#Orkney islands to trial #ElectricFerries to cut #CarbonEmissions

#BatteryPowered #hydrofoils will replace ageing and highly #polluting inter-island #ferries from March 2024 https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2023/sep/11/orkney-islands-to-trial-electric-ferries-to-cut-carbon-emissions

#ClimateCrisis #Scotland

Two-Thirds of Conservative Endowment Fund Directors Are Linked to Fossil Fuels and Polluting Industries

https://www.desmog.com/2023/08/23/two-thirds-conservative-foundation-endowment-fund-directors-linked-fossil-fuels-polluting-industries/

Two-thirds of the directors who run the #Conservative #Party’s multi-million-pound #endowment #fund have interests in #fossil #fuel firms or #polluting #industries, DeSmog can reveal. The Conservative Party Foundation Limited was founded in 2009 with the purpose of raising and managing “legacy funds to support the long term finance of the Conservative Party”.

Financial interests of its directors include #Shell, #BP, consultancies that work for fossil fuel giants and #petrostates, and the construction multinational #JCB.

https://insideclimatenews.org/news/13082023/epa-texas-disagree-haze-rules-national-parks/

#RenewablesSavesLives: #EPA rejects Texas’s #donothing plan to implement more #pollutioncontrols for its sheer number of #polluting #fossilfuel facilities contributing to #airpollution at national #parks.

#ParisAligned #GreenwashingScience

Infrared cameras reveal more than 100 gas leaks across fossil fuel sites in Australia

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9FfnayJrTy4&ab_channel=GuardianAustralia

Infrared videos show gas leaking or being vented from more than 100 places across 35 fossil fuel sites in Queensland and New South Wales, according to an investigation by environmental organisations. The Australian Conservation Foundation commissioned the US-based Clean Air Task Force, a global nonprofit, to use new technology to monitor if methane was leaking from coalmines and gas facilities owned by energy giants Santos and Origin and pipeline company Jemena. The organisations said the videos were recorded over a four-week period in which they visited 80 sites to take a snapshot of Australia’s fossil fuel infrastructure. Methane is a powerful greenhouse gas with more than 80 times the global heating impact of CO2 over a 20 year period when released into the atmosphere.

Currently the government rejects this evidence and is taking no action.

#climatecrisis #mines #polluting #venting #gas #methane #release #evidence #investigation #Australia #fossil #fuel

#Chemical companies’ #PFAS payouts are huge – but the problem is even bigger

#3M, #DuPont, #Chemours and #Corteva have agreed settlement in the billions for #polluting drinking #water with ‘forever chemicals’

by Tom Perkins, Aug 3, 2023

"“When the chemical giant 3M agreed in early June to pay up to $12.5bn to settle a lawsuit over PFAS contamination in water systems across the nation, it was hailed by attorneys as 'the largest drinking water settlement in American history', and viewed as a significant win for the public in the battle against toxic 'forever chemicals'.

“A second June settlement with the PFAS manufacturers DuPont, Chemours and Corteva tallied a hefty $1.1bn. But while the sums are impressive on their face, they represent just a fraction of the estimated $400bn some estimate will be needed to clean and protect the nation’s drinking water. Orange county, California, alone put the cost of cleaning its system at $1bn.

“‘While over a billion dollars is real money, it is a virtual drop in the bucket of potential utility costs to monitor, remove and dispose of these contaminants in accordance with anticipated federal regulations,' the American Municipal Water Association trade group said in a statement.

“Moreover, the two settlements include just over 6,000 water systems nationwide. Utilities that were not part of the suits but have PFAS in their systems can claim some of the settlement money, or they can sue the chemical manufacturers on their own.

“That means the settlements only represent the first wave of utility lawsuits to hit #ChemicalManufacturers, legal observers say. Because PFAS are so widely used and the scale of their harm is so great, chemical makers will get hit from a range of legal angles, and some suspect the industry’s final bill could exceed the $200bn paid by #BigTobacco in the 1990s.

“The number will be 'very large', said Kevin McKie, an attorney with the Environmental Litigation Group who represented a water management company in the 3M case. Though the 3M settlement does not cover all the nation’s costs, it is a strong start, he added.

“‘A good settlement is one where both sides walk away a bit frustrated’ is the old saying,' McKie said. 'Of course I would have liked a bit more money but I do believe they got as much as they could at this time, and there’s a lot more to go.'

“PFAS are a class of about 15,000 compounds used to make products across dozens of industries resistant to water, stains and heat. They are called 'forever chemicals' because they do not naturally break down, and are linked to #cancer, #KidneyDisease, #liver conditions, #immune disorders, #BirthDefects and other health problems.

“The chemicals are thought to be contaminating drinking water for over 200 million Americans. Tens of thousands of contaminated #PrivateWells are not included in the settlement. The chemicals are also widely used in thousands of consumer products from #DentalFloss to #cookware to #clothing, and have been found to #contaminate #food, #soil and #air.

