The Climate Minute

Ballot Questions for All: The Climate Hawk's Companion Podcast

In this episode, we evaluate November’s ballot questions from a Climate Hawk’s perspective, and draw lessons applicable across the country. We talk with commentator D.R. Tucker and Citizens Climate Lobby’s Gary Rucinski about both the Bottle Bill (Question 2) and the Gas Tax (Question 1.)  Then we talk with Chris Manns, who is leading the fight in Metro-West Massachusetts for the “Vote Yes For Democracy” question that reverses the Citizens United decision.

Find the details here:
http://massclimateaction.wordpress.com/2014/10/23/ballot-questions-for-all-the-climate-hawks-companion-podcast/

Check out the links at our blog, http://massclimateaction.wordpress.com or our Facebook page facbook.com/massclimateaction.

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

A Hero in Our Time- The Climate Notes Podcast

D.R. Tucker speaks about the courageous Rick Piltz, who passed away recently.

You can read more on DR's blog at http://www.washingtonmonthly.com/political-animal-a/2014_10/the_face_of_courage052536.php

Check out the links at our blog, http://massclimateaction.wordpress.com or our Facebook page www.facebook.com/massclimateaction.

Thanks for listening!

Threat Multiplication: The Climate Minute Podcast

Here are some links to the DOD report on climate and our military, Exxon's anti-divestment blog calling the movement out-of-touch, the original of Paul Krugman's article,  with a reply by Dave Roberts at GRIST and a link to the Post-Carbon Institute website.

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

Check out the links at our blog, http://massclimateaction.wordpress.com or our Facebook page facbook.com/massclimateaction.

Thanks for listening!

Ted McIntyre

National Petroleum Broadcasting? Climate Notes (PODCAST)

NPR's ombudsman insists that the network doesn't allow energy interests to influence content, and condemns those who supposedly want the network to engage in "advocacy journalism" on climate. D.R. Tucker responds in this week's "Climate Notes."

Check out the links at www.massclimateaction.wordpress.org.

Thanks for listening!

The March, the Media and the Meaning: The Climate Minute (Podcast)

Check out the links at our blog, http://massclimateaction.wordpress.com or our Facebook page facbook.com/massclimateaction.

Thanks for listening!

Ted McIntyre

The Climate Hawk's Companion: Voices from the #ClimateTrial (PODCAST)

The Lobsterboat Blockade case went to trial today. (You can hear about the background here.) In a good outcome, the criminal charges were reduced to civil charges. The defendants will pay a fine, but serve no jail time.

 

You can read a press release from the defendants or District Attorney Sam Sutter’s statement. The DA did the right thing in brokering a win-win agreement, and the recognized the bigger issues involved in the case.  WBUR and Climate Central both have stories up as well.

 

Thanks for listening.

 

…Ted McIntyre

 

 

The Climate Minute: Are we hypnotized by markets? Plus more New York bound buses (PODCAST)

New England is wrestling with it’s energy demands, but Massachusetts Governor Deval Patrick is increasingly uncomfortable with new gas infrastructure, (maybe due to local opposition to pipelines) despite pressure from the  Governor of Maine.  Still, Massachusetts is doing just fine with solar power, thank you very much.  Cape Wind is still fighting nuisance lawsuits , and we hope they have as much success as they had against the last twenty six nuisance law suits.  Climate change raises questions about "water security" in the future. Right now, citizens of Detroit are fighting deliberate home water shut-offs. Whatever the merits of the argument are on each side, this is unlikely to be the last water related environmental justice case. A draft of an upcoming summary IPCC report is blunt and stark, observing the irreversible nature of the changes we are creating, and the need for discipline to NOT burn the underground fossil fuels that we already know about (much less prospecting in the Arctic!) Jared Diamond wrote a book about how various societies failed to recognize the obvious seeds of their own destruction.

The New York Times reports that the Obama Administration may look for ways to get a climate agreement that bypasses the Senate. Needless to say, heads are exploding on at least one side of the political aisle.

