In%20two%20days%2C%20the%20Biden%20administration%20will%20oversee%20the%20largest%20offshore%20oil%20and%20gas%20lease%20sale%20in%20U.S.%20history.%0A%0AThe%20sale%20will%20make%20more%20than%2080%20million%20acres%20in%20the%20Gulf%20of%20Mexico%20available%20for%20drilling%2C%20HuffPost%20reported.%20That's%20an%20area%20larger%20than%20the%20state%20of%20New%20Mexico%2C%20and%20it%20would%20add%201.1%20billion%20barrels%20of%20oil%20and%204.4%20trillion%20cubic%20feet%20of%20natural%20gas%20to%20global%20production%20over%20the%20coming%20decades%2C%20despite%20the%20fact%20that%20scientists%20agree%20we%20must%20rapidly%20reduce%20greenhouse%20gas%20emissions%20in%20order%20to%20avoid%20the%20worst%20impacts%20of%20the%20climate%20crisis.%20While%20the%20administration%20says%20it%20was%20forced%20to%20go%20ahead%20with%20the%20sale%20by%20a%20court%20decision%2C%20environmental%20activists%20argue%20it%20could%20have%20done%20more%20to%20fight%20back.%0A%0A%22You%20promised%20to%20address%20the%20climate%20crisis%20with%20the%20urgency%20it%20deserves%2C%20and%20in%20Glasgow%2C%20you%20assured%20the%20world%20that%20your%20plans%20to%20cut%20emissions%20are%20a%20fait%20accompli%2C%20not%20mere%20rhetoric%2C%22%20a%20coalition%20of%20267%20Indigenous%20and%20environmental%20groups%20wrote%20in%20a%20letter%20to%20President%20Joe%20Biden%20protesting%20the%20sale.%20%22Selling%20more%20than%2080%20million%20acres%20in%20the%20Gulf%20of%20Mexico%20for%20oil%20and%20gas%20development%20just%20days%20after%20the%20international%20climate%20talks%20makes%20a%20mockery%20of%20those%20commitments.%22%0A%0AThe%20sale%20comes%20the%20week%20after%20the%20COP26%20climate%20conference%20concluded%20in%20Glasgow%2C%20during%20which%20Biden%20promised%20the%20U.S.%20would%20%22hopefully%20lead%20by%20the%20power%20of%20our%20example%22%20and%20reduce%20emissions%20by%20around%2050%20percent%20of%202005%20levels%20by%202030%2C%20NPR%20reported.%0A%0AThe%20sale%20was%20scheduled%20in%20September%20after%20a%20judge%20blocked%20Biden's%20moratorium%20on%20oil%20and%20gas%20leasing%20on%20public%20land%2C%20The%20AP%20reported.%20At%20first%2C%20the%20administration%20had%20postponed%20lease%20sales%20scheduled%20for%20March%2C%20but%2013%20states%20including%20Louisiana%20sued%2C%20and%20a%20judge%20ruled%20in%20July%20that%20the%20administration%20had%20skipped%20important%20steps%20in%20implementing%20the%20moratorium.%20The%20administration%20said%20in%20August%20that%20it%20would%20appeal%20the%20ruling%2C%20but%20continue%20with%20the%20sale.%0A%0A%22The%20administration%20has%20made%20clear%20that%20it%20disagrees%20with%20the%20ruling%20and%20the%20Department%20of%20Justice%20has%20appealed%20it%2C%20but%20the%20government%20must%20comply%20with%20it%20in%20the%20meantime%2C%22%20White%20House%20spokesman%20Vedant%20Patel%20said%20in%20a%20statement%20emailed%20to%20HuffPost.%0A%0AHowever%2C%20the%20Indigenous%2C%20environmental%2C%20frontline%2C%20business%20and%20social%20justice%20groups%20that%20signed%20last%20week's%20letter%20pointed%20out%20that%20the%20area%20offered%20for%20sale%20was%20even%20larger%20than%20what%20was%20originally%20proposed%20by%20the%20Trump%20administration%2C%20and%20that%20the%20Biden%20administration%20concluded%20that%20the%20sale%20would%20not%20contribute%20to%20the%20climate%20crisis%20and%20did%20not%20consider%20new%20information%20about%20its%20potential%20impacts%20on%20climate%2C%20frontline%20communities%20and%20vulnerable%20species.%0A%0AA%20coalition%20of%20environmental%20groups%20including%20Friends%20Of%20The%20Earth%2C%20Healthy%20Gulf%2C%20the%20Sierra%20Club%20and%20the%20Center%20for%20Biological%20Diversity%20(CBD)%20also%20sued%20the%20Interior%20Department%20in%20August%20to%20block%20the%20sale.%0A%0A%22Climate%20change%20is%20rapidly%20intensifying%20Gulf%20storms%2C%20fueling%20uncontrollable%20wildfires%20in%20the%20West%20and%20threatening%20numerous%20species%20with%20extinction%2C%22%20CBD%20oceans%20program%20litigation%20director%20Kristen%20Monsell%20told%20The%20AP.%20%22We%20need%20to%20end%20offshore%20oil%20drilling%2C%20not%20burden%20future%20generations%20with%20this%20dirty%20and%20dangerous%20folly.%22%0A%0AEarthjustice%20attorney%20Drew%20Caputo%20argued%20to%20HuffPost%20that%20there%20is%20more%20the%20Biden%20administration%20could%20have%20done%20to%20stop%20the%20sale%3A%0A%0A1.%20It%20could%20have%20asked%20the%20appeals%20court%20to%20suspend%20the%20judge's%20ruling%20while%20the%20appeal%20proceeds.%0A%0A2.%20It%20could%20have%20declared%20the%20sale%20illegal%20under%20the%20National%20Environmental%20Policy%20Act%20because%20future%20drilling%20will%20contribute%20to%20the%20climate%20crisis.%0A%0A3.%20It%20could%20have%20used%20the%20Outer%20Continental%20Shelf%20Lands%20Act%20to%20remove%20offshore%20areas%20from%20potential%20leasing.%0A%0A%22I'm%20not%20saying%20there%20wouldn't%20be%20legal%20and%20political%20consequences%20of%20taking%20any%20of%20these%20steps.%20I%20assume%20that%20the%20industry%20and%20their%20political%20allies%20would%20sue%20instantly%2C%22%20Caputo%20told%20HuffPost.%20%22But%20we%20have%20an%20unbroken%2C%20scientific%20consensus%20that%20we%20are%20out%20of%20time%20to%20take%20action%20to%20deal%20with%20climate%20change.%20Given%20the%20fact%20that%2025%25%20of%20U.S.%20carbon%20emissions%20come%20from%20federal%20oil%2C%20gas%20and%20coal%2C%20there%20is%20no%20way%20the%20U.S.%20can%20meet%20its%20climate%20obligations%20by%20continuing%20to%20operate%20the%20program%20with%20business%20as%20usual.%20And%20that's%20what%20proceeding%20with%20this%20lease%20sale%20does.%22

Biden Admin Set to Proceed With Largest Offshore Oil & Gas Lease Sale in U.S History

