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MIT report finds China’s actions on climate change crucial; argues for global economy-wide greenhouse gas tax

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A new report from the MIT Joint Program on the Science and Policy of Global Change shows the importance of all major nations taking part in global efforts to reduce emissions—and in particular, finds China’s role to be crucial. Eighty percent of those emissions came from coal, making China the consumer of about half the world’s coal.

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Black carbon is a much larger cause of climate change than previously assessed; about twice previous estimates, and 2/3 the effect of CO2

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The report’s best estimate of direct climate influence by black carbon is about a factor of two higher than most previous work. This includes the estimates in the 2007 Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) Assessment, which were based on the best available evidence and analysis at that time.

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IEA finds CO2 emissions flat for third straight year even as global economy grew in 2016

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This was the result of growing renewable power generation, switches from coal to natural gas, improvements in energy efficiency, as well as structural changes in the global economy. The biggest drop came from the United States, where carbon dioxide emissions fell 3%, or 160 million tonnes, while the economy grew by 1.6%.

Economy 199
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EEA: increase in EU GHG emissions, mostly due to transport, hampers progress towards 2030 targets

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The energy sector was able to reduce its emissions due to the decreasing share of coal used to produce electricity and heat in the EU. The largest declines compared with 2016 occurred in Denmark, Finland and the United Kingdom. The rise is mostly due to the increase of oil consumption from road transport. in 2017 from 2016.

Emissions 257
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Berkeley study finds renewable portfolio standards insufficient to meet 2030 GHG emission targets; new policy required

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The least expensive way for the Western US to reduce greenhouse gas emissions enough to help prevent the worst consequences of global warming is to replace coal with renewable and other sources of energy that may include nuclear power, according to a new study by University of California, Berkeley, researchers. Click to enlarge.

Renewable 231
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UN report finds world needs incremental $1.9 trillion invested in green technologies to avert planetary catastrophe; global per capita cap on primary energy consumption of 70 GJ/yr may be required

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trillion in 2010) would be required to overcome poverty; increase food production to eradicate hunger without degrading land and water resources; and avert the climate change catastrophe. The reports estimates that incremental green investment of about 3% of world gross product (WGP) (about $1.9

Global 338
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OPG, GE Hitachi to deploy small modular reactor at Darlington station in Canada

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International bodies, including the International Energy Agency (IEA), have been clear: climate change initiatives will fall short without nuclear power as part of the electricity supply mix. A single SMR of about 300 megawatts in size can prevent between 0.3 Spur SMR deployment elsewhere in Canada and abroad.

Canada 334