Support the Arctic Sea Ice Forum and Blog

Author Topic: Money and Politics: The Drive for Climate Change Action  (Read 314681 times)

wili

  • Young ice
  • Posts: 3342
    • View Profile
  • Liked: 602
  • Likes Given: 409
Re: Money and Politics: The Drive for Climate Change Action
« Reply #600 on: October 03, 2017, 09:40:00 PM »
Thanks for that piece of (ever more rare, it seems) good news, sig. I was wondering when the Pope's encyclical might start yielding some concrete results in the behavior of the church.

And as the saying goes (sort of), five and a half trillion here, five and a half trillion there...pretty soon you're talkin' real money!  :)
"A force de chercher de bonnes raisons, on en trouve; on les dit; et après on y tient, non pas tant parce qu'elles sont bonnes que pour ne pas se démentir." Choderlos de Laclos "You struggle to come up with some valid reasons, then cling to them, not because they're good, but just to not back down."

Sigmetnow

  • Multi-year ice
  • Posts: 25753
    • View Profile
  • Liked: 1153
  • Likes Given: 430
Re: Money and Politics: The Drive for Climate Change Action
« Reply #601 on: October 09, 2017, 04:56:17 PM »
People who say it cannot be done should not interrupt those who are doing it.

Sigmetnow

  • Multi-year ice
  • Posts: 25753
    • View Profile
  • Liked: 1153
  • Likes Given: 430
Re: Money and Politics: The Drive for Climate Change Action
« Reply #602 on: November 14, 2017, 01:25:29 AM »
”This pledge approach could become a model for progress in other states that also face corruption and foot-dragging on clean energy, such as the ten states flagged in a report by the Center for Biological Diversity.”

A group of Virginia state legislators pledge to take no money from the two biggest fossil fuel interests in the state.

Thirteen “Dominion $ Deniers” to Serve in the State Legislature, Countering Climate Deniers
Quote
In a big win for anti-corruption and clean energy advocates, 13 elected House of Delegates members have pledged not to accept campaign contributions from Dominion Energy or Appalachian Power.  (Dominion has blocked clean energy progress for years by funding campaigns of candidates in both parties.) ...
http://bluevirginia.us/2017/11/thirteen-dominion-deniers-to-serve-in-the-state-legislatures-next-session-countering-climate-deniers
People who say it cannot be done should not interrupt those who are doing it.

Sigmetnow

  • Multi-year ice
  • Posts: 25753
    • View Profile
  • Liked: 1153
  • Likes Given: 430
Re: Money and Politics: The Drive for Climate Change Action
« Reply #603 on: December 31, 2017, 05:29:36 PM »
A new report says that the wider the gap between rich and poor, the more the environment suffers.

To solve climate change, solve income inequality
Quote
Many people who live in low-income communities, for example, cannot afford to retrofit their homes to make them more energy efficient, meaning they use more power than necessary, generating more pollution.
https://thinkprogress.org/economic-inequality-drives-climate-change-economist-finds-ebdbfb3126ca/
People who say it cannot be done should not interrupt those who are doing it.

Sebastian Jones

  • Grease ice
  • Posts: 716
    • View Profile
  • Liked: 214
  • Likes Given: 158
Re: Money and Politics: The Drive for Climate Change Action
« Reply #604 on: December 31, 2017, 10:05:41 PM »
A new report says that the wider the gap between rich and poor, the more the environment suffers.

To solve climate change, solve income inequality
Quote

And the most efficient method of doing this would be to take all that excess from the world's richest...

Sigmetnow

  • Multi-year ice
  • Posts: 25753
    • View Profile
  • Liked: 1153
  • Likes Given: 430
Re: Money and Politics: The Drive for Climate Change Action
« Reply #605 on: January 14, 2018, 04:14:27 AM »
“The case for divestment, it’s in part based on ethical issues … but most of it is based on risk, on the assessment fossil fuels are increasingly risky. That’s a trend environmental regulations won’t change.”

Growing fossil fuel divestment movement poses challenges for Alberta energy industry
http://calgaryherald.com/news/politics/growing-fossil-fuel-divestment-movement-poses-challenges-for-alberta-energy-industry
People who say it cannot be done should not interrupt those who are doing it.

Thomas Barlow

  • Guest
Re: Money and Politics: The Drive for Climate Change Action
« Reply #606 on: January 21, 2018, 05:53:02 PM »
A way to quickly identify dubious research will need to be developed:

""A climate science denial group with links to President Trump’s administration has been funding work to sow doubt that low-lying islands in the Pacific are at risk from rising sea levels.""

https://www.desmogblog.com/2018/01/18/climate-denial-co2-coalition-trump-morner-funding-sea-level-research-dodgy-journals

Sigmetnow

  • Multi-year ice
  • Posts: 25753
    • View Profile
  • Liked: 1153
  • Likes Given: 430
Re: Money and Politics: The Drive for Climate Change Action
« Reply #607 on: January 28, 2018, 05:45:30 PM »
At Davos, bosses paint climate change as $7 trillion opportunity
Quote
Businesses should seize a $US6 trillion ($7.45 trillion) opportunity to invest in tackling climate change over the next two decades, the head of an Indian multinational said at Davos on Thursday.

