Greenhouse Gas Emissions

Ça c'est Paris

Paris Climate Accord Will Take Effect November 4

October 5 was an historic day, hailed President Obama, as nations responsible for emitting more than 55 percent of world carbon emissions have now signed the Paris climate agreement, the threshold needed for the accord to take effect in 30 days.

October 8, 2016 - Reuters

Passaic River Hydropower

Hydropower Isn't Totally Carbon-Free

Hydroelectric generation itself doesn’t produce greenhouse gases, but it does rely on the creation of reservoirs that release methane into the air.

October 7, 2016 - Crosscut

Mexico City Street Art

Mexico to Pilot Carbon Pricing

The year-long program will begin in November, laying a foundation for a national carbon market.

September 14, 2016 - CleanTechnica

163:365 - Green Energy

Federal Agencies to Consider Climate Impacts

A new policy from the Obama Administration asks government to calculate, and attempt to lower, their carbon emissions.

August 15, 2016 - Washington Post

Climate CHange

'State of the Climate' Report: 2015 Set Multiple Records

2015 was basically the Michael Phelps of climate change, according to a new report.

August 5, 2016 - Pacific Standard

Amazon Delivery

Transportation Catching Industry as the Leading Cause of Greenhouse Gas Emissions

A new study from University of Michigan researchers tallies, and then compares, the greenhouse gas emissions from different sectors of the U.S. economy.

July 22, 2016 - Fast Co.Exist

Greatest Barrier to Reducing Greenhouse Gas Emissions in California: Gas Prices

Gas prices are down and sales are up, and greenhouse gas emissions from transportation, the largest source of the state's emissions, are up, even though overall they dipped. In addition to increased driving, sales of EVs and hybrids dropped.

July 11, 2016 - San Francisco Chronicle

Methane

EPA Releases Final Methane Rule for New and Modified Oil and Gas Wells

While the methane reduction targets are the same as the draft rule released last August (i.e., 40-45 percent reduction of 2012 levels by 2025), the new rule removes exceptions, resulting in a 30 percent improvement in reductions of methane.

May 18, 2016 - The Hill

Methane Emissions Replace CO2 Emissions— Is This Progress?

For the first time, electricity generated from burning natural gas will surpass coal, largely due to fracking of shale. While that means that carbon dioxide emissions will continue to drop, it also means that methane emissions will increase.

April 17, 2016 - The Washington Post - Energy and Environment

The Erosion of Public Trust

The damage caused by Michigan environmental agencies charged with protecting public health extend far beyond Flint. Residents suffering health effects from a huge natural gas leak in Southern California see parallels with the lead poisoning crisis.

January 26, 2016 - The New York Times

New York's Biggest Challenge for Emission Reduction Goals: Green Building

About 80 percent of New York City's greenhouse gas emissions come from its building stock, so the city's goal to cut emissions 80 percent by 2050 will hinge on aggressive retrofitting requirements in addition to new green building standards.

January 19, 2016 - Politico New York

Estimated Cost Savings of 10 Percent of People Riding Bikes: $24 Trillion

The mode share for bikes in urban environments around the world currently sits around 6 percent. A new report out of a university located in one of the most bike-friendly cities in the country quantifies the benefits of 10 percent mode share.

November 19, 2015 - Climate Central

Construction

The Hidden Costs of Building Green

New green buildings may be de riguer, but preservation does less harm.

October 26, 2015 - Boston Society of Architects

How the Coal Industry Collapsed

The writing is on the wall for what's left of the coal industry.

June 2, 2015 - Fusion

Study: Golden State Should Change Name to Greenest State

California's economy is not only the "least carbon-intensive" in the United States, it's the second lowest in the world when measured per economic output, according to a new study that evaluates economics and environment.

May 19, 2015 - San Francisco Chronicle

Carbon Dioxide Levels Reach Record Level in March

The last time carbon dioxide levels were this high was a million years ago. The global community needs to reduce emissions by 80 percent to stop the increase in CO2 levels. The data was reported by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.

May 8, 2015 - CleanTechnica

New Methane Emission Regulations Aim for 45 Percent Reduction by 2025

President Barack Obama hopes to add to his "climate legacy" by having the EPA adopt the nation's first regulations to reduce methane emissions, the second most prevalent greenhouse gas emission after carbon dioxide, but far more powerful.

January 15, 2015 - Los Angeles Times

Nebraska Supreme Court OKs Keystone XL; U.S. Senate has the Next Move

The House voted for the tenth time to approve the pipeline, and a split decision by the Nebraska Supreme Court removes a key objection of President Barack Obama to ruling on Keystone XL. The Senate begins debate Monday.

January 11, 2015 - NPR: The Two-Way

International Climate Accord Reached in Lima

Known as the Lima Accord, after the capital of Peru where representatives from 200 nations met for two weeks, a deal was reached to reduce greenhouse gas emissions in preparation for talks to be held in Paris in December. But is it strong enough?

December 16, 2014 - The New York Times

A New Era in California for Evaluating Transportation Emissions

An appellate court's rejection of SANDAG's $200 billion sustainable communities plan holds far-reaching implications for how regional planners evaluate greenhouse gas emissions from transportation to meet SB 375 requirements to the year 2050.

December 8, 2014 - San Diego Union-Tribune

FREE Course: Walkable City 1: Why Walkability?

After describing his path towards focusing on walkability as the essence of good planning, Jeff Speck marches through his five principal reasons for making more walkable places.

Reinventing Malls: Planning Alchemy—Turning Gray Fields Into Gold

The course focuses on the opportunities and imperatives that shape reinvention of mall sites.

Senior Planner

City of Thousand Oaks

Community Development Director

City of Wisconsin Rapids

Professor of Urban Planning

Harvard University Graduate School of Design

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