Opinion:
¶ “Thinking Global, Acting Local: How To Get Clean Tech Into Every Community” • The Future is Now. We have all of the solutions we really need to fix the climate crisis. The tech, the economics, the “curb appeal” … it’s all there. So why isn’t it happening everywhere, all the time? One of the key obstacles is building community involvement. [CleanTechnica]
Screenshot from Dawn Lippert TED Talk
¶ “‘Chemical Recycling’ – A Summer Of Disillusionment” • I was thrilled to hear of a possible solution to the plastic waste crisis in the form of a seemingly miraculous technique that could give new life to hard-to-recycle plastics while promoting a circular economy. It sounded too good to be true. After a few weeks of research, I discovered it was. [CleanTechnica]
¶ “Is Japan’s Nuclear Wastewater Dumping Reckless?” • Japan intends to release around 1.25 million tons of contaminated water from the destroyed Fukushima nuclear power plant into the sea. There is no precedent for discharging such a volume of wastewater into the sea. Perplexingly, the US government seems to agree with the plan. [The ASEAN Post]
Water tanks at Fukushima (IAEA Imagebank, CC-BY-SA 2.0)
¶ “Lying Liars And The Lies They Tell About Electric Cars” • The more EVs come to market, the more the people that EVs threaten (such as oil companies) are ramping up their attacks on them. The latest tactic claims the emissions from mining materials needed to make EV batteries is so gigantic that they cannot be environmentally friendly. [CleanTechnica]
World:
¶ “Climate Change: Lapland Reindeer Gone Astray In Search For Food” • Herders in Lapland are struggling to locate thousands of reindeer that ran away after warm weather left the food they graze on covered by a layer of ice. Some reindeer have travelled as far as 100 km to the south, in search of ice-free lichen they can access under the snow. [BCC]
Reindeer (Robert Kalinagil, Unsplash)
¶ “These Women Are Fighting For Their Indigenous Land And The Survival Of The Amazon” • Indigenous women in Brazil were traditionally excluded from leadership roles. Now, women are breaking down barriers, speaking out, and joining the battle against rampant deforestation, extractive activities and the ever growing climate catastrophe. [CNN]
¶ “Tesla Helped China Cut Carbon Emissions By 855,878 Tons From January To November 2021” • On Christmas Eve, Tesla China released its year-to-date new energy contribution report, Gasgoo reports. The report noted that Tesla helped China reduce carbon emission by 855,878 tons during the first eleven months of this year. [CleanTechnica]
Tesla Model Y vehicles in China (Courtesy of Tesla)
¶ “Indian Cities Struggling For Clean Air” • With dangerously high air pollution levels and continued respiratory threats from Covid-19, the need to protect public health in India is urgent. To fight air pollution, India’s environment minister Bhupendar Yadav announced plans to scale clean air programs to a national mission, “Clean Air for All.” [CleanTechnica]
¶ “Mitsubishi-Led Groups To Build 1.7 GW Of Offshore Wind In Japan” • The Japanese authorities have selected three offshore wind farms totaling over 1760 MW in Japan’s first auction for fixed bottom projects. Mitsubishi Corporation is involved in all of the projects. Turbine manufacturer GE will supply 139 of its 12.6-MW turbines for them. [reNews]
Haliade X wind turbine (GE image)
¶ “Brandenburg Coal Mine Uses 171 Times More Water Than Tesla’s Giga Berlin Will Need” • German environmental groups seem to really care about how much water Tesla will use at Tesla Giga Berlin. Let’s hope they have that same energy for the LEAG coal mine, which uses 171 times more water than Tesla needs for Giga Berlin. [CleanTechnica]
¶ “India Expects Renewable Energy Space To Boom Next Year” • In India, an investment of more than $15 billion (£11.1 billion, €13.2 billion) is expected next year as the government focuses on electric vehicles, green hydrogen, and manufacturing of solar equipment, as well as achieving the ambitious 175 GW renewable capacity target. [Eastern Eye]
Wind turbines in India (Iamvrt46, CC-BY-SA 4.0)
¶ “Mallorca’s First Industrial Renewable Hydrogen Produced In Lloseta” • Renewable hydrogen is being produced at a facility in, Lloseta, Mallorca, Spain. It could produce at least 300 tonnes of the clean energy carrier annually. Production of the gas was confirmed on Thursday, Dec 23, after integrated environmental authorisation was received. [H2 View]
US:
¶ “New Yorkers And Wildlife Are Finding Solace In The City’s Parks” • New York City’s wildlife is thriving, and that’s thanks to devoted scientists and activists who spent decades bolstering robust wildlife habitats in the city’s five boroughs. New York is one of the most densely populated metropolitan areas in the country, but 14% of the city is parks. [CNN]
Urban red-tailed hawk (Preston Keres, USDA, public domain)
¶ “New Clean Energy Office Targets Rural Areas: Heads Up, Joe Manchin” • The DOE’s $20 billion Office of Clean Energy Demonstrations is aimed at scaling up big solutions to climate problems with a focus on rural communities and environmental justice. Almost 90% of the electricity generated in West Virginia still comes from coal power plants. [CleanTechnica]
¶ “Biden Administration Climate Actions This Week” • Interior Secretary Deb Haaland called project approvals in California part of an “all-of-government approach toward its ambitious renewable energy goals.” They include “historic investments in boosting climate resiliency, advancing clean energy projects, and replacing aging infrastructure.” [CleanTechnica]
Have a supremely merry day.
geoharvey 
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