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India is the fastest-growing major economy in the world. It is the fourth largest greenhouse gas (GHG) emitter, accounting for 5.8 percent of global emissions. India’s emissions increased by 67.1 percent between 1990 and 2012, and are projected to grow 85 percent by 2030 under a business-as-usual scenario.India has a number of policies that contribute to climate mitigation by reducing or avoiding GHG emissions. In June 2008, the Prime Minister released India’s first National Action Plan on Climate Change, which identified eight core “national missions” running through 2017. A C2ES summary of the National Action Plan is available India’s current Five-Year Plan (2012-2017), which guides overall economic policy, includes goals to:• Achieve average 8 percent annual GDP growth;• Reduce emissions intensity in line with India’s Copenhagen pledge; and• Add 300,000 MW of renewable energy capacity.Since taking office in May 2014, Prime Minister Narendra Modi has taken steps to scale up clean energy production and has initiated a shift in India’s stance in international climate negotiations. One of his first acts was to rename the environment ministry the Ministry of Environment, Forests and Climate Change. In January, the newly reconstituted Prime Minister’s Council on Climate Change launched new initiatives on wind energy, coastal zone management, health and waste-to-energy.Renewable energy – At the federal level, India has implemented two major renewable energy-related policies: the Strategic Plan for New and Renewable Energy,[vi] which provides a broad framework, and the National Solar Mission, which sets capacity targets for renewables.[vii] The original Solar Mission includes the following targets for 2017: 27.3 GW wind, 4 GW solar, 5 GW biomass and 5 GW other renewables. For 2022, these targets increase to: 20 GW solar, 7.3 GW biomass and 6.6 GW other renewables.Solar – In November 2014, the Indian government announced that it would increase the solar ambition of its National Solar Mission to 100 GW installed capacity by 2022, a five-time increase and over 30 times more solar than it currently has installed. To this end, the government also announced its intention to bring solar power to every home by 2019 and invested in 25 solar parks, which have the potential to increase India’s total installed solar capacity almost tenfold.Wind – The Twelfth Five Year Plan proposes a National Wind Energy Mission, similar to the National Solar Mission, and the Indian government recently announced plans to boost wind energy production to 50,000 to 60,000 MW by 2022. It is also planning to promote an offshore wind energy market.Coal – A tax on coal has raised $2.85 billion for India’s clean energy fund. The tax rose in July 2014 from Rs. 50 ($.80) to Rs. 100 ($1.60) per ton, and doubled again in March 2015 to Rs 200 ($3.20) per ton. The Indian coal-power sector has numerousEnergy Efficiency and Conservation – India’s National Mission for Enhanced Energy Efficiency[viii] implements the Perform, Achieve and Trade (PAT) Mechanism, covering the country’s largest industrial and power generation facilities.[ix] PAT covers more than 50 percent of fossil fuel use and set a target to reduce energy consumption at participating facilities 4-5 percent in 2015 compared to 2010 levels.Transportation -- In early 2014, India announced new vehicle fuel-economy standards (Indian Corporate Average Fuel Consumption standard) of 4.8 liters per 100 kilometers (49 MPG) by 2021-2022, a 15 percent improvement. Biofuel legislation has set a target of 20 percent blending of ethanol and biodiesel in 2017.[x]Smart Cities – Prime Minister Modi has launched an initiative to create 100 “smart cities” with better transport systems, utilities, and energy networks to address the challenges of urban growth.[xi] India’s National Mission on Sustainable Habitat also includes initiatives such as the Energy Conservation Building Code, mandated for commercial buildings in eight states, and actions to support recycling, waste management, and improved urban planning.[xii]India Releases Climate Change Plan Read our summary on India's National Action Plan on Climate Change.On June 30, 2008, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh released India’s first National Action Plan on Climate Change (NAPCC) outlining existing and future policies and programs addressing climate mitigation and adaptation. The plan identifies eight core “national missions” running through 2017 and directs ministries to submit detailed implementation plans to the Prime Minister’s Council on Climate Change by December 2008.C2ES Report: Market-Based Climate Mitigation Policies in Emerging Economies Read more.Used by governments for decades, market-based policies are mechanisms to control environmental pollution at various leverage points. This brief provides an overview