Category Archives: activism

Cutting CO2 Emissions by Saving Tropical Forests: World Bank Steps Up

A superb story in the WSJ by Tom Wright (which I think is available) reveals that the World Bank is moving to reduce CO2 emissions by saving tropical forests, especially in Indonesia. The global effort to stem climate change could soon include paying countries in the tropical belt to not cut down their rain forests,Continue reading “Cutting CO2 Emissions by Saving Tropical Forests: World Bank Steps Up”

Ecuador to World: Help Us, and We Won’t Drill in the Rainforest

In response to intense pressure from indigenous and environmental organizations opposed to drilling for oil in an Amazon rainforest, Ecuador has gone to the world and asked for financial help, according to the Environmental News Service. The oil fields under Yusani National Park are estimated to contain 900 million to 1 billion barrels of oil,Continue reading “Ecuador to World: Help Us, and We Won’t Drill in the Rainforest”

Tax Carbon Now, Says LA Times

Despite being under tremendous pressure from their corporate overlords, the denizens of the LATimes continue to put out a remarkably good newspaper. Yesterday they ran the best editorial on reducing carbon emissions this reporter has ever seen, with a terrific lede: If you have kids, take them to the beach. They should enjoy it whileContinue reading “Tax Carbon Now, Says LA Times”

The Taxing Solution to Global Warming

A carbon tax is not a new idea; heck, The Economist proposed a carbon tax to reduce greenhouse gas emissions in l998. But the fact that a few idealistic conservatives (yes, the species still exists) are backing a carbon tax now is news. Especially since just two years ago Andrew Sullivan, the leader of theContinue reading “The Taxing Solution to Global Warming”

Conservatives Bicker over Global Warming: Businessmen Lead

It’s the strangest thing: conservatives, Republicans, and partisans on the right continue to squabble over global warming–is it real, should we act?–even as huge corporations call for exactly the sort of emissions-reductions measures that Al Gore and countless other Democrats want to see enacted. The latest example is the third-largest American oil company, now knownContinue reading “Conservatives Bicker over Global Warming: Businessmen Lead”

Bush Administration Muzzles Scientists…Again

That’s according to a first-rate story in the Seattle Post-Intelligencer. The lede: The Bush administration is ordering federal wildlife officials headed for international meetings on polar bears not to talk about how climate change and melting ice are affecting the imperiled animals. The ever-reliable Andy Revkin of the NYTimes is also on the case. HisContinue reading “Bush Administration Muzzles Scientists…Again”

How to Reduce Emissions and Grow the Economy

Paul Krugman has a good, hard-hitting piece in today’s NYTimes on practical solutions for climate change. It’s behind the firewall, but let me share a couple of excerpts. Here’s Paul: Aside from a few dead-enders on the political right, climate change skeptics seem to be making a seamless transition from denial to fatalism. In theContinue reading “How to Reduce Emissions and Grow the Economy”

Jaw-Dropper of the Week: Dr. Richard Lindzen, Climate Change Denier

Dr. Richard Lindzen, a professor at MIT, and one of the handful of halfway-reputable deniers still around, gives Larry King "his read" on Al Gore’s An Inconvenient Truth and the issue of climate change: I think it’s mainly just like little kids locking themselves in dark closets to see how much they can scare eachContinue reading “Jaw-Dropper of the Week: Dr. Richard Lindzen, Climate Change Denier”