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newsclips -- ARB Newsclips for October 26, 2016
Posted: 26 Oct 2016 11:21:03
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 Air district might ax controversial cap-and-trade program. Southern California air quality regulators are considering dropping a controversial local cap-and-trade program designed to curb certain non-greenhouse gas pollutants. The South Coast Air Quality Management District's RECLAIM program lets refineries, power plants, cement plants and other industries install pollution… http://www.scpr.org/news/2016/10/25/65769/air-district-might-ax-controversial-cap-and-trade/ AIR POLLUTION China vows better environmental monitoring to improve health. China aims to create a comprehensive environmental monitoring system by 2030 in its efforts to boost citizens' health and raise life expectancy, the government has said. Pollution has been identified as one of the biggest threats to public health in China, with smog in the northern region blamed for higher rates of cancer, respiratory disease… http://www.reuters.com/article/us-china-health-idUSKCN12Q0QK Air Pollution’s Toll on Heart May Begin Early. Even healthy young adults may suffer ill effects from air pollution. For three consecutive winters, researchers traced levels of air pollution at three monitoring sites in and near Provo, Utah, where air pollution varies predictably with the weather and snow cover. They took blood samples from 72 healthy young volunteers, average age 23… http://www.nytimes.com/2016/10/25/well/live/air-pollutions-toll-on-heart-may-begin-early.html?_r=0 http://www.greencarcongress.com/2016/10/20161026-pm25.html Dutch unveil giant outside vacuum cleaner to filter dirty air. Inventors develop large purifying system intended to capture tiny toxic particles from the surrounding atmosphere. Dutch inventors have unveiled what they called the world’s first giant outside air vacuum cleaner – a large purifying system intended to filter out toxic tiny particles from the atmosphere surrounding the machine. https://www.theguardian.com/world/2016/oct/26/dutch-unveil-giant-outside-vacuum-cleaner-to-filter-dirty-air http://www.ibtimes.com/worlds-largest-vacuum-suck-pollution-emissions-right-out-air-2437260 Why investors may want to keep tabs on air pollution. Americans are increasingly aware of the negative health impact of air pollution, but researchers have found another reason to track air quality: its impact on stock market returns. When pollution levels rise in Manhattan, stocks take a dive, according to a new study from researchers at the University of Ottawa and Columbia University. The study tracked the S&P 500 index, the most widely cited New York Stock Exchange benchmark, over a 15-year period and compared its returns with hourly measures of fine particulate matter in lower Manhattan, where the NYSE is based. http://www.cbsnews.com/news/why-investors-may-want-to-keep-tabs-on-air-pollution/ Delhi govt to fight air pollution with new monitoring stations By next Diwali, Delhi will have eight new air quality monitoring stations. The air pollution data in the capital is currently taken from 13 monitoring stations – six run by Delhi Pollution Control Committee (DPCC) and seven by Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB). According to a Delhi government official, the process to have seven fixed and one mobile station in place by next year has started, even though the sites are yet to be finalised. “These will help us get a comprehensive picture of air pollution in Delhi, especially during winter, when the city’s air quality worsens,” the official told HT. http://www.hindustantimes.com/delhi/delhi-govt-to-fight-air-pollution-with-new-monitoring-stations/story-SeFNgITLOBrqeaDbSrtshM.html CLIMATE CHANGE White House weighing whether greenhouse gas deal needs Senate approval. The Obama administration is evaluating whether an international agreement reached earlier this month to cut back on greenhouse gases used in refrigerators and air conditioners will need approval by the U.S. Senate, the White House said on Tuesday. Nearly 200 countries, including the United States and China… http://www.reuters.com/article/us-un-climatechange-usa-idUSKCN12P2ZX Humans create carbon emissions which spawn Australia's extreme weather – report. State of the Climate report from CSIRO and Bureau of Meteorology says human activities have driven ‘significant changes’ to Australia’s climate. Carbon emissions from human activities have driven significant changes to the climate in Australia, including about 1C of warming and an increase in extreme hot days and fire