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newsclips -- ARB Newsclips for March 15, 2016.
Posted: 15 Mar 2016 14:47:58
ARB Newsclips for March 15, 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. EU Industry Got $27 Billion Carbon Plan Windfall, Study Says. European Union industry landed a 24-billion- euro ($26.7 billion) windfall from an emissions cap-and-trade program that was intended to moderate emissions by putting a price on pollution, according to an environmental consultancy. Companies in the cement, petrochemical and steel industries gained most from the emissions trading system, or ETS, from 2008 to 2014… http://washpost.bloomberg.com/Story?docId=1376-O414F86S972901-3TR01IFR9E4K54DFF035L0PHBS AIR POLLUTION Mexico City declares first air pollution alert since 2005. The Mexico City government declared its first air pollution alert in 11 years Monday after ozone levels reached almost twice the acceptable limit. The measure requires older and more heavily polluting vehicles to stay off the road Tuesday, in an attempt to improve air quality. The city's environment office attributed the conditions to a high-pressure system and intense sunlight. http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/stories/L/LT_MEXICO_POLLUTION_ALERT?SITE=AP&SECTION=HOME&TEMPLATE=DEFAULT Our Broken Environment Kills a Quarter of Us. Pollution and other hazards caused 12.6 million deaths worldwide in 2012, the WHO says. The lead in the water in Flint, Mich., is a devastating reminder of how closely human health is intertwined with the environment. While the Flint crisis may be an egregious example of cruelty and neglect, the damaging consequences of a broken environment are all around us… http://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2016-03-15/our-broken-environment-kills-a-quarter-of-us CLIMATE CHANGE How cleaner air could actually make global warming worse. A significant amount of the climate change caused by greenhouse gas emissions in the past century has been hidden from us, scientists say — by another type of pollution that actually cools the climate and temporarily cancels out some of the warming. Two new studies, both released today in the journal Nature Geoscience, address the powerful influence of aerosols — fine particles or drops of liquid… https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/energy-environment/wp/2016/03/14/how-cleaner-air-could-actually-make-global-warming-worse/?utm_source=Inside+Climate+News&utm_campaign=ed10ff8263-Today_s_Climate12_10_2014&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_29c928ffb5-ed10ff8263-327747457 Zero carbon emissions target to be enshrined in UK law. Energy minister Andrea Leadsom responds to call from Ed Miliband, saying Paris climate pledge will be legally binding. The UK will enshrine in law a long-term goal of reducing its carbon emissions to zero, as called for in last year’s historic Paris climate deal. http://www.theguardian.com/environment/2016/mar/14/zero-carbon-emissions-target-enshrined-uk-law?utm_source=Inside+Climate+News&utm_campaign=ed10ff8263-Today_s_Climate12_10_2014&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_29c928ffb5-ed10ff8263-327747457 As U.S. Coastal Cities Swell, Rising Seas Threaten Millions. A growing number of Americans are moving into homes nestled between the idyllic beaches of the Florida Keys — part of a national trend that’s seeing coastal populations swell even as the seas swell dangerously around them. That combination of rising populations and rising seas could see millions of Americans living in homes that flood regularly during the decades ahead… http://www.climatecentral.org/news/us-coastal-cities-swell-rising-seas-threaten-millions-20136?utm_source=Inside+Climate+News&utm_campaign=ed10ff8263-Today_s_Climate12_10_2014&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_29c928ffb5-ed10ff8263-327747457 Canadian companies supporting fight against U.S. climate plan: report. Many large Canadian companies are financing legal action and lobbying against President Barack Obama’s climate change plan, putting the public and their investors at risk, said a new report released on Monday by an investment services organization. The report said that major companies such as BMO Financial, Cenovus, Resolute Forest Products… http://www.nationalobserver.com/2016/03/13/news/canadian-companies-supporting-fight-against-us-climate-plan-report?utm_source=Inside+Climate+News&utm_campaign=ed10ff8263-Today_s_Climate12_10_2014&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_29c928ffb5-ed10ff8263-327494049 German CO2 emissions rise 1% in 2015. Germany’s carbon dioxide emissions increased by an estimated 10 million tonnes from 2014 to 2015, in a blow to the country’s claims to climate leadership. Higher heat demand and use of brown coal for power behind estimated increase in climate pollution, says think tank Green Budget