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newsclips -- ARB Newsclips for January 26, 2015
Posted: 26 Jan 2015 12:38:31
ARB Newsclips for January 26, 2015. 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 CA Adopts Guidelines for Cap-and-Trade Affordable Housing Program. Yesterday the Strategic Growth Council adopted guidelines for the Affordable Housing and Sustainable Communities (AHSC) program and scheduled workshops for early February to provide technical assistance to potential applicants. California’s Strategic Growth Council is a state committee that coordinates a variety of activities by multiple state agencies, including efforts to improve air and water quality, increase affordable housing, improve transportation, and other issues related to quality of life in California. http://architecturelab.net/ca-adopts-guidelines-for-cap-and-trade-affordable-housing-program/ California again tops ranking of the most animal-friendly states. California has been very, very good to animals. For the sixth straight year, the society has ranked the Golden State No. 1 on its list of 50 states for laws and policies relating to wildlife, farm livestock, pets and animal fighting. Oregon placed second and Illinois came in third. http://www.latimes.com/business/la-fi-capitol-business-beat-20150126-story.html AIR POLLUTION Mr. President, World’s Worst Air Is Taking 6 Hours Off Your Life. U.S. President Barack Obama could lose roughly 6 hours from his expected lifespan after spending three days in India’s capital inhaling the world’s most toxic air. Air Force One descended through an acrid smog when it landed in New Delhi on Sunday. http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2015-01-26/mr-president-world-s-worst-air-is-taking-6-hours-off-your-life.html Make polluters pay. Many people believe that the free market is the best way to deal with economic issues. Right now, we all... http://www.fresnobee.com/2015/01/24/4344697/make-polluters-pay.html Obama & Modi Link Zero Carbon and Zero Extreme Poverty. ...whether he felt pressure from his guest to make a big pledge about tackling climate change, as China did a few months ago. "India is an independent... http://insideclimatenews.org/carbon-copy/20150126/obama-modi-link-zero-carbon-and-zero-extreme-poverty Can Obama clear the air in Delhi, world's most polluted city? ...Updated 2 hours ago NEW DELHI — In the world's most polluted city, a layer of smog hangs over everything, thicker year after year. Dirty exhaust pours... http://www.fresnobee.com/2015/01/24/4346167/can-obama-clear-the-air-in-delhi.html Air monitor in Texas fracking-boom country is up and soon to track pollution. The first air monitor in the heart of the fracking-intensive Eagle Ford Shale region... http://www.sacbee.com/news/local/environment/article8102472.html CLIMATE CHANGE U.N. asks countries for climate plans after record warm 2014. The United Nations asked governments on Thursday to submit plans to cut greenhouse gas emissions as the building blocks of a deal due in Paris in December to limit global warming, after scientists said 2014 was the hottest year on record. http://www.reuters.com/article/2015/01/22/us-climatechange-un-idUSKBN0KV22W20150122 Modi Shifts on Climate Change With India Renewables Goal. Prime Minister Narendra Modi said India is ready to expand its use of renewable energy as a way to reduce greenhouse gas pollution, a signal that his government is moving toward joining an international deal on global warming. http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2015-01-25/modi-shifts-on-climate-change-with-india-renewables-goal.html Hong Kong to Provide Air Quality Data for StanChart Marathon. Hong Kong will set up extra air quality checkpoints along the route of Sunday’s marathon organized by Standard Chartered Plc (STAN) to keep runners informed about pollution levels and associated health risks. http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2015-01-23/hong-kong-to-provide-air-quality-data-for-stanchart-marathon.html Beijing to Spend $1.7 Billion on Smog After 2014 Target Missed. Beijing will spend 10.8 billion yuan ($1.74 billion) to tackle air pollution after missing its target to cut smog last year. Despite “huge” efforts to reduce pollution, the average concentration of PM2.5, the tiny particles that pose the greatest risk to human health, fell by 4 percent… http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2015-01-23/beijing-to-spend-1-7-billion-on-smog-after-2014-target-missed.html Climate change is real and caused by humans, majority of senators believe. Republicans push hard for Keystone bill, test Democrats’ loyalty to Obama. Forced to finally vote on climate change, a majority of senators have signaled that they believe the phenomenon is real and that humans have at least some role to play. But how much, and what to do about it, remains murky. http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2015/jan/25/climate-change-is-real-and-caused-by-humans-majori/#ixzz3PwePrHAT The Midwest’s climate future: