In the grand theater of climate action, the US state of California takes center stage, captivating the world with groundbreaking plans for net-zero carbon pollution, innovative environmental initiatives, and a role in shaping global efforts to combat climate change.
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During the Climate Ambition Summit in New York in September 2023, California Governor Gavin Newsom uniquely represented the US, underlining his state’s commitment to addressing climate change and urging the oil industry to take decisive steps toward a carbon-free and sustainable future. It was particularly timely when Newsom voiced concerns about the evident consequences of climate change in California, which this year has been ravaged by severe wildfires, storms, and droughts.

Forging a Global Path to Net-Zero and Beyond

In 2022, Newsom spearheaded a groundbreaking climate plan for California – “the great implementation” as he called it – to help the state achieve net zero carbon pollution by 2045. The ambitious plan includes a 85% reduction in greenhouse gas emissions, a 94% cut in oil consumption, and the creation of 4 million jobs. The proposed Scoping Plan, a global standard for carbon neutrality, focuses on renewables, clean buildings, and carbon removal, promising a pollution-free future, significant air pollution reduction, and US$200 billion in health cost savings. The plan also sets goals for offshore wind, climate-friendly homes, heat pumps, and sustainable aviation, signaling a transformative shift toward a cleaner and more sustainable state.

In the past two years, California accelerated its transition to a 100% clean energy grid, witnessed the first West Coast offshore wind lease sale, and enacted laws to ban new oil drilling near schools. Newsom held Big Oil accountable for price hikes, and the California Air Resources Board approved a ban on sales of fossil fuel-powered vehicles by 2035. Consequently, a significant milestone was reached this summer, with one in four new cars sold in California being zero-emission. The state also launched the clean vehicle rebate program to assist low-income residents in switching to electric cars. 

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California reveals an all-encompassing roadmap towards carbon neutrality, aiming to preserve natural beauty, wildlife, and handling challenges posed by extreme heat, droughts, and wildfires. The Department of Forestry and Fire Protection (CAL FIRE) Fuels Reduction Projects recently encompassed fire prevention activities across nearly 34,000 acres.

The targets illustrate California’s aspirations to be a net-zero leader, not just within the US but on a global scale. California’s exceptional performance in confronting climate change, amidst various social and economic challenges, positions the state distinctively compared to the rest of the country. 

Governor Newsom’s ambitious goals put the state as a frontrunner in the international drive toward carbon neutrality. This commitment goes beyond national impact, showcasing California’s dedication to leading the way in confronting climate change worldwide. This was evident during the governor’s trip to China in October 2023, where he remarked: “We’re moving markets nationally and globally. That’s an example of California punching above its weight.” 

Historical Background of Eco-Revolution

California’s environmental commitment, as acknowledged by Newsom in his UN Climate Ambition Summit speech, traces back to the roots planted by Ronald Reagan in 1967. As a conservative governor, Reagan initiated the modern American environmental movement, birthing the California Air Resources Board and pioneering the first regulations on tailpipe emissions in the nation. 

Richard Nixon further solidified this trajectory in 1970 with the formalization of these efforts through the Clean Air Act. We can also extend the recognition to former governors, including Jerry Brown, a proponent of rooftop solar, and Arnold Schwarzenegger, credited with crafting the nation’s pioneering law that mandated greenhouse gas (GHG) reductions and established tailpipe emissions regulations, setting a national standard. The echoes of their legacy resonate as Newsom lauds the historical foundation that has shaped the state’s environmental leadership.

California has been at the forefront of global climate action, implementing a suite of programs since 2000 to reduce statewide emissions. These efforts, such as the cap-and-trade program, have resulted in positive outcomes. In 2017, the state’s greenhouse gas emissions were 424.1 million tons of carbon dioxide equivalent, slightly below the 2020 target of 431 million tons. To meet the 2030 target of 260 million tons per year (40% below 1990 levels), California needs to reduce emissions by an additional 170 million tons. 

The state’s visionary goals have not only driven effective policies but also inspired an international coalition against climate change at the subnational level. Additional challenges, from methane emissions to plastic production, are being managed through persistent efforts across various policy areas.

California, facing a record heatwave this summer, stands out as a local climate action model amid stalled international actions. Most of the residents support the state’s global climate leadership. Despite partisan differences, there is widespread belief in the urgency of grappling with climate change’s local impact. In February, the Public Institute of California conducted a survey revealing that three out of four Californians believe immediate action is necessary to counter the effects of climate change. While Californians endorse emission reduction policies, personal willingness to make changes varies. 

In this year’s final budget agreement, Newsom and the Legislature have demonstrated a strong commitment to climate projects by retaining over US$50 billion. This allocation is part of the originally established budgets for 2021 and 2022, showcasing large financing for approaching climate challenges and advancing environmental initiatives. Additionally, the budget includes a multiyear commitment to transition away from fossil fuels, with the possibility of billions more being considered for a climate bond in 2024.

Reaching New Heights

From this year major global companies doing business in California will be obligated to monitor and disclose nearly all their GHG emissions, covering supply chains, business travel, employee commutes, and product usage. On October 7, 2023, Newsom signed two new laws. 

The first, the Climate Corporate Data Accountability Act, mandates US companies with annual revenues exceeding $1 billion to disclose both direct and indirect GHG emissions from 2026 and 2027. This means that oil and gas giants such as Chevron may need to track emissions from vehicles using their gasoline, while tech companies such as Apple must account for materials involved in the production of their products. Despite opposition from the California Chamber of Commerce, major corporations such as Microsoft, Apple, Salesforce, and Patagonia endorsed the regulation. 

