Shipping Coal Abroad Is Banned by Oakland, California
T he city of Oakland California has unanimously turned down permitting of a large coal transshipping terminal on its waterfront. Earlier, an even larger terminal project in Washington State was rejected because it would have infringed Native American rights. In view of the undisputed and urgent need to limit the level of atmospheric carbon dioxide, governments at all levels, local, state or provincial, and national, must act to limit greenhouse gas emissions. The action by Oakland is fully consistent with, indeed was driven by, this necessity for action. Oakland , California . Development of an export terminal in the city of Oakland, California for the shipment of American coal to China and other overseas users was unanimously rejected by the Oakland City Council on June 27, 2016 ( The New York Times , June 29, 2016 ). The coal is being mined in Utah and other western states. A principal reason for voting the terminal down was that it,...