Enviromental Defense

JULY 31, 2024

Hydrogen is being presented as a key climate change solution because when it is burned, it doesn’t create any greenhouse gas emissions. We have cost-effective, proven, and reliable solutions that are ready today—including solar, wind, and battery storage—which continue to be underfunded by all levels of government. And it leaks a lot.

Government 130

Government Wind Power Greenhouse Carbon Dioxide 130

New Scientist

NOVEMBER 13, 2024

Food production is responsible for more than a third of greenhouse gas emissions. To get everyone the food they need in a warming world, governments worldwide must invest in securing our food systems

Technology 142

Technology Technology Greenhouse Government 142

Union of Concerned Scientists

AUGUST 21, 2024

Earlier this month, the US Department of the Treasury and the Internal Revenue Service hosted a public hearing on their recent proposed rules governing implementation of the Section 45Y Clean Electricity Production Credit and the Section 48E Clean Electricity Investment Credit. My testimony is copied below.

Electricity 288

Electricity Wind Power Greenhouse Clean Energy 288

Enviromental Defense

NOVEMBER 28, 2023

Carbon capture has never worked as promised, the carbon is dangerous to transport, and the technology is extremely expensive, especially compared to the plummeting costs of renewable energy. This isn’t just a bad bet for the climate, it’s bad for Albertans.

Technology 136

Technology Technology Fossil Fuels Renewable Energy 136

Union of Concerned Scientists

AUGUST 21, 2024

Most prominently, because the approach is changing from rewarding specific technologies to rewarding anything that meets the greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions threshold of “clean”—hence the “tech-neutral” label—exactly how the government goes about determining whether or not something is actually eligible will be enormously important.

Electricity 306

Electricity Clean Energy Greenhouse Technology 306

Enviromental Defense

MAY 2, 2024

Statement from Keith Brooks, Program Director Toronto | Traditional territories of the Mississaugas of the Credit, the Anishinaabeg, the Haudenosaunee, and the Huron-Wendat – New data released today by the Government of Canada shows that Canada is finally starting to bend the curve when it comes to climate pollution.

Greenhouse 98

Greenhouse Natural Gas Fossil Fuels Carbon Emissions 98

Legal Planet

DECEMBER 16, 2021

Utilities were famously set in their ways, using nineteenth century technologies to produce and deliver their products. Energy use accounts for the bulk of greenhouse gas emissions. The resulting government policies are forcing radical change on the energy system of a kind not seen in a century or more. Technological changes.

Law 246

Law Fossil Fuels Regulations Electricity 246

Law and Environment

OCTOBER 26, 2023

Yesterday, Massachusetts Climate Chief Melissa Hoffer issued a report detailing how “to implement the Healey-Driscoll Administration’s whole-of-government approach to addressing the climate crisis.” Publish an annual report card on the Commonwealth’s progress to achieve mandated greenhouse gas emission reductions.

Government 130

Government Fossil Fuels Clean Energy 2024 130

Legal Planet

OCTOBER 26, 2022

The scoping process has been key to California’s success in cutting greenhouse gas emissions. The process requires the government to assess past progress, project future emissions, and come up with a strategy to meet its climate goals. b) The range of projected air pollution reductions that result from the measure. (c)

Greenhouse 246

Greenhouse 2012 Air Pollution Renewable Energy 246

Legal Planet

FEBRUARY 16, 2023

We’ve been hearing a lot lately about geoengineering – the various scientific theories and governance ideas that could eventually lead to technological interventions to help cool the planet. How will governments deal with private startups if they continue to perform unscientific, unregulated experiments? A weather balloon.

Fossil Fuels 287

Fossil Fuels Climate Change Paris Agreement Technology 287

Legal Planet

MAY 19, 2023

County of Monterey –a major case involving the authority of California local governments to limit oil and gas development within their borders. County of Monterey case raises important and difficult questions for both the justices and the Executive Branch of California state government.

Law 264

Law Fossil Fuels Climate Change Regulations 264

Union of Concerned Scientists

SEPTEMBER 26, 2022

Our transportation system is highly inequitable, reflecting decades of misguided and biased decisions at all levels of government. In other words, technological solutions are necessary but not sufficient. On the technology side, decarbonization is the key. How do we make this transformation happen?

Electricity 290

Electricity Biofuels Technology Technology 290

Union of Concerned Scientists

AUGUST 2, 2022

But the nation’s farmers and farmland are also poised to be part of the solution, if only our government would invest meaningfully in it. My colleagues have argued forcefully about what’s at stake and how the Inflation Reduction Act would affect the cars we drive. Here I’ll expand a bit on the provisions of the bill aimed at agriculture. $20

Climate Change 334

Climate Change Greenhouse Technology Technology 334

Legal Planet

AUGUST 24, 2021

Reynolds, who recently completed an Emmett Institute Geoengineering Governance Fellowship. As the climate crisis grows more urgent, unconventional technological responses are getting increased attention and controversy. We’ve written previously on Legal Planet about these technologies and their promise and risks.

