Category Archives: Environment

‘Dark Waters’ Tells the Origin Story of a Public Health Nightmare. We’re Still Living It.

On a docu-drama that recounts the first major suit against toxic “forever chemicals” and what’s being done about them now.

Wealthy Countries’ Approach to Climate Change Condemns Hundreds of Millions of People to Suffer

Emerging economies want large scale subsidies from their richer brethren to pay for them to move to green energy sources.

J.D Alt: The People’s Money (Part 4)

Why a Green New Deal looks like it will create a money, as in spending, as in inflation problem. Rest assured, there is an answer….

An Introduction to the State of Energy Storage in the U.S.

A look at energy storage options in connection with wind and solar power is not entirely reassuring.

Waste Watch: Fashion Rental Services Expand, NYC Tackles Commercial Textile Waste

More retailers join the clothing rental party, but that won’t seriously dent the environmental impact of the fashion industry.

Decrying ‘Utterly Inadequate’ Efforts to Tackle Climate Crisis, UN Chief Declares ‘Our War Against Nature Must Stop’

Climate change: “The point of no return is no longer over the horizon,” António Guterres warned ahead of COP 25. “It is in sight and hurtling toward us.”

America’s War Exceptionalism Is Killing the Planet

War is America’s new normal, and it’s deadly.

Oil and Gas Industry Rebukes Fracking Ban Talk as UN Shows Just How Much Fossil Fuel Plans Are Screwing Climate Limits

American Petroleum Institute steps up lobbying efforts to thwart a fracking ban, notwithstanding the climate crisis.

Neoliberalism and Climate Change

How economists have contributed to climate change inaction.

Financing a Global Green New Deal: System Change Needed

Discussion of a contested topic: How to pay for a Green New Deal.

With Coal’s Decline, Pennsylvania Communities Watch the Rise of Natural Gas-fueled Plastics

A growing chorus agrees the expansion of the natural gas industry, which feeds plastics and petrochemical plants like Shell’s, is moving the U.S. in the wrong direction to prevent catastrophic impacts from climate change.

PG&E Failed California. Here’s How the State Could Turn Things Around.

How PG&E came to dominate California’s electricity market, plus discussion of options to fix the fiery mess it has created.

New Report Finds Costs of Climate Change Impacts Often Underestimated

Why most economists considerably underestimate the cost of climate change.

Plastics Watch: Recycling, Raccoons, and Rubbish

Even a massive recycling campaign won’t make a dent in the plastics problem, as long as the industry ramps up production; some thoughts on raccoons, and rubbish.