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Climate Alarmists Want to Rebrand " Climate Change " to Something More Panic Inducing First , it was " global warming " and/or " global cooling . " Then when they figured out that they could n't accurately predict which way it was going to go , they settled on " climate change . " Apparently , that phrase just does n't have the oomph it once did , and the church of climate change wants to rebrand their apocalypse to make people far more scared and subsequently , obedient . An article by Aaron Hall in AdAge asked the question of whether or not people will be more apt to fall in line with the climate alarmists if they take out the neutral - sounding " climate change " and replace it with something you might hear Chicken Little screaming : Scientific terms often fail to resonate in meaningful ways . In the early 1900s , for example , no one had heard of the " hypothesis of the primeval atom . " That changed in the 1940s when the term " Big Bang " was coined , which was a simpler , more relatable concept for the masses . This complex scientific concept is extremely well - known today because a better , more tangible term was applied to it . Can we use lessons from the naming of the Big Bang to rebrand " climate change ? " Interestingly , Hall notes that politicians liked " global warming " because it sounded dynamic and scary , but since it was " too easy to poke holes in " they decided to move on to climate change . People began joking about wanting global warming whenever it got too cold outside and the politicians , much like the devil himself , ca n't stand it when people laugh at them . Hall , being a " professional namer , " wondered allowed about whether or not people would take the church of climate change more seriously if he renamed it to sound scarier . He said that the new name needs to appeal to people who are unscientific to help them understand the severity of the problem and " inspire them to make more eco - friendly life choices and pro - climate choices at the ballot box . " In other words , it needs to scare people into voting Democrat . What did his team of global namers come up with ? A bunch of names that sound like bad B - Movie titles . These options are subtle brand shifts from " global warming , " yet they deliver a more negative image . The names signal that ice caps are melting , but also create a more visceral image in the mind — that real feeling of " melting " when it 's too hot outside . A meltdown is a disastrous event that draws from the ultimate terror of a nuclear meltdown , an apt metaphor for global destruction . In naming , we call metaphorical names " suggestive names , " and they are one of the most popular types of names . Good brand names instill a clear message or even a direct call to action . Perhaps that 's why climate change is n't powerful enough : " Change " sounds so neutral . However , there 's nothing neutral about collapse or chaos . Both are states of events that you absolutely want to avoid . They ask each of us to do what it takes to avoid collapsing or descending into chaos . They both also use alliteration — using the same letter or sound at the beginning of connected words — a naming trick proven to enhance memorability . Arresting brand names often capitalize on vivid visual associations . They refer to a tipping point that we 're catapulting toward and must find a way to avert . Because a boiling point is the point at which liquid vaporizes , it brings forth imagery of rivers , lakes and oceans boiling and disappearing . " Melting Point " paints a clear picture of solid matter melting . As glaciers melt and disappear , so does our way of life . It 's time to take the gloves off and stop pretending . Sometimes a brand name needs to be hyperbolic to truly capture hearts and minds . If we do n't take massive action now , Earth will be uninhabitable — an irreversible barren wasteland . Plants and animals will die . Humans wo n't be able to survive extreme weather like floods , droughts and fires . If we do n't change , we wo n't even be able to spend time outside . " Scorched Earth " paints the direst picture of what 's to come and what we must avoid and is likely the edgiest brand name from our exploration . Those were just the winners . Hall gives an honorable mention to these as well : Emission Critical : Focuses on the action we need to take : reducing emissions . Pre - Extinction : Powerful and suggests another mass extinction is imminent if we do not change our ways today . The Great Collapse : The collapse of ecosystems , economies and our way of life . Earthshattering : Creatively arresting — the complete destruction of the Earth as we know it . What 's the takeaway from all this ? Not that climate change is going to end the world . It 's not . No real scientific data points to that fact . The takeaway here is that there are actually people out there trying to worry you into obedience and support for a leftist agenda , and in order to do that they 're willing to play with your brain by changing up the words they use . As you see above , Hall even admits that they 're willing to get hyperbolic in order to make you scared .
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Delingpole : Aussie ex - PM Abbott Slams Climate Change ' Religion ' Some of us knew this already . But you rarely hear it so trenchantly expressed by a former world leader – as it was in London yesterday by Aussie ex - Prime Minister Tony Abbott in a hard - hitting , must - read speech for the Global Warming Policy Foundation . Abbott is one of only a handful of world leaders to have spoken out against the global warming " consensus . " ( The only other ones , recently , are former Czech president Václav Klaus and , of course , President Donald Trump ) . This gives you an idea of just how badly infected are the nations of the free world by the green virus . Even those politicians who might nurture doubts in private almost never express them in public . Abbott himself lost his job as Australia 's prime minister at least in part because he was found guilty of wrongthink on climate change , which he once famously described as " crap " . The man who replaced him as prime minister , Malcolm Turnbull – unfondly known as the " Honourable Member for Goldman Sachs " – is himself a leading tentacle of the Green Blob . Abbott 's speech – which is causing Australia 's notoriously left - wing media to explode like ripe watermelons struck by hollow - point bullets – ought to serve as a painful reminder to Australia 's Liberal party of the talent they lost when they decided to knife this Jesuit - trained , Oxford - educated , rock - solid , family man conservative in the back and replace him with the slippery Davos - style globalist Turnbull . Here are some of the highlights : Climate change is a product of ignorance and an anti - Christian society . If science was all about " consensus " we 'd still be living in caves . Greens want to make life nasty , brutish and short . Where 's the evidence for climate catastrophe ? There 's NONE in Australia , that 's for sure ... Contrary to the breathless assertions that climate change is behind every weather event , in Australia , the floods are not bigger , the bushfires are not worse , the droughts are not deeper or longer , and the cyclones are not more severe than they were in the 1800s . Sometimes , they do more damage but that 's because there 's more to destroy , not because their intensity has increased . More than 100 years of photography at Manly Beach in my electorate does not suggest that sea levels have risen despite frequent reports from climate alarmists that this is imminent .... But there 's plenty of evidence that green lunacy is killing the Australian economy . Renewables have more to do with virtue - signalling than with useful energy . There 's a reason renewable energy is crap and it 's so simple even lefties and greens should be able to understand it . Hydro aside , renewable energy should properly be referred to as intermittent and unreliable power . When the wind does n't blow and the sun does n't shine , the power does n't flow . Wind and solar power are like sailing ships ; cheaper than powered boats , to be sure , but we 've stopped using sail for transport because it could n't be trusted to turn up on time . Because the weather is unpredictable , you never really know when renewable power is going to work . Its marginal cost is low but so is its reliability , so in the absence of industrial scale batteries , it always needs matching capacity from dependable coal , gas , hydro , or nuclear energy . This should always have been obvious . We think we 're rational but where green policy is concerned we 're little better than the Aztecs . Oh and by the way , the way we 're carrying on Western Civilization is on its way out ...
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Italy declares state of emergency in Venice after flood ... Much of Venice was left under water this week after the highest tide in 50 years ripped through the historic Italian city ( AFP Photo / Filippo MONTEFORTE ) Venice ( AFP ) - Italy on Thursday declared a state of emergency for Venice after an exceptional tide surged through churches , shops and homes , causing millions of euros worth of damage to the UNESCO city . Prime Minister Giuseppe Conte said the cabinet had approved the state of emergency and ordered the immediate release of 20 million euros ( $ 22 million ) in funds for " the most urgent interventions " in the devastated city after Tuesday 's flooding . Despite the emergency , tourists larked around in the flooded St Mark 's Square in the sunshine , snapping selfies in their neon plastic boots and taking advantage of a respite in bad weather which has driven the high tides . Sirens warning of fresh flooding rang through the canal city early Thursday but the water level remained low compared to Tuesday 's tide , the highest in 50 years . Conte , who has called the flooding " a blow to the heart of our country " , met Venice 's mayor and emergency services before jumping in a speed boat to visit businesses and locals affected by the tide . Residents whose houses had been hit would immediately get up to 5,000 euros in government aid , while restaurant and shop owners could receive up to 20,000 euros and apply for more later , he said . Several museums remained closed to the public on Thursday . As authorities assessed the extent of the damage to Venice 's cultural treasures , such as St Mark 's Basilica where water invaded the crypt , locals were defiant . Many stopped for their habitual coffees at flooded bars , drinking their espresso while standing in several inches of water . Austrian tourist Cornelia Litschauer , 28 , said she felt mixed emotions seeing Venice 's famous square half submerged . " For the tourists it 's amazing , it 's something to see . But for the people who live here it 's a real problem , " Litschauer said , cradling her white Chihuahua Pablo . " It 's strange . Tourists are taking pictures but the city is suffering . " The Locanda Al Leon hotel said its bookings had suffered from the international media coverage of the flood , with some guests cancelling their rooms after seeing images of Venice underwater . Under the arches of the Ducal Palace , a couple from Hong Kong posed for photos in the chilly morning sun . " This ( trip ) was planned a long time ago so we could n't change it , " groom Jay Wong , 34 , said . " Actually this is a good experience . It 's an adventure . " Tuesday 's " acqua alta , " or high waters , submerged around 80 percent of the city , officials said . Only once since records began in 1923 has the water crept even higher , reaching 1.94 metres in 1966 . Former Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi arrived for a private tour of the damage sustained to the basilica , while rival leader of the Italian right Matteo Salvini was due to drop by for the same on Friday . French tourist Manon Gaudre , 22 , said seeing Venice submerged was a " unique experience " . " The damage it 's causing to monuments and the people is worrying , " she said , wondering if climate change was to blame . Many , including Venice 's mayor , have blamed the disaster on global warming and warned that Italy -- a country prone to natural disasters -- must wake up to the risks posed by ever more volatile seasons . " We need to be resilient and adapt . We need a policy that looks at the climate through completely different eyes , " Environment Minister Sergio Costa said Thursday . Mayor Luigi Brugnaro has estimated the damage to Venice at hundreds of millions of euros . The Serenissima , as the floating city is called , is home to a mere 50,000 residents but receives 36 million global visitors each year . A massive infrastructure project called MOSE has been under way since 2003 to protect the city , but it has been plagued by cost overruns , corruption scandals and delays . " This engineering solution that will end up costing nearly six billion euros has got to work , " Transport Minister Paola De Micheli said . The plan involves 78 gates that can be raised to protect Venice 's lagoon during high tides -- but a recent attempt to test part of it caused worrying vibrations and engineers discovered it had rusted .
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The kids suing the government over climate change want to halt fossil fuel extraction The attorneys representing young people who are suing the federal government in a major climate change lawsuit recently took the unusual step of filing an injunction to stop all new leases for fossil fuel production . If the injunction is granted , it would lead to a nationwide moratorium on new fossil fuel permitting and leasing on federal lands and waters until the lawsuit is resolved . No small matter . However , existing mining and drilling projects would still proceed . The Juliana v. United States lawsuit , filed by 21 young plaintiffs , is currently going through pre - trial appeals at the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals . The suit alleges that not only did the federal government fail to act to limit climate change , it profited off of selling coal , oil , and gas rights . The government encouraged mining and drilling while knowing full well the hazards caused by burning these fuels , namely climate change . In so doing , the government has deprived the plaintiffs — the youngest is 11 years old — the right to a safe and stable climate system . The lawsuit was first filed in 2015 but has proceeded in starts and stops . At one point , the Supreme Court stepped in to pause the case days before the trial before allowing it to go ahead . An appeals court has now stepped in to consider the government 's motion to dismiss the case . Then on February 7 , the plaintiffs filed their injunction against new fossil fuel extraction on government territory . Philip Gregory , one of the lead attorneys representing the children filing suit , explained that the injunction request is meant to address the urgency of limiting climate change by reducing emissions from fossil fuels immediately . With the case currently tied up in appeals , the plaintiffs wanted to make sure the current state of affairs with respect to climate change does n't get worse as the wheels of justice slowly turn . " We would have preferred to go to trial , submit our extensive evidence , and have the judge require the defendants to come up with a plan , a national climate recovery plan , for how they 're going to go about doing this , " Gregory said . As Gregory and the other attorneys for the children wrote in their injunction request , " This injunction is urgently needed because , despite long - standing knowledge of the resulting destruction to our Nation and the profound harm to these young Plaintiffs , Defendants ' ongoing development of the fossil fuel - based energy system is actively harming Plaintiffs and jeopardizing Plaintiffs ' ability to obtain the full remedy in their case . " Numerous experts including retired Navy Vice Admiral Lee Gunn , economist Joseph Stiglitz , and climate scientist Eric Rignot have also filed amicus briefs supporting the injunction against new federal fossil fuel development . In response , the federal government argued this week that the injunction maneuver is a ploy to bypass proper legal proceedings . " Indeed , Plaintiffs by their present motion are essentially making a bid in this Court for a substitute mini - trial or ' trial lite ' — which is premature until the pure issues of law now being briefed in this interlocutory appeal are appropriately resolved as a threshold matter , " wrote attorneys for the US Department of Justice . They described the injunction request as an " ambitious attempt to throttle important government functions superintending broad swaths of the national economy . " The government also noted that the Juliana lawsuit was filed more than three years ago but the plaintiffs had n't asked to block fossil fuel leasing until now , which undermines the plaintiffs ' argument that without immediate action , they would suffer irreparable harm . However , Gregory noted that the government did n't object to any of the evidence presented in the plaintiff 's injunction request , nor did it present any new evidence for its request to deny the request . " Because there is no contrary evidence , then we are very optimistic that this injunction will go through , " Gregory said . The Juliana v. United States is just one of more than a dozen climate change lawsuits underway in the US right now . Besides suing the government , several counties and cities are seeking damages from coal , oil , and gas companies for contributing to climate change , which in turn is posing a public nuisance to these jurisdictions . Legal experts say that these lawsuits are long shots and they 're testing the limits of what existing jurisprudence covers . But if they succeed , they could set critical precedents , lead to billion - dollar payouts , and radically reshape the effort to limit global warming .
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Trump 's Environmental Protection Agency chief says climate is not a top priority ( Reuters ) – The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency will unveil a proposal to speed state - level permitting decisions for energy infrastructure projects soon , the agency 's chief told Reuters on Thursday , blasting states that have blocked coal terminals and gas pipelines on environmental grounds . President Donald Trump is seeking to boost domestic fossil fuels production over the objections of Democrats and environmentalists concerned about pollution and climate change . On Wednesday he issued a pair of executive orders targeting the power of states to delay energy projects . " We started working on it in advance , so we hope to have something out soon , " EPA Administrator Andrew Wheeler said in an interview . He was unable to provide a precise timeline . Based on Trump 's orders , Wheeler 's EPA has been tasked with clarifying a section of the U.S. Clean Water Act that has allowed states like New York and Washington to delay projects in recent years . New York has used the section to delay pipelines that would bring natural gas to New England , for example , and Washington state has stopped coal export terminals that would open the Asian market for struggling coal companies in Wyoming and other landlocked western states . " They are trying to make international environmental policy , " Wheeler said of Washington state , whose governor , Democrat Jay Inslee , is running for president on a climate change - focused platform . " They 're trying to dictate to the world how much coal is used . " Wheeler said New York , which amid strong public pressure denied a clean water act permit for construction of a natural gas pipeline to New England , is forcing that region " to use Russian - produced natural gas . " We are importing Russian natural gas which is not produced in an environmentally conscious manner . If the states that are blocking the pipelines were truly concerned about the environment , they would look to where the natural gas would be coming from ... I think it 's very short - sighted , " he said . Wheeler said the EPA would not prevent a state from vetoing a project , but would clarify the parameters they should be able to consider , and the length of time they have to do so . He also said that California is playing politics in its fight with the EPA to preserve its more stringent vehicle emission standards as the national standard . Wheeler said he believes climate change is a problem , but that it had been overblown by former President Barack Obama 's administration – at the expense of other bigger issues like water quality . " Yes , climate is an issue and we are working to address it , but I think water is a bigger issue , " he said . Wheeler dismissed the findings of a report released earlier this week by EPA scientists in the journal Nature Climate Change that detailed the scale and urgency of climate change . He said while he encouraged EPA scientists to carry out and publish research , he stressed the recent paper " did not reflect EPA policy . " Environmental groups say the EPA 's replacement of an Obama - era rule limiting carbon emissions from power plants would likely lead to increased emissions by allowing older , more polluting coal plants to operate longer . Asked whether the replacement – the Affordable Clean Energy rule , which gives states responsibility for regulating emissions – is stringent enough , Wheeler said it adheres to the parameters of federal law . " think what is effective regulation is one that follows the law and one that will be held up in court , " he said . Several Democrats challenging Trump in the 2020 election have made climate change a top - tier issue , embracing aggressive policy platforms like the Green New Deal calling for an end of fossil fuels use . Asked whether he was concerned that the EPA may be out of synch with polls showing an overwhelming number of young people believe climate change should be a priority issue , Wheeler was dismissive . " do fear that because so many people only talked about climate change . You 're right , there could very well be a new generation coming up saying that 's the only environmental issue – and it 's not , " he said .
