While the COVID-19 outbreak may be absorbing most of the world’s attention, the latest TipSheet advises journalists not to back-burner climate-related energy reporting, as industries and activists continue lobbying for new energy stimulus measures from Congress. On the watch list: tax breaks, airline emission cuts, infrastructure, fossil fuel industry bailouts and more.
"Postponing the annual round of global climate talks reduces political pressure for nations to stiffen their goals to cut greenhouse gases, a major setback to the environmental movement."
"Sixteen named storms, including eight hurricanes, are forecast for the 2020 Atlantic hurricane season, according to early predictions released Thursday by experts at Colorado State University.
Four of the hurricanes will become major storms of Category 3 to 5, with sustained winds of at least 111 mph, the projections indicate for the season that runs from June 1 to November 30.
"Mormon pioneers saw the frogs as messengers of clean water. Now, their survival is jeopardized by habitat loss, drought and soaring heat."
"After a decade of protests and political reversals in the U.S., the Canadian company behind the controversial Keystone XL oil pipeline says it has made a final decision to build the long-delayed project. Once completed, it would deliver more than 830,000 barrels per day of crude oil from Alberta's oil sands, or 'tar sands,' region to the United States."
Blue states and environmental groups are eagerly preparing to sue the Trump Environmental Protection Agency over its rollback of climate-protecting vehicle emission standards.
"Water temperatures in the Gulf of Mexico are running more than three degrees above average, increasing the prospects for severe thunderstorms and tornadoes this spring and potentially stronger hurricane activity in the summer and fall."
"This year’s United Nations-sponsored climate talks, widely regarded as the most important climate meeting of the past four years, were postponed on Wednesday because of the coronavirus pandemic."
"Environmental groups today [Wednesday] scored a courtroom victory in their quest to obtain information relevant to EPA's rollback of Obama-era vehicle emissions standards."
"As the Trump administration finalizes its plan to roll back Obama-era mileage standards, California announced it would sign a deal with yet another automaker to produce cars meeting stricter standards."