"Climate change is the next century's biggest financial and business opportunity," Anand Mahindra, chairman of the Mahindra Group, a $US19 billion conglomerate, told the World Economic Forum (WEF), an annual meeting of global business and political leaders held in the Swiss Alps resort of Davos.

Mahindra likened the transformation to when cars were first introduced and the industry that developed around them. Climate change will also bring new appliances, technologies and retrofitting of old ones, he said.

"Why on earth are we talking about this as a compulsion or a burden?" he asked the audience.  The idea that companies face a trade-off between improving the climate and their growth or profits is a "myth", he added.

"Everything our group of companies has done to try and improve energy (consumption) or to reduce greenhouse gas emissions has given us a return," he said.

"We have to dispel the idea that there is a trade-off (for business)," said Mr Mahindra, who is co-chair of a climate action summit taking place in California in September.

On Wednesday, Philipp Hildebrand, vice chairman of BlackRock, the world's biggest asset manager, told the WEF a new generation is ramping up pressure on asset managers to put money into investments with a strong environmental agenda and to push companies to play a bigger role in addressing climate change.
...
http://www.smh.com.au/business/at-davos-bosses-paint-climate-change-as-7-trillion-opportunity-20180126-h0owt1.html
People who say it cannot be done should not interrupt those who are doing it.

Bob Wallace

  • Young ice
  • Posts: 3855
    • View Profile
  • Liked: 41
  • Likes Given: 5
Re: Money and Politics: The Drive for Climate Change Action
« Reply #608 on: January 28, 2018, 06:06:32 PM »
Quote
"Climate change is the next century's biggest financial and business opportunity"

YES!!!

This is what we need.  We need a rush to seize large parts of this new energy system.  We need money pouring in, building new wind and solar farms and solving the storage problem.  We need car manufacturers hurrying to grab as much of the EV market as possible.

Some may hate big business but we need big business building a clean energy system.  New businesses growing large or older businesses changing into clean energy businesses, doesn't matter.  What matters it that we need massive efforts.  And if people sense the opportunity to make money we stand our best chance of leaving fossil fuels behind.




Sigmetnow

  • Multi-year ice
  • Posts: 25753
    • View Profile
  • Liked: 1153
  • Likes Given: 430
Re: Money and Politics: The Drive for Climate Change Action
« Reply #609 on: February 04, 2018, 04:23:11 PM »
US House of Representatives: the Climate Solutions Caucus is up to 68 members!  Any Democrat who joins must bring a Republican as well. :) On the way to becoming a significant voting block.

Quote
The Climate Solutions Caucus is a bipartisan group in the US House of Representatives which will explore policy options that address the impacts, causes, and challenges of our changing climate. The caucus was founded in February of 2016 by two south-Florida representatives Rep. Carlos Curbelo (R-FL) and Rep. Ted Deutch (D-FL), who serve as co-chairs of the caucus.

“The Caucus will serve as an organization to educate members on economically-viable options to reduce climate risk and protect our nation’s economy, security, infrastructure, agriculture, water supply and public safety,” according to documents filed with the Committee on House Administration.
Membership will be kept even between Democrats and Republicans.
https://citizensclimatelobby.org/climate-solutions-caucus/
People who say it cannot be done should not interrupt those who are doing it.

Sigmetnow

  • Multi-year ice
  • Posts: 25753
    • View Profile
  • Liked: 1153
  • Likes Given: 430
Re: Money and Politics: The Drive for Climate Change Action
« Reply #610 on: February 06, 2018, 02:57:31 PM »
Edinburgh University divests from all fossil fuels
Move makes it the largest university fund in the UK to ditch all coal, oil and gas holdings, following a long student campaign
Quote
The University of Edinburgh is dumping all its fossil fuel investments, making it the largest UK university endowment fund to be completely free of all coal, oil and gas holdings.

The decision was announced on Monday and followed a long student campaign. More than 60 UK universities have now divested from fossil fuels, with the University of Sussex the latest to make the move.

Most existing fossil fuel reserves cannot be burned without causing dangerous climate change, and proponents of divestment argue this makes fossil fuel companies bad investments on both ethical and financial grounds. The risk to investments is taken seriously at the highest level, including the Bank of England, World Bank and the G20’s financial stability board, and many major investment firms have also divested.

The University of Edinburgh decided in 2015 to divest from the most polluting companies – those involved in coal and tar sands – but stopped short of full divestment. But now the university will sell its final £6.3m of fossil fuel holdings, in the companies Total, BG Group and Atlas Copco. ...
https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2018/feb/06/edinburgh-university-divests-from-all-fossil-fuels
People who say it cannot be done should not interrupt those who are doing it.

Sigmetnow

  • Multi-year ice
  • Posts: 25753
    • View Profile
  • Liked: 1153
  • Likes Given: 430
Re: Money and Politics: The Drive for Climate Change Action
« Reply #611 on: February 12, 2018, 01:46:27 PM »
Jeremy Corbyn vows to tackle ‘climate catastrophe’ by putting energy system in public hands
Quote
Jeremy Corbyn has vowed to make averting “climate catastrophe” a central aim if he wins power, arguing it can only be achieved with public ownership of Britain’s energy system.

