What's New List Serve Post Display

ARB Newsclips for June 1, 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.

CLIMATE CHANGE

Germany Says Trump’s Plan to Scrap Climate Deal a ‘Disaster’ A
senior Germany official said “it would really be a disaster” if
Republican presidential contender Donald Trump scrapped the
U.S.’s commitment to the Paris climate deal after winning the
election in November. Countries all around the world are working
to cut greenhouse-gas emissions, so the U.S. unilaterally
departing the pact wouldn’t boost its economy…
http://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2016-06-01/germany-says-trump-s-plan-to-scrap-climate-deal-a-disaster?utm_source=Inside+Climate+News&utm_campaign=4bd96b18d8-Today_s_Climate12_10_2014&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_29c928ffb5-4bd96b18d8-327747457


AM Alert: Brown to talk climate change at San Francisco event.
The day after Gov. Jerry Brown officially endorsed Hillary
Clinton for president and chided Donald Trump’s description of
global warming as a hoax, the state’s most outspoken climate
change advocate will take the stage at an inaugural meeting of
subnational governments that support clean energy.
http://www.sacbee.com/news/politics-government/capitol-alert/article81029027.html#storylink=cpy


Energy ministers gather in San Francisco to reboot climate
‘moon-shot’. Bill Gates and officials from over 20 governments
will meet to discuss plans for a vast hike in clean-tech funding
by 2020. Whatever happened to Mission Innovation? Launched at the
start of the 2015 Paris climate talks, the initiative promised to
unleash the financial and scientific power of the public and
private sector on developing new forms of green energy.
http://www.climatechangenews.com/2016/06/01/energy-ministers-gather-in-san-francisco-to-reboot-climate-moon-shot/?utm_source=Inside+Climate+News&utm_campaign=4bd96b18d8-Today_s_Climate12_10_2014&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_29c928ffb5-4bd96b18d8-327747457


DROUGHT

How to grow food in drought-hit Zimbabwe? Add irrigation. Several
rivers pass from Zimbabwe's lush Eastern highlands through the
lowlands of drought-hit Chipinge, Mutare and Chimanimani
districts. But while river water is plentiful, hard-up farmers
have no way to get enough of it to their fields.
http://www.reuters.com/article/us-zimbabwe-irrigation-drought-idUSKCN0YN3JP


FUELS

Questioning Canada’s Fossil Fuel Emissions. In a recent interview
with the ECOreport, Simon Fraser University Climate Scientist Dr.
Kirsten Zickfeld described Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s idea
of fighting climate change while expanding the oil sands and
building new pipelines as “delusional.” There is only a finite
amount of carbon…
http://cleantechnica.com/2016/06/01/questioning-canadas-fossil-fuel-emissions/


Methane Seeps and Hydrothermal Vents Emerging as Major Force in
Ocean. Hydrothermal vents and methane seeping on to the ocean
floor was once believed to be biological and geologic oddities.
However, they are now considered as a key factor in marine life,
global climate, and ecosystems.
http://www.azocleantech.com/news.aspx?newsID=23376 

MIT Professor Discusses Pros and Cons of Using Biofuels. It is
still a matter of debate among policymakers and scientists
whether biofuels have a place in the list of future clean energy
portfolios although they are being studied as an energy source
over many years. This dispute has led to the exploitation of
other clean technologies like solar and wind which has overtaken
the use of biofuels in actual practice.
http://www.azocleantech.com/news.aspx?newsID=23377 

VEHICLES

Hyundai Motor to launch 200-mile electric vehicle in 2018.
Hyundai Motor said it plans to launch an electric vehicle with a
driving range of more than 320 kilometres (about 200 miles) per
charge in 2018, aiming to better compete with other electric car
makers such as Tesla Motors Inc. That is nearly double the 191
kilometre (119 miles) per charge that will be offered by an
electric version…
http://www.reuters.com/article/us-hyundai-motor-electric-car-idUSKCN0YN3TW

Elon Musk announces plan to revolutionize factories. Saving
already upset the traditional automobile industry with his
electric cars and the space exploration business with his
reusable Space X rockets, Tesla Motors Chief Executive Elon Musk
will now set about trying to revolutionize the American factory.
http://www.latimes.com/business/autos/la-fi-hy-tesla-shareholders-20160531-snap-story.html


