2022

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For U.S. Companies, the Race for the New EV Battery Is On

Yale E360

Spurred by federal mandates and incentives, U.S. manufacturers are pushing forward with developing new battery technologies for electric vehicles. The holy grail is a battery that is safer, costs less, provides longer driving range, and doesn’t use imported “conflict” minerals. Read more on E360 →.

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Congress Releases New Evidence of Big Oil Climate Disinformation

Union of Concerned Scientists

As part of its ongoing investigation of fossil fuel industry climate disinformation, the US House of Representatives Committee on Oversight and Reform released more than 200 pages of internal corporate documents last month that provide new evidence of industry deception. Among the more startling revelations, the documents show that oil and gas corporation executives acknowledged in private emails that their companies’ climate pledges and professed solutions cannot deliver swift and deep cuts in

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Danger Looms Where Toxic Algae Blooms

Circle of Blue

Danger Looms Where Toxic Algae Blooms Billions spent on strategies to limit nutrient pollution that don’t work. By Keith Schneider, Circle of Blue. Photographs by J. Carl Ganter, Circle of Blue. September 8, 2022 . First of a six-part series. TOLEDO — Just as Great Lakes scientists anticipated, the first blue-green swirls of a mammoth toxic algae bloom surfaced in mid-July in the nearshore waters of Lake Erie, between Monroe, Michigan, and this Ohio port city of 275,000.

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Scafetta comes back for more

Real Climate

A new paper from Scafetta and it’s almost as bad as the last one. Back in March, we outlined how a model-observations comparison paper in GRL by Nicola Scafetta ( Scafetta, 2022a ) got wrong basically everything that one could get wrong (the uncertainty in the observations, the internal variability in the models, the statistical basis for comparisons – the lot!).

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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.

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Phantom Forests: Failed Planting Projects Hinder Climate Goals

Yale E360

High-profile initiatives to plant millions of trees are being touted by governments around the world as major contributions to fighting climate change. But scientists say many of these projects are ill-conceived and poorly managed and often fail to grow any forests at all. Read more on E360 ?.

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Is Agrochemical Contamination Killing Nebraska’s Children?

Circle of Blue

Is Agrochemical Contamination Killing Nebraska’s Children? The harrowing trail of toxic nutrients in farm country water. By Brett Walton, Circle of Blue – February 2, 2022. Photography and videography by J. Carl Ganter. AURORA, Neb. — In the final, frantic hours Jacob Peters’s body gave out. As nurses worked to stabilize his vitals, his blood pressure dropped.

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Glass Packaging Receives Positive Consumer Response

Environment + Energy Leader

A survey from the Glass Packaging Institute shows they would consider buying from companies that use the materials. The post Glass Packaging Receives Positive Consumer Response appeared first on Environment + Energy Leader.

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The CO2 problem in six easy steps (2022 Update)

Real Climate

One of our most-read old posts is the step-by-step explanation for why increasing CO 2 is a significant problem ( The CO2 problem in 6 easy steps ). However, that was written in 2007 – 15 years ago! While the basic steps and concepts have not changed, there’s 15 years of more data, updates in some of the details and concepts, and (it turns out) better graphics to accompany the text.

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A Beautiful Day for Bumblefish?

Legal Planet

A California appeals court ruled last week that bumblebees are fish and are therefore protected by the California Endangered Species Act (CESA). That may sound ridiculous, but there’s actually a convoluted legal argument to support the court. That argument does justify giving the CESA some extra coverage beyond what we would ordinarily classify as fish.

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The water south of Greenland has been cooling, so what causes that?

Real Climate

Sea surface temperature trend 1993 – 2018, from European Atlas of the Seas. Let’s compare two possibilities by a back-of-envelope calculation. (1) Is it due to a reduced heat transport of the Atlantic Meridional Overturning Circulation (AMOC)? (2) Or is it simply due to the influx of cold meltwater as the Greenland Ice Sheet is losing ice? The latter is often suggested.

Cooling 363
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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

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Climate impacts of the #IRA

Real Climate

With the signing of the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) on Tuesday Aug 16, the most significant climate legislation in US federal history (so far) became law. Despite the odd name (and greatly overused TLA ), the IRA contains a huge number of elements, totalling roughly $350 billion of investment, in climate solutions over the next ten years. This is an historic effort though it falls short of the broader ‘ Green New Deal ‘ goals that were proposed in 2019, and doesn’t include al

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Why Are Nature-Based Solutions on Climate Being Overlooked?

