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Government of Québec unveils $2.7B climate change action plan; 63% of spending targeting transport

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The Premier of Québec, Jean Charest; the Minister of Sustainable Development, Environment and Parks, Pierre Arcand; and the Minister of Transport Pierre Moreau unveiled the Canadian province’s 2013-2020 Action Plan on Climate Change (PACC 2020). GHG emissions in Québec reached their historic peak in 2003 to 6.8% billion (US$2.6

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UK study finds low carbon policy has bolstered UK automotive sector, but trucks neglected and biofuels stalled

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Value of low carbon investments by year and cumulative. A major new report published at the Low Carbon Vehicle Partnership’s Annual Conference shows the UK automotive sector has been revitalized by consistently applied policy centered on cutting carbon. —“Investing in the low carbon journey”. Click to enlarge.

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Study estimates California’s GHG reductions since 2003 could be wiped out by 2020 wildfires

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In an open-access report in the journal Environmental Pollution , researchers from UCLA and the University of Chicago estimate that California’s wildfire carbon dioxide equivalent (CO 2 e) emissions from 2020 (~127 mmt CO 2 e ) are approximately two times higher than California’s total greenhouse gas (GHG) emission reductions since 2003.

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New inventory of black carbon emissions from China finds 2007 levels higher than previously reported

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A new black carbon (BC) emissions inventory from China found BC emissions levels in 2007 of 1,957 Gg BC—higher than reported in earlier studies. Black carbon is released into the atmosphere via incomplete combustion of carbonaceous fuel and is of major concern because of the impact on climate systems. Click to enlarge.

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Satellite study suggests California clean air regulations working to reduce PM2.5 emissions in state

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km-resolution MISR aerosol properties over Southern California for years 2001–2003, 2007–2009 and 2013–2015. LA=Los Angeles basin, CV=Central Valley, OC=Organic Carbon, EC=Elemental Carbon. The MISR instrument used in the study was initially designed to help understand Earth’s climate. Maps of 3-year averaged PM 2.5

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New study finds GHG emissions from palm oil production significantly underestimated; palm oil biofuels could be more climate-damaging than oil sands fuels

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When peat swamps are drained for agriculture, the peat begins to decompose, and is an enormous source of carbon emissions. Mha (20%) of the peatlands of Peninsular Malaysia, Sumatra and Borneo in 2010, surpassing the area of Belgium and causing an annual carbon emission from peat decomposition of 230–310 Mt CO 2 e.

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Copenhagen Diagnosis Released, Detailing Accelerating Indicators of Climate Change In Last Three Years

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A team of 26 climate scientists from Australia, Austria, Canada, France, Germany, Switzerland, the United Kingdom, and the United States have published the “Copenhagen Diagnosis”, an interim synthesis report on developments in climate change science from mid-2006 to the present day.