Drought

Biden, Speaking of “Climate Emergency” and National Security, Pledges Executive Orders to Combat Global Heating

Ann Arbor (Informed Comment) – President Joe Biden announced on Wednesday that he would use executive orders and appeal to emergency measures in addressing what he caled the “climate crisis,” deploying among other tools the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA). He announced, “And in the coming weeks, I’m going to use the power I have […]

Agriculture

Environment: Iraqis and Iranians continue to oppose Turkey’s hydroelectric projects on the Tigris River

Global Voices

By Roman Shemakov | – The following story is part of series on Turkey’s Ilisu Dam project and the flooding of Hasankeyf. The Ilisu Dam, completed as part of Turkey’s Güneydoğu Anadolu Projesi (Southeastern Anatolian Development Project or GAP for short in Turkish) in 2019, has faced heavy criticism from both local as well as […]

Climate Crisis

The Supreme Court has curtailed EPA’s power to regulate Carbon Pollution – and sent a Warning to other Regulators

The Conversation

By Patrick Parenteau, Vermont Law School | – In a highly anticipated but not unexpected 6-3 decision, the Supreme Court ruled on June 30, 2022, that the Obama adminstration’s Clean Power Plan exceeded the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s authority under the Clean Air Act. The ruling doesn’t take away the EPA’s power to regulate carbon […]

Climate Crisis

In 13 Years, Gasoline will be as Illegal in Europe as Heroin for New Car Buyers

Juan Cole

Ann Arbor (Informed Comment) – Les Echos reports that after a marathon 16-hour negotiating session, the 27 European Union countries agreed to issue five new laws aimed reducing carbon dioxide emissions by 55% compared to 1990 levels by 2030 and at reaching carbon neutrality by 2050. Frans Timmermans, the chief EU Climate official, noted that […]

Climate Crisis

The Ukraine War must Impel us to Switch to Green Energy, not Double Down on Fossil Fuels

Middle East Monitor

By Burak Elmalı | – ( Middle East Monitor ) – The Russia-Ukraine War has lasted for four months and counting. It has raised various questions about new waves of refugees, energy resources, food prices and the revision of national security policies all over the world. The week after the Russian invasion in February, US […]

Climate Crisis

Greenwashing: how Ads get you to think Brands are greener than they are – and how to avoid falling for it

The Conversation

By Morteza Abolhasani, The Open University; Gordon Liu, The Open University; and Zahra Golrokhi, The Open University | – Ads are ubiquitous in many people’s lives, whether on billboards across our cities or on our phones as we’re tracked across the internet. That’s a huge amount of power and influence. For example, ads which appeal […]

Climate Crisis

This Week’s Climate Disasters in the US are Giving us a Glimpse of our Future if we don’t Stop CO2

Juan Cole

Ann Arbor (Informed Comment) – We’re only midweek, but we have already seen serial disasters across the United States that have been exacerbated by the climate emergency, caused by human beings burning coal, methane gas and petroleum. So writes Mihai Andrei at ZME Science. I put it to you that this first paragraph at the […]

Batteries

California Milestone: State for First Time briefly Generates 103% of its Electricity from Renewables

Juan Cole

Ann Arbor (Informed Comment) – On one day in May, Lauren Sommer at NPR reported, California ran for several hours on 103% renewable electricity, which means it generated enough electricity from wind, solar, hydro, geothermal and battery to fulfill the entire needs of the state plus to be able to export a bit to neighboring […]

Climate Change

Lessons in Activism: How Australia’s expanding environmental Movement is breaking the Climate Action Deadlock in Politics

The Conversation

By Robyn Gulliver, The University of Queensland | – The federal election saw voters’ growing concern about Australia’s laggardly response to climate change finally addressed, with teal independents garnering seats in Liberal heartland and record votes for Greens candidates. But what caused this seismic shift in Australia’s political landscape? And why now? We believe the […]