Environment

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 […]

Batteries

As US Electric Vehicle Sales Double in One Year, Biden calls for Lowering their Price to Defeat Oil Tyrant Putin

Juan Cole

Ann Arbor (Informed Comment) – President Joe Biden called last week for a vast expansion of green energy in the United States to offset what he calls the “Putin price hike” caused by Russia’s invasion of Ukraine and the subsequent Western sanctions. He pointed out that since Russian President Vladimir Putin ordered the assault on […]

Climate Crisis

Germany Pushes joint Effort to become Climate-neutral Aviation ‘Pioneer’

Clean Energy Wire

By Sören Amelang | – ( Clean Energy Wire ) – The German government has launched a new push to make the country an international leader in sustainable aviation. “With a joint effort by industry, science, politics and society, Germany can become an international pioneer on the road to climate-neutral aviation,” said a government paper […]

Climate Crisis

Climate Emergency: Iran’s Abadan hits unprecedented 126° F., as Gov’t Offices are forced to Close

Juan Cole

Ann Arbor (Informed Comment) – Iran International reports that a temperature of 126 degrees F. (52.2C) has been recorded in Abadan. It is the highest temperature officially recorded in that city in the 70 years official records have been kept. Globally, it is one of the the higher temperatures observed before the summer solstice since […]

Climate Crisis

Petition to Phase Out Greenhouse Gas (GHG) Pollution to Restore a Stable and Healthy Climate – James E. Hansen, Donn Viviani, et al.

contributors

Via Climate Restoration and Restoration Initiative BEFORE THE ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY Petition to Phase Out Greenhouse Gas (GHG) Pollution to Restore a Stable and Healthy Climate TO Michael S Regan, Administrator U.S. Environmental Protection Agency 1200 Pennsylvania Avenue, N.W. Washington, D.C. 20460 Regan.Michael@epa.gov Submitted on Behalf of Petitioners Donn J. Viviani, John Birks, Richard Heede, […]

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

Greens return to French Parliament in Left Coalition, as Neoliberal Macron loses Majority

Juan Cole

Ann Arbor (Informed Comment) – France’s parliamentary elections witnessed an upset, with centrist President Emmanuel Macron’s party, La République En Marche and its Ensemble coalition losing its absolute parliamentary majority. A majority requires 289 seats, and Macron’s party gained 245 seats. Among the beneficiaries are the Left and the Greens, who joined together in the […]

Climate Crisis

German Gov’t Dedicates 2% of Country’s Land Area to Onshore Wind

Kerstine Appunn

By Kerstine Appunn | – ( Clean Energy Wire ) – More areas in Germany are going to be designated to onshore wind energy, with state governments ways of interfering being limited by new federal rules. German states will have to actively look for areas that can be designated for wind farm construction in order […]