weather… https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2016/oct/27/humans-create-carbon-emissions-which-spawn-australias-extreme-weather-report Warm Ocean Water Takes Toll on Antarctica’s Glaciers. It has become increasingly clear in recent years that ocean waters are eating away at the undersides of the ice shelves that fringe Antarctica and buttress its many glaciers. A new study released Tuesday has found that hundreds of feet of ice have been lost from the bottoms of a few of these ice shelves and glaciers in a region of the continent that is contributing the most to sea level rise. http://www.climatecentral.org/news/warm-ocean-takes-toll-antarcticas-glaciers-20815?utm_source=Inside+Climate+News&utm_campaign=ea15cfe9ae-Today_s_Climate12_10_2014&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_29c928ffb5-ea15cfe9ae-327747457 US negotiator: 'severe' damage without more climate action. Countries will be expected to increase their level of ambition on climate change as they gather next month to build on a landmark deal to curb greenhouse gas emissions, the top United States climate negotiator said Tuesday. Jonathan Pershing, the State Department’s special climate change envoy, said aggressive action is needed at the… http://www.csmonitor.com/Environment/Inhabit/2016/1026/US-negotiator-severe-damage-without-more-climate-action Intergovernmental Panel On Climate Change Set To Tackle 1.5ºC Report. The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change has confirmed the outlines for two new reports it will be tackling over the next few years, including a report dedicated to the 1.5ºC global warming issue requested by delegates at the UN climate change conference held in Paris in December of last year. https://cleantechnica.com/2016/10/26/intergovernmental-panel-climate-change-set-tackle-1-5oc-report/ Corporations have GHG targets but still lack plans — study. Most of the world's major corporations have at least one target in place to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, but few are thinking strategically, new research finds. In a survey of nearly 1,000 companies, the climate-focused organization CDP found about 85 percent have set a climate target. https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2016/oct/27/humans-create-carbon-emissions-which-spawn-australias-extreme-weather-report Climate envoy sees 'shift' in global response to warming. The State Department's climate chief yesterday called the international agreements of the past year a major turning point in global warming diplomacy even as he warned against "backsliding" by some countries. With the Paris Agreement set to take force on Nov. 4, climate envoy Jonathan Pershing said the world had made historic progress recently in combating harmful warming. http://www.eenews.net/climatewire/2016/10/26/stories/1060044802 Climate change: Voters will be hot under the collar by 2099. By 2099 the nature of democratic politics could change in costly ways for politicians because of climate change, says Nick Obradovich of Harvard University in a paper in Springer's journal Climatic Change. Leveraging a century's worth of political science research, he predicts that voters' disgruntlement about the societal effects of climatic extremes and weather-related disasters they experience will translate into more frequent turnover of political parties elected in and out of office, and will keep politicians of especially warmer, poorer countries more on their toes than is currently the case. http://phys.org/news/2016-10-climate-voters-hot-collar.html FUELS What is causing the rapid rise in methane emissions? Yale environment 360: New research finds some surprising culprits and shows that fossil-fuel sources have played a much larger role than previously estimated. The stomachs of cattle, fermentation in rice fields, fracking for natural gas, coal mines, festering bogs, burning forests — they all produce methane, the second most important greenhouse gas, after carbon dioxide. https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2016/oct/26/what-is-causing-the-rapid-rise-in-methane-emissions VEHICLES China Looks at Extending Car Tax Cut, Improving Electric-Vehicle Funding. China is looking at extending a tax cut on small-engine automobiles that was responsible for reviving industry sales this year and improving the way it gives out subsidies for new-energy vehicles after a cheating scandal. “The Ministry of Industry and Information Technology is working with related agencies to improve policies involving incentives for energy-saving and new-energy