US climate rules will overcome Congress's opposition

2015 ◽  
Keyword(s):  
Ghg Emissions ◽  
Standard Setting ◽  
Barack Obama ◽  
Hub And Spoke ◽  
Content Type ◽  
The Us ◽  
Global Emissions

Significance President Barack Obama has directed several departments and agencies, most notably the EPA, to issue directives and regulations that would impose progressively lower ceilings on GHG emissions. However, the Republican-controlled Congress has repeatedly targeted these regulations for repeal. Impacts The US market will probably have an standard-setting effect on the air industry, as it accounts for one-third of global emissions. Higher standards, if enacted on a per passenger basis, will favour larger planes. This will, in turn, support a hub-and-spoke model, leading to growth at major airports worldwide.

Global Magnitsky Act will extend US sanctions reach

2016 ◽  
Keyword(s):  
United Kingdom ◽  
Real Estate ◽  
Barack Obama ◽  
Content Type ◽  
White House ◽  
The United Kingdom ◽  
The Us ◽  
Extrajudicial Killings ◽  
Official Corruption ◽  
National Defence

Subject The US Global Magnitsky Act. Significance Congress passed the Global Magnitsky Act as part of an annual national defence bill on December 8 and President Barack Obama is expected to sign it before the end of the year. The legislation allows the president to impose sanctions against individuals tied to official corruption and extrajudicial killings carried out in retaliation for uncovering illegal or corrupt acts. Impacts Jurisdictions in Australia, Canada, Singapore and the United Kingdom may also seek to boost real estate transparency. The White House may use its new sanctioning powers to pressure Iran and burnish its anti-Tehran credentials. The example set by Trump’s future use of the Global Magnitsky Act will be directly correlated with its chance of renewal in 2022.

US F-16 sale will strengthen Taiwan's China-sceptics

2019 ◽  
Keyword(s):  
United States ◽  
The United States ◽  
Barack Obama ◽  
Trade Negotiations ◽  
Fighter Aircraft ◽  
Content Type ◽  
White House ◽  
The Us ◽  
Total Price ◽  
Trump Administration

Subject The US decision to sell advanced F-16 fighter jets to Taiwan. Significance The Trump administration has authorised the sale to Taiwan of 66 advanced F-16 fighter jets, the most coveted item among Taipei's wish-list of arms purchases from the United States. Taiwan has sought the purchase of advanced fighter aircraft for years, but the White House under both George W Bush and Barack Obama agreed only to upgrades for Taiwan's existing F-16 fleet. The total price is estimated to reach about 8 billion dollars. Impacts The arms sale will provide a boost in confidence for Taiwan, which has been falling behind China in defence capabilities. US-Taiwan cooperation will increase, despite Washington not formally recognising Taiwan as a sovereign nation. Taipei will seek dialogue with Beijing, but will be rebuffed at least until after the 2020 elections. Any sanctions China imposes because of the arms sale will probably be folded into future trade negotiations with Washington.

Worsening US relations weigh on Cuba tourism prospects

2019 ◽  
Keyword(s):  
Economic Growth ◽  
Barack Obama ◽  
Tourism Industry ◽  
Social Spending ◽  
Window Of Opportunity ◽  
Donald Trump ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Bilateral Relations ◽  
The Us ◽  
The Government

Subject Cuba tourism challenges. Significance The US State Department in March reduced tourist visas for Cuban nationals, in a further sign of cooling bilateral relations. Under US President Donald Trump, several confidence-building bilateral measures introduced under former President Barack Obama have been rolled back, with limits on tourist visits and investment in Cuba by US firms reinstated. This is set to have a major impact on the tourism industry, one of the main drivers of Cuba’s economic growth and a key sector for investment by US companies. Impacts The Venezuela crisis will exacerbate Cuba-US tensions, with Washington blaming Havana for supporting Caracas. The government will prioritise tourism investment over social spending, potentially reducing incomes for Cubans. Conversely, tighter US rules may trigger a brief surge in US tourism to Cuba, for fear that the window of opportunity to visit is closing.