Germany. http://www.climatechangenews.com/2016/03/14/german-co2-emissions-rise-10-million-tonnes-in-2015/?utm_source=Inside+Climate+News&utm_campaign=ed10ff8263-Today_s_Climate12_10_2014&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_29c928ffb5-ed10ff8263-327747457 Island nation passes climate torch to new president. The task of shepherding Kiribati, a small Pacific island nation, into its growing vulnerabilities to climate change passed to a new leader last week. Taneti Maamau was sworn in Friday to succeed Anote Tong, an ardent advocate of aggressive climate action, especially in the run-up to last year's U.N. climate agreement. http://www.eenews.net/climatewire/2016/03/15/stories/1060034008 DROUGHT Rain fills reservoirs, but California still suffers drought’s effects. The drought isn’t over, but the recent storms that many hope are part of a “March miracle” have put California a lot further down the road to recovery. By Monday, seasonal rainfall jumped above the historic average across much of the state — uncommon territory over the past four years — with San Francisco notching 21 inches of rain since July 1, more than the city has seen in an entire year going back to 2011. http://www.sfgate.com/bayarea/article/Where-drought-plagued-California-stands-after-6889689.php Why El Nino is ‘out of time’ to save Southern California from drought. The tale of El Niño 2016 reads like two different stories. In Northern California, the weather phenomenon has delivered above normal rain and snow this winter. Not so in Southern California, where rainfall is only half of normal for downtown Los Angeles. Why the discrepancy? Climatologists have various theories but they are just that, theories. http://www.dailynews.com/environment-and-nature/20160314/why-el-nino-is-out-of-time-to-save-southern-california-from-drought Despite rain, drought restrictions remain in place. Local rains have been heavy and local reservoirs are full, but with a statewide drought emergency still in place, Napa County residents should not expect immediate relief from water-use restrictions. Local officials are keeping restrictions on lawn watering and other outdoor uses passed in response to California’s drought declaration last May… http://napavalleyregister.com/star/news/local/despite-rain-drought-restrictions-remain-in-place/article_4fa1e4c8-5521-5725-81e9-139355ced332.html Carmel River running at highest levels in five years, pre-drought. The weekend's deluge has the Carmel River running at its highest level in five years, before the drought hit, and promises much-improved conditions for both steelhead and humans who depend on the river as their lifeline. According to Monterey Peninsula Water Management District engineer Larry Hampson, the weekend's rainstorm… http://www.insidebayarea.com/crime-courts/ci_29640600/carmel-river-running-at-highest-levels-five-years FUELS US bars Atlantic drilling; Obama builds environmental legacy. In a major reversal, the Obama administration said Tuesday it will bar oil drilling in the Atlantic Ocean, a move cheered by environmentalists and consistent with the president's aggressive steps to deal with climate change. Interior Secretary Sally Jewell made the announcement on Twitter… http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/stories/U/US_OBAMA_OFFSHORE_DRILLING?SITE=AP&SECTION=HOME&TEMPLATE=DEFAULT OTHER RELATED STORIES http://www.wsj.com/articles/obama-administration-to-withdraw-atlantic-oil-and-gas-drilling-proposal-1458046857 Many Shale Companies Are Unable to Ramp Up Oil Output. Idle equipment, limited workforce prevent shale sector from playing role of swing producer. he U.S. was supposed to be the world’s new swing oil producer, able to nimbly open and close the taps in response to market forces, thanks to its bounty of shale fields. http://www.wsj.com/articles/many-shale-companies-are-unable-to-ramp-up-oil-output-1458001210 Natural Gas Resumes Rally as Summer Nears. Futures rise for seventh time in eight sessions. Natural-gas futures have restarted their rally, up for a seventh time in eight sessions, as traders continue to anticipate that the market’s recent low will entice bargain-buyers and falling production. Natural gas futures for April delivery were up 2.6% at $1.867 a million British thermal units on the New York Mercantile Exchange. http://www.wsj.com/articles/natural-gas-resumes-rally-as-summer-nears-1458055153 Female Nobel winners urge Arctic Council to ban drilling. Five female Nobel laureates yesterday urged Arctic nations to combat climate change and protect fragile northern ecosystems by banning drilling in the region. In their letter to the heads of state of eight Arctic nations, the Nobel Prize winners argued that banning development in the Arctic could send the world a signal that it's time to shift away from oil. http://www.eenews.net/climatewire/2016/03/15/stories/1060033984 VEHICLES Nissan Leaf withdrawn from New Zealand, electric-car sales plummet. When it