Yale E360
FEBRUARY 6, 2024
Generative artificial intelligence uses massive amounts of energy for computation and data storage and billions of gallons of water to cool the equipment at data centers. Now, legislators and regulators — in the U.S. and the EU — are starting to demand accountability.
Real Climate
FEBRUARY 9, 2024
A new paper was published in Science Advances today. Its title says what it is about: “Physics-based early warning signal shows that AMOC is on tipping course.” The study follows one by Danish colleagues which made headlines last July, likewise looking for early warning signals for approaching an AMOC tipping point (we discussed it here ), but using rather different data and methods.
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Union of Concerned Scientists
FEBRUARY 9, 2024
Just how bad is fossil “natural” gas? Its primary component is methane. Responsible for 12 percent of all US global warming emissions from human activities, methane traps significantly more heat per molecule than carbon dioxide, making it 86 times more harmful for the first 20 years after it is released into the atmosphere. And, as it turns out, the infrastructure used to produce, store, distribute, transmit, and burn gas leaks like a sieve , making gas as bad as coal for the climate.
Law and Environment
FEBRUARY 8, 2024
Yesterday, EPA finalized a rule lowering the primary annual National Ambient Air Quality Standard for PM2.5 to 9.00 ug/m 3. This is a significant reduction from the current 12.00 ug/m 3 standard and a victory for environmentalists, even though they had advocated for larger reduction. There is substantial evidence supporting the reduction, both in the legal and the common sense understanding of this term.
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.
Yale E360
FEBRUARY 7, 2024
Europe saw a record drop in fossil power last year, according to a new analysis that found that, for the first time, wind supplied more power than natural gas.
Clean Energy Law
FEBRUARY 5, 2024
EPA’s transfer of primary enforcement authority to states for carbon capture and storage projects may decrease permitting delays but raise legal questions. By Nikki Buffa , Joshua Bledsoe , Jennifer Roy , Michael Dreibelbis , Brian McCall , Austin Wruble , and Sam Wong Louisiana has become the third state in the United States to receive primacy from the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), allowing it to assume permitting authority for carbon capture and storage (CCS) projects.
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New Scientist
FEBRUARY 9, 2024
The most detailed computer model run so far shows that melting ice sheets could cause the collapse of the major ocean current that warms Europe, but it's still unclear how likely this is to happen
Yale E360
FEBRUARY 7, 2024
To eliminate global aviation’s sizable carbon footprint, researchers are working on a range of alternatives to fossil jet fuel. Recent test flights powered only by hydrogen or biofuels have been successful, but steep challenges remain before aviation can become carbon-free.
Scientific American
FEBRUARY 9, 2024
Michael Mann secured a win in his legal battle against conservative bloggers who said the climatologist “molested and tortured data” and compared him to a convicted child abuser
Enviromental Defense
FEBRUARY 6, 2024
ENVIRONMENTAL DEFENCE, KEEPERS OF THE WATER Ottawa | Traditional, unceded territory of the Algonquin Anishinaabeg People – A year ago, news broke that Imperial Oil’s Kearl mine had been leaking toxic industrial wastewater for over nine months while keeping local Indigenous communities in the dark. The public only learned about the leak after a subsequent spill at the same facility, which released 5.3 million litres of industrial waste into the environment.
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.
New Scientist
FEBRUARY 5, 2024
The US National Ignition Facility has achieved even higher energy yields since breaking even for the first time in 2022, but a practical fusion reactor is still a long way off
Yale E360
FEBRUARY 5, 2024
U.N. estimates of the amount of carbon that humans can remove from the atmosphere are deeply unrealistic, scientists warn. A new paper offers more plausible carbon removal targets.
The Applied Ecologist
FEBRUARY 8, 2024
Noa Rigoudy and co-authors talk us through their latest work, highlighting how behavioural adjustment may buffer the consequences of the reduction in natural habitats that accompanies intensification of agricultural production. This has implications for understanding how agricultural practices shape the food-safety trade-off of wildlife living in these highly modified landscapes.
Enviromental Defense
FEBRUARY 6, 2024
Statement by Emilia Belliveau, Energy Transition Program Manager Montréal/Tiohtià:ke | Traditional, unceded lands of the Kanien’kehá:ka/Mohawk Nation, a gathering place for many First Nations, including the Anishinaabeg – We applaud the introduction of the Private Member’s Bill C-372 , banning false advertising by the oil and gas industry in Canada.
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.
New Scientist
FEBRUARY 5, 2024
A Greek philosopher’s musings on pleasure, contained in ancient papyrus scrolls buried by Mount Vesuvius’s eruption 2000 years ago, have been rediscovered with the help of AI
Yale E360
FEBRUARY 9, 2024
El Niño, when warm waters in the eastern Pacific fuel hotter weather globally, is beginning to recede, scientists say.
Scientific American
FEBRUARY 5, 2024
Sean Kirkpatrick looked into the skies and deep into government archives for extraterrestrials. What he found is, to him, more concerning than little green men.
