News Feeds | ecology.iww.org (2024)

Renewable Energy Magazine - Mon, 03/18/2024 - 10:46

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Renewable Energy Magazine - Mon, 03/18/2024 - 10:46

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Renewable Energy Magazine - Mon, 03/18/2024 - 10:46

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Renewable Energy Magazine - Mon, 03/18/2024 - 10:46

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Renewable Energy Magazine - Mon, 03/18/2024 - 10:46

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Renewable Energy Magazine - Mon, 03/18/2024 - 10:46

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Renewable Energy Magazine - Mon, 03/18/2024 - 10:46

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Renewable Energy Magazine - Mon, 03/18/2024 - 10:46

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Categories: J2. Fossil Fuel Industry

Categories: J2. Fossil Fuel Industry

Extinction Rebellion - Mon, 03/18/2024 - 10:40

Climate change increases the likelihood of violent conflicts, creating a cycle in which conflict impedes countries’ efforts to reduce carbon emissions and adapt to climate change. At the same time, violent conflict directly exacerbates climate change and contributes to ecological degradation.

“Climate change can indirectly increase risks of violent conflicts in the form of civil war and inter-group violence by amplifying well-documented drivers of these conflicts such as poverty and economic shocks.” IPCC, 2014

The arms industry has a significant environmental impact due to the extraction of raw materials and military activity is estimated to cause 20% of all environmental degradation.4 In 2023, NATO’s total military carbon footprint reached 226 million tCO2e.5

The interconnectedness of the climate and ecological emergency and conflict touch upon a myriad of interrelated issues, including deforestation, drought, water scarcity, displacement, extractivism, famine and disease. The complexity of the relationships extends beyond mere cause and effect. Both the climate emergency and conflict are perpetuated by institutions and corporations entwined in a web of exploitation. This exploitation is rooted in historic oppression, colonialism, racism and poverty, inextricably binding these issues together.

These echoes of causes from the past resonate with a warning, as we stand on the precipice of a future likely to witness a deepening entanglement between environmental devastation and violence against each other. As the world grapples with increasing levels of conflict, the trajectory seems ominously clear — violent conflict and climate catastrophe are on the rise.

The toxic structures of power are manifested by governments, corporations, military establishments, financial institutions, and the arms trade. They perpetuate conflict and destruction — against the planet and against each other — through the systems that exploit resources, land or people, because very few experience equal participation in power. power is not readily relinquished, nor is it generously distributed.

If we seek lasting solutions to these crises, we need a paradigm shift towards empowering communities and individuals. A citizens’ assembly on climate and ecological justice would involve active participation in decision-making processes, amplification of marginalised voices, and the fostering of inclusivity in the corridors of power. Only through a collective and deliberate effort to redistribute and democratise power can we hope to address the complex challenges of climate change and conflict and forge a more sustainable, equitable and peaceful future.

1 ND-GAIN Vulnerability
2The World’s First Climate Change Conflict Continues | Think Global Health
3 Emissions from Israel’s war in Gaza have ‘immense’ effect on climate catastrophe | Israel-Gaza war | The Guardian
4Angus, I., 2016. Climate Change and the Responsibility of the Military. Facing the Anthropocene, p. 4.
5Climate Crossfire | Transnational Institute

The post What has conflict got to do with the climate and ecological crisis? appeared first on Extinction Rebellion UK.

Categories: B4. Radical Ecology

Land is an essential aspect of human flourishing, sovereignty, and power. Farmers of color in the U.S. have have endured systemic discrimination for decades. Learn how building local partnerships can help reverse racial land loss.

The post Mitigating Racial Land Loss through Local Partnerships appeared first on Rural Advancement Foundation International-USA.

Categories: A3. Agroecology

Rocky Mountain Institute - Mon, 03/18/2024 - 09:51

Women have long been underrepresented in the energy sector. In the Caribbean, it often starts at a young age, with girls being discouraged from pursuing science, technology, and engineering. However, a group of passionate dedicated women are set on changing that. The Caribbean-based Women in Renewable Energy (WIRE) Network advocates for increased gender equality across the clean energy sector in government agencies, utilities, regulatory bodies, and the private sector to eventually increase women’s representation in C-suites and boards, through ensuring a pipeline of motivated and experienced women.

One way it does this is through its two-year mentorship program. Twelve women are selected each year and are paired with women in senior leadership positions for guidance in the clean energy sector and advisem*nt on how to make the most of their professional opportunities.

The current WIRE Mentorship Program currently hosts 24 women across 14 nations in the Caribbean. Meet some of these amazing women below.

