North American Leaders Unite to Combat Climate Change and Protect the Environment

North America is setting the pace for international climate and environmental cooperation. At a summit hosted by Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau on Wednesday June 29th, American President Barack Obama and Mexican President Enrique Pena Nieto announced an historic continent wide clean energy plan. The deal known as the North American climate, clean energy and environment partnership contains "aggressive but achievable" goals.

The three "Amigos" agreed to an unprecedented North America clean energy partnership. They also agreed to work with indigenous people on environmental issues and protect the rights of the LGBT community. As a tangible refutation of the Brexit and Donald Trump's isolationist policy stance the three leaders emphasized the importance of working closely together.

Clean energy

The ambitious clean energy and GHG reduction targets are unprecedented. As part of the deal half of the continent's power generation will be from clean sources by 2025. As of 2015 37 percent of the continents energy was derived from clean sources. New cross-border transmission lines will be build and energy will be traded across the continent. Clean energy efforts include hydropower, wind, solar, nuclear, carbon capture and storage, as well as from energy efficiency measures. Canada currently produces 81 percent of its electricity from hydroelectric, solar, wind and nuclear power generation. In the US only 33 percent of the nations electricity is derived from clean sources and in Mexico that number is around 20 percent. According to a White House statement the US will ramp-up clean energy production to 1,900 billion kWh.

Methane reductions

Methane emissions will be cut by by 40-45 per cent by 2025 (methane has more than 80 times the warming power of carbon dioxide over a 20-year timeframe). The methane reduction strategy will apply specifically the oil and gas sector, agriculture and waste management.

Black carbon

In addition to the above they agreed to cut black carbon emissions. Black carbon is the most light-absorbing component of particulate matter (PM), and is formed by the incomplete combustion of fossil fuels, biofuels, and biomass. Black carbon is emitted directly into the atmosphere in the form of fine particles.

Vehicle emissions standards

The three nations agreed to increase the use of low or zero emission vehicles in government fleets. They also agreed to establish “world-class ultra low-sulphur diesel fuel and heavy-duty vehicle standards.” These uel efficiency and/or GHG emission standards for light- and heavy-duty vehicles will be in place by 2025 and 2027, respectively. They further agreed to slash emissions in the airline and shipping industries.

Fossil fuels

The three acknowledged the need to minimize the GHGs emitted in fossil fuel extraction. They agreed to phase out fossil fuel subsidies by 2025.

Paris agreement

They also agreed to implement the Paris Agreement across the continent, limit temperature rise to below 2 C. As the three explained in a press release: "The Paris Agreement was a turning point for our planet. Our actions to align climate and energy policies will protect human health and help level the playing field for our businesses, households and workers."

Wildlife protections

The three agreed to increase protections for migratory species habitat and work together to protect North America’s eastern Monarch butterfly populations by conserving habitats by 2020.

"Top on the agenda is a set of energy and environmental strategies intended to strengthen all three economies while defending their citizens’ health and the region´s natural resources." explained Mario Molina and Fred Krupp. "Without common standards, it’s a race to the bottom."

Fred Krupp is president of the Environmental Defense Fund. Mario Molina is a is a Mexican chemist and co-recipient of the 1995 Nobel Prize in Chemistry for his role in explaining the threat to the Earth's ozone layer.

The three amigos concluded by calling for more emissions reductions from the G20.

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Solar Roadways: Science Fiction Becoming Reality

Solar roads are entering a new test phase that will see them installed along a portion of the iconic route 66. Solar Roadways is the brainchild of Scott and Julie Brusaw of Idaho.  It all started ten years ago when Scott, an electrical engineer and his wife Julie began to imagine how solar panels could be embedded into the road. The concept eventually incorporated LEDs that could illuminate highways, and replace road lines. These solar panels can also be heated enabling them to melt snow and ice. The panels used in olar roadways are made out of recycled glass and in addition to collecting renewable energy, the panels can even redistribute storm water.

When it was first introduced the idea of embedding smart solar panels in our roadways seemed more fiction than science. It nonetheless captured people's imagination and a video called "Solar Freakin Roadways" went viral garnering over 21 million views.

Solar Roadways crowd-funding efforts raised $2.2 million to help accelerate the leap into commercial production. The project has also secured some high profile recognition when it won first prize in two of GE's Ecomagination challenges.

The US Federal Highway Administration funded the first working prototype. Solar roadways has received three funding contracts from the US Department of Transportation.

The concept has already been tested in an operational parking lot setup. By the end of this year Missouri’s Department of Transportation is expected to test the project at a rest stop. In April, the Idaho Department of Commerce committed $50,000 for a Solar Roadways demonstration project and crowdfunding campaign.

This technology may seem fantastic but it is an extension of existent technological innovations. Solar carports are a good example and they are popping up everywhere including in the US. There is a solar carport system at a Whole Foods Market in Brooklyn, New York. Recently completed solar carports in the US include one at Toyota's facility in West Caldwell, New Jersey and another at the Buck Institute in California.

Europe is also experimenting with solar roads and electrified highways. In the Netherlands SolaRoad has been operational since November 2014 and the French government wants to build 600 miles of solar roads over the next five years. Sweden has already built the world's first electric highway for heavy transport. Electric trucks can now get power along a 13 mile stretch of road between Norway and Sweden thanks to overhead power line technology developed by Siemens.

Related
A Response to Critics of the Solar Roadways Concept
Solar Roadways Innovative Sun Powered Technology and Finance
Video - Solar Roadways Crowdfunding
Video - Solar Roadways: The Concept Explained
Video: An Introduction to Solar Roadways

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The Costs of Volkswagen's Greenwash Continue to Mount

The chickens are coming home to roost over Volkswagen's epic greenwash. Earlier this year it was reported that Volkswagen's pre-tax profits fell 20 percent. The disgraced auto company has just reached a more than 14 billion settlement in the US. However, their legal troubles are far from over. They are being sued by multiple litigants ranging from governments to groups of private citizens.

VW's sales have dropped precipitously and their most recent quarterly market share in Europe has dropped to a five year low. May marked the eighth consecutive month of falling market share in Europe.

In the US an agreement with the EPA will see the fallen automaker spend up to $14.7 billion. In related agreements with the US and state of California and the US Federal Trade Commission (FTC), Volkswagen agreed to offer consumers a buyback and lease termination for nearly half a million diesel vehicles and spend up to $10.03 billion to compensate consumers under the program. The disgraced company will also invest $4.7 billion to mitigate the pollution and invest in green vehicle technology. The vehicles included in the deal are the Volkswagen, Jetta, Passat, Golf and Beetle as well as the Audi A3 TDI.

This is the second largest such settlement in the US right behind BP which agreed to pay $20.8 billion as a consequence of the explosion of the Deepwater Horizon and subsequent oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico.

