Protests are a Necessary and Appropriate Response to the Trump Administration

Donald Trump has augured protest unlike any that have gone before it. The level size and scope of these protests are unprecedented. They started while Trump was on the campaign trail and persist to this day. We have seen a massive protest on Inauguration Day January 20th and the Women's March that took place on January 21.

The electoral victory has spawned an unprecedented movement. Protest is important and never more than in the dark times heralded by Trump's win in November.  The reasons to protest are numerous and include the numerous swipes Trump and Republicans have taken on climate action and environmental protections.

Republicans emboldened by Trump's win have already started to gut environmental protections and transparency.  Trump's Executive Order (EO) to enfeeble the EPA was followed by the GOP's efforts to kill the agency outright. Republicans also want to sell-off public lands and strip enforcement powers from federal agencies. Trump has used his executive authority to reanimate two fossil fuel pipelines. These pipelines are both massive carbon bombs and they are incompatible with efforts to keep temperatures within acceptable limits.  Following Trump's EO the last remaining Dakota Access pipeline protest camp was raided and burned to the ground.

This is a very dark time in American history, however, there may be a light at the end of the tunnel if Americans take note and realize that their democracy is at risk alongside their planet.

Another salient reason for protesting is Trump's slate of nominees including Rex Tillerson as the Secretary of State and Scott Pruitt at the head of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and Betsy Devos as the Education Secretary nominee. Other reasons why people are protesting include the Muslim ban which has been condemned roundly and leading businesses are challenging in the courts.

President Obama has also indicated that he supports the right of protesters to resist the policies of the Trump administration. Obama, in his first public statement since leaving the White House, said he was "heartened by the level of engagement taking place in communities around the country...Citizens exercising their Constitutional right to assemble, organize and have their voices heard by the elected officials is exactly what we expect to see when American values are at stake," he said.

So much has been accomplished through protest. In the US protest succeeded in helping to kill the Keystone XL pipeline and the Dakota Access pipeline (although both of these decisions have been reversed by Trump's Executive Order).

Perhaps the most heartening and relevant global protests for those opposing Trump took place in Romania. Recent protests in that country caused the Romanian government to back down from an emergency decree that decriminalized some forms of corruption. The people said no and they turned out for five consecutive days by the hundreds of thousands forcing the government to back down. As they said in Romania, "we have an obligation and a duty to resist."

Protests against Trump are truly global. Avaaz has put together a "global letter" to Trump signed by people all around the world. The letter concludes with the following words: "As citizens of the world, we stand united against your brand of division."

Opposition to Trump is not only coming from environmentalists and leftists, even the Episcopal Church has urged its members to protest. The Church Times reports that dozens of Episcopalian Bishops urged Episcopalians to protest Trump.

There is also more shadowy opposition from groups like Anonymous who have warned Trump to resign by February 28th citing his lies and support for the Dakota Access pipeline. They mention his "unprecedented attack on basic human decency and civil rights" and they go on to say, "We will protest, resist and continue to practice civil disobedience until we can clearly state that this regime is at an end. You have exactly 35 days or we will take to the streets in a day of resistance...We are a nation founded on revolution and we will continue that tradition until our government is once again stable and incompetent hands.

If Trump and his administration does not resign (and of course we all know they will not) Anonymous is calling for another day of mass protest on March 1, where Trump and his administration can "expect us all."

While there have been and will be a number of protests, perhaps the biggest will take place on April 29th. Organized by the People's Climate Movement, this march is arguably the most important protest in American history. On this day a broad coalition will come together to say "no" to the Trump administration's environment and climate assaults.

The Green Market Oracle has studied the cost of climate and environmental neglect and we will remain focused on protest as a powerful form of resistance to the authoritarian dystopia of the Trump administration.

People resist Trump for love of country, respect for people and the Constitution. We all need clean air and water, this should be a fundamental human right and yet these are among the things that are at risk. We protest in defense of our planet and future generations, we stand up so that we will be counted as those who said "no" to Trump's dark policy agenda.  

How will you resist?

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Energy Solution: Free Electric - Game Changing Stationary Bike (Video)

Free Electric offers a powerful solution to the burgeoning global demand for energy. This energy innovation can radically reduce emissions while increasing access to electricity for poor people all over the world.

Access to electrical power with zero emissions is about more than climate change, it represents an important step towards economic advancement for billions of people living in poverty. Free Electric can light their homes and shops, make food storage possible, and usher them into the 21st century.



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The US and China Working Together on Climate Change

The US and China have well earned reputations as the global leaders in greenhouse gas emissions so the fact that the two nations are working together to combat climate change is very significant. Together their combined emissions account for around 40 percent of the world’s greenhouse gases. However, the leaders of both nations are making prodigious strides in efforts to reduce their footprints.

