Circle of Blue

JANUARY 11, 2023

Ahead of a high-profile UN conference, political forecasters issue water warnings. The World Economic Forum acknowledged once again that ecological shocks such as these reverberate mightily in politics and society. Eurasia Group, a political risk consultancy, recently published its risk watch-list for 2023. Water still matters.

Politics 321

Politics Natural Resources 2015 2023 321

Legal Planet

OCTOBER 13, 2022

The article surveys a range of criticisms of the use of carbon taxes as a tool to address greenhouse gas emissions, and criticisms of the focus of many economists on carbon taxes as the primary tool to address climate change. I think these political constraints are a key reason economists focused so long – too long – on carbon pricing.

Politics 232

Politics Fossil Fuels Climate Change Technology 232

Environmental News Bits

JANUARY 26, 2022

Researchers at the University of Massachusetts Amherst Political Economy Research Institute (PERI) today published the newest editions of its lists of the top corporate air and water polluters and top greenhouse gas emitters in the United States, based on the most recent data available from the Environmental… Read more →

Greenhouse 74

Greenhouse Politics 74

Inside Climate News

JANUARY 16, 2023

By Bob Berwyn, Katie Surma Forests managed by Indigenous peoples and other local communities in the Amazon region draw vast amounts of planet-warming carbon dioxide out of the atmosphere while the rest of the rainforest has become a net source of the greenhouse gas, a new report has found.

Rainforest 99

Rainforest Greenhouse Carbon Dioxide Atmosphere 99

Legal Planet

DECEMBER 18, 2023

This group of nearly all the world’s nations says that it: [R]ecognizes the need for deep, rapid and sustained reductions in greenhouse gas emissions in line with 1.5 °C Coal clearly does not have the same clout as oil and gas, either in domestic politics or international negotiations. Non-CO2 greenhouse gases.

Fossil Fuels 229

Fossil Fuels Carbon Dioxide Paris Agreement Greenhouse 229

Inside Climate News

OCTOBER 29, 2023

EPA’s annual greenhouse gas report for large emitters show some facilities slashed their emissions while others polluted more than ever. By Phil McKenna Emissions from the largest greenhouse gas emitters in the U.S. By Phil McKenna Emissions from the largest greenhouse gas emitters in the U.S.

2022 140

2022 Greenhouse Environmental Protection Fossil Fuels 140

Real Climate

NOVEMBER 11, 2023

A friend asked me if a discussion paper published on Statistics Norway’s website, ‘ To what extent are temperature levels changing due to greenhouse gas emissions? ’, was purposely timed for the next climate summit ( COP28 ). All this can be explained by physical processes and an enhanced greenhouse effect.

Sea Level 292

Sea Level Greenhouse Climate Change Atmosphere 292

Inside Climate News

AUGUST 1, 2022

By Bob Berwyn As global greenhouse gas emissions continue to rise, some climate scientists say it’s time to start paying more attention to the most extreme, worst-case outcomes, including the potential for widespread extinctions, mass climate migration and the disintegration of social and political systems.

Climate Scientist 105

Climate Scientist Greenhouse Politics Climate Change 105

Legal Planet

FEBRUARY 14, 2024

C is a political target, not a scientifically determined limit. But it’s a political target that’s based on a reasonable assessment of science that suggests that harms from climate change are likely to get worse faster after passing 1.5 It says the Agreement aims to hold global-average heating “well below 2.0 Q: Why is 1.5 or even 0.2

Paris Agreement 258

Paris Agreement Climate Change 2023 Politics 258

Legal Planet

MAY 16, 2023

As in the US, Australia’s climate policy was long a victim of a lengthy period of divided government and political upheaval. In 2022, the Labor coalition passed a law mandating that Australia cut greenhouse gas emissions 43% below 2005 levels by 2030 and reach net-zero by 2050. More is needed, but hopefully the tide has turned.

2030 260

2030 Law 2007 Government 260

Legal Planet

JANUARY 2, 2023

As a second benefit, they claim to be engaged in political symbolism, trying to disrupt a stuck debate over effective climate responses and get people to talk about solar geoengineering – of which stratospheric aerosol injection is the most promising method being discussed.

Cooling 363

Cooling Atmosphere Regulations Government 363

Inside Climate News

NOVEMBER 18, 2023

Concentrations of HFC-23, one of the world’s most potent greenhouse gases, remained elevated in East Asia after China, a known past polluter, agreed to curb emissions.

Carbon Dioxide 129

Carbon Dioxide Atmosphere Greenhouse Politics 129

Legal Planet

SEPTEMBER 30, 2021

Westlaw searches for “global warming” and “greenhouse effect” pick up only a handful of citations before 1985. The other article about nuclear power also observed in passing that “coal combustion may disrupt global weather patterns by increasing the amount of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere, creating a ‘greenhouse effect.’”.