GREEN ENERGY

Germany ends row with states over green energy roll-out.
Chancellor Angela Merkel hammered out the framework for a deal
with state premiers on Wednesday on reforms to Germany's
renewable energy law aimed at curbing the costs and controlling
the speed of the future roll-out of green power sources.
http://www.reuters.com/article/us-germany-renewables-idUSKCN0YN31H


Labor, green groups team up to push for clean energy in NY. A
coalition of labor union members and environmental groups is
coming to Albany to push state leaders to adopt a more aggressive
response to climate change. The group said Wednesday's rally is
in support of stronger, enforceable energy standards to reduce
carbon emissions and promote clean energy sources.
http://www.wsj.com/articles/APb24d59f655da4ea6808e3f69c9418630 

Green Power Investing Brightens Returns in Ailing South Africa. A
program that’s making South Africa the top destination for
green-power investments across the continent and the Middle East
is not only easing an electricity crisis: returns are beating
those in bonds and stocks. The Renewable Energy Independent Power
Producer Procurement Program secured about $12.5 billion since
2011…
http://washpost.bloomberg.com/Story?docId=1376-O6YYL66KLVRY01-7IA8HQUD3F49LI5HA4F2HHTPLI


Europe Is Losing Its Reputation as a Renewable Energy Leader (1).
Europe is losing its status as a global leader in clean energy,
with investment in the region plummeting 21 percent last year,
while spending in the rest of the world boomed. A record $328.9
billion was invested worldwide in solar, wind and other renewable
energy sources in 2015…
http://washpost.bloomberg.com/Story?docId=1376-O81PJZ6KLVRO01-0SJO2BMNTV71TR7LQLOSQTUQR4


China’s Order for Green Power Purchases Lifts Wind, Solar Shares.
China sent shares of renewable-energy companies higher by forcing
grid operators to buy wind and solar power in regions where
network congestion has idled plants. Grid companies will have to
buy sufficient power that ensures wind farms across nine regions
including Xinjiang…
http://washpost.bloomberg.com/Story?docId=1376-O82ZAS6TTDS401-0O1NQ11U62JHGEB0BKODD11P2C


Climate Scientists Debate Best Path Forward for Clean Energy. Is
nuclear power the best solution for climate change or not? In a
rented 15-passenger van barreling south on Interstate 55 out of
Chicago in April, a group of environmental activists, a legendary
scientist and a camera crew embarked on a quixotic rescue effort.
Their goal: saving Illinois nukes.
http://www.scientificamerican.com/article/climate-scientists-debate-best-path-forward-for-clean-energy/


MISCELLANEOUS

State Senate flexes its muscle with Southern California's
clean-air board. Amid charges that polluting industries are
taking over Southern California’s clean-air board, the state
Senate on Tuesday approved countermeasures including an expansion
of the board by three state appointees. Senate leader Kevin De
Leon (D-Los Angeles) introduced the bill that would expand the
South Coast Air Quality Management Board from 13 to 16…
http://www.latimes.com/politics/la-pol-sac-essential-politics-senate-acts-to-exert-control-o-1464740116-htmlstory.html


ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE

Study: Exposure to air pollution leads to accelerated buildup of
calcium in arteries. Seattle scientists have known for years that
long-term exposure to air pollution raises the risk of heart
disease, but a highly anticipated study led by a University of
Washington environmental health expert finally explains why.
http://www.latimes.com/nation/sns-tns-bc-med-pollution-heart-20160524-story.html
http://www.seattletimes.com/seattle-news/health/uw-led-study-pinpoints-how-air-pollution-harms-your-heart/
 
http://www.foxnews.com/health/2016/05/25/early-exposure-to-traffic-pollution-may-affect-lungs-later.html
http://www.theguardian.com/environment/2016/may/24/air-pollution-could-increase-risk-of-stillbirth-study-suggests
http://www.dnaindia.com/health/report-air-pollution-may-pose-numerous-health-hazards-new-study-2216488
http://www.reuters.com/article/us-health-pollution-hypertension-idUSKCN0YM2J9