Going GAGAS for due process: examining Yellow Book standard participation

2020 ◽  
Vol 32 (2) ◽  
pp. 197-216
Author(s):  
Renee Flasher ◽  
Michelle Lau ◽  
Dara M. Marshall
Keyword(s):  
Federal Government ◽  
Due Process ◽  
Stakeholder Participation ◽  
Standard Setting ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Setting Process ◽  
The Us ◽  
Auditing Standards ◽  
Comment Letters ◽  
Government Auditing

PurposeThe US federal government requires auditors to follow governmental auditing standards when performing audits of entities expending significant federal government dollars. This study explores stakeholder participation during the comment letter phase of government auditing standard setting to determine if participation is symbolic or substantive.Design/methodology/approachResearchers conduct an analysis of the 179 comment letters submitted to the US Government Accountability Office (GAO) and received for their 2010 and 2017 exposure drafts of government auditing standards.FindingsThe distribution of stakeholder participation groups in the government auditing standard-setting process differs from the distribution in the private company auditing standard-setting process. On average, participants submit letters that are greater than two pages in length. Participants also contribute feedback on topics that the GAO directly solicits. Taken together, the results demonstrate stakeholder behaviors that are consistent with a substantive rather than symbolic due process involvement for government auditing standards.Research limitations/implicationsStakeholder beliefs are inferred based on the observed behavior of comment letter submissions. Also, there is a subjective element to the classification of the comment letters for the study.Practical ImplicationsGiven the far-reaching implications of Yellow Book auditing standards on public, private and nonprofit entities, the findings are relevant to a heterogeneous audience. This study reveals opportunities for users of government auditing standards, practitioners and academics for greater involvement in due process standard setting to bring additional legitimacy to the GAO and its standard-setting activities.Originality/valueBeyond the current study, little empirical research examines Yellow Book auditing standards or the due process through which these standards are established. This is the first study to examine the complete set of comment letters for the 2010 and 2017 exposure drafts of government auditing standards.

Mulled US nuclear posture shift would lack credibility

2016 ◽  
Keyword(s):  
United States ◽  
Nuclear Weapons ◽  
Arms Control ◽  
The United States ◽  
Barack Obama ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Nuclear Arsenal ◽  
The Us ◽  
Nuclear Attack ◽  
And Shifts

Subject Potential US adoption of a 'no first use' nuclear weapons policy. Significance The administration of US President Barack Obama is reportedly considering the adoption of a 'no first use' nuclear weapons posture in his final months in office. A no first use policy would involve the United States declaring that it would only use its nuclear arsenal in response to a nuclear attack, never as a preliminary move in escalating tensions. This shift would be a significant departure from Washington's earlier posture, which maintained ambiguity as to whether nuclear weapons would be used in a hypothetical conventional attack on the United States or its allies. Impacts Arsenal upgrades and shifts in doctrine favouring tactical nuclear weapons would counteract the benefits of a restrained declaratory policy. Technological breakthroughs with hypersonic missiles are likely to undermine existing legal and diplomatic arms control arrangements. Obama may take up the pursuit of nuclear arms reductions with an ex-president's public profile. Eastern NATO allies will react strongly against any hint that their security does not fall under the US nuclear umbrella.

Next US president will confront nuclear disorder

2016 ◽  
Keyword(s):  
United States ◽  
National Security ◽  
The United States ◽  
Barack Obama ◽  
Presidential Transition ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Nuclear Policy ◽  
The Us ◽  
Nuclear Response

Significance As Barack Obama eyes the January 2017 presidential transition, Washington's decades-long goal of a stable global nuclear order appears to be under threat from multiple quarters. Obama was mulling a US nuclear posture shift in August, whereby he would declare that the United States would only launch its nuclear deterrent in response to a nuclear strike by an adversary, ruling out a nuclear response to a conventional attack on US or allied forces. Impacts Deviation by Washington from support of disarmament and existing legal instruments could strain ties with some US allies. Trump's unorthodox positions on nuclear policy will promote defections by national security Republicans to Clinton's camp. A candidate's campaign trail rhetoric is likely to influence the credibility of the US nuclear deterrent once in office.

New leadership will not unify US House Republicans

2015 ◽  
Keyword(s):  
Research Funding ◽  
Barack Obama ◽  
Short Term ◽  
Content Type ◽  
The Us ◽  
Science And Research ◽  
Government Shutdown

Significance Boehner's successor will head a fractious caucus divided between 'establishment' Republicans and the hardliner conservatives. Congress narrowly averted a government shutdown by passing a continuing resolution (CR) on September 30 providing funding at current levels through December 11. However, President Barack Obama has stated that he will not support further short-term funding bills and has yet to negotiate a 2016 budget with congressional leaders. Impacts Canada will benefit as a trading power from continued closure of the US Export-Import Bank. US science and research funding will likely continue to be constrained by Washington budget battles. A spending confrontation in December may pose the risk of another government shutdown.

