California’s new rule would triple the number of electric vehicles sold by 2026. This year’s hurricane season is expected to be more intense.
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California proposes to triple EV sales by 2026
According to a new proposal from California’s Air Resources Board, 35 percent of all new California cars would be electric by 2026.
Gov. Gavin Newson (D) has set a target of fully phasing out new fossil fuel-powered cars, the source of about 25 percent of the states greenhouse gas emissions, by 2035. This is the first state to establish a phaseout plan for vehicles. The new proposal would triple the sales of electric vehicles in the next four year.
What does this all mean? These regulations and standards expand on the previous version of the program, which was only in effect until 2025 for vehicle models. Kathy Harris, a Natural Resources Defense Council Clean Vehicles and Fuels Advocate, spoke to The Hill. These standards are an expansion of the program that has been in effect for several years.
The story so far: This latest action comes as gas prices continue to rise, especially in the wake of the Russian invasion of Ukraine. However, price has been a significant barrier to widespread consumer adoption for electric vehicles. Harris described standards like those announced Tuesday as a step towards removing these obstacles to wider ownership.
These standards will result in more electric cars or trucks being on the roads, which will help drivers avoid volatile gas prices. [because]She stated that electric cars and the transition from gasoline-powered vehicles can reduce fuel costs for drivers.
However, not every environmental group was enthusiastic about the proposal. Wednesday’s statement by the Center for Biological Diversity stated that the rule was inadequate and would not be sufficient to meet the state’s goal of carbon neutrality in 2045.
Find out more about the proposal.
Wetter hurricanes were caused by climate change in 2020
The climate change is responsible for hurricanes that were created by the 2020 wetter.
The study, published Tuesday in the journal Nature Communications, found that human-caused climate change led to a 5 percent increase in rainfall in all named storms and 8 percent increase in rainfall during hurricane-strength storms.
Study author Kevin Reed said in a statement that more rain during hurricanes can make them more dangerous.
Hurricanes can be devastating and storms that produce more hourly rain are more dangerous because they can cause damage flooding and storm surge and destruction to everything in their path, Reed stated.
How did they figure it? He said that our findings show that humans are causing more frequent and faster rainfall. This has direct consequences for coastal communities as well as outlying areas.
Researchers used modeling to compare a simulation of the real world to simulations of a world that has no human influence on the climate system.
The 2020 season had 30 named storms, those with winds of at least 39 miles per hour, which is the most on record.
So far, climate change has been responsible for more than 1 degree celsius of warming. Global leaders have stated that it is essential to limit the warming to 1.5 degrees to reduce its most destructive effects.
Find out more about the study.
FORECASTERS PREDICT A HURRICANE SEASON ABOVE-NORMAL 2022
The 2022 hurricane season will be above normal, according to predictions from tropical weather forecasters at AccuWeather.
According to the forecaster, Dan Kottlowski, a veteran meteorologist and hurricane expert, predicted that there is a greater than normal chance that a major hurricane will make landfall in the United States, Puerto Rico, and the U.S Virgin Islands.
In particular, the forecaster predicted 16-20 named hurricanes. Three to five storms from these are expected to reach hurricane status.
AccuWeather forecasters expect the Atlantic hurricane season to begin on June 1. However, AccuWeather warned that active preseason storms could also occur and advised people living in hurricane-prone areas that they should be prepared for a difficult season.
These latest forecasts are based upon two particularly severe years of storms.
The 2020 hurricane season was particularly severe with a record 30 named storms. AccuWeather reports that 21 named storms were recorded the next year.
Only 14 named hurricanes are common in a 30-year period.
AccuWeather says that a weak La Nia is currently in place, which will contribute to the harshness and intensity of the 2022 hurricane season, especially at the beginning.
Learn more.
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