Climate Diplomacy Archives

Climate Diplomacy

Should Environmentalists Oppose Susan Rice for Secretary of State?

My RBC colleague James Wimberley thinks so — and not because of the fake, nothingburger scandal over Benghazi that the Right has cooked up. Instead, James’ argument centers on climate change. As we all know, NRDC’s OnEarth broke the story a couple of weeks ago that Rice and her husband hold fairly massive investments in fossil fuels in …

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Climate Kabuki in New Delhi — the Shock of Recognition

India’s Environment Minister Jairam Ramesh announced Monday that New Delhi will take the lead on establishing a global carbon budget at the Cancun climate talks. I think that this is good news, but probably not for the reasons we might initially suspect. We might think that it’s good news because it shows that India is taking …

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Property Rules, Liability Rules, Patents, and Climate Change

I suggested a few weeks ago that India and the United States might try foster climate cooperation by having India agree to use climate-friendly technology and the United States asgree not to pursue any legal actions under the Trade-Related Aspects of Intellectual Property treaty. But of course there is a catch: at some point inventors …

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US-India Climate Dialogue Agenda I: A TRIPS Protocol

Long, long ago in a galaxy far, far away — well, no, actually two months ago in Washington, DC, President Obama and Indian Prime Minister Singh inked something called the US-India Climate Dialogue. It was a pretty transparent attempt to salvage something from the fact that India would never agree to binding emissions cuts (and …

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The Climate “Partnership” with India

At least that’s what the White House is calling it. (Okay, okay: technically, the White House calls it the “Green Partnership to Address Energy Security, Climate Change, and Food Security.”). Does it mean anything? Maybe. Essentially, it provides for some technical assistance to improve governance capacity and scientific knowledge, and some new initiatives to foster …

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India’s New Government and Climate Change: Good News, Bad News

The Congress Party’s unexpected strong victory in the 2009 elections has also brought one of the strongest Cabinets in recent times. For those interested in the upcoming climate talks, however, it also presents some challenges. At the end of the day, climate policy will not be a focus of the government, but there are some …

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Passage to India

Just arrived in Hyderabad, India, for the RAND/India School of Business conference on entrepreneurship. After that, I make my way west to Bombay, and then north to Delhi, where on June 19th, the new Jindal Global Law School will sponsor a major conference on climate. It’s (sometimes) nice going to conferences, but I am also hoping to find …

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

Reflections on “Yes they can control the weather.”

Marjorie Taylor Greene is wildly wrong about government scientists controlling hurricanes. There is a rich history of weather modification experiments that make that false claim more dangerous.

Why You Should Read CA’s ExxonMobil Plastic Lawsuit

California’s lawsuit against ExxonMobil for lying about plastic recycling is the latest example of the state using old-fashioned legal tools to address more modern harms.

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.

How to Make Trees Worth More Standing Than Cut Down

The Katoomba Group is celebrating 25 years of pioneering new approaches to realizing value in nature. Here’s what we’ve learned.

Climate, Energy, and Environment on the Ballot

Ballot measures in Washington and California are especially important but others are worth noting.

Model Uncertainty in Politics and Climate Policy

The polls could be systematically off, not just due to random error. That’s a worry with climate models as well.

Still Crazy After All These Years

There’s been an alarming growth of conspiracy theories, often antisemitic ones, to explain extreme weather events.

We Need a Circular Economy for EV Batteries

California got close to making suppliers ensure EV batteries are managed responsibly at end of life. Here’s why 2025 should be the year California creates a circular economy for EV batteries.

The Dangerous Embrace of Convenient Narratives Over Inconvenient Truths

As it turns out, Nature doesn’t care what stories you post on social media or spin on TV.

New Environmental Laws Focus on Public Health

Many of the environmental-focused bills that the governor signed this year involve ways to alleviate the health disparities faced by frontline communities.

Climate Diplomacy

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

TRENDING

California’s Low Carbon Fuel Standard has been successful. CARB should update the program without undermining its fundamental features.

The global transformation to an economy fueled by clean energy can’t be stopped. Trump could slow down U.S. progress though.

New CLEE Report Identifies Key Challenges and Opportunities in the State’s Adaptation Funding Landscape

Laws like the Inflation Reduction Act may have more sticking power than regulations.

New CLEE Report Release & Webinar on Wednesday, November 13th at noon PT

Several California laws prohibiting dangerous chemicals from household products go into effect on or after January 1, 2025.

Pretty or scary or brave? There’s a climate costume to suit all tastes and all ages.

Reframing Infrastructure Investments to Realize an Equitable Transition

The Presidential, Senate & House elections will have immense repercussions in terms of energy and environment.

A Trump victory would increase the odds that we will ultimately need to start blocking solar radiation as a last resort to limit climate change.