In addition to its global leadership in utility scale renewable energy projects, China has a stated goal of installing 8 gigawatts of distributed solar generation in 2014. The Chinese government has also set stringent restrictions on diesel emissions with the aim of eliminating trucks that produce significant amounts of things like nitrogen oxide and carbon monoxide. Perhaps the most significant action taken by China involves its pledge to cut carbon pollution.

The Chinese pledge came exactly one day after President Obama announced that he was significantly reducing emissions from US power plants. This is but the latest initiative under the President's Climate Action Plan. Under this plan the Obama is addressing air pollution, increasing renewable energy and setting the stage for a global agreement on climate change.

Like the US, China's efforts are not limited to restricting CO2. The nation is passing environmental laws designed to combat air pollution including HFCs. They are also moving away from coal as well as doing more to protect their water resources.

The US-China Climate Change Working Group launched in Beijing last year is working together to develop plans to deal with the UN climate change negotiation that takes place in Paris next year.

As explained by the US Secretary of State, "we have hopes that this unique partnership between China and the United States can help set an example for global leadership and global seriousness," Kerry said. "But this is not just about china and the United States. It’s about every country on Earth doing whatever it can to pursue cleaner and healthier energy sources. And it’s about the all of us literally treating the pain in the foot, so the whole body hurts a little less."

These two nations working together to reduce emissions is a very significant development. This is the first time both the US and China have restricted CO2 emissions. The efforts of the world's two leading economic powers may help to inject new life into efforts to sign a global climate treaty in Paris next year.

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The Implications of Curbing US Power Plant Emissions

The new rules curbing power plant emissions in the U.S. will have far reaching impacts both domestically and around the world. Curbing emissions from power plants is part of President Obama’s Climate Action Plan which he announced in 2013. Last September, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) released proposed standards to curb U.S. greenhouse gas (GHG) from new power plants. On June 2nd of this year, the EPA announced it will restrict emissions including carbon, nitrogen oxides, and sulfur dioxide by more than 25 percent by 2030 from all power plants. The EPA guidelines also include plans to prepare the U.S. for the effects of climate change, including strengthening roads, bridges and shorelines.

To circumvent the obstinacy of Republicans, the President is using his executive authority and putting forward the new rules under the Clean Air Act. The historic announcement will reduce carbon pollution from power plants by almost one third (30 percent) from 2005 levels by 2030. Even more significantly, they may spur global action that enables us to secure a binding climate treaty in 2015.

President Obama has previously pledged to reduce U.S. GHG emissions by 17 percent by 2020 compared with 2005 levels. America is already a third of the way towards meeting the national average of a 30 percent reduction in emissions. Some states, especially those in the north-east have already cut their power plant emissions by 40 percent compared with 2005 and over 1,000 mayors have signed agreements to cut their cities’ emissions.

The new power plant emissions standards are significant because energy generation is the single largest source of GHGs, accounting for nearly 40 percent of the emissions that cause climate change.

Two camps

A number of environmental organizations including the Sierra Club and the Natural Resources Defense Council lauded the proposal as a “historic step to combat climate change.” Republicans and business groups including the National Association of Manufacturers (NAM) and the Chamber of Commerce are vociferously resisting the new rules saying they will undermine U.S. competitiveness, hurt the economy and cause an energy crisis. Ceres and their green investor network heralded the announcement as “a critical step” to dealing with climate change. A 120-day public comment period will allow both camps to offer their views before the final rules are released in 2015. We can expect a fierce battle over the issue during this year’s mid-term elections.

Coal power

Coal power is going to be substantially curtailed under the new rules. Even before the new rules were announced about one third of coal plants online in 2009 have closed or are slated to close. The closure of coal plants is significant because coal-fired electricity generation is the most carbon intensive energy source in the U.S. and as such, it is responsible for the lion’s share of the nation’s GHG emissions. Coal is responsible for 40 percent of American power generation and 74 percent of the country’s CO2 emissions from the electricity sector. The new rules will impact the nation’s 1,300+ coal-fired power plants and many of these plants are unlikely to be able to meet the new standards.

Flexibility

The new rules have incorporated a good deal of flexibility so that each state can develop a unique plan based on their differing energy mixes. In addition to cleaner forms of energy, states can also choose to focus on energy-efficiency schemes as a way of meeting EPA standards. States have until 2016 (or 2017 if they need more time) to come up with a strategy for meeting the targets. The new rules will come into force in all states in 2020. If states do not submit a compliant plan, EPA will make one for them.

Legal

There are two legal facets that have a bearing on the new rules for power plants in the U.S. The first is the Supreme Court’s ruling that the EPA is obligated to regulate carbon under the Clean Air Act. The second involves the fact that these new rules are flexible and pay heed to both technical feasibility and economic impacts. This will make it more likely that the rules will survive inevitable legal challenges.

