What's New List Serve Post Display

CARB Newsclips for March 30, 2017. 

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.

CARB BUSINESS

The Air Resources Board (ARB or Board) will conduct a public
meeting at the time and place noted below to consider Truck Field
Enforcement Activities and New Screening Technology for High
Emitting Vehicles.

DATE:  	April 27, 2017
TIME:  	9:00 a.m.
LOCATION: 	California Environmental Protection Agency
          		Air Resources Board
         		Byron Sher Auditorium, 2nd Floor
          		1001 I Street
          		Sacramento, California 95814

WEBCAST: http://www.cal-span.org/   

Air Resources Board staff have posted a white paper on the health
benefits of physical activity and air pollution exposure while
walking and bicycling for transportation.  
Download the White Paper:
https://www.arb.ca.gov/research/vprp/physical_activity_and_health_final_161216.pdf
 

For more information, including the White Paper and other
resources, visit our Built Environment webpage:
https://www.arb.ca.gov/research/vprp/vprp.htm   

A fact sheet summarizing this document can be found here:
https://www.arb.ca.gov/html/fact_sheets/physical_activity_fact_sheet.pdf


CAP AND TRADE

Despite long odds, experts game carbon-pricing scenarios. What's
the best way to build support for pricing carbon when the
president calls climate change a hoax? One answer: Make sure it
raises a lot of money. A group of experts from across the
political spectrum met yesterday at the conservative Hoover
Institution to put odds on passing a carbon tax in a political
atmosphere of open climate skepticism under President Trump.
http://www.eenews.net/climatewire/2017/03/30/stories/1060052338 

AIR POLLUTION

Study: Dirty air from global trade kills at home and abroad. A
study that measures the human toll of air pollution from global
manufacturing and trade shows how buying goods made far away can
lead to premature deaths both there and close to home. More than
750,000 people die prematurely from dirty air every year that is
generated by making goods in one location that will be sold
elsewhere…
http://www.denverpost.com/2017/03/30/dirty-air-global-trade-kills/


Here’s how air pollution kills 3,450,000 people a year. Coal is
costly. Air Pollution kills. A study released yesterday in the
journal Nature found that in 2007, air pollution lead to the
premature deaths of 3.45 million people worldwide—a number
equivalent to the population of the state of Connecticut. And to
add insult to injury, air pollution doesn’t respect borders.
http://www.popsci.com/air-pollution-death#page-2 

Pollution scientists fear 'collateral damage' of climate purge.
It's morning rush hour in January, and two Ph.D. students at
Carnegie Mellon University are trundling into the Breathemobile,
a van specially outfitted as a mobile laboratory, to study
Pittsburgh's air pollution. For the next few hours, the pair will
drive in 1-square-kilometer loops around parts of the city, using
specialized equipment to collect data on gaseous pollutants…
http://www.eenews.net/climatewire/2017/03/30/stories/1060052336 

CLIMATE CHANGE

Apple, Wal-Mart Stick With Climate Pledges Despite Trump’s Pivot.
Many of America’s biggest corporations including Apple Inc. and
Wal-Mart Stores Inc. are sticking by their pledges to fight
climate change even as President Donald Trump guts his
predecessor’s environmental policies. Companies say their
pledges, coordinated by the Obama administration, reflect their
push to cut energy costs…
https://www.bloomberg.com/politics/articles/2017-03-30/apple-wal-mart-stick-with-climate-pledges-despite-trump-s-pivot


The White House’s claim that the carbon emissions rule ‘could
cost up to $39 billion a year’. President Trump has started
rolling back Obama-era environmental protections, including
directing federal regulators to rewrite federal rules to reduce
carbon emissions. The Clean Power Plan, a flagship environmental
regulatory rule…
https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/fact-checker/wp/2017/03/30/the-white-houses-claim-that-the-carbon-emissions-rule-could-cost-up-to-39-billion-a-year/?utm_term=.60d5f0dd3b5c


China Poised to Take Lead on Climate After Trump’s Move to Undo
Policies. For years, the Obama administration prodded, cajoled
and beseeched China to make commitments to limit the use of
fossil fuels to try to slow the global effects of climate change.
President Obama and other American officials saw the pledges from
both Beijing and Washington as crucial: China is the largest
emitter of greenhouse gases, followed by the United States.
https://www.nytimes.com/2017/03/29/world/asia/trump-climate-change-paris-china.html?ref=energy-environment&_r=0


Climate change on exhibit at two Chicago museums. t a museum on
the South Side of Chicago, newly mounted photographs and video
detail the disappearance, due to rising temperatures, of glaciers
that are hundreds of years old. It's a breathtaking display of
natural beauty, fading. At one on the North Side, a new exhibit
demonstrates the effects of climate change on our homes and
surroundings.
http://www.chicagotribune.com/entertainment/museums/ct-climate-change-exhibitions-ent-0330-20170329-story.html


In Setback for Exxon, Texas Judge Kicks Climate Change Case to
New York.
The oil company loses its home court advantage before a
sympathetic judge who has voiced skepticism over the climate
fraud investigations by state attorneys general. A federal judge
handling ExxonMobil's dispute with the attorneys general of New
York and Massachusetts has transferred the case about climate
change from his court in Texas to one in New York.
https://insideclimatenews.org/news/30032017/exxonmobil-climate-change-research-ny-attorney-general-investigation


