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newsclips -- ARB Newsclips for July 7, 2015.
Posted: 07 Jul 2015 14:56:36
ARB Newsclips for July 7, 2015. This is a service of the California Air Resources Board’s Office of Communications. You may need to sign in or register with individual websites to view some of the following news articles. CAP AND TRADE EU politicians set to back carbon market 2019 reform start. The European Parliament on Wednesday is expected to back a 2019 start to reform of the world's largest emissions market in a step towards deeper change and higher carbon prices. The aim is make the EU Emissions Trading System strong enough to spur investment in lower-carbon energy and comes ahead of U.N. talks in Paris at the end of the year over a deal to curb global warming. http://uk.reuters.com/article/2015/07/07/eu-carbon-vote-idUKL8N0ZN19G20150707?feedType=RSS&feedName=rbssEnergyNews AkzoNobel’s Carbon Credits Methodology Wins Environmental Award. AkzoNobel’s carbon credits methodology for the shipping industry has won the Best Offsetting Project award in the 2015 Voluntary Carbon Market Rankings. The first of its kind within the shipping industry, the carbon credits methodology is based on ship owners converting existing vessels from a biocidal antifouling system to a premium… http://www.environmentalleader.com/2015/07/07/akzonobels-carbon-credits-methodology-wins-environmental-award/#ixzz3fEHV6VV5 AIR POLLUTION Climate law offers opportunity to curb traffic emissions – study. California policymakers are potentially missing an opportunity to reduce automobile pollution in their bid to slash greenhouse gas emissions, according to a study published today. The University of Southern California-led study published in the journal Environmental Health Perspectives says deaths linked to fine particle exposure… http://www.eenews.net/greenwire/2015/07/07/stories/1060021365 White House signals it doesn't consider wood energy carbon-neutral. White House has indicated that the administration does not support the claim that burning wood for energy results in net-zero carbon emissions, an issue that has deeply divided the forest industry and some environmental groups for years. In a June 23 veto threat to H.R. 2822, a House appropriations bill for U.S. EPA and the Department of the Interior… http://www.eenews.net/climatewire/2015/07/07/stories/1060021324 CLIMATE CHANGE US scientists: Warm oceans cause concern of coral bleaching. Abnormally warm ocean temperatures are creating conditions that threaten to kill coral across the equatorial Pacific, north Pacific and western Atlantic oceans, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration said Monday. Coral bleaching occurs when coral is stressed by changes in its environment, causing it to release algae living in its tissue. http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/stories/U/US_CORAL_BLEACHING?SITE=AP&SECTION=HOME&TEMPLATE=DEFAULT Carbon Tracker Sees $283 Billion of LNG Projects as Uneconomic. About $283 billion of liquefied natural gas projects may be surplus to requirements if the world is to keep carbon emissions below levels aimed at holding global warming to less than 2 degrees Celsius, the Carbon Tracker Initiative said. In the next decade, 16 of the 20 biggest LNG companies are studying major projects that probably won’t be needed… http://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2015-07-06/carbon-tracker-sees-283-billion-of-lng-projects-as-uneconomic http://www.eenews.net/climatewire/2015/07/07/stories/1060021349 Inside the fight against Obama's climate plan. Former Bush EPA official Jeff Holmstead explains where the coming Clean Power rules are vulnerable. President Barack Obama’s signature climate change rule is expected to land this summer, imposing the nation’s first-ever greenhouse gas limits on the electric utility industry— and Republicans and industry are already scrambling to kill it any way they can. http://www.politico.com/agenda/story/2015/07/inside-the-fight-against-obamas-climate-plan-000134 Climate change is a human rights issue, says UN. The UN's Human Rights Council (HRC) has unanimously adopted a new resolution that stresses the importance of addressing the impact of climate change on the human rights of some of the world's most vulnerable people. http://www.businessgreen.com/print_article/bg/news/2416599/climate-change-is-a-human-rights-issue-says-un Carbon emission cuts at a