Welcome to this week’s edition of Politics Tuesday. The subject for today is global warming.
It will be a (slightly) shorter entry today, since working on this substitute computer is really cutting into my efficiency. I’ve spent several years of my life studying fossil fuel consumption, the politics of energy, and climate change so I could talk for hours and hours, but I’ll try to keep it minimal now and go into more detail some other time.
In particular, I’m going to completely ignore the way our fossil fuel dependence shapes foreign policy matters (support for corrupt regimes like Saudi Arabia, belligerent policy in the Middle East, etc.) as well as the economic problems associated with our current consumption patterns, and just talk about the environmental effects.
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First things first, let’s talk about Al Gore. He has been talking about the climate for two decades and is one of the world’s greatest champions on the subject. His most recent foray is the documentary An Inconvenient Truth. It’s not the most exciting movie of the year, but it does a good job of making a point which shouldn’t even have to be argued at this point: global warming is real, and potentially deadly on a scale we can hardly imagine. Instead of spending time arguing this, we ought to be focused on figuring out which approach or approaches will be best for reducing the anthropogenic effect on the global climate.
The movie did surprisingly well (it’s the third highest-grossing documentary of all time), which hopefully means that the sea change in public opinion on this question is happening, if slowly and years later than it should have. It’s out on DVD now if you wan to pick up a copy.
There’s also a great interview with him in GQ where he says he hasn’t completely ruled out running for President (though it doesn’t sound too promising). Perhaps even more importantly, he says there is an upcoming Futurama movie in which he’ll have a role. Futurama might be my favorite TV show of all time so I could hardly be more excited.
This isn’t the first time Gore and Futurama have joined forces. He was in several episodes (including one about global warming), and they helped him promote An Inconvenient Truth:
Another important thing made clear in the interview is that Al Gore the environmental activist is a completely different man from Al Gore the presidential candidate. He’s funny, relaxed, energetic, and doesn’t pull any punches (check out his rant about 9-11 and its aftermath). It just reminds me how much I wish Gore had let this version of himself be the candidate in 2000, or in 2008. It also makes it clear, though, why he might be happier not to force himself back into an unhappy situation. But the guy is really funny. If you need further evidence, check out his appearance on Leno to discuss “glaciers gone wild.”
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The Supreme Court stepped into the global warming ring for the first time last week, hearing Mass v. EPA. The state of Massachusetts, joined by 11 other states and a number of cities and environmental groups is arguing that the EPA has shirked its responsibility, and must regulate carbon dioxide emissions under the Clean Air Act. If they win, it would require sweeping new regulations to limit emissions.
The case will most likely be decided on the most basic question: whether the states even have standing to bring the case in the first place. If standing is denied it will almost completely close the Courts as an avenue for redressing global warming. This would not necessarily be the end of the world, since Congress and the Executive are more reasonably tailored to deal with this issue and could still act on their own. However, while those branches have (mostly) recognized the need for some action, they have done virtually nothing about it.
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Why have they done nothing? Thanks to people like James Inhofe, the Senator from Oklahoma who will soon be asked to step down from his role as Chair of the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee, and who has described global warming as “the greatest hoax ever perpetrated on the American people.”
His last act as Chair: to hold a hearing on the media hyping of global warming. You go get ‘em, Jim.
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Three songs about global warming for you: one whimsical, one earnest, one angry.
Manhattan in January – Jill Sobule
Sleeping In – The Postal Service
Kyoto Now – Bad Religion
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Finally, a brief return to last week’s subject of Iraq. The Iraq Study Group’s report will be released tomorrow. Check out the US Institute for Peace or the Center for Strategic and International Studies, or just watch the news and you can see what they have to say.