Wed.Nov 13, 2024

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NEPA in the Supreme Court (Part III)

Legal Planet

In prior posts, we’ve discussed the potential importance of the Seven Counties case, how the petitioners have made very aggressive arguments to shrink the scope of NEPA, arguments based on very narrow understandings of the kinds of causation that should be considered under NEPA, and how those arguments are inconsistent with the statute and would lead to absurd results.

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Glaciers Reveal When Volcanoes Are on Brink of Eruption

Yale E360

New research shows that glaciers near active volcanoes flow faster than other glaciers. The findings suggest it would be possible to predict volcanic eruptions by tracking the speed of glaciers.

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How Much Battery Storage Does Illinois Need? 

Union of Concerned Scientists

Energy storage, or the storing of electricity for later use on the power grid, plays an important role in the clean energy transition. Many states have established targets or goals for deploying increased amounts of storage on the grid. Illinois is currently considering policy proposals to establish a statewide energy storage target. To inform the amount of storage the state should seek, the Union of Concerned Scientists (UCS) conducted a modeling analysis of the Illinois power system to assess

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The U.S. Must Lead the Global Fight against Superbugs

Scientific American

Antimicrobial resistance could claim 39 million lives by 2050, yet the pipeline for new antibiotics is drying up. U.S.

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How to Drive Cost Savings, Efficiency Gains, and Sustainability Wins with MES

Speaker: Nikhil Joshi, Founder & President of Snic Solutions

Is your manufacturing operation reaching its efficiency potential? A Manufacturing Execution System (MES) could be the game-changer, helping you reduce waste, cut costs, and lower your carbon footprint. Join Nikhil Joshi, Founder & President of Snic Solutions, in this value-packed webinar as he breaks down how MES can drive operational excellence and sustainability.

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Millions of phones create most complete map ever of the ionosphere

New Scientist

Researchers mapped Earth’s ionosphere, part of the upper atmosphere, using signal data from 40 million phones – a method that could improve GPS accuracy and help track space weather

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Developing Expertise Improves the Brain’s Ability to Concentrate

Scientific American

Expertise bulks up the brain’s ability to think deeply, a skill that may generalize across tasks

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Are Alternate Timelines Real? Quantum Physics Explains

Scientific American

The multiverse offers no escape from our reality—which might be a very good thing

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Exquisite bird fossil provides clues to the evolution of avian brains

New Scientist

Palaeontologists have pieced together the brain structure of a bird that lived 80 million years ago named Navaornis hestiae, thanks to a remarkably well-preserved fossil

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30 Volunteers At 2nd Century Alliance, Litter Lifters Of West Vincent Litter Cleanup Collect 168 Bags Of Litter, TVs, Lawnmower, 300 Political Yard Signs In Chester County

PA Environment Daily

On November 9, 30 volunteers organized by 2nd Century Alliance and Litter Lifters of West Vincent collected 168 bags of litter, 5 dumped TVs, 6 bikes, a baby stroller, a lawnmower, and over 300 political campaign and business yard signs in Coatesville, Chester County. Shakira Davis, of 2nd Century Alliance worked closely with Beth Intoccia of the Litter Lifters of West Vincent to organize this massive effort.

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New Expert Report: Ending Restrictions on Mid-Rise Apartment Buildings Necessary to end Housing Shortage

Enviromental Defense

To deliver 1.5 million homes by 2031, governments need to eliminate minimum parking requirements, reform building codes and legalize six-storey apartments on the avenues and major streets in existing neighbourhoods throughout Ontario. Toronto | Traditional territories of the Mississaugas of the Credit, the Anishinaabeg, the Haudenosaunee, and the Wendat – The failure to reform land use planning laws, the building code, tax rules, and service charges for existing neighborhoods is obstructing the

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The Key to Sustainable Energy Optimization: A Data-Driven Approach for Manufacturing

Speaker: Kevin Kai Wong, President of Emergent Energy Solutions

In today's industrial landscape, the pursuit of sustainable energy optimization and decarbonization has become paramount. ♻️ Manufacturing corporations across the U.S. are facing the urgent need to align with decarbonization goals while enhancing efficiency and productivity. Unfortunately, the lack of comprehensive energy data poses a significant challenge for manufacturing managers striving to meet their targets. 📊 Join us for a practical webinar hosted by Kevin Kai Wong of Emergent Ene

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Environmental Groups Reach Settlement on Pesticide-Treated Seeds with California Agency

NRDC

A group of environmental organizations informed a California state court today that they had reached an agreement with the California Department of Pesticide Regulation (DPR) to propose regulations addressing pesticide-treated seeds.