“PFAS constantly cycle and accumulate throughout the environment, and removing them from water is costly. The highly mobile chemicals can slip through most utilities’ filtration systems. Granular activated carbon and reverse osmosis are considered the best options.

“Leaders in Stuart, Florida, which was the bellwether case in the 3M settlement, chose to take what they could get without further litigation. Bellwethers are cases that represent all the other plaintiffs in a multi-district lawsuit. Stuart estimated damages at up to $120m, and the city acknowledged the settlement would fall short.

“‘I don’t think we’ll ever get close to that much net to the city, so I think there is no making us whole,' Stuart’s city manager told the New York Times.

“Among those utilities going at it alone is the Cape Fear Public Utility Authority (CFPUA) near Wilmington, North Carolina, which sits on the #CapeFear River about 75 miles downstream from a Chemours PFAS manufacturing plant. It cost the utility about $46m to develop a granular activated carbon system to remove PFAS, and officials estimate an additional $5m in annual operational costs.

“The utility declined to comment, citing ongoing litigation, but in a late June op-ed, the CFPUA director Kenneth Waldrop explained the motivation for not joining the settlements: 'The information currently available suggests that the proposed settlement, when divided among thousands of other utilities with similar needs, would be insufficient to meet the needs of our community.'

“The utility has a 'strong case' against Chemours which has the reserves to cover the full cost, Waldrop added. There is generally support for that approach among Wilmington-area residents, said Emily Donovan, a public health advocate who lives in the region.

“‘This is not our fault, but it has been made our problem, and the community mostly understands what’s going on,' she said.

“The settlements also drew unlikely opponents in 22 state attorneys general who urged the judge to reject the 3M settlement because it 'does not adequately account for the pernicious damage that 3M has done in so many of our communities', said the California attorney general, Rob Bonta.

“Beyond water utility settlements, chemical makers face personal injury suits. Most US states will also probably sue over #contamination of #lakes, #rivers and other #NaturalResources #Minnesota alone found eliminating PFAS contamination from its wastewater could run to $28bn.

“Local water systems that are not made whole will need help from the federal government, which 'basically abandoned public water infrastructure a long time ago', said Oday Salim, director of the Environmental Law and Sustainability Clinic at the University of Michigan.

“‘Any amount of money that gets shifted to the victims is helpful,' he added.
“The government could implement an excise tax on PFAS to help cover costs, McKie said, and he noted the chemical manufacturers are taking a significant hit. By some estimates, 3M’s PFAS liabilities may soar to as much as $30bn as claims roll in.
“‘That’s a pretty big chunk of the total size of their corporation,' McKie said."

https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2023/aug/03/chemical-companies-pfas-payouts-forever-chemicals

#EPA #EPAFail #PFOS #WaterIsLife #ToxicWaste #ChemicalIndustries #ForeverChemicals

Study finds #vegan #diets less #polluting, more #climate-friendly

https://www.nature.com/articles/s43016-023-00795-w
https://wpln.org/post/vegan-diets-cause-far-less-climate-pollution-study-shows-heres-what-to-know-in-tennessee/
https://www.desmog.com/2021/07/18/investigation-meat-industry-greenwash-climatewash/

Overall, a minority of people ask me if there is anything we can do to prevent humans from polluting the atmosphere therefore causing #ClimateChange

Can those that have the choice, wealthy people, choose lower #polluting alternatives? (e.g., public transport). Can we stop the choices of the wealthy that choose the far more polluting behaviours & activities such as recreational #diesel vehicle drivers, flying on Jets, #meat eaters.

How do we make them make the right choices?

#psychology

Less Talk, More Walk: Why #ClimateChange Demands #Activism in the Academy https://doi.org/10.1162/daed_a_01824

#climate #science #ClimateActivism #ScienceCommunication

#sustainability #ConservationBiology #ecology #food #wildlife #agroecology #climatology #RenewableEnergy #PoliticalScience #economist #degrowth #polluting #IndustrialSectors

#OilRefineries release lots of water pollution near communities of color, data show

by Rebecca Hersher, January 26, 20234:38 PM ET

Most of the pollution is happening near communities of color

"In the #USA, people with less power have consistently been exposed to more pollution, whether it's excess #AirPollution from #highways and #factories, drinking water #contamination, exposure to #lead paint or polluted #lakes and #rivers.

"That trend shows up clearly in the new report, which finds that the majority of the worst-#polluting refineries are located near communities that have lower-than-average #income and a higher-than-average proportion of #NonWhite residents.

"A further NPR analysis of the data finds even more stark inequities: some types of water pollution are concentrated overwhelmingly in communities where people of color live.

"For example, about three-quarters of the nitrogen, selenium and dissolved solid #pollution from #oil refineries came from facilities that are surrounded by neighborhoods that are home to people of color.

"The #EPA declined to comment on the report or on NPR's findings."

