In Between Times 8-11-2023
A greenlash in the EU? Carbon pricing around the globe, What Americans really think about climate change, 6 months out from East Palestine
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Is there a “greenlash” coming for Europe?
Across Europe, long a leader in climate regulation and innovation, there is growing resistance toward many climate oriented policies. A key concern in a time of rising inflation and pinched pocketbooks for everyday Europeans is the cost of these regulations. Some argue that Europe has moved too quickly on environmental regulations. Still others, many who are still in government, argue that Europe has not moved fast enough.
It is essentially the politics of (perceived and real) economic pain. And that is a particularly difficult type of politics.
(From Reuters)
"It's definitely different circumstances than in 2019 when we started with this maximum support and the political willingness to act from ... across the parties," European Environment Commissioner Virginijus Sinkevicius told Reuters.
Politicians must take into account polls showing a large majority of citizens are worried about climate change and strong business interests behind the green transition.
"We have this stable majority which supports the green deal," he said, referring to the level of support in the European Parliament for the EU's overall green agenda.
"But then we come to more difficult files (EU legal proposals) where I think, inevitably, they are very much affected by the political debate," Sinkevicius added.
Click here for the article.
Carbon pricing initiatives around the world
Click HERE for a much larger version.
What (Pew’s) data says about Americans’ views of climate change
Democrats are more concerned than Republicans and the young are more concerned that the more senior. Much of this divide is because of how the conversation has been couched around climate change. Many Republicans fear that addressing climate as an issue means accepting ever larger government and higher taxes. So long as this idea is perpetuated, and many on the left are happy to perpetuate it because many on the left have little problem with the expansion of government, there will be difficulty around climate for those on the right. (And ultimately for everyone else.)
So why not just run over these people and force a “green agenda” regardless of what these skeptics think?
Because if half the electorate feels ignored any policy over the medium to long term will always remain in jeopardy. If “conservative” concerns around a climate agenda are completely dismissed climate policy will always be subject to rollback. There has to be a consensus on such a big issue and that likely means some concessions from everyone.
To put this issue to rest (sure) - it might take a truly conservative president championing climate in a new ways. But that, right now, is admittedly unlikely in the extreme.
(From Pew)
Nine-in-ten Democrats and Democratic-leaning independents say the U.S. should prioritize developing alternative energy sources to address America’s energy supply. Among Republicans and Republican leaners, 42% support developing alternative energy sources, while 58% say the country should prioritize expanding exploration and production of oil, coal and natural gas.
There are important differences by age within the GOP. Two-thirds of Republicans under age 30 (67%) prioritize the development of alternative energy sources. By contrast, 75% of Republicans ages 65 and older prioritize expanding the production of oil, coal and natural gas.
Click here for the article.
The Fulcrum: The attack on Salman Rushdie and freedom of expression
In East Palestine, fear remains six months after train crash
Remember the apocalyptic train crash in Appalachian Ohio six months ago? The one where a town was basically rendered a toxic waste no-go zone? We remember it. The people of East Palestine remember it. But many have forgotten and there are still many questions around the disaster that need to be answered. Particularly, what the impact on residents will be long term and how to mitigate the effects of the hyper-dose of pollution going forward.
(From The Hill)
While cleanup personnel have conducted activities like aeration, she said the sediment of the creeks is “still heavily contaminated.”
“That’s a big issue and a big fear because the creeks run through town, and they run under businesses and houses, and so obviously that’s really scary. There’s a lot of pathways to exposure,” she told The Hill.
“So from an environmental perspective, there is still a lot of risk going on in East Palestine that probably a lot of people, if you don’t live in this area, aren’t aware of that.”
Click here for the article.
Is lab-grown meat better for the environment?
Apparently there are widely divergent data on whether it is or it isn’t.
(From IMPAKTER)
Despite long claims about their environmental sustainability, life cycle assessments have only recently been applied to lab-grown meat production.
The most recent study that applied such principles to lab-grown meat production was led by the University of California Davis and was published as a preprint in 2023, meaning it has not yet been peer reviewed.
This study reported that the greenhouse gas emissions associated with lab-grown meat production could be four to 25 times higher than that of conventional meat production.
On the contrary, another life cycle assessment study led by CE Delft, a Dutch research and consultancy company, and published in January 2023 claimed that lab-grown meat can be much more environmentally friendly than conventional meat production.
Click here for the article.
Averting Armageddon: Learning to talk about nuclear weapons
EVENT
Intro to RepresentUs , The Anti-Corruption, Pro-Voter Movement
Location: Online
Our democracy is broken. And there’s proof. A Princeton University study found that the average American has no impact on the policies of the U.S. government, while special interest groups call all the shots. Americans should have more say in our politics, but corruption is keeping our government from solving all the problems we face as a nation.
From taxation to national debt, education to the economy, our political system is too gridlocked to address the most serious issues. That’s why RepresentUs supporters – conservatives, progressives, and everyone in between – are working together to restore faith in our government. And we’re already winning!
Join RepresentUs leaders for an introduction to the pro-democracy movement and learn how you can join RepresentUs on the quest to fight corruption and create a government of, by, and for the people.
Here’s what you need to know:
When: Wednesday, August 16th at 7pm ET / 4pm PT
Where: Right from your computer!
Why: To learn about the plan to fight corruption and create a government by and for the people.