Climate change will harm the entire nation if the U.S. doesn’t act now, federal report warns
Showing posts with label Trump. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Trump. Show all posts
Saturday, November 24, 2018
Trump administration warns that climate change will harm all of U.S. Did Trump read the report?
More bad news from Trump's own administration - too bad he apparently can't read...
Climate change will harm the entire nation if the U.S. doesn’t act now, federal report warns
Climate change will harm the entire nation if the U.S. doesn’t act now, federal report warns
Trump's own people admit his deregulation actions will hurt more people as a result of those very actions
Guess who says that Trump's deregulation efforts will hurt people? The Trump administration itself says so!
Trump administration’s own analyses indicate many of its new regulations will hurt vulnerable Americans
Monday, April 2, 2018
CARB chair fires back at Trump's EPA, vows to hold automakers to tighter emission standards
California's top air pollution regulator fired back at the Trump administration's EPA today over the latter's plans to weaken air pollution standards for cars and light trucks, model years 2022 - 2025.
Mary D. Nichols, Chair of the California Air Resources Board (CARB) issued the following statement:
Mary D. Nichols, CARB Chair
Photo: California Air Resources Board
Mary D. Nichols, Chair of the California Air Resources Board (CARB) issued the following statement:
“This is a politically motivated effort to weaken clean vehicle standards with no documentation, evidence or law to back up that decision. This is not a technical assessment, it is a move to demolish the nation’s clean car program. EPA’s action, if implemented, will worsen people’s health with degraded air quality and undermine regulatory certainty for automakers.
This decision takes the U.S. auto industry backward, and we will vigorously defend the existing clean vehicle standards and fight to preserve one national clean vehicle program.
Meanwhile, today’s decision changes nothing in California and the 12 other states with clean car rules that reduce emissions and improve gas mileage—those rules remain in place. California will not weaken its nationally accepted clean car standards, and automakers will continue to meet those higher standards, bringing better gas mileage and less pollution for everyone.”
Tuesday, March 28, 2017
Trump's War on the Environment begins with an Executive Order to end Obama's Clean Power Plan and other environmental protections
As promised to his many followers, particularly coal miners who cling to the belief that their jobs depend upon it, President* Donald Trump signed an executive order today that aims to undo many of the environmental protections implemented and/or planned for by the previous Obama administration.
The main target is Obama's Clean Power Plan, which would reduce the nation's dependence upon coal fired power plants even more than current economic conditions (cheap natural gas, increased usage of renewable energy sources, energy efficiency, etc.) are already doing.
Trump and his supporters claim the new executive order will result in more jobs for those in the energy industry, particularly coal miners. The latter group was represented by several miners at the signing who stood behind Trump as he signed the measure.
Additionally, the new order will open up federal lands to coal mining, eliminate requirements to reduce methane emissions from oil and gas production facilities, and reduce the importance of climate change impacts on permitting decisions.
The ball is now in the court of environmentalists, the alternative energy industry, and individual states who will be impacted by the potential increase in emissions and environmental degradation expected.
Video Credit: The White House
The main target is Obama's Clean Power Plan, which would reduce the nation's dependence upon coal fired power plants even more than current economic conditions (cheap natural gas, increased usage of renewable energy sources, energy efficiency, etc.) are already doing.
Trump and his supporters claim the new executive order will result in more jobs for those in the energy industry, particularly coal miners. The latter group was represented by several miners at the signing who stood behind Trump as he signed the measure.
Additionally, the new order will open up federal lands to coal mining, eliminate requirements to reduce methane emissions from oil and gas production facilities, and reduce the importance of climate change impacts on permitting decisions.
The ball is now in the court of environmentalists, the alternative energy industry, and individual states who will be impacted by the potential increase in emissions and environmental degradation expected.
Monday, March 27, 2017
California draws a line in the sand for Trump, Pruitt, and the new EPA
Our apologies for not having posted recently, but, we were in Palm Springs playing in an international team tennis tournament as well as attending some of the action at the BNP Paribas Open Tennis Championships at Indian Wells, CA.
Anyway, a lot has happened recently in the environmental world. One of the more significant is the response from California authorities to the efforts of the Donald Trump administration to effectively dismantle the EPA and roll back environmental regulations.
Recent actions by the California Air Resources Board (ARB) demonstrate clearly that whatever Trump and his new EPA chief, Scott Pruitt, try to do to weaken environmental rules, California is drawing a line in the sand and effectively challenging them to a fight.
