Climate News Round-Up | October 2 - October 15 2019

A series of large climate protests involving millions of participants occurred in late September leading up to the UN Climate Action Summit. Protests continued throughout the first half of October as activists with Extinction Rebellion, an environmental advocacy group, launched a protests in major cities across the globe. On October 14 London banned such demonstrations, but protests continued in the city on Tuesday. In D.C., actress Jane Fonda began a protest of her own on October 14, called “Fire Drill Fridays,” on the steps of the Capitol. Fonda was later arrested by Capitol police. 

Also in the nation’s capital, the Trump administration eliminated the solar industry’s exemption from tariffs, angering advocates for emissions reductions, and unveiled a proposal to blend more ethanol into gasoline, siding with farmers over the oil industry.

Audubon released a major report on declining bird species, breaking down species impacts state-by-state.  Findings suggest two-thirds of North American bird species are at risk of extinction due to climate change related threats. If that’s not reason enough for action, Bank of England governor Mark Carney issued a warning that companies not moving towards zero-carbon goals could collapse as investors look to mitigate climate risk. Climate-conscious mayors are doubling down on climate adaptation and mitigation, throwing support behind a “Global Green New Deal” at the Copenhagen Global Climate Action Summit.

Across the states California utility PG&E cut power to about 700,000 residents in an attempt to prevent another major wildfire, facing rebuke from the state’s governor and demands for rebates. Beaverton, Oregon embraces microgrids for earthquake resiliency, a 6.6 MW community solar project is now operational in Maryland, and Boston’s updated Climate Action Plan now requires all new city buildings to have carbon-neutral designs.

Greta Thunberg is leading kids and adults from 150 countries in a massive Friday climate strike, Vox

'Extreme Weather Will Tell This Truth': Climate Protests Erupt In Major Cities, NPR

Climate change activists defy police ban to keep London protests going, CBS

Jane Fonda said she is prepared 'to get arrested every Friday' for climate change protests, NPR

Trump does tariff U-turn in blow to solar industry, E&E News

Trump sides with farmers in ethanol proposal, angering oil industry, The Hill

Two-thirds of North American birds are at increasing risk of extinction from global temperature rise, Audubon

Firms ignoring climate crisis will go bankrupt, says Mark Carney, The Guardian

World Mayors Announce Support For Global Green New Deal At Denmark Climate Summit, WBUR

PG&E faces sanctions, demands for refunds in wake of planned blackouts, Mercury News

Earthquake Worries Prompt Oregon Cities to Install Microgrids for Resiliency, Microgrid Knowledge

Boston to require carbon-neutral design for new city buildings, Utility Dive