April 18th was a big day for climate change books. Paul Hawken’s long-awaited Project Drawdown: The Most Comprehensive Plan Ever Proposed to Reverse Global Warming came out, as did Michael Bloomberg’s and Carl Pope’s Climate of Hope: How Cities, Businesses, and Citizens Can Save the Planet. Both titles are provocative and optimistic, and both books are […]
Houston, We Could Have a (Carbon Pricing) Problem!
With the election of Donald Trump, what will happen to carbon prices (or, more accurately, what will happen to the prospect of robust carbon pricing?) Expectations of future carbon prices are potentially important to all sorts of energy (and other) decision-making, which explains why so many decision-makers are interested in carbon price forecasts. Many electric […]
If Climate Neutrality is the Answer, What was the Question?
A renewed focus on personal and organizational responsibility for and action against climate change is leading to renewed interest in carbon offsets and carbon neutrality. One expression of this interest is through the American College & University Presidents’ Climate Commitment (ACUPCC). The university presidents premise their commitment on the idea, as stated by Arizona State […]
Voluntary Carbon Offsets: How Important a Piece on the Climate Chess Gameboard?
When it comes to the ultimate collective action problem we face in the form of climate change, a critical question is whether we will transition to a low-carbon economy before or after we’ve committed the planet to 4, 6, or more degrees Centigrade of warming. The strategy game of chess — in this case with […]
The Danger of Rose-Colored Glasses When Interpreting Corporate Climate Strategies
Lots of stakeholders are pushing companies to take action on climate change, and many companies report they are doing just that. But interpreting the significance of those claims gets tricky, not only at the company level but at the level of making real progress on climate change. It’s natural that stakeholders look for good news […]