The second law, the Climate-Related Financial Risk Act, compels companies with $500 million or more in revenue to report financial risks associated with climate change and their risk mitigation plans.

During a fireside chat with Hong Kong University vice-president Gong Peng in his October trip to China, Newsom supported China’s green technology development efforts and discussed shared climate challenges with Hong Kong, highlighting California’s proactive stance despite being the world’s fifth-largest economy and a fossil fuel state with frequent wildfires and high air pollution levels.

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In the newly published 2023 edition of California’s Greenhouse Gas Emissions Inventory from 2000 to 2021, among other major trends, key highlights reveal a 4.1% decrease in GHG emissions intensity, even as the state experienced a 7.8% growth in GDP between 2020 and 2021.

As part of the recent landmark global agreement to “transition away” from fossil fuels reached at COP28 in Dubai, California is actively channeling substantial investments into renewable energy initiatives like electric vehicles and offshore wind power. A delegation from the state, comprising administration officials and legislators, attended the UN conference, with California Natural Resources Agency Secretary Wade Crowfoot lauding the development as “obviously needed” but yet the first measure.

Among the state’s most recent actions also stands the California Water Resources Control Board adopting cutting-edge rules that allow the conversion of sewage into drinking water, known as “toilet to tap,” to tackle water scarcity concerns intensified by climate change, featuring direct potable reuse for enhanced water quality. 

Another initiative is the Organics Grant Program under California Climate Investments advancing the state’s climate goals by preventing 7.7 million tons of organic waste from releasing methane. Newsom’s office also launches plenty of climate resilience projects throughout the state, aimed at assisting local communities and protecting agricultural lands.

Conclusion

California stands tall on the global stage as an example of how dedication to climate action can spark significant change. Under Governor Newsom’s leadership, the state is just setting a prolific standard for others to follow. California’s approach, blending forward-thinking governance, economic clout, and adaptability, positions it as a trailblazer, demonstrating that even when grappling with local environmental adversities, subnational entities can spearhead efforts toward a sustainable and resilient future. Beyond regional borders, California’s climate story is a powerful testament of how collective efforts on a smaller scale can ripple into global initiatives, showcasing the impact of united action on the world’s most pressing environmental challenges.

Featured image: Office of Governor Gavin Newsom

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The 20 costliest climate disasters of 2023 disproportionately affected developing countries that have less economic resources and lack adequate infrastructure to withstand natural calamities.

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Low-income, small countries are more prone to experience economically costly disasters, a new analysis of the costliest climate disasters of 2023 has found.

The study, carried out by Christian Aid and published Wednesday, looked at the top 20 costliest climate disasters of 2023 across 14 countries, including floods, storms, droughts, and wildfires, and found that the relative economic impact of these disasters is “highly unequal.” 

Indeed, wealthier countries that have enough resources to prepare and adapt for potential future extreme weather events are better off than poorer countries, which often lack adequate infrastructure to withstand and financial resources to bounce back after a disaster. In the latter, not only is the death toll generally higher but recovery is also much slower. What’s more, we are witnessing a “double injustice” – as the study puts it – since the countries most prone to extreme weather events are those who contribute the least to global warming in the first place.

The per capita cost of this year’s disasters ranged from more than US$4,000 for those affected by the devastating Maui wildfires in August – which led to 181 casualties, the displacement of more than 7,000 people, and around $6 billion in total economic costs – to $9 due to the flooding that hit Peru in April. Among the list also figure Guam’s May storm, which affected over 60% of the territory’s population and cost about $1,455 per capita, and Libya’s devastating September floods unleashed by Storm Daniel, which killed more than 11,000 people and displaced more than 1 million people, over 10% of the country’s total population.

At COP28 earlier this month, countries finally agreed on a framework to operationalise the long awaited Loss and Damage Fund agreed upon last year, committing a total of more than $700 million, including more than $300 million from the European Union (EU), $100 from the United Arab Emirates (UAE), $50 million from the UK, $17.5 million from the US, and $10 million from Japan. Nevertheless, critics pointed out that contributions to the Fund represent less than 0.2% of the economic and non-economic losses developing countries face every year from global warming, adding pressure to developed nations to enhance their contributions and provide additional pledges in line with their historical responsibility for loss and damage.

“Loss and damage costs are in the hundreds of billions of dollars annually in developing countries alone. Wealthy nations must commit the new and additional money required to ensure the Loss and Damage Fund agreed at COP28 can quickly get help to those that need it most,” said Nushrat Chowdhury, Christian Aid’s Climate Justice Policy Advisor.

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The study comes as scientists confirm that 2023 was the hottest year in history, after record-breaking temperatures this past summer. For years, experts have warned that global warming will inevitably increase the frequency and intensity of climate disasters, adding pressure to governments around the world to take decisive action to achieve the Paris Agreement 1.5C goal and adapt to the rapidly unfolding effects of climate change.

“Governments urgently need to take further action at home and internationally, to cut emissions, and adapt to the effects of climate change,” said Patrick Watt, chief executive of Christian Aid. “And where the impacts go beyond what people can adapt to, the loss and damage fund must be resourced to compensate the poorest countries for the effects of a crisis that isn’t of their making.”

Featured image: Wikimedia Commons

Researchers at the US Department of Energy used the rise in extreme heat events as an opportunity to find unique solutions to help people beat the scorching heat and keep their homes cool. Three different types of roofing material – solar panels, green roofs, and cool roofs – were put up to the test to determine which ones lowered temperatures and air conditioning consumption during heatwaves. The results are explored in this article.

