| Clinton, Trump Advisers Debate Energy: Trevor Houser and Rep. Kevin Cramer, advisers to Hillary Clinton and Donald Trump, sparred over energy policy at an event hosted by the University of Richmond. The debate highlighted stark differences between the two campaigns on an issue that was barely mentioned during the presidential debates. Cramer called for federal policy that is neutral to all energy sources including fossil fuels, attacked the Paris Agreement and incorrectly stated that the US has an insignificant impact on the climate. Houser criticized the “war on coal” narrative, reiterated Clinton’s plan for a low carbon future and attacked Trump’s climate denial. (The Hill)
Judge Approves Dieselgate Settlement: A US federal judge approved a $14.7 billion settlement in the Volkswagen “Dieselgate” scandal. This is one of the largest consumer lawsuits affecting more than 475,000 diesel cars in the US. The settlement gives VW owners the option to sell their vehicle back or get a free fix. The German carmaker will also pay $4.7 billion for environmental programs and promotion of zero-emissions vehicles. (Wall Street Journal $, LA Times $, Chicago Tribune, Reuters, Detroit News, USA Today, New York Times $, NPR, Bloomberg)
Coal Not a Poverty Solution: Building new coal capacity is a false solution for eradicating energy poverty, according to a new report by more than a dozen international organizations. Debunking the industry’s assertion that coal has lifted millions out of poverty, the report highlights how building new coal capacity is incompatible with global climate goals and disproportionately affects the poor. “The evidence is clear: a lasting solution to poverty requires the world’s wealthiest economies to renounce coal,” the report says. (News: Blue & Green Tomorrow, Press Association, Public Finance International, Engineering & Technology. Commentary: Vox, David Roberts column)
West Antarctica’s Rapid Melt: Three glaciers in West Antarctica have undergone “intense unbalanced melting”, risking their stability and further acceleration of sea level rise. New research published in Nature Communications found that the Smith, Pope and Kohler glaciers in the Amundsen Sea embayment collectively lost about 1,000 feet of ice from 2002 to 2009. This rapid melt shows how glaciers are being eaten away from the bottom due to a large increase in ocean heat. (Wall Street Journal $, Bloomberg, NPR, Climate Central, Mashable, Washington Post $, TakePart, Xinhua, Gizmodo, Motherboard |
