Mexican state energy company Pemex put off urgent repairs and maintenance at an important offshore platform for months, resulting in methane spewing into the atmosphere, according to internal documents and three sources familiar with the infrastructure. Methane, the main component of natural gas, is a much more potent driver of global warming in the short term than carbon dioxide because it traps more heat in the atmosphere, tonne for tonne. New data from the United Nations Environment Programme's (UNEP) International Methane Emissions Observatory showed that the problematic Pemex platform in the Gulf of Mexico leaked methane as recently as December 24. Reuters previously revealed that the Zaap-C platform, one of the most important in the Gulf of Mexico, had leaked on at least 25 days between January and November 2023. The five internal documents, seen by Reuters, show for the first time that Pemex has been aware of components at the platform that were beyond repair and several other deficiencies related to the infrastructure since at least June. Pemex needs to install two new turbo compressors at the platform, various pipelines, connecting infrastructure and a firewall for safety reasons, an evaluation by Pemex from January shows. The turbo compressors help compress the gas so it can be reinjected into the field. Three sources who work on the infrastructure said that when key components fail, the platform's flare goes off and methane is released into the atmosphere. It is not redirected to another platform nor reinjected into the field, they said. A flare is meant to burn off the methane component of gas that comes to the surface during oil exploration and production. The Pemex documents include internal proposals for changes, infrastructure plans and extracts from a database detailing the composition of gas. None of them have previously been reported. Pemex, which is responsible for the infrastructure, has in the past denied these large methane leaks at the platform. It did not respond to repeated requests for comment. The president's office, the energy ministry, the oil regulator and the environmental regulator, also did not respond. Engineers have on several occasions urged Pemex to replace the faulty parts and make other urgent repairs, the three sources said, adding that other parts of the Gulf of Mexico infrastructure also lack maintenance. The sources - all engineers - said the faulty infrastructure remains in place, and the January evaluation still lists it as needing replacements and repairs, more than six months after the problems were flagged in the reports seen by Reuters. It would take about three months to carry out the works, one of the sources said, adding that it would also mean halting at least some part of production. MEXICO NOTIFIED OF LEAKS Last month, Reuters revealed that a U.N. agency had notified Mexico of repeated methane leaks from the platform. Scientists around the world have in recent years joined the dots on flares and methane emissions, demonstrating that once a flare is out - and production is not halted - vast volumes of methane are almost always released into the atmosphere. "This is something for which we've recorded evidence in different parts of the world," said Daniel Zavala, a senior scientist at the Environmental Defense Fund who has extensively researched emissions in Mexico. "It was easy for operators to say: if you cannot see burning happening, it means that no gas is coming out," Zavala said. "Until recently, we didn't have a way to check." When the flare works as intended, Zaap-C flares some 300 million cubic feet of gas per day, one of the sources said. Reuters reviewed internal Pemex data that shows that 17% of this gas is pure methane and 73% of which is nitrogen, a harmless gas that is plentiful in the atmosphere. The rest is composed of other gases and impurities. Zavala said that with such vast volumes of gas, even the relatively low percentage of methane was problematic for both the environment and the potential safety of workers. Pemex employs some 300 workers on the Zaap-C platform alone, and lingering methane could cause fires and explosions. Infrastructure to burn off methane from gas that comes to the surface as part of oil production was initially put in place as an industrial safety measure, long before the environmental impact of the greenhouse gas was widely known. In the Gulf of Mexico, Pemex has long either burnt off the gas or reinjected it into the fields - a way to recover more oil and compensate for lower production as it is being depleted. Pemex has been reluctant to make significant investments in infrastructure relating to old fields, said three other sources working at the company's exploration and production arm and one source at the regulator. Halting production at the world's most indebted energy company would be problematic, the sources said, because it would affect output and lead Pemex to miss ambitious targets set by President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador, who seeks to make the country self-sufficient in energy. https://www.reuters.com/business/environment/mexicos-pemex-put-off-repairs-despite-vast-methane-leaks-documents-sources-2024-03-22/
