October, 2024

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What’s Causing the Recent Spike in Global Temperatures?

Yale E360

Since early 2023, the world has seen a steep rise in temperatures that scientists are struggling to explain. E360 contributor Elizabeth Kolbert talked with Gavin Schmidt, NASA’s top climate scientist, about possible causes of the warming and why experts cannot account for the heat.

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Ask a Scientist: How Close Are We to a Clean Energy Transition?

Union of Concerned Scientists

After the hottest summer on record, the world continues to witness extreme weather fueled by the burning of fossil fuels. In the United States alone, we’re in the midst of a record-setting hurricane season, with back-to-back destructive hurricanes, Helene and Milton, causing immense destruction in Florida and neighboring states. Both hurricanes were exacerbated by warmer ocean surface temperatures, and are examples of “what hurricanes will look more like in the future,” according to Dr.

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New Environmental Laws Focus on Public Health

Legal Planet

The California State Legislature is now finally in its off-season. Governor Newsom had until Monday, September 30 th to sign or veto bills that the legislature passed and sent to his desk. In a final tally of bills, according to CalMatters , Governor Newsom vetoed approximately 18% of the nearly 1,000 bills that landed on his desk in the final days of session, or close to 1 in 5 bills.

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Climate Change Made Hurricane Milton Stronger, With Heavier Rain, Scientists Conclude

Inside Climate News

A rapid analysis of rainfall trends and Gulf of Mexico temperatures shows many similarities to Hurricane Helene less than two weeks earlier. By Sean Sublette A preliminary analysis from the team of scientists at World Weather Attribution indicates the rainfall from Hurricane Milton across Florida was 20 percent to 30 percent heavier and rainfall intensity was about twice as likely as it would have been in the climate of the late 19th century.

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How to Modernize Manufacturing Without Losing Control

Speaker: Andrew Skoog, Founder of MachinistX & President of Hexis Representatives

Manufacturing is evolving, and the right technology can empower—not replace—your workforce. Smart automation and AI-driven software are revolutionizing decision-making, optimizing processes, and improving efficiency. But how do you implement these tools with confidence and ensure they complement human expertise rather than override it? Join industry expert Andrew Skoog as he explores how manufacturers can leverage automation to enhance operations, streamline workflows, and make smarter, data-dri

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Environmental Defence Hosts “Transit for Tomorrow” Summit

Enviromental Defense

Public transit is at the nexus of solving Canada’s most pressing challenges. It is a solution to the rising cost of living. It helps us reduce carbon emissions. It is the most powerful method of tackling traffic congestion. It is the lifeblood of economic growth in our towns and cities. It enables building the kind of dense, sustainable and cost-efficient housing supply we need to tackle the housing crisis.

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How to Make Your Halloween More Eco-Friendly

Ocean Conservancy

Cue the music, “This is Halloween, this is Halloween.” That’s right, when Tim Burton’s famed The Nightmare Before Christmas comes on, you know America’s favorite candy holiday—Halloween—is here. What’s the spookiest part of Halloween? For some, it’s the chilling movies, while for others, it’s the ghostly costumes. However, for our ocean and the planet, the real fright comes from plastic waste.

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Why the World Needs a New UN Study on the Effects of Nuclear War

Union of Concerned Scientists

Coming up for a vote in early November is a resolution advanced by the Ireland and New Zealand delegations to the United Nations (UN) to commission a critical new scientific study on the effects of nuclear war. The study, which would be the first under UN auspices in more than 30 years, would be run by an independent scientific panel of 21 members and would examine the physical effects and societal consequences of a nuclear war on local, regional, and planetary scales.

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How to Make Trees Worth More Standing Than Cut Down

Legal Planet

West of Sydney, Australia, lies the Blue Mountains, a range of plateaus and panoramic canyons forested with eucalyptus trees. Oil in the leaves produces a bluish haze, hence the name of the area. Twenty-five years ago, in 1999, a new NGO called Forest Trends brought together a small international group to the town of Katoomba to brainstorm over increasing capital flows to protect nature, how to “make trees worth more standing than cut down.

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Hurricane Threat Poised to Keep Rising, Experts Warn

Inside Climate News

Many coastal cities are still unprepared for the extremes ahead because they are designed for a climate that no longer exists. By Bob Berwyn As people in parts of the southeastern United States try to pick up the pieces of their broken homes, lives and dreams after the twin gut punches delivered by Hurricane Helene and Hurricane Milton, climate scientists have some unwelcome news.

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Murray Edwards: The Fossil Fuel Fanatic

Enviromental Defense

The fossil fuel industry has long been the main driver of climate change, but Big Oil’s CEOs and profiteers would like you to believe that it is a part of the solution. One of the people peddling this idea is the man behind Canadian Natural Resources Limited (CNRL) – Murray Edwards, the Fossil Fuel Fanatic. Murray Edwards is the founder of CNRL and is one of the wealthiest people in Canada.