In%20New%20Zealand%2C%20sheep%20and%20cattle%20outnumber%20people.%20All%20that%20livestock%20passes%20gas%2C%20which%20means%20emitting%20more%20methane%20into%20the%20atmosphere.%20As%20such%2C%20the%20country%20has%20proposed%20to%20tax%20farmers%20for%20their%20livestock%E2%80%99s%20emissions.%0A%0ANew%20Zealand%E2%80%99s%20agriculture%20makes%20up%20almost%20half%20of%20the%20country%E2%80%99s%20greenhouse%20gas%20emissions.%20According%20to%20the%20BBC%2C%20there%20are%20about%205%20million%20people%20in%20New%20Zealand%2C%20but%20there%20are%2010%20million%20cattle%20and%20more%20than%2026%20million%20sheep.%20Although%20New%20Zealand%20has%20an%20emissions%20trading%20scheme%20in%20place%20to%20minimize%20climate%20change%2C%20the%20agriculture%20industry%20was%20not%20included.%0A%0A%E2%80%9CWe%20need%20to%20urgently%20cut%20emissions%20across%20all%20sectors%20of%20the%20economy%20%E2%80%93%20and%20that%20includes%20agriculture%2C%E2%80%9D%20Climate%20Change%20Minister%20James%20Shaw%20said%20in%20a%20statement.%20%E2%80%9CThere%20is%20no%20question%20that%20we%20need%20to%20cut%20the%20amount%20of%20methane%20we%20are%20putting%20into%20the%20atmosphere%2C%20and%20an%20effective%20emissions%20pricing%20system%20for%20agriculture%20will%20play%20a%20key%20part%20in%20how%20we%20achieve%20that.%E2%80%9D%0A%0AThe%20proposed%20plan%20would%20begin%20charging%20farmers%20for%20livestock%20emissions%20in%202025.%20Short-%20and%20long-lived%20farm%20emissions%20will%20be%20charged%20separately%20but%20calculated%20in%20the%20same%20way.%0A%0A%E2%80%9CWe%E2%80%99ve%20been%20working%20with%20the%20government%20and%20other%20organizations%20on%20this%20for%20years%20to%20get%20an%20approach%20that%20won%E2%80%99t%20shut%20down%20farming%20in%20New%20Zealand%2C%20so%20we%E2%80%99ve%20signed%20off%20on%20a%20lot%20of%20stuff%20we%E2%80%99re%20happy%20with%2C%E2%80%9D%20Andrew%20Hoggard%2C%20a%20dairy%20farmer%20and%20the%20national%20president%20of%20Federated%20Farmers%20of%20New%20Zealand%2C%20told%20the%20BBC.%20%0A%0A%E2%80%9CThere%20are%20still%20the%20nuts%20and%20bolts%20to%20be%20hammered%20out%2C%20like%20who%20actually%20implements%20the%20scheme%2C%20so%20there%E2%80%99s%20still%20stuff%20to%20work%20through%20with%20the%20government%2C%E2%80%9D%20Hoggard%20added.%0A%0AThe%20proposal%20includes%20incentives%20for%20farmers%20to%20cut%20emissions.%20For%20example%2C%20they%20may%20add%20seaweed%20to%20livestock%20feed%20to%20help%20reduce%20the%20amount%20of%20methane%20the%20livestock%20produce.%20Farmers%20can%20also%20plant%20trees%20to%20help%20offset%20their%20emissions.%0A%0ANew%20Zealand%20currently%20has%20a%20goal%20to%20reduce%20methane%20emissions%20from%20agriculture%20by%2024%25%20to%2027%25%20by%202050%20and%20is%20set%20to%20decide%20on%20the%20proposal%20in%20December%202022.%20In%20the%20meantime%2C%20the%20government%20and%20farmers%20have%20more%20details%20to%20hammer%20out%20if%20they%20plan%20to%20move%20forward%20with%20this%20scheme.%20The%20agriculture%20industry%20and%20the%20public%20will%20also%20have%20opportunities%20to%20share%20their%20views%20on%20the%20proposal.%0A%0A%E2%80%9CIt%E2%80%99s%20really%20important%20that%20we%20get%20this%20right%2C%E2%80%9D%20Agriculture%20Minister%20Damien%20O%E2%80%99Connor%20said%20in%20a%20statement.%20%E2%80%9CCustomers%20around%20the%20world%20are%20demanding%20higher%20levels%20of%20sustainability%20in%20the%20products%20they%20buy%2C%20so%20there%20is%20the%20potential%20for%20real%20competitive%20advantage%20here%20if%20we%20can%20get%20this%20right%20and%20continue%20moving%20to%20sustainable%20farming%20systems%20that%20are%20ready%20to%20respond%20to%20a%20warming%20world.%E2%80%9D

