How to Extinguish the Fire Before It’s Too Late

Let’s face two facts that are now abundantly clear. First, we have very little time to address the climate crisis in a way that will avoid the worst, irreversible consequences of our continued pollution of the Earth’s atmosphere. Second, the collective willpower (and resulting action) of the countries that attend annual climate summits, such as …

What Covid Taught Us About the Climate Crisis

As smoke from western wildfires chokes people in Manhattan and unprecedented floods drown subway commuters in China, we’re reminded that scientists warned of these climate change driven consequences decades ago. Some have theorized that if the predicted impacts were more immediate, that humanity would have acted to avert them. The covid crisis may shed light …

The Climate Defense Budget

If aliens were attacking, nations would join their military forces together to defeat the common enemy. Today, the inescapable global existential threat is posed by climate change. We should shift our defense budgets accordingly. According to the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute’s “Military Expenditure Database” global government spending on defense reached nearly two trillion dollars …

Put Out the Fire

Swedish student-activist Greta Thunberg has challenged world leaders to address climate change like the existential crisis that it is, when she said to act like “the house is on fire.” Many agree, but few see a quick way to put out that fire. Here’s a simple two-part plan to save most of the “house” before it’s too late.

Dear Jake

An open letter to our son as he graduates from medical school at George Washington University in Washington DC

Dear Jake

As you graduate from medical school this year, I trust you know how proud your family and friends are of your hard work and many sleepless nights.

America’s First Climate Bankruptcy

Shakespeare said, “What’s past is prologue.” If the looming climate change related bankruptcy of the America’s largest utility is a precursor of things to come, the most damaging storms of our future will not be reported by meteorologists, but by economists.

Donald Trump Needs Political Viagra

During his campaign for president, Donald Trump bragged about the size of his penis. Since taking office, by any reasonable measure, he has made more wild, unsubstantiated boasts than any president in living memory. Is he just compensating for his political impotence?

A Low Carbon Future is Inevitable

As nations gathered recently in Bonn at COP23, scratching their heads over why the U.S. would be the only nation on earth to deny climate change science and to withdraw from the landmark agreement that was reached two years ago in Paris (in case you missed it, even Syria has now joined), there are strong signs that a low carbon future is not only inevitable, but will be the primary driver of economic growth in the 21st century.

A Climate Declaration of Independence

Having recently enjoyed the “rockets’ red glare” on July 4th, our Declaration of Independence came to mind as a way to understand the evolving, and distinctly different, approaches to addressing climate change that are emerging in the US.

The Planet Needs a Real Price on Carbon Now

Fool’s gold glitters as brightly as the real thing, but a lot of valuable time and money can be wasted figuring out the difference. The proposal to price carbon pollution in America put forward recently by noted conservatives and fossil fuel companies may be a fresh, constructive way to tackle climate change, but make no mistake – – it is little more than a shiny object that could do more harm than good.