Conservative climate denial still present in America

Sondra Båtstrand at the University of Bergen in Norway conducted a study comparing the positions of conservative parties around the world on climate change, according to The Guardian.

Båtstrand looked at the platforms of conservatives parties across the U.S., the U.K., Norway, Sweden, Spain, Canada, New Zealand, Australia and Germany.

However, the U.S. Republicans are the only party that does not think tackling climate change is a must. A factor contributing to this viewpoint is the immense profit and political influence of the fossil fuel industry, according to The Guardian.

“The [Republican] party seems to treat climate change as a non-issue,” Båstrand said in the study.

Another factor in why climate change is such an issue (or lack of one) is the political polarization among republicans. According the Washington Post’s Christopher Ingraham, the conservative ideology score is the highest it’s been in 50 years.

To put it in simpler terms: conservatives of 35 years and even 20 years ago would be considered liberal compared to today’s standards.

Republicans view climate change as a democratic issue instead of a scientific or critical risk management issue, according to The Guardian.

Solar energy could be the new California cash crop

More than 500,000 acres of farmland in California will lay fallow this year, according to National Geographic.

The recent drought has sprung debates over water allotment and a new law is requiring half of all electricity come from renewable resources such as solar and wind energy by the year 2030.

There is a silver lining though—clean energy needs land and farmers have that land. Almost a third of California’s major solar facilities are on cropland or pastures, according to new research.

Additionally, the land is attractive to developers because it’s already disturbed and eliminates any endangered species concerns that might crop up.

Farmers can also lease the land out to solar energy companies for 25-30 years. At the end of the term, the farmer can reclaim the land for crops.  

VW scandal killing all the bugs (literally)

In September, Volkswagen faced the possibility of billions of dollars in fines from federal regulations for intentionally falsifying emissions performance with software in its vehicles, according to Mother Jones magazine.

VW installed a device that would detect when it was undergoing an emissions test. At the time of the test, the engine would operate within the emission standard guidelines.

At all other times, the car would produce emissions of harmful gasses such as nitrogen oxide, which causes smog and is the leading cause of respiratory ailments, according to Mother Jones.

The fine named half a dozen models sold from 2009 to present and the Environmental Protection Agency just announced it’s expanding its investigation to include three more models of cars.

In a testimony to Congress last month, VW’s chief of U.S. operations said the problem came from a handful of German engineers and not from the company’s top management.

On-the-ground research shows rate of Greenland melting

Scientists recently completed the first ever on-the-ground research to collect data on the rate in which Greenland is melting into the Pacific Ocean.

The New York Times reported that three scientists on a $778,000 grant from NASA measured data from one of the many “icy rivers” that crisscross along the porous Greenland ice shelf.

The scientists will cross-reference the data gathered by satellites to determine the accuracy of rising sea levels and the rate of Greenland’s melting. This information could be used to predict when and how quickly sea levels will rise in coming years.

According to data gathered by NASA, the sea has risen about 3.22 millimeters per year since 1993. The data gathered by these three scientists could either dispel this information, or reaffirm it.

“But to really know what’s happening, that kind of understanding can only come about through empirical measurements in the field,” a scientist was quoted saying in the article.

 
Key witness admits to lying in Amazon pollution case

Drama has erupted in the two-decade long Chevron pollution case in the Ecuadorian Amazon after a key witness admitted to lying under oath, news outlets reported.

According to VICE News, Alberto Guerra, a former Ecuadorian judge who was a star witness, accepted large bribes and other money benefits to help ensure Chevron would win the case.

In 2014, Chevron avoided paying a $9.5 billion fine for deliberate pollution of the Ecuadorian Amazon in the 22 year long legal battle.

Guerra was reportedly bargaining with the worldwide oil giant to cooperate in the trial and make certain deals, VICE reports.  He apparently lied to Chevron, saying the plaintiffs in the case offered him $300,000, hoping that he would receive a larger counter offer.     

“Yes sir, I lied there,” Guerra was reported saying in VICE.

Environmental group Amazon Watch is now pushing for a full investigation, and for Chevron’s lawyers to be investigated and brought on charges, reports commondreams.org.