Brief #166 – Environment Policy Brief
by : Todd Broadman
Amidst bipartisan support, the Biden administration allocates $6 billion towards green jobs, targeting the decarbonization of heavy industries like steel and aluminum. This initiative aims to create employment opportunities while advancing environmental goals, sparking debates on its effectiveness and economic viability.
Brief #116—Environment
By Todd Broadman
The Biden Administration has recognized what previous administrations have not: that carbon-based energy has been destroying our planet and must stop, that greenhouse gas emissions must be reduced to net zero by 2050. Recognition is a major step forward. Government action to replace our fossil fuel economy with renewables is a colossal task and one that Biden aims to tackle.
What we know is that carbon-free energy is actually more mineral intensive than its oil-based counterpart. There are some 35 rare earth minerals that are key components to making the transition from fossil-fuels to clean energy. Lithium has recently garnered much attention for its essential role in the production of lithium-ion batteries that power our next generation of EV cars. (Other essential minerals include aluminum, cobalt, copper, and nickel).
Brief #100—Environment
By Todd Broadman
The Tongass forest, referred to as “America’s Amazon,” was designated a National Forest by President Theodore Roosevelt in 1902.
Brief #65—Environment
by By Todd Broadman
Don’t Expect Trump 2.0 to be Climate Friendly Environment Policy #177 | By: Todd J. Broadman | January 10, 2025 Photo by Documerica on Unsplash __________________________________ POLICY SUMMARY President-elect Trump is set to take office on January 6, 2025 and has...
In the midst of escalating environmental crises, climate change has surprisingly taken a backseat in political discourse. Despite initial commitments from the Biden administration to combat climate change through initiatives like the Paris Agreement and the Inflation Reduction Act, significant challenges remain. As fossil fuel production reaches unprecedented levels and partisan divides deepen, the urgency to prioritize climate policy faces increasing obstacles, leaving many to question the future of our environmental commitments.
As the clock ticks on climate change, scientists and corporations are racing to deploy geoengineering solutions like carbon capture and solar radiation modification. While these technologies offer hope, they also raise complex ethical and environmental concerns that could reshape global climate policy for decades to come.
Brief #170 – Environment Policy Brief
by : Todd J. Broadman
As the world cautiously shifts away from fossil fuels, the pace of transition remains frustratingly slow, hampered by economic and regulatory challenges. With renewable energy sources still struggling to achieve dominance, the need for a unified, large-scale effort akin to a carbon-transition Marshall Plan has never been more urgent.
Brief #168 – Environment Policy Brief
by : Todd J. Broadman
Ocean coral reefs are facing an unprecedented crisis, with mass bleaching events threatening the survival of these vital ecosystems. As ocean temperatures rise, the vibrant reefs are turning into graveyards of white skeletons, sending a stark message about the urgent need for climate action and coral conservation.
Brief #164 – Environment Policy Brief
by : Todd J. Broadman
There is a depletion of groundwater in the U.S… When it comes to groundwater depletion, short-term economics and corporate profits are ushered along without much caution or environmental guardrails. In that respect, U.S. aquifers are viewed much like carbon reserves – there for the taking.