Week in review – politics and policy edition

by Judith Curry
A few things that caught my eye this past week.

US politics
Billionaire InvestorTom Steyer launches effort to keep climate deniers out of the White House [link]
Here’s How Tom Steyer Will Attack GOP 2016 Hopefuls on ‘Climate Denial’ and Koch Ties [link]
Tom Steyer challenges Koch brothers to climate debate [link]
Rand Paul announced he is running for president — and he’s a climate denier. [link]
@RandPaul’s enviro and climate record [link]  …
Enviros Already Labeling Rand Paul A Global Warming ‘Denier’ [link]  …
(Maybe) Presidential candidate Carly Fiorina on climate change [link]  …
UNFCCC/IPCC
Evaluation of Paris Agreement pledges received so far: Tracking INDCs – Climate Action Tracker [link]  …
Japan to pledge 20% CO2 cut [link]
Reality Check: Japan To Build 40+ New Coal Power Plants [link]
Three myths about international climate talks, [link]
If UNFCCC #COP21 talks break down, it could have global economic, political, and security impacts: [link]
In-depth interview with potential new IPCC chair @JPvanYpersele [link]
Former UN climate chief Yvo de Boer defends coal finance; declines to back divestment [link]
India 
Narendra Modi: India Won’t Bow To Western Pressure On CO2 Emissions  [link]
Greenpeace India suspended for encouraging “anti-development campaigns.” [link]
Here are nine ways to deal with Delhi’s air pollution—but you may not be able to afford any of them – Quartz [link]
Energy/water/food
Building the 21st Century Grid: Distribution Automation and Network Efficiency [link]
Report: 2015 could be a record year for the greening of U.S. energy [link]
What the Shell mega deal says about the planet’s energy future [link]
A closer look at why fracking is splitting environmental groups apart: [link]
The Energy Market Faces Creative Destruction[link]
1 MW of wind = 103 tonnes steel, 402 tonnes concrete, 7 tonnes fiberglass, 3 tonnes copper +  [link]
What desalination can & can’t do for California.  [link]
Kathmandu: a city within sight of glaciers struggles with water crisis [link]
Shellfisheries: time to prepare for ocean acidification [link]. …
Policy analysis
@PeterGluckman  essay on science, scientists, public and trust. [link]
Get em young, make em green [link]
Development banks agree definition for climate finance, which will help guide green investments [link]
Climate campaigners should make more compromises. Pragmatism often delivers progress; idealism rarely does. [link]
Is #GameOfThrones a #climatechange parable? [link]
 
 
 Filed under: Week in review

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