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Summer is a time to relax, spend time with friends, travelling and making memories. For many, it is also a time to stay indoors because it is too hot outside. At least the latter has become more commonplace over the past decade. In the US alone, heatwaves have increased 200% from an average of two per year in the 1960s to six per year in recent years, lasting an average of four days. The heatwave season now lasts over 70 days, meaning that, on any given summer day, there is a 34% chance the thermometer will be reading higher than normal. 

As temperatures rise, air conditioning (AC) gets cranked up as well. A rush of cold air is a welcome reprieve from sweaty and sticky conditions outside. 

And yet, the very same technology that is helping the world cool off is also heating it up. Air conditioning alone is responsible for 10% of total energy consumption worldwide and this number is predicted to grow dramatically into the future. The higher the temperature, the more the AC runs. The more the AC runs, the more energy is used. The more energy used, the greater the emissions. The greater the emissions, the higher the temperature. And repeat. 

Unfortunately, vacuuming carbon dioxide (CO2) out of the sky will not become feasible on a large-scale for several decades, and 100% clean, renewable energy has its own list of hurdles to clear before it can completely replace fossil fuels. So, how can this cycle be broken? 

Researchers at the US Department of Energy’s (DOE) Argonne National Laboratory may have found an answer while studying the potential for green roofs, solar panels, and cool roofs to reduce the temperature and AC consumption in a building. PV solar panels and green roofs may get all of the publicity, but a cool roof proved to be most effective during a heat event, lowering temperatures by 1.5C and AC consumption by 16.6%.

Researchers at the Argonne National Laboratory’s Center for Climate Resilience and Decision Science (CCRDS), which was responsible for the study, led by its director Rao Kotamarthi, focused on the Chicago Metropolitan Area (CMA), which endured a devastating heatwave in 1995, and saw the heat index reach 120F (48.8C) just this past summer. They created data models to represent the three-dimensional heat transfer properties of the diverse cityscape, including shading from trees, building height, and urbanisation density. These models measured how a mass deployment of each of the roof types impacted a building’s temperature and need for air conditioning using weather data collected between 21 August and 27 August 2021, during which a one-day heat event occurred.

Why Focus on Roofs?

A building can gain heat from a few different sources: the activity inside, the temperature outside, and the radiation that arrives via the rays of the sun. While TVs, ovens, warm bodies, and whether or not it is a hot day certainly create a need for AC, the sun’s radiation turns up the temperature more than anything else. 

Cooling down a space can be accomplished in many ways, including larger and more efficient air conditioners. However, as previously mentioned, the energy demand from AC units is projected to keep growing at a fast rate in the coming years as the climate crisis intensifies. So, instead of pumping hot air out, it makes more sense to never let a building heat up in the first place.

This goes to show that the ability for a roof to reflect solar radiation back into the environment and away from the building’s residents is integral in making sure it does not get too hot indoors.

A cool roof is designed to reflect more sunlight than a conventional roof, absorbing less solar energy. The reflective characteristics are increased from a mixture of colour choice, like white, and material choice, like ceramic tile, metal, or specialty shingles. The end result is a roof that can reflect up to 80% (an albedo of 0.8) of the solar radiation it is bombarded with. 

In the study, researchers measured roofs covered by solar panels (0.2 albedo), green roofs (0.25 albedo), and cool roofs (0.8 albedo) as well as a control scenario for a standard roof (0.2 albedo).

The Results

Throughout the course of a day, each roof showed an ability to reduce its surface temperature relative to the control scenario, peaking in the late afternoon when outside temperatures began to reach their highest point. The cool roof was the most effective in this measure, lowering temperatures by 1.5C compared to 1.2C for green roofs, and 0.6C for solar panels. 

As day shifts to night, some of the radiative energy absorbed by a roof can begin to flow into the building, raising the indoor temperature. Cool roofs were the only solution that did not exhibit nighttime warming because they reflect rather than absorb solar energy.

The effectiveness of a cool roof also demonstrated an inverse relationship with the urbanisation of the city, meaning that, as the city became more dense with skyscrapers, roads, and traffic (all factors that increase the Urban Heat Island effect), the cooler a building was kept. Currently around 55% of the world population lives in urban areas, and by 2050 that number is projected to reach 6.6 billion people, equivalent to 66% of the world’s population. 

All of this avoided temperature gain is going to alleviate some of the burden on an AC unit because it will be staving off less heat. And the less cooling an air conditioner needs to do, the less energy it will consume. 

The cool roof also made the largest difference by reducing overall AC energy consumption by 16.6% across the Chicago Metropolitan Area, followed by green roofs at 14.0%, and solar panels at 7.6% (excluding any energy created by the solar panel itself). While 16.6% may not seem like a jaw-dropping number, every kilowatt-hour of energy saved will help protect electrical grids from a dramatic rise in demand due to both increased human consumption, and mass adoption of technologies like EVs.

Are Cool Roofs the Future?

Cool roofs are a simple solution that has proven its effectiveness time and time again across the globe, so why are they not more popular? 

A silver bullet, save-the-day technological breakthrough is exciting to dream of, instilling hope, and drawing the attention (and dollars) of many. Changing the material on a roof? Much less so. But in situations where a small reduction in emissions here and a better use of electricity there begin to add up, the simple answer is often the best answer. Because the reality of it is that the vast majority of progress towards net-zero will be made by limiting the emissions currently being produced rather than pushing this problem off into the future. 

The research team plans to continue their work, conducting more experiments across wider ranges of cityscapes, and including seasonal data. As more evidence mounts in its favour, one can look to pioneers like the state of Telangana in India which recently announced a Cool Roof Policy that aims to bring 300 square kilometres of heat-reflecting roofs to the state by 2028 saving 600Gwh per year of electricity.

Will it be enough for cool roofs hit the mainstream?

