emissions
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Shell aims to be a net zero emissions business by 2050
Shell is the latest oil giant to commit to carbon neutrality.
AI can help find more places to store captured CO2 underground
Scientists dream of storing captured CO2 emissions underground, but it can be tricky to find pockets for storing those emissions -- Earth's seismic "hum" makes it difficult to spot the low-frequency waves that would best help map the subterranean landscape. That might not be a challenge in the future thanks to AI. MIT scientists have developed a machine learning system that uses earthquakes to accurately estimate those low-frequency waves and map underground structures. The trick, according to researchers, was in the training.
Delta hopes to be the first carbon neutral airline
BP isn't the only company hoping to go carbon neutral despite its dependence on fossil fuels. Delta has unveiled a goal to become the first carbon neutral airline in the world, with the company promising $1 billion over 10 years to help "mitigate" all its CO2 emissions. This will include more efficient aircraft (including sustainable fuel) and less overall jet fuel use. It'll also involve carbon removal efforts, such as forest and wetland development, nature conservation and carbon capture tech. The initative kicks off March 1st.
DOJ reportedly ends antitrust investigation over reducing car pollution
Last year the Trump Administration sought to roll back the Obama Administration's Clean Power Plan that pushed for higher fuel efficiency standards. It has also tried to stop states from like California from setting their own standards that exceed those of the federal government. Despite that, several automakers, including Ford, BMW, Volkswagen and Honda, voluntarily reached an agreement with the state of California on a slightly lower target. That was quickly followed by word of a Department of Justice antitrust investigation into the move, however today the New York Times reports it has come to an end, finding that the companies didn't break any laws by voluntarily agreeing to try to reduce the pollution created by their vehicles.
Microsoft plans to be 'carbon negative' by 2030
2019 was the second-hottest year on record, and it's going to take a lot of effort to slow the Earth's ever-rising temperatures. Today, Microsoft announced details on what it'll do to help: the company now plans to be carbon negative by 2030. "While the world will need to reach net zero [carbon emissions], those of us who can afford to move faster and go further should do so," Microsoft president Brad Smith writes. "That's why today we are announcing an ambitious goal and a new plan to reduce and ultimately remove Microsoft's carbon footprint." That's a big change from Microsoft's plans to reduce carbon emissions by 75 percent that were announced just over two years ago.
Mazda claims long-range EVs are worse for the planet than diesels
Wonder why Mazda's MX-30 only has a modest 35.5kWh battery when its competition frequently has more? According to the brand's European research director Christian Schultze, it's to help the planet. He told Automotive News that the small pack is "responsibly" sized to have an overall CO2 emission footprint (including manufacturing and energy consumption) comparable to a diesel Mazda 3 hatchback, even after you replace the battery 100,000 miles into ownership. Long-range batteries would be worse for the environment, Schultze claimed, pointing to Mazda's calculations for long-term CO2 output.
Proposed CO2 capture system could reduce truck emissions by 90 percent
A significant chunk of carbon dioxide emissions come from the transportation sector, and within Europe nearly 40 percent of transport emissions come from trucks. Now, researchers at the Swiss Federal Institute of Lausanne (EPFL) have come up with a new concept for capturing carbon dioxide from truck exhausts which could reduce emissions by up to 90 percent.
Canada charges Volkswagen over its diesel emissions scandal
Volkswagen's "dieselgate" woes continue as Canada has accused the automaker of importing 128,000 vehicles that contravene its environmental laws, according to Reuters. The nation charged VW with 60 counts of violating the Canadian Environmental Protection Act and two counts of providing misleading information. A VW spokesperson said that it's cooperating fully with the ECCC (Environment and Climate Change Canada).
States sue to prevent EPA from revoking state emissions powers
States are taking further legal action to prevent the Trump administration from undoing California's stricter emissions rules. California, 22 other states, DC and the cities of New York and Los Angeles have sued the EPA and other agencies in an attempt to block the regulator's plan for revoking parts of California's Clean Air Act waiver that let it implement stricter greenhouse gas and zero-emission vehicle standards. The action is a complement to an earlier lawsuit targeting the NHTSA that was aimed at stopping a parallel determination, and comes with a similar argument defending states' powers.
