Sat.Feb 10, 2024 - Fri.Feb 16, 2024

article thumbnail

Plastics Reckoning: PVC Is Ubiquitous, But Maybe Not for Long

Yale E360

Used in everything from water pipes to car seats, PVC has long attracted criticism: a key ingredient is carcinogenic, and its additives include known endocrine disruptors. Now, the EPA is evaluating PVC’s safety, and an emerging global plastics treaty may limit its use.

342
342
article thumbnail

Plug-in Hybrids: Are They Really a Solution to Reducing Emissions?

Union of Concerned Scientists

It’s immediately clear how fully-electric battery electric vehicles (BEVs) can help reduce emissions; eliminating gasoline and tailpipes in favor of increasingly clean electricity helps limit both climate change and air pollution. Plug-in hybrids are a bit more complicated. A plug-in hybrid electric vehicle (or PHEV) has both a gasoline engine and one or more battery-powered electric motors.

Insiders

Sign Up for our Newsletter

This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.

article thumbnail

A New Strategic Plan for California Offshore Wind

Legal Planet

For those following offshore wind development in California, January 19, 2024, marked an important moment—the release of the long-awaited Draft Assembly Bill 525 Offshore Wind Strategic Plan from the California Energy Commission (CEC). Some important foundations for offshore wind, a new but growing industry in California, had already been laid. Assembly Bill 525 (AB 525, Chiu, Chapter 231, Statutes of 2021) lent momentum to the development of offshore wind in the state by identifying important n

Ocean 162
article thumbnail

A Breach of Fiduciary in the Oil Patch

Energy & the Law

Antero Resources Corp. v. C & R Downhole Drilling, Inc. et al , proves again the extreme risk when one bites the hand that feeds him (shoutout to Greek poet Sappho, 600 BCE. He probably had a Dalmation). Antero sued former employee Kawsak and his accomplices Robertson and his companies for breach of fiduciary duty, fraud, and unjust enrichment. The jury award Antero $11.1 million against Kawsak in actual damages, $775,000 as recoupment for the value Kawcak received as a result of the breach,

2011 147
article thumbnail

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.

article thumbnail

How a Legal Loophole Allows Gas Leaks to Keep on Flowing

Yale E360

A new federal rule will cut major methane emissions from natural gas production. But residents of Pennsylvania’s fracking region contend that the cumulative impact of smaller leaks, which go unreported, will continue unabated, compromising their air, water, and health.

article thumbnail

Ohio Ratepayers Shouldn’t Have to Pay for Money-Losing Coal Plants

Union of Concerned Scientists

Large numbers of coal plants in the United States have been closing for quite some time now due to the declining economics of coal-fired power. It doesn’t make financial sense for many coal plants stay open due to competition from more affordable clean resources —such as wind and solar—as well as from other fossil fuel power plants, such as those fired by methane gas.

2020 317

More Trending

article thumbnail

New Cancer Vaccines Could Treat Some Types of Pancreatic, Colorectal and Other Deadly Forms of the Disease

Scientific American

Vaccines that target tumors with specific genetic mutations in pancreatic and other cancers have shown promise in early-stage trials

145
145
article thumbnail

Nearly Half of Migratory Species in Decline, UN Report Finds

Yale E360

A sweeping new report, unveiled at the start of a major U.N. conference on the conservation of wildlife, held in Samarkand, Uzbekistan, finds that nearly half of migratory species are in decline, from Egyptian vultures to steppe eagles to wild camels.

article thumbnail

Grid Investments are Critical to Our Clean Energy Future

Union of Concerned Scientists

Last November, the Union of Concerned Scientists (UCS) released an interdisciplinary study exploring the various pathways to meeting US goals to cut heat-trapping emissions economywide 50 to 52 percent below 2005 levels by 2030 and achieve net-zero emissions no later than 2050. The good news? It’s doable —and the United States would reap significant health and economic benefits in the process.

article thumbnail

Rising greenhouse gases have cooling effect on Antarctica’s atmosphere

New Scientist

A "negative greenhouse effect" means rising concentrations of CO2 and methane have slightly cooled parts of Antarctica’s upper atmosphere, but that could change as the air becomes more humid

article thumbnail

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

article thumbnail

How Risky Are Repeat COVID Infections? What We Know So Far

Scientific American

Four years into the pandemic, many people have had COVID more than once—but the health consequences of repeat infections are not yet clear

145
145
article thumbnail

In Icy Greenland, Area Covered by Vegetation Has More Than Doubled in Size

Yale E360

In Greenland, where temperatures are rising twice as fast as across the rest of the world, the icy, rocky landscape is turning increasingly green, a new study finds.

253
253
article thumbnail

Something Stinks: California Must End Manure Biomethane Accounting Gimmicks in its Low Carbon Fuel Standard

Union of Concerned Scientists

California’s transportation fuel policy is knee deep in cow poop, and it’s not a good look. The California Air Resources Board (CARB) is considering amendments to its Low Carbon Fuel Standard (LCFS) regulation, but indicated they have no plans to address the problems caused by counter-productive subsidies for manure biomethane. CARB’s use of the LCFS as a cash cow to fund manure digesters is bad transportation fuel policy and bad agricultural policy.

article thumbnail

Is it time for a more subtle view on the ultimate taboo: cannibalism?

New Scientist

New archaeological evidence shows that ancient humans ate each other surprisingly often - sometimes for compassionate reasons.

