Union of Concerned Scientists

JUNE 24, 2024

This month, UN Secretary-General António Guterres called for a ban on advertising by fossil fuel companies, invoking the ban on tobacco ads as a relevant precedent. So what can we learn from the ban on tobacco advertising, promotion, and sponsorship that may be relevant to tackling the fossil fuel industry-driven climate crisis?

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Fossil Fuels 2009 2008 Climate Change 350

Environment + Energy Leader

NOVEMBER 9, 2022

Other topics include fighting greenwashing and supporting climate regulations. The post UN Net-Zero Guidance Calls for End of Fossil Fuels Financial Support appeared first on Environment + Energy Leader.

Fossil Fuels 325

Fossil Fuels Regulations 325

Union of Concerned Scientists

APRIL 4, 2024

A new dataset released by InfluenceMap provides information on heat-trapping emissions traced to the 122 largest investor and state-owned fossil fuel companies in the world. Fossil fuels are the main driver of climate change and the terrifying effects of it that we see happening across the world.

Fossil Fuels 322

Fossil Fuels Climate Change Paris Agreement Carbon Dioxide 322

Legal Planet

NOVEMBER 15, 2021

The decision at the Glasgow climate conference to phase down fossil fuels is an important step forward — and not just because of climate change. We think of fossil fuels as a source of climate change, but that’s only a one part of the problem. Fossil fuels are a case in point. Consider coal.

Fossil Fuels 246

Fossil Fuels Carbon Dioxide Clean Water Act Climate Change 246

Union of Concerned Scientists

APRIL 24, 2023

In an important win for climate accountability in the United States, the US Supreme Court decided that lawsuits filed in Colorado, Maryland, California, Hawai’i, and Rhode Island against fossil fuel companies including ExxonMobil, Chevron, Shell, Suncor, and others will remain in state courts.

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Fossil Fuels Climate Change Government Carbon Dioxide 312

Union of Concerned Scientists

FEBRUARY 21, 2023

The world’s biggest fossil fuel companies recently released their 2022 earnings reports, revealing record-breaking profits last year; just five companies–ExxonMobil, Shell, BP, Chevron, and TotalEnergies–reported a total of nearly $200 billion in profits.

Fossil Fuels 321

Fossil Fuels Climate Change Sea Level 2022 321

Legal Planet

AUGUST 18, 2022

Production and combustion of fossil fuels imposes enormous costs on society, which the industry doesn’t pay for. A more promising alternative might be a clean-up tax on the fossil fuel industry. A carbon tax could cover the economy without the need for scores of regulations tailored to each industry.

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Fossil Fuels Carbon Dioxide Politics Carbon Emissions 278

Union of Concerned Scientists

JUNE 12, 2023

Three decades of deregulation allowed private companies, as opposed to public regulators, to make critical decisions about reliability. In many places state and federal utility regulators delegated decisions about energy supplies to the market. These changes have dramatically reduced the amount of fossils fuels burned for energy.

Fossil Fuels 264

Fossil Fuels Renewable Energy Electricity Regulations 264

Union of Concerned Scientists

MAY 16, 2023

But this new study from my colleagues working on climate change and fossil fuel accountability couldn’t be ignored. In short, the study concludes that fossil fuel companies are in part to blame for the extraordinary damages resulting from western wildfires (including those sparked by utilities). That equates to 19.8

Fossil Fuels 260

Fossil Fuels Climate Change Electricity Regulations 260

Union of Concerned Scientists

JANUARY 24, 2023

Utilities and grid operators prepared for the storm as it was coming down the pike, but they still underestimated the energy demand it would trigger, as well as the number of outages at fossil fuel power plants—mainly natural gas-fired, plus some coal-fired plants.

Fossil Fuels 288

Fossil Fuels 2014 Climate Change Electricity 288

Union of Concerned Scientists

MARCH 30, 2022

Replacing fossil fuels with renewable energy from wind and solar will depend on upgrading the electric power grid, which is currently plagued by planning delays and gridlock. The 2021 law allows, but does not require, PJM to plan ahead because various fossil fuel plants must reduce and then cease emissions by a specific date.

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Fossil Fuels Renewable Energy Electricity Regulations 264

Union of Concerned Scientists

NOVEMBER 20, 2024

You or someone you know needs clean backup power Walking my dog the day after Hurricane Milton swept through my Orlando, FL neighborhood, the rumble of fossil fuel-powered generators interrupted what would have been a welcome quiet after the storm. I don’t blame them. Drivers buying used EVs have less control.