Renewable energy and emissions trading

These new rules will drive rapid growth of renewables and clean energy jobs. In addition to supporting the growth of renewable energy, the new rules will also help to grow emissions trading programs, under which renewable energy facilities would receive credits, which could be sold to coal plants. States can set up their own emissions-trading programs, or participate in existing programs. Nearly a dozen states have already implemented their own market-based programs to reduce carbon pollution. Emissions trading will help to prevent energy shortages which could occur if all coal plants were forced to close at once.

Innovation

The new rules will also spur green innovation. A few illustrations were provided in a recent analysis by Lux Research. This report suggests the rules will contribute to improvements in the efficiency of natural gas powered turbines, demand for commercial and utility scale solar power, energy efficiency programs, as well as carbon capture and sequestration (CCS) for surviving coal plants.

Health and economic benefits

As explained by EPA chief Gina McCarthy, this move will not cause energy prices to skyrocket, in fact it will save vast sums of money from medical bills associated with pollution. Coal-fired electricity generates airborne toxins like mercury, which causes neurological problems, and sulfur, which contributes to respiratory ailments. It has been repeatedly demonstrated that curbing pollution will reduce medical problems and premature deaths.

While all Americans will benefit from the new rules, the most vulnerable communities stand to benefit the most from the new rules. This includes people of color, the elderly, and those in low income communities. The plan will help to reduce asthma among black and Latino youth who are twice as likely to be hospitalized for this condition and four times as likely to die than their white peers.

“In just the first year that these standards go into effect, up to 100,000 asthma attacks and 2,100 heart attacks will be avoided — and those numbers will go up from there,” President Obama said. Overall, the economic value of these savings far outweigh the tiny increases in costs.

Global impact

The new rules will enhance the U.S. bargaining position at international climate talks and pressure other nations to get onboard. The standards give the U.S. government the credibility it requires to lead international efforts to combat climate change. It may even provide the impetus to encourage other countries to sign a globally binding climate treaty by the end of 2015.

As described by Andrew Steer, the chief executive of the World Resources Institute, the new rules are a “momentous development” for America’s efforts to deal with climate change.

“These new standards send a powerful message around the world that it’s time to face the global threat of climate change,” Steer said.

There is reason to believe that the new rules may already be having an impact. Just one day after the new rules were released, China, the world’s biggest greenhouse gas emitter, announced that it’s considering a cap on carbon emissions.

Impediments to progress

The fact that Republicans control the House of Representatives means the President cannot promise to do anything requiring congressional action. Further, international treaties require ratification by two-thirds of the Senate and that is highly unlikely. However, we may be able to see an international agreement that does not require Senate ratification.

Beyond domestic political resistance, two of the biggest hurdles to a global climate deal may come from Australia and Canada, both of whom are racing to cash in on their fossil fuel reserves. According to a report in the Morning Herald, Australian Prime Minister Tony Abbott is in the process of putting together an alliance of British Commonwealth countries to reject a climate agreement.

Despite the insane lack of foresight from some national governments, the idea of reigning in emissions represents little more than common sense. The absence of emission limits is ecologically untenable and contrary to the short term thinking of some, failing to reign in climate change is ultimately economic suicide. As the EPA tweeted, “When it comes to climate change, the most costly thing to do is to do nothing.”

The new rules signal the end of coal and the beginning of a cleaner future in the U.S. and perhaps even the wider world.

Source: Global Warming is Real

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Video - The White House's Climate Assessment Explained

Referencing the White House's Climate Assessment, Dr. John Holdren, President Obama's Science Advisor, says that climate change "is not a distant threat, it is affecting the American people already."

Depending on where you are in the US, summers are longer and hotter, we are seeing more wildfires and allergies as well as heatwaves, extreme precipitation events, storm surges, draught and other impacts on agriculture. To learn more about President Obama's climate action place click here.

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Bill McKibben on the Triumph of Activism in the Wake of the Delay of the Keystone XL

While Bill McKibben is among those who want the President to kill the Keystone XL project, he heralds the delay as a victory for environmental activists.  Another delay means that oil is not flowing from Alberta to the Gulf Coast and that in and of itself is a great accomplishment.

"Every day we delay a decision is a day when 830,000 barrels of oil stays safely in the ground." 350.org founder McKibben explained. He also went on to say that the fight will continue. "Together we’ve kept them at bay for three years now, and will continue to until perhaps the beginning of next year it seems," McKibben said. "The climate fight can’t be delayed. We need to keep building the movement, and we need to keep putting heat on leaders like President Obama till we win not delay the decision on the Keystone XL pipeline."