In his most pro-environment speech, the Labour leader said his government would be “at least as radical” as the post-war Clement Attlee administration which built the NHS and the welfare state.

Labour would sweep away the “centralised system” of energy delivery, dominated by the much-criticised Big Six private firms, in favour of one with “new sources of energy large and small”, Mr Corbyn said.

“Locally accountable” operators would set up in every region to rival the Big Six, with the power to buy infrastructure from the National Grid, to deliver gradual public ownership.

The party has also pledged to ban fracking, insulate 4 million homes, deliver 60 per cent of energy from renewable sources by 2030 and plant a million native trees.

Speaking at a conference in London, Mr Corbyn said: “The challenge of climate change requires us to radically shift the way we organise our economy. ...
http://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/jeremy-corbyn-big-six-energy-companies-nationalisation-public-ownership-fracking-ban-climate-change-a8204031.html
People who say it cannot be done should not interrupt those who are doing it.

Sigmetnow

  • Multi-year ice
  • Posts: 25753
    • View Profile
  • Liked: 1153
  • Likes Given: 430
Re: Money and Politics: The Drive for Climate Change Action
« Reply #612 on: February 22, 2018, 06:05:41 PM »
Let Teens Do a Town Hall on Climate Change Next
Quote
In the wake of the Parkland school shooting, the survivors have become the face and voice of gun control sanity. On Tuesday, they used their voices in primetime on CNN to grill Sen. Marco Rubio (R-Florida) and NRA shill Dana Loesch. Florida Democrats Sen. Bill Nelson and Rep. Ted Deutsch were also there.

It was a tour de force watching young people who have been let down by adults and an entrenched political system begin to try tearing it down. There’s no reason to stop at gun control. Let’s see teens ask policymakers about climate change, the outlines of which closely mirror the gun control debate (h/t Just Security managing editor Kate Brannen).

Teens of today will face a more unstable future, one that could be outside the realm of anything humanity has ever experienced if carbon emissions keep rising. And yet our current crop of politicians has done basically nothing to address the root problem, almost exclusively driven by Republican’s slavish devotion to fossil fuel interests.
...
https://earther.com/let-teens-do-a-town-hall-on-climate-change-next-1823225096/
People who say it cannot be done should not interrupt those who are doing it.

Sigmetnow

  • Multi-year ice
  • Posts: 25753
    • View Profile
  • Liked: 1153
  • Likes Given: 430
Re: Money and Politics: The Drive for Climate Change Action
« Reply #613 on: February 24, 2018, 09:15:03 PM »
Youth-led climate march on Washington
July 21st, 2018
http://thisiszerohour.org/

https://twitter.com/EricHolthaus/status/966789938913185801
Image below.
People who say it cannot be done should not interrupt those who are doing it.

Sigmetnow

  • Multi-year ice
  • Posts: 25753
    • View Profile
  • Liked: 1153
  • Likes Given: 430
Re: Money and Politics: The Drive for Climate Change Action
« Reply #614 on: February 28, 2018, 02:13:05 PM »
“Not surprising, given the fact that we, adults, are the ones responsible for the #climatechange mess. Time for the youth to act and claim what is rightfully theirs - a stable climate and livable planet. #youthvgov ”
    https://twitter.com/SamVarvastian/status/968578245468794880
    Article at link below.


“I’d say I do about three hours of conference calls every single day,” says the lead organizer of the march, Jamie Margolin, a 16-year-old high school sophomore in Seattle. “I’m not new to the climate activism world.”

Meet the teens schooling us on climate
https://grist.org/article/meet-the-teens-schooling-us-on-climate-change/
People who say it cannot be done should not interrupt those who are doing it.

Sigmetnow

  • Multi-year ice
  • Posts: 25753
    • View Profile
  • Liked: 1153
  • Likes Given: 430
Re: Money and Politics: The Drive for Climate Change Action
« Reply #615 on: March 17, 2018, 07:33:30 PM »
Every week the Senate has been in session since April 2012, one lonely Democratic senator from Rhode Island, Sheldon Whitehouse, has taken to the Senate floor to speak about global warming. On March 13, Senator Whitehouse gave his 200th “It’s Time to Wake Up” speech on climate change.

Meet the U.S. senator obsessed with climate change
Quote
He said he has “very intentionally wanted to be the witness on the ground” to tell future generations exactly why Congress has not acted. In his view, it’s not because of partisanship or the failure of the Democratic system, but rather special interest money flowing unfettered into campaigns, squelching any potential bipartsian compromises on climate legislation.
https://mashable.com/2018/03/17/sheldon-whitehouse-200-climate-change-speeches/
People who say it cannot be done should not interrupt those who are doing it.

Sigmetnow

  • Multi-year ice
  • Posts: 25753
    • View Profile
  • Liked: 1153
  • Likes Given: 430
Re: Money and Politics: The Drive for Climate Change Action
« Reply #616 on: May 19, 2018, 09:58:49 PM »
U.S.:  A few more Republican Congressmen think voters care about climate change! (Additional Democrats can’t join this group until more Republicans do, to keep their numbers equal.)

