Latest news with #climategoals
Washington Post
3 days ago
- Automotive
- Washington Post
Let Americans drive the best electric vehicles
American consumers are being denied access to some of the world's most advanced and affordable electric vehicles (EVs) — specifically those made by China's BYD, the world's largest EV manufacturer. BYD produces sleek, efficient models, such as the Seagull, which sells for about $8,000 in China. Yet American buyers can't even test-drive them due to strict tariffs, protectionist policies and geopolitical tensions. While these policies aim to protect American jobs and national security, they also limit consumer choice and hinder climate goals by slowing EV adoption. Meanwhile, American EV makers struggle to deliver truly affordable, mass-market models. If the U.S. wants to lead on climate, it must embrace — or at least allow — competition. Consumers should be trusted to choose the best vehicle, not forced into a corner by policy walls. Jagjit Singh, Los Altos, California I am Canadian and the proud owner of a Tesla Model Y. I don't own Tesla stock directly, unless it's a small part of my mutual funds investments. Americans might not agree with Elon Musk, MAGA or other politicians including the president, but they should not forget that Tesla cars available for sale in the U.S. are designed, assembled and sold by fellow Americans. When cars are being trashed or vandalized, it's not Musk who suffers the consequences. He is rich enough not to have to care. Tesla revolutionized the automotive industry and started a worldwide race to electrify a semi-dormant manufacturing sector, pushing cars into the 21st century. China immediately pounced on the opportunity, copying and improving some aspects of electric vehicle manufacturing. It lowered the price of the cars and is in the process of flooding the world market. Trade barriers for Chinese imports won't work in the long term. If an American company such as Tesla does not take the lead in electric vehicle innovation and production, a Chinese company will. A few years from now, perhaps even sooner, Americans will mourn the lost opportunity of being the world power in the electric car industry. Vladimir Sorin, Markham, Ontario, Canada The Post's July 5 Climate article 'In fight over clean energy, Trump condemns it as 'ugly'' noted that President Donald Trump believes that wind and solar energy equipment is ugly. His insight is a little late and also completely unoriginal. Impressionists of the 19th century believed that industrialism was ugly. Whoever is committed to industrialism and all the creature comforts it provides is also committed to 'ugly.' Wayne Bert, Arlington Regarding The Post's July 5 editorial, 'Trump could lead a nuclear renaissance': President Donald Trump's real estate and dealmaking experience could benefit the country should he turn it toward establishing a spent nuclear fuel repository. Recycling of used fuel could yield more useful energy and less volume to be deposited. First, some perspective: Only about one square mile is used for a 1,000-megawatt nuclear power plant, and about eight square miles are used for the nameplate-equivalent solar facility. (Results may vary: Say, if one includes the emergency planning zone of a nuclear power plant — a zone that should shrink substantially with newer reactors — and if one includes the addition of a larger solar facility footprint to account for intermittent energy production and the need for backup power plants or batteries at night.) Such footprints are important considerations as energy needs grow. However, waste streams also need to be addressed. Someone with real estate and dealmaking prowess could help break the logjam in Congress with finding locations and constituents — e.g., workers looking for jobs and local economies — to host recycling and repository facilities for spent nuclear fuel. Aging solar panels and worn-out batteries from a much bigger footprint will need attention as well. Steve Michals, Fairfax I want the Nuclear Regulatory Commission inspectors to focus on engineering, science and regulatory requirements. An important part of the application for these positions requires the applicant to address: 'How would you help advance the President's Executive Orders and policy priorities in this role? Identify one or two relevant Executive Orders or policy initiatives that are significant to you, and explain how you would help implement them if hired. Maximum length of 1200 characters.' In the past, inspectors looked for safety and compliance issues in accordance with NRC policies. Their jobs are to focus on safety and not the president's policies. I hope we won't soon have inspectors who prioritize the president's wishes over safety, similar to Russian political commissars who enforced party lines rather than public health and safety. Jim Lieberman, Silver Spring The writer is a former director of the Office of Enforcement at the Nuclear Regulatory Commission and assistant general counsel for enforcement. Central Texas just saw one of its deadliest disasters in a century. Flash floods swept through the Hill Country — especially along the Guadalupe River — killing more than 100 people, including dozens of children at Camp Mystic. The river surged more than 26 feet in under an hour, transforming a tranquil valley into a lethal waterway. This wasn't a freak accident. 