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William Happer , Lover Of Carbon Dioxide , To Exit Trump Administration William Happer , the White House 's most veteran climate change denier who tried unsuccessfully to establish an ad hoc panel to challenge near - universally accepted climate science , is leaving the Trump administration , according to reports from E&E News and Bloomberg . A retired Princeton physics professor with no expertise in climatology , Happer has served as President Donald Trump 's deputy assistant for emerging technologies on the National Security Council since September 2018 . He has long argued that the planet and humans benefit from increased carbon dioxide emissions . He has called climate science a " cult , " claimed Earth is in the midst of a " CO2 famine , " and said the " demonization of carbon dioxide is just like the demonization of the poor Jews under Hitler . " Earlier this year , Trump tapped Happer to lead a panel of fringe researchers tasked specifically with conducting " adversarial scientific peer review " of climate science ― part of the administration 's relentless effort to discredit and downplay the ongoing crisis . The White House ultimately scrapped the plan , as E&E News reported in July . News of Happer 's departure comes one day after the resignation of his boss , national security adviser John Bolton . It was Bolton who recruited Happer to the National Security Council and backed his effort to create an anti - science panel , according to The New York Times . The CO2 Coalition , a right - wing think tank that Happer co - founded and that argues Earth benefits from humans pumping carbon dioxide into the atmosphere , confirmed his upcoming resignation in a Tuesday post to its website and praised him for his efforts . " While your proposed review of alarmist analyses and projections has been delayed , we believe your work in calling attention to the problem of unscientific climate alarmism has reduced the chances of the dramatic increases in energy prices that would arise from the banning of fossil fuels that some have proposed , " Patrick Moore and Caleb Rossiter , two representatives of the CO2 Coalition , wrote in a joint statement . The CO2 Coalition is one of several think tanks that peddle misinformation about climate change and receive funding from the Mercer family , the billionaire megadonors who gave more than $ 15 million to Trump 's 2016 campaign .
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Joe Biden Promises Environmentalist : ' Look into My Eyes ; I Guarantee You , We Are Going to End Fossil Fuel ' Biden took questions from a group in New Castle , New Hampshire , Friday . One woman associated with the environmental group 350 New Hampshire Action , Rebecca Beaulieu , asked Biden how voters can trust him if he continues to associate himself with fossil fuel executives . " How can we trust that you 're going to act on climate — on the climate crisis — if you 're still attending fundraisers that fossil fuel executives are attending ? " Beaulieu asked , according to the Daily Mail . Video shows Biden walking over to the woman , taking her hand , and making a solemn promise to " end fossil fuel ... before 2050 , God willing . " Kiddo , I want you to just take a look . I want you to look into my eyes , " Biden began . " guarantee you , I guarantee you , we are going to end fossil fuel , and I am not going to cooperate with them . Before 2050 , God willing , " Biden continued , adding that 2030 is not a realistic goal : No it ca n't be done by 2030 . No , not one single person is arguing it can be done by that . But it can be done by 2050 . Maybe 2045 ? And is the science increases , we may be able to move more quickly . But we have to we can fundamentally change things in the next 10 years , though , so that we set a path ? I promise you , I promise you . OK . Beaulieu , 24 , said she " was n't expecting " that kind of response from Biden and described it as " patronizing . " Just a little patronizing , because I want to be an adult at the table when it comes to conversations about climate , and what we 're going to do about it , and I do n't want to be like someone who 's sitting on the sidelines waiting for other people to act , " she said , according to the Daily Mail . " ' m also like actively doing something to try to combat this climate crisis as it stands . Being called a kid is a little patronizing when I 'm trying to do so much work , " she added . She also said she was unsatisfied with Biden 's refusal to bend his 2050 goal . " But I hope that he takes the climate crisis as seriously as he tried to make it seem and that if he 's going to keep moving forward with his plans , he needs to reevaluate because 2050 is too late , " she said . Biden recently came under fire for attending a fundraiser hosted by Andrew Goldman , a founder of the natural gas company Western LNG . The former vice president dismissed concerns , telling viewers of CNN 's climate change town hall Wednesday that Goldman is " not a fossil fuel executive . " He is not a fossil fuel executive , " Biden said . " And the fact of the matter is that — what we talk about is , what are we going to do about those corporations ? What have we done ? " " And everywhere along the way — for example , I 've argued and pushed for us suing those executives who are engaged in pollution , those companies engaged in pollution , " he added . " I 've never walked away from that . "
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Elizabeth Warren Promises Day One Executive Order on Fossil Fuel Leases , Pledges to Ban Fracking Warren promised in a tweet Friday to " sign an executive order that puts a total moratorium on all new fossil fuel leases for drilling offshore and on public lands " and vowed to " ban fracking — everywhere":Warren 's pledge to ban fracking follows Sen. Bernie Sanders ' ( I - VT ) call , urging fellow Democrat candidates to support a " fracking ban on public and private lands . " Fracking is a danger to our water supply . It 's a danger to the air we breathe . It causes earthquakes . It 's highly explosive . Safe fracking is , like clean coal , pure fiction , " Sanders said in a statement Wednesday . " But , most importantly , methane from natural gas contributes to climate change and is setting us on a path to disaster , " he added . " When we are in the White House , we will end the era of fossil fuels , and that includes fracking":Ten Democrat candidates participated in CNN 's seven - hour climate change town hall Wednesday , and many signaled support for the implementation of a carbon tax as well as plastic straw bans , actions on meat consumption , and the end of fracking . " There 's no question I 'm in favor of banning fracking , " Sen. Kamala Harris ( D - CA ) said during the town hall . " Starting with what we can do on day one around public lands and then there has to be legislation , but yes . This is something I 've taken on in California , I have a history of working on this issue , " she added . Sen. Cory Booker ( D - NJ ) said he would ban fracking " right away on public lands . " Warren released her comprehensive climate change proposal — inspired by Gov. Jay Inslee ( D ) — ahead of CNN 's town hall . It called for the decarbonization of the economy and 100 percent clean energy over the next decade . While Warren did not go as far as Sanders in calling for the complete public ownership of utilities , she said she will tell companies that use carbon - based fuel that they are " done " by 2035 . " ' m perfectly willing to take on giant corporations . I think I 've been known to do that once or twice . But for me , I think the way we get there is we just say , ' sorry guys , but by 2035 , you 're done , ' " she said during CNN 's town hall .
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This Obama - Era UN - EPA Agreement Has To Go As the Trump White House continues its cleanup of the mess — foreign and domestic — left behind by the Obama administration , it should toss out a little - noticed document that entangles the U.S. in some of the worst schemes ever cooked up by U.N. bureaucrats and their cronies in the global environmental movement . On September 16 , 2016 , the Obama EPA entered into a memorandum of understanding ( MOU ) with the United Nations Environmental Programme ( UNEP ) . Concluded just a few weeks before the 2016 presidential election , the MOU bears the signature for the U.S. of then - EPA Administrator Gina McCarthy . In the document , UNEP and the Obama EPA vow to " consolidate , further develop and intensify their cooperation and effectiveness to achieve their common goals and objectives in the field of the environment . " And therein lies the problem . For the " common goals and objectives " shared by the U.N. body and the Obama administration are specifically crafted to hamstring American fossil - fuel energy development , promote an assortment of politically fashionable , but otherwise uncompetitive , green technologies and products , and perpetuate the deplorable living conditions in the world 's poorest countries . An Instrument of the Paris Climate Accord . The document was signed nine months after the adoption of the U.N.-sponsored Paris climate accord , and the wording of the MOU leaves little doubt that it was seen as an instrument to underscore America 's commitment to curtail its production and use of energy in the name of combatting climate change . Thus , UNEP and the Obama EPA agreed to " cooperate on responses to climate change , " including mitigating greenhouse gas emissions , reducing short - lived climate forcers and supporting adaptation and resilience to climate change . Taking these and similar steps , the MOU says , will enable the advance " toward green economies and resource - efficient societies through collaborative activities to promote and support sustainable consumption and production . " In truth , " green economies " are those with taxpayer - subsidized and government - mandated renewable energy ( primarily wind and solar ) . And what constitutes " sustainable consumption and production " is in the eyes of the beholding bureaucrat , empowered either by the administrative regulatory state or by legislation adopted at the behest of deep - pocketed special interests . All of this is to be pursued through jointly held symposia , seminars , workshops , study tours , collaborative research and development projects , exchanges and training programs and other forms of cooperation that strengthen the bonds between UNEP and the U.S. Under the MOU , each side is to name a " Senior Coordinator " to oversee the holding of " regular joint meetings on matters of common interest . " To make sure the two sides stay in touch , " such meetings are to take place at least once every six months in accordance with an agenda approved by them in advance of every meeting . " The outfit the Obama administration teamed up within the MOU , UNEP , was founded in 1972 by wealthy Canadian businessman Maurice Strong ; it is headquartered in Nairobi , Kenya and has an office conveniently located in Washington , D.C. Strong ( 1929–2015 ) was Under - Secretary - General of the U.N. when he founded UNEP and was an early advocate for combatting what he said was human - induced climate change , then known as global warming . In keeping with Strong 's vision , UNEP has worked closely with the Bonn - based United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change ( UNFCCC ) . For its part , UNFCCC has enthusiastically spread climate alarmism and gone to extraordinary lengths to deny the residents of the world 's poorest access to reliable and affordable electricity and transportation fuel , thereby perpetuating their poverty . Given UNEP 's pedigree and the Obama administration 's unbridled hostility to fossil fuels , President Trump should scrap the UNEP - EPA MOU . Trump and EPA Administrator Scott Pruitt inherited the MOU from their predecessors and are under no obligation to adhere to its content . The White House has already withdrawn from the Paris climate accord , and President Trump chose to skip the climate - change session at the recent G7 meeting in Quebec . Continued fealty to the Obama - era MOU runs counter to the president 's goal of American global energy dominance , which is anchored to our abundance of oil , natural gas , and coal . The ties that bound the UN and the Obama administration should not be allowed to constrain the choices of everyday Americans . Even if the MOU is " non - binding , " so , too , are the commitments all parties agreed to under the Paris climate accord . But recognizing the threat the Paris accord posed to U.S. energy security , the Trump White House wisely walked away from it . The UNEP - EPA memorandum is little more than an implementation tool of the Paris agreement and should suffer the same fate . Both are part of what is , at its core , a decidedly anti - American agenda . Bonner R. Cohen , Ph . D , is a senior policy analyst with the Committee for a Constructive Tomorrow ( CFACT ) . The views and opinions expressed in this commentary are those of the author and do not reflect the official position of The Daily Caller .
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Beto Compares Green New Deal to Defeating Nazis , Overcoming Great Depression At a town hall event in Ames , Iowa Wednesday , Democrat candidate for president Beto O'Rourke , compared the Green New Deal to defeating the Nazis and surviving the Great Depression . Why is it that Democrats , clearly lacking in any context of what World War II and living in the greatest generation were like , enjoy comparing these things to mundane policy initiatives ? Addressing the Green New Deal , O'Rourke summoned his followers to harness the " the most ingenious mechanism yet devised by humankind " to " free ourselves from a dependence on fossil fuels . " The mechanism Robert Francis is referring to is a democracy . Meanwhile , what comes out of Beto 's mouth next is not , in fact , ingenious . " It 's exactly what we did to face the Nazi threat , the existential threat to Western democracies in 1941 , " he said . " Exactly what we did to lift millions out of the Great Depression and build the largest middle class the world had yet seen . " And is exactly what we need to do now to free ourselves from a dependence on fossil fuels , greenhouse gas emissions , invest in the jobs and technologies of renewable energy that will allow us to meet our obligation and allow this country once again to claim its status as the indispensable nation . " It 's hard not to look at this hyperactive Gen X - er and think this is exactly what the far left has become – a group that has rarely experienced hardship in their lifetime because of the greatest generation , comparing everything they find upsetting to the greatest generation . Beto likes his World War II comparisons so much that he mentions it time and again when discussing the threat of global warming . Sure , every time he mentions it O'Rourke is mocked relentlessly by those outside of his little campaign crowds . But he does n't care , because , in his mind , it 's real . How else to explain last months comments that environmental activists are just like " those who were on the beaches in Normandy . " When you think about leadership , those who preceded us — those who were on the beaches in Normandy , those who faced an existential threat to Western democracy and our way of life , they showed us the way , " he said referencing a plan to fight climate change . " his is the final chance , " he added , echoing Rep. Alexandria Ocasio - Cortez ' warning that the world will end due to climate change . " The scientists are unanimous on this . We have no more than 12 years to take incredibly bold action on this crisis . " Every time I watch this guy speak , I think of the UPS Guy from Mad TV . How does a man who , under normal circumstances would be working as a barista in the local coffee shop , dole out knowledge of experience on World War II to a Democrat party who eagerly laps it up ? How did the resistance get to this point ? It 's embarrassing .
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How Trump is letting polluters off the hook , in one chart In his first year as head of the Environmental Protection Agency , Scott Pruitt has made a huge mark , shrinking his agency and repealing as many Obama - era environmental regulations as possible . And as I pointed out last month in this feature story , he 's also overseen a drastic slowdown in the day - to - day work of the agency . Key offices remain vacant and the implementation of new environmental rules has stalled , effectively throttling the agency . But one of EPA 's most important jobs is to enforce civil penalties for companies that breach limits for hazardous chemicals like sulfur dioxide and hydrochloric acid . And one new measure of Pruitt 's foot - dragging that 's just emerged is how much money EPA has been collecting from polluters lately . According to a new report from the Environmental Integrity Project , a watchdog group that advocates for enforcement of environmental laws , the amount of fines collected by Trump 's EPA has plummeted compared to the agency under the past three presidents in their first year in office . Check out this chart : The fines come from consent decrees , a type of legal settlement where a party has to take a specific action but does not have to admit fault or liability . The consent decrees here involve violations of federal environmental laws like the Clean Air Act and the Clean Water Act . ( This tally does n't include penalties from EPA 's Superfund program , criminal cases , or the administrative actions that EPA takes to resolve smaller violations.)The number of civil cases filed by the EPA to collect these fines in the first place has also declined . In President Clinton 's first year , there were 73 ; under Bush , 112 ; under Obama , 71 . In 2017 , there were just 48 cases . What this means is that the EPA is not going after polluters like it used to . " Less enforcement does n't mean there are n't a whole lot of violations that are out there , " said Eric Schaeffer , executive director of the Environmental Integrity Project , who led the civil enforcement office at the EPA under Presidents Clinton and Bush , in a call with reporters . He noted that many of these civil cases take months to complete , so some of the cases completed under Trump started under Obama . In a consent decree reached with Exxon Mobil last October , the EPA boasted that the company would spend $ 300 million to install pollution controls , but Schaeffer noted that this total includes measures installed as far back as 2013 . And it 's likely enforcement will decline further for ongoing environmental investigations . " Many of those cases will drop out of sight if Congress agrees to cut the agency 's enforcement budget by 17 percent , as President Trump has proposed , " according to the report . " Enforcement matters , especially to the people who live and work next to plants that continue to release more pollution than the law allows . " The EPA did not respond to a request for comment .
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Climate change brings dire consequences to the US , federal report concludes ( CNN ) A new US government report delivers a dire warning about climate change and its devastating impacts , saying the economy could lose hundreds of billions of dollars -- or , in the worst - case scenario , more than 10 % of its GDP -- by the end of the century . The federally mandated study was supposed to come out in December but was released by the Trump administration on Friday , at a time when many Americans are on a long holiday weekend , distracted by family and shopping . " The global average temperature is much higher and is rising more rapidly than anything modern civilization has experienced , and this warming trend can only be explained by human activities , " Easterling said . Coming from the US Global Change Research Program , a team of 13 federal agencies , the Fourth National Climate Assessment was put together with the help of 1,000 people , including 300 leading scientists , roughly half from outside the government . Without significant reductions in greenhouse emissions , the annual average global temperature could increase 9 degrees Fahrenheit ( 5 Celsius ) or more by the end of this century , compared with preindustrial temperatures , the report says . The costs of climate change could reach hundreds of billions of dollars annually , according to the report . The Southeast alone will probably lose over a half a billion labor hours by 2100 due to extreme heat . Farmers will face extremely tough times . The quality and quantity of their crops will decline across the country due to higher temperatures , drought and flooding . In parts of the Midwest , farms will be able to produce less than 75 % of the corn they produce today , and the southern part of the region could lose more than 25 % of its soybean yield . Heat stress could cause average dairy production to fall between 0.60 % and 1.35 % over the next 12 years -- having already cost the industry $ 1.2 billion from heat stress in 2010 . Wildfire seasons -- already longer and more destructive than before -- could burn up to six times more forest area annually by 2050 in parts of the United States . Burned areas in Southwestern California alone could double by 2050 . Dependable and safe water for the Hawaii , the Caribbean and others are threatened by these rising temperatures . Along the US coasts , public infrastructure and $ 1 trillion in national wealth held in real estate are threatened by rising sea levels , flooding and storm surges . Energy systems will be taxed , meaning more blackouts and power failures , and the potential loss in some sectors could reach hundreds of billions of dollars per year by the end of the century , the report said . The number of days over 100 degrees Fahrenheit will multiply ; Chicago , where these days are rare , could start to resemble Phoenix or Las Vegas , with up to two months worth of these scorching - hot days . Sea levels have already gone up 7 to 8 inches since 1900 . Almost half that rise has been since 1993 , a rate of rise greater than during any century in the past 2,800 years . Some countries are already seeing land underwater . By midcentury , it 's likely that the Arctic will lose all sea ice in late summer , and that could lead to more permafrost thaw , according to the report . As the permafrost thaws , more carbon dioxide and methane would be released , amplifying human - induced warming , " possibly significantly . " What can be done ? The report was created to inform policy - makers and makes no specific recommendations on how to remedy the problem . However , it suggests that if the United States immediately reduced its fossil fuel use and greenhouse gas emissions , it could save thousands of lives and generate billions of dollars in benefits for the country . Reactions to the new report have been strong across the scientific community . " In Houston , communities of color have endured back to back major weather events without the acknowledgment from Washington that climate change is the cause . We 've known for years that it 's true and it 's important to our organizing and our local policy efforts that information like this is not only considered , but believed and acted upon . " Scientists who have been raising the alarm about the negative consequences of climate change for years welcomed the findings .
