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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.