Nuclear Fusion: Realizing the Dream of Abundant Clean Energy

The dream of almost limitless clean energy from nuclear fusion is close to being realized. After 6 decades of research and testing fusion finally appears to be on the cusp of delivering on its promise to revolutionize energy production. Sometimes called "star in a jar" because the technology mimics the energy conversion processes like those in our sun.

UK

UK based Tokamak Energy has announced that it has a working fusion reactor called ST40.

The cost-effective reactor has achieved a critical step known as 'first plasma' that can heat plasma. They plan to reach the fusion threshold of 100 million degrees Celsius (180 million degrees Fahrenheit). They hope to be able to generate plasma at temperatures of 15 million degrees Celsius (27 million degrees Fahrenheit). The goal is to start a chain reaction that will fuse hydrogen atoms into helium. 

The ST40, also known as the Tokomak machine uses magnets, salt and water to produce carbon free energy. Because atoms are being fused rather then split (as is the case for existing nuclear fission power plants) the only waste product is helium. The company hopes to have utility scale commercially deployable technology by 2030.

This most recent fusion achievement comes on the heels of other strides that have been made in the US, Germany and elsewhere.

US

In 2016 scientists from MIT broke the record for plasma pressure. Using powerful new magnet technology engineers at MIT’ have developed  a mini modular fusion ARC reactor that generates the same amount of power as its larger predecessors.  The small size of this reactor contributes to its cost effectiveness.

As with all fussion reactors it all about magnet technology (magnetic field technology). The heat is so intense that magnets are required to keep the super hot plasma from touching tje walls effectively suspend the plasma in space. MIT specifically uses barium copper oxide (REBCO) superconducting coils.

MIT hopes to have utility scale energy production by 2025.

Germany

At the end of 2015 a German fusion reactor called the Wendelstein 7-X (W 7-X) "stellerator" successfully controled plasma. In 2016 the stellerator achieved the more challenging goal of working with hydrogen plasma.

The stellerator is an international effort that is   currently operated by Max Planck Institute for Plasma Physics in Germany. Tests were conducted in collaboration with scientists from the U.S. Department of Energy's Princeton Plasma Physics Laboratory (PPPL).  These test confirmed that it worked. What makes the stellerator superior to the Tokomak reactor is that it controls plasma without the need for any electrical current. This makes the stellerator more stable, because they can keep going even if the internal current is interrupted.

In 2019, the reactor will begin to use deuterium instead of hydrogen to produce actual fusion reactions.

This research is more of a proof of concept than an attempt to build a utility scale energy.

Others

France's ITER tokamak reactor has also been able to trap plasma long enough for fusion to occur.

In December 2016, South Korean researchers became the first to sustain 'high performance' plasma of up to 300 million degrees Celsius (540 million degrees Fahrenheit). However, this lasted for only 70 seconds.

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The US Military's Clear Consensus on Climate Change

There is no disputing the fact that America's fighting machine sees climate change as a clear and present danger. Those who are responsible for America's defense unanimously agree that climate change poses a significant risk to US national security and international security. This consensus is shared by the Pentagon, all branches of the US armed services, intelligence leaders, and senior military experts.

There has been a steady stream of reports that conclusively acknowledge that climate change is real and requires urgent action. The Pentagon's defense reviews in both 2010 and 2014 reiterated science-based views on climate change. In 2016 the Center for Climate and Security, a nonpartisan group of senior military and national security experts, released a "consensus statement on climate change".
These documents prompted two climate security experts to release the following statement:

"These reports make it crystal clear to national security and defense leaders, there’s absolutely nothing political about climate change. It’s a security risk, it makes other security risks worse, and we need to do something big about it."

This statement was released by Francesco Femia and Caitlin Werrell, the Co-Presidents at the Center for Climate and Security.

The American military had already identified climate change as a global threat to US security interests before Republicans embraced the politics of climate "skepticism" (aka denial) and long before Trump threw his hat in the ring to be president.

Energy initiatives that focus on enhancing capability and resiliency are already being deployed on the battlefield. Combat outposts currently use tactical solar gear saving tens of millions of gallons of fuel every year.

The US military is the world’s largest fossil fuel user and the Department of Defense (DoD) is the largest single user of energy in the country. As reported by National Geographic, DoD operates more than 555,000 facilities on 28 million acres of land with a replacement value of $850 billion. At least 128 coastal bases, valued at $100 billion are under direct threat from climate change.

The power requirements of the US military are staggering and meeting these energy needs around the world is a herculean logistical challenge. Integrating renewables that can generate power into the energy mix in theater is eminently logical. Investors are following this logic. According to EDF, private sector investments on Department of Defense installations are expected to generate 3,000 megawatts of renewable energy by 2025.

DoD has made no secret of its efforts to add resiliency and grid independence to its key military installations. The Navy, Marines, Army and Air Force have all been actively working to improve their efficiency and increase their reliance on renewables. While energy initiatives focus on enhancing capability and resiliency they are also good for the environment and our climate. In addition to solar and wind, DoD has also invested in hydrogen storage systems.

DoD works with scientists as well as state and local governments to develop adaptation strategies. The military is feeling the impacts of climate change and these impacts go far beyond flooding and droughts. For example, the British Navy testified to the UK’s Defense Committee that their Type 45 destroyers keep losing power because of high ocean temperatures.

DoD has been formally monitoring the risks of Climate Change since at least 2003. For them climate change is an indisputable fact.  However, facts have not prevented America's reigning Commander-and-Chief from saying that global warming a "hoax" and "bullshit". Thankfully Trump's Secretary of Defense and every branch of the US armed services disagrees.

While Trump and the GOP want to increase military spending they do not want to fund mitigation or adaptation efforts. Despite the dire consequences for national security, Trump's budget slashes climate research and action. In both 2014 and 2016 House Republicans have explicitly denied funding for climate action in Defense Department spending bills.

Despite the irresponsible conduct of fossil fuel funded legislators in the GOP , Secretary of Defense Mattis was lauded by military experts* for his clear statements about climate change in his testimony before Congress.

"Climate change can be a driver of instability and the Department of Defense must pay attention to potential adverse impacts generated by this phenomenon," Mattis said. Here are some examples of climate awareness and action in the various branches of the US military.

US Navy

The US Navy is determined to cut their fossil fuels and get half of their energy from alternative sources by 2020. The Navy is on track to produce more than a gigawatt of electricity in the next few years. In 2012, the Navy announced ambitious energy goals, including making half of all Navy bases, stations and schools net-zero-energy by 2020. The Navy's environmental efforts are not new they started decades ago.

"The Navy began installing equipment on our ships to safely manage our waste stream at sea and protect the environment over 30 years ago, and our bases have developed robust programs to protect natural resources and keep the air, water, and soil clean" said Rear Adm. Kevin Slates, director of the Chief of Naval Operations Energy and Environmental Readiness Division (OPNAV N45).

Now the Navy is working on its supply chain. As reported by Environmental Leader, in 2016 the US Navy asked its largest suppliers to disclose their greenhouse gas emissions (GHGs). They also want these companies to provide strategies to reduce these GHGs.

Flooding is already a problem affecting Norfolk station, the headquarters of the Atlantic fleet, and at other bases clustered around the mouth of the Chesapeake Bay. At the US Naval Academy in Annapolis, Maryland, tidal flooding now occurs 50 times a year.