The EPA’s website says it uses the Social Cost of Carbon (SCC) (which is a number calculated by the Federal Government) “to estimate the climate benefits of rulemakings. The SCC is an estimate of the economic damages associated with a small increase in carbon dioxide (CO₂) emissions, conventionally one metric ton, in a given year. This dollar figure also represents the value of damages avoided for a small emission reduction (i.e. the benefit of a CO₂ reduction).”

Due to doubt and suspicion from some in Congress, the GAO looked in to the process of making the SCC calculation, and concluded it was done according to the right procedures. This lack of evidence of “cooked books” will no doubt disappoint the confusionists, but they can just continue to repeat their tired older talking point.

 

We should recognize however that the “Social Cost of Carbon” is a profound touchstone basis for a market-based approach to resolving climate issues. An interesting post at Grist wonders if the climate movement has become hypnotized by market fundamentalism. 

The post says

“Thus the climate movement is possessed with near theological discussions about which market tool is better. Is it a straight-up carbon tax, or should we create a carbon cap, auctioning permits to pollute and allowing polluters to buy carbon emissions reductions in a trading marketplace? ideally seeking the lowest-cost carbon reductions possible. What is lost in the discussion is how we actually met big challenges in the past, challenges that require the creation of new technologies and industries. Market fundamentalism conceives new innovations and industries to rise magically out of properly adjusted market systems. Build the incentives and they will come. A study of economic history shows it just ain’t so.

This is a thought-provoking article. As an example of the role of government versus markets, read about the potential for “perovskite” based solar cells. The material was only recently recognized and could be a game changer- but maybe not. Will the ‘market’ fund the development of this speculative technology, or should the government (i.e. we the people) make the investment?

A great opinion piece in the New York Times (The Climate Swerve ) considers how the great mass of people might come to recognize the moral and ethical stakes at play in the issue of global warming.

 

Preparations for the People’s March in September are in full swing. A recent press release suggest the event has gone global:

• In New Delhi, thousands will take over the streets on September 20 to demand a renewable energy revolution.
• In Australia, organizers are expecting hundreds of individual events to take place across the country, including a major march in Melbourne.
• In London environment organisations and faith groups are combining forces to create a historic march through the city to the steps of Parliament.
• In Berlin three parallel marches will combine forces in a colourful festival.
• Events are already being planned in Ghana, Kenya, DRC, Nigeria, and Guinea, along with a major march in Johannesburg.
• In Paris, local groups will create the “Paris Marche pour le Climat,” with parades, marches, and bicycle rides planned across the bridges of the Seinne.
• Reports are also coming in of large mobilizations planned in: Kathmandu, Rio, Sao Paulo, Jakarta, Dublin, Manila, Seoul, Mumbai and Istanbul.

 

From Massachusetts there will be bus departures from Amherst, Cambridge, Cape Cod, Framingham, Holyoke, Jamaica Plain, Longmeadow, Northhampton, Wellesley and Worcester (so far!) For details, and for buses from all over the country, go to the Transportation Page.

 

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: From Australia to Art (PODCAST)

Just a link-dump this week. Happy reading!

 

Australian Carbon Tax

 

False balance in media

 

New gas pipelines in MA:

local opposition
leaks in Boston

July 30 protest

 

Population and climate:

educate women

One child in Boston?

Climate and art:

Snowpiecer review #1

Snowpiercer review #2

Dog Stars review

YOLD nominated

 

NYC protest in September

 

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: Commencement at Irvine (PODCAST)

The President gave a commencement speech at UC Irvine recently, and delivered a frank and pragmatic recognition that climate change must be addressed. You can see the speech here, read about the President’s plan here and check out the EPA’s recent plan to control carbon pollution from existing coal fired power plants here.

Because of all the evidence, we must insist that the US put a price on carbon!

….Ted McIntyre

The Climate Minute: New polls, new reports, new pipelines (PODCAST)

This week we discuss the international implications of the new EPA rules, as well as polls showing support for carbon fees and proposed pipelines here in MA.

 

Recent polls show increasing support for carbon pricing.  Is it because Obama recognizes the need for a price on carbon?  Recent reports show that a carbon tax is good for the economy! There is new gas pipeline proposed for Massachusetts. Check here for information about what to do about it.

 

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