Tag

Emissions

All articles tagged with #emissions

politics8 hours ago•5 min saved

New York scales back landmark climate law, pivots to nonbinding 2040 target

New York lawmakers are moving to roll back the 2019 climate law, replacing its 40% emissions-cut mandate by 2030 with a nonbinding 60% cut by 2040 and other accounting changes designed to lower costs. The package also extends the climate-tracking horizon to 100 years, de-emphasizes methane, and excludes imported fossil-fuel emissions from state accounting. The remaining 85% reduction by 2050 stays in place. Gov. Hochul argues the changes curb costs for residents, while environmentalists and some Democrats criticize the move. Once signed, agencies must draft implementing regulations by 2028 toward the new targets, with cap-and-invest among the options considered.

via Gothamist|

#budget #climate-law #emissions

environment1 day ago•8 min saved

Urban Emissions Gap: NAU Study Finds Climate TRACE Underestimates City CO2 by 70%

A Northern Arizona University-led study comparing Climate TRACE’s onroad vehicle CO2 estimates with the Vulcan dataset found Climate TRACE undercounts urban emissions by about 70% on average across 260 U.S. cities, with some cities undercounted by over 90%. The results raise concerns about the accuracy of AI-derived climate data and underscore the need for guardrails, transparency, and cross-validation to inform policy decisions.

via SciTechDaily|

#climate-change #climate-trace #data-quality

energy12 days ago•7 min saved

Trump's Plan to Keep Coal Plants Open Costs Ratepayers Hundreds of Millions

The Trump administration’s emergency orders to keep five aging coal plants operating beyond closures have cost hundreds of millions, largely borne by ratepayers (e.g., J.H. Campbell in Michigan has about $180 million in expenses since last May). Critics argue the strategy is inefficient and environmentally harmful, while the Energy Department says it safeguards grid reliability; a DC Circuit Court case brought by Michigan, Minnesota, Illinois and environmental groups challenges the orders’ legality. The policy coincides with a rebound in coal use and related emissions, despite health and environmental concerns surrounding coal power.

via The New York Times|

#coal #emissions #energy

technology1 month ago•4 min saved

When the 1975 Corvette Lost Its Bite to Emission Rules

Post-1970s Clean Air Act and oil crises forced U.S. automakers to curb engine power; the 1975 Corvette produced only 165 hp from its V8, trailing earlier generations and rivals like the 1975 Trans Am, amid price hikes and GM political shifts (including Arkus‑Duntov's retirement). The era also introduced catalytic converters and the switch to unleaded fuel, plus lower compression ratios, all cutting performance. The malaise era hit numerous muscle cars before tech advances in the early 1980s—such as electronic fuel injection and improved engines—started restoring horsepower, a trend that culminated in later high‑performing models.

via Jalopnik|

#1970s-cars #corvette #emissions

technology1 month ago•4 min saved

How Emissions and Weight Drove the XJ220 from V12 Dream to Turbo V6 Reality

Jaguar’s XJ220 began as a V12, all-wheel-drive supercar with a 220 mph goal, but weight, tightening emissions rules, and cost pressures forced a switch to a rear‑wheel‑drive twin‑turbo 3.5L V6 (from the Metro 6R4) delivering about 542 hp and a 217 mph top speed; many orders were canceled, only 281 cars were built, and the model’s reputation suffered for decades before renewed appreciation.

via Jalopnik|

#emissions #jaguar #technology

world2 months ago•11 min saved

Grim climate report, hopeful path forward

The World Meteorological Organization’s 2025 State of the Climate report shows record CO2 levels, the hottest years on record, and heat-stored oceans driving sea-level rise and ice loss, with extreme weather increasingly linked to human emissions. It highlights Australia’s high per‑capita emissions and urges faster decarbonisation and greater carbon removal to reach net-zero by 2050; even then, climate impacts will persist, so cutting emissions and boosting renewables are essential to limit warming.

via The Conversation|

#climate-change #emissions #net-zero

environment2 months ago•3 min saved

Satellite Data Challenges EPA Methane Estimates in the Permian Basin

MethaneSAT data show that Permian Basin methane emissions are far higher than EPA estimates, prompting a Senate inquiry led by Senator Whitehouse and a demand for eight major oil companies to disclose their current emissions and reduction plans; advocates say methane capture could be low-cost and help stabilize gas supplies amid rising prices.

via Gizmodo|

#emissions #environment #epa

politics2 months ago•7 min saved

Hochul seeks to ease New York's climate law with delayed deadlines and looser rules