Yale E360

Nature-based initiatives, such as planting mangroves and revitalizing wetlands, have proven effective in making communities more resilient to climate change. But international funding has shortchanged such solutions in favor of more costly and less efficient engineering projects. Read more on E360 ?.

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Serious mistakes found in recent paper by Connolly et al.

Real Climate

Guest post by Mark Richardson who is a Research Scientist in the Aerosol and Clouds Group at NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory, California Institute of Technology. All opinions expressed are his own and do not in any way represent those of NASA, JPL or Caltech. Should scientists choose to believe provably false things? Even though that would mean more inclusive debates with a wider range of opinions, our recent paper Richardson & Benestad (2022) argues no: “instead of repeating errors, they s

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Wild Sounds: The Loss of Sonic Diversity and Why It Matters

Yale E360

From birdsong in the rainforest to whale calls in the oceans, the world is losing the variety of sounds that enriches life. Habitat loss, species extinctions, and industrial noise all contribute to this sonic loss, which cuts off a vital human connection to the Earth. Read more on E360 ?.

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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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It’s About Damn Time to Have a Black Woman on the US Supreme Court

Union of Concerned Scientists

At President Biden’s first State of the Union address, he can tout a historic promise he kept from the campaign trail in 2020: his nomination of Ketanji Brown Jackson to become the 116th Associate Justice of the US Supreme Court. Standing on the shoulders of the likes of Constance Baker Motley and many others, she […].

2020 364
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A 100% Renewable Energy Future is Possible, and We Need It

Union of Concerned Scientists

We’re living in a time of high volatility in the price of gas that has hit close to all sectors of our economy. We’re also living in a time plagued with costly ”this is not normal” weather events. Indeed, the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) has just warned us of the decisive fate that this decade represents to act on climate for us and all the species that we depend on.

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IoT in Smart Cities Market To More Than Double By 2026, Says MarketsandMarkets

Environment + Energy Leader

The IoT, or internet of things sector describes physical objects embedded with technology such as sensors, computers, and software that allow data about them to be collected and communicated. The post IoT in Smart Cities Market To More Than Double By 2026, Says MarketsandMarkets appeared first on Environment + Energy Leader.

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Risky Drinking Water Pathogen Has Outsized Effect on Black Americans

Circle of Blue

A new analysis shows that rising Legionnaires’ disease cases disproportionately affect Black Americans and people living in the Midwest, Mid-Atlantic, and New England. An aerial view of New York City. Rooftop cooling towers play a major role in fostering and spreading Legionella bacteria. Photo by Vincenzo Di Giorgi on Unsplash. By Brett Walton, Circle of Blue – February 24, 2022.

Cooling 363
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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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Are EV Batteries Recyclable?

Union of Concerned Scientists

As electric vehicle (EV) sales continue to increase, questions about how these cars and their batteries will be disposed of have been top of mind for current owners, future buyers, policymakers, and many experts in the automotive industry. EVs are a newer technology, and their batteries require different end-of-life processing than gasoline vehicles.

Recycling 360
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Lake Erie’s Failed Algae Strategy Hurts Poor Communities the Most

Circle of Blue

Lake Erie’s Failed Algae Strategy Hurts Poor Communities the Most Algae blooms are hiking the cost of water for people already struggling to pay their bills. By Laura Gersony, Circle of Blue. Photographs by J. Carl Ganter, Circle of Blue. September 20, 2022 . Fourth of a six-part series. Every August, says Alicia Smith, the city of Toledo holds its breath. .

2014 359
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Another dot on the graphs (Part II)

Real Climate

We have now updated the model-observations comparison page for the 2021 SAT and MSU TMT datasets. Mostly this is just ‘another dot on the graphs’ but we have made a couple of updates of note. First, we have updated the observational products to their latest versions (i.e. HadCRUT5, NOAA-STAR 4.1 etc.), though we are still using NOAA’s GlobalTemp v5 – the Interim version will be available later this year.

