This post includes multiple articles and statements on the topic September 10, 2020, by Jeremy Nichols, (303) 437-7663 Denver– Today, Colorado Governor Jared Polis moved (asked) a court to rule that he has no duty to protect the climate, arguing he is not legally required to achieve legislated greenhouse gas reduction goals in the state. “With this court filing, Governor …
Report on July 16, 2020 AQCC meeting
The state’s Air Quality Control Commission doesn’t expect new rules to be in place for another year, Colorado Sun, July 17, 2020 Mark Jaffe@bymarkjaffe A plan to reduce Colorado’s greenhouse gas emissions will be a device of many moving parts and after a review by an Air Quality Control Commission subcommittee Thursday it looks like those parts are moving slowly, …
World’s Richest 10% Emit up to 43% of the Carbon: Flying is most of it. Researchers say we need sufficiency not just efficiency + more attention to emissions from air and land transport, and to the fairness and equity of it all
The affluent citizens of the world are responsible for most environmental impacts and are central to any future prospect of retreating to safer environmental conditions. Any transition towards sustainability can only be effective if far-reaching lifestyle changes complement technological advancements. The wealthiest 0.54%, about 40 million people, are responsible for 14% of lifestyle-related greenhouse gas emissions, while the bottom 50% of …
Guest commentary: Polis must get Colorado on track to meet climate goals
Colorado Public Radio, July 8, 2020 Activist Lawsuit Alleges Gov. Polis Isn’t Moving Quickly Enough On Climate Change, by Sam Brasch Gov. Jared Polis’ administration is working to curb climate change, but it will soon face new legal pressure to do it faster. WildEarth Guardians, an environmental advocacy group, filed a lawsuit in Denver District Court against the administration demanding a …
Can a town go fossil fuel-free? Takoma Park and Ann Arbor are about to see
In the fight against global warming, how far should governments go in forcing residents to change? One Maryland suburb is testing the limits. This story is part of an occasional series on “Climate Realities.” Michael Bonfigli/Special to The Christian Science MonitorA house in Takoma Park, Maryland, sports solar panels on March 30, 2020. The suburb was one of the first …
Legal Resources for Decarbonization: Fossil Fuel Phase Out in Electricity Generation
PHASING OUT THE USE OF FOSSIL FUELS FOR THE GENERATION OF ELECTRICITY (CH. 24) In order to achieve a low-carbon world, it is essential to make the use of energy far more efficient and to introduce a very significant amount of renewable or otherwise carbon-free generation. Yet, these steps alone will not decarbonize electricity. Each scenario in the DDPP reports …
Already cost-effective, no-regrets actions to get us to 90 percent zero carbon electricity while reducing wholesale electricity costs 10 percent
The technology-neutral policies laid out in this paper are no-regrets actions to get us to 90 percent zero carbon electricity while reducing wholesale electricity costs 10 percent. The United States could deliver 90% clean electricity nationwide by 2035, without the need for new fossil fuel plants, according to a study released today from the University of California, Berkeley — with the right …
New climate modeling shows that worst-case scenarios do not go far enough
Modelling suggests climate is considerably more sensitive to carbon emissions than thought, by Jonathan Watts 13 Jun 2020, Guardian Worst-case global heating scenarios may need to be revised upwards in light of a better understanding of the role of clouds, scientists have said. Recent modelling data suggests the climate is considerably more sensitive to carbon emissions than previously believed, and experts …
May-June 2020 at Colorado’s AQCC, implementation of HB 1261
by Allen Best Colorado now has rules guiding collection of greenhouse gas emissions. It’s viewed as an elemental step for designing strategies for sharply ratcheting down greenhouse gas emissions during the next decade and beyond. But whether Colorado is moving fast enough to honor the intent of legislative mandates from 2019 and the underlying climate change reality that spurred those …
Research Shows ‘Linking Climate Policy to Social and Economic Justice Makes It More Popular’: The public wants a Green New Deal. The public wants green stimulus. The public wants to address inequality
June 12, 2020, Common Dreams. by Jessica Corbett, staff writer Sunrise NYC, a climate activist group, rallies in front of Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer’s office in Midtown Manhattan demanding that he support the Green New Deal. (Photo: Gabriele Holtermann-Gorden/Pacific Press/LightRocket via Getty Images) Amid persistent calls for a green and just recovery from the ongoing coronavirus pandemic and nationwide protests against systemic racism and injustice, …