The Environmental Protection Agency has finalized a rule aimed at reducing methane emissions from oil and gas production, a crucial step in addressing climate change. This rule, mandated by the Inflation Reduction Act, imposes fees on companies exceeding methane emission thresholds, incentivizing them to repair leaks and capture the potent greenhouse gas. The fee structure, coupled with financial incentives for leak repairs, is designed to reduce methane emissions by 1.2 million metric tons annually, equivalent to taking millions of cars off the road. This rule’s inclusion in a major climate law makes it more difficult for future administrations to dismantle, ensuring its long-term impact on reducing methane pollution and mitigating climate change.
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Newly uncovered documents reveal that major oil companies were alerted to the climate change risks of fossil fuels as early as 1954. This warning, delivered by the Air Pollution Foundation, an industry-funded group, represents the earliest known instance of big oil being informed about the potentially catastrophic consequences of their products. Despite receiving this warning, the oil industry actively downplayed and denied the harms of burning fossil fuels, utilizing a strategy similar to the tobacco industry’s tactics for denying the dangers of smoking. These actions, which date back to the 1950s, laid the groundwork for decades of climate denial and delay by big oil.
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President-elect Donald Trump has begun filling key administration positions with individuals known for their controversial and often hard-line views, raising concerns from progressive advocates. These appointments include Elise Stefanik as U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations, Brian Hook leading the State Department transition team, Lee Zeldin as EPA administrator, Tom Homan as “border czar,” and Stephen Miller as deputy chief of staff for policy. These individuals have a history of promoting policies that critics argue will be harmful to the environment, immigrants, and social programs. Adding to these concerns is the fact that Trump’s transition team has yet to sign legally required ethics agreements, potentially indicating a return to the conflicts of interest that plagued his first term.
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The Biden administration is implementing a new rule that will impose a federal fee on oil and gas companies exceeding specific methane emission levels. This rule, announced at COP29, fulfills a congressional directive within the 2022 climate law and aims to reduce one of the most potent greenhouse gases. The fee, expected to begin at $900 per ton in 2024 and increase to $1,500 per ton by 2026, aims to incentivize the adoption of emission-reducing technologies and reduce methane emissions by 1.2 million metric tons by 2035, equivalent to removing eight million cars from the road for a year. While industry groups are expected to oppose the rule, environmental organizations support it, advocating for the oil and gas sector to be held accountable for its contributions to climate change.
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A Dutch appeals court has overturned a 2021 ruling that required Shell to reduce its emissions by 45% by 2030, upholding the company’s appeal. While acknowledging climate change as a human right, the court determined that Shell, while responsible for emission reductions, has the right to decide how those cuts will be made. Although the court acknowledged the need to limit global warming to 1.5 degrees Celsius, it deemed Shell’s existing emissions reduction plans sufficient. Friends of the Earth Netherlands, the organization that initiated the lawsuit, expressed disappointment but maintains its commitment to holding major polluters accountable for their role in climate change.
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Using ice core data from Antarctica, researchers have established a new pre-industrial baseline for global warming, dating back to the period before 1700. This new method reveals that humanity has already caused 1.49°C of warming by 2023, meaning the 1.5°C threshold, a critical benchmark in climate change discussions, has effectively been reached. This updated baseline offers a more accurate measure of human-induced warming, reducing uncertainty compared to the commonly used 1850-1900 reference point. The researchers believe this new approach will provide a more robust and scientifically defensible basis for evaluating progress towards climate goals.
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A major storm is brewing in the central United States, bringing with it the threat of flash flooding and heavy snowfall. The unexpected weather pattern has sparked conversations about climate change and its potential impact on the region.
While some parts of the country are experiencing near-summer temperatures, others are facing record-breaking dryness. In Ohio, for example, the dry spell has lasted for months, leading to wildfires and unusual warmth. In contrast, the Midwest is experiencing a sudden shift in weather, with significant rainfall and even snowfall in some areas.
The unusual warmth in Ohio, coupled with the heavy rainfall in the Midwest, has fueled concerns about climate change.… Continue reading
Donald Trump’s election victory has sent shockwaves through the global climate community, as his previous anti-climate policies and rhetoric threaten to derail international efforts to curb global heating. Experts warn that Trump’s administration could withdraw the US from the Paris Agreement, undermine UN climate frameworks, and roll back domestic climate regulations, potentially adding billions of tonnes of heat-trapping gases to the atmosphere. While cities and states within the US are committed to climate action, a Trump administration’s stance risks weakening global climate diplomacy and further jeopardizing the goal of limiting global temperature rise to 1.5 degrees Celsius. The climate crisis is moving faster than our politics, and the urgent need for political action on climate change is more apparent than ever.
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The California Air Resources Board (CARB) has voted to change fuel standards in order to reduce emissions and improve air quality, but this decision will lead to a significant increase in gas prices throughout the state, potentially adding 65 cents per gallon. This move is aimed at addressing climate change and reducing fossil fuel consumption, with the ultimate goal of achieving carbon neutrality by 2045. However, the price hike has sparked concern among Californians who are already struggling with the cost of living, raising questions about whether this is the best way to encourage the transition to electric vehicles.
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The news that former President Donald Trump is reportedly preparing to withdraw the United States from the Paris climate agreement once again has people reeling. The idea of the US pulling out of this crucial international accord, after already having done so under Trump’s first term, is sparking a wave of outrage and despair.
Many are pointing out the irony of the potential withdrawal, given the increasingly evident impacts of climate change, such as the devastating hurricanes and rising sea levels that are already affecting vulnerable coastal communities like Miami. The hypocrisy of powerful individuals like Trump, who can easily relocate to higher, cooler ground, while others are left to grapple with the consequences of their actions, is a recurring theme in the comments.… Continue reading
John Q. Hosedrinker 
Matt Underwood