April, 2023

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New Research Sparks Concerns That Ocean Circulation Will Collapse

Yale E360

Scientists have long feared that warming could cause a breakdown of ocean circulation in the North Atlantic. But new research finds the real risk lies in Antarctica’s waters, where melting could disrupt currents in the next few decades, with profound impacts on global climate.

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How Organizations Can Prepare Their ESG Data for Sustainability Reporting

Environment + Energy Leader

When data types like electricity, water, waste, gas, supplier data, performance KPIs, and more exist in many siloed systems, the question is: Where do you even start? The post How Organizations Can Prepare Their ESG Data for Sustainability Reporting appeared first on Environment + Energy Leader.

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Memo to JPMorgan Chase Shareholders: Stop Banking on Climate Chaos

Union of Concerned Scientists

Spring is a time of new beginnings, and this spring scientists are calling for financial institutions to start doing their part to limit the worst impacts of climate change and hasten a just, equitable transition to clean energy. While science shows that the world is dangerously far from the path that would limit future global warming to 1.5 degrees Celsius (2.7 degrees Fahrenheit) above preindustrial levels—and that projected carbon dioxide emissions from existing fossil fuel infrastructure are

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To Manage Water Scarcity, California Needs a Framework for Fair and Effective Water Right Curtailment

Legal Planet

After three years of drought , a parade of storms brought flooding, landslides, and a massive snowpack to California. With water temporarily so abundant, it is tempting to push planning for water scarcity to the back burner. But California does not have this luxury. The state’s water management challenges during wet and dry times interrelate , and are intensifying.

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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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U.S. Pushes Farmers to Develop A New Crop: Energy

Circle of Blue

  U.S. Pushes Farmers to Develop A New Crop: Energy But more heavily fertilized corn and more manure for methane raises worries about water pollution. By Keith Schneider, Circle of Blue – April 18, 2023 With the exception of federal and state programs to convert corn into ethanol and soybeans into biodiesel to fuel cars and trucks the United States has never regarded farming as a primary energy producer.

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A NOAA-STAR dataset is born…

Real Climate

What does a new entrant in the lower troposphere satellite record stakes really imply? At the beginning of the year , we noted that the NOAA-STAR group had produced a new version (v5.0) of their MSU TMT satellite retrievals which was quite a radical departure from the previous version (4.1). It turns out that v5 has a notable lower trend than v4.1, which had the highest trend among the UAH and RSS retrievals.

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The Corporate World Can’t Reach Net Zero If The Grid Doesn’t Grow

Environment + Energy Leader

Building energy infrastructure is a tricky business. Private entities have limited resources, and the payoff is often too distant. But there’s pressure on companies to meet their net-zero goals — requiring more grid space or grid miles. The post The Corporate World Can’t Reach Net Zero If The Grid Doesn’t Grow appeared first on Environment + Energy Leader.

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Will Climate Change Force More Farmworkers to Go Hungry?

Union of Concerned Scientists

Continued flooding in California caused by severe storms called atmospheric rivers continues to shock the country. Just last week, broken river levees devastated the majority-Latino community of Pajaro, California. Human-caused climate change is expected to increase the number and intensity of extreme weather events like hurricanes, floods, and droughts that are already ravaging communities across the United States.

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Fighting Back Against Lawless Judges: What Does The Case Law Actually Say?

Legal Planet

Edwin Borchard, Author of the Declaratory Judgment Act Three weeks ago, I argued that the Biden Administration should use the declaratory judgment as a way of pre-empting lawless judges like Matthew J. Kacsmaryk and Reed O’Connor, both of (of course) Texas. I fleshed out the idea in a recent piece for The American Prospect. Since then, the problem has only gotten worse, as O’Connor just struck down the administration’s regulations on preventive care under the Affordable Care Ac

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Cholera Cases Spike Amid Extreme Weather, Conflict

Circle of Blue

Without clean water and sanitation, disease outbreaks multiply. On February 16, 2023, head nurse Millicent gives oral cholera vaccine to a child at Madogo Health Centre in Tana River County, Kenya. The Ministry of Health of Kenya, working with WHO, UNICEF and other partners, vaccinated approximately 2 million people against cholera in a campaign that ran February 11-21, 2023.

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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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10 Fascinating Animals Found in Antarctica

Ocean Conservancy

Although both isolated and intensely ice-laden, Antarctica is bursting at the seams with biodiversity, and each species found there is uniquely adapted to flourish in this polar ecosystem. Let’s learn about some captivating creatures that can be observed in this chilly and secluded part of the world. See more wonderful ocean animals! Enter your email and never miss an update Sorry, but we failed to add you to the list.

