Cloudy outlook for pipelines gets even murkier amid court rulings, U.S. election

Jul 13 2020 – CBC News –

This past week, two North American pipelines were dealt legal and regulatory setbacks and another major project was cancelled. These events and others call into question the wisdom of Alberta Premier Jason Kenney’s decision to invest $1.1 billion US in the Keystone XL pipeline, plus $4.2-billion in loan guarantees. Why must Alberta’s leadership continue to tie that province’s economic future so completely on oil?

Global temperatures could exceed 1.5 C target in next five years

Jul 9 2020 – CNN –
There is now one chance in 5 that one of the next five years will be at least 1.5℃ warmer than pre-industrial levels. That probability is “increasing with time.” This flies in the face of the determination of the Paris climate accord – arrived at just 5 years ago. Countries are committed to reduce their carbon output and halt global warming below 2℃ – and if possible, below 1.5℃ – by the end of the century. But here we are…

June 2020 ties temperature record

Jul 8 2020 – Discover –

Last month finished in a virtual tie for warmest June on record. Temperature records now show that last month’s global temperatures were 0.53℃ warmer than the long-term average for June. That’s a virtual tie with June of 2019. In particular, extraordinary warmth in Siberia helped push the global average for the month into that record-tying territory. Temperatures across the entire region averaged about 13℃ above normal last month.

‘Million-mile’ vehicle batteries are coming. Are they a revolution?

Jul 6 2020 – Grist –

Two hundred thousand miles is considered a good, long run for a new car today. Recently, multiple EV battery makers have announced the imminent arrival of “million-mile” batteries, power packs that supposedly have enough juice to be driven to the moon and back twice.

California makes history with zero-emission Clean Trucks rule

Jun 30, 2020 – GreenBiz –

California’s new Advanced Clean Trucks rule will require truck makers to sell an increasing number of clean, zero-emission trucks in California. Beginning in 2024, manufacturers must increase their zero-emission truck sales to between 30 to 50 percent; by 2030 and 40 to 75 percent by 2035; and by 2045, all of California’s truck fleet must be 100 percent zero-emission.

Jet stream: Is climate change causing more ‘blocking’ weather events?

Jun 12, 2020 – CarbonBrief –

This spring has been unusually cool in Manitoba. Meanwhile, it’s been UK’s sunniest spring on record and Siberia has had a dramatic heatwave and “zombie wildfires”. The phenomenon behind this are persistent high-pressure “blocking” weather systems – another indication of how climate change is affecting the jet stream.

Seniors redirect cash to green concerns

May 28, 2020 – Winnipeg Free Press –

EDITORIAL – Some concerned seniors have formed a group called Manitoba Seniors for Sustainability, and are kicking off their initiative by forwarding their personal $200 and other donations to environmental non-profits that saw their funding suspended by the province.

New supplement for cows helps curb their climate change-causing burps.

May 11, 2020 – Fast Company –

A new feed supplement has been developed that shrinks the amount of methane, a potent greenhouse gas, that cows emit when they belch. Mootral, the Switzerland-based company making the new supplements, will soon be issued the world’s first carbon credits for methane reduction in cows.

Manitoba greenhouse gas emissions keep rising

Apr 28, 2020 – Winnipeg Free Press –

Manitoba’s emissions increased by 8.3 % from 2005 to 2018. This marks the third-most significant growth rate among provinces. Alberta’s emissions grew by 14% and Saskatchewan 12% – mostly due to increases from the oil and gas sector in those provinces.

What we can learn from COVID-19 to mitigate our next crisis: Climate Change

Apr 15, 2020 – Forbes –

There are three things we need to apply from the COVID-19 crisis to the climate crisis: 1) Scientific facts matter and have to be taken seriously, 2) Delayed response costs lives and hurts the economy, and 3) Globally coordinated policy measures are required.