There are a number of pending claims for civil penalties as well as the possibility of criminal liability. The company is also being to institutional investors. They are being sued by the Norwegian Sovereign Wealth Fund over financial losses. The Wealth Fund will be part of a forthcoming class-action lawsuit in Germany.

Shareholders are also taking it on the chin. VW's $18 billion in financial losses have already been passed on to shareholders who have had their dividends slashed by 97 percent. Going forward those dividends are expected to be eradicated altogether later this year.

Investment firms are understandably irate. NBIM claims the Volkswagen debacle led to 5.8 percent loss. TCI Fund Management, publically fumed about VW's failure to comprehend the gravity of the situation. They lamented the fact that the automaker’s executives are still paying themselves very handsomely.

The Volkwagen scandal is only the tip of the iceberg. Other automakers have also admitted to fraud. Last year Mitsubishi motors said that it had also falsified emissions tests. This resulted in the company's first quarterly loss in 15 years.

Like Volkswagen, Mitsubishi's financial woes are far from over. VW's malfeasance is a cautionary tale that should be the focus of concern for all businesses not just automakers. If we are to send the right message it is imperative that the costs of fraud far outweigh the benefits gleaned through deception.

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40 More Eco-Apps that put Technology to Work for the Environment

There are more than two million apps and a growing number of them have an ecological purpose. The huge and growing eco-apps market is making a significant contribution to the welfare of the planet and its inhabitants.

This post is a follow-up to a 2012 eco-apps article. When that article was published four years ago there were less than 800,000 apps. As of June 2016, there are approximately 2.2 million apps available for download from the major sellers. In 2015, global mobile app revenues amounted to $41.1 billion. Consumers are projected to more than double their spend on apps over the next four years. By 2020, the apps market is expected to be worth more than $100 billion.

Ecologically oriented apps are organized around a number of categories including air and water quality, transportation, energy, education (games), consumer information, food and visualizations and chemicals.

Most of the apps listed below are free and run on iOS and Android. The paid apps range in price from 99 cents to $4.99.

Air & Water Quality

EPA AirNow: This mobile app provides real-time air quality information that you can use to protect your health throughout the day. Just enter the zip code of your location to get the current air quality index information and air quality forecasts for ozone and pollution.

State of the Air: This air quality app shows live color-coded maps for any U.S. location and includes both ozone and particulate pollution counts. The app also provides air quality alerts, short-term forecasts, and opportunities to learn more about air quality risks. It also includes a mechanism to contact lawmakers to push for more stringent pollution regulations.

aMobileFuture’s Pollution: This app compiles information from various pollution databases around the world and then shows you which big polluters are emitting what near them. Coverage includes 1,380 cities, mostly in Europe and the U.S.

Bluesky Map: This smog-busting mobile app from the Institute of Public and Environmental Affairs (IPE) allows users to monitor air and water pollution in China. The app uses government-installed air and water monitoring systems and reports real-time emissions from sources all over the country. High pollution areas are identified with orange circles. This app encourages citizens to report high levels of pollution by emailing government officials.

Dropcountr: This app enables you to conserve water by connecting you to your water utility company via smartphone. Water companies can send customized drought and water budget messages, or notify you of leaks. You can also see how much water you use and compare these figures to others. The app will also help you to set a reasonable water budget to conserve water. You can organize their water consumption by day, week, month, or year. Dropcountr also informs you of rebates to help you save money.

Transportation

Carbon Emissions Calculator for Air Travel: This easy to use app allows passengers to estimate the carbon emissions attributed to their air travel. Simply select your origin and destination airport, specify the class of travel and number of passengers. The app will display the carbon footprint and the distance traveled.

Alternative Fueling Station Locator: This app locates alternative fuel stations, including electricity, natural gas, biodiesel, e85 Ethanol, propane and hydrogen. It was developed by the U.S. Department of Energy’s National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) and draws on information from Clean Cities’ Alternative Fuels Data Center (AFDC). The app can find the 20 closest stations within a 30-mile radius for any alternative fuel. You can view the locations on a map or as a list containing station addresses, phone numbers and hours of operation.

Zimride: This ridesharing app uses social networks to enable real connections. Once you set up a profile you are able to book a ride in your area, or post a ride of your own. Drivers can charge for rides but Zimride does not charge for the service.

Carma Carpooling: This app helps you find nearby people to share your commute with so that you can reduce traffic, emissions, and the cost of your trip. Riders pay the driver and Carma’s website claims that carpooling with its platform is often cheaper than the bus. More than 80 percent of the fee goes to the driver, however, drivers can also give free trips by adding people to their favorites.

Waze: This traffic navigation app helps you to waste less time and reduce emissions by avoiding gridlock. Drivers share real-time traffic delays including things like accidents and traffic jams so that others can avoid them.

Roadify: This app gives you real-time data on transit info in 50 cities in the US and Canada. It tells you when the next bus or train is coming and it can even relay information explaining delays.

GasHog: This fuel efficiency app works by entering the odometer reading and amount of fuel added each time you fill the tank. The app then calculates the fuel economy of the previous tank and compares it to historical averages. The app also offers tips for improving fuel economy.

Energy

Ohmconnect: This energy app helps customers save energy, reduce emissions and earn money doing it. It’s designed for people getting energy from the grid. You earn money by powering down electric devices in your home for about 30 minutes following a notification from the app. It can interface with smart gadgets like Nest thermostats, or a Tesla Model S. The app can also remotely turn things off for you. Ohmconnect is only available in California.

Entelligo Pro: This app is intended for home solar salespeople to help them find a better deal for their customers. Entelligo Pro is a mobile sales app that lets people selling renewable energy technologies calculate the costs of solar panels and installation for a customer during their doorstep pitch. It provides graphs and other simple visual data to show the customer how much money and CO2 they can save. It can even create a digital sales proposal that the customer can sign on the spot.

Entelligo Home: This app allows a householder to do what Entelligo Pro does for themselves, even contacting a local solar provider.

Wind Farm: This locator app can find wind farms around you. There are over 12,000 wind farms on the app which shows real-time energy production data for some of them. Wind farms are color coded according to size and capacity. Other information provided includes the number and model of turbines. It also estimated electricity production per year for each wind farm and estimates the number of homes that this electricity could power.

Google’s Project Sunroof: This Google app allows you to assess your home’s solar potential. This energy app is a web application and it works by simply entering your zip code. You will get an estimate of how solar might work on your roof.

VELObill: This energy app makes it easy to read and understand your energy bills. The information provided helps consumers to reduce their energy usage and utility costs by making smart decisions about consumption. You can view your utility usage and determine if it is high or low. You can also compare these results to peers and examine ways to save. You can create an energy saving action plan and decide whether to change consumption habits or seek an infrastructure upgrade to their home.

