| News on Climate Action, page 4 | ||
High gasoline prices continue to lead to changes in behavior. The Federal Highway Administration during the first four months of 2008 charts the longest sustained drop in the last 25 years of nationwide vehicle miles traveled. Other responses to the fuel price signal:
But lest we think this is all good news, it’s also important to note that higher gasoline prices are causing real hardship for Americans:
And for those who count on elected officials to embrace higher energy costs to drive further changes in behavior, take a look at this striking graph showing how President Bush’s approval rating during his two terms has moved down in near lock-step with increases in gasoline prices:
Natural resource managers say global warming, wildlife don't mix, Idaho Statesman, June 25, 2008. Public land managers from the Northwest gather to discuss strategies to adapt wildlife management to the impacts of climate change, possibly even including the choice of which species to let go extinct. Geology prime for CO2 project, Durango Herald, June 23, 2008. Industry and government collaboratively research injection of carbon dioxide into Colorado and New Mexico deep coal beds to stimulate methane production. Company must curb CO2 venting, Casper Star-Tribune, June 11, 2008. The Wyoming Oil and Gas Conservation Commission orders Exxon-Mobil to reduce its venting of carbon dioxide and make it available for enhanced oil recovery. Waste trashing climate, Boulder Daily Camera, June 6, 2008. Eric Lombardi, executive director of Eco-Cycle in Boulder, Colorado, co-authors a new report that says emissions of heat-trapping gases related to waste total 37% of all sources and a 90% recycling rate is achievable, the equivalent of closing down about one fifth of U.S. coal plants. Arizona may enact emissions rules similar to California's, Associated Press, May 7, 2008. Meanwhile, in Arizona the Governor’s Regulatory Review Council finds that rules proposed by the Department of Environmental Quality to adopt the California clean car standards are within the agency’s legal authority and have undergone sufficient analysis and public review. Governor Janet Napolitano is expected to veto a bill that would require legislative approval of executive-branch climate change actions such as adoption of the California clean car standards and participation in the Western Climate Initiative’s cap and trade system now under development.
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