by Maia Draper & Phillip Martin
Transportation accounts for 24% of greenhouse gas emissions in Texas. Throughout the state, areas with the greatest concentration of traffic are often found to be in nonattainment — a designation from the Environmental Protection Agency that pollution levels exceed air quality standards. Texas’ cities can engage in transportation and environmental planning that reduces pollution and improves health outcomes for communities around the state.
The Posidonia shipping exhibition in Greece put innovation on display, yet what stood out was the industry’s cautious approach to decarbonization, particularly the absence of discussions on lifecycle analysis of marine fuels. This is crucial as we approach the 82nd Marine Environment Protection Committee meeting at the International Maritime Organization in September, where negotiations to account for the full lifecycle of marine fuels will be key to designing measures to achieve essential emissions reductions goals and decarbonize the sector.
Image credit: © European Union, 2024
By Anna Lóránt and Léa Pilsner
The EU is finalising its Delegated Act on Low Carbon Fuels, a critical piece of its hydrogen policy. This is more than just a low-stakes technical step. If done right, it could significantly advance the EU’s decarbonisation agenda, showing the ‘Green Deal in action’. The details matter because this act will lay the foundation for Europe’s hydrogen industry and shape how effectively the EU meets its climate goals.
By Marie Cabbia Hubatova and Angie Farrag-Thibault
At a time when it is critical to eliminate our dependence on fossil fuels, the shipping industry is endeavoring to do its part to decarbonize and keep global temperature rise below 1.5 degrees Celsius. Its success depends on there being sufficient clean fuel supply to substitute fossil fuels — but we are not on track. We need robust near-term decisions at the International Maritime Organization and in member states to bring investment security to steer the industry transition onto course.
Image courtesy of © Audioundwerbung | Dreamstime.com
The EU’s hydrogen ambitions are facing a reality check. Despite an ambitious strategy launched in 2020 and ongoing work to establish a comprehensive policy framework, recent forecasts suggest hydrogen deployment is lagging behind initial targets. However, this moment offers an opportunity for reflection and provides valuable lessons not just for Europe, but also for other regions.
Ted Auch, FracTracker Alliance, 2020.
By Magdalen Sullivan & Kate Roberts
As the U.S. oil and gas industry expands, the vast network of largely unregulated pipelines that transport unprocessed natural gas —known as gathering pipelines — has crept closer and closer to residential communities. Most gathering pipelines are currently exempt from regular inspection, which means that leaks and other problems in these pipes can, and routinely do, go undetected.
