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ARB Newsclips for March 21, 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.

AIR POLLUTION

Mumbai rubbish dump fire causes spike in air pollution.  A fire
in one of Mumbai's three rubbish dumps on Saturday has triggered
a fall in air quality to "poor", the Maharashtra Pollution
Control Board said. The rise came after several schools in
India's financial capital had to be shut down in January due to
worries children would suffer breathing problems tied to the smog
because of a fire at the same dump.
http://www.reuters.com/article/us-india-mumbai-fire-idUSKCN0WN186?feedType=RSS&feedName=environmentNews


The End of the Road for LOS Analysis of Traffic Impacts.
Automobile traffic congestion, and our collective behavior as
automobile drivers, is front and center in environmental
conversations and debates.  A primary reason being that traffic
congestion can dramatically affect air quality, emitting
pollutants including nitrogen oxide, sulfur dioxide, carbon
dioxide and ozone. 
http://www.environmentalleader.com/2016/03/21/the-end-of-the-road-for-los-analysis-of-traffic-impacts/#ixzz43YyiOse3


GOP bill pushes back deadline for ozone standard. Rep. Pete Olson
(R-Texas) is taking another swing at U.S. EPA's recently adopted
ozone standard, this time with the backing of two top House
leaders. With H.R. 4775, introduced late last week, Olson seeks
to push back the deadline for states to make attainment
recommendations for the 70-parts-per-billion standard from this
October to 2024…
http://www.eenews.net/eedaily/2016/03/21/stories/1060034319 

ALISO CANYON

How can gas company offset emissions from the Aliso Canyon leak?
Regulators offer a plan.  To offset greenhouse gas emissions from
the massive Porter Ranch leak, Southern California Gas Co. could
pay to plug abandoned wells, install methane-gobbling digesters
at dairy farms and help people buy more efficient furnaces and
water heaters, state regulators say. Those are the kinds of
projects the gas company…
http://www.latimes.com/local/california/la-me-gas-offset-20160321-story.html


Aliso Canyon owner should pay for GHG cuts equal to leak, says
ARB. The owner of the Los Angeles-area natural gas storage
facility that leaked methane for nearly four months should fund
an equal amount of emissions reductions, focusing on the
agriculture and waste sectors, air regulators said Friday.
http://www.eenews.net/climatewire/2016/03/21/stories/1060034328 

CLIMATE CHANGE

Emissions-cutting aviation deal must be enforceable: NGOs. A deal
this fall to cap carbon emissions from global aviation at 2020
levels must be enforceable and set long-term goals in line with
the 2015 Paris agreement on climate change, a coalition of
environmental groups said on Monday. Aviation was excluded from
the landmark climate accord in Paris in December.
http://www.reuters.com/article/us-climatechange-aviation-idUSKCN0WN095


REFILE-Three Pacific island nations are first to ratify Paris
climate deal. The Marshall Islands will become the third country
to ratify the Paris climate change agreement, after its
parliament approved the step on Friday - following two other
Pacific Island nations also highly vulnerable to the impacts of
the changing climate. 
http://af.reuters.com/article/commoditiesNews/idAFL5N16T2FX

Global Warming Is Messing With Wine. Heat tied to a CO2 trend
with no precedent in at least 66 million years has changed the
way grapes grow. Unprecedented heat has pushed global average
temperatures into alien territory, and scientists have long
established humanity as the dominant cause. Now, even the grapes
are talking, and new research makes it easy to view the rising
thermometer through a rosé-colored glass.
http://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2016-03-21/global-warming-is-messing-with-wine

http://www.npr.org/sections/thesalt/2016/03/21/470872883/an-upside-to-climate-change-better-french-wine


China's Five-Year Plan Seen as Boosting Climate Action. China's
latest five-year plan that sets out policies guiding its economic
growth and energy use would provide impressive gains in reducing
the carbon intensity of its economy—a 48 percent cut by 2020 from
2005 levels—a key indicator of its commitment to address carbon
pollution linked to climate change…
http://www.bna.com/chinas-fiveyear-plan-n57982068753/

Environmental Activists Take to Local Protests for Global
Results. They came here to get arrested. Nearly 60 protesters
blocked the driveway of a storage plant for natural gas on March
7. Its owners want to expand the facility, which the opponents
say would endanger nearby Seneca Lake. But their concerns were
global, as well. “There’s a climate emergency happening,” one of
the protesters, Coby Schultz, said.
http://www.nytimes.com/2016/03/20/science/earth/environmental-activists-take-to-local-protests-for-global-results.html?smprod=nytcore-ipad&smid=nytcore-ipad-share&_r=1&utm_source=Inside+Climate+News&utm_campaign=08df067e90-Today_s_Climate12_10_2014&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_29c928ffb5-08df067e90-327747457


