By Nini Gu
Data recently collected by EDF’s MethaneAIR project in 2023 reveals a striking difference in the emissions profiles between the two major Colorado basins: the Denver-Julesburg (D-J) in the east, and the Piceance in the west. The D-J Basin exhibited a 1.7% methane loss rate from the total natural gas produced; by contrast, the loss rate for the Piceance Basin hit 7%, a high figure among all surveyed basins.
By Pedro Piris-Cabezas and Glenda Chen
The adoption of electricity-based synthetic fuels, also known as e-fuels, will be essential for any hard-to-decarbonize sector with a stake in a resilient liquid fuels market. Chief among them is aviation.
The shift to electric trucks is accelerating faster than ever. This has been another record year for medium- and heavy-duty electric vehicle deployment, with 2024 outpacing 2023 as the best year yet for EV adoption, according to a new Environmental Defense Fund analysis of Class 2b-8 fleet announcements.
By Kae Tuitt and Lindsay Shigetomi
Fleet electrification comes with unique challenges, yet fleets are finding ways to overcome these obstacles and put zero-emission vehicles on the road because the benefits are worth it. A zero-emission fleet leads to less air pollution, improved community health, new business prospects and financial savings such as lower maintenance and operational costs. According to an Environmental Defense Fund analysis, more than five times the amount of medium- and heavy-duty EVs were put into service in 2023 than in the previous year. Despite the challenges, businesses are leading the charge to successfully deploy EVs into their operations in pursuit of a zero-emission future.
With COP29 just around the corner, the reality of how far we still have to go to meet global climate goals is coming into focus. A new United Nations (UN) Climate Change report finds “current national climate plans fall miles short of what’s needed”. Similarly, the UN Environment Programme reports that national pledges would only reduce emissions 4-10% below 2019 levels by 2030.
Yet, hydrogen is one of the climate opportunities that governments, industry and investors are excited about. Hundreds of billions of dollars in investment, as well as more than 50 national hydrogen strategies and roadmaps, have been put on the table to develop it. And the COP29 Presidency is focusing on putting those plans into action, with a new declaration that lays out what is required to address regulatory, technological, financing and standardization barriers to market acceleration.
Notably this includes a call for actions to ensure hydrogen deployment achieves maximum climate benefits. This is the crucial point if we want to avoid hydrogen becoming just another failed climate strategy. Whether labeled zero emission or low carbon, hydrogen is not a silver bullet: Poorly deployed, it can produce limited climate benefits, or even be worse for the climate in the near term (20 years from now) than the fossil systems it is slated to replace. This is because hydrogen is highly energy intensive to produce, and its production, management and use can trigger climate-warming emissions.
America’s ports are hotbeds for toxic air pollution due to the diesel-powered ships and port vehicles that move our goods from sea to land. This pollution causes all kinds of health problems for nearby communities — from asthma and lung disease, to premature birth and death — which is why today’s announcement from the Environmental Protection Agency is so important.