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Indra Haraksingh — Pioneering Renewable Energy Education in the Caribbean

Indra Haraksingh is a visionary educator and a driving force behind the development of the Master of Science in Renewable Energy Technology (MScRET), a groundbreaking program at the University of West Indies in the Caribbean. Based in Trinidad and Tobago, Haraksingh supports the WIRE Network as a senior mentor to the current WIRE Mentorship cohort. She also serves as president of the Caribbean Solar Energy Society and lecturer in the Department of Physics at the university.

The MScRET initiative was born out of the pressing need to address high electricity rates and the environmental impact of fossil fuel dependency in the region. Haraksingh saw the immense potential of harnessing solar and other renewable resources prevalent in the Caribbean and recognized the critical role of education in driving this transition.

In collaboration with universities in Flensburg, Germany, Haraksingh spearheaded the creation of the MScRET to equip Caribbean nations with the knowledge and expertise necessary to embrace renewable energy solutions fully. "For countries to move in this direction, it is important that they are well informed and trained in the technology and use of renewable energy," she explains. The program has been instrumental in training a new generation of experts, with approximately 20 graduates annually over its ten-year history.

By training individuals across various sectors in renewable energy, the MScRET has helped to build a more self-reliant region, reducing the reliance on external experts. Haraksingh emphasizes the importance of mentorship and networks in shaping the future of these students. "Mentorship is crucial to building interest and confidence in students to pursue careers in renewable energy," she says. This dedication to mentorship prompted her to join the WIRE Network’s Mentorship Program. As a senior mentor she provides valuable insights and support to women across the cohort.

She also emphasizes the importance of building strong networks, noting, "Having a strong network is crucial to finding solutions." Her network with international organizations, universities, and experts has been instrumental in advancing her career and the field of renewable energy in the Caribbean.

Indra Haraksingh's work underscores the transformative power of education and collaboration in addressing pressing environmental challenges. Her efforts continue to inspire a new generation of leaders committed to building a sustainable future for the Caribbean and beyond.

Sheena Gosine — Empowering Women in Energy

Sheena Gosine was hesitant to enter the energy industry as a woman. However, she is now the sustainable energy analyst at the Ministry of Energy and Energy Industries in Trinidad and Tobago and an excellent example of the impact of mentorship and networking for women in the energy sector. She is the first woman to graduate with a distinction from the Master of Science in Renewable Energy Technology at the University of the West Indies, and is a proud participant in the WIRE mentorship program.

Gosine describes her journey through the WIRE program as a transformative experience. "As I continue to navigate the energy space and glean on experiences within the program, one word comes to mind: empowerment," she says. "The power of collaborating with like-minded women and gaining a true appreciation for my place in the energy space has been invaluable. Meeting these women, understanding their experiences from where they sit, was an eye-opening experience which I found indelible."

The importance of a network of women in the energy sector, Gosine shares, cannot be overstated. "As women, we continue to adopt a myriad of roles that men are not expected to, while navigating a male-dominated space," she notes. "The WIRE program represents a safe space for women to be themselves within the context of growth and support."

Gosine has learned a lot from the community of women she has met through WIRE, especially when seeking a Caribbean perspective on energy matters. "The WIRE group of women is always willing to support you in whichever way they can," she says. "This is definitely a professional edge I think we all possess as part of this group."

In addition to her participation in WIRE, Gosine has been mentored through a program in her workplace. "The power of mentorship must not be understated," she emphasizes. "Both programs have shown me the value of always being open to personal and professional growth and expanding horizons."

Through shared experiences in the WIRE program, Gosine shares that she has a deeper understanding of the collective goal, working toward gender equity in the Caribbean energy space. "I was able to gain new perspectives on my role as a female in the energy space, with a renewed understanding that I was not alone in facing certain adversity and challenges," she explains. "The mentorship experience has given me a renewed approach to my work portfolio notwithstanding any gender-specific issues I may face."

Sheena Gosine's journey is a testament to the power of mentorship and networking in empowering women in the energy sector. She encourages others to lean into community for growth and support, ultimately contributing to a more inclusive and diverse industry.

Niebert Blair — Driving Change in Caribbean E-Mobility

Niebert Blair is passionate about electrifying transportation and the delivery of goods. "The application of electricity in the process helps reduce greenhouse gas emissions in the very short to medium term," she shares, highlighting the immediate benefits of vehicle electrification.

As the energy and transport coordinator with GIZ, Blair plays a crucial role in shaping policies and strategies for sustainable energy in the Caribbean, particularly in countries like Antigua and Barbuda, Belize, Grenada, Jamaica, and Saint Lucia. Her passion for this work stems from a deep recognition of how crucial the renewable energy transition is for the region. "My work is important, as well as the work of others, as we not only understand the benefits of the energy transition but as we together generate responses to the challenges faced in our sustainable energy development," she explains.

