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After Weeks of Historic Climate Disasters, Dominion Plans More Fossil Fuels
RICHMOND, VA — Today, Dominion Energy released its 2024 Integrated Resource Plan, a planning document that contemplates keeping all of the monopoly utility’s 19 fossil fuel generators online and building a half dozen new fossil fuel units. The plan comes on the heels of Hurricane Helene, a 225- to 250-billion-dollar disaster that claimed hundreds of lives and, experts say, was made significantly more destructive by climate change caused by burning fossil fuel. Hurricane Helene caused an estimated 125 million dollars in damages to farmland alone in Southwest Virginia.
Dominion’s plan envisions increasing customer bills by 75% to 157% over the next 15 years to meet demand driven by data centers, including by investing in exorbitantly expensive new nuclear facilities and gas peaking plants, the two most expensive forms of new generation. Relying on gas is as bad or worse for the climate as coal due to methane leakage throughout the lifecycle of the fuel. The plan also includes a significant investment in clean energy mandated by the Virginia Clean Economy Act.
“Dominion has, once again, put forward a plan to accelerate climate change in the Commonwealth,” said Victoria Higgins, CCAN’s Virginia Director. “Dominion’s plan would significantly increase pollution in Virginia, putting us knowingly in the way of natural disasters like Hurricane Helene – and worse. Scientists have been clear that new fossil fuel infrastructure is an existential threat to our people and economy. While we’re glad to see Dominion intends to build a significant amount of clean energy, no plan that also includes new, polluting fossil fuel infrastructure is a serious proposal in the face of these horrific impacts to human lives and our economy. Regulators and lawmakers must reign in Dominion’s reckless plans, and ensure data centers are coming to the table to plan for a clean energy future that is affordable for all Virginians.”
Not included in Dominion’s plan is any nod to the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative, a carbon cap-and-invest program required by Virginia law from which Governor Glenn Youngkin is currently attempting to remove the state. By pulling Dominion and other monopoly utilities out of the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative, Governor Youngkin deprives Virginia of hundreds of millions of dollars each year for proactive flood preparedness to prevent the worst impacts of natural disasters, as well as funding for home weatherization for low-income families – many of whom live in the vulnerable Southwest region.
The vast majority of the accelerating electricity-load growth in Dominion territory is tied to data centers, which increasingly house artificial intelligence operations. Under current Virginia law and regulatory policy, Virginia residents will pay for the generation and transmission costs associated with new generation infrastructure necessary to serve data centers. The State Corporation Commission is planning a technical conference in December to assess whether to change how to allocate energy costs associated with large energy users.
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Chesapeake Climate Action Network is the first grassroots organization dedicated exclusively to raising awareness about the impacts and solutions associated with global warming in the Chesapeake Bay region. Founded in 2002, CCAN has been at the center of the fight for clean energy and wise climate policy in Maryland, Virginia, and Washington, DC.
The post After Weeks of Historic Climate Disasters, Dominion Plans More Fossil Fuels appeared first on Chesapeake Climate Action Network.
Call your MP to take urgent action to protect nature from Drax’s tree burning.
Forests are the lungs of our planet and it’s never been more important to protect them in order to tackle both the nature crisis and the climate emergency. Yet the UK Government is subsidising the destruction of vital forests around the world by using our energy bills to fund tree burning in power stations like Drax in Yorkshire and Lynemouth in Northumberland. Drax is the UK’s single biggest carbon emitter and the world’s biggest tree burner. Drax has repeatedly been exposed for logging and sourcing from primary old-growth forests in British Columbia in Canada which are home to threatened species such as caribou. Drax is also burning wood from Southern US forests which are home to many rare and endangered species such as black bears, salamanders, Red Cardinals and Cerulean Warblers.
Drax already receives c.£1.5m per day from UK bill payers to burn trees whilst making record profits.The Government is now considering proposals to use our energy bills to give tree-burning companies huge new subsidies to continue funding this destruction and harm to nature for many years to come! If these subsidies go ahead we could be locked in to decades more of tree burning, pollution, nature loss and forest destruction. Please join us to call on MPs to take urgent action to protect nature from Drax’s tree burning.
How to take actionBelow are some resources to help you with your call including a draft script. please feel free to adapt this accordingly in line with the 3 key aims of the call:
- To ask your MP to sign the Stop Burning Trees Pledge
- To ask your MP to write to the Secretary of State for DESNZ (Ed Miliband) to say that we should not waste public money on companies that burn trees.
- And to ask if they can ask a parliamentary question concerning drax, if they agree, please email us on biofuelwatch@gmail.com and we can email you over some recommended questions to provide to your MP
Please remember to fill in this form to let us know you called your MP.
Let us know you called your MP. How to find your MP’s numberYou can find your MP’s phone number on the parliamentary directory of MPs or on their website/social media. It’s worth contacting your MP’s constituency office if you can’t get through to their Parliamentary number. If you’ve already emailed your MP about this it’s really helpful to mention that when you call, as it makes them much more likely to properly read your email!
If there is a recorded message, it would be great if you’re happy to leave a short voicemail message with your contact email and /or number so your MP’s office can reply. There is a draft phone script and voicemail message below. Please feel free to let us know how you get on by filling in this form. It’s a good idea to send a follow up email with what you discussed and this is an example follow-up email which you are very welcome to personalise and adapt. If your MP doesn’t have a phone number, or if you’ve received a response from your MP and would like help replying to it, please email us at biofuelwatch@gmail.com and we’ll be delighted to help.
Draft script (if you are able to speak to someone)Action taker: Hello I’m … and I’m one of [MP name] constituents. I’m phoning because I’m very concerned that the Government is giving millions of pounds a year from UK energy bills to wood-burning power stations and it is now proposing to give huge new subsidies to these power stations, including Drax which is the UK’s single largest carbon emitter and the world’s biggest tree burner. (If you’ve already emailed them, this is a great time to mention that)
I don’t want my energy bills to be used to fund Drax’s forest destruction and harm to nature. I’d be grateful if [MP] could sign the Stop Burning Trees pledge or write to the Secretary of State for DESNZ (Ed Miliband) to say that we should not waste public money on companies that burn trees.
MP’s staff member: (likely to offer to flag your concerns with your MP and may ask you to send an email with your key points – there is an example email here which you are welcome to adapt and personalise)
Action taker: Would it be possible to receive a response in the next week? I’ll be happy to send a follow-up email and an MP briefing about the proposed new subsidies.
MP’s staff member: (likely to offer to send a response to your follow-up email.)
Action taker: Thank you very much for speaking to me today and for taking my message. I look forward to hearing back from you soon.
Draft voicemail script (if there is a recorded message)Action taker: Hello I’m … and I’m one of [MP name] constituents.
I’m phoning because I’m very concerned that the Government is using UK energy bills to fund tree burning in UK power stations and is now proposing to give huge new subsidies to power stations like Drax which is the UK’s single largest carbon emitter and the world’s biggest tree burner.
I don’t want my energy bills to be used to fund Drax’s forest destruction, pollution of communities and harm to nature and the climate.I’m phoning to ask if [MP name] would be interested in signing the Stop Burning Trees MP pledge to support an end to subsidies for burning wood. I would also be grateful if [MP name] could write to the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, Ed Miliband, to call for no new subsidies for burning trees.
My number / email address is…… and I look forward to hearing back from you. I can also send a follow-up email with more information. Thanks very much. Goodbye.
Social mediaOnce you have called your MP, please share on social media. We have some sample posts to use below, but please feel free to adapt them and please @ or tag your MP. Please also feel free to use the image we have added below.