Three Republicans join climate change caucus
Quote
Three House Republicans have joined a bipartisan group of lawmakers dedicated to addressing the threat posed by climate change.
...
The three Republicans joining the caucus are all facing difficult reelection races in November, with Democrats making them top targets in the midterm elections.
http://thehill.com/policy/energy-environment/388354-three-republicans-join-climate-change-caucus


Climate Solutions Caucus welcomes 5 new members
https://citizensclimatelobby.org/climate-solutions-caucus-welcomes-5-new-members/
People who say it cannot be done should not interrupt those who are doing it.

Bob Wallace

  • Young ice
  • Posts: 3855
    • View Profile
  • Liked: 41
  • Likes Given: 5
Re: Money and Politics: The Drive for Climate Change Action
« Reply #617 on: May 19, 2018, 10:05:44 PM »
Just because the Republicans joined the caucus does not mean that they will work to slow climate change.  They might not even bother to go to the meetings.

Belonging to the caucus will be something they can talk about during their campaigns when cornered by voters concerned about climate change.

Republicans have a game plan that they use over and over.  They do their really nasty stuff early in the two years between elections and start acting as "responsible citizens" as we get close to elections.

TerryM

  • First-year ice
  • Posts: 6002
    • View Profile
  • Liked: 893
  • Likes Given: 5
Re: Money and Politics: The Drive for Climate Change Action
« Reply #618 on: May 19, 2018, 11:00:38 PM »
Yes ^
And it's been very noticeable at least since Reagan's presidency.


Break the economy in the first two years, then call the last two years a miracle as you bring it up almost to where it was when you began your manipulations.


I suspect that the Dems use the same strategy, they just traditionally haven't had as much cooperation from Wall Street as their better connected rivals.


Terry

Bob Wallace

  • Young ice
  • Posts: 3855
    • View Profile
  • Liked: 41
  • Likes Given: 5
Re: Money and Politics: The Drive for Climate Change Action
« Reply #619 on: May 20, 2018, 12:37:49 AM »
Democrats may use the same strategy.

But they don't destroy environmental regulations, push fossil fuels over renewable energy, and make it easier for greedy people to rip others off.

Sigmetnow

  • Multi-year ice
  • Posts: 25753
    • View Profile
  • Liked: 1153
  • Likes Given: 430
Re: Money and Politics: The Drive for Climate Change Action
« Reply #620 on: May 20, 2018, 01:26:25 AM »
Just because the Republicans joined the caucus does not mean that they will work to slow climate change.  They might not even bother to go to the meetings.

Belonging to the caucus will be something they can talk about during their campaigns when cornered by voters concerned about climate change.

Republicans have a game plan that they use over and over.  They do their really nasty stuff early in the two years between elections and start acting as "responsible citizens" as we get close to elections.

 I think you might be a tad overly dismissive of this group. ;)

Quote
“The Caucus will serve as an organization to educate members on economically-viable options to reduce climate risk and protect our nation’s economy, security, infrastructure, agriculture, water supply and public safety,” according to documents filed with the Committee on House Administration.

“Since the caucus began in February 2016, members have taken individual and collective steps to raise the profile of the climate issue in Congress and begin to explore legislative solutions...”.
A list follows....
https://citizensclimatelobby.org/climate-solutions-caucus/

Of course they are not, yet, exactly a force to be reckoned with. But I think they represent a serious tilt in the right direction.  They argue for a carbon fee and dividend plan, for example.  I believe a Democrat must vouch for any GOP member who wishes to join, so most GOP posers should be kept out.

People who say it cannot be done should not interrupt those who are doing it.

Bob Wallace

  • Young ice
  • Posts: 3855
    • View Profile
  • Liked: 41
  • Likes Given: 5
Re: Money and Politics: The Drive for Climate Change Action
« Reply #621 on: May 20, 2018, 01:54:14 AM »
In no way am I dismissing the group.  I'm just pointing out that when Republicans do something like this close to elections it might not be best to take their actions at face value.

Especially in an election cycle when it looks very, very bad for Republicans.

It's the season when wolves drag out their sheep disguises.

TerryM

  • First-year ice
  • Posts: 6002
    • View Profile
  • Liked: 893
  • Likes Given: 5
Re: Money and Politics: The Drive for Climate Change Action
« Reply #622 on: May 20, 2018, 04:56:42 AM »
In no way am I dismissing the group.  I'm just pointing out that when Republicans do something like this close to elections it might not be best to take their actions at face value.

Especially in an election cycle when it looks very, very bad for Republicans.

It's the season when wolves drag out their sheep disguises.
A 4.6% lead doesn't sound very, very bad for either side. If the election were held tomorrow it would probably be a squeaker for whichever side won.


Fivethirtyeight shows Republicans at 40.0% and Democrats at 44.6%, and the gap is closing.


Democrats don't need a win, they need a sweep where they pick up States and Governorships as well as Congressional Seats. If your district seems secure, donate some time and money to a neighboring candidate.


Everyone knew that it looked very, very bad for Trump last election.
Terry

Sigmetnow

  • Multi-year ice
  • Posts: 25753
    • View Profile
  • Liked: 1153
  • Likes Given: 430
Re: Money and Politics: The Drive for Climate Change Action
« Reply #623 on: May 23, 2018, 04:27:12 PM »
Certifying “Profitable solutions to protect the environment.”

