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Ask a Scientist: Gas Plants Disproportionately Harm Marginalized Communities

Union of Concerned Scientists

Just how bad is fossil “naturalgas? And, as it turns out, the infrastructure used to produce, store, distribute, transmit, and burn gas leaks like a sieve , making gas as bad as coal for the climate. First, there’s air pollution. Its primary component is methane.

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Three Steps for Equitable Climate Action in Massachusetts

Union of Concerned Scientists

As we start the new year, these are three practical actions that I hope the state’s new leadership prioritizes to ensure sustained, bold, and equitable climate action. A recent UCS study found that communities of color across the Commonwealth are exposed to at least 30 percent more local air pollution from on-road transportation sources.

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LA’s big step toward building electrification

Legal Planet

This means that, with few exceptions, new buildings will need to exclusively use electric appliances, and will not be allowed to contain any fossil-fuel infrastructure, like natural-gas lines. All-electric as the new normal. Just as important is the process that led to the new-buildings ordinance.

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We Need an Agreement to Phase out Fossil Fuels at COP28

Union of Concerned Scientists

Beyond the climate harms of fossil fuels, they also impose a terrible toll on human health, as numerous recent studies show—including the Lancet Countdown on Health and Climate Change , a BMJ study on global deaths from air pollution caused by fossil fuels, and a study on US deaths attributable to coal-fired electricity generation.

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9th Circuit Chills Municipal Government Efforts to Ban Natural Gas for Cooking, Heating

E2 Law Blog

There have been a series of recent high-profile legislative actions and media articles concerning attempts to ban natural gas appliances or natural gas service to consumers over alleged safety and air pollution issues. On April 17, 2023, in California Restaurant Association v.

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Don’t Believe the Lies: Five Facts to Consider as the UN’s COP27 Comes to a Close

Union of Concerned Scientists

When thinking about global emissions, don’t picture an individual—point your finger at powerful corporations, specifically the 88 companies that are largely responsible for climate change. The best solution: Replace fossil fuels with renewable energy. The current carbon-based energy system has serious downsides.

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Good News—and Bad—about Fossil Fuel Power Plants in 2023 

Union of Concerned Scientists

With the clean energy transition already under way, the US electricity mix is set to continue changing this year. Solar power is expected to make up about half of all additions of US electric generating capacity in 2023, according to data from the US Energy Information Administration (EIA). I’ll start off with the good.