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
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...
Exceeding and Returning to 1.5, Panel Discussion
For a system as complex as the earth’s climate, small changes in one part of the system can lead to big changes in another part. That means the relationship between the global temperature and the climate change impacts we know about isn’t linear. And that means that...
Upping the Ante on Loss & Damage
The first day of COP28 started with an historic decision to establish a Loss and Damage Fund to help countries address the irreparable impacts of ongoing climate change on tangible and intangible assets. Loss and Damage negotiations have been ongoing since COP27 in...
Talanoa Discussion at COP28
Tonight I attended the Interfaith Gathering in the Spirit of Talanoa Dialogue at COP28, which was held at Christ Church Jebel Ali in Dubai, UAE. Talanoa is a problem solving method that involves group discussions around three questions: Where are we? Where do we want...
COP28
Bee, Becca, and Bobby are at the United Nations climate negotiations, COP28, November 30-December 12 in Dubai, UAE. As usual, Texas Impact ispartnering with our colleagues from Interfaith Power & Light and many other faith groups to bring you news, updates, and...
Texas Energy Summit
This week I attended the Texas Energy Summit, held at the Legislative Conference Center at the Capitol. The agenda was packed with a great series of speakers and topics from Hydrogen to the Energy Transition to Microgrids, all with an eye towards keeping the...
LNG Exports Threaten Climate Stability
The conflict between fossil fuel operators and corporations and those working for a safe climate has recently coalesced around natural gas, which was once considered a more climate-friendly option to coal. Although burning natural gas releases about 50% the amount of...
How Does Climate Change Affect Hurricanes?
Scientists are working to understand what caused Hurricane Otis, originally forecast to make landfall on the western coast of Mexico as a strong tropical storm or minimal hurricane, to explode in intensity overnight. Most forecast models missed this change, leaving...