Since this past summer, saltwater has been slowly moving up the Mississippi River from the ocean in a natural process known as saltwater intrusion, appearing in drinking water of local residents. With a major city, New Orleans, just miles upstream, officials are racing to avert a large-scale water crisis, though progress has been slow. In this article, we take a look at how this crisis arose and what can be done to contain it as well as avoid similar events from happening in the future.

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Saltwater has been invading the Mississippi River from the Gulf of Mexico over recent months, posing a major threat to public health in the New Orleans area. This summer, residents in the river delta basin region south of New Orleans began to notice saltwater in their tap water and pipes. The issue persisted for months, making national headlines and prompting state and federal declarations of emergency.

The Mississippi River – the second-longest river in the United States – runs across nearly the entire north-to-south length of the country, passing through ten states before flowing into the Gulf of Mexico through Southeast Louisiana. The river’s massive size is typically sustained by substantial yearly rainfall across the middle of the country, as well as waters from its tributary rivers like the Ohio and Missouri rivers. When at its normal levels, the river water can pass undeterred all the way to the Gulf of Mexico. Yet raging droughts over the last year have seen water levels fall drastically (in fact they fell so much that a 1915 shipwreck of a trade vessel was discovered in shallow waters last year). 

Without the river sustaining its high mass and velocity, saltwater from the Gulf of Mexico has been able to start pushing upstream in a process known as saltwater intrusion.

What Is Saltwater Intrusion?

Far underground, water permeates the ground beneath an invisible line called the water table. At levels this deep, the water saturation is dense enough that water can easily be drawn from the ground via springs or wells. These regions of the underground are called aquifers, and they make up the vast majority of the global freshwater supply.

More on the topic: Depleted Aquifers: Causes, Effects, and Solutions

Saltwater intrusion occurs when saltwater from the ocean slowly moves into and occupies space in freshwater systems like rivers and aquifers. While the ground layers beneath the land are usually full of fresh water, the ground beneath the oceans is salty. When these underground freshwater and saltwater layers meet, they push against each other, and this is where saltwater intrusion can occur. 

Since saltwater is far denser than freshwater, it usually exerts greater pressure and naturally encroaches inland. This process can be further accelerated when the freshwater levels in the ground deplete, often a consequence of aquifer over-pumping or river dredging, as well as climate-caused factors like droughts and sea level rise.

Rivers pose a unique risk as they allow a way for saltwater to reach areas further inland, which is what is happening in the Mississippi River. 

Because of an extreme lack of rainfall in the midwestern and southern US, the Mississippi River’s volume has dropped significantly. In fact, the river reached record low levels just last year. In addition, sea levels around Louisiana have been steadily rising at a rate of one inch (2.54 cm) every two years since 1950. These two factors craft the perfect setting for saltwater intrusion, as the river no longer has its usual mass to force the saltwater back as it empties into the Gulf of Mexico.

Saltwater is then slowly able to force its way upstream along the very bottom of the river in what is known as a saltwater “wedge.” As it travels up the river, it acquires ready access to infiltrate inland aquifers and seep into community water systems.

What Are the Dangers of Saltwater Intrusion?

When consumed, saltwater can have serious adverse effects on the body. The system is put at major risk, and resulting complications (like hypertension) can lead to more critical issues like heart attacks and strokes. Other bodily systems are at risk too, such as the kidneys, digestive system, and even skin defects, which can arise from washing clothes or showering with salt-contaminated water. 

Saltwater intrusion also has a negative impact on local biodiversity and the environment. As saltwater penetrates rivers and aquifers, it introduces salinity levels far too high for many plant and animal species to survive in. Vegetation is crippled and many animal habitats are disturbed, leading to the displacement and disruption of balanced food chains.

It is not just the local area of the intrusion that is affected. Saltwater can significantly contribute to greenhouse gas emissions through its accelerated decomposition of peat, a natural material that sequesters carbon in high concentrations. As peat decomposes, carbon is released into the atmosphere. This contributes to rising temperatures and climate events like droughts and sea level increases, which are the prime conditions for more saltwater intrusion to occur.

The situation in Louisiana has also exposed another major issue plaguing New Orleans and much of the rest of the US: lead pipe infrastructure. 

Lead pipes were frequently used in the first of the 20th century to build up public and private water systems, though they are now of course widely known to pose a major risk to public health. Saltwater is much more corrosive than freshwater and, when it gets into water systems, it can easily corrode lead pipes, which leeches toxic substances into drinking water. New Orleans, like many other cities, does not even know exactly where all of its lead pipe infrastructure is located across the city.

In 2021, the Biden administration pushed congress to pass the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, and a major portion of that law aims to replace all lead pipes in the country within the next decade. Billions of dollars are packed into the law in hopes to revitalize and modernize the country’ infrastructure. However, it is a race against the clock, as saltwater waits for no one and the public’s health is at stake.

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How Are Officials Addressing the Situation?

The US Army Corps has carried millions of gallons of fresh water to affected communities via barge, blending it with the river to reduce the salt content and freshen the water in treatment plants. Plans have also been put in place by a few municipal areas to construct pipelines to import freshwater from sources further inland. 

New Orleans had a $200 million pipeline planned for construction, but these plans have been tabled for now as the saltwater’s progress has significantly slowed in recent weeks. Efforts like these provide immediate relief to affected areas but they are quite expensive and only temporary solutions, and can contribute to the problem in the long run by over-pumping water in other areas.

A major construction technique employed by the US Army Corps of Engineers is to prevent (or at least slow down) saltwater intrusion by constructing water sills on the river floor. These are ground barriers (think underwater levees), designed to impede the saltwater wedge progressing upstream along the bottom of the river. 