Daimler faces $960 million fine in Germany over emissions cheating
It's not just Volkswagen facing legal consequences for diesel car emissions. German prosecutors have fined Mercedes-Benz parent Daimler €870 million (about $960 million) over allegations it sold at least 684,000 cars equipped to cheat on emissions. The company said it wouldn't contest the fine, although it continued to object to the penalty -- it just wanted to end the legal action in a "timely and comprehensive manner."
Volkswagen's CEO and chairman face Dieselgate charges in Germany
VW's current leadership can't escape the fallout from the Dieselgate scandal. Prosecutors in the German city of Braunschweig have unveiled plans to file stock manipulation charges against existing CEO Herbert Diess, Chairman Hans Dieter Poetsch and former chief exec Martin Winterkorn. They allegedly delayed reporting the emissions cheating with knowledge that it would have a tangible effect on shares. The leaders were pursuing a settlement with US officials "without disclosing all relevant information," according to the prosecutors.
Honda will offset 60 percent of its US electricity use with wind and solar
Honda plans to cover 60 percent of the electricity used at its North American manufacturing plants with renewable energy. Beginning next fall, Honda will purchase 530,000 MWh per year from the Boiling Spring Wind Farm in Oklahoma. In fall 2021, it will begin receiving 482,000 MWh per year from a Texas solar facility. According to Honda, this deal is the largest single purchase of solar and wind power by any automaker.
22 states join California to sue the Trump admin over emissions standards
A group of 22 states have joined California in suing the Trump administration, which revoked that state's right to set its own emissions standards. On Thursday, the Environmental Protection Agency and National Highway Traffic Safety Administration announced a plan for national vehicle emissions rules. The One National Program Rule would set federal standards on fuel efficiency and greenhouse gas emissions, aligning with the administration's aim to scale back Obama-era targets.
EPA pushes national fuel economy standard in face off with California
The Trump administration has announced plans to create a national vehicle emissions standard. The new "One National Program Rule" would allow the federal government to set uniform fuel efficiency and greenhouse gas emissions standards. The move, announced by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), is the latest in the Trump administration's feud with California.
New models show that the earth is warming faster than first thought
Scientists have made no secret of the extreme challenges posed by climate change, with the Intergovernmental Panel for Climate Change (IPCC) repeatedly stressing the importance of keeping global warming below two degrees. But now it seems the situation is much more serious than previously understood, with new climate models predicting average temperatures could rise by as much as seven degrees by 2100.
EPA will roll back rules on methane emissions
Today, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is expected to announce plans to roll back regulations on methane emissions, a major contributor to climate change. The Trump Administration is seeking to do away with Obama-era requirements, which mandated that the oil and gas industry install technology to monitor and limit natural gas leaks from infrastructure like wells, tanks and pipelines, The Wall Street Journal reports. The change could also block proposed rules that would have required the EPA to set emissions regulations on thousands of pre-existing wells and industry sites.
Mercedes-Benz likely to agree to California's tougher emissions rules
Mercedes-Benz may be the next company to agree to California's voluntary emissions rules, The New York Times reports. Ford, BMW, Volkswagen and Honda have already pledged to meet California's standards and make their engines more efficient every year until 2026. The pact goes against the Trump administration's attempts to roll back Obama-era emissions reduction goals.
Hyundai’s first car with a solar roof is available in Korea
Last fall, Hyundai revealed plans to outfit its cars with solar panels. Now, its first car equipped with a solar roof is ready. The New Sonata Hybrid is available now in Korea, and it should arrive in North America soon.
Study suggests that e-scooter fleets aren’t as green as they seem
Love them or hate them, e-scooters are an increasingly common sight in cities around the world. Even New York City, a long-time holdout against shared electric scooter programs, looks set to legalize them soon. Scooter companies like to claim their products are an environmentally friendly transport option, but a new study shows shared e-scooter schemes might be doing more damage to the planet than you think.
Amazon plans new solar and wind farms in Ireland and Virginia
Months after Amazon shareholders turned down a plea by employees to do more about climate change, the company announced two new renewable energy projects. Today, Amazon shared plans for a wind farm in Ireland and a solar farm in Pittsylvania County, Virginia. When completed sometime in 2020, these projects are expected to generate a combined 168,000 MWh of clean energy annually, helping Amazon reach its goal to power 100 percent of its operations with renewable power.
