Protests are a Necessary and Appropriate Response to the Trump Administration

Donald Trump has augured protest unlike any that have gone before it. The level size and scope of these protests are unprecedented. They started while Trump was on the campaign trail and persist to this day. We have seen a massive protest on Inauguration Day January 20th and the Women's March that took place on January 21.

The electoral victory has spawned an unprecedented movement. Protest is important and never more than in the dark times heralded by Trump's win in November.  The reasons to protest are numerous and include the numerous swipes Trump and Republicans have taken on climate action and environmental protections.

The Importance and the Power of Protest: Why We Must Stand Up to Trump

The need for protests challenging the Trump administration's destructive actions and their deceptive narrative have become even more glaringly apparent in the wake of the tragic murder of peaceful Muslims in a Quebec city mosque. Look at the face of terrorism, note the pale skin and the light blue eyes. The man who committed this barbaric crime was not an ISIS sympathizer he supported Donald Trump and other racist nationalistic movements. This man is what is called in French "pure laine" literally meaning pure wool, referring to those whose ancestry is exclusively French-Canadian.  As reported by The Independent, the killer's Facebook page indicates that he is a supporter of nationalistic movements including Donald Trump in the US, Le Pen in France, and the separatist Parti Quebecois.

The US and China Working Together on Climate Change

The US and China have well earned reputations as the global leaders in greenhouse gas emissions so the fact that the two nations are working together to combat climate change is very significant. Together their combined emissions account for around 40 percent of the world’s greenhouse gases. However, the leaders of both nations are making prodigious strides in efforts to reduce their footprints.

In addition to its global leadership in utility scale renewable energy projects, China has a stated goal of installing 8 gigawatts of distributed solar generation in 2014. The Chinese government has also set stringent restrictions on diesel emissions with the aim of eliminating trucks that produce significant amounts of things like nitrogen oxide and carbon monoxide. Perhaps the most significant action taken by China involves its pledge to cut carbon pollution.

The Implications of Curbing US Power Plant Emissions

The new rules curbing power plant emissions in the U.S. will have far reaching impacts both domestically and around the world. Curbing emissions from power plants is part of President Obama’s Climate Action Plan which he announced in 2013. Last September, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) released proposed standards to curb U.S. greenhouse gas (GHG) from new power plants. On June 2nd of this year, the EPA announced it will restrict emissions including carbon, nitrogen oxides, and sulfur dioxide by more than 25 percent by 2030 from all power plants. The EPA guidelines also include plans to prepare the U.S. for the effects of climate change, including strengthening roads, bridges and shorelines.

To circumvent the obstinacy of Republicans, the President is using his executive authority and putting forward the new rules under the Clean Air Act. The historic announcement will reduce carbon pollution from power plants by almost one third (30 percent) from 2005 levels by 2030. Even more significantly, they may spur global action that enables us to secure a binding climate treaty in 2015.

Video - The White House's Climate Assessment Explained

Referencing the White House's Climate Assessment, Dr. John Holdren, President Obama's Science Advisor, says that climate change "is not a distant threat, it is affecting the American people already."

Depending on where you are in the US, summers are longer and hotter, we are seeing more wildfires and allergies as well as heatwaves, extreme precipitation events, storm surges, draught and other impacts on agriculture. To learn more about President Obama's climate action place click here.

Obama and Hollande Call for Climate Action

The French and American Presidents have called for an ambitious global climate agreement. The French President, Francois Hollande has joined forced with US President Barack Obama to ask the world to increase clean energy, create jobs and help developing countries transition to a low carbon economy.

President Hollande arrived in the US on Monday, the same day that the leaders issued an op-ed that was published in the Washington Post and Le Monde newspapers.

The Paradox of President Obama's All of the Above Energy Strategy

Staying within prescribed climate change limits will be difficult under Obama’s all-of-the-above strategy. Although Obama may be the greenest President in American history he is not doing enough to stave off the worst impacts of climate change. In his State of the Union address, he did talk about the veracity of climate change and the need to further reduce America’s greenhouse gas emissions, however his ongoing support for fossil fuel extraction is dangerous and imperils hopes that we can tackle the issue of climate change before we reach irreversible tipping points.

The President made many laudable points during his address including his desire to increase protections for air, water, land and American communities. He quite correctly explained that, “we have to act with more urgency because a changing climate is already harming western communities struggling with drought and coastal cities dealing with floods.”

The President touted the growth of solar power saying: “[W]e’re becoming a global leader in solar too. Every four minutes another American home or business goes solar, every panel pounded into place by a worker whose job can’t be outsourced.”

President Obama's 2014 State of the Union Address: Summary and Green Highlights

President Obama's 2014 state of the union address did reference carbon pollution and the need for more action on climate change, but environmental concerns did not receive the attention that some had hoped for.

The President's focus was on continuing to grow the nations economy and provide more jobs. He citing the "more than 8 million new jobs our businesses have created over the past four years." Much of his speech addressed the issue of education. He boasted that "America's graduation rate to its highest levels in more than three decades." The President further elaborated his focus on education stating that America needs to focus on building "tomorrows workforce." He talked about innovative private sector funding for pre k, and making it easier for kids to afford college. He also explained that he has directed Vice President Biden to work on new training and apprenticeship programs.

