Climate Change
U.S. Chamber of Commerce adopts “grassroots” organizing tactic, redoubles attacks on climate science and law
The Los Angeles Times reported last week that the U.S. Chamber of Commerce – a significant and strident voice in opposition to anything that our government might possibly do to reduce greenhouse gas emissions – is using its considerable financial resources to dramatically increase its constituent base through “grass-roots organizing,” and that its influence is …
CONTINUE READINGSettlement marks a step forward on ocean acidification*
Cross-posted at CPRBlog. As Cara and Dan have explained, ocean acidification is the other big climate change problem. As atmospheric CO2 levels rise, more CO2 dissolves in the oceans. That in turn increases ocean acidity, which changes the ecology of the seas, most obviously by reducing the ability of corals and a variety of other …
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CONTINUE READINGDirty Money Supporting Anti-AB 32 Initiative Causes Ted Costa to Withdraw Support
I predicted earlier that an initiative campaign to delay the implementation of AB 32 until the state’s unemployment rate falls dramatically would not qualify for the ballot. I made this prediction based on the lack of evidence of significant financial backing and the fact that the initiative appeared to be primarily the work of Ted Costa’s People’s …
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CONTINUE READINGNew bill in Congress by Rockefeller (S. 3072) would delay regulation of GHGs under the Clean Air Act
As Cara and I have already discussed in detail, the Environmental Protection Agency has committed to delay the rollout of regulation of stationary sources of greenhouse gas emissions under the Clean Air Act, and to regulate only the very largest sources. This backtracking from EPA has been a response to efforts by Senator Lisa Murkowski …
CONTINUE READINGThe Anti-Science Lobby Strikes Again
Apparently, the anti-evolution forces have joined up with the climate denialists. The NY Times reports that state governments are already taking action to ensure that their students remains as ignorant about climate science as evolution. The Times explains: In Louisiana, a law passed in 2008 says the state board of education may assist teachers in …
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CONTINUE READINGTailoring the tailoring rule – we’re up to 75,000 tpy
Last week, Sean asked whether the EPA was backing off its plan to begin regulating stationary sources of greenhouse gas pollutants under the Clean Air Act. This week, we learn more about the answer (“yes”) and some details about how much it’s backing off (“lots”). Background: The CAA requires EPA to begin regulating greenhouse gases …
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CONTINUE READINGWhite paper released today on how farmers and ranchers can reduce greenhouse gas emissions
What can California’s farmers and ranchers do to reduce greenhouse gas emissions? “Room to Grow: How California Agriculture Can Help Reduce Greenhouse Gas Emissions,” a new white paper released today by UC Berkeley/UCLA Schools of Law, the California Attorney General’s Office, and Bank of America, provides some answers. California agriculture is a huge industry, generating …
CONTINUE READINGThe Ironic History of Cap-and-Trade
The phrase “cap-and-trade” is relatively new, but the idea of marketable pollution allowances goes back several decades. Conventional pollution laws impose direct mandates on polluters, telling each polluter precisely what level of pollution control is required. For a variety of reasons, economists have always disapproved of this approach. They prefer pollution taxes (a/k/a effluent charges) …
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CONTINUE READINGEarth’s Climate: The Owner’s Manual
If you want an authoritative source on climate science, of course you could go to the IPCC Reports. That assumes, of course, that you’re willing to plow through hundreds and hundreds of pages of detailed information. Now, there’s a good alternative. The Climate Crisis is a clear, accessible introduction to everything we know about the …
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CONTINUE READINGGM Kills the Hummer
Yippee!! The environmental benefits of this move are clear, but it will also make the roads safer. Next up, SUVs? We can hope.
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