Enviromental Defense
FEBRUARY 8, 2024
As a recent graduate, there were countless times as a student when I would lay awake at night stressed about if I was going to make it to my next paycheck. For many people, grocery trips take twice as long as customers agonize about what they can afford to include in their basket. Some families are having to make difficult trade-offs about what costs they are going to prioritize, perhaps deciding between car repairs or a new roof.
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New Scientist
FEBRUARY 7, 2024
Making a strange state of matter called a time crystal inside a quantum computer helped researchers stabilise a fragile quantum state inspired by Schrödinger’s cat
Ocean Conservancy
FEBRUARY 6, 2024
Did you know that more than 80% of our ocean is still unexplored? Scientists have made massive progress in marine exploration in the past century, yet there is still so much more we have to learn about our ocean. An ink-credible incidental discovery made in 2023 is a prime example of this. Want to learn more about ocean animals? Sign up to receive our emails.
NRDC
FEBRUARY 6, 2024
WASHINGTON – Yesterday, as the public comment period closed for the Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) proposed Lead and Copper Rule Improvements (LCRI) to address the lead-contaminated drinking water crisis, it is clear that the overwhelming majority of comments support the.
Enviromental Defense
FEBRUARY 8, 2024
This past summer, a “moderately” severe algae bloom grew in beloved Lake Erie. This unwelcome visitor continues to make yearly toxic appearances in the warmer months. When it comes to these toxic algae blooms, even a “mild” or smaller bloom is bad news. These blooms, regardless of size, contain harmful concentrations of microcystin, a potent liver toxin, and possible human carcinogen (cancer-causing substance) produced by certain kinds of algae.
New Scientist
FEBRUARY 8, 2024
In its final experiments before being shut down for good last year, the UK's JET fusion reactor smashed its previous records for reaction duration and energy output
PA Environment Daily
FEBRUARY 9, 2024
The following DEP notices were published in the February 10 PA Bulletin related to oil and gas industry facilities. Many of the notices offer the opportunity for public comments. Land Recycling/Brownfield Cleanups -- Chesapeake Appalachia LLC - Sensinger Shale Gas Well Pad: DEP received a Final Report on remediation of soil contaminated with production wastewater to the Statewide Health Standards at the well pad located in Franklin Twp., Bradford County. ( PA Bulletin, page 682 ) -- Standing Sto
Scientific American
FEBRUARY 6, 2024
“We’re still in a pandemic,” says a lead COVID official with the World Health Organization
Enviromental Defense
FEBRUARY 5, 2024
Statement by Phil Pothen, Ontario Environment Program Manager, on reports of forthcoming legislation to reinstate forced boundary expansions and circumvent expropriation & land use rules Toronto | Traditional territories of the Mississaugas of the Credit, the Anishinaabeg, the Haudenosaunee, and the Wendat – Environmental Defence is concerned by recent reports in the Narwhal that the Ontario government is contemplating a new bill that would throw gasoline on the government’s smoldering spraw
New Scientist
FEBRUARY 8, 2024
Companies are searching all over the world for deposits of geologic hydrogen that could be used as clean fuel, and a mine in Albania could give them clues about where to look
PA Environment Daily
FEBRUARY 4, 2024
“The people have a right to clean air, pure water, and to the preservation of the natural, scenic, historic and esthetic values of the environment. Pennsylvania's public natural resources are the common property of all the people, including generations yet to come. As trustee of these resources, the Commonwealth shall conserve and maintain them for the benefit of all the people.” - - Article I, Section 27 Pennsylvania Constitution [It’s Not A Suggestion] Governor’s Budget Address: February 6 Sen
Scientific American
FEBRUARY 9, 2024
Researchers have a clearer picture than ever before of how common conditions that involve aggressive behavior emerge and how treatment can help
Inside Climate News
FEBRUARY 5, 2024
A new study highlights the rising risks of storms that exceed a currently nonexistent ‘Category 6’ tropical storm rating in a warming world. By Bob Berwyn As Typhoon Haiyan howled into the Philippines in November 2013, people knew that a powerful storm was coming, but they were not expecting a typhoon with 196 mile per hour winds, driving a storm surge up to 23 feet high.
New Scientist
FEBRUARY 6, 2024
A sample from the asteroid Bennu, brought back by the OSIRIS-REx mission, feature hints that it was once part of a planetesimal with conditions favourable for life to emerge
PA Environment Daily
FEBRUARY 8, 2024
PJM Interconnection staff presentation slides for a February 8 meeting of the Operating Committee showed natural gas-fired power plants accounted for over half the forced outages of generating capacity during Winter Storm Gerri that occurred from January 14 to 22. Don Kujawski, Operations Manager for PJM, said while natural gas had some “missteps,” overall performance was better than during Winter Storm Elliott in December 2022 when 70% of the outages were natural gas units.
Scientific American
FEBRUARY 9, 2024
Intuitive Machines’ IM-1 is aiming to be the first commercial mission to softly land on another celestial body—and the first to deliver NASA equipment to the moon
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