Sat.Jun 11, 2022 - Fri.Jun 17, 2022

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5 Powerful Facts for Global Wind Day

Union of Concerned Scientists

We at the Union of Concerned Scientists think a lot about wind power. In honor of Global Wind Day , here’s a roundup of what we’re seeing and what we’ve been thinking—five facts about wind energy to keep in mind as you celebrate, or at least make note, on June 15. 1. Wind power is big, and getting bigger. Wind is impressive. I’ve felt that most explicitly when sidling up to an offshore wind turbine in a boat, or when standing on top of a land-based one, hundreds of feet in the air.

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Pollen and Heat: A Looming Challenge for Global Agriculture

Yale E360

Farmers and scientists are increasingly observing that unusually high springtime temperatures can kill pollen and interfere with the fertilization of crops. Researchers are now searching for ways to help pollen beat the heat, including developing more heat-tolerant varieties. Read more on E360 ?.

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DHL Is Investing $7.5 Billion to Ensure Climate Goals Are Met

Environment + Energy Leader

When DHL first set its GoGreen target in 2007-2008, the goal was to become 30% more efficient by 2020. But it blew past that threshold in 2016, prompting the company to set even more ambitious targets — to reduce all transport-related emissions to zero by 2050. . The post DHL Is Investing $7.5 Billion to Ensure Climate Goals Are Met appeared first on Environment + Energy Leader.

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Drought’s Spillover Effect in the American West

Circle of Blue

In a region latticed with pipelines and canals, the consequences of dry conditions in one basin are exported to neighboring watersheds. The Buena Vista Pumping Plant, in southern Kern County, lifts water in the California Aqueduct. Part of the State Water Project, the aqueduct spans hundreds of miles, transferring water from northern watersheds to farms and cities in the south.

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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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What Danger Season Looks Like in the Midwest

Union of Concerned Scientists

If there’s one region of the country that has been Exhibit A this year for summer-turned- Danger Season , it’s the Midwest. The warm season began with an incredibly unseasonable heatwave , smashing records left and right. And now, the Midwest is currently playing whack-a-mole with weather and climate hazards. Here in Madison, Wisconsin, we’ve been under an intense heatwave that rolled into the area on Monday, announcing its arrival with severe thunderstorms that downed power lines across the are

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How Russia’s War Is Putting Green Tech Progress in Jeopardy

Yale E360

The European Union relies heavily on Russia to supply nickel and other metals for electric vehicle batteries and other renewable technologies. War-related price increases and shortages of these metals could hinder Europe’s drive to sharply cut emissions by 2030 and beyond. Read more on E360 ?.

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The Stream, June 15, 2022: Scientists Call on Global Leaders to Reduce Phosphorus Contamination by 2050

Circle of Blue

Phosphorus and nitrates are just a two of many contaminants plaguing the Pine River that runs through Michigan’s Gratiot County. Photo © J. Carl Ganter / Circle of Blue. YOUR GLOBAL RUNDOWN. Scientists call for action on global phosphorus contamination in a new report. Parts of Yellowstone National Park are underwater as heavy rain and melting snow cause rivers to overflow.

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Do We Really Need New Technology to Fight Climate Change?

Union of Concerned Scientists

I was invited to speak at a panel discussion last Wednesday as part of The Economist ’s annual Sustainability Week, titled “What technologies are needed to avert a climate disaster?” True to the theme, I was asked about which technological innovations would be necessary to save our planet. I wanted to take this space to share some of my thoughts from the panel—and why I believe this wasn’t exactly the right question to ask.

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South Korea and Climate Change

Legal Planet

Little known fact: The ninth largest carbon emitter in the world is South Korea. What is South Korea doing to cut its emissions? That answer, in brief, is that it has adopted the right kinds of policies, but may need to up its level of ambition. Even so, it compares favorably with the national governments in places like the U.S. and Australia. Here’s some background on the country for those whose knowledge mostly derives from watching reruns of MASH.

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DHL Is Investing $7.5 Billion to Ensure Climate Goals Are Met

Environment + Energy Leader

When DHL first set its GoGreen target in 2007-2008, the goal was to become 30% more efficient by 2020. But it blew past that threshold in 2016, prompting the company to set even more ambitious targets — to reduce all transport-related emissions to zero by 2050. . The post DHL Is Investing $7.5 Billion to Ensure Climate Goals Are Met appeared first on Environment + Energy Leader.

