‘He noted that Florida had recently experienced extreme drought, record high temperatures and wildfires — and also Hurricane Michael, the powerful Category 4 storm that slammed into the Panhandle last month. Similarly, California is suffering through the worst wildfires the state has ever seen, as well as drought, extreme heat waves and degraded air quality that threatens the health of residents.’
News Roundup
‘Like a Terror Movie’: How Climate Change Will Cause More Simultaneous Disasters | The New York Times
November 20th, 2018Special report: A 30-year alarm on the reality of climate change | Axios
November 17th, 2018‘Three decades have passed since then-NASA scientist James Hansen testified before the Senate Energy committee and alerted the country to the arrival of global warming.’
Source:Â Special report: A 30-year alarm on the reality of climate change | Axios
Judge Blocks the Disputed Keystone XL Pipeline in a Setback for Trump’s Energy Agenda | The New York Times
November 9th, 2018‘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.’
Voters Reject Several Climate-Related Ballot Initiatives | Scientific American
November 8th, 2018‘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:Â Voters Reject Several Climate-Related Ballot Initiatives | Scientific American
Midterm Results: Climate and Energy Score Brilliant Wins And Stunning Losses In The States | Forbes
November 8th, 2018‘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:Â Midterm Results: Climate and Energy Score Brilliant Wins And Stunning Losses In The States | Forbes
Climate Change and the Elections: Five Takeaways | The New York Times
November 7th, 2018‘…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:Â Climate Change and the Elections: Five Takeaways | The New York Times
Up Against Big Oil in the Midterms | The New York Times
November 7th, 2018‘…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:Â Up Against Big Oil in the Midterms | The New York Times
Head of Alberta regulator to resign in January after $260-billion oilpatch cleanup estimate leads to apology | National Observer
November 5th, 2018‘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.’
Interior is undoing a legacy of national park stewardship in Alaska | High Country News
November 4th, 2018‘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:Â Interior is undoing a legacy of national park stewardship in Alaska | High Country News
WILL WASHINGTON STATE GO FIRST ON CARBON PRICING?| The Climate Reality Project
November 4th, 2018‘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:Â WILL WASHINGTON STATE GO FIRST ON CARBON PRICING? | The Climate Reality Project