I just called my MP to say NO to more subsidies for wood-burning power stations! Let’s protect our forests and the climate, not destroy them! #StopBurningTrees #BigBadBiomass #ForestsAreNotFuel
Click To Tweet
Facebook/instagram
I just called my MP because I’m deeply concerned that millions of pounds from our energy bills are being handed over to wood-burning power stations like #Drax – the UK’s single largest carbon emitter and the world’s biggest tree burner.
Now, the government is proposing huge new subsidies to support these polluters! Instead of funding more environmental damage and harm to nature, we should be protecting our forests and investing in clean, renewable energy.
It’s time to speak up! Call your MP and tell them to #StopBurningTrees and stop the subsidies! Let’s act before it’s too late. #ClimateAction #ProtectOurPlanet #NoMoreSubsidies #BigBadBiomass #ForestsAreNotFuel #SaveNature
To capture renewable energy gains, Africa must invest in battery storage
Olivia Carballo is managing director in the emerging market alternative credit team at Ninety One.
In rural locations across Africa, renewable energy infrastructure such as hydroelectric dams, wind turbines and solar panels have been developed at impressive speed over the last ten years.
However, despite an increase in renewables production, the energy is unable to benefit communities and businesses plugged into national grids due to the lack of battery storage systems.
Powering Nigerian developers’ laptops, fuelling Ugandan taxi drivers’ electric boda bodas, or refrigerating Senegalese researchers’ vaccines will require tremendous amounts of power supply. But the benefits of renewables will only be realised if the right infrastructure is in place.
The financing of utility-scale battery storage systems, which remains a nascent technology in Africa, is key to ensuring that African countries secure reliable access to electricity, enabling communities to benefit from new infrastructure projects coming online.
Next-generation tech more affordableHistorically, funding for Battery Energy Storage System (BESS) has been a challenge due to the high cost of the technology. But recent advancements in battery technology efficiency signal a shift towards more affordable solutions.
The price of lithium-ion batteries, which reached a record low of $139/kWh in 2023, is set to drop further to $80/kWh by 2030, according to research firm BloombergNEF. This offers a cost-effective solution for sparsely populated areas such as rural West Africa.
Simultaneously, pumped hydro storage – which consists of two water reservoirs at different elevations that generate power as water moves between them – presents a unique opportunity in regions like Central Africa.
Despite solar surge, world off track for COP28 renewable energy target
Countries such as Cameroon, whose pumped-storage potential is estimated at 34 GWh, can leverage hydropower for base generation while retaining the flexibility to integrate wind and solar energy into the mix.
Another emerging innovation to increase BESS uptake is the development of battery-as-a-service (BaaS) business models, which aim to motivate residential, commercial and industrial consumers to invest in battery storage technology through a leasing model, reducing upfront costs.
This creates opportunities for electricity transmission and distribution companies to upgrade dilapidated infrastructure with BESS technology, ensuring that energy is evenly distributed to the grid while minimising capital expenditure.
Energy storage hotspotBeyond meeting local and regional energy needs, battery storage has the potential to stimulate the growth of a strategic new industrial sector in Africa. The continent holds at least one-fifth of the world’s reserves in a dozen minerals that are critical for the energy transition, including the lithium used for electric vehicle batteries and grid-scale storage.
Strengthening local supply chains and manufacturing could position Africa as a global leader in battery technology, adding value to its raw materials through battery component production for global markets.
Several African countries have shown recent interest in addressing the lack of storage capacity by joining the BESS Consortium at COP28, led by the Global Energy Alliance for People and Planet (GEAPP), in partnership with development banks including the AfDB, Africa50 and the World Bank.
Egypt, Ghana, Kenya, Malawi, Mauritania, Mozambique, Nigeria and Togo are among a group of first-mover countries committed to deploying 5GW of energy storage technology globally by 2027.
But governments cannot act alone and will be unable to achieve these ambitious targets without tapping into international pools of capital.
Private investmentLast year, the Emerging Africa Infrastructure Fund (EAIF), a Private Infrastructure Development Group (PIDG) company managed by Ninety One, a global investment manager, invested $19 million in a 19MW solar PV and 7 MWh energy storage plant in Mozambique.
Parts of the country experience frequent and prolonged electricity outages, which constrains economic productivity and limits people’s ability to earn a living. Our funding commitments are strengthening energy storage capacity in the country’s remote Niassa region, improving access to stable power supply and catalysing more investment in local renewable energy projects.
InfraCo Africa, a PIDG company, also partnered with JCM Power to co-develop the 20MWAC Golomoti Solar plant in Malawi. The $8-million project includes a 10MWh battery storage system – the first of its kind in sub-Saharan Africa outside South Africa. By stabilising the grid, Golomoti Solar reduces the country’s reliance on costly diesel generators and hydro power, which has been disrupted by rainfall fluctuations.
Progress on structure for new global climate finance goal but trickier divides persist
These projects provide critical battery storage facilities in countries that are often overlooked by international investors, addressing challenges raised by the intermittency of renewable power generation to enhance the resilience and stability of electrical grids in frontier markets.
BESS is essential to unlock Africa’s renewable energy potential. With its wealth of raw materials and growing interest in manufacturing capacity, the continent is primed to become a global leader in the battery storage value chain.
However, despite this potential, the sector remains underdeveloped. Investors, governments and development partners must urgently come together to ensure Africa captures the full benefits of its renewable resources, both for domestic development and as a crucial player in the global energy transition.
Ninety One is a large third-party investor in private and public credit, equities and sovereign debt across emerging markets. The Emerging Africa Infrastructure Fund (EAIF) is managed by and fully integrated into Ninety One’s African private credit investment platform. Ninety One manages the entire process on behalf of the EAIF. It markets the fund, seeks projects, evaluates loan applications, including due diligence, manages transaction administration and monitors the loan portfolio.
The post To capture renewable energy gains, Africa must invest in battery storage appeared first on Climate Home News.
Biden administration designates first Indigenous-led marine sanctuary
Over the weekend, the Biden administration approved the Chumash Heritage National Marine Sanctuary, encompassing 4,543 square miles of central California coastline. The new marine sanctuary will be the third largest in the U.S., and the first to be led by Indigenous people. The effort to designate the marine sanctuary was driven by the Northern Chumash Tribe, who will manage the marine sanctuary in partnership with the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration and other Indigenous groups in the area.
The designation results from a 40-year campaign by Tribal and community leaders to protect sacred Chumash sites that date back thousands of years. “It’s where we spiritually believe that all people leave this world into the next life,” said Violet Sage Walker, chairwoman of the Northern Chumash Tribal Council. “They take their journey—whatever faith you are, whatever spirituality you have—and that area will be fully and forever protected. For my father, our ancestors, elders who have passed—I think they would be the most excited about that.”
The marine sanctuary protects an internationally significant ecological transition zone that is home to a diverse ecosystem including many at-risk species, such as snowy plovers, southern sea otters, leatherback sea turtles, black abalone, and blue whales.
To hear from Violet Sage Walker and others about the Chumash proposal, watch CWP’s Road to 30 Postcard film.
Podcast: How climate, crowds, and colonialism are complicating the concept of wildernessOn the latest episode of The Landscape, Kate and guest host Sterling are joined by journalist and producer Marissa Ortega-Welch to talk about her new podcast series, How Wild, which was recently released by KALW and distributed by NPR. The podcast explores how the concept of Wilderness is changing due to climate change, technology, crowding, and shifting views on colonialism.