Before this year, sills had been built four other times in the Mississippi River, in 1988, 1999, 2012, and 2022. However, this year the saltwater progression has been so strong that it overtopped last year’s sill construction. Alterations have since been made to strengthen them against the progression of the salt, a move that has, so far, been successful in keeping the saltwater from reaching New Orleans. 

Also helping slow the progression are large natural holes along the bottom of the river, for the extremely dense saltwater must fill these holes before progressing further upstream.

Is it Possible to Remove the Salt From Saltwater?

Desalination is another possible, yet controversial, solution to saltwater crises. There are a variety of methods that remove salt from water, the most common form being solar desalination, where saltwater evaporates and then later falls back to the earth as rain. 

Apart from this natural process, humans have developed a few mechanistic techniques to generate freshwater from saltwater. The first large-scale evaporator was built in Kuwait in 1951, and since then, the technology has advanced, resulting in the increased construction of desalination plants all over the world, especially over the last two decades. 

Desalination is most commonly used in the Arabian Peninsula, nearly 6 billion gallons of saltwater are pumped from the ocean each day to meet a majority of the countries’ freshwater demand. The US is in the process of constructing more and more desalination plants, though often to significant public backlash. 

Desalination plants are expensive and energy intensive, consuming vast amounts of electricity and emitting carbon dioxide into the atmosphere at rates at the level of tens of thousands of cars. These plants also disturb local habitats and biodiversity, not just because their construction disrupts local species, but also because of their waste discharge. 

The recovery ratio for desalinated water is inefficient, with only one liter of water produced for every 1.5 liters of its waste, a briny discharge. This discharge is not only extremely high in salt content, but it also contains chemicals like chlorine, copper, and other potentially toxic agents used in the desalination process.

There are a few different procedures to conduct desalination; some common forms are electrodialysis, evaporation, and reverse osmosis. Reverse osmosis filters are currently being deployed in water treatment plants in the affected Louisiana communities, and it appears desalination will continue to grow as a popular global freshwater solution. It is critical for governments and corporations to put more effort into regulating the technology so that it is deployed in the most clean, equitable, and efficient way possible.

What Is the Outlook on the Situation?

Officials no longer expect New Orleans to be significantly impacted by the saltwater intrusion, however, a few more nearby parishes downstream do expect saltwater to penetrate their water supply by late November. While it looks like drastic consequences will be avoided in the large metropolitan area of New Orleans, thousands of people have been and will continue to be impacted.

Questions have been raised regarding the amount of dredging that the Army Corps of Engineers has conducted in the Mississippi River over the last century. Over-pumping and dredging are known to create unstable conditions that lead to aquifer depletion and contamination, but economic priorities have seen public health risks ignored in the service of other goals. These ongoing events act as a forewarning to other coastal regions on the dangers of saltwater intrusion, which is far reaching throughout the country, but are also a reflection of the overall groundwater crisis impacting much of the world today. Responsible management of the nation’s water systems is critical moving forward, if crises like that in the Mississippi River are to be mitigated in the future.

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The plaintiff argues that PepsiCo – the world’s second-largest food company and among the biggest plastic polluters – has failed to warn its consumers about the dangers of single-use plastic.

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New York state is suing food and drinks giant PepsiCo and its subsidiary Frito-Lay over plastic pollution in a first-of-its-kind lawsuit that could set a precedent for other cities and states to follow and hold companies accountable for the amount of single-use plastic they produce.

New York Attorney General Letitia James announced the lawsuit on Wednesday in Buffalo, arguing that the company had failed to warn its consumers over the dangers of plastic waste on the environment, freshwater species, and human health. Plastic that enters the river breaks down into smaller pieces known as microplastics or nanoplastics that contaminate not only the river but also public drinking water supplies.

More on the topic: Are Microplastics Harmful And How Can We Avoid Them?

James also accused PepsiCo of misleading its consumers  by claiming that it is working on addressing its plastic pollution problem.

A survey of plastic pollution in the Buffalo River conducted by the attorney general’s office in 2022 found the company to be the “single largest identifiable contributor” of plastic packaging that amassed on the river’s shores every year, with more than 17% share of the waste. The amount of plastic waste traced back to PepsiCo was about three times that of the second-largest contributor, American fast food giant McDonald’s.

According to data published on the company’s website, in 2022 alone, PepsiCo produced approximately 2.6 million metric tons of plastic packaging. Though despite having targets in place to minimise its plastic footprint – such as making 100% of their packaging recyclable, compostable, biodegradable, or reusable by 2025 as well as cutting the use of virgin plastic from non-renewable sources by half by 2030 – the lawsuit argues that the solutions proposed to achieve these goals are “ineffective” and “unattainable” and have “repeatedly failed to materialize.”

Indeed, the plaintiff found that over the last four years, the quantity of virgin plastic used by PepsiCo for its packaging has increased – from 2.2 million metric tons in 2019 to 2.4 million metric tons in 2022.

The suit demands that PepsiCo formulate a plan to clean the Buffalo River and warn its customers about the health and environmental implications associated with its plastic packaging by placing an “adequate warning” on its single-use plastic bottles and food wrappers sold in the Buffalo region.

“No company is too big to ensure that their products do not damage our environment and public health,” James said in a statement. “All New Yorkers have a basic right to clean water, yet PepsiCo’s irresponsible packaging and marketing endanger Buffalo’s water supply, environment, and public health.”

Featured image: Flickr/Mike Mozart

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The joint statement was released after a four-day meeting in California between the US and China, the world’s two biggest emitters of greenhouse gases, to discuss cooperation to tackle climate change. It comes ahead of the UN climate summit, which is set to begin in two weeks in Dubai. 

