Use of federally owned land has been on the media’s mind lately – how apt for the Obama administration to announce a comprehensive review of the Federal Coal Program. Although, timing of the announcement may have had more to do with President Obama’s State of the Union address than with the events at the Malheur…
Climate Change Policy and/or Action
Climate Change Policy and/or Action, Ecosystems, Green Bonds
Happy Headlines from the Holiday Hiatus
We were on the lookout for good ESG news that materialized over the holidays but may have been overlooked as we all celebrated our key Western holidays sustainably cheerfully. Our top three: #1 A ban on microbeads in health and beauty products passed the US Congress just before the holiday break. And that’s not all.…
Climate Change Policy and/or Action, Renewables
Positives post Paris
In lieu of a top ten list to close out 2015 or set the agenda for 2016, we focused on the reactions to the Climate Conference in Paris to find some “good stuff”: Our pragmatic rule of thumb on policy quality at any level is to test whether relevant voices on all sides of the…
Climate Change Policy and/or Action
Another piece in Indonesia’s Mozaic of Carbon Hope
The headline summary for Indonesia, among the top six carbon emitting countries, constitutes a pattern of annual fire seasons when smallholders and commercial enterprises alike clear land for new palm oil plantations. MongaBay tirelessly reports continuously on all Indonesia’s palm oil news, good, bad and ugly, while the larger news outlets only hone in on…
Climate Change Policy and/or Action, Renewables
Britain spewing hot clean air?
Big news from Britain last week: they plan to close all coal-fired power plants that are not capturing and storing the carbon they produce by 2025. Why is this big news? Britain is the first country putting a date forward – that should increase the likelihood of it actually happening… in theory. But before you…
Climate Change Policy and/or Action
Stranded Assets concept washing up in front of Old Boys – and can’t be ignored
Pilita Clark of the Financial Times summed up the incredibly positive impact the Stranded Asset research has had with the mainstream owners and managers of big money after observing Bank of England’s Mark Carney in a speech to insurers about climate change risk: “The idea that the governor of an institution such as the Bank…
Carbon Price, Climate Change Policy and/or Action
Moving on from climate change denial…
Did you hear? Shell, BHP Billiton, and GE are going to advise governments on climate change… Well yes, this issue isn’t quite free of the fear of hidden agendas and yes, these are strategic business opportunities for these firms. But do you remember the times when climate denial and then climate silence was an acceptable…