Welcome to edition #9 of This week in climate change.
Another week, another set of worsening conditions for the global environment and its warming climate.
If ever there was a time to focus our collective attention on this pet issue, it is now.
Has anyone pointed out that time's a wastin'?
Just asking...
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Climate news, Climate Diary Rescue, Climate Blog Roundup, Action Items and more below the fold.
This week in climate change is a new weekly series at Daily Kos devoted to climate change and related news. The hope is that we can engage in constructive debate about the issues raised by the topics presented, and coalesce around the action items proposed each week.
The diary for now will appear Wednesday afternoons, around 1PM Pacific.
THE LEDE
Sen. Lindsey Graham Will Vote Against Energy-Only Bill AND His Own Climate Bill
"What I have withdrawn from is a bill that basically restricts drilling in a way that is never going to happen in the future," Graham said. "I wanted it to safely occur in the future; I don’t want to take it off the table."
Lest your memory be as short as Graham’s, this is the bill that Graham helped write. He, Kerry and Lieberman drafted it together, but Graham pulled out at the last second to protest Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid’s (D-Nev.) prioritization of immigration reform. Environmental advocates hoped that he’d still vote for the eventual bill, even if he wasn’t present for the rollout. But then the Gulf of Mexico oil spill hit, and Kerry and Lieberman decided to give states some control over whether drilling happened near their shores. Apparently that was too much for Graham.
Climate Progress called this "mother of all flip-flops".
Disingenuous Republicans again? Shocking!
The trope about legislation "hurting business" is utterly ridiculous BS.
Is the rule that they are only allowed to hurt us?
What more evidence do we need that the GOP is a wholly-owned subsidiary of the oil giants?
On the heels of this, you gotta wonder WTF the GOP is thinking-
Support for oil drilling dwindles
Just a quarter of Americans back expanding offshore drilling in the wake of the BP oil spill, and most fault federal regulators for the environmental disaster in the Gulf of Mexico, according to a new Washington Post-ABC News poll.
More on the APA:
American Power Act Is a "Model" for Economic Growth
Best Analyses Available Show Climate Legislation Is a Good Investment
By Richard W. Caperton | June 9, 2010
For the last five weeks the Environmental Protection Agency has been analyzing economic impacts of the American Power Act, climate legislation written by Sens. John Kerry (D-MA) and Joe Lieberman (I-CT). EPA’s analysis will influence whether or not other senators support the legislation and ultimately whether or not Congress takes action to move the United States toward a clean energy economy. With stakes that high it’s vitally important that legislators understand the bill’s complete economic effects, including how their constituents will benefit. For instance, their constituents could see economic savings from energy conservation measures and avoiding the adverse impacts from climate change inaction. But there are other benefits, too: Recent studies of climate legislation show the Kerry-Lieberman bill will create between 1 million and 2 million new jobs by 2020 and dramatically grow the U.S. economy.
(My bold.)
Green jobs, climate sanity, economic benefits in the long term.
This is a no-brainer, people, which means it is perfect for the fossil fools in the Senate.
GOOD NEWS
We on the political left, especially environmentalists, don't get enough good news lately. The past decade ("The Ohs") was our worst in 40 years. Let's try to briefly look at the minor victories more often before we find ourselves getting too down. M'kay?
File Not Found.
kidding!
I think.
Lemme see here...
Ah yes....here we are. Hummingbird Nest Cam ended with the young Hoku fledging into the great beyond. It was fun watching him "practice flying" in the nest over those last few days.
Oops. That has nothing to do with climate issues, does it now?
Consider this week a low point for both this series and the issue upon which it is focused. And for the planet on which it is featured for that matter.
OK; this one actually counts-
Congressional leaders give electric cars a boost
A pair of bills were last week introduced in the Senate and the House of Representatives, titled the Electric Vehicle Deployment Act and the Electric Drive Vehicle Deployment Act, respectively.
The legislation proposes that communities should be given up to $800m (£554m) to introduce electric vehicles and charging infrastructure, while consumers would receive up to $2,000 in federal tax credits for the purchase of EV chargers.
And this:
California rejects shady Proposition 16
The proposal was basically a market-share protection plan for the large utility PG&E; it would have made it more difficult for more ambitious, green-minded municipalities to create or expand their own public power services.
Chalk one up for the little guy!
That's a mighty small piece of chalk you have there...
OTHER NEWS
• Murkowski's Anti-EPA Dirty Air Amendment to the Clean Air Act will get a vote tomorrow.
On Thursday, Sen. Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska) will introduce a "resolution of disapproval" that would short-circuit EPA's ability to regulate carbon pollution. By the mysterious alchemy of Beltway media, the vote has become a bellwether for the climate bill's chances.
So if it loses, the climate bill looks more likely.
How is its chances?
But of course it won't pass; nobody, Murkowski included, thinks it has a chance. If it got through the Senate, it wouldn't get through the House; if it got through the House, Obama would veto it. It's an act of pure grandstanding on Murkowski's part.
Party ON, Garth!
Wait, what?
By ROBIN BRAVENDER of ClimateWire
Published: June 9, 2010
Sen. Jay Rockefeller (D-W.Va.) will vote for a resolution to hamstring U.S. EPA's authority to regulate greenhouse gases under the Clean Air Act, he said yesterday.
At least there is this-
The White House yesterday threatened to veto the Murkowski resolution if it reached the president's desk.
But it still doesn't comfort me in light of the "bellwether" quote above.