NZ offers to tax farmers for livestock emissions

In%20a%20world-first%2C%20New%20Zealand%20appears%20set%20to%20introduce%20a%20scheme%20that%20will%20require%20farmers%20to%20pay%20for%20their%20agricultural%20greenhouse%20gas%20emissions%2C%20including%20the%20methane%20belched%20out%20by%20cows%20and%20nitrous%20oxide%20emitted%20through%20livestock%20urine.%0A%0AThe%20prime%20minister%2C%20Jacinda%20Ardern%2C%20and%20three%20of%20her%20ministers%2C%20stood%20behind%20a%20podium%20of%20hay%20bales%20at%20a%20North%20Island%20dairy%20farm%20on%20Tuesday%20morning%20to%20unveil%20the%20government%E2%80%99s%20plan%20for%20putting%20a%20price%20on%20the%20climate%20cost%20of%20farming.%0A%0AThe%20emissions%20created%20by%20the%20digestive%20systems%20of%20New%20Zealand%E2%80%99s%206.3m%20cows%20are%20among%20the%20country%E2%80%99s%20biggest%20environmental%20problems.%20The%20plan%20includes%20taxing%20both%20methane%20emitted%20by%20livestock%20and%20nitrous%20oxide%20emitted%20mostly%20from%20fertiliser-rich%20urine%20%E2%80%93%20which%20together%20contributes%20to%20around%20half%20of%20New%20Zealand%E2%80%99s%20overall%20emissions%20output.%0A%0A%E2%80%9CThe%20proposal%2C%20as%20it%20stands%2C%20means%20New%20Zealand%E2%80%99s%20farmers%20are%20set%20to%20be%20the%20first%20in%20the%20world%20to%20reduce%20agricultural%20emissions%2C%E2%80%9D%20said%20Ardern%2C%20adding%20that%20it%20would%20give%20the%20country%E2%80%99s%20biggest%20export%20market%20(worth%20%2446.4bn%20a%20year)%20a%20competitive%20advantage%20globally%2C%20while%20putting%20the%20country%20on%20track%20to%20meet%20its%202030%20methane%20reduction%20target.%0A%0A%E2%80%9CNo%20other%20country%20in%20the%20world%20has%20yet%20developed%20a%20system%20for%20pricing%20and%20reducing%20agricultural%20emissions%2C%20so%20our%20farmers%20are%20set%20to%20benefit%20from%20being%20first%20movers%2C%E2%80%9D%20Ardern%20said.%20%E2%80%9CCutting%20emissions%20will%20help%20New%20Zealand%20farmers%20to%20not%20only%20be%20the%20best%20in%20the%20world%20but%20the%20best%20for%20the%20world.%E2%80%9D%0A%0AThe%20plan%20arose%20out%20of%20the%20He%20Waka%20Eke%20Noa%20scheme%20%E2%80%93%20a%20partnership%20between%20farming%20leaders%2C%20M%C4%81ori%20and%20government.%20The%20scheme%20was%20created%20in%202019%20following%20calls%20from%20the%20farming%20sector%20to%20price%20greenhouse%20gas%20emissions%20at%20farm%20level%2C%20rather%20than%20forcing%20farmers%20into%20the%20separate%20Emissions%20Trading%20Scheme%2C%20which%20they%20criticised%20as%20being%20a%20blunt%20tool%20to%20calculate%20agricultural%20emissions.%0A%0AThe%20government%20has%20accepted%20most%20of%20the%20recommendations%20from%20the%20partnership%20and%20incorporated%20feedback%20from%20the%20Climate%20Change%20Commission%2C%20but%20rejected%20a%20proposal%20from%20farmers%20that%20they%20play%20a%20significant%20role%20in%20setting%20their%20own%20emissions%20prices.%0A%0AUnder%20the%20proposed%20plan%2C%20by%202025%2C%20farmers%20who%20meet%20the%20threshold%20for%20herd%20size%20and%20fertiliser%20use%2C%20will%20be%20required%20to%20pay%20a%20levy%20the%20government%20will%20set%20every%20one%20to%20three%20years%2C%20on%20advice%20from%20the%20Climate%20Change%20Commission%20and%20farmers.%20The%20price%20will%20be%20influenced%20by%20the%20country%E2%80%99s%20progress%20towards%20meeting%20its%20international%20promise%20to%20cut%20methane%20by%2010%25%20by%202030%2C%20down%20from%202017%20levels.%20It%20comes%20alongside%20a%20net-zero%20emissions%20target%20for%202050.%0A%0AAll%20revenue%20from%20the%20levy%20will%20go%20towards%20new%20technology%2C%20research%20and%20incentive%20payments%20to%20farmers%20who%20adopt%20climate-friendly%20practices.%0A%0AThe%20consultation%20document%20is%20set%20to%20be%20signed%20by%20cabinet%20in%20early%202023.%20Should%20the%20plan%20succeed%2C%20it%20could%20spell%20the%20end%20of%20a%20long-running%20battle%20between%20farmers%20and%20policy-makers%20that%20emerged%20in%202003%20under%20the%20former%20Labour%20government.%20The%20then-prime%20minister%2C%20Helen%20Clark%2C%20proposed%20a%20tax%20on%20all%20livestock%20for%20their%20methane%20emissions%2C%20known%20as%20the%20%E2%80%9Cfart%20tax%E2%80%9D%2C%20that%20sparked%20vehement%20opposition%20from%20farmers%20and%20was%20eventually%20abandoned.%0A%0A%E2%80%9CIt%20has%20been%20a%20very%20long%20journey%20and%20it%20is%20well%20past%20time%20we%20got%20going%2C%E2%80%9D%20said%20James%20Shaw%2C%20the%20climate%20change%20minister%20and%20Green%20party%20co-leader%2C%20adding%20that%20working%20with%20farmers%20to%20reduce%20emissions%20was%20a%20priority%2C%20rather%20than%20relying%20on%20offsetting%20emissions%20through%20forestry.%0A%0A%E2%80%9CIt%20is%20better%20than%20the%20%E2%80%98backstop%E2%80%99%20of%20bringing%20agriculture%20into%20the%20Emissions%20Trading%20Scheme%2C%20which%20could%20see%20agribusiness%20simply%20offsetting%20farm%20emissions%20without%20making%20any%20actual%20changes%20to%20reduce%20emissions%20on%20farms%2C%E2%80%9D%20Shaw%20said.%0A%0AIndustry%20groups%20that%20participated%20in%20the%20partnership%20will%20have%20until%20mid-November%20to%20consider%20the%20government%E2%80%99s%20plan%2C%20with%20some%20already%20expressing%20concerns%20that%20on-farm%20planting%20(sequestration)%20will%20be%20recognised%20by%20the%20Emissions%20Trading%20Scheme%2C%20rather%20than%20being%20included%20within%20the%20agricultural%20pricing%20scheme.%0A%0A%E2%80%9CIf%20farmers%20are%20to%20face%20a%20price%20for%20their%20agricultural%20emissions%20from%202025%2C%20it%20is%20vital%20they%20get%20proper%20recognition%20for%20the%20genuine%20sequestration%20happening%20on%20their%20farms%2C%E2%80%9D%20said%20Andrew%20Morrison%2C%20the%20chairman%20of%20Beef%2BLamb%20New%20Zealand.%0A%0A%E2%80%9CNew%20Zealand%20sheep%20and%20beef%20farmers%20have%20more%20than%201.4m%20hectares%20of%20native%20forest%20on%20their%20land%20which%20is%20absorbing%20carbon%20and%20it%E2%80%99s%20only%20fair%20this%20is%20appropriately%20recognised%20in%20any%20framework%20from%20day%20one.%E2%80%9D

