September, 2024

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Newsom Can Continue His Climate Leadership by Signing These Three BillsĀ 

Union of Concerned Scientists

Throughout his two terms, Governor Gavin Newsom has driven California to the top of the world in clean transportation policies that will improve air quality and fight the climate crisis. Under Newsom, California passed policies to get the state to 100% zero emission vehicle (ZEV) sales , transition large truck fleets from dirty diesel to zero emissions, and fund billions of dollars in incentives and infrastructure for clean transportation.

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Community Solar: The Systemwide Benefits

Legal Planet

Electricity regulation has traditionally been defined by a relatively narrow public interest prerogative: ensuring just and reasonable rates for reliable electric service. The call to decarbonize, however, has injected a new diversity of values into the conversation. Transforming the electric power system to reduce greenhouse gas emissions is opening new opportunities to elevate values like community or public ownership and resource conservation as well.

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In a First, Brazilian City Grants Legal Rights to Waves

Yale E360

The city of Linhares, Brazil, has granted legal personhood to the waves at the mouth of the Dolce River, the first instance in which a government has conferred rights upon part of the ocean.

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UPCYCLING: ACING ON WASTE

Cleannovate

Upcycling is an inescapable phenomenon when thinking about sustainability. But what’s upcycling in the first place? Let me attempt to explain… SPENT TYRES A brand new car tyre could cost around USD 50 in the Kenyan market. So what if – in a worst case scenario – this tyre is roughed up within a span of a month or two (given the bad state of our roads)?

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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. ā™»ļø 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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The jet stream may be starting to shift in response to climate change

New Scientist

Bands of fast-moving wind that blow west to east around the globe play a crucial role in weather ā€“ a poleward shift in parts of these jet streams could cause dramatic changes in weather from the western US to the Mediterranean

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The Deteriorating Environment Is a Public Concern, but Americans Misunderstand Their Contribution to the Problem

Inside Climate News

A global survey suggests 88 percent of people are worried about the state of nature, but such polling says nothing about where those issues sit among competing concerns, like immigration and the economy. By Katie Surma Most people are ā€œveryā€ or ā€œextremelyā€ concerned about the state of the natural world, a new global public opinion survey shows.

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Environmental Bills at the 10-yard Line

Legal Planet

The California legislative session wrapped up on Saturday, August 31 st at midnight, with legislators working until the clock struck twelve. As usual, it was an exciting night to watch. Unlike most years, there seemed to be more of a rush at the end to reach agreement on some of the major issue areas, as well as a back-and-forth with the Governor about starting a special session focused on gas prices , and even more fighting and filibustering efforts than usual.

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Associate Editor Mentoring: 2025 applications now open!

The Applied Ecologist

Are you looking to learn more about the peer review process through hands-on experience? Are you less than five years post-PhD and live in/are from the Global South? Why not consider applying for Journal of Applied Ecology’s 2025 mentoring scheme! What is the mentoring scheme? Since 2015, Journal of Applied Ecology has welcomed a small group of mentees with minimum editorial experience each year.

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BIOGAS: WHEN THE COOKED BECOMES THE ā€˜COOKERā€™

Cleannovate

Biogas is simply natural gas derived from rotting organic waste. These include kitchen waste, fresh livestock manure, human faeces among others. Biogas production heavily depends on very minute players in this great energetic gallery. BACTERIA Bacteria used to convert organic waste into biogas are mainly derived from runinants. Their guts have the right mix of biology that breaks down complex stuff like cellulose into simpler substances like methane – natural gas.

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Ultra-strong stretchy material could enable shape-shifting aircraft

New Scientist

A new procedure turns an alloy of nickel and titanium into a material as strong as steel but 20 times stretchier ā€“ and one application could be building planes with shape-shifting wings

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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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Hope for North Americaā€™s Most Endangered Bird

Inside Climate News

The Florida grasshopper sparrow was near extinction only a few years ago. The recent release of the 1,000th captive-raised sparrow into the wild has rekindled optimism. By Amy Green On a recent morning, 10 Florida grasshopper sparrows, tiny brown-speckled birds that are the most endangered on the continent, took their first scampers and flaps on the stateā€™s central prairie.

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This Summer Was the Hottest on Record

Yale E360

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Environmental Lawyering Today

Legal Planet

Earthjustice has a great motto: ā€œBecause the earth needs a good lawyer.ā€ People tend to equate environmental lawyering with working for Earthjustice or another environmental group like the NRDC. And thatā€™s a great way that lawyers can help the environment. But itā€™s far from being the only way. In fact, groups like Earthjustice account for only a small fraction of environmental lawyers.

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Atlantic Hurricane Lull Puzzles Scientists

Scientific American

Meteorologists predicted a busy Atlantic hurricane season—and a recent lull in activity doesn’t negate that

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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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EPA Publishes Highly-Anticipated Final Herbicide Strategy

National Law Center

On August 20, 2024, the Environmental Protection Agency (ā€œEPAā€) released its final Herbicide Strategy. The document, which was released in a. The post EPA Publishes Highly-Anticipated Final Herbicide Strategy appeared first on National Agricultural Law Center.

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Stunningly preserved pterosaur fossils reveal how they soared

New Scientist

The largest pterosaurs, ancient reptiles that were the first vertebrates to master flight, may have mostly soared while smaller ones flapped their wings, a pattern that persists in today's birds

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CA Legislature Passes Major Clean Buildings Win

NRDC

Senate Bill 1221 (Senator Min) is a climate bill that will help put gas in the past, all while saving California households money on their energy bills.

