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newsclips -- ARB Newsclips for December 23, 2016.
Posted: 23 Dec 2016 13:35:33
ARB Newsclips for December 23, 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 Conservative think tank: Swap corporate tax for carbon fee. A conservative think tank says lawmakers should consider ending taxes on corporations and instead institute a fee on carbon dioxide emissions. A report from the R Street Institute, released Friday, said a fee on carbon could fill the revenue gap left by ending the federal tax on corporations. Citing the Congressional Budget Office, the study said ending the tax on corporations… http://thehill.com/policy/energy-environment/311666-conservative-think-tank-swap-corporate-tax-for-carbon-fee Province won't defer cap and trade. The provincial government says it has no plans to defer its cap-and-trade program that is coming into effect Jan. 1. Earlier this week, chambers across Ontario, including Greater Sudbury, asked the Liberal government to put off cap and trade until at least 2018. The chambers cited high costs of the program, combined with skyrocketing electricity prices, a lack of sector-by-sector economic… http://www.thesudburystar.com/2016/12/23/province-wont-defer-cap-and-trade AIR POLLUTION World’s Worst Air Has Mongolians Seeing Red, Planning Action (2). If you think air pollution in China has been bad, just look at Mongolia. Levels of particulate matter in the air have risen to almost 80 times the recommended safety level set by the World Health Organization -- and five times worse than Beijing during the past week’s bout with the worst smog of the year. http://washpost.bloomberg.com/Story?docId=1376-OIINC86S972M01-0ESI19D6K5RQ49BA4F9P4JV3OF Court sends some boiler rules back to EPA. Federal appellate judges sent parts of federal emission standards for industrial boilers back to U.S. EPA today, reversing a previous decision to completely toss out elements of the regulations. The U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit remanded 18 subcategories of standards for new and existing boilers. http://www.eenews.net/greenwire/2016/12/23/stories/1060047685 CLIMATE CHANGE Court Rules Climate Scientist Can Pursue Defamation Claims Against Critics. Leading climate scientist Michael Mann will see his defamation lawsuit against writers who called him the "Jerry Sandusky of climate science," amongst other accusations, move forward thanks to an appeals court ruling on Thursday. Mann is the director of the Earth System Science Center at Pennsylvania State University… http://www.ecowatch.com/michael-mann-defamation-lawsuit-2161974299.html Trump Climate Deniers Prompt Scared Scientists to Set Up Hotline. The leading U.S. weather agency finds itself in the eye of a storm: climate change in the age of Trump. With global-warming deniers in Washington, outside scientists are setting up an anonymous hotline for the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s employees to report political meddling. https://www.bloomberg.com/politics/articles/2016-12-20/trump-climate-deniers-prompt-scared-scientists-to-set-up-hotline?utm_source=Inside+Climate+News&utm_campaign=7c4dab7ad9-Today_s_Climate12_10_2014&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_29c928ffb5-7c4dab7ad9-327747457 Ignoring Climate Change Just Got More Expensive. A leading economist looks at what the world is doing to slow global warming. His conclusion: not much. If President-elect Donald Trump stops taking climate change into account when making federal energy policy, he’ll do so just as a leading projection of climate-related costs bolts upward. https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2016-12-23/ignoring-climate-change-just-got-more-expensive Global warming could cause fishing to decline by millions of tons each year, study says. Village anglers to commercial fleets could see a combined annual loss of more than 7 million tons of fish by the end of this century if global warming continues unabated, according to a report published Thursday in the journal Science. The study is the latest in a growing body of work that seeks to quantify the economic and health risks associated with climate change. http://www.sandiegouniontribune.com/news/environment/ The coming battle between the Trump team and economists over the true cost of climate change. As we learn more and more about the tenor of the Trump transition, a key part of its regulatory rollback strategy on climate change is coming into focus. It seems increasingly likely that the Trump administration would either alter, or attempt to stop using entirely, an Obama-era metric known as the “social cost of carbon” in its federal rule-making processes. https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/energy-environment/wp/2016/12/22/the-coming-battle-between-the-trump-team-and-economists-over-the-true-cost-of-climate-change/?utm_campaign=7c4dab7ad9-Today_s_Climate12_10_2014&utm_medium=email&utm_source=Inside Climate News&utm_term=.688edbde3c4e Rex Tillerson's Record on Climate Change: Rhetoric vs. Reality. As Exxon's chief executive, Trump's secretary of state choice walked a fine line between Exxon's support of denial and accepting mainstream science. After Donald Trump selected Rex Tillerson for secretary of state, ExxonMobil's chief executive was lauded by some in the media and climate policy experts as a possible moderating voice on climate change… https://insideclimatenews.org/news/22122016/rex-tillerson-exxon-climate-change-secretary-state-donald-trump?utm_source=Inside+Climate+News&utm_campaign=7c4dab7ad9-Today_s_Climate12_10_2014&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_29c928ffb5-7c4dab7ad9-327747457 The country set to cash in on climate change. Record temperatures threaten traditional ways of life in Greenland but as the sea ice retreats; new mining, fishing and tourism opportunities are