Missouri becomes like Arizona, Chicago becomes like Texas. The bipartisan trio of climate risk prognosticators for the business community — Michael Bloomberg, former Treasury Secretary Hank Paulson, and billionaire investor Tom Steyer — are back. http://www.washingtonpost.com/news/energy-environment/wp/2015/01/23/the-midwests-climate-future-missouri-becomes-like-arizona-chicago-becomes-like-texas/ Leaders in Davos Urge Quick Action to Alter the Effects of Climate Change. On the heels of data showing that last year was the hottest on earth since record keeping began, business leaders, politicians and scientists at the World Economic Forum redoubled their calls to combat climate change. In panels and private discussions, executives and legislators were comparing notes on the growing economic cost of changing weather patterns… http://dealbook.nytimes.com/2015/01/23/leaders-in-davos-urge-quick-action-to-alter-the-effects-of-climate-change/ What are Republicans going to do about climate change? It's two years until the 2016 presidential race, but debate over the Keystone XL pipeline is pushing some GOP presidential hopefuls to go on the record about an issue they might rather not discuss: climate change. When it comes to energy and climate politics, things are heating up on the Senate floor. http://www.csmonitor.com/Environment/Energy-Voices/2015/0123/What-are-Republicans-going-to-do-about-climate-change After Senate climate votes, Dems see rift in GOP. A measure linking human activity to climate change exposes a split inside the party. Senate Republicans fended off Democrats’ climate change campaign in the Senate last week, but their strategy exposed cracks in the majority party. Republicans managed to neutralize a Democratic amendment on climate change in favor of a watered-down… http://www.politico.com/story/2015/01/senate-climate-votes-democrats-barbara-boxer-114556.html#ixzz3PwdpbN9L Obama Attends India's Republic Day Celebrations. - capradio.org ...accident. The "breakthrough understanding" could help India the world's No. 3 greenhouse gas emitter, cut its carbon pollution. Copyright 2015... http://www.capradio.org/news/npr/story?storyid=381548863 Farmers Rewarded for Practicing ‘Carbon Farming.’ Soils naturally absorb and sequester carbon dioxide and following organic practices, such as adding compost and bringing back herds of grazing animals, can make a huge difference in how much carbon dioxide soils can retain. In 2007, a California rancher, John Wick and his partners at the Marin Carbon Project convinced researchers at the University of California, Berkeley that restoring grassland soils could serve as a major source of carbon sequestration. Using his land for the experiments, the researchers found that every year, Wick’s soils held more and more carbon. http://ecowatch.com/2015/01/26/farmers-rewarded-carbon-farming/ Relocation or Adaptation: Copenhagen Braces for Climate Change. Should a storm, flood or rising sea levels hit the Danish capital again, the bucolic mini-parks will turn into water basins, the hills essentially functioning as the sides of a bowl. Thanks to a new pipe system, the squares will even be able to collect water from surrounding buildings’ roofs. Surrounding streets will, for their part, be turned into “cloudburst boulevards.” http://archinect.com/news/article/119268663/relocation-or-adaptation-copenhagen-braces-for-climate-change Commercial growers, Sacramento-area gardeners face possible headaches from warm afternoons, lack of rain. ...temperatures, for example. Almonds alone contribute about $11 billion a year to California's gross domestic product, according a report released in December... http://www.sacbee.com/news/local/article8109246.html California considering plan to replace gas tax with charge per mile driven. More people are driving electric cars. Gasoline cars are getting better mileage. And... http://www.mercurynews.com/science/ci_27387446/california-considering-plan-replace-gas-tax-charge-per Oceans face higher acidity levels as more man-made CO2 gets absorbed. ...the world's oceans has certainly benefited us by reducing the amount of this greenhouse gases in the atmosphere. However, the introduction of... http://www.sanluisobispo.com/2015/01/24/3458298/oceans-face-higher-acidity-levels.html DROUGHT Sneaky leaks can be draining, Placer County homeowner finds. ...jail,” said Henry, who found the notice tacked to her front door. “We're in a drought!” That last point is what local water providers want residents... http://www.sacbee.com/entertainment/living/home-garden/article8004411.html Drought tolerant landscaping ideas on display at Cal Expo. Thousands of people turned out Saturday for the Northern California Home and Landscape Expo at Cal Expo. While much of the attention... http://www.sacbee.com/news/local/article8078835.html Weak rain-maker for Tuesday in Sacramento? A very weak weather system off the coast of Baja California is expected to move northward over the next 24 hours, perhaps... http://www.sacbee.com/news/local/article8154543.html