Technology 244

Technology Technology Government Climate Change 244

Union of Concerned Scientists

JANUARY 30, 2023

ExxonMobil’s reduction pledges do not take Scope 3 emissions into account, and the company’s leadership takes issue with the Greenhouse Gas Protocol’s approach to measuring emissions, as described below. Studies show Scope 3 emissions account for roughly 85% of oil and gas emissions.

Fossil Fuels 298

Fossil Fuels Paris Agreement 2030 Greenhouse 298

Enviromental Defense

DECEMBER 23, 2024

It would seem that the Grinch has once again made off with a ramshackle sleigh full of wind turbines and solar panels and they aren’t likely to return from their shop, not unless the heart of the ole ‘Grinchy-Claus’ (aka the Alberta Government) has an unexpected growth spurt. Stay tuned.

Renewable Energy 98

Renewable Energy 2027 Government Electricity 98

Enviromental Defense

APRIL 19, 2023

Statement from Julia Levin, Associate Director, National Climate Ottawa | Traditional, unceded territory of the Algonquin Anishinaabeg People – The Government of Alberta’s new Emissions Reduction and Energy Development Plan is not a credible climate strategy. It’s also missing key elements, such as a 2030 emissions target.

Government 106

Government Waste Fossil Fuels Technology 106

Union of Concerned Scientists

JULY 1, 2022

And so just by hearing it , members of the Supreme Court seemed to tip their hand, signaling a majority actively on the hunt for a chance to slash away at the government’s ability to advance vital environmental and public health safeguards. Unfortunately, those ominous signs were right on the mark. But that’s about where the good news ends.

Fossil Fuels 279

Fossil Fuels Clean Air Act Clean Energy Greenhouse 279

Real Climate

AUGUST 17, 2022

The net effects will depend on how people and enterprise respond to these incentives, what technological improvements occur, how fast we learn to do better etc. How much global technological innovation will be spurred by these investments? Modeling the impacts of all this is hard. The biggest unknowns are the geopolitical implications.

Paris Agreement 349

Paris Agreement Air Pollution Renewable Energy 2030 349

Legal Planet

SEPTEMBER 6, 2022

The federal government is now supporting that role with federal funding for states. A key provision (IRA § 60114) appropriates $250 million to support emission reduction planning by state governments. It’s not just the direct funding for state governments that makes me think this. States have played a critical role in U.S.

Carbon Emissions 246

Carbon Emissions Clean Air Act Electricity 2030 246

PA Environment Daily

MARCH 10, 2025

And how can we provide job opportunities for the tremendously skilled workers in traditional energy domains while also training the workers we need to accelerate emerging technologies? New and emerging geothermal technologies allow us to tap into and extract the earths naturally occurring heat in ways that were not possible a decade ago.

Clean Energy 98

Clean Energy Cooling 2025 Greenhouse 98

Law Columbia

APRIL 4, 2024

National governments are the most important systemic actors in the governance of climate action, primarily because they are the only actors with the ability to adopt economy-wide decarbonization measures. Over 80 government framework cases have been filed around the world, using a wide variety of legal and factual arguments.

Government 108

Government Paris Agreement 2030 Climate Change 108

Legal Planet

DECEMBER 3, 2021

What makes me most optimistic are the recent technological innovations and falling costs for renewable energy generation, battery storage and alternative fuel vehicles. While these strategies are daunting and most governments are focused on mitigation and adaptation, I think that there is a lot of hope for innovation at the local level. [L]ocal

Climate Change 264

Climate Change Paris Agreement Fossil Fuels Politics 264

Enviromental Defense

JANUARY 20, 2025

As we electrify everything, from our cars to our home heating systems, we need electricity to come from sources that dont emit greenhouse gases. To deliver on this goal, the federal government made important investments in renewable energy projects. So, do they do the job? Lets have a look.

Electricity 100

Electricity Regulations Renewable Energy Fossil Fuels 100

Legal Planet

JULY 29, 2021

They will be working alongside our faculty director (formerly faculty co-director) Ted Parson—an accomplished scholar of environmental governance—as well as me and my colleague Cara Horowitz, shaping the strategic direction of the Emmett Institute. Wang is a leading expert on environmental governance and the law and politics of China.

