Sat.Jun 18, 2022 - Fri.Jun 24, 2022

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HotSpots H2O: “Day Zero” Looms for South African Province

Circle of Blue

Government dysfunction has multiplied drought risks. Steenbras Dam, east of Cape Town. Photo © Brett Walton / Circle of Blue. By Laura Gersony, Circle of Blue — June 20, 2022. South Africa’s Eastern Cape province is scrambling to avoid a “Day Zero” scenario in which taps run dry. Water levels behind Impofu Dam — which forms the second-largest reservoir in Nelson Mandela Bay district — dropped too low for extraction on June 13, according to data released by the local government.

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The Living City: Weaving Nature Back Into the Urban Fabric

Yale E360

Urban ecologist Eric Sanderson focuses on the natural history of cities. In an interview with Yale Environment 360 , he explains why recovering and restoring streams, salt marshes, and woodlands should be a vital part of how cities adapt to climate change in the 21st century. Read more on E360 ?.

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What Firefighters Can Teach Us about Preparing the Grid for Extreme Weather

Union of Concerned Scientists

Preparing for emergencies and preventing disasters requires planning, equipment and communications. This is true for fighting fires and for keeping the electric power system operating in extreme weather. Firefighters have strategic plans regarding territory to address, as well as operational plans. Equipment includes fire trucks, protective gear and hoses.

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Carlsberg Group Reveals Trial of a New Plant-Based Bottle and Sustainably Brewed Beer

Environment + Energy Leader

Carlsberg Group has today revealed the trial of its new plant-based Fibre Bottle. With a continued focus on evolving technology and sustainable practices, the bottle also contains beer brewed with organic and regenerative barley. The post Carlsberg Group Reveals Trial of a New Plant-Based Bottle and Sustainably Brewed Beer appeared first on Environment + Energy Leader.

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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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Child diarrhea cases surge as sewage runs on Cape Town streets

Circle of Blue

Like clockwork, diarrhea among children spikes sharply during Cape Town’s long summer. The city tends to blame the heat and people’s poor hygiene practices, but its own sewage infrastructure may be the real culprit. Sewage spills such as this one across a busy intersection in Site C, Khayelitsha, Cape Town, have become semi-permanent features in some parts of the city.

2020 279
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Bitcoin’s Intensive Energy Demands Are Sparking a Crypto Backlash

Yale E360

The enormous energy demands of Bitcoin mining are prompting some U.S. municipalities to impose moratoriums or outright bans on cryptocurrency facilities. Bitcoin mining activity, critics warn, is leading to electricity price hikes and a revival of dirtier sources of power. Read more on E360 ?.

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FedEx Receives First 150 Electric Delivery Vehicles, Marks Milestone

Environment + Energy Leader

FedEx Corp. announced it has received its first 150 electric delivery vehicles from BrightDrop, the technology startup from General Motors (GM) aimed at decarbonizing last-mile delivery. The post FedEx Receives First 150 Electric Delivery Vehicles, Marks Milestone appeared first on Environment + Energy Leader.

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What’s Up With Water — June 21, 2022

Circle of Blue

This week’s episode of What’s Up With Water covers a win for environmentalists in Albania, a call for action on phosphorus management from the science community, and a recent decision to cut freshwater use at a major copper mine in Chile. Plus, Circle of Blue reports on the “mega-watersheds” of the American West. Transcript. Welcome to “What’s Up With Water” – your need-to-know news of the world’s water from Circle of Blue.

2022 246
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The Start of the Unraveling of Cheap Gas-Fired Power

Union of Concerned Scientists

Note: “gas” in this post refers to what is traditionally called natural gas. For years, gas has been touted as a cheap fuel and a cheap electricity source. Perhaps not as much in today’s world , but historically, this has been the case. But not all gas-fired power plants are the same, and not all gas-fired power plants are as cheap to operate as proponents want us to believe.

2019 271
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Equity Weighting: A Brief Introduction

Legal Planet

The logic of cost-benefit analysis (CBA) favors the rich over the poor. CBA is based on willingness to pay. In essence, that means voting with dollars, which comes with inherent inequality. There’s a possible fix to this problem, however. It’s called equity weighting. Equity weighting adjusts the monetary values used in CBA to take into account that a dollar to a poor person is worth much more than a dollar to a rich one.

