by James Temple, MIT Technology Review Highlights First and foremost, the whole point of addressing global warming is to avoid widespread suffering and death, so climate activists should keep this lens Greenhouse gas emissions rebound is likely after the deadly coronavirus (COVID-19), as history tells us for several reasons: If capital markets lock up, it’s … Read more
Cheap oil, lower investment in renewables and a post-virus rebound will likely offset the emissions drop, but there are climate lessons in the response to the virus.
by Gregory Horner, Tomkat Ranch Highlights In Wyoming, goats were used to restore the habitat destroyed by oil well facilities. The company, Goat Green, was hired by Chevron to graze the land after herbicides and machinery failed to help restore the land to it’s previous conditions Over 1000 goats were able to eat the weeds … Read more
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
