January 21, 2013 – 5 Ways President Obama Could Fight Climate Change Now
12 years ago, on this day, January 21st 2013, another helpful listicle is published, in the Huffington Post (natch).
5 Ways President Obama Could Fight Climate Change Now
The amount of carbon dioxide in the air was roughly 397ppm. As of 2025 it is 425ppm, but check here for daily measures.
The context was that Obama had already done everything he was going to do on climate change (i.e. nowt). He had been unwilling to spend political capital in 2009-10 to overcome Republican opposition, since getting some healthcare through was his main game. But it was the beginning of his second term, and small l-liberals needed to keep projecting Hope onto him, and churning out listicles like this.
What I think we can learn from this
Ooof. We believe, or pretend to believe, what we want about Saviour Politicians.
What happened next
The emissions kept climbing. What else is there to say, really?
What do you think? Does this pass the ‘so what?’ threshold? Have I got facts wrong? Interpretation wrong? Please do comment on this post, unless you are a denialist, obvs.
Also on this day.
January 21, 1968 – Ultima Fule on Ultima Thule
January 21, 2010 – The flub that sank a thousand policies #auspol