Education & Games

One Stop Green: This mobile app provides daily green tips as well as a solar, wind, water, and lightning calculator. The app walks you through the steps required to do your own energy audit. A feature called My Green Tool Box helps you find possible savings and solar, water, and wind system requirements as it automatically determines sunny days, inches of rainfall, and wind speed at your location. The app also allows you to share your green discoveries by email, Facebook, and Twitter.

#climate: This educational app helps you to discover and share actions that you can take to combat climate change. You can build a profile and specify the topics you’re passionate about. When you log in to the app, you’ll see suggested actions personalized for you. You can choose an action to learn the intended impact and the details you’ll need to take part. Then, you can share actions on Twitter, Facebook, Tumblr, and Google+ with a single tap. You can track your progress on the platform with metrics like the number of supporters you’ve recruited, the count of reactions you’ve inspired, and the number of shares you’ve caused.

Ecoviate: This app is designed to spread social sustainability via a newsfeed of environmentally friendly activities and posts on eco-friendly tips and products that help you save energy, conserve water, and in other ways reduce your impact on the environment. The app is gamified with “Eco-Points” and rewards, and you can see how you rank among your friends with a leaderboard. The Ecoviate team plants a tree for each download of the app.

Oroeco Climate Hero: This web app tracks your personal impact on climate change and you are encouraged to engage in friendly competition to reduce your impact on Facebook. The app provides 50 tips to reduce your footprint. These tips are personalized based on your location, your data and by how you can save money and reduce emissions. You can track how the choices you make (including how you spend your money) impact climate change. You can reduce your footprint with customized actions in each area of your life.

Green Wars: This educational app helps you to reduce and reuse within a game format. The central concept is to ‘earn green by going green’, so players buy products at low prices, travel, and try to sell products at a higher price. The three-step process is repeated with the options to take out loans or save money with interest each time you travel. The game ends with an estimate of the money you’ve “earned” and your credibility points, giving you a final score. Throughout the game, the app offers green tips.

Consumer Information

GoodGuide: This app helps you find safe, healthy, green, and ethical products with product reviews based on scientific research and ratings. Products are rated on a zero to 10 scale for their health, environmental impact, and social impact. The ingredients, health impacts, and certifications contribute to the health rating. Resource use, environmental impact, and a company’s transparency contribute to the environment rating; the impact on consumers, worker safety, and effect on the community contribute to the society rating. The overall score of each of the more than 250,000 products in GoodGuide’s database is an average of these three scores. You can find ratings for food, personal care, and household products, and scan the barcodes of products in-store to retrieve information about them while you shop. You can also select the environmental issues that you care about most to see how products align with your preferences, get customized product recommendations, and create your own shopping lists. Embedded videos demonstrate ways one can green up daily life.

Ethical Barcode: This consumer app provides information about the products we purchase every day and what our purchases actually support. This app harnesses information from about 20 nonprofits to help shoppers make environmentally friendly decisions. A quick scan of a product provides a snapshot of the manufacturer, its owner, an overall grade on those companies’ ethics and the factors that comprise that grade. The percentage-based score also factors in certifications and recent news about particular companies.

Greening Your Family-Free: This green app is a practical tool for parents who want to make safe product choices for their families. There are a variety of categories ranging from food, cleaning, and personal care, as well as many subcategories that offer facts about what to avoid in manufactured products. Besides advising you on what not to buy, another helpful feature of this app is the list of environmentally friendly products that are safer options. The paid version is more extensive and provides more than 30 recipes and tips for concocting your own non-toxic cleaning products.

Toxic Baby: This app is by Penelope Jagessar-Chaffer, the creator of the film Toxic Baby. Her new app provides information to help keep our families safe and free of toxic chemicals.

ClimateCounts: This app rates leading companies based on their climate impact and sustainability efforts, and then gives consumers a chance to voice their concerns either by email or on social sites such as Facebook or Twitter. You can search for climate ratings either by company or industry.

Light Bulb Finder: This energy efficient light bulb app gives you recommendations for energy-efficient bulbs that look stylish and help you save the most money. The app allows you to view bulb images, cost, savings, and environmental impact.

Think Dirty: This consumer app tells you exactly what’s in the personal care product you’re about to buy. You scan the barcode, and it shares information about potentially harmful ingredients and gives alternatives.

Food

Dirty Dozen: This food app is a product of The Environmental Working Group’s research and lists the 12 types of produce that contain the most pesticides (Dirty Dozen) and the 15 (Clean 15).

Fooducate: This app empowers food shoppers everywhere to make healthy, informed decisions while at the supermarket. Scan your food and the app generates a letter grade (A, B, C or D) for each product scanned, along with brief explanations and warnings about its nutrients and ingredients. The app will recommend minimally processed, real foods which are naturally rich in nutrients and antioxidants.

Locavore: This food location shopping app shows you which fruits and vegetables are in season and how long they will be in season. It uses GPS to find community supported agriculture (CSAs), farms and farmers’ markets in your area that are selling organic foods. The app can also keep a running list of comments by other Locavore users and the types of local produce they’ve eaten and where they’ve purchased them. The app has one-click access to thousands of healthy, seasonal recipes and other information that can be shared. The app not only lets you know which fruits and veggies are in season—it also lets you know how long they’ll be in season.

Farmstand: This app helps you discover locally grown food from more than 8,700 farmers markets around the world. With the app, you can find the closest market and see what’s going on at farmers markets nearby. It shows you information on each market, such as open times, directions, and photos shared by other market-goers. You can also post your own photos to share with the Farmstand community to promote your favorite farmers markets. You can also add new markets or keep the information on existing markets up to date in the app, and when searching, you can filter farmers’ markets by distance, next open time, or by which ones accept food and nutrition benefits like SNAP, EBT, and WIC. This app allows you to search for community farmers’ markets in the U.S., Canada, Australia, New Zealand and the UK, making it an excellent download for frequent travelers.

Food Community: When you’re on the road or short on time, this app allows consumers to discover local vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free, locally-grown and organic restaurants. It also allows the user to connect and collaborate with a community of people who have similar dietary choices.

NRDC Eat Local: This app helps you to locate nearby farmers’ markets and CSAs. All you have to do is click on the state you’re in, and you’ll discover exactly which fruits and vegetables you can expect to find. You can also submit and edit information for your favorite farmers’ markets. It also provides seasonal recipes for the different fresh ingredients.

Local Dirt: This app is a one-stop shop for buying organic, grass-fed, heirloom or free-range foods that are delivered to you direct from your local farm.

Seafood Watch: This redesigned app makes it easier than ever to get the latest recommendations for seafood and learn more about the seafood you eat. You can also locate or share businesses that serve sustainable seafood. It features up-to-date seafood recommendations and searchable seafood, sushi and restaurants. The app allows you to sort seafood by “Best Choice,” “Good Alternative” or “Avoid” rankings. The app also highlights a list of “Super Green” seafood that’s good for you and the oceans. There are additional features like a glossary, links to seafood recipes and news, and other things of interest to all seafood lovers. It also offers access to in-depth conservation notes and reports.