• Inhofe: Fiorina ‘Is Supporting’ My Push To Gut The Clean Air Act, Agrees Climate Change Is A ‘Hoax’
Inhofe, who has been described as Washington’s "the last flat-earther" for his strident denial of climate change, said Fiorina "is supporting what I am supporting." He elaborated that Fiorina both supports eviscerating the EPA’s ability to enforce the Clean Air Act, and that she is supportive of his beliefs "in terms of the whole global warming hoax." He then added that he is "very proud of her":
http://thinkprogress.org/...
h/t JML9999
This cannot help her chances in Calif, of all places. It feels like getting an endorsement from David Duke.
Buh bye, Carly! I bet you think this swan song is about you.
CLIMATE BLOG HIGHLIGHTS
This is what "fantastic coverage of environmental issues" looks like.
This week featuring the following:
• Solve Climate
• tcktcktck:
http://solveclimate.com/...
At this week's global climate talks in Bonn, developing countries have begun fighting a gambit by rich nations to use a forest accounting "trick" that would allow them to boost their planet-warming emissions without penalty. For the first time, a bloc of Central African nations sternly called on countries to close the so-called "logging loophole" entirely.
Chris Henschel, a policy manager at the Canadian Parks and Wilderness Society, who has been attending the negotiations in Bonn, said the surprise move by the African bloc "gave things a real shake up."
http://tcktcktck.org/...
As Ben Wikler from TckTckTck partner Avaaz explained at the Colossal Fossil award ceremony last year in Copenhagen, "Canada has made zero progress here on financing, offering nothing for the short term or the long term beyond vague platitudes. And in last night’s high-level segment, Canada’s environment minister gave a speech so lame that it didn’t include a single target, number or reference to the science."
Things haven't changed much since then as Canada adds another Fossil to its trophy case at the Bonn climate talks today after they announced that they would lower their greenhouse gas emission targets to the same level as the United States.
DKOS CLIMATE DIARIES
• ACTION: OFA urges supporters to fight Murkowski Resolution
by Eclectablog
This resolution is a giant step backward. As it is, other nations are already taking the lead in transitioning to clean energy economies that create the jobs of the future. Now Sen. Murkowski and her Republican allies, who have taken millions from big oil companies and other polluters, want to lock us in the past.
...
I know many of you are negative about OFA. As a Community Organizer for OFA, I tell my volunteers this: with OFA, you can take what you like and leave the rest. And I hope you'll take this initiative and lend your support because it's something we should ALL be on board with.
• More about Lisa "Murky" Murkowski's trainwreck
A Rebuttal to Sen Murkowski's "Dirty Air Act" Op-Ed: Is She Serious?
by 1Sky Campaign
After all, this is coming from a politician who has received more than $900,000 from the oil and gas and electrical utility industries during the course of her career. She is the third-leading recipient of oil industry money in this election cycle and -- in the shadow of our country's largest oil spill and one of the worst environmental disasters in American history -- she led the charge last month against raising the cap on liability costs for companies responsible for oil spills.
• World Environment Day: The Oil We Eat
by soothsayer99
(the diary so nice, it was posted twice)
...scientists, environmentalists and animal rights activists have been urging for eons - a world-wide reduction in meat consumption and a move towards vegetarianism and veganism.
"A global shift towards a vegan diet is vital to save the world from hunger, fuel poverty and the worst impacts of climate change."
• Suzan DelBene of WA-08 @eKos
by Suzan DelBene for Congress
Climate change is a serious threat to our way of life, economy, and our future - and we need to address it now. Climate change also presents an opportunity to invest in clean energy technology here at home and address security challenges we face because of our dependence on foreign oil. This is an opportunity to develop a new sector in our economy. Focusing on green energy and renewable technology will reap benefits for WA-08 as well as America as a whole, and it is a new economy that we are well poised to lead.
• Do I ever get to rescue myself?
Just kidding. But if you missed one of my highest-rated diaries ever (currently #28 @Dkos this week) , you can check it out here, or just watch this video instead.
Other Env'al Series
The week in dirty coal by DWG
Alternative Renewable Energy Round-Up by mark louis
Sunday Train by BruceMcF
EcoJusitce by various artists
Climate Change News Roundup by PDNC
Macca's Meatless Monday by beach babe in fl
Hike On! by by RLMiller
ECSTASY by various artists
As always, please list your own favorite climate diaries that I didn't list above in the comments below.
INTO ACTION
• Call Harry Reid and pressure him to bring the APA to the Senate floor instead of a feckless energy-only giveaway bill.
Sen. Harry Reid
202-224-3542
He is facing re-election this year. Sure the Teabag Party has made his path to re-election easier, but he still needs our support; make him earn it.
• From RLMiller:
more on Murky Air Act: (7+ / 0-)
Use this CREDOAction whip count tool to call your Senator, and then report the call. Do NOT assume that the veto threat means that calls can be neglected.
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What action items do you suggest?
Leave items in the comments and I'll update the diary and include them here.
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Previous TWiCC diaries:
• Apr 14, 2010- New series: This week in climate change by LaughingPlanet
• Apr 21, 2010- This week in climate change: ¡Viva Bolivia! by LaughingPlanet
• Apr 28, 2010- This week in climate change- by LaughingPlanet
• May 05, 2010- This week in climate change: Nothing to see here edition by LaughingPlanet
• May 12, 2010- GOP ♥ Terrorists & Big Oil, Hate Jobs by LaughingPlanet
• May 19, 2010- TWiCC - How low can we go? (w/ good news, as always)
by LaughingPlanet
• May 26, 2010- eKos Earthship Wednesday: "it's the climate, stupid!" by boatsie
• June 2, 2010- This Week in Climate Change: Murky Air, Murkier Politics by RLMiller
• June 9, 2010- This week in climate change: Wise-cracker Graham
by LaughingPlanet
Thanks for reading, recommending, and participating in the comments.
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