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newsclips -- ARB Newsclips for December 22, 2015.
Posted: 22 Dec 2015 13:03:54
ARB Newsclips for December 22, 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. AIR POLLUTION Beijing Air Pollution Worsens Though Red Alert Set to Be Lifted. Air pollution in Beijing worsened even as environmental regulators embarked on a round of inspections to evaluate emergency measures being taken in China’s north to curb the toxic levels of smog. Concentrations of PM2.5 -- the smallest particles that pose the greatest health concern… http://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2015-12-22/beijing-air-pollution-worsens-though-red-alert-set-to-be-lifted Companies in South China See Opportunity in Beijing’s Smog. The online ads sound alluring: Come to the sunny south of China and forget the smog of Beijing, they say. Enjoy the laid-back lifestyle; abandon unhealthy Beijing! As Beijing residents endured heavy smog on Tuesday, the last day of a four-day red alert for hazardous air pollution… http://www.nytimes.com/2015/12/23/world/asia/beijing-air-pollution-china-smog.html China: 40 cities issue alerts over air pollution as smog covers northern regions. As many 40 cities across China have issued alerts for air pollution, with Beijing and four others issuing red alerts, the most severe on a four-tier warning system warning for air quality reaching hazardous levels. All the cities are located in smog-hit northern China, where industrial emissions and coal burning are the biggest pollution-causing factors. http://www.ibtimes.co.in/china-40-cities-issue-alerts-over-air-pollution-smog-covers-northern-regions-660525 Will state count massive L.A. methane leak when it totals hoped-for GHG cuts? Multiple investigations are underway into the natural gas leak in Los Angeles County that has forced evacuations and school closures and could mean steep fines for the utility involved. Now in its ninth week, the leak poses a setback to California's ongoing work to cut carbon pollution. http://www.eenews.net/climatewire/2015/12/22/stories/1060029879 CLIMATE CHANGE Japan to Consider Emissions Trading in Climate Change Plan. Japan may consider introducing national-emissions trading as part of a set of measures it intends to put together by early next year to tackle climate change. The government will compile the climate change plan to fulfill its pledge to reduce emissions by 26 percent by 2030 from 2013 levels, according to a statement issued Tuesday. http://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2015-12-22/japan-to-consider-emissions-trading-in-climate-change-plan ExxonMobil and Sierra Club Agreed on Climate Policy—and Kept It Secret. A forgotten accord reached in 2009 may yet have relevance for the future of U.S. climate policy. ExxonMobil and Sierra Club may be thought of as natural enemies, particularly when it comes to a question so tricky as how to address climate change. http://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2015-12-22/exxonmobil-and-sierra-club-agreed-on-climate-policy-and-kept-it-secret Weather Worsens Seasonal Air Pollution in Italian Cities. Rome is limiting auto circulation, and other Italian cities have been offering free bus rides to encourage public transport use as the country battles seasonal air pollution that has been worsened this year by long spells of no rain and little wind. As it has done several times this fall, Rome this week limited the number of cars and motorcycles… http://www.nytimes.com/aponline/2015/12/22/world/europe/ap-eu-italy-pollution.html Scientists say climate change could cause a ‘massive’ tree die-off in the U.S. Southwest. In a troubling new study just out in Nature Climate Change, a group of researchers says that a warming climate could trigger a “massive” dieoff of coniferous trees, such as junipers and piñon pines, in the U.S. southwest sometime this century. https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/energy-environment/wp/2015/12/21/scientists-say-climate-change-could-cause-a-massive-tree-die-off-in-the-southwest/ Bad news: Scientists say we could be underestimating Arctic methane emissions. Arctic permafrost has become a recent star in the climate change conversation, capturing the attention of scientists, activists and policymakers alike because of its ability to emit large quantities of carbon dioxide as well as methane — a particularly potent though relatively short-lived greenhouse gas — when it thaws. https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/energy-environment/wp/2015/12/21/bad-news-scientists-say-we-could-be-underestimating-arctic-methane-emissions/ Greenhouse Gas Methane Seeps from