One of Blair's key achievements is advancing the implementation of the nationally determined contributions (NDCs) in the region. She is proud that several countries have identified and are willing to establish energy, transport, and e-mobility strategies and policies under this guidance. However, she acknowledges that more needs to be done to accelerate the pace of change required for a sustainable future. Blair shares, “In the Caribbean, there are a few donors and financing mechanisms that are targeting the transition, however the rate of change required is far from what is achieved.”

Despite the daunting goals, she is motivated to continue her work. “The drive and passion I have for the transition is embodied in my current work with GIZ in the region, where we are seeking to advance implementation of the NDCs and improve policies and regulations in the energy and transport sectors.” She is also proud to recognize that the impacts of her work can already be felt in the region.

Mentorship has played a significant role in Blair's career, particularly through programs like WIRE, which has connected her with a network of talented individuals in the region and globally. Beyond the value of personal mentorship, Blair shares the strength in building a network and learning from her community. “I have had the opportunity to meet men and women who work in similar and different disciplines and listen to their experiences and advice on chartering my professional development. I have learnt how people from various companies continue to be creative in their work spaces and these stories have definitely inspired me.”

Additionally, when reflecting on her experiences gained through the broader WIRE network, Blair reflects, "While I have been mentoring younger people before WIRE, the experiences and the people I have met have enhanced this process greatly.”

Blair's dedication to advancing sustainable energy solutions in the Caribbean is evident in her work: she is driving sustainable, equitable change throughout the region, and being cheered on by her WIRE community.

To learn more about the WIRE Network and how you can get involved, visit the website.

The post Caribbean Women Are Making Waves in Clean Energy appeared first on RMI.

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The Carbon Brief - Mon, 03/18/2024 - 09:46

As Donald Trump prepares for this year’s US presidential election, he continues to summarise his energy policies with one simple slogan: “Drill, baby, drill.”

The Republican candidate has laid claim to the phrase, arguing that more drilling will allow him to cut inflation and flood the country with the “liquid gold” that is oil.

However, it was Michael Steele, the US politician who served as the first African-American lieutenant governor of Maryland and chair of the Republican National Committee, who came up with the slogan back in 2008.

Speaking to Carbon Brief, Steele stresses that Trump had “nothing to do” with “drill, baby, drill” – a phrase he coined to promote US independence from Middle Eastern oil.

Expressing regret that it has been taken up by the Republican challenger for the White House, Steele says that, with the rise of electric cars, today the slogan could change to “plug, baby, plug”.

Here, Carbon Brief explores the history of “drill, baby, drill”, from the Black Panther-associated slogan “burn, baby, burn” through to its status as a rallying cry for pro-fossil fuel US conservatives.

‘Drill, baby, drill’

In a recent interview with Fox News, Trump explained his plans for US fossil-fuel production if he wins November’s election, saying:

“We are going to – I used this expression, now everyone else is using it so I hate to use it, but – drill, baby, drill.”

It is a phrase that he has repeated at rallies across the nation in recent months, sticking with his preference for three-word campaign slogans.

Yet, despite Trump’s assertion, it was Steele who invented the phrase. While addressing the Republican National Convention in 2008, he told the crowd:

“Let’s reduce our dependency on foreign sources of oil, and promote oil-and-gas production at home. Let me make it very clear: Drill, baby, drill – and drill now.”

Steele tells Carbon Brief that the slogan came to him late at night, after a fit of “writer’s block”.

“Donald Trump…his BS aside, had nothing to do with ‘drill, baby drill’,” says Steele, who today is a staunch critic of the Republican presidential candidate.

Steele was met with rapturous applause at the 2008 convention. Chants of “drill, baby, drill” from the crowd even interrupted a speech by former New York mayor Rudy Giuliani.

Michael Steele speaks at the Republican National Convention in St. Paul, Minnesota on 3 September 2008. Credit: Ron Edmonds / Associated Press / Alamy Stock Photo

This was during a period of soaring fuel prices in the US, linked to conflict in the Middle East. The government was under significant pressure to expand offshore drilling.

Later that year, the “drill, baby, drill” slogan was taken up by supporters throughout the campaign of Republican John McCain, in his unsuccessful presidential bid against Barack Obama.

It became particularly associated with Sarah Palin, the climate-sceptic Republican vice-presidential pick, who said in a debate with her Democratic challenger Joe Biden:

“The chant is ‘drill, baby, drill’. And that’s what we hear all across this country in our rallies because people are so hungry for those domestic sources of energy.”

In the years that followed, the phrase was repeated endlessly by Republican politicians, as well as in comment articles and political analysis. (It did, however, see a dip in popularity following the Deepwater Horizon oil spill in 2010, with Senate Republicans stating that they had never endorsed such a phrase.)

Since then, the slogan has spread and been applied to countries from Scotland to Guyana. In recent years, it has even been used to lobby for the expansion of gas in Africa.