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The fossil fuel industry should help pay for fighting climate change in poorer countries under a United Nations target, European Union countries' foreign affairs ministers said on Monday. This year's U.N. climate summit in Baku, Azerbaijan, in November, is the deadline for countries to agree a new global target for how much wealthy, industrialized nations should pay poorer ones to cope with the most severe impacts of climate change. To attempt to address the spiraling costs of deadly heatwaves, droughts and rising sea levels, the European Union is preparing to argue that the new climate finance goal cannot be made up of public funding alone. The EU "calls for additional, new and innovative sources of finance from a wide variety of sources, including from the fossil fuel sector and other high-emission sectors, to be identified and utilised to provide climate finance," EU member state foreign affairs ministers said in a joint statement, published during a meeting in Brussels on Monday. The statement, a draft of which was previously reported by Reuters, said the EU will also continue to demand that large emerging economies and those with high CO2 emissions and per-capita wealth - like China and Middle Eastern states - should pay towards the new U.N. climate finance goal. "All countries according to their financial capabilities, including emerging economies" should contribute, it said. Beijing has opposed this in past U.N. climate talks. The question of which countries must pay is expected to be a core issue at this year's COP29 climate summit. The new climate finance target is expected to be far larger than the existing U.N. commitment of rich countries to spend $100 billion per year from 2020, a target they failed to meet on time. The OECD has said poor nations' actual climate investment needs could total $1 trillion per year by 2025. https://www.reuters.com/sustainability/sustainable-finance-reporting/fossil-fuel-sector-should-pay-climate-finance-eu-ministers-say-2024-03-18/
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Holding the fossil fuel sector responsible for contributing to climate finance is a commendable idea. Such measures can help redistribute resources towards climate action in a fair and effective manner, promoting global cooperation and collective efforts towards a more sustainable future for all.
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Well then, bring a bill to the table of the European Parliament, lobby for it and have it passed into law where fossil companies operating in Europe have to pay climate finance from their profits and or losses. I'm sure other continents will follow suit and implement such policies as well to the betterment of the climate
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We all should join hands in contributing in helping all Nations go green in the near future...for the common good of everyone.
The European Union's environment policy chief will tour South America this week in an attempt to alleviate fierce criticism from the region over a landmark EU law that will ban imports of goods linked to the destruction of forests. From the end of December, the EU will require importers of soy, beef, coffee, palm oil and other commodities to provide proof their supply chain does not cause deforestation. Deforestation fuels climate change and is the largest source of greenhouse gas emissions in Amazonian countries. Forests help curb global warming because their trees absorb huge amounts of carbon dioxide. Countries including Brazil and Malaysia have criticised the EU law, which they say imposes trade barriers and extra costs on their economies, and is protectionist. "It will bring changes compared to the way we traded in the past. My intention is to respond, to calm, any fears about the possible consequences," EU Environment Commissioner Virginijus Sinkevicius told reporters on Wednesday. "We see it as a turning point in the global fight against deforestation," he added. Paraguay, Bolivia and Ecuador, which Sinkevicius will visit this week, were among the countries to sign a statement at the World Trade Organisation last month criticising trade-altering green policies. That statement urged countries "to refrain from imposing of unilateral trade-related environmental measures that create unnecessary obstacles to trade or arbitrary or unjustifiable discrimination between countries". "Paraguay has been quite vocal in criticizing the EU deforestation regulation so I'll be trying to discuss the situation there and stress how we want to work with them on setting up traceability systems," Sinkevicius said. He said countries' biggest concern with the EU law was an upcoming system that will label countries as high, standard or low risk for deforestation - and the potential reputational damage of being labelled as "high risk". Sikevicius declined to confirm when the EU will notify countries of their risk level. A person familiar with the matter, who was not authorized to speak to the media, told Reuters EU elections this year would delay rolling out the risk ratings until 2025, as the methodology would need to be set by the next EU Commission. The EU law banning the import of goods linked to deforestation would go into effect at the end of 2024 anyway, with all countries initially being granted a "standard" level of risk. https://www.reuters.com/sustainability/eu-attempts-smooth-south-american-complaints-over-deforestation-policy-2024-03-13/
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It's important for all parties to engage in constructive dialogue to tackle the root causes of deforestation.
