‘WASHINGTON — A federal judge late Thursday blocked construction of the disputed Keystone XL oil pipeline, saying the Trump administration “simply discarded” the effect the project would have on climate change.’

Source:  Judge Blocks the Disputed Keystone XL Pipeline in a Setback for Trump’s Energy Agenda | The New York Times

‘The Washington loss is the third time in three years a carbon pricing proposal has failed in the Evergreen State. It deals greens a massive setback nationally just as the idea of pricing carbon dioxide emissions has begun to gain momentum.’

Source: Voters Reject Several Climate-Related Ballot Initiatives | Scientific American

‘Advocates for clean energy and climate action became governors, attorneys general, commissioners and more on Tuesday, but some climate hawks fell. An offshore-drilling ban passed, an onshore-ban failed, and America will not be trying out its first climate tax.’

Source: Midterm Results: Climate and Energy Score Brilliant Wins And Stunning Losses In The States | Forbes

‘…In the Trump era, much of the action to fight climate change has been happening at the state level. On that front, the results were mixed: Several key climate policies on the ballot, including a carbon tax in Washington State and an aggressive renewable power target in Arizona, were defeated soundly. But Democrats who favor clean energy also took control of a number of key governorships and state legislatures, opening doors for expanded action.’

Source: Climate Change and the Elections: Five Takeaways | The New York Times

‘…Spending on the Washington initiative broke all records in the state. In Colorado activists were outspent 40-1. Every time you turned on the TV in those states, a commercial warned that these ballot measures would destroy the economy. There apparently wasn’t enough airtime available to soak up all the money, so if you were driving the highways around Denver you’d pass trucks towing billboards denouncing any effort to restrict fracking.’

Source: Up Against Big Oil in the Midterms | The New York Times

‘The president of Alberta’s fossil fuel industry regulator will resign in January, after the organization publicly apologized for the alarm caused by its $260-billion estimate of financial liabilities in the province’s oilpatch.’

Source: Head of Alberta regulator to resign in January after $260-billion oilpatch cleanup estimate leads to apology | National Observer

‘Now, the Trump administration’s Interior secretary is attempting to dismiss the fundamental rules of stewardship established by the National Park Service. The National Park Service regulations currently prohibit predator control — selective killing of bears, wolves, and other predators — and unscientific and inhumane killing methods. Zinke is attempting to rescind these regulations. This is being done with no legal and scientific basis, minimal stakeholder involvement, and a hasty public process. One hundred and eight scientists, current and retired wildlife and resource managers, and many of the nation’s large carnivore experts, most with extensive experience in Alaska, have joined in sending a letter to Zinke adamantly opposing his action.’

Source: Interior is undoing a legacy of national park stewardship in Alaska | High Country News

‘On election day, Initiative 1631 gives Washington State voters the chance to implement the first statewide carbon fee in the US. Here’s what’s at stake and why success in the Northwest could be the start of a turning point on climate across the country.’

Source: WILL WASHINGTON STATE GO FIRST ON CARBON PRICING? | The Climate Reality Project

‘One of the longest dry spells on record has left parts of the Rhine at record-low levels for months, forcing freighters to reduce their cargo or stop plying the river altogether.’

Source: The Rhine, a Lifeline of Germany, Is Crippled by Drought | The New York Times

‘…At least 11 people have died across Italy due to severe weather in the past days, including landslides and flooding, according to The Weather Channel. Roughly half of Italy has been impacted by the extreme weather, and more than 5,800 firefighters have been activated to answer more than 7,000 emergency rescue calls across the country.’

Source: Venice Flooding 2018 Shows Need in Italy For Flood Barriers | Fortune