Weekly Newsletter #6

Weekly article recommendations:

President Biden announces new Tariffs to protect U.S. Electric Vehicle Manufacturing  

This week U.S. President Joe Biden announced a series of new tariffs directed at Chinese goods entering the United States, intended to protect the domestic U.S. electric car manufacturing industry in response to China’s heavy investment and flooding of the international market. As the market begins to move away from gas-combustion engines towards electric vehicles, the two superpowers anticipate competing against one another to capitalize on this burgeoning opportunity. Biden’s tariffs include a 100% tariff on Chinese produced electric vehicles, citing the CCP’s notoriety for stealing intellectual propter as well as defending his decision by arguing the only reason China is able to produce such vehicles at a competitive price point is due to labour abuses. 

Source: The New York Times

Global Temperature Record streak Continues 

The World Meteorological Organization (WMO) reported that due to El Niño combining with extra energy in the atmosphere the earth is experiencing another record temperature streak. The estimates purport that the past April was globally 1.58C above levels from the 19th century, when global temperature was first recorded. This has resulted in more extreme weather in Asia and South America, further exacerbating existing inequality issues in the global south and fueling climate migration. 

Source: The World Meteorological Organization 

Clean Cooking Summit in Paris makes progress but still promotes Natural Gas as transition fuel 

The Clean Cooking Summit occurred this week in Paris, directed at raising money and awareness for developing nations in the global south to improve fuel sources to avoid “dirty” fuels such as charcoal, kerosene and firewood. The International Energy Agency reports that 4 in 5 Africans still rely on dirty fuel sources to cook, which contributes to 3.7. million premature annual deaths as well as global emissions. The summit reiterated an initial plan from COP28 to mobilize 2.2bn to aid in this effort, however it is estimated that 4bn is needed to remedy the issue. The plan has come under fire from scientists and environmental advocates as the proposed replacement fuel includes liquified natural gas, which is still a GHG pollutant. The plan would still produce a net reduction in 1.5GT of Co2 by 2030. 

Source: Climate Change News

Austria introduces free Klimaticket for 18 year olds to discourage automobile reliance  

In a profound move, Austria has announced it will make the KlimaTicket available for free for one year for all 18 year olds from July first. The ticket allows usage of every single public transport system in the country, including regional trains. Greenpeace has praised the move, citing evidence that a reduction in public transport costs encourages a lower reliance on automobiles, which is a crucial step in fighting climate change and encouraging more sustainable habits. Results across Europe are mixed - wealthier nations like Luxembourg, Austria, Germany, Cyprus and Spain all were able to score highly regarding their public transport infrastructure and costs, while nations like Bulgaria and cities such as London and Amsterdam scored badly in a ranking based on the same metrics. However it is estimated that while cost reduction efforts are important, ultimately investment in public transport infrastructure and access is the most important factor in discouraging automobile reliance. 

Source: Euronews 

Florida Gov. DeSantis introduces bill scrubbing “Climate Change” from state law, Despite state suffering from increasing extreme weather 

In a darkly ironic and politically charged move, Florida Governor Ron DeSantis has introduced a new law eliminating the phrase “Climate Change” from existing Floridian law, and would boost natural gas expansion by reducing pipeline and gas stove regulations. Florida is a unique case as it has trended Republican over the last two decades whom favor climate denialism and anti-regulatory measures on fossil fuels, in spite of Florida being one of the most at risk areas on the planet from the increasing strength of hurricanes via climate change and warming ocean temperatures. Florida annually is decimated by multiple hurricanes each year, costing American tax payers billions due to federal aid and reconstruction efforts. The move represents another thinly-veiled political move likely intended to distract from DeSantis’s embarrassing failed presidential run.

Source: NPR

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