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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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Upcoming Developments in International Governance of Marine Carbon Dioxide Removal

Law Columbia

The next week has the potential to bring important developments for international governance of marine carbon dioxide removal (CDR). That’s because the parties to the London Convention and London Protocol are meeting from October 28 to November 1 in London to discuss, among other things, governance of ocean alkalinity enhancement and ocean sinking of biomass (e.g. seaweed) for carbon storage.

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As Storm Disinformation Swirls, Meteorologists Are Facing Threats

Yale E360

Predicting large and dangerous storms has always been challenging. It’s gotten tougher, says meteorologist James Marshall Shepherd, as a growing fringe has started to harass, verbally abuse, and threaten scientists and forecasters who link ferocious weather with climate change.

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Gas Plants Have a Real Climate Problem. So Do Some Proposed Approaches for Addressing It. 

Union of Concerned Scientists

Power plants fueled by methane gas have a serious climate problem. The fuel, commonly known as natural gas, now powers the biggest portion of US electricity generation—more than 40 percent. It has also grown to be the largest source of carbon pollution from the US power sector, even as zero-carbon renewable energy has been growing by leaps and bounds.

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A Framework for Equitable Climate Infrastructure Investments

Legal Planet

Achieving climate goals requires significant investments in clean energy, transportation, and other climate technologies to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and remove carbon from the atmosphere. The Bipartisan Infrastructure Law and Inflation Reduction Act have resulted in historic levels of public investment to transform existing energy and transportation systems and lay the foundation for emerging climate technologies.

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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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Baker Hughes: PA Natural Gas Drilling Rig Count Down To 12, Lowest In More Than 17 Years; Community Support Drops; Big Hole In DEP Budget

PA Environment Daily

On October 25, Baker Hughes reported the number of natural gas drilling rigs in Pennsylvania dropped to 12, the lowest number of rigs in the state since July 2007, according to Reuters. Since August 23, the drill rigs in the state dropped from 21 to 12-- a 42% drop, according to Baker Hughes. Natural gas companies are reducing the number of rigs and new wells they are bringing online in an attempt to raise the prices of natural gas.

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Everything you need to know about COP29, the United Nations Climate Change Conference

Enviromental Defense

This year, we yet again witnessed the dramatic consequences of the world’s continued burning of fossil fuels, such as hurricane Debby in Quebec, the wildfires in Jasper, and the flooding in southern Ontario. Around the world, millions of people were displaced, harmed and even killed by climate catastrophe. It is in that context that world leaders will gather in Baku, Azerbaijan, from November 11 to 22 to continue the global effort to address the climate crisis.

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Holding Out Hope On the Drying Rio Grande

Inside Climate News

The once-mighty river is barely a trickle through much of West Texas. Scientists and advocates say local initiatives could be scaled up to restore flows to the river. By Martha Pskowski Reporting supported with a grant from The Water Desk at the University of Colorado Boulder. Aerial photography support provided by LightHawk.

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Greening Concrete: A Major Emitter Inches Toward Carbon Neutrality

Yale E360

Concrete is the most ubiquitous manmade building material on the planet, but making it generates massive amounts of CO2 pollution. Companies are experimenting with ways to green the process, from slashing the use of limestone to capturing the carbon generated when it’s burned.

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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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Will UN Climate Talks in Azerbaijan Deliver on Finance and Emission Reductions? 

Union of Concerned Scientists

The annual UN climate talks, COP29, will kick off on November 11, just days after the US elections and in a year of numerous consequential elections around the world. Coming at the end of what is certain to be the hottest year on record , with millions of people experiencing devastating climate-fueled disasters and global heat-trapping emissions still rising , this COP has a sobering backdrop.

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Reflections on “Yes they can control the weather.”

Legal Planet

Since U.S. Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene tweeted earlier this month that “Yes they can control the weather” — a bunch of commentators have pointed out that she’s wildly wrong. Yes, she’s wildly wrong. No one can make, intensify, or steer hurricanes. No ability to do anything like this is even on the horizon. Her comment obviously got traction because it plugged into a deep strain of populist paranoia, including active, current conspiracies.

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DEP Plugs Conventional Gas Well Orphaned By The Well Owner That Contaminated A Clarion County Family's Drinking Water Well; Conventional Oil & Gas Well Owners Continue To Abandoned Their Wells - 767 Violations So Far In 2024

PA Environment Daily

On October 23, the Department of Environmental Protection began plugging a conventional gas well orphaned by the well owner that contaminated a family's drinking water well in Vowinckel, Clarion County. “Orphaned and Abandoned wells present serious risks to the environment and public health by polluting groundwater and leaking methane into the atmosphere.