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12,000-year-old stones may be oldest example of wheel-like tools

New Scientist

Dozens of perforated pebbles from an archaeological site in Israel may be early examples of spindle whorls, a rotating tool used in textile making that was a step towards inventing the wheel

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Plastic Pollution and Climate Change: Understanding Their Interconnected Impact on Our Planet

Earthava

The post Plastic Pollution and Climate Change: Understanding Their Interconnected Impact on Our Planet appeared first on Earthava. Plastic pollution poses a significant threat not only to ecosystems but also to the climate. Plastic waste contributes to climate change by releasing greenhouse gases during its production, degradation, and incineration.

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World’s largest coral is 300 years old and was discovered by accident

New Scientist

The mega-coral measures 34 metres by 32 metres – making it larger than a blue whale – and it is thought to be three centuries old

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Implementing D.E.J.I. Strategies in Energy, Environment, and Transportation

Speaker: Antoine M. Thompson, Executive Director of the Greater Washington Region Clean Cities Coalition

Diversity, Equity, Justice, and Inclusion (DEJI) policies, programs, and initiatives are critically important as we move forward with public and private sector climate and sustainability goals and plans. Underserved and socially, economically, and racially disadvantaged communities bear the burden of pollution, higher energy costs, limited resources, and limited investments in the clean energy and transportation sectors.

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Moms Clean Air Force: Pennsylvanians Call On State Leaders For Protection From Fossil Fuel And Plastic Industry Expansion

PA Environment Daily

On November 12, Moms Clean Air Force , Environmental Health Project , and Clean Air Council held a press conference at the Pennsylvania State Capitol calling on state leaders to safeguard Pennsylvanians from the impacts of a fossil fuel and plastic industry buildout. The groups said existing facilities are already sickening people in local neighborhoods and heating the planet with their pollution.

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Sweeter tomatoes are coming soon thanks to CRISPR gene editing

New Scientist

Selection for bigger tomatoes has made the fruits less sweet, but now it has been shown that gene editing can make them sweeter without decreasing yields

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‘COP Fatigue’: Experts Warn That Size and Spectacle of Global Climate Summit Is Hindering Progress

Inside Climate News

Streamlining the process by breaking up the annual climate conference into smaller events could speed progress toward limiting dangerous global warming. By Bob Berwyn BAKU, Azerbaijan—If speeches and slogans could save the climate, COP29 would already be a success. But there are few signs the current round of climate talks will deliver on the only thing proven to slow global warming: rapid greenhouse gas cuts.

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How to Overcome Solastalgia, the Feeling of Profound Loss of Your Environment

Scientific American

Damage to your environment can bring a profound sense of loss; that feeling, called solastalgia, can also provide inspiration

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Shaping a Resilient Future: Climate Impact on Vulnerable Populations

Speaker: Laurie Schoeman Director, Climate & Sustainability, Capital

As households and communities across the nation face challenges such as hurricanes, wildfires, drought, extreme heat and cold, and thawing permafrost and flooding, we are increasingly searching for ways to mitigate and prevent climate impacts. During this event, national climate and housing expert Laurie Schoeman will discuss topics including: The two paths for climate action: decarbonization and adaptation.

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You can't put a price on the sense of awe particle physics inspires

New Scientist

Astronomy and particle physics are no longer seen as vital by the US establishment, so funding has fallen.