‘Burn, baby, burn’

Despite its runaway success, there was some initial bemusem*nt from commentators at a slogan that appeared to have been derived from “burn, baby, burn”.

That phrase, which has since made its way into everything from disco songs to hot sauce, was originally associated with Black nationalist group the Black Panthers and particularly the 1965 Watts riots in Los Angeles.

It was chanted as buildings were set on fire, amid civil unrest sparked by police violence against an African-American man.

Writing shortly after the Republican National Convention in 2008, journalist Derrick Z Jackson alluded to this when he wrote in the Boston Globe:

“This 93% White gathering blithely stole from the race riots of the ’60s to lustily chant ‘drill, baby, drill’.”

‘Plug, baby, plug’

For his part, Steele tells Carbon Brief that his intention was to use a colloquial expression to “connect it to something that was very real” – namely, cutting US reliance on Middle Eastern oil. He explains his thinking at the time:

“We should look at this from a very basic point of view, let’s not overthink it. We have the capacity, we have the means. Drill, baby, drill.”

However, he expresses frustration at its adoption by Trump:

“Unfortunately, a lot of people use it…in a way that they don’t fully appreciate what the point was, and the point was the self-sufficiency of the American spirit.”

Today, the US is no longer reliant on oil from the Middle East and is, in fact, the world’s largest oil producer.

A key focus of current US energy policy is achieving independence from Chinese electric-vehicle manufacturing through measures in Biden’s Inflation Reduction Act (IRA). However, Trump has pledged to scrap the IRA along with other environmental measures.

Steele, who has expressed climate-sceptic views himself in the past, says that his point in 2008 was not to override environmental commitments. He says:

“It’s not just ‘drill with abandon’, it’s also the idea of drilling responsibly and understanding the impacts that we do have environmentally.”

With the growth of electric cars and other technologies in the US, he adds:

“‘Drill, baby, drill’ may at some point in the future change to…‘plug, baby, plug’. Plugging your electric car into the port…It is the idea of self-sufficiency, independence, freedom, which again is an orientation that very much is in line – well, was in line – with the old Republican party. That seems to have given way to something very different today.”

Nevertheless, Steele accepts that while he will “always be there to remind [Trump]” of where the slogan came from, it is now out of his hands:

“My only regret is that I didn’t copyright it and put it on a T-shirt.”

A shorter version of this article was first published in DeBriefed, Carbon Brief’s weekly climate newsletter, on 15 March. Subscribe for free.

Q&A: What does China’s ‘two sessions’ mean for climate policy in 2024?

China Policy

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13.03.24

Analysis: UK emissions in 2023 fell to lowest level since 1879

Coal

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11.03.24

UK spring budget 2024: Key climate and energy announcements

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06.03.24

Analysis: Trump election win could add 4bn tonnes to US emissions by 2030

Emissions

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06.03.24

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The post ‘Drill, baby, drill’: The surprising history of Donald Trump’s fossil-fuel slogan appeared first on Carbon Brief.

Categories: I. Climate Science

Common Dreams - Mon, 03/18/2024 - 09:45

Today, over 100 religious leaders and faith-based organizations globally called on leaders of the World Health Organization to secure equity commitments to protect all populations everywhere from future pandemics. The letter was delivered on the opening day of the intended final nine-day negotiating session in Geneva for the Pandemic Accord, a new international agreement of UN member states to bolster pandemic prevention, preparedness and response efforts.

“The sanctity of human life often seemed forgotten in the pandemic, with the lives of people in wealthy nations appearing to be valued over those in low- or middle-income countries,” states the letter. “As you enter the final stage of negotiations, we implore you to deliver an agreement that ensures every life is valued equally.”

Millions of people lost their lives during the Covid emergency due to late and inequitable access to tests, treatments and vaccines. The letter urges negotiators to reach an agreement that ensures that everyone, everywhere can benefit from scientific advancement and that the tools needed to fight the next pandemic are shared equally, including necessary knowledge and technology.

It also urges negotiators to ensure that intellectual property barriers are removed when necessary, and that people in the Global South are “treated not as mere samples for pandemic monitoring, but as equal partners in a collective endeavour towards a healthier world.” Over the course of the pandemic, despite the sharing of genetic information that enabled production of effective vaccines, these products were not accessible to many. The proposed pathogen access and benefit sharing (PABS) mechanism in the agreement aims to remedy this by ensuring that sharing of pathogen data also enables equitable access to resulting medical tools.

Letter signatory Archbishop Thabo Makgoba of the Anglican Church of Southern Africa said, “As the world prepares for future pandemics, it is essential that it plans to give equal protection to all people, everywhere, not only for moral reasons but to protect one another. Covid-19 showed us that none of us are safe until all of us are safe, and that only a comprehensive response that covers the world can bring pandemics under control.”