of market-based policies aimed at reducing GHG emissions in several major emerging economies: Brazil, China, India, South Africa and South Korea. By implementing regulatory and market-based policy instruments across their economies, these countries are seeking to promote cleaner technologies and behavior change while also promoting economic development and growth.White Paper: Positioning the Indian Coal-Power Sector for Carbon Mitigation: Key Policy OptionsRead more.The domestic and international steps outlined in this paper could greatly advance the development and implementation of a GHG-mitigation strategy in the Indian coal-power sector, while allowing the sector to contribute suitably to the country’s energy needs. The key to success will be adopting a deliberate approach, with short- and long-term perspectives in mind, that allows for the development of an integrated energy and climate policy.White Paper: A Resource and Technology Assessment of Coal Utilization in IndiaRead more.Electricity production in India is projected to expand dramatically in the near term to energize new industrial development, while also easing the energy shortages throughout the country. Much of the new growth in electricity production will be fueled by domestic coal resources; however, there is worldwide concern about increased coal use, as greater carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions from coal combustion will exacerbate climate change. At the same time, there are now a number of different existing and emerging technological options for coal conversion and greenhouse gas (GHG) reduction worldwide that could potentially be useful for the Indian coal-power sector. This paper reviews coal utilization in India and examines current and emerging coal power technologies with near- and long-term potential for reducing greenhouse gas emissions from coal power generation.Climate Change Mitigation Measures in India: September 2008Read the India Fact Sheet.India is the world’s fourth largest economy and fifth largest greenhouse gas (GHG) emitter, accounting for about 5% of global emissions. India’s emissions increased 65% between 1990 and 2005 and are projected to grow another 70% by 2020.By other measures, India’s emissions are low compared to those of other major economies. India accounts for only 2% of cumulative energy-related emissions since 1850. On a per capita basis, India’s emissions are 70% below the world average and 93% below those of the United States[i]Data from WRI, 2011. “6 Graphs Explain the World’s Top 10 Emitters,” available at www.wri.org/blog/2014/11/6-graphs-explain-world%E2%80%99s-top-10-emitters[ii]Data from US EIA. 2013. “India,” available at http://www.eia.gov/countries/analysisbriefs/India/india.pdf.[iii]Data from World Bank, 2014. “Access to electricity (% of population),” available at http://data.worldbank.org/indicator/EG.ELC.ACCS.ZS/countries.[iv]Government of India, 2010. Copenhagen pledge, available at http://unfccc.int/files/meetings/cop_15/copenhagen_accord/application/pd...[v]Government of India, 2013. “Twelfth Five Year Plan (2012-2017),” available at http://12thplan.gov.in[vi]Government of India, 2011. “Strategic Plan for New and Renewable Energy Sector for the Period 2011-17,” available at http://mnre.gov.in/file-manager/UserFiles/strategic_plan_mnre_2011_17.pdf[vii]Government of India. “JNN Solar Mission,” available at http://www.mnre.gov.in/solar-mission/jnnsm/introduction-2/[viii]Government of India. “National Mission for Enhanced Energy Efficiency (NMEEE),” available at http://www.beeindia.in/schemes/schemes.php?id=8[ix]Government of India. “Perform, Achieve and Trade (PAT),” available at http://www.beeindia.in/content.php?page=schemes/schemes.php?id=9[x]Data from IEA, 2014. “World Energy Outlook 2014.”[xi]Data from New Climate Economy, 2014. “India: Pathways to Sustaining Rapid Development in a New Climate Economy (Conference Draft),” available at http://newclimateeconomy.report/india/#section-2784-content-2828[xii]Government of India. “National Missions On Sustainable Habitat,” available at http://moud.gov.in/sites/upload_files/moud/files/NMSH_0.pdfSource - Center for Climate and Energy Solutions (C2ES)