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Global Youth Climate Strike Expected To Draw Large Crowds Spurred by what they see as a sluggish , ineffectual response to the existential threat of global warming , student activists from around the world plan to skip school today for what organizers call a Global Climate Strike . The focus for young activists is the United Nations Climate Action Summit taking place Monday in New York City . The strike 's figurehead is 16 - year - old Swedish activist Greta Thunberg , who traveled from Sweden to New York on an emission - free sailboat . A little over a year ago Thunberg began her school strike for the climate , by herself , outside the Swedish Parliament . Support for a school climate strike has since spread across the globe . In the last year Thunberg has been nominated for the Nobel Peace Prize by Norwegian lawmakers . She 's also met with Pope Francis and lawmakers in several countries . " We are currently on track for a world that could displace billions of people from their homes , " Thunberg warned this week during a speech accepting Amnesty International 's Ambassador of Conscience Award . She ended her acceptance speech with a call to action : " See you on the streets ! " In New York City thousands of students may fill the streets with Thunberg because , as the school district announced on Twitter , it is giving strikers excused absences . In Oregon Portland Public Schools is doing the same . Strikes also are planned in rural areas where just a few dozen protesters are expected . Nicholas DuVernay , 17 , organized a protest in his politically - conservative small town of La Grande , Ore. " Since , probably , the beginning of my junior year in high school I 've been interested in climate science and pretty passionate about environmental topics , " says DuVernay , who plans to study climate science when he attends college next year . A Washington Post - Kaiser Family Foundation poll this week shows a majority of teenagers believe human - caused climate change will cause harm to them . And a quarter of the poll respondents said they have participated in a school walk - out , a rally or contacted a government official on the issue . There have been similar student events in the past year . But this time students are asking adults to join them . At the University of Nevada , Reno , Stallar Lufrano - Jardine , 36 , is setting up an event on campus where she 's an employee and student . " I 'm bothered by the lack of movement to make meaningful advances to solve the climate crisis , " says Lufrano - Jardine . But it 's clear younger people are leading this movement and they say most adults — especially policy - makers — are moving far too slowly . Strike organizers have a list of demands that includes " respect of indigenous land , sustainable agriculture , protecting biodiversity , environmental justice and a just transition away from fossil fuels and towards renewable energy , " said 17 - year - old Baltimore resident and organizer Nadia Nazar . Many of those demands are part of the Green New Deal , which was crafted by progressive Democratic lawmakers but so far has n't gone anywhere in Congress . At a Capitol Hill press event this week Nazar said she hopes the proposal defines her generation . " I am not a part of Generation Z. I am a part of Gen GND — the generation of the Green New Deal , " said Nazar as supporters cheered . Also on Capitol Hill this week , Thunberg and other activists testified before lawmakers . Louisiana Republican Rep. Garret Graves told them climate change has exacerbated the loss of his state 's coastline . " I agree that we need to take aggressive action . I agree that we need to ensure that we move forward in a sustainable , rational manner , " said Graves . But his idea of what that means is very different than the activists ' vision . Graves agrees with President Trump on the need to withdraw from the Paris climate agreement . Graves told the student organizers the pact allows China to continue emitting more carbon dioxide while the U.S. cuts emissions . " Paris and its related pledges would undermine U.S. competitiveness , " his spokesman said . Graves got immediate push - back from the young activists , including 17 - year - old Jamie Margolin from Seattle who asked how Graves will respond to questions from his children and grandchildren about whether he did enough to address climate change . " Can you really look them in the eye and say , ' No , sorry , I could n't do anything because that country over there did n't do anything , so if they 're not going to do it then I 'm not . ' That is shameful and that is cowardly , " Margolin said . Organizers predict this climate strike will be the largest yet . More than 2000 scientists around the world have pledged to join . Some companies also have signed on , including Patagonia and Seventh Generation .
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13 | 245 |
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Young Conservatives Balk at Republicans ' Climate Change Stance , Launch Campaign for Carbon Tax The generation that has grown up with the constant drumbeat of manmade climate change is now shaping public policy , including some young conservatives who have launched a nationwide campaign in support of a carbon tax . The Thomson Reuters Foundation reported on the campaign , which runs counter to the stance of the Republican Party and President Donald Trump that the issue is more about globalization than saving the planet : Drawn from Republican groups on more than two dozen university campuses , the Young Conservatives for Carbon Dividends called for laws to tax oil , natural gas and coal producers of planet - warming greenhouse gases . The taxation plan would make fossil fuels more costly while the resulting revenues would go to taxpayers . " We claim to be the party that cares about the future that our children will inherit , and we need climate policy that reflects that , " said Kiera O'Brien , 21 , a senior at Harvard University who co - founded the group . " We are offering up what we see as the common sense solution and the way forward for the party , " O'Brien said in the Reuters article . The article pointed out that Trump has rejected the climate doomsday scenario and has instead acted to help the U.S. energy sector by slashing regulations and withdrawing the U.S. from the Paris Climate Accord , both policies aimed at helping American workers and the economy . The college Republicans behind the carbon tax campaign said the Party should have , ahead of the 2020 election , a climate change plan in place . Their plan includes an initial $ 40 - a - ton tax on carbon dioxide – a greenhouse gas – at mines , wells , and ports where products are produced . That tax rate would increase over time , according to Reuters . O'Brien said the plan includes a family of four receiving $ 2,000 a year from the carbon tax revenues to help with higher energy costs . The plan " harnesses the power of the free market to solve climate change through innovation , " O'Brien said . " Our plan would provide incentives for companies and individuals to lower emissions in ways they think are best . " The campaign will connect young conservatives with Republican lawmakers around the country to talk about climate policy . At least one older Republican backs the idea . " The key here is the dividend – back to the people , " former Sen. Trent Lott ( R - MS ) , who supports the young group , told the Thomson Reuters Foundation . " It 's not sustainable for Republicans , through the leadership , to say ' We just do n't want to talk about this , ' " Lott said .
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Tom Steyer Vows to ' Declare State of Emergency ' on Climate Crisis Democrat presidential candidate and billionaire Tom Steyer once again vowed to declare a state of emergency over the climate " crisis " America faces during the sixth Democrat presidential debate at Loyola Marymount University in Los Angeles , California . " am hoping , that we , in fact , that we will do what I am suggesting that we do , which is declare a state of emergency on day one of my presidency , " Steyer said in regards to the relocation of families under certain living conditions in America . " believe I am the only person here who will say unequivocally this is my number one priority , " Steyer continued . " I know that we have to deal with this crisis . I know that we have to deal with it from the standpoint of environmental justice . " Steyer then claimed he had previously " taken on oil companies and beaten them on environmental laws " and " pushed clean energy across this country . " He also stated that he had " prevented pipelines and fossil fuel plants . " Steyer then shifted focus to cleaning " up the air and water in the black and brown communities where our pollution is concentrated " and claimed it would create " millions of middle - class union jobs . " Steyer also called on Mayor Pete Buttigieg , another Democrat presidential hopeful , to put more emphasis on climate change , saying the " people in his generation understand that this is a crisis that we have to go on right now " and " reinvent America . " In addition to what he plans to do in regards to climate change , Steyer also stated at a previous Democrat debate that he would " force " American towns to accept new , affordable housing in certain areas .
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Pope Francis Calls for ' Drastic Measures ' to Combat ' Climate Emergency ' In his Message for the World Day of Prayer for the Care of Creation , the pope adopted the apocalyptic language encouraged by climate alarmists to frighten people into taking action . " Too many of us act like tyrants with regard to creation , " he declared . " Let us make an effort to change and to adopt more simple and respectful lifestyles ! " " Now is the time to abandon our dependence on fossil fuels and move , quickly and decisively , towards forms of clean energy and a sustainable and circular economy . Let us also learn to listen to indigenous peoples , whose age - old wisdom can teach us how to live in a better relationship with the environment , " he said . Recent studies have shown that the language of " climate change " and " global warming " do not stir up an emotional reaction in people and so climate alarmists have issued an appeal for the use of more powerful expressions to provoke people to action . Last April , a team of advertising consultants from SPARK Neuro released the results of a study suggesting that worn - out expressions such as " climate change " do not frighten people enough , whereas stronger vocabulary such as " climate crisis " and " environmental collapse " produced a significantly stronger emotional response . The expression " climate crisis , " for instance , got " a 60 percent greater emotional response from listeners " than " climate change , " the study found . In its research , SPARK Neuro measured physiological data such as brain activity and palm sweat to quantify people 's emotional reactions to stimuli . Of six different options , " global warming " and " climate change " performed the worst , beaten handily by " climate crisis , " " environmental destruction , " " weather destabilization , " and " environmental collapse . " The pope has apparently joined the climate alarmists in employing more incendiary language , dropping his former references to climate change to speak of a " climate emergency " and an " environmental crisis " in Sunday 's message . He also underscored the forthcoming United Nations Climate Action Summit as of " particular importance " while proposing that governments will have the responsibility there of showing the political will to take " drastic measures to achieve as quickly as possible zero net greenhouse gas emissions . " Referring specifically to fires in the Amazon region , Francis called on everyone to " take up these opportunities to respond to the cry of the poor and of our earth ! " " Egoism and self - interest have turned creation , a place of encounter and sharing , into an arena of competition and conflict , " he said . " In this way , the environment itself is endangered : something good in God 's eyes has become something to be exploited in human hands . " Deterioration has increased in recent decades : constant pollution , the continued use of fossil fuels , intensive agricultural exploitation and deforestation are causing global temperatures to rise above safe levels , " he said . The pontiff went on to enumerate the effects of climate change : an " increase in the intensity and frequency of extreme weather phenomena , " the " desertification of the soil , " " melting of glaciers , scarcity of water , neglect of water basins and the considerable presence of plastic and microplastics in the oceans . " All of these " testify to the urgent need for interventions that can no longer be postponed , " he warned .
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World 's Leading Greenhouse Gas Emitter China Taps Out of Global Climate Strike Thousands gathered in cities across the globe — including London , Berlin , Tokyo , and Washington , DC — to protest anthropogenic climate change and the purported lack of urgency to address it . However , there was a remarkable lack of participation from individuals in China — the planet 's worst greenhouse gas emitter — minus a protest in Hong Kong . According to the Guardian , " No protests were authorized in China . " However , the China Youth Climate Action Network 's Zheng Xiaowen said that Chinese youth " have their own methods . " We also pay attention to the climate and we are also thinking deeply , interacting , taking action , and so many people are very conscientious on this issue , " she added . Several climate change activists in D.C. decried the U.S. for its role in contributing to climate change despite the fact that the U.S. has made great strides in reducing its carbon output , seeing the " largest decline in CO2 emissions in the world for 9th time this century " in 2017 . The largest increase that year came from China . According to a report released by the Environmental Protection Agency ( EPA ) last year , the U.S. reduced its greenhouse gas output by 2.7 percent during President Trump 's first year in office . " Thanks to President Trump 's regulatory reform agenda , the economy is booming , energy production is surging , and we are reducing greenhouse gas emissions from major industrial sources , " EPA Acting Administrator Andrew Wheeler said at the time . " These achievements flow largely from technological breakthroughs in the private sector , not the heavy hand of government . The Trump Administration has proven that federal regulations are not necessary to drive CO2 reductions , " Wheeler continued . " While many around the world are talking about reducing greenhouse gases , the U.S. continues to deliver , and today 's report is further evidence of our action - oriented approach , " he added . Rep. Adam Kinzinger ( R - IL ) reiterated that point to Greta Thunberg and the other climate kids who testified before the House Committee on Foreign Affairs and Select Committee on the Climate Crisis on Wednesday . " Meanwhile , as the West looks at options to combat climate change , we all know that China 's global emissions continue to rise . For every ton of carbon dioxide reduced by the United States , China adds nearly four times as much , " Kinzinger said . " Today the Chinese account for 30 percent of global emissions . While some may say that the United States needs to be the leader of combating climate change , I would say that we already are , " he continued . " Since 2005 global emissions have increased by 20 percent , but the United States emissions have decreased by more than the next 12 emission - reducing countries combined , " he added . As Breitbart News reported , China is ramping up its coal - powered energy supply " with the total of future projects now standing at 226.2 gigawatts ( GW)":Despite China 's blatant disregard for the calls of climate change alarmists , it has been granted permission to speak at the U.N. international climate summit next week in New York .
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India is drying up . A return of the water wars Chennai is out of water , all 4 reservoirs are dry . More than 8.5 million live in greater Chennai , so it 's about the population of greater San Francisco . An India government think tank predicts that by 2030 , 600 million Indians wo n't have sufficient drinking water . It 's kind of amazing that they did n't see this coming long ago and plan better . And even 2030 would n't help right now , which is what is needed . Rain is the solution , but that 's not exactly a sure thing when you are in the middle of a historic drought . Little that can be done right now , except to keep on hauling water in from wherever they can . Many more will follow , in part , because people consider water to be a gift from God . People of India consume lots of water . If the price of water was higher they would consume less and there would be money available to search for new sources of water . The problem is when people think a resource is free and so plentiful that it can never run out that you get situations where it does run out . Clean water has a value . People should be paying what it costs to create and conserve or store fresh water . Regarding the price of water . Pricing will now have to include the risk of drought . The risk of drought is going up rapidly all over the world . I expect that India will need to invest in sea water desalination . That is n't cheap but whatever it costs , those costs have to be passed on to the consumers . The rain and drought situation in India is grim . Most of the Indian cities , towns and villages are reeling under severe water crisis . A tragedy is unfolding in Maharashtra and a money spinning racket for Tanker owners . Drought in more than forth of Maharashtra . Crores of rupees of the tax - payers money will be used for tankers that will cause incredible pollution in the rural areas .... Creation of many lakes all over the country to catch and store rain water is a primary objective . Water balancing between various rivers , the so called " River Linking " Project is the second alternative . Once water is available in every village , the distribution to houses can be taken up as the third step . Traditional systems perhaps might have to be tweeked a little according to the needs and changing times but there is so much to learn from those who came before us . Village Talab system , is one example . When pond of one village was overflowed , water was released for next village on slopes . Rainwater was harvested at home . In Junagadh , Ahmedabad , Cambay cities . I am not sure whether anyone in Tamil Nadu even knows it had a traditional water harvesting system . Similarly , Odisha 's traditional ' Kutta and Munda ' water harvesting system by an NGO some decades back but I doubt if any university in Odisha is working on it or the State government is trying to revive the dying wisdom . This is true for all other states , barring Karnataka which is trying to bring back the Kalyani water harvesting structures . Reviving traditional water bodies and harvesting systems has been talked for quite sometime but no one seems interested . The largest desalination plant in South Asia is at Chennai , one of two there . It produces 36.5 million cubic meters / year . That 's 9.6 billion US gallons . Israel gets the majority of its drinking water from desalination . It has the world 's largest plant , at Hadera , producing 127 cubic meters from salt water , plus it looks like it has larger plants as well . That 33.5 billion gallons . Chennai has a large desalination plant , and a smaller one . Their policies are insufficient in many ways . Like what is water used for , etc . Regulations on ground water pumping , etc . I do n't know specifics , but do know that if a city this size runs out of water , several people did n't do their jobs . Areas that are dry are becoming drier and those that are wet are getting more rain . But some of them have drier soil due to increased temperatures . The entire region from Syria to Iran has been suffering a drought that has been going on for about 15 years . At some point somebody has to call a spade a spade and accept the fact that the drought is the new normal . Seeding clouds can only bring as much rain as there is water in the atmosphere . Global climate change is , in turn , changing the distribution of where water is accumulating . At the least , we must improve our water distribution systems to mitigate the problem . Seeding is only a short term solution . Build nuclear and desalinate - Although there is no way nuclear can be added fast enough to by itself desalinate drinking water for 600 million by 2030 . And India has n't signed the nuclear non - proliferation treaty . What are the chances India uses geoengineering ? The public : no tests , no international treaties , that will stop it . Geoengineering is cheap and not rocket science . A recent study indicates that almost nowhere will suffer under geoengineering . More studies are needed . The most likely is distributing air pollution in the stratosphere . I doubt that India will concern itself with niceties of international cooperation . Or whichever country leads the way . That 's why there has been a campaign for more than a decade : test and make treaties . But we were busy .
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Trump hedges on climate change denial in wake of Hurricane Michael ; says ' there is something there ' President Trump on Monday once again backed off his previous claim that climate change is a hoax , but would not say whether or not he believed it was a man - made problem . Speaking at a Red Cross center in Georgia , where he was touring areas devastated by last week 's Hurricane Michael , Trump said " there is something there " in response to a question on climate change from a reporter . " There is something there , man - made or not , " the president said , before deflecting to note that there have been previous storms that were much more intense and destructive than the recent slew of hurricanes to hit the Southeast . Trump 's comments come a day after CBS aired an interview on " 60 Minutes " with the president who said he does n't want to put the U.S. at a disadvantage in responding to climate change . " I think something 's happening . Something 's changing and it 'll change back again , " he said . " I do n't think it 's a hoax . I think there 's probably a difference . But I do n't know that it 's man - made . I will say this : I do n't want to give trillions and trillions of dollars . I do n't want to lose millions and millions of jobs . " Trump called climate change a hoax in November 2012 when he sent a tweet stating , " The concept of global warming was created by and for the Chinese in order to make U.S. manufacturing non - competitive . " He later said he was joking about the Chinese connection , but in years since has continued to call global warming a hoax . " I 'm not denying climate change , " he said in the interview . " But it could very well go back . You know , we 're talking about over a ... millions of years . " As far as the climate " changing back , " temperature records kept by NASA and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration show that the world has n't had a cooler - than - average year since 1976 or a cooler - than - normal month since the end of 1985 . Trump 's comments came just days after a Nobel Prize - winning Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change issued a warning that global warming would increase climate - related risks to health , livelihoods , food security , water supply , human security and economic growth . The report detailed how Earth 's weather , health and ecosystems would be in better shape if the world 's leaders could somehow limit future human - caused warming . On Monday , the president said that he had heard of the recent report and that he 'll " have to take a look at it . " Trump added : " I want crystal clear water , I want the cleanest air on the planet . " Citing concerns about the pact 's economic impact , Trump said in 2017 that the U.S. will leave the Paris climate accord . The agreement set voluntary greenhouse gas emission targets in an effort to lessen the impact of fossil fuels . " ' m truly an environmentalist , " he said on Monday in regards to leaving the Paris Agreement . " But that does n't mean we have to put one of our businesses out of business . " The Associated Press contributed to this report .
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Scott Pruitt Continues His Favors for Big Polluters and Puts Our Families at Risk Some of the regular Americans who are paying the price for Scott Pruitt 's leadership were in Washington , DC this week , and I had the honor of spending the day with them and hearing their stories . As we all know , Environmental Protection Agency administrator Scott Pruitt headed to Capitol Hill Thursday , where he was grilled by members of Congress on his many ethical scandals that have been making headlines for weeks . Just two days earlier , people from across the US came to Washington to testify at EPA 's lone public hearing on Pruitt 's proposed rollbacks of protections from toxic coal ash . Their stories of coal ash contamination were heartbreaking - a North Carolina town where neighbors keep getting sick , a community on the Navajo Nation where people drive 15 miles to haul water for livestock . The EPA had finally put very modest coal ash safeguards in place for these communities in 2015 , and now Scott Pruitt is trying to take them away . As I told EPA in my testimony , " Families are looking to EPA to solve the coal ash problem — not abandon them . If you do n't defend these standards , the Sierra Club and our allies will . " One small town Alabama mayor summed up the thoughts of everyone in the room when he faced EPA representatives a simply said , " What are you doing ? Have you lost your mind ? " Pruitt 's maneuver to weaken coal ash standards has sparked grassroots outrage from red states and blue states . He is handing out yet another favor to the corporate polluters who 've been and marching orders since he took over the EPA . Pruitt is weakening the protections so that millionaire utility executives do n't have to pay for affordable , common - sense fixes to America 's mounting coal ash problem . As I heard from scientists and the many families affected who spoke at the hearing earlier this week , coal ash is the primary solid waste product of coal - fired power plants and it contains some of the most dangerous toxic chemicals on earth , like arsenic , lead , mercury , and chromium . The toxins raise the risk for cancer , heart disease , and stroke , and can inflict permanent brain damage on children . It 's estimated that 1.5 million children live near the coal ash storage sites , which are only getting larger with each ton of coal burned . In places like and on the , we 've seen the tragedies that coal ash spills and leaks can cause by devastating communities , contaminating water , and sending people to the hospital . In 2015 , after years of scientific research and public comments , the EPA finalized a set of basic clean water protections from coal ash that were cheap and easy for utilities to implement . These standards required coal - plant owners to do things like line new coal ash dump sites with strong , waterproof materials to make sure the dangerous contents of coal ash did not leach into soil and contaminate groundwater . They also provided local communities with online tools to monitor their groundwater to make sure that toxic heavy metals from nearby coal ash waste sites were not contaminating the water they used for farming , drinking , and cooking . In a cruel irony , Pruitt announced these rollbacks the day after EPA reporting under the new standard revealed dangerous coal ash pollution in more than 70 sites around the country . Everyone deserves clean water free from toxic coal ash , and the profits of utility executives should never be held in higher regard than the health of local communities .. After nearly a year in his position , Pruitt has seemed more concerned with pushing the agenda of wealthy coal executives rather than doing his job to protect the environment and the health of the people who are suffering from the pollution created by coal plants . Nothing better illustrates this than the sweetheart deal Pruitt received from the wife of a dirty energy lobbyist who had business before the EPA . For a mere $ 50 a night , he stayed in a plush , multi - million dollar condo near the United States Capitol . By day , Pruitt was touting his rollback efforts to make it easier for energy companies and utilities to save money by polluting , and by night , he slept peacefully in a bed owned by someone who energy companies and utilities hire to do their bidding on Capitol Hill . As each day goes by and we find out more about Pruitt 's conflicts of interests and revelations about his failed judgement , however , it 's important to remember that his failures have real world impacts on the health of the people he is supposed to be protecting . Real families will be hurt because of his decision to roll back the clean water protections against coal ash , people who ca n't offer him sweetheart deals on luxury housing . TAKE ACTION : Stop the repeal of coal ash safeguards !
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Andrew Cuomo Faces A Big Test On Climate Change . He 's Already Failed Twice . And on Monday , 19 buses carrying more than 1,500 activists from across the state converged on the state capital to protest Cuomo 's failure to do more about climate change in his eight years in office , and make demands that looked identical to Nixon 's platform . It was the largest environmental protest against Cuomo since anti - fracking activists staged demonstrations in 2014 . To some , Cuomo 's status as a climate pariah may be surprising . In 2014 , he put a moratorium on hydraulic fracturing , or fracking , for natural gas in the state . In 2015 , Al Gore joined the governor as he announced plans to cut the state 's greenhouse gases emissions 40 percent by 2030 . Last June , Cuomo loudly rejected President Donald Trump 's move to withdraw the United States from the Paris climate accord , ramping up New York 's pledge to produce half its electricity from renewables by 2030 and forging a new alliance with the governors of Washington and California to stick to the goals agreed to by former President Barack Obama . " Climate change is a reality , and not to address it is gross negligence by government , " said Cuomo , according to a new page on the state website with the banner : " Environment Leadership . " But Cuomo 's policies still fail to meet even the baseline targets scientists say are needed to make a difference on global warming . His reduction targets focus exclusively on power plants , ignoring the majority of the state 's emissions that come from buildings and vehicles . He has no plan to get the state to 100 percent renewable electricity , and has offered little to protect low - income communities and neighborhoods of color that suffer most from the impacts of climate change . The state 's pension funds remain invested in fossil fuels , and polluters face no penalties in the form of fines on climate - linked damage or taxes on emissions . As Nixon gains in the polls and lands magazine covers , Cuomo is scrambling to act on long - neglected progressive demands . Three weeks ago , over coffee and cookies at a Manhattan steakhouse , the governor made a deal to disband the Independent Democratic Conference , known as the IDC . The group of eight breakaway Democrats in the state Senate caucused with Republicans , guaranteeing a conservative majority in the chamber ― now only one holdout , Brooklyn Democrat Simcha Felder , has left Republicans with a flimsy one - vote majority . Cuomo also signed an executive order last week restoring voting rights to felons on parole and voiced support for legalizing recreational marijuana , a policy Nixon made a platform issue in her campaign . On Friday , almost simultaneous to the release of Nixon 's climate platform , Cuomo denied a water quality permit to a new natural gas pipeline environmentalists have protested for months , and announced a new energy efficiency initiative that would account for one - third of the emissions cuts required to meet his 2030 target . But Cuomo 's next big test on climate change is one he has already failed twice . For the third time in as many years , the state assembly is slated to vote this week on the latest version of the New York State Climate and Community Protection Act , known as the CCPA . The bill is widely considered the most ambitious and egalitarian climate legislation introduced anywhere in the nation . Heather McGhee , president of the left - leaning think tank Demos , and the economist Robert Reich called it " the most progressive climate - equity policy we 've seen . " The legislation , first introduced in 2016 , calls for 100 percent renewable energy statewide by 2050 and orders state agencies to draft plans to cut greenhouse gas emissions from power plants , buildings and vehicles . It requires 40 percent of state energy funding to go to the low - income neighborhoods and communities of color most vulnerable to sea level rise and extreme weather , and includes wage standards backed by labor unions for all state - funded green energy projects . If enacted , the bill 's proponents say it would create more than 100,000 jobs . For Assemblyman Steve Englebright , the Long Island Democrat who first introduced the CCPA , the bill is 20 years overdue . The 71 - year - old lawmaker from Setauket , a coastal hamlet on Long Island Sound , started warning about the threat of runaway global warming two decades ago . He has since sponsored several bills to support solar and wind production , at least three of which became laws . In 2016 , he became chairman of the Assembly Committee on Environmental Conservation and moved swiftly to draft and introduce the CCPA . " Tere needs to be some adjustments made in the perception of how important this bill is to bring it into the executive chamber , ready for the governor 's signature , " Englebright said Friday . " If we can get it onto his desk , he 'll have no choice but to sign it . " New Yorkers overwhelmingly support environmental regulations even at an economic cost . Seventy - one percent of New Yorkers support expanding renewable energy generation even if it raises electricity prices , compared to 61 percent nationwide , according to Cooperative Congressional Election Study 's 2016 survey results analyzed for HuffPost by Data for Progress , a left - leaning think tank . That support cuts across demographics , including 75 percent of people aged 18 to 29 and 67 percent of people 65 years and older ; 73 percent of urban dwellers and 67 percent of rural New Yorkers ; and 74 percent of black people and 69 percent of whites . Sixty - seven percent of New Yorkers support strengthening enforcement of clean air and water regulations even if it costs U.S. jobs , compared to 58 percent nationwide . The support breaks down similarly across the state , with 73 percent of people aged 18 to 29 and 61 percent of people 65 and older ; 71 percent of urbanites and 60 percent of rural people ; and 75 percent of black people and 64 percent of whites .
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Environmental groups to sue Trump administration over offshore drilling tests Environmental groups plan to sue the Trump administration over offshore drilling tests , launching a legal fight against a proposal that has drawn bipartisan opposition along the Atlantic Coast , two people with direct knowledge of the pending litigation told The Associated Press . The lawsuit , which aims to stop the issuance of permits for the use of seismic air guns , will be filed by a coalition of environmental groups in federal court in South Carolina on Tuesday , according to the individuals . They spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to speak publicly before the suit is filed . The Trump administration has authorized five such permits , which aim to find oil and gas formations deeply below the Atlantic Ocean floor , from Delaware to central Florida , an area where seismic surveys have n't been conducted in decades . The blasts are conducted in preparation for potential offshore drilling , which the administration has proposed to expand from the Atlantic to the Arctic and Pacific oceans . The five - year plan would open 90 percent of the nation 's offshore reserves to private development . Survey vessels will be required to have observers on board to listen and watch for marine life and alert operators if a protected species comes within a certain distance , officials have said , and acoustic monitoring will be used to detect those animals swimming beneath the ocean surface . Surveys would be shut down when certain sensitive species or groups are observed and penalties could be imposed for vessels that strike marine animals . The precautions are n't enough for environmental groups , who have said the blasts can disturb marine mammals . Industry groups say the surveys have been conducted around the world for decades , with little adverse impact . The drilling issue has created strange political bedfellows along the East Coast , with Democrats and Republicans in some areas united over the issue . In South Carolina 's 1st Congressional District , Republican Katie Arrington — a supporter of President Donald Trump who initially said she stood by his plans to open up Atlantic Coast drilling — later backed off that support amid a growing wave of drilling opposition in the coastal district she aimed to represent . Arrington ultimately lost the general election to Joe Cunningham , a Democrat staunchly opposed to drilling who collected support from coastal Republican mayors . Voters said they had been turned off by what they saw as Arrington 's flip - flop on the issue , and they turned instead to Cunningham 's consistency . On Monday , Cunningham told the AP that he backed the legal effort , which would pair with legislative action he plans to take up in the U.S. House . " I 'm going to go up to D.C. and fight like hell , " Cunningham said . " These lawsuits are one tool in our bag that we 're going to use . " South Carolina Gov. Henry McMaster 's early support of Trump 's candidacy has n't stopped him from opposing the president 's drilling plans . Earlier this year , McMaster was among state executives to request a drilling waiver , seeking the same sort of promise already given to Florida Gov. Rick Scott , another Trump ally . Since then , officials from the Department of the Interior have said Secretary Ryan Zinke 's promise to Florida was not a formal action and will instead be part of the department 's analysis as it completes its plans . In February , McMaster met with Zinke at the Governor 's Mansion in Columbia . This week , McMaster spokesman Brian Symmes told The Associated Press that the governor and the state 's top prosecutor , both Republicans , would continue to work on a plan to keep drilling away from the state . " The governor and Attorney General ( Alan ) Wilson have resolved to continue working together to determine the best path forward , " Symmes said . " Anything and everything is on the table to keep us from seeing seismic testing or offshore drilling off the coast of South Carolina . " State Rep. Nancy Mace , a Republican representing parts of the greater Charleston area , supports the lawsuit , which she called South Carolina 's best option to challenge federal government overreach . " The government does n't get to pick winners and losers in this thing , " Mace said . " When you have every mayor , every community saying , ' We do n't want this , ' and now you 're going to shove seismic testing down our throats ? I do n't think so . " Mace said she is concerned both with potential environmental damage and the possible threat to South Carolina 's $ 20 billion tourism industry , much of which centers around the coast . " We have the potential to destroy that beauty off our coast with rigs that nobody wants , " Mace said . " We 've got to do something , and a lawsuit might be the only way to do it . "
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Joe Biden mocked for claiming to have started the climate change movement ( VIDEO ) Joe Biden has been roundly mocked on Twitter after making the unlikely claim to a young activist appealing for a presidential debate on climate change that he kicked - off the whole global warming movement back in the late 1980s . A young activist from US Youth Climate Strike asked Biden if he would support a presidential climate policy forum organized by the group . Biden interrupted the girl before she was finished , asking , " By the way , did you know I 'm the guy who did all this ? Read ' Real Clear Politics ' – it will tell you about how I started this whole thing back in 1987 – climate change . " Social media users were quick to criticize Biden 's response , with some mocking him for saying he had started climate change , and others pointing out that his 1987 effort did n't really work out so well . Biden has repeatedly boasted of his 80 's climate change concern , telling voters he was the first to introduce a climate bill . In 1987 , Biden delivered a Senate speech warning of the dangers of global warming , and his Global Climate Protection Act called for setting up a task force to plan to tackle the issue . While he is the first to have a climate bill passed , he certainly is n't the first politician to raise the alarm about climate change , let alone have ' started ' the whole thing . Congressman Al Gore held House hearings on climate change in 1976 , and as a senator introduced a resolution calling for a research program into greenhouse gas emissions in 1985 . The following year , Republican Senator John Chafee held Senate climate hearings warning of the " serious problem " and featuring an expert explaining that ' significant ' warming could happen within 5 - 15 years . Biden has been criticized for reportedly planning a ' middle ground ' approach to climate policy that is accused of lacking urgency and not going far enough . Think your friends would be interested ? Share this story !