Visualization

Greenit!: This app helps you to visualize a green world. It helps to make the world more sustainable by taking a picture and adding green elements such as solar panels, wind turbines, trees, flowers, animals, grass, eco seals and much more. You can then save and share your new green idea with friends. You can use the app to make before and after visuals. The app also allows you to add customized font text to each picture and an endless variation of sustainable elements. A great tool for professionals like architects, designers, planners, activists, photographers and sustainable frontline workers.

NASA’s Images of Change: This app tracks the changing face of the planet as a consequence of climate change. This includes retreating glaciers, drought and other impacts from human activity. It offers a global perspective on our planet in flux including before-and-after images.

Source: Global Warming is Real

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Event - Global Summit on Smart, Secure & Sustainable Cities

The Global Summit on Smart, Secure & Sustainable Cities: Opportunities and Challenges in India will take place on July 17 - 20, 2016 at Harte & Garter, Windsor, Royal Berkshire, UK.

The conference will focus on the opportunities and challenges that India offers in building ‘Smart,Secure and Sustainable Cities’ in the context of energy, infrastructure, communications, Internet of Things, cybersecurity, water, and waste management.

FOCUS AREAS

Environment and Energy

Power for All
Solar and Wind
Renewable Energy
Off Grid Projects
Climate Change
Alternative Sources of Energy

Smart Grid

National Smart Grid Mission
Regulatory Issues and Challenges
New Technologies
Affordable and Practical Solutions

Water and Waste Management

Funding and Financing
Sustainable Water Supply
Access to Clean Water
Treatment of Wastes
Best Practices
Latest Innovations

IoT and Cyber Security

Government’s Framework
Cyber Security
Investment Opportunities
IoT and Personal Mobile Devices

Infrastructure and Transport

Smart Buildings
Securing Smart City Infrastructures
Smart Mobility and Connectivity
Latest innovations and technologies
Best Practices

Funding and Financing

Options available for projects
Funding and Financing for Businesses
Setting up Energy Market

WHY PARTICIPATE

INDUSTRY

Share your unique challenges and requirements with internal industry who can provide the solutions
Share knowledge and best practices with international colleagues
Network with international delegates, industry and experts
Understand the latest technologies, solutions and market trends
Learn from the experiences of your sector in other countries
Visit running facilities to examine how possible solutions function
Showcase your technology and solutions directly to buyers

DELEGATES

Network with industry experts and policymakers
Generate new leads and inquiries for your solutions
Promote your brand and solutions to international markets
Build a network of prospective collaborators and partners from the industry
Learn about the business environment in prospective markets
Meet with decision makers from several states under one roof
Learn about the unique challenges and requirements of the markets

To register click here.

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Event - UK Marine Energy Conference 2016

The UK Marine Energy Conference 2016 will take place on July 5th at the Glasgow Marriott Hotel, 500 Argyle Street, Glasgow, G3 8RR, United Kingdom.

The conference will focus on accelerating wave and tidal energy as viable energy alternatives, while maintaining the UK & Ireland's position at the forefront of marine energy development. This Conference will bring together those at the forefront of wave & tidal technology within the UK and Ireland. This event aims to accelerate marine energy as a viable energy alternative and maintain the UK & Ireland’s position as leaders of this emerging market..

With the technology, infrastructure and energy mix demand developing, marine energy can be seen as a key frontier in clean energy generation. The UK Marine Energy Conference 2016 focuses on accelerating wave and tidal energy as viable energy alternatives, whilst maintaining the UK & Ireland’s position at the forefront of marine energy development. Through a combination of conference discussions and networking the event will provide a platform for stakeholders to discuss key debates and direct the industry towards a successful and sustainable future.

The conference will address the role for marine energy in the new energy mix. Presentations will examine reducing costs, building investors' confidence, generating growth, policy and successful pathways to commercialisation.

Time will also be afforded to discussion of environmental impacts, developing industry standards, innovation & new technologies and the latest updates from existing test projects.

Networking

The UK Marine Energy Conference will also feature an intimate exhibition showcasing the latest technologies and solutions from across the marine energy sector. The exhibition will also host networking throughout the course of the day, bringing together government officials, OEM’s, project developers and investors with consultants and contractors.

Benefits

• Optimize strategy for marine energy development within the UK.
• Engage with key stakeholders and industry decision makers.
• Build strategic partnerships and forge new industry contacts through face-to-face networking.
• Business Intelligence, Information Sharing and Thought Leadership.
• Receive updates on the latest industry trends and projections.

Click here for tickets. For more information about tickets contact Eric.Lewis@CharlesMaxwell.co.uk

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Brexit Implications for the Climate and the Environment (Video)

The Brexit is a pyrrhic victory. Make no mistake about it, Britain's exit from Europe is bad news for environmental and climate policy and not just in the UK. Compounding the problem is the fact that uncertainty will further destabilize a less than stable economy. Brexit has already wiped $2 trillion off world markets.

We can expect less external pressure to address environmental and climate issues and it could ultimately gut the UK's green policy initiatives.

It will almost certainly lower climate ambitions and undermine clean air initiatives. This is a troubling as there are currently approximately 40,000 deaths a year from air pollution in the UK. The Brexit may have a wide range of adverse environmental impacts from killing the UK's renewable energy targets to ending the ban on pesticides that harm bees and other crucial pollinators.

Despite these impacts, environmental protections and climate action were not really part of the discussion leading up to the Brexit. The polemics that defined the debate omitted key issues.

As Rev. Michael J. Pitts put it:

"One side was driven by xenophobic, anti-immigrant rhetoric. The other side was based in the exploitative interests of free market capitalism. This division is echoed in many parts of the western world. Has not the time come for a totally new approach to politics, based in social justice, equitable and sustainable distribution of the finite resources our planet has to offer and a determination to leave a livable future for those who come after us?"

The point of the exit vote is hard to fathom as it will not deliver the unfettered freedom that supporters have promised. Contrary to the views expressed by some, international obligations will still subject the UK to a host of constraints.

It is important to understand that the leading supporters of the Brexit are climate deniers. The sad truth is that climate deniers and racists have won the day. It is nothing short of ironic that the same nation that has colonized much of the world, has now voted to close its borders to immigrants. There are unmistakable parallels with the xenophobia of Republican nominee Donald Trump and his absurd pledge to build a wall to keep immigrants out of the US.

Those who voted for the Brexit tend to be older and less educated than those who voted against it. This is evidenced in a Washington Post article, which explains that many do not understand what they are leaving. This is sad reflection on Britain and the British people. However, it should be noted that these racist views are prevalent throughout Europe and much of the rest of the world.

