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UN CLIMATE TALKS

Gambia Ahead in Preparation for UN Climate Change Meeting.
The minister of Environment, Climate Change, Water, Forestry and
Wildlife said The Gambia has completed the preparation of her
Intended Nationally Determined Contributions (INDC) ahead of many
countries, thus making the country among the few African
countries to do so.
http://allafrica.com/stories/201508251601.html 

United Nations’ Paris summit: India's climate plan to have
sectoral goals.
India's climate action plan ahead of the United Nations' Paris
summit in December will come with sector-specific emphasis on
emission reduction. The Union environment ministry has held at
least five rounds of meetings with key infrastructure ministries
to help clarify the definition, scope and approach for preparing
India's Intended Nationally Determined Contributions (INDCs) to
be submitted to the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change
(UNFCCC), officials from various government departments told ET.

http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/politics-and-nation/united-nations-paris-summit-indias-climate-plan-to-have-sectoral-goals/articleshow/48660566.cms


CAP AND TRADE

$2.2B in cap-and-trade funds begins flowing, boosting rail,
housing, clean cars.
California is starting to dole out nearly $2.2 billion generated
by its cap-and-trade program to cut carbon emissions, allocating
funds to hundreds of projects. Winners include regional rail,
electric car rebates and rooftop solar for low-income residents.
Revenue from auctions of pollution permits under the system has
bolstered the state's budget. A database compiled by ClimateWire
shows for the first time precisely where funds have been
directed. It reveals that more than $1.4 billion has been pledged
to more than 350 recipients.
http://www.eenews.net/climatewire/2015/08/25/stories/1060023868 

How carbon credit scheme resulted in even more greenhouse gas
emissions The use of carbon credits – offsetting pollution from
one source by preventing it at another – under the Kyoto climate
treaty may have worsened climate change instead of reducing
emissions of greenhouse gases, a new study indicates. The authors
of the study say that offsets that were created under the United
Nations' scheme significantly undermined the efforts to address
climate change and estimate it actually increased emissions by
some 600 million tonnes of carbon dioxide equivalent.
http://www.csmonitor.com/Environment/2015/0825/How-carbon-credit-program-resulted-in-even-more-greenhouse-gas-emissions

AIR POLLUTION

What Does That Air Pollution Reading Actually Mean?
Recent advances in satellite measurements and portable air
sensors have made it easier than ever to track fine particulate
matter—the tiny junk that gets in your lungs and causes
cardiovascular and respiratory disease. But accurate measurements
alone are not enough; you have to be able to interpret them. The
World Health Organization guideline for safe air is an annual
average of 10 micrograms per cubic meter of PM 2.5, for instance,
but what does that really mean to the average person?
http://www.citylab.com/weather/2015/08/what-does-that-air-pollution-reading-actually-mean/402142/


CLIMATE CHANGE

Climate Change Symposium Kicks Off In Sacramento.
California is already dealing with the effects of climate change,
but scientists and policy experts are discussing how to better
manage and adapt to those effects during the California Climate
Change Symposium in Sacramento. Managing the state's water
resources is a top concern. Scientists released a study last week
that found climate change is intensifying the drought in
California. Peter Gleick with the Pacific Institute says the
state should prepare for more hydrological extremes, both drought
and flooding.  He says the drought is bringing unexpected
consequences to California’s climate picture.  
http://www.capradio.org/articles/2015/08/24/climate-change-symposium-kicks-off-in-sacramento/


DROUGHT

Water use in Bakersfield hits and misses state's conservation
targets.
Customers of California Water Service Co. in Bakersfield deserve
a pat on the back: They not only met but far exceeded the state's
conservation mandate for July. Water use in the district fell
38.9 percent in July compared to July 2013, easily surpassing the
district’s 32 percent requirement, Cal Water Bakersfield district
manager Rudy Valles said.
http://www.bakersfield.com/news/2015/08/24/cal-water-cust.html 

FUELS

Biofuel Use Saved 589.3 Million Tons of Carbon Emissions Over the
Past Decade.
Over its 10-year lifespan, the Renewable Fuel Standard’s (RFS)
requirement to substitute biofuels for fossil fuels has displaced
nearly 1.9 billion barrels of foreign oil and reduced U.S.
transportation-related carbon emissions by 589.33 million metric
tons, the Biotechnology Industry Organization (BIO) finds in an
analysis released today.
http://www.pharmiweb.com/pressreleases/pressrel.asp?ROW_ID=126419#.VdyyVvlVhBd


Fossil-Fuel Industry Can’t Stop Renewable Energy, Obama Says
President Barack Obama pledged to provide incentives to support
investments in renewable energy, saying the industry will thrive
despite opposition by Republicans and fossil-fuel suppliers.The
White House on Monday announced a $1 billion increase in loan
guarantees for renewable energy projects, $24 million in new
grants for solar research and measures to reduce costs for
homeowners to install solar panels. The government also said it
would approve a transmission line for a large solar plant in
Riverside County, California.
http://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2015-08-25/fossil-fuel-industry-can-t-stop-renewable-energy-obama-says

VEHICLES

Tesla rival seeking billion-dollar California factory? Here’s
what we know.
Could California finally drive off with a new billion-dollar
factory for electric cars? A secretive electric car developer
recently announced that it's scouting several locations for a new
factory, fueling speculation about a state tax-credit race
similar to last year’s push for Tesla's gigafactory.
http://www.bizjournals.com/sacramento/blog/morning-roundup/2015/08/tesla-rival-seeking-billion-dollar-california.html?ana=e_sac_rdup&s=newsletter&ed=2015-08-25&u=mWGE3JCkQISFrrs/NMmWBIotlWU&t=1440519282

Tech startups want to change the way you drive.  
A veteran computer scientist hates sitting in his car at stop
lights, so he creates software that makes the experience less
annoying. A former engineering professor wants to double the
range of today's electric vehicles. And an aeronautics expert
believes flying cars shouldn't be science fiction.
http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/stories/U/US_TEC_AUTOS_TECH_STARTUPS?SITE=AP&SECTION=HOME&TEMPLATE=DEFAULT


GREEN ENERGY

Solar, wind power draw Obama support at Vegas energy summit.
President Barack Obama brought presidential star power to tout
the benefits of solar electricity in Western states during an
annual green power conference Monday in Las Vegas hosted by U.S.
Sen. Harry Reid. The president used a keynote speech to the
eighth National Clean Energy Summit at the Mandalay Bay resort to
endorse continuing development of wind and solar energy.
http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/stories/U/US_CLEAN_ENERGY_SUMMIT_VEGAS?SITE=AP&SECTION=HOME&TEMPLATE=DEFAULT


OPINIONS

How to pay for cleaning up the Exide mess.
The now-closed Exide battery recycling plant in Vernon has
apparently spread toxic lead dust through a much larger area than
had previously been believed, perhaps contaminating as many as
10,000 homes. That revelation by state officials this month means
thousands of children may have been exposed to a dangerous
neurotoxin that can cause learning disabilities and behavioral
problems. Making the properties safe for residents could require
the largest cleanup of its kind in California history.
http://www.latimes.com/opinion/editorials/la-ed-exide-20150824-story.html


Dan Walters: How could carbon cut impact us?
Nancy McFadden, a top aide to Gov. Jerry Brown, last week
dismissed as “ridiculous” fears that Brown’s push to reduce
oil-based fuel use in California by 50 percent would mean gas
rationing. She spoke during a conclave to support two measures
that would commit California to making deep reductions in carbon
emissions over the next few decades.
http://www.sacbee.com/news/politics-government/dan-walters/article32260479.html




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