helping communities to adapt. Asked if he is fearful about the impact of climate change, Tønnes “Kaka” Berthelsen’s response is typical of many Greenlanders. https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2016/dec/23/climate-change-in-greenland-adaptation-we-simply-refuse-to-be-victimised Should there be carbon penalties for 'no growth' communities? Imagine having to plant a few hundred trees near the Oregon border or handing over all the money in your wallet next time your city council votes down a housing project. That is one of the ideas coming out of the newly released California Apartment Association’s key findings report. The report suggests rewarding communities that build housing near jobs and transportation… http://www.sandiegouniontribune.com/business/real-estate/ The Navy adapts to rising sea levels. Many environmentalists have expressed concern about the incoming Trump Administration, since several of the President-elect’s picks for cabinet appointments are people who question the human impact on climate. Many fear a government pullback from efforts to combat climate change. The Department of Defense, however, is continuing work to adapt its bases to deal… http://www.marketplace.org/2016/12/21/sustainability/navy-adapts-changing-sea-levels?utm_source=Inside+Climate+News&utm_campaign=7c4dab7ad9-Today_s_Climate12_10_2014&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_29c928ffb5-7c4dab7ad9-327747457 On Climate Change, Obama Lays Down a Scientific Gauntlet for Trump Administration. Unveiling a sobering state-of-the-climate report, President Obama makes clear the dire consequences of unabated global warming. As if parading its best evidence against an expected onslaught of climate denial, the Obama Administration released on Thursday an updated compendium of the accepted science about global warming. https://insideclimatenews.org/news/23122016/climate-change-effects-global-warming-science-donald-trump Climate change could have devastating impact on global fisheries. But if countries abide by Paris agreement, fisheries could see increase of 6 million tons of fish annually. f climate change continues unchecked and the global temperature increases by more than the Paris agreement target of 1.5 C, it is certain to have a dire impact on fish catches, a new study has found. http://www.cbc.ca/news/technology/global-climate-goals-save-fisheries-1.3909494 West Coast prepares to take the lead on climate change. Since the election of Donald Trump, California Gov. Jerry Brown (D) has stepped forward as the leading U.S. orator for climate action. "Some people need a heart attack to stop smoking," he said last week. "Maybe we just got our heart attack, and we better start doing the work that it takes to really do what it takes to reduce our climate emissions." http://www.eenews.net/climatewire/2016/12/23/stories/1060047647 2016 The year in climate change. It was just one year ago, and from the White House on down, everyone who worked to make the Paris climate agreement a success was dizzy from victory laps. "Together, we've shown what's possible when the world stands as one," said President Obama, lauded at the time for cementing his legacy on climate issues. http://www.eenews.net/climatewire/2016/12/23/stories/1060047655 A year of dead coral, lost ice, drought and fire. Scientists' understanding of the ways humans are changing the climate on Earth grows every year, and 2016 brought a particularly challenging set of revelations. Heading into 2017, climate scientists are terrified that the year the United States installs a president hostile to climate science will bring significant setbacks to their field. Many worry about federal funding cutbacks and political blowback. http://www.eenews.net/climatewire/2016/12/23/stories/1060047653 DROUGHT Heavy rain might be a sign of wetter times to come in drought-plagued L.A. There’s something unusual in the mix in Southern California this weekend, along with the usual rain-caused traffic gridlock and airport delays, according to one climatologist — a sense of optimism. The storm that moved though the region on Wednesday and Thursday provided a good 24 hours of mostly steady rain… http://www.latimes.com/local/lanow/la-me-ln-winter-storms-la-nina-20161222-story.html California sees largest drought-free patch since 2013. Almost a third of California is not experiencing drought conditions for the first time since 2013, according to new numbers the U.S. Drought Monitor released Thursday. But weather experts say California is not out of the woods yet. The state is in the midst of a historic drought that has lasted for half a decade… http://www.sfexaminer.com/california-sees-largest-drought-free-patch-since-2013/ Echeveria: Showboats in the drought-tolerant garden. Echeverias might be the most popular succulent sold in nurseries and garden centers. And there’s a reason for that: They grow quickly compared to many other cacti and succulents, they flower more readily and they offer an astonishing range of foliage color. One of the prettiest is Echeveria peacockii. http://www.sfgate.com/news/article/Echeveria-Showboats-in-the-drought-tolerant-10814520.php December storms chip away at California drought. December storms have boosted the levels of reservoirs across California, and state officials responded by increasing their estimate of how much water they’ll be able to pump through the State Water Project next year. California’s Department of Water Resources said Wednesday that it now projects water agencies can count on receiving 45 percent of their full allotments… http://www.desertsun.com/story/news/environment/2016/12/22/december-storms-chip-away-california-drought/95768220/ FUELS With Dakota Access in limbo, more Bakken crude to move on trains. As oil prices recover and U.S. shale production picks up, energy companies that had planned to ship crude on the Dakota Access Pipeline will turn