Topic: Environmental Policy
Top galleries, list articles, quizzes
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Five ways Americans can save water through food choices
As eaters and consumers, Americans can profoundly reduce water waste and water consumption through the food choices they make. Here are five ways American food consumers can help save water.
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Focus
The Monitor's top 11 US stories of 2012
From storms to politics, the year was a wild ride. What are the most meaningful US stories of 2012? Here's the Monitor's list, in roughly chronological order.
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4 smart ways to rebuild after superstorm Sandy
Early estimates of the damage from superstorm Sandy are staggering. In the days ahead, once people's immediate needs are met, we must focus on rebuilding. It is increasingly clear that rebuilding efforts must consider the following four points.
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iPhone 5? The 11 best uses for your old iPhone
Here are 11 good ideas for an 'obsolete' iPhone:
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Briefing
Obama vs. Romney 101: 7 ways they differ on energy issues
Both President Obama and Mitt Romney claim to want to expand America’s access to conventional fuels and green energy. But their energy plans have very different flavors.
All Content
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Energy Voices Would a carbon tax boost clean energy?
The carbon tax can be a useful tool for nudging near-competitive low-carbon technologies into the market and spurring modest carbon cuts, Stepp writes, but it’s at best a complementary climate policy. That changes if we use a carbon tax as a revenue-raiser to support additional policies aimed at making clean energy cost and performance competitive with fossil fuels.
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Earth Day, 1970: How President Nixon spied on Earth Day
President Nixon spied on the very first Earth Day in 1970. Despite Nixon's fears of an anti-war uprising, the FBI found that Earth Day was 'very benign.'
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Focus On Earth Day 2013, a planetary report card on global warming
Planetary carbon dioxide concentrations are the highest they've been in the past 800,000 years, an ignominious milestone for Earth Day 2013. Still, the world is making some progress toward addressing global warming.
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Energy Voices EPA further limits sulfur. Will higher gas prices follow?
The Environmental Protection Agency announced new standards on sulfur in gasoline Friday that many say will lead eventually to a hike in gas prices. The EPA expects a 1 cent per gallon increase; industry says it will be much more.
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Five ways Americans can save water through food choices
As eaters and consumers, Americans can profoundly reduce water waste and water consumption through the food choices they make. Here are five ways American food consumers can help save water.
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Energy Voices Court case: Coal mine gets permit. Can EPA take it back again?
Arch Coal and the EPA faced off in federal appeals court over agency's revoked permit for West Virginia coal mine. The case has several industries worried that the EPA could take back their permits retroactively under the Clean Water Act.
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Tax VOX Carbon tax: A win-win for the economy and the environment
A carbon tax isn’t perfect, Gale writes, but relative to the alternatives, a tax on carbon has an enormous amount to offer to both the economy and the environment.
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Energy Voices Misunderstanding coal in Europe
Every ton of emissions from American coal burned in Europe means that a ton won’t be burned in a country like China – or even the United States – where emissions are uncapped, Holland writes.
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Gulf oil spill: BP's record $4 billion criminal plea deal gets judge's OK
Under the plea agreement between BP and the US, the oil giant admits to 11 counts of felony manslaughter for the alleged negligence of its officials in 2010 Gulf oil spill.
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Opinion: US-Europe fight over airline emissions could help talks on climate change
With a limited outlook for international climate negotiations, some hope can be found in a battle between the US and Europe over the regulation and taxation of airline emissions. An industry-level agreement could be a model for compromise on international climate policies.
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Opinion: The beauty of a carbon tax – and its exemption for the poor
Taxing greenhouse gas pollution through a carbon tax lets the market, not government, pick the winners. Big polluters like electrical power plants would be encouraged to use cleaner energy. And a simple tax exemption could lower the costs passed on to poor Americans.
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Transocean agrees to pay $1.4 billion fine for Gulf oil spill
Transocean was a contractor to BP and owned the Deepwater Horizon drilling rig that was at the center of the Gulf oil spill. BP has already agreed to $4.5 billion in fines.
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EPA head Lisa Jackson will resign
Lisa Jackson, head of the Environmental Protection Agency, says she will step down at the beginning of President Obama's second term. Her four-year tenure includes some victories, especially car fuel-efficiency standards, but was marked with disappointments over global warming and coal ash controls.
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Border security advocates eye remote lands
In an effort to beef up border security, some have argued wilderness areas near the Canadian and Mexican borders should not be subject to environmental review. Others say Border Patrol has enough roads, and more expansion could harm the soil and environment.
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Focus
The Monitor's top 11 US stories of 2012
From storms to politics, the year was a wild ride. What are the most meaningful US stories of 2012? Here's the Monitor's list, in roughly chronological order.
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Energy Voices EPA squelches soot. First step in a deluge of regulations?
The US Environmental Protection Agency has imposed stricter standards on soot – or fine-particle pollution. Critics charge it's the beginning of a 'regulatory cliff.'
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Carbon tax: It's not coming soon
A US carbon tax would raise revenue for the federal government. But there are three reasons a carbon tax won't be part of any budget compromise in the next few weeks.
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BP to pay $4.5 billion in fines for Gulf oil spill. Is legal saga over?
A deal on federal criminal charges helps bring legal action over the Gulf oil spill nearer a conclusion. But many more claims remain – totaling perhaps tens of billions of dollars.
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Energy Voices Nine energy policy principles for Obama, Romney
Stuebi articulates nine basic principles to guide elected officials and bureaucrats on how energy policies and regulations should be set.
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4 smart ways to rebuild after superstorm Sandy
Early estimates of the damage from superstorm Sandy are staggering. In the days ahead, once people's immediate needs are met, we must focus on rebuilding. It is increasingly clear that rebuilding efforts must consider the following four points.
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The Vote Sandy's political impact: Citing climate change, Bloomberg endorses Obama (+video)
Independent New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg has long listed global warming as one of his top concerns. He says hurricane Sandy brought the presidential election 'into sharp relief.'
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Clean Water Act at 40: Is it failing to meet new pollution challenges?
Congress passed the far-reaching Clean Water Act 40 years ago. The measure scored dramatic environmental successes, including with Lake Erie. But now Erie, and the law, are besieged.
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'War on coal'? Why Obama might not be industry's worst enemy.
Environmental regulations by the Obama administration come at a cost to coal plants and mines, but the rise of cheap natural gas appears to be a greater threat.
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Senate to EU: US airlines won't pay carbon tax
Senate unanimously passes bill to shield US airlines from European Union law on carbon emissions. The EU has been enforcing carbon emissions trading rules since January.
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iPhone 5? The 11 best uses for your old iPhone
Here are 11 good ideas for an 'obsolete' iPhone:
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