Question: I use phasing out in a way that means completely ending the use and production of fossil fuels down to zero. Phasing down means a gradual reduction or scaling back in FF use over time without specifying a complete stop. Would add or alter that in any way? How would you define differntiate ‘transition […]
Category Archives: Politics
Integrated Climate Stewardship: The Fossil Fuel Question and Answer
The Future of Energy Is Not Static
By Daniel BrouseEconomist & ClimatologistMembrane Domain USAAugust 10, 2026 I’m not certain what the future holds. I don’t think anyone can be. But I’m also not convinced that the future of fossil fuels can be projected simply by looking at today’s production levels and assuming they will continue indefinitely. There is a very real possibility […]
Science Is Science: Confronting Denialism and Ecofascism
About Denialism and Ecofascism: Science Is Science The ObservationGlad to know you’re watching out! At the same time, this divisiveness—when we desperately need everyone to pull together because it’s a CRISIS, right?—makes me somehow deeply sad. That’s a big job right there… How do we reach those who seem furthest away from any kind of […]
Strategic Petroleum Reserve Falls to Lowest Level Since 1983
As of July 31, 2026, the U.S. Strategic Petroleum Reserve (SPR) held approximately 304.8 million barrels of crude oil, its lowest level since March 1983. From its historic peak of roughly 726 million barrels in 2009, the SPR has experienced a cumulative drawdown of approximately 421 million barrels—about a 58% reduction. The decline has been […]
The Two Sides of the Climate Crisis: Consumption and Production
by Daniel Brouse Climate change is often discussed as a problem of emissions, but emissions are the result of two interconnected forces: consumption and production. Q: What are the greatest drivers of climate change?A: Consumption and production. At present, I would rank our addiction to consumption and ecofascism as the two most significant drivers of […]
The States with the Biggest Climate Footprints Aren’t the Ones You Think
by Daniel Brouse When most people think about greenhouse gas emissions, they picture sprawling cities, crowded highways, and millions of people flipping on lights and air conditioners. It’s no surprise, then, that states like California, Texas, Florida, and New York usually dominate lists of greenhouse gas emissions. But those rankings tell only part of the […]
America’s New Tariff Landscape: Who Gets Taxed—and Who Really Pays?
Introduction The latest U.S. tariff framework is now in place, and while tariffs are collected at the border, it’s American families who ultimately pay most of the bill. 📊 Highlights:• Average household: +$2,000–$2,700 per year• Buying a new home and a new car? The added cost from tariffs on steel, aluminum, lumber, vehicles, appliances, and […]
Oil: A Slippery Slope (Literally and Figuratively)
Oil is one of those subjects that’s surprisingly slippery—both physically and economically. Most people know prices go up and down, but few realize that even storing oil comes with limits. Take the U.S. Strategic Petroleum Reserve (SPR). It’s often treated like a giant underground gas tank that can be drained and refilled at will. Not […]
Accounting for Climate Responsibility
by Daniel Brouse Comparing Two Approaches to Measuring Humanity’s Climate Footprint Climate responsibility depends on how emissions are assigned. Traditional territorial accounting attributes emissions to the country where they occur, but globalization has made that approach increasingly incomplete. Modern supply chains, international trade, and service-based economies often separate where emissions are produced from who ultimately […]
The Evolution of the American Economy: Capitalism, State Capitalism, and Socialism
Introduction For much of its history, the United States has been portrayed as the world’s leading example of free-market capitalism, while socialism and communism have often been presented as fundamentally incompatible with American economic principles. In reality, no modern economy operates as a pure ideological model. Instead, governments continually adapt their economic policies in response […]