Monthly Archives: May 2009

MIT modeling study doubles earlier projected warming, poses challenge for impacts research

Posted on May 29, 2009 by Rick Piltz

“The most comprehensive modeling yet carried out on the likelihood of how much hotter the Earth’s climate will get in this century shows that without rapid and massive action, the problem will be about twice as severe as previously estimated … Continue reading →

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It’s Hurricane Preparedness Week…Are we prepared?

Posted on May 28, 2009 by Rick Piltz

Hurricane season officially starts on June 1 and this week (May 24-30) is Hurricane Preparedness Week.  Warmer ocean temperatures and other climate change-related factors give hurricanes potentially deadlier energy and force.  While elected officials and local papers are now urging … Continue reading →

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“Confidential” GOP memo on blocking cap-and-trade bill assumes lack of focus on cost of inaction

Posted on May 27, 2009 by Rick Piltz

A leaked “confidential” strategy memo by Senate Environment Committee Republican staff has been derided by Democrats for its obvious flaws, but it does suggest how climate legislation is vulnerable to an attack message if its supporters fail to make clear … Continue reading →

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Update on defense strategy in the Tim DeChristopher monkey-wrench BLM oil lease case

Posted on May 21, 2009 by Rick Piltz

You be the judge. The University of Utah student who threw a monkey wrench into a controversial oil and gas land lease auction administered by the Bureau of Land Management by buying up parcels he couldn’t afford and now faces … Continue reading →

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Climate adaptation policy remains underdeveloped as cap-and-trade dominates the legislative debate

Posted on May 20, 2009 by Rick Piltz

This week, the House Energy & Commerce Committee has been considering and marking up (amending) a thousand-page bill formally introduced last week by Reps. Waxman and Markey (H.R. 2454). While the complex details of an elaborate CO2 cap-and-trade scheme remain … Continue reading →

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Some reassurance on White House regulatory czar-nominee Cass Sunstein

Posted on May 18, 2009 by Rick Piltz

At his Senate confirmation hearing May 12, Office of Management and Budget regulatory affairs administrator-designee Cass Sunstein vowed to respect the rulemaking authority of EPA and other agencies, and to limit and “humanize” the use of cost-benefit analysis in reviewing … Continue reading →

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GAP testifies at House hearing for government whistleblowers

Posted on May 15, 2009 by Rick Piltz

At a May 14 House Oversight and Government Reform Committee hearing on whistleblower protection, Government Accountability Project legal director Tom Devine called for quick action on the Whistleblower Protection Enhancement Act, HR 1507, a bill that would give federal workers … Continue reading →

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Congress takes step to create a National Climate Service – but beware of shackles and poison pills

Posted on May 14, 2009 by Rick Piltz

On May 12 a House subcommittee approved a bill (H.R. 2407) that would create a National Climate Service (NCS) in the National Oceanographic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), with a mandate to provide usable information to decisionmakers and the public about … Continue reading →

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Reporters’ misuse of memo on EPA endangerment finding aided global warming disinformation campaign

Posted on May 14, 2009 by Rick Piltz

On May 12 several major media sources, including the Associated Press, ABC News, and the New York Times, propagated a misleading story about an internal interagency review memo on EPA’s “endangerment finding” on greenhouse gases. Their misleading headlines and leads, … Continue reading →

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Like a bridge under troubled waters…DOT Sec. LaHood, will you ease our minds? An open letter

Posted on May 8, 2009 by Rick Piltz

An open letter to Secretary of Transportation Ray LaHood, who has a golden opportunity to leave a remarkable legacy as a cabinet member by tackling two top national priorities – reigniting our economy, and reorienting the transportation sector to reduce … Continue reading →

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