Fossil Fuels 246

Fossil Fuels Electricity Cooling Waste 246

Union of Concerned Scientists

MARCH 23, 2023

And fossil fuel power plants may not stick to their retirement schedules for a variety of reasons. The bottom line: There’s still a long way to go, and the clean energy transition must move quicker than it has been—despite the fossil fuel industry’s self-serving claims to the contrary. A bit more on those reasons later.

Fossil Fuels 258

Fossil Fuels 2023 Clean Energy Nitrogen Oxides 258

Union of Concerned Scientists

NOVEMBER 21, 2024

Special session takes on big oil and wins The transition to clean transportation and away from fossil fuels is here. Policies like this will be critical to ensure that the fossil fuels phaseout is equitable and Big Oil doesn’t squeeze every dollar out of California consumers on the way out the door.

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Fossil Fuels Recycling Clean Energy 2004 244

Union of Concerned Scientists

JANUARY 6, 2025

As the year kicks off with a very cold January weather forecast, US power grid operators and the regulators who oversee them are paying close attention to ensure that the grid failures of several past extreme winter storms dont happen again. and would greatly facilitate transmission development on a reasonable timeline.

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Fossil Fuels Electricity Wind Power 2018 298

Union of Concerned Scientists

JUNE 19, 2024

As another summer Danger Season gets underway with extreme floods in Texas and Florida , wildfires in California , and an above-average hurricane season predicted, it’s time for policymakers and regulators to get serious about real solutions to address the insurance crisis.

Climate Change 363

Climate Change Regulations Fossil Fuels 2022 363

Legal Planet

NOVEMBER 4, 2024

We progress despite regular cries of impending doom from regulated industries and their enablers. Over its short lifetime, the program has already transformed many segments of the fuels market. If CARB approves amendments to the program, the shift to clean fuels in California will only accelerate. But it’s never easy.

Air Pollution 279

Air Pollution Fossil Fuels Greenhouse 2010 279

Enviromental Defense

DECEMBER 17, 2024

The weakening of these regulations equate to an abandonment of the Prime Ministers promise to Canadians of a net-zero electricity grid by 2035. The weakening of these regulations equate to an abandonment of the Prime Ministers promise to Canadians of a net-zero electricity grid by 2035.

Electricity 106

Electricity Regulations Renewable Energy Fossil Fuels 106

Enviromental Defense

JANUARY 15, 2025

The Alberta Energy Regulator (AER) was caught hiding evidence of environmental degradation caused by toxic tailings spills, and misleading the public with false claims that it is closely monitoring the oil sands industry. Crude oil seen separated from sand for collection. Dr Kevin Timoneys report reveals that: 1.

Regulations 111

Regulations Waste Fossil Fuels Government 111

Enviromental Defense

FEBRUARY 14, 2025

The regulator can only be effective if it is independent from the industries it oversees. The regulator can only be effective if it is independent from the industries it oversees. The AER has consistently failed to fulfill its mandate to ensure safe, environmentally responsible energy development.

Regulations 108

Regulations Fossil Fuels 2014 Climate Change 108

Union of Concerned Scientists

OCTOBER 15, 2024

The multiple perspectives in the fuller picture have to be on the minds of electricity sector decision makers, from the prospective project proponents to the public utility commissioners and environmental regulators in charge of assessing a project on behalf of the public. And we don’t need to have all the answers to make a difference.

Renewable Energy 306

Renewable Energy Fossil Fuels Electricity Nitrogen Oxides 306

Union of Concerned Scientists

NOVEMBER 18, 2024

Although the country’s federal energy regulator has had a disconcertingly nonchalant attitude towards these events.) Even with the clean energy transition well underway, gas plants will be around for a while as we phase out fossil fuels.

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Fossil Fuels Clean Energy Electricity Technology 289

Enviromental Defense

DECEMBER 2, 2024

Statement by Alienor Rougeot, Senior Program Manager, Climate and Energy, on Ontario’s claims regarding the federal Clean Electricity Regulations. The federal government’s proposed regulations to reduce emissions in electricity generation are achievable without breaking the bank.

Electricity 115

Electricity Regulations Renewable Energy Fossil Fuels 115

Enviromental Defense

AUGUST 23, 2024

How often does the fossil fuel industry try to influence the government’s climate policy decisions? It highlights the most active fossil fuel companies and industry associations, as well as the ministries and ministers most targeted for lobbying. The report compiles data from the Federal Registry of Lobbyists.

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Fossil Fuels 2023 Climate Change Natural Resources 143

Legal Planet

OCTOBER 26, 2023

CARB’s Low Carbon Fuel Standard (LCFS) seeks to incentivize the production and sale of alternative, lower emissions transportation fuels in order to displace conventional fossil fuels. To identify which fuels should be promoted, CARB calculates the life cycle greenhouse gas emissions from transportation fuels.

