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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
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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.

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