| Obama Safeguards Atlantic Waters: President Obama established the country’s first marine monument in the Atlantic, protecting nearly 5,000 square miles off the coast of New England. The White House cited the threat of warming oceans to the Northeast’s salmon, lobster and scallop populations as a reason for the president’s decision. At the Our Ocean Our Future conference, more than 20 other countries also said they will create marine protected areas. (News: AP, Washington Post $, NBC News, Pacific Standard, New York Times $, NPR, National Geographic, Guardian, The Hill. Commentary: New York Times, Andrew Revkin column $)
GM Bets Big on Renewables: General Motors committed to power its operations in 59 countries with 100 percent renewable energy by 2050. The Detroit-based carmaker, whose total electricity demand for operations was nine terawatt hours last year, said it saves $5 million annually from renewable energy use. Earlier this week, GM revealed that its 2017 Chevy Bolt EV has a range of 238 miles per charge, outpacing Tesla’s Model 3 by 10 percent. (News: Independent, Detroit News, BusinessGreen, Green Car Congress, Road and Track, UPI, Michigan Radio. Commentary: Nexus Media, Jeremy Deaton column)
Washington Caps Carbon: Washington State adopted a carbon cap on large emitters, aiming to eliminate 167 million tons of CO2 equivalent through 2036. The cap, which will initially apply to businesses that emit more than 100,000 tons of carbon annually, could accrue $10 million in benefits. By 2035, the state estimates as many as 70 companies could be covered by the cap. (Politico Pro $, AP, San Juan Islander, NWPR)
Arctic Ice Shrinks to Summer Low: Arctic sea ice shrank to just 1.60 million square miles this week, hitting its summer low point and reaching a statistical tie with 2007 for the second lowest extent on record. This year’s minimum is approximately one million square miles less than the 1979 to 2000 average. National Snow and Ice Data Center Director Mark Serreze said he wouldn’t be surprised if the Arctic were “essentially ice free” by 2030. (Washington Post $, AP, Climate Central, USA Today, TIME, Alaska Dispatch News, BBC, Carbon Brief, Climate Home) |