#BigOil #Exxon #AHexOnExxon #EnvironmentalRacism #EPAFail #WaterIsLife #PeopleOfColor

https://www.npr.org/2023/01/26/1151464514/oil-refineries-release-lots-of-water-pollution-near-communities-of-color-data-sh

#PayAsYouGo: Known as a #VehicleMilesTravelled (V.M.T.) fee, it would charge #drivers for each mile of their use of the #road. In doing so, it can incentivize us to drive less often, to avoid #peak #travel periods and to drive less-damaging and less #polluting #vehicles.

https://www.nytimes.com/2023/07/06/opinion/infrastructure-investment-jobs-act-climate-change-electric-vehicle.html?unlocked_article_code=li8apeHpYsPEJkuYij9vwFRkOn-HG5ISKmy1G-LNacforDO47pOQ2pzYgFfNeoDnAJDOnEB_6iaZUdKbDtzV0cov6DT7_QtUoSIIr1wVZmH_CfX800z8cwumHYpcuSouobXxCmMgBbgR6fuoNVeHerjSda0JzObl6LjnFn_bcxKczSwSfFl6dh6vdG8Z9uV5m0woZvnrMEX0nrN_Umyk-N1Pp_-RAjzq1zZcEfr5DJAxVk2zYA72_QziF00ya73XFn3d6aPCL0CHrCIaGZNEKsd3-YKTm9sz6AQ5ccrO7rstIC9TOvoLRxA7eJaDKUvXBIDSEi4iF4t-hGqeoy73R7mrOX1BbgouzNp4RRa-2JFxHJ-C-MHiRduqa9yKMbi9TmIvDZ_N4rUkYpo&smid=url-share

PEOPLE ARE SO STUPID! #Fireworks are #toxic, #poisonous, #polluting & #dangerous to #wildlife, #pets, #children & to all of us who BREATHE, but we still insist on them

NYC's #AirQuality after #July4th fireworks was as bad as #WildfireSmoke

https://gothamist.com/news/nycs-air-quality-after-july-4th-fireworks-was-as-bad-as-wildfire-pollution

https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2023/jun/22/fossil-fuel-assets-loss-study

#keepitintheground #economics: “We find that the bulk of #financial #losses associated with rotten, #polluting assets is borne by the #wealthy,” said the co-author Lucas Chancel, a professor of economics at Sciences Po in Paris. “Only a small share of financial losses is borne by the #working and #middleclass because they have no or relatively little financial #wealth.”

Polluting cars hit with higher parking rates in England. Such a good idea! https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2023/jun/18/owners-of-most-polluting-cars-to-pay-double-for-parking-england #parking #polluting #fees

Owners of the most #polluting #cars to pay double for #parking across #England | #Transport | The Guardian

Good idea.

https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2023/jun/18/owners-of-most-polluting-cars-to-pay-double-for-parking-england

#UK #Pollution

It’s not only water companies here #polluting our water

Top chemical companies to pay $1 billion settlement over water contamination claims in the U.S.

https://www.alternet.org/chemical-companies-1-billion-water/

#Sparkle-filled #JWST #Galaxy solves a longstanding #Cosmic #Mystery : Medium

#Microplastics Are #Polluting the #Ocean at a Shocking Rate : WIRED

What #Chernobyl’s Stray #Dogs Could Teach Us about #Radiation : Sci Am

Check our latest #KnowledgeLinks

https://knowledgezone.co.in/resources/bookmarks

What can you do if you think your neighbourhood has many village idiots. But, because idiots generally confirm their truth by talking with their fellow idiots, they don't think to question their harmful #smoke #polluting activities

How can you be friendly too implicit #narcissists who get hostile if their child harming, & self harming, smoke polluting behaviours are criticised? They're OK, IF, you speak their native lingo, but they don't like "odd" people that don't agree with their delusions

What can you do if you think your neighbourhood has many village idiots. But, because idiots generally confirm their truth by talking with their fellow idiots, they don't think to question their harmful #smoke #polluting activities

How can you be friendly too implicit #narcissists who get hostile if their child harming, & self harming, smoke polluting behaviours are criticised? There OK, if you speak their native lingo, but they don't like "odd" people that don't agree with their delusions

This is a result of the fossil fuel industry spending millions to keep us locked into #Polluting & #Harmful appliances. Amid the #Climate & #AirQuality crises, municipalities should have pathways to protect public health, cut emissions, & increase safety.
https://www.cbsnews.com/losangeles/news/court-throws-out-berkeley-california-ban-on-natural-gas/

I dunno. The #hypocrisy seems stunning to me. ULEZ is expanding, talk of log burners being banned, even 15min cities... but its OK for Oligarchical #billionaires to make hugely destructive, #polluting, ego driven rockets that create unimaginable environmental impact and I am supposed to welcome it with excitement and gleeful enthusiasm? It almost makes me wonder if the #climate agenda is really a thing. Something isn't right.