“Today, on the occasion of #MI3 and on the eve of the #CEM9, the @solarimpulse Foundation is proud to announce a new step towards achieving this ambitious goal: the launch of the Solar Impulse Efficient Solution Label. #NCEW2018 [see link below]  #1000solutions ”
https://mobile.twitter.com/solarimpulse/status/999292830454636544

The Solar Impulse Efficient Solution Label: a new approach to protect the environment
https://solarimpulse.com/news/view/the-solar-impulse-efficient-solution-label-a-new-approach-to-protect-the-environment
People who say it cannot be done should not interrupt those who are doing it.

sidd

  • First-year ice
  • Posts: 6774
    • View Profile
  • Liked: 1047
  • Likes Given: 0
Re: Money and Politics: The Drive for Climate Change Action
« Reply #624 on: May 27, 2018, 08:08:06 PM »
Some signs that the bankers are slowly waking up to the carbon bubble: Findings of increased interest rates after 2015 on fuel fossil finance. But

"The economic significance is rather small: a one standard deviation increase in our measure of climate policy exposure implies that risky fossil fuel firms from 2015 onward are, on average, given a 2-basis points higher AISD compared to less-exposed fossil fuel firms, non-fossil fuel firms, and themselves before 2015."

"Retaining the dichotomy between the pre-2015 and post-2015 periods, we find that a one standard deviation increase in our measure of climate policy exposure implies an AISD that is higher by approximately 16 basis points for the fossil firm with mean proved reserves scaled by total firm assets in the post-2015 period versus the non-fossil fuel firm. "

https://voxeu.org/article/carbon-bubble-and-pricing-bank-loans

sidd

gerontocrat

  • Multi-year ice
  • Posts: 20376
    • View Profile
  • Liked: 5289
  • Likes Given: 69
Re: Money and Politics: The Drive for Climate Change Action
« Reply #625 on: June 05, 2018, 11:22:18 AM »
Some signs that the bankers are slowly waking up to the carbon bubble: Findings of increased interest rates after 2015 on fuel fossil finance. But

"The economic significance is rather small:....."

sidd

Things are moving on, sidd.

https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2018/jun/04/carbon-bubble-could-spark-global-financial-crisis-study-warns

'Carbon bubble' could spark global financial crisis, study warns

Advances in clean energy expected to cause a sudden drop in demand for fossil fuels, leaving companies with trillions in stranded assets

Quote
Plunging prices for renewable energy and rapidly increasing investment in low-carbon technologies could leave fossil fuel companies with trillions in stranded assets and spark a global financial crisis, a new study has found.

A sudden drop in demand for fossil fuels before 2035 is likely, according to the study, given the current global investments and economic advantages in a low-carbon transition.

The existence of a “carbon bubble” – assets in fossil fuels that are currently overvalued because, in the medium and long-term, the world will have to drastically reduce greenhouse gas emissions – has long been proposed by academics, activists and investors. The new study, published on Monday in the journal Nature Climate Change, shows that a sharp slump in the value of fossil fuels would cause this bubble to burst, and posits that such a slump is likely before 2035 based on current patterns of energy use.

Crucially, the findings suggest that a rapid decline in fossil fuel demand is no longer dependent on stronger policies and actions from governments around the world. Instead, the authors’ detailed simulations found the demand drop would take place even if major nations undertake no new climate policies, or reverse some previous commitments.
(Study link - https://www.nature.com/articles/s41558-018-0182-1 )

And more:-
https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2018/jun/04/what-is-the-carbon-bubble-and-what-will-happen-if-it-bursts

"Para a Causa do Povo a Luta Continua!"
"And that's all I'm going to say about that". Forrest Gump
"Damn, I wanted to see what happened next" (Epitaph)

Sleepy

  • Nilas ice
  • Posts: 1202
  • Retired, again...
    • View Profile
  • Liked: 120
  • Likes Given: 0
Omnia mirari, etiam tritissima.
-
Science is a jealous mistress and takes little account of a man's feelings.

SteveMDFP

  • Nilas ice
  • Posts: 2476
    • View Profile
  • Liked: 583
  • Likes Given: 42
Re: Money and Politics: The Drive for Climate Change Action
« Reply #627 on: June 10, 2018, 12:00:00 AM »
Money for nothin' seems popular, let's see how this goes.

https://www.ft.com/content/d27b000e-6810-11e8-8cf3-0c230fa67aec
https://www.bloomberg.com/view/articles/2018-06-06/swiss-sovereign-money-plan-vollgeld-experiment-is-worth-a-try-ji3h9wvo
https://www.cnbc.com/2018/06/05/switzerlands-sovereign-money-referendum-heres-what-you-need-to-know.html

Thanks for these links.  I had posed some thoughts and questions about the initiative.  The Bloomberg article answered them.  For deposits, banks would be mere pass-through entities, with the deposits going straight to the central bank.  All the banks would get for these would be, presumably, modest service fees.  Most, then, probably wouldn't want to be bothered with taking deposits at all.

Bank loans would have to be made from the banks' own equity.  The net effect would likely be a serious credit crunch, with escalated standards on borrowers and higher rates.  Almost certainly bad for the Swiss economy in the short run.  But the government could inject newly-minted money to limit the damage.  Longer-term, the net result might be some positive trends, but the banks would still likely not be winners.  That would likely be a good thing.

