Denialism

By Ruth McKie | – While much of the world now recognises the need for immediate action, there are still those who question the scientific consensus on climate change and deter efforts to tackle it. As might be expected, they have the attention of US President Donald Trump and his Republican administration. The Heartland Institute’s […]

Climate Change

Are ExxonMobil Executives the most evil people in the 200K-yr-long History of Humanity?

Juan Cole

Ann Arbor (Informed Comment) – Internal ExxonMobil documents show that the company’s scientists predicted in 1982 that by 2020, parts per million of carbon dioxide in earth’s atmosphere would reach 410-420 ppm. For the first time this spring ppm of CO2 exceeded 415. The memo says in part, ““Considerable uncertainty also surrounds the possible impact […]

Climate Change

Ruining the Planet: Not only are the German Far Right Scary Racists, they’re Climate Denialists to Boot

Clean Energy Wire

By Rachel Waldholz | – Der Spiegel: ( Clean Energy Wire) – Right-wing populist parties could make major gains in the coming European elections, with many of them bringing a new climate scepticism to the chamber and making it harder to pass ambitious climate policies, Annika Joeres and Susanne Götze report in Der Spiegel. Parties […]

Climate Crisis

ExxonMobil & 4 other Oil Giants Spent $1 bn on Greenwashing PR, $100 bn on New Fossil Fuels

AFP

By Patrick GALEY | – Paris (AFP) – The five largest publicly listed oil and gas majors have spent $1 billion since the 2015 Paris climate deal on public relations or lobbying that is “overwhelmingly in conflict” with the landmark accord’s goals, a watchdog said Friday. Despite outwardly committing to support the Paris agreement and […]

Acidification of Oceans

Wall or Watchtower? The real Threat is invasive Climate Crisis, and our Shield is Science

Juan Cole

Ann Arbor (Informed Comment) – In his story “The Wall and the Books,” the great Argentinian writer Jorge Luis Borges wrote, “I read, in past days, that the man who ordered the construction of the nearly infinite Wall of China was that First Emperor, Shih Huang Ti, who likewise ordered the burning of all the […]

Denialism

Big Oil Infiltrates, Undermines UN Climate Talks

AFP

By Patrick GALEY | – Paris (AFP) – Oil and coal giants are exploiting a lack of conflict-of-interest protection at UN climate talks to push for continued fossil fuel use despite its contribution to harmful climate change, several sources have told AFP. As policymakers from around the world prepare to gather in Poland for the […]

Climate Change

Alabama Rep with Rocks in his Head blames Rocks for Climate Change

Juan Cole

Alabama representative for the 5th district Mo Brooks sits on the House Science, Space, and Technology Committee, and spent his time harassing climate scientists at a hearing. He blamed sea level rise on rocks falling into the sea from coastal erosion. Sea levels are rising in part because surface ice is melting owing to of […]

Climate Change

Trump kills NASA program to Track Greenhouse Gases that cause Global Heating

AFP

Washington (AFP) – A NASA program that cost $10 million per year to track carbon and methane, key greenhouse gases that contribute to global warming, has been cancelled, a US space agency spokesman said Thursday. The end of the program — called the Carbon Monitoring System (CMS) — which tracked sources and sinks for carbon […]

Denialism

How Trump’s Gutting of Tailpipe Standards will make China Auto Leader Worldwide

contributors

By Greg Dotson | (The Conversation) | – – The Trump administration on Monday, April 2, took steps to ease pollution and efficiency rules for new passenger cars and trucks, giving automakers a reprieve from more stringent Obama-era standards. But in the process, the move could yield global leadership in the auto sector to the […]