The letter was organized by Public Citizen, in collaboration with the ACT Alliance, NETWORK Lobby for Catholic Social Justice and the People’s Vaccine Alliance.

The final text of the Accord is slated for presentation to the World Health Assembly in May.

Categories: F. Left News

Montana Environmental Information Center - Mon, 03/18/2024 - 09:41

Job Title:Sustainable Communities Advocate or Director Position Summary: The Sustainable Communities Planning Advocate develops and implements strategies for sustainable, climate-friendly community development in Montana. The position advocates for land, water, public participation, and housing policies that support environmentally conscious and economically equitable communities. This position lobbies the legislature and other government officials, works with local …

The post Now hiring: Sustainable Communities Advocate or Director appeared first on Montana Environmental Information Center - MEIC.

Categories: G2. Local Greens

Solar Punk Magazine - Mon, 03/18/2024 - 09:22

New Issue 14 Release Date

After some delays in our usual production process, we’re happy to say Issue 14 will be released on Tuesday March 19. Issue 14’s cover art was illustrated by Stephen Lillie, and features stories by Gabriela Cabezas and A’liya Spinner, poetry by Salem Paige and Ian Tash, and nonfiction by Michael J. DeLuca.

Preorder Issue 14City of Hope: An Utopian Worldbuilding TRPG

Our co-editors-in-chief have developed a solarpunk roleplaying game! Written by Justine Norton-Kertson with cover and interior art illustrated by Brianna Castagnozzi, City of Hope is a rules-light game with a focus on character development and collaborative storytelling and worldbuilding.

Set in the year 2050 after the end of the Climate Wars, the City of Hope is a place where people from around the world have gathered together to build a new, experimental city aimed at creating a just and sustainable society.

Samples of optional solarpunk tarot card add-on.The optional solarpunk tarot cards are AI-free digital collages created by Justine Norton-Kertson.

We’ll be launching a preorder campaign this spring through Kickstarter. You can hit the button below to sign up to receive an email notification when preorder launches.

Sign Up For Launch Notification

The 100+ page City of Hope gamebook includes:

• detailed descriptions of the world in 2050 to provide gameplay context
• game mechanics for guided and freeform gameplay
• optional D12/D4 and tarot card-based mechanics to randomize outcomes
• 20 characters and character development templates
• play as human characters and play as the setting
• celebrate collective accomplishments and the passage of time with season festival templates
• detailed starter scenarios

Categories: B2. Social Ecology

Oil Change International - Mon, 03/18/2024 - 09:12

For Immediate Release
March 18, 2024
Collin Rees, collin@priceofoil.org
Gabrielle Levy, glevy01@gmail.com
Josh Eisenfeld, jeisenfeld@earthworksaction.org
Caleb Heeringa, caleb@gasleaks.org

Spokespeople from Earthworks, Oil Change International, Gas Leaks, and Climate Nexus will be available throughout the week for comment

Houston – As CERAWeek – the fossil fuel industry’s largest annual conference of the year – kicks off today, industry insiders will be out in force to continue peddling greenwashing schemes that claim “certified” gas is “cleaner” and less harmful to the climate.

On Tuesday, William Jordan, executive vice president of EQT, the largest gas producer in the United States, will share a stage at CERAWeek with Georges Tijibosch, CEO of gas certifier MiQ. EQT, which operates in Pennsylvania, Ohio, Kentucky, and West Virginia has previously claimed more than half of its gas is certified by MiQ and other standards, making it one of the largest producers of gas that carries a certification label.

Climate and social movements have forced oil and gas companies to acknowledge that fossil fuels are dirty and dangerous. Now, oil & gas corporations and the governments who support them are turning to schemes such as gas certification to appear as though they are taking serious action on climate, while in practice doing almost nothing to actually reduce the harm they do to the climate and the communities in which they operate.

“The oil and gas industry wants the public to believe that the ‘natural’ gas system is clean and getting cleaner, despite growing evidence that it releases far more planet-warming methane pollution than official estimates,” said Caleb Heeringa, Program Director for the Gas Leaks Project. “Just like ‘clean coal’ before it, certified gas is a marketing gimmick aimed at expanding our dependence on a dirty fossil fuel.”

Gas certification schemes allow producers to falsely claim their operations remain under a certain threshold limit of methane emissions intensity, using a variety of methods and standards that frequently add up to giving extra credit to companies for simply following the law. Certification schemes rely on technology that is frequently unreliable, resulting in reported data that is easily manipulated or cherry-picked, and with minimum transparency to allow for accountability. Yet despite these severe flaws, companies seek to charge a premium for a certification label, the costs of which they are already passing along to consumers.