India’s 2nd Wave=============Please spend 10 minutes to read this detailed post about the wilful creation of mass hysteria in India, which I have reported to authorities in New Delhi.Over the past six months, whenever I spoke to friends and colleagues , they would inform me that their city or town was largely back to regular, pre-pandemic hustle. People were travelling and holidaying again, flying, shooting on busy sets, attending conferences and going out as they did before the pandemic. Many had also stopped wearing masks. In spite of this, COVID cases, surprisingly, were still very low throughout India.Despite the low case count, in December last year and again in January this year, the Modi government sent letters and held video conference calls with all state governments and UTs expressly warning of an impending second wave. I know this because I have friends working at the heart of the national fight against the CCP virus.The focus of that engagement with the states included[a] repeated warnings to step up preparation for a potential second wave,[b] to randomise genome sequencing for new strains and double / triple mutants,[c] to build new oxygen production plants and [d] to have additional care facilities and beds on standby.Whilst India was seemingly breezing through the pandemic at this stage, the second wave was hammering Europe. The Indian government therefore shared the data, trends, and projected models from Europe with every state.In India, as you will be aware, our states are heavily funded both by the central government and through local tax collections. They are empowered to set and implement their own policies and marshal their own governance. In many respects, India is like a collection of different nations with their own mini prime ministers, executive branches, legislatures and courts. And it is a Chief Minister and their cabinet who are responsible for the management and destiny of their own state. This includes infrastructure development, law and order, agricultural policy, *human resources* (including care for migrant workers), *healthcare* and *disaster management*.To further empower India’s federal structure, one of the Modi government’s first major steps was to further de-centralise power to the states. He did this by effecting historic increases in the state share of taxpayer revenue. This means that the states are now better funded than ever before.In the context of healthcare and the pandemic, the states - not the centre - are responsible for the coordination and management of mass vaccination, preparing healthcare facilities, *managing oxygen supplies* and even genome sequencing. The central government, however, has marshalled the (mostly) excellent (until a few weeks ago) response to the pandemic on a national level. They did this through detailed and ever-evolving policy definition and guidelines *for states to subsequently implement*. These policies, where they have been implemented competently, have served India well for over a year. Beyond policy formation, the central government has also led with resource sharing, coordination and of course emergency top-up funding (most of all for bankrupt states such as Delhi).Many of my friends in New Delhi, who should be focussed on governing in other areas, are today bogged down personally helping states & UTs cursed with inexcusably incompetent Chief Ministers (of Delhi, Maharashtra & West Bengal to name just three). It is a diabolical form of administrative babysitting, for everything from oxygen and vaccination logistics, to even the doorstep delivery of medical supplies. All of these matters should be attended to within the states, and not from New Delhi.Those who understand the chaotic functioning of some of our states, and are reasonable in their assessment of the unprecedented nature of this crisis, also know that the Prime Minister is the one man - and his government the one principal agency - which has *held this nation together during the past year*. It therefore infuriates me to witness the skull duggery at this of all times against someone who has got so much right, where even wealthy, resource rich Western nations have failed. The fact of the matter is that Mr. Modi and the central government have done the heavy lifting for the past year, and for all of us. The nation would be truly stuffed if anyone else were at the helm.The low points we have experienced - i.e. the flair up of cases in certain states, the inter-state movement of workers, and the lack of oxygen during this second wave - are *exclusively* down to shoddy state level management and Indians in general dropping their guard of late. The lack of beds in the country is also down to abominable governance and nation building over the past 70 years. Mr. Modi’s building spree of new hospitals and other primary healthcare facilities over the past 7 years can only go so far at times such as these.Having said that, I was aghast at seeing election rallies and door-to-door canvassing in the past month. When this started, cases were exceptionally low in India. The EC also expressly permitted the local elections and rallies to continue, and ALL political parties did just that. Mr. Modi is far more popular than his opponents, and so his rallies are of course much bigger. I don’t endorse those rallies at all, but if one points fingers at Mr. Modi, point them at all politicians and be fair about the context. Also, what about the (tiny minority) of farmers gathering in crowds in their hundreds, over months ? What about the packed night clubs and beaches, again over months ? What about so many people going on holiday when we were advised not to ? How is all of that the Prime Minister‘s fault ?Finally, it is also nonsense that the government had claimed that the pandemic *was over*. On the contrary, the government has incessantly advised us, virtually every day, not to drop our guard. In the process, the Health Minister and Prime Minister (and many others) have also expressed optimism that things ‘seem to be under control for now’ and that we would get through this ‘if we didn’t become complacent’. That is a perfectly reasonable thing to say. Heads of government all over the world have made exactly the same points to provide encouragement to their caged up, understandably downbeat populations.