Fresno's water future is full of regulators ...a big dent in the aquifer. And Sacramento lawmakers, spurred by a historic drought, decided to get involved. The result was the Sustainable Groundwater... http://www.fresnobee.com/2015/01/24/4345585/fresnos-water-future-is-full-of.html DIESEL ACTIVITIES California contractor sees latest emissions-compliant construction equipment as a competitive advantage. Andrew Allen, president of R. J. Allen Inc, has a different perspective on California Air Resources Board regulations, which require a certain percentage of a contractor’s equipment fleet be compliant with the latest emissions regulations. Allen, one of 12 finalists for the 2015 Contractor of the Year program, sees using Tier 4 Interim and incoming Tier 4 Final equipment as a competitive advantage. “It was a huge sacrifice and scary, but I think it’s paid off,” he says. Clients such as Southern California Edison require top emissions tier equipment, “and it gives us an advantage to have that equipment.” http://www.equipmentworld.com/california-contractor-sees-latest-emissions-compliant-construction-equipment-as-a-competitive-advantage/#sthash.FFUogEbz.dpuf FUELS Where to Buy Gasoline for $0.002 a Gallon, Seriously. Venezuela President Nicolas Maduro told lawmakers last week he’s considering raising gasoline prices. That might be a good idea. It’s been two decades since the government last lifted state-set local prices, the result of politicians’ concern that the move could spark protests like those that swept across the oil-rich nation following an increase in 1989. http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2015-01-25/where-to-buy-gasoline-for-0-002-a-gallon-seriously.html For Saudis, Falling Demand for Oil Is the Biggest Concern. As the world’s oil producers wring their hands over a global glut that’s pushing down prices, evidence is mounting that Saudi Arabia is more concerned about shrinking demand. The world’s largest exporter has chosen not to cut production, counting instead on lower prices to stimulate consumption… http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2015-01-26/for-saudis-falling-demand-for-oil-is-the-biggest-concern.html U.K. Lawmakers Urge Fracking Delay on Water, Climate Risk. Fracking shale for oil and gas should be put on hold in the U.K. because of risks to public health and the environment, a panel of lawmakers said. A moratorium on fracking is needed to prevent the U.K. from missing its carbon targets and allow time to stiffen regulations for the industry… http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2015-01-26/u-k-lawmakers-urge-fracking-delay-on-water-climate-risk.html Rising wholesale prices could push gasoline costs back up. Gasoline prices have continued to fall, but the reprieve may soon be coming to an end. Industry analyst Trilby Lundberg said Sunday that the lowest fuel prices in more than five years are likely to increase because of rising wholesale prices. Crude oil prices have ticked up in the last 10 days, a change that consumers will eventually see at the pump, Lundberg said. http://www.latimes.com/business/la-fi-gas-prices-20150126-story.html http://www.businessweek.com/news/2015-01-25/u-dot-s-dot-gasoline-falls-to-2-dot-0691-a-gallon-in-lundberg-survey Capacity of Emerging Bio-based Material, Chemicals Tech to Rise to 7.4M Metric Tons in 2018. The global capacity to produce bio-based materials and chemicals (BBMC) from emerging technologies will rise to over 7.4 million metric tons in 2018, more than tripling from 2008 levels, according to a new report from Lux Research. The US and Brazil will drive capacity growth. http://www.environmentalleader.com/2015/01/26/capacity-of-emerging-bio-based-material-chemicals-tech-to-rise-to-7-4m-metric-tons-in-2018/#ixzz3Pwh5JK53 Vietnam considers policy measures to support production of E5 gasoline. The Vietnamese government is mulling various policy measures to assist domestic production and sales of E5 92 RON gasoline. The Ministry of Finance is considering increasing the import tariff on E5 and other biofuels to 35% from 5% to protect domestic production… http://www.platts.com/latest-news/agriculture/hanoi/vietnam-considers-policy-measures-to-support-27056729 5 reasons why oil prices won't be recovering anytime soon. At a high level, it's Economics 101. When the world has plenty of oil, but far less demand, the price should crash. And so it has. The response, too, could come from an introductory econ textbook. OPEC, led by Saudi Arabia, has shown it cares more about its market share than high prices. http://www.eenews.net/energywire/stories/1060012226/print VEHICLES Carmakers amp up plans for charging stations. As sales of electric vehicles languish, automakers are starting to address one of the biggest obstacles to their wider acceptance: the lack of charging stations. BMW and Volkswagen announced a plan to install 100 high-speed charging stations on busy corridors this year on the East and West coasts, like Interstate 95 between Washington and Boston. The