Informative articles about climate change current events and political inaction.

McKibbin, W. J., & Wilcoxen, P. J. (2002, Spring). The Role of Economics in Climate Change Policy. Journal of Economic Perspectives, 16(2), 107-129. Retrieved from http://www.ingentaconnect.com/content/aea/jep/2002/00000016/00000002/art00006

The authors of this paper are analyzing the economic characteristics of climate change and argue that economic theory and policy can be applied to the problem of climate change. They argue that traditional market-based environmental policy will not work to effectively stop climate change and that cap and trade and a carbon tax is not politically feasible. They say that the best approach is a "hybrid" one that combines the best aspects of a trade able permit system and and a emissions tax. 

Davenport, C. (2014, May 13). Climate Change Deemed Growing Security Threat by Military Researchers. The New York Times. Retrieved from http://www.nytimes.com/2014/05/14/us/politics/climate-change-deemed-growing-security-threat-by-military-researchers.html

This article is based on a  report by the CNA Corporation Military Advisory Board. The government-sponsored group released a report that states that droughts and floods caused by climate change are causing serious disruptions in the Middle East and Africa over water, food, and land. The competition for these resources is causing a flare-up of centuries old ethnic and regional tensions. The report also says that millions of people living in coastal regions of India, Vietnam, and Bangladesh are extremely vulnerable to rising sea levels and will eventually cause mass refugee camps and displacement. U.S. Foreign Diplomacy will use this report to establish a strong tie between political stability, human rights, and climate change.

Davenport, C. (2014, May 12). Amid Pipeline and Climate Debate, Energy-Efficiency Bill Is Derailed. The New York Times. Retrieved from http://www.nytimes.com/2014/05/13/us/politics/bill-to-encourage-energy-efficiency-fails-in-senate.html?ref=earth

This article illustrates the political gridlock in Washington on climate change and energy policy. A bi-partisan bill sponsored by Senators Rob Portman, Republican of Ohio, and Jeanne Shaheen, Democrat of New Hampshire sought to create new standards on energy efficiency in homes, buildings, and appliances.The Senate votes 55 to 36, falling short of the 60 votes needed to bring the bill to vote. This is very discouraging news, as this bill was not making a big impact on climate change, so actual progress-making legislation will most likely never even make it to a vote from the precedent that has been set.

Davenport, C. (2014, January 23). Industry Awakens to Threat of Climate Change. The New York Times. Retrieved from http://www.nytimes.com/2014/01/24/science/earth/threat-to-bottom-line-spurs-action-on-climate.html

This article is about how the private sector, especially multi-national conglomerates we all know are responding to the threat to climate change and how it is affecting their bottom line and cutting into profits. Food and beverage companies that rely on cheap and plentiful land,water, and oil to produce their products are becoming very concerned with rising costs and agricultural instability. Nike's workers in East Asia could not come to work because of floods and droughts are greatly affecting crop yield of cotton. The article details how governments around the world are scaling back their commitments to climate change and energy innovation.

Revkin, A. C. (2014, March 31). U.N. Climate Report Authors Answer 11 Basic Questions. The New York Times. Retrieved from http://dotearth.blogs.nytimes.com/2014/03/31/u-n-climate-report-authors-answer-11-basic-questions/?_php=true&_type=blogs&_r=0

This article is really an interview with the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, in an effort to inform the public about climate change. The interviewer asks questions about climate change thresholds and mitigation, and how society will be changed by changes in climate. One of the many problems in affecting progress with climate change and energy policy is lack of public awareness and misconceptions about the science that is perpetuated by news anchors and politicians.