Union of Concerned Scientists

JUNE 26, 2024

This June, I had the opportunity to testify at the Pennsylvania House Environmental Resources and Energy Committee’s hearing on “Hydrogen Hubs and Climate Change.” My name is Julie McNamara, and I am a senior analyst and deputy policy director for climate and energy at the Union of Concerned Scientists.

Climate Change 266

Climate Change Fossil Fuels Carbon Dioxide Clean Energy 266

Union of Concerned Scientists

MAY 8, 2023

Electric transportation is essential for a cleaner and healthier world. Replacing gasoline vehicles with electric can reduce emissions that cause climate change and illnesses. Let’s talk solutions A solution to decreasing pollution is moving away from gasoline-based modes of transportation to electric.

Electricity 309

Electricity Recycling Fossil Fuels Climate Change 309

Union of Concerned Scientists

SEPTEMBER 19, 2024

Extreme weather, which is increasing due to climate change , can degrade the electricity system and cause these failures. Power outages are costly, can have extreme impacts on both the health and safety of a population, and can happen at any point in the process of electricity generation, distribution, and usage.

Electricity 257

Electricity Renewable Energy Climate Change Sea Level 257

Union of Concerned Scientists

NOVEMBER 26, 2024

This marked a career shift toward direct climate and equity advocacy, where I could use my background in electrical engineering to more directly tackle the climate challenges threatening our planet’s critical resources, including the glaciers I would soon visit.

Climate Change 240

Climate Change 2030 Fossil Fuels Carbon Emissions 240

Union of Concerned Scientists

MARCH 16, 2023

In a few days, the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) will release its latest synthesis report that provides a comprehensive assessment of the current state of scientific knowledge on climate change, including its causes, impacts, and potential solutions. The result is a world that is rapidly warming.

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Fossil Fuels Carbon Emissions Climate Change Sea Level 328

Union of Concerned Scientists

MAY 12, 2022

All told, they represent 56 percent of the US population, generate 62 percent of the country’s gross domestic product, and are responsible for 43 percent of the country’s annual carbon emissions. Under current policies and plans, carbon dioxide emissions would decline by only 12 percent. EN: What were your top findings?

Electricity 279

Electricity Fossil Fuels Renewable Energy Nitrogen Oxides 279

Circle of Blue

FEBRUARY 12, 2025

February 12, 2025 In parts of the United States, theres no relief from climate change. Some intriguing initiatives this week that caught our interest: Small modular nuclear reactors to generate electricity are steadily moving to market. They produce no carbon emissions that cause climate change, and can be air-cooled.

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2025 Carbon Emissions Climate Change Cooling 130

Legal Planet

MAY 5, 2022

This being Cinco de Mayo, it seems like an appropriate time for a look at Mexico’s climate challenges. Mexico’s carbon emissions are about the same as those of Texas, the highest-emitting US state. Per capita emissions, however, are far lower, given Mexico’s much larger population.

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Paris Agreement Carbon Emissions Climate Change Rainforest 264

Union of Concerned Scientists

JANUARY 30, 2023

Now it’s on to the state Senate, where the question is: Will this be the year Minnesota sets a path toward 100-percent carbon-free electricity? Now, with climate and clean energy majorities in both chambers, Minnesota is poised to join other leading states in updating its clean energy policies equitably with benefits for all residents.

Electricity 259

Electricity Renewable Energy Fossil Fuels Clean Energy 259

Circle of Blue

FEBRUARY 12, 2025

February 12, 2025 In parts of the United States, theres no relief from climate change. Some intriguing initiatives this week that caught our interest: Small modular nuclear reactors to generate electricity are steadily moving to market. They produce no carbon emissions that cause climate change, and can be air-cooled.

2025 130

2025 Carbon Emissions Climate Change Cooling 130

Circle of Blue

SEPTEMBER 22, 2021

Carbon-reduction plans, if not well designed, can worsen water scarcity and pollution. Plans to reduce carbon emissions should take water into account. Some low-carbon energy options require significant amounts of water. Water can also be a climate solution. Carl Ganter/Circle of Blue.

Carbon Emissions 363

Carbon Emissions Biofuels Cooling Fossil Fuels 363

Legal Planet

FEBRUARY 23, 2023

In a recent column , Paul Krugman argued that cutting carbon emissions doesn’t have to mean an end to economic growth. Carbon emissions and growth aren’t joined at the hip. The numbers are really clear about the disconnect between the trajectories of GDP and emissions. He’s right about that.

Carbon Emissions 246

Carbon Emissions Fossil Fuels 2007 Air Pollution 246

Union of Concerned Scientists

JULY 22, 2022

Minnesotans are facing concurrent crises of climate change, high energy prices and inflation, and the inequitable public health impacts of fossil fuel air pollution. Most Minnesotans are familiar with their local electricity utility, since that’s who bills them for electricity they provide.

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Renewable Energy Fossil Fuels Solar Power Electricity 362

Legal Planet

MAY 23, 2022

The Liberals had done as little as possible to address climate change. So the change in government is more than welcome. The outgoing Liberals weren’t helped electorally by their foot-dragging about climate change. Polling showed broad public support for more aggressive cuts in carbon emissions.

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Carbon Emissions Climate Change Fossil Fuels Politics 246

Legal Planet

JULY 1, 2021

In short, what’s the extinction cost of carbon? There are uncertainties in climate modeling, and greater uncertainties in estimating the number of species impacted by climate change. megaton reduction in emissions. What does a rise to 2° require in terms of carbon emissions? The answer is 7.8

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Carbon Emissions Climate Change 2015 Electricity 263

Union of Concerned Scientists

MARCH 16, 2022

They just released their 2022 “Annual Energy Outlook” (AEO), which is a big deal: it tells us where electricity is headed over the next 30 years. Here are five key takeaways from this year’s AEO, focused primarily on the electricity sector: 1. CO 2 emissions remain mostly level through 2050—nowhere close to meeting US climate goals.

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Natural Gas Renewable Energy Climate Change Electricity 291

Legal Planet

APRIL 3, 2023

Standards for carbon and methane emissions from new sources Permitting requirements for carbon emissions from new stationary sources of major sources of existing pollutants. Standards for existing stationary carbon sources (focused on power plants to date). Standards for emissions from new vehicles.

Law 246

Law Endangered Species Act Clean Air Act Biofuels 246

Legal Planet

APRIL 29, 2024

The bad news is that we’re not yet on track to avoid dangerous climate change. climate policy. New California legislation will require corporations to disclose their carbon emissions. Climate policy has been boosted by dramatic changes in the economics of clean energy.

Fossil Fuels 279

Fossil Fuels 2008 2010 Clean Energy 279

Union of Concerned Scientists

AUGUST 22, 2022

California’s air pollution regulator, the Air Resources Board, is poised to adopt one of the most important steps that the state has ever taken to reduce exposure to air pollution and limit climate changing emissions. California is already experiencing climate change with extreme drought and destructive wildfires.

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Air Pollution 2026 Nitrogen Oxides 2030 290

Legal Planet

JUNE 13, 2022

In terms of climate policy, however, it doesn’t get nearly as much attention as China. That’s understandable in terms of India’s current carbon emissions, which are now only a quarter of China’s. The national electricity plan projected that renewables will exceed coal in 2027. But we need to be more forward-looking.

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2030 Carbon Emissions 2027 Sea Level 246

Union of Concerned Scientists

AUGUST 13, 2024

As electric vehicle charging stations sprout like mushrooms along our roads and clusters of new wind turbines come online, these two clean energy solutions to the climate crisis are becoming more commonplace. Also more commonplace are the obvious , dangerous , and destructive effects of climate change on people and communities.

Fossil Fuels 264

Fossil Fuels Clean Energy Electricity Climate Change 264

Legal Planet

SEPTEMBER 6, 2022

The possibility of snagging some of this funding may also help nudge some lagging states to think seriously about cutting carbon emissions. Another development with multi-state implications involves electric vehicles. There are some aggressive milestone requirements: 35% of new vehicles must be electric by 2026 and 68% in 2030.

Carbon Emissions 246

Carbon Emissions Clean Air Act Electricity 2030 246

Circle of Blue

DECEMBER 6, 2022

An extensive report from the Stockholm International Water Institute describes how freshwater systems and their management have been neglected by global climate change agreements. The report’s authors claim that success in lowering carbon emissions will be determined by how well the world manages its water.

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2022 Biofuels Carbon Emissions Cooling 246

Physics World

JUNE 28, 2021

A device that can generate electricity while desalinating seawater has been developed by researchers in Saudi Arabia and China, who claim that their new system is highly efficient at performing both tasks. In many parts of the world, climate change and population growth are putting huge demands on freshwater supplies.

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Electricity Waste Cooling Solar Power 145

Clean Energy Law

MARCH 11, 2021

In December 2018, after having successfully reduced greenhouse gas emissions from the power sector by 53.3%, a majority of the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative (RGGI) jurisdictions announced plans to design a program to address carbon emissions from the combustion of transportation fuels.