Law 246

Law Climate Change Carbon Dioxide Deforestation 246

Union of Concerned Scientists

DECEMBER 21, 2023

But while greenhouse gas emissions may be reduced, a delivery fulfilled by a diesel-burning truck may lead to increases in emissions of smog-forming nitrogen oxides and lung-damaging particulate matter. While the latter part of this conclusion is obvious, the former part isn’t as much. on routes between 250 and 450 miles.

Nitrogen Oxides 312

Nitrogen Oxides Electricity Fossil Fuels Air Pollution 312

Scientific American

AUGUST 20, 2024

government are investing billions of dollars in carbon capture technology to suck greenhouse gases out of the atmosphere. Tech firms, oil companies and the U.S. Can it save the warming world?

Climate Change 111

Climate Change Atmosphere Greenhouse Technology 111

Union of Concerned Scientists

FEBRUARY 27, 2023

While EVs already result in less greenhouse gas emissions than the gasoline alternative, using these recycled materials substantially lowers impacts associated with material sourcing. Government funding should continue to support research and development of battery repurposing, reuse, and recycling.

Recycling 246

Recycling Electricity Technology Technology 246

Legal Planet

APRIL 4, 2023

The sector—including personal transportation like passenger cars, as well as air, marine, and surface goods and people movement—is the largest source of greenhouse gasses in the U.S.: But, as our panelist Beth Osborne has argued , greenhouse-gas reductions will also depend on reducing the amount of driving we do in general.

Law 182

Law Greenhouse Electricity Government 182

Enviromental Defense

MAY 7, 2024

CCS is a multi-billion dollar boondoggle that doesn’t come close to the hype, has significant safety risks, and is a substantial distraction from real climate solutions, such as building more renewable energy, increasing electricity transmission infrastructure, and developing and using storage technology. Want proof?

Fossil Fuels 129

Fossil Fuels Carbon Dioxide Renewable Energy Solar Power 129

Legal Planet

JULY 13, 2021

Importantly (and often misunderstood), he meant not that we are gods, but instead that technologies have given humanity powers that had previously been exclusive to the gods. I thus wrote the paper “ Earth System Interventions as Technologies of the Anthropocene ,” which was published (open access!)

Carbon Dioxide 130

Carbon Dioxide Technology Technology Government 130

Union of Concerned Scientists

MARCH 25, 2024

Department of the Treasury is hosting a public hearing on the December 2023 proposed regulations governing implementation of the Section 45V Credit for Production of Clean Hydrogen. As Treasury moves to finalize regulations governing implementation of 45V, it must maintain a rigorous approach that is responsive to its statutory charge.

Clean Energy 263

Clean Energy Waste Greenhouse Clean Air Act 263

Enviromental Defense

JUNE 6, 2024

The oil and gas CEOs tried to deflect responsibility for their massive greenhouse gas emissions (GHGs), but the writing is on the wall for these Climate Villains: you can’t make oil and gas “green”. Yet behind closed doors, these companies admit that this is ineffective technology. Corson and Shell’s Ms. These tactics are not new.

Fossil Fuels 142

Fossil Fuels Climate Change Greenhouse Sustainable Development 142

Enviromental Defense

SEPTEMBER 4, 2024

A new report released by Oil Change International reveals that governments worldwide have already wasted over $40 billion on carbon capture and hydrogen projects. Even worse, these governments are gearing up to waste billions more – over $300 billion more! Why is government spending on carbon capture & hydrogen a problem?

Fossil Fuels 135

Fossil Fuels Government Waste Greenhouse 135

Legal Planet

SEPTEMBER 23, 2024

The 49ers called it “ a meaningful part of our commitment to more sustainable practices” and praised United for its SAF program, which both companies said can reduce greenhouse gas emissions “by up to 85% on a lifecycle basis.” The story generated headlines , the way any “first” tends to. Sure, that’s good news. She’s right.

2019 298

2019 Fossil Fuels 2023 Environmental Science 298

A Greener Life

NOVEMBER 6, 2024

On 15 October, the port in Shandong was certified as carbon-neutral by the China Classification Society Quality Certification Company, according to a government statement. Globally, the shipping industry accounts for 3% of greenhouse gas emissions, with ports being one of the key contributors along with ships running on heavy fuel oil.

Fossil Fuels 52

Fossil Fuels Clean Energy Wind Power Solar Power 52

Enviromental Defense

OCTOBER 9, 2024

Canada’s oil and gas industry, responsible for the largest chunk of Canada’s polluting greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, continues to drive climate change while trying to weaken or stop the actions we need to address the climate crisis. We already have the technology and the resources needed to reduce oil and gas pollution.

Fossil Fuels 131

Fossil Fuels Renewable Energy Climate Change Greenhouse 131