Peter Dykstra: From impeach to impair

Peter Dykstra: From impeach to impair

Billionaire Tom Steyer could make real progress on climate action. Instead he joined the circus.

In 2010, billionaire hedge-fund investor Tom Steyer took a giant step back from Wall Street, quitting his firm and pledging his fortune to a slate of charitable causes, notably the existential threat posed by climate change. And the money flowed –


to energy research projects and NGO'S focused on raising awareness, or raising hell, over inaction on climate change.And he was making progress—until he announced that he was joining the bloated field of Democratic presidential hopefuls.

In November 2016, Donald Trump's stunning victory over Hillary Clinton changed everything for America, and for Steyer. Only months into the Trump presidency, Tom Steyer became more ubiquitous than plaque psoriasis ads on cable news broadcasts, starring in his own 30-second calls to impeach Donald Trump. He poured a reported $10 million into the campaign.

Steyer was calm, almost shy, in firmly describing Trump's "clear and present danger." Response to the www.Needtoimpeach.com petition was impressive. Combined with efforts from Moveon.org and other groups, Steyer delivered 10 million petition signatures to Congresswoman Rashida Tlaib in early 2019.

But since climate denial is not an impeachable offense, it marked a major departure for Steyer.

Rewarding 'Fox & Friends'

He spent millions on broadcast ads, promoting the petition while paradoxically shipping the sales checks to reward cable news outlets – notorious delinquents on climate coverage. Steyer even spent a reported $700,000 on ad placement in Fox & Friends, the morning show said to be a must-watch for Trump.

As late as January, Steyer waved off questions about his own presidential ambitions. Then, earlier this month, he cannonballed into the crowded Democratic pool to join the two dozen already treading water there. In his announcement video, Steyer laid out the challenges in classic Liberal fashion. Climate change rated two lines of the four-minute piece.

Turning a firehose of philanthropy on himself

@TomSteyer/Twitter

To me, Steyer has swapped out any claim to moral authority for an exercise in both narcissism and futility. In all likelihood, the late-arriving Steyer won't even qualify for the ludicrous spectacle of marching hopefuls out to podiums in groups of ten, with each candidate getting less than ten minutes to make their case to America.

To advocates of action on climate change, this has to be tragic: Steyer has turned his firehose of climate philanthropy on himself. Meanwhile, several presidential hopefuls whose prospects are scarcely better than Steyer's could instead be focused on chasing climate deniers out of the Senate.

The GOP Senate goes unchallenged

Gage Skidmore/flickr

Montana Gov. Steve Bullock could challenge Republican Sen. Steve Daines next year. (You forgot Bullock was running for President, didn't you?) Ex-Colorado Gov. John Hickenlooper could run against incumbent Sen. Cory Gardner – despite the fact that Gardner's 10% lifetime score from the League of Conservation Voters makes him one of the greenest GOP Senators.

Two of the Big Blue Wave could challenge Texas incumbent Sen. John Cornyn—Beto O'Rourke or Julian Castro. And South Bend, Indiana Mayor Pete Buttigeig would have two opportunities to unseat either of Indiana's two Republican Senators, but they wouldn't face reelection until 2022 and 2024, respectively.

If Tom Steyer doesn't burn off his enthusiasm or his cash supply on his D.O.A. vanity presidential run, he could fund them all, help topple Mitch McConnell's Senate stranglehold and guide the U.S. to right its sunken ship of state on climate.

Wooden blocks with 1.5 and 2 degrees celsius written on them.

Earth is now expected to cross 1.5°C warming by 2027, WMO warns

The world is on track to breach the 1.5 degrees Celsius warming limit set in the Paris Agreement within the next two years, according to a new report from the World Meteorological Organization (WMO).

Shannon Osaka reports for The Washington Post.

Keep reading...Show less
U.S. Supreme Court building under white clouds during daytime.

US Supreme Court curbs major federal environmental statute

The U.S. Supreme Court has ruled that federal agencies only need to consider the direct environmental impacts of major infrastructure projects, not their broader consequences, under the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA).

Alex Guillén reports for Politico.

Keep reading...Show less
Red sign saying Peru in front of a lake.

German court rules against climate damages claim but backs future liability lawsuits

A German court dismissed a Peruvian farmer’s lawsuit against energy giant RWE over climate-linked flooding but acknowledged, for the first time, that German companies could face civil liability for global emissions.

Karen Zraick reports for The New York Times.

Keep reading...Show less
A river running through a lush green mountain valley with a glacier in the background.

Glacier collapse engulfs Swiss village, leaving devastation and fears of flooding

A massive glacier collapse in southern Switzerland has buried most of the evacuated village of Blatten under mud, rock, and ice, leaving one person missing and raising the threat of blocked river flows.

The Guardian staff report.

Keep reading...Show less
White wind turbine on brown field during daytime.

China pivots toward renewable energy in global investments

China invested more in overseas wind and solar energy projects than in coal from 2022 to 2023, a first for its Belt and Road Initiative, though older coal projects are still coming online.

Katie Surma, Georgina Gustin and Nicholas Kusnetz report for Inside Climate News.

Keep reading...Show less
A silhouette of a business man against an office window
Credit: mhouge/Pixabay

Trump’s energy council operates quietly while reshaping fossil fuel policy

President Donald Trump’s National Energy Dominance Council, created to expand fossil fuel infrastructure and reduce regulations, has remained largely opaque in its actions and leadership nearly 100 days after its launch.

Carlos Anchondo and Ian M. Stevenson report for E&E News.

Keep reading...Show less
City Hall sign on the side of a building.

Mayors lead climate fight with practical solutions as federal support wanes

Cities are taking the lead on climate change, rolling out tangible solutions like green spaces, clean energy, and weatherized housing even as the Trump administration pulls back on environmental efforts.

Matt Simon reports for Grist.

Keep reading...Show less
From our Newsroom
Multiple Houston-area oil and gas facilities that have violated pollution laws are seeking permit renewals

Multiple Houston-area oil and gas facilities that have violated pollution laws are seeking permit renewals

One facility has emitted cancer-causing chemicals into waterways at levels up to 520% higher than legal limits.

Regulators are underestimating health impacts from air pollution: Study

Regulators are underestimating health impacts from air pollution: Study

"The reality is, we are not exposed to one chemical at a time.”

Pennsylvania governor Josh Shapiro speaks with the state flag and American flag behind him.

Two years into his term, has Gov. Shapiro kept his promises to regulate Pennsylvania’s fracking industry?

A new report assesses the administration’s progress and makes new recommendations

silhouette of people holding hands by a lake at sunset

An open letter from EPA staff to the American public

“We cannot stand by and allow this to happen. We need to hold this administration accountable.”

wildfire retardants being sprayed by plane

New evidence links heavy metal pollution with wildfire retardants

“The chemical black box” that blankets wildfire-impacted areas is increasingly under scrutiny.

Stay informed: sign up for The Daily Climate newsletter
Top news on climate impacts, solutions, politics, drivers. Delivered to your inbox week days.