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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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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The Year in Water, 2022

Circle of Blue

The Year in Water, 2022. Sharpening the Shark’s Teeth By Brett Walton, Circle of Blue – December 13, 2022. Spend a few days at a water conference and you’ll hear a favored metaphor for the environmental changes that are unsettling the planet. If climate change is a shark, attendees will say, then water is the shark’s teeth. In this telling, when higher temperatures bite, victims are likely to suffer a hydrologic trauma: too much water or too little.

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Join the Grassroots Movement to Protect Ontario’s Environment

Enviromental Defense

Since the provincial government launched their latest round of attacks on Ontario’s environment in November of this year, there has been unprecedented public opposition to Bill 23 and the Greenbelt removals. We’ve mapped at least 85 different rallies between November 15th and December 13th from Windsor to North Bay to Ottawa. This movement has caught the attention of politicians and the media and is building new connections between environmental organizers throughout the province.

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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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Research stories: How to (almost) double woodland carbon overnight

The Applied Ecologist

How much carbon is stored in the aboveground biomass (AGB) of Wytham Woods aka the ‘most studied forest in the world’? Professors Mat Disney and Kim Calders thought this would be very well-known but were surprised to find this perhaps wasn’t the case after all. They discuss how their team approached their latest research.

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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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The Stream, December 28, 2022: Mercury Pollution of Waterways Spoils Bolivia’s Gold Mining Boom

Circle of Blue

The sun illuminates a canal in Buckeye, Arizona. Photo © J. Carl Ganter/Circle of Blue. YOUR GLOBAL RUNDOWN. Activists call on Bolivia to regulate the mining industry’s use of mercury, which continues to pollute biodiverse watersheds, rivers, and drinking water. The San Carlos Apache Tribe announces a tentative one-year deal to provide water to an unincorporated residential community outside of Scottsdale, Arizona.

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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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A 3M Plant in Illinois Was The Country’s Worst Emitter of a Climate-Killing ‘Immortal’ Chemical in 2021

Inside Climate News

The company was also sued this year by the state’s attorney general for discharging PFAS, contaminating groundwater and the Mississippi River. It says it will stop manufacturing and using PFAS in its products by 2025. By Phil McKenna CORDOVA, Ill.—At a sprawling 3M chemical manufacturing complex here, where the company makes adhesives for Post-it notes, golf clubs and LCD displays, several hundred pounds of a potent climate killer are vented into the atmosphere each day.

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Why Energy Bills Will Be Even Higher This Winter

Union of Concerned Scientists

US ratepayers very likely will pay even more for electricity and heating this winter compared to the already-expensive winter of 2021-2022. These higher costs are being driven by a major overreliance on natural gas, which has sharply spiked in price and is currently the dominant fuel source in the US for both home heating and electricity generation.

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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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Alternatives to Road Salt

Academy of Natural Sciences

When cold weather arrives each year, an estimated 20 million tons of sodium chloride, or salt, is scattered on U.S. roads. When all this salt melts, it runs directly into our soil, groundwater and nearby freshwater streams and rivers, persisting in the ecosystem year after year, increasing the salination levels with every storm’s application. For native plants, birds and wildlife that live in or near these streams, it is like drinking a big glass of ocean water when you’re thirsty.

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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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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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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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Snapshots, Hotshots and Moonshots: Images of Climate Change in 2022

Inside Climate News

Climate change manifested this year in more than just weather disasters. By Katelyn Weisbrod Climate change and an environment in peril were visible in many of 2022’s defining moments: record-smashing heat waves in Europe and South Asia, droughts pushing the fragile global food system to its limit and energy and food markets shaken by war in Ukraine.

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How Will DTE’s Long-Term Plan Impact Michigan’s Clean Energy Future?

Union of Concerned Scientists

This month, the Michigan Public Service Commission (MPSC) is holding a public hearing on DTE Energy’s plans for Michigan’s energy future. DTE’s proposal, known as an integrated resource plan, describes how the utility intends to fulfill its customers’ electricity needs over the next 20 years. These types of long-term energy plans include forecasting the amount of electricity customers will need and examining different options for supporting that need.