'Flash Flood Alley,' the area where the Hill Country meets the Guadalupe watershed, is inherently flood‑prone due to steep, impermeable terrain that funnels torrential rain into narrow river valleys. Yet we continue to build homes, summer camps and schools right on those riverbanks. We experience a flood, rebuild with the help of government-backed insurance and do it all again after the next disaster. The National Flood Insurance Program was not designed to enable repeated spending on doomed homes. Yet, it has done precisely that. It underwrites the rebuilding of homes in inherently unsafe zones, frequently at great public cost. And then there's federal emergency funding, which doubles down after every flood. Low-lying land along rivers and floodplains is not suitable for residential development. Areas near the Guadalupe River — and other flash-flood hot spots — must be rezoned immediately and used for agriculture. State and federal governments should cease issuing rebuilding permits in floodplains, deny NFIP payouts for new construction in those zones and convert flood areas into conservation lands or green infrastructure zones. If homeowners insist on tearing down and rebuilding, fine. But if they want to rebuild below the flood line? Deny the permits. Block the insurance. Let truth in zoning drive rational choices. If we don't legislate smart land use, we will continue to see paddle boats on streets in Houston during hurricane season and sobering headlines every time Gulf Coast rains roll inland. Moshe Alamaro, Cambridge, Massachusetts The writer is a retired atmospheric scientist. As a 17-year-old high school student, I'm terrified by how climate change is making floods such as the one at Camp Mystic this month more frequent and more intense. It's heartbreaking to think of children just like me who might have their lives forever changed or even cut short by increasingly dangerous floods, hurricanes and wildfires. Yet, at the very moment we most need them, our leaders are gutting the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration and the National Weather Service. These agencies give us critical warnings and save lives. By slashing funding for forecasting, research and emergency alerts, we're gambling with the lives of my generation and the ones that will come after. We shouldn't leave our future up to chance. We deserve a country that values keeping people safe over budget cuts that put all of us in danger. Anagha Iyer, Miramar, Florida Regarding Michael J. Coren's July 17 Climate Coach column, 'If we want more affordable housing, we need to get creative': Coren's creative solutions for overcoming the affordable housing deficit are well worth consideration by every public official and civic group seeking to make headway on the issue. Regardless of whether one agrees with all of the proposed strategies, putting a wider range of options on the table is desperately needed. Alternatively, we will remain stuck among 'just build more' thinking, financing challenges, and housing and land use policies that do not consider the significant needs of lower-income people, including older adults. I would add 'maximize use of existing housing stock' as an option. Consider older adults: An AARP survey last year found that 75 percent of adults ages 50 and older hoped to remain in their current home for as long as possible, commonly referred to as 'aging in place.' Of course, some people have the means to keep their homes in good shape and make whatever modifications they want or need. For older people, people with disabilities and others of more modest means, their dwellings might become increasingly uninhabitable. To keep units in habitable condition, particularly for older adults and people with disabilities, we could expand weatherization and accessibility modification services. Resources such as Rebuilding Together could grow and help with necessary modifications as well as regular updating and maintenance. We could incentivize building upon the bones of housing in declining neighborhoods. Home-sharing programs, with protections built in for both owner and renter, are another option to make rent more affordable and offset costs for owners. In doing so, the number of affordable units would increase — again, without building new structures and adding to the supply of affordable units. Or invest in cooperative 'villages,' a concept in which residents in a given area pool their resources to help one another with tasks such as repairs, transportation and appointments. We could also expand in-home health services to make care available and affordable to those whose needs fall far short of assisted living or long-term care. Building more affordable housing is imperative. Capitalizing on existing housing stock should be a part of the equation as well. Irv Katz, Falls Church
Bloomberg
17-07-2025
- Business
- Bloomberg
How to Fight Against Trump's Attack on Clean Energy
The One Big Beautiful Bill Act cuts almost $500 billion in US clean-energy spending, just as the country was starting to get serious about its climate goals. Some say the country is acting like a petrostate, waging war against clean energy. Others are more sanguine and believe that the US will stay the course in the long term. This week on Zero, Akshat Rathi is joined by Jigar Shah, a clean energy expert and former head of the Department of Energy's Loan Programs Office, to make sense of the bill's impacts, and whether it's as bad for climate as it seems.
