater agency, landowners, & sustainable groundwater management
Nature Water publication showcases the economics of a novel groundwater recharge incentive structure
By Molly Bruce, Luke Sherman, Ellen Bruno, Andrew T. Fisher, & Michael Kiparsky An insidious issue has been growing along the Central Coast and throughout the state of California for decades: groundwater overdraft. In response to this growing threat and 2014 legislation designed to put an end to chronic overdraft, many basins have identified managed aquifer recharge (MAR) as an essential supply-side tool for managing water resources. MAR promotes infiltration using ...
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