Quick hits Group puts up fence, claims ownership over 1,400 acres of national forest in ColoradoColorado Sun | Denver Post | Fox31
White House announces first California marine sanctuary managed by Indigenous peoplesNPR | Los Angeles Times | The Hill | KSBY | Santa Barbara Independent | NOAA [press release]
Deb Haaland and Camille Calimlim Touton: Colorado River is vital to Arizona. Here’s how we’re protecting it Gila River Indian Community solar panel-over-canal project powers up ‘Legacy’ forests, ‘restoration’ logging. The new jargon of conservation is awash in ambiguity and politics Nevada BLM land sale made for affordable housing projectLas Vegas Sun | Bureau of Land Management [press release]
Arizona governor seeks updated environmental review of Pinyon Plain uranium mine near Grand Canyon One of Colorado’s most beautiful places is also one of its least crowded Quote of the dayWe’re still here, and so are the Indigenous people wherever you live. Being able to address climate change, use traditional ecological knowledge, and participate in co-management is Indigenous peoples’ contribution to saving the planet.”
—Violet Sage Walker, chairwoman of the Northern Chumash Tribal Council, NPR
Picture This@usinterior
Happy National Wildlife Refuge Week!
The country’s wildlife refuges are America’s best-kept secret — offering unparalleled opportunities to experience the great outdoors and providing vital habitat for thousands of species of animals and plants.
With at least one @usfws national wildlife refuge in every state and territory, there’s one nearby you, waiting to be explored.
Photo at Bosque del Apache National Wildlife Refuge in New Mexico by Robert Dunn
#nationalwildliferefuge #usinterior #newmexico
Featured photo: Morro Bay, within the new Chumash Heritage National Marine Sanctuary. Photo courtesy of National Ocean Protection Coalition.
The post Biden administration designates first Indigenous-led marine sanctuary appeared first on Center for Western Priorities.
La Niña Looking Less Likely as Ocean Waters Stay Balmy
As ocean temperatures remain stubbornly high, forecasters see a diminished chance that the Pacific Ocean will enter its cooler La Niña phase this fall, as was predicted.
Australian renewables pioneer Adelaide bids to host COP31 climate summit
The state government of South Australia has launched a bid for the city of Adelaide to host the COP31 climate summit in late 2026, showcasing the region’s prowess in clean energy.
The government set out its case on Monday, saying the state is a pioneer in renewables, hydrogen and battery storage, and also has sufficient accommodation for more than 30,000 visitors. Welcoming delegates to the Adelaide Convention Centre would deliver local economic benefits of more than A$500 million (US$336m), it added.
State premier Peter Malinauskas said in a statement: “South Australia is already a world leader in renewable energy and decarbonisation and hosting COP31 would firmly put our state on the global map.”
The Australian government wants to co-host COP31 – expected to be held in November 2026 – with at least one Pacific Island nation. Turkiye also wants to host the summit and both will compete to convince members of their United Nations regional group – which includes Western Europe, North America and New Zealand – to back their bid at COP29 next month.
The Guardian reported that South Australia’s interest was welcomed by the Australian government, which also said it was working with Turkiye “to find a mutually beneficial resolution” on hosting the COP.
If the Australia and Pacific bid is successful, the co-hosts will then decide where to hold the annual UN climate talks. Malinauskas said, in comments reported by the Guardian, that major conferences are usually held in Australia’s two biggest cities – Sydney and Melbourne.
“Because of what we’ve been doing here in South Australia we now have an opportunity to say no to Sydney and Melbourne, and instead allow the federal government to choose Adelaide to host what will be one of the largest international conferences this nation has ever seen,” he said.
Renewables pioneerSouth Australia currently gets 75% of its energy from renewable sources, according to the state government – and is aiming for net 100% renewables by 2027, one of the most ambitious targets in the world.
The “net” aspect of the target means that some non-renewable energy may be used at certain times but the state will generate or purchase enough renewable electricity to cover all its consumption. South Australia exports a lot of renewable electricity to neighbouring Victoria.
With such a high proportion of variable renewable electricity, the state government is investing in innovative ways to balance the grid – matching demand and supply of electricity.
UN approves carbon market safeguards to protect environment and human rights
For example, US company Tesla has built a battery there called the Hornsdale Power Reserve, which the state government says is the world’s largest battery. It will take in and store renewable electricity when there is an over-supply and release it when needed.
The state government, meanwhile, is investing nearly A$600m (US$400m) in a facility combining one of the world’s biggest hydrogen electrolysers and one of the only hydrogen-fired power plants.
When there is excess renewable electricity supply, the surplus power will be used to turn water into hydrogen using an electrolyser, and when electricity generation falls short of demand, the hydrogen will be burned in a power plant.
(Reporting by Joe Lo; editing by Megan Rowling; video by Fanis Kollias)
The post Australian renewables pioneer Adelaide bids to host COP31 climate summit appeared first on Climate Home News.
Big Oil’s Silence Says It All
Just a few years ago, companies like Shell, Bp, Total, Equinor, EQT, and even ExxonMobil were soaking up the spotlight to claim support for the EPA and their efforts to create new national standards to cut methane from oil and gas.
Now that the EPA has finalized those rules however, those same companies stand in silence as their industry counterparts carry out a legal attack designed to delay the rule’s implementation at the expense of public health and our climate.
This silence (and lack of action) raises some questions: Was their support for methane rules anything more than words on paper? Was this all just a ploy to get the public off their back, so they could carry on with business as usual?
We definitely have an opinion: facts matter and industry remains the greatest obstacle to action on climate and climate justice.
Same old playbook
Since April 2024, a group of Republican states, industry trade groups, and oil and gas producers have dragged out the important implementation of the EPA’s methane rules with an expensive and senseless legal battle.
Their most recent stunt came in late August when the group asked the supreme court for an emergency stay of the EPA’s methane rules, which the court quickly denied. If the court had sided with industry, implementation of the methane rules would have been halted while litigation over the rule continued, a process that will likely through spring 2025.
Any delay to the methane rule implementation would have a massive impact on climate. Based on the EPA’s estimates, the finalized rule will eliminate an average of over 4 million tons of methane per year between 2024-2038. Everyday the industry delays means more methane in the air and less time to act.
The industry knows this, in fact when President Biden took office, many companies were quick to “support” swift action on methane by the administration.
- Shell tweeted: “Sound methane policy is key to advancing the energy transition and we applaud the @EPA for developing new regulations to tackle methane emissions.”
- bp claims to “bp applauds the EPA for proposing new rules aimed at reducing methane emissions.”
- ExxonMobil’s Senior VP Neil Chapman said in a statement that “ExxonMobil has long advocated for federal methane regulations as the most effective way to reduce methane emissions at scale, and we are pleased that President Biden has prioritized reducing methane emissions.”
- Even the American Petroleum Institute said “We support the direct regulation of methane from new and existing sources and are committed to building on the progress we have achieved in reducing methane emissions.”
But that was nearly 3 years ago and we are still waiting on those words of support to turn into real action to cut methane. Remember, there is nothing stopping any of these companies from taking actions.
Not only are these companies failing to address the methane issues that they publicly acknowledged, they have been radio silent as their industry counterparts attempt to drive us over the climate tipping point.
And it is not just the EPA’s methane rules. The oil and gas industry is currently fighting at least 4 rules (listed below) proposed by the Biden Administration that would cut methane emissions:
- EPA Methane Rule
- BLM Fluid Mineral Leases and Leasing Process
- BLM Waste Rule
- Greenhouse Gas Reporting Update
This is the industry’s playbook: delay anything that puts people and climate above industry’s profit. For a long time it was ‘deny (climate science) and delay.’ Now it’s ‘talk like a climate champion…and delay.’