to rail, a transport method that poses its own risks to the environment and local communities. Sunday's decision by U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to deny Energy Transfer Partners an easement to complete the line means shippers who expected to see another 570,000 barrels… http://uk.reuters.com/article/us-north-dakota-pipeline-rail-idUSKBN14B240?utm_source=Inside+Climate+News&utm_campaign=7c4dab7ad9-Today_s_Climate12_10_2014&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_29c928ffb5-7c4dab7ad9-327494049 A year of aggressive methane regs now in the crosshairs. The final year of the Obama administration marked a sharp shift by U.S. EPA and the Interior Department to more strictly regulate methane emissions in the United States. EPA set its sights on limiting emissions of the potent greenhouse gas from sources from the oil and gas industry to municipal landfills, as a growing body of research highlighted the significant… http://www.eenews.net/climatewire/2016/12/23/stories/1060047649 VEHICLES Colorado, Nevada, Utah to collaborate on electric-car charging network. Much of the U.S. innovation in electric-car incentives and infrastructure has come not from the federal government but from one or more states, especially California. With the decision years ago to let states either comply with national emission standards or adopt the stiffer California rules, both individual states… http://www.greencarreports.com/news/1107954_colorado-nevada-utah-to-collaborate-on-electric-car-charging-network Chevrolet Bolt EV: Long On Utility, Short On Sexy – It’s The Anti-Tesla, And It Works. The Bolt is surely not the car for those looking for luxury. If you want a premium interior experience, you will have to look elsewhere (we should note it does has leather seating as an option). And although it is crossover-ish, it’s not going to tow anything. And despite having the best range of any all-electric on the market (in its price range), long road trips to more remote areas… http://insideevs.com/chevrolet-bolt-long-on-utility-short-on-sexy/ VW RECALL Judge warns VW owners not to strip diesel cars for buybacks. A federal judge warned Volkswagen owners not to strip parts out of their diesel vehicles before attempting to sell them back to the automaker through the company's emissions settlement. U.S. District Court Judge Charles Breyer's warning Thursday came after reports on the automotive blog Jalopnik of a Cincinnati man who "completely stripped"… http://www.usatoday.com/story/money/cars/2016/12/22/volkswagen-group-3-liter-diesel-scandal-settlement-substantial/95711452/ GREEN ENERGY Germany Gets Free Power for Christmas as Wind Power Set to Surge. The price of power for delivery on Christmas Day in Germany turned negative as a surge in wind generation is forecast to boost supply. Prices may be below zero for hours or even whole days during the holiday season as German wind output is predicted to climb to near-record levels and temperatures are set to increase more than 5 degrees... https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2016-12-22/germany-gets-free-power-for-christmas-as-wind-power-set-to-surge Nev. flips the rooftop solar switch, restores net metering for some. Nevada Gov. Brian Sandoval (R) has long championed the Silver State as a clean energy leader. But a contentious battle over rooftop solar threatened to undermine his claim. Last year, the state Public Utilities Commission voted to end the credit that panel owners received for sending power back to the grid. http://www.eenews.net/climatewire/2016/12/23/stories/1060047657 China to crack down on green-car subsidy cheating: report. Over the past few years, both national and state Chinese governments have heavily subsidized electric cars in an aggressive attempt to promote mass adoption. Electric cars are seen as an important way to combat the country's notorious air pollution, and develop the domestic auto industry. http://www.greencarreports.com/news/1107974_china-to-crack-down-on-green-car-subsidy-cheating-report OPINIONS Climate Column: The human face of climate change. It's Advent season — a compelling time to discuss the human face of climate change. Climate change is about the elements, yes. But we are inextricably intertwined with those elements — elements upon which we have always depended for stability. Without that stability, droughts, floods, temperature changes… In defense of many pollution regulations. The other day someone was ranting — it definitely wasn’t a discussion — about how the state’s mandates for air quality and what we should not landfill — were useless and created expenses for no reason at all. While I could spend a week debating the pitfalls of overregulation and unrealistic goals when it comes to the environment… http://www.mantecabulletin.com/section/38/article/140322/ Can a Modern Economy Thrive on a Low Carbon Diet? Apparently the two are separable. Economies and carbon-based energy do not need to be in lockstep. Take these last two years. The global economy grew 6.5% while greenhouse gas emissions (particularly carbon dioxide) remained flat in the European Union and the United States and declined in China. http://www.21stcentech.com/modern-economy-thrive-carbon-diet/ BLOGS China Sends Carbon Fight Into Orbit. China launches satellite to monitor global carbon emissions. As the climate-change community watches whether President-elect Donald Trump will retreat from U.S. greenhouse-gas commitments, China signaled it is charging ahead, launching a satellite to monitor rising levels of carbon in the atmosphere. The move comes after a week when a thick blanket of smog hung over much of northern China, forcing the government to shut schools and businesses. http://blogs.wsj.com/chinarealtime/2016/12/22/china-sends-carbon-fight-into-orbit/ California is in a drought emergency. Visit www.SaveOurH2O.org for water conservation tips.