In 2015 the Navy signed a deal to build a massive 210-megawat solar farm with 650,000 photovoltaic panels. This solar station will generate a third of the electricity used by 14 Navy and Marine Corps bases in the western United States. The naval nuclear submarine base in Georgia is but one example (136,000 solar panels have been installed at the base).

In 2016 United States Navy at Naval Station Great Lakes (NSGL) awarded an Energy Savings Performance Contract (ESPC) to Pepco Energy Services for new energy efficiency improvements and renewable energy systems.

This spring the US Navy signed a deal for two hydrogen fuel cell plants at a submarine base in Groton, CT. Together these plants will have a total output of 7.4 megawatts.

Researchers at the U.S. Naval Research Laboratory (NRL), Materials Science and Technology Division, have developed innovative applications of alternative energy technologies including recovering carbon dioxide (CO2) and hydrogen (H2) from seawater and converting it to a liquid hydrocarbon fuel.

US Marines

Like other branches of the armed services, the Marine Corps is also vulnerable to flooding. The Recruit Depot Parris Island is expected to be under water by the end of the century.

Not all of the initiatives are big ticket items. If repeated often enough a number of small actions can make a big difference. In 2015 the Marine Corps Base Quantico (MCBQ) in Virginia replaced nearly 2,000 exterior area mercury vapor high-pressure sodium fixtures with energy efficient LED fixtures.

US Army

The Army has been using renewable energy for years. In 2013 the Army Reserve drilled 83 geothermal wells at its Bryan Army Reserve Center in Bryan, Texas.  The solar power plant at the Army's Fort Huachuca was the largest renewable energy installation on a US military base when it was announced in 2014. The 68-acree plant has a peak output of 18 megawatts or about a quarter of the base's needs.

Fort Hood in Texas in on the front lines of the US Army's renewable energy efforts. The base aims to get half of its energy from renewables in the coming years. This includes a massive 132 acre solar farm that can accommodate 63,000 solar panels. The Army is also investing in an outside wind farm. Together these renewable energy projects will cost about $100 million but will save about $168 million over thirty years. In 2016 Fort Hood signed a power purchase agreement for 65 MW of solar and wind.

More than 2 megawatts of solar photovoltaic are in the works as part of a multi-phase renewable energy and energy efficiency project at the Adelphi Laboratory Center in Adelphi, Maryland, a research and development facility of the US Army.

US Air Force (USAF)

This spring the Air Force Research Laboratory's Advanced Power Technology Office announced that it had developed expeditionary operating bases equipped with renewable energy. The solar panels being used may eventually be bulletproof and there is also a lightweight wind power package that is being explored. This is part the Air Force Civil Engineer Center's 2035 vision which includes creating a deployable, self sustaining power system. The Air Force has also developed and implemented more efficient flight routes that save massive amounts of fuel worth around $1.5 billion.

* Here is a list of some of the military leaders who have lauded Secretary Mattis' clear-eyed focus on climate change. Rear Admiral Ann Claire Phillips, U.S. Navy (Ret), Rear Admiral David W. Titley, U.S. Navy (Ret), Brigadier General Gerald Galloway, U.S. Army (Ret), Rear Admiral Len Hering, U.S. Navy (Ret), Joan D.B. VanDervort, Former Deputy Director for Ranges, Sea and Airspace in the Office of the Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense (Readiness), Colonel Lawrence Wilkerson, US Army (Ret), Admiral Samuel J. Locklear III, U.S. Navy (Ret), General Ron Keys, U.S. Air Force (Ret), Admiral Frank “Skip” Bowman, U.S. Navy (Ret), Lieutenant General John G. Castellaw, U.S. Marine Corps (Ret), and Lieutenant General Arlen D. Jameson, U.S. Air Force (Ret).

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Pope Francis & Donald Trump: Environmental Advocacy vs. Climate Denial

Donald Trump and Pope Francis are a study in contrasts. The Pope is a leading supporter of climate action, he respects other traditions, and he is a selfless champion for the world's poor. The pontiff's attributes are in stark contrast to Trump's climate denial, xenophobia, and advocacy on behalf of himself and the wealthy.

The meeting between these two men represents a clash of two diametrically opposed ideologies. This organic antagonism extends well beyond their opposing positions on the issue of climate change. Trump is an opportunistic materialist while the pontiff is a principled and spiritual man. The president is a science eschewing narcissist who habitually lies, the pope is an honest and humble man who values the role of science.

After Trump was inaugurated the Pope told the Spanish newspaper El Pais said that that he would defer judgment on the new president until a later date. Four months later the pictures of the two leaders standing together (above left) suggest the time for judgment has come. Trump can be seen sporting a broad smile while the Pope remained stern (in pictures with President Obama, Francis was beaming).

This schism precedes Trump's win on November 8th and probably dates back to their respective conceptions. Francis and Trump have had some very public disagreements during the presidential election campaign of 2016.  Speaking about Trump the pope said that a man who thinks about building walls and not bridges is 'not a Christian'. Trump called the pontiff's remarks 'disgraceful'.

While the Pope is just one of many people Trump has maligned, the Pope's repeated criticisms of the real estate tycoon are noteworthy. That is because unlike Trump the Pope is not inclined to personal attacks. The fact that Francis has deemed it necessary to publicly chastise Trump speaks volumes.

Climate action vs denial

The pontiff pointedly repudiates the GOP's climate denial. His encyclical titled, Laudato Si (Blessed Be), On Care for Our Common Home, calls everyone to be good stewards of the Earth. This document was one of the gifts that the pope gave to Trump when he visited the Vatican.

When the Pope visited the US he said we all have a moral obligation to act on climate change and he urged the Republican-controlled Congress to stop obstructing action. In Laudato Si, Francis wrote, "Obstructionist attitudes, even on the part of believers, can range from denial of the problem to indifference, nonchalant resignation or blind confidence in technical solutions. We require a new and universal solidarity.

Just before he released the 184-page encyclical Francis warned the rich and powerful that God will judge them on whether they fed the poor and cared for the Earth. He delivered these remarks during a Mass for the Vatican's Caritas Internationalis charity. Even before Laudato Si was published, members of the GOP were voicing their opposition. Cardinal Oscar Rodriguez Maradiaga, Francis' key adviser, said he was "stunned" by the slew of Republican complaints.

Economics: Help the poor or help the rich

As reaffirmed in his budget, Trump is helping the wealthy and depriving the poor. The Pope's encyclical said “both the cry of the earth and the cry of the poor” must be heard by world leaders. The Pope has expressed his concern for the impact that climate change will have on the most vulnerable, he has also said that churches that don't help the poor should be stripped of their tax-exempt status.

This pontiff has made statements that address the core of the economic rationale behind sustainability. As Trump has revealed he does not understand the first thing about economics let alone sustainability.

Even before Trump called climate change a Chinese hoax the Pope's scientists had vetted the research and acknowledged the veracity of anthropogenic warming. They also supported the conclusion that we urgently need to act on climate change. A 2014 Statement from the Pontifical Academy of Sciences and the Pontifical Academy of Social Sciences acknowledged that the wrongdoings of men towards environment and society. The statement also explores sustainable solutions to the issues we face.

"An economic system centered on the god of money needs to plunder nature to sustain the frenetic rhythm of consumption that is inherent to it," Pope Francis said. "I think a question that we are not asking ourselves is: isn’t humanity committing suicide with this indiscriminate and tyrannical use of nature? Safeguard creation because, if we destroy it, it will destroy us. Never forget this."

