Welcome to edition #8 of This week in climate change.
All eyes are transfixed on a gaping wound to the planet inflicted by our thirst for fossil fuels. That same thirst is overheating the planet. But are our elected officials ready to pivot from condemning the catastrophe in the Gulf of Mexico to pushing for a clean energy future? Are they as willing to address the cause of the disaster as they are its symptoms? This Week in Climate Change is devoted to political action in the United States.
This week in climate change is a new weekly series at Daily Kos devoted to climate change and related news. Let's engage in constructive debate about the issues and coalesce around action. The diary will appear Wednesday afternoons, around 1PM Pacific. I'm guest-hosting for LaughingPlanet; all credit goes to him for originating and persevering with the series, all blame goes to me for mangling it.
A little bit of science news
In the first report to the UN since Obama became president, the United States predicts a four percent rise in greenhouse gases from now to 2020. And, in the Department of Completely Unrelated News, heat records outweigh cold records in May. And April. And January-April. And 2009. But it's completely unrelated!
Legislative news
The House passed a little-noticed but important science funding bill, America COMPETES, last Friday on an unusual parliamentary maneuver. This bill "makes investments in science, innovation, and education to support employers today while strengthening the U.S. scientific and economic leadership to grow new industries of tomorrow." Clean energy research is a strong focus.
It's not the only good work being done in this Congress. The Home STAR bill ("cash for caulkers") passed the House a couple of weeks ago and has been introduced in the Senate by a bipartisan coalition including, so far, Lindsey Graham (at least until he does a Home STAR runner). Senator Bernie Sanders (I-VT) has also introduced a Clean Coasts and Efficient Cars Act, which ties together an end to offshore drilling and a big boost in fuel economy standards. Both bills aim to reduce our dependence on carbon-generating fossil fuels over the long haul, although they won't price carbon. In the meantime, the bill that does price carbon, the American Power Act (aka Kerry-Lieberman climate bill), is too dependent on goodies for carbon-generating fossil fuels.
Oh, about that climate bill.... This morning, President Obama promised to find the votes for the climate bill in the coming months in the strongest statement he's made to date connecting Oilpocalypse to our failed fossil-fuelish energy policy.
Senator Mark Begich (D-AK) wants a comprehensive energy bill; he says the Senate shouldn't wait until after the Gulf of Mexico oil spill report [note: which report? dozens will be written] to take up the bill, and he's getting closer to supporting the American Power Act (Kerry-Lieberman climate bill).
The Gulf disaster hey! I thought I could get through a whole climate diary without mentioning that! already affects the Senate debate over the climate bill. On the one hand, supporters of the bill (Senators Menendez, Lautenberg, and Bill Nelson) have threatened to pull their support because it expands offshore oil; on the other hand, Kerry and Lieberman may fear losing Republican support. Bold Democrats want to use Big Oil as a foil just as Wall Street was the villain in the financial regulations bill. Third Way Democrats whine that "drawing a sharp contrast with Republicans will only make the debate more partisan and alienate the potential GOP allies needed to pass comprehensive reform."
Here's a hint, Third Way Democrats: some Republicans such as David Vitter (R-Late Great State of La) already side with Big Oil, and the debate is already poisonous-partisan. Take Big Oil out of the climate bill. It'll be a better bill. Then dare Republicans to choose: stand with BP or with the American people? You'll lose Lisa "I Heart Big Oil" Murkowski (R-Baked Alaska), but you might gain votes from Susan Collins (R-epublicans for Environmental Protection) and Scott Brown (R-Cape Wind). BP already seeks Republican support, as evidence by its hiring a former Cheney spokesperson, defender of the secret energy task force meetings? Democrats' best response to BP's politicization of the disaster is a better climate bill without the taint of Big Oil..
Take Action! Focus on President Obama
Want to lead a true people powered movement that can hold BP and our elected leaders accountable and build the support for clean energy solutions that can break through entrenched fossil fuel interests? Sign up with Energy Action Coalition.
It's easy to sign your name to the League of Conservation Voters' petition to President Obama asking him to seize the moment and lead us away from our dependence on fossil fuels.
If you haven't already heard Robert Redford's ad for NRDC, watch it
and then sign this petition.
Follow the lead set by WarrenS. For over 5 months, he has sent an LTE or letter to a politician about climate issues -- and has hit the New York Times twice! Preaching to the choir in a DKos diary is nice and all, but getting our message out to a wider audience (Read: Those who REALLY need it) is also important.