Fracking: The Key to a Combating Climate Change?

Fracking: The Key to a Combating Climate Change?

Fareed Zakaria recently disgusted how increase access to natural gas has led tode decreased CO2 admissions.  Zakaria posits further gains may be made by sharing our hydrofracturing technology with China.  Here is a description of the story: 

We have been thinking about an idea in the opinion pages of the New York Times to tackle one of the great challenges of our times: cutting carbon emissions to slow down climate change. It would result in the single largest reduction of CO2 emissions globally of any feasible idea out there. But there are a couple of hitches. Let’s explain.

Here’s the idea: it’s time to help China master fracking safely.

By now it’s clear that fracking (the process of extracting shale gas) has dramatically lowered America’s CO2 emissions. According to the U.S. Energy Information Administration, in 2006, a fifth of our electricity came from natural gas, while almost 50 percent came from coal. By 2012, natural gas had increased its share to 30 percent of our electricity. Coal’s share dropped to 37 percent. The change was because of fracking: over that same period, shale gas production grew 800 percent.

The Economics of Immigration Reform

The Economics of Immigration Reform

Recently, Fareed Zakaria discussed the economics of immigration reform.  Here is a description of Fareed’s economic argument in favor of reform.  Here is a description of the video: 

The latest numbers show slow growth in the United States. That’s bad for jobs, income – it’s even bad for those worried about the deficit because it means lower tax revenues. And it has prompted a revival of the partisan debate about what to do about it.

Well, there’s one idea out there that could have support from both parties. A study out last week suggests there is one very simple way to increase tax revenue, expand GDP, and create jobs – all at the same time. What’s more, Congress is already weighing it: it’s called immigration reform.

How and why? Well, a new paper from the left-leaning Center for American Progress actually calculates the economic impact of immigration reform.

 

Keystone Pipeline: Zakaria v. Sierra Club

Keystone Pipeline: Zakaria v. Sierra Club

In the latest episode of Fareed Zakaria GPS, Fareed debates the virtue of the Keystone pipeline project with the executive director of the Sierra Club, Michael BruneZakaria opens the show with “Fareed’s Take,” where he argues in favor of the pipeline (3:54).  He then brings in the representative of the Sierra Club for the counterargument (1:18).