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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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Attorney Generals Push to Change SEC Climate Disclosure Rules

Environment + Energy Leader

A multistate coalition led by California Attorney General Rob Bonta submitted comments in response to the US Securities and Exchange Commission’s proposed rule on climate-related financial risk disclosures. The post Attorney Generals Push to Change SEC Climate Disclosure Rules appeared first on Environment + Energy Leader.

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Federal Water Tap, June 20: EPA Issues PFAS Warning and Troubled Colorado River Is Focus of Senate Hearing

Circle of Blue

The Rundown. The EPA strengthens non-binding health advisories for two PFAS chemicals and issued new advisories for two others. The EPA appraises end-of-life plans for more than 160 coal ash ponds that could be polluting groundwater. The EPA also invites applications for $1 billion in PFAS response funds that will help small and disadvantaged communities address the chemicals in their water supply.

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Post-Flood Yellowstone Rebuilding Could Cost More Than $1 Billion

Yale E360

Restoring Yellowstone National Park after recent floods washed away bridges and roads could cost more than $1 billion, and the effort could take years given the challenge of making repairs in a protected landscape. Read more on E360 ?.

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Will Rights of Nature Save The World?

Legal Planet

A number of environmental advocates have been pushing a new strategy for environmental protection – seeking to pursue legal rights for elements of nature (such as rivers , lakes , ecosystems, or species), sometimes in alliance with Native American tribes. This approach is not unique to the United States – rights of nature legal approaches have been used in New Zealand , Bolivia , and Ecuador.

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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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Construction Underway on World’s First Open CO2 Transport and Storage Facility

Environment + Energy Leader

A joint venture between Equinor, Shell, and TotalEnergies will create “Northern Lights,” the world’s first industrial carbon capture and storage project to develop an open and flexible infrastructure to safely store CO2 from industries across Europe. The post Construction Underway on World’s First Open CO2 Transport and Storage Facility appeared first on Environment + Energy Leader.

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Texas Supreme Court Reverses Judgment Because of Lack of Written Notice

Energy & the Law

If you administer or advise on master service agreements, or for that matter any other contract that requires written notice, this post by my Gray Reed partner Joe Virene is essential reading: Texas Supreme Court: Actual Notice Does Not Satisfy Written Notice Requirement. In short, the Supreme Court of Texas reversed a jury verdict in favor of a construction project owner because the owner’s notice of termination to the contractor did not comply with the written notice requirement of the parties

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Honduran Power Company President Who Orchestrated Environmentalist's Assassination Sentenced to 22 Years

Yale E360

A Honduran court has sentenced former power company president Roberto David Castillo to 22 years and six months in prison for his role in the 2016 assassination of environmental activist Berta Cáceres. Read more on E360 ?.

2016 145
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Two FERC Cases and Why They Matter

Legal Planet

The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) has been called the most important environmental agency that no one has heard of. At the end of last week, the D.C. Circuit decided two undramatic FERC cases that illustrate FERC’s environmental significance. One involved a bailout to coal and nuclear plants, the other involved water quality. The first case, Turlock Irrigation District v.

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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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Johnson Controls’ AI-Enabled Solutions Improves Building Performance

Environment + Energy Leader

Johnson Controls and Accenture are working together to boost Johnson Controls' rollout of its AI-enabled connected solutions and services that improve building performance. The post Johnson Controls’ AI-Enabled Solutions Improves Building Performance appeared first on Environment + Energy Leader.

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Meet the Idiomysis Shrimp, the Social Butterfly of the Ocean

Ocean Conservancy

Recently, while looking at underwater macro photography, I stumbled across an adorable type of shrimp that I had never seen before. Their bulging eyes and tiny, colorful bodies were simply too cute to handle. I wanted to learn more. Surprisingly, a Google (and even Bing!) search showed me that there is very little written about these interesting critters.

Ocean 145
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Deep learning identifies head-on collisions in LHC data

Physics World

Deep learning could hold the key to making sense of proton collisions generated in the world’s premier particle accelerator. That is the message from physicists in Europe and the US who have shown how an algorithm developed for language translation can efficiently filter out noise from data taken by detectors at at CERN’s Large Hadron Collider.

