Climate

• Coldplay announces they will pause touring until it becomes “environmentally beneficial.”
• The Oxford Dictionaries 2019 word is “climate emergency.”
• The UNDP examines steps the Middle East is taking to grow solar power and build resilience.
• The Amazon sees the largest deforestation rate this year in 11 years.
• And more…

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• The World Economic Forum: What if we actually got things right with fixing climate change?
• Venice’s regional council floods for the first time — right after it voted against climate-crisis action.
• Greta Thunberg sails back to Europe on a catamaran, and leaves the US with some parting advice.
• Scientists are trying to study — and save — the Amazon rainforest, but the Brazilian government is trying to thwart them.
• And more…

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• Virginia Democrats campaigned on fighting the climate crisis and won.
• The official word[s] of the year for 2019? “Climate strike.”
• New Zealand passes a law that sets 2050 as its net zero target year.
• An offshore wind farm in Rhode Island proves to be a popular fishing spot.
• Spain will host the UN climate talks in December after Chile withdraws.
• And more…

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• Three reasons why wildfires are still ravaging California’s environment, despite the end of the drought.
• What’s an energy vampire, and how can you slay it?
• Greta Thunberg declines the Nordic Council’s 2019 environmental prize.
• Tesla CEO Elon Musk pays for 1 million trees to be planted.
• Big hotel chains are working to source their fish more sustainably.
• And more…

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Elon Musk announced on Twitter late yesterday afternoon that he’d donate 1 million trees to the #teamtrees project launched by YouTube star MrBeast. He then changed his Twitter name to “Treelon” Musk.

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• Climate crisis protests in London: Extinction Rebellion, bans, and broccoli.
• Italy and Croatia team up to replenish the Adriatic Sea’s suffering fish population.
• Lobbying has to be part of corporate action when it comes to climate change.
• Five ways to construct buildings with resilience in the face of the climate crisis.
• And more…

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• Jane Fonda arrested for climate crisis protest in Washington, DC.
• How to talk to your kids about the climate crisis.
• Cocaine isn’t just bad for your body — it’s also causing climate change.
• Japan buckles down yet again as Typhoon Hagibis is set to break violent-storm records.
• And more…

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In today’s Electrek Green Energy Brief (EGEB):

• An Allentown, PA, town hall revealed that voters in the swing state are worried about pollution and climate change.
• A new model suggests carbon taxes should start high and then fall, bucking previous beliefs.
• Here’s how much solar power these Washington, DC, landmarks could produce.
• The city of Phoenix is giving away free plans for net zero energy homes.

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In today’s Electrek Green Energy Brief (EGEB):

• The EU will require appliances to last longer and have spare parts for a decade — saving €20 billion on energy.
• Majority of Americans, regardless of politics, favor green energy over fossil fuels, according to new polls.
• Republic of Ireland to introduce a charge on new and imported petrol and diesel cars.
• New campaign on 30 campuses urges US colleges and universities to adopt 100% green energy.

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In today’s Electrek Green Energy Brief (EGEB):

• The ACEEE releases its State Efficiency Scorecard — which state leads in green energy?
• The world’s largest wind turbines will be erected off the UK’s Yorkshire coast.
• Power company Ameren has to clean up two coal plants in Missouri, judge rules.
• Researchers are working on an eco-friendly, aluminum renewable energy storage battery.

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In today’s Electrek Green Energy Brief (EGEB):

• Belfast’s landmark shipyard Harland & Wolff has been bought by energy storage company InfraStrata.
• An old Parisian railroad system will be turned into an ecosystem neighborhood.
• An MIT startup has launched a six-passenger electric driverless shuttle for corporate campuses.
• Why electric vehicles are on the rise in the Republic of Ireland.

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In today’s Electrek Green Energy Brief (EGEB):

• National Clean Energy Week Policy Makers Symposium takes place today in Washington, DC.
• GM proposes a battery plant for EVs in Ohio strike talks — but with lower pay.
• Caltech will be given $750 million for green energy research — the second-largest donation ever to a US university.
• Emission-optimized EV charging can prevent a lot of wasted energy.

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After last week’s moves to force more pollution and lower clean air standards on California, the Environmental “Protection” Agency threatened this week to pull California’s federal highway funding if California doesn’t bow to their pressure and allow more pollution in their state.

We’ve now learned that two states – Minnesota and New Mexico – will join California’s efforts to reduce tailpipe emissions in response to the EPA’s actions. Both states plan to adopt both California’s Zero Emission Vehicle mandate and its tailpipe emissions standards.

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• The (truly) Global Climate Strike draws millions to the streets…
• … But Donald Trump is snubbing the UN climate summit on Monday.
• Climate change is Canadians’ No. 1 concern.
• In West Texas, wind power means jobs.
• Hurricanes Humberto and Imelda cause damage in Bermuda and Texas, respectively.
• And more…

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On Thursday, the Environmental “Protection” Agency moved to revoke California’s authority to set higher emissions standards, established more than 50 years ago under the federal Clean Air Act, after signaling the move earlier in the week.

The EPA’s announcement stated that their main focus was to set a unified, national rule for fuel efficiency standards. However, there was already a unified, national rule for fuel efficiency standards in place under President Barack Obama until the EPA repealed that rule earlier this year, causing regulatory uncertainty for automakers who opposed the repeal.

California’s Air Resources Board (CARB) reacted to this news by voting 12-0 to accept an agreement made between the state and automakers to voluntarily exceed federal emissions standards, roughly meeting the previous national standard in defiance of the federal rollback.

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In today’s Electrek Green Energy Brief (EGEB):

• Food shortage due to climate change is forcing Guatemalans to migrate north.
• Why nitrous oxide is as much of a problem as CO2 emissions.
• Florida’s 100% renewable energy bill has been revived — with hope.
• Serbia launches the country’s largest wind farm.

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