Science and Technology:
¶ “Aviation Contrails: Low Hanging Fruit of the Climate Fight” • In a report, “Contrail avoidance: aviation’s climate opportunity of the decade,” Transport & Environment explained how cheap it would be to avoid 80% of the contrails damage. The report was published just before COP29. It got a followup with an event at the conference in BAKU. [CleanTechnica]
Contrails (William Hook, Unsplash)
¶ “Journals Co-Publish Call For Collaborative Microbiological Research To Combat Climate Change” • Researchers and 14 scientific journals are calling on governments and industry to take coordinated action to counter climate change by harnessing microbiological research. They propose six areas of action that promise quick and effective solutions. [Phys.org]
World:
¶ “World Leaders Reach $300 Billion Climate Cash Deal At COP29” • In a surprising turn of events, world leaders at the UN climate conference in Azerbaijan announced they have reached agreement on a new deal that calls for wealthy countries to contribute $300 billion annually to help developing nations deal with the effects of climate change. [ABC News]
Setting up COP29 (IAEA Imagebank, CC-BY-SA 2.0)
¶ “After A Long Wait, Zimbabwe’s Utility-Scale Solar PV Sector Is Starting To Grow” • Zimbabwe has nearly 3,000 MW of installed generating capacity, but much of it is not working. Another issue is that very few of the over 100 projects from IPPs with licenses to generate electricity from renewable sources have taken off. The situation is changing, however. [CleanTechnica]
¶ “Chambers Wants Mayo To Become Leader In Renewable Energy” • Mayo election candidate Senator Lisa Chambers restated her pledge to ensuring Mayo be a leader in renewable energy, underlining her years of advocacy for wind energy. Now her position is included in the renewable energy targets in her party’s election platform. [Connaught Telegraph]
Lisa Chambers (OSCE Parliamentary Assembly, CC-BY-SA 2.0)
¶ “Armenia Joins International Solar Alliance” • Armenia has become the full member of the International Solar Alliance family. Armenia is a South Caucasian country, endowed with rare natural beauty, and nearly subtropical. The announcement was made by Randhir Jaiswal, the Indian Ministry of External Affairs official spokesperson. [Times of India]
US:
¶ “Undersea Pods Deployed For Energy Efficient Desalination” • Seawater desalination systems are gigantic, expensive, energy-sucking beasts, but they are badly needed, especially in an era when freshwater resources are strained to the breaking point. Its nature is a challenge, but a California startup has come up with a unique solution. [CleanTechnica]
OceanWell water farm (Courtesy of OceanWell)
¶ “The Fight Over Emissions From Heavy Trucks Moves To The Courts” • California’s Air Resources Board enacted rules that require sales of more battery-powered heavy trucks. The rules, also taken up by other states, begin on January 1, 2025. Truck dealers say they can’t be ready with new electric trucks, so the issue is going to court. [CleanTechnica]
¶ “Trump Promised To Kill Offshore Wind Energy: What It Will Mean For The Gulf” • Trump’s vow to kill offshore wind energy development “on day one” of his second term is already having effects on the East Coast, but the biggest wind farm proposed in the Gulf of Mexico will likely stay on track, as his term will end before it really gets under way. [Louisiana Illuminator]
Lake Charles (David Wilson, CC-BY-SA 2.0)
¶ “Maine’s Easternmost City Could Be A Model For The Nation’s Renewable Future” • Eastport Maine is the easternmost city in the US and has the East Coasts’s deepest port. It is also at the end of the electric line, and it is exposed, so the power goes out more often than other places. It is developing solar and tidal power to feed a microgrid. [Maine Morning Star]
¶ “Council Recommends Tax Incentives For Nuclear Energy” • The Tennessee Nuclear Energy Advisory Council recommended creating a new tax credit to attract more of the sector to the state. It also recommends lawmakers include nuclear energy on the list of industries eligible for the Certified Green Energy Production Facilities tax break. [The Center Square]
Have an iridescently colorful day.
geoharvey 