In terms of whether the initiative could pass, color me skeptical.  The banking industry in Switzerland is huge.  A bill that would so threaten this industry seems unlikely to pass.

Sleepy

  • Nilas ice
  • Posts: 1202
  • Retired, again...
    • View Profile
  • Liked: 120
  • Likes Given: 0
Re: Money and Politics: The Drive for Climate Change Action
« Reply #628 on: June 10, 2018, 09:06:52 AM »
In terms of whether the initiative could pass, color me skeptical.  The banking industry in Switzerland is huge.  A bill that would so threaten this industry seems unlikely to pass.
Yes and the Swiss National Bank is against it. Some more in depth here with links to both sides:
http://www.dw.com/en/vollgeld-switzerlands-sovereign-money-initiative/a-44132924
Quote
Thomas Jordan, the Chairman of SNB said: "Adoption of the initiative would represent a tectonic shift in our proven monetary and economic system, which has developed over a period of many years. Sovereign monetary is an unnecessary and dangerous experiment which would inflict great damage on our country."

Voting today.
Omnia mirari, etiam tritissima.
-
Science is a jealous mistress and takes little account of a man's feelings.

Sleepy

  • Nilas ice
  • Posts: 1202
  • Retired, again...
    • View Profile
  • Liked: 120
  • Likes Given: 0
Re: Money and Politics: The Drive for Climate Change Action
« Reply #629 on: June 10, 2018, 05:39:55 PM »
Done, outcome no huge surprise.
https://www.reuters.com/article/swiss-vote-sovereign/update-3-swiss-voters-reject-campaign-to-radically-alter-banking-system-idUSL8N1TC0B8
Quote
* Swiss government said pleased with result

* Majority of cantons vote against the proposals

* Opponents warned of damage to economy (Adds final, official result, government comment)
Omnia mirari, etiam tritissima.
-
Science is a jealous mistress and takes little account of a man's feelings.

Sigmetnow

  • Multi-year ice
  • Posts: 25753
    • View Profile
  • Liked: 1153
  • Likes Given: 430
Re: Money and Politics: The Drive for Climate Change Action
« Reply #630 on: June 13, 2018, 10:03:48 PM »
U.S.
Now, will individual Democratic legislators and candidates follow suit?

DNC votes unanimously to no longer accept money from fossil fuel companies
Quote
The Democratic National Committee (DNC) has voted unanimously to ban contributions from fossil fuel companies, in a victory for activists and environmental advocates.

Following a vote over the weekend, the DNC will no longer accept donations from corporate political action committees (PAC) associated with oil, gas, and coal companies
https://thinkprogress.org/dnc-ban-fossil-fuel-companies-408e1595bcda/
People who say it cannot be done should not interrupt those who are doing it.

Bob Wallace

  • Young ice
  • Posts: 3855
    • View Profile
  • Liked: 41
  • Likes Given: 5
Re: Money and Politics: The Drive for Climate Change Action
« Reply #631 on: June 14, 2018, 01:06:42 AM »
Quote
will individual Democratic legislators and candidates follow suit?

Not in a few states where failure to support the state fossil fuel industry means almost certain political suicide.

Unfortunately perfect is not always possible.  We have to start with what is available and work our way towards perfect.

Sigmetnow

  • Multi-year ice
  • Posts: 25753
    • View Profile
  • Liked: 1153
  • Likes Given: 430
Re: Money and Politics: The Drive for Climate Change Action
« Reply #632 on: June 26, 2018, 12:49:36 PM »
“We talk a lot about very aggressively switching to 100 percent renewable energy as quickly as possible. We need a Marshall Plan for renewable energy in the United States. The idea that the Democratic Party needs to be moderate is what’s holding us back on this.”

Important primary elections today in the U.S.

http://inthesetimes.com/article/21236/alexandria-ocasio-cortez-ice-new-york-cynthia-nixon-democrats
People who say it cannot be done should not interrupt those who are doing it.

Sigmetnow

  • Multi-year ice
  • Posts: 25753
    • View Profile
  • Liked: 1153
  • Likes Given: 430
Re: Money and Politics: The Drive for Climate Change Action
« Reply #633 on: June 27, 2018, 10:01:07 PM »
“We talk a lot about very aggressively switching to 100 percent renewable energy as quickly as possible. We need a Marshall Plan for renewable energy in the United States. The idea that the Democratic Party needs to be moderate is what’s holding us back on this.”

Important primary elections today in the U.S.

http://inthesetimes.com/article/21236/alexandria-ocasio-cortez-ice-new-york-cynthia-nixon-democrats

She won!

A 28-year-old Democratic Socialist just ousted a powerful, 10-term congressman in New York
https://www.cnn.com/2018/06/26/politics/alexandria-ocasio-cortez-joe-crowley-new-york-14-primary/index.html

With Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez’s victory, Congress will likely gain a new climate champion
https://grist.org/article/with-alexandria-ocasio-cortezs-victory-congress-will-likely-gain-a-new-climate-champion/
People who say it cannot be done should not interrupt those who are doing it.

TerryM

  • First-year ice
  • Posts: 6002
    • View Profile
  • Liked: 893
  • Likes Given: 5
Re: Money and Politics: The Drive for Climate Change Action
« Reply #634 on: June 27, 2018, 11:21:06 PM »
Good news indeed!


