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newsclips -- ARB Newsclips for November 3, 2016.
Posted: 03 Nov 2016 15:14:55
ARB Newsclips for November 3, 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. CAP AND TRADE Carbon-tax initiative foes, backers raise last-minute cash. A gusher of late-arriving cash has infused the campaigns of both supporters and opponents of a ballot measure, the first of its kind in the nation to use a carbon tax to try to reduce the use of fossil fuels that drive climate change. Initiative 732 would impose an escalating tax on energy derived from coal, oil and natural gas. http://www.seattletimes.com/seattle-news/politics/carbon-tax-initiative-foes-backers-raise-last-minute-cash/ AIR POLLUTION Fireplace installing and remodeling restrictions take effect. A ban on putting wood burning fireplaces in new homes and buildings under construction in the Bay Area went into effect this month, along with the start of the new winter Spare the Air season. Wood fires are banned on Spare the Air days during the four-month season from Nov. 1 through Feb. 28 each year. http://www.mercurynews.com/2016/11/02/fireplace-installing-and-remodeling-restrictions-take-effect/ CLIMATE CHANGE CORRECTED-Greenhouse gas emissions set to bust global climate pact in 2030 - U.N report. (Corrects Fahrenheit conversion, paragraph 3). Greenhouse gas emissions in 2030 will exceed by 12 billion to 14 billion tonnes what is needed to keep global warming to an internationally agreed target, the United Nations said on Thursday. A day before the global Paris Agreement climate pact formally comes into force, the annual U.N. Environment report analyzed countries' current pledges for emission cuts… http://uk.reuters.com/article/global-greenhouse-gas-emissions-expected-idUKL9N13C00X Greenhouse gas emissions set to bust global climate pact in 2030: U.N. Greenhouse gas emissions in 2030 will exceed by 12 billion to 14 billion tonnes what is needed to keep global warming to an internationally agreed target, the United Nations said on Thursday. A day before the global Paris Agreement climate pact formally comes into force, the annual report of U.N. Environment analyzed countries' current pledges for emission cuts and said they were not sufficient. http://www.reuters.com/article/us-climatechange-accord-emissions-idUSKBN12Y1BK Peak Renewable Energy Investment Seen Holding Back Climate Fight. Renewable energy investment probably has reached a peak of $349 billion that won’t be surpassed for at least five years, signaling a lull in the global fight against climate change. That’s the outlook from Michael Liebreich, founder of Bloomberg New Energy Finance, who predicted funding for wind, solar and other clean-energy projects will probably fall at least 15 percent this year. http://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2016-11-02/peak-renewable-energy-investment-seen-holding-back-climate-fight Climate Headed for Catastrophic Change Despite Paris Accord. This week’s early entry into force of the Paris Agreement on climate change won’t save the planet from rising seas, superstorms and deadly drought, according to the United Nations. Without further pledges to curb emissions, temperatures are set to rise by as much as 3.4 k Merkel's climate-change zeal turns into hot air. If Angela Merkel is cooling on climate change, the world is in trouble. The German chancellor has been a formidable force in the fight against man-made global warming. In 2015 she pushed the leaders of the G7, a rich-country club, into a historic pledge to stop using fossil fuels by the end of this century. http://www.reuters.com/article/uk-climate-change-outlook-breakingviews-idUSKBN12X167 Polar vortex shifting due to climate change, extending winter, study finds. Global warming could be making winters in eastern North America even longer, according to a new study. The study finds that, because of sea ice loss in the Arctic, the polar vortex is shifting and temperatures are turning colder during March. The polar vortex is the zone of frigid air that encircles the Arctic and is most pronounced during winter. https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/capital-weather-gang/wp/2016/10/31/polar-vortex-shifting-due-to-climate-change-extending-winter-study-finds/ Germany Hits Delay With Climate-Change Plan Ahead of U.N. Meeting in Marrakesh. Postponement marks latest stumble for Germany in cutting emissions since it decided to speed up phaseout of nuclear energy. The German government is postponing approval of a wide-ranging set of measures to combat climate change less than a week before a high-profile international meeting on combating global warming. http://www.wsj.com/articles/germany-hits-delay-with-climate-change-plan-ahead-of-u-n-meeting-in-marrakesh-1478113721 Global warming could be breaking up