Catherine Wolfram
@cwolfram.bsky.social
Climate and energy economist at MIT Sloan. Former DAS at Yellen Treasury.
DROP Act here:
www.banking.senate.gov/newsroom/min...
www.banking.senate.gov/newsroom/min...
McCormick, Warren, Husted, and Coons Co-Lead Bipartisan Bill to Strengthen and Sustain Pressure on Russian Oil Revenue, Help Achieve Just Peace | United States Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban...
The Official website of The United States Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs
www.banking.senate.gov
January 8, 2026 at 2:04 AM
DROP Act here:
www.banking.senate.gov/newsroom/min...
www.banking.senate.gov/newsroom/min...
2. Actions the US takes to influence others’ emissions can be as important as actions we take to influence our own. Ideally we do both.
(Here's the whole document with the figure above: www.piie.com/publications...
(Here's the whole document with the figure above: www.piie.com/publications...
How an international agreement on methane emissions can pave the way for enhanced global cooperation on climate change
Under the 2022 Inflation Reduction Act, the United States has for the first time implemented a methane emissions fee as a backstop to new methane regulations in the oil and gas sectors. The European U...
www.piie.com
January 4, 2026 at 7:30 PM
2. Actions the US takes to influence others’ emissions can be as important as actions we take to influence our own. Ideally we do both.
(Here's the whole document with the figure above: www.piie.com/publications...
(Here's the whole document with the figure above: www.piie.com/publications...
There are a lot of questions about what just happened in VZ and where things will go, but this is a specific example of two general points:
1. Governance matters. Corrupt regimes wreak lots of havoc, including to the environment.
1. Governance matters. Corrupt regimes wreak lots of havoc, including to the environment.
January 4, 2026 at 7:30 PM
There are a lot of questions about what just happened in VZ and where things will go, but this is a specific example of two general points:
1. Governance matters. Corrupt regimes wreak lots of havoc, including to the environment.
1. Governance matters. Corrupt regimes wreak lots of havoc, including to the environment.
On the other hand, if oil production from VZ increases without addressing the methane intensity, this will be very bad for GHG emissions.
January 4, 2026 at 7:30 PM
On the other hand, if oil production from VZ increases without addressing the methane intensity, this will be very bad for GHG emissions.
If we take the 20-year global warming potential, it’s like reducing over 300 mmt, comparable in magnitude to some early assessments of the damage done to US emissions by the OBBBA, but helpful this time!
January 4, 2026 at 7:30 PM
If we take the 20-year global warming potential, it’s like reducing over 300 mmt, comparable in magnitude to some early assessments of the damage done to US emissions by the OBBBA, but helpful this time!
If new investment in the VZ oil sector helps capture some of that CH4, this will be HUGE for the climate.
If VZ could achieve the same intensity as other countries (100 Gg/Gj instead of 2100), that would be like reducing over 100 mmt of CO2, using the 100-year global warming potential of CH4.
If VZ could achieve the same intensity as other countries (100 Gg/Gj instead of 2100), that would be like reducing over 100 mmt of CO2, using the 100-year global warming potential of CH4.
January 4, 2026 at 7:30 PM
If new investment in the VZ oil sector helps capture some of that CH4, this will be HUGE for the climate.
If VZ could achieve the same intensity as other countries (100 Gg/Gj instead of 2100), that would be like reducing over 100 mmt of CO2, using the 100-year global warming potential of CH4.
If VZ could achieve the same intensity as other countries (100 Gg/Gj instead of 2100), that would be like reducing over 100 mmt of CO2, using the 100-year global warming potential of CH4.
Article notes that "Both China and India are in the process of establishing or expanding their own emissions trading systems. Several countries in Latin America, including Brazil, have also acknowledged that CBAM is a factor in recent decisions to embrace carbon pricing."
December 8, 2025 at 3:08 PM
Article notes that "Both China and India are in the process of establishing or expanding their own emissions trading systems. Several countries in Latin America, including Brazil, have also acknowledged that CBAM is a factor in recent decisions to embrace carbon pricing."
Awesome, thanks for the insight! Cheering for the latter.
From down here, even a $12/ton price is enviable.....
From down here, even a $12/ton price is enviable.....
November 28, 2025 at 6:28 PM
Awesome, thanks for the insight! Cheering for the latter.
From down here, even a $12/ton price is enviable.....
From down here, even a $12/ton price is enviable.....
The leaders’ endorsement of the Open Coalition, including the EU, China, Canada, Mexico, Zambia and other countries, lays an important foundation, but there’s a lot of work to be done to build the house on top of that foundation. Time to get to work!
November 12, 2025 at 12:23 PM
The leaders’ endorsement of the Open Coalition, including the EU, China, Canada, Mexico, Zambia and other countries, lays an important foundation, but there’s a lot of work to be done to build the house on top of that foundation. Time to get to work!
Using a building analogy, I would describe myself as a contractor more than a creator. Nordhaus was certainly one of the central architects with his work on climate clubs, I'm just helping to get that vision in place.
November 12, 2025 at 12:23 PM
Using a building analogy, I would describe myself as a contractor more than a creator. Nordhaus was certainly one of the central architects with his work on climate clubs, I'm just helping to get that vision in place.