2020 363
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An Amazon Defender Stands Up for Her Land and Her People

Yale E360

Amazon Indigenous leader Juma Xipaia has fought against massive dam projects and the incursion of illegal loggers and miners onto her community’s lands. In a Yale e360 interview, she explains why what’s at stake is the survival of her people and their millennia-old way of life. Read more on E360 ?.

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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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IPCC Climate Report: Six Key Findings for Water

Circle of Blue

Scientific body warns of ‘rapidly closing window’ for action. A woman reaches for a hose from a water tanker in Rajasthan, India. Temperatures on this day in July 2016 exceeded 110 degrees Fahrenheit. Photo © J. Carl Ganter/Circle of Blue. By Brett Walton, Circle of Blue – March 1, 2022. The United Nations climate panel issued a blunt and urgent warning to the world on Monday.

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Boulder Sued Big Oil for Climate Damages, Then the Marshall Fire Happened

Union of Concerned Scientists

More than two dozen states, counties and cities have sued major fossil fuel companies for climate-related fraud or damages, or both.

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Another dot on the graph

Real Climate

So last week was the annual release of the temperature records from NASA, NOAA and Berkeley Earth. The Copernicus ERA5 data was released a few days ago, and the HadCRUT data will follow soon. Unlike in years past, there is no longer any serious discrepancy between the records – which use multiple approaches for the ocean temperatures, the homogenization of the weather stations records, and interpolation.

Cooling 362
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5 Powerful Facts for Global Wind Day

Union of Concerned Scientists

We at the Union of Concerned Scientists think a lot about wind power. In honor of Global Wind Day , here’s a roundup of what we’re seeing and what we’ve been thinking—five facts about wind energy to keep in mind as you celebrate, or at least make note, on June 15. 1. Wind power is big, and getting bigger. Wind is impressive. I’ve felt that most explicitly when sidling up to an offshore wind turbine in a boat, or when standing on top of a land-based one, hundreds of feet in the air.

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It’s Not Just Climate: Are We Ignoring Other Causes of Disasters?

Yale E360

Climate change is increasingly seen as the cause of natural catastrophes, from floods to famines. But a growing number of scientists are cautioning that blaming disasters solely on climate overlooks the poor policy and planning decisions that make these events much worse. Read more on E360 ?.

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HotSpots H2O: As Water Systems Fail in Pakistan, Heat Wave Begets A Health Crisis

Circle of Blue

Climate change and mismanagement sowed the seeds of a cholera outbreak. A child collects drinking water in Rajasthan, India in 2016. Photo © J. Carl Ganter / Circle of Blue. By Laura Gersony, Circle of Blue — May 23, 2022. South Asia is not only baking in a record-setting heat wave. Entering the third month of extreme temperatures, people in Pakistan are confronting yet another calamity linked to an unforgiving climate: a deadly cholera outbreak.

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In Bolivia, Mercury Pollution Spreads Amid a Surge in Gold Mining

Yale E360

A boom in small-scale gold mining in Bolivia has raised concerns about pollution from mercury used in the mining process. Researchers are citing the health impacts on downstream villages, but the government has yet to act to stem the widespread use of the highly toxic chemical. Read more on E360 →.

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Blurring the Lines Between Art and Activism ????

Circle of Blue

Greg Mort painting “Circle of Blue” in 2007. Photo © Greg and Nadine Mort. Greg Mort didn’t intend to devote his career as an artist to the preservation of the environment. Indeed, his art has always reflected his fascination with science. “As a young person,” he said of growing up in the original space age, “I marveled at the idea of all of that adventure.” Even now, he said, he’s more interested in talking to scientists than other artists. “

2007 356
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Will a Nile Canal Project Dry Up Africa’s Largest Wetland?

Yale E360

South Sudan is moving ahead with plans for a 240-mile canal to divert water from the White Nile and send it to Egypt. But critics warn the megaproject would desiccate the world’s second largest wetland, impacting its rich wildlife and the rains on which the region depends. Read more on E360 ?.

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Can the Electric Grid Handle EV Charging?

Union of Concerned Scientists

As the adoption of electric cars, trucks, and buses gains momentum, many people are wondering if the electric grid is up to the task of charging all of those vehicles. There are really two questions rolled up into that thought, differentiated by timescale: Can the grid handle all of the electric vehicles (EVs) we have in the near term, like today and next year?