World:
¶ “Ferries In Europe Emit More CO₂ Than 6.6 Million Cars” • Ferries play a vital role in connecting Europe’s islands with the mainland. They are often seen as an environmentally friendly alternative to flying. But many vessels are old and polluting. In some cities ferries are responsible for more toxic air pollution all the city’s cars, a study warns. [Euronews]
Ferry boat (Jose M, Unsplash)
¶ “Gas Prices Nearly Double As Europe Braces For Iran War Energy Shocks” • Gas prices in Europe are rising as Middle East tensions disrupt global energy flows, fuelling fears of tighter LNG supplies. Analysts warn that if the conflict persists, higher wholesale costs could feed through to household bills and weigh on the wider economy. [Euronews]
¶ “From Carbon-Storing Tigers To Flood-Blocking Beavers: How Wildlife Secretly Tackles Climate Change” • As the planet edges closer to irreversible damage, wild animals around the world are staging their own secret fight against climate change and loss of biodiversity. Their natural behavior quietly helps mitigate some of the turmoil we create. [Euronews]
Beaver (Svetozar Cenisev, Unsplash)
¶ “EV Supply Chains Are Becoming Even Cleaner, Thanks To Strong EU Rules” • Electric cars have no tailpipe emissions, but even cleaner EVs, built with low-carbon steel, aluminium and batteries in ways that minimise harm to the environment and to people, are within reach. EU regulations are driving progress, but they could be rolled back. [CleanTechnica]
¶ “Over 3,000 One-Megawatt EV Charging Stations Planned By BYD For Europe” • Sometimes ultrafast chargers turn out to be about 180 kW to 350 kW, but new BYD chargers actually provide 1,000 kW of power capacity. How many EVs can charge at such a high rate? Some BYD, Zeekr, and Xpeng models can. Obviously, they’re all Chinese. [CleanTechnica]
BYD Han L EV (BYD image)
¶ “China Could Be On The Cusp Of A Green Aluminum Boom” • China is hastening its efforts to clean up heavy industry. Last year it put money into hard-to-decarbonize sectors for the first time and increased its use of green fuels. The push comes as the country is building renewable resources faster than anywhere else in the world. [Canary Media]
¶ “RWE Installs First Turbine At 1.1-GW Thor Offshore Wind Farm” • RWE installed the first turbine at the 1,100-MW Thor offshore wind farm off the west coast of Jutland. The Brave Tern vessel is handling the job and can install three turbine sets per cycle. RWE said 72 Siemens Gamesa turbines of up to 15 MW each will be in place by the end of 2026. [reNews]
First Thor wind turbine (RWE image)
¶ “With The Middle East Burning, Will India Go Back To Russian Oil?” • With the Middle East in turmoil, US President Donald Trump might have got what he wanted – a spike in crude just two months after the US “liberated” Venezuela. But India may not be ready to pay the price, especially given the “friendship” it has had with Russia. [The Week]
¶ “Japan Eyes Remote Pacific Island For Nuclear Waste” • Japan is looking into using a remote deserted Pacific island nearly 2,000 km (1,250 miles) from Tokyo as a site for burying nuclear waste, officials said. The government wants to conduct a preliminary survey on Minamitorishima, Japan’s easternmost island in the Pacific, to see if it is fit to host a facility. [Phys.org]
Minamitorishima (CMSgt Don Sutherland, USAF)
US:
¶ “Manhattan’s Congestion Pricing Can Continue, Judge Rules” • A federal judge ruled the Trump administration does not have the authority to kill Manhattan’s congestion program and it can continue. The program is the first of its kind in the nation. In a 149-page ruling, Judge Lewis Liman said the attempt to end the program was unlawful. [ABC News]
¶ “Iran Attacks Threaten GDP Growth And Inflation Prospects” • The US and Israeli attacks on Iran pushed oil prices up, adding fresh uncertainty to a US economy already facing weak hiring and stubborn inflation. Oil shot to its highest in a year and stock futures are tumbling as worries build over a spreading conflict in the Middle East. [Euronews]
Fire after a bomb explodes (Mohammed Ibrahim, Unsplash)
¶ “New Electric Air Taxis From Uber Could Take Flight Soon” • Uber is one step closer to helping customers travel with a new fleet of air taxis. A company announcement gave details of its partnership with Joby Aviation. The partnership will let riders book all-electric air taxis directly in the Uber app, just like requesting a ride on the ground. [ABC News]
¶ “The Three-Wheeled, Solar-Enabled EV From Aptera Is Back” • Like many automakers, the solar-powered EV startup Aptera has had its share of ups and downs, so it was a pleasant surprise to find that Aptera just celebrated the first vehicle rolling off its validation assembly line. It’s also perfect timing, considering how the war in Iran is giving EVs new life. [CleanTechnica]
Aptera EV (Aptera image)
¶ “Is Climate Change Making This A Snowier Winter?” • People are confused. Isn’t New England supposed to be in the midst of winters that are producing much fewer snowstorms than those of our childhoods? Climate change has warmed New England, and its oceans, more than nearly all of the rest of the world. And that means more precipitation in storms. [CleanTechnica]
¶ “Trump’s War On Wind Is Killing The Permitting Reform Oil And Gas Wants” • Last week, the Wall Street Journal reported that oil and gas lobbyists have urged the Trump administration to back off of his assault on offshore wind. This is because Trump’s crusade is torpedoing the something the industry spent years trying to win: permitting reform. [Latitude Media]
Have an unusually fulfilling day.
geoharvey 