Legal Planet

OCTOBER 23, 2023

We all know that California’s climate policies have led the nation. But how well have these policies actually worked? That’s not as easy to answer as you might think. You have to do some digging to come up with the numbers, and their meaning isn’t always completely clear. If you compare California with the country as a whole, however, it does seem clear that our climate policies have had a real impact on emissions.

2009 275

2009 Climate Change Atmosphere 2019 275

Yale E360

OCTOBER 26, 2023

A massive bird kill this month highlighted a grim problem: As many as a billion birds die in the U.S. each year by flying into windows and glass walls. Efforts are now underway in cities to dim building lights, make glass more visible, and adopt other bird-friendly practices.

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Union of Concerned Scientists

OCTOBER 24, 2023

A global transition to electric transportation is underway and momentum is growing. Traditional and new auto manufacturers are bringing more and more models to market. Even in California, where a tradition of stringent regulation has pushed the industry to innovate over the past 50 years, automakers are selling EVs at levels well above sales requirements.

Clean Energy 325

Clean Energy Electricity Fossil Fuels Recycling 325

Energy & the Law

OCTOBER 27, 2023

Most states call it a third-party beneficiary contract. Leave it to Louisiana to be different. In Adams v. Chevron USA Inc. , the plaintiffs claimed that oilfield pipe-cleaning activities of Chevron and others contaminated their land with NORM. The Grafers owned the land where, pursuant to a lease, the pipes and other equipment were cleaned. Plaintiffs also sought damages from the Grefers for their own alleged negligence.

2014 147

2014 147

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

Legal Planet

OCTOBER 26, 2023

U.S. Dep’t of Agriculture At a recent California Air Resources Board (CARB) meeting, a staff member responded to a question about why CARB’s program for reducing emissions from transportation fuels incentivized the capture of methane from landfills so much less than the capture of methane from dairies: “Landfills have a different CI [carbon intensity] score because they are regulated,” the staff member explained.

Regulations 289

Regulations Greenhouse Clean Air Act Fossil Fuels 289

Yale E360

OCTOBER 24, 2023

Cristiane Julião — a member of the Pankararu Indigenous group and co-founder of the National Articulation of Ancestral Warriors Women — challenges the deeply rooted sexism that hinders environmental protection in Brazil. “The state needs to listen to women,” she insists.

Environmental Protection 307

Environmental Protection 307

Energy & the Law

OCTOBER 23, 2023

Foreshadowing a grim future for family weddings and funerals, Bell and Petsch v. Petch is a property dispute over five tracts of land in Gillespie County, Texas, in which siblings are the combatants. The events are less important than the takeaway: To win an adverse possession claim, the claimant must establish all six of the elements. Adverse possession , the requirements actual and visible possession of the disputed property that is adverse and hostile to the claims of the owner of record titl

2020 147

2020 Law 147

Legal Planet

OCTOBER 24, 2023

We don’t need Taylor Swift to “fall in love with a climate scientist,” we just wish she’d write a song about the climate crisis. When the breathless coverage of her relationship with Travis Kelce first boosted ratings for NFL football, some suggested Swift should use her star power for good by “dating a climate scientist.” Though they probably meant well, it’s offensive—misogynist even— to suggest that Taylor Swift has nothing more to contribute to the climate movement than a date.

Climate Change 275

Climate Change Climate Scientist Fossil Fuels 2019 275

Yale E360

OCTOBER 23, 2023

A new study finds that climate change has become a significant factor in the formation of El Niños.

Climate Change 245

Climate Change 245

Union of Concerned Scientists

OCTOBER 23, 2023

Many frontline communities serve as the source of scientific data for researchers and scientists looking to use them as research topics—but see little to no benefit in sharing their knowledge, expertise, and traditions. Some communities have even seen their efforts and livelihoods undermined by outside scholarship, and from these negative experiences, develop a healthy distrust of academics.