Action (not words) is the only thing that matters for climate.
When it comes to action to cut pollution in line with reducing climate and health harms, all of these companies are coming up short.
- Shell, bp, and TotalEnergies have walked back their climate commitments to reduce oil and gas production.
- ExxonMobil is set to double its oil production this year and triple it by 2027 thanks to a heavily scrutinized $60 billion merger with Pioneer Resources, all while dragging feet on real support for methane rules.
- In Texas, TotalEnergies is expanding its urban drilling operations, which we found to be consistently polluting methane and VOC emissions just hundreds of feets from school and daycares, and acquiring new assets that will likely grow their carbon footprint despite claims to do the opposite.
The Bottom Line
Our best science tells us that we must cut greenhouse gas emissions in half by the end of the decade. While many of these companies were eager to sing their own praises and stand in the spotlight with voluntary commitments and press releases, none of them have followed through on those commitments. And action is all that matters.
Though they would like you to believe differently, Big Oil’s business model remains largely the same. If they were serious about acting on climate they wouldn’t wait for these legal battles to play out or for methane rules to kick in – they would take immediate action to cut methane emissions throughout the supply chain (not just from their wells) and defend the EPA’s methane rules against legal battles designed to delay vital methane action.
Every delay and each excuse for inaction adds to the indictment of these oil & gas companies. If they will not sincerely partner in solving the problem with the urgency that is demanded, they must lose their seats at the table – where real solutions mean real improvement in the lives of frontline communities and our climate.
The post Big Oil’s Silence Says It All appeared first on Earthworks.
Sign-on to Support a PRT Bus Line Redesign that Works for All! // ¡Regístrate y apoya un transporte público para todos!
Whether you live in McKeesport or McKees Rocks, the Hill District or the South Hills, our public transit system needs to work for everyone. // Ya sea que viva en McKeesport o McKees Rocks, Hill District o South Hills, nuestro sistema de transporte público debe funcionar para todos.
PRT has proposed changes to nearly every route, stop, every schedule. These are the most substantial changes proposed in our lifetime. Tens of thousands of people who use the system every day will be impacted. Some communities will get cut out from service, while others will receive new access. With changes this big, it is critical that PRT do deep and sustained public outreach and have a process for incorporating what people say. // El nuevo plan de PRT propone cambios en casi todas las rutas, paradas y horarios. Estos cambios afectarán a usuarios y trabajadores del transporte por todos los lados del condado. Algunas comunidades quedarán excluidas del servicio, mientras que otras recibirán nuevo acceso. Con cambios tan grandes, es fundamental que PRT haga una difusión pública profunda y sostenida y tenga un proceso para incorporar lo que dice la gente.
When it comes to the Bus Line Redesign, transit advocates believe that: // Cuando se trata del rediseño del red de autobuses, los defensores del transporte público creen que:- The Bus Line Redesign should increase ridership and minimize disruption to current riders. // El rediseño del red de autobuses debería aumentar el número de pasajeros y minimizar las interrupciones a los pasajeros actuales
- The Bus Line Redesign should make more key destinations like food, healthcare, jobs and schools accessible with faster, more reliable and direct trips. // El rediseño del red de autobuses debería hacer que más destinos clave como alimentos, atención médica, trabajos y escuelas sean accesibles con viajes más rápidos, más confiables y directos.
- The Bus Line Redesign should prioritize service to low-income communities, older adults and people with disabilities, youth, and Black and Brown riders. // El rediseño del red de autobuses debe priorizar el servicio a las comunidades de bajos ingresos, adultos mayores y personas con discapacidades, jóvenes y pasajeros negros y latinos.
- Slow down this process, and set ambitious, public goals about gathering target numbers of feedback by different demographics and regions. // Disminuya la velocidad de este proceso y establezca objetivos públicos ambiciosos para reunir cantidades determinadas de comentarios de diferentes grupos demográficos y regiones.
- Show us that our time and feedback matters! PRT must disclose how they will review and incorporate the feedback received. // ¡Demuéstrenos que nuestro tiempo y nuestros comentarios son importantes! PRT debe informar cómo revisará e incorporará los comentarios recibidos.
- Make all feedback publicly available along with regional and demographic data on responses. // Hacer que todos los comentarios estén disponibles públicamente junto con datos regionales y demográficos sobre las respuestas.
And check out this blog to learn more about the specifics of the Bus Line Redesign and share for feedback with advocates. // Consulte este blog para obtener más información sobre los detalles del rediseño del red de autobuses y compartir comentarios con los defensores.
The post Sign-on to Support a PRT Bus Line Redesign that Works for All! // ¡Regístrate y apoya un transporte público para todos! appeared first on Pittsburghers for Public Transit.
PPT Movie Night! Watch “Union” @ Harris Theater
Wednesday, October 23. 8-10pm
$10-$20, but no one turned away for lack of funds
Pittsburghers for Public Transit believes in the power of the people to do great things when we organize together! Come join your PPT fam at the Harris Theater to watch “UNION”. It’s an exciting new film about how Amazon workers at a Staten Island warehouse successfully organized 8,000 coworkers to win the first union at an Amazon facility in US history! We’ll get inspired together and also learn some lessons about what it takes to run winning campaigns.
Purchase your tickets below! No one turned away because of lack of funds. And if you’re able, please donate some extra to help another PPT member join us who might not have the funds to go!: What to expect: event & accessibility detailsDetails: The movie is being shown by the Pittsburgh Cultural Trust at the Harris Theater. PPT is purchasing a block of tickets for members to join in. The movie is scheduled to show at 8pm on October 23rd. It is 100 minutes long. Look for Dan in the lobby before the screening (white man with a mustache and yellow glasses). He can connect you with your tickets.
What to expect: This is a movie shown in a movie theater. Its dark. Talking is discouraged.
Food: Snacks, popcorn, and beverages can be purchased for full price at the concession stand
Accessibility: Location has accessible seating in the theater, and an accessible bathroom downstairs. You can see the Harris Theader’s accessibility info here.
Getting there: Many buses will bring you into downtown where it won’t be much more of a walk to get to the theater. Street parking and bike parking are available on surrounding blocks.
COVID procedures: This event is being held by the Pittsburgh Cultural Trust you can view their safety procedures on their website: https://trustarts.org/pct_home/visit/safety
The post PPT Movie Night! Watch “Union” @ Harris Theater appeared first on Pittsburghers for Public Transit.
Podcast Interview: “Tolstoy would shit II”
Please check out my newest interview about Queer Tolstoy: A Psychobiography. This past weekend, I was interviewed by Bill Weinberg of the CounterVortex about Tolstoy’s queer sexuality and anarcho-contradictory politics, vis-à-vis the history of the Tsarist Empire and the Russian Revolution and the ongoing Russo-Ukrainian War.
Feel free to listen to the interview on SoundCloud or Patreon, and please consider supporting the CounterVortex if you can. Thanks!
Researchers Parse the Future of Plankton in an Ever-Warmer World
Plankton form the base of the world’s food chain, but warmer and more acidic oceans are affecting their numbers and variety. Some species, which make for good fish food and carbon storage, are largely declining, while others are shifting their ranges and blooming times.