*There is not one statement anywhere* from the government or Prime Minister which claims victory over COVID or which has suggested we relax and behave like morons. Each and every one of the news stories and social media posts on this are fabricated. Videos of encouraging sentiments have also been edited out of context to deliberately mislead people. [It should be a matter of basic common sense not to fall for such propaganda.]This leads me to the question of the wall of propaganda which we (yet again) have to break through to try to understand what is actually happening in India right now. The screenshots below explain that story. Please make sure you read through each one of them. They explain much of what you may need to know about Indian politics in 60 nauseating seconds.Distinct to those purveying such propaganda are the well-meaning people who still may not have been able to rationalise India’s post-2014 reality. My message to such people is that you should at least now finally face the fact that the nation’s elites, whom Mr. Modi has almost wholly disempowered, never truly cared for you or our nation. They live for one purpose and one purpose alone: get Modi out, and restore the old order.The screenshots below should make these intentions (and criminal tactics) obvious if they aren’t already. As well as the fact that they thrive on fear psychosis to achieve their objectives. Whether frightening Muslims over the CAA / Article 370, or farmers over the agri reforms, fear has always been the primary currency of their deplorable trade.For them, the misery of this pandemic is not a clarion call to unite behind a national cause. Instead, it is another ’opportunity’ to scratch back at Mr. Modi and scavenge for unmerited legitimacy in their insatiable lust for power. Not by being constructive, but by lying through their teeth to foster panic, fear and discontent.Let us never forget that these are the people who had set up their private TV channels using *stolen camera and studio equipment* from state TV. They lived for decades in the capital’s most expensive bungalows, also funded by the taxpayer, until they were booted out by Mr. Modi. That they were accustomed to flying first class and staying in expensive hotel suites abroad. Again, at your expense. And again, until that racket was ended post 2014.Always remember that they are also the very same people who sunk to the deplorable depths of trying to blame a terrorist attack which multiple foreign governments subsequently proved to be of Pakistani origin, on the RSS, in an attempt to disenfranchise it. [Most sinister of all is the fact that they even drafted a narrative on that before the attacks even took place!]Multiple senior journalists and bureaucrats have put on record that India’s ‘opinion shapers’ were financially incentivised commodities working for the politicians and corporate lobbies who have controlled India’s destiny since independence. They have repeatedly helped politicians legitimise disproportionately expensive foreign defence, industrial and pharma purchases, to enable the multiple layers of middleman commissions which follow. If you do your homework, you will realise that the cancer belts and droughts of North India, a large proportion of farmer debts (buying expensive foreign fertilisers), the drug crisis in Punjab, financial and medical scams, sub standard roads and public spaces and fluctuating food supplies (to name a few) have *always* been facilitated and then covered up by this deeply corrupt cabal.The fact of the matter is that this network still heavily influences the airwaves, social media trends and much of the information we consume. It is their brief sheets and ‘toolkits’ which also inform international media on how to cover India-centric stories. They have used that power to lobby for foreign vaccines even after Indian vaccines have been proven to be more effective in dealing with various strains and double mutants. That essentially means that serving their lobbies is more important to them than saving lives (and taxpayer funds). [I have been informed by an unimpeachably reliable source in New Delhi that there is a coordinated attempt to pressurise the government