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Final session on international mercury convention this week expected to culminate in agreement; UNEP Global Mercury Assessment 2013 finds industrial source Hg emissions may be rising

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The fifth and final session of negotiations on the establishment of an international mercury convention—International Negotiating Committee on Mercury (INC5)—is taking place this coming week in Geneva. UNEP produced its first Global Mercury Assessment in 2002 and a subsequent study in 2007.

Mercury 262
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PCAST suggests 6 key components for climate change strategy to President Obama; adaptation and mitigation

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The President’s Council of Advisors on Science and Technology (PCAST) released a letter to President Obama describing six key components the advisory group believes should be central to the Administration’s strategy for addressing climate change. Both approaches are essential parts of an integrated strategy for dealing with climate change.

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EPA proposes CO2 emission standards for new fossil fuel-fired power plants

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The US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has proposed Clean Air Act standards to reduce CO 2 emissions from fossil-fuel fired power plants (electric utility generating units, EGUs). The proposed rulemaking establishes separate standards for natural gas and coal plants. In 2012, EPA issued a proposed standard for EGUs.

EPA 236
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Berkeley study finds renewable portfolio standards insufficient to meet 2030 GHG emission targets; new policy required

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Their analysis also found that current renewable portfolio standards (RPS) are insufficient to meet emission reduction targets by 2030 without new policy. Additional policy action throughout Western North America will be required to meet climate targets, Kammen said. —Daniel Kammen.

Renewable 231
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California ARB and NOAA Collaborating in $20M Research on Interaction of Air Pollution and Climate Change; One Atmosphere Approach

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Schematic diagram of the trade-offs between the implications for regional air quality and global climate change of new policies for management of the atmosphere. The project builds upon the idea that air quality and climate change issues are linked through “one atmosphere”, an approach that demands coordination and multi-tiered approaches.

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EPA Administrator Outlines Seven Key Themes for Agency in 2010 and Beyond

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The seven themes are: Taking Action on Climate Change. In all of this, we must also recognize that climate change will affect other parts of our core mission, such as protecting air and water quality, and we must include those considerations in our future plans. Improving Air Quality.

EPA 170
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Study from Thuringia shows 50% of harmful soot comes from local sources, 50% from long-distance transport

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From the researchers’ point of view, this underlines the need to further reduce emissions of soot that is harmful to health and the climate, as the carbon-containing particles still contribute to health hazards and climate warming even over distances of several hundred kilometers. The EU Air Quality Directive is to be updated by 2022.