local level could avoid dangerous global warming. New Climate Economy report says local action is among measures that could make up shortfall in emissions cuts from pledges ahead of Paris summit. A landmark climate change conference in Paris this December has triggered commitments on carbon emissions curbs from most of the world’s major polluters… http://www.theguardian.com/environment/2015/jul/07/major-polluter-pledges-not-enough-to-meet-emissions-targets-says-report U.N. issues plans to lower risks of increasingly frequent heat waves. The United Nations has recommended ways for countries to limit the health risks of future heat waves. The guidelines, developed by the World Health Organization and the World Meteorological Organization, are the first of their kind from the agency. Their release coincided with the spread of scorching temperatures across Europe and Asia. http://www.eenews.net/climatewire/2015/07/07/stories/1060021323 Scientists warn that warming's effects on oceans are 'more severe' than predicted. A group of nearly two dozen scientists from nine different countries is trying to convince climate negotiators to give oceans a more prominent place on the international climate agenda in Paris this year by highlighting the effects of continued increases in carbon emissions on marine life. http://www.eenews.net/climatewire/2015/07/07/stories/1060021345 Climate change may not create as many hybrid species as previously thought – study. From the pizzly bear -- a mix of a polar bear and a grizzly -- to the coywolf -- a blend of Western coyote, wolf and domesticated dog -- hybridized animal species have captured the imagination of researchers and artists alike. As the climate changes, some scientists have projected an increase in the number of species that will mix and warned of a potentially devastating blow to biodiversity. http://www.eenews.net/climatewire/2015/07/07/stories/1060021348 DROUGHT Baja California farmers confront prospect of water shortage. Blocks from the U.S. border on a recent afternoon, inside a packed auditorium, the farmers' voices rose with their anxious questions. Water from the Colorado River has long been the lifeline for their fields of cotton, wheat and alfalfa, and they were learning about the probability of shortages. http://www.latimes.com/local/california/la-me-border-drought-watch-20150707-story.html Officials ease off on drawing down Folsom Lake. State water regulators have eased off on plans to draw down Folsom Lake to historically low levels this summer, responding to concerns from Sacramento area water agencies about the availability of supply, officials said Tuesday. http://www.sacbee.com/news/state/california/water-and-drought/article26662348.html#storylink=cpy San Leandro: Fire crews water lawns with buckets of water salvaged from broken main. Firefighters leaving the scene of a residential structure fire in San Leandro Monday evening stopped nearby to salvage water from a broken water main, according to a spokeswoman for the Alameda County Fire Department. http://www.contracostatimes.com/drought/ci_28445475/san-leandro-fire-crews-water-lawns-buckets-water California's drought -- from a farming perspective. Four years into California's drought, conditions have hit the state's farmers especially hard, prompting a revaluation of farming practices and, at times, innovation. In April, when California Gov. Jerry Brown called on residents to cut water use by 25 percent, they listened. In May, water use dropped almost 29 percent. The restrictions did not apply to farmers, however. http://www.scpr.org/programs/take-two/2015/07/06/43518/california-s-drought-from-a-farming-perspective/ California Looks To Australia For Drought Tips. As the drought continues, California is looking to Australia for ideas. The state signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the Australian state of Victoria to share knowledge and training in wildfire and flood management Monday. Mark Ghilarducci directs the California Governor’s Office of Emergency Services. He says Victoria weathered a 13-year drought and can teach California a few things. http://www.capradio.org/articles/2015/07/06/california-looks-to-australia-for-drought-tips/ Swat! The buzz on dry-weather mosquitoes. Alongside water rationing, lawn death and empty swimming pools, the ongoing drought brings a surprise guest: more mosquitoes. Phil Smith, district manager for Sonoma’s branch of the Marin/Sonoma