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Insects Played Pivotal Roles in the Evolution of Human Culture

Scientific American

Violins, the ink on the Declaration of Independence and other ways that insects shaped human history

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Mounting evidence points to air pollution as a cause of eczema

New Scientist

Air pollution has been linked to eczema before, and now a study of more than 280,000 people has strengthened the association

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Reps. Daley, Ortitay Highlight Findings In New Wildlife Conservation Corridor Report

PA Environment Daily

On November 12, after nearly a decade of legislative efforts to conduct a study of wildlife conservation corridors, Reps. Mary Jo Daley (D-Montgomery) and Jason Ortitay (R-Allegheny) reviewed highlights from The Current Status of Conservation Connectivity in Pennsylvania report recently completed by the Legislative Budget and Finance Committee. The study was conducted as a result of the adoption of House Resolution 87.

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Sustainability at Retail

Sustainability impacts every nation, company, and person around the world. So much so that, in 2015, the United Nations (UN) issued a call for action by all countries to work toward sustainable development. In response to this and as part of a global Sustainability at Retail initiative, Shop! worked collaboratively with its global affiliates to address these critical issues in this white paper.

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We must use genetic technologies now to avert the coming food crisis

New Scientist

Food production is responsible for more than a third of greenhouse gas emissions.

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EPA Administrator Signs Final Rule Revising PBT Rules for decaBDE and PIP (3:1)

Nanotech

On October 31, 2024, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Administrator Michael S. Regan signed a final rule revising the regulations for decabromodiphenyl ether (decaBDE) and phenol, isopropylated phosphate (3:1) (PIP (3:1)), two of the five persistent, bioaccumulative, and toxic (PBT) chemicals addressed in final rules issued under the Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA) in January 2021.

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The dilemma of mining more metals so we can ditch fossil fuels

New Scientist

In his new book, Power Metal, journalist Vince Beiser provides a balanced briefing on the race for the resources that will shape our technological future

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PA Solar Center Hosts Nov. 22 Webinar On New Guidebook For Municipalities On Large-Scale Solar Development

PA Environment Daily

The Pennsylvania Solar Center will host a November 22 webinar from Noon to 1:15 p.m. on a New Guidebook For Municipalities On Large-Scale Solar Development co-authored with Fair Shake Environmental Legal Services. Pennsylvania municipalities with open space or under-utilized land with acreage to spare have potentially much to gain from supporting large-scale solar project development in their communities.

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To truly understand non-human grief, we need to think like the animals

New Scientist

Evidence that animals mourn the death of loved ones is growing, but we should be wary of letting our biases cloud this topic, says philosopher Susana Monsó

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COP29: Hosts Azerbaijan do not think fossil fuels are a problem

A Greener Life

By Anders Lorenzen People are raising serious questions about the selection of Azerbaijan, a country rich in natural resources, to host this year’s round of UN climate talks COP29. The argument against this choice is gaining more momentum. Ahead of the summit, which started on Monday in the capital, Baku, a leaked recording demonstrates that the country is using the summit to promote fossil fuels and to sign new oil and gas deals.

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A personal investigation into the crisis of men's mental health

New Scientist

The issue of men's dangerously bottled-up emotions finds a fresh and personal voice in Silent Men, a documentary that is at its most powerful when director Duncan Cowles turns the camera on others

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What my mechanic taught me about communicating science

HumanNature

Guest Post by Miguel Jimenez , 2024-2025 Sustainability Leadership Fellow, and Ph.D. Candidate in the Department of Fish, Wildlife, & Conservation Biology and the Graduate Degree Program in Ecology at Colorado State University How a trip to the mechanic gone wrong made me rethink communicating scientific work Brake check I was sitting in my mechanics office with the intention of getting a brake pad replacement when I received bad news: they were recommending additional work.

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Does this high-tech lettuce hold the answer to the global food crisis?

New Scientist

Photographer Kadir van Lohuizen captures the food industry's attempts to meet the challenges of climate change and conflicts in his new book, Food for Thought

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Nov. 18 EarthTalk Features Penn State Sustainability Director Lara Fowler On Decarbonizing The University

PA Environment Daily

Lara Fowler , chief sustainability officer at Penn State, director of Penn State Sustainability, and teaching professor of law, will give the talk, “Decarbonizing Penn State: How Does Law, Policy, and Financing Fit In?” at 4:00 p.m. on Monday, Nov. 18, in 112 Walker Building on the University Park campus. The talk will also be available via Zoom. Penn State has been working to lower its greenhouse gas emissions for more than two decades, with a 50% reduction of greenhouse gas emissions for the e