Here are a few links that clearly show the differences between the new feds and California:
Anyway, a lot has happened recently in the environmental world. One of the more significant is the response from California authorities to the efforts of the Donald Trump administration to effectively dismantle the EPA and roll back environmental regulations.
photo credit: St. Germaine / Marlene Swetlishoff/Tsu-tana, The Rainbow Scribe
Recent actions by the California Air Resources Board (ARB) demonstrate clearly that whatever Trump and his new EPA chief, Scott Pruitt, try to do to weaken environmental rules, California is drawing a line in the sand and effectively challenging them to a fight.
Here are a few links that clearly show the differences between the new feds and California:
CARB finds vehicle standards are achievable and cost-effective
CARB votes to move forward with greenhouse gas reductions and zero emission programs through 2025; action sets the table for accelerating programs post-2025
CARB approves rule for monitoring and repairing methane leaks from oil and gas facilities
Regulation applies to natural gas pipeline equipment and storage facilities
CARB approves broad plan for reducing climate “super pollutants”
Reductions in short-lived climate pollutants enhance 2030 climate efforts
Today the California Air Resources Board approved two critical efforts to provide cleaner air for all Californians.
In the first action, the Board approved the State Strategy for the State Implementation Plan (State SIP Strategy), which describes CARB’s commitment for further reducing vehicle emissions needed to meet federal air quality standards over the next 15 years. The Board also approved the South Coast Air Quality Management District’s comprehensive air quality plan.
The Board also directed staff to report annually on progress on implementation of the SIP Strategy including recommendations on additional funding as well as direction to expedite implementation where possible.
In parallel to actions at the state level, CARB will continue to call for strong federal action to develop more stringent engine standards for cars, trucks, ships, aircraft and locomotives.
In the first action, the Board approved the State Strategy for the State Implementation Plan (State SIP Strategy), which describes CARB’s commitment for further reducing vehicle emissions needed to meet federal air quality standards over the next 15 years. The Board also approved the South Coast Air Quality Management District’s comprehensive air quality plan.
The Board also directed staff to report annually on progress on implementation of the SIP Strategy including recommendations on additional funding as well as direction to expedite implementation where possible.
In parallel to actions at the state level, CARB will continue to call for strong federal action to develop more stringent engine standards for cars, trucks, ships, aircraft and locomotives.
Saturday, December 10, 2016
Make America Great, er, uh, Gasp Again! More on Trump's dismantling of environmental protections
People concerned with the environment - the air we breathe, the water we drink, the food we eat - continue to reel with the picks made by Donald Trump for federal positions that directly influence how this nation addresses environmental protections.
The picture below was taken in late 1977 - early 1978. It shows black carbon emissions resulting from something called a "green push" from a coke manufacturing facility located just across the Mississippi River near the U.S. Defense Mapping Agency in St. Louis, MO.
Photo - © Frank J. Maccioli
The smoky release was a common and daily sight before environmental regulations were implemented to stop these emissions. Regulations that were opposed by industry as too costly and harmful to business. Sound familiar?
Based on Trump's choices to lead his team so far, we might be seeing a lot of these gains in pollution control reversed. We hope it doesn't get this bad. Lots of people in addition to California Environmental News are just as concerned as we are.
Here's an Op-Ed from the New York Times that discusses it. It's a great read:
Sunday, November 27, 2016
Trump picks "fanatical ideological clown" Myron Ebell to gut EPA, millions of lives may be at risk
President-elect Donald Trump has made one of his first moves to fulfill his many anti-environmental campaign promises. He has appointed Myron Ebell, one of the world's leading climate contrarians, to lead Trump's effort to redesign - some would say "dismantle" - the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and rebuild it in Trump's image.
Under Ebell's guidance, the new administration appears to be willing to throw in the trash existing and proposed EPA regulations that address not only climate change, but also those that protect the health and lives of millions of Americans.
This is all being done under the mistaken belief that environmental regulations are based on faulty science and do not benefit the public.
Ebell has been called a "fanatical ideologue" and a "nut" by David Doniger of the Natural Resources Defense Council and a "clown" by others who, to say the least, do not think highly of his expertise (or lack of it) or his opinions.
He directs environmental and energy policy at the Competitive Enterprise Institute. Much of the funding for that organization comes from the fossil fuel industry, in particular large coal producers such as the Murray Energy Corporation.
Ebell also chairs the Cooler Heads Coalition which refers to global warming as a hoax and a myth based on flawed scientific, economic, and risk analysis. Ebell is not a scientist but has referred to those who are experts in the field as third-, fourth-, and fifth-rate scientists.
Every single argument that Ebell has raised about climate change being a hoax or that there is no scientific consensus has been easily rebutted. For a comprehensive list of such nonsensical claims as his, try this link: Skeptical Science
Photo: Myron Ebell Facebook Page, Fair Use
Under Ebell's guidance, the new administration appears to be willing to throw in the trash existing and proposed EPA regulations that address not only climate change, but also those that protect the health and lives of millions of Americans.
This is all being done under the mistaken belief that environmental regulations are based on faulty science and do not benefit the public.
Ebell has been called a "fanatical ideologue" and a "nut" by David Doniger of the Natural Resources Defense Council and a "clown" by others who, to say the least, do not think highly of his expertise (or lack of it) or his opinions.
He directs environmental and energy policy at the Competitive Enterprise Institute. Much of the funding for that organization comes from the fossil fuel industry, in particular large coal producers such as the Murray Energy Corporation.
Ebell also chairs the Cooler Heads Coalition which refers to global warming as a hoax and a myth based on flawed scientific, economic, and risk analysis. Ebell is not a scientist but has referred to those who are experts in the field as third-, fourth-, and fifth-rate scientists.
Every single argument that Ebell has raised about climate change being a hoax or that there is no scientific consensus has been easily rebutted. For a comprehensive list of such nonsensical claims as his, try this link: Skeptical Science
Wednesday, November 23, 2016
Is climate change forcing Trump to focus on interplanetary colonization?
As the dust begins to settle and much of the shock starts to wear off, The Guardian reports that President-elect Trump plans to scuttle all NASA directed work on the environment in favor of deep space exploration.
Read the full article here:
Maybe he wants to get a head start on interplanetary colonization before climate change screws up everything on Earth?
Video: NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center
Read the full article here:
Wednesday, September 21, 2016
NAS scientists blast Trump's climate change ignorance
"Human-caused climate change is not a belief, a hoax, or a conspiracy. It is a physical reality. Fossil fuels powered the Industrial Revolution. But the burning of oil, coal, and gas also caused most of the historical increase in atmospheric levels of heat-trapping greenhouse gases. This increase in greenhouse gases is changing Earth’s climate."
The above is the first paragraph from an open letter signed by 375 National Academy of Sciences scientists, including 60 Nobel Prize winners. The letter is meant to emphasize the urgency of taking measures now to address the consequences of man-made climate change.
The letter also calls out the ignorance of the Republican nominee for President of the United States, Donald Trump, for his stated plans to remove the USA from previous international agreements to address this worldwide issue.
The letter states, "Thus it is of great concern that the Republican nominee for President has advocated U.S. withdrawal from the Paris Accord. A “Parexit” would send a clear signal to the rest of the world: "The United States does not care about the global problem of human-caused climate change. You are on your own." Such a decision would make it far more difficult to develop effective global strategies for mitigating and adapting to climate change. The consequences of opting out of the global community would be severe and long-lasting – for our planet’s climate and for the international credibility of the United States."
Trump has previously expressed his opinions on climate change, including a much ridiculed tweet from several years ago that it is a Chinese conspiracy. In fairness, he later claimed that this tweet was a joke, however, he has on numerous other occasions publicly stated that he does not believe in man-made climate change.
You can view the entire letter at this link: Open Letter on Climate Change
The above is the first paragraph from an open letter signed by 375 National Academy of Sciences scientists, including 60 Nobel Prize winners. The letter is meant to emphasize the urgency of taking measures now to address the consequences of man-made climate change.
The letter also calls out the ignorance of the Republican nominee for President of the United States, Donald Trump, for his stated plans to remove the USA from previous international agreements to address this worldwide issue.
The letter states, "Thus it is of great concern that the Republican nominee for President has advocated U.S. withdrawal from the Paris Accord. A “Parexit” would send a clear signal to the rest of the world: "The United States does not care about the global problem of human-caused climate change. You are on your own." Such a decision would make it far more difficult to develop effective global strategies for mitigating and adapting to climate change. The consequences of opting out of the global community would be severe and long-lasting – for our planet’s climate and for the international credibility of the United States."
Trump has previously expressed his opinions on climate change, including a much ridiculed tweet from several years ago that it is a Chinese conspiracy. In fairness, he later claimed that this tweet was a joke, however, he has on numerous other occasions publicly stated that he does not believe in man-made climate change.
You can view the entire letter at this link: Open Letter on Climate Change
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