Without ff bucks muffling their message & blocking their votes the progressives can win and change the course of the country, possibly the world!


Terry

oren

  • First-year ice
  • Posts: 9805
    • View Profile
  • Liked: 3584
  • Likes Given: 3922
Re: Money and Politics: The Drive for Climate Change Action
« Reply #635 on: June 28, 2018, 11:10:11 AM »
Great news.

Sigmetnow

  • Multi-year ice
  • Posts: 25753
    • View Profile
  • Liked: 1153
  • Likes Given: 430
Re: Money and Politics: The Drive for Climate Change Action
« Reply #636 on: July 12, 2018, 01:11:28 PM »
”Financial institutions are beginning to get on board with the global fight against climate change, a movement that was until recently the territory of non-profit organizations and environmentalists. Natixis, UBS Group AG and ING Groep NV are among lenders unveiling large-scale environmental finance and investing initiatives as central banks and regulators step up their warnings on climate risk.”

https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2018-07-11/banks-pivot-toward-greener-finance-in-climate-action-push
People who say it cannot be done should not interrupt those who are doing it.

zizek

  • Guest
Re: Money and Politics: The Drive for Climate Change Action
« Reply #637 on: July 15, 2018, 02:52:19 AM »

jacksmith4tx

  • Frazil ice
  • Posts: 266
    • View Profile
    • Photon mine
  • Liked: 24
  • Likes Given: 10
Science is a thought process, technology will change reality.

Sigmetnow

  • Multi-year ice
  • Posts: 25753
    • View Profile
  • Liked: 1153
  • Likes Given: 430
Re: Money and Politics: The Drive for Climate Change Action
« Reply #639 on: July 15, 2018, 01:49:36 PM »
Elon Musk (@elonmusk)
7/14/18, 11:06 PM
Reports that I am a top donor to GOP are categorically false. I am not a top donor to any political party.
https://twitter.com/elonmusk/status/1018330925384458240

<<Are you ANY kind of donor to the GOP?>>

Elon Musk (@elonmusk)
7/14/18, 11:15 PM
@danielbrennan Yes, about 0.5% of what I donated to @SierraClub, which is a reasonable amount to maintain an open dialogue
https://twitter.com/elonmusk/status/1018333202140680192



Elon Musk (@elonmusk)
7/14/18, 6:46 PM
@jack_p Thanks Jack. To be clear, I am not a conservative. Am registered independent & politically moderate. Doesn’t mean I’m moderate about all issues. Humanitarian issues are extremely important to me & I don’t understand why they are not important to everyone.
https://twitter.com/elonmusk/status/1018265614295523328

Elon Musk (@elonmusk)
7/14/18, 8:25 PM
@jack_p That said, I do not actually see the checks (changed that policy today). A nominal annual amount goes out automatically to both parties to maintain dialogue. I have given vastly more to humanitarian causes.
https://twitter.com/elonmusk/status/1018290544986845184



“I am not even American, but hey check the PUBLIC list of donations.
Elon is not the top donor to anyone neither Democratic nor Republican. It is a smooth automatic payment spinned in something outrageous. Ridiculous FUD. Pathetic lies. Nothing to much to talk about.”
https://twitter.com/teslectrics1/status/1018395441287913473
Images below.
« Last Edit: July 15, 2018, 02:00:22 PM by Sigmetnow »
People who say it cannot be done should not interrupt those who are doing it.

zizek

  • Guest
Re: Money and Politics: The Drive for Climate Change Action
« Reply #640 on: July 15, 2018, 02:02:45 PM »
Defending Elon Musk's actions has gone from humorous to pathetic.

Shared Humanity

  • Guest
Re: Money and Politics: The Drive for Climate Change Action
« Reply #641 on: July 15, 2018, 07:30:42 PM »
Looking at that second list, Elon has contributed about $130K to Republicans and a little over $40K to Democrats. Seems a strong lean towards Republicans. Now I am not going to say people can't donate money to the party of their choice but I have lived in the U.S. for all of my 62 years and anyone who donates a nickel to the Republican Party is not someone I care to know.

Sigmetnow

  • Multi-year ice
  • Posts: 25753
    • View Profile
  • Liked: 1153
  • Likes Given: 430
Re: Money and Politics: The Drive for Climate Change Action
« Reply #642 on: July 15, 2018, 07:52:51 PM »
Sierra Club:  There have got to be better topics of debate than whether @elonmusk is committed to climate action. He has dedicated his career to the mission of replacing fossil fuels with clean energy & has strongly backed the Sierra Club's advocacy work. We are proud to have his support.

Seth Abramson (@SethAbramson)
7/15/18, 12:11 PM
I agree. The fact is, @elonmusk donates *200 times more* to the Sierra Club than to the GOP. We progressives need to choose our damn battles. Elon Musk is imperfect, as all of us are, but he has *never* been an enemy of progress. Indeed, he's always been an *ally* of the future.
https://twitter.com/sethabramson/status/1018528421339648000
People who say it cannot be done should not interrupt those who are doing it.

