Back in February, I wrote about about what the U.S. presidential candidates’ said about mitigating climate change. At that time, McCain’s proposals were the weakest while there wasn’t much air between what Clinton and Obama proposed. The question remained, however, about what each of the candidates, if they won the presidency, would actually do about […]
climate change
What I’d say if I was wrong about climate change
Yesterday, a reader calling himself “Richard Miller” left behind a critical comment about my meeting with Congressman Nadler in which I will ask him to sponsor a “Sense of the House” resolution calling for climate change policy based on what is scientifically necessary rather than just politically possible. Richard asked, “How are you going to […]
Is it in your nature to try?
Can the way I live really make a difference? That’s one of the things we worry about, right? When it comes to figuring out whether to get involved in the political process or to make our lifestyles more sustainable, we all wonder if, in fact, we will make the slightest bit of difference. Is it […]
We need more than good “energy policy”
Michael Pollan, in Sunday’s New York Times Magazine’s green issue, had an excellent article called “Why Bother?“–about whether individual lifestyle change is worthwhile (there is also, by the way, a little snippet in the issue about yours truly). Pollan writes (with my emphasis): “It’s hard to argue with Michael Specter, in a recent New Yorker […]
How to solve climate change and end poverty
When I posted yesterday about my disappointment in the public infighting by the climate change policy wonks I turn to for guidance, Greenpa left behind a comment saying, “What you have here, I think, is THE argument in favor of individual action, instead of ‘policy.’” The problem is, of course, that in 2050 there are […]
We can save the world or we can fight
The good news about global warming in the United States, I think, is that the “deniers,” as they’re called, have now been relegated to the fringe. The candidates from both parties have mitigation strategies (which isn’t to say they are equally good–see this chart). The debate about whether or not there is such a thing […]
Al Gore’s new campaign
It’s late and I can’t write much but I want to say something in praise of the new “We” campaign Al Gore launched today. Through the Alliance for Climate Protection, he’s kicking off a $300 million, 3-year campaign to educate the public about global warming and urge action from political leaders. ”We’re trying to get […]
The “needle exchange” approach to planetary damage
There are two ways to reduce the harm to the planetary habitat we depend on for our health, happiness and security. One is to reduce the amount of resources we consume or degrade–air, forests, atmosphere, water, etc–and the other is to make the consumption of those resources less harmful. In other words: Resources Used x […]