Inclusion vs exclusion

The Pope's message is for everyone, while Trump continues to pander to his base while much of the rest of the world looks at him with revulsion.  Francis explains that we all have a moral obligation to be responsible stewards of the earth we share and the natural systems upon which all life depends. For the sake of future generations, we must safeguard their natural inheritance, set an example of care, and leave them a livable planet. And we have a moral obligation to those already paying a high price for climate change and environmental degradation. Francis says if we deny this obligation, "the very foundation of our life begin to crumble.

While Trump has a well-earned reputation for xenophobia, Pope Francis offers a message for all faiths. As explained by Rev. Sally Bingham, Pope Francis' climate message speaks to all faiths. "All of us, Catholic or not, Christian or not, must recognize our responsibility and obligation to act in the face of human-induced climate change."

Laudato Si has been shared widely in both religious and academic settings. The Pope's call for climate action helped to galvanize support for the Paris Climate Agreement which was signed by almost every nation on earth.

Fossil fuels: Two opposing perspectives

While Trump wants to double down on fossil fuels Francis has suggested that they need to be phased out. The Vatican has released a document called, Climate Change and the Common Good," which lays out the moral and ethical case for climate action. It starts with the words "Unsustainable consumption" and specifically attributes "grave existential risks for the poorest three billion" to the "continued extraction of coal, oil, and gas." There were calls for a 'moral awakening' to reject fossil fuels at a Vatican Climate Conference in April 2015.

The Pope's fight for climate action and the poor is an extension of church teachings. In a speech in Ireland, the head of the Vatican’s Pontifical Council for Justice and Peace, Cardinal Peter Turkson said Pope Francis, "is emphasizing Roman Catholic social teaching that links protecting life with fighting global inequality and preserving the environment." Turkson also helped write the first draft of Laudato Si.

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The Complementary Roles of Nuclear Power and Renewable Energy

Although it may not always be an accurate appraisal, environmentalists prefer renewable energy over nuclear power. They commonly lump nuclear power in with dirty fossil fuels like coal. Every nuclear plant that closes is heralded as a great victory. However, closing nuclear power plants commonly results in increased greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions.

Those who welcome such closures don't seem to realize that the energy produced at this facility will need to be replaced. If that energy is created by coal or gas powered energy generation it will increase emissions. When Southern California Edison’s San Onofre Nuclear Generation Station (SONGS), was taken offline in 2012 and 2013 the state began generating hundreds of megawatts of energy from natural gas-powered facilities.

Nuclear power is emissions-free and as such, it is a far better energy choice than fossil fuels (the leading cause of climate change). It is for this reason that climate concerned organizations including the Natural Resources Defense Council like carbon-free nuclear power. However, nuclear power is expensive and renewables are getting cheaper all the time.

Laudable shut-downs

At the beginning of this year, environmentalists applauded as New York State Governor Andrew M. Cuomo announced the closure of the Indian Point nuclear plant by April 2021. New York is hoping to get the energy its needs from HydroQuebec and from massive wind farms that are currently under construction in the state. New York state also intends to increase efficiency initiatives.

Last summer California announced that it would be phasing out all nuclear power by 2025. Pacific Gas and Electric (PG&E), said it would decommission the state's last remaining nuclear power plant at Diablo Canyon which produces 8.6 percent of the state's energy. The news was welcomed by organizations like Friends of the Earth, Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC), Environment California and Alliance for Nuclear Responsibility.

What makes the closure of the Diablo Canyon plant such a success story is the fact that it is being offset by carefully planned investments in energy efficiency, renewable energy (wind and solar), energy storage, and demand response.

Phasing out nuclear and increasing renewables alongside greater efficiency is laudable when and where it is feasible. Cleantechnica reports that on May 21, 2017 Swiss citizens voted to end nuclear power and promote renewable energy and efficiency. The referendum results are consistent with The Energy Strategy 2050 that has already been approved by Parliament in 2016. In Switzerland nuclear power provides 38 percent of the nation's energy supply.

Perhaps the best example of transforming proverbial swords into plowshares is a proposal to make Chernobyl a solar energy hub. As reported by Environmental Leader, the proposed project could produce as much as 4,000 megawatts of solar power which is roughly equivalent to what the Chernobyl nuclear reactors were generating. There are also high voltage transmission lines in place that could be used to transport energy across the Ukraine.

Renewable bias

Environmentalists tend to prefer renewable energy over nuclear power. They rightly argue that nuclear fission wastes energy and they site the growth of renewables in the last decade and a half. As of 2012 renewables had already eclipsed nuclear and that trend continues. An inquisitr article cites a report from the World Nuclear Industry which states that half of the world gets most of its power from renewable energy, not nuclear.

"Renewable energy is outgrowing nuclear energy in power capacity too. Between 1997 and 2014, the world added an average of 879 terawatt-hours of solar and wind power every year. That is 732 terawatt hours more than nuclear energy, which only grew by 147 terawatt hours within the same time span."

However, the report concedes that nuclear energy is far better at delivering predictable amounts of electricity since the fission reactions are constant.

Next generation fission reactors

An Environmental Leader article by Ken Silverstein states that there are around 100 second generation nuclear reactors in the United States but with the exception of two reactors in Georgia (costing $18 billion) the rate of growth has slowed to a virtual standstill in America. However, nuclear energy is coming back in Asia and third generation reactors are safer and better. China currently has 20 nuclear plants and they are building 28 more.

The fourth-generation (very high-temperature) reactors will follow in 2021. They are cheaper and have almost no risk of leaks. National labs are working with industry leaders like General Electric, Areva and Westinghouse to build better and safer reactors. Marvin Fertel, chief executive of the Nuclear Energy Institute says this new generation of reactors will be safe he also makes the bold claim that these designs will be "the cheapest power we have for our nation."

Silverstein predicts that developed nations will keep using nuclear power while developing nations are expected to see big increases in nuclear power energy generation facilities.

Science-based assessments

The fact remains that we will need to make some sober decisions if we are to have a shot at reducing global emissions within the remaining window of opportunity. A Guardian article by four climate scientists including James Hansen makes the point that nuclear energy is part of the required energy solutions that will help us to decarbonize in a timely fashion: "Nuclear power paves the only viable path forward on climate change. To solve the climate problem, policy must be based on facts and not prejudice. Alongside renewables, Nuclear will make the difference between the world missing crucial climate targets or achieving them."

These authors point out that there are adverse environmental consequences associated with renewable forms of energy like cutting down forests for bioenergy and damming rivers for hydropower. These scientists state:

"Nuclear power, particularly next-generation nuclear power with a closed fuel cycle (where spent fuel is reprocessed), is uniquely scalable, and environmentally advantageous. Over the past 50 years, nuclear power stations – by offsetting fossil fuel combustion – have avoided the emission of an estimated 60bn tons of carbon dioxide. Nuclear energy can power whole civilizations, and produce waste streams that are trivial compared to the waste produced by fossil fuel combustion. There are technical means to dispose of this small amount of waste safely."

Overcoming prejudice

These scientists tell us that to solve the climate problem we need policies that are, "based on facts and not on prejudice." While renewable energy is important we need to take stock of the weaknesses associated with these technologies. We cannot afford to ignore the intermittency issue and they further argue that "nuclear power would make it much easier for solar and wind to close the energy gap."

