In The News

IMF Signals Push to Scrap Energy Subsidies

Robin Harding March 29, 2013
The globe could solve many fiscal woes by ending nearly $2 trillion in fuel subsidies, the International Monetary Fund claims. “The fund’s call suggests higher fuel prices could become a central condition of IMF help in the future, with subsidies proving a sticking point in its talks with countries such as Egypt, Pakistan and Ukraine,” reports Robin Harding for the Financial Times. The IMF lists...

Wind Rush

Edward Humes March 20, 2013
Wind turbines on vast ranches and fields of corn, soy and wheat have transformed US farmers into energy producers. Eight large turbines in one Iowa community produce 12.8 megawatts, enough to power 6,000 Iowa homes, and “generate healthy annual returns of up to 16 percent on the $12,000 to $50,000 individual investments from 180 local farmers,” reports Edward Humes for Sierra. “At four cents a...

Fossil-Fuel Subsidies Help Asia Roar

Will Hickey March 15, 2013
Governments have long provided subsidies, direct and indirect, on fuels for both consumers and producers. Providing subsidies on fossil fuels is costly in terms of public health and climate change. In 2009, G20 leaders agreed that subsidies should be curtailed, but Asian countries continue to fund them to support economic growth. Subsidies for consumers lead to waste, traffic and pollution. Less...

Weaning From Fossil Fuels and Growing a Green Economy

Dennis Posadas March 8, 2013
Innovation in renewable energies is taking many directions, though implementation of best practices and policies is naturally slow to follow. It may be unrealistic to expect a global treaty on climate before innovation plays out. “Worldwide implementation may require getting comfortable with many different culturally appropriate approaches,” writes Dennis Posadas, author and fellow of the Climate...

The Coal Monster: Pollution Forces Chinese Leaders to Act

Bernhard Zand March 7, 2013
Under a haze of smog, China’s economic successes seem less amazing. Bernhard Zand describes acid, bleach, smoke, sulfur, soot and pollutants that assault the senses in China’s cities. “Chinese bloggers are on a rampage, and even the most loyal government newspapers are examining every aspect of the crisis and attacking those responsible for conditions in China with unprecedented ferocity,” Zand...

In Disputes Over Asian Seas, Winner May Take Zilch

Robert A. Manning January 14, 2013
Three senior US officials are visiting America’s two East Asian allies, South Korea and Japan, in a bid to defuse tensions over territorial claims. Strains of nationalism and saber-rattling with modern weaponry like drones could derail Asia’s quest for prosperity and global leadership and threaten the dream of an Asian Century, explains Robert A. Manning, senior fellow with the Brent Scowcroft...

Dirty, Pricey, Obsolete: Why Desalination Is Not Worth Its Salt

Adam Scow January 3, 2013
Desalination is not a solution to freshwater shortages being reported by many dry regions around the globe, including many sections of the United States. Adam Scow of Food & Water Watch argues that conservation of water is the better strategy and notes that “the technology is being pushed by private interests looking to profit from the sale of water while sticking the public with its high...