REUTERS 01/20/20 By Michael Shank A peer-to-peer energy sales platform will allow businesses to buy locally generated renewable power from others in the U.S. state When it comes to green energy innovation, there are few American states that innovate like Vermont. Last month, Vermont’s biggest power utility – Green Mountain […]
National Analysis
BlackRock is Smart to Prioritize the Climate – and Business Leaders Know It. So What Are They Waiting For?
NEWSWEEK 1/17/20 By Michael Shank and US Congresswoman Yvette Clarke We’re starting 2020 with some scary climate signals. We’ve finished another record-breaking year—but for the wrong reasons. 2019 locked in the highest global carbon emissions on record and was the second hottest year ever. At these rates, the climate change–caused […]
Planetary Benefits of Smaller Families
VTDIGGER 12/20/19 By Michael Shank Editor’s note: This commentary is by Dr. Michael Shank, a resident of Brandon who teaches sustainable development at NYU’s Center for Global Affairs. Given the climate inaction among national governments — from America and Australia to Brazil and Britain — there’s been a big focus […]
Businesses Know They’re Under Threat from Climate Change, so Why Won’t They Invest in Solutions?
FAST COMPANY 11/27/19 By Michael Shank The latest financial assessment of climate change’s costly impacts, this time by the Economist Intelligence Unit, shows a nearly $8 trillion hit to the global economy in the next 30 years. The EIU’s Climate Change Resilience Index examined 82 of the world’s largest economies […]
The Business Case for Climate-Friendly Tech
REUTERS 11/21/19 By Michael Shank The global environmental sensor market, as just one example, is already proliferating and expecting to be a $3 billion annual market in under ten years The Economist Intelligence Unit’s report this week warns that climate change will shave 3% off the world economy, costing almost […]
California Fires, Rising Seas: Millions of Climate Refugees Will Dwarf Dust Bowl by 2100
USA TODAY 11/04/19 By Michael Shank and US Congresswoman Yvette Clarke An environmental crisis in the early 1900s created ‘Dust Bowl refugees.’ Today’s climate crisis is much bigger and will last for decades, not years. “Climate refugee” is likely a new term for most Americans. Also referred to as environmental […]
No, the Climate Town Hall Isn’t Just Lip Service to Liberals, It’s a Strategy to Win the Midwest
NEWSWEEK 09/03/19 By Michael Shank The planet has finally arrived on America’s political main stage. On Wednesday, 10 Democratic presidential candidates will speak to voters for an expected seven hours about their policies to combat the climate crisis. This is unprecedented. Climate change has never received this kind of attention […]
The Way We’re Talking About Climate Change is All Wrong. Here’s How We Win Hearts and Minds
NEWSWEEK 08/21/19 By Michael Shank and US Congressman Lloyd Doggett While reports forecasting a climate change apocalypse and doomsday climate scenarios may get our momentary attention, they are not producing action. Even as we see the impact of climate change in devastating, intensified weather and the spread of disease, we […]
As Climate Threats to Cities Grow, the Time to Act is Now
REUTERS 07/22/19 By Michael Shank and US Congresswoman Yvette Clarke As the costs and threats from climate change rise, the key is not to wait until it’s too late to take action U.S. Rep. Yvette D. Clarke represents New York’s 9th district and serves on the House Energy and Commerce […]
Keeping Our Planet Inhabitable
VTDIGGER 12/19/18By Michael Shank and US Congressman Alan LowenthalEditor’s note: This commentary is by Michael Shank and Rep. Alan Lowenthal. Shank, of Brandon, teaches sustainable development at NYU’s Center for Global Affairs and is the communications director at the Carbon Neutral Cities Alliance and the Urban Sustainability Directors Network. Lowenthal, […]