What's New List Serve Post Display

ARB Newsclips for July 5, 2016. 

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.

AIR POLLUTION

London Mayor Beefs Up Pollution Plan With Charge on Diesel. The
dirtiest cars and trucks driving through London face tougher
penalties starting next year after Mayor Sadiq Khan unveiled
plans to crack down on air pollution.  Khan, who was elected in
May, asked industry and consumers for their views on a plan to
extend a surcharge on emissions.
http://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2016-07-05/london-mayor-beefs-up-pollution-plan-with-new-charge-on-diesel


Research from Sweden finds a link between air pollution and
mental disorders in young people. For years, science has known
that pollution from smokestacks and exhaust pipes can promote
diseases, including heart disease and asthma. Now, researchers in
Sweden say polluted air also appears to be bad for mental health.
The researchers came to their findings by cross-referencing
pollution exposure with a registry of dispensed psychiatric
medication for children and adolescents in Sweden.
http://www.pri.org/stories/2016-07-03/research-sweden-finds-link-between-air-pollution-and-mental-disorders-young


CLIMATE CHANGE

First 6 Months of 2016 Hottest Ever Recorded in New Zealand. Ski
fields are struggling to open and winter electricity consumption
is down in New Zealand after the first six months of 2016 proved
to be the hottest start to a year that scientists have ever
recorded. Temperatures in the South Pacific nation were 1.4
degrees Celsius (2.5 Fahrenheit) above the long-term average for
the first half of the year…
http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/stories/A/AS_NEW_ZEALAND_RECORD_TEMPERATURES?SITE=AP&SECTION=HOME&TEMPLATE=DEFAULT


Climate change: the missing issue of the 2016 campaign.
The race for the White House is failing to grapple with the key
issues of the day, especially the urgent need to combat climate
change before atmospheric changes become irreversible, a slice of
the American electorate believes. As the primary election season
turns toward a head-to-head between Hillary Clinton and Donald
Trump, there is increasing anger and frustration over the nature
of the contest.
https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2016/jul/05/climate-change-voters-2016-election-issues


This new Antarctica study is bad news for climate change
doubters. For a number of years now, climate change skeptics have
argued that there’s a key part of the Earth’s climate system that
upends our expectations about global warming, and that is showing
trends that actually cut in the opposite direction. This supposed
contrary indicator is the sea ice that rings the Antarctic
continent, and that reached a new all-time record extent of  7.78
million square miles in September 2014 (see above). As that
record suggests…
https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/energy-environment/wp/2016/07/05/this-new-antarctica-study-is-bad-news-for-climate-change-doubters/


Climate Change Could Alter Interactions among Species. From
plants and crustaceans to birds and mammals, species across the
food chain in the United Kingdom are shifting how they respond to
seasonal changes, and British researchers say climate change is a
major reason why. Stephen Thackeray, a lake ecologist at the
Centre for Ecology & Hydrology in Lancaster, England, said not
all species were responding to environmental changes in the same
way.
http://www.scientificamerican.com/article/climate-change-could-alter-interactions-among-species/


Piles of Dirty Secrets Behind a Model ‘Clean Coal’ Project.
The fortress of steel and concrete towering above the pine forest
here is a first-of-its-kind power plant that was supposed to
prove that “clean coal” was not an oxymoron — that it was
possible to produce electricity from coal in a way that emits far
less pollution, and to turn a profit while doing so. The plant
was not only a central piece of the Obama administration’s
climate plan…
http://www.nytimes.com/2016/07/05/science/kemper-coal-mississippi.html?_r=0


It isn't easy being green -- just ask those who are. How small
must a climate scientist's carbon footprint be? How about a
celebrity who calls for environmental protection? Or a
politician? Champions of the environment say they try to practice
what they preach. But they also argue that demanding proof of
eco-purity is a smokescreen used by climate skeptics and
irrelevant to the larger issue of…
http://www.eenews.net/climatewire/2016/07/05/stories/1060039776 

DROUGHT

California Drought Update: There’s Good News, And Bad. When it
comes to California's ongoing drought, there's good news and bad
news. While the level of statewide drought has been decreasing
over the past year, La Niña predictions suggest California could
be in for more dryness in the near future. The latest numbers
from the U.S. Drought Monitor show less drought throughout the
state today compared to the same time last year.
http://www.kpbs.org/news/2016/jul/04/california-drought-update-theres-good-news-and-bad/



FUELS

California orders oil refineries to justify high gasoline prices.
California has demanded records from oil refiners to explain why
gasoline prices in the state are among the highest in the
country. Refiners Chevron Corp., Exxon Mobil Corp., Valero Energy
Corp. and Tesoro Corp. confirmed Thursday that they had received
subpoenas from California Attorney General Kamala Harris
requesting information about fuel supplies…
http://www.digitaljournal.com/life/travel/california-orders-oil-refineries-to-justify-high-gasoline-prices/article/469010#ixzz4DYc2Z3wj
 