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Federal Impact Assessment Staff Voiced Significant Concern Over Ontario’s Approach to Protecting key Values Threatened by Highway 413 Project

Enviromental Defense

Concern focused on Ontario’s lack of data and reckless approach to species at risk, navigable waters and duty to consult with Indigenous communities Toronto | Traditional territories of the Mississaugas of the Credit, the Anishinaabeg, the Haudenosaunee, and the Wendat – A recent Access to Information and Privacy (ATIP) release has revealed a litany of concerns expressed by the federal government about Ontario’s approach to protecting key values threatened by the proposed construction of Highway

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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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New Reports Ahead of COP29 Show The World Is Spinning Its Wheels on Climate Action

Inside Climate News

The currently projected warming of about 3 degrees Celsius is “too hot to handle,” says Ko Barrett, a NOAA climate advisor and deputy secretary general of the World Meteorological Organization. By Bob Berwyn A trio of reports released ahead of next month’s COP29 climate conference in Azerbaijan all show that the existing national policies to cut greenhouse gas emissions under the landmark 2015 Paris Agreement will heat the planet by close to 3 degrees Celsius by 2100, as warming has accelerated

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Researchers Parse the Future of Plankton in an Ever-Warmer World

Yale E360

Plankton form the base of the world’s food chain, but warmer and more acidic oceans are affecting their numbers and variety. Some species, on which fish rely, are in decline; others, which soak up carbon, are on the rise, while others are shifting their range and bloom times.

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Introducing the Community Guide to Cumulative Impacts

Union of Concerned Scientists

Across the U.S., health and environmental policies do too little to protect people and communities from harmful chemicals and pollution. One key reason is that the nation’s environmental laws and rules consider each chemical or facility in isolation, but no one is exposed to one chemical at a time from one source at a time. In the real world, people—especially those living in overburdened communities—are exposed to multiple sources of pollution at once, which interact with each other and r

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Model Uncertainty in Politics and Climate Policy

Legal Planet

The polls are predicting very tight election results. The state results could turn out to be within the margin of error, with half going one way and half the other. But there’s another plausible outcome: a sweep by one side or the other because the polls were all off a few percent in the same direction. If you could get a large and truly random sample of the population and get them to answer all questions truthfully right before they voted, the life of a pollster would be much easier.

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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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Environmental Groups File Notice Of Intent To Sue The Shell Petrochemical Plant In Beaver County For Air Pollution Violations: Similar Action In 2023 Resulted In $10 Million Settlement

PA Environment Daily

On October 23, 2024, the Clean Air Council and the Environment Integrity Project filed a notice of intent to sue the Shell Petrochemical Plant in Beaver County for emitting particulate matter (PM 2.5) and nitrogen oxides in violation of the federal Clean Air Act, the state Air Pollution Control Act and the plant's permit. "As of the date of this letter, neither EPA nor DEP have commenced a civil action in federal or state court, nor has DEP initiated litigation before the Pennsylvania Environmen

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When It Comes to the Grocery Store, We’re Still Left Holding the Bag

Enviromental Defense

If you’re worried about plastic pollution, you’ve likely felt exasperated unpacking your reusable bag after a trip to the grocery store. There is still WAY too much throwaway plastic wrapped around our food. And if you’re thinking the grocery sector is headed the wrong way when it comes to wasteful plastic packaging, you’re right. Our updated survey of the major retailers’ shelves proves it.

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Federal Court Ruling on a Reservoir Expansion Could Have Big Implications for the Colorado River

Inside Climate News

Some upstream users are racing to divert more water from the declining river, a choice that a judge wrote in a recent court ruling is “perplexing” and risks forcing cutbacks for users in the future. By Wyatt Myskow A federal district court judge ruled last week that the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers violated the National Environmental Protection Act and the Clean Water Act when it approved expanding a Colorado reservoir.

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Why We Need a Strong Global Agreement on Plastics Pollution

Yale E360

Twenty years ago, scientist Richard Thompson sounded the alarm on microplastics pollution. Now, as understanding of the problem has grown, he says it is critical that international negotiators produce an effective plastics treaty when they meet next month in South Korea.

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After the Election, Congress Must Help Victims of Radiation Exposure by Passing RECA

Union of Concerned Scientists

For the next month, Congress is out campaigning, and our collective brain space will be mostly occupied by the upcoming election. But once the election is over, Congress will have a precious six weeks (the “lame duck” session) to do some final legislating before the 118th Session ends and all pending bills turn into pumpkins. Next week, October 15 is the anniversary of the enactment of the Radiation Exposure Compensation Act (RECA).

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