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For Uganda’s Vanishing Glaciers, Time Is Running Out

Yale E360

A trek through tropical forest, mud fields, and scree reveals the last remnants of the once-sprawling ice fields in Uganda’s Rwenzori Mountains. Their loss has profound implications for local communities, uniquely adapted species, and scientists studying the climate record.

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Toyota to Forge Ahead With Hydrogen Cars But Still Focuses on EVs

Environment + Energy Leader

Global policymakers recognize hydrogen fuel cell cars for their zero emissions. And they can run much further than EVs before refueling is required — a process that takes just 10 minutes instead of 45 minutes. The post Toyota to Forge Ahead With Hydrogen Cars But Still Focuses on EVs appeared first on Environment + Energy Leader.

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Cold War Nuclear Weapons Put St. Louis Community At Risk—in 2023

Union of Concerned Scientists

Current-day residents near St. Louis, Missouri, are living with chronic health conditions and an increased cancer burden due to contamination from uranium mining and processes used in the production of nuclear weapons at the start of the atomic age. The 19-mile stretch of Coldwater Creek includes areas surrounding the St. Louis Lambert International Airport to the Missouri River.

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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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2150 and Beyond

Legal Planet

Most climate change projections end at the end of this century. When the IPCC issued its first report, however, 2100 was 110 years in the future. Looking that far ahead right now would bring us closer to 2150 than to 2100. We’re only beginning to get a sense of the impacts of climate change that far ahead. What happens if we get to net zero? Basically, the temperature will tend to stick at the same level for a long time.

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Fresh, April 4, 2023: Canadian Government Pledges Increased Funding for Great Lakes

Circle of Blue

April 4, 2023 Fresh is a biweekly newsletter from Circle of Blue that unpacks the biggest international, state, and local policy news stories facing the Great Lakes region today. Sign up for Fresh: A Great Lakes Policy Briefing , straight to your inbox, every other Tuesday. — Christian Thorsberg, Interim Fresh Editor This Week’s Watersheds A new bill introduced in the Ohio House would prevent the removal of oil and natural gas from beneath Lake Erie.

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Statement on the federal government’s role in ensuring a proper review of the proposed Highway 413

Enviromental Defense

Statement from Tim Gray, Executive Director, Environmental Defence Toronto | Traditional territories of the Mississaugas of the Credit, the Anishinaabeg, the Haudenosaunee, and the Huron-Wendat – Yesterday, Ontario Premier Doug Ford and Transportation Minister Caroline Mulroney criticized the federal government’s Impact Assessment Act review of the proposed Highway 413.

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As Projects Decline, the Era of Building Big Dams Draws to a Close

Yale E360

Escalating construction costs, the rise of solar and wind power, and mounting public opposition have led to a precipitous decrease in massive new hydropower projects. Experts say the world has hit “peak dams,” which conservationists hail as good news for riverine ecosystems.

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Walmart Plans to Grow Electric Vehicle Charging Network

Environment + Energy Leader

Not only is Walmart developing a coast-to-coast EV charging network, but they have also made changes to their product supply chains. In 2020, Walmart set the goal to achieve zero emissions across their global operations by 2040. The post Walmart Plans to Grow Electric Vehicle Charging Network appeared first on Environment + Energy Leader.

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Civil Society Wants Deeds, Not Words, on Nuclear Disarmament: The G7 Should Listen

Union of Concerned Scientists

The Civil 7 (C7) is a non-governmental organization that brings together thousands of highly-skilled individuals from around the world who work to improve government responses to global environmental, economic, and social problems. The C7 held its annual summit in Tokyo last week to discuss its current recommendations and to present them to emissaries of the Group of 7 (G7) nations—Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, the United Kingdom, and the United States, which will be holding their annua

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Does Upzoning Reduce Housing Prices?

Legal Planet

A new study on upzoning is out from the highly-respected Urban Institute , and it doesn’t have great news for YIMBYs: We find that reforms that loosen restrictions are associated with a statistically significant 0.8 percent increase in housing supply within three to nine years of reform passage, accounting for new and existing stock. This increase occurs predominantly for units at the higher end of the rent price distribution; we find no statistically significant evidence that additional lower-c

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Forest to MI Faucet: Using Trees to Keep Water Sources Pristine

Circle of Blue

Forest to MI Faucet: Using Trees to Keep Water Sources Pristine A Great Lakes News Collaborative series investigating the region’s water pollution challenges. This series explores the Clean Water Act’s shortcomings in the Great Lakes, and how the region can more completely address water pollution in the next 50 years. The collaborative’s four newsrooms — Bridge Michigan, Circle of Blue, Great Lakes Now, and Michigan Radio — work collaboratively to report on the most pressing water issues in the

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Global Warming Could Drive Pulses of Ice Sheet Retreat Reaching 2,000 Feet Per Day

Inside Climate News

New research of seafloor formations near Norway includes findings that keep climate scientists awake at night. By Bob Berwyn A new study of the seafloor near the coast of northern Norway brings an ominous warning from the past, showing that some of the planet’s ice sheets retreated in pulses of nearly 2,000 feet per day as the oceans warmed at the end of the last ice age.

