By and large,, conservation groups in the United States cannot buy or lease federal land or water rights and apply them to conservation goals. That is, they cannot obtain cattle grazing rights to let bison roam; “mining rights” to leave the minerals in the ground; timber leases to stop cutting trees; or federally supplied water…
Category: The Environmental Blog
Why Is the Economist Magazine Pessimistic about Agriculture when the Climate News Is Good?
According to the Economist, some investors are betting that, as the climate warms, agriculture will become more profitable in high-latitude regions such as Canada’s Manitoba. Russia is already leasing uncultivated acreage on its eastern edge to Asian investors to produce soybeans. Furthermore, more carbon dioxide (the supposed cause of warming) helps vegetation grow. “The buildup…
The Proper Role for Nuclear Power? Not a Big One, Says Energy Expert
A role for nuclear power in reducing carbon dioxide emissions is beginning to gain traction. The New York Times recently recommended it, and high-profile environmentalist Michael Shellenberger is an advocate. We asked Robert L. Bradley Jr. where nuclear power should fit in the future energy mix. Bradley is a widely respected energy analyst, founder of…
No Oil from Federal Lands but Low-cost Leases for Renewables
Last January, a week after he became president, Joe Biden suspended oil and gas leasing on public lands, pending a full Interior Department review. That suspension was put on hold by a federal court in June after 14 states sued to overturn it. Now, the Biden administration is trying to open up federal lands for…
The Snail Darter Is Back
Remember the snail darter (or, more likely, hearing about it)? In 1975, the Endangered Species Act temporarily halted construction of the Tellico Dam on the Little Tennessee River because it would endanger the habitat of the snail darter, a three-inch fish (shown above). The snail darter will be taken off the list, reports Dino Grandoni…
Another Mixed Review for Nordhaus on Climate Change
In general, economists like William Nordhaus. He understands the role of prices, has highlighted the value of innovation, and received a Nobel Prize in 2018 for tackling the costs and benefits of global warming. That work revealed that the costs of trying to mitigate global warming too severely can outweigh the benefits. But David Henderson,…