Taxing greenhouse gasses that farm animals make

The%20UN%20is%20set%20to%20launch%20a%20new%20satellite%20system%20to%20detect%20methane%20%E2%80%98hotspots%E2%80%99%2C%20allowing%20governments%20and%20businesses%20to%20respond%20to%20instances%20in%20which%20large%20quantities%20of%20this%20potent%20greenhouse%20gas%20are%20released.%20Announced%20as%20part%20of%20the%20decarbonisation-themed%20day%20in%20the%20COP27%20Presidency%20agenda%2C%20the%20Methane%20Alert%20and%20Response%20System%20(MARS)%20will%20be%20operated%20as%20part%20of%20the%20UN%20Environment%20Programmes%20International%20Methane%20Emissions%20Observatory.%20It%20has%20secured%20funding%20from%20the%20European%20Commission%2C%20US%20Government%20and%20the%20Bezos%20Earth%20Fund.%0A%0AData%20collected%20by%20MARS%20will%20be%20publicly%20available%2C%20in%20what%20is%20believed%20to%20be%20a%20world%20first.%20Additionally%2C%20major%20emissions%20events%20will%20be%20relayed%20to%20those%20with%20the%20power%20to%20step%20in%20with%20remediation%2C%20including%20national%20governments%2C%20states%20and%20corporates.%20These%20organisations%20will%20be%20able%20to%20ask%20the%20MARS%20team%20to%20provide%20advice.%0A%0AData%20will%20be%20collected%20from%20the%20energy%20sector%20in%20the%20first%20instance.%20Energy%20production%20is%20the%20world%E2%80%99s%20largest%20source%20of%20methane%2C%20which%20is%20often%20generated%20by%20flaring%20at%20oil%20and%20gas%20facilities%20or%20released%20via%20leaks%20in%20the%20sector.%20In%20time%2C%20data%20on%20methane%20from%20coal%2C%20waste%20and%20agriculture%20will%20be%20captured.%20Agriculture%20is%20the%20world%E2%80%99s%20second-largest%20source%20of%20methane%2C%20primarily%20from%20livestock%20and%20rice.%20As%20such%2C%20it%20will%20be%20these%20two%20agriculture%20sub-sectors%20which%20MARS%20focuses%20on.%0A%0AMethane%20has%20been%20steadily%20rising%20up%20the%20climate%20agenda%20in%20recent%20years%20as%20science%20has%20improved.%20The%20Intergovernmental%20Panel%20on%20Climate%20Change%20(IPCC)%20has%20concluded%2C%20within%20the%20past%2018%20months%2C%20that%20at%20least%20a%20quarter%20of%20global%20heating%20to%20date%20is%20attributable%20to%20methane.%0A%0ASpearheaded%20by%20the%20US%2C%20many%20of%20the%20world%E2%80%99s%20highest%20methane%20emitting%20nations%20have%20signed%20up%20to%20the%20%E2%80%98Global%20Methane%20Pledge%E2%80%99.%20This%20entails%20reducing%20methane%20emissions%20by%2030%25%20by%202030%20against%20a%202019%20or%202020%20baseline%20(some%20nations%20have%20chosen%202019%20as%20a%20baseline%20as%20emissions%20dipped%20in%202020%20due%20to%20Covid-19%20lockdown%20restrictions.%20In%20total%2C%20130%20nations%20and%20states%20have%20signed%20up%20for%20the%20Pledge.%0A%0AThe%20UN%20Environment%20Programme%E2%80%99s%20executive%20director%20Inger%20Andersen%20said%20that%20MARS%20represents%20%E2%80%9Ca%20big%20step%20in%20helping%20governments%20and%20companies%20deliver%20on%20this%20important%20short-term%20climate%20goal%E2%80%9D.%0A%0A%E2%80%9CReducing%20methane%20emissions%20can%20make%20a%20big%20and%20rapid%20difference%2C%20as%20this%20gas%20leaves%20the%20atmosphere%20far%20quicker%20than%20carbon%20dioxide%2C%E2%80%9D%20Andersen%20added.%0A%0AThe%20US%20Climate%20Envoy%2C%20John%20Kerry%2C%20and%20President%2C%20Joe%20Biden%2C%20were%20both%20on%20the%20ground%20in%20Sharm%20El-Sheikh%20today%20(11%20November)%20to%20deliver%20speeches.%20Both%20of%20them%20emphasised%20the%20importance%20of%20cutting%20methane%20emissions%20this%20decade%20to%20give%20the%20world%20the%20best%20chance%20of%20meeting%20the%20Paris%20Agreement%E2%80%99s%201.5C%20pathway.%0A%0AEarlier%20this%20year%2C%20the%20US%20partnered%20with%20the%20EU%20to%20set%20out%20joint%20measures%20to%20address%20methane%20emissions%20from%20the%20oil%20and%20gas%20sector.%20To%20date%2C%20neither%20has%20implemented%20new%20regulations%20to%20force%20the%20hand%20of%20producers%2C%20but%20there%20are%20reports%20that%20more%20information%20on%20such%20a%20move%20should%20come%20out%20during%20COP27.%20The%20conference%20is%20due%20to%20wrap%20up%20on%20Friday%2018%20November.%0A%0AThe%20EU%20in%20particular%20is%20also%20facing%20calls%20to%20clarify%20how%20it%20plans%20to%20cut%20methane%20from%20agriculture.%20A%20report%20from%20the%20Changing%20Markets%20Foundation%20earlier%20this%20year%20warned%20that%20current%20plans%20will%20only%20result%20in%20a%203.7%25%20decrease%20in%20ag-related%20methane%20emissions%20in%20the%20EU%20this%20decade.%0A%0AThe%20US%20Environmental%20Protection%20Agency%20(EPA)%20has%20confirmed%20today%20that%20it%20is%20bringing%20forward%20new%20proposed%20standards%20to%20bring%20energy%20sector%20methane%20down%20by%20up%20to%2087%25%20by%202030%2C%20against%20a%202005%20baseline.%20If%20implemented%20in%20full%2C%20the%20EPA%20claims%2C%20the%20proposals%20will%20mitigate%2036%20million%20tonnes%20of%20methane%20between%202023%20and%202035%2C%20equivalent%20to%20all%20of%20the%20greenhouse%20gas%20emissions%20of%20all%20of%20the%20US%E2%80%99s%20coal-fired%20power%20plants%20in%202020.

UN launches new methane detecting satellite

Starting%20next%20August%2C%20drivers%20of%20the%20most%20polluting%20vehicles%20will%20have%20to%20pay%20%2415%20per%20day%20to%20enter%20an%20Ultra-Low%20Emissions%20Zone%20expanded%20to%20include%20all%20of%20metropolitan%20London%2C%20the%20British%20capital%E2%80%99s%20mayor%20announced%20Friday.%0A%0A%E2%80%9CCleaner%20air%20is%20coming%20to%20Outer%20London%2C%E2%80%9D%20Mayor%20Sadiq%20Khan%20tweeted.%20%E2%80%9CToday%20I%E2%80%99m%20announcing%20that%20we%E2%80%99re%20expanding%20the%20%23ULEZ%20London-wide%20in%20a%20move%20that%20will%20bring%20cleaner%20air%20to%20five%20million%20more%20Londoners.%E2%80%9D%0A%0A%E2%80%9COur%20city%20is%20being%20smothered%20by%20toxic%20air%E2%80%94and%20it%E2%80%99s%20hurting%20and%20killing%20Londoners%2C%20leading%20to%20asthma%2C%20dementia%2C%20and%20even%20cancer%2C%E2%80%9D%20the%20mayor%20continued.%20%E2%80%9CAir%20pollution%20particles%20have%20even%20been%20found%20in%20the%20livers%20and%20brains%20of%20unborn%20babies.%20We%20cannot%20stand%20idly%20by%20and%20allow%20this%20to%20continue.%E2%80%9D%0A%0A%E2%80%9CAround%204%2C000%20Londoners%20die%20prematurely%20each%20year%20because%20of%20long-term%20exposure%20to%20air%20pollution%2C%20with%20the%20greatest%20number%20of%20deaths%20in%20outer%20London%20boroughs%2C%E2%80%9D%20Khan%20added.%20%E2%80%9CThat%E2%80%99s%20why%20this%20expansion%20is%20so%20important%E2%80%94we%20need%20to%20clean%20the%20air%20for%20everyone.%E2%80%9D%0A%0ALondon%20Public%20Health%20Director%20Kevin%20Fenton%20tweeted%20that%20%E2%80%9Cair%20pollution%20is%20the%20largest%20environmental%20risk%20to%20public%20health%20in%20the%20U.K%E2%80%A6%20It%20affects%20everyone%20who%20lives%20and%20works%20in%20London%2C%20and%20its%20impacts%20are%20felt%20throughout%20the%20life-course%20from%20before%20birth%20to%20old%20age.%E2%80%9D%0A%0AThe%20advocacy%20group%20Mums%20for%20Lungs%2C%20which%20has%20been%20campaigning%20for%20an%20expanded%20ULEZ%20since%202018%2C%20called%20the%20new%20policy%20%E2%80%9Ca%20huge%20win%20for%20health.%E2%80%9D%0A%0A%E2%80%9CAir%20pollution%20is%20affecting%20children%20before%20they%E2%80%99re%20even%20born%2C%20and%20giving%20them%20lifelong%20health%20issues%2C%E2%80%9D%20the%20group%20added.%20%E2%80%9CWe%20welcome%20this%20move%20to%20further%20clean%20up%20London%E2%80%99s%20air.%E2%80%9D%0A%0AHowever%2C%20climate%20and%20environmental%20defenders%20welcomed%20Khan%E2%80%99s%20announcement.%0A%0A%E2%80%9CFinally%2C%20after%20SO%20many%20years%20of%20Green%20campaigning%2C%20the%20mayor%20has%20finally%20had%20the%20political%20courage%20to%20act%20and%20deliver%20cleaner%20air%20for%20ALL%20of%20London%2C%E2%80%9D%20tweeted%20London%20Assembly%20Member%20Si%C3%A2n%20Berry%20of%20City%20Hall%20Greens.%20%E2%80%9CWe%20pushed%20for%20a%20London-wide%20ULEZ%20and%20won!%E2%80%9D

