And the federal government is gridlocked, unable to grapple with the country's biggest problems including slow economic growth, stagnating wages, the collapse of the middle class, a political system dominated by big money and the revolving door, climate change, the descent of large swatches of the Middle East into anarchy, and America's diminished ability to dominate world events.
At its core, "Natural Gas Exports: Washington's Revolving Door Fuels Climate Threat" is a sequel to DeSmogBlog's 2011 report titled, "Fracking the Future: How Unconventional Gas Threatens our Water, Health, and Climate". Please stay tuned for much more to come on the topic soon.
For example, the perversely named Louisiana Science Education Act, which opens the door to climate science denial in the classroom, was co-authored by the Discovery Institute, a Seattle-based creationist thinktank.
In the automotive industry, Borealis' leading-edge polyolefin plastic materials are used in a wide range of exterior, interior, and under-the-bonnet applications, including bumpers, body panels, trims, dashboards, door claddings, climate control and cooling systems, air intake manifolds and battery cases.
Titled "Natural Gas Exports: Washington's Revolving Door Fuels Climate Threat," the report published here on DeSmogBlog and on Republic Report serves as the launching pad of an ongoing investigation.
Photograph: Ricardo Moraes/Reuters 4.00pm GMT Ikea CSO: "Don't end up on the wrong side of history" A strong call to action from Ikea's Steve Howard, he tells Jo Confino of his frustration at companies that are saying one thing publicly and another behind closed doors about climate change.
The head of the firm led me through multiple security doors and climate-controlled hallways filled with crates, canvases, and statues.
"The Endangered Species Act was never intended to be a back door opportunity for climate change policy," he said.
But what has opened the door on the climate change conversation is the battle over land usage, reflected in the Liverpool Plains/Shenhua debate.
But Achim Steiner and the other nations are also right - it does open the door to the climate agreement that the science says is needed.
Let's face it: the door to national climate action as we know it has been slammed shut.