Once again these authors call us to responsibly assess the role that nuclear power will play in the energy mix.

"The climate issue is too important for us to delude ourselves with wishful thinking. Throwing tools such as nuclear out of the box constrains humanity’s options and makes climate mitigation more likely to fail. We urge an all-of-the-above approach that includes increased investment in renewables combined with an accelerated deployment of new nuclear reactors...Nuclear will make the difference between the world missing crucial climate targets or achieving them. We are hopeful in the knowledge that, together with renewables, nuclear can help bridge the ‘emissions gap’ that bedevils the Paris climate negotiations. The future of our planet and our descendants depends on basing decisions on facts, and letting go of long-held biases when it comes to nuclear power."

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Trump's Corruption may be his Lasting Legacy and his Undoing

The Trump administration can be described as an oligarchy full of kleptocrats or a kakistocracy. Donald Trump is known for shady dealings and now that he is president his corruption has predictably become a defining feature of his presidency. While this should not surprise anyone who has followed Trump, the extent of the corruption is troubling.

Trump has a long history of corrupt business practices. This includes the scam that was Trump University. He has also failed to pay vendors for services rendered. Trump's progression from corruption as a "business man" to presidential corruption was seamless. Within a week of winning the election on November 8th he was hard at work exploring ways that he can profit from the presidency. Even before taking the oath of office he had created an influence peddling scheme whereby he sold access to foreign diplomats in the form of exorbitantly priced bookings at one of his hotels.

Although the Constitution expressly forbids the receipt of gifts from foreign diplomats, Trump argues that as president he is above the law. However, the malfeasance goes far beyond breaching the emoluments clause of the constitution. As president it starts with failing to put his business interests in a blind trust.

In a flagrant display of unprecedented nepotism he put his family and friends in key administration positions. Even those associated with Trump outside of the administration capitalized. The sister of Trump's son-in-law Jared Kushner is using her brother's name to sell US citizenship in China under the guise of a half million dollar real estate investment.

Campaign finance and the GOP

According to The Wall Street Journal of the $6 million in campaign funds that Trump spent in the first quarter of 2017, $500,000 was directed right back into Trump-owned hotels, restaurants and golf clubs. In total, since the start of his campaign, over $14 million has been funneled back into Trump-owned properties.

Although Republicans widely criticized Trump, once he became president they saw this as a chance to pass a slew of legislation. The Speaker of the House Paul Ryan was also critical but he changed his tune and is now protecting Trump. Some have suggested this may be due in part to a $100K donation Trump gave to the Ryan aligned Congressional Leadership Fund super PAC.

This all relates to the murky campaign finance under what is known as the Citizen's United ruling which allows politicians to receive virtually unlimited donations. This Supreme Court decision destroys century long legal prohibitions against undue influence. Justice Anthony Kennedy successfully argued for removing limits on independent expenditures specifically mentioning, "quid pro quo corruption" in his ruling.

Some allege that Betsy DeVos was appointed as Secretary of Education because of the massive amount of money she donates to the Republican party.

Opacity

As revealed by the Panama Papers corruption is widespread in government. However, Trump takes it to a whole new level. Corruption costs everyone, it is a cancer that undermines far more than just environmental protections. Conversely sustainability is a bulwark against malfeasance and corporate transparency goes a long way to combat corruption. In recent presidential history Trump's lack of transparency is unparalleled. This president has broken with tradition and refused to release his tax returns ostensibly to hid his malfeasance.

Tax payers footing the bill

There is also the issue of his seemingly weekly jaunts to Mar-a-Lago at the tax payers expense. In response Rep. Ted Lieu (D-CA) introduced the Stop Waste and Misuse by the President (SWAMP) Act. This bill would require Trump to reimburse the government for funds spent on travel to his own properties. Trump has also met with heads of state at his Mar-a-Lago property. This means that tax payers are effectively bankrolling a marketing campaign.

Media lays out the facts

Trump's corruption has been singled out by media outlets around the world. A recent example can be found in the German investigative news magazine Der Spiegel. The article points to rampant corruption and says of Trump, "He does not possess the requisite intellect and does not understand the significance of the office he holds nor the tasks associated with it." 

As explained in the title of a May 12, Esquire article, "This Level of Corruption Is Unprecedented in the Modern History of the Presidency And it's threatening our democracy."  The article states, "There is a level of intellectual—and, perhaps, literal—corruption that is unprecedented in the modern history of the presidency and that is a genuine and unique threat to democratic institutions that are the objects of destructive contempt."

A Reuters report reviews some of the ways that Trump has profited from being president. Public pension funds in at least seven U.S. states have invested millions of dollars in an investment fund related to Trump. This may violate a constitutional rule prohibiting the flow of money from states to the pockets of a sitting president.

Russia connection

A Dutch TV documentary (see video at the bottom of this page) looks at Trump’s dark money and dubious business partners including Russian oligarchs and convicted members of organized crime. The documentary specifically looks at Trump's relationship with a man that was once on Trump's payroll,  Russian mobster and convicted fellon Felix Sater.

Sater was found guilty of racketeering and Trump may also be guilty of the same crime. Trump is alleged to be involved with a money laundering pyramid scheme that helps Russian billionaires move money out of Russia. Through his association with a front-company called Bayrock, Trump may be guilty of graft, tax fraud and running a criminal organization. Part Two of the Dutch documentary series explores Trump’s relationship with Israeli billionaire Lev Leviev, who is suspected of trading in blood diamonds.

Trump may have violated a number of anti-money laundering laws. According to recent reports the Senate Intelligence Committee has requested information about a $10 million money laundering penalty imposed against Trump’s Taj Mahal casino in 2015.

Bribes and hypocrisy

In a flagrant example of quid pro quo, Ivanka Trump praised the progress of women's rights in Saudi Arabia and the UAE. In exchange the two nations pledged a $100 million donation to Ivanka's global project for women entrepreneurs. Saudi Arabia and the UAE are universally recognized as some of the worst places in the world for women. In these countries women cannot do very much without the permission of male guardians this includes the right to travel anywhere or gain access higher education.

Like Ivanka, Trump's hypocrisy knows no bounds. Trump's tour of the Middle East may be designed to get him away from the constitutional crisis back home but his ineptitude has only landed him in more hot water.  In stunning reversal Trump did another 180. His rhetoric went from a steady spew of anti-Islamic vitriol to obsequious efforts to pander to Muslim leaders.

The savage irony is apparent to all but the president's supporters. Trump ran on a platform of draining the swamp, yet he sacked a leading swamp drainer, when he fired Preet Bhahara, the U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of New York. Trump railed against Hilary Clinton for giving a speech at Goldman Sachs and then he went on to put senior executives from Goldman Sach's into key administration positions.

Threat to democracy

Trump is not only the most dishonest US president in history he is also the most corrupt. This corruption not only erodes America's credibility it siphons vast amounts of public funds. Even more importantly corruption also imperils democracy itself.

There are efforts underway to combat corruption and defend democracy.  Americans could learn a lot from events in Romania this past winter. 

"Trump's presidency is deeply corrupted, our democracy is compromised, and the system of checks and balances is failing us," Bill Moyers wrote.  Impeachment may be the only recourse but this will only work if Republican lawmakers see it as a matter of political survival.

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Event - International Conference on Water, Informatics, Sustainability, & Environment (iWISE2017)

iWISE2017 conference will take place Monday, July 3 - Wednesday, 5, 2017 at the River Building – Carleton University, Ottawa, Ontario. The conference is organized by Science Target Inc. in collaboration with professional and academic institutions both are local and international.

