Good day, Kossacks! Welcome back for our fourth edition of This Week in the Environment, Greenpower’s weekly breakdown of the environmental stories we find most fascinating and timely. As usual, our Ph.D environmental scientist, Jon, has scoured news sources far and wide to find and bring you an array of great stuff. This week, we see a theme emerging surrounding the ever growing strength of renewables versus the fading relevance of fossil fuels...even as nefarious subsidies for that industry cost American taxpayers billions. We invite you to take some time out to see what’s happening on the planet, and we hope you enjoy. Thanks for making the world a better place!
5. US team lauded at climate talks BBC
In a heartening act of resistance to the Trump Administration's climate denial, the team representing the US at the UNFCCC Bonn Climate Change Conference reaffirmed there are those within the United States still committed to climate action. Remaining in the Paris Agreement and being an active and constructive participant in climate talks like this are critical to maintaining and strengthening international relations, which raises questions about the priorities and abilities of the current administration.
4. More coal will lead to more poverty, new report warns ThinkProgress
In response to the proposed development of what would be Australia's largest coal mine (when scientists agree we are fast approaching the point when no more fossil fuels should be extracted), international charitable confederation Oxfam has released a new report detailing the myriad ways in which coal use and development results in economic decline. Countering the Australian government's claim that the new coal mine would be a boon for regional and national economies, economists have stated that the mine would actually cost Queensland $1.2 billion.
"Embracing renewable energy and smart climate solutions, both here and abroad, offers the promise of a brighter future for all."
3. Renewable Energy Powers Jobs for Almost 10 Million People Bloomberg
Another week, another report on the explosive growth of the renewable energy sector. Driven by falling costs, technological advances, and market demand for clean energy in response to climate change, the global renewable energy industry is unlikely to derailed by the actions of any one country—even one as influential as the United States.
2. Large or small, cities’ 100% renewable energy pledges are more than symbolic Southeast Energy News
Cities across the country are turning the tide in favor of renewable energy as more and more set goals to transition to 100% renewable energy. Quite surprisingly, a number of them are in conservative areas that have historically been in favor of fossil fuel development. These communities are now driven to make responsible choices by the falling costs and increasing competitiveness of renewable energy. Will this be a wake-up call to private utility companies and state and federal governments to more fully embrace a switch to clean energy?
"When I see a smaller city, especially in a rural area making a commitment to clean energy, it’s a more powerful indicator of where America is at. In some ways, in the South it’s even more compelling that they may not be motivated by climate change." — KATIE OTTENWELLER, SENIOR ATTORNEY AND LEADER OF THE SOUTHERN ENVIRONMENTAL LAW CENTER’S SOLAR INITIATIVE
1. Taxpayers Charged $7 Billion a Year to Subsidize Fossil Fuels on Public LandsEcoWatch
How are energy costs calculated? A new report builds on previous investigation showing that fossil fuel development on public lands is secretly subsidized by taxpayers to the tune of billions of dollars every year, artificially skewing the price of oil, gas, and coal downward to make them appear more competitive. Fossil fuel companies like Shell and Exxon invest millions of dollars in local, regional, and federal governments to purchase politicians who create tax loopholes, below-market leases, and other subsidies for the industry—while taxpayers foot the bill.
When the massive costs of the environmental damage due to fossil fuel extraction, transportation, and use are factored in, there can be no question that clean, renewable energy sources are the best way to grow our economy while preserving the habitability of our planet.
"The industry finances corrupt politicians, who in turn help them keep fossil fuels economically viable at a time when the science suggests most oil, gas and coal needs to be kept in the ground. They set out to rig the system and they succeeded. History will judge them harshly." — JASON KOWALSKI, POLICY DIRECTOR AT 350.ORG