December, 2022

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Ask a Scientist: In Moments of Despair, Climate Progress Can Keep Hope Alive

Union of Concerned Scientists

Masterpieces in European museums are under siege. Last month, protesters threw a black, oily liquid at a Gustav Klimt painting at Vienna’s Leopold Museum. In October, they dumped tomato soup on a Vincent Van Gogh painting London’s Gallery of Art, smeared mash potatoes on a Claude Monet painting at the Museum Barberini in Potsdam, and glued themselves to a Johannes Vermeer painting at the Mauritshuis Museum in The Hague.

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In Bolivia, Mercury Pollution Spreads Amid a Surge in Gold Mining

Yale E360

A boom in small-scale gold mining in Bolivia has raised concerns about pollution from mercury used in the mining process. Researchers are citing the health impacts on downstream villages, but the government has yet to act to stem the widespread use of the highly toxic chemical. Read more on E360 →.

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The water south of Greenland has been cooling, so what causes that?

Real Climate

Sea surface temperature trend 1993 – 2018, from European Atlas of the Seas. Let’s compare two possibilities by a back-of-envelope calculation. (1) Is it due to a reduced heat transport of the Atlantic Meridional Overturning Circulation (AMOC)? (2) Or is it simply due to the influx of cold meltwater as the Greenland Ice Sheet is losing ice? The latter is often suggested.

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Glass Packaging Receives Positive Consumer Response

Environment + Energy Leader

A survey from the Glass Packaging Institute shows they would consider buying from companies that use the materials. The post Glass Packaging Receives Positive Consumer Response appeared first on Environment + Energy Leader.

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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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A Celebration of Energy Efficiency?

Legal Planet

When you think about it, the Hanukkah story is, in a funny way, about a miraculous increase in energy efficiency. An energy resource (olive oil) that was supposed to supply only enough energy for one night’s worth of light was able to supply light for eight nights. That’s an eightfold improvement in energy efficiency, akin to driving 2000 miles on one tank of gas.

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What’s Up With Water – December 6, 2022

Circle of Blue

Transcript. Welcome to “What’s Up With Water” – your need-to-know news of the world’s water from Circle of Blue. I’m Eileen Wray-McCann. Large parts of Planet Earth were drier than normal last year, and that is especially true of river basins in southern South America. S o says the World Meteorological Organization in its first report focusing on the availability of global water resources.

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Americans Flocking to Fire-Prone Regions, Study Finds

Yale E360

Americans are moving away from parts of the Midwest that are prone to heat waves, but are moving into regions in the West that are increasingly vulnerable to wildfires, according to a 10-year study. Read more on E360 →.

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CHITIN – A NATURE-INSPIRED PLASTIC?

Cleannovate

Chitin – pronounced as kaitin – is a word that doesn’t seem to make any waves. But why should it? … More.

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Integrate Your Supply Chain to Meet ESG Objectives

Environment + Energy Leader

Growing scrutiny from responsible business practices from shareholders, regulators and other stakeholders is driving a boom in Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) reporting. The post Integrate Your Supply Chain to Meet ESG Objectives appeared first on Environment + Energy Leader.

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Should China Pay Climate Reparations?

Legal Planet

At the international negotiating session in Egypt, demands for climate reparations — “Loss and Damage” in UN lingo — were front and center. The debate was focused on the obligations of developed countries. But there was another issue percolating in the background: Does China, the world’s largest carbon emitter, have an obligation to compensate poorer countries for the harm it is causing?

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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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The Stream, December 14, 2022: Scrutinizing Mexico’s Tourist Train, UN Raises Concerns about Cultural and Environmental Damage

Circle of Blue

Mayan ruins in the Yucatan peninsula. Photo courtesy Robert Linder via Unsplash. YOUR GLOBAL RUNDOWN. Proposed changes to Montana’s state constitution are placing environmental protections at risk. Lawmakers in Argentina voted to permanently protect the Mitre peninsula, an essential carbon sink at the country’s southern tip. In Mexico , the rushed development of a tourist train across the Yucatan peninsula threatens biodiverse rainforests and Indigenous communities, drawing UN attention.

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Where’s My Train? Chronic Disinvestment in Transit Leaves Us All Stuck

Union of Concerned Scientists

If you live in an area with public transit, and have found yourself wondering where things went wrong, you’re not alone. Maybe you ride every day but have had to navigate line closures and service changes like in Boston or Washington DC. Perhaps you rarely ride or have had a handful of bad experiences with delays or ghost buses that never come. Or perhaps you can’t understand why it is so difficult to get to the airport on a train or bus (we see you, Los Angeles).

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For U.S. Companies, the Race for the New EV Battery Is On

Yale E360

Spurred by federal mandates and incentives, U.S. manufacturers are pushing forward with developing new battery technologies for electric vehicles. The holy grail is a battery that is safer, costs less, provides longer driving range, and doesn’t use imported “conflict” minerals. Read more on E360 →.

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CRITTERS, CRAPS, CABBAGE & CHICKEN – PROFITABLE INSECTS

Cleannovate

Put some food waste in a bucket outside your house and witness the congregation of insects descending onto it. Most … More.

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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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Technology Key to Making Waste Management Sustainable

Environment + Energy Leader

Digital systems can help track and reduce waste, increase recycling, and lower operational costs. The post Technology Key to Making Waste Management Sustainable appeared first on Environment + Energy Leader.

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That Was The Year That Was

Legal Planet

A lot has happened on the environmental front. Here are the biggest stories of 2022. Congress passed the Inflation Reduction Act, providing $369 billion in tax credit and spending to reduce carbon emissions. California banned the sale of new gas cars in 2035, with several other states now agreeing to follow suit. The Democrats lost control of Congress, eliminating the chances for significant climate/energy legislation in the next two years.

