Monthly Archives: September 2024

With its impressive size, striking plumage, and rowdy displays, spotting a capercaillie is a dream come true for many bird enthusiasts. However, only about 530 of these large woodland grouse remain in the wild in Scotland, mainly in the Cairngorms National Park.

Conservationists are caught between raising awareness of the species’ perilous state and discouraging people from seeking them out. Despite it being illegal to disturb capercaillies during their breeding season (March to August), the allure of a prestigious sighting or photograph has led many to ignore these regulations.

In 2022, 17 people were found at or near the “lek”—the area where male birds gather to compete for female attention—according to Carolyn Robertson, project manager of the Cairngorms Capercaillie Project. That same year, a birdwatcher was caught on camera disturbing six capercaillies, causing them to flee the breeding site. Though the individual was arrested, he was only given a verbal warning, by which time the damage was likely already done.

Even brief disturbances can determine whether or not the birds breed, explains Robertson. Such disruptions raise stress levels, and there’s a high chance that the capercaillie didn’t return to the lek that morning or even for days, affecting their chances of successful breeding. Read More

News Credit: The Guardian

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The illegal felling of the Sycamore Gap tree brought an outpouring of grief, anger, and distress, but now, a year later, its custodians hope to transform this tragic loss into a beacon of hope.

The National Trust and Northumberland National Park have launched a new initiative, inviting the public to apply for one of 49 saplings grown from the iconic tree. These young trees will be planted in publicly accessible spaces across the UK that hold special meaning for individuals and communities, fostering connections and commemorating the legacy of the Sycamore Gap.

Henshaw Primary School, the nearest to the original tree’s location, will receive one of the saplings, as will each of the UK’s 15 national parks, ensuring they are placed in some of the country’s most beautiful and cherished landscapes. Read More:https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2024/sep/27/trees-of-hope-sycamore-ga

News Credit: Guardian

Image Credit: Owen Humphreys/PA

Clean Power Alliance (CPA), California’s largest Community Choice Aggregator, has once again achieved the prestigious top ranking in the U.S. Department of Energy’s National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) 2023 Utility Green Power Rankings for the second consecutive year.

The NREL’s annual rankings highlight the top green power providers across the country, including Investor-Owned Utilities, Publicly Owned Utilities, and Community Choice Aggregators like CPA.

Deborah Klein Lopez, CPA Board Chair and Agoura Hills Council member expressed her excitement: “Being recognized again as the leading green power provider nationwide is a testament to the trust our customers place in us to drive renewable energy adoption. Choosing green power is setting a path toward a more sustainable future for our region, state, and country.”

Last year, CPA secured the number one spot with 3,570,040 megawatt hours (MWh) in green power sales. This year, CPA continues its lead with 3,471,973 MWh, while the number of green power customers grew to 898,517, up from 881,572 the previous year. Read More

News Credit: MORNINGSTAR

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A recent study has found that planet-heating pollution doubled the likelihood of the extreme rainfall that hit central Europe in September, leading to deadly floods across countries from Austria to Romania. Researchers from World Weather Attribution (WWA) revealed that global warming intensified the four days of rain, making it at least 7% stronger. This resulted in flood volumes that were twice as likely compared to a world without human-caused climate change.

Storm Boris stalled over the region and unleashed record-breaking rainfall, transforming calm streams into raging rivers. The floods devastated homes and claimed two dozen lives. However, researchers noted that improved flood defences and disaster-response measures helped reduce casualties compared to similar events in 1997 and 2002. They emphasized the need for better warning systems, flood defences, and a halt to rebuilding in flood-prone areas to prevent future disasters. Read More

News Credit: The Guardian

Picture Credit: Beata Zawrzel/NurPhoto/Rex/Shutterstock

Imagine parting with your favourite pair of jeans after years of wear. Instead of tossing them, you might sell, donate, or swap them. But you are responsible for ensuring they don’t end up in a landfill.

A new California bill could change that, shifting the burden to clothing producers. The Responsible Textile Recovery Act would require manufacturers to fund and implement a statewide recycling program. Californians could drop off unwanted or damaged textiles at thrift stores or collection sites for sorting and recycling.