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Protesters disrupt US panel 's fossil fuels pitch at climate talks A Trump administration presentation extolling the virtues of fossil fuels at the UN climate talks in Poland has been met with guffaws of laughter and chants of " Shame on you " . Monday 's protest came during a panel discussion by the official US delegation , which used its only public appearance to promote the " unapologetic utilisation " of coal , oil and gas . Although these industries are the main source of the carbon emissions that are causing global warming , the speakers boasted the US would expand production for the sake of global energy security and planned a new fleet of coal plants with technology it hoped to export to other countries . The event featured prominent cheerleaders for fossil fuels and nuclear power , including Wells Griffith , Donald Trump 's adviser on global energy and climate , Steve Winberg , the assistant secretary for fossil energy at the energy department , and Rich Powell , the executive director of the ClearPath Foundation , a non - profit organisation focused on " conservative clean energy " . The only non - American was Patrick Suckling , the ambassador for the environment in Australia 's coal - enthusiast government . NONE of the US participants mentioned climate change or global warming , focusing instead of " innovation and entrepreneurship " in the technological development of nuclear power , " clean coal " and carbon capture and storage . Ten minutes into Griffith 's opening speech , he was interrupted by a sudden , sustained , loud volley of laughter by several dozen protesters that was then followed by a single shout of " It 's not funny " , and then a series of chants of " Keep it in the ground " and " Shame on you " . Several campaigners read statements . " There is no such thing as clean coal . Coal is deadly from the beginning to the end . They talk about the life cycle of coal , I talk about it as a death march . My father died of black lung , and I am in this struggle with others whose fathers and husbands are dying of black lung right now , " said Teri Blanton of Kentuckians for the Commonwealth , which represents Appalachian coal workers in North America . After the protesters were led away by security guards , Griffiths said : " In the US our policy is not to keep it in the ground , but to use it as cleanly and efficiently as possible " . This statement was contradicted by climate analysts , who noted the US environment agency estimates that 1,400 more deaths per year will result from Trump 's proposal to replace the Clean Power Act . " It 's ludicrous for Trump officials to claim that they want to clean up fossil fuels , while dismantling standards that would do just that , " said Dan Lashof , the director of the World Resources Institute . " Since taking office , this administration has proposed to roll back measures to cut methane leaks from oil and gas operations , made it easier for companies to dump coal ash into drinking water , and just days ago proposed easing carbon pollution rules for new coal - fired power plants . " Griffith boasted the US had the largest coal reserves in the world and iwas producing more petroleum than ever . " To achieve economic growth and eradicate poverty , all energy uses are important and they will be utilised unapologetically , " he said . Echoing a claim often made by Trump , Griffiths said the US would not be subject to agreements that hamstrung domestic growth , while allowing China to operate with high emissions . This was the second consecutive year that the Trump team was heckled after promoting fossil fuels and nuclear power at the climate talks , underscoring how the US position has shifted since the president took power in 2017 . The US was a key player in forging the Paris agreement in 2015 , but its standing has steadily eroded since . In 2017 , Trump announced he would pull the US out of the global accord . This year , his representatives have taken a still more destructive stance by aligning with Russia , Saudi Arabia and Kuwait to try to downgrade a key report by the world 's scientists that warned of the dangers of global warming moving beyond 1.5C above pre - industrial levels . NONE of the panelists would be drawn on the study , but Griffith spoke out against " alarmism " that , he claimed , displaced pragmatic solutions to address environmental concerns with prescriptive regulations that put jobs at risk and raised costs for consumers . In fact , scientists say their forecasts about climate impacts have been too conservative , while economists say the shift to renewables has resulted in cheaper energy for many users . Winberg said the US government was planning to support a new fleet of small , modular coal plants that he claimed would be energy - efficient and have near - zero emissions if combined with carbon capture technology . After initial development in the US , he said they could be exported to other countries . " They offer opportunity for developing nations to access tomorrow 's coal technology to improve energy security , " he said . He also proposed more pipelines to oil fields in the Gulf of Mexico . Despite this public commitment , the US use of coal is declining because renewables are cheaper , according to Nathaniel Keohane , the senior vice - president for the Environmental Defense Fund nonprofit group . " Trump is playing politics , but it 's not changing the facts on the ground , " he said . " Coal usage in the US just hit a 39 - year low . If we really want to protect our economy , we 'll move aggressively toward 100 % clean energy . " An alternative , non - official US delegation has backed a faster transition to renewables . Made up of city- and state - level governments , business executives and religious leaders , the " We 're still in " group is staging dozens of events in a bid to show action is still possible without White House support . NONEtheless , many observers at the official US panel were ashamed at the position of their federal government . " I was completely embarrassed to be an American " , said Leo McNeil Woodberry of the Climate Action Network . " Everything they proposed was absolutely wrong . I ca n't believe they are putting profits over the planet , and profits over people . "
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Supreme Court won't halt unusual climate change lawsuit brought by children on behalf of & apos;future generations&apos ; WASHINGTON – The Supreme Court refused the Trump administration 's request Friday to block 21 young people from putting a warming planet on trial in Eugene , Ore. The action keeps alive , at least for now , an unusual lawsuit begun in 2015 to force a change in federal environmental policy by declaring a " climate system capable of sustaining human life " a civil right . The lawsuit was brought on behalf of children now ages 11 - 22 , as well as future generations . But while refusing to halt the trial , the justices indicated that the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 9th Circuit could do so if the Justice Department asks . That court has refused to intervene in the past . Associate Justices Clarence Thomas and Neil Gorsuch dissented , presumably because they were prepared to stop the trial now . The justices had expressed misgivings about the lawsuit in July , when they refused to stop the legal process but said the breadth of the claims was " striking . " Whether those claims should be handled in court " presents substantial grounds for difference of opinion , " the court said then . Lawyers for Our Children 's Trust have argued that government policies have deprived the children of their " constitutional rights to life , liberty , and property , to dignity , to personal security , to a stable climate system capable of sustaining human lives and liberties . " They want the government to " prepare an accounting of the nation 's greenhouse gas emissions , and prepare and implement an enforceable national remedial plan " for reducing carbon emissions . Federal district court Judge Ann Aiken , who has presided over pretrial briefing for more than two years , had scheduled the trial to begin Monday and last up to 12 weeks . " Courts have an obligation not to overstep the bounds of their jurisdiction , but they have an equally important duty to fulfill their role as a check on any unconstitutional actions of the other branches of government , " she said last month in denying the government 's effort to stall or dismiss the trial . The Justice Department objected to the time and expense , claiming that the issue was one for Congress , not the courts , to resolve . Its objections were first raised during the Obama administration . " This suit is an attempt to redirect federal environmental and energy policies through the courts rather than through the political process , by asserting a new and unsupported fundamental due process right to certain climate conditions , " Solicitor General Noel Francisco argued in court papers . The children on whose behalf the lawsuit was filed , he said , " can make no credible claim of imminent , irreparable harm . Their alleged injuries stem from the cumulative effects of CO2 emissions from every source in the world over decades . " Although the case , Juliana v. United States , has yet to reach the trial stage , it has been taught in more than two dozen law schools as well as primary and secondary schools , lawyers for the children said – " inspiring students of all ages to see themselves in the parchment of the U.S. Constitution . "
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' Next Deepwater Horizon disaster a matter of time ' : Critics slam record offshore oil lease sale The Trump administration has held the biggest lease sale of oil and gas in US history . Environmentalists fear the auction will massively expand fossil fuel production and could lead to the next Deepwater disaster . President Donald Trump on Wednesday sold more than 77 million acres of federal waters in the Gulf of Mexico for offshore oil drilling , an area twice the size of Florida . The lease sale forms part of the Trump administration 's plans to increase domestic energy production by opening up new areas for oil drilling . Oil drilling in the Gulf of Mexico became increasingly controversial after the BP Deepwater Horizon disaster in 2010 , which killed 11 workers and released millions of barrels of crude oil into the Gulf of Mexico . The catastrophe caused $ 17.2 billion - worth of damage to natural resources , according to a study in 2017 commissioned by the US National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration . Critics of the sale fear the expansion in offshore drilling could devastate marine life and lead to roll - backs in environmental protections . " Trump is selling off our oceans and selling out coastal communities and marine life to the oil industry , " said Kristen Monsell , oceans program legal director at the Center for Biological Diversity . " More drilling and less regulation will make the next Deepwater Horizon disaster only a matter of time . Whales , dolphins and Gulf seafood are already marinating in oil spills and industry wastewater , " she added . The Interior Department said the sell - off is necessary if America is to maintain energy independence . " American energy production can be competitive , " said Vincent DeVito , an energy policy advisor at the Interior Department . " People need jobs , the Gulf Coast states need revenue , and Americans do not want to be dependent on foreign oil . " he said . The Gulf of Mexico provides the US with around 1.5 million barrels of oil per day , or roughly 17 percent of its national production total , according to the Energy Information Administration . US crude oil output has grown by more than 20 percent since mid-2016 . The oil industry welcomed the lease sale , with Randall Luthi of the trade group National Oceanic Industry Association noting that the sale on Wednesday " may draw more interest from industry than we have seen in recent years . " Meanwhile some NGOs have questioned the economic rationale behind the sale , arguing that the way in which federal assets are sold off does not serve the best interests of US taxpayers . The Project on Government Oversight warned in February that the ' uncompetitive ' lease system used by the government to auction sites allows energy companies to " secure offshore leases for a pittance . " It cautioned that the sale in the Gulf of Mexico means " more publicly owned resources could be turned over to industry at bargain - basement prices . " The Center for American Progress , a left - leaning policy think tank has echoed this statement , saying in a statement that " offering a nearly unrestricted supply in a low demand market with a cut rate royalty and almost no competition is bad policy and an inexcusable waste of taxpayer resources . " Like this story ? Share it with a friend !
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' It 'll change back ? ' Trump mocked for his ' natural instinct for science ' on climate change While a sobering new UN report on climate change indicates humans might have little time to change our ways to avoid environmental catastrophe , President Trump is n't worried , pointing to scientists " on both sides of the picture . " Referencing an uncle who was a professor at Massachusetts Institute of Technology ( whom he never spoke to about climate change ) as apparent proof of his scientific bona fides , Trump told the Associated Press that he has " a natural instinct for science " and that the climate goes " back and forth , back and forth . " The US president remains unconvinced that human activity is the cause of climate change . While he has backed away from a 2012 claim that the concept was " created by and for the Chinese in order to make US manufacturing noncompetitive , " he is now convinced that " something 's changing and it 'll change back again , " according to an interview he gave with 60 Minutes on Sunday . Trump 's appointee to the Environmental Protection Agency , Scott Pruitt , notoriously attempted to roll back several key environmental regulations passed under Barack Obama , including the Clean Power Plan , the Clean Water Rule , and a proposed ban on the pesticide chlorpyrifos . Pruitt also oversaw a 23 percent budget cut to the agency and filled science advisory panels with industry representatives instead of unaffiliated scientists . Trump may believe in climate change now , but he remains convinced that scientists who see a human role in the process have " a very big political agenda . " Meanwhile , he does n't want to " sacrifice the economic well - being of our country for something that nobody really knows . " While some Democrats favor bold moves to address climate change , others – perhaps still shell - shocked by the failure of their 2009 cap - and - trade bill under Obama – shy away from anything more than incremental measures , citing the " hostile " political environment in Congress . Rep. Gerry Connolly ( D - VA ) said Democrats should " focus on the practical and the opportunistic " in the short term while working toward big - picture " aspirational goals " in the long term . Some might argue the concept of a " long term , " when it comes to the environment , was rendered irrelevant by the latest UN Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change report . It projected that humans have until 2030 to drastically reduce greenhouse gas emissions if we want to avoid catastrophic climate change in the form of massive sea level rise , increased drought , permafrost melt , and coral reef die - offs . Think your friends would be interested ? Share this story !
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Conservation Is n't the Solution to California 's Water Problems In January , California 's Jerry Brown became the first governor in the state 's history to declare a state of emergency for a drought and a flood simultaneously . On Friday , Brown lifted the drought emergency in all but four counties ( Fresno , Kings , Tulare , and Tuolumne counties ) . But , rather than lift the burdensome water regulations implemented to cope with the drought , he announced that many of those regulations would remain intact , even though the flood emergency remains . Brown 's latest plan , " Making Water Conservation a California Way of Life , " allows the state to oversee conservation goals it sets in urban water - management agencies , as well as to permanently prohibit activities it deems wasteful of the water supply . It also creates more stringent standards for establishing these water - use goals . Brown has indicated that he hopes to expand the state 's water supply with new sources of water , but his focus on making conservation " a way of life " — in a time when California 's streets are flooding — suggests otherwise . Certainly , Californians — and everyone else — ought to find ways to responsibly use natural resources such as water . Mandating conservation , however , is drastically different from incentivizing it . Even though there is no longer a drought state of emergency in their state , Californians will be fined if they wash their automobiles with hoses " not equipped with a shut - off nozzle , " water lawns in a way that results in water run - off , or hose off sidewalks . The plan also gives urban government agencies until 2025 to comply with their conservation targets , limiting the water usage of Californians . But water conservation can only go so far . California ought to begin expanding its water supply rather than incessantly regulate how citizens use water , especially now that the governor does n't retain the broad powers spelled out under the drought state of emergency ( Brown 's flood state of emergency does n't give him the same power to regulate water use ) . John Woodling of the Sacramento Regional Water Authority told the Sacramento Bee that Brown 's assertion of state power in this area will give it " permanent , unchecked control over local water management decisions . " And , as Brown 's plan begins to drive water consumption down , Woodling said , it could hurt the economy . Governor Brown has pushed two contradictory agendas for months . Now , even he has concluded that California is no longer in a drought . It 's time for these conservation regulations to be lifted and for the state to do what it should have done a long time ago : look to expand its water supply .
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Trump dismisses climate change question by contradicting himself on hurricanes Trump , speaking to reporters aboard Air Force One on Thursday after touring damage from Hurricane Irma on Florida 's west coast , said " we 've had bigger storms than this " when asked about climate change . " If you go back into the 1930s and the 1940s , and you take a look , we 've had storms over the years that have been bigger than this , " Trump said . " If you go back into the teens , you 'll see storms that were as big or bigger . So we did have two horrific storms , epic storms , but if you go back into the ' 30s and ' 40s , and you go back into the teens , you 'll see storms that were very similar and even bigger , OK ? " In response to this story , a White House aide pointed CNN to a recent NOAA report that found that it is " premature to conclude that human activities ... have already had a detectable impact on Atlantic hurricane or global tropical cyclone activity . " That same report , however , found that human activity " may have already caused changes " and that global warming " will likely cause tropical cyclones globally to be more intense on average " and " lead to an increase in the occurrence of very intense tropical cyclone(s ) . " Trump campaigned on a platform that rejected much of the scientific community 's findings on climate change , arguing that the Obama administration used climate science too often to restrict business growth . Trump pulled out of the Paris Climate accords earlier this year and had previously had called climate change a " hoax " perpetrated by the Chinese . Trump 's comments Thursday go against the hyperbolic language he used in the lead - up and aftermath of Hurricane Harvey and Hurricane Irma . " Hurricane Irma is of epic proportion , perhaps bigger than we have ever seen , " Trump tweeted as Irma moved closer to Florida . Earlier this month he tweeted , " Hurricane looks like largest ever recorded in the Atlantic ! " And on Thursday in Florida , before his comments aboard Air Force One about climate change , Trump said the people of Florida experienced something " the likes of which we can say really say nobody 's ever seen before . " " They 've never seen a category like this come in because it came in really at a five , " he said . Top Trump administration officials have repeatedly dodged questions about how climate change affected the damage done by hurricanes Harvey and Irma , saying the issue should be discussed at a later date . said last week it was " insensitive " to address global warming at this time . said last week it was " insensitive " to address global warming at this time . EPA Administrator Scott Pruitt said last week it was " insensitive " to address global warming at this time . Mick Mulvaney , the director of the White House 's Office of Management and Budget , told CNN that climate change is a " longer discussion on another day " and a " big topic for the media . " And both FEMA administrator Brock Long and acting Homeland Security Secretary Elaine Duke avoided explicitly answering when asked Tuesday whether the government needs to be more focused on climate change because of the storms . Trump 's visit to tour hurricane damage on Thursday was his second trip in as many weeks . Trump toured the Houston area earlier this month after Hurricane Harvey brought massive flooding to the city . The storm and subsequent damage could end up being the costliest natural disaster in US history .
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California Democrats and Republicans unite to defy Trump with climate change bill Donald Trump has singlehandedly been working to set back U.S. climate policy 50 years . He outraged the world by exiting the Paris climate agreement . He fired scientists from government advisory positions . He signed a bill to let coal mines dump waste into streams . He is trying to undo the Clean Power Plan , fuel economy standards for cars , offshore drilling restrictions , and solar tax credits . But at the state level , politicians are fighting back , and nowhere more so than in California . On Monday , the California state legislature passed a sweeping deal to extend the state 's current cap and trade program until 2030 . The law requires businesses to buy credits based on their volume of greenhouse pollution . The passage of this bill is a rare bipartisan victory . Democrats control both chambers of the California legislature , but the bill required a supermajority . Republicans cast the deciding votes , amid the endorsement of prominent California GOP politicians like former Gov. Pete Wilson . California has been at the forefront of the climate change fight ever since Trump was elected . Gov. Jerry Brown made news in December for telling Trump that if he scuttles climate research satellites , " California will launch its own damn satellites . " More recently , Brown helped found the United States Climate Alliance , a group of state and local governments pledging to abide by the Paris climate agreement even after the federal government withdraws . So far , 10 states , including two with Republican governors , have joined , as well as several major cities . Even if Trump is willing to turn his back on our allies and our future to roll back the clock on environmental protection , states like California are standing up and assuming the mantle of leadership . The fight for the environment is a fight for the secure future of human civilization , and Trump can not stop that fight .