There is reason for anti-Keystone advocates to feel heartened. For three years they have managed to prevent the construction of the pipeline. As McKibben elaborated, "it’s a sweet reminder that when we stand up we win. Three years ago this pipeline was a done deal, and thanks to you it’s come steadily undone. We can’t match Exxon or the Koch Bros with money; we can and have matched them with passion, spirit, creativity and sacrifice."

McKibben added, "if we stand together we will make a decisive difference."

McKibben concluded by thanking the millions of people who work tirelessly to defeat the Keystone. "The last thing to say is thank you. You are the strength in this movement, and together we will make even more amazing things possible."

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Happiness in the Workplace: An Imperative for Sustainable Business

While happy employees are beneficial to all types of businesses, they are particularly important for sustainable enterprises. Happiness is an often overlooked corollary of sustainability. It is closely associated with productivity and corporate social responsibility (CSR). In fact happiness contributes to the three pillars of sustainable business (people, planet and profits). Some bottom line business people may be tempted to dismiss employee happiness as ancillary to success or even altogether irrelevant, however, these people could not be more wrong. A growing pool of data corroborates the contention that happiness is a critical component of a successful enterprise.

An article by John Havens, titled Quantifying Happiness: The Measure of Well Being at Work, reviews how some innovative new technologies are demonstrating the importance of happiness to success in business. This new field is called affective computing, where devices recognize the physical cues of a user and correlate their responses with an emotion or data relating to their identity. Wearable technologies that monitor health suggest that happier employees are healthier employees. According to data cited by Havens, companies that monitor employee health outperform those that do not by 10 percent. Havens further suggests that here may even be legal repercussions to this new technological reality.

There is far more at play than productivity. Happy workers increase employee retention and reduce the churn, which contributes to additional savings. Happy workers are more satisfied and they are also a source of invaluable public relations. A happy worker is also likely to be more enfranchised and consequently more likely to buy-in to a companies sustainability program. All of these factors taken together support the idea that workplace happiness is a core feature of a successful sustainable enterprise.

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Video - It is No Coincidence that Costa Rica is both Happy and Green

Costa Rica ranks first in the Happy Planet Index and is the greenest country in the world according to the New Economics Foundation. The HPI measures how much of the Earth's resources nations use and how long and happy a life their citizens enjoy. Costa Rica was the first country in the world to constitutionally abolish its army. Costa Rica has consistently been among the top Latin American countries in the Human Development Index, ranking 50th in 2006. The country is ranked 5th in the world, and 1st among the Americas, in terms of the 2008 Environmental Performance Index. In 2007 the Costa Rican government announced plans for Costa Rica to become the first carbon neutral country by 2021. According to the New Economics Foundation, Costa Rica ranks first in the Happy Planet Index and is the greenest country in the world. The HPI measures how much of the Earth's resources nations use and how long and happy a life their citizens enjoy as a result.

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Video - Bhutan is Both Happy and Sustainable

Bhutan, a small country enshrined in the Himalaya's leads the way in the pursuit of holistic, inclusive and truly environmentally sustainable development.

This commitment emanates from the visionary statement in the early 1970s, of His Majesty, the Fourth King of Bhutan, Jigme Singye Wangchuck, who said that Gross National Happiness was more important than the Gross National Product.

This Sustainable Development philosophy has its roots in the Buddhist belief that there is more to life than material development. According to beliefs, true development happens when spiritual, social, environmental, and economic developments occur in harmony with each other.

Since then all policies and laws in Bhutan need to be in line with the four pillars of Gross National Happiness, which are: Equitable socio-economic development, Preservation of culture, Conservation of the environment, and Good governance.

This has become Bhutan's central development philosophy, and has made the country a champion in the pursuit of Sustainable Development.

The joint UNDP-UNEP Poverty-Environment Initiative, PEI, is supporting the Royal Government of Bhutan's efforts in ensuring this greening effort is reflected in its development plans, programmes and budgets. In 2010, a Joint Support Programme with the Gross National Happiness Commission as the lead agency was implemented to enhance capacity of central and local government functionaries and officials including CSOs/NGOs to make sure that any development decision taken, contributes to achieving environmentally sustainable development.

One of the key achievements has been the "greening" of the eleventh Development Plan of the Kingdom of Bhutan which starts implementation from July 2013 to June 2018. This Plan will guide any decision taken in the following 5 years. It includes a series of Key objectives set out for each of Bhutan's sectors together with indicators to monitor its progress.

The Plan is coupled with training to public officials, decision makers and planners, which help them, take better development decisions both at the central and at the local levels.

A Reference Group to Green Government's work has been created. It has already contributed to helping a number of Ministries, agencies and sectors making their procedures and work environmentally sustainable.