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What’s Up With Water – December 20, 2022

Circle of Blue

Transcript. Welcome to “What’s Up With Water” – your need-to-know news of the world’s water from Circle of Blue. I’m Eileen Wray-McCann. This week, we highlight three stories from the United States on nitrate pollution, groundwater extraction, and drought response. In Oregon, a port located on the Columbia River has agreed to spend $200 million to control water pollution from its operations.

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What Happens to Wind Turbine Blades at the End of Their Life Cycle?

Union of Concerned Scientists

Perched atop towers hundreds of feet tall, overlooking grassy plains or windy seas, sleek white blades trace slow powerful circles through the air. Can the life cycle of wind turbine blades , lasting about 25 years, be as circular as the elegant arcs they carve in the sky? This post will follow the wind turbine blade from “cradle-to-grave,” then explore solutions for a more responsible, sustainable life cycle.

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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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Coal Prevailed in 2022, but Renewables Remain Ascendant

Yale E360

With Russia's invasion of Ukraine roiling energy markets, 2022 saw countries burning unprecedented amounts of coal — but also making massive investments in renewables. Experts are projecting the world will add as much renewable power in the next five years as it did in the last 20, with renewables rapidly overtaking coal to become the world’s largest source of electricity.

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BIODEGRADABLE PLASTICS – WHY THEY MATTER

Cleannovate

I remember traveling to work sometime ago and encountering a ‘sea’ of plastic papers around a certain town centre. Now … More.

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Kappahl Uses TrusTrace Traceability System to Improve Sustainable Textiles

Environment + Energy Leader

The system helps with supply chain transparency to add insight into the impacts of materials. The post Kappahl Uses TrusTrace Traceability System to Improve Sustainable Textiles appeared first on Environment + Energy Leader.

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The Coming Ground War For Missing Middle Housing

Legal Planet

Duplex: The NIMBY’s Nightmare. Last year, the California Legislature enacted SB 9 , which required local governments to allow duplexes (and with ADUs, sometimes triplexes and quadraplexes) in single-family zones. Housing advocates rejoiced, and NIMBYs screamed that it was the end of the world. Now the Terner Center has a report on discussions with developers revealing that we still have quite a long way to go to make the law work as intended.

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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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Federal Water Tap, December 26: Water Spending Woven into Budget Deal

Circle of Blue

The Rundown. Congress passes a $1.7 trillion budget deal. The Army Corps finalizes a plan for a river diversion to rebuild land on the Louisiana coast. The Army Corps also releases a draft review of a massive water-diversion tunnel through California’s contentious delta region. Congress sends several water-related bills to the president. And lastly, the EPA’s draft drinking water standards for PFOA and PFOS are due by the end of the year.

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How Should the USDA Spend its Research Budget? (We Have Some Ideas.)

Union of Concerned Scientists

One of the many functions of the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) is to advance cross-cutting, innovative research in, well, agriculture. With a budget of $4.1 billion for research (which sounded like a lot until I realized it was mere 2% of the overall USDA budget of $198 billion), the USDA funds scientific work within its own agencies, as well as through grants to other organizations.

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Forest Equity: What Indigenous People Want from Carbon Credits

Yale E360

To Indigenous leader Levi Sucre Romero, carbon credit markets have failed to respect Indigenous people and their key role in protecting their lands. In an e360 interview, he talks about how carbon brokers have taken advantage of local communities and why that must change. Read more on E360 →.

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HERBS & BOTANICALS – THE MAKING OF ESSENTIAL OILS

Cleannovate

Scents and aromas improve our outlook of life. Imagine how life would be if we didn’t have the smell of … More.

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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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Amazon Enters into Agreement for 19 Renewable Gas Stations

Environment + Energy Leader

Amazon has entered into an agreement with Clean Energy Fuels Corp. for the energy company to build 19 renewable natural gas stations nationwide. The post Amazon Enters into Agreement for 19 Renewable Gas Stations appeared first on Environment + Energy Leader.

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Concealing Plutocracy

Legal Planet

Rooftop Solar: Banned By Billionaires? The LA Times’ inestimable Sammy Roth reports on the attempt of California’s investor-owned utilities to end “net metering,” whereby utilities must pay customers with rooftop solar for their excess electricity. Roth has been highly skeptical of the utilities’ drive: it’s an age of climate crisis, and the state’s Public Utilities Commission is going to reduce payments to homeowners with solar??!!

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What’s Up With Water – December 13, 2022

Circle of Blue

Transcript. Welcome to “What’s Up With Water” – your need-to-know news of the world’s water from Circle of Blue. I’m Eileen Wray-McCann. Scientists are nearing a breakthrough in understanding the world’s water. Later this week, a new water-measuring satellite will launch from Vandenberg Space Force Base, in California. The SWOT mission, as its called, will measure weekly changes in the world’s major rivers, lakes, wetlands, and oceans.

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Want Clean Energy? Then You Also Want Battery Recycling.

Union of Concerned Scientists

Lithium-ion batteries are essential for decarbonizing transportation through electric vehicles and building a resilient, renewable energy grid through energy storage batteries. The grid energy storage industry represents a much smaller fraction of the lithium-ion battery market than electric vehicles, but it too has a responsibility to ensure batteries are responsibly and sustainably produced and then productively recirculated at end-of-life.

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The 30 Percent Goal: Is Bigger Always Better for Biodiversity?

Yale E360

The UN biodiversity conference now meeting in Montreal is considering a proposal to commit to putting 30 percent of land and sea under protection by 2030. Some ecologists warn that focusing too much on the size of protected areas risks missing what most needs saving. Read more on E360 →.

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