Beijing meets air quality standards for the first time
Since 2013, levels of particulate pollution in China’s capital have dropped 63 percent, China Daily reported.
Air pollution
U.S. to begin regulating methane emissions from oil and gas wells
Oil and gas wells, even abandoned ones, are a huge source of emissions. The regulation of methane from oil and gas operations will cut methane emissions by an estimated 41 million tons between 2023 and 2035.
105 countries pledge to cut methane emissions by 30% by 2030
The Global Methane Pledge announced at COP26, commits signatories, including the US, Japan and Canada, to reducing their overall emissions by 30% by 2030, compared with 2020 levels.
More than 100 countries pledge to end deforestation by 2030 at COP26
In the first major deal to come out of the COP26 climate talks, more than 100 countries have pledged to halt and reverse deforestation by 2030. The signatories hold more than 85% of the world’s forests.
Brazil and Chile become world’s first countries to fully approve methane-busting feed additive for cows
Just a quarter teaspoon of Royal DMS’s Bovaer per cow per day consistently reduces burped methane emission by approximately 30% for dairy cows and even higher percentages (up to 90%) for beef cows.
New satellite network to find and monitor methane super-emitters
“These sort of methane emissions are kind of like invisible wildfires across the landscape,” Carbon Mapper CEO and University of Arizona research scientist Riley Duren said.
In 24 years, California has cut toxic air pollution by 78%, resulting in 82% fewer attributable deaths
Scientists at UC Berkeley are hailing the state’s diesel engine standards and other measures imposed over a number of years, even in the face of loosened environmental regulations in recent years.
Athens is tackling urban air pollution and heat stress with “pocket parks”
In an effort to curb air pollution from vehicles — which are responsible for 70 percent of greenhouse gas emissions — the city is now closing traffic lanes and transforming them into bicycle paths, pedestrian walks, and small areas of greenery. It is also renovating fountains which can lower temperatures and improve air quality,
Toxic sulfur dioxide emissions fell across India, Russia, and China last year– dropping 6% globally
In 2019, the levels of anthropogenic SO2 emissions fell worldwide by 6%. In only the second time ever, SO2 emissions fell in all three of the countries most responsible for emitting it: China, India, and Russia.
Thailand gets fleet of electric ferries to help clean up Bangkok
27 zero-emission passenger ferries will soon replace a hodgepodge of aging diesels in Bangkok’s Chao Phraya River as part of an exploratory bid to improve air quality and clean up the water supply in the Thai capitol.