Forbes
16-07-2025
- Automotive
- Forbes
Bike Leasing Boosts Sustainable Mobility And Economy, New Report Says
A report based on the examination of successful company bike leasing (CBL) programs in Germany found ... More that they delivered social, environmental, and economic returns. Bike leasing by companies could become a powerful catalyst and the 'next big thing' for sustainable mobility if the right financial measures and policies are embraced, unlocking access to cycling for millions of employees and supporting climate goals, healthier cities, and a thriving bike industry. Those are the highlights of a new white paper released earlier this month by the European Cyclists' Federation (ECF), a Brussels-based nonprofit umbrella group with more than 70 member organizations in over 40 countries. 'This model shows the huge potential for cycling in corporate employee mobility with the right fiscal tools in place,' Jill Warren, chief executive of the European Cyclists' Federation, said in a statement. The report, 'Company Bike Leasing for Europe: Germany's Success Model as a Sustainable Mobility Blueprint,' was based on the examination of company bike leasing (CBL) programs in Germany that have delivered social, environmental, and economic returns. Developed in collaboration with JobRad Group, a German company specializing in company bike leasing that also refurbishes bicycles and e-bikes, the report examined how company bike leasing in Germany has led to an active fleet of more than 2 million leased bikes by the end of 2024, with an average annual growth rate of 30% since 2019. If replicated more widely, the paper suggested, similar programs could become a powerful accelerator for sustainable mobility throughout Europe, and become 'a game-changer' for the climate, health, and inclusion, and would be a strong benefit to workers, employers, and the economy. A significant portion – 78% – of leased bikes in Germany are e-bikes, a convenient, fast and sustainable transport alternative to the daily work-place commute, that have a carbon footprint 12 times lower than cars. Programs utilizing these modes have the potential to reduce transport emissions 33.5% in Germany, 22.8% in Sweden, and 24% in the UK, the report cited. In addition to the positive environmental and economic impact, company bike leasing is making cycling accessible to broader segments of society, the report's authors noted, including those in rural areas, people with lower fitness levels, and employees who previously were unable to afford quality e-bikes. 'Leasing (e-)bikes through gross salary conversion can reduce employee costs by up to 40% compared to direct purchase in Germany, with payment spread over several years,' according to the study. 'The scheme has also proven popular with employers: by the end of 2024, nearly 270,000 German companies and public organisations had adopted it.' Beyond mobility, the initiative supports health, talent retention, and corporate sustainability—77% of German companies list bike leasing as a top employee mobility benefit, according to the paper, which noted that bike leasing supports around 489,000 jobs in the wider cycling sector. The report also spotlights how responsible bike leasing programs can advance the circular economy. Through bicycle refurbishing, for example, used bikes that are not purchased by employees at the end of the leasing cycle can be restored and resold —prolonging product life, reducing waste, and creating new employment opportunities. Policymakers and decision makers who enable company bike leasing at European companies, organizations and institutions, and European Union Member States — as well as beyond Europe's borders – should recognize its benefits and use the lessons learned from Germany's successful model, and embrace 'this healthy and climate-friendly form of mobility and transport with positive impact to the economy.' For more information and to read the full report, click here and here.