this 200 million year old relationship. Last week came the latest grim news about the Great Barrier Reef: In its remote and treasured northern section, coral death appears to be extensive in the wake of an extreme ocean heat event in March, followed by subsequent severe coral bleaching. It’s just the latest evidence that a changing climate is driving a wedge between two organisms… https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/energy-environment/wp/2016/11/02/how-climate-change-could-be-breaking-up-a-200-million-year-old-relationship/ A Global Climate Deal Was Reached. Next Up Is Pollution Monitoring. The Paris climate agreement is, obviously, a very big deal: Last year, nearly 200 nations agreed to take on the challenge of a warming world. Their stated goal was to hold the increases in world temperature since the beginning of the industrial revolution to well below 2 degrees Celsius. But as important as it was, the agreement was only the beginning. http://www.nytimes.com/2016/11/03/business/energy-environment/united-nations-cop22-summit-pollution-monitoring.html?_r=0 Big Oil Slowly Adapts to a Warming World. In a warming world, Big Oil doesn’t look quite so big anymore. A global glut of oil and natural gas has sent prices tumbling over the last two years, and profits are evaporating. Improving auto fuel efficiency standards threaten to depress oil consumption eventually, and fleets of electric vehicles are gradually emerging in China and a few other important markets. http://www.nytimes.com/2016/11/03/business/energy-environment/big-oil-slowly-adapts-to-a-warming-world.html The world's biggest climate agreement goes into effect tomorrow — here's what it actually means. On November 4, the Paris Agreement goes into effect around the world. The 92 countries that have ratified the agreement so far have all pledged to do their part to keep the earth’s temperature from rising more than 2 degrees Celsius, or 3.6 Fahrenheit. The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, an international body of scientists created in 1988… http://www.sfgate.com/technology/businessinsider/article/The-world-s-biggest-climate-agreement-goes-into-10591123.php World on track for 3C of warming under current global climate pledges, warns UN. Current climate commitments are insufficient to reduce emissions by the amounts needed to avoid dangerous levels of global warming, says Unep report. The commitments made by governments on climate change will lead to dangerous levels of global warming because they are incommensurate with the growth of greenhouse gas emissions, according to a new report. https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2016/nov/03/world-on-track-for-3c-of-warming-under-current-global-climate-pledges-warns-un RELATED ARTICLES http://www.dailymail.co.uk/wires/pa/article-3901620/World-act-urgently-curb-greenhouse-gas-UN-report-warns.html#ixzz4Oxs1t0WI http://www.bbc.com/news/science-environment-37849862 http://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2016-11-03/world-climate-headed-for-catastrophic-change-despite-paris-deal http://www.sfgate.com/news/medical/article/UN-Huge-emissions-cuts-needed-to-meet-Paris-10588402.php https://insideclimatenews.org/news/03112016/un-climate-scientists-last-chance-limit-global-warming-marrakech-morocco-cop-22?utm_source=Inside+Climate+News&utm_campaign=7df8c86a3d-Today_s_Climate12_10_2014&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_29c928ffb5-7df8c86a3d-327747457 http://www.eenews.net/stories/1060045212 Africa’s “buyer’s remorse” over Paris climate deal. When Chad announced in September 2015 it aimed to slash its greenhouse gas emissions 71% by 2030, the country was hailed as a climate leader. The government of the arid, oil producing state – long ravaged by warfare – even offered to slash carbon pollution 18% from business-as-usual in the event it received no external funding or support. http://www.climatechangenews.com/2016/11/03/africas-buyers-remorse-over-paris-climate-deal/?utm_source=Inside+Climate+News&utm_campaign=7df8c86a3d-Today_s_Climate12_10_2014&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_29c928ffb5-7df8c86a3d-327747457 Climate change: Australia falling behind rest of world on emissions cuts, says report. Climate Council questions Australia’s ability to meet Paris Agreement pledge and predicts it will face pressure from world leaders at meeting next week. Australia is lagging behind other countries on tackling climate change after signing the historic Paris Agreement last year, a new report shows. https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2016/nov/03/climate-change-australia-falling-behind-rest-of-world-on-emissions-cuts-says-report Capturing Carbon Would Cost Twice The Global Annual GDP. Carbon capture and sequestration continues to get attention from fossil fuel