UK Environmental Agency Post-Covid Recovery Plan
This Action Plan sets out how we will build on our past achievements to accelerate to a fair, green and just recovery.
Free produce and less waste: Hundreds fill their bags in a ‘Fruit-Share’
https://www.latimes.com/food/story/2020-07-14/over-1-000-join-in-las-first-citywide-fruit-exchange
Chocolate is good for the heart
https://www.escardio.org/The-ESC/Press-Office/Press-releases/Chocolate-is-good-for-the-heart
What Happens in Vegas, May Come From the Arctic?
New study from UNLV climate scientist Matthew
Lachniet links Arctic and tropical Pacific warming to
ancient climate records, providing parallels to today.
https://www.unlv.edu/news/release/what-happens-vegas-may-come-arctic
Covid-19 shutdown led to increased solar power output
As the air cleared after lockdowns, solar installations in Delhi produced 8 percent more power, study shows.
http://news.mit.edu/2020/covid-19-solar-output-smog-0722
2030 vision
New technology makes homes more energy independent,
helps divert power during blackouts
Unpacking Apple’s mammoth carbon neutral commitment and its new environmental vision
All 99 pages of it…
https://www.imore.com/unpacking-apples-mammoth-carbon-neutral-commitment-and-its-environmental-vision
Sierra Club apologizes for racist views of ‘father of national parks’ John Muir
Muir, who helped spawn the environmental movement, made derogatory comments about Black and Indigenous people
Solving the Climate Crisis: The Congressional Action Plan for a Clean Energy Economy and a Healthy and Just America
https://climatecrisis.house.gov/report
Face the Climate Emergency
https://climateemergencyeu.org/
Audi and EnBW to set up electric car batteries operation
https://speedlux.com/audi-and-enbw-to-set-up-electric-car-batteries-operation/
McDonald’s Unveils a Net Zero Energy Restaurant (But Stumbles on Other Initiatives to Reduce Its Carbon Footprint)
Humanity is an Endangered Species.
Can We Do What it Takes to Save Ourselves?
https://historynewsnetwork.org/article/176329
Coal power should be relegated to the ash heap of history
https://davidsuzuki.org/story/coal-power-should-be-relegated-to-the-ash-heap-of-history/
How well do you know your bumblebees?
https://www.abdn.ac.uk/news/14201/
Food Companies Step Up Funding for Organic Farming Research
Clif Bar, King Arthur Flour, Organic Valley, and others are providing university endowments to counter a system stacked in favor of conventional agriculture.
https://civileats.com/2020/07/13/food-companies-step-up-funding-for-organic-farming-research/
Investors say agroforestry isn’t just climate friendly — it’s also profitable
COVID-19 HAS CLAIMED A NEW VICTIM IN YOUR CITY: RECYCLING PROGRAMS
Why insectary habitats are key in organic agriculture
German recyclers predict tough situation for recycled plastics
BVSE, a Germany-based trade group, estimates that demand for recycled plastics will be tough in the coming months.
https://www.recyclingtoday.com/article/bvse-predicts-tough-economic-situation-recycled-plastics/
Breaking the Plastic Wave:
Top Findings for Preventing Plastic Pollution
First-of-its-kind modeling analysis describes actions needed to stop plastic from entering the ocean
https://www.pewtrusts.org/en/research-and-analysis/articles/2020/07/23/breaking-the-plastic-wave-top-findings
AND
Study confirms need for urgent transition to a circular economy for plastic
https://www.ellenmacarthurfoundation.org/news/new-study-confirms-need-for-urgent-transition-to-a-circular-economy-for-plastic
COVID-19 is laying waste to many US recycling programs
https://theconversation.com/covid-19-is-laying-waste-to-many-us-recycling-programs-139733
Plastic Free July – there are alternatives to single use packaging
https://balkangreenenergynews.com/plastic-free-july-there-are-alternatives-to-single-use-packaging/
The Life of Plastic Packaging
Atmospheric transport is a major pathway of microplastics to remote regions
https://www.nature.com/articles/s41467-020-17201-9
Research: Crop plants are taking up microplastics
https://phys.org/news/2020-07-crop-microplastics.html
CO2
https://pubs.spe.org/en/jpt/jpt-article-detail/?art=7224
The end of the Arab world’s oil age is nigh:
Pain will be felt across the region
Decarbonize and diversify | MIT News
http://news.mit.edu/2020/decarbonize-and-diversify-0715
Life-Cycle Assessments of Plastic Products Have Blind Spots
Are our oceans more polluted because of coronavirus?
Perspective: Pandemic plastic problem needs a significant solution
Closed Loop Partners receives $54M investment over 5 years
The additional investments will support new recycling infrastructure in North America.