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Dialogue and cooperation are key to finding common ground and promoting sustainable practices in regard to climate matters
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#Australian practices already under scrutiny
The European parliament approved a new law on Tuesday that requires member states to push the renovation of buildings to make them more energy-efficient and reduce the EU's carbon emissions. A majority of 370 members of the European Parliament voted in favour of the bill, while 199 opposed and 46 abstained. Buildings account for 40% of the European Union's energy use, and most are heated by fossil fuels. The new rules will lead to the upgrade of buildings to use less energy - a move that also aims to wean countries off Russian gas faster and curb households' bills. "This law is going to help people to save money on their energy bills and take people out of energy poverty, while reducing emissions from our buildings and cutting demand for fossil fuel imports," said Green MEP, Ciaran Cuffe, who negotiated the law. Under the new law, the EU's 27 member states will have to apply newly created standards to non-residential buildings, like offices or hospitals, and will be able to use EU funds to make them more energy-efficient. "There is a lot of EU money ready to fund renovations," Cuffe said in a statement. The standards may be applied to residential buildings as well, but there will be no obligation to renovate for individual homeowners. The law was controversial after several countries such as Italy opposed, saying neither governments nor homeowners could afford the renovations. Italian legislator Angelo Ciocca, whose party, Lega, belongs to Italy's ruling coalition, blew a whistle in the European Parliament on Tuesday in protest at the approval of the law, until he was taken out by security officers. https://www.reuters.com/business/energy/eu-parliament-approves-law-make-buildings-more-energy-efficient-2024-03-12/
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This is greater...actions as such will help reduce the emissions by a huge percentage.
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This is super great for the EU to improve competitiveness and fight aganist climate change.
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This is huge news for Europe and the fight against climate change! ️➡️ ♻️ Energy-efficient buildings are a win-win - lower emissions, less reliance on fossil fuels and potentially lower energy bills for Europeans This might not be easy for everyone involved, but with EU funding available to support renovations, it's a step in the right direction. #GreenBuildings
A floating offshore wind farm planned in Arctic waters on Friday received 2 billion Norwegian crowns ($193 million) in state funding, with Norway viewing the still costly technology as a key contributor for industry development and emission cuts. The GoliatVind project in the Barents Sea, consisting of five 15 megawatts turbines and seeking to supply power to the Arctic town of Hammerfest, beat out six other applicants in a tender by government agency Enova. Norway hopes that floating offshore wind will provide an industrial future for its offshore supply industry as well as a means of cutting emissions from oil and gas production by replacing gas turbines as a source of power supply. "The government wants to make arrangements for floating offshore wind to become a new leg for the Norwegian supplier industry to stand on," Energy Minister Terje Aasland said in a statement. Floating wind such as GoliatVind could help to electrify offshore oil and gas installations while also supplying power to land, Aasland added. GoliatVind is owned by shipping firm Odfjell Oceanwind, renewables developer Source Galileo and Japanese utility Kansai Electric Power Company. It will connect to an existing power cable supplying power from shore to the Goliat oil platform, operated by Vaar Energi (VAR.OL), opens new tab, a subsidiary of Italy's ENI (ENI.MI), opens new tab. The oil platform consumes around 50-55 MW of electricity, which means that on full wind days, the planned turbines could send up to 25 MW to shore, Gunnar Birkeland, the head of Source Gallileo Norge, told Reuters. Birkeland would not provide an overall cost estimate but said the awarded funding was "significant" for the project. Operation is planned for 2028, within a five-year deadline for completion set by the Enova award. Another tender round for small-scale floating wind is already planned for later this year, Enova said. Last year, Equinor inaugurated the Hywind Tampen floating wind farm in the North Sea, which powers a number of oil and gas platforms. ($1 = 10.3621 Norwegian crowns) https://www.reuters.com/sustainability/sustainable-finance-reporting/norway-offers-193-mln-funding-arctic-floating-wind-farm-project-2024-03-08/
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This is the kind of leadership we need to protect our planet.
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It's a promising step towards sustainable energy production.
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It is really fascinating seeing how the world has quickly adopted to the idea of wind farms. The investment in Norway is really a step in the right direction.
European soccer's governing body UEFA says its new Carbon Footprint Calculator will be a groundbreaking tool in helping clubs reduce their environmental impact. The calculator, launched at Arsenal's Emirates Stadium on Wednesday and available to all European clubs, will assess carbon emissions from soccer-specific areas such as travel, purchased goods, facilities and logistics. "The UEFA Carbon Footprint Calculator embodies our ambition to showcase that football can be part of the solution in the global effort to reduce carbon emissions," UEFA Vice-President Laura McAllister said in a statement. "By providing stakeholders with the tools and guidance, we are facilitating collective action towards a more sustainable future for our sport and the planet." The calculator, tailor-made for the soccer industry and based on the Greenhouse Gas Protocol, has been two years in the making and is a collaborative effort involving more than 20 football organizations as well as third-party advisors. UEFA is a signature of the UN Race to Zero campaign which calls for a 50% reduction in carbon emissions by 2030 and to reach net zero by 2040. According to UEFA, this year's Euro 2024 championship in Germany will set a new standard in sustainability with match schedules tailored to reducing teams' travel and ticket holders entitled to free transport around the host cities. https://www.reuters.com/sustainability/uefa-launches-carbon-footprint-calculator-clubs-2024-03-06/
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Kudos to UEFA
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This is super great for the love of environment
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As a sports enthusiast am thrilled to see such efforts by UEFA to help football clubs reduce carbon footprint. Further football clubs should take initiatives to create environmental awareness.