Carbon Emissions 130

Carbon Emissions Fossil Fuels Regulations Greenhouse 130

Union of Concerned Scientists

MARCH 31, 2022

Chicago’s new CAP aims to remedy those problems and chart an equitable path to cut the city’s carbon emissions by at least 60 percent by 2040. Residential, commercial and industrial buildings account for nearly 70 percent of Chicago’s carbon footprint. Building Retrofits. What’s Still Needed in the Plan.

Renewable Energy 241

Renewable Energy Carbon Emissions Electricity 2008 241

Union of Concerned Scientists

MARCH 30, 2022

Fossil fuels are the root cause of climate change, of long-standing environmental injustices, and are also frequently connected to geopolitical strife and violent conflicts. These data are alarming—underscoring how far off track the world continues to be in cutting the heat-trapping emissions fueling climate change.

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Fossil Fuels Climate Change Clean Energy 2030 280

Legal Planet

JUNE 4, 2021

A federal court in Australia ruled that the government had a “duty of care” toward its young people to protect them from climate change. Historically, Exxon has been the most recalcitrant of all the major oil companies, and it has been a major funder of climate change denial.

Fossil Fuels 246

Fossil Fuels Paris Agreement Climate Change Carbon Emissions 246

Union of Concerned Scientists

APRIL 26, 2022

Riding a mile by bus in this country, on average, contributes 30% less to climate change than riding in a gas car alone. Riding a bike or walking lowers your emissions down to zero. Public transit can provide another way of getting around that is more accessible to all and reduces transportation emissions.

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Legal Planet

APRIL 24, 2023

One set of issues relates to applying existing statutes to climate change. Consider this list of examples: Given that coal has larger carbon emissions than other sources of energy can EPA adopt a strategy of phasing out its use in the electric power sector? Here, a host of problems have come up.

Carbon Emissions 147

Carbon Emissions Climate Change Law Government 147

Legal Planet

MARCH 30, 2023

The upshot was that the US resisted any effort to address climate change and embraced a “drill baby drill” energy policy. Carbon emissions stayed about constant under Bush, with an average around 5.6 billion tons: The average gas powered car today produces about 55 tons of carbon over its dozen-year life.

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2010 Carbon Dioxide Climate Change 2008 246

PA Environment Daily

JUNE 7, 2023

The Pittsburgh 2030 District , a project of the Green Building Alliance , has released its 2022 Progress Report , revealing District property partners have reduced carbon emissions by 44.8% This achievement moves the District within range of reaching its target goal of 50-65% reduction in carbon emissions before the 2030 deadline.

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Carbon Emissions 2030 Paris Agreement Natural Gas 98

Union of Concerned Scientists

APRIL 3, 2023

It’s not surprising to see companies lobbying to try to optimize this lucrative credit for their profits rather than ensuring the produced hydrogen is genuinely low-carbon, but it is astounding to see regulators at risk of following suit. But, as important as those considerations are, even that broader perspective is insufficient.

Clean Energy 262

Clean Energy Fossil Fuels Electricity Renewable Energy 262

Union of Concerned Scientists

APRIL 27, 2023

These new protections will include updates to power plant standards on carbon emissions , mercury pollution , and toxic coal ash pollution , just to name a few. Last year, for the first time ever, US renewable electricity generation surpassed coal-fired electricity generation.

Fossil Fuels 263

Fossil Fuels Electricity 2014 Climate Change 263

Legal Planet

MARCH 3, 2022

A quarter of carbon emissions from transportation come from heavy-duty trucks. Addressing these emissions will be challenging and will require a multi-prong strategy. California and fourteen other states plan to make 30% of new heavy-duty truck sales zero emission by 2030. The UK is ahead of us here.

Biofuels 246

Biofuels Air Pollution Carbon Emissions Electricity 246

Legal Planet

SEPTEMBER 12, 2022

It’s not an environmental law case, but the ruling could impact the authority of states to address climate change. Many state climate change regulations have impacts on other states. For example, the Ninth Circuit upheld California’s Low Carbon Fuel Standard against a similar legal attack.

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Regulations Climate Change Fossil Fuels Law 246

Legal Planet

OCTOBER 19, 2023

Gavin Newsom Can Learn from China’s Response to Climate Change.” Yes, the governor was the talk of the town at NY Climate Week where he announced several big California climate initiatives. million electric vehicles , with sales in 2022 accounting for 29% of all auto sales in China. He even got to address the U.N.

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Wind Power Clean Energy Electricity Carbon Emissions 195