Remote reefs thrive despite climate change.  Scripps report
emboldens advocates of coral reef preservation. As ocean warming
continues to trigger widespread destruction of coral reefs, a
decade-long study of remote islands in the Central Pacific
suggests these biodiversity hotspots may be able to thrive
despite the threats posed by an increasingly hotter planet.
http://www.sandiegouniontribune.com/news/2016/mar/20/sd-me-scripps-coral-reef-health/?utm_source=Inside+Climate+News&utm_campaign=08df067e90-Today_s_Climate12_10_2014&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_29c928ffb5-08df067e90-327747457


China can be climate change ‘hero,' DiCaprio says. Leonardo
DiCaprio praised China's work to combat climate change on a trip
to Beijing on Sunday and said he believes the world's largest
emitter of greenhouse gases could be “the hero of the
environmental movement.” The actor and environmentalist, who
called for action to combat climate change…
http://www.ocregister.com/articles/china-369728-ocprint-clooney-rights.html


Is this mysterious hybrid butterfly a harbinger of climate
change? Tanana Arctic butterflies, the first such species
discovered in Alaska in almost 30 years, could be a bellwether
for change in the fragile arctic ecosystem. A butterfly species,
misidentified for more than 60 years, may be the only type of
butterfly endemic to Alaska, say scientists.
http://www.csmonitor.com/Environment/2016/0319/Is-this-mysterious-hybrid-butterfly-a-harbinger-of-climate-change


Climate: Carbon emissions highest in 66 million years. UN studies
project temperatures could rise by up to 4.8C this century,
causing floods, drought and more powerful storms. The rate of
carbon emissions is higher than at any time in fossil records
stretching back 66 million years to the age of the dinosaurs,
according to a study on Monday that sounds an alarm about risks
to nature from man-made global warming.
http://www.aljazeera.com/news/2016/03/climate-carbon-emissions-highest-66-million-years-160321172434890.html


Panel looks beyond U.S. leadership on fast-warming Arctic. The
United States is challenging the leaders of the world's Arctic
nations to consider new ways of responding to climate change at a
time when scientific studies indicate that the Far North is
warming significantly faster than the rest of the world. At last
week's meeting of the Arctic Council's senior officials…
http://www.eenews.net/climatewire/2016/03/21/stories/1060034335 

DROUGHT

President Barack Obama on Monday directed the federal government
to come up with a less reactionary and more long-term strategy
for dealing with drought. President Barack Obama on Monday
directed the federal government to come up with a less
reactionary and more long-term strategy for dealing with drought.
About 12.5 percent of the continental U.S. was experiencing
drought as of mid-March…
http://www.usnews.com/news/politics/articles/2016-03-21/obama-seeks-more-coordination-on-dealing-with-drought

FUELS

China Diesel Exports May Rebound Further on Oil Price Rally.
China’s diesel exports may be climbing further after rebounding
from a five-month low as rising global crude prices make
shipments overseas more profitable, according to ICIS China.
Outbound shipments may surge to more than 1 million metric tons
this month, up more than 30 percent from average during January
and February, according to Lin Jiaxin, an analyst with the
Shanghai-based commodity researcher.
http://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2016-03-21/china-diesel-exports-seen-rebounding-further-on-oil-price-rally


An obstacle on the way to zero carbon: natural gas. The
University of California, one of the world's most prestigious
institutions of higher learning, has encountered a seemingly
insoluble problem as it sets it sights on being carbon neutral by
2025. The problem isn't getting clean electricity, like solar
power, which has become standardized and often inexpensive. The
problem is how to replace natural gas.
http://www.eenews.net/energywire/2016/03/21/stories/1060034301 

VEHICLES

California to Implement Income Cap on Green Car Rebates.
California's rebate program for electric vehicles will soon cut
off higher-income green car buyers. The program is implementing
an income cap starting on March 29, the Sacramento Bee reported
Saturday (http://bit.ly/1Uuah5j). Single tax filers who earn
$250,000 will not qualify for rebates on plug-in hybrid electric
vehicles and battery electric vehicles.
http://www.nytimes.com/aponline/2016/03/20/us/ap-us-clean-car-rebates.html

http://www.ocregister.com/articles/vehicles-369745-ocprint-rebates-electric.html

http://www.sacbee.com/news/business/article66591292.html 

2017 Hyundai Ioniq Electric to offer 110 miles of range: company.
As electric-car range moves above the 100-mile mark in EPA
ratings, one of the more interesting models to watch will be the
2017 Hyundai Ioniq Electric. That car uses essentially the same
28-kilowatt-hour battery pack as the low-volume Kia Soul EV, a
blocky tall wagon that's rated at 93 miles.
http://www.greencarreports.com/news/1102963_2017-hyundai-ioniq-electric-to-offer-110-miles-of-range-company


2017 Cadillac CT6 Plug-In Hybrid: technical details revealed. The
second-generation Chevrolet Volt is important not only as a
high-volume plug-in hybrid, but also because components from its
Voltec powertrain are designed to be used in other GM models.
Last year, General Motors unveiled the 2016 Chevrolet Malibu
Hybrid, with a powertrain very similar to the Volt's.
http://www.greencarreports.com/news/1102951_2017-cadillac-ct6-plug-in-hybrid-technical-details-revealed


