Author: Neil Leary

Protecting the Homeland

Protecting the Homeland

Posted by | Jan 30, 2017 | , , |

Mr. Trump’s executive order to bar entry into the U.S. by citizens of seven Muslim-majority countries for 90 days and suspend entry of all refugees for 120 days immediately disrupted the lives of numerous people. It also created chaos in airports, prompted protests and offers of legal and other assistance by US citizens, brought criticisms from both Republican and Democratic leaders and aggrieved several US allies. The action signals to the world that the new U.S. administration is unwilling to shoulder its responsibilities for addressing the refugee crisis, is irrationally fearful, and is seemingly not guided by a moral...

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5 Things To Do About Climate Change, Just In Time For The New Year

5 Things To Do About Climate Change, Just In Time For The New Year

Posted by | Dec 28, 2016 | , , |

After I wrote What a Trump Presidency Means for Fighting Climate Change, a colleague suggested that I write an article with “5 concrete examples of on-the-ground things people can do.” I’ve been mulling that over. You can readily find lists online of 5 things, 10 things, 50 and more things to do about climate change. Many excellent suggestions. Nearly all of them call for individual actions. Things that you can do to reduce your personal carbon footprint. Individual actions are important. We learn through personal experience what works and what doesn’t, what’s easy and what’s hard. We prove change...

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Businesses, Markets and Innovation Can Beat Climate Change

Businesses, Markets and Innovation Can Beat Climate Change

Posted by | Dec 22, 2016 | , , , |

Businesses, markets and innovation can reduce emissions of gases that warm the planet. And they can do this while generating profits, creating jobs and growing the economy. In fact, they already are. Voices that warn acting on climate change will harm business, kill jobs and hurt the economy are, ironically, underestimating the power of private enterprise to focus vast human, material and financial resources on solving challenging problems. Numerous businesses, across a wide range of industries, are finding and exploiting ways to make profits that are literally helping to save the planet. To be sure, the public sector in...

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Why The U.S. Should Stay In The Paris Climate Agreement

Why The U.S. Should Stay In The Paris Climate Agreement

Posted by | Nov 21, 2016 | , , |

The big news from the United Nations climate meeting that concluded in Marrakech on November 18 is that more than 190 nations, with or without the U.S., are united in their determination to push forward with the Paris Agreement to cut greenhouse gas emissions and keep climate warming to well below 2 degrees C. The Paris Agreement came into force on November 4th, long before most observers anticipated as more than the required 55 nations accounting for more than 55 percent of global emissions moved quickly to ratify the historic agreement. By the end of the two-week climate conference...

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What a Trump Presidency Means for Fighting Climate Change

What a Trump Presidency Means for Fighting Climate Change

Posted by | Nov 11, 2016 | , , |

Donald Trump’s election as the 45th president of the United States threatens to undermine international cooperation on climate change. Over 190 nations are meeting this week in Marrakesh, Morocco, to work out details for implementing the Paris climate agreement, an accord reached in December 2015 that entered into force just five days ago following ratification by the United States, China, India and 100 other nations. Now, with the election of Mr. Trump, delegates at the Marrakesh conference are trying to hold the agreement together and make key decisions about its implementation, knowing that the U.S. commitment may falter. If...

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