Dobbs fallout = boon for climate action?

Presented by National Clean Energy Week: Your guide to the political forces shaping the energy transformation

Sep 14, 2022 View in browser   By Arianna Skibell Presented by National Clean Energy Week Abortion rights activists rally outside of the U.S. Supreme Court. | Kevin Dietsch/Getty Images The push for countering climate change may have gained a competitive edge in the midterm election. In the 12 weeks since the Supreme Court's explosive decision on abortion rights, election officials have reported a massive surge in voter registration among people who identify as women — a demographic largely in favor of climate action. As POLITICO's E&E News reporter Scott Waldman notes in a story today, states experiencing the boom in registrations by women include key battlegrounds such as Pennsylvania, Michigan, Wisconsin and Ohio, according to research and surveys from TargetSmart, a data and polling firm. (The surveys listed only women and men as gender options.) The trend, which is also happening in deep-red states such as Idaho and Louisiana, is already making an impact. Following the decision in Dobbs v. Jackson Women's Health Organization, the percentage of women newly registered to vote in Kansas skyrocketed from 3 points to 40 points higher than the percentage of men. That change occurred ahead of Aug. 2, when voters squashed a ballot measure aimed at restricting abortion rights. According to a study published last year by George Mason University and Yale University, females are more worried about climate change than males, and the difference is acute among independents who often decide tight elections. Democratic Rep. Pramila Jayapal of Washington told Waldman that her party hopes the trend can help drive a suite of progressive policy changes. That's not to say women always vote for candidates who favor climate action. For example, white women helped propel former President Donald Trump to victory in 2016, despite his promises to revive the coal industry. Still, one reason women may be more likely to support climate action is they are disproportionately affected by the impacts of a warming world. Women are more likely than men to suffer negative health effects related to climate change, according to a report by the Women's Environment & Development Organization. A warming planet also exacerbates existing gender inequities, the report found. Another study in the journal Nature found that violence against women and people from gender minorities increases in the wake of extreme weather events, whose frequency is projected to grow as the atmosphere warms. But emerging research also suggests women may be better positioned to take action in the face of catastrophe. Responses to the Covid-19 pandemic were more favorable in countries led by women, researchers found in a study looking at 194 counties. Covid deaths were also lower in states with a woman for governor. And in countries where women have a higher social or political status, greenhouse gas emissions are on average 12 percent lower.   It's Wednesday — thank you for tuning in to POLITICO's Power Switch. I'm your host, Arianna Skibell.  Power Switch is brought to you by the journalists behind E&E News and POLITICO Energy. Send your tips, comments, questions to askibell@eenews.net.   A message from National Clean Energy Week: Save the date for the 6th annual National Clean Energy Week (NCEW), September 26-30! NCEW celebrates the policies, industries, and innovations that power our daily lives while reducing emissions. Ready to join the national clean energy conversation? REGISTER for the VIRTUAL Policy Makers Symposium on September 27-29! Join us to hear from legislators, industry leaders, and clean energy advocates alike! Thanks to NCEW sponsors, registration is 100% FREE for all attendees! Register for FREE here.   Listen to today's POLITICO Energy podcast Today in POLITICO Energy's podcast: Zack Colman takes us inside the White House's climate strategy, breaking down which team will implement President Joe Biden's climate law. Trends NOAA Last month was the sixth-hottest August on record amid the Northern Hemisphere's second-hottest summer, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration announced Wednesday. Antarctic sea ice coverage was at a record low for the third month in a row. Power Centers Sen. Joe Manchin (D-W.Va.) has made completion of the Mountain Valley pipeline a priority. | Mountain Valley Pipeline ; Francis Chung/E&E News (Manchin) Pipeline promises The Mountain Valley natural gas pipeline may never be finished — even if West Virginia Democratic Sen. Joe Manchin's permitting revamp becomes law, writes Mike Soraghan. Legislation from the West Virginia Democrat could give a boost to the beleaguered project by steering legal challenges to a different court. But regulatory experts say the proposal, as described by Manchin, won't guarantee the project gets completed. Big Oil watches '90s sitcoms Fossil fuel companies are pointing to old TV shows that mention climate change as evidence they did not suppress climate information from the public, writes Lesley Clark.   A sweeping new court filing uses scientific studies, newspapers, magazine articles, and TV and movie scripts to show that the dangers of climate change have long been widespread knowledge. City of lights turns one off The Eiffel Tower will turn off its flashing lights one hour earlier than usual as a symbolic measure of a broader energy-saving effort underway, as Paris braces for rising energy costs, writes Jules Darmanin. A looming energy crisis is pushing cities across Europe to switch off their lights. In Other News Victims of heavy flooding from monsoon rains in Pakistan carry relief aid through floodwater. | Fareed Khan/AP Photo Fatal monsoon: The death toll in Pakistan has risen to nearly 1,500 people following unprecedented rains that submerged one-third of the country. From the 'oil knew' files: Documents subpoenaed in a House investigation show oil company executives privately downplayed their companies' own public messages about climate efforts, and they weakened industrywide commitments to push for climate policies. Fossil fuel $$: The private equity industry's role in the climate crisis is spurring a demand for transparency. Question Corner The science, policy and politics driving the energy transition can feel miles away. But we're all affected on an individual and communal level — from hotter days and higher gas prices to home insurance rates and food supply. Want to know more? Send me your questions and I'll get you answers.   A message from National Clean Energy Week:   Subscriber Zone A showcase of some of our best subscriber content. Piles of coal are seen in front of the Hunter power plant in Utah in 2019. | George Frey/Getty Images An Energy Department study has bolstered the case for converting the nation's coal-fired power plants into nuclear sites. The Biden administration has awarded offshore oil leases previously canceled by a court decision. The U.N. has called for the establishment of climate alert systems worldwide within five years. That's it for today, folks! Thanks for reading.   A message from National Clean Energy Week: Are you ready to join the national clean energy conversation? Save the date for the 6th annual National Clean Energy Week (NCEW), September 26-30 and REGISTER for the VIRTUAL Policy Makers Symposium on September 27-29! Tune in to hear from legislators, industry leaders, and clean energy advocates like YOU— thanks to NCEW sponsors, registration is 100% completely FREE for all attendees! NCEW is a weeklong celebration of the policies, industries, and innovations that power our daily lives while reducing emissions. Join us to recognize what an all-of-the-above clean energy future can bring: American energy independence, economic prosperity, & a healthier climate. Register for FREE here.     Follow us on Twitter Arianna Skibell @ariannaskibell   Follow us

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