Chinese investors make 'long bets' on electric-car companies.
China's aggressive promotion of electric cars is turning into
boon for a few U.S. companies. The Chinese government offers
generous incentives for new electric cars, and is pushing
companies to develop and sell more of them. That level of
enthusiasm is leading Chinese investors to show more interest in
U.S. electric-vehicle companies than they might otherwise
receive.
http://www.greencarreports.com/news/1102953_chinese-investors-make-long-bets-on-electric-car-companies


VW RECALL

EU Trials New Way to Measure Emissions but Will It Make a
Difference?  An ungainly contraption that resembles a bicycle
rack with tubing attached will become a common sight on cars
around Europe over the coming months as a new way of measuring
car pollution gains traction following the Volkswagen scandal.
The Portable Emission Measurement System (PEMS) aims to
supplement laboratory tests…
http://www.nytimes.com/reuters/2016/03/21/business/21reuters-volkswagen-emissions-device.html


Experts: Toyota, GM Settlements Window to Volkswagen Case.
Hundreds of millions of dollars in settlements and fines over
unintended acceleration in Toyotas and faulty ignition switches
in General Motors' vehicles provide a glimpse of what consumers
and the government might get from Volkswagen for cheating on
diesel emissions, legal scholars say. But the Volkswagen case
comes with a wild card that could significantly drive up damages:
http://www.nytimes.com/aponline/2016/03/20/us/ap-us-volkswagen-legal-stakes.html


GREEN ENERGY

California Regulators Give Ivanpah Solar Plant More Time.
Lifeline gives owners up to a year to work out problems.
California regulators threw a lifeline Thursday to the struggling
Ivanpah solar plant, which has failed to generate the electricity
it is required to produce under contracts with PG&E Corp. The
California Public Utilities Commission approved without
discussion forbearance agreements that would give the owners of
the…
http://www.wsj.com/articles/california-regulators-give-ivanpah-solar-plant-more-time-1458242826?mod=pls_whats_news_us_business_f


MISCELLANEOUS
Lucy Jones is leaving her job - to shake up more than just
earthquakes. The questions were coming fast and frantic: How
strong was the earthquake? Was it on the San Andreas? Is the Big
One coming? A massive temblor had struck near Joshua Tree shortly
before 10 p.m., causing buildings to sway all the way to Las
Vegas. As the public braced for more shaking, the media flocked
to Caltech that night in 1992. One woman seemed to have all the
answers. It was a magnitude 6.1, explained U.S. Geological Survey
seismologist Lucy Jones, and the odds of a larger quake in the
next three days stood at 15%.
http://www.latimes.com/local/california/la-me-lucy-jones-20160320-story.html

OPINIONS

Another View: Half-truths disguise true drought impacts. The
commentary “Thirsty farmers must wise up over water use”
(Viewpoints, March 13) was rife with half-truths that distort the
real situation facing California farmers. Half-truth: California
farms earned record revenue in 2014. You don’t have to be an
economist to know that revenue is only half the story. Farm
production costs rose faster than revenues did. 
http://www.sacbee.com/opinion/california-forum/article66497237.html#storylink=cpy


EDITORIAL: Taxpayers pay price for Ivanpah ... again. The owners
and operators of the Ivanpah Solar Power Facility have bought
themselves some time to increase energy output at the
underperforming facility. On Thursday, the California Public
Utilities Commission voted to approve a deal between the plant’s
owners and Pacific Gas & Electric giving the solar plant six
months to improve production in exchange for a payment to PG&E…
http://www.pe.com/articles/plant-797446-ivanpah-energy.html 

Record number of Americans now say humans cause climate change.
More Americans than ever believe humans are responsible for
climate change, according to a Gallup poll. And scientists say
this is no coincidence. ixty-five percent of Americans say human
activities are responsible for climate change, the highest
reading ever according to a Gallup poll published earlier this
month.
http://www.csmonitor.com/Environment/2016/0321/Record-number-of-Americans-now-say-humans-cause-climate-change


BLOGS

Gallup Finds Concerns Rising Over Global Warming and Nuclear
Energy Solution. The climate appears to be changing in American
attitudes about global warming. The evidence lies in the graph
above from a new Gallup survey. This graph got far less attention
this week than a much sharper year-on-year spike in worry and the
highest level of belief (in 15 years of tracking) that humans are
the main cause.
http://dotearth.blogs.nytimes.com/2016/03/19/behind-sloshing-views-on-global-warming-a-steady-rise-in-concern/


People Of Color Care About Climate Change, But Less Likely To
Call Themselves Environmentalists. “We need better and more
creative solutions to climate change, and more diverse groups are
better groups,” says the co-author of a recent study. Racial
minorities are among the most vulnerable when it comes to climate
impacts. But a new study finds they’re often underrepresented in
positions of environmental leadership…
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/minorities-climate-change-environmentalism_us_56ec01ede4b084c6721ffd9f




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