Originally published on the NRDC Expert Blog. By Arjun Krishnaswami The cost of energy storage is plummeting as performance is improving, and Congress is moving to help storage technologies continue to … [Read full article]
Category: Policies & Politics
First Round of 15 Winners of Reinventing Cities Competition Announced, Creating New Beacons of Sustainable Design & Construction
The winning projects of a global competition for innovative carbon-free and resilient urban projects were announced in Oslo and sent to us by C40 CITIES. Have a look.
Why Do Republicans Now Hate On Christian Morals, National Security, Democracy, The US Constitution, The Rule Of Law, The FBI, The CIA, Honesty, & The US Deficit?
It’s honestly astounding. Take just about anything that was at the top of the ideological list for Republicans 5–10 years ago, and it is now trampled on by the Republican … [Read full article]
Don The Con & Crew Creating Alternative Reality That Is Almost Completely Fake
Donald Trump rose to political prominence by pushing a fake story that President Obama wasn’t born in the USA. He rose up in the public consciousness via a fake “reality … [Read full article]
Putin Wants *Everything* Trump Is Giving Him — #DonTheCon for #RussiaFirst
If Vladimir Putin ran the United States, what would he want? He’d want the US to pull out of NATO. Donald Trump has pushed for that. He’d want sanctions lifted … [Read full article]
Ørsted Cancels Divestment Of Power Distribution & Residential Customer Businesses
Ørsted Cancels Divestment Of Power Distribution & Residential Customer Businesses Under Government Pressure A day after Danish energy company Ørsted announced that the Danish Ministry of Finance had raised concerns … [Read full article]
38 Top Political Tweets of the Day — #TrumpShutdown #ResignTrump
This is what occurs when a lighter lights pic.twitter.com/SwlPQayDYq — How Things Work (@ThingsWork) December 21, 2018 Following yesterday’s post about 11 top political tweets of the day, here’s one … [Read full article]
11 Top Political Tweets of the Day
Twitter is a bit annoying — too many trolls and discussions are too shallow. But it is hella fun for political one-liners. Below are perhaps my 11 favorite political tweets … [Read full article]
When Will Trump Be Gone?
Okay, I am going to go out on a limb here, but I will make a prediction: If the Democrats take control of the House of Representatives in the midterm … [Read full article]
Putin and the Alt-Right — Lying Together
By George Harvey Zachary Shahans’s CleanTechnica articles, “How Russian Attacks On Democracy & The USA Relate To Cleantech,” and “Where Does US Democracy Go From Here?” moved me to examine … [Read full article]
Donald Trump Echoes Stalin, Holds Secret Meeting With Putin That Has “No Apparent Purpose” In Midst Of Investigation About Potential Putin–Trump Conspiracy To Cheat US Democracy
How anti-democratic, insane, and stupid do you have to be to be a Donald Trump (aka Don the Con) supporter? What has he done for the US public? Nothing. What … [Read full article]
US Democracy Is Under Threat. Where Is It Going Next?
One of the key lessons I learned while getting my first degree in sociology is a simple one, but it’s also a profound one that is too often glossed over. … [Read full article]
Enough With The Global Population Boom Scare Talk, Please!
July 11, was World Population Day as defined by the Governing Council of the United Nations Development Programme in 1989, an outgrowth of the interest generated by the Day of … [Read full article]
Big Companies Fight Tooth & Nail Against California Consumer Privacy Measure
As soon as I go home, I lock the door. Eventually, I close the blinds and curtains. I also lock the doors of my vehicles and fences. I keep my … [Read full article]
What Do You Expect? The Con Man Claimed For Years That Obama Wasn’t American
There’s been wide variation for years now in how political pundits and commentators interpret Donald Trump’s statements and actions. Is he confused? Is he stupid? Is he just trolling progressives? … [Read full article]
Trump Lies To You Like No One Else — When Do The Conned Get Tired Of Getting Conned?
You may remember Billy Bush — he’s that Bush who went into entertainment instead of politics but still almost had a dramatic effect on US politics. He’s the guy who … [Read full article]
EU Member States Commit To 30% Emission Reductions By 2030
The European Union has this week formally adopted Member States’ annual greenhouse gas emission reduction targets for 2021 to 2030 which, though they differ by country, will deliver a 30% reduction in EU emissions on 2005 levels across a wide variety of industries.
Environmental Conservatism? Just Another Name For Capitalism First, Planet Last
Environmental conservatism is the newest euphemism for supporting market forces before acknowledging the planetary degradation the western world has caused.
EU Emissions Rose 1.8% In 2017
Carbon dioxide emissions stemming from fossil fuel use in the European Union rose by around 1.8% in 2017 as compared to 2016, according to the most recent estimates from Eurostat. … [Read full article]
Pesticide Ban And Plastic Recycling Agreed To By European Commission
Europe has voted to ban three of the most common pesticides which are believed to affect bees. It is also searching for ways to increase the use of recyclable plastics to 50% by 2030.
Pakistan Has Begun Installing Air Quality Monitors, Following Last Month’s High Court Ruling
Last month, a three-member high court panel in Pakistan, composed of some of the country’s top judges, issued a court ruling that ordered the government there to document in detail … [Read full article]
Climate Group Unveils Interactive Map Showcasing Global Under2 Policies
Climate action non-profit The Climate Group this week unveiled its new Under2 Policy Action Map, an interactive tool which illustrates the numerous successful climate-related policies being implemented by subnational governments around the world which are part of the Under2 Coalition.
Seven EU Member States Call For EU To Align Climate Ambition With Paris Agreement
Seven Member States from the European Union have called on the EU and other Member States to align their long-term climate ambition with the objectives of the Paris Climate Agreement.
New York City Banning Cars From Central Park For First Time In A Century This Summer
Owing to the aim of reducing air pollution and local auto accidents, cars will be banned this summer from New York City’s Central Park — after more than a century … [Read full article]
International Maritime Organization Agrees To 50% Carbon Emissions Reductions By 2050 (Compared To 2008 Levels)
The International Maritime Organization (IMO) has reached an agreement with constituent countries to put a plan into place to reduce the shipping sector’s greenhouse gas emissions by at least 50% … [Read full article]
More Than 100 Companies Now Have Science-Based Targets
More than 100 companies around the world have had their emissions reductions targets approved by the Science-Based Targets initiative, which helps companies align their targets with what climate science confirms is necessary and required to prevent dangerous global warming.
Remember When Hillary Clinton & Obama Paid Off Porn Stars & Playmates?
Hillary Clinton was indeed investigated for years — er, decades. What did she get busted for? Ah, yeah, nothing. Obama was investigated for … wearing a brown suit? being too … [Read full article]
US Senate Has Confirmed Former Coal Industry Lobbyist As Deputy At EPA
While most people like to place all of the blame for the recent about-face that the US Environmental Protection Agency has done with regard to pollutions controls on President Donald … [Read full article]
Current New Zealand Government Administration Won’t Grant New Offshore Oil & Gas Exploration Permits, Prime Minister Says
In an announcement that mostly just amounts to a milking circumstance for PR purposes, the current administration in New Zealand has announced that it won’t be granting any new offshore … [Read full article]
Saudi Aramco Developing $44 Billion Mega-Refinery & Petrochemicals Complex In India With Local Consortium
An enormous $44 billion combined oil mega-refinery and petrochemicals complex is now in the works for development on the west coast of India. A Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) was just … [Read full article]
200+ Environmental Groups Call On US Senate To Reject Pompeo As Secretary Of State
More than 200 US environmental groups from across the country have signed a letter to senators urging the rejection of the nomination of Mike Pompeo for Secretary of State, citing his long history of climate change denial and “extreme anti-environment, anti-consumer safety agenda.”
