Category Archives: climate

The problem with temporary solutions: Kludgeocracy

Steven Teles of John Hopkins points out, the problem with our government is not that it's too big or badly intentioned. The problem is that it tries to find temporary solutions to permanent problems.  You can’t solve a problem until you can name it. We have names for one axis of our politics — rightContinue reading “The problem with temporary solutions: Kludgeocracy”

Obama in Berlin calls for action on climate (allegedly)

Today on a 91-degree day in Berlin, Obama makes what has been described by the NYTimes and many others as a major speech on climate. Here's what he said on the subject: Peace with justice means refusing to condemn our children to a harsher, less hospitable planet. The efforts to slow climate change requires bold action,Continue reading “Obama in Berlin calls for action on climate (allegedly)”

Snow disappearing from Southern California mountains

Don't expect to see pictures below much in the future. From the LA Times:  A UCLA study released Friday projects a significant decline in snowfall on the ranges that provide a dramatic backdrop to urban Southern California. By mid-century, the amount of snow draping the mountains could decrease 30% to 40%, researchers say. If greenhouseContinue reading “Snow disappearing from Southern California mountains”

How to stop global warming: Ken Caldeira

From a (typically excellent) NPR science story, this one about Ken Caldeira, the Stanford researcher into ocean acidification: "Decades ago, everybody was smoking cigarettes — and it was acceptable to smoke cigarettes indoors," [Caldeira] says. "And there was a phase change in social acceptability, where it is no longer acceptable to dump your cigarette smoke in airContinue reading “How to stop global warming: Ken Caldeira”

Don’t like the latest science? Kochify the News!

As has been much discussed, the Tribune chain of newspapers — including the Los Angeles Times — is up for sale, and the billionaire Koch Brothers say they want to buy it, according to reliable sournces, including the Wall Street Journal. A HuffPo summary: Tribune emerged from bankruptcy in 2012, and began preparations to sell offContinue reading “Don’t like the latest science? Kochify the News!”

The lull in the rise of global temperatures: NYTimes

Justin Gillis for the NYTimes writes definitively on "the lull" in the rate of increase of global temperatures. It's confident writing that coolly savors the ironies of the crisis, even as it depicts the news with jaw-dropping facts. Speaking of the leveling out of global mean temperatures in the last fifteen years, he writes:  What toContinue reading “The lull in the rise of global temperatures: NYTimes”

Changing — and being changed by — the sea around us

Brian Fagan, whose The Great Warming is the single best history of climactic change over the course of history, writes this week in The New York Times of the unseen dangers of rising sea levels: Fifty thousand drowned, steamships aground with their bows among trees, cattle rolled head over heels by gigantic waves — storiesContinue reading “Changing — and being changed by — the sea around us”

Climate Myths: The Campaign against Climate Science

Energy analyst Dr. John Berger's Climate Myths: The Campaign against Climate Science expertly separates climate fact from misinformation, and is especially good at reminding us of past deceptions put out by fossil fuel companies. Who can forget, for instance, The Greening Earth Society? "A creation of the Western Fuels Association," writes Berger, "…this benevolent-sounding "green organization"Continue reading “Climate Myths: The Campaign against Climate Science”

Mad Men of climate change denial: Steve Brodner

The right has its ways and means, but the left — as usually seems to be the case — has the artists, including Steve Brodner. No else depicts the banality of climate change deniers (er, "skeptics") with quite the same verve (and this is just the sketch — for the color/adman version, see this): ForContinue reading “Mad Men of climate change denial: Steve Brodner”