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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.