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With Hotter, Drier Weather, Californiaā€™s Joshua Trees Are in Trouble

Yale 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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Unforced Variations: Sep 2024

Real Climate

This month’s open thread on climate topics. Try to be constructive! The post Unforced Variations: Sep 2024 first appeared on RealClimate.

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How Testosterone Changes the Immune System in Trans Men

Scientific American

A small study of transgender men taking testosterone revealed changes in immune pathways involved in responding to viruses and inflammation

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PA Oil & Gas Industrial Facilities: Permit Notices, Opportunities To Comment - September 7

PA Environment Daily

The following notices were published in the September 7 PA Bulletin related to oil and gas industry facilities. Many of the notices offer the opportunity for public comments. -- The Public Utility Commission published notice in the September 7 PA Bulletin inviting comments on the proposed replacement of plastic pipe by natural gas distribution utilities.

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Google breakthrough paves way for large-scale quantum computers

New Scientist

Google has built a quantum computer that makes fewer errors as it is scaled up, and this may pave the way for machines that could solve useful real-world problems for the first time

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Hands off Lake Scugog: Donā€™t Let an MZO Destroy a Critical Wetland

Enviromental Defense

Lake Scugog is being threatened by a looming development proposal in Port Perry, on the lakeā€™s western shore. However, there is an opportunity for residents of the Township of Scugog to speak up and make their voices heard before this development moves forward. On September 16, 2024, you can speak at the Townshipā€™s Planning and Community Affairs meeting, and let councillors know that Port Perryā€™s wetlands are no place for development.

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Can the ā€˜Magicā€™ and ā€˜Angelsā€™ that Make Long Trails Mystical for Hikers Also Conjure Solutions to Environmental Challenges?

Inside Climate News

Long, arduous, enchanting hiking trails can be migration corridors to help some wildlife survive in a warming world, and maybe paths to new ways of confronting the biodiversity and climate crises. By Bing Lin Miles to Go: The fourth in an ongoing series Inside Climate News fellow Bing Lin is reporting from the Pacific Crest Trail in Northern California.

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Government Funding and Farm Billā€™s Future Top Congressā€™ September To-Do List

National Sustainable Agriculture Coalition (NSAC)

On September 9, 2024, Congress will be back in session in Washington, DC for the first time since early August. Yet, their return will be short lived. In an election year, Members of Congress spend all of October and early November in their states and Congressional districts. In total, Congress will be in session for three full weeks before adjourning on September 27.

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Kids Are Headed Back to School. Are They Breathing Clean Air?

Scientific American

Clean indoor air protects against diseases such as COVID and flu, but we’re not doing enough to ensure it

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Environmental Defense Fund, Moms Clean Air Force To Hold Public Meetings In 3 Northwest PA Counties On A Project To Test New Methods Of Locating Abandoned Conventional Oil, Gas Wells

PA Environment Daily

The Environmental Defense Fund , Moms Clean Air Force and other partners will hold public meetings in Clarion, McKean and Venango counties on a project to test new methods of locating abandoned conventional oil and gas wells. In collaboration with the Department of Environmental Protection, the US Department of Energy, McGill University, and Moms Clean Air Force, the EDF project will use drone-mounted magnetometers and advanced methane detection technologies to locate and address abandoned and o

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Earthquakes may explain how huge gold nuggets form in quartz rock

New Scientist

Quartz crystals produce electricity when they are deformed by mechanical stress, which may explain how enormous chunks of gold can form in inert rock

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Rich Kruger: The Nightmare on Oil Street

Enviromental Defense

The impacts of climate change are downright frightening. But the villain behind one of Canadaā€™s biggest tar sands companies can also cause a real jump-scare. Introducing Rich Kruger – the nightmare on Oil Street. Rich Kruger is the CEO of Suncor, a company responsible for nearly 35 million metric tons of climate pollution annually – the equivalent of 8.3 million gas-powered cars driving for a year.

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As Climate Threats to Agriculture Mount, Could the Mississippi River Delta Be the Next California?

Inside Climate News

The World Wildlife Fund is exploring what it would take for farms in Tennessee, Mississippi and Arkansas to become a new mecca for commercial-scale American produce. By Cassandra Stephenson, Illan Ireland and Phillip Powell, Tennessee Lookout This story was originally published by The Tennessee Lookout.

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Crested Rats & Hairy Porcupines: Meet 7 of the Worldā€™s Coolest Rodents

Cool Green Science

Rodents donā€™t always have the best reputation, but they can be beautiful, surprising and just downright bizarre. Here are seven of the worldā€™s coolest rodents. The post Crested Rats & Hairy Porcupines: Meet 7 of the Worldā€™s Coolest Rodents appeared first on Cool Green Science.

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Earthquakes May Forge Large Gold Nuggets

Scientific American

Scientists propose that large chunks of gold could form from earthquakes’ pressure

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PA Environmental Council In Case You Missed It In August Now Available

PA Environment Daily

The PA Environmental Council In Case You Missed It In August features articles on-- -- $2 Million Awarded To Circuit Trails Network In Greater Philadelphia -- Circuit Trails Community Grant Program Now Accepting Applications -- Ohio River Basin Water Trails News -- Tali MacArthur And Takeaways From National River Rally -- Padding Sojourn - Protecting The Allegheny River -- PECā€™s IronMan Team Takes State College!

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