Carbon Dioxide 255

Carbon Dioxide Nuclear Power Climate Change Clean Air Act 255

Union of Concerned Scientists

JUNE 2, 2022

The rule also bases its emissions disclosure standards on the Greenhouse Gas (GHG) Protocol, which classifies emissions in three categories. Burning fossil fuels for energy accounts for about 75 percent of total US greenhouse gas emissions, and Scope 3 emissions account for 80 to 90 percent of the sector’s total emissions.

Fossil Fuels 247

Fossil Fuels Climate Change Politics Sea Level 247

Legal Planet

MAY 9, 2022

As of 2021, 30 emissions trading systems were in force globally, covering 16 – 17 % of global greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. Emissions trading systems are often launched with relatively lenient design features, typically justified as giving the system a chance to “learn-by-doing” and to gain political buy-in for approval of a program.

Government 195

Government Politics Climate Change Paris Agreement 195

Enviromental Defense

SEPTEMBER 27, 2023

For decades national and international climate plans and climate talks have avoided an obvious, but politically challenging truth: since fossil fuels are causing the climate crisis, we must phase them out. The Government of Canada has promised new rules to cap and cut greenhouse gas pollution from the oil and gas sector.

Fossil Fuels 131

Fossil Fuels Government Politics Greenhouse 131

Legal Planet

AUGUST 15, 2023

They called expert witnesses to calculate the total greenhouse gas emissions caused by activity in Montana, a major gas and coal producing state, and connected that to tangible impacts on ecosystems and humans in the state. “Defendants’ actions contribute to climate change and harm plaintiffs.” The plaintiffs won this case on climate science.

Fossil Fuels 238

Fossil Fuels Climate Change Renewable Energy Carbon Dioxide 238

Union of Concerned Scientists

AUGUST 29, 2023

Passing fees in California requires a two-third’s vote from both houses of the legislature, and when vote margins are slim, the politics get tricky. It’s clear , and it has been clear for decades, that to stave off the worst impacts of climate change we must drastically reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions.

Nitrogen Oxides 185

Nitrogen Oxides 2007 Greenhouse Air Pollution 185

Circle of Blue

AUGUST 16, 2021

As famines historically are caused by conflict or political issues, and socioeconomic vulnerabilities, the famine in Madagascar–one of the lowest emitters of carbon and greenhouse gasses in the world–stands out as being heavily influenced by climate change.

Climate Change 290

Climate Change Rainforest 2015 2018 290

Environmental News Bits

FEBRUARY 6, 2023

by Daniel Cohan, Rice University Gas stoves are a leading source of hazardous indoor air pollution, but they emit only a tiny share of the greenhouse gases that warm the climate. Why, then, have they assumed such a heated role in climate politics? This debate reignited on Jan. 9, 2023, when Richard Trumka Jr.,

Air Pollution 59

Air Pollution Greenhouse Politics 2023 59

Legal Planet

JULY 12, 2023

As I outlined here , Montana state law prohibits the consideration of greenhouse gas emissions or climate impacts–– inside and outside the state’s borders––when reviewing projects and approving permits. The admission says a lot about political will. This is not supposed to be a town hall or a popularity contest,” he said.

Fossil Fuels 240

Fossil Fuels Climate Change Greenhouse Clean Air Act 240

MGKF Law

JUNE 30, 2022

EPA , the Supreme Court limited the authority of the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to reduce greenhouse gases by setting emission guidelines for existing power plants, characterizing the energy generation shifting strategy proposed in the Clean Power Plan (CPP) as an overreach of the agency’s power. ” Id.

Clean Air Act 75

Clean Air Act Greenhouse Environmental Protection Climate Change 75

Union of Concerned Scientists

NOVEMBER 27, 2023

Last week, the Federal Highway Administration finalized an important regulation–the greenhouse gas performance measure. Currently, only 24 states and the District of Columbia have laws requiring them to set targets and track their greenhouse gas emissions from transportation.

Greenhouse 227

Greenhouse Carbon Emissions 2012 Law 227

Legal Planet

DECEMBER 12, 2023

Missing in action, I thought, was a frank discussion of the impact of industrial farming, the role of carbon sequestration, and agriculture’s potential to transition from being an emitter of greenhouse gases to being a mitigator. Farming, from farm to table, contributes 25% of worldwide greenhouse emissions. In the U.S.,

Deforestation 173

Deforestation Climate Change Greenhouse Waste 173

Legal Planet

MAY 19, 2023

For the past two decades, explicit state policy has been to transition as quickly as possible from reliance on fossil fuels to renewable energy sources–motivated primarily by climate change concerns and the critical need to reduce the state’s greenhouse gas emissions.

