Have we failed to slow global warming pollution in part because climate and environmental activists have been too polite and well behaved?

Climate change is a global issue - from the point of view of the Earth's climate, a molecule of CO2 emitted in Bejing is the same as a molecule emitted in Sydney.

In the world of energy politics, the sudden vanishing of the word 'coal' is a remarkable and unprecedented event.

In reality, Republicans have long been at war with clean energy. They have ridiculed investments in solar and wind power, bashed energy-efficiency standards, attacked state moves to promote renewable energy and championed laws that would enshrine taxpayer subsidies for fossil fuels while stripping them from wind and solar.

So if you want to know how Exxon Mobil can make $10 billion profit in 90 days, just look around. The whole world was built for them.

In reality, studies show that investments to spur renewable energy and boost energy efficiency generate far more jobs than oil and coal.

If you think Wall Street firms have it good, you haven't looked closely at Big Oil.