News: Archive for December, 2016
‘The history of Exxon’s shift suggests that however earnest Exxon Mobil might sound in its pronouncements on policy, it has done little or nothing to help put carbon taxes into effect.’
Source: Tillerson Led Exxon’s Shift on Climate Change; Some Say ‘It Was All P.R.’
‘…More worrying is India. This country, almost as big as China in terms of population, is still desperately poor and is understandably determined to develop. The easiest way to get richer is to industrialize and dig up a bunch of coal and burn it—and India is endowed with a very large coal deposits. According to the BNEF report, Indian emissions are set to soar.’
Source: The next big climate change battle starts in India – Livemint
‘Barack Obama has permanently banned new oil and gas drilling in most US-owned waters in the Arctic and Atlantic oceans, a last-ditch effort to lock in environmental protections before he hands over to Donald Trump.’
Source: Obama Just Took a Big Step on Climate—and Trump Probably Can’t Undo It | Mother Jones
‘Donald Trump’s victory in the presidential election shocked climate scientists and policymakers after a campaign in which Trump had suggested—falsely—that climate change was a hoax and vowed to largely undo federal and international measures aimed at addressing global warming.’
Source: Climate Scientists Fear Trump May Fatally Undermine Their Work | TIME
‘A climate change denier, who once forgot the name of the Department of Energy when announcing plans to scrap it, has been chosen to head the agency by Donald Trump.’
Source: Climate change denier Rick Perry picked by Donald Trump for Energy Secretary | The Independent
‘As president, Trump will oversee a huge government scientific enterprise. Agencies like the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration and NASA have satellites collecting valuable data on the climate. Other agencies employ scientists studying that data, or modelling future climate shifts.’
Source: Trump’s Election Leaves Scientists In A Climate Of Uncertainty : The Two-Way : NPR
‘Billionaire philanthropist and technologist Bill Gates is set to announce Monday the formation of a new fund with more than $1 billion to invest in technologies aimed at counteracting climate change.’
‘President-elect Donald Trump is considering Exxon Mobil CEO Rex Tillerson as his nominee for Secretary of State, capping a month-long audition process ripped from his former days as a reality television show host.’
Source: Donald Trump Mulls Exxon Mobil CEO as Secretary of State | TIME
‘The Trump transition team is asking which Department of Energy employees have been involved in climate change talks. A long questionnaire sent to agency employees is raising concerns.’
Source: Trump Team Asks Energy Dept. Employees About Involvement In Climate Change Work : NPR
‘Sources at the Department of Energy say the agency received the 74-point memo, which was obtained by ABC News, from the Trump transition team this past Tuesday, Dec. 6. Environmental groups said they fear the questionnaire is an indication of a potential purge of policymakers working to combat climate change.’