Ominous Trend Revealed in Greenhouse Gas Emissions Data

Greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions are warming the globe and driving climate change. The impacts of these GHGs are not some future concern they are being felt here and now.  We need to look no further than the steady stream of record breaking warming. Last month was the warmest November on record, and 2020 is expected to be one of the hottest years on record. Month after month, year after year, and decade after decade we are setting new temperature records that are exacerbating wildfires, droughts and storms.

California's Cap-and-Trade Program is Alive and Well

This is the eighth installment in a series of posts on California's climate leadership. These posts address a wide range of related topics including economic benefits and renewable energy.

With unprecedented bipartisan support, California lawmakers have voted to extend the state's cap-and-trade program. This carbon pricing program is key to meeting California's ambitious carbon reduction targets. The plan puts a statewide cap on greenhouse gas emissions and allows companies to buy and sell pollution credits.

Obama Administration's Oil and Gas Initiatives

In their final year, the Obama administration has moved forward with some important actions to curtail extraction and reduce pollution from the oil and gas industry. Fossil fuels are responsible for the vast majority of greenhouse gases and deadly air pollution.

To help address these concerns President Obama has previously a raft of fossil fuel related actions. This includes, the Clean Power Plan, stopping the KXL, cuting Shell's Arctic drilling in half and halting the building of the Dakota Access pipeline.  In 2016 President Obama went even further and banned offshore Arctic oil drilling, changed the methane rules for the fossil fuel industry and canceled gas leases on Native lands.

Carbon Capture and Storage is Essential Post Paris

Interest in carbon capture and storage (CCS) has intensified in the wake of the Paris Climate Agreement. CCS refers to a suite of technologies that pull CO2 from a smokestack before it escapes into the air. It is then sequestered in some fashion, most commonly by burying it deep underground. CCS is a much needed technology, if for no other reason than the fact that fossil fuels are likely to be with us for years to come.

There have been a number of notable achievements in the area of CCS in recent years. According to Victor Der, executive advisor and acting general manager – the Americas, Global CCS Institute:

Carbon Air Capture and Storage (Videos)

We need technologies that draw carbon dioxide from the air and either re-use or store it. While we must curtail our carbon emissions we must also find ways to reduce existing levels of atmospheric carbon. Climate change is caused by the buildup of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere, especially carbon. Prior to the dawn of the industrial revolution atmospheric carbon levels were below 300 ppm, they are currently above 400 ppm and climbing.

Planting 8 Billion Trees: An Earth Day 2016 Initiative

Forests are important for a multitude of reasons not the least of which is their capacity to combat climate change. The theme behind Earth Day celebrations in 2016 is "Trees for the Earth." The organizers at the Earth Day Network are asking for help to achieve their ambitious goal of planting 7.8 billion trees. Over the next five years each successive Earth Day will focus on a different action theme counting down to the 50th anniversary of the iconic event. The purpose is to foster interest around actions that, "have a significant and measurable impact on the Earth."

We have known for some time that trees are important to life on the planet. Tees help combat climate change by absorbing carbon from the atmosphere. Two acres of mature trees can absorb the same amount of CO2 as the average car produces every year.

Agreement on a Pan-Canadian Carbon Pricing Scheme

It looks as though Prime Minister Justin Trudeau's Liberals are moving forward with a national carbon pricing scheme albeit adapted to regional circumstances. On Thursday March 3, 2016, Trudeau announced that the federal government along with all ten provinces have agreed to a "comprehensive and ambitious plan" to put a price on carbon.

Carbon pricing (which includes both cap and trade and a carbon tax) leverages the market to disincentivize emissions intensive activities by making them more expensive while incentivizing low carbon technologies. In effect carbon pricing integrates the true cost of carbon which is currently not reflected in the market. Carbon pricing is the best way to help governments reduce emissions while minimizing economic impacts.

Obama Proposes Oil Tax and Clean Energy Infrastructure Investments

President Obama has recently proposed an oil tax and a clean energy infrastructure investment plan that would create a “more integrated, sophisticated and sustainable transportation sector." The proposal is part of a budget request that calls for annual spending of $32 billion and it will be paid for with a $10 a barrel oil tax. The ten year 320 billion is designed to finance a 21st century clean energy infrastructure in the US. This includes annual spending of $20 billion for national transportation initiatives, $10 billion in for cities and states and $2.4 billion for green vehicle research.

Republican Senate Passes Legislation to Kill the Clean Power Plan

The Republican's anti-environment witch hunt continues with yet another piece of legislation that seeks to dismantle the centerpiece of US climate action. On Tuesday November 17th the Republican controlled Senate passed legislation designed to kill the most important climate action ever taken in the US. As he had promised, Mitch McConnell is doing everything he can to stop the EPA from regulating power plants.

As explained by the President, the Clean Power Plan will reign in emissions in a way that is both effective and flexible. In addition to reducing the nation's greenhouse gas emissions, the plan will provide both economic and health benefits.

Keystone XL is Rejected Energy East to Follow

TransCanada's tar sands pipelines are being thwarted at every turn. US President Barack Obama has officially rejected the Keystone XL and the new Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau is expected to cancel the Energy East.

Clean Power Plan Facing Lawsuits Despite Raft of Benefits

Last week the Clean Power Plan officially became law and rather than being hailed as one of the greatest climate, environmental, innovation and economic accomplishments in US history, it has been met with a raft of lawsuits from state governors.