Firms’ net-zero plans are key to meeting climate goals

2020 ◽  
Keyword(s):  
Financial Stability ◽  
Stress Test ◽  
Ghg Emissions ◽  
Paris Agreement ◽  
Content Type ◽  
The United Kingdom ◽  
Climate Targets ◽  
Net Zero ◽  
The Us ◽  
The Impact

Significance To achieve the 2015 Paris agreement climate targets, greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions must be net-zero by 2050. While the Paris agreement was a commitment by governments, businesses account for a substantial proportion of emissions. Firms have often had to plan without clear government guidance. Impacts The Network of Central Banks for Greening the Financial System has 83 members; the US Fed joining this month may give the scheme impetus. The United Kingdom, euro-area and Australia plan to stress test the impact of climate change on financial stability; others may follow. Banks will target net-zero emissions by 2050 from loans, deals and operations; Barclays, HSBC and JP Morgan have made plans since October. Better tools to measure the emissions indirectly produced or financed by firms will help executives adopt more targeted strategies.

US arms sale to Taiwan will have limited impact

2015 ◽  
Keyword(s):  
South China Sea ◽  
South China ◽  
Barack Obama ◽  
The South China Sea ◽  
Arms Sales ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Limited Impact ◽  
China Sea ◽  
The Us ◽  
Economic Engagement

Subject US arms sales to Taiwan. Significance The administration of US President Barack Obama announced on December 16 an arms package for Taiwan totalling 1.83 billion dollars. It is the first major sale to Taiwan in more than four years. China condemned the sale, as it always does, and threatened sanctions against US defence contractors. Impacts The weapons sale will not cause a major rift between Washington and Beijing, despite other points of tension such as the South China Sea. Beijing may see the lack of 'offensive capabilities' in the US package as evidence that putting pressure on Washington works. Beijing will focus disapproval on Washington and ignore Taipei's role because its priority is deepening cross-Strait economic engagement. Congress would back larger arms sales by a more hawkish president, but precedent suggests consistency between governments of both parties.

From green buildings to green supply chains

2017 ◽  
Vol 28 (4) ◽  
pp. 532-548 ◽  
Author(s):  
N. Muhammad Aslaam Mohamed Abdul Ghani ◽  
Gokhan Egilmez ◽  
Murat Kucukvar ◽  
M. Khurrum S. Bhutta
Keyword(s):  
Sustainable Development ◽  
Supply Chain ◽  
Life Cycle ◽  
Supply Chains ◽  
Ghg Emissions ◽  
Industrial Building ◽  
Building Structures ◽  
Building Stock ◽  
Content Type ◽  
The Us

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to focus on tracing GHG emissions across the supply chain industries associated with the US residential, commercial and industrial building stock and provides optimized GHG reduction policy plans for sustainable development. Design/methodology/approach A two-step hierarchical approach is developed. First, Economic Input-Output-based Life Cycle Assessment (EIO-LCA) is utilized to quantify the GHG emissions associated with the US residential, commercial and industrial building stock. Second, a mixed integer linear programming (MILP) based optimization framework is developed to identify the optimal GHG emissions’ reduction (percent) for each industry across the supply chain network of the US economy. Findings The results indicated that “ready-mix concrete manufacturing”, “electric power generation, transmission and distribution” and “lighting fixture manufacturing” sectors were found to be the main culprits in the GHG emissions’ stock. Additionally, the majorly responsible industries in the supply chains of each building construction categories were also highlighted as the hot-spots in the supply chains with respect to the GHG emission reduction (percent) requirements. Practical implications The decision making in terms of construction-related expenses and energy use options have considerable impacts across the supply chains. Therefore, regulations and actions should be re-organized around the systematic understanding considering the principles of “circular economy” within the context of sustainable development. Originality/value Although the literature is abundant with works that address quantifying environmental impacts of building structures, environmental life cycle impact-based optimization methods are scarce. This paper successfully fills this gap by integrating EIO-LCA and MILP frameworks to identify the most pollutant industries in the supply chains of building structures.

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