Law and Environment

FEBRUARY 8, 2024

Yesterday, EPA finalized a rule lowering the primary annual National Ambient Air Quality Standard for PM2.5 to 9.00 ug/m 3. This is a significant reduction from the current 12.00 ug/m 3 standard and a victory for environmentalists, even though they had advocated for larger reduction. There is substantial evidence supporting the reduction, both in the legal and the common sense understanding of this term.

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Law Climate Change Regulations 130

The Applied Ecologist

FEBRUARY 8, 2024

Noa Rigoudy and co-authors talk us through their latest work, highlighting how behavioural adjustment may buffer the consequences of the reduction in natural habitats that accompanies intensification of agricultural production. This has implications for understanding how agricultural practices shape the food-safety trade-off of wildlife living in these highly modified landscapes.

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New Scientist

FEBRUARY 8, 2024

In its final experiments before being shut down for good last year, the UK's JET fusion reactor smashed its previous records for reaction duration and energy output

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Enviromental Defense

FEBRUARY 8, 2024

As a recent graduate, there were countless times as a student when I would lay awake at night stressed about if I was going to make it to my next paycheck. For many people, grocery trips take twice as long as customers agonize about what they can afford to include in their basket. Some families are having to make difficult trade-offs about what costs they are going to prioritize, perhaps deciding between car repairs or a new roof.

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Fossil Fuels Cooling Climate Change Electricity 129

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.

2024

New Scientist

FEBRUARY 8, 2024

An ocean research vessel has just discovered four underwater mountains, the tallest almost 3 kilometres high, that might be hotspots of deep-sea life

Ocean 141

Ocean 141

Enviromental Defense

FEBRUARY 8, 2024

This past summer, a “moderately” severe algae bloom grew in beloved Lake Erie. This unwelcome visitor continues to make yearly toxic appearances in the warmer months. When it comes to these toxic algae blooms, even a “mild” or smaller bloom is bad news. These blooms, regardless of size, contain harmful concentrations of microcystin, a potent liver toxin, and possible human carcinogen (cancer-causing substance) produced by certain kinds of algae.

Regulations 128

Regulations Government Environmental Protection Waste 128

PA Environment Daily

FEBRUARY 8, 2024

PJM Interconnection staff presentation slides for a February 8 meeting of the Operating Committee showed natural gas-fired power plants accounted for over half the forced outages of generating capacity during Winter Storm Gerri that occurred from January 14 to 22. Don Kujawski, Operations Manager for PJM, said while natural gas had some “missteps,” overall performance was better than during Winter Storm Elliott in December 2022 when 70% of the outages were natural gas units.

Natural Gas 105

Natural Gas Electricity 2022 2024 105

New Scientist

FEBRUARY 8, 2024

Companies are searching all over the world for deposits of geologic hydrogen that could be used as clean fuel, and a mine in Albania could give them clues about where to look

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Washington Nature

FEBRUARY 8, 2024

By Anya Blaney Kate Janeway has dedicated her life to environmental causes, including nine years of volunteer service with The Nature Conservancy (TNC) in Washington. She has completed her third and final 3-year term with TNC in Washington’s Board of Trustees and remains actively involved with TNC’s chapters around the U.S. During her tenure, she served three years as board chair, chaired TNC in Washington’s Philanthropy Committee and co-chaired the Rock Our World Campaign that exceeded the glob

Endangered Species Act 105

Endangered Species Act Conservation Law Climate Change 105

New Scientist

FEBRUARY 8, 2024

Insects may be finding it harder to locate flowers because the scent molecules released by the flowers smell different after they react with pollutants in the air

Air Pollution 133

Air Pollution 133

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.

Clean Energy

PA Environment Daily

FEBRUARY 8, 2024

By Adrienne Berard, Penn State News Trees are struggling to sequester heat-trapping carbon dioxide (CO2) in warmer, drier climates, meaning that they may no longer serve as a solution for offsetting humanity’s carbon footprint as the planet continues to warm, according to a new study led by Penn State researchers. “We found that trees in warmer, drier climates are essentially coughing instead of breathing,” said Max Lloyd , assistant professor of geosciences at Penn State and lead author on the

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Atmosphere Carbon Dioxide Cooling Ocean 104

New Scientist

FEBRUARY 8, 2024

In its final experiments before being shut down for good last year, the UK's JET reactor set a world record for the energy output of a fusion reaction

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PA Environment Daily

FEBRUARY 8, 2024

On February 8, the Centre County Recycling and Refuse Authority announced it will soon make the switch to solar with the help of the nonprofit Pennsylvania Solar Center’s G.E.T. Solar Program , which provides free technical assistance and financial guidance to businesses and organizations looking to go solar. After a competitive RFP process, CCRRA has hired local solar developer Envinity to complete the installation.

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Recycling Clean Energy Electricity Renewable Energy 102

New Scientist

FEBRUARY 8, 2024

As a 15-kilometre crack formed ahead of the recent eruptions, magma flowed into it at the highest rate observed anywhere in the world

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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.

