The Climate Minute

The Climate Minute: Opening Mr Overton's window (PODCAST)

This was another pretty good week for Climate Hawks.

 

Massachusetts’ Governor Deval Patrick gave a great commencement address at UMASS Amherst.  We talked with Carolyn Barthel of 350 Massachusetts about what it means. Unfortunately, there was no greatness in the Senate as it killed an energy efficiency bill.

 

Following the President’s release and full-throated support of the National Climate Assessment, has the Overton Window opened just a tiny bit for climate? After all, the Generals promulgated , Christy Todd-Whitman pontificated and Senator Joe Manchin equivocated.  However, only Marco Rubio could confabulate  an evasive answer on ABC, (or perhaps couldn’t in front of the National Press Club.) Both Time and the Washington Post questioned his presidential timber. So, has climate denial become disqualifying for a politician seeking higher office? Thom Hartman discusses  tobacco and denial  while Dan Farber discusses possible hints of hope in Rubio's comments.  Ed Schulz of MSNBC has his heart in the right place and has made a remarkable public journey to climate reality, but as he highlights Rubio’s confusion he needs to keep his facts straight.

 

Finally, two downers and one uplifting report.  If you are less than 29 years old, you have never experienced a month of below average global temperatures.  And, by the way, the collapse of parts of the Antarctic Ice shelf is unstoppable. On the other hand, composer John Luther Adams won a Pulitzer for his Earth inspired symphony Being Ocean.

 

So we will close the way we always close, by saying that because we recognize the necessity of personal accountability for our actions, because we accept responsibility for building a durable future and because we believe it is our patriotic duty as citizens to speak out, we must insist that the US put a price on carbon.

 

…Ted McIntyre

The Climate Minute: Big Win, SCOTUS backs EPA (PODCAST)

This was a big week for climate hawks.

 

The Supreme Court ruled that the EPA’s method of controlling pollution from Midwestern coal plants was constitutional.  You can read about the decision and some further analysis. The decision is good news for the Obama administration's  climate plan to be announced in June, since the ruling safeguards the methods the EPA will use in the future.  Even Forbes thought it was a big deal.

 

Divestment is an ongoing issue, and DR reported on events at Harvard.

 

The  Koch Brother seem to have declared war on solar power.  Even the New York Times opined against it.

 

The media has botched the coverage of the Supreme Court’s ruling (even according to right wing critics)  just as it has the whole issue of climate change . Jon Stewart skewers CNN - watch if you want a laugh.

 

Because we recognize the necessity of personal accountability for our actions, because we accept responsibility for building a durable future and because we believe it is our patriotic duty as citizens to speak out, we must insist that the United States put a price on carbon.

Thanks for listening.

…Ted McIntyre

 

The Climate Minute: Keystone delay, and an empty Earth Day (PODCAST)

We discuss two big topics this week: the meaning of the Obama Administration’s  delay of the KXL pipeline decision and a feeling of malaise people may have around the meaning of Earth Day.

 

Late last Friday, the administration decided to indefinitely delay the KXL decision.  The decision might have been based on practical concerns , but others put it in context of the midterms. On balance, 350 got it’s assessment just about right.  Keep in mind that a protest in Washington D.C. called “Reject and Protect”   is in progress this weekend.

Earth Day occurred this week. Some commentators expressed frustration and disappointment with how and why we celebrate this holiday in the 21^st Century. Two interesting examples of this train of though are from Joe Romm who says things like:

I don’t worry about the earth. I’m pretty certain the earth will survive the worst we can do to it. I’m very certain the earth doesn’t worry about us. ,,,.We need a new way to make people care about the nasty things we’re doing with our cars and power plants. At the very least, we need a new name.

Another thought provoking view comes from Wen Stephenson  who  calls for a new kind of movement:

Many of us, rather than retreat into various forms of denial and fatalism, have reached the conclusion that something more than “environmentalism” is called for, and that a new kind of movement is the only option. That the only thing, at this late hour, offering any chance of averting an unthinkable future—and of getting through the crisis that’s already upon us—is the kind of radical social and political movement that has altered the course of history in the past. A movement far less like contemporary environmentalism and far more like the radical human rights, social justice and liberation struggles of the nineteenth and twentieth centuries.

 

Stephenson makes a compelling argument, and is his piece is well worth the effort to read it. In fact, The Nation has an entire issue devoted to climate this month, with articles by MSNBC's Chris Hayes  on The New Abolitionist,  the provocative Naomi Klein and an interesting piece on legal suits against Big Carbon by Dan Zegart.