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Republican governor appoints Florida 's first chief science officer ( CNN ) Republican Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis appointed the state 's first chief science officer on Monday , marking what he called the state 's " commitment to science - based solutions . " DeSantis appointed Thomas Frazer , a biologist who has been director of the University of Florida 's School of Natural Resources and Environment since 2012 and previously worked as acting director of the UF Water Institute . In the new position , he will coordinate Florida 's research , data and scientific work and make sure officials have the scientific analysis they need to tackle the state 's environmental problems . Frazer 's research has looked at pollution 's effects on water . He 's also worked on research involving climate change . He 's been on the faculty advisory committee with the UF Climate Institute and served as chairman of the Climate Science Faculty Committee . Climate change will be a part of his office 's mission . " We have to look at the facts of what is going on in the environment and can we bring science to bear on those changes happening now and in the future ? " Frazer said . Asked whether he thought climate change was a threat to Florida , DeSantis said the issue was " politicized " but noted that he considers sea - level rise a serious threat . " My environmental policy is just to do things that benefit Floridians . And the idea that you 're signing up for some type of agenda -- I do n't want to ... send a signal that that 's what I 'm doing because I 'm not doing that , " DeSantis said . " This is what we 're going to do . We 're going to do what works . " DeSantis said the appointment keeps with his promise to make " sound science " a Florida priority . " As one of Florida 's leading environmental researchers , Dr. Frazer understands the unique water issues facing our state and the actions we must take to solve them , " he said Monday . " Since day one , my administration has been laser focused on addressing our pressing environmental challenges . " On January 10 , DeSantis signed an Executive Order that pledged to secure $ 2.5 billion over the next four years to restore the Everglades . It created the Blue - Green Algae Task Force and promised to work with local communities to invest in green infrastructure . It also created the chief science officer position . Frazer will have his work cut out for him . In July , Scott declared a state of emergency for several counties to help local governments deal with an unprecedented toxic algal bloom that killed thousands of marine animals , including dolphins and manatees . The bloom , which affected more than 100 miles of Florida shoreline , also sent people to the doctor with respiratory problems and eye issues . below sea level by 2100 , Sea level rise alone is projected to outpace the global average for Southeast Florida . The region could see nearly a foot more of water in the short term . There 's also a chance that more than $ 346 billion in property value will bebelow sea level by 2100 , studies show Frazer said he 's honored by the appointment . " Our environment and waterways make Florida unique , " he said . " I look forward to working with the governor and the Department of Environmental Protection on ways we can use sound science and research to improve our state 's water quality and protect the environment . "
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Viewpoint : The Indian state to become a global leader in clean energy India 's southern state of Tamil Nadu is poised to become a global leader in wind power , according to a new report . But first the state must overcome its addiction to coal , writes Nityanand Jayaraman . The report - by the US - based Institute of Energy Economics and Financial Analysis - predicts that by 2027 , more than half of Tamil Nadu 's power will be generated by " zero emissions " technologies - notably solar and wind . The state 's current capacity to generate wind power - 7.85 gigawatts ( GW ) - is already impressive considering it is higher than that of Denmark or Sweden . But the report estimates that it could double over the next decade , and that solar installations too could increase six - fold to reach 13.5GW . If that happens , clean , renewable energy would account for 67 % of Tamil Nadu 's capacity , which could revive the state 's debt - ridden utility . But in order to harvest that potential , Tamil Nadu needs to transform its power sector . Tamil Nadu 's population is three times that of Australia and its per capita GDP is on a par with Sri Lanka and Ukraine . It could prove to be an example of how emerging economies can grow while slashing their carbon emissions . Assuming Tamil Nadu 's GDP will grow at an annual rate of 7 % , the report suggests that much of this growth can be driven by renewables . Installation and operating costs for wind and solar power have dropped low enough to compete with established but dirty sources of power such as coal . But that is where reality tempers the possibilities . The report argues that not only does Tamil Nadu not need coal or nuclear power , but that these projects are financially fraught . Electricity from new coal power plants is likely to be twice as expensive as solar or wind power . But , despite the bleak financial prospects , Tamil Nadu currently has 22.5GW of coal power plants in the pipeline . Pursuing these ventures will weaken the state utility 's finances and its ability to invest in smarter , cleaner alternatives . There are other challenges too . Wind power can be generated only from May to October . Even during those months , production can not reach its peak because the state does not have a large enough grid to convey excess electricity to other states . So , they will have to slow down generation from other sources . This also means the state is unable to import cheap power from other states during the remaining seven months when wind power is not feasible . Work is afoot to change this but its not guaranteed that the improvements will ensure that the grid can cope with the predicted generation . Integrating power from seasonal sources like wind requires a smart grid - one with a sophisticated system of supply and management that can adjust to variations in demand . On this count too , Tamil Nadu has a long way to go . But the biggest limiting factor for the state is likely to be water . Between climate change and reckless exploitation and pollution of rivers , streams and lakes , Tamil Nadu is staring at a bleak water future . At least 60 % of groundwater resources in the state are assessed as over - exploited , critical or semi - critical , according to India 's Central Ground Water Board . In April 2017 , Tamil Nadu farmers camped out in India 's capital , Delhi , staging dramatic protests - stuffing dead rats in their mouths , stripping themselves naked in front of Prime Minister Narendra Modi 's home and drinking their own urine - to underscore the intensity of the drought back home . In June 2017 , villagers in Tamil Nadu 's parched Ramanathapuram district were protesting against a solar power plant - they alleged that more than 200,000 litres of scarce water was being extracted illegally from bore wells to clean the 250,000 solar modules daily . Utility - scale solar farms - massive projects that supply power to the gird - such as the one in Ramanathapuram need to be re - evaluated , especially if they are to run in areas where water is scarce . The report predicts that Tamil Nadu will have 10.3GW of utility - scale solar installations by the end of this decade and only about 2GW of rooftop installations . Given that both the availability of sunlight and the demand for electricity are decentralised , it makes sense to maximise rooftop solar installations rather than to invest in large solar parks . The overall direction , if not the magnitude and rate of change , laid out in the report is not just possible but essential both financially and environmentally . A healthy and environmentally sustainable future requires more than just switching from dirty coal to wind or solar power . But the bigger challenge lies not in decoupling growth from carbon emissions but in decoupling human wellbeing and progress from growth .
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Trump 's words and actions threaten to derail climate change efforts Donald Trump is threatening to derail climate change efforts with his persistent denial of global warming , claim scientists . Pulling the US from the Paris Agreement has opened the flood gates as several others , including Russia and Turkey , follow his lead . Trump removed the US , the second greatest source of greenhouse gas emissions in the world , from the Paris Agreement as one of his first major presidential acts . One expert has published a study and said that the withdrawal of the US from the 2015 Paris Agreement as well as Trump 's ill - informed remarks on climate change could have long - lasting and severe ramifications . A United Nations - sponsored climate summit in Poland has kicked off today which brings together experts from around the world as leading figures in the UN claim our planet has reached a ' crossroads ' . They say the next two years are crucial to our success if we are to successfully halt global warming . A study , from the Institute of International and European Affairs , says Trump 's decision has created the ' moral and political cover for others to follow suit ' in leaving the agreement . It also claims it has soured the atmosphere and damaged goodwill in the international arena . 'The Paris agreement sent a shiver down the spine of institutional investors globally and made them question if they were exposed to stranded assets and whether these political leaders were really serious about climate change , ' said Joseph Curtin , a senior fellow at the IIEA.'There 's absolutely no doubt that the Trump effect has created a sense of uncertainty in terms of the political commitment to achieve anything close to a 2 ° C target . ' The Paris Agreement , which was first signed in 2015 , is an international agreement to control and limit climate change . It hopes to hold the increase in the global average temperature to below 2 ° C ( 3.6 ° F ) ' and to pursue efforts to limit the temperature increase to 1.5 ° C ( 2.7 ° F)'Sir David Attenborough will be in attendance in the ' people 's seat ' to represent the people who are affected by global warming . He gave a speech at the opening ceremony of the summit and said : '' We are facing a man - made disaster of global scale . ' Our greatest threat in thousands of years . Climate Change . 'The Conference of the Parties ( COP ) comes shortly after the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change ( IPCC ) announced the intention to limit global temperature rise to 1.5 ° C . This gathering has been pegged as the most influential since the 2015 ratification of the Paris Agreement . It claimed that to achieve this goal , governments around the world would have to cut greenhouse gas emissions by 45 per cent by 2030 . Four influential previous presidents of the talks called for decisive action to reach these targets . They said the planet sits at a ' crossroads ' and urged action to cut emissions and reach Paris targets . Antonio Guterres , UN Secretary - General , said this period of time is ' a matter of life and death ' for countries around the world . A statement from the former chiefs came a day before the summit was scheduled to begin and is a highly unusual move . It earmarked the next two years as a key opportunity to help halt climate change . It read : ' What ministers and other leaders say and do in Katowice at COP24 will help determine efforts for years to come and either bring the world closer to meeting the goals of the Paris Agreement - including protecting those most vulnerable to climate change - or push action further down the road . ' Any delay will only make it harder and more expensive to respond to climate change . ' The statement was issued by Frank Bainimarama of Fiji , Salaheddine Mezouar of Morocco , Laurent Fabius of France and Manuel Pulgar Vidal of Peru . In a report released ahead of the climate summit in Poland , the World Meteorological Organisation ( WMO ) pointed out that the 20 warmest years on record have been in the past 22 years . It found that 2018 is on course to be the 4th warmest year on record and we 're the ' last generation to be able to do something about it ' . The UN agency said in its provisional report that ' the past four years - 2015 , 2016 , 2017 and 2018 - are also the four warmest years in the series ' .
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Bill Nye Freaks Out After Scientist Schools Him On Climate Change Comedian Bill Nye accused CNN of doing a " disservice " to its viewers for inviting a well - respected physicist on Earth Day to argue about the legitimacy of man - made global warming . Nye , who is well known for hosting a children 's TV show in the 1990s , scolded CNN 's " New Day Saturday " panel Saturday for pitting his environmentalist pedigree against the climate skepticism of physicist William Happer . He also suggested the 24 - news channel should instead drown out people like Happer with 98 scientists who believe in man - made global warming . " And I will say , much as I love the CNN , you 're doing a disservice by having one climate change skeptic and not 97 or 98 scientists or engineers concerned about climate change , " Nye said after the Princeton University academic suggested that it is a " myth " to believe that carbon dioxide is a pollutant causing widespread ecological destruction . " Carbon dioxide is a perfectly natural gas , it 's just like water vapor , it 's something that plants love . They grow better with more carbon dioxide , and you can see the greening of the earth already from the additional carbon dioxide in the atmosphere , " he added . He went on to say that Nye 's views on science are backward . Science is based on observation , Happer said , " [ a]nd if you observe what 's happening to , for example , the temperature , the temperature is not rising nearly as fast as the alarmist computer models predicted . It 's much , much less — factors of two or three less . " Happer , a science adviser to President Donald Trump , made public his skeptical views on climate change in January . He told reporters that climate change is " tremendously exaggerated , " adding that climate research is important , " but I think it 's become sort of a cult movement in the last five years . " Nye , who has a degree in engineering but no professional science background , called Happer 's position " completely wrong , " and suggested the physicist was " cherry picking a certain model . " Some scientists maintain people like Nye are the ones cherry - picking data . Climate models predicted Antarctic sea ice would shrink , and that climate change would boost snowfall in the southern hemisphere , yet neither of those predictions have panned out . In fact , scientists now say " natural variability " is overwhelming their models . Scientists with Columbia University 's Earth Institute , for instance , found there 's been almost no change in Antarctica 's snowfall . They blamed strong " natural variability " for the models ' failures . Scientists have also warned that Antarctica has been losing 147 gigatons of ice per year for years , mostly from melting on the northern Antarctic Peninsula . A NASA conducted in 2015 , meanwhile , found Antarctica 's ice sheet increased in mass from 1992 to 2008 , which essentially offset ice melting in the western part of the Antarctic . Nye , for his part , has been one of the most belligerent apostle for the environmental movement . He 's even suggested that throwing global warming skeptics in jail could be a potential solution , during an interview with the conservative Committee for a Constructive Tomorrow . Content created by The Daily Caller News Foundation is available without charge to any eligible news publisher that can provide a large audience . For licensing opportunities of our original content , please contact [ email protected ] .
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The Daily Caller
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An Open Letter To Senators Cruz And Cornyn Of Texas Republican politicians often evoke the Bible when it suits their purposes . But they disregard some of its most important teachings when formulating policy . This includes the story of Noah 's Ark. Noah 's story holds powerful lessons for us today . We live in a time when it has become absolutely clear that global warming is starting to have a devastating affect on our lives . From super storms and floods like the disaster unfolding in Houston , to droughts and fires of unprecedented magnitude , the direct effects of climate change are now impossible to ignore . Rising sea levels will put whole swaths of coastal cities like Miami under water before the end of the century . Yet despite such ample evidence and warnings , the Republican Party still chooses to ignore the reality . And sometimes I wonder whether any amount of evidence could convince you to act . After all , we have a surplus of evidence . What is lacking is the political will of Republican elected officials , like you , to do anything about it . The catastrophe unfolding in Houston is yet another stark warning . People are losing their homes and their jobs . Some have lost their lives . Scientists expect monster storms like Hurricane Harvey to increase in number — and intensify in magnitude — as warmer temperatures disrupt weather systems around the world . As I write , Hurricane Irma ― a terrifying superstorm with the highest wind speeds ever recorded in the Atlantic ― is cutting a destructive path through the Caribbean . Cities like Houston and New Orleans , on the Gulf of Mexico , face the threat of severe and life - threatening impacts . We have a moral responsibility to address this urgent threat . But Republicans do n't want to talk about the problem — or even admit it exists . Instead , the Republican strategy has consisted of aggressive denial of the facts coupled with staunch obstruction of any serious action to address the problem . Tragically , no industry has done more to block crucial action to address climate change than the oil industry . In fact , as Hurricane Harvey barreled towards Houston , two Harvard researchers were simultaneously releasing a report that detailed how Exxon Mobil spent decades lying to the American people about climate change . Now Exxon , along with other major oil corporations like Valero , Shell , Citgo and Phillips 66 , has been forced to shut down its Houston refinery because of flooding from the storm . Port Arthur , the planned terminus of the Keystone XL pipeline , is completely under water . The executives of these oil companies are bearing witness to the boomerang effect of burning fossil fuels . They are glimpsing a future that millions of Americans will face as the climate crisis intensifies . Senators , I hope that you will take some time to reflect . Few politicians have done more to prevent action on climate change than the two of you , which I suspect may have something to do with the $ 5.6 million you 've taken from the oil and gas industry over the years . But with so many citizens of your state suffering the direct consequences of climate change , I hope you can summon the moral courage to change course . We face an existential threat , and in the face of this , your specious economic arguments and lame , fossil fuel - endorsed excuses fall flat . We know that fighting climate change will reduce costs and create millions of jobs . We have the knowledge and technology needed to prevent future catastrophes . By doing so , we will create broad prosperity , cleaner air and water , cheaper energy for all , and , most importantly , we will save lives . Just as the evidence of crisis has made itself apparent in Texas , so has the fact that clean energy provides a better path for all made itself evident in the Lone Star State . Texas leads the nation in wind power generation , and it 's on the way to becoming a solar energy powerhouse . Senators , it 's time for you to join the team that is trying to do the right thing – not just in the short run , but with an eye to our shared future . The people of Texas need you to get on board with the biggest economic opportunity of the 21st century : clean energy technology that will save lives , create jobs , and protect the amazing creation we all call home . On behalf of NextGen America , please know that the people of Houston are in our thoughts and prayers . We are also fully engaged in fundraising efforts to assist our fellow citizens affected by this catastrophe . Words do not suffice in a tragedy like this . This is a time for action – action to care for our fellow citizens in the face of disaster , and action to prevent a systemic worsening of the climate crisis by heeding the warning and doing what is right .
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The Huffington Post
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Meteorologist Forced to Educate Ocasio - Cortez On the Difference Between Weather and Climate New York 's democratic socialist sweetheart Rep. Alexandria Ocasio - Cortez is trying very hard to sell her idea of apocalyptic climate change , or at least the side of Ocasio - Cortez that 's serious about climate change ending the world in 12 years is . The other side of her thinks we 're foolish for believing her claim that climate change will destroy the world in 12 years . She can be very confusing . It seems , however , that she 's very confused herself , specifically about how weather works . Recently Washington D.C. suffered from tornado friendly weather , pushing AOC into believing that this natural disaster is simply part of the climate change disaster sweeping the globe . She also seemed disturbed at the appearance of " casual tornadoes , " though we 're not exactly sure what those are , and AOC did not elaborate . " the climate crisis is real y' all , " Ocasio said on Instagram . " Guess we 're at casual tornadoes in growing regions of the country ? " The odd proclamation prompted meteorologist Ryan Maue to step in and offer the young Democrat a lesson in what weather is . " thought this was fake but it 's from [ Ocasio - Cortez 's ] Instagram story , " tweeted Maue . " No idea what she means with " casual tornadoes " and how this line of severe thunderstorms is proof of any " climate crisis , " " he continued . " It 's just the weather in D.C. " In a second tweet , Maue pointed out that AOC does n't seem to know the difference between weather and climate , and offered her an " easy analogy " so that she understood for the future . " Weather is what outfit you wear heading out the door , " tweeted Maue . " Climate is your closet wardrobe . " Last year , climatologist Judith Curry noted that many of the world - ending weather scenarios and predictions from politicians like AOC are as good as fantasy novels , and told the Daily Caller that it 's actually impossible to predict what the climate will look like over a decade out . " Projections of extreme , alarming impacts are very weakly justified to borderline impossible , " Curry told The Daily Caller News Foundation . Curry 's latest research , put together for clients of her consulting company near the end of November , looks in detail at projections of sea level rise . Curry 's ultimate conclusion : " Some of the worst - case scenarios strain credulity . " " With regards to 21st century climate projections , we are dealing with deep uncertainty , and we should not be basing our policies based on the assumption that the climate will actually evolve as per predicted , " Curry told TheDCNF . " Climate variability and change is a lot more complex than ' CO2 as control knob ' , " Curry said . " No one wants to hear this , or actually spend time understanding things , " Curry said . Of course , a lot of this alarmism from Ocasio - Cortez is a weak attempt to sell her " Green New Deal , " which already failed to pass through Congress with any yes votes . The point of the Green New Deal is n't necessarily to save the world but to push socialistic standards for America in everything from how we travel to how we farm . However , everyone from economists to climate scientists , to Democrat politicians have called the Green New Deal a foolish venture , and after having reviewed it personally , I can say it 's a piece of legislation that 's really only good enough for kindling .