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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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What’s Up With Water – June 14, 2022

Circle of Blue

This week’s episode of What’s Up With Water covers how Bolivia’s gold rush is polluting rivers, a resurgence of nitrate pollution in Iowa, and the expansion of desalination in Egypt. Plus, Circle of Blue explores what happens if one of the most powerful hydroelectric dams in the United States stops generating power. Transcript. Welcome to “What’s Up With Water” – your need-to-know news of the world’s water from Circle of Blue.

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Once-Common California Bumble Bees Have Gone Missing

Yale E360

A census of California bumble bees failed to locate several once-common species, including the formerly abundant Western bumble bee, a key pollinator for many wild plants and crops. Read more on E360 ?.

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Climate Policy in India

Legal Planet

India is home to 1.39 billion people, just below China but growing faster. By some projections, it will have the second largest economy in the world by 2050. In terms of climate policy, however, it doesn’t get nearly as much attention as China. That’s understandable in terms of India’s current carbon emissions, which are now only a quarter of China’s.

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Jupiter Collaborates with Boston Consulting Group as Demand for ESG Disclosure Rapidly Grows

Environment + Energy Leader

Jupiter today announced a new collaboration with the Boston Consulting Group (BCG)that will bring enhanced data sources and analytics to accelerate project delivery and enhance customized insights for BCG’s public and private sector clients. The post Jupiter Collaborates with Boston Consulting Group as Demand for ESG Disclosure Rapidly Grows appeared first on Environment + Energy Leader.

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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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California Coastal Commission Concurs With BOEM’s Consistency Determination for Morro Bay WEA

Clean Energy Law

The action marks the clearance of another significant hurdle toward BOEM’s offshore wind lease sales in federal waters offshore California, anticipated to occur this fall. By Nikki Buffa , Jennifer K. Roy , Janice M. Schneider , Brian McCall , and Julie Miles. In the first half of 2022, the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM) has moved swiftly toward the first offshore wind lease sales in California , currently anticipated to occur in the fall.

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Parts Per Trillion, We Hardly Knew Ye; Sell Hello to Parts Per Quadrillion

Law and Environment

Just when we environmental old-timers were just getting used to talk about PFAS concentrations in the low parts per trillion range, EPA has moved us squarely into uncharted territory. EPA has released new, interim, lifetime drinking water health advisories of 4 parts per quadrillion for PFOA and 20 parts per quadrillion for PFOS. I’ll just note a couple of points: .

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Royalty Obligations on Free-Use Gas Redux

Energy & the Law

Co-author Brittany Blakey. Recall our recent post on Carl v. Hilcorp Energy Company from the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Texas discussing the lessee’s royalty obligations on gas used off the premises in a market-value lease. See now, Fitzgerald v. Apache Corporation : Different judge ; same district; similar facts, lease provisions, and contentions; same skunk at the royalty owner’s garden party; semi-similar reasoning.

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Jupiter Collaborates with Boston Consulting Group as Demand for ESG Disclosure Rapidly Grows

Environment + Energy Leader

Jupiter today announced a new collaboration with the Boston Consulting Group (BCG)that will bring enhanced data sources and analytics to accelerate project delivery and enhance customized insights for BCG’s public and private sector clients. The post Jupiter Collaborates with Boston Consulting Group as Demand for ESG Disclosure Rapidly Grows appeared first on Environment + Energy Leader.

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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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Solar storms may cause up to 5500 heart-related deaths in a given year

New Scientist

In an approximate 11-year cycle, the sun blasts out charged particles and magnetised plasma that can distort Earth’s magnetic field, which may disrupt our body clock and ultimately affect the heart

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Guitarfish Rock–Here’s Why

Ocean Conservancy

Here at Ocean Conservancy, we think that all marine wildlife rock. But there’s one animal in particular that I’ve been a superfan of ever since I laid eyes on it: the guitarfish. The name “guitarfish” applies to all rays in the family Rhinobatidae, which is a combination of Latin and Greek words for “nose” and “ray”. Although these rays do look similar to stereotypical rays, they swim with their tails like sharks instead of flapping their fins to move like other rays.

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Early adopters position themselves for quantum advantage

Physics World

The first practical demonstrators of quantum computers have fuelled speculation about the future impact this emerging technology will have for both scientific discovery and commercial exploitation. Large-scale machines that can correct for the errors in quantum systems certainly have the potential to disrupt business models and drive innovation, but such fault-tolerant quantum computers are not likely to be realized at scale for at least another decade.

