Justice Scalia's Death Bodes Well for the Clean Power Plan

The EPA's Clean Power Plan (CPP), the centerpiece of the Obama administration's climate efforts was stayed by the US Supreme Court on February 9, however the death of Conservative justice Antonin Scalia just a few days later breathes new life into the plan.

In total 27 states, the coal industry, and the Republican party want to stop the EPA's efforts to reign in emissions from US power plants. Their efforts to undermine the plan are at odds with American opinions. Polls show that the majority of Americans support the CPP even in states that oppose it.

Seminar - Reducing Carbon Emissions in the Water Sector

This event will take place on June, 11th, 2014 in London, United Kingdom. The seminar is titled Reducing Carbon Emissions in the Water Sector it will address both incentives and innovation.

This facilitated interactive seminar will review key challenges and consider their viability, leading to the production of a summary of conclusions and recommendations.

For more information or to register click here.

Event - International Conference and Exhibition on Emissions Monitoring

CEM 2014 The 11th International Conference and exhibition on Emissions monitoring will take place in Istanbul, Turkey from the 14th – 16th May 2014.

Since its inaugural meeting in 1997 the CEM conferences have been held in the United Kingdom, The Netherlands, Denmark, France, Switzerland, Italy, The Czech Republic and now it comes to the historic city of Istanbul where East meets West.

The CEM event brings together the International emissions monitoring community to network, trade ideas and discuss technology, methods, applications, legislation and standardisation relevant to all atmospheric pollutants which include particulates, SO2, NOx VOC, trace elements and greenhouse gases.

Infographic - Benefits of Acting on Short Lived Climate Pollutants

Workshop - Greenhouse Gas Measurements from Space (IWGGMS-10)

The 10th International Workshop on Greenhouse Gas Measurements from Space (IWGGMS-10) will take place on May 5 - 7, 2014, in the Netherlands.

China Using Drones to Combat Air Pollution

Chemical dispersing drones are being used by the Chinese government to combat the serious smog problem in Beijing. The pollution in Beijing is caused primarily by the cities five million motor vehicles, nearby coal burning, dust storms and local construction dust.

Previously, fixed wing aircraft sprayed chemicals that freeze floating particles, allowing them to fall to ground. Now these chemicals will be sprayed by an unmanned parafoil drone designed by the state owned Aviation Industry Corporation of China. The new design uses the same chemicals but can carry three time more weight (700kg) than fixed wing designs making it 90 percent less expensive to operate.

Beijing Passes New Air Pollution Law

China is plagued by dangerous air pollution, and the city of Beijing has taken the first step to address the issue. Beijing, one of the most polluted cities in the world, has introduced China’s first legally binding regulations. The new rules are designed to reduce PM2.5 levels were overwhelmingly approved by Beijing’s municipal congress by a vote of 659 to 23.

Particulate Matter, 2.5 micrometers or less are abbreviated as PM2.5. They are defined as fine particles in the (ambient) air that are 2.5 micrometres or less in size. They are small enough to invade even the smallest airways and they are known to produce respiratory and cardiovascular illness. They generally come from activities that burn fossil fuels, such as traffic, smelting, and metal processing.

China's national standard is 35-micrograms of PM2.5 per cubic meter, while Beijing has levels that are more than twice that level (89.5 micrograms). Beijing Mayor Wang Anshun has said that air pollution is the biggest problem concerning people’s livelihoods in the capital.

China's New Year: Smog and Drought Underscore the Contradiction of Pollution and Mitigation

As China celebrates its new year festival, many of the country's major cities appear deserted as millions of workers returned to their childhood homes in rural parts of the nation. On the upside the mass exodus has improved air quality in some of China's biggest cities. However, as the New Year was being celebrated another round of heavy smog hit a large region of the country.

In China, the Lunar New Year ushers in the year of the Horse which is one of 12 animals that make up the Chinese zodiac. According to Chinese astrology the year will be marked by conflict. One of the ongoing issues that is contributing to social tensions in the country is the problem of smog.

Best and Worst Nations at Combating Climate Change (2014)

A new index ranks nations from best to worst on their efforts to combat climate change. The top ten on this list are comprised exclusively of European countries. It is interesting to note that some of the nations near the bottom of this list (Australia, Canada, Japan and China) are also responsible for derailing progress at the most recent COP 19 climate negotiations in Warsaw.

The list of 58 countries is called the Climate Change Performance Index [PDF], it is produced by Germanwatch and Climate Action Network Europe. The rankings are based on countries greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, emissions-reduction efforts, energy efficiency, renewable energy portfolios, and policies aimed at slowing climate change.

Here are the top ten:

Infographic: Countries Industries and Corporations Cumulative GHG Contributions

New research provides a cumulative summary of the nations and industries that are responsible for climate change causing greenhouse gases (GHGs). Richard Heede is a scientist who has studied historic cumulative carbon emissions from 90 carbon producers. His research has been published in a paper called "Tracing anthropogenic carbon dioxide and methane emissions to fossil fuel and cement producers, 1854-2010." This peer reviewed study has been published in the journal Climatic Change.