 

Because we recognize the necessity of personal accountability for our actions, because we accept responsibility for building a durable future and because we believe it is our patriotic duty as citizens to speak out, we must insist that the United States put a price on carbon.

Thanks for listening.

…Ted McIntyre

 

The Climate Minute: IPCC Report on Mitigation-What does it say? What does it mean? (PODCAST)

 The recent IPCC report on mitigation is the big news. What is it? What does it say? What does it mean? In this week’s show we will discuss the content and context of the report with Malcolm Bliss, the statewide coordinator of 350MA for the Better Future Project.

 

The stream of IPCC reports can turn in to a parade of acronyms, so let’s review.  The “Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) was established by the UN in the late ‘80s with the mission to “to provide the world with a clear scientific view on the current state of knowledge in climate change and its potential environmental and socio-economic impacts.”   The IPCC has three working groups (WG) of scientists who read and combine published scientific papers into reports. The first group works on the physical science basis of climate change, the second on “impact, adaptation and vulnerabilities” while the third group works on mitigation (that is greenhouse gas-GHG for short- reduction.) This third working group has put out the latest report. The website is here. In October, 2015, the reports from these three working groups will be compiled into a “synthesis report.” That is a lot of work!

So what is the current report about?

The Working Group III contribution assesses the options for mitigating climate change and their underlying technological, economic and institutional requirements. It transparently lays out risks, uncertainty and ethical foundations of climate change mitigation policies on the global, national and sub-national level, investigates mitigation measures for all major sectors and assesses investment and finance issues.

You can find the bold face statement listed below as paragraph headers in the pdf format of the report. The commentary underneath each statement is our own!

1.     Effective mitigation will not be achieved if individual agents advance their own interests independently.

a.     Exxon sees no risk to carbon reserves.

2.     Climate policy may be informed by a consideration of a diverse array of risks and uncertainties, some of which are difficult to measure, notably events that are of low probability but which would have a significant impact if they occur.

a.     Think melting permafrost.

3.     The design of climate policy is influenced by how individuals and organizations perceive risks and uncertainties and take them into account.

4.     About half of cumulative anthropogenic CO2 emissions between 1750 and 2010 have occurred in the last 40 years.

a.     How close to 40 years old are you?

5.     Mitigation policy could devalue fossil fuel assets and reduce revenues for fossil fuel exporters, but differences between regions and fuels exist

a.     Pope Francis asked to endorse divestment.

6.     Infrastructure developments and long‐lived products that lock societies into GHG‐intensive emissions pathways may be difficult or very costly to change, reinforcing the importance of early action for ambitious mitigation

a.     Jimmy Carter and others call for KXL rejection.

7.     GHG emissions from energy supply can be reduced significantly by replacing current world average coal‐fired power plants with modern, highly efficient natural gas combined‐cycle power plants or combined heat and power plants, provided that natural gas is available and the fugitive emissions associated with extraction and supply are low or mitigated

a.     http://grist.org/news/no-the-ipcc-climate-report-doesnt-call-for-a-fracking-boom/

b.     http://thinkprogress.org/climate/2014/04/15/3426697/methane-vastly-underestimated/

c.     http://blog.nwf.org/2014/04/epa-research-shows-regulating-methane-is-efficient-and-low-cost/

8.     In some countries, tax‐based policies specifically aimed at reducing GHG emissions—alongside technology and other policies—have helped to weaken the link between GHG emissions and GDP

a.     An article on the BC carbon tax.

So what does it all mean? It seems the message of this document is that we must act together, equitably and soon.  Some say that science has done what it can, and now WE need to take action. It is up to us to find the vocabulary to give meaning to what the scientists have said.

…Ted McIntyre

The Climate Minute: Ann Curry, Fox and Godzilla (PODCAST)

This week we talk, among other things, about ‘the media’ and climate.

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But first, we are in the middle of a big transition, from a “less than 400ppm” to a “greater than 400ppm” planet. The fact that carbon is rising dramatically is held in a report from Mashable along with some commentary.

Ann Curry’s NBC program "Did Climate Change Just Hit Home?"  included some commentary from the ambiguous figure of Roger Pielke.  The other interesting upcoming item is a nine part series: Years of Living Dangerously.  If you want, join a watch party with 350.The Union of Concerned Scientist put out a report detailing mis-information on climate from cable media.  Then we have  Bill Maher and the oceans and an informative piece from Tom Hartmann cable news' failures. On the artistic front, we discuss Cli-Fi and point back to our own discussion from last year.  You can find an online version of Paolo Bacigalupi’s “The Tamarisk Hunter” here.  Another item is a review of Rivers, for example. Then we have movies, from Noah to an Al Gore sequel.  