Climate Change will increasingly challenge the Earth’s ecosystems to sustain human life and that’s why it is essential to find practical solutions to the challenges we face to build resilience in different tracks such as water, environment, biodiversity and energy with the help of the decision support tools.

iWISE 2017 provides opportunities for scientists, practitioners, policymakers, and leaders from around the world to share their knowledge, skills and expertise in, but not limited to: climate change, sustainable land use and eco-cities, integrated resources management, green economy, cleaner production, disaster management, environmental education, water research.

The main aim of iWISE 2017 is to integrate research, technology, and expertise in fields of water, informatics, sustainability and environment. This will be complemented by focused sessions and panel discussions on important and timely topics to allow for a lively exchange of ideas as well as contributions from highly selective keynote speakers from well-known leaders in the field.

iWISE2017 summary at a glance

• 3 days of engaging breakout sessions that will reignite the passion for innovation and showcase current research and practices in the fields of climate change, sustainable land use, eco-cities, integrated resources management, green economy, clean production, disaster management, environmental education, and water research.

• Technical workshops and themed sessions which will serve as an excellent opportunity to connect with colleagues and exchange ideas. It will also help in gaining valuable expertise needed for decision-making on the implementation of green practices; such as using eco-efficient technology, managing the carbon footprint, and supporting the climate change resilience.

• Climate Resilience Student Competition where promising student minds from top Ottawa-Hull universities and colleges brainstorming and debating innovative solutions. The winning team will be honored with prizes at the end of the competition.

• The Ottawa Sustainability Tour; a very attractive social activity, to celebrate the Canada 150. The tour reflects the sustainability sense of the National Capital Region. Tour is offered as part of our partnership with the Ottawa Biosphere Eco-city Council

• Digital and hard copies of conference publications including program, flyers, and book of abstracts will be distributed to all participant.

• Publication of selected papers in the International Journal of Environment and Sustainability (ISSN 1927-9566)l of Sustainable Land Use and Urban Planning (ISSN 1927-8845).

Speakers

Farouk El-Baz: Director of the Center for Remote Sensing and Research Professor at the Departments of Archaeology and Electrical & Computer Engineering, and Associated Faculty at the Department of Earth and Environment, Boston University, Boston, MA, U.S.A. Prof. El-Baz was the principal Investigator of the Earth Observations and Photography Experiment on NASA’s Apollo-Soyuz Test Project (ASTP)Among the many awards Dr. El-Baz has received are: the Apollo Achievement Award, Exceptional Scientific Achievement Medal, and Special Recognition Award, all from NASA

Tom Al: Professor in the Earth and Environmental Sciences Department at the University of Ottawa and the Director of the Ottawa-Carleton Geoscience Centre. He is a leading environmental geoscientist with a background in Earth Science, hydrogeology and geochemistry. His research focuses on geochemical processes affecting the movement of contaminants in groundwater with a view toward protection of water resources, mostly in relation to mineral and energy resource development. He is a key player in large multidisciplinary research networks that aim to minimize the environmental impact of mining and to develop a safe strategy for the long-term management of radioactive waste.

Dr. Nadia Abu-Zahra: Associate Professor of International Development and Global Studies and a member of the Human Rights Research and Education Centre at the University of Ottawa. She serves on the Reconciliation Committee of the Canadian Federation for the Humanities and Social Sciences, and was an elected Director on the Federation’s Board from 2011 to 2015. Prior to joining the University of Ottawa, Dr. Abu-Zahra was a Research Fellow at the University of Oxford’s Refugee Studies Centre, and a SSHRC Postdoctoral Fellow at the University of British Columbia. She researches and teaches on social movements, human rights, ethics, international development, and particularly mobility: immigration, refugees, environmental migration, family reunification, and community resilience.

Prof. Banu Ormeci: She received her Masters and PhD degrees from Duke University in the US. She is a full professor and Canada Research Chair in Wastewater Treatment Engineering in the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering at Carleton University. She leads an internationally recognized research program on wastewater and biosolids treatment, and is the recipient of several research, teaching and mentoring awards. She is also the Chair of the International Water Association’s Sludge Management Specialist Group. Her research on optimization of treatment processes has resulted in several patents and new processes in the market.

Dr. Basu PhD, P.Eng: Associate Professor and the Associate Chair of Graduate Studies at Carleton University in the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering. Dr. Basu has over 10 years experience in industry and academia, she is a process specialist with an interdisciplinary focus in water and wastewater process design. Her research specialization is in the areas of sustainable technologies, which includes biological treatment and improvements in system efficiencies through operational optimization. Her research group is focused on applied work with practical hands on experience in experimental design, set-up and design of bench scale, pilot scale and full scale experiments. Dr. Basu strongly believes that training of students goes beyond technical training, and actively encourages students to improve on communication skills, presentation skills, critical thinking and hands-on experiences through attendance at conferences, and workshops. Students in Dr. Basu’s group have won numerous awards for their work including most recently, Best Student Poster at the AWWA Membrane Technology Conference (2016), Best Environmental/Social Responsibility Award at the Ottawa PEO Student Paper Night (2015), Runner-Up Carleton three minute thesis (3MT) competition (2015) and the Adjelian Allen Rubeli Award for excellence in an undergrad engineering project (2016 and 2014).

Catherine Bonier: Assistant professor of architecture and urbanism at Carleton University, where she teaches urban research, history, and theory, as well as foundation and upper-level design studios. She received a BA in European history from Harvard College and a professional M.Arch. and Ph.D. in architecture from the University of Pennsylvania. Her research spans from the 16th to the 21st century and centers on the shaping of urban landscapes around water and infrastructures. Her studies address technology, as well as the role of techniques of artistic production and scientific inquiry in relation to architectural design. Within this context, she traces a history of ideas of nature, health, and civic life. Prior to her appointment at Carleton, Bonier taught urban research and architectural design at Louisiana State University and the University of Pennsylvania. In 2012, Bonier was named a Philadelphia Area Center for the History of Science (PACHS) fellow for her dissertation research. Her past positions in construction management, video game design, GED tutoring, and mental-health counseling contribute to her focus on the role of technology in the evolution of sustainable architectural and urban design.

Shannon Joseph: Program Director, Municipalities for Climate Innovation - Federation of Canadian Municipalities. She is passionate about the local government voice in Canada and catalyzing a municipal movement for sustainability innovation. Through her past work with an international NGO, as a consulting environmental engineer, and as Acting Executive Director of the Nunavut Association of Municipalities, Shannon brings a unique perspective to the key drivers for sustainable development in communities of all sizes. In her current role with FCM, Shannon leads new program design for environmental and infrastructure national programs as well as design and impact measurement for the Green Municipal Fund, a $500 million capacity building and funding program.

Jay Smith: EnviFaculty and Program Coordinator and Academic Advising Coordinator. nmental Studies Program Coordinator & Academic Advising Coordinator - Algonquin College. Mr. Smith’s passion for teaching and lifelong learning are modeled by his example: he expects to complete the Masters of Adult Ed. program at St. Francis Xavier University in 2016. An engaged volunteer of the Climate Reality Project, Mr. Smith is a dynamic sustainability advocate and speaker, currently serving as a mentor within the organization. With an optimistic and positive attitude, and the belief Canada can be a global leader in sustainability, Jay works tirelessly through his classes and his example to inspi Read morere students to learn, stand with their convictions, take risks, and change their futures.