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Aramark Plans to Reduce Emissions of Food it Serves: Here’s How

Environment + Energy Leader

Aramark will serve more meals with ingredients that have a low carbon footprint in an effort to reduce emissions. The post Aramark Plans to Reduce Emissions of Food it Serves: Here’s How appeared first on Environment + Energy Leader.

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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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Colorful urban environments, even if just in virtual reality, promote wellbeing

Frontiers

By Conn Hasting, science writer. Colorful virtual reality cityscape. Image credit: A. Batistatou, F. Vandeville, and Y.N. Delevoye-Turrell. Urban environments can be drab and stressful, but introducing vegetation or colorful designs could improve the wellbeing of city dwellers. A new study investigated the potential of these simple interventions using a virtual reality simulation.

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National Parks Ban Single-Use Plastics

Ocean Conservancy

The natural world never ceases to surprise me. Years ago, I was on a plastics research expedition for Ocean Conservancy, and we landed on the shores of Katmai National Park in Alaska. Within just a few minutes of setting foot on the pebbly sand, we were welcomed by the incredible sight of a mother brown bear and her three cubs that studied our every move as we cautiously progressed along the shoreline.

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Climate change affects cherry blossoms, satisfying sizzle gives cooking temperature

Physics World

Around the world from Kyoto to Washington DC, people enjoy the blossoming of cherry trees as a rite of spring. In some places – notably Japan and South Korea – blossom festivals are vital for local economies, so it is important that organizers get their timings right. There has always been some year-to-year variation as to when peak blossoming occurs, but in 2021 it happened in Kyoto on 26 March 2021 – the earliest it has ever been since records began over 1200 years ago.

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Central Banks Face Net-Zero Transition Risks

Environment + Energy Leader

With the growing focus on sustainability, financial institutions face these two risks as they attempt to make successful economic transitions. The post Central Banks Face Net-Zero Transition Risks appeared first on Environment + Energy Leader.

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5 Things You Can Do Over the Summer to Protect Ontario’s Environment

Enviromental Defense

In the recent election, a solid majority of Ontarians voted for candidates who promised to curtail urban sprawl, cancel Highway 413, and restore Ontario’s conservation authorities and endangered species protections and turn car-dependent suburbs into complete communities. . However, because of the mechanics of Ontario’s electoral system, most of the MPPs elected did not make these commitments.

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Karuk traditional ecological knowledge enhances elk habitat in Northern California

The Applied Ecologist

In their new article, Connor et al. discuss how prescribed forest burning that uses Karuk traditional ecological knowledge can have significant benefits for elk habitat. In a Northern California landscape increasingly plagued by severe wildfire, cultural burning, prescribed fire and forest management principles put into practice for generations by Karuk Tribal members are being brought back to restore fire adapted landscapes.

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Quantum effects help make DNA unstable

Physics World

Quantum effects play a hitherto unexpected role in creating instabilities in DNA – the so-called “molecule of life” that provides instructions for cellular processes in all living organisms. This conclusion, based on work by researchers at the University of Surrey in the UK, goes against long-held beliefs that quantum behaviour is not relevant in the wet, warm environment of cells, and could have far-reaching consequences for models of genetic mutation.

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Net-Zero Business Success Requires Stated Strategy, Says Report

Environment + Energy Leader

A tool for businesses can provide a framework for net-zero transitions and successes. The post Net-Zero Business Success Requires Stated Strategy, Says Report appeared first on Environment + Energy Leader.

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Combating Plastic Pollution Crisis in California

Ocean Conservancy

Fewer plastics on our shelves? Check. Less plastic pollution in our ocean? Check. Dramatic increase in recyclability? Check. These statements could all become realities soon in the Golden State, and together, we can make it happen. Plastic Pollution Prevention and Packaging Producer Responsibility Act, or SB 54, which was introduced in the California State Legislature this week, is the most comprehensive legislation to address the plastic pollution crisis we have ever seen in the United States.

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Sick Building Syndrome: Causes & Prevention | BreezoMeter

Breezometer

Sick Building Syndrome impacts the health, wellness, and productivity of many building occupants across the world. But why is diagnosing this sickness so difficult? In this piece, we explore Sick Building Syndrome in more detail and consider how new forms of environmental intelligence can help providers of commercial indoor treatment solutions ensure they meet health regulations and demands for safety indoors.