Arctic Ice Even in the Depths of Winter. It turns out that the amount of methane gas escaping from the Arctic each year is far higher than expected. Scientists have found that during the long, cold period each winter, more methane is entering the atmosphere than thought. Methane is a potent greenhouse gas that intensifies atmospheric warming… http://www.scienceworldreport.com/articles/34939/20151222/greenhouse-gas-methane-seeps-arctic-ice-even-depths-winter.htm Coal Gas Assessment Services Helps Reduce GHG Emissions. The EPA estimates that coal mines worldwide emitted 589 million tons of CO2-equivalent greenhouse gases in 2010. By 2030, that emission rate is expected to increase by 33 percent. The third generation of WellDog’s GasMapper coal gas assessment services enables coal mine operators… http://www.environmentalleader.com/2015/12/22/coal-gas-assessment-services-helps-reduce-ghg-emissions/#ixzz3v4YZmFqI Nations urged to improve climate pledges by April 2017. Date UN shuts book for signing Paris agreement is the moment for world to show it’s cutting carbon faster, says Dutch think tank. In a new global warming pact, countries set out milestones over the next five years in a bid to bridge the gap between national targets and what science recommends. http://www.climatechangenews.com/2015/12/22/nations-urged-to-improve-climate-pledges-by-april-2017/ Five US “Green Wall” Cities Tackle Climate Change With New Pledge. The legendary rivalry between the US west coast and east coast has spread to climate action. Earlier this month, mayors from five cities representing all three west coast states joined together in a pledge for “bold” action on climate change, creating a virtual “green wall” all along the Pacific. What now, east coast? http://cleantechnica.com/2015/12/22/five-us-green-wall-cities-tackle-climate-change-new-pledge/ Florida’s Record Warm 2015 an Outlier in U.S. East. Florida stuck out like a sore thumb on U.S. temperature maps this year, the lone bright orange spot in the sea of blue that dominated the eastern half of the country for most of the year. And after particularly sultry November weather that has bled into December… http://www.climatecentral.org/news/florida-to-see-warmest-year-19860?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A%20climatecentral/djOO%20Climate%20Central%20-%20Full%20Feed An Energy Sea Change Is Required. The oceans are the only thing keeping atmospheric temperatures and its oxygen content within habitable limits. Oceans moderate the temperature two ways. First water has very high heat capacity, which is the ability to absorb heat energy while resisting temperature change. The ocean’s heat capacity also allows the thermohaline circulation… http://www.theenergycollective.com/jim-baird/2302248/energy-sea-change-required Recalculation of leaking methane impacts may affect natural gas market. Environmental advocates are trying to change how policymakers consider the climate impacts of methane, a potent greenhouse gas. The change, if implemented, could make natural gas a less attractive option for generating electricity in power plants. At issue is the global warming potential (GWP)… http://www.eenews.net/stories/1060029873 As temperatures rise, pines and firs face massive die-off – study. In just a few decades, coniferous forests in the American Southwest could all but disappear, according to a study using both on-the-ground and modeling evidence published yesterday in the journal Nature Climate Change. Due to prolonged droughts and rising temperatures, the group of national and international researchers further modeled that… http://www.eenews.net/climatewire/2015/12/22/stories/1060029872 DROUGHT Gov. Brown helped drought, wildfires percolate as Bing search topics. Gov. Jerry Brown, Starbucks and Tom Selleck drove the nationwide curiosity and concern over California’s fourth year of dreadful drought conditions, according to a survey of billions of online search engine records. Drought and wildfires together came in as the sixth most searched-for news topic in 2015 among the U.S. users… http://www.latimes.com/business/technology/la-fi-tn-drought-wildfires-bing-20151221-story.html California water regulators suggest slight easing of conservation requirements. As they look to next year, state regulators are suggesting a slight easing of the conservation requirements that slashed urban water use across California. In a draft released Monday, the staff of the State Water Resources Control Board recommended a few changes to the 2014 drought order, which mandated a 25% cut. http://www.latimes.com/science/la-me-water-regs-20151222-story.html http://www.sacbee.com/news/state/california/water-and-drought/article50967395.html