Mosquito and Vector Control District, reports an unusually high number of the airborne nuisance in the county, saying that drought conditions exacerbate egg-laying due to conditions caused by lower water levels. http://www.sonomanews.com/news/4161639-181/swat-the-buzz-on-dry-weather#RggPKJXk4ksTIYg5.99 http://www.dailydemocrat.com/health/20150707/west-nile-virus-in-more-california-counties-this-season In water-gulping Palm Springs, the fountains are flowing. There was a sign in front of the "Rainmaker" fountain in this resort town on Monday afternoon: "This Fountain is Dry for the Drought. Saving Water is Mandatory." By the time you read this, that statement might not be true. The Palm Springs City Council voted unanimously last week to turn the city's fountains back on… http://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation/2015/07/07/palm-springs-decorate-fountains-california-drought/29803265/ Drought drives greater household use of gray water. Strands of silver hair fell into Annie Costanzo’s face as she wielded a sledgehammer against the brick walkway in her backyard. Plumes of dust and debris filled the air, and reddish-pink shards scattered in the wake of the 64-year-old sculptor’s latest water conservation project. http://www.lodinews.com/ap/nation/article_365a1684-24a6-11e5-85ec-10604b9f0f84.html Mapping drought's impact on electricity generation. Natural gas, wind and solar fill some of the hydropower deficit in California. The water-energy nexus spans the world of electricity generation and water movement, particularly in Western states. It takes water to produce steam for coal, natural gas and nuclear power plants, and they usually need water to cool them down. http://www.hcn.org/articles/hydropower-california-drought-water-energy-electricity-dams Committee to vote on drought, mining, public lands bills. House Republicans' latest contentious effort to free up water for California farmers and communities is slated for committee markup tomorrow. The House Natural Resources Committee will also vote on legislation to streamline mine permitting and a host of public lands bills. http://www.eenews.net/eedaily/stories/1060021340/search?keyword=california FUELS Crude oil tumbles 8 pct, points to low gas prices this fall. A slew of global economic and geopolitical factors are working to pummel the price of oil and set up U.S. drivers for very low gasoline prices later this year. The price of U.S. crude dropped 7.7 percent Monday to close at $52.53 a barrel and is now down nearly 15 percent from the high for the year set on June 10. http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/stories/U/US_OIL_PRICES?SITE=AP&SECTION=HOME&TEMPLATE=DEFAULT VEHICLES Detroit 3 seek EPA credits for paint, glass. Approval would help companies meet feds' stiffer emissions rules. When it comes to technologies used to clean up vehicle emissions, glass and paint might not be the first things that come to mind. But if they reflect rather than absorb the sun's infrared rays, a vehicle can stay cooler on a hot summer day. http://www.autonews.com/article/20150705/OEM11/307069961/detroit-3-seek-epa-credits-for-paint-glass GREEN ENERGY China Eyes Safe Smart-Grid System by 2020 to Push Clean Energy. China plans to build a safe and environmentally friendly smart-grid system by 2020 as it promotes the spread of clean energy. The nation will build long-distance transmission networks and active power distribution networks to fully use hydro power, wind and solar, according to a statement from the National Development and Reform Commission. http://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2015-07-07/china-eyes-safe-smart-grid-system-by-2020-to-push-clean-energy U.K. Energy Consumers Paying $1.9 Billion Too Much, CMA Says. British consumers would have saved 1.2 billion pounds ($1.9 billion) a year from 2009 to 2013 with more effective competition in the energy industry, according to the U.K.’s antitrust authority. Households could have saved as much as 160 pounds a year on gas and electricity by switching suppliers… http://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2015-07-07/u-k-biggest-energy-suppliers-escape-breakup-in-watchdog-review A Tale Of Renewable Energy Innovation Through Patents And Standards. It’s an exciting time to work in renewable energy. On a daily basis, we hear about new developments, ground-breaking innovations and unprecedented investment and deployment in the sector. Yesterday we learned that Bill Gates will invest US $2 Billion to spur renewable energy technology innovation… http://cleantechnica.com/2015/07/06/a-tale-of-renewable-energy-innovation-through-patents-and-standards/ OPINIONS Obama’s Renewable-Energy Fantasy. Bill Gates recently noted that the cost of decarbonization using today’s technology is ‘beyond astronomical.’ On June 30, one day after the Supreme Court struck down the Environmental Protection Agency’s regulation of mercury emissions from power plants, President Obama committed the United States to the goal of generating 20% of its electricity from renewable sources by 2030. http://www.wsj.com/articles/obamas-renewable-energy-fantasy-1436104555 Dan Walters: California struggling to solve transportation woes. The Legislature and Gov. Jerry Brown have passed a new state budget, and that's that, right? Not on your sweet bippy, to channel comedian Dick Martin. The Capitol's politicians left three major budgetary issues undone -- highway maintenance, financing for the Medi-Cal program, and spending $2-plus billion in "cap-and-trade" fees. http://www.mercurynews.com/opinion/ci_28445792/dan-walters-california-struggling-solve-transportation-woes http://www.modbee.com/opinion/state-issues/article26651713.html#storylink=cpy CASSIE MACDUFF: Moreno Valley leaders need to go slow on logistics center. Moreno Valley could get an iconic, landmark bridge over Highway 60 to serve the proposed World Logistics Center. Each distribution center in the massive, 40.6 million-square-foot complex could be built to the gold standard of energy efficiency, the developer promises. That’s wonderful. http://www.pe.com/articles/project-772523-city-air.html California Focus: Lawn replacement a mixed bag. Listen to water officials from Gov. Jerry Brown down to local officials and you’d think replacing lawns with drought-resistant plants or artificial turf is a pure good, no negatives involved. They know lawn replacement, often called “xeriscaping” because it can use cactuses and other desert plants, generally leads to at least a 30 percent cut in household water use. http://www.ukiahdailyjournal.com/opinion/20150707/california-focus-lawn-replacement-a-mixed-bag What climate change deniers and believers share: Column. If nature causes global warming, humans need to understand it better to defend Earth. Nature is holding us hostage. Unrelenting drought in the Southwest, storms of record strength across Texas — the signs are all around. Everyone wants to know: Where will nature strike next? Well, everyone except some in Congress. http://www.usatoday.com/story/opinion/2015/07/06/climate-change-congress-science-column/28936757/ Editorial: Time to Act Is Now — Finding Drought Solutions. One natural phenomenon is currently tying together people who inhabit points on the globe that are far-flung from each other, from the tiny island nations of the Caribbean to the nation-continent of Australia, from California to India. Drought. Many severely parched regions of the world are united by the overriding desire for relief from the affliction of hot and dry conditions. http://www.theledger.com/article/20150707/EDIT01/150709582/1036/edit Marin IJ Readers’ Forum for July 8. Drought should trigger construction moratorium. With all the discussion about drought restrictions, water conservation, traffic problems and over-development (WinCup, for instance), I find the absence of any discussion of a construction freeze puzzling. Considering the consensus that exists in our county that we don’t have enough water, space or infrastructural resources… http://www.marinij.com/opinion/20150707/marin-ij-readers-forum-for-july-8 Beware of the water police. This water thing is getting serious. I live in Valencia and Valencia Water Co., which provides my water, has informed its customers that come July 13 they will begin conducting “visual inspections” to ensure that people aren’t wasting water. Now I understand that we all need to cut back and I realize that water has become an increasingly precious resource as California grapples… http://www.sgvtribune.com/environment-and-nature/20150706/beware-of-the-water-police Inland Empire can be a leader in changing California’s landscape: Guest commentary. Five years ago, while serving as executive director of the Water Resources Institute at Cal State San Bernardino, I worked with San Bernardino Valley Municipal Water District to raise the funds and build a Water Conservation Demonstration Garden on the campus. http://www.sbsun.com/opinion/20150706/inland-empire-can-be-a-leader-in-changing-californias-landscape-guest-commentary BLOGS Avoiding a Climate Inferno. Current issue of Science features a short, but forceful editorial by the journal’s editor in chief, the geophysicist Marcia K. McNutt, calling for humanity, after decades of delay, to get serious about cutting greenhouse-gas emissions linked to global warming. “The time for debate has ended,” she writes. “Action is urgently needed… http://dotearth.blogs.nytimes.com/2015/07/07/avoiding-a-climate-inferno/?