To register click here.

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Reasons for Climate Optimism in 2017 Despite the Elephant in the Room

Contrary to expectations, events in 2017 give us reason to be optimistic. There has been so much good news over the last couple of years culminating in the Paris Climate Agreement. Both 2015 and 2016 were good years for climate action. However, this momentum was interrupted by the election of arguably the most ill-informed man ever to have control over the White House. 

This president in consort with the GOP passed a slew of destructive legislation. As revealed by his budget and his Executive Orders, Trump wants to kill climate action and scale back renewable energy. In short Trump's First 100 days have been a climate and environmental nightmare.

While we have reason to be discouraged we simply cannot afford to wallow. We cannot afford to give in to pessimism, particularly when there are so many good reasons to be optimistic. This point was made in a Mongabay interview with leading climate scientist and author Naomi Oreskes. "[A]t the end of the day, pessimism is not acceptable. It becomes an excuse for giving up. And I reject it." Oreskes said.

Here are some good news stories in 2017. The Senate recently voted to preserve an important Obama-era methane rule and the French electorate voted for global engagement and climate action. People turned out in record numbers to protest the current administration and the media are learning how to hold Trump accountable. Perhaps most promising, the system of checks and balances, including the courts give us hope for the future of the United States. At the very least the Trump administration's precarious political situation might force them to reconsider the Paris Agreement.

There are a number of reasons why we should be optimistic, here are four additional reasons to be hopeful about climate action.

1. Paris Climate Agreement

The COP21 deal was a momentous step forward and we continue to see momentum post Paris. Despite Trump and his highly dysfunctional administration, optimism pervaded the recent Bonn Climate Conference that took place at the beginning of this year. This event is a prelude to the next Conference of Parties to the climate framework (COP23), to be held this November in Bonn.

Although Trump has repeatedly promised to pull out of the Paris agreement, Europe and much of the rest of the world have made it emphatically clear that they consider the deal "irreversible". Regardless of what the current US administration decides to do, representatives at the Bonn conference moved forward creating a "rule book" for implementing the Paris Agreement. "It was a truly successful meeting," said United Nations climate secretary Patricia Espinosa.

2. Business leadership

The year started with climate optimism and a raft of sustainability initiative announced at the World Economic Forum (WEF) in Davos.  Many in the corporate world have embraced the Paris Agreement and corporate America is increasingly resisting Trump's climate policies and rejecting his climate ignorance.

There are many reasons propelling sustainability forward and forcing corporations to publicly disavow this administration, one of the most compelling is that the Trump represents an unacceptable level of risk.

3. Benefits of renewables

The ongoing growth of renewable energy is another bright spot. The delegates in Bonn expounded on the benefits of renewable energy pointing to clean air, jobs and the economy.

Buoyed by the rapidly declining price of renewables like solar, Nations including China and India have been increasing their already significant investments in renewable energy. A presentation by Climate Action Tracker at the WED suggests that this increased investment will offset increased emissions from current US policy.

4. Declining forests

"Optimism" was even included in the title of a recent report on global forest resources. According to data gathered by the United Nation's Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) we are losing forests at a much slower rate particularly when population growth is factored.

A total of 234 countries and territories covering 88 percent of the world’s forests were included in this report. The rate of annual net loss of forests slowed by more than 50 percent (0.18% in the 1990s to 0.08% over the last 5 years). In the US forest area has increased by 8 million ha between 1990 and 2010.

5. Trump administration hobbled

The Trump administration's anti-climate efforts are being stymied. The year that started with the election of Donald Trump is now headed towards criminal charges against members of his team or perhaps even impeachment of the president himself. At the very least this will slow his anti-climate policy agenda.

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Why Trump Should Not Quit the Paris Agreement

Upholding the Paris Climate Agreement makes good political sense. Trump's calculus is unlikely to factor the urgency of reducing carbon pollution to avert a climate catastrophe but he may embrace the deal as a matter of self interest.

Both the Washington Post and The New York Times recently reported that the momentum has turned against the Paris climate agreement in the Trump White House. However,  adhering to the deal makes political sense for the president in the context of the constitutional crisis he has created by firing FBI Director James Comey.

The Trump administration has delayed its decision on whether to withdraw from the Paris Climate Agreement until after the G7 meeting at the end of May.

Trump and the GOP have amassed a litany of anti-environment initiatives in their first 100 days. In this context withdrawing from the Paris Deal would be consistent, it would also honor a pledge made by Trump on the campaign trail. However, Trump lies, so if he were to break this promise it would hardly be out of character particularly when you consider the possible political gains. 

There are some compelling reasons why Trump and the Republicans might want to reconsider abandoning Paris. Given Trump's self-serving compulsion and his propensity to put himself before country or party, adhering to the Paris Agreement would deliver important political benefits at a crucial time. In the context of the constitutional crisis, Trump created it makes sense strategically to divert attention away from the investigation into his team's collusion with Russia.

With Trump's popularity plunging through the floor staying with the deal might also give him a boost. The agreement enjoys the support of 71 percent of Americans, including 57 percent of Republicans. If Trump read books he might be inclined to read up on the politics behind the creation of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). Richard Nixon created the EPA in part to help siphon off some of the pressure that was coming from protestors.

A range of interests have urged Trump to stay with the agreement. Very early on heads of state, climate scientists and business leaders all warned Trump not to cancel the Paris Agreement. Investors are concerned about the risk posed by Trump. Corporate America is increasingly affirming their support for the agreement. Even the fossil fuel industry is dropping its resistance this includes companies like Exxon Mobil, BP and Shell.

A ThinkProgress article by Joe Romm shares the view that Trump needs the accord in the wake of the firing of FBI director James Comey.  As explained by Romm, staying with the deal helps to legitimize an increasingly illegitimate administration.

"Every president in the modern era who gets into trouble at home, looks to opportunities to engage other leaders on the world stage publicly and cooperatively to demonstrate their legitimacy," explained Andrew Light, senior fellow at World Resources Institute and former U.S. State Department climate official.

Walking away from the deal will make the US into a "rogue nation, a global pariah like Putin’s Russia," Romm said and this will make it impossible for the Trump administration to work with foreign governments.  There has even been talk of imposing a carbon tax on the US.  Perhaps most importantly from Trump's point of view, an exit could seriously hurt his brand.

"Trump will soon learn that to achieve any foreign-policy triumphs to counterbalance his domestic troubles, he will have to stay in Paris. And while Trump is notoriously a bad listener, he does understand the value of trying to preserve one’s brand, especially after it gets damaged," Romm said.

Honoring the Paris Agreement is smart politics however, there is a caveat, this administration is anything but smart.

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Trump Represents a Serious Risk Factor for Investors and Corporate America

Trump represents a serious risk to the interests of corporate America. Trump expected adulation from the corporate community for his deregulation efforts, however, they are increasingly seeing him as the harbinger of risk. Trump not only poses a serious risk to the world's ability to reign in climate change, recent research indicates that corporate America thinks that he also poses a risk for them.

Trump's climate ignorance has been repudiated by Corporate America. Trump does not reflect the interest of the business community. Most global firms are premised on a fundamentally different world view than the one contained in Trump's insular nationalism. Even the fossil fuel industry has been increasingly distancing themselves from Trump. As reported by Axios, "the biggest and most important U.S. energy companies are now dropping their resistance to a global climate deal."