Climate change: China calls US 'selfish' after Trump seeks to
bring back coal. State-run tabloid says Beijing cannot fill
vacuum left by US and urges west to pressure Trump on global
warming. Chinese state media has lambasted Donald Trump’s efforts
to roll back many Obama-era environmental regulations, with a
state-run tabloid saying that:
https://www.theguardian.com/world/2017/mar/30/climate-change-china-us-selfish-trump-coal


'Climate change is real': companies challenge Trump's reversal of
policy. Mars Inc, Staples, The Gap and others speak out against
Trump’s sweeping executive order that begins to dismantle Obama’s
Clean Power Plan.
https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2017/mar/29/climate-change-companies-challenge-trump-mars-staples-gap


On balance, the world wants Trump to stay. The world is prepared
to put up with quite a lot to keep the United States in the Paris
climate deal. If White House officials who want the United States
to remain part of the 2015 agreement prevail in what appears to
be an ongoing tug of war within the administration, the trade-off
is likely to be weaker emissions commitments…
http://www.eenews.net/climatewire/2017/03/30/stories/1060052328 

DROUGHT

South African government says El Nino drought likely in 2017.
Drought conditions associated with an El Nino weather pattern are
likely to reoccur in a few months’ time, the South African
government said on Thursday."Recurrence of El Niño drought
conditions likely ... The next summer season has increased the
likelihood for the development of El Nino conditions which are
often associated with drought…
http://af.reuters.com/article/topNews/idAFKBN1712DI-OZATP  

DIESEL ACTIVITIES

Blue Bird Vision school bus receives EPA, CARB certifications.
The Blue Bird Vision Gasoline bus recently received full
certification from both the Environmental Protection Agency and
California Air Resources Board, the company announced. The Blue
Bird Vision Gasoline bus is certified to the federal standard of
0.20 nitrogen oxide emissions.
http://fleetowner.com/running-green/blue-bird-vision-school-bus-receives-epa-carb-certifications
 
FUELS

Calif. Democrats propose $52B gas tax, fee repair package.
California Democrats want to hike fuel taxes and car registration
fees and charge zero-emissions vehicle owners $100 per year to
fund $52.4 billion in transportation fixes. Gov. Jerry Brown (D)
and Democratic leaders yesterday announced they'd reached an
agreement to support a deal after two years of effort.
http://www.eenews.net/greenwire/2017/03/30/stories/1060052343 

VEHICLES

Sacramento tries to fend off L.A. in race for $44 million from VW
to boost electric cars. The money is practically within
Sacramento’s grasp – a $44 million jackpot, funded by Volkswagen
to help make amends for an air-pollution scandal, to promote the
use of electric cars within the city. California’s other polluted
communities aren’t just letting Sacramento walk away with the
cash, however.
http://www.sacbee.com/news/local/transportation/article141589699.html#storylink=cpy


VW RECALL

Volkswagen says U.S. approves sale of modified diesel vehicles.
Volkswagen AG (VOWG_p.DE) said the U.S. Environmental Protection
Agency has approved its request to sell up to 67,000 diesel
vehicles from the 2015 model year, including about 12,000
currently in dealer inventory with approved emissions
modifications. The vehicles in inventory were held when the
company issued a stop sale in September 2015…
http://www.reuters.com/article/us-volkswagen-emissions-idUSKBN17102C


Volkswagen agrees to pay $157M to settle 10 state's emission
claims. Volkswagen, Audi, and Porsche Thursday agreed to pay $157
million to 10 states to settle lawsuits against them over
emissions violations. New York will receive $32.5 million of the
settlement, which was filed in U.S. District Court in California,
state Attorney General Eric Schneiderman announced. The car
companies are said to have secretly …
http://www.nydailynews.com/new-york/volkswagen-pay-157m-settle-10-state-emission-claims-article-1.3013840


A.G. Schneiderman Announces Volkswagen To Pay New York $32.5
Million For Emissions Violations. Attorney General Eric T.
Schneiderman announced today that Volkswagen AG, Audi AG and
Porsche AG, as well as their American subsidiaries, have agreed
to pay over $157 million to ten states – including $32.5 million
to New York – to settle the environmental lawsuits first filed
last summer by New York and Massachusetts challenging the
companies’…
http://www.longisland.com/news/03-30-17/ag-schneiderman-announces-volkswagen-to-pay-new-york-325-million-for-emissions-violations.html


GREEN ENERGY

Northeast needs more land for wind, solar to flourish — study.
Clean energy goals in more than a half-dozen Northeastern states
may flounder unless regulators, elected officials and developers
do more to mollify political opposition and build rural public
support for wind and solar farms, a new analysis has found.
http://www.eenews.net/climatewire/2017/03/30/stories/1060052340 

