Climate Conversations
  • Home
  • About Us
    • Our Mission
    • Advisors
    • COP 28 Ambassadors
    • COP 27 Ambassadors
    • Alumni
  • Climate Conversation
    • Policy
    • Science and Technology
    • Science Communication
    • COP Collection
    • Opinion
  • Media
  • Apply

Climate Conversations


Barry Hartweg:  The Climate of Climate Change Politics

10/11/2014

0 Comments

 
PicturePhoto illustration by Ellie Skrzat. Photos by Joe Raedle/Getty Images, Win McNamee/Getty Images, and Hemera Technologies/Thinkstock.
Recently, I've been becoming less pessimistic towards our government with regards to climate change action.  In my environmental law class, I've been learning more about the regulations that the EPA has set to discourage greenhouse gas emissions as well as Obama's Climate Action Plan.  In our trip to Washington DC, three other student delegates and myself were able to talk to a few employees from government agencies that were clearly passionate about climate change; they gave us a glimpse into what their agencies are doing to fight climate change.  Learning first-hand about what the government has going on to address climate change gave me a lot of hope.  

After the recent election, I'm not sure what to think.  Future Senate majority leader, Mitch McConnell, is from Kentucky, where coal-mining is a large part of their economy.  He has made it clear that he has greatly disapproved of Obama's actions to decrease the use of coal.  While campaigning, he promised to drastically cut the EPA's budget.  James Inhofe from Oklahoma, an avid climate change denier, will be the Environment and Public Works Committee leader in the Senate.  On this hand, it seems that progress towards mitigating climate change will be slowed or virtually halted, as a result of the recent election.

On the other hand, climate change is becoming less and less of an issue that divides parties.  The infamous "I am not a scientist" response that we have seen from politicians is becoming less tolerable.  Climate change is becoming increasingly difficult for politicians to simply ignore in their platforms.  Hopefully these trends will cause more politicians to rethink their stance on climate change and its role in policies. 


If not, some other aspects that have given me more hope include that the Obama administration has been working to ensure that a future international climate change treaty would not require Senate's approval.  Another thing is the ever-decreasing costs of solar power and other renewable energy sources--hopefully these will start out-competing conventional fossil fuels in the near future!

Note:  I apologize for getting a bit political in this post; this has just been on my mind a lot after the results from the election.  I would love to hear others' opinions on these matters!

Articles used as a reference:

http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2014/11/141105-united-states-congress-election-climate/

http://www.slate.com/blogs/future_tense/2014/11/07/climate_change_in_the_2014_midterms_republicans_may_be_rethinking_positions.html

http://www.nytimes.com/2014/08/27/us/politics/obama-pursuing-climate-accord-in-lieu-of-treaty.html?_r=0

0 Comments



Leave a Reply.

    Categories

    All
    SDG 01: No Poverty
    SDG 02: Zero Hunger
    SDG 03: Good Health And Well-Being
    SDG 04: Quality Education
    SDG 05: Gender Equality
    SDG 06: Clean Water And Sanitation
    SDG 07: Affordable And Clean Energy
    SDG 08: Decent Work And Economic Growth
    SDG 09: Industry Innovation And Infrastructure
    SDG 10: Reduced Inequalities
    SDG 11: Sustainable Cities And Communities
    SDG 12: Responsible Consumption And Production
    SDG 13: Climate Action
    SDG 14: Life Below Water
    SDG 16: Peace Justice And Strong Institutions

    Archives

    March 2024
    February 2024
    November 2023
    October 2023
    September 2023
    March 2023
    January 2023
    November 2022
    June 2022
    October 2021
    September 2021
    August 2021
    July 2021
    April 2020
    January 2020
    November 2019
    September 2019
    August 2019
    January 2019
    December 2018
    November 2018
    October 2018
    December 2017
    November 2017
    October 2017
    November 2016
    October 2016
    September 2016
    August 2016
    March 2016
    February 2016
    January 2016
    December 2015
    November 2015
    October 2015
    September 2015
    August 2015
    January 2015
    December 2014
    November 2014
    October 2014
    September 2014
    August 2014

    RSS Feed

Powered by Create your own unique website with customizable templates.
Photo from Noel Feans
  • Home
  • About Us
    • Our Mission
    • Advisors
    • COP 28 Ambassadors
    • COP 27 Ambassadors
    • Alumni
  • Climate Conversation
    • Policy
    • Science and Technology
    • Science Communication
    • COP Collection
    • Opinion
  • Media
  • Apply