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About James Hansen

James E. Hansen, PhD, heads the NASA Goddard Institute for Space Studies in New York City and is also an adjunct professor in the Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences at Columbia University. Hansen is best known for his research in the field of climatology, his testimony on climate change to congressional committees in 1988 that helped raise broad awareness of global warming, and his advocacy of action to limit the impacts of climate change. His first book, Storms of My Grandchildren: The Truth About the Coming Climate Catastrophe and Our Last Chance to Save Humanity, was published in 2009.

The White House and tar sands

By September 5, 2011
Photo of tar sands protesters

Let us return for a moment to election night 2008. As I sat in our farm house in Pennsylvania, watching Barack Obama's victory speech, I turned my head aside so my wife would not see the tears in my eyes. I suspect that millions cried. It was a great day for America. We had great hopes for Barack Obama - perhaps our dreams were unrealistic - he is only human. But it is appropriate, it is right, in a period honoring Martin Luther King, to recall the hopes and dreams of that evening. We had … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Climate, Politics Tagged With: , , ,

China can slow global warming if the US won’t

By December 6, 2010
Chinese grad students

Part one of a two-part series, "China and the Barbarians" I was in China when U.S. midterm elections caused some people to become more pessimistic about the fate of the planet and humanity. In contrast, I became more optimistic, for two reasons, both related to China. Here I explain the first reason for optimism. In an op-ed, "Chinese Leadership Needed to Save Humanity," published in the South China Morning Post on November 3, I argue that China should impose a rising fee (tax) on carbon, … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Climate Tagged With: , , , ,

Polluters vs. the people

By October 2, 2010
Vintage shot of underground coal miners

Guest column by climatologist Dr. James Hansen, director of NASA's Goddard Institute for Space Studies. We hold this truth to be self evident – all people are created equal. That truth is the basis for equal protection of the laws – a right guaranteed by our Constitution. "All people" includes young people, mountain people, poor people. Our government was instituted to protect the rights of all people. We are gathered here today to draw attention to the failure of our … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Politics Tagged With: , , , , , ,