Global Levels of Greenhouse Gases Reach Record Levels

According to the United Nations weather agency, global levels of carbon, methane and nitrous oxide are higher than they have ever been and they continue to accelerate. Atmospheric carbon (CO2) is the leading heat trapping greenhouse gas (GHG) and the primary cause of climate change. There is more atmospheric carbon on earth today than there has been for almost a million years. The last time the planet experienced carbon levels of this magnitude sea levels were much higher than they are today.

Chinese Smog Crisis is Driving the Transition to a Greener Economy

Air quality and other environmental concerns are forcing China to transition to a greener more sustainable  economy. With visibility in Harbin, China being reduced to 10 meters, the city was shut down by a thick blanket of smog that descended on Monday, October 21. Levels of smog in the city are five to ten times worse than America's most smog ridden city, (the Southern California city of Bakersfield). While officials are blaming the dense smog in Harbin on heating, the real issue is the country's reliance on coal.

China's Economic Growth and Low Carbon Leadership

China's economy is growing along with the nation's efforts to combat climate change. The nation is an increasingly competitive leader in low carbon thanks to its renewable energy initiatives, sustainability efforts, and reductions in CO2 and HCFCs.

The latest economic reports out of China indicate that the country has increased its rate of growth. The Chinese economy grew by 7.8% in the third quarter of 2013 compared to a year earlier, the highest growth rate so far this year. Foreign investment in China rose to $8.8 billion (US), marking a 4.9% increase over last year. Manufacturing output recorded double-digit growth for the second month in a row, expanding by 10.2% in September. Credit Suisse expects the Chinese economy to grow by 7.6% in 2013 and 7.7% in 2014.

Infographic - Oil

11th Session of the UNCCD Conference of Parties to Combat Desertification

During the next two weeks participants expect to take Rio + 20 outcomes further that include defining scientific mechanisms to measure monitoring. The eleventh session of the Conference of the Parties (COP11) to the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD) opened this afternoon in Windhoek, Namibia.

During the two-week session, the 195 parties will define the action needed to improve land management at all levels. They will also review the progress made in the last two years to combat desertification and drought, and to mitigate the effects of drought.

Canadian Implications of Obama's National Climate Strategy

On June 25, 2013, US President Barack Obama delivered a speech that will reverbate around the world and directly impact their neighbors to the north. Several years ago Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper pledged to match US climate change targets and align the two nations’ climate policy. Now that President Obama has launched an ambitious strategy to combat climate change, Harper will be hard pressed to make good on his promise.

Obama has made it clear that under his leadership the US will substantially reduce their greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. Much of American emissions (40%) come from coal plants which is why these facilities are the primary focus of the President's plan. In Canada coal generated emissions are only 10 per cent of the nation's emissions. However, the President's climate strategy will directly impact Canada's GHG intensive fossil fuel industry and tarsands oil in particular.

The Fate of the Keystone XL Pipeline in the Wake of President Obama's Georgetown University Speech

During his Georgetown Univeristy speech on June 25th, President Obama indicated that the Keystone XL pipeline, (which would ferry tarsands oil from Alberta to Texas) should not proceed if it will generate greenhouse gases (GHGs) and contribute to climate change.  "The net effects of the pipeline's impact on our climate will be absolutely critical to determining whether this project is allowed to go forward," the President said. Obama has instructed the State Department to approve the pipeline only if the project won't increase the net emissions of GHGs.This is the first time that the President has linked the pipeline to emissions.

CO2 Will Adversely Impact Rainfall Around the World

Climate change causing greenhouse gases, particularly carbon dioxide (CO2), will cause less rain in areas that need it most and more rain in areas that need it least. According to recent NASA findings areas that get a lot of rain will get more, those areas that get moderate rainfall will get less, and those areas that get little rainfall may get none at all.

NASA's research is the product of an analysis of the computer simulations from 14 climate models. They span 140 years and they show that warming from carbon dioxide will change the frequency that regions around the planet receive rain.

The EIA's Emissions Analysis by US States

In May, the US Energy Information Administration (EIA) released an analysis titled, State-Level Energy-Related Carbon Dioxide Emissions, According to the EIA's assessment, between 2000 and 2010, CO2 emissions fell in 32 states and rose in 18 states. However, from 2009 to 2010, only 14 states saw a decrease in emissions. This increase is attributable to the fact that the US was emerging from recession. The greatest percentage decrease in CO2 emissions occurred in Delaware at 27.9 percent, (4.5 million metric tons). The greatest absolute decline was 58.8 million metric tons in Texas (8.3 percent). New York experienced a decline of 38.6 million metric tons (18.3 percent). The greatest percentage increase was in Nebraska at 16.0 percent (6.6 million metric tons), while Colorado experienced the greatest absolute increase (11.8 million metric tons or 13.9 percent).

Event - International Conference on Environmental Pollution and Remediation

The 3rd International Conference on Environmental Pollution and Remediation (ICEPR) will take place Monday July 15 to Wednesday Jul 17, 2013, in Toronto, Ontario. The International Academy of Science, Engineering and Technology (International ASET Inc.) is proud to present the 3rd International ICEPR.

ICEPR is a series of international conferences held yearly. These conferences focus on all aspects of Environmental Science, Engineering, and Technology. After successfully holding the second ICEPR in Montreal (Canada), International ASET Inc. will be hosting this conference in Toronto this year.