Author: Admin

‘Beginning of the end’ of fossil fuel era approaching, says IEA

‘Beginning of the end’ of fossil fuel era approaching, says IEA

ByAdmin

Forecast downturn still ‘nowhere near steep enough’ to limit temperature rise to 1.5C, says watchdog.

The world’s demand for oil, gas and coal will begin to decline this decade in “the beginning of the end” of the fossil fuel era, according to the global energy watchdog. The International Energy Agency (IEA) has projected for the first time that fossil fuel consumption will peak before 2030 and fall into permanent decline as climate policies take effect.

FOREIGN AFFAIRS magazine: The Case for Global Carbon-Pricing

FOREIGN AFFAIRS magazine: The Case for Global Carbon-Pricing

ByAdmin

Per the influential Foreign Affairs magazine:
For decades, scientists and economists have concluded that pricing carbon is critical to reducing global carbon-dioxide emissions. Yet most politicians overlook or even fear carbon pricing.
…. The need for a global agreement on carbon pricing can no longer be postponed: without a global carbon-pricing agreement, no serious plan to tackle climate change can be made. . ..

Another Harbinger of Climate Change: Only Half Days at Schools

Another Harbinger of Climate Change: Only Half Days at Schools

ByAdmin

Susan Eckert teaches advanced placement biology at Montclair High School. Her room sits on the second floor, under a black tar roof. On hot days, Eckert cracks the windows in her classroom early. By the afternoon, though, nothing stops the heat. Eckert has bought five fans for her classroom, which she said registered 90F (32C) on the thermostat this week. 

Home insurers cut natural disasters from policies as climate risks grow

Home insurers cut natural disasters from policies as climate risks grow

ByAdmin

In the aftermath of extreme weather events, at least five large U.S. property insurers — including Allstate, American Family, Nationwide, Erie Insurance Group and Berkshire Hathaway — have told regulators that extreme weather patterns caused by climate change have led them to stop writing coverages in some regions, exclude protections from various weather events and raise monthly premiums and deductibles.

Recent News Summary: New Nuclear Plants Coming

Recent News Summary: New Nuclear Plants Coming

ByAdmin

Note: CCL’s Nuclear Energy Action Team monitors new “4th generation” projects and supports adding safe nuclear capacity capable of providing “baseload” when solar and wind aren’t producing.

Support for nuclear power, by both governments and the public, has increased significantly over the last few years. Below is a compilation of recent stories that give specific examples:

Opinion | To Fight Climate Change, We Need a Better Carbon Market

Opinion | To Fight Climate Change, We Need a Better Carbon Market

ByAdmin

Gresham’s Law says that bad money drives out good. If you have two coins with a face value of $1, you will spend the bad one that contains 25 cents’ worth of metal and stash away the good one that contains $1 worth of metal.

Something like Gresham’s Law is at work in the carbon offset market, which was set up to fight climate change. Bad carbon credits are driving out good carbon credits.

Green Power Gets Pricier After Years of Declines

Green Power Gets Pricier After Years of Declines

ByAdmin

Note: This Wall Street Journal article concludes that the future of renewables is still bright. But recent policies that make it harder and more costly to import solar panels [from China and Germany] add costs. “Rising interest rates, labor costs and delays in permitting or getting projects hooked up to the power grid have made building solar and wind projects more expensive.”