greenhouse gas emissions
Top Story
Credit: Xenia Hübner/Flickr
Clean technology advances help stabilize global climate pollution
Global climate pollution from fossil fuels is showing signs of stabilizing, thanks to advances in clean technology like solar panels, wind turbines, and electric vehicles.
In short:
- The Carbon Monitor Project reports a slight decline in global climate pollution from February to May 2024 compared to the same period in 2023.
- Despite the peak in emissions, atmospheric CO2 levels continue to rise rapidly due to centuries of accumulated pollution.
- China and the U.S. play pivotal roles in reducing global emissions, with clean energy advancements being crucial.
Key quote:
"Now we are finding that atmospheric CO2 levels are increasing faster than ever. We must recognize that these are clear signals of the damage carbon dioxide pollution is doing to the climate system, and take rapid action to cut fossil fuel use as quickly as we can."
— Rick Spinrad, NOAA Administrator
Why this matters:
Stabilizing global emissions is a critical milestone in combating climate change, signaling a potential turning point towards reducing harmful pollution and mitigating severe weather impacts. Read more: In the race for clean energy, the US is both a leader and a laggard — here’s how.
Keep reading...Show less
Top Story
Credit: FracTracker Alliance/Flickr
The Biden administration is ordered to resume natural gas export permits
A federal judge has mandated the Biden administration to restart issuing permits for liquefied natural gas (LNG) exports, overturning a pause intended to assess climate and economic impacts.
In short:
- Judge James D. Cain, Jr. ruled that the pause on LNG permits has caused economic harm to states like Texas and Louisiana.
- The decision follows a lawsuit from 16 Republican attorneys general who claimed the pause was damaging to their states' economies.
- Energy Secretary Jennifer Granholm expects the analysis on LNG exports to be completed by late this year.
Key quote:
“In every corner of the country and the world, people are suffering the devastating toll of climate change. This pause on new LNG approvals sees the climate crisis for what it is: the existential threat of our time.”
— U.S. President Joe Biden, speaking in January when the pause on new LNG approvals was announced
Why this matters:
The ruling impacts national policy on energy exports and climate change mitigation efforts. If the Biden administration appeals this latest decision, the appeal will likely be heard by the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit in Louisiana: Davenport notes that several Trump-appointed Fifth Circuit judges have previously decided for plaintiffs in cases challenging Biden administration environmental policies.
Read EHN's two-part series about LNG expansion on the Gulf Coast (also available in Spanish):
Part 1: LNG production comes with a price, Gulf Coast communities warnLNG production comes with a price, Gulf Coast communities warn
Part 2: Amid LNG’s Gulf Coast expansion, community hopes to stand in its way
See also: For environmental groups, Biden’s LNG decision cause for celebration – and caution
Keep reading...Show less
Newsletter
Credit: Woodwell Climate Research Center
George Woodwell, climate change pioneer and ecologist, passes away at 95
George Woodwell, founder of the Woods Hole Research Center, whose influential work shaped U.S. environmental policies, died at 95.
In short:
- George Woodwell, who founded the Woods Hole Research Center in 1985, was instrumental in shaping U.S. policies on toxic substances and climate change.
- His research highlighted the dangers of synthetic pollutants and the impact of rising carbon dioxide levels, making him a key figure in early climate change awareness.
- Woodwell's work led to significant environmental actions, including the federal ban on DDT and the establishment of the Environmental Defense Fund.
Key quote:
"I said the same things then that I say today. The climatic disruption has the potential of changing the earth as much as a nuclear war will."
— George Woodwell, ecologist
Why this matters:
George Woodwell's pioneering research and activism laid the groundwork for modern environmentalism and climate policy, spearheading the ongoing need to address climate change to protect public health and the environment. Read the announcement from the Woodwell Climate Research Center.
Keep reading...Show less
Credit: UN Women Asia and the Pacific/Flickr
The US must acknowledge climate debt to protect vulnerable nations
To mitigate the impact of climate change, wealthy nations like the U.S. need to take responsibility and provide reparations to countries most affected by global warming.