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Gender - based justice , Reparations , Universal income , Medicare for All ... Incoming New York Rep. Alexandria Ocasio - Cortez brings with her a massive online following , influence she says she 'll deploy only in support of candidates and politicians who support her plan for a " Green New Deal . " The Green New Deal " is something Ocasio - Cortez invokes frequently in media appearances and rallies . So what 's actually in it ? Her office recently released the text of a proposed House rules change outlining the plan . The proposed rule change for the upcoming 116th Congress would require the creation of a " Select Committee for a Green Deal " that would be responsible for creating the plan by January 1 , 2020 , with corresponding draft legislation soon after . The text of the rule change lays out the committee 's jurisdiction and required areas of action . Its scope and mandate for legislative authority amounts to a radical grant of power to Washington over Americans ' lives , homes , businesses , travel , banking , and more . Early on , under " Jurisdiction , " the document makes clear its grandiose philosophical vision : " The select committee shall have authority to develop a detailed national , industrial , economic mobilization plan for the transition of the United States economy to become greenhouse gas emissions neutral and to significantly draw down greenhouse gases from the atmosphere and oceans and to promote economic and environmental justice and equality . " In addition to achieving its goal of " meeting 100 % of national power demand through renewable sources , " the document also repeatedly states the Green New Deal will advance non - environmental projects , such as , " social , economic , racial , regional and gender - based justice . " Ocasio - Cortez 's plan further claims it will ( virtually ) eliminate poverty : " The Plan for a Green New Deal ( and the draft legislation ) shall recognize that a national , industrial , economic mobilization of this scope and scale is a historic opportunity to virtually eliminate poverty in the United States and to make prosperity , wealth and economic security available to everyone participating in the transformation . " More specifically , Ocasio - Cortez 's plan calls for , within 10 years , a series of lofty overhauls of American life [ emphasis added]:Between its calls for " upgrading " homes and overhauling travel , public infrastructure , and even the way Americans consume electricity , the plan leaves virtually no facet of everyday life untouched . Think of how often you do n't use electricity to imagine how much of your average day the plan would n't impact . The proposed committee would also have seemingly total oversight of American industry , with a mandate for pushing union membership . Under " Scope of the Plan , " a section on labor states the committee 's final plan shall : " Require strong enforcement of labor , workplace safety , and wage standards that recognize the rights of workers to organize and unionize free of coercion , intimidation , and harassment , and creation of meaningful , quality , career employment . " Later in the document , Ocasio Cortez 's plan imagines creating a national jobs force to help people participate in this " transition . " The Green New Deal , it says , shall " provide all members of our society , across all regions and all communities , the opportunity , training and education to be a full and equal participant in the transition , including through a job guarantee program to assure a living wage job to every person who wants one . " The plan also imagines creating governmental support for " transitioning " minority communities . The deal shall : " ensure a ' just transition ' for all workers , low - income communities , communities of color , indigenous communities , rural and urban communities and the front - line communities most affected by climate change , pollution and other environmental harm including by ensuring that local implementation of the transition is led from the community level . " More , Ocasio - Cortez sees this plan is being a vehicle through which social equality might finally realized through the use of reparations to right historical injustices . The final Green New Deal will " mitigate deeply entrenched racial , regional and gender - based inequalities in income and wealth ( including , without limitation , ensuring that federal and other investment will be equitably distributed to historically impoverished , low income , deindustrialized or other marginalized communities in such a way that builds wealth and ownership at the community level ) . " And if that were n't enough to ensure that Democratic Socialism could be fully realized in America , the plan includes failsafe in the form of universal income and Medicare for All : The plan , it says , shall " include additional measures such as basic income programs , universal health care programs and any others as the select committee may deem appropriate to promote economic security , labor market flexibility and entrepreneurism . " Ocasio - Cortez clarifies that this plan would not only need to be financed by taxpayers , but also the Federal Reserve and other institutions the government can create . The end of the document contains a Q&A , one of which deals with the plan 's funding : " The Federal Reserve can extend credit to power these projects and investments , new public banks can be created ( as in WWII ) to extend credit and a combination of various taxation tools ( including taxes on carbon and other emissions and progressive wealth taxes ) can be employed . " Ocasio - Cortez may not be in Congress yet , but she already has a plan to remake the way Americans drive , commute , live , work , and even use the financial system . Let there be little doubt how she aspires to wield power in Washington . Editor 's Note : This post has been updated with grammatical fixes .
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There 's a climate crisis – but Trump 's cabinet continues to backtrack on science | Kate Aronoff In an effort to suppress federal climate research , the ) will direct state agencies to no longer consider worst - case scenarios of global warming . Climate modelers working for federal agencies will only be permitted to forecast to 2040 , decades before the as - much - as 8C degrees of global warming that could take place by 2100 if we continue on our current path . William Happer – most recently famous for ) that the " demonization " of carbon dioxide"really differs little from the Nazi persecution of the Jews " – will lead a team charged with reviewing the science produced by government researchers , no doubt hunting for references to the disastrous sea - level rise , crop failures and health impacts continued warming stands to create . The irony in all of this is that Trump , Happer and company may have a firmer grasp on the epic scope of these climate projections than many Democrats . As Naomi Klein argues , even the right 's fervent conspiracy theorists tend to understand at some level how profound the implications of this crisis are for business as usual , which has distributed its profits among elites of both parties . " Members of Trump 's cabinet , " Klein has ) , " with their desperate need to deny the reality of global warming , or belittle its implications " , NONEtheless"understand something that is fundamentally true . To avert climate chaos , we need to challenge the free - market fundamentalism that has conquered the world since the 1980s . " For all their bluster and junk science , Republican decision - makers have a clear sense for their own self - interest – and just how much is at stake for them and the rest of the 1 % . Consider Happer himself , a retired physicist who has spent his post - academy days hopping between various climate - denying thinktanks , a good many of them funded by the fossil fuel industry . In 2015 , Greenpeace activists duped Happer into agreeing to write a report on the benefits of carbon dioxide for a fictional oil company . The ( real ) coal company Peabody Energy has paid him to deliver testimony at a state hearing in Minnesota , and Happer has joined hands with groups like the Heritage Foundation , the Cato Institute and the Competitive Enterprise Institute – all recipients of ample industry funding – to bolster Trump 's agenda and cast doubt on the scientific consensus . As the New York Times reported in its article on the White House 's new climate plans , both Happer and John Bolton – who tapped him for the administration – have received generous support from the Mercers , the right wing family credited with both spreading climate denial and helping fuel the opioid epidemic . We ca n't know whether Happer genuinely believes the nonsense he 's spouting , or is just being paid well enough to sound like he does . The answer does n't really matter . Any clear - eyed assessment of what the science is telling us spells out who the winners and losers of rapid decarbonization would be . To cap warming at around 2C – a threshold many already dealing with climate impacts argue is too high – about three - quarters of known fossil fuel reserves will need to be kept underground , a reality that if realized as public policy would crater the stock price of energy companies . Climate scientist Kevin Anderson has estimated that if the top 10 % of greenhouse gas emitters were to live like the average European – an improvement even for many of us in the United States – global emissions could decline by a third . It is " ) with the laws of chemistry and physics " , according to IPCC scientists , to limit warming to the boldly ambitious target of 1.5C. The problem is our politics , and how much of a stranglehold the fossil fuel executives with the most to lose from decarbonization have over them . Establishment Democrats , meanwhile , are asleep at the wheel . The pitch for taking on the climate challenge is a compelling one for reasons well beyond the fact that it could prevent runaway catastrophe . The Green New Deal promises a well - paid job for everyone who wants one , a real mass transit system , clean and affordable energy and universal healthcare – a necessity as people leave their jobs to find new work in the transition away from fossil fuels . While several Democratic primary contenders have embraced the Green New Deal and begun proposing their own plans , the front runner in that race , Joe Biden , and the Democrats ' congressional leadership have been cooler toward it , offering neither a decarbonization plan nor a compelling reason for voters to get behind them come 2020 . That 's a dead end for the planet , but also for the party 's political prospects . With Donald Trump at their helm , Republicans will keep denying climate change because it represents a dire threat to their fossil fuel donors ' bottom lines . Democratic leadership would do well to follow the lead of their party 's insurgent progressive wing , and take the climate threat as seriously .
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Pope Francis Wants to Add ' Ecological Sin ' to Catechism ROME — Pope Francis told a group of lawyers that he could like to introduce the category of " ecological sin " into official Catholic teaching . " We must introduce – we are thinking about it – in the Catechism of the Catholic Church the sin against ecology , the ecological sin against the common home , because it is a duty , " the pope said Friday in addressing participants in an international conference on penal law . More specifically , Francis said , are all those actions that can be considered as " ecocide , " for instance , " the massive contamination of air , land and water resources , the large - scale destruction of flora and fauna , and any action capable of producing an ecological disaster or destroying an ecosystem . " Ecocide " is to be understood as the loss , damage or destruction of the ecosystems of a given territory , so that its utilization by inhabitants has been or can be seen as severely compromised , " he said , adding that such a sin is " a fifth category of crimes against peace , which should be recognised as such by the international community . " The pontiff said that such actions are " usually " caused by corporations , and " an elementary sense of justice would require " that they be punished for them . An ecological sin is " an action or omission against God , against one 's neighbour , the community and the environment , " Francis said , quoting the Fathers of the recently concluded Pan - Amazon Regional Synod . " It is a sin against future generations and is manifested in acts and habits of pollution and destruction of the harmony of the environment , in transgressions against the principles of interdependence and in the breaking of networks of solidarity between creatures . " Above and beyond its sinfulness , failure to care for the environment is an injustice and a crime , Francis suggested and should be legally enforced . " I would like to appeal to all the leaders and actors in this area to contribute their efforts to ensuring adequate legal protection for our common home , " he said . The pope 's words coincided with the release of a new survey by the Pew Research Center , which found that church - going Americans accept their clergy 's on spiritual matters , but generally distrust their advice on issues such as climate change . Pew found that 68 percent of U.S. adults who attend religious services at least a few times a year say they have " a lot " of confidence in the advice of their clergy on growing closer to God , yet just a small fraction of this number ( 13 percent ) say they have this confidence when the topic is " climate change . " Pope Francis has thrown his moral weight behind the battle against anthropogenic climate change , but has also acknowledged that the Church has no authority on scientific questions . In his 2015 encyclical letter on the environment , Francis urging nations and individuals to exercise more responsible stewardship of the created world , but insisted that he wanted to encourage debate rather than pronounce on environmental issues . " On many concrete questions , " he wrote , " the Church has no reason to offer a definitive opinion ; she knows that honest debate must be encouraged among experts , while respecting divergent views . " Here I would state once more that the Church does not presume to settle scientific questions or to replace politics , " Francis said . " But I am concerned to encourage an honest and open debate so that particular interests or ideologies will not prejudice the common good . "
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Donald Trump Jr. criticizes Time for naming eco - warrior Greta Thunberg as its person of the year President Donald Trump 's eldest son Don Jr. has criticized Time magazine for naming Greta Person of the Year 2019 in a mocking tweet . The businessman denounced the choice as a ' marketing gimmick ' and said the prize should have honored ' Hong Kong Protesters , fighting for their lives and freedoms ' - his father was also a finalist . Tweeting yesterday in response to Time magazine he wrote : ' Time leaves out the Hong Kong Protesters fighting for their lives and freedoms to push a teen being used as a marketing gimmick . ' The 16 - year - old Swedish face of climate - activism made headlines after shouting ' How dare you ? ' at world leaders at the U.N. General Assembly earlier this year , accusing them of failing the younger generation . An image of her stare at Donald Trump as he entered the UN quickly became a social media meme . Miss Thunberg was up against four other Time 's finalists including anti - government Hong Kong protesters , U.S. house speaker Nancy Pelosi , the anonymous whistleblower who revealed Trump 's phone call with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky in July that may lead to his impeachment , and in ironically also Donald Trump . The young - activist attracted international attention after holding a sign that said ' skolstrejk för klimatet ' or ' School strike for the climate ' in Swedish parliament last year . The activist has drawn increasingly large crowds with her appearances at protests and conferences over the past year and a half . Veteran campaigners and scientists have welcomed her activism , including her combative speeches challenging world leaders to do more to stop global warming . Time editor - in - chief Edward Felsenthal told the Today show : ' She became the biggest voice on the biggest issue facing the planet this year , coming from essentially nowhere to lead a worldwide movement . ' He confirmed she is the magazine 's youngest ever choice . Malala Yousafzai was runner up in 2012 , losing out to Barack Obama , aged 15.U.S. president last month signed legislation backing the Hong Kong protesters in their fight for democracy - which could be the reason for his son 's backing . The protests begun in March when an extradition bill , now suspended , called for those facing trials to be sent to mainland China , which was seen as a threat to the region 's autonomy . Thunberg has not responded to the criticism but retweeted Time magazine 's cover featuring herself . Today President Donald Trump lashed out at 16 - year - old global warming activist Greta Thunberg on Thursday and told her to ' chill , ' as he called her Time magazine ' Person of the Year ' award ' ridiculous . '' Greta must work on her Anger Management problem , then go to a good old fashioned movie with a friend ! Chill Greta , Chill ! ' Trump tweeted . The president was responding to Christian filmmaker Roma Downey , who tweeted the Time cover with the word ' Congrats . ' Minutes after his tweet , Thunberg changed her Twitter profile biography to read : ' A teenager working on her anger management problem . Currently chilling and watching a good old fashioned movie with a friend . ' Thunberg was in Madrid on Wednesday , where she addressed negotiators at the U.N. 's COP25 climate talks . There she accused political and business leaders of polishing their images rather than taking aggressive action in the fight against climate change at the UN climate talks . In a speech the teenager also criticized governments for avoiding taking action to cut greenhouse gas emissions and ' not behaving as if we are in an emergency ' . Greta said : ' The biggest danger is not inaction ; the real danger is when politicians and CEOs are making it look like real action is happening , when in fact almost nothing is being done apart from clever accounting and creative PR . ' She said the science showed that , at the current rate of emissions , the world is set to use up the whole ' carbon budget ' - the amount of pollution that can be put into the atmosphere and still keep global warming to 1.5C - in eight years .
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Commentary : No , Donald Trump did n't cause or worsen Hurricane Florence — here 's the proof Accompanying every hurricane are numerous stories in mainstream media outlets suggesting disaster could have been averted had American elected officials done more to stop global warming , which left - wing pundits continue to insist is almost entirely being caused by humans ' carbon dioxide ( CO2 ) emissions . In article after article , pundits have claimed Republicans , especially President Donald Trump , are in some way responsible for Hurricane Florence . The Washington Post 's editorial board — in an article titled " Yes , you can blame President Trump for Hurricane Florence " — even went so far as to say Trump was " complicit " for the storm . This is total nonsense . Not only are there countless good reasons to question the extent to which humans are contributing to global warming , there 's no evidence indicating hurricanes have become significantly worse as a result of global warming . As Roy Spencer , Ph.D. , an acclaimed climate scientist who previously worked for NASA , recently stated , " The fact that there has been no long - term change in global hurricane activity , and even a 50 percent decrease in U.S. landfalling major hurricanes over the last 80 years , means no one is ' complicit ' in these storms . " James Agresti , the president of the Just Facts think tank , rightly notes data appearing in the academic journal Geophysical Research Letters show " the global number and intensity of cyclones , hurricanes , and major hurricanes have been roughly level for the past four - to - five decades . " Some have said Florence was made worse because of warmer ocean waters caused by climate change , but that 's also false . Writing for Climate Change Dispatch , Michael Bastasch explains , " An analysis of Florence 's path by Cato Institute meteorologist Ryan Maue showed ocean temperatures were ' abnormally cool ' for most of the storm 's trek through the Atlantic Ocean . " Even the United Nations ' Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change , one of the most notorious defenders of the theory humans are headed for a climate catastrophe , admitted in 2012 there " is low confidence in long - term changes in tropical cyclone activity , after accounting for past changes in observing capabilities . However , over the satellite era , increases in the frequency and intensity of the strongest storms in the North Atlantic are robust . However , the cause of this increase is debated and there is low confidence in attribution of changes in tropical cyclone activity to human influence . " And if all that were n't enough , it 's absolutely absurd to say Trump is any way responsible for global warming because even if it is true humans are the primary cause of warming , carbon dioxide emissions actually dropped in Trump 's first two years in office . In 2017 , the United States emitted 41.8 million fewer tons of CO2 than in 2016 , the largest reduction in the world . And from 2006 to 2016 , the United States has averaged an annual reduction in its carbon dioxide emissions of 1.2 percent , according to an analysis by BP . The reason the Washington Post and others are consistently alleging , despite overwhelming evidence to the contrary , that Republicans are somehow to blame for natural disasters such as Hurricane Florence is either because they know absolutely nothing about the topic or because they believe it will help Democrats win elections . Either way , you should stick to what the best - available science says , not the fear - mongering of anti - conservative zealots . Justin Haskins ( Jhaskins@heartland . org ) is executive editor of The Heartland Institute and the co - founder of StoppingSocialism . com .
