California is poised to ban the sale of gas-powered vehicles starting in 2035 in a massive push toward EV adoption being heralded as a major win in the fight against climate change.
Why it matters: The plan would effectively start the clock on what would be a huge challenge for an industry already facing production shortfalls, stressed supply chains and unforeseen cost challenges for electric vehicles.
The White House is more than happy to point out gasoline prices have been falling for over two months. But Democrats aren't out of the political woods on energy costs.
The big picture: Crude prices — the biggest variable in gas prices — have regained ground over the last couple of weeks after falling steeply in recent months.
An array of groups is pressing the Transportation Department to ensure federally funded EV charging stations are accessible to drivers who lack contactless credit cards and face other barriers, Ben writes.
Why it matters: Operating regulations risk freezing out people in low-income and communities of color who lack banking services or are "underbanked," the National Consumer Law Center warns.
The dugong, a gentle sea animal that lived in China's southern waters for hundreds of years, is now functionally extinct in China, per research by the Zoological Society of London (ZSL) and the Chinese Academy of Sciences.
Driving the news: There have been no records of evidence of dugongs presence in China since 2008, making it likely "that this is the first functional extinction of a large mammal in China’s coastal waters," per ZSL.
Celebrities including Kim and Kourtney Kardashian, Kevin Hart and Sylvester Stallone have been served with notices for exceeding their monthly water budgets at least four times, according to officials in California.
Driving the news: They're among more than 1,600 people who have exceeded their water budgets by 150% as the state faces a water and drought crisis exacerbated by climate change, Las Virgenes Municipal Water District spokesperson Mike McNutt told Axios on Tuesday evening.
Volkswagen plans to buy stakes in Canadian mines and mine operators, per a company director, and has signed a related MOU with the Canadian government.
Why it matters: This would help the German automaker ensure access to raw materials for battery production, including nickel, cobalt and lithium. It also would help VW sidestep new U.S. tariffs imposed by the Inflation Reduction Act.
Restrictions on the use of private jets in France may be on the horizon after Transport Minister Clément Beaune floated the idea of further regulations on the European level.
Why it matters: Private jet use surged during the pandemic despite the copious amounts of CO2 these flights emit.
The Democrats' new climate law could cut related damages by as much as $1.9 trillion through 2050 by reducing impacts from extreme weather events, sea level rise and more, according to a new White House analysis shared first with Axios.
Why it matters: The economic ramifications of climate change are potentially staggering, eating into U.S. GDP by the end of the century, reports have warned.
In a six-month trial, New York Cityhas equipped 50 municipal vehicles with "intelligent speed assistance" — software that can make a car obey the speed limit.
Why it matters: While you probably haven't heard of intelligent speed assistance — ISA — you're about to: In July, the European Union mandated its use in new models of vehicles; in 2024, it'll be compulsory in all new cars sold there.
Heavy rains across the U.S. South and Southwest triggered flooding that killed at least one person in Texas and prompted evacuations in Arizona on Monday — as the storms caused hundreds of flight cancellations.
Threat level: The National Weather Service warns the widespread heavy rain and flooding is expected to persist throughout the week, advancing slowly into the Lower Mississippi Valley and South.