Gov. Kathy Hochul proposes changes to New York's Climate Leadership and Community Protection Act that would soften near-term reductions by reworking emissions calculations (including a longer 100-year horizon and removal of upstream emissions), delaying rulemaking to 2030 while keeping the 2030 reduction target, and aligning accounting with other states; the plan aims to reduce costs and preserve affordability but has drawn criticism from environmentalists and some lawmakers who warn it could slow decarbonization, with funding for climate programs and potential interim targets as part of the package.

via Politico|

#cap-and-trade #climate-law #emissions

environment2 months ago•4 min saved

California Climate Rule Could Evolve Before May Vote

CARB chair Lauren Sanchez said updates to California’s cap-and-invest program remain open to changes after stakeholder feedback ahead of a May vote, with the plan potentially tightening emission credits and speeding reductions while boosting disclosures. The proposal has drawn backlash from industry and environmentalists, who warn it could raise costs for oil refiners and fuel, hasten refinery closures, and lift already high gas prices; supporters say it’s crucial to reach carbon neutrality by 2045. The measure extends the program to 2045, and California gas prices—about $5.48 per gallon—partly reflect the program’s costs (roughly 24 cents per gallon).

via New York Post|

#california #cap-and-invest #carb

environment3 months ago•22 min saved

Post-growth economics rise as climate limits loom

The piece explores whether economic growth can be decoupled from carbon emissions, highlighting the growing influence of post-growth ideas (such as doughnut economics and wellbeing budgets) in response to slipping climate targets and calls from leaders like the UN chief to move beyond GDP as a progress measure, while debating how far de-growth should go to keep the planet within safe limits.

via The Guardian|

#decoupling #doughnut-economics #emissions

environment3 months ago•1 min saved

Court blocks NH from ending car inspections, keeping program in effect

A federal judge issued a preliminary injunction blocking New Hampshire from ending its motor vehicle inspection program, in a lawsuit by Gordon-Darby Inc., ordering the state to resume and enforce the program. The ruling cites potential violations of the Clean Air Act if the program were ended without EPA approval, which has not yet been granted.

via nhpr.org|

#car-inspection #court-injunction #emissions

technology4 months ago•10 min saved

AI’s Power Boom Could Spike U.S. Emissions—If Renewables Don’t Step In

UCS modeling shows AI-driven data centers could raise US electricity demand 60-80% by 2050, with data centers making up more than half the rise by decade’s end and potentially pushing power-plant CO2 emissions up 19-29% over the next decade under current policies. Reinstating wind/solar tax credits could cut emissions by over 30% and gradually reduce wholesale electricity costs by 2050; more aggressive decarbonization and grid upgrades would raise costs a bit but avert up to $13 trillion in climate damages. Policy uncertainty—particularly under the current administration—complicates renewables deployment, but storage and on-site generation could help keep consumer rates down.

via WIRED|

#ai #data-centers #emissions

environment4 months ago•4 min saved

La Niña cools 2025 but planet stays on record-hot streak, scientists warn

Global temperatures in 2025 averaged about 1.4C above pre-industrial levels, cooler than 2024 due to La Niña, but the last three years have been the warmest on record. Despite natural cooling, human-caused emissions continue to drive long-term warming, bringing the world closer to the 1.5C target and signaling more heat records and extreme weather unless emissions are sharply reduced and adaptation is intensified.

via BBC|

#climate-change #emissions #environment

environment4 months ago•6 min saved

US Emissions Edge Up in 2025 as Coal Returns and Data-Center Demand Rises

U.S. greenhouse gas emissions rose about 2.4% in 2025 after two years of decline, driven by colder winter heating and higher natural gas prices that boosted coal-fired power; electricity demand from data centers and crypto mining contributed to higher consumption, while solar grew rapidly and transportation emissions stayed flat thanks to EV adoption. The rise complicates long-term decarbonization goals, though forecasts suggest the trajectory could improve with policy and market shifts and reporting changes.

via The Washington Post|

#climate-change #coal #data-centers

energy-and-environment4 months ago•1 min saved

China and India See First Coal Decline in Half a Century as Renewables Surge

China’s coal-fired power fell 1.6% and India’s by 3% last year—the first declines in both since the 1970s—thanks to a record surge in solar and wind that met rising demand. China added over 300 GW of solar and 100 GW of wind, while India added 35 GW solar, 6 GW wind and 3.5 GW hydro. Together they drove more than 90% of the rise in global carbon emissions from 2015 to 2024, so a sustained fall in coal use could help curb global emissions, though weather and demand variability could reverse gains; the IEA cautions coal may stay near peak until 2027 due to gas prices and other pressures.

via The Guardian|

#china #coal #emissions