The global economic repercussions will continue as will the impact on environmental policy.  We have already seen trillions wiped off the books as part of the Brexit reaction. It will also add to the the cost and difficulty of combating climate change.  These economic impacts will erode the capacity for bold climate action at the very time when we need it most.

Britain's departure from Europe occurs at a time when we need to see tightly coordinated efforts to manage the climate crisis and environmental degradation. Brexit has killed a common environmental framework entrenched in law. This will lead to fragmentation of environmental law.

The UK has previously been a leading nation in terms of climate action. Among other things they have committed to carbon neutrality.  Post Brexit the UK may loosen environmental law to serve economic interests. This is a dangerous and slippery slope. As explained by Greenpeace UK chief John Sauven:

"There is a very real fear that Cameron's successor will come from the school that supports a bonfire of anti-pollution protections. The climate change-denying wing of the Conservative Party will be strengthened by this vote for Brexit."

According to Nick Mabey, chief executive at E3G, a London think tank, "Brexit will significantly damage the UK's ability to manage climate risks." Alex Pashley said Britain's departure from the European Union will be "harmful to its natural environment and lead to uncertainty over future rules."

In an open letter to environment secretary, Liz Truss, 14 signatories including four former chairs of environment agencies said EU membership has been critical to improving the UK's environmental quality.

"We will better able to protect the quality of Britain's environment if we stay in Europe," the letter concluded,
"We therefore conclude that Brexit would be damaging for Britain's environment."

According to a Chatham House paper Brexit will weaken the UK's international influence on climate and energy policy. It could even undermine European implementation of the Paris Climate Change Agreement.
Brexit will also increase the chances of US/China hegemony on climate action.

In a London School of Economics article titled, "How would a Brexit affect the environment?" Sebastian Oberthür from the Institute for European Studies said that the climate efforts of a unified Europe have had a positive impact on Europe and the wider world. Oberthür also said,"the result may well be a triple-loss: for the EU, the UK, and the environment."

In a Guardian article Damian Carrington called Brexit "social insanity...[T]he protections for our environment will get weaker." He said, he went on to say: "The Brexit vote leaves it highly uncertain which protections will remain in place and the prospect of improving them seems remote."

Craig Bennett, head of Friends of the Earth, said the leave vote was a “red alert” for the environment. James Thornton, the chief executive of Client Earth,said Brexit leaves me “extremely concerned about the future of environmental protections in the UK.” 

All is not lost, however, the already herculean struggle has become that much more difficult.

Here is a lecture on the relationship between Brexit and the environment from Prof. Colin Reid, University of Dundee Law School. As he says we can expect to see "less regulation and weakening environmental standards."



Image credit: TV5 Monde

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New Pipeline Safety Law Followed by Another Oil Spill

Mere hours after President Obama signed the PIPES safety bill into law, a pipeline spilled thousands of gallons of oil. Protecting our Infrastructure of Pipelines and Enhancing Safety Act of 2016 became law on June 22nd. Within hours of the signing an oil pipeline erupted in Ventura County, California. It was first noticed by a local rancher early Thursday morning.
The spill emanated from a ten inch underground pipeline owned by Colorado-based Crimson Pipeline LLC. It sent an estimated 29,400 gallons of crude oil down into an arroyo that flows through the city of Ventura and reaches the ocean near the Ventura Pier. The spill marks Crimson’s 11th such incident in the last ten years.

The law was drafted in response to a plethora of fossil fuel spills, especially California's Porter Ranch leak which spewed a staggering 97,000 tons of methane. The PIPES act increases safety provisions in the construction and operation of fossil fuels facilities. It also and gives the government expanded authority to act quickly in the event of a spill. This includes new emergency powers for the Secretary of Transportation.

Oil spills are common throughout North America, but they are especially prevalent in California. On May 19, 2015, a corroded Plains All American pipeline spewed 143,000 gallons of crude oil onto Refugio State Beach in Santa Barbara and at least 25,000 gallons poured into the ocean. The spill created a nine mile oil slick. Governor Jerry Brown called it an "environmental disaster" and declared a state of emergency.

Planes All American Pipeline have been been found guilt of a total of 175 safety and maintenance infractions. The Houston company has been indicted on 46 criminal counts and faces fines of around $3 million due to the Santa Barbara spill. 

In December, more than 8,800 gallons of oil leaked in Somis. In May of this year 21,000 Gallons of oil spilled from the underground San Pablo Bay Pipeline near Tracy in San Joaquin County. These spills and the many others in California take place against the backdrop of the epic Santa Barbara oil spill of 1969.

It is a statistical certainty that pipelines will spill. Just as birds fly, and fish swim, oil leaks. The only way to keep the oil from spilling is to stop it from flowing. 

Oil spills have become commonplace, but we cannot afford to be blase. The preponderance of leaks adds to concerns about the existential threat posed by the climate destroying properties of the commodities they transport.

In the past oil pipelines were the lifeblood of our industrial might, however we now know that they are harbingers of an apocalyptic future. These arteries of death, like the hydrocarbons they transport, must be phased out of our energy mix.

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Apple's Apps for Earth Initiative Raised Awareness and Funds for WWF

Apps are big business and a partnership between Apple and the World Wildlife Fund (WWF) funneled some of these revenues to ecological causes.  Given the number of apps and the volume of demand  using apps to generate revenues for the environment is a boon. As of June 2016 there are approximately 2.2 million apps available and 2 million in the Apple App Store. In 2015, global mobile app revenues amounted to $41.1 billion. In 2020, consumers are projected to spend over $101 billion on mobile apps via app stores.

This spring an initiative called Apps for Earth, saw 100 percent of revenues from 27 apps at the Apple Store go to WWF over a ten day period that ended on April 24th. This campaign not only raised awareness it generated more than $8 million to support hte WWF’s conservation work.

As Lisa Jackson, former head of the Environmental Protection Agency and now an Apple executive, explained in a Washington Post interview:

"This is really our first big step into engaging customers in our mission."

This is not the first time these two organizations have collaborated. In 2015 Apple partnered with WWF to launch a multi-year partnership to protect a million acres of responsibly managed forest across China.

Apple has also engaged in a number of eco-initiatives in house. Apple has supported the US Clean Power Plan and the company responded to the White House's request to reduce their greenhouse gas emissions and increase their supply of renewable energy.  Apple's green efforts are more than a marketing ploy, these efforts have contributed to their bottom line.


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Climate Change Fueling Wildfires in North America and Russia

Wildfires fueled by record heat have ravaged areas across North America and Russia this year. This year is very much like last year. However, the western fires of 2015, were not as widespread and they came later than they did this year. 

There is strong evidence that global warming has lengthened wildfire seasons. This research is corroborated by recent observations in North America and Russia. Across the continent warm temperatures are melting snowpacks, exacerbating droughts and contributing to the number and size of wildfires. Heat is an important catalyst for forest fires and temperatures continue to soar. Even before the start of summer Phoenix hit a sweltering 127 degree F [or 53 C]. Heat records are being broken in many states and in parts of Southern California temperatures exceeded 120 degrees Fahrenheit (50 degrees Celsius).

