Archive for July 2021
County in Washington State First in U.S. To Ban New Fossil Fuel Infrastructure
A county in Washington state has become the first such jurisdiction in the United States to ban new fossil fuel infrastructure, following a lengthy battle over the impact of oil refineries on the local community.
Read MoreThe Race for EV Parts Leads to Risky Deep-Ocean Mining
The electric vehicle boom is driving a surge in demand for prized metals needed for batteries and other components. Some companies say the solution lies in mining the deep oceans, but scientists say that could irreversibly damage a vast, largely pristine ecosystem.
Read MoreJust 5 Percent of Electric Plants Responsible for 73 percent of Power Sector Emissions
NASA Celebrates National Intern Day 2021
NASA will host a variety of events and interactive opportunities celebrating the agency’s interns and their contributions to its missions in recognition of National Intern Day, held this year on Thursday, July 29.
Read MoreCan Retrofitting Dams for Hydro Provide a Green Energy Boost?
With the era of building big dams over in the U.S., a growing number of existing dams are being modified to produce hydropower. These projects, advocates say, avoid the damaging impacts of new dams and could generate enough renewable electricity for several million homes.
Read MoreIn Namibia, Rhino and Elephant Poaching Continues to Decline
Rhino and elephant poaching is significantly down in Namibia, according to data from the country’s Ministry of Environment and Tourism. So far in 2021, hunters have illegally killed nine rhinos, an eight-year low, and four elephants, a five-year low, Reuters reported.
Read MoreU.S. Power Sector Sees Biggest One-Year Drop in Emissions in More Than Two Decades
U.S. power sector emissions dropped 10 percent between 2019 and 2020, owing to greater energy efficiency, less reliance on coal, and the coronavirus pandemic suppressing demand for electricity, according to a new report. This represents the largest one-year drop since the report — compiled by power companies Entergy and Exelon, Bank of America, and environmental groups Ceres and the Natural Resources Defense Council — first began being published in 1997.
Read MoreClimate Change Responsible for Recent Decline of Eastern Monarch Butterflies
Land Grabbers: The Growing Assault on Brazil’s Indigenous Areas
Under President Jair Bolsonaro, illegal miners, loggers and ranchers are invading and occupying ever-larger amounts of Indigenous territory. Brazil’s original inhabitants are increasingly opposing these incursions, leading to conflicts and a surge in killings of local activists.
Read MoreSeries of Rare Arctic Thunderstorms Stuns Scientists
Three successive thunderstorms formed in the Arctic last week, a rare phenomenon in the frigid north, but one that is likely to become more common as the planet warms, Reuters reported.
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