In early March, the governor of California said his state would have a balanced budget of $322 billion for the upcoming year, planning for a $363 million that would keep it balanced. This was said to be balanced, but the budget plan was based around a very thin margin. All of this was based on an $11 billion dump out of emergency reserves an...
Former President Trump has kicked off his push to roll back environmental policies, focusing on electric vehicles and tailpipe emissions. He's signed orders aiming to stop funding for EV charging stations and weaken emission standards. This move could let cars pollute more, but the auto industry is still invested in electric vehicles. Companies have poured billions i...
California's Governor Gavin Newsom is facing criticism from President-elect Donald J. Trump for the ongoing wildfires in the state. Trump took to his social media platform to blame Newsom, calling him "incompetent" and suggesting that the governor's environmental policies are to blame. Specifically, Trump accused Newsom of prioritizing a small fish called the smelt o...
McDonald's is on a mission to go green, but their new "sustainable" straws are leaving customers unhappy. These flimsy plastic straws just can't handle the chain's famous milkshakes or sodas. Some folks even need to use two or three straws to get the job done. Isn't that kind of missing the point of being eco-friendly? Sure, paper straws might not be the best option...
Ever wondered what's happening with carbon in China? Recently, there's been a buzz about carbon emission trading in different regions. This is a big deal because it's like a market where companies and factories can buy and sell the right to emit carbon. Sounds confusing? Well, let's break it down. First off, what's carbon abatement? It's basically what it sounds lik...
During the COVID-19 lockdown, global shipping activities were significantly reduced. This provided a unique opportunity to study the impact of reduced marine traffic on nitrogen dioxide (NO 2 ) pollution, a key indicator of shipping emissions. Satellite data from TROPOMI showed a substantial decrease in NO 2 levels over major shipping routes like the North Atlan...
The United States Treasury Department and Brazil's Ministry of Finance have announced a partnership to address climate change and promote sustainable economic development. On the surface, this seems like a positive step forward in the fight against climate change. However, a closer look reveals that this partnership may be more of a symbolic gesture than a meaningful...
California's Proposition 4 is set to borrow $10 billion to fund a plethora of environmental projects. But is this measure more about politics than sound policy? After this year's budget debacle, the state should be focusing on cutting debt, not increasing it. The measure's 100+ programs lack a sense of priorities or analysis of what would deliver the biggest bang fo...