CTV News
14-07-2025
- Business
- CTV News
Google-backed coalition to help scale ocean, rock carbon removals
LONDON — A coalition backed by Google, Stripe and Shopify will spend US$1.7 million to buy carbon removal credits from three early stage firms on behalf of the tech giants to help scale up the nascent markets, an executive told Reuters. The world is expected to need to suck between five and 10 billion tons a year of carbon emissions out of the atmosphere by mid-century to reach its climate goals, yet at the moment most technologies are small scale. The coalition, called Frontier, is also backed by Meta, H&M Group, JPMorgan Chase and Salesforce, among others. The group, which aggregates demand from its members, will spend $1.7 million to buy credits from U.S.-firm Karbonetiq, Italy-based Limenet and Canadian firm pHathom. By contracting to buy early, the firms are better able to hire, raise finance and get the technologies off the ground, said Hannah Bebbington, head of deployment at Frontier. 'It allows companies to demonstrate commercial viability,' she said. Frontier's support for these early stage firms, which aim to lock emissions away in the ocean or in rocks and industrial waste, marks its fifth series of commitments. Frontier, which was set up in 2022, aims to invest at least $1 billion in carbon removal credits between 2022 and 2030. It has already committed $600 million, some on the series of pre-purchases and the bulk on a series of off-take agreements with larger firms. Last week, it agreed to pay $41 million for 116,000 tons from waste biomass firm Arbor. For oceans, the aim is to increase the alkalinity of the water, helping it to lock away more carbon emissions. This is often done by adding 'quicklime,' made from limestone. For the mineralisation technologies, meanwhile, projects attempt to speed up the process whereby rocks and industrial waste naturally absorb carbon dioxide, for example by crushing up the material to create a larger surface area. Bebbington said both technologies had the potential to be impactful because they could be scaled quickly and cheaply. 'We think (they) are extremely compelling from that really cheap at really large scale perspective.' (Reporting by Simon Jessop; Editing by Susan Fenton)
CNA
14-07-2025
- Business
- CNA
Google-backed coalition to help scale ocean, rock carbon removals
LONDON :A coalition backed by Google, Stripe and Shopify will spend $1.7 million to buy carbon removal credits from three early stage firms on behalf of the tech giants to help scale up the nascent markets, an executive told Reuters. The world is expected to need to suck between five and 10 billion tons a year of carbon emissions out of the atmosphere by mid-century to reach its climate goals, yet at the moment most technologies are small scale. The coalition, called Frontier, is also backed by Meta, H&M Group, JPMorgan Chase and Salesforce, among others. The group, which aggregates demand from its members, will spend $1.7 million to buy credits from U.S.-firm Karbonetiq, Italy-based Limenet and Canadian firm pHathom. By contracting to buy early, the firms are better able to hire, raise finance and get the technologies off the ground, said Hannah Bebbington, head of deployment at Frontier. "It allows companies to demonstrate commercial viability," she said. Frontier's support for these early stage firms, which aim to lock emissions away in the ocean or in rocks and industrial waste, marks its fifth series of commitments. Frontier, which was set up in 2022, aims to invest at least $1 billion in carbon removal credits between 2022 and 2030. It has already committed $600 million, some on the series of pre-purchases and the bulk on a series of off-take agreements with larger firms. Last week, it agreed to pay $41 million for 116,000 tons from waste biomass firm Arbor. For oceans, the aim is to increase the alkalinity of the water, helping it to lock away more carbon emissions. This is often done by adding "quicklime", made from limestone. For the mineralisation technologies, meanwhile, projects attempt to speed up the process whereby rocks and industrial waste naturally absorb carbon dioxide, for example by crushing up the material to create a larger surface area. Bebbington said both technologies had the potential to be impactful because they could be scaled quickly and cheaply.