http://www.pe.com/articles/water-789932-state-percent.html http://www.desertsun.com/story/news/environment/2015/12/21/ca-drought-state-likely-ease-conservation-mandate/77716400/ http://www.capitalwired.com/california-may-ease-up-on-water-use-limits-in-drought-affected-areas/211434/ El Niño exacerbates severe climate patterns around the globe. Unusual weather patterns are emerging all over the world, partly as a result of the El Niño in the equatorial Pacific Ocean. The periodic ocean warming is associated with a wide variety of impacts, including disruptions in the monsoon regime, disturbance of trade winds patterns, increased storm activity, droughts, floods and food shortages linked to climatic changes. http://www.eenews.net/climatewire/2015/12/22/stories/1060029865 FUELS India doubles ethanol blending target to help sugar mills. India has doubled its target of blending ethanol with gasoline to 10 percent, a minister said on Tuesday, as the government tries to promote the cleaner-burning fuel to check pollution and help money-losing sugar companies. Oil companies have never met the current 5 percent blending target as ethanol derived from molasses… http://www.reuters.com/article/india-ethanol-idUSL3N14B3H920151222?feedType=RSS&feedName=rbssEnergyNews Kinder Morgan, Andersons Plan Ethanol Projects as Demand Rises. Kinder Morgan Inc. and Andersons Inc. announced separate plans to invest in ethanol projects amid record demand and after the U.S. mandated increased higher use in gasoline in 2016. Houston-based Kinder agreed with Archer-Daniels-Midland Co., the largest U.S. ethanol producer, and Bailey Feed Mill to develop a new ethanol hub in… http://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2015-12-21/kinder-morgan-andersons-plan-ethanol-projects-as-demand-rises China ethanol imports set new record in Nov at 135,865 cu m. China's total imports of ethanol hit a new record of 135,865 cu m in November, according to official data from the General Administration of Customs released Tuesday, with a surge in inflows of the denatured variant used for fuel blending. http://www.platts.com/latest-news/agriculture/singapore/china-ethanol-imports-set-new-record-in-nov-at-26318133 VEHICLES California's 85,000 green carpool stickers are all gone. If you are thinking of buying a plug-in hybrid car and getting those coveted green carpool stickers to cruise solo in carpool lanes, forget about it. For now. The state is no longer issuing green stickers, having reached the 85,000 cap approved by the California Legislature. The Department of Motor Vehicles will continue to accept applications for a waiting list in case the cap is once again raised. http://www.mercurynews.com/bay-area-news/ci_29295327/green-carpool-stickers-all-gone Nissan, BMW Partner To Provide More Fast-Charging For Electric Cars. Many automakers are working to add public DC fast-charging stations for their electric cars. But not all stations can be used by all cars. In fact, there are currently three different fast-charging standards. There's the CHAdeMO standard used by the Nissan Leaf, Mitsubishi i-MiEV, and Kia Soul EV. http://www.greencarreports.com/news/1101527_nissan-bmw-partner-to-provide-more-fast-charging-for-electric-cars VW RECALL UAW says Volkswagen refuses collective bargaining for Tennessee workers. The United Auto Workers union has filed charges against Volkswagen AG, claiming the company is refusing to enter into collective bargaining for a portion of workers at its Chattanooga, Tennessee, factory, the union said on Tuesday. The charges were filed with the National Labor Relations Board on Monday. http://www.reuters.com/article/us-volkswagen-uaw-idUSKBN0U51T120151222 http://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2015-12-22/uaw-says-volkswagen-refuses-to-bargain-with-tennessee-workers VW Executive Had a Pivotal Role as Car Maker Struggled With Emissions. A few months after taking over engine development at Volkswagen in 2007, Wolfgang Hatz faced a potential challenge that he considered insurmountable. It was the State of California. Regulators there were seeking to limit global warming gases released by automobiles, a step never directly taken before in the United States. http://www.nytimes.com/2015/12/22/business/international/vw-executive-had-a-pivotal-role-as-car-maker-struggled-with-emissions.html 'Das Auto' no more: Volkswagen plans image offensive. Scarred by a public relations thrashing over its "Dieselgate" scandal, Volkswagen is planning an image offensive, and its "Das Auto" global advertising slogan is an early casualty. Launched in 2007 under ousted boss Martin Winterkorn, the slogan has had the advantage of simplicity, merely