In terms of macro-level policy, Bhutan has decided to become a carbon neutral nation and the a totally Organic Country.

It has equipped itself with a Policy screening tool, which rejects policies that do not contribute to Sustainable Development.

In terms of regulations, the environment is enshrined in the Constitution. For example, the Constitution requires Bhutan to preserve 60% of its territory as forest for all times to come.

On the basis of interventions on the ground, a good example is roads, where construction has to comply with strict environmental standards and projects cannot be undertaken without the consent of the Community.

To reduce carbon emissions, a green tax on private transport has been approved, and a study on eco-efficient public transportation has been conducted in Thimpu. Every Tuesday has now become official "walking/pedestrian day" where no private transport is allowed in urban areas except for city buses.

The Kingdom and the people of Bhutan can consider themselves as an example to follow in the effort of successfully combining the country's right to development and environmental sustainability.

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Video - The Happy Planet Index

In this Ted Talk video, statistician Nic Marks asks why we measure a nation's success by its productivity -- instead of by the happiness and well-being of its people. He introduces the Happy Planet Index, which tracks national well-being against resource use (because a happy life doesn't have to cost the earth). Which countries rank highest in the HPI? You might be surprised.

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Video - The Economics of Happiness (Trailer)

The Economics of Happiness - Trailer from The Economics of Happiness on Vimeo.

The Economics of Happiness describes a world moving simultaneously in two opposing directions. On the one hand, government and big business continue to promote globalization and the consolidation of corporate power. At the same time, people around the world are resisting those policies – and, far from the old institutions of power, they’re starting to forge a very different future. Communities are coming together to re-build more human scale, ecological economies based on a new paradigm – an economics of localization.

To view the complete film click here. 

Click here to download the free 74-page Discussion Guide and Companion to the film (pdf). This resource is designed for student use and informal discussion groups. It follows the film, chapter by chapter, expanding on the arguments and pointing to a wealth of new resources for further learning, reflection and action.

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Obama and Hollande Call for Climate Action

The French and American Presidents have called for an ambitious global climate agreement. The French President, Francois Hollande has joined forced with US President Barack Obama to ask the world to increase clean energy, create jobs and help developing countries transition to a low carbon economy.

President Hollande arrived in the US on Monday, the same day that the leaders issued an op-ed that was published in the Washington Post and Le Monde newspapers.

Obama and Hollande are setting their sights on the 2015 deadline for a global climate agreement which is scheduled to be signed at the end of the year in Paris. This is welcome news as the rest of Europe has scaled back its ambitious greenhouse gas reduction targets due to ongoing economic woes. In addition to Europe, the US, Japan, Australia and Canada have all reneged on their original climate commitments.

© 2014, Richard Matthews. All rights reserved.

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The Paradox of President Obama's All of the Above Energy Strategy

Staying within prescribed climate change limits will be difficult under Obama’s all-of-the-above strategy. Although Obama may be the greenest President in American history he is not doing enough to stave off the worst impacts of climate change. In his State of the Union address, he did talk about the veracity of climate change and the need to further reduce America’s greenhouse gas emissions, however his ongoing support for fossil fuel extraction is dangerous and imperils hopes that we can tackle the issue of climate change before we reach irreversible tipping points.

The President made many laudable points during his address including his desire to increase protections for air, water, land and American communities. He quite correctly explained that, “we have to act with more urgency because a changing climate is already harming western communities struggling with drought and coastal cities dealing with floods.”

The President touted the growth of solar power saying: “[W]e’re becoming a global leader in solar too. Every four minutes another American home or business goes solar, every panel pounded into place by a worker whose job can’t be outsourced.”

The President has repeatedly stated his desire to put an end to tax breaks for the fossil fuel industry and use that money for fuels of the future (ie renewables). A point which he reiterated in his State of the Union address.

The President also touted his efficiency efforts including efficiency standards for new cars. He went on to suggest that he will be imposing new fuel efficiency standards for medium and heavy weight trucks. However, their is an irreconcilable paradox between efficiency and the expansion of fossil fuel.

The President indicated that he wants to “cut red tape” to help businesses build factories that use natural gas. As he explained, “If [natural gas is] extracted safely, it’s the bridge fuel that can power our economy with less of the carbon pollution that causes climate change.”

While natural gas could be made far less destructive if we could eradicate (or substantially reduce) methane leaks associated with extraction, it is easier said than done.

The President made the point that the U.S. has reduced its carbon pollution more than any other nation on Earth over the last 8 years. He further indicated that he wants to set new standards for power plants which would tighten restrictions on CO2 emissions.