In California a number of fires are raging including one in the Santa Barbara region which has burned almost 10,000 acres. Near Albuquerque, New Mexico a total of more than 20,000 acres have burned and north of Phoenix a fire has consumed more than 26,000 acres. A number of other fires are also burning in Utah and Nevada.

Canada is also contending with a slew of forest fires. In May there was the massive Fort McMurray fire in Alberta. A number of forest fires are also destroying vast swaths of land in Quebec and Ontario. The city of Greenstone North of Thunder Bay declared a state of emergency and was preparing for a Fort McMurray style evacuation. In Nova Scotia hot temperatures have put most of the province at very very high risk. There are fires burning in North Preston and in Halifax.

The Guardian reports that a large number of forest fires are also burning in Russia. Although official estimates state that 669,000 hectares have succumbed to wildfires so far in 2016. However, a Greenpeace analysis of satellite data reveals that 3.5m hectares have burned this year. To put these numbers into perspective, the massive forest fires around Fort McMurray in May, destroyed around 580,000 hectares.

"WWF forestry expert Alexander Bryukhanov said under-reporting meant that the annual extent of forest fires in the US and Canada are regularly double that in Russia, which has twice as much forest."

The fact that the Russian government hides the real data on forest fires suggests that they are reluctant to admit to the growth in fires for fear that people will call for climate action.

In Russia there is also a connection between heat and wildfires. The frequency of Russian forest fires there has increased 30-50 percent in the last 20-30 years. The Russian heatwave of 2010, which cost the nation $15 billion, was made three times more likely by climate change.

According to one study climate change will cause the cost of combating wildfires to exceed $62 billion annually by 2050.

Forest fires are not only destructive and costly, they are directly responsible for respiratory illnesses and deaths.

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Climate Refugees Need to be Formally Recognized

We need to start preparing to address the flood of climate refugees that will continue to increase as the planet warms. Climate change will make the current refugee crisis look insignificant. Climate refugees are already being forced to flee their homelands.

In a recent Independent article, Malik Al ash-Shaykh asks "what will happen to climate refugees?" His research suggests that between 25 million and one billion people could qualify as climate refugees in the coming years. While the exact number is hard to predict with any certainty, we do know that vast numbers of people will be displaced by rising sea levels and an inhospitable climate.

Al ash-Shaykh wonders whether climate refugees will ever benefit from the same legal protections as conventional refugees. Currently, people who identify as climate refugees have no opportunity for recourse, said Michael Gerrard, an environmental law professor at Columbia University in New York.

We are not prepared to deal with so many displaced people. Thankfully we are beginning to seriously consider the issue. The COP21 climate talks in Paris however, called for a task force to "develop recommendations for integrated approaches to avert, minimise and address displacement related to the adverse impacts of climate change".

"But it seems that support for this has now materialised beyond academic circles to some degree" Al ash-Shaykh wrote. "Experts are moving beyond the singular approach of expanding the Refugee Convention to include those impacted by climate change or environmental disasters..."

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The Coming Climate Refugee Crisis

To commemorate International Refugee Day, here is a re-post of an article from earlier this year on the scope of the climate refugee problem both present and future. 
_________________________________________________

The refugees pouring out of Syria and Iraq has focused global attention on migrants however the unfolding human catastrophe will be dwarfed by the coming climate refugee crisis. The issue of climate refugees is an international problem that is already impacting the US.

The refugees streaming from Syria and Iraq was caused in part by climate impacts in the Levant. However, the refugees that streamed out of Syria and Iraq in 2015 is nothing compared to the number of climate refugees we can expect in the years to come.

Climate refugees are people who are forced to leave their homes and their communities due to global warming. The number of people who fall into this category is destined to get far worse in the coming years. Although climate change is not new, warming attributable to human activities is a recent phenomenon.

The so called age of the Anthropocene started with the dawn of the industrial revolution and specifically the burning of fossil fuels and cutting down forests which serve as carbon sinks. Together these forces have increased the amount of carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases in the atmosphere. This in turn has caused global temperatures to rise, which exacerbates drought and causes the ice to melt and the seas to rise.

Flooding, droughts and other forms of extreme weather will force massive migrations in coming years. Climate refugees are a subset of environmental refugees. Environmental refugees include immigrants forced to flee because of natural disasters, the numbers of these types of refugees is on the increase. By some accounts there may be hundreds of millions of such refugees in the coming decades. Climate change is killing people and compromising health, livelihoods from tourism, fishing and agriculture are also in jeopardy.

People have been suffering and dying due to drought in parts of Africa, however parts of China and the state of California has also been suffering from massive droughts in recent years. Under drought conditions agriculture becomes much more difficult and in places without access to irrigation it is impossible. Morocco, Tunisia, and Libya each lose more than 1,000 square kilometers (386 square miles) of productive land every year to desertification. Residents near the Horn of Africa are especially vulnerable to drought and desertification. Most rural residents in Somalia, Ethiopia, and Eritrea. Drought is particularly severe and causing mass migrations in Ethiopia's Somali region.

Many coastal cities throughout the world are located in low-lying areas vulnerable to sea level rise. This includes: Manhattan, New York; London, England; Shanghai, China; Hamburg, Germany; Bangkok, Thailand; Jakarta, Indonesia; Mumbai, India; Manila, Philippines; and Buenos Aires, Argentina.

Flooding is already inundating some island nations like the Maldives. Large populations in countries like Bangladesh could also be directly impacted by flooding. Developed countries are also at risk including Italy and the US. Residents of Chesapeake Bay's Tangier Island are expected to become climate refugees in the few decades.

Scientists estimate that due to climate change, the village of Kivalina, in northwestern Alaska, will be under water by the year 2025. A total of more than 180 villages are already feeling the impacts from rising seas. The Yupik community of Newtok, is expected to be completely under water by 2017.

Rising seas from climate change are already causing the some people to relocate in the US. Climate migration is already underway in the bayous of Louisiana, about 80 miles southwest of New Orleans, the Isle de Jean Charles, is disappearing into under the rising waters in the Gulf of Mexico forcing many of its residents to flee.

The tiny island was inhabited by the Isle de Jean Charles Band of Biloxi-Chitimacha-Choctaw Native Americans. The climate related problem of rising seas and coastal erosion has swallowed 98 percent of the land and the situation has been compounded by the oil and gas industry which is the root cause of global warming. The island used to be 22,000-acres but only 320-acres are left.

Here is a UN map of areas around the world where we can expect to see climate refugees.