Corporate America has come a long way since Trump was elected president. During the campaign they remained largely silent so as not to risk alienating people. Now they are increasingly standing up and challenging Trump outright or quietly resisting by adopting sustainability focused strategies. Trump is increasingly being seen as a corporate risk factor.

According to Triple Pundit's Leon Kaye, the financial data research firm Sentieo reported that the corporate Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) have received several hundred filings related to Trump. 

These filings reflect concerns about the impact on performance and stock prices related to financial regulations, energy policy, and healthcare reform.

More than seven years ago the SEC issued new interpretive guidance that clarifies the climate-related information that publicly traded companies need to disclose. This includes things like emissions management policies, physical impacts of changing weather and green economy business opportunities.

In 2013 we saw a big wave of sustainability and climate focused resolutions from shareholders. This spring Kraft Heinz shareholders put forward few sustainability motions ahead of a shareholders meeting.

Sustainability related to SEC filings have increased rather dramatically since the election of Trump. These resolutions see Trump as a risk factor. As reported in the Wall Street Journal Trump was mentioned in securities filing ten times more than his predecessor President Barack Obama.

In the context of arguably the worst 100 days in American presidential history, more and more businesses are realizing that they have too much at stake and they must take sides. 

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Event - Ecocity World Summit 2017

This event will take place on July 12 - 14, 2017 in Melbourne, Australia. The ECOCITY World Summit addresses the way humanity builds its home — its cities, towns, and villages.

The series focuses on key actions cities and citizens can take to rebuild our human habitat in balance with living systems, and, in the process, slow down and even reverse global heating, biodiversity collapse, loss of wilderness habitat, agricultural lands, and open space, and social and environmental injustices.

The ECOCITY World Summit 2017 will focus on Changing Cities: Resilience and Transformations, highlighting the need to deploy expert knowledge – academic, professional, civic – to make cities resilient in the face of rapid change. Melbourne has been lauded as the world’s most liveable city but is not immune to the challenges facing all cities. The ECOCITY World Summit 2017 will harness the expertise and develop the networks needed to create a world of ecocities.

Former US Vice President and current Chair of The Climate Reality Project Al Gore to be Principal Speaker at Ecocity World Summit 2017. Mr. Gore will deliver his famous slide presentation including his insights on the role of cities in meeting the global climate challenge. The involvement of Mr. Gore will further strengthen the potential for the Melbourne Ecocity World Summit to play a crucial role in accelerating global climate change action by cities and subnational governments.

This world-renown series was first held in Berkeley California in 1990 and has since been hosted by cities in Australia, Senegal, Brazil, China, India, California, Turkey, Canada, and France. Past conferences have featured a wide range of leaders and innovators, including environmentalist David Brower, Apollo 14 astronaut Edgar Mitchell, Rusong Wang, member of the Chinese Peoples Congress and Head of the Environmental Sciences division of the Chinese Academy of Science, renowned architect and urban planner Jamie Lerner, former Mayor of Curitia, Brazil, architect/philosopher Paolo Soleri, former Mayor of San Francisco Gavin Newsom, and Denis Hayes, Director of the original National Earth Day in 1970 and keynote for the first ECOCITY Conference.

The ECOCITY World Summit aims to unite people through a new way of living on the planet that provides the best possible cities while enhancing, not destroying, the biosphere. Humanity has entered its urban age, with a rapidly growing majority of the population now living in cities. The ‘urban globe’ faces unprecedented social and environmental challenges. The chief danger is climate change, which threatens epic disruption and hardship. But there are related challenges to human health, biodiversity and the bedrocks of life – food, water, and energy. At the same time, new ‘smart’ technologies are proposing solutions to planetary problems. One principal solution is apparent: our cities must become ecological cities if we want a sustainable world. Creating ecocities must now be a human priority. Australia, a nation of cities, is well-placed to contribute to this urgent global project.

Click here to register.

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Event - Impact Capitalism Summit Nantucket

The 9th annual Impact Capitalism Summit (ICS) will take place July 19-20 on Nantucket Island. Celebrating its 10-year anniversary, Big Path Capital has announced the largest convening of investors focused on maximizing impact and maximizing return across asset classes.

This Summit will focus on key factors that are changing the impact investing landscape. The biggest transfer of wealth in human history has started. Over the next 35 years as an unprecedented $58.7 trillion dollars of wealth transfers to women and millennials. Women will inherit 70% of this wealth. By 2030, two-thirds of the wealth in the United States will be in women's hands. Lastly, women and millennials factor a company's social and environmental impact into their investing decisions at a dramatically higher rate. This confluence of factors will drive change and growth in the sector.

Click here to register.

Big Path Capital is also organizing the Impact Diversity Event, "Diversity Driving Revenue".

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The Media has Learned How to Keep Trump from Escaping His Lies

Birds fly, fish swim and Trump lies. Not only does Trump lie, his whole team lies. His Press Secretary gets tied up in knots almost every time he is confronted by the press. Trump himself said that it is not always possible to tell the truth. In response to the uproar about his litany of deceit Trump has threatened to cancel White House briefings.

Trump's lies in his first 100 days have been cataloged by the hard working reporters at the Washington Post. Another list covers some of his many broken promises during this period.

Trump started lying on his first day in office, boasting it was the largest crowd ever to attend an inauguration, and he has not stopped lying since. He lied compulsively before becoming president so it should come as no surprise that he keeps lying. However, the American people are getting wise to Trump.

An Axios poll released in April indicates that almost everyone thinks Trump is a liar. A total of 80 percent of voters in Florida, Wisconsin, Ohio and Pennsylvania think the president exaggerates or intentionally lies. This includes more than two-thirds of Republicans (68.7%).

According to a March poll only 25 percent of Americans think Trump keeps his promises. This number has gone from bad to worse (in February he was at 31 percent).

As reported in the Washington Post, an April Gallup poll indicates that an increasing number of Americans no longer buy Trump's spin. It finds that only 45 percent of Americans think Trump keeps his promises, (down from 62 percent in February) this includes an 11 point drop among Republicans. Overall there was a 6-point drop in those who think that Trump is honest and trustworthy (from 42 percent to 36 percent).

This may seem to be a laughable matter, but much is at stake. Trump is frustrated at his inability to control the narrative and prevent the media from scrutinizing his lies. He has even threatened to cancel White House briefings because it is not possible for his staff to speak with "perfect accuracy."

One of the best things that has emerged from Trump's first 100 days is that the media may have finally learned how they can cover Trump's truthlessness. As reviewed in a slate article falsehood is the "defining feature of his presidency," so covering Trump necessites covering the lies he tells.

The popular media is now engaging Trump's obfuscation and deadpan deceit in meaningful ways. The cover of Trump's Time Magazine interview asked the question "Is Truth Dead?". The Wall Street Journal’s conservative editorial board compared Trump to a drunk clinging to a gin bottle intimating his addiction to lying. Even Fox News has called Trump out for his lies.

Sen. Bernie Sanders can also take some of the credit for calling Trump out on his lies even more importantly he should be lauded for demanding that the media do the same. Here are some excerpts of what Bernie said:

"But how do we deal with a president who makes statements that reverberate around our country and the world that are not based on fact or evidence? What is the appropriate way to respond to that? And if the media and political leaders fail to call lies what they are, are they then guilty of misleading the public?