All of the above – Obama can’t have it both ways

While efforts to reduce GHGs are beyond reproach, his overall strategy conceals an irreconcilable contradiction. Reducing GHGs is at odds with increasing domestic dirty energy exploitation. The simple fact is he cannot have it both ways.

Despite pleas from the leading U.S. environmental organizations to stop fossil fuel extraction, President Obama’s State of the Union address indicates that he intends to move forward with his “all of the above” energy strategy.

The reliance on natural gas and oil may undermine efforts to stay within prescribed scientific limits. The first limit concerns temperature increases, the second involves greenhouse gas emissions. If we are to keep warming below the internationally agreed upon upper threshold limit of 2°C, we will need to stop pumping greenhouse gas emissions into the atmosphere. It is widely known that the primary contributors of GHGs are fossil fuels.

This is the conclusion reached by numerous studies including the most recent Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) report, which was published late in September 2013. According to the IPCC report, we cannot add more than another 140 gigatons of carbon globally (500 GtCO2).

If we continue to exploit and burn fossil fuels at the current rate, we will considerably exceed these limits. If we burn only 20 percent of estimated available carbon reserves we will have already reached the upper allowable limit of carbon emissions. If the remaining reserves are exploited there will be no way to stop runaway climate change.

We cannot afford to move forward with planned coal projects or the tar sands, nor can we afford President Obama’s “all of the above” energy strategy.

In fairness, President Obama acknowledges the veracity of climate change but he is constrained by the Republicans in congress and the general ignorance of many Americans. We cannot appreciate efforts to engage climate concerns without factoring political considerations. Obama may be advancing domestic fossil fuels for political reasons, not the least of which is the impending midterms. If he loses control of the Senate, his efforts to manage climate change will suffer a serious blow.

A Ceres report titled, “Inaction on Climate Change: The Cost to Taxpayers.” sees political factors as a major part of inaction. “[T]he reason for our collective shortsightedness is that the issue of climate change, and what to do about it, has become politicized in the U.S,” the report said.

Despite his considerable efforts (not the least of which is his climate action plan), the President can be faulted for failing to lead efforts to educate Americans. To create the political support we need to see, Americans need to be apprized of the implications of failing to act. Obama’s State of the Union address focused on education and this could be expanded to include efforts to explain the rationale for action and expose the ignorance of climate denying Republicans who control the House.

More than any other single factor, people respond to economic considerations. The focus on the economy and jobs in the President’s State of the Union speech is a reflection of this understanding. He needs to do a better job informing Americans about the price associated with climate change.

The President can do far more to help Americans apprehend the scope of the costs of failing to stay within the prescribed limits. Failing to heed these limits will result in a massive price tag that will cripple the U.S. (and global) economy and ultimately, irrevocably change life on Earth.

The costs of climate change

Evidence for these costs are not just part of some apocalyptic future, they are with us here and now. According to the the Ceres report, Federal and state disaster relief payouts are estimated to have cost every person in the U.S. more than $300. According to the report, the costs of climate change to taxpayers going forward will get worse and ultimately be “debilitating.” A cogent argument can be made for acting now, as one dollar spent on prevention saves four dollars in damages. From this perspective mitigation efforts are a far better investment than adaptation.

“Continuing to ignore these escalating risks may be more comfortable than confronting the challenges of climate change, but inaction is the far riskier and more expensive path,” the Ceres report concluded.

“[T]he debate is settled. Climate change is a fact. And when our children’s children look us in the eye and ask if we did all we could to leave them a safer, more stable world, with new sources of energy, I want us to be able to say yes, we did,” the President said.

However, “booming” oil and natural gas production is inconsistent with efforts to combat climate change. Reducing emissions while boosting domestic oil and gas production is a contradictory policy position. At a time when we most need the President to lead, we really got nothing new in this state of the Union speech.
The U.S. cannot simultaneously be a leading producer of fossil fuels and at the forefront of efforts to combat climate change. Selling the facts to the American public will not be easy, but it is necessary.

“The the shift to a cleaner energy economy won’t happen overnight, and it will require some tough choices along the way,” the President said. The question is whether he is prepared to make those tough choices.

Source: Global Warming is Real

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President Obama's 2014 State of the Union Address: Summary and Green Highlights

President Obama's 2014 state of the union address did reference carbon pollution and the need for more action on climate change, but environmental concerns did not receive the attention that some had hoped for.

The President's focus was on continuing to grow the nations economy and provide more jobs. He citing the "more than 8 million new jobs our businesses have created over the past four years." Much of his speech addressed the issue of education. He boasted that "America's graduation rate to its highest levels in more than three decades." The President further elaborated his focus on education stating that America needs to focus on building "tomorrows workforce." He talked about innovative private sector funding for pre k, and making it easier for kids to afford college. He also explained that he has directed Vice President Biden to work on new training and apprenticeship programs.