companies and jurisdictions trying to maintain their profits and tax revenues. But it’s worth looking at what it would cost. The scale of the problem is enormous and the cost of capturing CO2 from the air and storing it somewhere is very high — about two times the global GDP. https://cleantechnica.com/2016/11/03/capturing-carbon-cost-twice-global-annual-gdp/ Automakers beat greenhouse gas requirements for fourth consecutive year. For the fourth consecutive year, automakers outperformed the Environmental Protection Agency and National Highway Traffic Safety Administration's greenhouse gas (GHG) emission standards. Out of 12 automakers that sold more than 150,000 cars last year, 9 managed to exceed the standard by an average of 7 grams per mile for the 2015 model year. http://www.autoblog.com/2016/11/02/epa-nhtsa-greenhouse-gas-cars-2015/ FUELS EPA reports show automakers meeting fuel-economy, carbon emission rules. Low gas prices and high sales of crossovers and SUVs have led critics of current U.S. emissions standards to question whether automakers can continue meeting those standards. But a new report from the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) shows that so far, carmakers are doing just fine. The EPA's annual CO2 and Fuel Economy Trends Report compares the carbon-dioxide emissions and fuel economy… http://www.greencarreports.com/news/1107057_epa-reports-show-automakers-meeting-fuel-economy-carbon-emission-rules VEHICLES U.S., 35 states to boost electric vehicle charging stations. The White House said on Thursday it will establish 48 national electric-vehicle (EV) charging networks on nearly 25,000 miles of highways in 35 U.S. states. The Obama administration said 28 states, utilities and vehicle manufactures, including General Motors Co (GM.N), BMW AG (BMWG.DE) and Nissan Motor Co (7201.T), and EV charging firms have… http://www.reuters.com/article/us-electricvehicles-idUSKBN12Y1L3?feedType=RSS&virtualBrandChannel=11563 https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/the-switch/wp/2016/11/03/cross-country-road-trips-in-electric-cars-are-about-to-get-easier/ https://www.yahoo.com/news/white-house-announces-us-electric-car-recharging-network-152006785.html http://time.com/4556170/electric-vehicle-charging-stations-corridor/ http://www.upi.com/Top_News/US/2016/11/03/Obama-administration-plans-to-boost-electric-car-charging-infrastructure/8721478178612/ Nissan: We Gave You Clean Cars, Now Give Us Clean Energy. Electric cars will fall short of helping the environment without cleaner energy to charge the vehicles’ batteries, said Carlos Ghosn, chief executive officer of Renault SA and Nissan Motor Co. “At least the car industry is bringing a breakthrough, which consists in saying that you are going to be transporting yourself from one place to another with zero emissions,”… http://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2016-11-03/green-cars-to-fall-short-without-clean-energy-nissan-chief-says Electric Vehicle Use Reduces Greenhouse Gas Emissions Intensity 61% Or More In Minnesota. Electric vehicle use in the state of Minnesota reduces greenhouse gas emissions (well-to-wheel carbon intensity) by at least 61%, according to a new analysis from the Great Plains Institute. The 61% figure quoted above is with reference to Xcel Energy’s electric mix (in 2015). If the electric vehicle (EV) owner uses 100% renewable energy to… https://cleantechnica.com/2016/11/03/electric-vehicle-use-reduces-greenhouse-gas-emissions-intensity-61-minnesota/ NJ electric-car advocacy group launches as gas tax soars. New Jersey was always the place for residents of neighboring states—Delaware, New York, and Pennsylvania—to buy cheap gasoline. That era ended two days ago, when a political deal struck between its legislature and the governor raised the state gas tax by a whopping 23 cents a gallon. http://www.greencarreports.com/news/1107038_nj-electric-car-advocacy-group-launches-as-gas-tax-soars Automakers make progress, but car buyers still like SUVs. Automakers are meeting and beating fuel economy standards with technologies both in and off the internal combustion engine, according to two U.S. EPA reports released yesterday. New vehicles sold in model year 2015 averaged a record-high 24.8 mpg, a 0.5 mpg increase from last year. http://www.eenews.net/greenwire/2016/11/03/stories/1060045217 GREEN ENERGY Total's Pouyanne says solar industry facing 'a new winter'. The global renewable solar industry is facing a new crisis due to over-capacity and low demand, Patrick Pouyanne, Chief Executive of French oil and gas giant Total said on Thursday. Low prices seen in recent projects and a decline in government support in some countries could make investments in the solar power sector unprofitable, Pouyanne told an energy conference. http://www.reuters.com/article/us-total-pouyanne-solar-idUSKBN12Y2BX