AND
https://resource-recycling.com/plastics/2020/07/01/brands-renew-closed-loop-funding-for-five-years/
Netherlands launches packaging waste campaign with manufacturers
Under these agreements, the Netherlands is targeting
to make 74% of all packaging materials recycled and/or re-used.
https://www.packaging-gateway.com/news/netherland-waste-packaging-campaign/
Coronavirus will change global economy profoundly, says ECB
It is now estimated that the crisis will lead to a contraction of about 35% in supply chains, and an increase of about 70% to 75% in robotisation, Lagarde said.
Plastic recycling from Europe is being dumped in Asian waters
Up to 31 percent of plastic exported for recycling not recycled at all
https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2020/06/200630103603.htm
Amazon Launches US$2 Billion Climate Pledge Fund Amid Reputation Crisis
AND
https://www.waste360.com/sustainability/amazon-committed-sustainability
Why America’s Schools Are Turning Into Solar Power Stations
Schools across the country are saving money and shining a light on solar electricity.
Is the world’s shift towards sustainability sustainable?
With threats like climate change, pollution, and deforestation menacing the world, long-term solutions like sustainable development are to be applied.
https://stepfeed.com/is-the-world-s-shift-towards-sustainability-sustainable-5078
How does Ridesourcing Substitute for Public Transit Network?
https://smart.mit.edu/news-events/news/how-does-ridesourcing-substitute-for-public-transit-network
The Pandemic And The Perilous Return Of Plastic
https://worldcrunch.com/coronavirus/the-pandemic-and-the-perilous-return-of-plastic
Preventing the next pandemic: Zoonotic diseases and how to break the chain of transmission
https://cgspace.cgiar.org/handle/10568/108707
A team of Carnegie Mellon researchers found that Pittsburgh’s air
pollution levels decreased during the stay-at-home order—but the overall
impact remains small.
https://engineering.cmu.edu/news-events/news/2020/07/09-covid-pollution.html
CO2 levels in Earth’s atmosphere will be higher than at any time in the last 3.3 million years by 2025
https://www.southampton.ac.uk/news/2020/07/co2-levels-rise-2025.page
Epidemiologists highlighted the dangers of Covid-19 in its early stages,
but their warnings went largely ignored until rising infection rates
forced policymakers to take action.
Basel study: Why lopinavir and hydroxychloroquine do not work on Covid-19
Breaking down ocean polystyrene – Pollution on a global scale
https://www.fauna-flora.org/news/breaking-ocean-polystyrene-pollution-global-scale
Agro-imperialism in the time of Covid-19
https://grain.org/en/article/6502-agro-imperialism-in-the-time-of-covid-19
Richard Heinberg and Helena Norberg-Hodge in Conversation
General Mills pilots regenerative agriculture project for dairy farms
Regenerative practices require a holistic approach to managing land, cows and manure, but they benefit the ecosystem and help mitigate climate change.
https://www.newhope.com/news/general-mills-pilots-regenerative-agriculture-project-dairy-farms
Should No-Till Farming Be Adopted by All to Help the Earth?
New method estimates risks of hormone-disrupting substances in drinking water
https://news.ki.se/new-method-estimates-risks-of-hormone-disrupting-substances-in-drinking-water
Unregulated, “Shocking” and Destructive Levels of Pesticide Mixtures Found in Waterways
On being a small family farmer during a pandemic
Kim Denney bought a farm as a single mom with two young kids. Now Hardwick’s Chestnut Farms is a pioneer meat CSA in Massachusetts.
https://www.bostonglobe.com/2020/07/14/lifestyle/being-small-family-farmer-during-pandemic/
California Condors Spotted in Sequoia National Park, First Time in Nearly Half a Century
National Park Service and U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service working together to support birds’ recovery
https://www.nps.gov/seki/learn/news/condors-land-in-sequoia-national-park.htm
Nature provides a myriad of ways to keep check on its health. One of the
more successful indicators is the status of its soil organic carbon, or
the concentration of carbon in the organic fraction of soil that
consists of decaying vegetation or animal products. A small change in
carbon levels can dramatically alter atmospheric carbon concentrations
and affect climate.
Native bees also facing novel pandemic
https://www.colorado.edu/today/2020/07/09/native-bees-also-facing-novel-pandemic
Texas A&M Study: Texas Will Face Driest Conditions Of The Last 1,000 Years
The report says the state will be facing hotter and drier conditions for decades to come, especially in West Texas.