Politics 254

Politics 2015 2016 Government 254

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

Law and Environment

OCTOBER 26, 2023

Yesterday, Massachusetts Climate Chief Melissa Hoffer issued a report detailing how “to implement the Healey-Driscoll Administration’s whole-of-government approach to addressing the climate crisis.” The report identifies trends, barriers, and gaps in Massachusetts climate policy, establishes guiding principles for whole-of-government climate action, and offers recommendations to strengthen the “climate-related practices and policies of executive department agencies.

Government 130

Government Clean Energy Fossil Fuels 2024 130

Legal Planet

OCTOBER 24, 2023

Tom Emmer, the newly picked Republican nominee for Speaker of the House, is a relative unknown despite having been part of the House Republican’s leadership team. Emmer, who grew up in an affluent suburb of Minneapolis, became a lawyer and then state representative. He successfully ran to replace Michele Bachman. If you’ve forgotten about her, she was essentially the Marjorie Taylor Greene of her era.

Biofuels 274

Biofuels Climate Change Renewable Energy 2020 274

Yale E360

OCTOBER 25, 2023

Scientists have recorded the first cases of avian flu in the Antarctic, finding the disease has spread among migrating brown skuas.

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Enviromental Defense

OCTOBER 23, 2023

Statement by Phil Pothen, Ontario Environmen t Program Manager on Ontario Government’s Commitment to Reverse Forced Boundary Expansions in Hamilton, Halton, Waterloo and other Ontario Municipalities Toronto | Traditional territories of the Mississaugas of the Credit, the Anishinaabeg, the Haudenosaunee, and the Wendat – The provincial government will take another modest step to try to end its sprawl and land speculation scandal if it follows through on Minister Calandra’s promise to reverse the

Government 145

Government Conservation 2022 Law 145

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Sustainable Development

Scientific American

OCTOBER 25, 2023

Scientific American is the essential guide to the most awe-inspiring advances in science and technology, explaining how they change our understanding of the world and shape our lives.

Climate Change 143

Climate Change Technology Technology Fossil Fuels 143

Ocean Conservancy

OCTOBER 23, 2023

In many ways, the ocean is “ground zero” for the plastic pollution crisis. It is so vast, yet plastics have been found in every corner of the ocean —from the deepest trench to the most remote Arctic ice sheets. Sea turtles , whales and seabirds are frequently discovered with plastics in their guts, unable to escape the plastic deluge. So, it’s normal to wonder, how much trash is in the ocean?

Ocean 144

Ocean Conservation Climate Change Waste 144

New Scientist

OCTOBER 26, 2023

A record-breaking superatomic semiconductor material allows particles to traverse it between 100 and 1000 times faster than electrons pass through a silicon chip

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National Sustainable Agriculture Coalition (NSAC)

OCTOBER 25, 2023

On October 1, 2023, the Agriculture Improvement Act of 2018 – more commonly known as the 2018 Farm Bill – expired. The expiration did not come as a surprise, as Congress’ timeline for reauthorizing the 2018 Farm Bill has been increasingly drawn out for a variety of reasons such that neither the House nor Senate Agriculture Committees have yet been ready to unveil their bills.

2018 130

2018 Conservation 2024 2023 130

Scientific American

OCTOBER 21, 2023

Scientific American is the essential guide to the most awe-inspiring advances in science and technology, explaining how they change our understanding of the world and shape our lives.

Technology 145

Technology Technology 145

NRDC

OCTOBER 25, 2023

Twenty-one long-missing endangered species have been declared extinct. Far from a failure of the ESA, the announcement shows the need for prompt ESA protections.

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New Scientist

OCTOBER 24, 2023

When a mixture of pea protein and sunflower oil is fermented with lactic acid-producing bacteria, it develops a firm texture and produces flavour compounds found in dairy cheese

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Enviromental Defense

OCTOBER 23, 2023

This blog was written with help from Emilia Belliveau, Energy Transition Program Manager As a climate activist, I’m constantly confronted with the attempts of oil and gas companies to greenwash their operations, spread misinformation through their public campaigns and actively oppose much needed climate policies. Thankfully this is changing. As the world continues to learn how oil and gas companies have used their vast resources to cause climate change, the tables are slowly turning.

