debating progressive politics in Europe and beyond
I am working on a paper about greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions in Europe (hopefully there will be a post after Easter), so I suppose that colours the way I see this interesting chart posted by The Economist. I really think the EU should take emissions-reduction seriously (indeed that is the point of my piece). We [...]
The sustainability question needs to be answered. In this phase of economic development, its impacts on a number of domains need to be considered. Environmental problems, both in the form of global warming and also economic and social issues, are the primary concern. The political implications are also crucial. Both domains have specific and common [...]
It sometimes appears that politicians’ concerns about global warming overheating is inversely proportional to scientists’ fears. Even committed political players appear increasingly resigned to largely letting things run their course. They do so even though there are veritable doomsday scenarios associated with global warming, and even the more standard scientific fare predicts a significant decline [...]
How much of Europe is covered in forest? How much of the world’s forest is in Europe? Are Europe’s forests growing or shrinking? According to a report (via the BBC) issued today, entitled State of Europe’s Forests 2011, I would have got the answers to all three (had I actually asked myself these questions) wrong. [...]
Parts of the labour movement still have strong reservations towards measures aimed at reducing the carbon intensity of production in order to mitigate global warming. The public debate is dominated by fears that environmental policies harm the working population in the North as well as in the South by increasing unemployment. In line with this [...]
Global warming and the loss of biodiversity are two sides of the same coin. Our activities have an adverse effect on our climate as well as on our ecosystems, and we need to act now to protect our natural capital. Approximately 50% of anthropogenic CO2 emissions are currently absorbed in terrestrial and marine ecosystems. The [...]
In recent months, Europe has learned some hard lessons about its transatlantic partner. President Barack Obama triggered great hope when he replaced George W. Bush at the American helm. But a year later, especially following Obama’s failure to produce anything of substance at Copenhagen, Europeans are realizing that Obama is going to have a difficult [...]
In the early hours of this morning the news of the failure of the Copenhagen summit on climate change hit the news wires. I won’t repeat the individual disappointments as the papers will be full of it today. But I would like to comment on the political implications of this disaster. It shows that there [...]
There is no need to choose between environmental protection, economic development and social justice. A socially just and environmentally sustainable future where markets serve the people and economic growth respects the planet is possible. I hope that the Conference of the parties in Copenhagen will lead the world forward along the path to a true [...]
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