Main content

Trump vs Obama Standoff On Energy

Big changes in US energy policy coming both on renewables and offshore drilling.

President-elect Trump's views on climate change may not be clear - but his nominations for key cabinet posts may help clarify matters - the proposed heads of the Environmental Protection Agency and the Department of Energy have both previously called for the departments they're about to lead to be abolished. Perhaps surprisingly, its the nominee for Secretary of State, Rex Tillerson - currently CEO of Exxon Mobil, one of world's largest oil companies - who does accept that man-made climate change is a reality. Environmental campaigners in America are now placing their hopes on individual states legislating to protect against climate change. We have a special report on the difficulties facing the solar power sector in Arizona. Meanwhile, President Obama has banned offshore oil drilling in Arctic and north Atlantic waters, in one of his final environmental acts before leaving the White House.

The upper house of Pakistan's parliament has recommended scrapping the country's 5-thousand rupee banknote in an attempt to stamp out corruption and encourage tax payment. Similar moves in India and Venezuela have caused widespread chaos. The Pakistani note is a higher value one - it's worth nearly 50 US dollars - and it would be phased out over a three to five year period.

The Star Wars spin-off Rogue One has scored the second-best December opening ever - netting 290 million dollars in estimated ticket sales worldwide.

There's presidential souvenir transition underway in Washington as store owners look to sell off Obama memorabilia to make room for Trump.

And we have a special report on the dying business opportunities afforded by typewriters in Myanmar. Many people still rely on the machines to make a living - but as change creeps into the country numbers are dwindling and the few Burmese who have stuck with them are struggling to survive.

Fergus Nicoll is joined by guests on each side of the Pacific - Nicole Childers, senior producer for Marketplace Morning and Tech Reports, in Los Angeles, and the economist and journalist Paranjoy Guha Thakurta in Mumbai.

(Picture: Heliostats at the Ivanpah Solar Electric Generating System - Picture credit: Reuters)

Available now

50 minutes

Last on

Wed 21 Dec 2016 01:06GMT

Broadcast

  • Wed 21 Dec 2016 01:06GMT

Podcast