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Event - New Energy Forum, NEF-2016: The Light of Hope for New Energy

The 6th Annual New Energy Forum, NEF-2016: The Light of Hope for New Energy will take place on June 30 - July 3 in Goyang City, Gyeonggi, South Korea

With the reduction of traditional fossil fuels and increasingly serious global environmental degradation and health dangers, we are ready to meet new age of energy production. While human demands for energy will not decrease, the largest shifts are the increase in the renewable energy share and the decline in the traditional energy share. New energy occupies an increasingly important position in the whole energy system. New sources of energy, aided by improved technology and productivity, underpinned by large-scale investments make a significant contribution to supply growth. Entering its 6th year, New Energy Forum (NEF) has been grown substantially, NEF-2016 will provide a perfect opportunity to researchers from academia and professionals from industry, as well as government regulators to tackle energy challenges, and exchange best practices about improved new energy technology and cooperation.

This year the program involves 6 professional parallel forums. We believe it will set off a new upsurge of Cleanness and Sustainability Energy. This conference is a perfect opportunity to researchers from academia and professionals from industry, as well as government regulators to tackle energy challenges, and exchange best practices about clean energy utilization and expanding. Many leading companies and key personnel involved in the new energy industry will participate this event.

Program

• Part 1: Opening Ceremony
• Part 2: Keynote Forum
• Forum SE: Solar Energy
• Forum HE: Hydrogen Energy
• Forum NE: Nuclear Energy
• Forum GE: Geothermal Energy
• Forum EV: New Energy Cars and Electric Vehicles
• Forum BE: Bioenergy

Speakers

• Dr. Leonid Bolshov: Corresponding Member of the Russian Academy of Sciences; Director, Nuclear Safety Institute – IBRAE RAN, Russia
• Dr. Waclaw Gudowski: Member of the Royal Swedish Academy of Engineering Sciences (IVA); Professor, Royal Institute of Technology – KTH, Sweden
• Dr. Wolfram Sparber: Head of Institute Renewable Energy, EURAC Research, Italy
• Dr. Miguel P. Amado: Head of GEOTPU Research Group, New University of Lisbon, Portugal
• Dr. Stefan Lecheler: Professor, Bundeswehr University Munich, Germany
• Dr. Ungyu Paik: Professor, Hanyang University, South Korea
• Dr. Thomas Kolbusch: Vice President, Coatema Coating Machinery GmbH, Germany
• Mr. Robert Lojk: Regulatory Program Director, Canadian Nuclear Safety Commission, Canada

To register click here.

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Event - ISEE Conference: Environmental Ethics and Economics: Values & Choices

The 2016 edition of the annual ISEE Conference will take place on June 29 - July 2 at Pace University One Pace Plaza, New York City, NY 10038. The theme this year is "Environmental Ethics and Economics: Values & Choices".

This conference asks the question: Can environmental philosophy avoid a sustained critique of the current political-economic system and remain sincere participants in the environmental community?

In other words, if it is the case, as some influential critics have argued, that the social and economic order in which we live is the single systemic cause for planetary ecological crisis, can we in good conscience remain relatively silent.

Economists, political ecologists/scientists, and philosophers have given voice to the pressing tensions between economic growth and economies of scale - sustainable development. With a few notable exceptions, environmental ethicists have addressed questions of economic impact on the environment most often indirectly through (important) topics like animal welfare, biodiversity, climate change, future generations, natural value, population, pollution, and sustainability.

Topics remain within the purview of standard areas of environmental ethics listed above but the approach would be the impact economics has on those areas.

Subject Matter

Environmental values and markets values
Are the choices of Homo economicus rational?
Sustainable development or unlimited economic growth
Valuing ecological systems
Compatibility between ecology and economics
Environmental justice

To register click here.

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Fort McMurray Fire Post Mortem: Forest Fires, Climate Change and Fossil Fuels (Videos)

The Fort McMurray fire forces us to take a closer look at the relationship between fires and climate change as well as the relationship between fossil fuels, climate change and ecological degradation. We cannot attribute an individual fire to climate change with any certainty, however it would be inaccurate to say the climate change plays no role in wildfires. We can explore wider trends that do indicate that forest fires will increase as the planet continues to warm.

A combination of conditions, consistent with climate change predictions, contribute to the risk of fires. In Fort McMurray this includes drought, warm winters, low snow-packs, and unseasonable heat. Fire seasons are beginning earlier and extending longer. As reported by the CBC, this is the view of David Andison, adjunct professor with the faculty of forestry at UBC.

This is what the Fort McMurray fire looked like as it burned:



Here is a video of some of the destruction caused by the Fort McMurray Fire:



We know that the size of forest fires are on the increase in Canada. Natural Resources Canada statistics show that over the last quarter century an average of about 2.3 million hectares burns each year. In 2014, fires burned over 4.5 million hectares and in 2015 nearly four million hectares burned.

We can say with virtual certainty that planetary warming does increase the incidence of forest fires. We can also say with virtual certainty that the burning of fossil fuels are the primary cause of global warming. This takes on special significance given that fort McMurray is the world's largest hub for oil sands (aka the tar sands) production. It should be noted that the tar sands are one of the most GHG intensive fossil fuels in the world. They are also the most environmentally destructive. This video from 2011, while Stephen Harper's Conservative government was still in power reviews some of the more egregious impacts of Canada's tar sands.



According to Addison the Fort McMurray Fire may be the new normal. "Climate change models and research all point to the idea that fire season is going to be longer in the coming years, and the fires will be more severe," Andison said. "It will really just be the new normal," he added.Andison suggests that we may have to contend with significant increases in forest fires. "Not just this year but the next 10 or 20 years." Andison said.



We need to ask why Fort McMurray burned and follow that up with a discussion about what that means for the future of the town and fossil fuels in general.

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Green Banks Leverage Private Investments for Climate Finance

In addition to creating new jobs and improving the environment Green Banks are essential to ramping-up clean energy finance. Such banks are capable of helping to unleash the vast potential of climate focused investing. Green Banks reduce the cost of clean energy and efficiency. They are helping to change market thinking by taking a holistic, long-term view of industry support.

A Green Bank is a government-created institution that facilitates private sector financing for clean technology projects. Different Green Banks have different programs, however, they all leverage public funds to attract private investment.

In addition to providing capital and information these banks encourage private sector investments by helping to mitigate risk. They also help to standardize financial products to make them easier to buy and sell.

The tools used by Green Banks include low-interest or longer-term loans, interest rate buydowns, project equity stakes, small grants, and, as the market develops, credit enhancements.

In the US there are a number of Green Banks including the New York City Energy Efficiency Corporation, the Connecticut Green Bank, the Hawaii GEMS Program and the New Jersey Energy Resiliency Bank.

Internationally Green Banks include the UK Green Investment Bank, the Japanese Green Finance Organization, the Australian Clean Energy Finance Corporation, GreenTech Malaysia.