Fossil Fuels 129

Fossil Fuels Climate Change Natural Resources Greenhouse 129

Scientific American

OCTOBER 26, 2023

People may learn from and replicate the skewed perspective of an artificial intelligence algorithm, and they carry this bias beyond their interactions with the AI

Technology 144

Technology Technology 144

NRDC

OCTOBER 24, 2023

The recent Draft Environmental Impact Statement ignores the threats to the Standing Rock Sioux Tribe’s drinking water source and violates tribal treaty rights and sovereignty in a severe environmental injustice.

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128

New Scientist

OCTOBER 25, 2023

Very few non-human animals have passed the mirror self-recognition test, but roosters have now succeeded at a modified version, which may mean they can understand that a reflection represents their own body

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129

Frontiers

OCTOBER 24, 2023

by Deborah Pirchner, Frontiers science writer Image: Shutterstock.com Even before it was found to reduce pain and anxiety in modern times, music has been used for centuries to relieve pain. Now, researchers in Canada have investigated which aspects of listening to music can lead to a decreased pain perception. They found that participants’ perception of pain intensity and unpleasantness was reduced when they listened to their favorite music compared to pre-selected relaxing music, which is commo

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Scientific American

OCTOBER 24, 2023

Scientific American is the essential guide to the most awe-inspiring advances in science and technology, explaining how they change our understanding of the world and shape our lives.

Technology 137

Technology Technology 137

PA Environment Daily

OCTOBER 24, 2023

The House Environmental Resources and Energy Committee is scheduled to hold a hearing October 30 on House Bill 170 (Otten-D-Chester) increasing setback safety zones from shale natural gas drilling sites and infrastructure from 500 to 2,500 feet or more, based on the latest science. When she announced the legislation in March , Rep. Danielle Friel Otten said, “The Pennsylvania Office of Attorney General’s 43rd Statewide Investigating Grand Jury report on the unconventional oil and gas industry hi

Natural Gas 119

Natural Gas Air Pollution Waste Law 119

New Scientist

OCTOBER 26, 2023

The full moon on 28 October will have a red tinge for viewers in the UK, Europe, Asia and Africa as part of the moon passes into Earth’s shadow

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Frontiers

OCTOBER 22, 2023

by Angharad Brewer Gillham, Frontiers science writer Image/Shutterstock.com Previous studies have suggested that owners care more about dogs than cats — maybe because dogs are generally considered more affectionate and require more hands-on care. But these studies have used convenience samples and are only based in one country. Scientists surveyed representative samples from Denmark, Austria, and the UK, and found that people generally invest more emotionally and financially in their dogs than t

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Scientific American

OCTOBER 25, 2023

Scientific American is the essential guide to the most awe-inspiring advances in science and technology, explaining how they change our understanding of the world and shape our lives.

Technology 136

Technology Technology 136

PA Environment Daily

OCTOBER 24, 2023

On October 28, the Department of Environmental Protection will formally publish the draft 2024 Integrated Water Quality Monitoring Report for public comment showing just over one-third (34%) of Pennsylvania’s streams-- 28,820 miles-- have impaired water quality. That’s an increase from the 2022 report which found 27,886 miles of water quality impaired streams making them unsafe for aquatic life, recreation, fish consumption or water supply.

2024 117

2024 2022 Atmosphere Conservation 117

New Scientist

OCTOBER 23, 2023

Some 3500 salmon have escaped from a fish farm pen in Iceland and now the hunt is on to catch them before they hybridise with the local wild, genetically distinct salmon in the fjords

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Endangered Species Law

OCTOBER 23, 2023

On Thursday, October 12, 2023, Judge Indira Talwani of the U.S. District Court for the District of Massachusetts granted summary judgment in favor of the United States Department of the Interior and Vineyard Wind, and denied summary judgment to the plaintiffs in two cases challenging federal authorizations for the Vineyard Wind project: Seafreeze Shoreside, Inc. v.

2023 116

2023 116