How to Tackle Climate Change, Food Security and Land Degradation
https://www.rutgers.edu/news/how-tackle-climate-change-food-security-and-land-degradation
Tree Rings Show Unprecedented Rise in Extreme Weather in South America
Newly Comprehensive Continental Drought Atlas Covers Last 600 Years
Climate change forces farmers to pick low yields or instability
Alarming long-term effects of insecticides weaken ant colonies
Leave-No-Trace-Friendly Trail Grub
Five brands making sustainably packaged hiking food
https://www.sierraclub.org/sierra/leave-no-trace-friendly-trail-grub
Your View by Rodale Institute CEO: Organic foods can help prevent lifestyle diseases
Potential for large-scale CO2 removal via enhanced rock weathering with croplands
The new research, carried out by scientists at the University of Sheffield’s Leverhulme Centre for Climate Change Mitigation and the school’s Energy Institute, looked into a particular technique known as enhanced rock weathering, which involves spreading out finely crushed basalt, a natural volcanic rock, on farmlands to boost the soil’s ability to pull CO2 from the air.
https://www.nature.com/articles/s41586-020-2448-9
Solar assisted heating networks reduce environmental impact and energy consumption
These installations centralize large scale heating and the
production of hot water. One study led by researchers from the URV has
created a diagnostic tool that uses artificial intelligence to
demonstrate the feasibility of these systems
On the road to non-toxic and stable perovskite solar cells
https://www.helmholtz-berlin.de/pubbin/news_seite?nid=21321;sprache=en
New solar forecasting model performs best
https://www.uu.se/en/news-media/news/article/?id=15066&typ=artikel&lang=en
As the Arctic burns, Trump bailouts fossil fuel industry with billions
Beavers gnawing away at the permafrost
The large rodents are massively changing landscapes in the Arctic,
which could have serious consequences for the frozen soils and our future climate.
A mosquito species new to Finland discovered which potentially could transmit malaria
In the Arctic, Spring Snowmelt Triggers Fresh CO2 Production
The Arctic is warming faster than the rest of the world and snowmelt is speeding it up with rapid soil warming and increased CO2 in the air.
https://newscenter.sdsu.edu/sdsu_newscenter/news_story.aspx
Arctic Ocean changes driven by sub-Arctic seas
https://news.uaf.edu/arctic-ocean-changes-driven-by-sub-arctic-seas/
A ‘regime shift’ is happening in the Arctic Ocean, Stanford scientists say.
Stanford scientists find the growth of phytoplankton in the Arctic Ocean has
increased 57 percent over just two decades, enhancing its ability to
soak up carbon dioxide. While once linked to melting sea ice, the
increase is now propelled by rising concentrations of tiny algae.
https://news.stanford.edu/2020/07/09/regime-shift-happening-arctic-ocean/
Ocean Acidification and Human Health
While ocean acidification was initially
perceived as a threat only to the marine realm, the authors of a new
publication argue that it is also an emerging human health issue.
https://www.niva.no/en/publications/ocean-acidification-and-human-health
Recent Developments in Ecuador: Rights of Nature
The Constitutional Court selects cases to develop
the “content” of the legal rights of nature.
The Myth of America’s Green Growth
A celebrated new book shows U.S. capitalism doesn’t need to damage the planet.
One problem: Its data is flawed.
https://foreignpolicy.com/2020/06/18/more-from-less-green-growth-environment-gdp/
Pandemic Response Requires Post-Growth Economic Thinking
https://richardheinberg.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/museletter-326.pdf
Why We Need Leadership From E-Commerce And Retail To Solve The Plastic Pollution Crisis
Sustainability Is Good For Business, New Survey Finds
https://sgbonline.com/sustainability-is-good-for-business-new-survey-finds/
Waste and Opportunity 2020:
Searching for Corporate Leadership
https://www.asyousow.org/report-page/waste-and-opportunity-2020-searching-corporate-leadership
Tesco unveils ‘groundbreaking’ shopping platform that lets customers send back all packaging to be reused
Household-name brands including Heinz, Coca-Cola, Brewdog, Nivea and Persil have all signed up to the scheme, which sees products delivered to customers’ doors in durable containers that are then collected, cleaned and sent out again
ThredUp and Frame Partner on Upcycle Program Promoting Circularity
‘There’s no future in finding value only in the new’
https://www.independent.ie/life/theres-no-future-in-finding-value-only-in-the-new-39366281.html
More flowers and pollinator diversity could help protect bees from parasites
https://www.imperial.ac.uk/news/199873/more-flowers-pollinator-diversity-could-help/
Tulane scientists build high-performing hybrid solar energy converter
https://news.tulane.edu/pr/tulane-scientists-build-high-performing-hybrid-solar-energy-converter
Pesticides speed the spread of deadly waterborne pathogens
https://news.berkeley.edu/2020/07/17/pesticides-speed-the-spread-of-deadly-waterborne-pathogens/
‘Biggest Little Farm’ director on farming with nature, not against it
https://mashable.com/article/what-is-regenerative-agriculture/
Regenerative Ag: Healing the Planet with Hemp
Alaska is getting wetter. That’s bad news for permafrost and the climate.