For years we have watched Green Banks contribute to meaningful climate progress by supporting things like renewables and energy efficiency initiatives.

The potential of green investment banking is huge, however governments can contribute to or detract from this laudable initiative.

As reported by the Independent exactly one year ago, the government in the UK announced plans to sell off part of the first bank in the world established to make money out of environmentally sustainable projects.

Launched by the government in 2012, the UK's Green Investment Bank will be privatized in a move that is expected to generate £1 billion. However, Chuka Umunna, the shadow business secretary, said the bank would be destroyed by privatisation. “It is unclear how the GIB can continue to perform its unique and vital function if it is sold off and it would be incredibly short-sighted if the important role it currently plays was lost,” he said.

In 2014 the Green Investment Bank backed 22 new energy projects worth £2.5 billion and generating enough energy to power 4.2 million UK homes.

As reported by Business Green in 2014, an investment Bank boss said that the UK's Green Investment Bank could mobilize £60 billion if government allows it.

Banks are an important part of creating the necessary infrastructure to support the transition to a low carbon economy. One high profile example is EV charging stations. While electric vehicles are an important part of the transition, green banks can support charging infrastructure which is essential to the widespread adoption of EVs.

As reported by Energy Manager Today, a study by the Center for Climate and Energy Solutions (C2ES) indicates that banks play a key role in the transition to a low carbon economy. This includes both expanding EV infrastructure and clean energy.

As reported by Sustainable Business, the first "Green Bank Academy" was attended by leaders from over 11 states including California, Hawaii, Illinois, Kentucky, Maryland, Massachusetts, Minnesota, New Hampshire, Washington, NY and Connecticut.

Green Banks can help fill the financing gap in the absence of government leadership. Mark Muro from the Brookings Institution, co-host of the Academy explained that Green Banks contribute to, "large-scale progress on big problems when the national government has gone absent."

In 2014 US Green Banks committed to spending $15 billion on energy Projects over 5 years. This investment could be leveraged to over US $40 billion in private investments. Here is a brief review derived from an EDF article on the major Green Banks in the US.

Connecticut's Green Bank

In 2012, Connecticut created the first green bank, known as Clean Energy Finance and Investment Authority or CEFIA. As reported by the EDF, CEFIA’s 2013 annual report indicates that for every dollar of ratepayer funds CEFIA invested, roughly $10 was invested by private sources. Much of this investment was focused on clean energy building upgrades that are part of Connecticut’s Property Assessed Clean Energy program. CEFIA also has an innovative financing solution for solar projects on commercial properties. In 2014 Connecticut's Green Bank (CEFIA), financed 1,160 projects and attracted over $180 million in private capital based on $41 million in state funds, resulting in 26.7 megawatts of new clean energy.

New York’s Green Bank

New York has the largest green bank in the US, with $1 billion in funding. Launched in 2013, New York’s Green Bank focuses on advancing the clean energy market by encouraging business partnerships.

Hawaii's Green Bank

Hawaii's Green Bank called GEMS launched in 2014 with a $150-million green bank called GEMS, that focuses on social justice. The program allows homeowners to finance solar projects that significantly reduce their power costs.

California's Green Bank

In 2014 California introduced a Senate bill that laid the groundwork for attracting private capital for a green bank that launched in 2015.

New Jersey's Green Bank

In 2014, Governor Chris Christie announced plans to launch an Energy Resilience Bank. Though technically not a green bank, the Energy Resilience Bank has proposed using federal Superstorm Sandy funds to finance the resiliency component of infrastructure projects that strengthen the state’s electricity grid during extreme weather events.

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Courts are Defending the Climate and the Environment

The courts are emerging as a powerful tool to drive climate action and protect the environment. US courts have been maligned for a number of questionable rulings not the least of which is Citizens United which increases the power of corporations and gives them unlimited authority to influence electoral outcomes through campaign spending. In 2015 the Supreme Court ruled that the Obama adminstration should have considered the compliance costs when crafting clean air regulations.

However, US courts have also done some good things in defense of the environment. Most recently they blocked an attempt to kill the Obama administration’s regulations that limit mercury and other toxic pollutants.

In April 2014, the Supreme Court ruled in favor of the Cross-State Air Pollution Rule which is a critical clean air standard that will protect the health of Americans across 28 Eastern states. It limits the amount of pollution that can flow across state boundaries. The ruling protected the EPA’s interpretation of the Good Neighbor Provision [of the Clean Air Act]. (page 32 of the decision). Only Justices Scalia and Thomas dissented. The rule specifically reduces the amount of sulfur dioxide and oxides of nitrogen pollution emitted from coal-fired power plants across 28 eastern states.

In January, 2016 the Supreme Court upheld the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission’s (FERC) demand response rule, which was created in 2011 and orders utilities to compensate consumers for reducing their use during peak hours. This ruling supports renewable energy and efficiency during peak periods and as such combats climate change.

More than 20 energy companies, other businesses and industry organizations, along with 27 states, filed lawsuits to block the Obama Administration’s Clean Power Plan. The DC Circuit Court unanimously rejected requests for a stay in December intended to shelve carbon emission regulations. This effectively gave a green light for the regulations. The death of Justice Scalia was a blessing for climate action as it gave the Supreme Court the numbers needed to reject attempts to block the air pollution rule in April.

On June 13th, the U.S. Supreme Court denied an effort by a group of states led by Michigan to block the regulations. By removing harmful pollution from the air these regulations will save thousands of lives each year and prevent developmental delays in children. This is the second time this year the Supreme Court has refused to hear arguments to put the regulations on hold.

US courts are not only helping to protect big ticket items like clean air, they are also protecting individual species like the wolverine and the polar bear. They have also helped to protect forests.

Court rulings have also helped to offset Republican attempts to interfere with voting maps through a process known as redistricting. In February three federal judges threw out the congressional voting maps the Republican-led General Assembly drew five years ago, ruling that two districts were gerrymandered along racial lines.

The courts are emerging as an important route for citizens to pressure their governments into acting on climate change. In the US, an environmental law nonprofit “Our Children’s Trust” and 21 young people successfully sued the federal government demanding that they do more to combat climate change.

On April 29, 2016 a Washington state ruling in the critical climate case brought by youths against the state’s Department of Ecology, King County Superior Court Judge Hollis Hill ordered the Department of Ecology to promulgate an emissions reduction rule by the end of 2016 and make recommendations to the state legislature on science-based greenhouse gas reductions in the 2017 legislative session.

Similar cases are pending before other U.S. courts in the federal district court in Oregon and in the state courts of North Carolina, Pennsylvania, Colorado, Massachusetts and Oregon.

Citizens in other countries are also using the Similar lawsuits have also succeeded in Pakistan and another is pending in New Zealand. These legal challenges can force governments to take stronger action to fight climate change. A farmer in Peru has also sued a giant German energy utility for contributing to global warming.

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