VW RECALL

What you need to know about the Volkswagen settlement.
By now you've probably heard how automaker Volkswagen was hit
with a pretty hefty fine - to the tune of $14.7 billion. The
settlement stems from allegations the German automaker cheated to
pass U.S. emissions tests on its diesel vehicles, along with
deceiving customers. If you or a family member own one of these
vehicles, you probably have several questions.
http://www.sacbee.com/news/news-services/article87550262.html 

Volkswagen: No Diesel Emissions Damage Settlement For Europe.
Volkswagen's helm recently stated that no compensation will reach
European customers who were affected by the "Dieselgate"
emissions scandal. In the United States, the carmaker already
signed a $14.7 billion settlement with a group that includes the
Environmental Protection Agency, car owners'…
http://www.techtimes.com/articles/168347/20160704/volkswagen-no-diesel-emissions-damage-settlement-for-europe.htm
 

Mueller: Volkswagen to produce 'green vehicles'. Matthias
Mueller, chief executive of Volkswagen, announced plans to launch
30 all-electric models and reduce cost. The announcement has been
made by the company months after being under the constant scanner
and suffering at the hands of its ‘diesel scandal.’ Mueller said
VW aimed to "transform its core automotive business or, to put it
another way…
http://www.bignewsnetwork.com/news/245068143/mueller-volkswagen-to-produce-green-vehicles

GREEN ENERGY

Waging America’s Wars Using Renewable Energy. A major player in
U.S. renewable energy happens to be a five-sided building in
Virginia usually associated with deployment of power rather than
consumption of it. The U.S. Department of Defense is the
second-largest buyer of renewable electricity through deals meant
to lock in long-term supply and provide incentives to developers
of wind and solar
projects…http://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2016-07-05/waging-america-s-wars-using-renewable-energy


Why California is lagging behind the rest of the country when it
comes to offshore wind farms.
As offshore wind farms gain momentum in the U.S., the industry
predicts a clean-energy bonanza from the West Coast's steady and
powerful breezes that may go a long way to help the state meet
its ambitious clean energy mandates. But reaping the wind off
California’s coast must first overcome…
http://www.latimes.com/business/la-fi-offshore-wind-20160703-snap-story.html


Google Inching Closer to Fulfilling its Renewable Energy Goals.
Google says that it is inching closer to energy and climate goals
— that its recent purchase of an additional 236 megawatts from
two wind farms in Norway and Sweden will help it fully power its
data centers with green energy. In a blog, it says that last year
it bought 842 megawatts of renewable energy. “These new Nordic
power purchase agreements complement our three other…
https://www.environmentalleader.com/2016/07/05/google-inching-closer-to-fulfilling-its-renewable-energy-goals/


OPINIONS

Why California is lagging behind the rest of the country when it
comes to offshore wind farms.  As offshore wind farms gain
momentum in the U.S., the industry predicts a clean-energy
bonanza from the West Coast's steady and powerful breezes that
may go a long way to help the state meet its ambitious clean
energy mandates.But reaping the wind off California’s coast must
first overcome not only economic…
http://www.latimes.com/business/la-fi-offshore-wind-20160703-snap-story.html


California should take the lead on protecting tropical forests.
In Sacramento, an opportunity is pending that could make a huge
difference to achieving climate stability and sustainable
development goals on a global scale. California could take the
lead in demonstrating an innovative approach to reducing tropical
deforestation. And the benefits would accrue not only to the
people who live in or near tropical forests, and not…
http://www.latimes.com/world/global-development/la-fg-global-tropical-forests-oped-snap-story.html


California must offer more to reach electric vehicle goals.
Californians who want to drive a zero-emission vehicle have never
had it better. Consumers have more choices from more
manufacturers than ever before. They can choose battery power, a
plug-in hybrid or a hydrogen fuel cell vehicle. ZEVs come in all
sizes and cost less than $30,000 or more than $100,000. But of
the more than 2 million new vehicles that will be registered in
California this year…
http://www.sacbee.com/opinion/op-ed/soapbox/article87262582.html


BLOGS

Jerry Brown will try end run to extend state’s war on carbon.
Gov. Jerry Brown, stymied in the Legislature, will attempt to
extend the state’s crackdown on carbon emissions into the next
decade by decree. Late Friday, Brown’s Air Resources Board
dispatched a memo declaring that it would unveil a draft of new
regulations next Tuesday, extending its troubled cap-and-trade
program and other elements of the campaign beyond 2020.
http://www.sacbee.com/news/politics-government/politics-columns-blogs/dan-walters/article87751372.html#storylink=cpy


Why We Need a New Clean Air Act for the 21st Century. Sixty years
ago today the Clean Air Act came into force. It was a landmark in
public health legislation, clearing the air in our capital city
by banishing coal burning in certain zones. Four years earlier,
Londoners had choked during the ‘great smog’ of December 52.
http://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/mary-creagh/air-pollution-clean-air-act_b_10802954.html



California is in a drought emergency.
Visit www.SaveOurH2O.org for water conservation tips.