To mark National Drive Electric Week, as well as discussions of electric vehicles (EVs) likely at this week’s Global Climate Action Summit in San Francisco, let’s underscore some important perspective on EVs contained in this recent piece by Axios. Amy Harder’s column compares the carbon dioxide emissions saved by each Tesla EV to the CO2 savings of… Keep reading →
On June 19, 2015, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the Department of Transportation’s (DOT) National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) proposed a program establishing Phase 2 of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and fuel efficiency standards for medium- and heavy-duty vehicles. The proposal would enhance standards for vehicles currently regulated under Phase 1 and aims… Keep reading →
It looks like those who dispute the necessity for action on climate change will now have to take on one of the world’s most popular figures: Pope Francis. “Humanity is called to take note of the need for changes in lifestyle and changes in methods of production and consumption to combat this warming, or at… Keep reading →
The global coal industry continues to expand with new coal-fired power plants planned or being built throughout the developing world, especially in Asia where coal remains the preferred low-cost fuel option for power generation. Building up coal mining operations, constructing new coal-fired power plants and developing infrastructure requires billions of dollars in initial investments. Where… Keep reading →
The recent downturn in China’s coal use and carbon emissions, noted in this space a few weeks ago, might be more than an anomaly brought on by weaker growth in key sectors and robust hydropower from above-normal rain. That’s the assessment from two London School of Economics researchers, who see a hopeful “new normal” that includes… Keep reading →
Lindsey Graham has had a bit of a confused relationship with climate change. In 2009, he joined with his then-Senate colleagues John Kerry and Joe Lieberman in crafting a climate bill, only to withdraw his support when it came time to make a big push for it. But it looks like Candidate Graham – he announced… Keep reading →
Natural gas can deliver substantial carbon emissions reductions when displacing coal, and the United States has taken good advantage of it in the past several years. But the U.S. experience might be “one moment in time and space,” says Stockholm Environment Institute senior scientist Michael Lazarus, lead author of a new paper [PDF] on gas and… Keep reading →
Fundamental scientific research lies at the heart of many energy-related breakthroughs that ultimately disrupt established social and economic systems. It can be overwhelming to look at the world’s looming energy and climate challenges, but Dr. Franklin (Lynn) Orr, Under Secretary for Science and Energy at the US Department of Energy remains optimistic despite the complexity… Keep reading →
All these climate-related emissions goals! It’s hard to keep track sometimes. The World Resources Institute was out on Wednesday with a new report on how the United States can hit a 2025 greenhouse gas emissions reduction target of 26 to 28 percent below 2005 levels. This is the pledge that President Obama has made, outlined… Keep reading →
A new Thomson Reuters/BSD Consulting “Global 500 Greenhouse Gas Report: The Fossil Fuel Energy Sector” shows that energy companies emitted 31 per cent of total GHG emissions globally from their operations as well as the use of the products further down the value chain on an annual basis. As the title of this study indicates,… Keep reading →
