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California Gov. Jerry Brown yesterday announced an executive order establishing the most ambitious greenhouse gas reduction target in North America - a goal to reduce emissions 40 percent below 1990 levels by 2030. PG&E said it applauds the new goal and says it is attainable "with the right structures."

Revised government figures in Japan showed that greenhouse gas emissions were the second-highest on record for the year ended March 2014, with a total of 1.552 billion tons of carbon dioxide emissions. The record emissions level was set in 2007 at 1.556 billion tons. Japan's 48 nuclear reactors provided 26% of the country's electricity in the past, but all have been shut down since September 2013

China pledged to reduce its CO2 emissions by 60-65% per unit of GDP by 2030, compared to 2005 levels. The country also pledged to procure 20% of its electricity from non-fossil fuel sources by 2030.

Google has attached pollution sensors to a select number of its Street View cars as part of a pilot program, in partnership with environmental sensor network company Aclima. The project is intended to help civic leaders improve the well-being of their citizens by identifying highly polluted urban areas.

The Obama administration is poised to announce the first federal rules mandating reductions in methane emissions. The proposals would require 40% to 45% reductions in methane emissions from 2012 levels over the next decade

The French Government passed legislation to cut the country's energy consumption 50% by 2050, reduce nuclear power production to 50% of the energy mix, and increase renewable energy to 32% of total energy consumption by 2030. The law also requires the country to reduce its carbon emissions 40% by 2030, compared to 1990 levels.

Starwood Hotels & Resorts plans to save more than $1 billion over the next 10 years through energy-efficiency initiatives and other environmental programs. The effort will include employees at all levels of the company, says sustainability chief Andrea Pinabell. "Small actions taken by our more than 180,000 associates worldwide have the ability to make a profound impact on our hotels, communities and business," she said. 

"AB 96 passed 26-13, reflecting widespread support for the measure, which aims to take a step toward reducing pressure on wild elephants and rhinos that are being poached at unprecedented levels across Africa and Asia. "

If the EPA lowers ground-level ozone - a decision it is likely to make this month - some businesses, cities and regions will be affected more than others, HPAC Engineering reports.

Costco Wholesale Corporation will stop sourcing its salmon from Chile due to "record levels" of antibiotic use by farmers, according to Reuters. The company will begin sourcing "antibiotic-free" salmon from Norway.

The Environmental Protection Agency published its final Clean Power Plan rule on Monday. Under the rule, the U.S. will be required to reduce its carbon emission 32% below 2005 levels by 2030. The solar and wind industries have praised the rule. "American wind power can do this. Low-cost wind energy reduced carbon emissions by 5% in 2014, and we're capable of doing a lot more," said American Wind Energy Association CEO Tom Kiernan. 

China is building ecocities in droves. Dozens of these green-branded, new frontiers of urbanism are already in an advanced state of development, and upwards of 200 more are on the way. In fact, over 80 per cent of all prefecture level cities in the country (the administrative division below "province") have at least one ecocity project in the works. Over the coming decades, it has been estimated, 50 per cent of China's new urban developments will be stamped with labels such as "eco," "green," "low carbon," or "smart".

China's largest online travel agency, began selling haze travel insurance to compensate domestic tourists that spend time in major cities affected by smog. Travelers will be able to file claims if they spend at least 2 days in cities with high smog levels.

Since 2007, the World Wildlife Fund and Coca-Cola have jointly raised tens of millions of dollars for water conservation projects. The partnership proved a winner for both organizations, write E. Richard Brownlee and Allison Elias. "What began as a relationship full of risk and uncertainty grew into a robust partnership built on trust at all levels of the organizations," they explain

The world's climate negotiators are in Lima this week for talks that it's hoped could yield a new global accord on tackling climate change. The deal between Beijing and Washington has paved the way for meaningful discussions at the global level, participants say. "The prospects are so much better than they've ever been," said former Mexican President Felipe Calderon.

Weber State University has saved $1.4 million by reducing energy consumption since 2013, following the purchase of a system enabling real-time data at the sub-meter level for its entire portfolio of energy systems and using Lucid's BuildingOS to make performance data instantly accessible.

NRG Energy announced new long-term sustainability targets, which include slashing carbon-dioxide emissions from 2014 levels 50 percent by 2030 and 90 percent by 2050.

Ritz cheese and cracker snack packaging, paint color and yellow spray paint have the highest levels of the banned substance polychlorinated biphenyl among products tested, according to a report released Thursday by the Washington State Department of Ecology.

The Boston Green Ribbon Commission reports that Boston-based hospitals reduced total energy use by 6% in 2013 compared to 2011 levels. The reduction in energy use resulted in around $11.9 million in cost savings since 2011.

Fairmont Hotels & Resorts became the first hotel brand to meet World Wildlife Fund's Climate Savers targets by reducing its operational CO2 emissions by 20%, compared to 2006 levels.