Congressional Coauthors

Clean Energy is Not Just Good for the Environment. It Also Prevents War

NEWSWEEK 02/12/20 By Michael Shank and US Congressman Hank Johnson Take oil out of the foreign policy picture, and American presidents would have lacked motive to preemptively attack Iraq, Libya and now Iran. There were equally authoritarian leaders of other countries at the time, operating with even greater propensity toward […]

As Climate Threats to Cities Grow, the Time to Act is Now

REUTERS 07/22/19 By Michael Shank and US Congresswoman Yvette Clarke As the costs and threats from climate change rise, the key is not to wait until it’s too late to take action U.S. Rep. Yvette D. Clarke represents New York’s 9th district and serves on the House Energy and Commerce […]

Climate Change is International Security Threat

VTDIGGER 06/19/19 By Michael Shank and US Congressman Gregory Meeks Editor’s note: This commentary is by Dr. Michael Shank and Rep. Gregory Meeks, D-N.Y. Shank, of Brandon, is the communications director for the Carbon Neutral Cities Alliance and adjunct faculty at NYU’s Center for Global Affairs. Meeks is a senior […]

It’s Time for the U.N. Security Council to Take on Climate Change

REUTERS 06/07/19 By Michael Shank and US Congressman Gregory Meeks With climate threats growing fast, the U.N. Security council has the power to cap greenhouse gas emissions on every country and sanction those who fail to comply Congressman Meeks (D-NY) is a senior member of the House Foreign Affairs Committee […]

Stop the Bullying

VTDIGGER 01/15/19By Michael Shank and Former US Congressman Mike HondaEditor’s note: This commentary is by Michael Shank and former Rep. Michael Honda. Shank, of Brandon, is the communications director for the Carbon Neutral Cities Alliance and the Urban Sustainability Directors Network. Honda, a Democrat, represented California’s 17th congressional district between […]

Keeping Our Planet Inhabitable

VTDIGGER 12/19/18By Michael Shank and US Congressman Alan LowenthalEditor’s note: This commentary is by Michael Shank and Rep. Alan Lowenthal. Shank, of Brandon, teaches sustainable development at NYU’s Center for Global Affairs and is the communications director at the Carbon Neutral Cities Alliance and the Urban Sustainability Directors Network. Lowenthal, […]

US Energy Policy Needs Aboutface

VTDIGGER 10/29/18 By Michael Shank and US Congressman Lloyd Doggett Editor’s note: This commentary is by Michael Shank and U.S. Rep Lloyd Doggett. Shank, of Brandon, is the communications director for the Carbon Neutral Cities Alliance and the Urban Sustainability Directors Network. Doggett, a Democrat, represents Texas communities from San […]