THE WEEK 01/15/15 By Michael Shank This year is quickly shaping up to be a banner year for action on climate change. And just in time. Last year was the hottest year on record. We also logged the highest global carbon emissions ever. This resulted in a slew of extreme […]
Author: Michael Shank
Is the Time Right for a Gas-Tax Hike?
NATIONAL JOURNAL 01/07/15 By Clare Foran (@ckmarie), Jason Plautz (@jason_plautz) and Ben Geman (@ben_geman) WHAT INSIDERS ARE SAYING IS THE TIME RIGHT FOR A GAS-TAX HIKE? As gas prices continue to fall, policy wonks are eyeing a potential increase in the federal gas tax. But will there be a political […]
Hottest Year on Record, 2014, Brings Economic Opportunity
HUFFINGTON POST 01/07/15 By Michael Shank and Julia Trezona Peek With 2014 weighing in as the hottest year on record, the window to mitigate global warming rapidly shrinks. It’s time to eliminate the debate that action on climate change will harm economic growth. Climate change, left unaddressed, will decimate our […]
Protecting America’s Clean Drinking Water
ROLL CALL 12/29/14 By Michael Shank and Rep Charles Rangel The causes and consequences of the hottest year on record, which is now shaping up to be 2014 according to the World Meteorological Organization and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, are likely to have a lasting impact on New […]
We Can’t Let Climate Change Turn Droughts, Flash Floods and Mudslides into the New Normal
THE GUARDIAN 12/18/14 By Michael Shank and US Rep Mike Honda Holding out for winter rain or implementing short-term fixes won’t fix California’s water crisis. We need action on the state, federal and international level Between power outages, deluging rains, flash floods, mudslides and record droughts, California is quickly becoming […]
What Did Lima Achieve?
NATIONAL JOURNAL 12/16/14 By Clare Foran WHAT INSIDERS ARE SAYING WHAT DID LIMA ACHIEVE? The United Nations climate talks in Lima may have produced a rough road map for countries to outline carbon cuts, but leave several questions up in the air heading into the make-or-break negotiations in Paris. Were […]
Climate Change is an Immediate Threat
DISCORS 12/09/14 By Michael Shank Before leaving office, President Barack Obama should seize every opportunity and lever at his disposal to propel the United States towards a more secure, sustainable future. America remains one of the top per-capita carbon emitters and unless we move aggressively we will miss our window […]
How Germans Go Green
US NEWS & WORLD REPORT 12/09/14 By Michael Shank and Johann Saathoff With the German government’s reaffirmation this month of carbon emissions reduction goals of 40 percent by 2020, and its courageous commitment to phase out coal, the country is now leading the world with an aggressive and unparalleled climate […]
Yemeni Al-Qaeda Branch Threatens U.S. Hostage
CFR 12/04/14 Top of the Agenda Yemeni Al-Qaeda Branch Threatens U.S. Hostage Yemen-based al-Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula (AQAP) released a video on Thursday threatening to kill (AP) Luke Somers, a photojournalist kidnapped more than a year ago in Sanaa, Yemen’s capital. AQAP claimed responsibility (WSJ) on Wednesday for a […]
Super Pollutants to Face Bipartisan Battle in Congress
HUFFINGTON POST 12/04/14 By Michael Shank and Rep Scott Peters This autumn was a significant time for climate action and raising awareness about climate change, featuring the massive People’s Climate March and the United Nations’ Climate Summit. Despite these events, Congress hasn’t acted. But there is an opportunity for Congress […]