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The US and China have renewed their commitment to work together to address climate change, pledging to collaborate on issues including the energy transition, methane, the circular economy, low-carbon urban development, and deforestation.

According to a joint statement released Tuesday following a four-day meeting in California, the world’s two largest polluting countries will work together to achieve the Paris Agreement target of limiting global warming below 1.5C compared to pre-industrial levels.

US Special Envoy for Climate John Kerry and his Chinese counterpart Xie Zhenhua, who had already met last July, said both the US and China recognise the urgency of addressing the climate crisis as highlighted in the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change’s (IPCC) Sixth Assessment Report. Both countries have been hit by unprecedented extreme weather events in recent months, with the US recently setting a new record for the most billion-dollar natural disasters in a single year. 

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Beijing and Washington said they would “pursue efforts” to triple renewable capacity by the end of the current decade. 

According to a study published in July, China, already the global leader in renewable energy, is on track to double its wind and solar capacity by 2025 and reach its clean energy target five years ahead of schedule. The US has also made some progress in recent years in terms of clean energy following the enactment of the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA), the biggest climate bill in the country’s history, which includes significant investments in renewables, particularly solar and offshore wind, as well as new credits for nuclear power production and clean hydrogen and incentives to develop more facilities that produce clean energy inputs, components, and finished products. Nevertheless, as of April 2023, renewable energy represented just 13% of the country’s energy mix, while oil and natural gas made up more than 60%.

The statement includes a pledge to cut emissions of methane – a potent greenhouse gas with 84-86 times higher in global warming potential than carbon dioxide across a 20-year period – and other greenhouse gases such as nitrous oxide. In a document released last week, China, the world’s largest emitter of methane, said it will boost monitoring, reporting, and data transparency to reduce methane pollution.

The two superpowers also said they are “determined to end plastic pollution” and will cooperate “to develop an international legally binding instrument on plastic pollution, including the marine environment.”

They pledged to also support subnational climate cooperation. Last month, California governor Gavin Newsom made a weeklong trip to China to promote joint efforts in several Chinese cities and provinces and strengthen collaboration in sectors including electric vehicles and renewable energy.

The relaunch of the Working Group comes at a crucial time, as world leaders prepare to convene in Dubai for the UN climate summit, COP28. Both superpowers emphasised the significance of the summit in effectively addressing the climate crisis and their responsibility in terms of national actions and collaborative efforts to fulfil the objectives of the Paris Agreement and uphold multilateralism. 

“The United States and China are committed to further their dialogues, efforts, and collaboration to support the UAE Presidency for the success of COP28,” the statement reads.

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A federal Right to Repair Act could help the US avoid generating millions of tons of e-waste every year. By allowing consumers to repair their electronics, the Right to Repair Movement will directly contribute to sustainability efforts and reduce the amount of e-waste we produce, benefitting not only the environment but also consumers’ finances.

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California Paves the Way

When your electronics break, your only viable option is to send the device to one of the repair shops licensed by the manufacturer, mainly because opening the device or purchasing spare parts and installing them at home has become nearly impossible.

All this is about to change. In October 2023, California – the most populous state in the US and the world’s fifth-largest economy – passed the landmark Right to Repair Act. This, many hope, will pave the way for other states to follow suit.

The new bill requires manufacturers to provide anyone with access to parts, documentation, and tools to repair their electronic devices. The law applies to electronic devices manufactured on and after July 1, 2021, and will take effect on July 1, 2024.

A recent consumer survey by Windows Report shows that 57% of respondents want the freedom to repair their devices at home, and 89% of consumers are concerned about discarded electronics or see it as a top priority.

The most interested in repairing their devices are laptop users (53%), followed by desktop PC users (41%). At the same time, 67% of respondents said they do not know that repairing their electronics is even a possibility. That translates directly into the same percentage of potential e-waste added to an already huge pile. The US alone generates 6.9 tonnes of e-waste annually. 

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The Problem of E-Waste

The problem of e-waste has become much more severe in recent years because of the ever-growing amount of electronic devices ending up in landfills.

Batteries of portable electronics contain highly toxic and harmful chemicals, and improper handling may have hazardous consequences. Nevertheless, manufacturers made it almost impossible for consumers to detach batteries from portable devices such as mobile phones, laptops, and portable consoles.

According to 83% of people polled in the aforementioned survey, there should be a legal regulation to enforce the right to repair computers. 

“Either vote for a law or impose taxes on computers that are not easily repaired,” an anonymous responder said.

In the race to release newer and better devices, companies are far likelier to design their products with planned obsolescence in mind to stimulate sales rather than encouraging consumers to upgrade or repair old devices. 

More compact electronics translate into costly and lengthy repairs, so it comes as no surprise that most individuals discard their broken devices, contributing to a larger and larger pile of e-waste.

According to WEEE Forum, pro-capita e-waste this year is around 8 kilogrammes, totaling 61.3 million tonnes globally, and it is estimated to grow to up to 9 kilogrammes per capita by 2030. The tragic part is that only 17.4% of this waste is collected and recycled correctly.

E-waste accounts for 2-3% of annual global waste, but its composition is a lot more harmful than many other types. Mercury, cadmium, beryllium, and lead are just some of the toxic elements that contaminate the soil, water, and air, exposing us to serious health risks. Brominated flame retardants and synthetic ‘forever chemicals’ used in circuit boards and display screens persist in the environment and accumulate in the organisms of all living creatures, causing long-term effects.

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A large quantity of e-waste produced in the US is shipped overseas, mainly to developing Asian countries. While we tend to think that the problem goes away, harmful chemicals are released into the air we breathe, leading to respiratory diseases and other health issues among workers and nearby communities.