Back in Cambridge, we have some movement on divestment at Harvard.

 

Because we recognize the necessity of personal accountability for our actions, because we accept responsibility for building a durable future and because we believe it is our patriotic duty as citizens to speak out, we must insist that the United States put a price on carbon.

Thanks for listening.

…Ted McIntyre

 

The Climate Minute: IPCC to Exxon to Action (PODCAST)

Several landmark events occurred this week, and we try to make sense of them. From the factual but distressing IPCC report to Exxon’s in-your-face response to it’s climate activist shareholders, the implications seem confusing and abstract. In today’s podcast we are joined by MCAN’s acting Executive Director, Amy Tighe, to discuss new ways think about these events.

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If you want to read the real thing, see the forty four page Executive Summary of the IPCC report, or else check out news reports showing the  5 key points or discussing impact on the developing world. If this makes you want to cry, watch Sting and Robert Downy Jr. “kill” the song "Driven to Tears". You can find some information on the Dalai Lama here or Wendell Berry here.

 

Then there is the sorry story of Exxon’s carbon risk report. Exxon essentially taunts world governments, saying:

”ExxonMobil believes that although there is always the possibility that government action may impact the company, the scenario where governments restrict hydrocarbon production in a way to reduce GHG emissions 80 percent … is highly unlikely. … Also, as discussed above, we do not anticipate society being able to supplant traditional carbon- based forms of energy with other energy forms, such as renewables, to the extent needed to meet this carbon budget ..."

and elsewhere says

“Based on this analysis, we are confident that none of our hydrocarbon reserves are now or will become “stranded.”

Just keep in mind that the ‘highly unlikely’ restrictions are made even more unlikely by Exxon’s well funded lobbying efforts!

 

Bill McKibben responded in the Guardian, saying:

We’ve never thought that there was a small flaw in their business plan that could be altered by negotiation; we’ve always thought their business plan was to keep pouring carbon into the atmosphere. And indeed Exxon’s statements are easy to translate: “We plan on overheating the planet, we think we have the political muscle to keep doing it, and we dare you to stop it.” And they’re right — unless we build a big and powerful movement, they’ll continue to dominate our political life and keep change from ever taking place.

And here is a free blog-only bonus: Wen Stephenson’s article on a meeting of students with Governor Patrick.

 

Because we recognize the necessity of personal accountability for our actions,  because we accept responsibility for building a durable future and because we believe it is our patriotic duty as citizens to speak out, we must insist that  the United States put a price on carbon.

…Ted McIntyre

The Climate Minute- Protest in DC

This past weekend, brave young Americans risked arrest in a protest at the Whitehouse. Because the media didn’t do a good job covering this event, where 398 people were arrested for chaining themselves to the Whitehouse fence, journalistic pictures will be the long-term record. A photo, showing the arms of protester from an Oval Office perspective, can be found here. Ted and D.R. discuss the implications of photos from the protest.

 

Also this past weekend, the Local Environmental Action 2014 conference- a joint venture of MCAN and TAC, was held at Northeastern University.  Of the many interesting sessions, both D.R. and Ted ended up at the carbon tax discussion. For some background on this important concept, check out this blog from an MCAN’er about “carbon taxes” or better “carbon dividend.”

Upcoming this month, the Massachusetts gubernatorial candidates will meet for a forum on “Energy, Environment and the Innovation Economy”, at the historic Faneuil Hall in Boston on March 21st. Get free tix here..

Because we recognize the necessity of personal accountability for our actions, because we accept responsibility for building a durable future and because we believe it is our patriotic duty as citizens to speak out, we must insist that the United States put a price on carbon!

 

…Ted McIntyre

The Climate Minute - Metaphors for all!