stations will be part of a fast-growing network run by ChargePoint, the nation's largest, and will be compatible with nearly all electric vehicles on the road. http://www.ocregister.com/articles/stations-300010-ocprint-electric-charging.html GREEN ENERGY India Gets Obama’s Backing for $160 Billion Solar Push. India’s audacious plan to create a solar industry on the scale of China’s almost from scratch gained credibility with President Barack Obama’s pledge to lend U.S. financial support for the program. Without giving any detail or making any specific grant, Obama said the U.S. will “stand ready to speed this advancement with additional financing.” http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2015-01-26/india-gets-obama-s-backing-for-160-billion-solar-push.html OPINIONS Peter Asmus: How to meet Brown’s aggressive climate change agenda. Living in California, it’s easy to forget that the rest of the world doesn’t always see things in the same light. Given the ambitious energy and climate change goals outlined in Gov. Jerry Brown’s inaugural address this divergence may only grow. http://www.sacbee.com/opinion/california-forum/article7960509.html The carbon that's killing India, and how California can help. ...Delhi's 25 million residents, will be exposed to another kind of dangerous carbon pollution: black carbon. Black carbon is scientists' term for ultra-fine... http://www.latimes.com/opinion/op-ed/la-oe-0126-mingle-u-s--india-climate-black-carbon-20150126-story.html Population and climate change. ...during rush hour. Experts say addressing overpopulation is key to fighting climate change. People crowd New York Penn Station during rush... http://www.latimes.com/opinion/editorials/la-ed-population-and-climate-change-20150125-001-photo.html?track=rss Here's an excellent analogy about climate change and developing countries. ...climate action repeatedly argue that the U.S. should not have to do more to fight global warming than the two other biggest present-day carbon emitters,... http://grist.org/climate-energy/heres-an-excellent-analogy-about-climate-change-and-developing-countries/ Why we need to address population growth's effects on global warming. Earlier this month, Pope Francis made news when he said that not only was climate change real, but it was mostly man-made. Then, last week,... http://www.latimes.com/opinion/editorials/la-ed-population-and-climate-change-20150125-story.html BLOGS That Venezuelan Economic Experiment; Gasoline Isn't Just Cheap, It's Free. More interesting evidence of the incredible stupidity with which this Venezuelan economic experiment has been carried out in recent years. Bloomberg tells us that the price of gasoline in that country is now $0.002 per gallon. http://www.forbes.com/sites/timworstall/2015/01/26/that-venezuelan-economic-experiment-gasoline-isnt-just-cheap-its-free/ EU paper calls for binding CCS targets by 2030. Carbon capture and storage industry proposes goal of burying 220m tonnes of carbon dioxide across Europe by 2030. European countries should be given binding targets for installing technology to capture and store carbon emissions, according to a new report for the European commission. http://www.theguardian.com/environment/2015/jan/26/eu-paper-calls-for-binding-ccs-targets-by-2030 Tackling Climate Change -- For Real, This Time. As usual, climate change was front and centre at this year's World Economic Forum in Davos. Sadly, however, the vast majority of the discussion proceeded on two fundamentally flawed assumptions: 1. That the real action was at the inter-governmental level, and that actual outcomes on the ground would be largely… http://www.huffingtonpost.com/matthew-j-kiernan/tackling-climate-change-f_b_6547106.html India Plans 100 GW Wind Energy Capacity By 2022. The Indian government is looking to set a target of 100 GW under its national wind energy mission. While the mission is being mulled for almost a year it could be launched within months, if not weeks. During the first meeting of the Council on Climate Change... http://cleantechnica.com/2015/01/25/india-plans-100-gw-wind-energy-capacity-2022/ Here’s an excellent analogy about climate change and developing countries. American opponents of climate action repeatedly argue that the U.S. should not have to do more to fight global warming than the two other biggest present-day carbon emitters, China and India. Climate hawks then repeatedly explain that the U.S. has more historical responsibility for the problem than developing countries… http://grist.org/climate-energy/heres-an-excellent-analogy-about-climate-change-and-developing-countries/ Climate change affecting beer. Climate change is affecting beer production. Higher temperatures and water shortages are decreasing hop crops. Environmental changes are also decreasing malting-barley output in countries like Australia and New Zealand with resulting higher prices. http://www.examiner.com/article/climate-change-affecting-beer California is in a drought emergency. Visit www.SaveOurH2O.org for water conservation tips.