2027 145
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A ‘Living Shoreline’ Takes Root in New York’s Jamaica Bay

Inside Climate News

An experimental project to build back a pond important to migratory bird species joins ongoing efforts to restore Jamaica Bay marshlands. By Hannah Loss A flotilla of water birds bobbed on West Pond as hundreds of tree swallows swooped overhead, their blue iridescent backs glinting in the sun. Manhattan’s skyline loomed in the distance.

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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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Deloitte: CFOs More Involved in Company Decarbonization Efforts

Environment + Energy Leader

CFOs are highly engaged in their organizations’ decarbonization efforts, notably in the role of steward, strategist, and catalyst. The post Deloitte: CFOs More Involved in Company Decarbonization Efforts appeared first on Environment + Energy Leader.

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How to Remove Skunk Scent (And No, It’s Not Tomato Juice)

Cool Green Science

Did your pet have a run-in with a skunk? Here’s a three-ingredient recipe that actually works to remove the stench. No tomato juice required. The post How to Remove Skunk Scent (And No, It’s Not Tomato Juice) appeared first on Cool Green Science.

Cooling 126
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Gravitational waves from merging black-hole ‘atom’ could reveal new particles

Physics World

Evidence for a new type of subatomic particle could be lurking within the gravitational waves produced by some merging black holes, according to calculations by physicists in the US and the Netherlands. John Stout at Harvard University and colleagues have studied a process whereby a cloud of hypothetical ultralight bosons could form around a black hole, creating a “gravitational atom”.

2015 145
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It is not transformation if nothing changes

Frontiers

A Frontiers white paper on the impact of transformative agreements in the transition to open access publishing. The substantial benefits of open access (OA) publishing are within our reach, but legacy publishers are employing commercial tactics to delay the necessary transition. This paper exposes several of the negative, often unintended, consequences of “transformative agreements” (TAs).

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What are digital twins? A pair of computer modeling experts explain

Environmental News Bits

by Amlan Ganguly, Rochester Institute of Technology and Nalini Venkatasubramanian, University of California, Irvine A digital twin is a virtual representation of a real system – a building, the power grid, a city, even a human being – that mimics the characteristics of the system. A digital twin is more than just a computer model, … Continue reading What are digital twins?

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Finding Mini Frogs: These Aren’t Babies, They’re Just Little

Cool Green Science

Some offspring, like killdeer shorebirds, are replicas of their parents. The ever-feathered and extremely protective adult chirpers nesting in neighborhood rock gardens this time of year have chicks that look exactly like smaller versions of themselves. The hatchlings even have… The post Finding Mini Frogs: These Aren’t Babies, They’re Just Little appeared first on Cool Green Science.

Cooling 106
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Continuous Bose–Einstein condensate opens the door to continuous-wave atom lasers

Physics World

A continuous Bose–Einstein condensate (BEC) has been produced by researchers in the Netherlands. Claimed as a first, the achievement has been sought for years and could lead to continuous-wave atom lasers and a more fundamental understanding of the physics of condensed matter. BECs form when a gas of bosonic atoms is cooled to ultracold temperatures.

Cooling 138
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Ag and Food Law Daily Update: June 20, 2022

National Law Center

A comprehensive summary of today’s judicial, legislative, and regulatory developments in agriculture and food. Email important additions HERE. . The post Ag and Food Law Daily Update: June 20, 2022 appeared first on National Agricultural Law Center.

Law 105
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ISWS-Waterly partnership digitizes groundwater data

Environmental News Bits

by Tiffany Jolley, Prairie Research Institute The Illinois State Water Survey (ISWS) is partnering with Waterly, an Illinois-based water sector operations data analytics company, to collect groundwater pumping data from South Elgin, West Dundee, Joliet, McHenry County, and Arbury Hills. Leveraging Waterly software will allow the ISWS groundwater science team to acquire almost real-time water pumping data that … Continue reading ISWS-Waterly partnership digitizes groundwater data.

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Why Do Cephalopods Use Ink?

Ocean Conservancy

When I think about cephalopods using their ink, I imagine a movie blockbuster with a lot of action and suspense. The hero is cornered, and if they cannot find a way out, then all the world will be doomed. What our hero needs is the perfect diversion—something to quickly distract the evil villain so our hero can escape in the nick of time. Thankfully, our cephalopod heroes—the octopus, cuttlefish and squid—have the perfect diversionary tactic built right into their bodies and they can use it at a

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