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Fossil fuels for power at turning point as renewables surged in 2019: data

by Aaron Sheldrick, Reuters  Highlights: Electricity generation from fossil fuels in the United States, European Union, and India fell in 2019. Renewable power generation increased at a faster rate than the overall growth in power output for the first time The decline of fossil fuels is likely to accelerate due to countries trying to commit … Read more

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Wall Street is falling out of love with natural gas

by Gerson Freitas Jr and Vanessa Dezem, Bloomberg Highlights: Investors are ditching natural gas and fossil fuels in order to invest in renewable energy such as solar and wind:  Environmentalist push-back on dirty energy investments has put fossil fuel valuations at a tipping point  For the first time in about a decade, local gas distributors indices are … Read more

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Michigan utility sets goal to achieve net-zero emissions by 2040, a record in U.S.

By Dan Gearino, Inside Climate News Highlights Consumers Energy in Michigan aims to reach net-zero emissions by 2040, the fastest timetable of any major utility in the country. Previously, the utility pledged to cut 90% of its emissions by 2040 Renewable energy will account for almost 72% of their portfolio, while natural gas will account … Read more

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Oil and real estate groups are dishing out money on California Democrats. Here’s where

by Hannah Wiley, Sacramento Bee Highlights The oil and real estate industry is contributing to fund campaigns for moderate Democrats in California in order to establish connections and favors in Sacramento. Examples include: Money is given through independent expenditure committees since businesses cannot coordinate directly with the candidates  In the Central Valley, an expenditure committee … Read more

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Breathing polluted air shortens people’s lives by an average of 3 years, a new study finds

by Neela Banerjee, Inside Climate News Highlights Air pollution, mainly from burning fossil fuels, reduces life expectancy worldwide by an average of 2.9 years and has led to 8.8 million premature deaths according to a new study in Cardiovascular Research. In North America, lives were shortened by 1.4 years on average due to air pollution. … Read more

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Methane releases from oil and gas far more than we knew

By Hiroko Tabuchi, The New York Times Highlights: Oil and gas production sites emitting more methane than previously accounted for: Fossil-fuel emissions from human activity — namely the production and burning of fossil fuels — were underestimated by 25 to 40 percent, per new study. Methane emissions are particularly harmful in the short term, warming … Read more

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Global financial giants swear off funding Canadian tar sands

By Christopher Flavelle, The New York Times Highlights: Due to pressure from shareholders and environmental activists, financial institutions and insurance companies are no longer investing in oil production taking place in Alberta, Canada. Though divestment promises have been made, oil extraction from the province increased last year Local Canadian banks and pension funds are still … Read more

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Washington State considers banning gas cars

By Sophie Bethune, American Psychological Association Highlights: Washington State considers banning internal combustion engine (“ICE”) vehicles by 2030. The concept has been introduced in various countries such as Norway, the UK, and Denmark in efforts to lessen transportation emissions The Washington bill, HB 2515, would ban the sale of new ICE cars by 2030, including … Read more

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Presidential candidates 2020- climate and environmental rankings

Below are some resources highlighting how the presidential candidates rank on climate action and other environmental issues. Greenpeace Greenpeace tells you the stance of the candidates on climate-related issues and also provides a platform where you can contact the candidates to tell them that you care about climate action. Website>> National Resource Defense Council On … Read more

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Electric dream: Britain to ban new petrol and hybrid cars from 2035

by Kylie MacLellan, Reuters Highlights: Following a growing trend in Europe, Britain is the next country to announce the phase-out of internal combustion engine cars within the next 15 years. This includes all diesel, petrol, and hybrid vehicles.  Though traditional cars make up 90% of new vehicle sales in Britain, the government is investing over … Read more