Creating more and more compact devices has become a problem not only for consumers but also for the small businesses that provide more affordable repair services. Newer and slimmer models include more and more glued or soldered components into more expensive ensembles that make it increasingly challenging to take products apart and replace them.

The Right to Repair Movement in the US

Within this grim landscape, it is not surprising that we have witnessed an increased dissatisfaction with such questionable practices in recent years. The Right to Repair movement is gaining traction, and Fair Repair bills promise to change how the industry operates. 

As of today, Fair Repair bills are in place in Massachusetts, Minnesota, Colorado, New York, and California, while 20 other states are working on the Right to Repair legislation. However, the laws have different focuses. 

California’s law, for example, includes all consumer electronics but excludes gaming consoles. In Colorado, the bill is focused on farming equipment, while the Massachusetts bill targets mobile electronics such as cell phones and tablets. 

In Washington, 30 repair shops sent an action letter to support the bill proposal, and urge the legislators to protect Washington communities and small businesses: “As businesses that work in electronics repair, we face significant barriers to fix many products – barriers imposed by the manufacturers. By blocking access to diagnostics, schematics, tools, and replacement parts, manufacturers undercut or even block independent repair. As a result, we are frequently turning away business that we could easily handle otherwise. This makes it harder for businesses like ours to thrive and serve our communities,” the action letter reads.

Repairing devices and prolonging their lives could also save US consumers $40 billion a year and help support the circular economy. Small businesses, such as local repair shops, can also support our recycling efforts by offering consumers more affordable ways to responsibly deal with their electronics.

Final Thoughts

The Right to Repair bill will eventually change the industry and how consumers look at electronics. However, there are still many hurdles along the way. For instance, the California bill excludes game consoles from the list of electronics based on the argument that allowing consumers to repair them at home might also facilitate jailbreaking. In comparison, New York’s 2022 Fair Repair Bill allows manufacturers to sell ensembles instead of the individual parts of the electronics, which makes the law almost useless. This matter is of nationwide importance and needs nationwide coherence, not state laws influenced by powerful manufacturing lobby groups.

Though the battle ahead is long, the Right to Repair Movement is a giant step forward in the fight against e-waste and as a way to safeguard small businesses that work in electronics repair. It is about saving the planet and shifting the decision power to consumers and their needs.

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As of Tuesday morning, the wildfire had burned 2,200 acres of land across Riverside County in Southern California.

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A fast-moving Southern California wildfire has prompted authorities on Tuesday to issue evacuation orders for 4,000 people in Riverside County.

The Highland Fire broke out Monday afternoon near Highlands and Aguanga Ranchos roads, according to the Riverside County Fire Department, which issued an evacuation order for roughly 4,000 people. It nearly doubled in size overnight, fuelled by strong Santa Ana winds – seasonal winds that carry dusk and smoke from wildfires across the deserts and coastal regions of Southern California all the way to the Pacific Ocean.

According to the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection’s latest update, the fire had so far burned 2,200 acres (890 hectares) of land and was 0% contained as of Tuesday morning. More than 300 firefighters have been assigned to respond to the blaze.

Meanwhile, the National Weather Service has issued an air quality alert for nearby communities due to the dispersion of windblown dust and smoke from the wildfire.

California – historically a wildfire-prone state – has escaped this year’s fire season “mostly unharmed” thanks to record rainfall – 141% higher than average over the past 12 months – after disastrous seasons, which usually take place between late summer and early autumn, in 2020 and 2021.

In 2020, California experienced its worst wildfire season on record, with 8,600 wildfires which burned 4.3 million acres – more than 4% of the state’s total land area – and claimed 33 lives.

California has been experiencing warmer temperatures and drier seasons, bringing on longer and more intense drought seasons as a result of the changing climate. The conditions that are needed to spark a wildfire are more easily met, thereby also increasing a blaze’s severity once it starts. This is evident by the fact that eight of the 10 largest fires in California history all took place in the last five years. 

Scientists project an average 1C temperature increase every year would increase the median burned area by as much as 600% in some types of forests, while other modelling suggests that land burned by wildfire could increase by 30% by 2060 compared to 2011 levels.  

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Initiatives are being taken to establish a genetic repository in the US to safeguard the genetic diversity of endangered species with the potential to support conservation and cloning. This project has already preserved samples from five endangered species and is dedicated to securing America’s biodiversity heritage.

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Animal extinction and biodiversity loss are long-standing issues, though they have become increasingly imperative over the years due to factors such as habitat destruction, illegal wildlife hunting, and the rapidly deteriorating climate crisis. 

Currently, more than 25% of Earth’s species are at risk of extinction, and this figure could increase to 50% by the end of the century without timely intervention. This biodiversity crisis is considered more drastic than climate change, affecting 28% of all assessed species. The current extinction rate is significantly higher than historical averages. While Earth has experienced natural extinctions over billions of years, in the past century, reckless human actions have exacerbated the situation.

Climate change is subjecting the world’s wildlife to a series of challenges, such as the disappearance of their natural habitats and a decrease in available food. Endangered species in the US are moving dangerously close to extinction at a concerning rate. When these species vanish, there is a risk of losing crucial genetic data that they carry within them, which could have potential implications for the broader ecosystem.

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In October 2023, the US Fish & Wildlife Service (FWS) revealed that they have teamed up with the non-profit organisation Revive & Restore and other collaborators to establish a comprehensive genetic repository for endangered species across the US, which aims to safeguard the genetic diversity and biological heritage of the nation’s threatened species in the shortest possible time.