We were grateful to be joined by D.R. Tucker (@DRTucker) this week. Here are some links to the topics we mentioned. Read the New Yorker's Obama interview, President’s State of the Union and some background on the NSA spying on Copenhagen climate talks. The Atlanta snowstorm fits a bigger pattern. Michael Mann is a hero for climate activists, and is having some success silencing his critics. We're back in the polar Vortex, while Australia is suffering a historic heatwave.  Ted spoke with our Australian friend Gavin Webber about the weather, and the weather change in Australian politics.  You can subscribe to our iTunes feed and get our podcasts automatically here. Feel free to give us your thoughts on our Facebook page, or through old-fashioned email. You can even follow us on twitter @MassClimate , so there are lots of ways for you to listen and participate in the dialog. When you are on the website, please contribute to MCAN. Your generous donations help us continue to bring climate news and views to you through our podcast and blogs, but also help support the Annual MCAN conference (this year on March 2nd, at Northeastern University), and our local climate action. So we will close the way we always close, by saying that because we recognize the necessity of personal accountability for our actions- specifically to pay for the full cost of carbon pollution at the time we create it, because we accept responsibility for building a durable future and because we believe it is our patriotic duty as citizens to speak out, we must insist that the US put a price on carbon.

The Climate Minute - Is anyone in office paying attention?

Hi, and welcome to the Climate Minute, a weekly podcast that gives thoughtful people some perspective and insight on global warming news.  Ted and Rob are back at the pink and oragne coffeehouse again, and man, it's cold...  We're back in the polar Vortex, while Australia is suffering a historic heatwave.  Ted spoke with our Australian friend Gavin Webber about the weather, and the weather change in Australian politics.  Back in America, 18 major green groups have sent a letter to the President asking him to take charge on climate change -- and to abandon the "all of the above" poilcy which has led to increasingly higher American CO2 emissions.  In this month's New Yorker, the president doesn't seem to equate the climate crisis with the kind of national problem along the lines of a World War II, or Civil War -- and lacking that sort of understanding, how are we ever going to get anything done? Ted's firmly in the camp of "the money always wins." and if we don't break the cycle of political subjugation to wealth, we can never fully address climate. West Virginia is a cautionary tale about what can happen when corporate interests run wild and the environment is caught in the cross-hairs. On that theme, Ted wrote earlier this week about how the Trans Pacific Partnership potentially puts corpoate profits ahead of, heck, even government. Finally, the EU seems to be back-tracking from their commitment to carbon trading... You can subscribe to our iTunes feed and get our podcasts automatically here. Feel free to give us your thoughts on our Facebook page, or through old-fashioned email. You can even follow us on twitter @MassClimate , so there are lots of ways for you to listen and participate in the dialog. When you are on the website, please contribute to MCAN. Your generous donations help us continue to bring climate news and views to you through our podcast and blogs, but also help support the Annual MCAN conference (this year on March 2nd, at Northeastern University), and our local climate action. So we will close the way we always close, by saying that because we recognize the necessity of personal accountability for our actions- specifically to pay for the full cost of carbon pollution at the time we create it, because we accept responsibility for building a durable future and because we believe it is our patriotic duty as citizens to speak out, we must insist that the US put a price on carbon.

The Climate Minute - With a soundtrack...

Ted and Rob are back at the Pink and Orange Coffeehouse, with the accompanying soundtrack.  (The nice young gents manning the counter had no idea how to turn down the radio, so you get to hear some Katy Perry with your climate talk....)  This week Rob and Ted discuss the latest trends in climate change belief among the general public, the Patrick Administration's latest climate resiliency plans, and do a mea culpa in response to listener mail... Now the links, For more information about new funding for resiliency funding in Massachusetts, check out this story. National Journal's story about the lack of climate scientists on Sunday morning talk shows is here, and you can read about the latest public opinion polling on climate change from NBC -- note their slightly misleading title. Madeline Albright and Carol Browner, former head of the EPA, will be talking about the politics of climate change at the Albridgt Institute at Wellesley College on January 22nd from 4 to 5:30.  For more information, check out the Institute's website. Finally, the latest in the continuing saga of the Falmouth wind turbines is the ZBA's actions to try and shut down the turbines, forcing the town to take them to court.  You can read a bit about that here. You can subscribe to our iTunes feed and get our podcasts automatically here. Feel free to give us your thoughts on our Facebook page, or through old-fashioned email. You can even follow us on twitter @MassClimate , so there are lots of ways for you to listen and participate in the dialog. When you are on the website, please contribute to MCAN. Your generous donations help us continue to bring climate news and views to you through our podcast and blogs, but also help support the Annual MCAN conference (this year on March 2nd, at Northeastern University), and our local climate action. So we will close the way we always close, by saying that because we recognize the necessity of personal accountability for our actions- specifically to pay for the full cost of carbon pollution at the time we create it, because we accept responsibility for building a durable future and because we believe it is our patriotic duty as citizens to speak out, we must insist that the US put a price on carbon.