London to Expand Vehicle Pollution Zone

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Australia sets goals for biggest polluters to 2030

MEPs%20have%20adopted%20the%20reform%20of%20the%20EU%E2%80%99s%20Emissions%20Trading%20System%20including%20for%20aviation%20and%20maritime%20-%20the%20Carbon%20Border%20Adjustment%20Mechanism%20and%20a%20new%20Social%20Climate%20fund.%0A%0AParliament%20approved%20the%20deals%20reached%20with%20EU%20countries%20in%20late%202022%20on%20several%20key%20pieces%20of%20legislation%20that%20are%20part%20of%20the%20Fit%20for%2055%20in%202030%20package%20on%20Tuesday.%0A%0AThis%20is%20the%20EU%E2%80%99s%20plan%20to%20reduce%20greenhouse%20gas%20(GHG)%20emissions%20by%20at%20least%2055%25%20by%202030%20compared%20to%201990%20levels%20in%20line%20with%20the%20European%20Climate%20Law.%0A%0AThe%20reform%20of%20the%20Emissions%20Trading%20System%20(ETS)%20was%20adopted%20with%20413%20votes%20in%20favour%20to%20167%20against%20and%2057%20abstentions.%0A%0AIt%20increases%20the%20ambition%20of%20the%20ETS%2C%20as%20GHG%20emissions%20in%20the%20ETS%20sectors%20must%20be%20cut%20by%2062%25%20by%202030%20compared%20to%202005-levels.%20It%20also%20phases%20out%20free%20allowances%20to%20companies%20from%202026%20until%202034%20and%20creates%20a%20separate%20new%20ETS%20II%20for%20fuel%20for%20road%20transport%20and%20buildings%20that%20will%20put%20a%20price%20on%20GHG%20emissions%20from%20these%20sectors%20in%202027%20(or%202028%20if%20energy%20prices%20are%20exceptionally%20high).%0A%0AParliament%20also%20voted%20to%20include%2C%20for%20the%20first%20time%2C%20GHG%20emissions%20from%20the%20maritime%20sector%20in%20the%20ETS%20(500%20votes%20to%20131%20and%2011%20abstentions)%20and%20agreed%20to%20the%20revision%20of%20the%20ETS%20for%20aviation%20(463%20votes%20to%20117%20and%2064%20abstentions).%0A%0AThis%20will%20phase%20out%20the%20free%20allowances%20to%20the%20aviation%20sector%20by%202026%20and%20promote%20the%20use%20of%20sustainable%20aviation%20fuels.%0A%0AWith%20487%20votes%20to%2081%20and%2075%20abstentions%2C%20Parliament%20adopted%20the%20rules%20for%20the%20new%20EU%20Carbon%20Border%20Adjustment%20Mechanism%20(CBAM)%2C%20which%20aims%20to%20incentivise%20non-EU%20countries%20to%20increase%20their%20climate%20ambition%20and%20to%20ensure%20that%20EU%20and%20global%20climate%20efforts%20are%20not%20undermined%20by%20production%20being%20relocated%20from%20the%20EU%20to%20countries%20with%20less%20ambitious%20policies.%0A%0AThe%20CBAM%20will%20be%20phased%20in%20from%202026%20until%202034%20at%20the%20same%20speed%20as%20the%20free%20allowances%20in%20the%20EU%20ETS%20are%20being%20phased%20out.%0A

Reform of the EU’s Emissions Trading System

MEPs%20have%20backed%20draft%20legislation%20to%20improve%20product%20labelling%20and%20durability%20and%20to%20put%20a%20stop%20to%20misleading%20claims.%0A%0AWith%20544%20votes%20to%2018%20and%2017%20abstentions%2C%20plenary%20approved%20the%20proposal%20for%20a%20new%20directive%20on%20empowering%20consumers%20for%20the%20green%20transition.%0A%0AIts%20main%20aim%20is%20to%20help%20consumers%20make%20environmentally%20friendly%20choices%20and%20encourage%20companies%20to%20offer%20them%20more%20durable%20and%20sustainable%20products.%0A%0AParliament%E2%80%99s%20approved%20negotiating%20mandate%20foresees%20banning%20the%20use%20of%20general%20environmental%20claims%20like%20%E2%80%9Cenvironmentally%20friendly%E2%80%9D%2C%20%E2%80%9Cnatural%E2%80%9D%2C%20%E2%80%9Cbiodegradable%E2%80%9D%2C%20%E2%80%9Cclimate%20neutral%E2%80%9D%20or%20%E2%80%9Ceco%E2%80%9D%20if%20these%20do%20not%20come%20with%20detailed%20evidence.%0A%0AIt%20also%20aims%20to%20ban%20environmental%20claims%20that%20are%20based%20solely%20on%20carbon%20offsetting%20schemes.%20Other%20misleading%20practices%20such%20as%20making%20claims%20about%20the%20whole%20product%20if%20the%20claim%20is%20true%20only%20for%20one%20part%20of%20it%2C%20or%20saying%20that%20a%20product%20will%20last%20a%20certain%20amount%20of%20time%20or%20can%20be%20used%20at%20a%20certain%20level%20of%20intensity%20if%20that%20is%20not%20true%2C%20will%20also%20be%20forbidden.%0A%0ATo%20simplify%20product%20information%2C%20MEPs%20envision%20allowing%20only%20sustainability%20labels%20based%20on%20official%20certification%20schemes%20or%20established%20by%20public%20authorities%20to%20be%20used.%0ATo%20make%20products%20last%20longer%2C%20Parliament%20wants%20to%20ban%20the%20introduction%20of%20design%20features%20that%20limit%20a%20product%E2%80%99s%20life%20or%20lead%20to%20goods%20malfunctioning%20prematurely.%20Additionally%2C%20producers%20should%20not%20be%20allowed%20to%20limit%20a%20product%E2%80%99s%20functionality%20when%20it%20is%20used%20with%20consumables%2C%20spare%20parts%20or%20accessories%20(for%20example%20chargers%20or%20ink%20cartridges)%20made%20by%20other%20companies.%0A%0ABiljana%20Borzan%20(S%26D%2C%20HR)%20said%3A%20%E2%80%9CThe%20industry%20will%20no%20longer%20profit%20from%20making%20consumer%20goods%20that%20break%20just%20as%20the%20guarantee%20period%20is%20over.%0A%0A%E2%80%9CConsumers%20will%20have%20to%20be%20provided%20with%20information%20about%20the%20options%20and%20cost%20of%20repairs%20in%20a%20clear%20manner.%20Product%20labels%20will%20inform%20citizens%20which%20goods%20are%20guaranteed%20to%20last%20longer%20and%20producers%20whose%20goods%20are%20more%20durable%20will%20profit.%20The%20jungle%20of%20false%20environmental%20claims%20will%20end%20as%20only%20certified%20and%20substantiated%20ecological%20claims%20will%20be%20permitted.%E2%80%9D%0A

