Collected headlines from around the web, every weekday.
The Senate on Wednesday confirmed Brenda Mallory to lead the White House Council on Environmental Quality, which advises the president on issues such as environmental justice and conserving oceans, lands and wildlife, The Hill reports. Three Republicans joined Democrats in confirming Biden’s pick, who is now the first African American to run the agency.
The Hill
JPMorgan Chase said Thursday that it will commit more than $2.5 trillion over the next decade toward long-term solutions that tackle climate change and contribute to sustainable development, CNBC reports. The financial firm’s initiative will focus on ways to speed the transition to a low-carbon economy, as well as to support socioeconomic progress in developing countries.
CNBC
Few states face the kind of impacts from climate change that Florida does. So when Gov. Ron DeSantis took office in 2019 and made early environmental moves, some climate hawks were hopeful. But as DeSantis looks to a 2022 reelection bid, and possibly a run for president in 2024, the Florida governor faces criticism for not doing enough to reduce the state’s reliance on fossil fuels.
Inside Climate News
One of the most common arguments against subsidizing rooftop solar is that the benefits mostly go to affluent households that don’t need any help. But new research shows that the declining costs of rooftop solar, along with other factors, are helping to reduce the income gap between solar households and U.S. households in general. That and more in the latest Inside Clean Energy by Dan Gearino.
Inside Climate News
An old apple orchard could soon become the site of a new hydrogen plant in Washington state. Development of hydrogen fuel, which doesn’t produce greenhouse gases when burned, is seeing billions of dollars in investment. But challenges remain, including the massive amounts of electricity that would be required to make the fuel a building block of the 21st century low-carbon economy.
Inside Climate News
John Kerry, President Biden’s climate envoy, met with Chinese officials Thursday to press the country on reducing its carbon emissions, at a time when an emboldened Communist Party leadership has become increasingly dismissive of American demands, the New York Times reports. While tackling climate change is one of the few areas where the two countries agree, working together could remain difficult.
The New York Times
Federal regulators sent a letter to the Virgin Islands Limetree Bay refinery requesting a host of information pertaining to a February flaring incident, in which more than 130 homes were spattered with oil. The letter also asks for expansive details about the refinery’s operations, leading some experts to believe the EPA could be preparing to take additional action against Limetree.
Inside Climate News
Japan, South Korea and Canada are expected to join the U.S. in committing to emissions reductions during President Biden’s climate change summit next week. But getting commitments from big emitters like China, Brazil and India is still up in the air. Climate envoy John Kerry is in China this week speaking with leaders ahead of the summit.
The New York Times
In a rare alliance, a coalition of manufacturers and environmental groups is calling on the federal government to quickly phase out the worst climate super-polluting chemicals currently used in air conditioners, refrigerators and other appliances. The petitions reflect strong agreement on the need for aggressive federal leadership on climate policy.
Inside Climate News
The Biden administration is expected to announce massive cuts to greenhouse gas emissions in the U.S., but that won’t quickly halt global warming, NPR reports. That’s because the carbon dioxide and other planet warming gases that are already in the atmosphere will take centuries to fully dissipate.
NPR
France is considering offering nearly $3,000 to owners of old cars to turn in their beaters for scrap and buy a bicycle. The measure has been approved by lawmakers in a preliminary vote as the nation aims to reduce its greenhouse gas emissions by 40 percent by 2030.
Reuters
A climate group published a 20-page report this week outlining what a 21st century version of the Civilian Conservation Corps could look like. The New Deal-era version of the corps didn’t pay well and only really employed young, white men. But in Evergreen Action’s vision, the program could provide good pay, benefits and on-the-job training—and it would need to be five times bigger.
HuffPost
Hundreds of businesses have joined environmental activists calling on the Biden administration to announce a 50 percent cut in greenhouse gas emissions by 2030 as the United States plans its actions to meet the goals of the Paris climate accord. President Biden will unveil the nation’s new commitments under the agreement in the next two weeks.
Inside Climate News
Nonfungible tokens, the lucrative digital artwork that has exploded in popularity in the past few months, require blockchain technology, which uses a massive amount of energy and comes at a high cost to the planet. The greenhouse gas emissions from an average NFT are equivalent to driving 500 miles in a typical car.
The New York Times
New Zealand has introduced a first-of-its-kind law that will require banks, insurers and investment managers to report the impacts of climate change on their business, Reuters reports. The law would bring climate change risks to the heart of business and finance decisions, the country’s minister for climate change said in a statement.
Reuters
Jerome Foster spent every Friday for 58 weeks protesting outside of the White House for action on climate change. Now, he is by far the youngest member of a panel advising President Biden on environmental justice issues.
The Guardian
California’s dairy farmers have started feeding cows leftover nut shells from nearby almond orchards instead of traditional forage. The move not only saves farmers money, but it curbs emissions of methane, a potent greenhouse gas.
Inside Climate News
Manatees are dying at three times their average rate this year, leading environmentalists to question the sustainability of Florida’s waterways. The state’s fish and wildlife agency noticed in December that manatees in the Indian River Lagoon—home to nearly one-third of the entire U.S. manatee population—were emaciated and dying at higher rates.
The Hill
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