vehicles… https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2016-10-26/china-looks-at-extending-auto-tax-cut-improving-ev-subsidies Audi quits Le Mans to focus on electric car racing. Audi will end its involvement in the prestigious Le Mans sports car race next year after almost two decades to focus on racing electric cars, symbolizing a shift in strategy as parent company Volkswagen battles to recover from an emissions scandal. Audi, which is seeking to boost the share of zero-emission vehicles to at least a quarter of its global sales by 2025… http://www.reuters.com/article/us-audi-strategy-idUSKCN12Q16P?feedType=RSS&virtualBrandChannel=11563 Is electric car start-up Faraday Future already running out of cash? Nevada’s state treasurer has a message for electric car company Faraday Future: Show me the money. The company building a $1-billion factory for Faraday in Nevada has a similar message: Pay up now. Money problems appear to be plaguing the secretive Gardena-based start-up, which is trying to rival Tesla and other automakers. http://www.latimes.com/business/autos/la-fi-hy-faraday-factory-late-payment-20161024-snap-story.html Curbside electric-car charging in Jersey City highlights importance for city drivers. City living presents many challenges for car owners, with parking among the most significant and painful. Scarce parking spaces are a particular problem for electric-car drivers, who typically charge their cars where they park overnight. Many electric-car drivers charge at home… http://www.greencarreports.com/news/1106889_curbside-electric-car-charging-in-jersey-city-highlights-importance-for-city-drivers Is It Possible for Electric Vehicles to Displace the Internal Combustion Engine? As electric vehicles would make “dramatic” inroads into the car market, they could have noticeable effect on traditional cars that run on petroleum and the internal combustion engine. That’s according to Fitch Ratings, which says that this would be “resoundingly credit negative” for the oil sector, as the transportation sector accounts for 55% for all of oil consumption. http://www.environmentalleader.com/2016/10/26/is-it-possible-for-electric-vehicles-to-displace-the-internal-combustion-engine/ Best electric cars: 2016's top EVs. Electric cars are becoming more and more viable as a form of everyday transport. Many mainstream carmakers now offer an electric model, or are actively developing one. Several of the latest models offer all-electric ranges in the hundreds of miles, meaning that most motorists will find that EVs now meet their commuting needs. The technology is improving at a rapid pace with better electric cars appearing every year. The UK's charging network is also on an expansion path, making it easier to top up your electric car on the go. http://www.theweek.co.uk/69705/best-electric-cars-2016s-top-evs GREEN ENERGY Solar battery power takes up the charge in Kenya. Staff of the International Center of Insect Physiology and Ecology (ICIPE) don’t worry too much about the frequent power outages at their campuses. A bank of diesel generators ensure that when power from the national grid goes off, the center's research into insects, food and health is not disrupted. http://www.reuters.com/article/us-kenya-solar-batteries-idUSKCN12Q18K Sunrun to offer solar panels plus batteries with LG Chem. The same company that builds the battery for GM’s upcoming Bolt electric car now wants to put one in your basement — and plug it into solar panels on your roof. LG Chem and San Francisco’s Sunrun announced a partnership Wednesday to offer solar arrays paired with in-home batteries — a combination that many analysts consider the future of the solar industry. http://www.sfgate.com/business/article/Sunrun-to-offer-solar-panels-plus-batteries-with-10339807.php Duke Energy's Charlotte control center takes big role in nation's first off-shore wind farm. Duke Energy Renewables has signed a long-term contract to provide remote monitoring, control and dispatch services to the nation’s first offshore wind farm from its Charlotte Renewables Control Center. Duke (NYSE:DUK) announced the deal with the 30-megawatt Block Island Wind Farm, which is completing its final testing phase. http://www.bizjournals.com/charlotte/news/2016/10/26/duke-energy-to-provide-operation-services-for.html OPINIONS Magical Thinking Won’t Stop Climate Change. World leaders have started to generate some real optimism with their efforts to address global climate change. What’s troubling, though, is how far we remain from getting carbon emissions under control -- and how much wishful thinking is still required to believe we can do so. The Paris agreement on climate change has garnered the