Sat.Feb 25, 2023 - Fri.Mar 03, 2023

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Good News from the Land of 10,000 Lakes

Legal Planet

The headline news is that Minnesota has adopted a 2040 deadline for a carbon-free grid. The headline is accurate, but the law in question contains a lot of other interesting features that deserve attention. Despite the law’s extremely unglamorous name (“Senate File 4”), this is a big step forward for the state, as well as evidence of how much difference it makes to unified party control of state government.

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Endangered Mexican Gray Wolves on the Rebound in U.S. Southwest

Yale E360

Once driven to the brink of extinction, Mexican gray wolves have slowly returned to the U.S. Southwest. For the first time since their reintroduction more than two decades ago, their numbers total more than 200, according to federal officials.

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As Millions of Solar Panels Age Out, Recyclers Prepare to Cash In

Yale E360

Solar panels have a lifespan of 25 to 30 years, but they contain valuable metals, including silver and copper. With a surge of expired panels expected soon, companies are emerging that seek to recycle the reusable materials and keep the panels out of landfills.

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Guiding Principles for EV Battery Recycling Policy

Union of Concerned Scientists

Electrifying our transportation system is essential for mitigating emissions that cause climate change and adverse health impacts. This electrification will require a lot more batteries and therefore a lot more minerals. Recovering these materials from retired electric vehicle (EV) batteries is an alternative source to mining. Essentially, the materials recovered through battery recycling can replace future material supply that would otherwise need to be extracted from the earth to meet demand.

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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 Great-Great-Grandmother of Climate Science

Legal Planet

The first climate science ever published was in 1856 by Eunice Newton Foote, who discovered that CO2 and water vapor trapped the sun’s heat. Her paper was read at the annual meeting of the American Association for the Advancement of Science. That paper, along with another paper of hers, were the only physics papers by an American woman for the next thirty years.

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Explorers Club Names J. Carl Ganter a Fellow, Recognizing Contributions to Freshwater Research, Conservation and Journalism

Circle of Blue

Circle of Blue co-founder joins roster of explorers who have “inspired many of the world’s greatest discoveries” as water stress becomes a serious threat to people, business, the environment and political stability across the world NEW YORK (FEB 27, 2023) — The Explorers Club — the distinguished international society that promotes scientific expeditions and discovery that push the bounds of human possibility — has named J.

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Farmland Consolidation, Not Chinese Ownership, Is the Real National Security Threat

Union of Concerned Scientists

Following the wide coverage of a suspected Chinese spy balloon in US airspace earlier in February, Senator Jon Tester (D-MT) and others have proposed legislation that would seek to limit foreign ownership of US farmland, targeting China, Russia, and other “adversaries” of the US government. But how much land do foreign entities really own in this country?

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CEQA and UC Berkeley Housing: Don’t Panic

Legal Planet

Where’s The Toga? (Photo Credit: Library of Congress) Lots of screaming and yelling about last week’s Court of Appeal CEQA decision concerning student housing at UC Berkeley. The Court struck down the university’s plan for more student housing on the grounds that the final Environmental Impact Report did not adequately assess noise impacts from students.

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The Stream, March 1, 2023: Okefenokee Swamp, Among World’s Largest Freshwater Wetlands, Threatened by Proposed Mine

Circle of Blue

Shanties in Portelinha, a favela in São Paulo, Brazil. Photo © J. Carl Ganter / Circle of Blue YOUR GLOBAL RUNDOWN In southern Ukraine , a reservoir controlled by Russian troops has been drained to its lowest level in three decades. Extreme rains and mudslides in southeastern Brazil kill dozens of people and force thousands from their homes. Farming leaders in England push for new reservoirs as water shortages become more common and severe.

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Louisville Selects Solar Energy Solutions & Icon Solar Power for Solar Over Louisville Campaign

Environment + Energy Leader

The Solar Over Louisville initiative proved to be a significant success as 92 contracts were signed, marking it as the third-largest solar campaign in the US in 2022, and the most extensive solar project to date in Louisville. The post Louisville Selects Solar Energy Solutions & Icon Solar Power for Solar Over Louisville Campaign appeared first on Environment + Energy Leader.

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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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In Cambodia, a Battered Mekong Defies Doomsday Predictions

Yale E360

After years of environmental assault — from dam building, overfishing, and logging — stretches of the Mekong River, upon which millions of people depend, appear to be recovering. Heavy rains have helped, along with a crackdown on illegal fishing and other conservation efforts.

