A (non-comprehensive and quite random) list of climate change, climate policy and environmental justice stories from the past week.
Shipping giant Maersk unveils world’s first vessel using green methanol. The new container ship, ordered in 2021, has two engines: one moved by traditional fuels and another run with green methanol — an alternative component, which uses biomass or captured carbon and hydrogen from renewable power. (read the full story here)
California lawmakers send bill to governor that requires big businesses to provide a detailed account of their carbon emissions. Senate Bill 253, the Climate Corporate Data Accountability Act, bill passed the California Senate on Tuesday and the California Assembly on Monday and now California Governor Gavin Newsom has to sign the bill into law for it to be enacted. (read the full story here)
Demand for oil, gas and coal will peak by 2030, but that’s not fast enough to keep global warming within 1.5 degrees, says IEA chief. That’s due to changing energy governmental policy around the globe, the surge in development of clean technologies like solar panels and electric vehicles, the rise in use of heat pumps, and the forced accelerated move off of gas in Europe after Russia invaded Ukraine, Birol said. (read the full story here)
Climate activists kick off rallies against fossil fuel in week of action in New York. Protests were a preview of planned marches in the city ahead of the United Nations’ climate ambition summit on 20 September. (read the full story here)
Oil companies granted licences to store carbon under the North Sea. Government hopes companies including Shell will be able to store up to 10% of the UK’s annual carbon emissions. (read the full story here)
US launches $1bn tree-planting scheme to mitigate effects of climate crisis. Federal effort will focus on marginalized areas in all parts of country and aims to reduce extreme heat and benefit health. (read the full story here)
Rainforest carbon credit schemes misleading and ineffective, finds report. System not fit for carbon offsetting, puts Indigenous communities at risk and should be replaced with new approach, say researchers. (read the full story here)
Errors In a Federal Carbon Capture Analysis Are a Warning for Clean Energy Spending, Former Official Says. A coal plant seeking hundreds of millions in public funding submitted an analysis riddled with mistakes, according to a former Energy Department official. But the government published it anyway. (read the full story here)
California’s Climate Disclosure Bill Could Have Nationwide Impacts. The legislation, passed by the state lawmakers this week, still needs the governor’s signature. But it could be the first to require companies to report carbon emissions from supply chains. (read the full story here)
Industrial Plants in Gary and Other Environmental Justice Communities Are Highlighted as Top Emitters. A new report on toxic pollution, greenhouse gas emissions, health metrics and environmental justice indicators could guide investments to clean up heavy industry. (read the full story here)