into buying a vastly more expensive (and less effective) foreign vaccine. This vaccine requires repeat doses *every year*, at the cost of tens of billions of (taxpayer) dollars. A sudden embargo on raw materials, ironically timed as the second wave hit India, is also designed to affect global production of another rival vaccine and pave the way for the ‘promoted’ vaccine instead].Before remember that this is the calibre of the people we are dealing with here. People who support commercial interests and their political benefactors over and above human life and national interest.On a more optimistic note, friends in India should know that we had a deadly second wave in Britain a few months ago, and that other parts of Europe are now experiencing a devastating third wave. In spite of the second wave, the recovery rate in India is one of the highest on the planet, and the infection rate per capita one of the lowest. As per the latest statistics, the rate of death in India is seven times less than in the USA or Britain.There is of course no question that things are bad in some parts of India, and I have read and written far too many condolence messages on Facebook in the past few days. But it is also true that things are nowhere near as bad on a national level as they are being made out to be. What is happening now is no different to what also happened in Britain, Germany or France, minus the fact that the dehumanising images of dead bodies and localised chaos are reserved only for India.I am frequently on calls to people throughout the country. In many places, life is completely normal without any panic. The majority of the country is in fact bearing up, with a few woefully run states and cities accounting for the majority of the second wave. The manner in which almost every person I know in India is in some way involved in helping others is also something I have not seen in any other part of the world. That is the spirit we need right now, and that is what should be highlighted on the airwaves above all else.Take care of yourselves, and my condolences once again to those who have lost their loved ones. If you shield your elders, wear masks, get vaccinated and generally don’t behave like a dufus, the chances are that you and your loved ones will get through this.

Why is the United States average IQ so low compared among other countries when we have one of the best education systems in the world?Just an observation - you’re confusing IQ (which is a measure of intelligence) with education. The two are not the same thing at all. I have a PhD but I have no difficulty saying that my kid brother, the high school dropout, is smarter than me by a significant margin.Because the US education system is not one of the best. It’s mediocre and there is no consistency as you move around the country. Or even from school to school within the same city.Moreover, there really is a “cult of ignorance” in the United States.The cult of ignorance in the United States: Anti-intellectualism and the "dumbing down" of America -- Sott.netAnd, poor as it may be the state of education in the U.S. compared to other advanced countries is declining:-After leading the world for decades in 25-34 year olds with university degrees, the U.S. is now in 12th place. The World Economic Forum ranked the U.S. at 52nd among 139 nations in the quality of its university math and science instruction in 2010. Nearly 50% of all graduate students in the sciences in the U.S. are foreigners, most of whom are returning to their home countries;-The Oklahoma Council of Public Affairs commissioned a civic education poll among public school students. A surprising 77% didn't know that George Washington was the first President; couldn't name Thomas Jefferson as the author of the Declaration of Independence; and only 2.8% of the students actually passed the citizenship test. Along similar lines, the Goldwater Institute of Phoenix did the same survey and only 3.5% of students passed the civics test;-According to the National Research Council report, only 28% of high school science teachers consistently follow the National Research Council guidelines on teaching evolution, and 13% of those teachers explicitly advocate creationism or "intelligent design;"18% of Americans still believe that the sun revolves around the earth, according to a Gallup poll;-The American Association of State Colleges and Universities report on education shows that the U.S. ranks second among all nations in the proportion of the population aged 35-64 with a college degree, but 19th in the percentage of those aged 25-34 with an associate or high school diploma, which means that for the first time, the educational attainment of young people will be lower than their parents;-74% of Republicans in the U.S. Senate and 53% in the House of Representatives deny the validity of climate change despite the findings of the U.S. National