Law 246

Law Fossil Fuels Climate Change Regulations 246

Legal Planet

FEBRUARY 21, 2024

Required the California Air Resources Board (CARB) to set standards for greenhouse gas emissions (GHGs) new vehicles. California established first renewable portfolio standard (20% from renewables by 2010). AB 1493 (Pavley Act). 2006 AB 32. AB 1803.

Carbon Emissions 231

Carbon Emissions Renewable Energy Climate Change 2002 231

Legal Planet

AUGUST 30, 2023

There are likely to be other ways to get states to take stronger action against greenhouse gas emissions as usual even in states that have not gone as far as Montana in attempting to block any attempt to condition or stop fossil fuel development. It also puts the inter-generational equity issue squarely on the political agenda.

Fossil Fuels 173

Fossil Fuels Climate Change Law Greenhouse 173

Edouard Stenger

NOVEMBER 8, 2023

With such events having taken place almost every year since 1995 and having close to no effect on rising greenhouse gases emissions, something has to change if Humans and Nature are to survive on planet Earth. Not only are emissions increasing, they are increasing faster and faster.

Fossil Fuels 52

Fossil Fuels Climate Change Air Pollution Greenhouse 52

Inside Climate News

SEPTEMBER 26, 2023

By Phil McKenna Aluminum is crucial for a clean energy economy, but its production is a leading source of greenhouse gas emissions as well as toxic air and water pollution, according to a new report by the Environmental Integrity Project on the “paradox” of aluminum.

Clean Energy 128

Clean Energy Carbon Dioxide Greenhouse Politics 128

Inside Climate News

DECEMBER 12, 2023

By Georgina Gustin As the United Nations’ annual climate summit wraps up in Dubai this week, farm and food groups are applauding the conference leadership for its intensified focus on agriculture, a major source of planet-warming greenhouse gas emissions that has been overlooked in previous years.

Greenhouse 103

Greenhouse Fossil Fuels Politics 103

Legal Planet

SEPTEMBER 18, 2023

Commissioners bring experience, stature, broad global representation — but crucially, are not presently in political office, so they are not required to advance national positions. They can speak and discuss freely. Getting better, but not very comforting.

Atmosphere 261

Atmosphere Politics Climate Change Cooling 261

Frontiers

JULY 15, 2022

However, despite this emergency declaration and the warnings from the scientific community in recent years about the importance of avoiding the irreversible effects of the climate crisis by reducing greenhouses gas emissions, the concentration of CO2 in the atmosphere continues to increase. Perhaps a new political and legal tool is needed.

Regulations 116

Regulations Greenhouse Atmosphere Politics 116

Legal Planet

JUNE 21, 2023

In the run-up to the Copenhagen climate negotiations in 2009, President Mohamed Nasheed held a cabinet meeting in scuba gear 20 feet underwater to show what awaited the low-lying island nation of the Maldives if serious action were not taken to reduce greenhouse gases.

Sea Level 130

Sea Level Climate Change 2009 Greenhouse 130

Inside Climate News

OCTOBER 3, 2023

By Phil McKenna Apple’s recent announcement of its first-ever “carbon neutral” product was questioned in a new report by a Chinese environmental research organization that gathers and tracks data on greenhouse gas emissions from China’s manufacturing sector, which makes the majority of Apple products.

Greenhouse 122

Greenhouse Politics Climate Change 122

Circle of Blue

DECEMBER 26, 2022

A water conveyance through or around the delta has been a point of conflict in state water politics since the 1970s. The board will discuss the EPA’s $25 billion fund for reducing greenhouse gas emissions and other finance topics. The latest version would be a key piece of infrastructure for moving water from north to south.

2023 246

2023 Government Greenhouse Politics 246

Legal Planet

AUGUST 6, 2023

But the good news is that this goal can still be achieved through other legal and political strategies. Moreover, a broad political consensus has emerged among Californians that we must abandon our historic dependence upon polluting fossil fuels–the sooner, the better.

Law 130

Law Fossil Fuels Renewable Energy Regulations 130

A Greener Life

JANUARY 18, 2022

Globally, the levels of CO2 and methane which are the main greenhouse gases continued to climb, and both hit record highs in 2021. C3S added that levels of methane, a particularly potent greenhouse gas, have jumped in the last two years. Levels of CO2 in the atmosphere reached 414.3 parts per million in 2021, up by around 2.4

Atmosphere 97

Atmosphere Climate Change Carbon Emissions Greenhouse 97