Sacramento, CA–On the same day that the U.S. Supreme Court kneecapped the federal government’s ability to reduce pollution and tackle climate change, California took nation-leading steps to cut plastic pollution and hold the plastics industry accountable for their waste. Governor Gavin Newsom signed SB 54, requiring all packaging in the state to be recyclable or […]
CPUC approves long-term plans to meet electricity reliability and climate goals
San Francisco, CA–The California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) Thursday approved plans to ensure long-term sufficient electricity resource investments, including transmission, for the safe and reliable delivery of electricity and the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions. The CPUC, per Senate Bill 350 (De León, 2015), developed an integrated resource planning process to ensure that California’s electric […]
Gov. Newsom outlines historic $10 billion ZEV package to lead the transition to clean energy
Palo, Alto, CA–Governor Gavin Newsom outlined his historic $10 billion zero-emission vehicle (ZEV) package to accelerate the transition to zero-emission vehicles and fight climate change. This package is a critical part of Governor Newsom’s overall plan to cement California’s status as a world leader in forging an oil-free future. “The future is electric, and we’re making […]
San Diego City Council adopts comprehensive Climate Resiliency plan
San Diego, CA–The San Diego City Council Tuesday adopted the city’s first-ever climate adaptation and resiliency plan designed to address the effects of climate change in the region. The plan, titled Climate Resilient SD, provides strategies to prepare, respond and recover from potential climate change hazards, as well as how the proposed investments can improve […]
California moves to prevent new oil drilling near communities
Los Angeles, CA–Moving to protect communities as the state works to phase out fossil fuels, Governor Gavin Newsom announced that the Department of Conservation’s Geologic Energy Management Division (CalGEM) has released a proposed regulation that would prohibit new wells and facilities within a 3,200-foot exclusion area – or setback – from homes, schools, hospitals, nursing […]
Arctic seabirds are less heat tolerant, more vulnerable to climate change
(Newswise)–The Arctic is warming at approximately twice the global rate. A new study led by researchers from McGill University finds that cold-adapted Arctic species, like the thick-billed murre, are especially vulnerable to heat stress caused by climate change. “We discovered that murres have the lowest cooling efficiency ever reported in birds, which means they have […]
Lecture series to focus on regional climate change impacts
LA JOLLA–Birch Aquarium at Scripps Institution of Oceanography, UC San Diego is launching the next iteration of its renowned Jeffrey B. Graham Perspectives on Ocean Science Lecture Series with a three-part virtual series dedicated to Scripps Oceanography’s multifaceted work on the changing planet. The series will focus on the regional impacts of climate change in […]
Global warming likely to increase disease risk for animals worldwide
(Newswise)–Changes in climate can increase infectious disease risk in animals, researchers found — with the possibility that these diseases could spread to humans, they warn. The study, conducted by scientists at the University of Notre Dame, University of South Florida and University of Wisconsin-Madison, supports a phenomenon known as “thermal mismatch hypothesis,” which is the […]
City of San Diego ranked sixth nationally for climate action
SAN DIEGO–Five years following the adoption of a landmark Climate Action Plan, the City of San Diego has been ranked sixth in the country for reducing greenhouse gas emissions in a national scientific study by The Brookings Institution. Examining climate action progress in the 100 largest U.S. cities, the “Pledges and Progress” report provides a […]
In the Arctic, spring snowmelt triggers fresh CO2 production
(Newswise)–Studies have shown the Arctic is warming roughly twice as fast as the rest of the world, and its soil holds twice the amount of carbon dioxide as the atmosphere. New research from San Diego State University finds that water from spring snowmelt infiltrates the soil and triggers fresh carbon dioxide production at higher rates […]