145
145
article thumbnail

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.

article thumbnail

See What the Solar Eclipse Will Look Like across Most of the U.S.

Scientific American

Even if you’re not in the path of totality, the solar eclipse on April 8 will offer a show to nearly everyone across North and Central America

145
145
article thumbnail

Deep in Death Valley, a Sprawling Lake Takes Form

Yale E360

Repeated bouts of heavy rain have filled Badwater Basin in Death Valley, the driest spot in North America.

236
236
article thumbnail

A New Election Science Task Force Aims to Strengthen Our Elections—and Our Democracy 

Union of Concerned Scientists

A strong and healthy democracy reflects the will of the people. It gives everyone an equal opportunity to participate and have their vote counted, regardless of race, gender, wealth, or social status. It ensures that all voters have the ability to advocate for themselves and their communities. It depends on all of us to take part and strengthen our democracy together, and science has a crucial role to play.

article thumbnail

Microdosing LSD increases the complexity of your brain signals

New Scientist

A measure of consciousness called neural complexity increases even with small doses of LSD, but we still don't know the potential risks of microdosing psychedelic drugs

145
145
article thumbnail

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.

article thumbnail

This Genetically Engineered Petunia Glows in the Dark and Could Be Yours for $29

Scientific American

The engineered “firefly petunia” emits a continuous green glow thanks to genes from a light-up mushroom

145
145
article thumbnail

One of the World’s Rarest Whales

Ocean Conservancy

Each year we discover new species on land and at sea. In 2023, more than 5,000 new deep-sea species were discovered in a large area between Hawaii and Mexico in the Pacific. Defying all biological norms, recently discovered Antarctic strawberry-feather star species can have more than 20 arms. Jumping size brackets, in 2019 a new species called Sato’s beaked whales was identified in the North Pacific , and in 2021, the 40-foot-long Rice’s whale was formally recognized in the Gulf of Mexico.

Ocean 143
article thumbnail

California Regulators Increased Their Clean Energy Ambition. Will They Deliver?

Union of Concerned Scientists

Today, California took another important step in planning for the transition to clean energy, a step that’s been a long time coming. To reach the state’s goals of 100% clean electricity and economy-wide carbon neutrality by 2045, the California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) has been tasked with planning the clean electricity transition via its Integrated Resource Planning (IRP) process.

article thumbnail

Submerged wall could be the largest Stone Age megastructure in Europe

New Scientist

A stone wall nearly a kilometre long found under the Baltic Sea may have been built by ancient hunters to channel deer into a confined space

145
145
article thumbnail

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.

article thumbnail

How El Niño Will Influence 2024 Weather

Scientific American

The strong El Niño pattern that made 2023 particularly hot is finally starting to weaken, which scientists expect will conclude by late spring. What does that mean for weather this year?

2024 144
article thumbnail

As Demand Grows for Electric Cars, So Does the Market for Green Jobs in the EV Industry

NRDC

Analysts expect openings for all types of electric vehicle jobs to expand over the next decade, with new opportunities across the country.

article thumbnail

Welcoming our 2024 Associate Editor Mentees!

The Applied Ecologist

Journal of Applied Ecology offers a two-year mentoring opportunity for early career researchers to gain experience of the Associate Editor role. Each mentee works with one of our five Senior Editors, who act as a mentor, as well as receives on-going support from the Editorial Office.

2024 133
article thumbnail

Satellite beamed power from space to Earth for the first time ever

New Scientist

If we are ever going to have a solar power station in space, we will need to be able to transmit power from orbit - a feat that has now been achieved

article thumbnail

To Design Cities Right, We Need to Focus on People

Scientific American

Far too often, city planning is approached as an engineering problem, instead of connecting people with the land

144
144
article thumbnail

EPA Proposes New RCRA Rules With Significant Compliance Obligations

Clean Energy Law

The proposed rules would expand the RCRA Corrective Action regime to PFAS and potentially other emerging contaminants. They may complicate ongoing compliance efforts as well as lead to significant value chain impacts. By Gary P. Gengel , Julia A. Hatcher , Thomas C. Pearce , and Guy Jack Mathews The Resource Conversation and Recovery Act (RCRA) mandates a two-part “corrective action” regime: Permits for any “solid waste management unit” (SWMU) at a “treatment, storage or disposal facility” (TSDF

Waste 130
article thumbnail

Making a case for business in environmental monitoring

Cleannovate

In our world, taking care of the environment is super important because things have become really urgent. Businesses can actually make money while also helping the planet. Imagine a big city with tall buildings – it looks cool, but there’s a problem.

Cooling 130
article thumbnail

Great apes like teasing each other - which may be the origin of humour

New Scientist

Chimpanzees, bonobos, orangutans and gorillas frequently toy with their peers by poking, tickling or stealing from them, perhaps showing behaviours that were prerequisites for human joking

143
143
article thumbnail

Why Do Birds Have Such Skinny Legs?

Scientific American

The songbirds in your backyard hop around on such itty-bitty legs.

143
143
article thumbnail

European Parliament and Council Reach Political Agreement on Right to Repair Directive

Clean Energy Law

The directive aims to reduce waste and bolster the repair sector. By Paul A. Davies , Michael D. Green , and James Bee On 2 February 2024, the European Parliament (Parliament) and European Council (Council) reached a provisional deal on a directive promoting the repair of broken or defective goods, known as the Right to Repair Directive. The directive was proposed in March 2023 by the European Commission [1] (Commission), seeking to deliver on environmental targets outlined in the European Green

Politics 130