In this post I will lay out ‘the solution’ to global warming.

This post is an update of a 2008 analysis I revised in 2009.  A report by the International Energy Agency came to almost exactly the same conclusion as I did, and has relatively similar wedges, so I view that as a vindication of this overall analysis.

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.The mass communication of the problem of plastic pollution in the North Pacific Gyre has been overblown for several years now.

Scientist-turned-filmmaker Randy Olson has given permission to repost this from his blog.
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New Mexico governor Susana Martinez (R-NM) has picked Harrison Schmitt, a prominent global warming denier to run the state’s Energy, Minerals and Natural Resources Department. The 75-year-old Schmitt is a former geologist, astronaut, and U.S. Senator, defeated in 1982 after a single term by Sen. Jeff Bingaman (D-NM). Schmitt believes that mainstream climate science is a conspiracy “to increase government control,” as he wrote in his resignation from the Planetary Society in 2008:

“Consensus”, as many have said, merely represents the absence of definitive science. You know as well as I, the “global warming scare” is being used as a political tool to increase government control over American lives, incomes and decision making. It has no place in the Society’s activities.

One of the 12 men to walk on the moon, Schmitt was a great lunar scientist, but his notions on climate change are a bit lunatic. “The compelling case that climate change is occurring and is caused in large part by human activities is based on a strong, credible body of evidence,” the National Academies of Science has explained, as the “core phenomenon, scientific questions, and hypotheses have been examined thoroughly and have stood firm in the face of serious debate and careful evaluation of alternative explanations.” The threat of global warming to New Mexico has been clear for years.

If he wins confirmation from the New Mexico Senate, Schmitt would be in charge of the Mining and Minerals Division, State Parks Division, Oil Conservation Division and Energy Conservation Management Division.

Martinez has taken other steps to eliminate science-based government from her state. She nominated global warming denier Jon Barela, who lost his bid to unseat Rep. Martin Heinrich (D-NM), to head the Department of Economic Development. Earlier last week, “Martinez removed all the members of the Environmental Improvement Board, citing the board’s approval of regional and state cap and trade statutes,” reports the New Mexico Independent. “Unfortunately, the majority of EIB members have made it clear that they are more interested in advancing political ideology than implementing common-sense policies that balance economic growth with responsible stewardship in New Mexico,” Martinez ironically claimed.

In other hiring news, ConocoPhillips hired Melissa Shute, a longtime oil and natural gas policy staffer for Republican senators, most recently Sen. Jeff Sessions (R-AL), to be their “new lobbyist handling natural gas exploration and production issues.”

Congressional Review Act might not be an option to fight EPA regs (subs. req’d)

Asked last weekend in a televised interview how he planned to stop U.S. EPA regulation of carbon — rules he says have the potential to inflict serious harm on the economy — House Energy and Commerce Chairman Fred Upton mentioned only one specific strategy: using the Congressional Review Act.

What the Michigan Republican did not mention is that the core EPA findings and rules related to carbon mitigation were published more than 60 continuous legislative days ago, making it impossible to nullify them through a resolution of disapproval under that act.

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The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) has an entire “CarbonTracker” page “to keep track of carbon dioxide uptake and release at the Earth’s surface over time.”

Their CarbonTracker Channel on YouTube has some great videos.  The best one is the “Time history of atmospheric CO2,” which charts the rise of CO2 over the last few decades then back through the past 800,000 years:

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I don’t tend to think you can draw any broader conclusions from the acts of one demented, violent individual — as I’ve said before.

Giffords is, however, beloved of the solar energy community, who sent out a note about her Sunday, and that deserves a post.  Perhaps the best thing is to reprint what the inside-the-beltway center-right mavens at Politico wrote about her today.  Let’s start with their Morning Energy update:

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Guest bloggers Emily Reyna and Jacob Hiller of the Environmental Defense Fund report on the end of the EPA’s Climate Leaders program for voluntary corporate emissions limits.

Last October, EPA held its final Climate Leaders meeting.  While many were concerned about the sudden dissolution of the program, some saw it as inevitable.   The consensus is that the EPA Climate Leaders program has provided significant value to companies over the past eight years.  Beginning with 11 charter members in 2002, the program grew to 275 companies in 2010, with annual GHG reductions totaling 18 million metric tons of CO2 annually – enough to power over 2 million homes for one year.

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