Scientists warn that climate change may make events like the devastating Australia bush fires more likely. The Victoria fires have left 200 dead, 7,000 displaced, and destroyed 900 homes.
President Barack Obama Jan. 26 directed the Environmental Protection Agency to reconsider the Bush administration decision that prevented California and 17 other states from setting their own, stricter limits on auto emissions. Obama also directed his administration to move forward… Read moreObama directs EPA to reconsider Bush auto emission policy
With a short memo on Inauguration Day, President Barack Obama blocked plans to loosen some air quality standards and to remove the gray wolf from the endangered species list. But he did not stop several other controversial, late-term environmental regulations… Read moreObama moves to halt Bush regs on ecology, public lands
Researchers meeting at the American Geophysical Union in San Francisco said liquefied coal could ultimately have a greater impact on global climate than oil, as it starts to come on line in response to shrinking petrol reserves. “Oil and gas…don’t… Read moreClimate scientists warn of coal threat —is Obama listening?
Former Iowa Gov. Tom Vilsack has been chosen by President-elect Barack Obama for agriculture secretary, the LA Times reports Dec. 17. The Organic Consumers Association warned a month ago against choosing Vilsack, calling him “Monsanto’s buddy” and “a shill for… Read moreObama USDA pick another “biofuel” booster
At the Poznan climate summit, Mexico’s Environment Secretary Juan Rafael Elvira announced his administration’s plan to cut 2002 greenhouse gas emission levels by 50% by 2050. The Mexican plan includes a carbon trading system that would set emissions limits on… Read moreMexico pledges to halve greenhouse emmissions —with carbon-trading
This Dec. 10 account from the San Francisco Chronicle paints Steven Chu, President-elect Barack Obama‘s pick to lead the Energy Department, as an alternative-fuels visionary who will buck the oil cartel. But this year saw a protest campaign on campus… Read moreObama Energy Department pick is “biofuel” booster
Via the Global Justice Ecology Project, Dec. 9: We, the undersigned representatives of indigenous peoples, local communities and non-governmental organizations monitoring the progress of negotiations in Poznan are outraged that the United States, Canada, Australia and New Zealand opposed the… Read moreIndigenous leaders protest Poznan climate summit
The leaders of the Group of 20 (G20) nations met in Washington, DC on Nov. 15 for the group’s first summit—an emergency session to discuss the world financial crisis. The G20 combines the Group of 8 (Britain, Canada, France, Germany,… Read moreLatin America plays leading role at first G20 summit; Fidel unimpressed
A green-energy ballot initiative in Missouri, Proposition C, was approved by voters, calling for the state to increase the use of renewable energy to 15% by 2021, mandating steady yearly increases. Prop C made Missouri the 27th state to require… Read moreMissouri passes alternative energy initiative; politics kill other such efforts
Earlier this year, we asked if oil would reach $200 per barrel by year’s end. Short of a sudden and dramatic crisis in the Middle East, that now seems impossible. The rising prices themselves put some long-overdue breaks on consumption—and… Read morePeak oil apocalyptoids eating crow yet?
Our October issue featured the story “Behind the Econocataclysm: Globalization, Oil Shock and the Iraq War” by Vilosh Vinograd, citing George Soros, Joseph Stiglitz and Walden Bello to argue that the financial crisis was sparked by George Bush’s imperialist aggression… Read moreOur readers write: Is it 1929 yet?