Obama reiterated his belief that connecting people to the Internet is important for America and he explained how he is behind efforts to provide online connectivity to schools.

He talked about alleviating poverty, reducing gender inequality in the workforce, providing opportunities for immigrants and of course health care.

The President mentioned diplomatic efforts in both Iran and Syria and he indicated that he is prepared to continue the ongoing fight against terrorism, including al-Qaida, while taking America off of the permanent war footing it has been on.

He outlined some ambitious investment support plans including MyRA which will guarantee that when people are investing for retirement, they will not lose their capital and he further stated that he will provide protection for homeowners against another housing credit crisis.

Obama said that the US is "better-positioned for the 21st century than any other nation on Earth." He indicated his desire to out-compete other nations in high tech manufacturing and thereby provide jobs. To this end he announced that his administration has launched two hubs for high-tech manufacturing in Raleigh, North Carolina, and Youngstown, Ohio. These hubs connect businesses to research universities that can help America lead the world in advanced technologies.

He articulated his support for small business which account for 98 percent of US exports. He stated that his administration has made more loans to small business than any other American administration. He also indicated that he wants to do more to "help the entrepreneurs and small business owners who create most new jobs in America."

The President also said that he want to undo last year's cuts to basic research and he supports a patent reform bill "that allows our businesses to stay focused on innovation, not costly and needless litigation."

As far as Congress is concerned he suggested that he is willing to work with them where possible but he also intimated that he will act on his own when he has to.

On the environmental front there was some good news, like the fact that America is now building some of the most fuel-efficient cars in the world. However the President also cited some unfortunate facts associated with his "all of the above" energy strategy.  This includes the fact that America has significantly increased its oil production. While buying less foreign oil is undeniably a good thing, under Obama the US has become a leading producer of fossil fuels and this is antithetical to efforts to manage climate change. 

Here are excerpts of his comments on energy including solar as well as his statements on carbon pollution and climate change.

All of the Above Energy Strategy

"Now, one of the biggest factors in bringing more jobs back is our commitment to American energy. The "all the above" energy strategy I announced a few years ago is working, and today America is closer to energy independence than we have been in decades."

Natural Gas

"One of the reasons why is natural gas. If extracted safely, it's the bridge fuel that can power our economy with less of the carbon pollution that causes climate change. Businesses plan to invest almost a hundred billion dollars in new factories that use natural gas. I'll cut red tape to help states get those factories built and put folks to work, and this Congress can help by putting people to work building fueling stations that shift more cars and trucks from foreign oil to American natural gas."

Clean Environment

"Meanwhile, my administration will keep working with the industry to sustain production and jobs growth while strengthening protection of our air, our water, our communities. And while we're at it, I'll use my authority to protect more of our pristine federal lands for future generations."

Solar

"Now, it's not just oil and natural gas production that's booming; we're becoming a global leader in solar too. Every four minutes another American home or business goes solar, every panel pounded into place by a worker whose job can't be outsourced."

Fossil Fuel Subsidies

Let's continue that progress with a smarter tax policy that stops giving $4 billion a year to fossil fuel industries that don't need it so we can invest more in fuels of the future that do.

Efficiency

"And even as we've increased energy production, we've partnered with businesses, builders and local communities to reduce the energy we consume."

Fuel Efficiency Standards

"When we rescued our automakers, for example, we worked with them to set higher fuel efficiency standards for our cars. In the coming months I'll build on that success by setting new standards for our trucks so we can keep driving down oil imports and what we pay at the pump."

Carbon Pollution and Climate Change

"[O]ur energy policy is creating jobs and leading to a cleaner, safer planet. Over the past eight years the United States has reduced our total carbon pollution more than any other nation on Earth. But we have to act with more urgency because a changing climate is already harming western communities struggling with drought and coastal cities dealing with floods. That's why I directed my administration to work with states, utilities and others to set new standards on the amount of carbon pollution our power plants are allowed to dump into the air. The the shift to a cleaner energy economy won't happen overnight, and it will require some tough choices along the way. But the debate is settled. Climate change is a fact. And when our children's children look us in the eye and ask if we did all we could to leave them a safer, more stable world, with new sources of energy, I want us to be able to say yes, we did."

© 2014, Richard Matthews. All rights reserved.

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Problems and Solutions to the Climate Crisis from the World Economic Forum in Davos

Ahead of the 2015 deadline for a global climate deal the Davos World Economic Forum (WEF) sought action from business, governments and investors. WED took place in Davos Switzerland on January 22-25, 2014. The theme of the summit was "Reshaping of the World: Consequences for Society, Politics and Business." As the year before we are scheduled to forge an international climate agreement, 2014 is a critical year for the international community.

