California's Climate Law Still in Jeopardy | Mother Jones

Environmentalists were quite relieved when California voters soundly rejected a ballot measure that would have delayed implementation of the state's landmark climate law—but perhaps they shouldn't be. While that ballot measure was shot down, another initiative, Proposition 26, snuck in—and it could very well undermine the climate law that citizens voted to protect.

The measure expands the definition of a "tax," and would require a two-thirds majority of the California's legislature to approve any new fee on companies or taxpayers instead of a simple majority. This, of course, would make it considerably harder to levy fees on things like pollution, alcohol, or tobacco.

Obama lukewarm on using EPA authority to rein in carbon emissions | Grist

Ahead of last December's Copenhagen summit, the Obama administration warned that if Congress did not act, the Environmental Protection Agency may regulate carbon.

Obama was non-committal on the idea Wednesday, saying that federal authorities were not "protective of their powers" but wanted to "make sure that the issue's being dealt with."

Putting the midterm elections in the context of the latest climate science (and life as we know it) | Grist

A series of "climate change Pearl Harbors" could trigger a political tipping point that convinces U.S. (and world) leaders to make mitigation efforts their top priority.