Regulations 312

Regulations Greenhouse Clean Air Act Politics 312

Enviromental Defense

JANUARY 20, 2025

Yet, reaching net zero also means phasing out polluting fossil fuel energy, so the government developed rules to impose a pollution limit on electricity producers. The rules, known as the Clean Electricity Regulations (CER), were finalized in December 2024. So, do they do the job? Lets have a look. GW in 2023.

Electricity 78

Electricity Regulations Renewable Energy Fossil Fuels 78

Enviromental Defense

JANUARY 23, 2025

It is not the job of impacted communities and their allies to police the regulator. Albertans need a regulator that lives up to its mandate: protecting the environment and public health rather than working for corporate interests. Yet, this enforcement does not change the need for urgent regulatory reform in Alberta.

Regulations 85

Regulations Fossil Fuels Government Waste 85

Enviromental Defense

FEBRUARY 6, 2024

If passed into law, the bill would be a valuable step toward limiting misinformation about fossil fuels and countering greenwashing. The fossil fuel industry has a long and well documented history of denying climate science and funding advertising campaigns to greenwash oil and gas.

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Fossil Fuels Climate Change Regulations Law 135

Union of Concerned Scientists

APRIL 4, 2024

That 2013 headline resulted from the first effort to quantify emissions from the ‘carbon majors’ —fossil fuel companies and cement manufacturers whose businesses have contributed an outsized amount of heat-trapping gases to the atmosphere. Nearly two-thirds of industrial heat-trapping emissions can be traced to just 90 entities.

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Fossil Fuels Climate Change 2013 2015 316

Enviromental Defense

DECEMBER 13, 2023

On this final day of COP28, just a few hours after countries of the world agreed on the need to move away from fossil fuels, I’m overcome with a mix of emotions. Inspired by the unstoppable momentum to secure a fast, fair, full and financed fossil fuel phaseout. And let’s be real, I’m also exhausted.

Fossil Fuels 139

Fossil Fuels Renewable Energy Government Regulations 139

Union of Concerned Scientists

NOVEMBER 20, 2023

New science has shown that the largest fossil fuel, dairy, and waste methane super-emitters contribute a sizeable fraction of the total methane emissions in the regions the study authors monitored. Their use of these tactics underlie the calls to hold both the fossil fuel and meat and dairy industries accountable for their actions.

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Fossil Fuels Paris Agreement Climate Change 2030 321

Union of Concerned Scientists

JULY 1, 2024

This decision , reached with a 6-3 majority led by Chief Justice John Roberts, marks a significant shift in administrative law and has profound implications for environmental regulations and climate accountability. Successful court cases could limit the scope of future regulations. Worse, agencies may decide not to even try.

Regulations 359

Regulations Fossil Fuels Environmental Protection Clean Air Act 359

Union of Concerned Scientists

AUGUST 26, 2024

And we know that as our climate warms further—driven by burning fossil fuels—the risk of large wildfires will only grow. This alarming finding clarifies the significant role and responsibility of fossil fuel companies to not only stop their harm moving forward, but also to address damage they have already done.

Climate Change 278

Climate Change Fossil Fuels Clean Energy Electricity 278

Legal Planet

AUGUST 5, 2021

A big shift to renewables could leave stranded assets — existing fossil fuel plants that the utility will no longer get paid for using. In much of the country, those wholesale transactions are under the control of regional transmission organizations established by federal power regulators, but that’s not true everywhere.

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Fossil Fuels Regulations Clean Energy Renewable Energy 299

Enviromental Defense

NOVEMBER 4, 2024

Statement from Aly Hyder Ali, Oil and Gas Program Manager, Environmental Defence Ottawa | Traditional, unceded territory of the Algonquin Anishinaabeg People – We welcome the Government of Canada’s Oil and Gas Greenhouse Gas Pollution Cap draft regulation, which aims to curb pollution from the oil and gas industry.

2030 139

2030 Fossil Fuels Climate Change Regulations 139

Union of Concerned Scientists

JULY 1, 2022

That’s because the case, which was about the nature and scope of EPA authority in regulating carbon emissions from existing power plants, turned on a rule that does not exist. Because while this decision does still recognize EPA’s authority to regulate greenhouse gas emissions, it simultaneously sharply curtails the agency’s ability to do so.

Fossil Fuels 279

Fossil Fuels Clean Air Act Clean Energy Greenhouse 279

Enviromental Defense

JANUARY 14, 2025

At the top of the list of key climate regulations that need to be finalized before March 24th is the governments cap on pollution from the oil and gas industry. Without a strong oil and gas pollution cap, fossil fuel companies will continue to prioritize their profits at the expense of our health, climate and future.

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Politics Fossil Fuels Renewable Energy Climate Change 109