The Problems

As profound forces transform our world the international community is focused on crisis rather than the long view of a strategically driven approach. With the aim of helping to encourage business to engage the risks associated with climate change, the Davos Summit dedicated an entire day to and 23 sessions to discussing climate change, building resilience, and sustainable development through public-private partnerships.. WEF said that it hopes that this new push will “drive the subjects of economic risk and resilience back to the top of the climate change agenda - where they belong”.

In addition to risk and resilience associated with climate change WEF also explored plans for a new public-private group to explore policy responses to melting Arctic ice. the rapid melting through a dedicated council that is “examining ways of protecting the Arctic from unsustainable development, bringing together governments, business, civil society and scientists to prevent this catastrophe”.

"Now is the time to act for future generations before it is too late," World Bank President Jim Yong Kim explained. "This is the year to take action on climate change. There are no excuses.”

Rising Temperatures

Current emissions reduction pledges are insufficient to prevent the internationally agreed upon upper 2 degree Celsius temperature rise limit. If we continue on our current trajectory the world will face a temperature increase of at least 4 degrees in the coming decades.

Rising Costs

The economic argument for action is strong. Corporations, governments and investors are compelled to act due to the rising costs associated with extreme weather. Globally, weather-related losses and damage have risen from an average of about $50 billion a year in the 1980s to close to $200 billion a year over the last decade.

Developing Countries

The World Bank says that in the poorest countries, climate change will increase the cost of development by one quarter to almost one third (25 to 30 percent). The impacts could have a disastrous impact and ultimately undo decades of development gains pushing millions of people back into poverty.

“We have to help poorer countries in this transition,” President Kim said. “We have to reduce the risks of low-carbon investments, especially in developing countries, but we can do it – development financial institutions can leverage their capital and use the Green Climate Fund to reduce that risk and catalyze new investment in resilience.”

The Solutions

There are no facile solutions to the complex economic, social and political problems posed by the climate crisis. However through consorted international action at multiple levels we can address the serious threats we face. Here are some of the key recommendations out of the WED in Davos.

Corporate Action

Due to shortages of water supplies, and disruptions all throughout their supply chains climate change represents a serious threat that requires immediate corporate attention. The costs of issues including sea level rises and extreme weather cannot be ignored. However in addition to these threats there are also powerful opportunities. Now is not the time to wait on the sidelines.

A number of leaders were recognized including Google for its massive investment in solar power and its use of a shadow price on carbon for strategic planning. Philips was acknowledged for the improving energy efficiency of all its lighting products and its off-grid lighting and LED street lighting.

Government Action

President Kim cited the need for governments to demand that companies disclose their climate risk exposure. Perhaps most importantly he called for governments to put a price on carbon. Through the World Bank's Partnership for Market Readiness, countries are developing and implementing policy options and the next generation of carbon pricing instruments that can promote growth, competitiveness, and low emissions.

The governments of several countries were singled out for acting on climate change and pursuing associated economic opportunities. China was mentioned for having launched five emissions trading pilots in cities and provinces in 2013 and its aggressive target for a national system. Mexico, was acknowledged for its carbon tax, target of 35 percent renewable energy, and retail electricity consumers' billing credit for contributing renewable power. Morocco was recognized for its renewable energy super grid and setting up an agency dedicated to solar power. The Philippines was noted for having suffered the ravages of Typhoon Haiyan and its aggressive renewable energy targets, government incentives and allowing consumers generating power to sell it back to the grid.

Investor Action

Investors are seeing returns on their investments including returns on exchange-traded funds in clean energy of up to 140 percent last year. Kim said more needs to be done and he urged institutional investors to commit to green bonds targets in their portfolios. He called for doubling the market for green bonds which support climate adaptation and mitigation projects. He wants to see an investment of $20 billion this year and $50 billion by the time a new international climate agreement is reached in Paris in 2015.

Five Areas for Action

1. Building low-carbon, climate resilient cities.

2. Moving forward on climate-smart agriculture.

3. Accelerating energy efficiency and investment in renewable energy helps shifts the world away from high-carbon fossil fuels.

4. Ending fossil fuel subsidies and developing carbon pricing to get prices right for emissions.

5. Reducing short-lived climate pollutants (SLCP).

“In 20 years, all of us will be asked the question, ‘What did you do to fight climate change?’” President Kim said. “The leaders here in Davos, both from the private sector and from governments, have in their power to act in substantive ways.”

As we work towards the 2015 deadline for a global climate agreement the World Bank will be working closely with governments to provide the data, evidence, and analysis necessary for each to set robust national emissions reduction targets and for developed countries to also provide the technology, finance, and capacity-building support that developing countries need to start on a clean-growth trajectory.

© 2014, Richard Matthews. All rights reserved.

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