New report shows “catastrophic” loss of wildlife in the last 50 years
According to a new analysis, the world has lost a “catastrophic” 73 percent of wildlife populations in the past 50 years. The World Wildlife Fund (WWF) and the Zoological Society of London track over five thousand species of amphibians, birds, fish, mammals, and reptiles around the world through the Living Planet Index.
The database shows the alarming extent to which human activity is negatively impacting wildlife. “It really does indicate to us that the fabric of nature is unraveling,” Rebecca Shaw, WWF’s chief scientist said of the report’s findings. The report identifies the primary drivers of biodiversity declines as habitat loss (typically from farming, logging, building, producing energy and mining), hunting and fishing animals directly for food or other reasons, climate change, pollution, invasive species, and disease. “Wildlife population declines can lead to the loss of ecosystem function and ecosystem services to people such as carbon storage, water storage, clean air, clean water, pollination services and protection against storm surge and flooding, just to name a few,” said Shaw.
The report calls for renewed focus on and funding for existing international conservation goals, including conserving and protecting 30 percent of lands, oceans, coastal areas, and inland waters by 2030. Early in his term, President Joe Biden established a national goal of protecting 30 percent of America’s lands and waters. To learn more about the efforts underway to reach the 30×30 goal, please check out our Road to 30: Postcards campaign for examples of local and Indigenous-led conservation efforts from across the country.
By the numbers: Oil and gas companies aren’t that into UtahA new op-ed published in the Deseret News by Center for Western Priorities’ Communications Manager Kate Groetzinger digs into the data of what’s actually happening with oil and gas drilling on America’s public lands. Spoiler alert: claims made by the oil and gas industry that the Biden administration is trying to end drilling on public lands don’t add up. The reality shows that the industry is sitting on a stockpile of leases for over 23 million acres of public land, nearly half of which oil and gas companies have not yet tapped and are lying idle. In Utah, the industry is sitting on 1.3 million unused acres—more than half the total land under lease in the state.
Quick hits New report shows “catastrophic” loss of wildlife in the last 50 yearsWashington Post | New York Times | BBC News | Vox
Opinion: By the numbers: Oil and gas companies aren’t that into Utah public lands Wyoming lawmakers open the door for nuclear fuel waste storage Booming power demand is slowing utilities’ climate progress Idaho inmates work to restore sagebrush habitat following wildfires Public lands offer great dark skies to view Comet A3 this weekend BLM holds geothermal lease sale in Nevada Lightning strike explodes bald eagle nest Quote of the day[The Living Planet Report] shows us that we’re still not doing enough. The most important thing to understand is that unless we can save biodiversity there’s no way we can save humanity. People have accused me and other people of being alarmists. We are alarmists because we are alarmed.”
—Gerardo Ceballos, an ecologist at the National Autonomous University of Mexico (UNAM), Vox
Picture ThisThis is nuts!
As autumn arrives each year, acorn woodpeckers begin harvesting (you guessed it) acorns. The birds create holes in trees to store their bounty. The trees they use are called granary trees and may have up to 50,000 holes, each filled with an acorn.
Photo at @sequoiakingsnps by Steve Bumgardner
#birds #woodpecker #wildlife #usinterior
Featured image: Sonoran Desert Tortoise. Photo Credit: AZ Game & Fish
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Backing Petroleum: bp’s transition U-turn is bad for the climate and investors
This week, reports[i] have emerged of bp’s CEO Murray Auchincloss latest U-turn regarding bp’s transition strategy: the company has scrapped its previous relatively ambitious target of reducing oil and gas production by 25% by 2030 (vs 2019). Bp had made some headway towards this goal, which would have amounted to a reduction in volumes of 13% in 2030 compared to its output in 2022.
bp’s pivot will increase investors’ exposure to transition riskThe company’s return to its oil and gas roots will likely see the sanctioning of potentially large, high-cost projects – exactly the type which will put investor capital at risk. Bp recently sanctioned[ii] the massive Kaskida deepwater oil field in the Gulf of Mexico, which we highlighted in Paris Maligned II (Table 1) as the largest upcoming project at risk under a moderately paced transition (captured by the IEA’s APS/1.7˚C scenario).[iii] The company has also indicated that it will likely sanction Tiber in 2025, another deepwater oil field which we assess to be at risk under a moderate transition scenario.[iv] Reports this week indicate that bp is set on further expansion in the Middle East, with new production in Iraq[v] and potential re-developments of fields in Kuwait.
Despite what these sanctioning decisions would suggest, Auchincloss has been adamant that he “is not really thinking about production,” but rather about “cash flow and returns.”[vi] If this is the case, why is the company sanctioning new, high cost, long lifespan assets? Is investing in new, risky, long-term oil projects really the most prudent use of company cash flows, or should it instead be returned to shareholders? These are the sorts of questions which investors must ask in the face of this shift in strategy.
bp’s management has struggled to appease investors who remain bullish on oil and gas…The last two decades have seen bp struggle to carve out a decisive strategy for itself. Its early 2000s rebrand to “beyond petroleum” was reversed about a decade later. Bernard Looney, the last CEO, tried again, laying out a relatively ambitious transition strategy which incorporated cuts to oil and gas production and a renewed focus on renewable energy. Auchincloss appears to be orchestrating the company’s second strategic reversal: alongside the commitment to new oil and gas, the company is pressing pause on renewables, having sold off the US onshore wind business[vii] and paused new offshore wind projects.[viii]
It is fair to say that the markets have not rewarded oil and gas companies like bp who have pursued diversification away from oil and gas; they have arguably been even less keen on companies transitioning to renewables. Corporate leadership has struggled to balance competing expectations and sentiments their investor base, many of whom, particularly in North America, do not duly recognise the magnitude (or sometimes even the existence) of transition risk and thus have not rewarded companies like bp who plan for reduced production (Navigating Peak Demand explores this in more detail).
Yet despite decades of deliberation by oil and gas companies as to their role in the future energy system, the energy transition is accelerating at pace. In some respects, it appears that the decision has been made: the oil and gas industry accounts for only about 1% of global clean energy investment[ix] – even companies who wish to transition may well have missed the boat. What is imperative for the industry now is that companies protect shareholder returns as they continue to service a shrinking market; expanding production with new, risky endeavours is extremely unlikely to be in long-term interests of shareholders.
… though even this cohort should question the prudency of this pivotDetails of bp’s revised production strategy have yet to be announced, but the initial reports suggest that the company is shifting away from the more managed investment case that we have assessed bp to be following previously and towards one which of increasing oil and gas expansion (Figure 1).
Figure 1: Potential shift in bp’s upstream strategy
Sources: Carbon Tracker, exhibit first published in Navigating Peak Demand, bp Company Profile
This should give pause even to those who are bullish on the future of the Upstream industry: core company strategy is not easily reversible, especially in an extremely technical field like oil and gas. Under Looney, bp cut around 15% of its workforce, including a significant portion of its exploration team – geologists, engineers, and scientists – whose numbers fell to less than 100 from 700 in previous years.[x]
Investors must ask where the capabilities for these new exploration and development drives in Iraq, Kuwait and the Gulf will come from? Is this new expansionary strategy credible, particularly given bp’s chequered history on safety and operational performance? Will this strategy last, or does another u-turn await as market fundamentals increasingly recognise that oil demand is in permanent decline?
Investors with mandates to take climate impact into account will need to square this change with their portfolio targetsIn March, we published Paris Maligned II, which ranked the climate impact reduction plans (or ‘climate alignment’) of 25 of the world’s largest oil and gas companies. bp topped the ranking table as the only company to be graded a D, on a possible scale of A-H.
