Advanced Search
July 5, 2016
On June 29, President Obama, Prime Minister Trudeau of Canada, and President Pena Nieto of Mexico met for the North American Leaders’ Summit in Ottawa. At the summit, the leaders committed to a target of generating 50 percent of North America's electricity from renewable energy by 2025. Image courtesy of the White House.
On June 29, President Obama, Prime Minister Trudeau of Canada, and President Pena Nieto of Mexico announced the formation of the North American Climate, Clean Energy and Environment Partnership at the North American Leaders’ Summit in Ottawa. The initiative set a new goal to source at least 50 percent of North America’s electricity from renewable energy sources by 2025. The partnership also seeks to align fuel economy standards for the heavy transportation sector and eliminate inefficient fossil fuel subsidies by 2025, among other initiatives. Jason Furman and Brian Deese of the Council of Economic Advisers wrote, “These efforts will . . . help all three countries meet their commitments under the Paris agreement . . . and support hundreds of thousands of jobs.”
For more information see:
Bloomberg Politics, Council of Economic Advisors Commentary, White House Announcement of Partnership
On June 30, the Department of the Interior published the final version of its new regulatory framework for collecting royalties from fossil fuel extraction projects on public lands. The revised system will assess owed royalties based on the first sale from the original extractor to an independent buyer. The changes were prompted by allegations that fossil fuel companies were selling fuels to their own subsidiaries or an affiliated company in order to artificially lower the products’ market value and, in turn, their federal royalty payments. Interior Secretary Jewell commented that the new rules were "urgently needed to better align our regulatory framework with a 21st century energy marketplace . . . [and ensure] that the American taxpayer receives every dollar due for the production of these domestic energy resources.”
Department of the Interior Press Release, The Hill, Reuters
On June 29, the Senate Appropriations Committee passed an amendment on a voice vote to remove language from a State Department and Foreign Operations funding bill which blocked U.S. funding for the United Nations Green Climate Fund (GCF); the amendment also sets up $500 million in funding for the GCF for 2017. The day prior, the Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on State, Foreign Operations and Related Programs had passed the funding bill with language blocking the United State from funding the GCF. The new amendment, offered by Sen. Jeff Merkley (D-OR), Sen. Mark Kirk (R-IL) and Sen. Susan Collins (R-ME), passed despite opposition from some Republicans. President Obama has promised $3 billion in funding to the GCF, which funds climate adaptation projects, and has so far paid $500 million.
The Hill, Bloomberg BNA, The Hill
On June 28, the District of Columbia Council unanimously voted to enact a renewable energy target of 50 percent by 2032, an increase from the existing standard of 20 percent by 2020. The new bill also introduces a “Solar for All” program to implement solar power and energy efficiency in 100,000 low-income households, cutting their electric bills 50 percent by 2032. The bill also supports solar and wind generation by providing incentives for 1,500 new megawatts. Mayor Muriel Bowser is expected to sign the bill into law, as she has previously supported a 50 percent renewable energy target, although she has not explicitly stated her support for this bill.
Utility Dive
On June 28, Democratic Governor of Virginia Terry McAuliffe issued an executive order directing the creation of a new workgroup to advise the governor on how to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and further incorporate clean energy into the state’s power grid. The workgroup will be convened by Virginia Secretary of Natural Resources Molly Ward, and will solicit input from scientists, energy experts, environmental advocates and businesses. Ward will use the workgroup's findings to create a regulatory strategy to cut carbon pollution from the state's energy sector. The announcement met with mixed reviews from environmental groups, some of whom thought it did not go far enough.
The Washington Post, Richmond Times-Dispatch, Press Release
On June 27, the Oakland City Council unanimously voted to halt plans to handle, store, and export Utah coal at an Oakland port, scuttling California Capital & Investment Group's plans to use a local terminal project to export Utah coal overseas. The terminal is part of a redevelopment project on an aging Army Base, which is meant to create jobs and economic activity. California Capital & Investment Group president Phil Tagami said the coal ban could potentially cause the Group to shut down its terminal project – and all the associated jobs. Oakland Mayor Libby Schaaf commented, "It's a false choice to say we have to pick between jobs and this community's health and safety. We can, and will do both."
SFGate, The Wall Street Journal, Chicago Tribune
On June 25, the Democratic National Convention's Platform Drafting Committee released the final draft of its official 2016 platform, in which it unanimously called for the Department of Justice (DOJ) to investigate fossil fuel companies which may have intentionally misled the American people and investors about the scientific certainty of climate change. The final draft of the DNC platform states, “All corporations owe it to their shareholders to fully analyze and disclose risks they face including climate risks. Those who fail to do so should be held accountable.” While the final draft did not name any specific fossil fuel company, ExxonMobil has recently been the target of investigations by the Federal Bureau of Investigations (FBI) and by a coalition of 17 state attorneys general. The full 187-member DNC Platform Committee will meet for final approval of the platform on July 8-9.
DNC Party Platform Press Release, InsideClimate News (June 26, 2016), InsideClimate News (March 30, 2016), InsideClimate News (March 2, 2016)
On June 28, a coalition of 31 U.S. scientific organizations sent a letter urging Congress to proactively address climate change, reminding legislators that there is a "consensus scientific view" that climate change is happening. The letter emphasized the strong science underpinning the current understanding of anthropogenic climate change and asked Congress to act to "substantially" reduce greenhouse gas emissions, and work to help the country adapt to climate changes already occurring. The coalition offered the assistance of the scientific community as Congress considers its options for action on climate.
InsideClimate News, The Washington Post, Scientific Coalition Joint Letter to Congress
On June 27, the International Energy Agency (IEA) released a report attributing 6.5 million deaths every year to air pollution, stating that the number of deaths is likely to rise "significantly" in the future. The study found that energy production and use were the biggest contributors to global air pollution. IEA executive director Fatih Birol commented, “We need to revise our approach to energy development so that communities are not forced to sacrifice clean air in return for economic growth." The report recommends that governments set ambitious long-term targets for cutting air pollution, implement pollution standards in their energy sectors, and put effective enforcement and monitoring strategies in place.
Time, The New York Times, Report
Brexit Vote Puts UK’s Future in Paris Climate Agreement in Doubt
Christina Figueres to Run for United Nations Secretary General
American Petroleum Institute Is Forming Internal Climate Change Task Force
CDP Says Businesses Are Key Driver in Climate Action
Millions of Trees Dying in California due to Climate Change
Hole in Ozone Layer Beginning to Mend
Authors: Rebecca Chillrud, Daniel Lopez, and Caitlin Majewski
Editor: Laura Small
Advancing science-based climate solutions
Top-Rated Climate Nonprofit – 4-Star Charity