“We have spent nearly 3 years studying certification schemes both in the field and by talking to current and former employees of the biggest players in the industry. We have shown that the monitoring technology and its implementation in the field are not reliable but often certifiers don’t require any measurement at all. It’s more words with little action and the bottom line is this: there is currently no way for any certifier to guarantee lower emissions from their process,” said Josh Eisenfeld, Campaign Manager of Corporate Accountability at Earthworks.

EQT’s claims of being a responsible purveyor of “clean” gas don’t hold up to scrutiny. This week, it was announced that EQT was buying back Equitrans Midstream Corp (having spun off the unit under investor pressure in 2018) and will again become an owner of the controversial, unfinished Mountain Valley Pipeline, which has famously been delayed by hundreds of environmental and safety violations. Meanwhile, Equitrans is still cleaning up almost 18 months after one of the worst gas leaks in U.S. history blew out a compressor station in southwest Pennsylvania.

“The Mountain Valley Pipeline was proposed nearly 10 years ago, yet it’s barely half-way built due to its owners’ recklessness and the lack of need,” said Denali Nalamalapu, co-director of POWHR, a grassroots group fighting the MVP. “The fossil fuel industry is floundering; it sacrifices our communities to make some more money, before running away and leaving us at risk of explosions, leaks, further endangered ecosystems, and local impacts of the climate crisis. What our communities need is investments in renewable energy and community-led solutions.”

The Biden administration has continued to roll out the welcome mat for unsound certification programs and the industries that seek to use them as justification to continue expanding oil and gas production, despite overwhelming scientific consensus that fossil fuels must be rapidly phased out. On Thursday, the administration provided a stakeholder update on the international working group to develop an international measurement, monitoring, reporting and verification (MMRV) framework. As currently envisioned, the voluntary framework would make no requirements of oil and gas companies to reduce their total emissions from the oil and gas they sell, nor reduce overall production of oil and gas. Instead, the framework will kick open the door to increased production by allowing companies to claim they are marketing a cleaner alternative while relying on unreliable, easily manipulated, and opaque technologies.

“CERAWeek will be chock full of oil and gas executives claiming a role for fossil gas in a decarbonizing world,” said Lorne Stockman, Research Director, Oil Change International. “Many will claim their gas has been certified as clean. But our research shows that certified gas is a scam mired in unproven technology, opaque practices, and conflicts of interest. The most recent data clearly shows that the oil and gas industry is failing to rein in its pollution while drastically underreporting its methane problem. We don’t need certified gas or any other half-baked scheme for maintaining the status quo. The best way to reduce methane pollution is to phase out the oil and gas industry.”

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The post CERAWeek “certified gas” event – unproven technology, opaque practices, and conflicts of interest appeared first on Oil Change International.

Categories: J2. Fossil Fuel Industry

Mining.Com - Mon, 03/18/2024 - 09:09

The representatives of 167 countries at the International Seabed Authority (ISA) will discuss this week possibility of the expulsion of Greenpeace from the UN deep-sea mining body, the BBC reported on Monday.

Greenpeace activists in late 2023 disrupted a research expedition when they boarded sea explorer The Metals Company’s vessel in the remote Pacific. Five Greenpeace activists boarded the MV Coco on November 25 and disabled its A-frame hoist/crane.

The vessel, engaged by TMC’s subsidiary, Nauru Ocean Resources (NORI) for environmental assessments, faced a week of disruptions from Nov. 23 by Greenpeace activities, which a Dutch court deemed unsafe and unlawful.

In December, a Dutch Court ordered the activists to vacate the research vessel.

The Metals Company says the research trip interrupted by Greenpeace was for science aimed at improving knowledge of the effects of nodule collection.

It says the work had been requested by the ISA as part of an impact assessment, and that Greenpeace deliberately hampered those efforts when its activists boarded the company’s research vessel.

Greenpeace says the action was justified because The Metals Company has stated its plans to proceed with mining before regulations have been agreed upon.

Minerals and metals such as cobalt, nickel, copper, and manganese can be found in potato-sized nodules on the ocean floor. Reserves are estimated to be worth anywhere from $8 trillion to more than $16 trillion, and they are in areas where companies, including The Metals Company, plan to target.

Many NGOs and environmental groups, however, argue that mining the seafloor could have a devastating impact on the planet.

A recentreport by the non-profit Planet Trackersays mining the seafloor for key minerals and metals could negatively impact the mining industry, resulting in $500 billion of lost value and causing damages to the world’s biodiversity estimated to be up to 25 times greater than land-based mining.

