With the Trump administration undermining federal action to address climate change, states like Oregon are stepping up to protect the planet for future generations.
Jason's Latest Posts
San Ardo Oil Field, Monterey County, CA. Photo: Loco Steve CC-BY-SA 2.0 (Flickr).
California’s Cap-and-Trade Program and Low Carbon Fuel Standard Go Together Like Peanut Butter and Jelly
May 22, 2017 2:59 PM EDT
Policymakers are considering how California should cut global warming emissions by 40% between 2020 and 2030, and whether to extend the state’s cap-and-trade program beyond 2020. The oil industry supports the cap-and-trade program but wants to roll back California’s Low Carbon Fuel Standard. They argue the two policies just don’t mix—like oil and water, you might say. However, I see the two policies more like peanut butter and jelly—they are good on their own but so much better together. Read more >
Washington’s Initiative 732: Important Lessons for Supporters of Carbon Pricing
September 30, 2016 1:51 PM EDT
The Union of Concerned Scientists is a strong supporter of pricing the heat-trapping emissions causing climate change, and we have a history of advocating for a price on carbon in Washington State. Yet UCS has decided to take no position on a ballot measure this November that would establish a carbon tax in Washington, Initiative 732. It was a tough decision for our organization and we wanted to share our thinking about this issue with our members. Read more >
California Just Made Climate Change History. How Did it Happen?
August 26, 2016 12:44 PM EDT
The day before yesterday I sat in the gallery of the California Senate and saw something that just a few weeks ago I wasn’t expecting: Senators casting the final vote on an historic set of bills—Senate Bill 32 (Pavley) and Assembly Bill 197 (E. Garcia)—that reaffirm the state’s commitment to addressing climate change through 2030. After the vote was over, my colleagues and I shared hugs, smiles, and tears as the weight of the accomplishment washed over us. It was a great day. Read more >
Leading Scientists Urge California Lawmakers to Act on Climate Change This Year
August 22, 2016 8:56 AM EDT
There are just eight working days left in the 2016 legislative session, and the biggest question in the state Capitol is whether lawmakers will vote to extend California’s successful programs to fight climate change. Read more >