This is the final day of our blogathon to support Bill McKibben of 350.org, Sierra Club and Hip Hop Caucus, who have organized a climate change demonstration at the White House on February 17th to urge President Obama to say no to the Keystone XL pipeline. So far, over 21,000 people have signed up to participate in this demonstration, which might be the largest climate rally in the history of this country.
Sen. Whitehouse to speak at climate change rally Sunday in Washington:
It's time to take serious action, both in Congress and in the Administration, to address the damage that climate change is already causing to our communities, Whitehouse said in a news release.
Forward on Climate Blogathon Calendar for Today
Senator Cardin's office just telephoned me with last minute questions. He WILL be present for comments in his diary!
10:00 am: Phaedra Ellis-Lamkins, Chief Executive Officer of Green For All.
11:00 am: Agathena.
11:00 am: Senator Sanders.
noon: Indigenous Environmental Network Marty Cobenais.
1:00 pm: Senator Ben Cardin.
3:00 pm: DWG.
5:00 pm: James Wells.
***We will update this calendar if we hear from Van Jones or Senator Sanders, who planned to post earlier this week.
Climate Change News
In addition to the long list of negative and deadly impacts on people, wildlife, natural resources and economy, climate change could burn a hole in the government’s finances, GAO says:
As climate change leads to more frequent and destructive natural disasters and threatens crop yields, bridges and other infrastructure, the federal government faces big financial risks that it is poorly positioned to address, auditors said Thursday.
These risks, along with the threat of gaps in critical weather forecasting satellites that could last years, topped a biennial list released Thursday of federal programs at high risk of waste, fraud, abuse or financial loss.
President Obama knows passing climate change legislation will be hard, partially because many in public still not on board:
"I wish I could say that, you know, the way Washington works, that it’s a rational, reasoned, policy-wonk conversation where you would, you know, be very comfortable. That’s not what motivates folks a lot of times around here," Obama said. "What motivates folks is getting reelected."
"And for a lot of members of Congress, what they're responding to is a public that is still not entirely convinced that this is an urgent problem," he continued. "And part of my job, I think, is to use the bully pulpit to help raise people's awareness because if the public cares about it, eventually Congress acts. If the public doesn’t care about it, it's very hard to get big stuff done."
Not surprising that some remain unconcerned or confused about the imperative to address climate change:
Anonymous billionaires secretly funded $120m to more than 100 anti-climate groups working to discredit climate change science or block climate action:
The funds, doled out between 2002 and 2010, helped build a vast network of thinktanks and activist groups working to a single purpose: to redefine climate change from neutral scientific fact to a highly polarising "wedge issue" for hardcore conservatives.
The millions were routed through two trusts, Donors Trust and the Donors Capital Fund, operating out of a generic town house in the northern Virginia suburbs of Washington DC. Donors Capital caters to those making donations of $1m or more.
Four States Introduce Keystone XL Resolutions, Lifting Language from ALEC and TransCanada Itself:
Legislators in four states have introduced bills in recent weeks supporting the controversial TransCanada Keystone XL pipeline, with language that appears to have been lifted directly from a "model" American Legislative Exchange Council (ALEC) bill and from TransCanada's own public relations talking points.
Some of the first bills proposed in Missouri, Mississippi, Michigan and Minnesota in 2013 have been resolutions calling on the president and Congress to approve the Keystone XL oil pipeline, which the Obama administration delayed last year in response to a wave of protest and civil disobedience.
…Though the Keystone XL approval will happen on the federal level, the corporate interests that stand to benefit from the pipeline have lobbied extensively to curry favor in the states, which can lend the appearance of grassroots support and put pressure on federal officials.
The Newly Proposed Carbon Tax Will Fight Global Warming, Protect Low-Income Americans And Reduce The Deficit:
Taken together, the Climate Protection Act and Sustainable Energy Act are a comprehensive climate bill, led by Senators Bernie Sanders (I-VT) and Barbara Boxer (D-CA). Most important, the package puts a price on carbon, which will make polluters pay for the damage they inflict on all of us while encouraging the transition to cleaner fuels. This $20 fee for each ton of carbon dioxide pollution will reduce emissions to 20 percent below 2005 levels by 2025.
These bills also bring in more than $1 trillion in new revenue over the next decade. The success of any pollution reduction program depends on how new revenue is spent, and these bills spend the money smartly. Broadly speaking, the money goes to three places: consumer protection, clean energy infrastructure, and deficit reduction. Each of these is important.
Congress solicits climate change recommendations from over 300 businesses and organizations:
On January 31, Representative Henry Waxman and Senator Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI) sent letters to over 300 businesses, labor unions, environmental organizations, universities, and think tanks, soliciting views on “ideas for actions the federal government can take to address climate change” as well as “suggestions for new authorities to be enacted by Congress.
Congressional Progressive, Black, Hispanic, and Asian American caucuses release letter calling on President Obama to reject XL pipeline:
At a press event in front of the capitol, representatives from the Congressional Progressive Caucus and the Congressional Black, Hispanic, and Asian American caucuses released a letter calling on President Obama to say no the Keystone XL pipeline. The letter was signed by 23 members of Congress, including long-time progressive champions like Rep. John Lewis and new members of Congress like California Representative Mark Takano.
“You cannot be talking about doing something proactive about climate change while approving the Keystone XL pipeline,” said Arizona Representative Raul Grijalva at the event. “We're now in a position to lead, rather than follow the worn, tired path industry has laid for us.”
Grayson is talking about this report on Tax Free Tar Sands released last year.
Senate Dems' sequester-replacement plan ends tar sands exemption, estimated to reduce deficit by $2 billion:
A Senate Democratic plan to replace a series of automatic spending cuts would require tar sands producers to start paying into a fund for oil spill relief.
The Democratic package would end an exemption for the tar sands industry that excludes it from paying an 8-cent-per-barrel fee assessed on domestic and imported petroleum.
We'd like to thank everyone for being so supportive this past week. Please enjoy this open thread!