_r=0 Here’s The Most Lucrative Way to Fight Climate Change. A new report outlines how to grow the economy and stymie climate change at the same time. Economists, politicians and scientists have long debated how (and whether) climate change can be addressed without slowing the world economy. Now, a group of key business, finance and government leaders say they’ve identified a set of opportunities that are good for business… http://time.com/3946708/business-climate-change-economy/ Climate Change: Rising Temperatures Threaten Bird Biodiversity in Mexico. It turns out that rising temperatures may be threatening birds. Researchers have studied the gains and losses of populations of birds across Mexico in the 20th century and have found that climate change may be causing a loss of biodiversity. http://www.scienceworldreport.com/articles/27548/20150707/climate-change-rising-temperatures-threaten-bird-biodiversity-mexico.htm Florida has reduced carbon emissions by 20 percent since 2005, Bilirakis says. Republicans in Congress recently voted for legislation that would prevent the federal government from implementing new emissions regulations on power plants -- in part, some argue, because utilities are already cutting carbon levels on their own. http://www.politifact.com/florida/statements/2015/jul/07/gus-bilirakis/florida-has-reduced-its-carbon-emissions-20-percen/ Do Costs Matter When Climate Change Policies are Being Considered? Regardless of differences in opinion about approaches to combatting climate change, California decided in 2006 that the state would have a comprehensive greenhouse gas (GHG) reduction program. Now, nine years later, the AB 32 programs are beginning to take effect and having a financial impact. http://www.foxandhoundsdaily.com/2015/07/do-costs-matter-when-climate-change-policies-are-being-considered/ The state creating the most green jobs is...Georgia? An unlikely political alliance in the Peach State has produced a big spike in solar projects. Green employment in the U.S. is tiny, but it keeps picking up steam. In the first three months of 2015, about 40 new renewable energy and clean transportation projects were launched in 19 states, creating more than 9,800 jobs. http://fortune.com/2015/07/07/green-jobs-georgia/ They've Seen Lots of Droughts, But This One's Different. This time, crispy lawns, short showers, and unflushed toilets may be the new normal. If that fails? “Beat everyone to Oregon,” one Californian says. In the drought-plagued suburbs east of San Francisco Bay, John Baker watches his home’s water meter more closely than his TV. Having lived through two other major droughts over the past four decades… http://news.nationalgeographic.com/2015/07/150706-drought-california-water-conservation-environment/?rptregcta=reg_free_np&rptregcampaign=2015012_invitation_ro_all# Knee-jerk reactions. The California drought continues to make headlines as the regulators sort through what will be the final water-use restrictions for the state as a whole and for each water district in particular. What we have seen so far, as usual with regulation, it’s not based on science, but based on emotion. No big surprise. Emotion is short term. http://www.golfcourseindustry.com/gci0715-water-regulations-sprinklers-metering.aspx California town conserves too much water, dumps 500k gallons amid drought. The mayor of Poway, California has admitted that 500,000 gallons of water were wasted based on an unsafe chemical imbalance despite the town's successful conservation efforts during historic drought conditions. Poway Mayor Steve Vaus said that in the month of May, the town conserved water by about 45 percent, which is well ahead of state-mandated savings. http://rt.com/usa/271969-water-wasted-drought-california/ California is in a drought emergency. Visit www.SaveOurH2O.org for water conservation tips.