When a president makes claims that are not factually accurate or have no basis in fact, it is up to the press to tell the American people that the president is not honest with them. Fulfilling this function isn’t bias. It is upholding reality...a president who doesn’t subscribe to reality is a danger to governance.

We have a president who has fired an FBI Director in the middle of an important investigation that might conclude that his campaign broke the law. For the sake of the American people, for the sake of a nation guided by the rule of law, this is a time for bi-partisanship and a search for the truth."

As Bill Moyers said, "We need the truth. Now." Shining the light on Trump has never been more important. Nothing is more harmful to Trump and his agenda than the truth. Trump's lies must be challenged with scathing honesty.

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Senate Vote to Preserve Methane Rule May Signal Change

The Senate has voted down a resolution designed to roll back climate pollution standards emitted by the oil & gas industry on public and tribal lands. The rules prevent 180,000 tons of methane associated with drilling from escaping into the atmosphere each year. This preserves both clean air and climate protections. A critical mass of Republicans joined Senate Democrats to keep the standards in place. This includes Senators John McCain, Susan Collins and Lindsey Graham.

The resolution was fully expected to pass. According to the Washington Post, this is the "first time since Trump’s election that Republicans have failed in their attempt to use the Congressional Review Act to overturn Obama-era rules."

Although the vote was close (51 to 49) this may signal the beginning of a change in Washington. In the wake of the political firestorm caused by Trump's firing of Comey a day earlier, legislators may start increasingly prioritizing their own political futures ahead of the agenda of a failing presidency.

We have seen Republicans and the Trump administration unleash a barrage of environmental protections and climate action. The most recent Senate vote brings an end to the uninterrupted succession of anti-environment and anti-climate actions.

As reported by the Post, 13 earlier resolutions were passed, based on the 1996 law that allows Congress to overturn rules within 60 days of their adoption. The deadline for repeal of legislation using the Congressional Review Act expires on Thursday. The window for overturning Obama-era legislation is almost closed. The fact that the review period ended with a loss is noteworthy. We may see more Republicans break ranks.

The shift in political tides may also have an impact on the fight to protect EPA from Trump's proposed budget cuts in 2018.

In a floor speech after the vote, Sen. Tom Udall (D-N.M.), said "the very first victory" lawmakers have had in beating back a Congressional Review Act bill this year came from a combination of Democratic unity and a few Republicans’ willingness to buck their leadership. "Thank you so much for coming forward and seeing the common sense nature of this issue," Udall said.

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Corporate America Rejects Trump's Climate Ignorance

Corporations are opposing Trump and standing for climate action in increasing numbers. Governments around the world are applying pressure in an attempt to get Trump to honor the Paris Climate Agreement. A little more surprising to some is the fact that corporations are also urging the White House not to quit Paris. Never has the business community faced such a pivotal choice.

"It’s imperative that businesses take an active role in meeting the goals set out by the Paris Climate Agreement," said Anna Walker, Senior Director of Global Policy and Advocacy at Levi Strauss & Co. "It will be critical that we work together to ensure the U.S. maintains its climate leadership, ultimately ensuring our nation’s long-term economic prosperity."

Corporate America is joining millions of Americans in resisting Trump's climate agenda. It should be noted that this is not the first time that Corporate America has publicly disagreed with this administration. Early in his term a large number American corporations challenged Trump's Muslim ban.

Within his first 100 days Trump has been the focus of an unprecedented number of major protests. The Women's March, the largest march in American history, took place shortly after Trump was inaugurated. This was followed by the March for Science. Most recently a broad coalition of social and environmental groups came together for the People's Climate March.

Corporate rejection

Trump claims that he is trying to unfetter corporate America by removing environmental and climate restrictions. Yet the corporations he claims to want to defend do not seem to want the kind of help he is offering. This begs the question who benefits from the US withdrawing from the climate deal? The fossil fuel industry would certainly be the industry with the most to gain. However the oil and gas industries have not publicly lobbied against the Paris accord and many actively support it. Even ExxonMobil has urged Trump to stay in the deal.

This unexpected support for the Paris plan is explained in an Axios article by Rebecca Zisser titled, "Corporate America isn't backing Trump on climate,"

"Corporate America is uniting on climate change... In a shift that is changing the debate, the biggest and most important U.S. energy companies are now dropping their resistance to a global climate deal."

Sustainability is now a mainstream phenomenon. Many leading corporations see climate action as both a competitive necessity and an unprecedented economic opportunity.

Businesses are resisting Trump and advocating for sustainability. Companies such as Apple, GE, Amazon, Google and Microsoft are reducing their emissions and banking on the understanding that the low carbon economy will spur massive growth in the cleantech sector. Along with growth comes innovation and jobs especially in renewable energy. These companies along with most of the world's leading economists agree that this would benefit America.

As reviewed in a GMO article:

"Brands can't afford to be apolitical. Companies are realizing that there may be a cost to political neutrality in the era of Trump." The same article also reviews the benefits of corporate advocacy. We saw evidence of advocacy in the Super-Bowl LI ads. The time is coming when businesses will have to take sides.

Corporate hypocrisy

Hundreds of businesses including GE urged Trump to respect the Paris Agreement. However, there is also widespread hypocrisy. A New Yorker article by John Cassidy titled, "Why Corporate America Must Stand Up to Trump," reports that the National Association of Manufacturers, which has representatives from G.E. and many other US companies on its board of directors, ran ads urging congressional confirmation of fossil fuel advocate Scott Pruitt to head of the EPA.

Cassidy points out the corporations have reason to fear the wrath of a tempestuous president like Trump. CEOs may not want to criticize Trump for fear of impacting shareholders and their own stock-and-option packages.

A Buzzfeed article by Steven Perlberg titled, "Why Corporate America Is Taking Sides On Trump" tries to explain why firms are getting political. Rather than risk alienating large number of consumers corporations have traditionally avoided taking sides. However, Trump has forced a rethink of traditional marketing strategy.  Drawing on an argument from branding consultant Dean Crutchfield, Perlberg called this new marketing, "brand activism with business repercussions."

In February Dove began running an ad in the UK mocking "alternative facts".  However, the cost of alienating the right can be high as cereal company Kellogg found out when it pulled its ads from Breitbart News. The purveyor of fake news then ran a #DumpKelloggs boycott campaign.

The division is real

Nonetheless, the resistance born out of the differences between the Trump administration and corporate America are very real. Most companies are inherently globalist whereas Trump's ran and was elected on a platform of economic nationalism. This leads Cassidy to conclude "in many areas, the long-term interests of America’s biggest corporations, far from being aligned with the Trump Presidency, run directly counter to it."

Netflix’s Reed Hastings said, "Trump’s actions are hurting Netflix employees around the world, and are so un-American it pains us all," Cassidy quoted Hastings as saying. "It is time to link arms together to protect American values of freedom and opportunity."

Corporate America is rejecting Trump along with the majority of Americans. The older rural folks in middle America may follow suit once they realize what Trump and the GOP are trying to do to their healthcare.

Update: The Trump administration meeting to discuss the future of the Paris Climate Agreement was postponed along with a final decision on the fate of American involvement in the deal.  

Related
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Trump Represents a Serious Risk Factor for Corporate America
Corporate America Rejects Trump's Climate Ignorance
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Sustainability is an Economic Boon not a Liability
Which Side is Your Business On?
Business Benefits from Science-Based Climate Action

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