Opinion:
¶ “The Last Tepui: Biodiversity On The Earth’s Sky Islands” • For fans of toads, biodiversity, and rock climbing, “Explorer: The Last Tepui” from Disney+ is a must-see. It displays exploration of the unique “islands in the sky” that dot the Amazon, and it also provides an opportunity to review the importance of biodiversity on the clean tech field. [CleanTechnica]
Kukenan sky island (Veronidae, CC-BY-SA 3.0)
Science and Technology:
¶ “Regenerative Agriculture Makes Farmers And Ranchers More Resilient To Climate Change” • Regenerative agriculture helps farmers and ranchers withstand the effects of climate change, according to a report released by the Natural Resources Defense Council. It comes at the heels of a UN report that paints the grim effects of global warming. [NRDC]
¶ “Parts Of The World Heading Toward An Insect Apocalypse, Study Suggests” • A study published in the journal Nature shows a clear and alarming link between the climate crisis and high-intensity agriculture and showed that insect abundance has already dropped by nearly 50%, in places where the impacts are particularly high. [CNN]
Bee on a flower (Diana Parkhouse, Unsplash)
World:
¶ “Quebec Launches Wind And Renewable Energy Projects To Meet Growing Demand” • Hydro-Québec, a government-owned public utility, will be putting out two calls for tender for 2.3 GW of renewable energy projects in an effort to meet growing demands for electricity while maintaining the government’s environmental commitments. [Yahoo News Canada]
¶ “Many Protected Areas Do Not Benefit Wildlife, Study Says” • The largest ever study of protected areas – places “set aside” ostensibly for nature – has revealed that most do not actively benefit wildlife. In 1,500 protected areas of 68 countries, it found that success varied hugely around the world and depended a great deal on how an area was managed. [BBC]
Jacana walking on water lily (David Clode, Unsplash)
¶ “This Measure Of German Inflation Just Hit Its Highest Level Since 1949” • German annual producer price inflation topped 30% in March, the country’s Federal Statistics Office said. That’s its highest level since the agency began collecting data 73 years ago. The biggest culprit? Energy prices, which rose nearly 84% from the same month last year. [CNN]
¶ “Denmark Announces Aggressive Carbon Tax” • We have been waiting for the first draft of implementation since Denmark wrote GHG reductions into national law, in December of 2019. This week it was presented, and as usual some like it, and some do not. Danish national media outlet dr.dk reports a summary of some details: [CleanTechnica]
Copenhagen (Febiyan, Unsplash)
¶ “Amazon Extends Position As The World’s Largest Corporate Buyer Of Renewable Energy” • Amazon announced 37 new renewable energy projects around the world, marking some significant progress on its path to power 100% of its operations with renewable energy by 2025. That puts it five years ahead of its original target of 2030. [pv magazine India]
US:
¶ “Biden Administration Unveils New Rebate Programs To Replace Old Transformers And Upgrade Commercial Electric Motors” • The Biden administration unveiled two programs, established by the bipartisan infrastructure law, to provide $20 million worth of rebates to replace old transformers and upgrade electric motor systems. [CNN]
Transformer (ETA+, Unsplash)
¶ “Hollywood Barely Talks About The Climate Crisis. A Group Wants To Change That” • Leonardo DiCaprio has made the climate crisis and conservation his life’s work. Many others in Hollywood are environmentally conscious. But a study shows the industry isn’t doing nearly enough on screen to keep the climate crisis in everyday conversation. [CNN]
¶ “US Air Quality Report Finds A Sharp Uptick In Pollution, With The Hardest-Hit Cities In California” • In the US, the number of “very unhealthy” and “hazardous” air quality days was higher between 2018 and 2020 than it ever had before, according to a report released by the American Lung Association. This came after 23 years of declining levels of pollution. [CNN]
We could do better (Timothy Eberly, Unsplash)
¶ “Tesla Profits Soar As Customers Pay More” • Tesla has raised prices, but that hasn’t reduced demand for its cars. Despite the firm facing higher costs, profits at Elon Musk’s company soared to $3.3 billion in the first three months of the year, as customers proved willing to pay more. The firm’s deliveries were up 68%, despite supply chain shortages. [BBC]
¶ “Mercedes EQS SUV Will Be Manufactured In The US” • After a wait since it was announced, Mercedes has unveiled its EQS SUV. Despite its ungainly name, it is a sophisticated family hauler. Except for being taller than the sedan by 7.8 inches, and having a roof that goes back further, the SUV is mechanically identical to the EQS sedan. [CleanTechnica]
Mercedes EQS SUV (Image courtesy of Mercedes)
¶ “One Massachusetts Company Has A Big Sustainability Story To Tell On Earth Day” • Vanguard Renewables, a specialist in organics-to-energy, has a lot to celebrate this Earth Day. Having success with GHG reductions, it has partnered with Ben & Jerry’s, Cabot Creamery, and Polar Beverages, on biodigesters in Vermont and Massachusetts. [GlobeNewswire]
¶ “Governor Whitmer Wants Federal Aid To Keep Palisades Nuclear Plant Open” • Michigan’s Democratic governor wants a nuclear power plant on Lake Michigan to stay open and she’s asking the federal government to pay for it. But the owner of the Palisades Power Plant says it’s too late for that and that the plant will shut down in May as scheduled. [ABC57]
Have a gracefully spectacular day.
geoharvey 
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