In this video Dr. Robert Stavins, Professor of Business and Government at Harvard University’s Kennedy School succinctly discusses some of the obstinate challenges facing governments – from the local to national level – regulators, corporate entities, scientists, the environmental community and other relevant stakeholders when considering how to deal with climate change. He discusses the… Keep reading →
As pressure to get institutional investors to divest holdings in fossil fuel-related companies increases, pension funds appear to be reacting slower than several college endowments. The logic advanced by climate activists is that as carbon pricing policies proliferate globally, companies that generate significant portions of their revenue from oil production or coal mining, for example,… Keep reading →
The U.S. economy could face significant and regionally diverse economic risks from climate change if it continues on its current path (“business-as-usual”) without proper risk management – i.e. risk mitigation strategies – such as timely “investments in adaptation or policy efforts to mitigate climate change through lowering carbon emissions,” according to a new report titled… Keep reading →
Will it make a difference? Maybe. Certainly the fact that the Risky Business Project is fronted by a bipartisan and big-money bunch gives a high-profile twist to the U.S. climate-change discussion, at least in the short term. Led by former Treasury Secretary Hank Paulson, ex-New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg and hedge-fund billionaire Tom Steyer, the… Keep reading →
National Geographic says shrinking sea ice is causing the largest redrawing of its global atlas since the breakup of the Soviet Union. “Ice loss is accelerated in the Arctic because of a phenomenon known as the feedback loop: Thin ice is less reflective than thick ice, allowing more sunlight to be absorbed by the ocean,… Keep reading →
China’s highly anticipated pilot carbon markets are up and running, with the notable exception of Chongqing, but already the lack of transparency, pressure from big business and government-owned enterprises, manipulation of data and over allocation of allowances are proving to be hurdles for success. High levels of liquidity are not the end-goal for a… Keep reading →
The National Climate Assessment – reportedly the most detailed yet – finds widespread climate impacts and says that while actions are underway to mitigate the effects and adapt to new conditions, these efforts are likely insufficient to avoid some of the most extremely negative consequences associated with anthropogenic global warming. “A team of more than… Keep reading →
The push to get institutional investors like pension funds and university endowments to divest holdings in fossil fuel-related businesses is reaching a fever pitch with a Harvard student getting arrested today during a 300-student-strong protest on the esteemed institution’s campus. The activist campaign has reportedly persuaded 11 US colleges to scale back investments in oil,… Keep reading →
The New York Times’ Coral Davenport tally’s the emissions numbers on Keystone XL which show the oil infrastructure project would likely have a limited impact on climate change. The anti-Keystone movement largely acknowledges this, but says the fact that presidential approval is required makes it a potent climate change symbol that indicates the United States’… Keep reading →
To stave off temperature increases that could pose immense risk, more forceful action is needed to trim anthropogenic greenhouse gas emissions – beginning now – according to the latest in a series of new reports from the UN’s Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change. The report says the required remaking of the global energy picture can… Keep reading →