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California has 8 of 10 most polluted American cities ... Forget the Golden State . California should be called the Smoggy State . Eight of the USA 's 10 most - polluted cities , in terms of ozone pollution , are in California , according to the American Lung Association 's annual " State of the Air " report , released Wednesday . The Los Angeles / Long Beach area took the dubious distinction of being the nation 's most ozone - polluted city as it has for nearly the entire 19 - year history of the report . Overall , the report said about 133 million Americans — more than four of 10 — live with unhealthful levels of air pollution , placing them at risk for premature death and other serious health effects such as lung cancer , asthma attacks , cardiovascular damage and developmental and reproductive harm . " We still have a lot to do in this country to clean up air pollution , " said Lyndsay Moseley Alexander , director of the Association 's Healthy Air Campaign . The report looked at pollution levels from 2014 to 2016 . Ozone pollution was worse overall in this report than it was in last year 's report . Bakersfield , Calif. , was in second place for ozone pollution . Other California cities on the list include Fresno , Sacramento and San Diego . The only non - California metro areas in the top 10 list were Phoenix and New York City . Of the 10 most - polluted cities , seven cities did worse in this year 's report , including Los Angeles and the New York City metro area . " Near record - setting heat from our changing climate has resulted in dangerous levels of ozone in many cities across the country , making ozone an urgent health threat for millions of Americans , " Lung Association President and CEO Harold P. Wimmer said . Smog forms on warm , sunny days and is made worse from chemicals that exit vehicle tailpipes and from power plant and industrial smokestacks . Warmer temperatures make ozone more likely to form . " This adds to the evidence that a changing climate makes it harder to reduce ozone pollution and protect human health , " Alexander said Bakersfield took the top spot in a list of cities with another variety of air pollution — small particulate matter , aka soot . Increased heat , changes in climate patterns , drought and wildfires — many related to climate change — contributed to the high number of days with unhealthy particulate matter . Since California is known for its strict environmental regulations , why are so many cities from the state typically on this list ? It 's because the state would be far worse off without its strict laws on tailpipe pollution and eliminating coal - fired power plants . California has done more than any other state to counteract air pollution , the Lung Association said . With this report , the Lung Association also calls out Congress and the Environmental Protection Agency ( EPA ) for ongoing threats to the nation 's air quality , including steps to roll back or weaken enforcement of the Clean Air Act . EPA administrator Scott Pruitt has taken many steps to roll back or put in loopholes to the Clean Air Act , Alexander said , adding that " the association is concerned and we will continue to fight for healthy air , " she said . Some good news in the report was that particulate pollution " generally continued to improve in 2014 - 16 , " the report said . This was true for both short - term particulate pollution and for year - round particulate pollution . For year - round particle pollution , Fairbanks , Alaska , was the most - polluted city . The Lung Association also lists the nation 's cleanest cities , meaning ones that experience no high ozone or high particulate pollution days . The nation 's cleanest cities are Bellingham , Wash. ; Burlington , Vt . ; Casper , Wyo . ; Honolulu ; Melbourne , Fla. ; and Wilmington , N.C.
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Rhode Island sues major oil companies over climate change ( Reuters ) – Rhode Island on Monday sued several major oil companies , including Exxon Mobil Corp and BP plc , accusing them of contributing to climate change that is damaging infrastructure and coastal communities in the state . The lawsuit announced by Rhode Island Attorney General Peter Kilmartin was the first by a state seeking to hold oil companies responsible for costs associated with climate change and followed similar cases by several local governments nationally . The lawsuit alleged that various oil companies had created a public nuisance in the state and failed to adequately warn customers , consumers and regulators about the risks posed by their products . " For a very long time , there has been this perception that ' Big Oil ' was too big to take on , but here we are – the smallest state – taking on some of the biggest corporate polluters in the world , " Kilmartin said in a statement . The lawsuit , filed in Providence County Superior Court , named as defendants Exxon , BP , Royal Dutch Shell Plc , and Chevron Corp , among other companies . Shell , in a statement , said , " lawsuits that masquerade as climate action and impede the collaboration needed for meaningful change " were not the answer to climate change . The other companies did not respond to requests for comment . The lawsuit by the Democratic attorney general follows similar cases by U.S. cities and local governments , arguing the production of fossil fuels had led to rising tides that damaged shorelines , roads and other properties requiring remediation . The lawsuit contended that the companies sought to refute scientific findings regarding how greenhouse gas pollution was causing climate change , and failed to prevent the harm that would result from consumers ' using fossil fuel products . The lawsuit said that companies also violated the state 's Environmental Rights Act by polluting and destroying natural resources in Rhode Island . Kilmartin is seeking to force the companies to pay for damages associated with climate change , citing the costs taxpayers were incurring to repair roads and bridges and rebuild coastal structures . The complaint seeks unspecified compensatory and punitive damages as well as orders requiring the companies to pay abatement costs and to disgorge profits .
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The cost of Trump 's Endangered Species Act proposal The Trump administration has proposed changes to the Endangered Species Act ( ESA ) , a law credited with keeping hundreds of species from going extinct . The change would eliminate automatic protections for threatened plant and animal species , and make it easier for species to be removed from the list . Wildlife conservation groups say the proposed change could have disastrous lasting effects on at - risk species . Trump officials say the change will streamline the regulatory process . The proposed change is the latest in a series of White House efforts to remove environmental regulations designed to protect vulnerable species and their habitats , as well as leave untouched some of America 's most wild places . Environmentalist groups have reacted with outrage , and the Center for Biological Diversity said " these proposals would slam a wrecking ball into the most crucial protections for our most endangered wildlife " . " If these regulations had been in place in the 1970s , the bald eagle and the grey whale would be extinct today . " The Endangered Species Act was signed into law in 1973 by Republican President Richard Nixon and now protects more than 1,200 plant and animal species . The list of species is maintained by US Fish and Wildlife and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration , which oversees marine species . It has been credited with reviving bald eagle populations and bringing the Yellowstone grizzly bear back from the edge of extinction . Here are several species that could be affected by the change , or may not currently exist if it was not for the landmark law . Experts agree that arctic sea ice - which polar bears require for fishing and hunting - is shrinking , which is leading to enormous stresses on the world 's largest bear species . The proposed change to the ESA includes a narrowing of the definition of " foreseeable future " . The US government says they want the language clarified to " make it clear that it extends only as far as [ wildlife officials ] can reasonably determine that both the future threats and the species ' response to those threats are probable " . Environmentalists fear the new language will make it possible for government biologists to disregard the long - term effects of climate change on the environment . The polar bear could be emblematic of many species being affected by climate change , says Bob Dreher of the environmental group Defenders of Wildlife . Whether government biologists will recognise " this slow - acting but inevitable change in ecosystem because of climate change " or wait until more evidence is available is unclear , he tells the BBC . The ESA provides blanket protections to species which are categorised as either " threatened " - such as the California gnatcatcher - or " endangered " . Endangered species are those likely to go extinct , while threatened species are those likely to become endangered . Under current law , both are granted " critical habitat " protections , but the Trump administration wants automatic protections for threatened species to be eliminated and , in the future , to be considered on a case by case basis . Protections for the California gnatcatcher have barred development across nearly 100,000 acres of land in the Greater Los Angeles area , according to the Los Angeles Times . If not for their current protections , their native habitat would likely become part of more urban sprawl . The sage grouse has been a candidate for protection as a threatened species for nearly a decade , but it is unclear if it will ever be added . They , as well as the dunes sagebrush lizard , have seen their territory encroached upon by human development and have seen decreasing populations in recent years . The distinctive sage grouse return to their breeding grounds , known as Leks , every year . Biologists believe some Leks can be hundreds of years old . If the sage grouse does achieve threatened status , environmentalists fear under the new Trump proposal it would be too late for them to gain the broad protections they need . Although the proposed change would only affect future creatures joining the list , Mr Dreher says that if the proposed rules had been in effect in the 1970s , animals such as wolves and bald eagles may have been extinct by now . In a significant reversal , the proposed change would eliminate language that precludes wildlife experts from considering economic impacts when determining when an organism should be listed . Wolves , which were re - introduced in the lower 48 states , have faced criticism from ranchers and farmers who argue that they have impacted their livelihood by killing their livestock . Re - introducing them to the continental US came at great cost and effort , says Mr Dreher , a former US Fish and Wildlife official . Mr Dreher says that the ESA was designed by Congress to say that " the value of life on earth is priceless " and that politicians should not have to decide whether it is " too expensive " to prevent extinction . " If we made those decisions you can see under different administrations we would end up protecting nothing . Because who knows what a snail is worth ? Who knows what a frog is worth ? "
|
bbc
|
left_center_bias
| true | false | false | false | false |
44 | 557 |
YOURE_DESTROYING_OUR_FUTURE
|
ENV.ORGS_ACTIVISTS
|
GOVERNMENTS_POLITICIANS_POLIT.ORGS
|
ANIMALS_NATURE_ENVIRONMENT
|
HERO
|
FUEL_RESOLUTION
|
EGALITARIAN
|
Lawsuit says Trump 's wall threatens endangered species A tiny endangered butterfly could stop President Donald Trump from building his beloved border wall . A lawsuit has been filed by the Center for Biological Diversity , environmental groups and the State of California against the U.S. Department of Homeland Security . It outlines that the Quino checkerspot butterfly , Riverside fairy shrimp and the Pacific pocket mouse will be threatened if the border wall is built . The butterfly , which is native to southern California and Northern Mexico , is already on the endangered species list . The lawsuit contends that the Department of Homeland Security does not have the ability to waive environmental laws requiring review before building the wall . The suit seeks a ruling that a border wall with Mexico must go through normal environmental reviews , which could block construction or at least cause major delays . The challengers contend that authority to waive the environmental reviews falls under a 2005 law which has expired . 'The Trump administration ca n't use an expired waiver to bypass crucial environmental protections to build these destructive projects , ' Brian Segee , a senior attorney at CBD , told San Diego TV station KGTV.'It 's time to stop Trump 's hateful bombast and his executive overreach here in San Diego before it goes any further . The law and the Constitution are firmly on our side , and we think the judge will agree . ' The DHS is arguing that it is within its right to issue the waivers , citing a 1996 immigration law . The case was set to be heard on Friday in San Diego by US District Judge Gonzalo Curiel . Curiel came to national attention in 2016 when he was presiding over one of the cases against Trump University . Trump said that he was biased because of his ' Mexican Heritage ' and Trump 's stance on the border . At the time , he told CNN : ' We are building a wall . He 's a Mexican . We 're building a wall between here and Mexico . 'Now Curiel will be hearing a case about the wall . On Friday he heard two - and - a - half hours of arguments and said that he was leaning toward deciding he has jurisdiction in a lawsuit that alleges the Trump administration overreached in waiving laws that require environmental and other reviews . The administration argues he does n't have jurisdiction . Curiel asked the administration and wall opponents to file additional briefings by the end of Tuesday .
|
dailymail
|
questionable_source
| true | true | false | false | false |
45 | 57 |
DEBATE_AND_SCAM
|
NONE
|
GOVERNMENTS_POLITICIANS_POLIT.ORGS
|
GENERAL_PUBLIC
|
VILLAIN
|
PREVENT_RESOLUTION
|
INDIVIDUALISTIC
|
Democrats Take a Nonsensical Approach to Climate Change Environmental concerns are real , but the planet still will be here in twelve years . Imagine there 's a movie about a meteor heading toward Earth . It will be here in twelve years . Following Hollywood convention , once you got past the part where the maverick scientist or precocious kid discovering it struggles to convince the world about the threat , you 'd expect the president or the military to leap into action . Congress is usually left out of such plots , but it 's not a stretch to imagine that Congress would race to authorize a plan to send astronauts into space to prevent Armageddon or a planetary deep impact . ( If you do n't believe me , I refer you to the movies Armageddon and Deep Impact.)The initial rollout of the Green New Deal , a sweeping proposal to overhaul the U.S. economy and , taken seriously , society itself , was supposed to follow a script like this . The United Nations opened the bidding by announcing last year that we had twelve years to keep the pace of climate change from accelerating too fast to contain the damage . Like a high school game of telephone , this quickly became a blanket statement that we have " twelve years to save the planet . " Climate change is a real concern , but if we did absolutely nothing to stop it , the planet would still be here in a dozen years . So would the human race and many other living things . In fact , if America did virtually everything the Green New Dealers propose , global emissions of greenhouse gases would n't change that much unless China , India , Russia , and all the African nations followed suit . There are people who NONEtheless believe that climate change is a world - threatening calamity and that exaggeration is a necessary tool to galvanize public opinion . If you Google the phrase " twelve years to save the planet , " you 'll find people who think it 's literally true . The problem is that we 've heard these things before . In 1989 , a U.N. official predicted " entire nations could be wiped off the face of the Earth by rising sea levels if the global warming trend is not reversed by the year 2000 . " In 2008 , Al Gore warned that the northern polar ice cap could be gone in five years . Melting polar ice is something to worry about , but it 's not gone . The reasons this is a political problem for climate - change warriors should be obvious . First , they are their own worst enemy when it comes to maintaining credibility . By working on the theory that they have to scare the bejeebus out of the public , they made it easy for people to dismiss them when their Chicken Little prophecies did n't materialize . Another problem , which compounds the first , is that they get greedy . Working on the premise that a crisis is a terrible thing to waste , progressives have a long record of trying to throw other items on their wish list into the anti - climate - change shopping cart . The Green New Deal , as presented by Representative Alexandria Ocasio - Cortez ( D. , N.Y. ) , includes high - quality health care for everyone , guaranteed jobs , paid vacations , a living wage , and retirement security . Indeed , it 's worth remembering that environmentalists targeted the fossil - fuel industry for early retirement long before concerns about global warming were on the agenda . The anti - oil campaign began with the Santa Barbara oil spill in 1969 , back when concerns about another ice age were still taken seriously . You can believe that climate change is a real problem and also be forgiven for thinking progressives are trying to pull a fast one . This is especially so when you consider that proponents of the GND also favor phasing out nuclear power , which could provide vastly more electricity than wind or solar ( and more efficiently ) . Which gets me back to where I started . Imagine there was a movie about an incoming meteor that could be stopped only with a nuclear warhead , and the heroes insisted that nuclear weapons are just too icky to use , even to save the planet . Audiences would scratch their heads . They might also think they missed a crucial plot point if the protagonists proposed a sweeping government effort to stop the meteor and then , when given the opportunity to vote for it , voted " present " in protest . That 's similar to what happened this week . Senate majority leader Mitch McConnell brought the Green New Deal to the floor for a vote , and Democrats refused to vote for it . Instead , they harangued McConnell for pulling a stunt . They were right . It was a stunt . But sometimes it takes a stunt to expose an even bigger one .
|
nationalreview
|
right_bias
| false | true | false | false | false |
End of preview. Expand
in Data Studio
Dataset Card
This dataset contains 100 manually annotated narratives of climate change appearing in the USA news. Apart from the narrative frames annotation, we include their narrative components, as well as generic frames, political leaning and outlet.
Dataset Details
Please refer to our paper and other resources for the details of annotation, taxonomy, model performance on the dataset etc:
- Paper [to appear in ACL 2025 Findings]: https://arxiv.org/pdf/2506.00737
- Repository: https://github.com/julia-nixie/narratives
- Demo: https://julia-nixie.github.io/narratives
Dataset Structure
The dataset has the following fields (please refer to our paper for the lists of possible values and their descriptions):
NARRATIVE: the overall narrative frame of the article
HERO: the main hero of the narrative
VILLAIN: the main villain of the narrative
VICTIM: the main victim of the narrative
FOCUS: who (hero, villain, or victim) the narrative is focusing on
CONFLICT: shows if the narrative fuels a particular conflict or problem (such as climate change), fuels its resolution, or prevents either conflict or resolution
STORY: shows if the narrative is individualistic, hierarchical, or egalitarian
ARTICLE: full text of the article
outlet: the outlet of the article
leaning: the political leaning of the outlet
CO: if the article has the generic "Conflict" frame
RE: if the article has the generic "Resolution" frame
HI: if the article has the generic "Human Interest" frame
EC: if the article has the generic "Economic" frame
MO: if the article has the generic "Morality" frame
Citation
Please cite our paper if you use the dataset:
BibTeX:
@article{otmakhova2025narrative, title={Narrative Media Framing in Political Discourse}, author={Otmakhova, Yulia and Frermann, Lea}, journal={arXiv preprint arXiv:2506.00737}, year={2025} }
Dataset Card Contact
Please contact us at [email protected] if you have any questions regarding the dataset.
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