In short:
- Thirty-three years after the Chantilly climate conference, global temperatures and emissions have risen dramatically, causing severe environmental crises.
- The Alliance of Small Island States (AOSIS) proposed a framework for climate reparations in 1991, which remains relevant but has yet to be fully implemented.
- Despite some progress, wealthy nations, including the US, have largely failed to make significant commitments to climate reparations.
Key quote:
"The very existence of low-lying coastal and small vulnerable island countries is placed at risk by the consequences of climate change."
— Alliance of Small Island States (AOSIS) delegates.
Why this matters:
Addressing climate debt is crucial for preventing the collapse of vulnerable nations and ensuring global stability. Ignoring these obligations could lead to severe worldwide consequences, including increased migration and geopolitical instability. Read more: Scientists probe ancient history of the East Antarctic Ice Sheet and find unsettling news about sea level rise.
Keep reading...Show less
Credit: keso s/Flickr
Pollution from China's smog cleanup leads to unexpected ocean warming
Recent research reveals that China's air pollution cleanups have inadvertently contributed to extreme heat waves in the Pacific Ocean.
In short:
- The reduction of smog particles in China, while beneficial for public health, has contributed to extreme ocean warming events known as "The Blob."
- Aerosol emissions, which shield the planet from solar radiation, are declining globally, leading to unexpected climate impacts, including more intense regional heatwaves.
- The cleanup of air pollution in China has altered atmospheric patterns, intensifying warming in the Pacific and potentially leading to larger climatic disruptions.
Key quote:
“Without the cooling effect of the aerosols, the world would already have reached the 1.5- degree temperature threshold of ‘dangerous’ climate change as set out by the Paris agreement.”
— Johannes Quaas, meteorologist at the University of Leipzig and former IPCC lead author
Why this matters:
This finding highlights a complex trade-off in environmental policy: while cleaning up air pollution improves health outcomes, it can also accelerate global warming and exacerbate extreme weather events. Read more: A new monitor could revolutionize the way air pollution is regulated.
Keep reading...Show less
Top Story
Credit: Tuvalu Coastal Adaptation Project (TCAP)/UNDP Climate/Flickr
Small island nations secure major climate ruling
Island nations in the Pacific, Caribbean, and West Indies have won a landmark international legal victory, pressuring large governments to reduce carbon emissions.
In short:
- The International Tribunal for the Law of the Sea ruled that countries must reduce greenhouse gas emissions, classifying them as marine pollution.
- This decision emphasizes that merely adhering to the Paris Agreement is insufficient for addressing climate change.
- The ruling reinforces the obligations of state parties to support climate adaptation for vulnerable developing nations.
Key quote:
"Today's judgment is a massive victory for our ocean, communities impacted by climate change, and science in general."
— Sarah Cooley, Ocean Conservancy
Why this matters:
This ruling bolsters efforts to hold major polluters accountable, highlighting the legal duty to combat climate change and protect vulnerable populations, particularly in small island nations facing severe climate impacts. Read more: Scientists probe ancient history of the East Antarctic Ice Sheet and find unsettling news about sea level rise.
Keep reading...Show less
Top Story
Credit: The National Guard/Flickr
Vermont enacts climate accountability legislation
Vermont's new bill holds high-emission companies accountable for climate-related damages.
In short:
- Vermont's Climate Superfund Act requires companies like oil giants to pay for climate change-related damages.
- Payments will be calculated based on each company's emissions from 1995 to 2024 and the impact of those emissions on Vermont's extreme weather.
- The funds collected will be used to enhance infrastructure, weatherproof public buildings, and address health impacts of climate change.
Key quote:
"We’re able to say very clearly, ‘We would not be experiencing these intense global temperatures without human-caused climate change and the history of carbon pollution.’"
— Andrew Pershing, vice president for science at Climate Central
Why this matters:
This law links financial accountability to scientific research on climate impact, potentially setting a precedent for other states. It addresses not just environmental but also public health challenges, offering a model for proactive climate adaptation and mitigation. Read more: "We just can’t quit fossil fuels, can we?"
Keep reading...Show less
ORIGINAL REPORTING
MOST POPULAR
CLIMATE
