National Analysis

Climate Activism Can’t Leave Out the Built Environment — It Generates Half of Emissions

THE HILL 08/05/22 By Michael Shank With Indonesian islanders suing cement producers for climate damages recently, buildings are getting much-needed attention for their carbon-heavy footprint. The built environment generates nearly 50 percent of annual global emissions. Yet, buildings hardly receive the climate activism commensurate with their impact – despite concrete […]

Climate Talks

RUTLAND HERALD 06/18/22 TIMES ARGUS 06/18/22 By Michael Shank Any time the international community convenes to talk about climate change, there’s a predictable mix of criticism and encouragement. This month’s 50th anniversary of the Stockholm Declaration, commemorating the United Nations first official gathering to discuss the “human environment” and ways […]

Pinpoint Our Real Problem — Our ‘Suicidal War on Nature’

VTDIGGER 06/15/22 By Michael Shank This commentary is by Michael Shank of Montpelier, director of engagement for the Carbon Neutral Cities Alliance and an adjunct faculty member at NYU’s Center for Global Affairs and George Mason University’s Carter School for Peace and Conflict Resolution. Shank recently returned from Stockholm+50. Anytime […]

Russian and U.S. War Crimes

RUTLAND HERALD 03/22/22 TIMES ARGUS 03/22/22 By Michael Shank President Joe Biden has become the latest leader to call Russian President Vladimir Putin a war criminal when asked by reporters Wednesday to weigh in on the subject. In so doing, he joins a growing list of international leaders to condemn […]

Yes, Prosecute Putin, but U.S. Is Culpable Too

VTDIGGER 03/24/22 By Michael Shank This commentary is by Michael Shank, an adjunct professor at New York University’s Center for Global Affairs and George Mason University’s Carter School for Peace and Conflict Resolution. This article first ran in Newsweek. When President Joe Biden called Russian President Vladimir Putin a war […]

Ukraine/Russia/U.S. War

RUTLAND HERALD 03/08/22 TIMES ARGUS 03/08/22 By Michael Shank Citizens around the world are setting a new and impressive precedent in engaging in international affairs. Russia’s invasion of Ukraine has raised a level of interest that dwarfs that of other recent conflicts or wars. This is undoubtedly a good thing: […]

Let’s Lock in a Precedent to Prevent Future Wars

VTDIGGER 3/10/22 By Michael Shank This commentary is by Dr. Michael Shank, a resident of Montpelier who is an adjunct professor at New York University’s Center for Global Affairs and George Mason University’s Carter School for Peace and Conflict Resolution. This article first ran in Newsweek. Citizens around the world […]

Climate Change Requires a Global Security Rethink

THE HILL 12/31/21 By Michael Shank and US Congresswoman Yvette D. Clarke This past month, rich countries made it very clear that least developed and under-resourced nations — the ones most vulnerable to extreme climate impacts but the least responsible for the global warming that generated them — are on […]

Our Defense Agencies Should Respond to Climate

VTDIGGER 12/28/21 By Michael Shank and US Congresswoman Clarke This commentary is by U.S. Rep. Yvette Clarke, D-N.Y., vice chair of the House Energy and Commerce Committee, and Michael Shank of Montpelier, communications director for the Carbon Neutral Cities Alliance and an adjunct faculty member at NYU’s Center for Global […]