Full details of bp’s new production guidance have yet to be released, but if the company has pivoted to pursue growth, the impact on its score will be, needless to say, negative. The question remains – how negative? If it’s a short-term growth target, with intentions to hold production flat in the longer term, bp’s grade would fall from a D to an E (Figure 2). However, if its new guidance is for long term growth, then bp’s ranking would plummet to an F, landing it far below its European peers.
Figure 2: Combined alignment assessment (Scale from A-H); updated for potential BP guidance
Notes: exhibit first published in Paris Maligned II, see report for full methodology. If bp would target production growth in the short term and not disclose its long term (2030+) production plans (which would seem less likely as the company has historically published longer term guidance) it would receive a score of 1.
Once bp publishes their updated production guidance, investors with investment mandates related to climate change and/or portfolio decarbonisation targets will need to assess whether the company meets their inclusion criteria. Moreover, the move calls into question the credibility of the bp’s emissions targets. Reuters reports that “The company continues to target net zero emissions by 2050.”[xi] Investors engaging with bp will need to ask how this strategic change squares with this net zero ambition? Are the company’s 2030 emissions reduction target still remotely feasible? What changes will the company implement to ensure these targets are met?
Details will be become clearer at bp investor day next year, but for now we can say that the move is only likely to heighten the risks to the company’s investors and the climate.
[i] Story was reported by Reuters. It has not been confirmed by company at time of writing. https://www.reuters.com/business/energy/bp-drops-oil-output-target-strategy-reset-sources-say-2024-10-07/
[ii] https://www.bp.com/en/global/corporate/news-and-insights/press-releases/bp-gives-go-ahead-for-sixth-operated-hub-kaskida-in-the-us-gulf-of-mexico.html
[iii] https://www.iea.org/reports/the-oil-and-gas-industry-in-net-zero-transitions/executive-summary
[iv] https://www.bp.com/content/dam/bp/business-sites/en/global/corporate/pdfs/investors/bp-second-quarter-2024-results-qa-transcript.pdf
[v] https://www.bp.com/en/global/corporate/news-and-insights/press-releases/bp-and-iraq-agree-to-explore-redevelopment-in-kirkuk.html
[vi] https://www.bp.com/content/dam/bp/business-sites/en/global/corporate/pdfs/investors/bp-second-quarter-2024-results-qa-transcript.pdf p. 14
[vii] https://www.bp.com/en/global/corporate/news-and-insights/press-releases/bp-to-divest-operating-us-onshore-wind-business-as-it-focuses-onshore-renewables-in-lightsource-bp.html
[viii] https://www.reuters.com/business/energy/bp-halts-hiring-slows-renewables-roll-out-win-over-investors-2024-06-27/
[ix] https://www.iea.org/reports/the-oil-and-gas-industry-in-net-zero-transitions/executive-summary
[x] https://www.reuters.com/article/business/bps-oil-exploration-team-swept-aside-in-climate-revolution-idUSKBN29U00B/#:~:text=Its%20geologists%2C%20engineers%20and%20scientists,exploration%20team%20since%20Looney’s%20arrival.
[xi] https://www.reuters.com/business/energy/bp-drops-oil-output-target-strategy-reset-sources-say-2024-10-07/
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Despite solar surge, world off track for COP28 renewable energy target
The world is not yet doing enough to meet a goal to triple renewable energy capacity by 2030 despite “record” growth last year, the first official review of the global commitment made at the COP28 climate summit has warned.
Current national plans and targets would deliver only half of the required growth in renewable power by the end of the decade, according to an assessment by the International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA) released on Friday.
Except for solar power, planned capacity additions for all other renewable technologies are below the level required to meet the target of tripling renewables to 11.2 terawatts by the end of this decade. Without improvement, they would fall 34% short of that goal.
The world needs onshore wind to triple and offshore wind and geothermal to rise by six and almost 35 times respectively compared to their 2023 capacity, IRENA said.
“The grave reality is that the energy transition on current ambition is not on track and we are risking missing our goals,” said IRENA Director-General Francesco La Camera, launching the report on the sidelines of the Pre-COP meeting in Baku, Azerbaijan.
Insufficient growthAt COP28 in Dubai last year, nearly 200 countries committed to tripling renewable energy capacity and doubling energy efficiency by 2030 – in addition to “transitioning away from fossil fuels” in energy systems – in an effort to limit global warming to 1.5 degrees Celsius.
A “record” 473 gigawatts of renewable power capacity was added globally in 2023, but the growth rate remains insufficient and needs to climb to 16.4% a year to meet the 2030 target, IRENA’s report said.
Progress on structure for new global climate finance goal but trickier divides persist
The agency added that annual investments in renewables are just over a third of the $1.5 trillion needed each year until 2030, despite reaching a record high of $570 billion in 2023. It also highlighted that money is not flowing into all regions equally, with 84% of renewable capacity investments last year concentrated in China, the EU and the US alone.
“While the opportunity for smarter, greener growth has never been greater, unfortunately some parts of the world are missing out,” wrote COP28 President Sultan Al-Jaber in a foreword to the report. “Finance needs to be more available, accessible and affordable,” he added.
Cash to fuel ambitionCountries are expected to agree at COP29 in November on a new collective quantified goal (NCQG) for finance to help fund climate action in developing countries, but deep divisions persist on key issues with only one month to go until the start of the summit in Baku.
The outcome of the climate finance negotiations will likely impact the level of ambition on things like rolling out renewables which developing countries will commit to in their updated climate action plans (NDCs) due to be submitted by February 2025.
IRENA said in its report that the new NDCs must more than double existing renewable energy targets and better align with national energy plans to attract more investment from the private sector.
The agency also urged countries to fix barriers and bottlenecks slowing down progress, including overcoming inadequate infrastructure, fiscal policies and permitting delays.
UN approves carbon market safeguards to protect environment and human rights
Countries have also made little progress in boosting energy efficiency, which remained largely unchanged at an improvement rate of 2% last year. The rate needs to double to at least 4% annually through 2030 in order to meet the COP28 target, IRENA said.
Meeting that goal requires urgent actions and increasing electrification across all sectors, including personal and freight transport, buildings and industry, the report added.
“The next NDCs must mark a turning point and bring the world back on track,” said La Camera.
(Reporting by Matteo Civillini; editing by Megan Rowling)
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In Europe, Forest Shrubs Are Migrating Toward Pollution
While warming is pushing some European vegetation north, toward cooler weather, a new study finds that for many forest plants, there is a much greater pull westward. Researchers say these plants are chasing down nitrogen, a key nutrient supplied by pollution in Western Europe.
PUCO decision shows how its staff and utilities march in lockstep
The Aug. 21 Public Utilities Commission of Ohio ruling in favor of the subsidies to utilities authorized by the state’s HB 6 law showed just how closely the commission’s staff and the companies work together.
In five separate parts of the ruling, the commission cites how “staff and the companies” agreed to either strike testimony challenging the law that justified the ratepayer bailout of the money-losing coal plants examined by auditors, rule against challenges to payments to the companies or to justify above-market fuel costs subsidized by HB 6.
Ohio legislators passed HB 6 in 2019 after officials from FirstEnergy Corp. engineered a $61 million bribery campaign with former Ohio House speaker Larry Householder, who is now serving a 20-year sentence in federal prison. Another conspirator is serving five years in federal prison, while two others indicted in the scandal, lobbyist Neil Clark and former PUCO chairman Sam Randazzo, committed suicide before they could be charged.
