GlobalWarmingisReal contributor Anders Hellum-Alexander wraps-up and comments on the climate and environmental news headlines for the past week:
- Did you know that it may be too late to stop global warming? The only impact we can have is to lessen the damage.
- It’s amazing that such a crucial issue to the future of the US and the world can be so ignored in the 2012 Presidential race. It’s a sad state of affairs for environmental politics, but if Obama is re-elected hopefully he will continue his momentum of funding and supporting the Renewable Energy industry.
- Senator Inhofe has received a Dodo award for his tireless work as a climate change denier, using his power as to contribute to the current era of rapid, global species extinction.
- Solar is growing rapidly in New York State, partially due to Governor Cuomo’s proven support for Solar and NYSERDA, who hands out a rich incentive for solar projects. We can do solar and solar is thriving where it has government support, just like all other energy sources.
- Voters in Michigan will vote to put a renewable energy target in their constitution. One of the main effects of this bill is construction jobs – good, local jobs that can’t be outsourced from overseas.
- China is aggressive on all forms of energy and is lifting its ban on building new nuclear plants. China and Obama seem to have similar Energy platforms of an “all of the above” strategy.
- A local protest prevailed against a chemical plant expansion. For local people its about their livelihoods, for us in the wealth, developed world its about access to cheap goods. And for the Chinese Government its just a matter of where and when they expand their economy.
- Instead of aggressively developing their renewable energy markets, the UK is increasing its use of coal – a short-sighted move that may look good for the economy in the short-term, but is disastrous – both economically and environmentally for long-term sustainability. It’s hard to meet carbon emissions targets when you are increasing your use of coal.
- The Middle East is flush with oil and natural gas, but their future is still renewable energy. Who knows their real motivation, but the Saudis are going full steam ahead on renewable energy.