MISCELLANEOUS

EPA chief, rejecting agency’s own analysis, declines to ban
pesticide despite health concerns. The new head of the
Environmental Protection Agency refused Wednesday to ban a
commonly used pesticide that the Obama administration had sought
to outlaw based on mounting concerns about its risks to human
health. The chemical compound chlorpyrifos, also known as
Lorsban, has been used by farmers for more than a half-century to
kill pests on crops.
https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/energy-environment/wp/2017/03/29/trump-epa-declines-to-ban-pesticide-that-obama-had-proposed-outlawing/?utm_term=.bbb8d5afa36f

https://www.nytimes.com/2017/03/29/us/politics/epa-insecticide-chlorpyrifos.html?_r=4

http://www.latimes.com/business/la-fi-pesticide-epa-201703230-story.html

http://www.mercurynews.com/2017/03/29/epa-refuses-to-ban-controversial-pesticide-popular-in-california/

http://www.sacbee.com/news/local/environment/article141697754.html
 

OPINIONS

Magical thinking won’t reverse climate change.  California Air
Resources Board Chairwoman Mary Nichols asked an excellent
question of automakers the other day. “What were you thinking
when you threw yourselves upon the mercy of the Trump
administration to try to solve your problems?” she asked
representatives of foreign and domestic automakers. It’s a
question we ask, too.
http://www.sacbee.com/opinion/editorials/article141358968.html#storylink=cpy

California will fight to keep our air clean.  Mary Nichols,
chairwoman of the California Air Resources Board, asked an
excellent question of automakers the other day. “What were you
thinking when you threw yourselves upon the mercy of the Trump
administration to try to solve your problems?” she asked those
representing foreign and domestic carmakers.
http://www.mercedsunstar.com/opinion/editorials/article141581744.html#storylink=cpy

Editorial: California must put brakes on VW’s EV plan. The
California Air Resources Board needs to put the brakes on
Volkswagen’s plan for spending the $800 million settlement of its
diesel emissions scandal. CARB admitted earlier this year that
the disgraced automaker will be allowed to use the settlement to
make a profit.
http://www.mercurynews.com/2017/03/29/editorial-california-must-put-brakes-on-vws-ev-plan/


Trump’s Pro-Coal Orders Are Doomed to Fail. Donald Trump signed
an executive order at the Environmental Protection Agency to undo
widely-supported Obama-era climate policies. The Trump
Administration is also seeking a 31 percent cut to the EPA’s
budget and to eliminate most climate research programs at the
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.
http://time.com/4709796/trump-epa-climate-fossil-fuels/?xid=homepage

Alan Stahler: Where did that drought come from? That was one
hairy drought, not so long ago. Could it be pinned on our
changing climate, or was it another example of the climate's
usual twists and turns, its natural variability? I spoke recently
with Richard Seager (Lamont-Doherty Earth Observatory, Columbia
University). Seager is lead author of a paper, "Causes of the
2011-14 California Drought," published in the Journal of Climate.
http://www.theunion.com/entertainment/alan-stahler-where-did-that-drought-come-from/


States to Trump: We’re Not Backing Down on Climate, Clean Air.
Last week the California Air Resources Board unanimously voted to
finalize new regulations to reduce oil and gas methane emissions.
This is the first major environmental regulation that has been
issued since the new Administration took office, and sends a
clear message that states aren’t going to take the new
administrations attacks on the environment lying down.
http://www.theenergycollective.com/edfenergyex/2401399/states-trump-not-backing-climate-clean-air


Trust No One. Without public notice, in the absence of any staff
analysis, contrary to the direction of the South Coast Air
Quality Management District, the California Air Resources Board
(CARB) adopted a resolution that will drive up the cost of
delivering goods to market and harm the competitiveness of
California’s ports. On Thursday, March 23rd, following the
closure of public comments, the CARB Board adopted a resolution
that will require moving forward…
http://www.foxandhoundsdaily.com/2017/03/trust-no-one/ 

BLOGS

Air Resources Board Releases White Paper on Health Benefits of
Activity. Ah, yes, the ideal way to get some of that healthy
physical activity: clean air, a park, a safe bike path. Not
coincidentally, the happy family in the image is white. Ah, yes,
the ideal way to get some of that healthy physical activity:
clean air, a park, a safe bike path.
http://cal.streetsblog.org/2017/03/29/air-resources-board-releases-white-paper-on-health-benefits-of-activity/


Volkswagen approved to sell repaired 2015 diesels, but will
anyone want them? Volkswagen has been prohibited from selling
diesel vehicles in the U.S. since news of its
emissions-test-cheating fiasco first broke in September 2015.
According to company spokesperson Jeannine Ginivan, however,
that's about to change. Well, sort of. Don't get too excited just
yet, diesel fans.
http://www.thecarconnection.com/news/1109643_volkswagen-approved-to-sell-repaired-2015-diesels-but-will-anyone-want-them


NY reaps $32.5M in multi-state settlement with Volkswagen. New
York will receive $32.5 million as part of a 10-state $157
million settlement with Volkswagen AG and others over use of
“defeat device” software that helped vehicles pass emissions
tests when they actually were spewing out more emissions than the
tests showed.
http://blog.timesunion.com/capitol/archives/273578/ny-reaps-32-5m-in-multi-state-settlement-with-volkswagen/



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