HB 6 required PUCO to conduct periodic audits of the law to determine if the payments made to the Ohio Valley Electric Corp. and the consortium of utilities that share ownership of it were reasonable.
While auditors for London Economics International (LEI) found that OVEC’s two coal-fired plants had higher costs than other plants and that OVEC was overpaying for coal from one of its main suppliers, Resource Fuels, PUCO commissioners ruled that the law’s costs were reasonable.
Following staff’s leadCommission staffers recommended that testimony by utility analyst John Seryak that called HB 6 a corrupt law that was the result of bribery be stricken from the audit record. In October 2023, Seryak called the riders that paid OVEC’s owners “part and parcel of the corrupt House Bill 6 (HB6), which remains under investigation.”
Multiple court records show that HB 6 was the result of a massive bribery scheme that involved the former PUCO chairman, Randazzo, writing parts of the law to benefit FirstEnergy while Randazzo was supposed to be acting as a neutral energy industry regulator.
FirstEnergy also paid a $231 million fine and signed a federal deferred prosecution agreement acknowledging the role of its former CEO and his top deputy in the scheme to bribe Householder.
The PUCO ruling only refers to HB 6 by its title in the Ohio code – R.C. 4928.148, which means the casual reader has no sign that the corrupt law is part of the audit case.
Whitewashing excessive coal costsPUCO staffers and the utilities also agreed to excuse OVEC’s excessive payments for coal from Resource Fuels, whose owner Wayne Boich was one of the first donors to the fund used to bribe Householder.
“Staff argues that, in a prior case concerning Duke’s pre-LGR Rider mechanism, we rejected similar arguments concerning the very same Resource Fuels contract, finding that the differences in prices were attributable to higher quality coal and existing obligations, among other factors,” PUCO ruled.
However, federal records show that the coal OVEC bought from Resource Fuels came from the mine as another OVEC contract, which renders implausible claims that Resource Fuels’ coal was of higher quality.
Checks & Balances Project reported last year that federal contract records show that Resource Fuels made $12.6 million more for the coal it sold OVEC in 2020 than another company, Alliance Coal, made for selling coal from the same mine.
Resource Fuels’ identity was redacted from the original public version of the LEI audit at the request of the utilities, even though records kept by the federal Energy Information Administration showed the company’s name and how much OVEC paid it for coal.
PUCO staff recommended the commission grant a sweeping protective order that hid information in the audit, even though much of that information was already public.
The utilities that share ownership of OVEC, also known as the sponsoring companies, had claimed they needed the order to protect trade secrets. After C&BP sought the names of the staff members who recommended approving the order, PUCO refused to disclose them and claimed no communications existed about the recommendation.
Ray Locker is the executive director for Checks & Balances Project, an investigative watchdog blog holding government officials, lobbyists, and corporate management accountable to the public. Funding for C&BP is provided by Renew American Prosperity and individual donors.
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Six reasons to be hopeful about the future of renewable energy
The future of renewable energy is looking more promising than ever before. The past year of 2023 was ripe with great progress in the renewable energy sector, bringing us even closer to a world where every person can have access to 100% safe, affordable and reliable energy. Wonder why I’m saying that? Check out REN21’s Renewables in Energy Supply Module of the Renewables 2024 Global Status Report.
From record-breaking investments to governments embracing solar and wind energy, let’s break down the report to see the ongoing positive developments in the renewables sector:
1. More money is going into renewablesThe world is investing more in renewable energy than ever before, especially in solar and wind power. In 2023, a record-breaking USD$622.5 billion was invested in renewables!
Most of this money went into solar panels and wind farms, with a 70% increase in tech investments like batteries (for energy storage) and solar panels. In fact, renewable power installations attracted far more investment than fossil fuel power plants did in 2023.
China is leading the charge in this trend, contributing 44% of global renewable energy investments. This is followed by Europe at 20.9% and the U.S. at 15%. Sadly, Africa and the Middle East only got 3.6% of these investments. It’s obvious there’s more work to be done in those regions.
2. Renewable energy is powering more and more of the worldAll in all, renewable power capacity grew by 54% just within a year. Renewable energy generated an impressive 30% of the world’s electricity in 2023 which is a MASSIVE increase from just 21.7% in 2013. In fact, three regions in the world now have more than 35% renewable electricity in their power sector: Latin America and the Caribbean, Oceania, and Europe.
Renewables also made up 10% of heat, and 3.5% of fuels which are the other important components through which energy is supplied.
About 536 gigawatts (GW)* of new renewable power was added, with solar power (407 GW) and wind power (117 GW) making up the biggest chunk or nearly 98% of these additions. All these ever-increasing shares show how renewables are becoming essential in meeting global energy needs and replacing dirty energy sources like fossil fuels.
*In case you are wondering what gigawatts are, a watt is a measure of power and there are 1 billion watts in 1 GW, which is enough power to light 100 million LED light bulbs.
3. Countries are bettering their renewable energy targetsMany countries updated their renewable energy goals, pushing for more renewable energy solutions. By the end of the year, 182 countries had set targets across different renewables sectors and technologies. Even better, 90 countries now have national goals, and seven are aiming for 100% renewable energy!
Countries’ governments are making it easier to move to renewables, too. In 2023, 20 countries introduced or updated financial policies like tax credits, grants, and subsidies to support renewable projects. For example, India rolled out new grants in early 2024 to help people buy small solar systems, while Indonesia set aside $6 million to boost rooftop solar power. Canada also introduced tax credits for cleaner tech investments, and in the U.S., 39 states now have clean energy standards, with 17 targeting 100% renewable electricity by 2050.
While governments still have a lot of work to do, especially in making sure that they walk the talk in meeting their ambitious goals and implementing climate solutions responsibly, renewable energy is definitely becoming the new normal.
4. Solar & wind energy will become even more widespread in the coming yearsSolar energy is growing like never before as it becomes cheaper each year – which means regular people will also get access to producing their own energy! Since 2018, the rooftop solar market has been steadily expanding, and in 2023, a record-breaking 180 gigawatts (GW) of new solar installations were added. Solar panel costs have sharply decreased just in the last year making it 56% cheaper than fossil fuels & nuclear. Both homes and businesses are increasingly turning to solar because it’s more affordable and easier to install. With the costs of solar panels likely continue to drop further in the coming years, more people, including local communities will turn to solar for their energy needs.
Another source of renewable energy on the rise is wind energy. Wind power is not only cleaner than most existing energy sources, but it’s also one of the most cost-effective energy sources out there. Many countries are increasing their wind power targets to tackle the climate crisis, boost energy security, and drive economic growth. These developments mean that wind energy will be adopted more and more in the near future.
5. Renewables are creating more & equitable jobsRenewables are not only driving job growth but also reducing gender inequality by offering more opportunities for women in both employment and entrepreneurship.
Solar energy sector alone is creating an impressive number of jobs. In 2023, it created an estimated 2.2 million jobs to a total of 7.1 million jobs, mostly in construction and manufacturing. What’s even better is that 40% of these jobs were held by women. This is a much higher percentage than the number of women employed by the fossil fuel industry!
The renewable energy sector will also see substantial job growth in the coming years, as a result of national and regional policies aimed at combating climate change by promoting renewable energy. In the United States, the Inflation Reduction Act of 2022 is projected to create nearly 5 million jobs in renewables. Similarly, Canada’s climate law is expected to boost the sector by almost 50% by 2030, reaching around 640,000 jobs. In Europe, the REPowerEU plan will generate an estimated 3.5 million jobs between 2022 and 2030. Meanwhile, South Africa anticipates 462,000 new jobs in renewable energy from 2017 to 2025. For the latest facts & figures on economic and social benefits that renewables are bringing, check out the Economic and Social Value Creation Module of the Renewables 2024 Global Status Report which comes out in November!