The final version of the Clean Power Plan was released on August 3, 2015 and it sets even stricter emissions regulations than the proposal announced last year. The regulation, which aims to cut carbon pollution from power plants, cuts emissions 32 percent by 2030 from levels recorded in 2005. That is 2 percent more than the original draft rule that proposed a 30 percent reduction.

Family Health and the Clean Power Plan (Videos)

Not only will the Clean Power Plan help to protect future generations from climate change it will protect the health of families.

Air pollution increases respiratory illness in vulnerable populations. It is projected that the EPA's green power plan could prevent 3,500 deaths, 1,000 hospital admissions from heart and lung disease, 220 heart attacks.

President Obama Introduces and Explains the Clean Power Plan (Video)

Early in August US President Barack Obama and the Environmental Protection Agency made history in the fight against climate change. In recent years the US has made more progress decreasing its GHG emissions than any other nation on earth. The Clean Power Plan is the biggest step yet in the effort to curb climate change. It will significantly add to the President's legacy by reigning-in climate change causing carbon pollution from energy plants and coal powered plants in particular. Coal powered plants are among the worst culprits. Together power plants are responsible for almost one third (30%) of America's GHG emissions.

The Health Benefits of Combating Climate Change and the Clean Power Plan

The Clean Power Plan and other government mitigation efforts are not only about reducing the impacts of one of the worst threats ever faced by humanity, they are also about addressing one of the foremost health issues of our times.  The health impacts from climate change and air pollution have been widely documented. In response to these threats the Clean Power Plan is a government prescription that is in the national interest. It will protect human health by significantly reducing climate change causing greenhouse gases and air pollution.

Republicans at Odds with Americans on Climate Change and the Clean Power Plan

Republicans including the candidates who are vying for the GOP's presidential nomination have failed to appreciate that voters are concerned about the health impacts of climate change and air pollution and they want governments to do something about it.  This concern extends to support for the Clean Power Plan. While Republicans and dirty energy disregard the evidence on climate change and oppose the Clean Power Plan a number of polls suggest that the GOP's resistance to the Clean Power Plan is at odds with the will of the American people.

A recent survey by Public Policy Polling suggests that this position is at at odds with the views of the American people. According to a public opinion poll in eight battleground states people are concerned about climate change and they support the Clean Power Plan. This same poll showed that Americans do not support Mitch McConnell's suggestion that Republican governors should drag their feet on the implementation of the plan.

The Clean Power Plan for the Health of Latinos: Congresswomen Sánchez Testimonmy to the EPA

On July 29th, 2014 by Congresswoman Linda Sánchez gave her testimony to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). In this testimony she explained why she is particularly concerned about the impacts of air pollution on the Latino community.

She spoke about the need to reduce pollution and her concern for public health and she explained why she is concerned about the well-being of her Latino constituents. She said that power plant emissions are a health risk of particular significance for Latinos.  With 31 percent of Latinos living within 30 miles of a power plant, they are165 percent more likely to live in counties with unhealthy levels of particulate matter pollution. This translates to high rates of asthma among Latinos. There are currently over 3.6 million Latinos in the US that suffer from asthma, including one in ten Latino children.

Republicans and Dirty Energy Oppose the Clean Power Plan

Although the Environmental Protection Agency's Clean Power Plan has received widespread support, vociferous resistance has come from the fossil fuel industry and conservatives. This includes sitting members of the GOP in congress and those seeking the Republican nomination for president.

Clean Power Plan: Business Opportunities and Economic Benefits

The Clean Power Plan will provide a host of opportunities for business and benefits for the economy. The plan can be expected to accelerate clean energy innovation and improve energy efficiency, it will also cost a tiny fraction of the estimated costs of inaction. The EPA estimates that the Clean Power Plan will result in economic benefits of $27 to $50 billion each year in 2020, and $49 to $84 billion in 2030. These savings are attributable to the combination of reducing climate impacts from greenhouse gases along with health savings from cutting particulate emissions in the air.

Hundreds of US Companies and Investors Support the Clean Power Plan

American companies and investors have signed a Ceres letter supporting the Environmental Protection Agency's Clean Power Plan. A total of 365 companies and investors signed the letter which was sent to 29 US governors, just ahead of the release of the Clean Power Plan on August 3rd.

On July 27th, a number of American companies announced a partnership with the White House through which they revealed their plans to tackle climate change. As part of this initiative a total of 13 companies have pledged to invest more than $140 billion to cut carbon emissions. This includes some of the largest brands in the US. Bank of America, General Motors, Cargill, Google, Microsoft and Apple to name 6 of the 13 companies that are onboard.

The 365 businesses and investors that sent a letter in support of the Clean Power Plan include a wide range of business from small local companies to large enterprises like General Mills, Mars, Nestle, Staples and Unilever who are present in all 50 states.

Historic Clean Power Plan Includes Three New Additions

On Monday August 3, the Obama administration released its final plan to curb power plant emissions as part of efforts to cut US greenhouse gas emissions by 32 percent. In addition to encouraging less energy from carbon intensive sources like coal, the plan relies on more renewable energy and less natural gas. However, states have a good deal of flexibility as to how they will execute the plan and they have been given more time to implement it. The Clean Power Plan is the first time that the US has set national climate pollution limits on power plants. President Obama called the plan "the single most important step" America has ever taken in the fight against climate change.