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A Golden Spike Would Mark the Earth’s Next Epoch: But Where?

Yale E360

Before the Anthropocene can be officially proclaimed, a scientific working group must select a single site that permanently captures the new human-influenced epoch. Nine candidate sites — from California to China to Antarctica — are under consideration, with a decision expected soon.

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Plastic Waste Management for a Sustainable Future

Environment + Energy Leader

With an ever-growing population and increased consumption, the amount of plastic waste generated worldwide has skyrocketed, leading to severe environmental problems such as pollution and habitat destruction. The post Plastic Waste Management for a Sustainable Future appeared first on Environment + Energy Leader.

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Ask a Scientist: The Electric Car and Power Grid’s Shared Future

Union of Concerned Scientists

The revolutions in power generation and vehicle technology are gaining momentum, and—given the climate crisis—they can’t come too soon. Last year, renewables generated more electricity in the United States than coal for the first time, according to the US Energy Information Administration (EIA). US electric car sales, meanwhile, jumped 65% compared to 2021, while overall car sales last year declined from the previous year.

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Amazing images of Mars’s moon Deimos snapped by Emirates Mars Mission

New Scientist

The Hope orbiter got closer to Mars’s moons Deimos and Phobos than any probe before, collecting unprecedented images and data that hints at the moons’ true origins

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Biden Administration Outlines Options for Colorado River Emergency Plan

Circle of Blue

Arizona, California, and Nevada could lose up to a quarter of water deliveries combined next year if conditions are bad. Side canyons and sand bars emerge in a shrinking Lake Powell. Photo © J. Carl Ganter/Circle of Blue By Brett Walton, Circle of Blue – April 11, 2023 Following a brief but intense period of consultation and analysis, the Biden administration unveiled a pair of short-term options to sustain water levels in key Colorado River reservoirs in the next three years.

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An Agricultural Drought In East Africa Was Caused by Climate Change, Scientists Find

Inside Climate News

The drought has pushed millions of people into famine or famine-like conditions and killed millions of animals. By Georgina Gustin A group of scientists have concluded that a devastating drought in the Horn of Africa, where tens of millions of people and animals have been pushed into starvation, would not have happened without the influence of human-caused climate change.

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Long Reviled as ‘Ugly,’ Sea Lampreys Finally Get Some Respect

Yale E360

The sucker-mouthed sea lamprey has been dismissed as grotesque and a threat to sport fish. But fisheries managers in New England and the Pacific Northwest are recognizing the ecological importance of lampreys in their native waters and are stepping up efforts to help them recover.

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Greening Steel and Smart Cities Are Critical to Net-Zero Goals

Environment + Energy Leader

China and India have aggressive green energy targets — not because they want to quiet international attention; instead, they want to create smart cities and attract multinational corporations. To get there, they will need green steel -- made from wind and solar, not coal. The post Greening Steel and Smart Cities Are Critical to Net-Zero Goals appeared first on Environment + Energy Leader.

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US States and Communities are Suing the Fossil Fuel Industry: Six Things You Need to Know 

Union of Concerned Scientists

In an important win for climate accountability in the United States, the US Supreme Court decided that lawsuits filed in Colorado, Maryland, California, Hawai’i, and Rhode Island against fossil fuel companies including ExxonMobil, Chevron, Shell, Suncor, and others will remain in state courts. Now the case s, brought against the oil and gas giants for their decades of disinformation and other contributions to the climate crisis, can finally move ahead.

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The right sports bra may increase your running performance by 7%

Frontiers

By Suzanna Burgelman, science writer Researchers are one step closer to understanding the influence of good running apparel on running performance and injury risk. A new study in Frontiers in Sports and Active Living found that greater breast support during running is associated with increased knee joint stiffness, altering the lower body biomechanics of female runners.

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Fresh, April 18, 2023: Minnesota Lawmakers Debate Future of State’s Environmental Funding

Circle of Blue

April 18, 2023 Fresh is a biweekly newsletter from Circle of Blue that unpacks the biggest international, state, and local policy news stories facing the Great Lakes region today. Sign up for Fresh: A Great Lakes Policy Briefing , straight to your inbox, every other Tuesday. — Christian Thorsberg, Interim Fresh Editor This Week’s Watersheds Minnesota’s environmental funding plan, which is seeded with state lottery proceeds and is set to expire in 2025, is likely to be on the ballot next ye

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