EU: stricter rules to reduce industrial emissions

The%20European%20Union%20should%20commit%20to%20slash%20its%20net%20greenhouse%20gas%20emissions%20by%20as%20much%20as%2095%25%20by%202040%2C%20official%20advisers%20said%20on%20Thursday%2C%20as%20Brussels%20prepares%20a%20new%20goal%20to%20curb%20Europe's%20contribution%20to%20climate%20change.%0A%0AThe%20European%20Commission%20is%20drafting%20what%20would%20be%20the%20EU's%20first%20legally%20binding%20emissions-cutting%20target%20for%202040%2C%20aimed%20at%20guiding%20the%20world's%20third-biggest%20economy%20towards%20its%20aim%20to%20have%20zero%20net%20emissions%20by%202050.%0A%0AThe%20EU's%20advisory%20board%20on%20climate%20change%20said%20the%20goal%20should%20be%20a%2090%25%20to%2095%25%20cut%20in%20net%20emissions%20by%202040%2C%20compared%20with%201990%20levels.%0A%0A%22The%20pathways%20and%20other%20analysis%20indicate%20numerous%20potential%20benefits%20to%20climate%20action%20-%20better%20air%20quality%2C%20better%20health%20outcomes%2C%20%5Bbecoming%5D%20less%20dependent%20on%20imported%20fossil%20fuels%2C%20less%20water%20stress%2C%22%20said%20Ottmar%20Edenhofer%2C%20who%20chairs%20the%2015-member%20board%20of%20independent%20scientific%20experts.%0A%0AThe%20advisers%20assessed%20more%20than%201%2C000%20emissions%20scenarios%2C%20to%20make%20a%20recommendation%20consistent%20with%20the%20Paris%20Agreement's%20goal%20to%20limit%20global%20warming%20to%201.5C%20-%20the%20level%20that%20would%20avert%20its%20worst%20climate%20impacts.%0A%0AThe%20advisors%20said%20reaching%20the%202040%20goal%20would%20require%20a%20massive%20scale%20up%20of%20renewable%20energy%2C%20a%20shift%20to%20electrify%20polluting%20industries%2C%20and%20replacing%20fossil%20fuels%20with%20alternatives%20like%20hydrogen.%20Coal%20use%20in%20the%20power%20sector%20would%20be%20virtually%20eliminated%20by%202030%2C%20followed%20by%20gas%20power%20in%202040.%0A%0AMethods%20to%20remove%20CO2%20from%20the%20atmosphere%20-%20through%20technologies%20or%20natural%20methods%20like%20trees%20-%20would%20need%20scaling%20up%2C%20but%20the%20advisors%20said%20the%20majority%20of%20the%20target%20should%20be%20met%20by%20reducing%20emissions%20outright.%0A%0AThe%20EU%20has%20among%20the%20most%20ambitious%20climate%20change%20policies%20of%20any%20major%20economy%2C%20having%20passed%20a%20raft%20of%20laws%20to%20deliver%20its%202030%20target%20to%20cut%20net%20emissions%20by%2055%25%2C%20from%201990%20levels.%0A%0ABut%20the%20advisors%20said%20even%20their%20recommended%202040%20target%20would%20fall%20short%20of%20what%20should%20be%20the%20EU's%20%22fair%22%20contribution%20to%20meeting%20global%20climate%20goals%2C%20considering%20Europe's%20high%20per-capita%20historical%20emissions%20compared%20with%20poorer%20nations.%0A%0ATo%20address%20this%20fairness%20gap%2C%20EU%20countries%20should%20support%20other%20countries%20to%20cut%20their%20emissions%2C%20while%20slashing%20its%20own%2C%20the%20advisers%20said.%0A%0AA%20European%20Commission%20spokesperson%20said%20the%20recommendation%20would%20feed%20into%20its%20own%20assessment%20of%20the%202040%20target%2C%20which%20is%20due%20early%20next%20year.

EU calls for 90-95% emissions cut by 2040

Japan's%20environment%20and%20industry%20ministries%20on%20Tuesday%20finalised%20a%20plan%20to%20cut%20greenhouse%20gas%20(GHG)%20emissions%20by%2060%25%20from%202013%20levels%20by%202035%2C%20up%20from%20its%202030%20goal%20of%20a%2046%25%20cut.%0A%0AThe%20move%20follows%20the%20Biden%20administration's%20new%20U.S.%20target%20under%20the%20Paris%20climate%20agreement%20to%20slash%20GHG%20emissions%20by%2061%25-66%25%20below%202005%20levels%20by%202035%2C%20a%20goal%20officials%20called%20achievable%20by%20states%20even%20if%20President-elect%20Donald%20Trump%20reverses%20federal%20policies.%0A%0AIn%20November%2C%20Japanese%20ministries%20unveiled%20a%20draft%20plan%20aiming%20for%20a%2060%25%20GHG%20reduction%20by%20fiscal%202035%20and%2073%25%20by%202040%2C%20based%20on%20a%20linear%20trajectory%20between%20Japan's%20current%20target%20of%20a%2046%25%20reduction%20by%202030%20and%20achieving%20net%20zero%20by%202050.%0A%0AThe%20proposed%20target%20sparked%20calls%20for%20deeper%20cuts%20from%20environmentalists%20and%20politicians%2C%20who%20argue%20it%20is%20insufficient%20for%20the%20world's%20fifth-biggest%20carbon%20emitter%2C%20which%20remains%20heavily%20dependent%20on%20fossil%20fuels.%0A%0AClimate%20activists%20say%20the%20target%20falls%20short%20of%20the%20reduction%20recommended%20by%20the%20Intergovernmental%20Panel%20on%20Climate%20Change%20(IPCC)%20to%20limit%20global%20warming%20to%201.5%20degrees%20Celsius%20above%20pre-industrial%20levels.%20The%20IPCC%20states%20that%20global%20emissions%20must%20drop%20by%2060%25%20from%202019%20levels%20by%202035%2C%20equivalent%20to%20a%2066%25%20cut%20from%202013%20levels%20for%20Japan.%0A%0ADespite%20strong%20criticism%2C%20a%20joint%20meeting%20of%20expert%20panels%20from%20the%20two%20ministries%20approved%20the%20draft%20climate%20target%2C%20which%20emphasises%20the%20importance%20of%20balancing%20economic%20growth%2C%20energy%20security%20and%20decarbonisation%20efforts.%0A%0ASeveral%20panel%20members%20argued%20the%20target%20was%20too%20low%20for%20a%20developed%20country%20and%20insufficient%20to%20meet%20global%20expectations%2C%20but%20the%20goal%20was%20ultimately%20left%20unchanged.%0AAs%20a%20part%20of%20the%20international%20process%20to%20combat%20global%20warming%2C%20Japan%20plans%20to%20submit%20the%20revised%20target%2C%20known%20as%20a%20Nationally%20Determined%20Contribution%20(NDC)%2C%20to%20the%20United%20Nations%20in%20February%2C%20following%20a%20public%20consultation.%0A%0AThe%20NDC%20is%20designed%20to%20align%20with%20Japan's%20revised%20basic%20energy%20plan%20and%20its%20%22Green%20Transformation%20(GX)%202040%20vision%2C%22%20a%20national%20strategy%20integrating%20decarbonisation%20and%20industrial%20policy%2C%20both%20currently%20under%20consideration.%0A%0AUnder%20the%20Paris%20agreement%2C%20nations%20must%20deliver%20new%20and%20stronger%20climate%20action%20plans%20to%20the%20U.N.%20Framework%20Convention%20on%20Climate%20Change%20by%20February.%20The%20NDCs%20must%20align%20with%20the%20global%20goal%20of%20limiting%20temperature%20rises%20to%201.5C.

