Discourse for all interested in all things air-quality related
Footing: “The part of a foundation bearing directly upon the earth.” That’s the sixth entry for the word “footing” as presented in the Random House Webster’s College Dictionary, 1991 edition (p. 519). But, it’s more than that. That definition also applies to the discussion on tap for today: that having to do with groundwater depletion, … Read more
DENVER – Coloradans—who frequently endure unhealthy air pollution largely from gasoline-burning vehicles—stand to receive major jobs, health, and energy savings benefits if the state adopts a strong Colorado Clean Cars plan that would speed up the transition to zero-emissions electric cars and light-duty trucks, a new report shows. “The Benefits of the Colorado Clean Car … Read more
New Orleans, in Louisiana; Shishmaref, in Alaska; and Venice, in Italy: What do they all have in common? They’ve all had to deal with inundating waters, whether this be the result of storm surges brought on by inclement weather or that which has been caused by global warming. Miami, Florida, come to think of it, … Read more
A new study published today [May 11, 2023] by the International Council on Clean Transportation (ICCT) assesses where, when, and how much charging infrastructure will be required by 2030 to support the fast-moving transition to zero-emission medium and heavy-duty vehicles in the United States. Infrastructure development creates economic opportunity for local communities, and business opportunities for … Read more
There is no other place on Earth quite like California. In fact, if an independent nation, California’s economy would rank as the world’s fifth largest. That’s no idle boast. Neither is the fact that the Golden State is 105 million acres in size* on which some 40 million residents have staked out some kind of … Read more
Carbon: The substance of life. What all organic matter is made of. So, I consulted the dictionary and what I have come to discover is there are 27 individual entries for “carbon”. Everything from “carbon” to “carbonyl” as well as those situated-in-between variations on the basic carbon theme. In its purest form, carbon just lasts … Read more
There’s an electric-truck wave headed for California. Although relatively slow in coming, make no mistake: the sweep will be thorough. “‘California continues to lead by example with first-of-its-kind standards to slash air pollution and toxics from heavy-duty trucks,’ said Yana Garcia, California’s Secretary for Environmental Transportation.* ‘Where you live, work, or go to school should not … Read more
This past weekend on both Saturday (Apr. 29, 2023) and Sunday (Apr. 30, 2023), I watched two of what I thought were powerful, made-for-television programs. The first “In Real Life,” the Mining for Clean Power, episode, and first aired on the Scripps News network on May 15, 2022, dealt with one aspect of the renewable energy … Read more
WASHINGTON — The signs of climate change are all around us, and children are uniquely vulnerable to its impacts. Climate change-related impacts in childhood can have lifelong consequences due to effects on learning, physical health, and housing security. A new national-scale, multi-sector EPA report showcases some of the ways children are especially vulnerable to a variety … Read more
With atmospheric CO2 levels rising unabated, the climate system is warming at the fastest rate in human history. It has long been known that the vast bulk of extra heat associated with anthropogenic carbon dioxide emissions is entering the ocean (e.g., Hansen et al., 1988; Levitus et al., 2000; Barnett et al., 2005), causing warming at the surface and … Read more