meaning "The Car". http://www.reuters.com/article/us-volkswagen-emissions-communications-i-idUSKBN0U514L20151222 http://www.nytimes.com/reuters/2015/12/22/business/22reuters-volkswagen-emissions-communications-insight.html http://www.usatoday.com/story/money/cars/2015/12/22/volkswagen-das-auto/77746882/ Volkswagen Hires Kenneth Feinberg To Set Payments For U.S. Diesel Owners. Volkswagen still won't publicly discuss a timeline for initiating recall repairs of U.S. diesel cars equipped with "defeat device" software. But it is beginning the process of compensating their often angry and frustrated owners. http://www.greencarreports.com/news/1101518_volkswagen-hires-kenneth-feinbeg-to-set-payments-for-u-s-diesel-owners GREEN ENERGY SMA Solar sees strong business in United States: CEO. SMA Solar, Germany's largest solar company, continues to see strong demand for its inverters in the United States, its chief executive said, banking on an extension of local tax benefits for renewable energy. Last week, U.S. Congress voted in favor of a five-year extension of tax breaks to boost solar and wind power... http://www.reuters.com/article/us-sma-solar-usa-idUSKBN0U51GH20151222?feedType=RSS&feedName=environmentNews Renewable Energy Efforts Stymied by Transmission Roadblocks. Mike McKeown opens the back door of his Missouri farm house and is met with a chilly gust. "Stupid wind," he mutters. Today, the winds that blow through his corn and soybean farm have become more than just an irritant. http://www.nytimes.com/aponline/2015/12/22/us/ap-us-infrastructure-power-grid-renewable-energy.html A state-by-state look at renewable energy requirements. Twenty-nine states and the District of Columbia have requirements that utilities get a certain amount of their electricity from renewable sources. Nine additional states have goals for renewable energy, while a dozen others have no targets. A state-by-state look at renewable energy policies. http://www.sacbee.com/news/business/article50056630.html#storylink=cpy MISCELLANEOUS How a battery recycler contaminated L.A.-area homes for decades. Residents of southeast L.A. County rejoiced this year at news that a battery recycling plant that had long emitted lead, arsenic and other dangerous pollutants would be closed. Just a few months after the announcement by the U.S. attorney’s office, soil testing revealed the mess left behind by decades of pollution from the Exide Technologies plant. http://www.latimes.com/local/lanow/la-me-exide-cleanup-story-so-far-20151121-story.html OPINIONS Porter Ranch gas leak offers its own lessons after Paris climate agreement: Fran Pavley. As delegates from 195 nations returned from Paris after reaching a historic agreement to address global climate change, they were both celebratory and sober. There was, in fact, much to celebrate. Confronted with growing evidence that life-altering effects of climate change are upon us, they came together to collectively commit to reducing greenhouse gas emissions, with the goal of arresting global temperature increases before they cause irreversible, calamitous damage. http://www.dailynews.com/opinion/20151222/porter-ranch-gas-leak-offers-its-own-lessons-after-paris-climate-agreement-fran-pavley How Obama can follow Paris climate deal: Column. President Obama’s crackdown on greenhouse gas emissions from cars and power plants made the U.S. a leader at the United Nations climate summit. Now, with the whole world watching, he can give real meaning to the promise Paris offers without bumping into an intractable Congress. The president can accelerate and expand efforts to slash emissions of global warming… http://www.usatoday.com/story/opinion/2015/12/21/obama-climate-change-paris-epa-regulation-legacy-column/77418794/ What Was Volkswagen Thinking? On the origins of corporate evil—and idiocy. One day in 1979, James Burke, the chief executive of Johnson & Johnson, summoned more than 20 of his key people into a room, jabbed his finger at an internal document, and proposed destroying it. The document was hardly incriminating. http://www.theatlantic.com/magazine/archive/2016/01/what-was-volkswagen-thinking/419127/ BLOGS How Bad of a Greenhouse Gas Is Methane? The global warming potential of the gaseous fossil fuel may be consistently underestimated. Environmental advocates are trying to change how policymakers consider the climate impacts of methane, a potent greenhouse gas. The change, if implemented, could make natural gas a less attractive option for generating electricity in power plants. http://www.scientificamerican.com/article/how-bad-of-a-greenhouse-gas-is-methane/ California is in a drought emergency. Visit www.SaveOurH2O.org for water conservation tips.