Japan to cut greenhouse gas emissions 60% by 2035

Microsoft%20has%20entered%20into%20a%20record-breaking%20carbon%20removal%20agreement%20with%20AtmosClear%2C%20a%20portfolio%20company%20of%20Fidelis.%20The%20tech%20giant%20will%20buy%206.75%20million%20metric%20tons%20of%20engineered%20carbon%20removal%20over%20a%2015-year%20period%2C%20making%20it%20the%20largest%20deal%20of%20its%20kind%20to%20date.%20This%20move%20supports%20Microsoft%E2%80%99s%20goal%20to%20become%20carbon-negative%20by%202030.%0A%0AThe%20carbon%20will%20be%20captured%20from%20a%20new%20Bioenergy%20with%20Carbon%20Capture%20and%20Storage%20(BECCS)%20facility%20that%20AtmosClear%20is%20developing%20at%20the%20Port%20of%20Greater%20Baton%20Rouge%20in%20Louisiana.%20Using%20sustainable%20feedstocks%20like%20sugarcane%20bagasse%20and%20forest%20trimmings%2C%20the%20facility%20aims%20to%20generate%20clean%20energy%20while%20capturing%20680%2C000%20metric%20tons%20of%20biogenic%20CO%E2%82%82%20each%20year.%0A%0AThe%20project%20will%20permanently%20store%20the%20carbon%20or%20use%20it%20as%20a%20feedstock%20for%20low-carbon%20synthetic%20fuels%20like%20renewable%20natural%20gas.%20%E2%80%9CThis%20contract%20with%20Microsoft%20marks%20a%20transformative%20moment%20for%20the%20high-quality%2C%20engineered%20carbon%20removal%20market%2C%E2%80%9D%20said%20Daniel%20J.%20Shapiro%2C%20CEO%20of%20Fidelis.%0A%0A%3Cb%3EConstruction%20in%202026%2C%20operations%20in%202029%3C%2Fb%3E%0A%0AConstruction%20of%20the%20facility%20is%20set%20to%20begin%20in%202026.%20If%20everything%20proceeds%20as%20scheduled%2C%20the%20site%20is%20expected%20to%20become%20commercially%20operational%20in%202029.%20The%20total%20investment%20is%20projected%20to%20exceed%20%24800%20million.%0A%0AFidelis%20expects%20the%20project%20will%20bring%20about%2075%20permanent%20jobs%20and%20600%20construction%20roles.%20It%20will%20also%20revive%20forestry%20management%20jobs%20that%20were%20impacted%20by%20previous%20mill%20closures%20in%20the%20region.%0A%0A%E2%80%9CAtmosClear%20showcases%20how%20proven%20technologies%2C%20paired%20with%20sustainable%20feedstocks%E2%80%A6%20can%20deliver%20meaningful%20climate%20impact%20while%20providing%20quality%20jobs%2C%20economic%20development%2C%20and%20other%20community%20benefits%2C%E2%80%9D%20Shapiro%20added.%0A%0AAtmosClear%20will%20use%20carbon%20capture%20technology%20to%20ensure%20that%20the%20biogenic%20carbon%20dioxide%20produced%20from%20burning%20biomass%20is%20removed%20from%20the%20atmosphere.%20This%20will%20provide%20a%20scalable%20and%20durable%20carbon%20removal%20model%20that%20could%20be%20repeated%20in%20other%20parts%20of%20the%20country.%0A%0A%3Cb%3EPolicy%20uncertainty%20and%20community%20impact%3C%2Fb%3E%0A%0AThe%20deal%20also%20comes%20at%20a%20time%20of%20political%20uncertainty.%20Over%20the%20last%20few%20years%2C%20U.S.%20carbon%20removal%20and%20sequestration%20projects%20have%20relied%20on%20the%20%2485-per-ton%2045Q%20federal%20tax%20credit.%20However%2C%20there%E2%80%99s%20now%20concern%20that%20the%20Trump%20administration%20may%20seek%20to%20roll%20back%20these%20incentives%20during%20upcoming%20budget%20negotiations.%0A%0AFidelis%20confirmed%20that%20it%20expects%20to%20utilize%20the%2045Q%20tax%20credit%20to%20support%20the%20carbon%20sequestration%20part%20of%20the%20project.%20But%20neither%20Microsoft%20nor%20Fidelis%20commented%20on%20whether%20the%20project%20would%20still%20go%20ahead%20if%20those%20tax%20credits%20are%20cut%20or%20removed.%0A%0ABrian%20Marrs%2C%20Microsoft%E2%80%99s%20Senior%20Director%20of%20Energy%20%26%20Carbon%20Removal%2C%20emphasized%20the%20value%20of%20the%20project%20for%20local%20communities.%20%E2%80%9CWe%20are%20proud%20to%20work%20with%20Fidelis%20on%20this%20pathbreaking%20project%2C%E2%80%9D%20he%20said.%0A%0A%E2%80%9CHigh-quality%2C%20durable%20carbon%20removal%20solutions%20from%20experienced%20developers%20like%20Fidelis%20are%20vital%20for%20Microsoft%20in%20progressing%20its%20goal%20to%20become%20Carbon%20Negative%20by%202030.%E2%80%9D%0A%0AHe%20also%20pointed%20out%20the%20project%E2%80%99s%20potential%20to%20create%20jobs%20in%20agricultural%20areas%20and%20contribute%20to%20making%20Louisiana%20a%20leader%20in%20carbon%20management.%20%E2%80%9CThis%20shows%20Louisiana%E2%80%99s%20leadership%20in%20becoming%20a%20hub%20for%20carbon%20management%20research%20and%20applied%20technology%2C%E2%80%9D%20Marrs%20added.%E2%80%9CHigh-quality%2C%20durable%20carbon%20removal%20solutions%20from%20experienced%20developers%20like%20Fidelis%20are%20vital%20for%20Microsoft%20in%20progressing%20its%20goal%20to%20become%20Carbon%20Negative%20by%202030.%E2%80%9D%0A%0AHe%20also%20pointed%20out%20the%20project%E2%80%99s%20potential%20to%20create%20jobs%20in%20agricultural%20areas%20and%20contribute%20to%20making%20Louisiana%20a%20leader%20in%20carbon%20management.%20%E2%80%9CThis%20shows%20Louisiana%E2%80%99s%20leadership%20in%20becoming%20a%20hub%20for%20carbon%20management%20research%20and%20applied%20technology%2C%E2%80%9D%20Marrs%20added.%0A%0AMeanwhile%2C%20Louisiana%20officials%20are%20actively%20lobbying%20the%20U.S.%20Department%20of%20Energy%20and%20members%20of%20Congress%20to%20preserve%20funding%20for%20carbon%20management%20projects%2C%20including%20a%20proposed%20Direct%20Air%20Capture%20hub%20in%20Calcasieu%20Parish.%0A%0AThe%20AtmosClear%20project%20represents%20a%20bold%20step%20in%20engineered%20carbon%20removal%2C%20showing%20how%20a%20single%20facility%20can%20help%20mitigate%20climate%20change%20while%20creating%20jobs%20and%20boosting%20local%20economies.

