Sat.Mar 09, 2024 - Fri.Mar 15, 2024

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Growing Shade Equity, One Tree at a Time

Union of Concerned Scientists

Beneath the reputation of Los Angeles as a land of cars, palms, and sunshine lies a reality of stark inequalities—including access to trees and shade. Nearly 20% of L.A.’s urban forest is concentrated where only 1% of the city’s population lives , endangering lower-income communities and people of color with hotter-feeling summers and poor environmental quality.

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Solar Accounted for More Than Half of New Power Installed in U.S. Last Year

Yale E360

Solar accounted for most of the capacity the nation added to its electric grids last year. That feat marks the first time since World War II, when hydropower was booming, that a renewable power source has comprised more than half of the nation’s energy additions.

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China’s Stock Exchanges to Plan Sustainability Disclosure Rules for Big Companies

Clean Energy Law

The guidelines aim to transform China’s approach to ESG by introducing sustainability disclosure rules for large listed companies. By Hui Xu , Paul A. Davies , Jean-Philippe Brisson , and Qingyi Pan On February 8, 2024, under the auspices of the China Securities Regulatory Commission (CSRC), each of China’s three major stock markets — Shanghai Stock Exchange, Shenzhen Stock Exchange, and Beijing Stock Exchange— unveiled draft guidelines on sustainable development reports (SDRs) (collectively ref

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More Guidance on Worker Classification for the Energy Industry

Energy & the Law

This post is a summary of a more detailed Client Alert prepared by Gray Reed’s labor and employment practice group. Recall our recent post on the Department of Labor’s new “Economic Realities Test” for classifying specialized contractors and consultants as either employees or independent contractors. The new rules make the compliance minefield much riskier.

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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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Reevaluating the Role of Fossil Gas in a Decarbonizing Grid

Union of Concerned Scientists

Fossil gas power plants currently provide the largest source of electricity generation and capacity in the United States. To meet our climate goals and reach net zero emissions by 2050, most studies show that we need to dramatically reduce gas use for generating electricity, heating homes and businesses, and running industrial processes. But gas power plants have also played an important role in helping to maintain the overall reliability of the electricity grid by meeting peak power demands, su

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Indonesia Grossly Underestimating Methane Leaking from Coal Mines

Yale E360

Emissions of methane from Indonesian coal mines are eight times higher than official estimates would suggest, a new report finds.

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Electric Vehicles Beat Gas Cars on Climate Emissions over Time

Scientific American

New research says building electric vehicles leaves a bigger carbon footprint than making gas-powered cars, though EVs make up the difference in the long run

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Making It Easier to Choose Electric for Your Next Car

Union of Concerned Scientists

Electric car buyers have new options in 2024 to make it easier to purchase a new electric vehicle (EV) by using the federal EV tax credit. While the tax credit has been around for a while in various forms, the Inflation Reduction Act made substantial changes to the tax credit, with modifications to who is eligible to take the credit, new requirements on EV models, and also new ways for buyers to access the credit.

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New Study Shows Planting Trees May Not Be as Good for the Climate as Previously Believed

Inside Climate News

The climate benefits of trees storing carbon dioxide is partially offset by dark forests’ absorption of more heat from the sun, and compounds they release that slow the destruction of methane in the atmosphere, the research shows. By Moriah McDonald Most climate-concerned people know that trees can help slow global warming by removing carbon dioxide from the atmosphere, but a recent study published in the journal Science shows the climate cooling benefits of planting trees may be overestimated.

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Five climate megaprojects that might just save the world

New Scientist

From solar power stations in space to stabilising melting glaciers, some researchers are proposing extremely ambitious and risky projects to fight climate change. Could they work?

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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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Microplastics Linked to Heart Attack, Stroke and Death

Scientific American

People who had tiny plastic particles lodged in a key blood vessel were more likely to experience serious health problems or die during a three-year study

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Right Whale Calf Succumbs to Vessel Strike Injuries

NRDC

The months-old calf of Juno has died from the injuries it sustained after being struck by a vessel in early January.

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The Livestock Industry’s Secret Weapons: Expert Academics

Inside Climate News

A new paper traces the financial ties between the livestock industry and academic research. The researchers say their job is to help the industry reduce emissions. By Georgina Gustin When researchers at the United Nations published a bombshell report in 2006 called “Livestock’s Long Shadow,” the livestock industry soon realized it had a major public relations challenge on its hands.

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Did the people of Easter Island independently invent writing?

New Scientist

Wooden tablets containing a language of glyphs called Rongorongo may be evidence that the people of Rapa Nui, also known as Easter Island, created their own writing system without the influence of European language

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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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Snake Steak Could Be a Climate-Friendly Source of Protein

Scientific American

Pythons turn their food into meat pretty efficiently, a study finds, making them an intriguing alternative to climate-unfriendly cows

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Expanded and Easier Access to LAMP Funding Now Available

National Sustainable Agriculture Coalition (NSAC)

On February 27, The US Department of Agriculture (USDA) announced $26 million available in competitive grant funding through the Local Agriculture Market Program (LAMP) to develop, coordinate, and expand producer-to-consumer marketing, local and regional food markets, and local food enterprises. This year features a few notable changes that align with NSAC’s priorities and advocacy to improve both access to LAMP and its effectiveness.