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Biden Must Fix New Senate Legislation on China

Union of Concerned Scientists

President Biden’s recent address in Warsaw , read together with President Putin’s speech in Moscow , suggest we’re heading towards a second cold war in Europe. The confrontational exchange between Secretary of State Blinken and Chinese State Councillor Wang Yi at the Munich security conference portends the same for Asia. The signs are everywhere. National Nuclear Security Administration Administrator Jill Hruby recently described growing international interest in nuclear technology and the weapo

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Reserved Royalty Interest is “Floating”

Energy & the Law

Co-author Tiereney Bowman* Texas courts continue to address the “fixed or floating” non-participating royalty interest question. The El Paso Court of Appeals’ answer in Bridges v. Uhl et al. was floating, based on the language in that particular reservation, In 1940 the Klattenhoffs sold a 640-acre tract in Upton County to Virgil Powell, reserving, “an undivided one-half (1/2) of the usual one-eighth (1/8) royalty in, to and under the above-described land….

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Philips Persists in ESG Commitments, Despite Disappointing Year

Environment + Energy Leader

In spite of widespread recalls, Philips reduced operational emissions and announced major progress towards its ESG commitments. The post Philips Persists in ESG Commitments, Despite Disappointing Year appeared first on Environment + Energy Leader.

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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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To Study Human-Wildlife Encounters, Scientists Turn to Tik Tok

Yale E360

Herders on the Tibetan plateau are prone to seeing gray wolves, snow leopards, brown bears, and other wildlife, with the potential for conflict. Historically, it has been difficult to study these encounters, but the rise of smartphones has given researchers a valuable new tool — videos of wildlife taken by the herders themselves.

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Minnesota Can Do More to Protect People from Ethylene Oxide Emissions

Union of Concerned Scientists

Lately, I have been writing a lot about cumulative impacts from environmental hazards. Meanwhile, the Union of Concern Scientists just published an important report on the potential threat posed by emissions of ethylene oxide from facilities that use the cancer-causing gas to sterilize medical equipment and other products. The report includes case studies of hotspots for ethylene oxide emissions (including in Minnesota ) and an interactive map.

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Oil’s Fate is in CA Voters’ Hands

Legal Planet

The impacts of oil and gas production on the environment and communities, particularly low-income communities of color, are well-documented. The health effects associated with living near oil and gas wells include asthma, nose bleeds, headaches, birth defects, cancer, and premature death. Oil and gas operations also pollute the air and water and contribute to climate change.

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LG Innotek Receives ISO Cybersecurity Assurance Program Certificate from UL Solutions

Environment + Energy Leader

UL Solutions assists automotive OEMs and suppliers in evaluating cybersecurity risks across the entire life cycle of their products helping to detect potential issues in the design phase, thereby preventing the discovery of problems in the final product. The post LG Innotek Receives ISO Cybersecurity Assurance Program Certificate from UL Solutions appeared first on Environment + Energy Leader.

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Long-Running Texas Boundary Dispute Continues

Energy & the Law

Co-author Travis Nadilini Ellison v. Three Rivers Acquisition LLC et al. , on remand from the Texas Supreme Court, is the third round of a boundary dispute between mineral lessees in Irion County. For the history of Ms. Ellison’s odyssey from court to court to court, see our 2019 post discussing the first Court of Appeals decision , and our 2021 post discussing the Supreme Court decision.

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Will an Equity Commission Report Address Systemic Racism at the USDA?  

Union of Concerned Scientists

On February 28, an advisory committee to the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) presented Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack with its interim recommendations on how the department should address its long history of programmatic inequity and injustice. The recommendations are sweeping—they span across USDA programs and address the services the department provides to farmers, farmworkers, and consumers, while also tackling institutional issues within the department itself and its sup

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Remnants of Two Banned Insecticides Nearly Eliminated in Great Lakes Region

Yale E360

Two banned insecticides known to linger in the atmosphere have been all but eliminated from North America's Great Lakes region, a study finds.

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UAE Companies Sign $2B of Industrial Agreements

Environment + Energy Leader

Companies from the UAE, Egypt, Jordan, and Bahrain signed industrial agreements with an investment value exceeding $2 billion at the third Higher Committee meeting of the Industrial Partnership for Sustainable Economic Development. The post UAE Companies Sign $2B of Industrial Agreements appeared first on Environment + Energy Leader.

