Politics
Shifting the Regulatory Status Quo: The Case of Climate Change
A basic insight of positive political theory is that the existence of veto points makes it possible for an agenda setter to substantially influence political outcomes. Essentially, an outcome is viable so long as it satisfies a basic condition: it must be closer than the status quoto to the optimum outcome for at least one …
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CONTINUE READINGWaxman bill on state cap-and-trade efforts
I’ve been reading the Waxman-Markey energy and climate discussion draft released earlier in the week (and blogged about by Rick here). One thing I’m puzzling over is the draft’s treatment of state cap and trade regulations. As many have noted, the question of which state climate efforts are saved and which are preempted is an …
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CONTINUE READINGOmnibus Public Land Management Act Signed Into Law
The Omnibus Public Land Management Act of 2009, which I discussed in this post a couple of weeks ago, passed both houses of Congress and was signed into law by President Obama earlier this week. A transcript of the President’s remarks on the new law is here, courtesy of the New York Times. The prior version of this …
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CONTINUE READINGThe NY Times’ New Climate Skeptic
Last Sunday’s New York Times Magazine story about climate skeptic Freeman Dyson has me worried. For those readers who missed it, the profile is a largely favorable piece about Institute for Advanced Study scholar Dyson, best known for helping unite qunatum and electrodynamic theory and for his belief that nuclear weapons are the world’s greatest evil. Dyson …
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CONTINUE READINGWhen Will Congress Act? Our Poll Results
During Obama’s second year in office 43% During Obama’s third or fouth year 29% During Obama’s first year in office 20% Never 6% After the 2012 elections 1 3%
CONTINUE READINGWhen Will Congress Act on Climate Change?
I hear a lot of different answers to that question, ranging from “soon” to “never.” I thought it would be interesting to see what our readers think about this. [polldaddy poll=1457402]
CONTINUE READINGAnother one bites the dust (RIP Cannon nomination)
Ann touted the nomination of Jon Cannon to be EPA Deputy Administrator here as “a great appointment,” but last week he became the most recent Obama nominee to fall. Here’s the WSJ coverage. His withdrawal is being met with real sadness in many quarters. At a conference of public and private bar environmental lawyers in Los Angeles on Friday, Cecilia Estolano, CEO of the LA Community …
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CONTINUE READINGLubchenco on scientific integrity
Shortly after her confirmation as NOAA administrator, Jane Lubchenco sat for an interview (subscription required) with Science and Nature. Asked about her priorities, she listed science at the top (others include ending overfishing, getting NOAA’s satellite program back on track, establishing a National Climate Service, and protecting and restoring ocean ecosystems). When pressed to expand …
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CONTINUE READINGAction on Nano-regulation Likely in California This Year
On March 19, the California Department of Toxic Substances Control (DTSC) hosted its third symposium on nanotechnology. The symposium featured speakers from industry, government, the NGO community, and academia and focused upon potential regulatory approaches for dealing with health and environmental effects of nanotechnology. In his remarks, Assemblyperson Mike Feuer announced his intent to introduce …
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CONTINUE READINGThe US Chamber of Commerce on Carbon Regulation: Sub-zero stupid
Holly referenced the Chamber of Commerce’s hysterical claim that regulating carbon dioxide would stop all the infrastructure projects in the stimulus. Not only is that not true, but it might in fact be exactly the opposite. The reason is pretty straightforward: to the extent that the government places caps on carbon dioxide, such a policy …
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