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Q&A: California Nurse and Environmental Health Pioneer Barbara Sattler on Climate Change as a Medical Emergency

Inside Climate News

Sattler is revolutionizing the way health professionals think about how climate disruption is harming human health. “We can't have healthy people on a sick planet.” By Liza Gross Barbara Sattler is on a mission to transform the way nurses, physicians and the general public think about threats to health. For Sattler, a registered nurse, emerita professor of public health at the University of San Francisco and founding member of the international Alliance of Nurses for Healthy Environments , it st

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Rethinking space and time could let us do away with dark matter

New Scientist

Most physicists believe that only a quantum theory of gravity can fully explain mysteries of the universe like dark matter, but now an idea called "post-quantum gravity" is demonstrating an alternative approach

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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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Large Study of ME/CFS Patients Reveals Measurable Physical Changes

Scientific American

Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome, long dismissed by doctors, causes immune system dysfunction and other problems. But treatments are lacking.

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How An Invasive Ant Affects East Africa’s Iconic Wildlife

Cool Green Science

Corinna Riginos first noticed the ants swarming her kitchen: a household pest situation familiar to people around the globe. It […] The post How An Invasive Ant Affects East Africa’s Iconic Wildlife appeared first on Cool Green Science.

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Guest Blog: Fossil Fuel Promotion in City Facilities? Not in My Municipality

Enviromental Defense

This is a guest blog by Mr. William van Geest, Program Coordinator at Ecology Ottawa. He’s passionate about mobilizing people to promote and enjoy biodiversity, sustainability, and community. Will the City of Ottawa ban fossil fuel promotion in City facilities? It’s possible. On March 5th, after hearing almost 20 delegations from medical professionals, teachers, advocates, community organizations, and concerned community members seeking to end misleading ads promoting fossil fuels, Ottawa’s Fin

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Babies with bilingual mothers have distinct brainwaves at 1 day old

New Scientist

Newborns whose mothers speak two languages appear to have distinct brain responses to speech compared with those born to monolingual mothers, supporting the idea that language acquisition begins in the uterus

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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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The Simplest Math Problem Could Be Unsolvable

Scientific American

The Collatz conjecture has plagued mathematicians for decades—so much so that professors warn their students away from it

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Alabamians Want Public Officials to Mitigate Landslide Risk as Climate Change Makes Extreme Precipitation More Frequent

Inside Climate News

In Birmingham, residents want two properties shielded from development and turned into parkland. Councilors decided to protect one parcel years ago. The vote never stuck. By Lee Hedgepeth BIRMINGHAM, Ala.— Gary Bostany said it was like lava flowing down from above.

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Blending Science and Creativity through SMART Management Objectives

The Applied Ecologist

Author Caleb Aldridge describes his latest Practice Insights highlighting the benefits of using SMART objectives for environmental management. The findings and conclusions in this article are those of the author and do not necessarily represent the views of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.

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There are growing fears of an alarming shift in Antarctic sea ice

New Scientist

Antarctic sea ice cover remains far below average levels for the third year in a row, but researchers are uncertain whether this is a permanent shift driven by climate change or part of natural fluctuations

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How the Solar Eclipse Will Impact Electricity Supplies

Scientific American

This April’s total solar eclipse will present a unique challenge to power grid operators because of the decline in solar power generation

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MIT’s Sloan School Launches Ambitious Climate Center to Aid Policymakers

Inside Climate News

Environmentalists welcome the new initiative, but worry about potential funding and influence from fossil companies. By Phil McKenna An ambitious new climate change initiative at MIT’s Sloan School of Management seeks to harness the collective knowledge of the university to help tackle the climate crisis by connecting current and future climate research to policy.

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Cheaper and Cleaner: Electric Vehicle Owners Save Thousands

NRDC

A new study conducted by Atlas Public Policy shows that electric vehicles will save owners thousands when compared to gasoline internal combustion engine counterparts.

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Mental health conditions may accelerate ageing by damaging RNA

New Scientist

People with mental health conditions have greater amounts of damaged RNA than those without one, which might explain the link between the conditions and age-related diseases such as cancer

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Astronomers Are Snapping Baby Pictures of Planets by the Dozen

Scientific American

Snapshots of a plethora of planet-forming disks offer more than just eye candy—they also reveal some fundamental aspects of how worlds are born

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France takes up plant protein labeling and cell-cultured meat

National Law Center

The conversation over how to label food products made from plant-proteins and cell-cultured meat is heating up in Europe. Like the. The post France takes up plant protein labeling and cell-cultured meat appeared first on National Agricultural Law Center.

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