Fracking

The way state capitol buildings are designed to make people feel small. The high ceilings, the classical architecture, the cold stone all are made to shrink the voice. But on Tuesday, April 30th, when I visited my own state Capitol building in Harrisburg, PA,for the first time, that was not the case, because I was not a single person. I came as part of  a broad spectrum of anti-fracking activists to call for a moratorium.

President Obama sent mixed signals on his commitment to environmental protection when he announced his nominations to lead the U.S. Department of Energy and the Environmental Protection Agency. 

His EPA nominee, Gina McCarthy, is a tried and true environmental advocate with a proven track record on regulating pollution that causes global warming. But Obama's nominee to run the energy department, Ernest Moniz, is an apologist for fracking and nuclear power who said that renewable energy isn't ready to power our economy (obviously we know it is).

If this administration is going to seriously tackle global warming, it needs leaders like McCarthy, not Moniz. And we're going to need McCarthy to step up, and if necessary step OVER Moniz and other less-bold climate warriors in Obama's cabinet. Here's what we think should be on her to-do list as soon as the Senate confirms her appointment:

Earlier this month, we launched an action calling on the President to drop his support for his so-called "all of the above" energy policy and to instead use the first State of the Union address of his second term to lay out a clear plan to stop global warming.

Since then, President Obama said some pretty momentous things about climate change in his inaugural address. And policy advisors from the Vice President on down have been backing up the sentiment by promising more real action on global warming. And that's all good news. 

In fact, it’s so good that a bunch of people have asked, "Should we really be picking on the President? Why not go after Congress and demand action? Or the oil and coal companies?"

Of course — the answer is that we should do all those things — and a bunch more. But there's a really good reason to KEEP our attention focused on the President. Only President Obama can say "NO" to five of the 14 biggest climate-killing projects in the world:

Your weekly news roundup in everything environment

In this week's issue:

U.S. CO2 Emissions From Power Production Hits 20-year Low

Presidential Contenders Take Opposing Views on Wind Tax Credit

STUDY: U.S. Media Barely Mentions Climate Change in Stories About Extreme Heat

Federal Appeals Court Halts Brazil’s Belo Monte Dam

Organic Food Companies Behind the Push to Defeat GMO Labeling

Members of Congress Petition to Reduce Federal Requirements of Ethanol