Opinion:
¶ “The Global Sprint Away From Fossil Fuels” • With his barbaric war on Ukraine, Vladimir Putin has set in motion every outcome he dreaded, including shaking up global energy markets. Now, energy security is at the forefront of the minds of national and regional policymakers, investors, businesses, and consumers alike. Now is a time to act. [CleanTechnica]
Tanker at anchor (Ian Simmonds, Unsplash)
¶ “Energy-Rich Scotland Does Not Need New Nuclear Power Plants” • Nuclear is set in what it can supply. That’s why hydro is needed, especially pumped storage. Scotland has 90% of UK hydro. It produces at high loads, but in low-usage periods spare electricity is used to pump water up to the reservoir. Without hydro, nuclear energy is less useful. [The National]
¶ “The New Phenomenon Of Climate Migrants” • The effects of climate change, including heat waves, wildfires, floods, droughts, and sea level rise, are producing climate migrants. Countries around the world are struggling to reconcile political pressures to insulate borders with the pressing humanitarian need caused by the climate crisis. [CleanTechnica]
Refugee camp (Julie Ricard, Unsplash)
Science and Technology:
¶ “Biochar Has Potential To Enhance Agriculture In California And Mitigate Climate Change” • Human production of biochar has been going on for a long time. It has a rich history in places like the Amazon basin, where it was used to improve soil quality dramatically. It is relatively easy to make, and its benefits are pretty astounding. [CleanTechnica]
World:
¶ “Southern Africa Storms Fueled By Climate Change – Study” • Climate change fueled heavier rainfall during a series of storms that battered southern Africa earlier this year, scientists say in analysis from the World Weather Attribution group. The region of southern Africa was hit by three cyclones and two tropical storms in six weeks. [BBC]
Boy trying to get home (Menyea, CC-BY-SA 4.0)
¶ “Call For Renewable Energy Revolution To Be At Heart Of Election Campaign” • The 2022 Australian federal election is officially underway. The Clean Energy Council has called on political leaders to put the industry at the heart of their election campaigns, given the massive economic opportunities that are created by the sector. [Renew Economy]
¶ “Nissan And NASA To Take On Solid-State Battery Challenge” • Solid-state battery is projected to cost less than traditional lithium-ion batteries, have higher energy density, charge faster, and last longer. A lot of research is being done to bring them to market. Nissan and NASA say they will team up to crack this particular nut. [CleanTechnica]
Nissan Ariya (Tokumeigakarinoaoshima, CC-BY-SA 4.0)
¶ “Seoul To Develop Renewable Energy Technology Using Sewage Sludge For Green Hydrogen Production” • Seoul will develop technologies to utilize sewage sludge created in a water recycling center for the production of gas fuel. The sludge can be used for production of green hydrogen, which does not use any fossil fuel to generate. [AJU Business Daily]
¶ “Clean Power Capacity Grows Over 9% In 2021” • Global renewable generation capacity was 3,064 GW at the end of 2021, up over 9% on the previous year, according to an International Renewable Energy Agency report. Together, wind and solar technologies contributed 88% to the share of all new renewable capacity in 2021. [reNews]
Renewable energy (IRENA image)
¶ “Solar, Wind Surge In 2021 ‘Another Testament Of Renewable Energy’s Resilience'” • Solar and wind energy had another good year for global expansion, the International Renewable Energy Agency said. The agency declared, “the global shift to renewables is underway.” But the switch to renewable energy from fossil fuels must accelerate. [Common Dreams]
US:
¶ “Mattel Releases Its First Carbon Neutral Toys, Including A Matchbox Tesla” • Mattel has released its first-ever carbon neutral toys, including a Matchbox Tesla model made from recycled materials. Mattel has pledged to use “100% recycled, recyclable or bio-based plastic materials in all its products and packaging by 2030.” [CNN]
Earlier Matchbox Tesla Roadster (Mattel image)
¶ “Tesla Model 3 And Model Y Score About 100,000 US Sales In First Quarter Of 2022” • Based on well informed estimates of US Tesla sales, the Tesla Model Y and Tesla Model 3 dominated sales of electric cars in the US in the first quarter of 2022, just as in previous quarters. The Tesla Model S and Model X took the third and fourth spots in the ranking. [CleanTechnica]
¶ “One Year On, Ford Dealers Keep Playing Games” • A year ago, dealer markups on the Mustang Mach-E, represented about 10% of the price of the car. Today? Almost every new Ford carries a hefty dealer markup, and it’s got so bad that fed-up consumers have even started a website to track dealership markups called markups.org. [CleanTechnica]
Ford Mustang Mach-E (Courtesy of Ford)
¶ “Top Companies In The US Leading The Transition To Green Energy” • As evidence of a changing climate gets more clear, the business world is no longer ignoring sustainability. Companies are committing themselves to meeting bigger targets. Negative impacts of climate change have hit 97% of businesses, a Deloitte survey shows. [The CEO Magazine]
¶ “Wind Energy Company Pleads Guilty To Killing Eagles” • The wind energy company ESI Energy Inc must pay more than $8 million in fines and restitution and serve a five-year probation after pleading guilty to violating the Migratory Bird Treaty Act, according to a statement released by the US Department of Justice. [Smithsonian Magazine]
Have a thoroughly beneficial day.
geoharvey 
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