comes to thriving markets for electric cars, New Zealand doesn't exactly top the list. So what happens when a bestselling electric car is withdrawn from what is already a low-volume market? The Nissan Leaf is the bestselling electric car worldwide, but now Nissan will stop selling it from New Zealand. http://www.greencarreports.com/news/1102853_nissan-leaf-withdrawn-from-new-zealand-electric-car-sales-plummet VW RECALL VW sued by big investors over handling of emissions scandal. Institutional investors are suing Volkswagen for 3.25 billion euros ($3.57 billion) in damages over the company's handling of its emissions scandal, which has so far seen the share price fall by about a third. Attorney Andreas Tilp said Tuesday that the suit in the German regional court in Braunschweig was joined by investors from 14 countries, including the U.S., Australia, Germany http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/stories/E/EU_VOLKSWAGEN_INVESTOR_SUIT?SITE=AP&SECTION=HOME&TEMPLATE=DEFAULT OTHER RELATED STORIES http://www.wsj.com/articles/institutional-investors-sue-volkswagen-over-fall-in-share-price-1458038261 http://www.reuters.com/video/2016/03/15/vw-investors-file-new-emissions-lawsuit?videoId=367738614&videoChannel=5 http://www.santacruzsentinel.com/business/20160315/vw-sued-by-big-investors-over-handling-of-emissions-scandal Ex-worker says VW destroyed documents, obstructed justice. Volkswagen deleted documents and obstructed justice after the U.S. Environmental Protection accused the company of cheating on emissions tests, a former employee alleged in a lawsuit. Daniel Donovan says in a whistleblower case that he was wrongfully fired Dec. 6, 2015 after refusing to participate in the deletions and reporting them to a supervisor. http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/stories/U/US_VOLKSWAGEN_WHISTLEBLOWER_LAWSUIT?SITE=AP&SECTION=HOME&TEMPLATE=DEFAULT OTHER RELATED STORIES http://www.latimes.com/business/autos/la-fi-hy-volkswagen-cheating-20160314-story.html VW Financial Services takes writedown for emissions scandal. Volkswagen's (VOWG_p.DE) Financial Services AG said on Tuesday it took an extraordinary writedown of 353 million euros ($391 million) to cover a potential decline in the residual value of cars in the wake of the diesel emissions cheating scandal. "We created extensive reserves on the basis of the leasing portfolio… http://www.reuters.com/article/us-volkswagen-financialservices-idUSKCN0WH1BO Volkswagen’s Cleanup Job Doesn’t Just Involve Emissions. The German auto maker needs to fix the famously inefficient operation that makes Volkswagen-branded cars at home in Wolfsburg. One of the mysteries of Volkswagen is how one of the world’s most profitable car makers can coexist with one of the least profitable in the same corporate entity. http://www.wsj.com/articles/volkswagens-cleanup-job-doesnt-just-involve-emissions-1457967634 Volkswagen diesels might not be completely fixable, regulator says. It seemed like a fairly simple remedy for a major automotive defect: Require the carmaker to recall the vehicles and make them right. But the fix for Volkswagen’s diesel air-pollution scandal is proving anything but simple. As Volkswagen struggles to fix diesel cars that cheat on emissions tests, owners could face a dilemma… http://www.sacbee.com/news/business/article65974982.html#storylink=cpy GREEN ENERGY Report: Big benefits possible with solar on low-income homes. Making solar energy available in low-income areas can provide lasting financial relief from high electric bills, as well as expanded employment opportunities and improved environmental health, says a new report released this week. The Low-Income Solar Policy Guide for strategies to achieve that goal comes from three national nonprofit… http://midwestenergynews.com/2016/03/15/report-big-benefits-possible-with-more-low-income-solar-energy/?utm_source=Inside+Climate+News&utm_campaign=4a466d3aac-Clean_Economy_Wire12_10_2014&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_29c928ffb5-4a466d3aac-327494049 Bark beetles spell money for flagging biomass industry. A low-carbon source of power that has been neglected across the country is seeing hopes of a resurgence in California. The business of turning trees, food waste and other scraps into energy -- either by heating or decomposing them into a gas -- has been in decline across the United States. http://www.eenews.net/climatewire/2016/03/15/stories/1060033985 U.S. at 'turning point' for solar -- White House adviser. The White House and several groups across the country are making a renewed push to increase the use of solar power in low-income communities. During a briefing on Capitol Hill this morning, presidential climate adviser Dan Utech said renewable energy was at a "turning point." http://www.eenews.net/greenwire/2016/03/15/stories/1060034039 California is in a drought emergency. Visit www.SaveOurH2O.org for water conservation tips.