Invesco (IVZ.N), opens new tab on Friday became the fifth major U.S. investor to exit or scale back their involvement with the Climate Action 100+ coalition of investors, which aims to push highly polluting companies to cut their carbon emissions. The move follows a decision by the fund arms of JPMorgan (JPM.N), opens new tab and State Street (STT.N), opens new tab and bond giant Pimco to leave in recent weeks, while BlackRock (BLK.N), opens new tab reduced its involvement with the group. The decision of Invesco, which manages $1.6 trillion in assets, and the others to leave came as CA100+ gears up to implement Phase 2 of its engagement plan, which would see members put more pressure on companies to cut their emissions. Coalitions such as CA100+ have been criticized by some U.S. Republican politicians as potentially being in breach of antitrust law, although in a statement last week CA100+ said it was confident this was not the case. Despite that, and "after careful consideration", Invesco said in a statement it had "decided to withdraw from the Climate Action 100+ initiative as we believe our clients’ interests in this area are better served through our existing investor-led and client-centric issuer engagement approach". A spokesman for CA100+ said the group continued to have the backing and support of hundreds of investors globally, including asset owners. "This is supported by the 60 new signatories with approximately $3 trillion in AUM (assets under management) joining since the launch of phase two alone, thereby further highlighting the strong ongoing demand for investor-led climate action." https://www.reuters.com/sustainability/invesco-joins-list-us-asset-managers-exit-ca100-climate-group-2024-03-01/
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Their action and decision sounds suspicious 😕.
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This is now becoming a worrying trend. I don't understand what is driving corporations to backtrack on their commitment in climate action.
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@boniface_kuria Greed , money, power.They forget commitment to climate action is for the greater good.
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This trend is alarming. Fathoming what is driving corporations to backtrack their engagement in climate action is quite tricky.
U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres on Thursday said cutting emissions is "essentially" the responsibility of G20 nations, the largest polluters, calling for stronger targets and fairer financing for countries bearing the brunt of climate change. Guterres, speaking ahead of the Community of Latin American and Caribbean States (CELAC) summit in Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, said "more climate justice" was needed, including reasonable financing costs for developing countries to protect themselves from climate change. "It is absolutely essential that there is not only a much bigger ambition in relation to the reduction of emissions, and that is essentially a responsibility of the G20 countries that represent 80% of the emissions," Guterres said. He added that more climate justice entailed "much more finance available at reasonable cost for adaptation and mitigation for developing countries, and in particular for small island developing states." Caribbean countries have long called for climate reparations, such as a "loss and damage" fund paid into by richer countries for vulnerable nations to access funds for damages incurred by climate disasters. Caribbean countries additionally face high debt-to-GDP ratios, and have called for debt relief so governments are not forced to choose between deploying humanitarian and emergency response projects and paying back debt. Guterres said that climate change would be one of the issues he would raise at the summit on Friday, as well as the international response to a worsening conflict and humanitarian crisis in Haiti. "It is the moment to recognize that Latin America and the Caribbean have been victims of an unfair international financial system and that many of them in particular are victims of runaway climate change," he said. https://www.reuters.com/business/environment/reducing-emissions-is-responsibility-g20-nations-uns-guterres-says-2024-03-01/
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The G20 must step up and take responsibility for their emissions.
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Very well stated G20 are the biggest emitters and therefore they should take responsible and cut their emissions
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It is important for G20 nations to take responsibility in cutting emissions to combat climate change. UN's Guterres' statement highlights the urgency and collective effort needed to address this global issue. Together we are the solution to climate crisis.
