[GWSG] Sweden: net 0 emissions by 2045; US regs attacked; US anti-climate actions bills; global CH4 emissions; E-cars selling bigly

[Tilley, Al]

1.  Sweden has announced a target of eliminating net greenhouse gas emissions by 2045.  Climate Minister Isabella Lövin tweeted a photo parodying Trump signing the global abortion gag executive order, and warned that the EU was going to have to take more of a leadership role since "the US is not there anymore to lead".  https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2017/feb/03/sweden-criticises-us-climate-stance-as-it-reveals-ambitious-carbon-emissions-law



2.  Through its stable of Republican politicians the US fossil fuel industry is having its way with government regulations, rushing to undo all it can as quickly as it can.  Through such measures as eliminating their reporting of payments made to foreign countries the industry is trying to prevent oversight of its activities.  https://www.nytimes.com/2017/02/04/us/politics/republicans-oil-gas-regulations.html?emc=edit_tnt_20170204&nlid=43628374&tntemail0=y&_r=0



3.  The extreme examples of the legislation mentioned in the previous item are two bills to halt governmental action on climate.  The Republicans are moving to eliminate greenhouse gasses from the Clean Air Act, with the effect of removing the legislative mandate to deal with global warming.  The "Stopping EPA Overreach Act of 2017" stipulates that no regulation, rule, or policy with negative impact on employment may take effect unless specifically authorized by congress.  A companion act, Regulations from the Executive in Need of Scrutiny, would negate any regulation costing over $100m a year.  Neither are likely to survive filibuster by Senate democrats.   https://www.theguardian.com/environment/climate-consensus-97-per-cent/2017/feb/06/repeal-without-replace-a-dangerous-gop-strategy-on-obamacare-and-climate   It may be too late to impede seriously the transition to renewable energy, but we run an increasing risk of losing the opportunity to control the global thermostat, so I have broken my rule of not running items on pending legislation.  If you have any favors to call in with legislators, now would be a good time.



4.  A new Austrian analysis finds that methane emissions from oil extraction are far higher globally than has been estimated-as much as double in some locations.  Local conditions and practices had not been considered well.  http://climatenewsnetwork.net/oils-methane-emissions-far-higher/



5.  Electric car sales in the US saw a 37% increase in 2016.  Globally, the increase was 41%.  The rise in oil demand is still strong.  http://www.forbes.com/sites/rrapier/2017/02/05/u-s-electric-vehicle-sales-soared-in-2016/#716e9d053a7f  ?

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