Academy of Sciences and every other significant scientific organization in the world;-According to the 2009 National Assessment of Educational Progress, 68% of public school children in the U.S. do not read proficiently by the time they finish third grade. And the U.S. News & World reported that barely 50% of students are ready for college level reading when they graduate;-According to a 2006 survey by National Geographic-Roper, nearly half of Americans between ages 18 and 24 do not think it necessary to know the location of other countries in which important news is being made. More than a third consider it "not at all important" to know a foreign language, and only 14 percent consider it "very important;"-According to the National Endowment for the Arts report in 1982, 82% of college graduates read novels or poems for pleasure; two decades later only 67% did. And more than 40% of Americans under 44 did not read a single book--fiction or nonfiction--over the course of a year. The proportion of 17 year olds who read nothing (unless required by school ) has doubled between 1984-2004;-Gallup released a poll indicating 42 percent of Americans still believe God created human beings in their present form less than 10,000 years ago;-A 2008 University of Texas study found that 25 percent of public school biology teachers believe that humans and dinosaurs inhabited the earth simultaneously.In American schools, the culture exalts the athlete and good-looking cheerleader. Well-educated and intellectual students are commonly referred to in public schools and the media as "nerds," "dweebs," "dorks," and "geeks," and are relentlessly harassed and even assaulted by the more popular "jocks" for openly displaying any intellect. These anti-intellectual attitudes are not reflected in students in most European or Asian countries, whose educational levels have now equaled and and will surpass that of the U.S. And most TV shows or movies such as The Big Bang Theory depict intellectuals as being geeks if not effeminate.John W. Traphagan, Professor of Religious Studies at the University of Texas, argues the problem is that Asian countries have core cultural values that are more akin to a cult of intelligence and education than a cult of ignorance and anti-intellectualism. In Japan, for example, teachers are held in high esteem and normally viewed as among the most important members of a community. There is suspicion and even disdain for the work of teachers that occurs in the U.S. Teachers in Japan typically are paid significantly more than their peers in the U.S. The profession of teaching is one that is seen as being of central value in Japanese society and those who choose that profession are well compensated in terms of salary, pension, and respect for their knowledge and their efforts on behalf of children.In addition, we do not see in Japan significant numbers of the types of religious schools that are designed to shield children from knowledge about basic tenets of science and accepted understandings of history - such as evolutionary theory or the religious views of the Founding Fathers, who were largely deists - which are essential to having a fundamental understanding of the world, Traphagan contends. The reason for this is because in general Japanese value education, value the work of intellectuals, and see a well-educated public with a basic common knowledge in areas of scientific fact, math, history, literature, etc. as being an essential foundation to a successful democracy.And even if the education system was absolutely top notch we have thisMajority of Republicans Now Believe Colleges and Universities Have a Negative Effect on AmericaI'm sure some part of it is they're convinced that colleges and universities exist to indoctrinate kids with "liberal" thoughts - heaven forbid that they learn to think for themselves and question what the older generation believes.And then there's the little matter of religion - if those kids learn about all that "science stuff" they might start questioning the bible. Can't have that can we. I suspect that ready access to information (the internet) is a big part of the reason that we're seeing an increase in the number of atheists - it doesn't take long with google to check whether or not that stuff you've been told since you were a little kid is wrong.Of course the government is playing it’s part2017 was a big year for scrubbing science from government websites. Here's the list.Here are some of the times that scientific references have disappeared or changed during Trump’s first year in office:Environmental Protection Agency: EPA websites have arguably seen more radical changes than those in any other government agency. Scores of links to materials that help local officials prepare for climate change have all been scrubbed. On April 28, the EPA removed its website “Climate ​and ​Energy ​Resources ​for State, ​Local, ​and ​Tribal ​Governments.” ​In July, ​a ​new ​website titled ​“Energy ​Resources ​for ​State, ​Local, ​and ​Tribal ​Governments” ​was ​launched ​in ​its place. The site had fewer ​pages ​and omitted ​resources ​relating ​to ​climate ​and ​climate ​change; about 15 mentions of the words “climate change” were gone from the main page alone. The missing pages once had information detailing the risk of climate change, the approaches states were taking to curb emissions, and state plans to adapt to extreme weather. ​References ​to ​the EPA’s ​federal ​leadership ​and ​goals ​to ​cover ​100 percent ​of ​its ​own ​electricity ​use ​nationwide ​through ​purchasing ​renewable ​energy ​have also ​been ​removed.Department of the Interior: A once extensive overview of the Interior’s climate change priorities is now a few sentences about the types of land the agency protects. Mentions of rising sea levels, worsening wildfires, and threatened wildlife are gone. The only mention of climate change in the body of text says “the impacts of climate change have led the Department to focus on how we manage our nation’s public lands and resources.” The Bureau of Land Management’s language about the purpose of the 2015 Hydraulic Fracturing Rule, and a link to that rule from a page on regulations for onshore energy production, were removed.Department of Transportation: The DOT Federal Highway Administration changed language across multiple pages relating to environmental effects of transportation; “climate change” and “greenhouse gases” were replaced with terms like “sustainability” and “emissions.” For example, its summary changed from helping “reduce greenhouse gas pollution and improve resilience to climate change impacts” to helping “enhance sustainability, improve resilience, and reduce energy use and emissions on our highway system.”Department of Energy: The Office of Energy Efficiency & Renewable Energy made extensive changes to pages involving the Bioenergy Technologies Office, Wind Energy Technologies Office and Vehicle Technologies Office, including decreasing emphasis on renewable fuels as a replacement for fossil fuels and increasing emphasis on economic growth. The “Clean Energy Investment Center” was renamed “Energy Investor Center” and links to clean energy resources were erased. The phrase “clean energy” has been erased from the center’s page. E&E News reported a DOE statement said, “The decision was made entirely by the career staff within that office” and that the center’s name change was made to “better reflect the broader focus of the project.”Office of Science and Technology Policy: This White House office still has no director (a position referred to as the president’s top science adviser) and many of its positions remain unfilled. In February, it removed a line from a description of the office that said it “ensures that the policies of the Executive Branch are informed by sound science.”*Department of State: In January, the descriptions of the Office of Global Change and the Office of the Special Envoy for Climate Change were rewritten. The Office of Global Change’s mission statement was significantly altered with the addition of the terms “adaptation” and “sustainable landscapes” and the removal of the term “greenhouse gas.” The envoy website rephrased the description on its homepage from being “committed to combating climate change” to being “responsible for developing, implementing, and overseeing U.S. international policy on climate change.” Several links, including to the Climate Action Report, were removed from both office pages.Federal Emergency Management Agency: Statistics on access ​to ​electricity ​and ​drinking water in Puerto Rico ​from ​the ​“Federal Response ​Updates” section ​on ​FEMA’s ​“Hurricane ​Maria” ​webpage were removed in early October. ​The statistics were later restored.National Institutes of Health: The environmental unit of the NIH, which is part of the Department of Health and Human Services, changed some mentions of “climate change” to “climate.” Links to ​an educational fact sheet on climate change’s threats to human health are gone, though the sheet is still hosted by the NIH site.National Park Service: More than 90 documents describing national parks’ climate action plans, which include how different parks are responding to climate changes, have been removed from the Climate Friendly Parks website. NPS told Vice’s Motherboard the documents are being made more accessible for people with disabilities, and until they are reinstated they will be available via an email request.“When you see something change in a deliberate way, it’s because somebody spent time to think about it,” Rinberg said. “If an employee feels strongly that they need to change the way they are talking about the work they have done, we should know why.”And then there’s thisWhy DO conservatives hate science so much?Watch the vids at the end