Microsoft inks world’s largest carbon-sucking deal

The%20European%20Commission%20has%20unveiled%20a%20major%20shift%20in%20its%20automotive%20climate%20policy%2C%20announcing%20that%20car%20manufacturers%20operating%20in%20the%20European%20Union%20will%20now%20be%20required%20to%20cut%20carbon%20dioxide%20emissions%20by%2090%25%20by%202035%2C%20instead%20of%20meeting%20a%20full%20zero-emissions%20mandate%20as%20previously%20set%20out%20in%20EU%20law.%0A%0AThe%20move%20effectively%20rolls%20back%20the%20controversial%20de%20facto%20ban%20on%20internal%20combustion%20engine%20(ICE)%20vehicles%20adopted%20in%20March%202023%2C%20offering%20carmakers%20greater%20flexibility%20in%20how%20they%20meet%20long-term%20climate%20targets.%0A%0A%3Ch2%3EHow%20automakers%20can%20offset%20remaining%20emissions%3C%2Fh2%3E%0A%0AUnder%20the%20revised%20framework%2C%20manufacturers%20will%20be%20permitted%20to%20account%20for%20the%20remaining%2010%25%20of%20emissions%20by%20adopting%20alternative%20climate-friendly%20measures.%20These%20include%20the%20use%20of%20low-carbon%20steel%20produced%20within%20the%20EU%20as%20well%20as%20sustainable%20fuels%2C%20such%20as%20e-fuels%20and%20biofuels.%0A%0AThis%20approach%20enables%20continued%20production%20of%20a%20wider%20range%20of%20vehicle%20technologies%20beyond%202035%2C%20including%20plug-in%20hybrids%2C%20mild%20hybrids%2C%20range%20extenders%2C%20and%20traditional%20ICE%20vehicles.%0A%0A%3Ch2%3EElectric%20and%20hydrogen%20vehicles%20still%20encouraged%3C%2Fh2%3E%0A%0ADespite%20the%20added%20flexibility%2C%20the%20Commission%20reaffirmed%20its%20support%20for%20battery%20electric%20vehicles%20(EVs)%20and%20hydrogen-powered%20cars.%20Automakers%20producing%20small%2C%20affordable%20electric%20vehicles%20within%20the%20EU27%20will%20be%20eligible%20for%20so-called%20%E2%80%9Csuper%20credits%E2%80%9D%2C%20designed%20to%20boost%20domestic%20manufacturing%20and%20competitiveness.%0A%0AClimate%20Action%20Commissioner%20Wopke%20Hoekstra%20described%20the%20policy%20shift%20as%20a%20balanced%20solution.%0A%0A%E2%80%9CWe%20remain%20firmly%20committed%20to%20zero-emissions%20mobility%20while%20giving%20manufacturers%20cost-effective%20ways%20to%20achieve%20their%20CO%E2%82%82%20targets%2C%E2%80%9D%20Hoekstra%20said.%0A%0AAccording%20to%20the%20Commission%2C%20the%20updated%20automotive%20package%20will%20strengthen%20Europe%E2%80%99s%20position%20as%20a%20lead%20market%20for%20clean%20steel%2C%20while%20giving%20industry%20players%20room%20to%20adapt.%0A%0A%3Ch2%3EPolitical%20support%20for%20a%20more%20flexible%20approach%3C%2Fh2%3E%0A%0AEU%20Transport%20Commissioner%20Apostolos%20Tzitzikostas%20welcomed%20the%20decision%2C%20calling%20it%20a%20%E2%80%9Csignificant%20and%20positive%20step.%E2%80%9D%0A%0A%E2%80%9CThis%20sends%20a%20clear%20message%20that%20technologies%20beyond%20battery%20electric%20vehicles%20will%20still%20have%20a%20place%20after%202035%2C%E2%80%9D%20he%20said%2C%20emphasizing%20consumer%20freedom%20of%20choice.%0A%0AThe%20announcement%20follows%20intense%20pressure%20from%20the%20automotive%20sector%2C%20which%20has%20warned%20that%20European%20carmakers%20face%20mounting%20competition%20from%20China%20and%20the%20United%20States.%20Many%20manufacturers%20argue%20that%20high%20energy%20prices%2C%20supply%20chain%20disruptions%E2%80%94particularly%20in%20battery%20production%E2%80%94and%20weak%20consumer%20demand%20for%20EVs%20are%20threatening%20the%20industry%E2%80%99s%20survival.%0A%0A%3Ch2%3EMember%20states%20push%20back%20against%20ICE%20ban%3C%2Fh2%3E%0A%0ASeveral%20EU%20countries%2C%20including%20Germany%2C%20Italy%2C%20Poland%2C%20Hungary%2C%20the%20Czech%20Republic%2C%20Slovakia%2C%20and%20Bulgaria%2C%20have%20lobbied%20Brussels%20to%20reconsider%20the%20outright%20ICE%20ban%20and%20allow%20hybrid%20vehicles%20under%20future%20regulations.%0A%0ABy%20contrast%2C%20France%20and%20Spain%20supported%20maintaining%20the%20ban%20but%20urged%20stronger%20EU%20support%20for%20domestic%20vehicle%20production.%0A%0AConcerns%20have%20intensified%20following%20reports%20that%20Volkswagen%20may%20halt%20vehicle%20production%20at%20its%20Dresden%20plant%2C%20marking%20the%20first%20factory%20closure%20in%20Germany%20in%20the%20company%E2%80%99s%2088-year%20history.%0A%0A%3Ch2%3ECan%20climate%20goals%20and%20industrial%20flexibility%20coexist%3F%3C%2Fh2%3E%0A%0AVeteran%20European%20People%E2%80%99s%20Party%20(EPP)%20lawmaker%20Peter%20Liese%20praised%20the%20Commission%E2%80%99s%20decision%2C%20arguing%20that%20technological%20neutrality%20and%20climate%20neutrality%20are%20not%20mutually%20exclusive.%0A%0A%E2%80%9CElectromobility%20is%20the%20future%2C%20but%20we%20must%20also%20invest%20heavily%20in%20charging%20infrastructure%20and%20allow%20space%20for%20innovation%2C%E2%80%9D%20Liese%20said.%0A%0AThe%20European%20Automobile%20Manufacturers%E2%80%99%20Association%20(ACEA)%20echoed%20this%20view.%20Secretary-General%20Sigfried%20de%20Vries%20said%20the%20industry%20urgently%20needs%20flexibility%20while%20remaining%20c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EU eases 2035 car emissions rules, ICE survives

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