Kate Sheppard

Reporter

Kate Sheppard is a staff reporter in Mother Jones' Washington bureau. She was previously the political reporter for Grist and a writing fellow at The American Prospect. She can be reached by email at ksheppard (at) motherjones (dot) com.

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Her work has also been featured in the New York Times' Room for Debate blog, the Guardian's Comment Is Free, Foreign Policy, High Country News, The Center for Public Integrity, the Washington Independent, Washington Spectator, Who Runs Gov, In These Times, and Bitch. She was raised on a vegetable farm in southern New Jersey (yes, they do exist), but has adapted well to life in the nation's capital. She misses trees and having a congressional representative with voting power, but thinks DC is pretty great anyway.

Something Rotten in the State of Denmark?

—By Kate Sheppard

| Mon Oct. 12, 2009 11:52 AM PDT

After all my blogging about the relative peachiness of climate politics in Denmark, over the weekend the story broke that the country's lead negotiator has resigned.

Thomas Becker, deputy permanent secretary in the Ministry for Climate and Energy and Minister Connie Hedegaard's "right hand man," quit his post on Friday—apparently not long after we were hearing from Hedegaard about how much agreement there is on climate policy in Denmark. The Danish press is speculating that the departure is the result of a rift between Becker's views and those of the new Prime Minister Lars Lokke Rasmussen. Becker is said to have wanted the country to stake out a more aggressive position on climate than the PM's office is willing to back.

Hedegaard said on Danish television that his exit is "purely an administrative matter." Becker will apparently be replaced with senior diplomat Steffen Smidt. From Reuters:

[Read more in the MoJo blog]

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Graham Changes the Game on Senate Climate Bill

—By Kate Sheppard

| Mon Oct. 12, 2009 8:30 AM PDT

While I was en route back to the US over the weekend, Washington saw what may well be a game-changer on climate legislation, as Lindsey Graham (R-SC) officially endorsed the Senate climate bill.

Well, maybe.

In an op-ed in the New York Times on Sunday, Graham joined with bill author John Kerry (D-Mass.) to support passing climate legislation this year. They write:

[W]e refuse to accept the argument that the United States cannot lead the world in addressing global climate change. We are also convinced that we have found both a framework for climate legislation to pass Congress and the blueprint for a clean-energy future that will revitalize our economy, protect current jobs and create new ones, safeguard our national security and reduce pollution.
Our partnership represents a fresh attempt to find consensus that adheres to our core principles and leads to both a climate change solution and energy independence. It begins now, not months from now—with a road to 60 votes in the Senate.

Of course, the op-ed does make it clear that there are some things to be worked out, as the bill remains in draft form. Graham is a big nuclear proponent, so the extent of nuclear support in the final bill will be key. It's also key for other Republicans who are possible "yes" votes, like his close ally John McCain (R-Ariz.), Lamar Alexander (R-Tenn.), and Johnny Isakson (R-Ga.).

[Read more in the MoJo blog]

Copen-bloggin': Green Conservatism

—By Kate Sheppard

| Mon Oct. 12, 2009 7:20 AM PDT

A last observation on Danish politics when it comes to climate and energy. The country has approved an ambitious plan to draw 50 percent of their electricity from renewable sources by 2025, and is already pulling 17 percent of total energy consumption and 30 percent of electricity from renewables. They've also endorsed the European Union's plan to cut emissions 20 percent below 1990 levels by 2020, and are willing to go to 30 percent if other nations sign on.

Their plan was supported almost unanimously by the 175 members of Folketing*, the Danish parliament. On Friday we met with Danish Minister for Climate and Energy Connie Hedegaard, a member of the right-leaning Conservative People's Party. She's been the point person for the country's ambitious climate and energy plan since 2007, and represents the country in international negotiations. She was the Minister of Environment for three years before the parliament created a separate role for climate and energy. Hedegaard is essentially Denmark's Carol Browner, but with more direct influence.

Hearing her talk about why her work is evidence of her values offered a stark contrast to most American conservatives on climate and energy policy. Hedegaard made it clear that she approaches the issue from a conservative world view.

"It's at the core of conservatism to take care of the environment, to protect nature, to use resources responsibly," said Hedegaard. "I can think of nothing that's more conservative than that."

Her priority, she said, is that their policies be vehicles for economic growth. The export of clean tech increased 19 percent last year, triple what it was ten years ago. Just recently it passed pork as the country's leading export product.

[Read more in the MoJo blog]

Copen-bloggin': Obama, the Nobel, and the Problem of Low Expectations

—By Kate Sheppard

| Fri Oct. 9, 2009 8:07 AM PDT

Danish Minister for Climate and Energy Connie Hedegaard said she came home one day last February to find her teenage son painting a giant mural of Barack Obama on his bedroom wall. The painting, she said, should be a symbol for Americans of just how much hope the new president has instilled in the rest of the world.

"How many years is it since you had an American president that a new youth generation, not only in Denmark, not only in Europe, in Asia, in Africa ... who through his presidency has allowed hope in the United States?" said Hedegaard. "It's fantastic that a new generation of youth worldwide sees this new hope in American leadership."

"I know all the troubles back home on your domestic scene," she continued. "But those of us who love the US, it is a fantastic and unique possibility of reinventing the American strong position in the world."

Hedegaard noted this in a meeting with a small group of American reporters here in Copenhagen on Friday, just minutes after word hit the press that Obama had won the Nobel Peace Prize. Denmark, like the rest of the world, is abuzz about the award. Like many Americans, I'm befuddled by the choice. While I hope that he may some day earn such a prize, I'm not sure that he's done anything in his barely nine months in office that would merit this honor.

On climate change in particular, I'm rather surprised by the credit he's getting. The prize committee stated, among other reasons, that, "Thanks to Obama’s initiative, the USA is now playing a more constructive role in meeting the great climatic challenges the world is confronting." Hedegaard, Danish leaders, and the average Danish citizens I've met here also seem to be giving him quite a bit more credit than is deserved on this issue.

[Read more in the MoJo blog]

Copen-bloggin': The Taxman Cometh

—By Kate Sheppard

| Thu Oct. 8, 2009 10:19 AM PDT

Earlier this week I wrote about the bike culture in Copenhagen, noting that part of the reason such a large percentage of trips are taken by bike here is that there is a well-crafted infrastructure supporting bike transit. But I left out the biggest factor in promoting bike transit here: the astounding 180 percent tax on cars.

Yes, that's right—180 percent. Each car is taxed nearly twice its value at the point of purchase, and on top of that, drivers pay a sales tax and an annual fee for car ownership. With those kinds of costs, bike riding becomes considerably more appealing, which is why much of the population doesn't own a car. Danes already pay taxes inconceivable to Americans, at a rate of about 50 percent, so car ownership is a bit of a stretch. There are only 2 million cars here to 5.5 million people, meaning only 36 percent of Danes own cars. In the US, 83 percent of the total population owns a car.

[Read more in the MoJo blog]