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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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A look back at significant decisions in climate litigation in 2022

Law Columbia

By Maria Antonia Tigre. Photo by Matt Palmer on Unsplash. As noted at the end of last year, 2021 was significant for climate litigation, with several decisions worldwide providing a fresh look at stakeholder responsibility for climate change. 2022 was no different, with courts further delineating the procedural dimensions of climate cases and expanding on the responsibilities of stakeholders for climate mitigation and adaption.

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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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The Stream, December 21, 2022: In Global Biodiversity Agreement, Freshwater Protection and Restoration Are Prominent

Circle of Blue

The sun rises over a wetland near Interlochen, Michigan. Photo © J. Carl Ganter/Circle of Blue. YOUR GLOBAL RUNDOWN. At the UN biodiversity summit, roughly 190 countries pledge to protect 30 percent of the world’s lands and waters by 2030. Heavy rains and flooding continue to impact west and central Africa, reaching deadly heights in the Democratic Republic of the Congo.

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In a Famed Game Park Near the Foot of Mount Kilimanjaro, the Animals Are Giving Up

Inside Climate News

As a climate change-induced drought wears on, it’s putting more pressure on wildlife, livestock and people, with deadly consequences. By Georgina Gustin Photography by Larry C. Price.

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3 Renewable Energy Trends for 2023

Earth 911

Despite setbacks from the pandemic, renewable energy deployment is increasing. The Inflation Reduction Act extends. The post 3 Renewable Energy Trends for 2023 appeared first on Earth911.

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Amid the Sprawl, a Long Island Prairie Begins a Quiet Comeback

Yale E360

Tucked into quintessential suburbia, the Hempstead Plains Preserve is bringing back the grasslands that once covered a vast area of New York’s Long Island. New research shows that such thoughtfully planted gardens can help restore natural areas and foster urban biodiversity. Read more on E360 ?.

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Could new cancer drugs come from potatoes and tomatoes?

Frontiers

by Angharad Brewer Gillham, Frontiers science writer. Image/Shutterstock.com. Polish scientists revealed the potential for new cancer drugs to be formulated from bioactive compounds found in plants from the genus Solanum , like potatoes and aubergines. Everyone knows someone who has had cancer. In 2020, around 19m new cases — and around 10m deaths — were registered worldwide.

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PepsiCo Enlists Heavy-Duty Tesla Semis for Future Deliveries

Environment + Energy Leader

PepsiCo plans to roll out 100 heavy-duty Tesla Semis in 2023, when it will start using the electric trucks to make deliveries to customers like Walmart and Kroger. . The post PepsiCo Enlists Heavy-Duty Tesla Semis for Future Deliveries appeared first on Environment + Energy Leader.

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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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To Save the Vaquita Porpoise, Conservationists Entreat Mexico to Keep Gillnets Out of the Northern Gulf of California

Inside Climate News

The country must enforce its ban on gillnet fishing in the area to save the world’s most endangered marine mammal, experts warn. Only around 10 of the porpoises are thought to remain. By Delaney Dryfoos In San Felipe, a fishing town on the northeast edge of Baja California, the use and transportation of gillnets have been banned by the Mexican government since 2017 as a measure to protect the rare vaquita porpoise.

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As the World Scrambles to Halt Biodiversity Loss, 'Things Are Getting Worse'

Scientific American

More than one quarter of the more than 150,000 species on the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species are threatened with extinction.

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ANSES Applies Methodology to Assess Risks of Nanomaterials in Food to Titanium Dioxide

Nanotech

As reported in our October 19, 2021, blog item , in 2021, the French Agency for Food, Environmental and Occupational Health and Safety (ANSES) released a scientific guide to assess the risks posed by nanomaterials in food. On December 16, 2022, ANSES announced that the methodology has been “tested” on the food additive E171, titanium dioxide. ANSES states that the test has “confirmed the relevance of [its] methodology and the need for a nanospecific approach.

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Top Environmental Law Topics from 2022

National Law Center

Over the past year, the environmental law arena has seen various issues and developments that have had impacts on agriculture. Some. The post Top Environmental Law Topics from 2022 appeared first on National Agricultural Law Center.

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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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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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