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COVID-19 will not slow the climate crisis. Only sound policy can.

From Science Daily Highlights Energy and climate policy researchers in Switzerland and Germany support policies allowing a clean energy transition guide the COVID-19 economic response. The researchers suggest investing in solutions that would advance Paris Agreement climate goals and dismantle systems that hurt global emissions goals Though there are fewer emissions due to shelter in … Read more

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Environmental groups sue EPA over ‘reckless’ response to coronavirus

 By Yvette Cabrera, Grist Highlights The National Resources Defence Council (NRDC) is suing the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) on behalf of a dozen environmental groups. Environmental groups across the country petitioned the EPA to publish an emergency rule that requires polluters to submit a public notice that they are taking advantage of newly relaxed … Read more

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Trump’s move to suspend enforcement of environmental laws is a lifeline to the oil industry

By Marianne Levelle, Inside Climate News Highlights The Trump administration suspended U.S. environmental laws due to calls for help from the American Petroleum Institute. The suspension of the rules will ultimately lead to more pollution, making more people in frontline communities susceptible to health risks, including COVID-19.  The Environmental Protection Agency announced a policy that … Read more

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Trump rolls back Obama fuel economy rule, increasing emissions during a climate crisis

by Sean O’Kane, The Verge  Highlights President Trump has reversed an Obama-era policy that made new cars more fuel-efficient and environmentally friendly, but faces lawsuits and pushback from various environmental groups and the State of California Under the new rule, automakers will now have to increase the average fuel economy of their new cars by … Read more

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LEGISLATIVE UPDATE – March 27, 2020

Due to the COVID-19 disruption, the legislature has gone into recess until April 13 at the earliest. While the legislature is on recess, The Climate Center continues to analyze the bills that were introduced in February, and is in the process of determining positions on many of them. Below are several, but not all, of … Read more

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Climate Center and partners: New Utility Reform and Clean Energy Resilience bills

solar by Stacey Meinzen

URGENT: Have your organization sign on here to support utility reform and clean community energy resilience. Individuals, please reach out to your state elected officials here. A key priority of The Climate Center’s Climate-Safe CA effort is to advance the ability of local governments to create fossil fuel-free, safe, resilient and accessible local electricity systems. Technology advances — including rapidly-declining … Read more

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Senators energy package continues fracking and drilling

by Zoya Teirstein , Grist Highlights: Senators Lisa Murkowski (R) and Joe Manchin (D) revealed the  American Energy Innovation Act of 2020:  The bill does not stop drilling or fracking but does develop more solar and other renewable energy as well as carbon capture Portions of the bill mention exporting natural gas, a known emitter … Read more

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What would it take to get more farmers fighting climate change?

by Tom Philpott, Grist Highlights Maine Democrat Chellie Pingree introduced the Agriculture Resilience Act which aims to maximize carbon sequestration on farm and grazing lands. The act aims to establish a national goal of net-zero greenhouse emissions from agriculture by no later than 2040, add more funding to food and agriculture research, maximize carbon capture … Read more

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L.A.’s Mayor launches directive to advance L.A.’s Green New Deal

Mayor of Los Angeles, Eric Garcetti Credit: Global Climate Action Summit , Nikki Ritcher Photography

LAMayor.org Highlights: Mayor Eric Garcetti recently signed an Executive Directive, L.A.’s Green New Deal, which includes measures to: Promote walking, bicycling and micro-mobility with a comprehensive Citywide network of active transportation corridors, including Class IV protected bike lanes, Class I paths along regional waterways, and Class III low-stress neighborhood bike improvements.   Support Metro in the … Read more