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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.