article thumbnail

What’s the Role of the Land Carbon Sink in Achieving US Climate Goals?

Union of Concerned Scientists

Without the considerable carbon absorption capacity of our lands (and oceans), we’d currently have much more CO 2 in the atmosphere and an accelerated timeline of warming. In North America, the land carbon sink between 2004 and 2013 offset roughly 39% of fossil fuel emissions , but varied substantially year to year.

article thumbnail

Statement on the Government of Canada’s New Policy Ending Subsidies to the Fossil Fuel Industry

Enviromental Defense

As countries around the world grapple with eliminating their own fossil fuel subsidies, Canada has set a strong global precedent. This is alarming given that Canada is one of the largest providers of fossil fuel financing in the G20. Canada ranks among the worst in the G20 for providing fossil fuels public financing.

Insiders

Sign Up for our Newsletter

This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.

article thumbnail

New Bill Targets Carbon Dioxide Pipeline Leaks

Legal Planet

However, you might be surprised to discover that carbon dioxide makes up just 0.04% of the earth’s atmosphere. At higher concentrations, carbon dioxide can be deadly. Because carbon dioxide is denser than air, it sinks, displacing oxygen and causing humans and animals to asphyxiate.

article thumbnail

Whales and Lobstermen Have a Common Enemy

Union of Concerned Scientists

GOM communities, not fossil fuel interests, should determine policies that affect GOM people. He was on to something And the lobsterman was correct: we can blame carbon emissions for ocean acidification and warming in the Gulf of Maine. They should be held accountable for their actions.”

article thumbnail

Don’t hamstring carbon removal

Legal Planet

In the case of carbon removal associated with industrial systems, the process prevents increased emissions of carbon dioxide to the atmosphere. Carbon removal will be central to decarbonization efforts in the next several decades.

article thumbnail

We need real climate plans not false solutions

Enviromental Defense

When it comes to climate action, it can be difficult to understand what makes a strong climate plan that puts us on a pathway to zero greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions – and what new policies and tools are actually dangerous distractions from real solutions. Producing and using fossil fuels creates a lot of damage beyond climate disasters.

article thumbnail

Biomethane Threatens to Upend the Clean Hydrogen Tax Credit

Union of Concerned Scientists

The Inflation Reduction Act’s new hydrogen production tax credit , known as code 45V, is intended to incentivize a shift to low-carbon hydrogen production by offering producers a credit that increases in value as the carbon emissions associated with produced hydrogen declines.