Texas Climate & Energy
According to the U.S. Energy Information Administration, Texas is the largest energy-producing and energy-consuming state in the nation. Texas produces more electricity than any other state, generating almost twice as much as Florida, the second-highest electricity-producing state. Thus, Texas has a disproportionate impact on the ability of the U.S. and the global community to mitigate climate change. Texas also can be an energy justice leader, ensuring that energy production doesn’t harm vulnerable communities, and energy is available even to the marginalized.
Light and Life
Using the Public Utility Commission of Texas Sunset Review to Safeguard Texans’ Health and Wellbeing
The upcoming 2022-2023 Sunset review of the Public Utility Commission of Texas, offers a unique opportunity for Texas lawmakers to advance public health in the Lone Star State.
NEWS + LATEST UPDATES
Why Does Texas Railroad Commission Oppose EPA Methane Rule?
While Texas Impact staff were in Dubai at COP28 we celebrated the United States Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) announcement of new, strong methane rules. As a reminder, the new methane rule requires oil and gas producers to stop methane leaks from their...
New Lunch and Learn Series Blends Scientific and Theological Education
What does the electromagnetic spectrum have to do with the Gospel? What does the West Antarctic Ice Sheet have to do with liberation theology? What does international climate finance have to do with the Greatest Commandment? At first glance it seems like physics,...
Final Stocktake Text Leads to Cheers, Concerns
After an earlier draft of the Stocktake text drew criticism from climate advocates, leaders of small island states, and others, negotiators went back to the drawing board, delaying the official end of COP28. After about twenty-four hours of tense negotiations, another...
Not the Stocktake Update We Were Looking For
The release of the most recent Stocktake draft at COP28 on December 11, 2023 brought immediate pushback and protest from climate advocates and scientists and in one case, a twelve year old climate activist from India who stormed the stage during a plenary to call for...
OPEC Head Pushes Members to Derail Climate Negotiations
In a twist pulled from the plot of a dystopian movie, news broke that the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries, known as OPEC, had distributed a letter instructing its member states to vote against any attempt to limit the production and use of fossil fuels...
Migration Put in Perspective
One of the interesting aspects of COP is its ability to put certain issues into perspective. Often US and Texas officials characterize migration as a foreign phenomenon, where political fragility or economic strife causes residents of the Global South to migrate to...
Urgent and Faithful Action Needed on Methane
There have been two big announcements about methane during COP28 in Dubai, UAE (see here for a detailed explanation of the climate impacts of methane emissions). First, a coalition of oil and gas producers announced at COP28 a pledge to stop methane leaks from...
Climate and Migration at COP28 UAE
It is day three of Texas Impact’s witness of COP28 in Dubai, UAE. As this is my second COP I am coming into the event with a bit more preparation and perspective, yet, once again I am struck by the intersectionality of the climate negotiations. COP continues to be the...
VP Al Gore Introduces New Climate Data Tool
At COP28 Sunday morning, former Vice President Al Gore told us about a new scientific tool, Climate TRACE, which promises to improve the way we measure and understand greenhouse gas emissions around the world. This means a better understanding of the source of GHG...
Global Stocktake Negotiations at COP28
The Global Stock Take (GST) is the process called for in the 2015 Paris Agreement in which each party assesses the progress it has made toward its emissions reduction and adaptation goals. The first GST is happening this year at COP28. The preliminary report of the...