While Americans chose to curtail wind and solar rather than conventional energy, the Germans say baseload plants (coal and nuclear) are the problem. That’s because the matter isn’t simply technical, though it is described as such. It’s mainly political. Craig Morris explains.
All posts tagged: USA
Fears mount US could ditch Paris Agreement
The landmark Paris Agreement on climate change set goals to reduce global warming – and the US president may be planning on exiting the deal (despite pressure from the European Union and activists inside the US). James Murray of Business Green asks: will the treaty be ‘cancelled’?
German renewables sector calls for carbon tax
Last week, the EU announced new plans for its Emissions Trading Scheme (ETS). Climate experts point out that the changes still fall short of the Paris Agreement. German renewables association BEE has therefore proposed a carbon tax, but critics of the plan say it would only weaken the ETS further. Craig Morris takes an in-depth look.
A just transition: the way forward for coal communities
The energy transition is not effective unless it can be a just transition, which provides for its communities. Nora Löhle explores how some German communities have worked together to keep jobs and pride in their area after coal is phased out.
Marginalizing the “strict-father” camp
In two recent posts, Craig Morris shed light on US linguist George Lakoff’s proposal for environmentalists to frame their issues properly. Today, he sums up why framing is too America-centric. He wishes everyone would copy Germany’s Vergangenheitsbewältigung – a faithfulness to the truth in combating alt-facts. And if you ever wondered how feminism benefits men, read on.
Twinterview with rogue US environmental accounts
On Monday, Feb 6, our Craig Morris held an interview on Twitter (#twinterview) with Alice Stollmeyer, who created the #Twistance list for rogue US accounts from environmental agencies who have been told to stop tweeting for the time being under the current US president. Below are some excerpts from the conversation (also Storified by Alice), which included the rogue Environmental Protection Agency, US National Parks, and PEER.org, a non-profit for environmental whistleblowers. Craig already has one clear conclusion that freedom fighters elsewhere understood long ago: the anonymity of Twitter, which drove him crazy up to now, can be a benefit for a resistance movement.
Wyoming bill would all but outlaw clean energy by preventing utilities from using it
Coal supporters are pushing a bill that would bar utilities from using the state’s abundant wind power to provide electricity within the state. While many U.S. states have mandates and incentives to get more of their electricity from renewable energy, Republican legislators in Wyoming are proposing to cut the state off from its most abundant, clean resource—wind—and ensuring its continued dependence on coal. Zahra Hirji of InsideClimate News has the details.
Clean energy or renewable energy? The label matters!
A prominent German academic who works in the US is now making the rounds in Germany with a proposal: stop talking about renewables and start talking about “clean energy.” Craig Morris explains why the idea is counterproductive.
Donald Trump and the future of climate protection
On 20 January 2017, Donald Trump was inaugurated as the forty-fifth president of the United States. His previous announcements on energy policy mark a clear departure from the climate policy ambitions of his predecessor, Barack Obama. But what exactly should we expect from Trump’s climate and energy policies? Sonja Thielges explains.
The irreversible momentum of clean energy
President Barack Obama discusses the long-term potential of renewable energies and sees the global energy transition as irreversible. Now more than ever, the world needs to embrace the opportunity of clean energy and cooperate on its climate goals.