TerryM

  • First-year ice
  • Posts: 6002
    • View Profile
  • Liked: 893
  • Likes Given: 5
Re: Money and Politics: The Drive for Climate Change Action
« Reply #643 on: July 15, 2018, 08:49:51 PM »
Looking at that second list, Elon has contributed about $130K to Republicans and a little over $40K to Democrats. Seems a strong lean towards Republicans. Now I am not going to say people can't donate money to the party of their choice but I have lived in the U.S. for all of my 62 years and anyone who donates a nickel to the Republican Party is not someone I care to know.
In fairness the amounts donated are far from being significant. I'm personally just as upset about his donations to Corporate Democrats.

When Bill Clinton was heading the Koch Industries funded DLC

https://samsmitharchives.wordpress.com/2015/04/14/6467/

the Democratic Party could be seen as simply the Republican Lite Party. These folk are at least as dangerous to progressive positions as the Republican Party is, if for no reason other than the fact that if Democratic Leadership Counsel candidates prevail during the primaries, there are no progressive, anti-war candidates on the ticket in November.

Musk should at a minimum stay out of politics. Buying politicians taints everyone involved.
Terry

jacksmith4tx

  • Frazil ice
  • Posts: 266
    • View Profile
    • Photon mine
  • Liked: 24
  • Likes Given: 10
Re: Money and Politics: The Drive for Climate Change Action
« Reply #644 on: July 15, 2018, 08:59:45 PM »
Looking at that second list, Elon has contributed about $130K to Republicans and a little over $40K to Democrats. Seems a strong lean towards Republicans. Now I am not going to say people can't donate money to the party of their choice but I have lived in the U.S. for all of my 62 years and anyone who donates a nickel to the Republican Party is not someone I care to know.

Everything is upside down and backwards now. The other day Trump claimed he's a more popular GOP president than Abraham Lincoln. This might be true if they had polls in the 1860s but they didn't.
As to Musk, I only hope he doesn't share any of the worst traits of some our previous industrial megalomaniacs.
Alexander Graham Bell
Quote
In 1921, he was the honorary president of the Second International Congress of Eugenics which advocated sterilization laws across the country for those Bell called a "defective variety of the human race." Some of those laws were used as models for similar laws in Nazi Germany.
or Henry Ford, a eugenicist and antisemite, author of The International Jew (1927), was an ardent admirer of Hitler and the racial policies of the Third Reich.

With the advances in genetic engineering like CRISPR/Cas9 and Gene Drive we can fix genetic defects without resorting to barbaric practices like eugenics.
Science is a thought process, technology will change reality.

zizek

  • Guest
Re: Money and Politics: The Drive for Climate Change Action
« Reply #645 on: July 15, 2018, 10:10:10 PM »
Elon musk just had a meltdown and called one of the Thai rescuers a pedophile. Definelty something you'd hear from a pragmatic individual that's out to save the world

oren

  • First-year ice
  • Posts: 9805
    • View Profile
  • Liked: 3584
  • Likes Given: 3922
Re: Money and Politics: The Drive for Climate Change Action
« Reply #646 on: July 15, 2018, 10:15:12 PM »
Yay, Elon Musk is a monster again. Thank you Zizek for enlightening us. ::)

zizek

  • Guest
Re: Money and Politics: The Drive for Climate Change Action
« Reply #647 on: July 15, 2018, 11:57:23 PM »
You are welcome!  :-*

Sleepy

  • Nilas ice
  • Posts: 1202
  • Retired, again...
    • View Profile
  • Liked: 120
  • Likes Given: 0
Re: Money and Politics: The Drive for Climate Change Action
« Reply #648 on: July 16, 2018, 09:47:19 AM »
Oh, I had no idea when I posted this yesterday, here:
https://forum.arctic-sea-ice.net/index.php/topic,179.msg163390.html#msg163390

The story I read was this one:
https://edition.cnn.com/2018/07/13/uk/thai-cave-rescue-british-divers-intl/index.html

Totally different background story on Vern Unsworth compared to those tweets Elon posted, looks like he has deleted them but this might not be over yet.
https://www.thenational.ae/world/asia/british-cave-rescuer-considers-suing-elon-musk-over-tweet-1.750751
Omnia mirari, etiam tritissima.
-
Science is a jealous mistress and takes little account of a man's feelings.

jacksmith4tx

  • Frazil ice
  • Posts: 266
    • View Profile
    • Photon mine
  • Liked: 24
  • Likes Given: 10
Re: Money and Politics: The Drive for Climate Change Action
« Reply #649 on: July 17, 2018, 04:27:39 AM »
Google is providing free access to a new global environmental database. It will also provide analysis, visualization and collaboration via it's "massive parallel cloud computing technology".
https://www.engadget.com/2018/07/16/google-un-human-activity-satellite-data-earth/

I don't have a link yet but will post one when I see something interesting.

Wonder how much this costs? The US government has pretty much stopped development of projects like this.

Update: Microsoft chips in 1 million in climate research grants.
https://www.engadget.com/2018/07/16/microsoft-national-geographic-ai-environment-research-grant/

My comment: Microsoft doesn't see this as a really important issue. But hey they have great nature photos on their websites!
« Last Edit: July 17, 2018, 04:49:46 AM by jacksmith4tx »
Science is a thought process, technology will change reality.