Using a new method of measuring global sulfur dioxide emissions, scientists found 39 man-made sources missing from previous inventories. The overlooked sources, responsible for between 7 and 14 million metric tons of the air pollutant, mainly correspond with oil and gas operations and power plants. Washington Post
Lower load forecasts—thanks to the growing number of solar projects and increased energy efficiency—led to the cancellation of 13 of Pacific Gas & Electric's expensive transmission projects. And that means more green for everyone! Greentech Media
Protect the Bears Ears
Urge President Obama to designate this special area in Utah as a national monument.
Researchers estimate more than a third of the coral in the northern and central Great Barrier Reef has died as a result of the recent mass bleaching event and more than half of the coral near Cooktown. The latest stats follow the ecosystem's omission (at the request of the Australian government) from a UN report on how climate change is affecting World Heritage Sites. Christian Science Monitor
A new report by the United Nations Environment Programme finds that crops stressed by extreme weather conditions are producing more chemical compounds—like nitrate and prussic acid—to protect themselves. In large amounts, these compounds can be toxic to people. Reuters
The rule, aimed at assessing greenhouse gas management practices, would require the contractors to report if and where they track emissions, any emissions reduction goals, and how climate change threatens their work. The Hill
Bitumen in open-pit mines releases vapor into the atmosphere. When exposed to sunlight, the vapor turns into secondary organic aerosols—particles that form smog and pose a threat to human health. A new paper says that the rate of particle production from tar sands is on par with that of the Deepwater Horizon disaster (only it's been going on for decades, not months). New York Times
A decadelong study found that Americans living in places with more air pollution had a 20 percent acceleration in the rate of atherosclerosis, a buildup of plaque in the arteries that can lead to heart attacks and strokes. Breathing unhealthy air has long been linked to heart disease, but this study is the first to pinpoint the biological processes at work. ThinkProgress
A new study finds that when cattle are given antibiotics, their dung produces nearly twice as much methane as the dung of non-treated cows. The meds also change the composition of gut microbes in the dung beetles that feed on cow pies, which the researchers say could disrupt the insects’ behavior and lead to downstream effects on the ecosystem. New Scientist
Beyond Meat, a California tech company dedicated to plant protein, is debuting its “Beyond Burger” next week at Whole Foods. The patty is designed to smell and look like the real thing—brown on the outside, pink on the inside (a look achieved with pulverized beets)—but without the environmental impact of beef. New York Times