World Bank reports the growing reach of carbon pricing around the globe
Note: CCL’s Jonathan Marshall summarizes the latest worldwide data on carbon pricing, per the World Bank, in a succinct essay and 3 key charts.
As we seek inspiration and validation of our support for national carbon pricing in the United States, many of us look for signs of growing adoption abroad. A new World Bank publication on the
Mining: Here is a policy roadmap CCL can embrace
Increasingly often, there’s a robust and rich discussion on Community.CitizensClimate.org that needs to be bookmarked for future reference. This discussion is one — it summarizes a report from an interagency working group (IWG) from the…
Democrats hope to juice permitting talks with transmission bill
Rep. Scott Peters (D-Calif.) and Sen. John Hickenlooper (D-Colo.) today will introduce long-awaited legislation to spur the nation’s buildout of interregional transmission lines. The Building Integrated Grids with Interregional Energy Supply Act (“Big Wires Act”)aims to accelerate America’s transition to cleaner energy while strengthening its strained electric grid.
On NV Border: Lithium discovery could be biggest ever found
A world-beating deposit of lithium along the Nevada–Oregon border could meet surging demand for this metal. An estimated 20 to 40 million tonnes of lithium metal is notably larger than the lithium deposits found beneath a Bolivian salt flat, previously considered the largest deposit in the world. Mining at the site is, however, contested by Native Americans for whom the area is sacred, and is believed to be where a massacre took place in 1865.
‘Beginning of the end’ of fossil fuel era approaching, says IEA
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
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
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.
Tired of feeling hopeless about climate change? Take a look at these charts.
Amanda Shendruk | September 6, 2023 Charts that illustrate the effects of climate change often share a distinct feature: that alarming, bright-red line. The line makes a statement: This is not normal. Sometimes the red…
Home insurers cut natural disasters from policies as climate risks grow
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.
There’s a Vast Source of Clean Energy Beneath Our Feet. And a Race to Tap It.
The United States has enough geothermal energy to power the entire country. Some are trying to unlock it by using techniques from the fracking boom.
Multi-day energy storage increases grid capacity by factor of ten
Form Energy’s iron-air battery technology can deliver 100 hours of discharge at system costs competitive with conventional power plants. The multi-day duration positions it well to help New York meet its ambitious clean energy targets – a clean grid by 2040.
Recent News Summary: New Nuclear Plants Coming
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: