In the Withdrawal from the Paris Climate Agreement, the Koch Brothers’ Campaign Becomes Overt

” … Voters and big business were arrayed against leaving the climate agreement. Yet despite the majority’s sentiment, a tiny—and until recently, almost faceless—minority somehow prevailed. How this happened is no longer a secret. The answer, as the New York Times reported, on Sunday, is ‘a story of big political money’. It is, perhaps, the most astounding example of influence-buying in modern American political history.”  More …

CEOs Praised for Backing the Paris Accord Also Funded Lobbyists Pushing Trump to Withdraw

“The Chief Executives of Dow Chemical and Corning Inc., among other business leaders, were portrayed in the media as environmental champions for opposing President Donald Trump’s move to withdraw from the Paris climate agreement… Yet both companies back one of the few business groups to openly lobby the Trump administration in support of withdrawing from the plan.”  More …

Sea Level Rise Viewer

“Use this web mapping tool to visualize community-level impacts from coastal flooding or sea level rise (up to 6 feet above average high tides). Photo simulations of how future flooding might impact local landmarks are also provided, as well as data related to water depth, connectivity, flood frequency, socio-economic vulnerability, wetland loss and migration, and mapping confidence.” More …

State Attorneys General Environmental Actions

“The Sabin Center has partnered with stateag.org to develop a database of environmental actions undertaken by state attorneys general as they seek to advance environmental law and policy objectives within their jurisdictions. The database includes legal actions initiated by state attorneys general against the federal government, private actors, and other public entities; defensive actions taken in support of federal and state rules; amicus briefs; regulatory petitions and other forms of participation in administrative proceedings; legislative inputs (e.g., congressional testimony and bill proposals); and other types of interventions.” More …

Extreme Sea Level Rise and the Stakes for America

“Should a newly published sea level rise scenario come to pass, hundreds of American landmarks, neighborhoods, towns and cities would be submerged this century, at least in the absence of engineering massive, costly and unprecedented defenses and relocating major infrastructure. Ocean waters would cover land currently home to more than 12 million Americans and $2 trillion in property.” More …