Author Archive

Secretary of State Kerry on UN Climate Report: ‘Costs Inaction Are Catastrophic’

Hill: The release of a United Nations report detailing the pervasive effects of climate change should serve as a call to action for the world’s nations to curb the emission of greenhouse gases, Secretary of State John Kerry argued Sunday night. In a statement issued by the State Department, Kerry called denial of climate change science “malpractice” and warned the “costs of inaction are catastrophic.” “Read this report and you can't deny the reality: Unless we act dramatically and quickly, science...

Obama defends Keystone vetting process

Hill: President Obama defended his administration’s “extensive” review of the controversial Keystone XL pipeline on Wednesday, while acknowledging Canadian leaders had expressed concern that the yearslong process had become “a little too laborious.” Speaking at a joint economic summit with the leaders of Mexico and Canada, Obama said the U.S. was taking time to review the project because it “could potentially have significant impact on America's national economy and our national interests.” During...

Podesta to recuse himself from Keystone

Hill: Freshly minted White House counselor John Podesta will recuse himself from working on the approval process for the Keystone XL pipeline, an administration official told The New Yorker on Tuesday. “In discussions [with White House chief of staff] Denis [McDonough], John suggested that he not work on the Keystone Pipeline issue, in review at the State Department, given that the review is far along in the process and John’s views on this are well known,” the official said. “Denis agreed that was the...

In climate speech, Obama sets carbon limits on Keystone project

Hill: President Obama said Tuesday he will approve the Keystone XL pipeline only if it does not substantially increase greenhouse gas emissions -- a surprise announcement ambiguous enough to leave both sides in the fight thinking they’d heard good news. “Our national interest will be served only if this project doesn’t significantly exacerbate the problem of carbon pollution,” Obama said in speech laying out his second-term climate agenda, including greenhouse gas emissions for power plants. “The...