OPINIONS

Changing the climate on fossil fuels. Rather than the problem,
coal is the solution. Is backing fossil fuels a smart position in
this contentious election year? When President Obama claimed an
“all-of-the-above” energy strategy in 2012, he apparently meant
all of the above-ground resources such as solar and wind.
http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2016/may/30/anthony-j-sadar-changing-the-climate-on-fossil-fue/


Why L.A.'s $120-billion transit plan is in danger of tanking.
Metro, the Los Angeles region’s transit planning and construction
agency, has been on a roll. In recent years three new projects,
the Expo Line to Santa Monica, the Gold Line to Azusa and the
Orange Line busway to Chatsworth have been built and are now
carrying tens of thousands of passengers each day.
http://www.latimes.com/opinion/op-ed/la-oe-yaroslavsky-katz-metro-assembly-bill-20160531-snap-story.html


If L.A. wants to avoid summer blackouts and another Aliso Canyon,
we need to reinvent our energy system. Here's how. he natural gas
leak at the Aliso Canyon gas storage facility was a disaster with
continuing widespread repercussions. In addition to the obvious
harm to public and environmental health, officials now speculate
the Southland will face summer blackouts because of the
shuttering of the facility.
http://www.latimes.com/opinion/livable-city/la-ol-aliso-canyon-blackout-distributed-energy-20160531-snap-story.html


Letters: Brown rightly focused on climate change. Jerry Brown is
right to be concerned about global warming, and he belongs to no
priesthood, green or otherwise [“A ‘diet’ to give drivers
indigestion,” Opinion, May 29]. He is one of the vast majority of
Americans who know climate change is a crucial issue. Sixty-five
percent of Americans understand that we cause it.
http://www.ocregister.com/articles/climate-717747-brown-kotkin.html


SLO County tackles the health effects of climate change. Many
people have been pondering why the strongest El Niño on record
did not bring huge amounts of rain to the Central Coast this
winter. A recent Tribune article by John Lindsey concluded the
probable reason is climate change. While scientists have long
forewarned us about weather patterns and environmental impacts…
http://www.sanluisobispo.com/opinion/letters-to-the-editor/article81066782.html#storylink=cpy


Can Scientists Help Crack California’s Drought Conditions? For
Industry’s Sake, Let’s Hope So. We are a thirsty nation. We
consume nearly 1,500 gallons of water each day, with
three-quarters of it going to supply industry and to create
energy, as well as for food and fiber to feed the masses. The
rest goes to homes and businesses. 
These practices are unsustainable in the long term, but in
water-short…
http://www.environmentalleader.com/2016/06/01/can-scientists-help-crack-californias-drought-conditions-for-industrys-sake-lets-hope-so/#ixzz4ALcXdZwR


Jobs Are A Cost, Not A Benefit -- Yes, Even For Renewables. We
have a new report out from a UN agency thing telling us that
there’re lots and lots of lovely jobs around the world in
renewable energy generation. Which is fine: except they’ve
entirely missed the fact that jobs are a cost of doing something,
not a benefit of doing that thing. Using more human labour to
achieve some task means…
http://www.forbes.com/sites/timworstall/2016/06/01/jobs-are-a-cost-not-a-benefit-yes-even-for-renewables/#178638b64ffe


Why Trump Is Wrong On California's Drought: It's Much More Than
Farmers Vs. Fish. During a stopover in Fresno, Calif., Donald
Trump remarked that the state has “no drought” and that the whole
thing could be fixed if less water is allocated to save an
endangered fish and a lot more water is instead, directed to the
farmers. Put that way, he would be right — except that the
situation is not quite so simple.
http://www.forbes.com/sites/kensilverstein/2016/06/01/californias-drought-makes-fertile-ground-for-presidential-politics-and-climate-discussions/#269175a73f83


BLOGS

You May Want To Read This Outside. Chances are, you’re inside a
building. In a classroom, at work, in a hospital or even at a
retail store or restaurant. Most Americans spend an awful lot of
time indoors - 90% by current estimates. While we are keenly
aware of the smog and pollution that visibly affects our
environment, many are unaware of the serious effects indoor
pollution…
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/dr-claudia-aguirre/post_11876_b_9925008.html




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