Culture & Ethics
Ocean acidification gets new attention
Although EPA is beginning to pay attention, the rapidly increasing acidity of the oceans remains a little-known consequence of global atmospheric CO2 loading. But two recent events may be raising the public profile of ocean acidification. First, a National Research Council committee convened to examine the consequences of ocean acidification and make recommendations for a …
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CONTINUE READINGRedwashing?
In this age of endless corporate greenwashing, I can’t help but be both a little refreshed and repulsed by the paint brand Sherwin-Williams’ breathtakingly anti-green logo. Noticed it this week for the first time and just want to share. Stunning, no?
CONTINUE READINGNew York Times Expands Its Green Blog
The New York Times announced yesterday that it’s changing the name of its environmental blog and expanding its coverage. The name change is small but symbolic: from Green, Inc. to Green. The reason for the change is that coverage is expanding. As the Times explains, Green is: broadening our lens to include not just the business …
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CONTINUE READINGShould We Run Some Controlled Climate Change Experiments?
Controlled experiments in general are the best way of doing science, but we haven’t been able to take advantage of that in science research. Considering the importance of the climate change issue, it might be worth taking a serious look at this possibility, even if it does seem a little outside the box.
CONTINUE READINGJustice Stevens: Architect of Modern Environmental Law Doctrine
Justice Stevens was responsible for key environmental decisions. He emphasized that EPA and Congress, not the courts, were the key policymakers on environmental questions, as against conservatives judges who have tried to implement their own policy views instead.
CONTINUE READINGThe Ebb and Flow of Eastern American Forests
As today’s WaPo explains, “Between 1630 and the nadir of Eastern forests in the late 1800s, the East lost about 1,000 acres of forest a day.” Over the course of the 20th Century, the forests came back. But now they are under threat again from invasive insects, uncontrolled deer populations, and other ecological imbalances. “Already, …
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CONTINUE READINGCalifornia’s Delta & Water Reforms: Now the Hard Work Begins
Last fall’s passage of landmark California legislation to “fix” the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta and reform California water law was big news. But key, recent events demonstrate that the devil is truly in the details, and that while legislation certainly matters, it is the manner and means of executive branch implementation that ultimately spell success or …
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CONTINUE READINGHealth Care Reform could help the environment
As Streetsblog noted, the newly-passed health care reform contains some grant money for nonprofits, Indian Tribes, and state and local governments to promote increased physical exercise and to create “the infrastructure to support active living.” Overall, this provision could provide local governments with extra money they desperately need to create more bicycle and pedestrian-friendly land …
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CONTINUE READINGWhy Doesn’t Anyone Care When IPCC UNDER-Estimates Climate Impacts
A major mistake by IPCC. Why hasn’t anyone ever heard of it? Because it underestimated the seriousness of climate change!
CONTINUE READINGU.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 …
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