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NEW REPORT: More than enough land available to build over 2 million homes in the Greater Golden Horseshoe by 2031, without touching the Greenbelt or expanding urban boundaries

Enviromental Defense

Toronto | Traditional territories of the Mississaugas of the Credit, the Anishinaabeg, the Haudenosaunee, and the Huron-Wendat – A new report makes it clear that there is more than enough land already in the planning pipelines to build over 2 million homes by 2031, far more than the 1.5 million housing units the Province wants built across Ontario. This makes it evident there is no planning rationale for building on the Greenbelt or mandating sprawl development.

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“Temporada de peligro” en Sudamérica: El cambio climático rompe los récords de calor en la región

Union of Concerned Scientists

Traducido del inglés por Felipe Castro Mientras una ola de frío ártico sin precedentes se apoderaba de Estados Unidos, una ola de calor sin precedentes se extendía por partes de Sudamérica durante gran parte de los últimos meses. Mientras nos encontramos en medio de brutales tormentas invernales en el hemisferio norte, resulta fácil olvidar que es verano en el hemisferio sur.

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A Simple Thing You Can Do to Benefit Backyard Birds and Bees

Cool Green Science

It’s time to ease up on the spring clean-up to help pollinators and other local wildlife. The post A Simple Thing You Can Do to Benefit Backyard Birds and Bees appeared first on Cool Green Science.

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The Surprise Parts Obsolescence Impact of PFAS

Environment + Energy Leader

When it comes to PFAS (forever chemicals) regulations are secondary — production sunsetting and parts obsolescence is where manufacturers will first feel the pressure. The post The Surprise Parts Obsolescence Impact of PFAS appeared first on Environment + Energy Leader.

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Vaccine Makers Are Preparing for Bird Flu

Scientific American

Although most experts say bird flu is not an immediate threat to humans, efforts are underway to produce vaccines for H5N1 or another potential pandemic virus

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12 exotic bacteria found to passively collect rare earth elements from wastewater

Frontiers

By Mischa Dijkstra, Frontiers science writer Scientists have shown that the biomass of 12 previously unstudied strains of cyanobacteria from around the globe is efficient at the biosorption of the rare earth elements lanthanum, cerium, neodymium, and terbium from aqueous solutions. This allows these rare elements, for which demand is steadily growing, to be collected from wastewater from mining, metallurgy, and the recycling of e-waste, and reused.

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5 Species of Crab to Meet

Ocean Conservancy

Living in the beautiful state of Maryland—I know a thing or two about crabs. I have a crab magnet on my car, crab décor in my home and Old Bay crab seasoning in my cupboard. See more wonderful ocean animals! Enter your email and never miss an update Sorry, but we failed to add you to the list. Please try again or contact 1.888.780.6763 Enter Your Email.loading Thanks for signing up for Ocean Conservancy emails.

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EPA: Long-Term Trends Show Significant Reductions in Power Sector Emissions

Environment + Energy Leader

Since 1990, power plant emissions of SO2 have declined by 93%, and NOX emissions have decreased by 87%. In 2022, sources in both the CSAPR annual program and the Acid Rain Program (ARP) emitted 0.85 million tons of SO2, a decrease of 11 million tons from 1995 levels. The post EPA: Long-Term Trends Show Significant Reductions in Power Sector Emissions appeared first on Environment + Energy Leader.

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We’re starting to understand how viruses trigger chronic conditions

New Scientist

Widespread cases of long covid have shone a spotlight on the role viral infections play in previously neglected conditions like chronic fatigue syndrome and fibromyalgia

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Scientists unveil plan to create biocomputers powered by human brain cells 

Frontiers

by Liad Hollender, Frontiers science writer Credit: Thomas Hartung, Johns Hopkins University Despite AI’s impressive track record, its computational power pales in comparison with that of the human brain. Scientists today unveil a revolutionary path to drive computing forward: organoid intelligence (OI), where lab-grown brain organoids serve as biological hardware. “This new field of biocomputing promises unprecedented advances in computing speed, processing power, data efficiency, and sto

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Results Show Lights Out Philly Works

Academy of Natural Sciences

With millions of birds packing their bags in preparation for peak spring migration through the Philadelphia region starting April 1, it’s time to break out the binoculars, get outside and look up. Birding is the most popular sport in the U.S., with over 51 million people birdwatching in their backyards, state parks and even birding competitions. While Mother Nature’s spectacle is beautiful and amazing, it’s not without perils for the birds.

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Hanshow Presents New IoT Technologies at EuroShop 2023

Environment + Energy Leader

This year, Hanshow will provide visitors with an opportunity to experience its line of integrated retail solutions, showcasing an array of new technological developments and achievements. The post Hanshow Presents New IoT Technologies at EuroShop 2023 appeared first on Environment + Energy Leader.

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