A summary of today’s top climate and clean energy stories. Email the team on [email protected] or get in touch via Twitter.
Air pollution may be responsible for more than 2 million deaths around the world each year. (Source: Señor Codo)
Research: Air pollution may be responsible for more than 2 million deaths around the world each year, according to a new study by the University of North Carolina. The study also found that 470,000 deaths yearly are linked with human sources of ozone, which forms when pollutants from sources such as cars or factories come together and react. Exposure to ozone has been linked to death from respiratory diseases. (Eco Business)
US: The University of California Santa Cruz study has concluded that a CalEnergy geothermal field near the Salton Sea in Southern California is triggering small earthquakes very close to the San Andreas Fault. (Orville MR)
Indonesia: Greenpeace has released maps which it says show fire hotspots in the Riau province of Sumatra, Indonesia, on plantation land owned by subsidiaries of member companies of the Roundtable on Sustainable Palm Oil (RSPO). The companies include Jatim Jaya Perkasa – an alleged past offender which missed two deadlines to provide information to the RSPO, and palm oil giant the Sime Darby group – which the RSPO had cleared of wrongdoing earlier this week. (Guardian)
China/US: China and the USA, the world’s two largest emitters of greenhouse gases, have agreed five new actions aimed at cutting pollution from vehicles and power stations. The non-binding climate plan will focus on reducing emissions from vehicles, carbon capture and storage technologies, energy efficient buildings, smart grids and greenhouse gas data. (RTCC)
Europe: Biofuels are set to play a diminished role in EU efforts to cut carbon emissions after EU Parliamentarians voted to curb the use of crop-based fuels. The European Environment Committee backed proposals to reduce the share of food-based biofuel used in vehicles to 5.5% of total consumption. (RTCC)
UK: The UK is set to break its own record for the world’s largest offshore windfarm after a 288 turbine generating 1,200MW project was unveiled by energy chief Ed Davey. Located off the Lincolnshire and Norfolk coast, the Triton Knoll Offshore Wind Farm will cost £3.6 billion, creating over 1,000 jobs and providing power to 820,000 homes. (RTCC)