Renewable Energy Grows in an Unlikely Place: the Sunny Mideast. When it comes to energy, the Middle East and Persian Gulf are best known for their oil and gas. But across the region, governments, power companies and investors are beginning to exploit another abundant resource: the sun. In places like Jordan and the United Arab Emirates, solar power plants are providing an affordable and reliable source of electricity… http://www.nytimes.com/2016/11/03/business/energy-environment/renewable-energy-grows-in-an-unlikely-place-the-sunny-mideast.html Batteries That Make Use of Solar Power, Even in the Dark. A new cash crop has sprung up on Nicholas Beatty’s enchanting farm near here. Rows of gray solar panels range over about 25 acres, turning sunlight into electricity, as dog-size muntjac deer hop by. The panels themselves, trouble-free money earners that feed into the electric grid, are no longer unusual on farms in Britain or other countries. http://www.nytimes.com/2016/11/03/business/energy-environment/batteries-that-make-use-of-solar-power-even-in-the-dark.html The one big problem with Obama's clean energy legacy. President Barack Obama has put public lands at the center of his administration's climate plan, telling the Interior Department to approve 20,000 megawatts of solar, wind and geothermal energy projects by 2020. The department says it's approved 60 such facilities on public lands since 2009, capable of producing more than 15,000 megawatts of climate-friendly energy. http://www.desertsun.com/story/tech/science/energy/2016/11/03/obama-touts-60-clean-energy-projects-public-lands-but-half-them-havent-been-built/92911210/ Renewable companies may have taken improper tax credits. Some of the largest renewable energy companies in Oregon may have received dubious tax credits, according to an audit by a crime consultant. Crime services group Marsh Minick, hired by Oregon Secretary of State Jeanne Atkins, found 165 projects across the state with $347 million in questionable credits from the state's business energy tax credit program. http://www.eenews.net/greenwire/2016/11/03/stories/1060045233 OPINIONS Obama’s Electric Car Money Grab. The president can avoid Congress by using fines on private companies like Volkswagen to fund his pet projects. A federal judge last week approved a $14.7 billion settlement to partially resolve the legal fallout over Volkswagen’s installation of “defeat devices” designed to cheat air quality rules in more than 500,000 vehicles sold in the U.S. The complicated settlement resolves a number of legitimate claims, providing relief for car owners… http://www.wsj.com/articles/obamas-electric-car-money-grab-1478041904?mod=trending_now_8 The world is racing to stop climate change. But the math still doesn’t add up. The entire globe is moving fast to stop climate change. The Paris climate agreement enters into legal force on Friday, and then shortly afterwards comes a first global meeting to start implementing it in Marrakech, Morocco. (Yes, there’s also a U.S. election in there somewhere that could, er, complicate things.)… https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/energy-environment/wp/2016/11/03/the-world-is-racing-to-stop-climate-change-but-the-math-still-doesnt-add-up/?utm_term=.c02195bfd2d6 The IEA Is Skeptical Electric Cars Will End the Age of Oil. Electric cars won’t cause oil demand to peak anytime soon, according to International Energy Agency Executive Director Fatih Birol. “The oil demand growth is not coming from cars, it’s from trucks, aviation and the petrochemical industry and we don’t have major alternatives to oil products there,” Birol said at the Energy for Tomorrow conference on Thursday in Paris. http://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2016-11-03/iea-s-birol-doesn-t-buy-that-electric-cars-will-displace-oil BLOGS The world's best effort to curb global warming probably won't prevent catastrophe. The Paris climate agreement was a milestone, but it’s not enough. The promises that various countries have made to curb greenhouse emissions still won’t be enough to stop dangerous levels of global warming, according to a new report from the United Nations Environment Program. http://www.theverge.com/2016/11/3/13508130/climate-change-global-warming-un-report-paris-agreement LNG Fuel Not a Solution for Cutting Greenhouse Gases. In contrast to reports claiming that the use of liquefied natural gas (LNG) as a marine fuel can reduce the industry’s CO2 emissions by 75%, Ian Adams, the former CEO of the International Bunker Industry Association said that LNG is not a panacea to reducing greenhouse gas emissions. “http://worldmaritimenews.com/archives/205538/lng-fuel-not-a-solution-for-cutting-greenhouse-gases/ California is in a drought emergency. Visit www.SaveOurH2O.org for water conservation tips.