2022

A Greener Life

FEBRUARY 8, 2024

By Anders Lorenzen Scientists have said that the world has just experienced its warmest January ever recorded and for the first time, the world has experienced a 12-month period where temperature increases averaged more than 1.5 degrees C above pre-industrial. This is according to data from the European Union’s climate change monitoring satellite Copernicus Climate Change Service (C3S) which was released on Thursday (8th of February 2024). 2023 was already the warmest year ever recorded, based o

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2024 Climate Change 2015 2023 103

New Scientist

FEBRUARY 8, 2024

A new study has found an intriguing link between erectile dysfunction drugs and lower Alzheimer's risk, but they are not definitive

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Scientific American

FEBRUARY 8, 2024

As EPA tightens air pollution standards for particulate matter, new research suggests some components of that pollution could worsen with climate change

Air Pollution 108

Air Pollution Climate Change 108

Environmental News Bits

FEBRUARY 8, 2024

by Joanna Lambert, University of Colorado Boulder Gray wolves were reintroduced to Colorado in December 2023, the latest attempt in a decadeslong effort to build up wolf populations in the Rocky Mountain states.

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2023 98

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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.

Sustainable Development

National Law Center

FEBRUARY 8, 2024

Classifying workers as “employees” or “independent contractors” is an important task for agricultural employers because of the legal obligations and protections. The post U.S. Department of Labor Finalizes Independent Contractor Rule appeared first on National Agricultural Law Center.

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Law 94

Ocean Conservancy

FEBRUARY 8, 2024

Swimming in some of the deepest waters of the ocean is the gorgeous goblin shark. This misunderstood bottom-dweller is often demonized—called creepy, disgusting and gross. But, you’ll find none of that here. This blog is an “ode to the goblin shark”. Imagine having what it takes to survive at ocean depths of 3,000 feet or more and living on this planet for about 125 million years!

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Ocean Conservation Waste 90

Scientific American

FEBRUARY 8, 2024

Wildfires have upended the insurance industry, in part because climate change is fueling bigger and more destructive blazes

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Climate Change 107

NRDC

FEBRUARY 8, 2024

How the DIY retailer giant's latest forest sourcing policy misses the mark

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Corp Watch

FEBRUARY 8, 2024

Investigations by Greenpeace and Repórter Brasil found that close to half of mechanized diggers used for illegal gold mining in the Amazon are manufactured by HD Hyundai Construction Equipment.

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New Scientist

FEBRUARY 8, 2024

The eROSITA X-ray telescope’s survey of the night sky has revealed extreme and violent processes in the universe, including inexplicably strange stars and erupting black holes

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PA Environment Daily

FEBRUARY 8, 2024

On February 9, the Chesapeake Bay Foundation announced Isabel “Izzy” Snee and Mariah Saunders have joined the CBF team as conservation coordinators, working to accelerate progress toward bringing impaired streams back to health in parts of four Pennsylvania counties. The work by Snee and Saunders continues momentum created by Pequea Creek and Halfmoon Creek Watershed Implementation Plans coordinated by CBF.

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Conservation Clean Water Act 2024 82

New Scientist

FEBRUARY 8, 2024

An eight-week virtual exercise programme improved the quality of life of people with long covid, but the effect was relatively modest and it may not benefit everyone with the condition

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Scientific American

FEBRUARY 8, 2024

Ruby Payne-Scott and her colleagues unlocked a new way of seeing the universe, but to keep her job, Ruby had to keep a big secret.

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PA Environment Daily

FEBRUARY 8, 2024

On February 8, the Department of Environmental Protection announced Commonwealth Court issued an order appointing PA American Water Company as receiver for the East Dunkard Water Authority in Greene County. On February 1, 2024, EDWA’s board approved a motion agreeing to the appointment of a receiver to take over the management and operation of the water system due to significant compliance issues.

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2024 Environmental Protection Regulations 2023 102

Scientific American

FEBRUARY 8, 2024

A first look at materials from asteroid Bennu sparks speculation that the space rock was once part of an ancient, watery protoplanet

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Ocean 95

PA Environment Daily

FEBRUARY 8, 2024

On February 7, the Environmental Hearing Board issued an opinion and order granting part of an Apex Energy (PA) LLC motion to dismiss parts of a Protect PT appeal of the renewal of shale gas well permits at the Drakulic well pad in Penn Township, Westmoreland County. The Board ruled that all or parts of 15 of the 107 paragraphs outlining the grounds listed by Protect PT in the appeal challenge the initial permits issued by DEP and were dismissed.

Natural Gas 78

Natural Gas Waste 2024 Regulations 78

Scientific American

FEBRUARY 8, 2024

The total solar eclipse over North America this April is a great opportunity for kids to understand the dance of the Earth, sun and moon

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PA Environment Daily

FEBRUARY 8, 2024

On February 7, Liberty Township and the Citizens Environmental Association of Slippery Rock Area filed an appeal with Commonwealth Court of the Environmental Hearing Board decision denying their appeal of a DEP permit for the Tri-County Landfill in Mercer County. Among the issues raised by the appellants in their original appeal were-- concerns the landfill’s operation would attract birds and interfere with the operation of the nearby Grove City Airport; that the oil and gas drilling wastes the

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Waste Natural Gas Radiation 2024 76

Scientific American

FEBRUARY 8, 2024

In January Taylor Swift became the latest high-profile target of nonconsensual deepfake images.

Regulations 102

Regulations Technology Technology 102