national signatories needed to go into force on Nov. 4. https://www.bloomberg.com/view/articles/2016-10-26/magical-thinking-won-t-stop-climate-change India’s Air-Conditioning and Climate Change Quandary. Air-conditioning is not just a luxury. It’s a critical adaptation tool in a warming world, with the ability to save lives. It also warms the world. Which is why the structure of the recent landmark agreement reached in Kigali, Rwanda, on limiting hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs) used in, among other things, air-conditioners and refrigerators is so important. http://www.nytimes.com/2016/10/27/upshot/indias-air-conditioning-and-climate-change-quandary.html Why investors may want to keep tabs on air pollution. Americans are increasingly aware of the negative health impact of air pollution, but researchers have found another reason to track air quality: its impact on stock market returns. When pollution levels rise in Manhattan, stocks take a dive, according to a new study from researchers at the University of Ottawa and Columbia University. http://www.cbsnews.com/news/why-investors-may-want-to-keep-tabs-on-air-pollution/ Is It Possible for Electric Vehicles to Displace the Internal Combustion Engine? As electric vehicles would make "dramatic" inroads into the car market, they could have noticeable effect on traditional cars that run on petroleum and the internal combustion engine. That's according to Fitch Ratings, which says that this would be "resoundingly credit negative" for the oil sector, as the transportation sector accounts for 55% for all of oil consumption. http://www.environmentalleader.com/2016/10/26/is-it-possible-for-electric-vehicles-to-displace-the-internal-combustion-engine/#ixzz4OCs3HMxI BLOGS Electric Buses and Trucks Can Deliver Opportunity in California by Cutting Poverty and Heavy-duty vehicles are the single largest source of smog-forming pollution in California. Transportation emissions endanger public health and hurt low-income communities and communities of color the most because these communities are more likely to be located near busy roads, highways, and ports. Powering our cars, buses, and trucks with electricity can clean our air, fight climate change… http://greenlining.org/blog/2016/electric-buses-trucks-can-deliver-opportunity-california-cutting-poverty-pollution/ Military Veterans Are Helping To Save Coral Reefs By Combating Climate Change. At a time when the presidential election is dividing families and friends, at least one issue is bridging the gap: giving veterans of the U.S. military a new lease on life by teaching them how to restore coral reefs. And they are trying to enlist big business as their ally. Indeed, the marriage of the ocean’s ecology along with those who have served their nation is breathing a new spirit into the coral reefs… http://www.forbes.com/sites/kensilverstein/2016/10/26/military-veterans-are-helping-to-save-coral-reefs-by-combating-climate-change/#4fbaed70500c Volkswagen Phideon Launches In China -- But You've Got To Wonder Why. The Volkswagen Phideon has been launched on the Chinese car market. The Phideon is the new flagship of the locally-made Volkswagen lineup. It is positioned above the Volkswagen Passat and below the imported Phaeton. It is a large sedan developed especially for China; there are no plans for export to other countries. http://www.forbes.com/sites/tychodefeijter/2016/10/26/volkswagen-phideon-launches-in-china-but-youve-got-to-wonder-why/#31de4d3f1c94 The World Just Made A Major Shift Toward Renewable Energy. “We are witnessing a transformation of global power.” The world installed more new renewable energy last year than coal, as countries attempt to shift away from fossil fuels and take advantage of massive cost reductions in wind and solar technology. More than half of all energy generation capacity added in 2015 came from renewable sources… http://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/renewable-energy-production-2015_us_58104a39e4b001e247df4ac1 9 Reasons Why California's Electric Buses and Trucks Can Help the Environment and Poor Communities. Electric buses and trucks can help clean the air and give a big economic boost to communities most in need. When most people think of electric vehicles, we think of cars, like Teslas, Chevy Volts and Nissan Leafs. But trucks and buses are going electric, too, and the impact on both our air and our economy could be huge. http://www.alternet.org/environment/9-reasons-why-californias-electric-buses-and-trucks-can-help-environment-and-poor California is in a drought emergency. Visit www.SaveOurH2O.org for water conservation tips.