With textile waste in the U.S. exceeding 17 million tons in 2018 and 85% ending up in landfills, this bill represents a crucial step toward reducing fashion waste and holding brands accountable for their products. Read More

News Credit: The Guardian

Picture Credit:  FilippoBacci/Getty Images

Spain is emerging as a leader in green hydrogen, leveraging its renewable energy strengths. Over 50% of its electricity comes from wind and solar. By 2030, Spain aims to achieve 11 GW of electrolyzer capacity, the highest target in the EU, though current projections estimate 5 GW.

Additional government subsidies will be crucial for Spain to meet its goal. Spain’s favourable conditions and strong policies make it one of the most cost-effective regions for green hydrogen production. Key projects, like the Puertollano green hydrogen plant and BP’s investment in the Castellón refinery, signal promising growth, with the potential to reach 2 GW of capacity by 2035. Read More

News Credit: SOLARQUARTER

Indonesia’s President-elect, Prabowo Subianto, has unveiled plans to create a $65 billion green fund by 2028 through the sale of carbon credits. The fund aims to finance environmental initiatives such as rainforest preservation, according to a report by Reuters.

Ferry Latuhihin, Prabowo’s climate adviser, stated that a new regulator will be established to oversee carbon emissions and manage the green fund, which is in line with Indonesia’s Paris Agreement commitments. This regulator will create a “special mission vehicle” to manage carbon offset projects, including forest conservation, reforestation, and mangrove restoration. This vehicle will generate carbon credits for both domestic and international sale.

Leveraging Indonesia’s vast natural resources, the fund is expected to grow to 1,000 trillion rupiah ($65 billion) by 2028. The plan is part of Indonesia’s broader goal of reaching net carbon neutrality by 2060. As one of the top 10 global emitters and home to the world’s third-largest tropical rainforest, Indonesia’s role in global carbon markets is critical.

Challenges include fierce competition in the global carbon credit market and the need for credibility in its projects. Despite these hurdles, the initiative is projected to deliver substantial economic benefits, including job creation. Read More

News Credit: Carbon Herald

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The term “tipping point” often conjures up catastrophic climate scenarios, but new research suggests it could be reframed positively. A report from the University of Exeter’s Global Systems Institute argues that governments can trigger “positive tipping points” by introducing regulatory mandates that require key industries to shift to clean energy.

These mandates, with specific deadlines, would accelerate the transition from fossil fuels, slash carbon emissions, and lower consumer costs. The study, based on data from 70 countries, found that mandates are more effective than taxes or subsidies in driving the rapid adoption of clean technologies in sectors like energy, transport, and heating.

Recommendations include phasing out coal power for developed countries by 2035 and requiring 100% zero-emission vehicle sales by 2035. Experts stress the urgency, with global CO2 emissions needing to be halved by 2030 to avoid severe climate impacts. Read More

News Credit: The Guardian

Picture Credit: John Walton/PA

Growing concern over the fossil fuel and plastics industries’ alleged deception about recycling has led to increased public support for accountability. A recent poll shows that 70% of American voters, including 54% of Republicans, support holding these industries responsible for misleading claims about plastic recycling.

Research reveals that plastic producers have known for decades that recycling is not a feasible solution, yet promoted it to the public. Despite rising plastic production, no lawsuits have been filed regarding this alleged disinformation campaign. The poll, conducted by the Center for Climate Integrity and Data for Progress, reflects widespread public dissatisfaction with corporate dishonesty. Read More

News Credit: The Guardian

Picture Credit:  Lauren DeCicca/The Guardian

Abu Dhabi’s G42, a leader in AI and cloud computing, has partnered with NVIDIA to advance climate technology. The partnership focuses on improving global weather forecasting accuracy. This collaboration builds on NVIDIA’s Earth-2 platform, which uses AI to accelerate climate predictions with high-resolution simulations.

G42 CEO Peng Xiao emphasized the initiative’s aim to tackle global challenges through AI innovation, while NVIDIA’s founder Jensen Huang highlighted the partnership’s potential to revolutionize climate prediction and environmental strategies. Together, G42 and NVIDIA will integrate advanced AI and computational tools to create transformative climate solutions benefiting industries and ecosystems worldwide. Read More

News Credit: Middle East Economy