Read More: US bill supporting seafloor mining lifts The Metals Company

Categories: J2. Fossil Fuel Industry

La Jicarita - Mon, 03/18/2024 - 08:58

By KAY MATTHEWS

Thirty-three years ago, in 1991, investors from California, Texas, and Chicago collaborated with Coldwell Banker Lota Real Estate in Taos to develop a 321 acre “Las Sierras premier community” in Las Colonias and Taos Mesa. The development would include a $40 million golf course, 150 homes, country club, and inn, spa, and conference center. The developers applied to El Prado Water and Sanitation District to transfer water from the property where the golf course would sit—owned by a retired veterinarian from Santa Fe—to an Upper Las Colonias well to supply water to the development. Two years later, after intense community opposition, largely from the Las Colonias-West Mesa Preservation Association, Las Sierras died an ignominious death after the Office of the State Engineer denied the water transfer and District Judge Peggy Nelson dismissed El Prado’s appeal.

Now, in 2024, the citizens of Taos are faced with another planned development, the 331-acre Tarleton Ranch Eco-Village in Upper Las Colonias, with a commercial center including luxury hotels, banks, art galleries, medical facilities, and more; over 300 residential lots; recreation amenities; and agriculture and open space. It sounds like Las Sierras on steroids. And once again, the supplier of water rights is El Prado Water and Sanitation District, which acquired those water rights in the Abeyta, or Taos Pueblo Adjudication Settlement.

That’s when I first heard of the possible development of the Tarleton Ranch in Upper Las Colonias, off SH 150, a working ranch that has been in the Tarleton family for three generations. I was on the Taos County Public Welfare Committee that was appointed to review all water transfers both within and from Taos County to assess whether they were in the public interest, or welfare, of the citizens of Taos County. El Prado Water and Sanitation District was in the process of transferring water rights from several properties north of Taos, including Top of the World, where the contested water rights that went to the Aamodt Settlement in the Pojoaque Valley originated. El Prado’s applications were for 284 afy of water rights to offset groundwater pumping from its proposed new wells out by the airport. The Public Welfare Committee questioned John Painter, district manager of El Prado, why the district wanted to increase its water rights from 25 to 575 afy. Did that include plans to underwrite growth north of El Prado along the SH 64 corridor and the rumored Tarleton development? We didn’t get any answers but El Prado got all the water rights it wanted and plans to supply the Eco-Village 200-afy.

The Taos County Planning Department held a public hearing on this Planned Urban Development (PUD) on February 15 where the commissioners questioned Tarleton developer Mark Yaravitz and master planner John Halley and then allowed public comment (Rudy Perea is the Chief Planner). Karl Sommer, a well-known Santa Fe attorney who represents real estate developers, was also in attendance. The overwhelming public turnout forced the commissioners to schedule a continuance, on March 7, to allow the Tarleton representatives to respond to the public comments and also accept comment from those who were unable to speak at the February 15 meeting. Another hearing is scheduled for March 21 at the Taos County Commission chambers at 10 o’clock.

The developers claim that the PUD does not abrogate the current Taos County zoning regulations that apply in the area of the proposed development but provide “creative and flexible” interpretations of code standards. For example, “our density is only 50 percent of what is allowed.” They also acknowledged that over the course of this five- to-thirty-year phased project there will be many more development agents—contractors, real estate agents, etc.— involved in the process.

The questions and comments of the commissioners and those who expressed opposition to the development, many of whom belong to the Upper Las Colonias Neighborhood Association, largely fell into the following categories:

• Overall scope and density of the project:

The development will include 413 lots ranging from .0574+-acres to 11.00+-acres on 331 acres filled with houses, condominiums, rentals, hotels, restaurants, offices, medical facilities, grocery stores, real estate offices, banks, and various commercial shops next to the Upper Colonias rural community of houses on one to two acre lots. People suggested that it would be a much better idea for developers to fill in the many vacant stores and offices that already exist in Taos as well as affordable housing.

• Economic viability:

What is the guarantee that developers have adequate funding and investment secured for this large-scale project? The developers stress that this is a long-term project instituted in phases over the course of 30 years but will be dependent upon income generated from each phase of development to secure the ensuing phase. People also questioned the wisdom of selling commercial property prior to selling residential lots could result in a lack of demand and a negative impact on existing businesses in Arroyo Seco and Taos.

• Increased traffic on SH 150 and within Upper Las Colonias:

Access to the development will be from SH 150 with several possible entrances: Gavilan Road, just past the Quail Ridge resort or a new road called Tarleton Ranch Road in the center of the development. People asked how such an increase in traffic from the development could be managed: a traffic light, stop sign, or round-about for ingress and egress? The developers emphasized that Taos County and the Department of Transportation will make traffic requirements contingent on developing circ*mstances. Sommers engaged in several arguments with commissioners during their questioning of work force traffic that would need to be regulated before any long-term requirements would be in place.

• Water availability.