6. We still have time to meet global energy targetsAt COP28 in Dubai, governments agreed on a big goal: triple renewable energy capacity and double energy efficiency by 2030. While we’ve made great progress, we’re not quite there yet. Right now, we’re on track to add 8,000 gigawatts of renewable energy, but we need to hit 11,000 GW by 2030 to meet the COP28 goal. The good news? There’s still time to catch up!
As part of the international climate treaty, the Paris Agreement, countries are required to update their climate action plans, known as Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs), every five years. As of early 2023, only 14 countries had clear renewable energy targets for 2030 in their NDCs. Together, these commitments only add up to 1,300 GW—so there’s plenty of room to aim higher and push harder. The next round of updating is due soon (in early 2025) which means there’s a huge opportunity to step up and make stronger commitments, and we are demanding that countries do so!
The renewable energy revolution is well underway, with solar and wind leading the charge. To continue transforming global energy systems, we should expand our focus to include heating, fuels, and other proven renewable technologies. We must also continue to urge our leaders to take stronger climate action now. Let’s leverage this momentum in the renewables sector to secure a sustainable energy future for generations to come!
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Joanna Zhang: Water is life, everywhere
Joanna Zhang, WildEarth Guardians’ new Endangered Species Advocate, embodies what it means to be a Voice for the Voiceless. With a global perspective shaped by her international experiences, Joanna’s belief in the interconnectedness of all life grounds her deep commitment to protecting vulnerable wildlife across the West.
Global insightsJoanna grew up in Missouri. As a child, she preferred Animal Planet and Discovery Channel documentaries to kids cartoons, which sparked her lifelong love for animals. After dabbling in medicine and engineering, Joanna found her niche in the Ecology and Evolutionary Biology program during her undergraduate studies at Princeton University.
It was during a transformative semester abroad in Kenya that Joanna’s passion for conservation took flight. She traveled across several different conservation areas and nature reserves studying large landscape conservation, sustainable development, and the livestock-wildlife conflicts that arise in the Kenyan highlands. This hands-on experience provided Joanna with valuable insights into the complex dynamics between human communities and wildlife, and the need for local communities to be empowered in their own conservation efforts.
Joanna’s conservation education spanned multiple continents, with enlightening experiences in Kenya, Spain, Peru, China, Bears Ears National Monument, and many more. Once back in the States, Joanna dedicated several months to poking around the West – hiking, climbing, running, and exploring her way from the desert Southwest to the High Sierras to the Pacific Northwest. After her time abroad, Joanna was eager to forge conservation solutions on her home turf – and it didn’t hurt that moving West would mean Joanna could enjoy unparalleled access to wild nature.
“We have to advocate for the needs of species that are often overlooked, ensuring they have the opportunity to thrive,” Joanna said.
A champion for wildlifeAfter spending over a year working in WildEarth Guardians’ Wild Rivers Program, Joanna’s love for wildlife inspired her to take on a new role as the organization’s Endangered Species Advocate. In this role, she hopes to give a voice to those who can’t speak for themselves and realize a positive vision for wildlife in the West.
In particular, Joanna is excited to launch a new campaign to protect riparian and aquatic species in the Southwest. “Many species that once thrived in the Southwest are now imperiled or entirely absent due to how we’ve managed our rivers,” Joanna shared. With projections indicating that New Mexico could see a 25% reduction in water availability by 2050, Joanna recognizes the urgent need to ensure the survival of wildlife and plant species that co-evolved with the essential rivers that are now drying and dying.
Take the survey! We’re expanding our Endangered Species protection campaign and we want your input.Drawing from her understanding of the delicate balance in desert ecosystems, Joanna emphasizes, “Water is life everywhere, but in a water-limited ecosystem, that importance is amplified.” This campaign not only advocates for endangered species but also promotes the restoration and recovery of critical habitats. She envisions using species as ambassadors for their ecosystems, highlighting the need for a collective vision of healing the landscapes that support both wildlife and people.
The campaign will spotlight charismatic species like the river otter and the San Juan cutthroat trout, as well as lesser-known aquatic organisms such as the White Sands pupfish and the Pecos springsnail. “These unique species are adapted to specific microclimates and face immense threats due to their isolated populations,” she said. “Losing even one population could mean losing the species altogether.”
Joanna’s unwavering commitment to conservation is fueled by her belief that every species, no matter how small, unusual, or seemingly insignificant, has a vital role in our world. Through her advocacy, Joanna aims to create a future where both wildlife and human communities can thrive together. “We have a unique opportunity to heal these landscapes and restore their ecological integrity as we rethink the last century of mismanagement and poor stewardship,” she said. With her expertise and passion for endangered species, Joanna Zhang is poised to make a meaningful impact at WildEarth Guardians, leading initiatives that honor and protect the diverse life forms that share our planet.
Inspired by adventureBeyond her accomplishments as a conservationist, Joanna is an avid adventurer. Whether she’s rock climbing, trail running, rafting, or skiing, she finds peace and inspiration in the landscapes she seeks to protect. She also enjoys painting and reading, ideally with her dog Aki by her side. “One of the most beautiful parts of spending time outdoors is sharing space with other species,” Joanna says. “It reminds me why this work is so important.”
Joanna finds her inspiration in the grandeur of places like the Grand Canyon and the High Sierras, where the vastness of the landscape can make anyone feel small in the most comforting way. “It’s like when you look at a really starry night; it feels good to be that small,” she reflects. She appreciates how these landscapes exist outside the constraints of daily life, encouraging introspection and reflection.
Read more about Joanna’s raft trip down the Colorado River.
Joanna also finds hope in the adaptability of animals and their remarkable resilience in the face of change. She marvels at how peregrine falcons can shift their hunting strategies, diving from city skyscrapers just as they would from trees. “Animals are really complex and they can absorb a lot of chaos,” she said, recognizing that the natural world has an incredible capacity to adapt to new challenges. This adaptability gives Joanna hope in the fight for conservation.
Joanna’s compassionate approach to conservation and dogged dedication to the West make her a vital part of the WildEarth Guardians Wildlife team. Her unwavering commitment to protecting endangered species and her belief in the interconnectedness of life inspires all of us at WildEarth Guardians to do our part to safeguard the planet’s biodiversity.
Let Joanna’s story inspire you to advocate for the voiceless and nurture your connection to the Wild.
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Glencore backs down on monster HVO coal mine expansion
Glencore and Yancoal have withdrawn the largest coal mining project ever proposed in NSW from consideration under Federal environment law, in a move that could prevent more than one billion tonnes of greenhouse gas emissions being released into the atmosphere.
How climate, crowds, and colonialism are complicating the concept of Wilderness
Kate and guest host Sterling are joined by journalist and producer Marissa Ortega-Welch to talk about her new podcast series, How Wild, which was recently released by KALW and distributed by NPR. The podcast explores how the concept of capital W wilderness is changing due to climate change, technology, crowding, and shifting views on colonialism.
News- Leaked recordings detail a major environmental agency quietly gutting its workforce – Vox
- New Federal Rules Aim to End Tax Confusion for Tribally Owned Businesses, Boost Clean Energy Projects – Native News Online
Hosts: Kate Groetzinger & Aaron Weiss
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Featured image: Eagles Nest Wilderness Area, near Vail; Source: PDTillman/Wikimedia Commons
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