article thumbnail

Making Fossil Fuels Pay for Their Damage

Legal Planet

Production and combustion of fossil fuels imposes enormous costs on society, which the industry doesn’t pay for. One option, a tax on carbon dioxide emissions, gets the most attention but seems politically impossible. A more promising alternative might be a clean-up tax on the fossil fuel industry.

article thumbnail

Report from COP27: The Fossil Fuel Industry Continues to Block the Path to Climate Justice

Union of Concerned Scientists

The destruction caused by climate change is directly linked to human activity, primarily burning fossil fuels. There are multiple realistic, tangible solutions that would rapidly reduce greenhouse gas emissions worldwide, yet policy addressing anthropogenic climate change remains slow and insufficient.

Insiders

Sign Up for our Newsletter

This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.

article thumbnail

Yes, Climate Change Worsened that Heatwave, Flood, Wildfire. Yes, Fossil Fuels are the Root Cause. Policymakers, Please Act and Stop the Madness.

Union of Concerned Scientists

Quickly and sharply tapering down the use of fossil fuels, which are the main driver of human-caused climate change, is just as crucial if we are to have any chance of keeping climate extremes from spiraling further out of control. They are literally putting their political interests and profits over our collective well-being.

article thumbnail

Climate Policy in the World’s Fourth Largest Country

Legal Planet

Over three-fourths of Indonesia electricity comes from fossil fuels: 60% from coal and 16% from gas. Carbon emissions from land use change (mostly logging) are comparable to Brazil’s, though Brazil gets a lot more publicity. Indonesia is also heavily exposed to tropic storms, which are expected to get more severe.

article thumbnail

FRESH, October 4, 2022: Carbon Dioxide Storage and Transport Emerges as Political Flashpoint

Circle of Blue

If carbon emissions continue to rise until the middle of the century, this figure climbs to $2.2 The new law creates a permitting process for polluting companies to capture carbon dioxide emissions and store them in underground chambers. The move represents a lifeline for fossil fuel use in a decarbonizing energy grid.

article thumbnail

Navigating Net Zero Via the Law  

Union of Concerned Scientists

Last year’s UN climate talks, while criticized for certain shortcomings , brought into sharp focus the need for robust legal frameworks to transition from fossil fuels. It also encourages badly needed reforms inside and outside of government and will help create new political coalitions.

article thumbnail

Badly Drafted and Constitutionally Suspect

Legal Planet

Texas and a number of other states have passed laws banning what they call “boycotts of fossil fuel companies.” ” More precisely, they ban state investment or contracting with firms that “boycott” fossil fuel companies. Is this as opposed to a political purpose on the part of the managers? “.