While El Prado Water and Sanitation District is on record to supply the development with 200 afy, people question future water availability for this “small city” in a time of drought and climate crisis. I listened to John Painter’s presentation where he emphasized that “contrary to rumors” the two Midway wells out near the airport “have nothing to do the Tarleton development but are part of the Abeyta Adjudication Settlement” to protect the Taos Pueblo Buffalo Pasture. “One or two more wells will be drilled under the Settlement that will only serve our customers and future growth.” The District is currently using only 94 to 97 afy and will be able to supply the Tarleton development. Current residents expressed concerns that the District could extend the water delivery system into the existing residential areas that have wells.

• Wastewater treatment:

Commissioners John Delmargo and Rick Edelman grilled the wastewater professionals about what will happen with the sludge and effluent of the Membrane Bioreactor treatment facility. While the estimated 50,000 gallons a day effluent could be used for flushing, irrigation, and potentially potable use, they questioned the capacity for such use. They also questioned why there appears to be no provision for the removal of excess sludge—what can’t be composted—generated by this type of wastewater treatment.

• Short term rentals and workforce housing:

The development includes individual residences, apartments, condos, and “work force” housing of “starter homes.” Many questioned whether any of these houses will actually be affordable to the eco-village work force, ski valley workers, and other service workers associated with the project. They also want assurance that there will be restrictions on short term housing, e.g., Airbnb, which is already a problem in Upper Las Colonias, and that work force housing can’t be flipped (in a survey conducted this year there were 118 short term rentals listed in Upper Las Colonias).

• Impacts on wildlife and acequias:

The Tarleton Ranch is currently open space where numerous wildlife flourishes: coyotes, jackrabbits, birds, and other small mammals. While the development plan includes agriculture, recreational open space, and ranching operations, the density of the commercial and residential components will displace wildlife. Although there isn’t much agricultural activity in Upper Las Colonias, some homeowners own water rights that could be impacted by the development.

• Light pollution:

Many people referenced the Taos County Dark Skies ordinance that are supposed to protect rural communities from light pollution. They claimed that the county was remiss in its enforcement and worried that a development as large as Tarleton would contribute to the problem.

• Use of Term ‘Eco’ In Part a Misnomer:

As stated in the Upper Las Colonias Neighborhood Association summary of concerns: “There are indeed eco-friendly principals associated with the project’s agricultural plans. However, according to developers, there will not be any enforcement of green building/alternative energy standards placed on buyers/builders of both residential and commercial lots. Others refer to it as a “green-washed suburb” or gentrified, self-contained neighborhood, between the airport and Taos Ski Valley, that will contribute nothing to the health and vitality of Taos.

The Upper Las Colonias Neighborhood Association appears to be divided in its opposition and support of the Tarleton Ranch development. In comments on its website many applaud this “Planned Urban Development, or “PUD” as being more appropriate than unregulated, haphazard development, support its planned domestic water system and wastewater treatment facility, and its willingness to make amendments to the plan from community input. Much of the comment includes the caveat: “The Tarleton family has an unquestioned right, legally and morally, to develop their property,” and “commercial development will inevitably continue along the Ski Valley Road, as the population north of town grows,” so what choice do we have?

I drove out to the Tarleton Ranch with a member of the Upper Las Colonias Neighborhood Association (ULCNA) to take a look. If you go to the map of the proposed development (TREV) on the ULCNA website, you can increase its size to better see the boundaries and detailed identification of the proposed infrastructure We entered the ranch from SH 150 along Gavilan Road, just beyond the Quail Ridge Resort, which is the boundary of an established Upper Las Colonias Neighborhood with one to two acre lots. Within the ranch it’s all sage brush now so you have to use your imagination to see the cluster of residences that will border Gavilan.

Real estate signs on the ranch.

Gavilan curves around towards the floodplain and proposed Agricultural Park where the Tarleton Ranch cows now graze. Just across the pastures you can see the Tarleton Ranch house, barn, and sheds off Valencia Road, the ranch’s boundary to the northwest. Back on SH 150 we drove further north past the proposed Tarleton Ranch Road that will enter the village center where the hotels and other commercial entities will be located. Further up SH 150 we drove along Camino de Cielo (a dead end), where another existing neighborhood borders the ranch. More residences and a senior living center are planned here. SH 150 then intersects SH 230 (to Valdez), where we turned south along Valencia Road to follow this northwest boundary of the ranch. The planned wastewater treatment plant and bio-ponds are located on this west side of the development. Ten acre lots with large, trophy homes, part of the Mariposa development, border the ranch to the northwest. Valencia Road then ties in with SH 522, the highway to Arroyo Hondo.

The Planning Commission will hold several more meetings on the next step of the process, the Preliminary Subdivision Application, which sets standards for engineering, water supply, traffic, and wastewater requirements. La Jicarita will keep you posted.

View northeast on the ranch.

Categories: G2. Local Greens