“The use of plastics is surging and could nearly triple by 2060, Axios’ Erin Doherty reports. The math for 2060, via a new OECD report out today: The buildup of plastics in bodies of water could triple. Plastic leakage to the environment could double. Almost two-thirds of plastic waste will be from short-lived items, including… Continue Reading
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Category Archives: Energy
There’s an Army of Thieves Coming for Your Catalytic Converter
Popular Mechanics – One of the largest crime-waves in recent years could cost you thousands: “…According to the Universal Technical Institute, there are typically 3 to 7 grams of platinum, 2 to 7 grams of palladium, and 1 to 2 grams of rhodium in the standard converter. PGMs are rare. They form inside intrusive igneous complexes,… Continue Reading
Understanding the Russo-Ukrainian War: A Guide From War on the Rocks
“We at War on the Rocks have curated this list of articles and podcasts to help you gain a deeper understanding of the history, drivers, background, and events of Russia’s massive assault on Ukraine. Whether you are a soldier or a student, a policymaker or a pundit, a teacher or a techie, this will be useful… Continue Reading
State of the Global Climate 2021
“Four key climate change indicators – greenhouse gas concentrations, sea level rise, ocean heat and ocean acidification – set new records in 2021. This is yet another clear sign that human activities are causing planetary scale changes on land, in the ocean, and in the atmosphere, with harmful and long-lasting ramifications for sustainable development and… Continue Reading
EU launches database to help consumers on energy efficient products
“A new EU-wide public database enabling consumers to compare the energy efficiency class and other data about different household products has been launched by the European Commission this week. With detailed information on well over 1 million products, the European Product Registry for Energy Labelling (EPREL) breaks new ground in helping EU consumers become more energy… Continue Reading
Pollution and health: a progress update
The Lancet Planetary Health: “The Lancet Commission on pollution and health reported that pollution was responsible for 9 million premature deaths in 2015, making it the world’s largest environmental risk factor for disease and premature death. We have now updated this estimate using data from the Global Burden of Diseases, Injuriaes, and Risk Factors Study… Continue Reading
Revealed: the ‘carbon bombs’ set to trigger catastrophic climate breakdown
The Guardian, Exclusive: “The world’s biggest fossil fuel firms are quietly planning scores of “carbon bomb” oil and gas projects that would drive the climate past internationally agreed temperature limits with catastrophic global impacts, a Guardian investigation shows. The exclusive data shows these firms are in effect placing multibillion-dollar bets against humanity halting global heating.… Continue Reading
2022 World Changing Ideas Awards
“Every year, Fast Company’s World-Changing Ideas Awards honor the innovative ways businesses and organizations are tackling the biggest challenges of our time. Amid the seemingly endless stream of disastrous news, these awards provide more than 1,000 reasons to feel some hope. One thousand fifty-three, to be exact. That’s the total number of honorees that our… Continue Reading
The Power of Big Oil
“FRONTLINE examines the fossil fuel industry’s history of casting doubt and delaying action on climate change. This three-part series traces decades of missed opportunities and the ongoing attempts to hold Big Oil to account.” See also – The Guardian – ‘”In a powerful new three-part docuseries, the oil industry is put on trial as the… Continue Reading
The “State of the Air” 2022 report
American Lung Association: “The “State of the Air” 2022 report finds that despite decades of progress on cleaning up sources of air pollution, more than 40% of Americans—over 137 million people—are living in places with failing grades for unhealthy levels of particle pollution or ozone. This is 2.1 million more people breathing unhealthy air compared… Continue Reading
Animated map of EV charging stations shows huge dead zones around the country
Fasts Company: “Electric vehicles are clearly the future, but their mass adoption is somewhat hindered by infrastructure rollout—namely, the charging stations that drivers need to keep them powered, especially on long cross-country trips. But data compiled from geographic information systems firm Esri shows that some areas of the United States are doing better than others… Continue Reading
The European Commission and the IEA outline key energy saving actions
“The International Energy Agency and the European Commission outlined today a range of simple steps that people can take to reduce their energy use and save money, and that would save enough oil to fill 120 super tankers and enough natural gas to heat almost 20 million homes if adopted by all EU citizens. These… Continue Reading