Climate Change in Africa by Jim Heck

Climate change in Africa is Jim Heck's #5 story for 2013. Jim began his career with the United Nations, working in several capacities for UNESCO, the International Institute for Educational Planning (IIEP) and the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD). In 1976 he and his wife formed Morgan Tours, Inc., which in 1979 became Explorers World Travel (EWT). For the last 15 years, Jim has specialized in East Africa and probably knows more about the Serengeti and other wilderness touring in the area than any man alive. But his career in Africa spans a much wider area:

Video - Hope for 2014: What Obama is Doing to Combat Climate Change

President Obama's Climate Change Strategy announced in the summer of 2013, gives us reason to hope that the world's wealthiest and most influential nation will assume a leadership role in efforts to combat climate change.

Obama Increases Federal Renewable Energy Adding to His Climate Action Plan

In his most recent effort to combat climate change, US President Barack Obama has indicated that he will triple the amount of federal energy derived from renewable sources. This is another significant step forward in the effort to curtail US greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. Although impeded by Republicans at every turn under Obama's leadership federal agencies have already decreased their carbon emissions by 15 percent.

In response to Republicans hell-bent efforts to shut down his legislative agenda, the President has once again been forced to use his executive privileges to advance the federal governments efforts to combat climate change. His latest executive order was signed on Thursday December 5, and it will nearly triple the federal government's use of renewable energy from 7 percent to more than 20 percent.

Obama Signs a Climate Change Resilience Executive Order

On the morning of Friday November 1, 2013, President Obama signed an executive order (EO) designed to prepare the country for climate-related disasters. Climate change adaptation cannot wait for the Congress, so the President is using his executive privileges to do what they won't.

This is a tangible follow-up to his Climate Action Plan which the President unveiled in June. Obama has clearly grown weary of Republican obstructionism in Congress. Their knee jerk opposition to almost anything that he or the Democrats propose is making a farcical comedy of America's democracy (particularly anything to do wilth climate change).

A World Bank Action Plan to Combat Climate Change

The World Bank has been an advocate of environmental action for many years now. Recently the Bank's president Jim Yong Kim called for a plan to address climate change. Rachel Kyte, vice-president for sustainable development, explained that fighting climate change has become a guiding principle for the bank.

The World Bank has introduced a wide array of projects to mitigate and adapt to climate change: from promoting partnerships for climate action in urban areas across the globe to funding clean technology in developing countries.

Environmental Action in a New Agreement Between the US and Nordic Countries

A recent statement from the US and Nordic countries (Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Norway, and Sweden) reaffirms their "deep partnership based on shared fundamental values" and pledged to "deepen their collaboration on important shared global priorities, including climate change, clean energy, [and] the Arctic." They further agreed to take concrete steps to achieve those goals.

One of the most important undertakings concerns these governments shared commitment to end fossil fuel subsidies and specifically the public finance of new coal-fired power plants overseas. Another serious initiative involves reducing short lived climate pollutants (SLCP). They also pledged to address impediments to sustainable economic growth and agreed to engage in concerted efforts to improve transparency.

According to the statement:

The Obama Administration's Climate Action (Spring - Summer 2013)

In the spring and summer of 2013, President Obama and his administration showed bold leadership on climate change. These actions, both domestic and international, are positioning the US as global leader on efforts to combat climate change.

The Obama Administration's initiatives are consistent with the President's climate action plan which was announced in June. This plan reigns in coal emissions, and signals an end to the US coal industry.

On April 14, 2013, the US has also agreed to work with China, Japan, the EU, Brazil, India and South Africa to reduce climate change causing greenhouse gases (GHGs). In a joint statement these countries announced that they would accelerate action by advancing cooperation on technology, research, conservation, and alternative and renewable energy. 

The World Bank: Declining Climate Change Funding

The World Bank is a strong supporter of efforts to counter climate change. However, funding for climate-related projects has been declining sharply since peaking in 2010. The World Bank acknowledges that climate change represents a fundamental threat to economic development and the fight against poverty. The Turn Down the Heat reports explained the consequences of 4°C warming by 2100. The costs of a 4°C temperature increase will have adverse global impacts including reduced crop yields and flooding.

Climate Change Exacerbates Social Tensions and Causes Conflict

A wide array of research reveals that climate change plays a salient role in social change, violence and war. This research summary is one of the most comprehensive surveys of the social impacts of climate change ever assembled.

Climate change and conflict

The relationship between climate change, social tensions and conflict is well laid out by Kate Johnson. She provides a good overview of many of the ways in which climate impacts human behavior. She explains how climate change has the potential to increase conflict in environmentally and politically vulnerable states.

Climate Change and Conflict: Excerpts from a 2013 US Intelligence Report

A March 2013, Worldwide Threat Assessment of the US Intelligence Community, prepared for the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence, indicates that a changing climate and competition for natural resources can fuel tensions and conflicts. Here are select quotes from the report that highlight this relationship.

"Competition and scarcity involving natural resources—food, water, minerals, and energy—are growing security threats."

"Extreme weather events (floods, droughts, heat waves) will increasingly disrupt food and energy markets, exacerbating state weakness, forcing human migrations, and triggering riots, civil disobedience, and vandalism."

"Natural food-supply disruptions, due to floods, droughts, heat waves, and diseases, as well as policy choices, probably will stress the global food system in the immediate term"

Combat Climate Change: 3 Ways to Support President Obama

President Obama has announced the biggest steps to fight climate change that any president has ever taken. He's not waiting around for climate deniers in Congress who won't even acknowledge the scientific fact of climate change to face reality in order to act—he's taking bold steps forward.

Here are three things you can do to get started today: