| Exxon Under Fire on Climate (Again): Exxon Mobil is facing a first-of-its-kind lawsuit for failing to account for the risks from climate change to its fuel storage terminal outside Boston. The Conservation Law Foundation claims that sea level rise and accompanying storm surges could damage the facility and lead to further pollution of the Mystic River. Exxon is already under investigation by the SEC and a group of state attorneys generals for allegedly misleading its shareholders and the public about climate change. (AP, The Hill, Buzzfeed, Think Progress, Mashable, Boston Globe $, Boston Herald, Huffington Post)
America’s Super Polluters, Mapped: Just 100 facilities out of more than 20,000 nationwide emitted a third of all industrial toxic air pollution in 2014. A third of industrial greenhouse gas emissions came from just 100 sites as well, mostly coal-fired power plants, according to a nine-month investigation by the Center for Public Integrity. There were 22 sites that appear on both lists. As many as seven coal plants within 30 miles of Evansville, Indiana contribute emissions “on par with Hong Kong or Sweden” and are leading to major public health issues in the region. Indiana is suing against the Clean Power Plan, as are Ohio and Kentucky, which both house several of these “super polluters.” (News: WBOI, News Leader, News 2, YDR, Des Moines Register. Commentary: USA Today, Jamie Smith Hopkins analysis)
Nations Need to Up the Ante on Climate: The Earth could cross the 2°C warming threshold by 2050 unless governments enact more ambitious climate pledges, a new report warns. A group of seven scientists led by Robert Watson, former chairman of the IPCC, analyzed Paris climate pledges and found that there is still a significant gap in global ambition. The Paris Agreement could meet the key threshold required to enter into force as early as next week, with the EU signaling it could finalize ratification by October 7. (AP, Reuters, Washington Post $, LA Times $, Independent, VOA News, BusinessGreen $) |