Fox News Is A Cancer On Society
Why Do Fox Viewers & Trump Supporters Deny Reality So, So, So Much? First of all, apologies to any Fox viewers or Trump supporters who somehow stumbled upon this piece. … [Read full article]
The Trickster & The Trump — The Politics Of America Seen Through The Lens Of Mythology
There are a set number of ways that a deck of cards can be dealt out. As you see the cards being dealt, you’re in fact watching possibilities being destroyed … [Read full article]
Putin Puppet Donald Trump Giving Russian Oligarchs Everything He Can
Donald Trump is not that normal, but he is human. He is a human who has lived essentially all of his life with a totally stacked hand, to bring in … [Read full article]
Democracy Dropping, USA In Tier 2
Is democracy the best societal avenue for humans to go down? That’s a question many of us in democratic countries don’t typically ask. The assumed answer is: “duh.” But democracy … [Read full article]
Republican Policy Benefits The Rich At The Huge Expense Of The Poor & Middle Class
There are several common assumptions about Republicans and the Republican Party that are simply untrue. These are major assumptions that have persisted for a long time. You would think that … [Read full article]
Democracy — Swell When People Pay Attention & Try To Think With An Open Mind
At the core of democracy are a few key assumptions: One is that humans will make better decisions if everyone has some power. Another is that citizens will be informed. … [Read full article]
H.L. Mencken, The Democratic Republic Of The United States, & Smartphones — Thoughts
We published an article recently that touched on the possible effects that the internet and smartphones seem to be having on the ability to think, or to function effectively as … [Read full article]
Hillary Clinton Fired or Pushed to Fire FBI Director, Deputy FBI Director, & Special Prosecutor Investigating Her
Hillary Clinton, under investigation by the FBI for her campaign team’s potential coordination with North Korea to hack our elections, has repeatedly fired or tried to fire the team of … [Read full article]
US Democracy Faces Period of Crisis
Much of the United States — and the world — is in shock. A symbol of modern democracy is suffering through an anti-democratic cancer and virus. From the outside, Russia … [Read full article]
Under2 Coalition Now Represents 205 Governments, 1.3 Billion People, & 40% Of Global Economy
Over the last 12 months of activity, the Under2 Coalition has grown its members to encompass 205 governments from around the world, representing 1.3 billion people and almost 40% of the global economy, and all of them have committed to reducing greenhouse gasses by 2050.
Evian Vows 100% Recycled Plastic Use By 2025
Danone’s widely distributed Evian brand of bottle water will have transitioned to 100%-recycled plastic use by 2025, if recent announcements from company execs are to be believed.
New York City Files Multibillion-Dollar Lawsuit Against 5 Major Oil Firms
Five of the world’s largest oil companies are now in the process of being sued by New York City for their “contributions to global warming,” Comptroller Scott Stringer has revealed. … [Read full article]
Norwegian Court Rules Against Lawsuit Calling For End To Arctic Oil Exploration — Arctic Oil Development Is A Go
The lawsuit that was filed by environmental groups in response to Norway’s announcement of plans to continue oil exploration in the Arctic has been dismissed by a court in Oslo. … [Read full article]
Florida — When Will Its Real Estate Market Go Underwater?
How much longer does southern Florida have until real-estate values in the region collapse on the back of flagging demand? At some point the reality that the region is not … [Read full article]
India Has Spent Under A Quarter Of Funds Available For Ganges River Cleanup Over Last 2 Years, Auditor Finds
A federal audit has found that India’s government has only spent well under a quarter of the funds available to it for cleaning up the Ganges River over the last … [Read full article]
Fiat Chrysler Holding Settlement Talks With Diesel Vehicle Owners In US In Relation To Allegations Of Excessive Emissions
Fiat Chrysler lawyers are now holding discussions with lawyers representing various owners and owners groups of diesel vehicles in the US that are in the process of suing the prominent … [Read full article]
Iran’s Air Pollution Problems Are Growing Fast, As Evidenced By Recent Events
The air pollution problems facing Iran, in particular those facing the country’s populous capital Tehran, seem to be growing rapidly based on recent events. As the result of dangerous levels … [Read full article]