Expand conserved areas to boost global economy ravaged by COVID-19: Report
The climate crisis and threats against land and environmental defenders
Our annual report into the killings of land and environmental defenders in 2019 shows the highest number yet have been murdered in a single year. 212 land and environmental defenders were killed in 2019 – an average of more than four people a week.
https://www.globalwitness.org/en/campaigns/environmental-activists/defending-tomorrow/
Mobilizing for a zero carbon America:
Jobs, jobs, jobs, and more jobs
A Jobs and Employment Study Report
https://static1.squarespace.com/static/5e540e7fb9d1816038da0314/t/5f209173294b6f5ee41ea278/1595969952405/Jobs_White_Paper_Compressed_Release.pdf
Loss of bees causes shortage of key food crops, study finds
– Apple and cherry production hampered by lack of wild bees
– Bees affected by loss of habitat, pesticides and climate crisis
https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2020/jul/29/bees-food-crops-shortage-study
Climate explained: are we doomed if we don’t manage to curb emissions by 2030?
https://theconversation.com/climate-explained-are-we-doomed-if-we-dont-manage-to-curb-emissions-by-2030-143526
Ocean Climate Action Plan (OCAP)
“Blue New Deal”
A Policy Framework for Developing the
US Blue Economy in the 21st Century
https://www.middlebury.edu/institute/sites/www.middlebury.edu.institute/files/2020-07/OCAP%20Final%20Report%20July%202020.pdf
Climate economics support for the UN climate targets
https://www.nature.com/articles/s41558-020-0833-x
United Nations: Climate-Friendly Cooling Could Massively Cut Greenhouse Gas Emissions and Save $ Trillions
https://scitechdaily.com/united-nations-climate-griendly-cooling-could-massively-cut-greenhouse-gas-emissions-and-save-trillions/
Preserving Ethiopia’s coffee and forests for a sustainable future
Ethiopia is the only place in the world where coffee grows wild,
protected by the canopy of the mountain forests
https://www.hud.ac.uk/news/2020/july/preserving-ethiopia-coffee-and-forests/
New soil models may ease atmospheric CO2, climate change
To remove carbon dioxide from the Earth’s atmosphere in an effort to slow climate change, scientists must get their hands dirty and peek underground.
https://news.cornell.edu/stories/2020/07/new-soil-models-may-ease-atmospheric-co2-climate-change
REGENERATIVE AGRICULTURE
Four billion acres of farmland, ready to capture carbon.
Today regenerative agriculture depends on Roundup and other chemicals to scale.
Consumers want food that is sustainably grown and free of chemicals.
Greenfield Robotics enables carbon farming to scale without chemicals.
We plan to realign the interests of farmers and consumers with a food system that is economical and sustainable.
https://www.greenfieldrobotics.com/
Will No-Till Farming Transform Agriculture’s Impact on Climate Change?
Building a Regenerative Farm for Willie Nelson
The country singer has approached two farmers to transform his ranch.
https://modernfarmer.com/2020/07/building-a-regenerative-farm-for-willie-nelson/
Biodegradable vs. Recyclable Plastics: Which Is Better for the Environment?
https://www.grampianonline.co.uk/news/which-plastics-are-better-for-the-environmental-207057/
Plastic – between benefit and harm
https://balkangreenenergynews.com/plastic-between-benefit-and-harm/
Reusable Packaging Solutions for Subscription Services
https://www.waste360.com/sustainability/reusable-packaging-solutions-subscription-services
Race to zero
https://plasticsinpackaging.com/online/race-to-zero/
Companies seek to increase sustainability
Microsoft, ADM, Corteva Agriscience, Bayer among companies announcing sustainability plans; lawmakers introduce Growing Climate Solutions Act.
https://www.farmprogress.com/sustainability/companies-seek-increase-sustainability
16 tips for living with less plastic in kitchen, bathroom, garden and beauty bag
If you care about the environment and the planet, you’ll know plastic is one of the biggest dangers to our world – here’s how to make sure you’re doing your bit
https://www.mirror.co.uk/lifestyle/health/16-tips-living-less-plastic-22392270
How Trump is emboldening other countries’ ‘bad behavior’ on the climate crisis
Climatologist Michael Mann on 2020 Atlantic Hurricane Season: “Hate to Say, ‘We Told You So'”
Industry encouraged to unite and champion organic
Recent figures show that transparency and the environment are more important than ever to consumers
https://www.specialityfoodmagazine.com/news/industry-encouraged-to-unite-and-champion-organic
Why Regenerative Organic?
https://www.patagonia.com/regenerative-organic
Regenerative Organic Certification (ROC):
Farm Like The World Depends On It
https://cleantechnica.com/2020/07/24/regenerative-organic-certification/