Oliver Ryder, Kleberg Endowed Director of Conservation Genetics at San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance, said, “We want to provide the greatest possible set of options for ensuring the continued survival of the native wildlife of the United States.”

The San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance is also a part of this partnership, actively contributing to the conservation and restoration of endangered species and ecosystems, thus further emphasising its commitment to preserving the natural heritage of the United States.

Revive & Restore was established in 2012 and received support from The Long Now Foundation, an organisation located in the San Francisco Bay Area, United States. The Long Now Foundation is dedicated to fostering a perspective that spans ages within a 10,000-year framework and adopts a far-reaching approach to wildlife conservation. Their mission is to leverage the Genetic Rescue Toolkit, which can advance and optimise traditional conservation practices, in order to support the restoration of biodiversity and bio-abundance for generations to come. The NGO acts as a facilitator for partnerships, an instigator of technological advancements, and a financier of impactful research. All these factors work together to lay the foundation for a brighter future in wildlife preservation.

FWS field staff are employing biobanking, where they collect biological samples, including blood, tissues, and reproductive cells from animals. These samples are cryogenically preserved at frigid temperatures and stored at a United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) facility in Colorado. These samples also undergo genetic sequencing, and the resulting data is shared on the publicly accessible GenBank database. 

This repository of frozen living cells is expected to play an integral role in ongoing and future conservation initiatives. It can aid in diversifying gene pools within captive breeding programmes, with the end objective of reviving species populations. Experts also recognise that this resource has the potential for applications in cloning.

The Deputy Assistant Regional Director of Ecological Services for the FWS’s Southwest region, Seth Willey, provided a statement indicating that biobanking offers a means to preserve genetic diversity that is distinctive and cannot be recreated. He also added that, “if done right, [biobanking] creates a marker in time and gives future recovery biologists options, like genetic rescue, that are only possible if we act now.”

Ryan Phelan, the executive director of Revive & Restore, asserts that this expansive project is “creating a legacy of America’s natural history before it is lost and provides an important resource to enhance species recovery efforts now and in the future,” with the mission of creating a comprehensive biobank that includes all endangered mammal species in the country.

Since the project’s launch in January 2023, the organisations involved have already collected and preserved samples from five endangered species, including the Mexican wolf (Canis lupus baileyi), the Florida bonneted bat (Eumops floridanus), and the Sonoran Pronghorn (Antilocapra americana sonoriensis). While the initial phase of the programme focuses on 24 endangered mammals in the US, the ultimate objective is prodigious as they step forward to establish a repository that preserves America’s rich biodiversity heritage for future generations.

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Chevron’s announcement came just two weeks after oil giant Exxon said it would acquire Pioneer Resources for $60 billion.

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American oil giant Chevron is buying independent oil and natural gas company Hess Corporation for US$53 billion, the second Big Oil consolidation deal in weeks.

The acquisition adds a major oil field off the coast of Guyana, a South American country highly contented among oil giants Exxon Mobil, Chinese CNOOC, and Hess since its discovery in 2015, as it is poised to become the world’s fourth-largest offshore oil producer. In a statement published Monday, Chevron, one of the largest companies in the world and the second-largest US-based oil company by revenue, said that Hess’s assets in US shale and Guyana will “grow production and free cash flow faster.” 

“This combination positions Chevron to strengthen our long-term performance and further enhance our advantaged portfolio by adding world-class assets,” said Chevron Chairman and CEO Mike Wirth. 

“I believe our strategic combination creates a company that is stronger in every respect, with the leadership, asset portfolio and financial resources to lead us through the energy transition and deliver significant shareholder value for years to come,” said CEO John Hess, who praised Hess’ and Chevron’s world-class portfolios.

The deal follows another huge Big Oil investment announcement, even as the rest of the world is moving off fossil fuels. Exxon Mobil, the largest non-government-owned company in the energy industry, said two weeks ago it would acquire Pioneer Resources for $60 billion.

Record Profits

Oil companies have scored record profits after Russia’s invasion of Ukraine created a favourable market for Big Oil as it pinched oil supplies and sent prices higher, sparking backlash among environmental groups who accuse oil companies of profiting from the situation rather than trying to ease the pain for consumers and invest in the energy transition.

Exxon, which produces about 3% of the world’s oil and about 2% of the world’s energy, reaped a record US$55.7 billion in profit last year, bringing home about $6.3 million per hour. The total was more than double 2021’s figure and far exceeded the prior record of $45.2 billion set in 2008, making it the most profitable year ever for any American and European fossil fuel company.

Exxon, Chevron, and other oil giants BP, Shell, and TotalEnergies recorded a combined $190 billion in profits for 2022. Together, the companies are responsible for more than 10% of global carbon emissions since 1965. 

A 2021 research examining their clean energy transition activity found that, despite a marked increase in climate action and pledges on decarbonisation as well as the use of keywords such as “climate”, “low-carbon’”, and “transition” between 2009 and 2020, there is no real evidence of a transition towards clean energy business models. On the contrary, evidence points that companies are increasing rather than decreasing oil exploration. BP and Shell have promised to reduce investments in fossil fuel extraction projects, but both increased their acreage for new exploration in recent years. 

Time’s Up

The news comes as a new report published Tuesday by the International Energy Agency (IEA) suggests that the world may see demand for oil and other fossil fuels peak in this decade, as the world shifts to electric vehicles and renewable energy sources, which are expected to supply 50% of global electricity by 2030, up from 30% today.

“I have a gentle suggestion to oil executives, they only talk among themselves,”  Fatih Birol, executive director of the IEA, told the New York Times. “They should talk to car manufacturers, to the heat pump industry, to the renewable industry, to investors – and see what they all think the future of energy looks like.”

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