Alberta, which produces most of Canada's crude oil, will ban renewable power projects on prime agricultural land and erect buffer zones to ensure wind turbines do not spoil scenic views, the provincial government said on Wednesday. The province gave few details and said more announcements would follow, prompting one green group to complain that "an uncertainty bomb" had been dropped on a once booming sector. Last year, Alberta temporarily halted approvals of major new projects amid concerns over renewables' reliability and land use, cooling investment in the industry and challenging the federal Liberal government's clean energy ambitions. The western province has led the country in building renewable capacity and is on track to eliminate combustion of coal for power this year, six years ahead of plan. Alberta's right-of-center government said the pause on approvals would be lifted on Thursday but it would from now on take an "agriculture first" approach with proposed projects. "We need to ensure that we're not sacrificing our future agricultural yields, or tourism dollars, or breathtaking viewscapes to rush renewables development through," Premier Danielle Smith told a press conference in Edmonton. Smith, complaining renewable projects are not as reliable as gas-fired plants, says Ottawa's drive to cut carbon emissions could wreck the provincial energy industry. Alberta will bar renewable generation projects on land it deems has excellent or good irrigation capability and will set up buffer zones of a minimum of 35 km (22 miles) around protected areas or what the government considers pristine views. New wind turbine projects will no longer be permitted within those buffer zones. More work needs to be done on the overall policy, which will not be finalized until end-2024. "(This) has dropped an uncertainty bomb on renewable project investors and developers in Alberta ... The new path forward leaves even more unanswered questions for the industry," said Evan Pivnick of the Clean Energy Canada group. Alberta generates most of its electricity from natural gas and produces more than 82% of the country's crude oil. The government, citing concerns about the cost of cleaning up renewables projects once they have shut down, says developers will have to put up a bond or security. In a note to clients, RBC Dominion Securities analyst Nelson Ng said the new rules could slow the pace of development. George Chalal, one of just two federal Liberal legislators in Alberta, said Smith was "continuing her ideological crusade against renewables" that would kill jobs. https://www.reuters.com/world/americas/canadas-alberta-set-ban-renewables-projects-prime-land-report-2024-02-28/
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Alberta should be leading the way in clean energy innovation, not hindering it.
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Renewable energy are the solution we need save the planet, and you ban them?? This is absurd!! Ban fossil fuel instead
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This sounds absurd, Alberta government must recall this decision. Renewable energy production should be prioritised to fasten the transition to use of clean energy. Relying on natural gas for power poses danger to the environment.
I thought I'd make things a little lighter today and make someone laugh. I came across this video and realized that this comedian could actually be predicting the future if we continue on the path we are in. Agree if you like it. https://youtu.be/QHIKMwWDOHY?si=-9XlefKMEfwFz2AQ
Saúl Luciano Lliuya, a farmer from Peru, is suing German energy giant RWE. He says the company’s greenhouse gas emissions are endangering his home. It’s a David and Goliath battle that could set a precedent in holding major polluters accountable. When Saúl Luciano Lliuya learned that RWE’s coal mining operations had apparently produced more CO2 emissions than the entire country of Peru, he became convinced that a lawsuit could be successful. Many communities in the Andes are witnessing the effects of climate change on a daily basis. Peru is now one of the countries most affected by global warming. A glacial lake above Luciano Lliuya’s home city has swollen significantly due to glacier meltwater resulting from climate change. Experts say a sudden major avalanche could cause the lake to burst through existing flood defenses, with deadly consequences for the city below. Up to 50,000 people would be affected. The family homes of Luciano Lliuya and his neighbors are also in the danger zone. In 2015, Saúl Luciano Lliuya sued RWE in a German court. The "Saúl vs. RWE" case could have a ripple effect for the fossil fuel industry. After all, the case of Luciano Lliuya is not an isolated one: There are similar stories worldwide in poorer countries that have done little to contribute to the climate crisis yet feel its effects most profoundly. If Luciano Lliuya wins, the ruling could pave the way for many more lawsuits to come. https://youtu.be/PEUcR8o4deI?si=lAKMdz431sjTo0P3
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It's a reminder that ordinary people can make a difference and hold big polluters accountable for their actions.
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Those companies that pollute the environment and cause climate change should be put to justice and be accountable for their action including compensation to those affected.
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This is not something to talk now and then ,it is a high time government take serious action on this polluting companies .This companies licenses should be revoked or even to be totally banned .
Shared by Boniface Kuria
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Our team at We Don't Have Time -Kenya Chapter recently had the pleasure of meeting with Mary, a representative from the Kenya Power and Lighting Company (KPLC), to discuss potential collaborations between our organizations. The meeting, held over a delightful lunch in Thika town, aimed to explore the possibility of a partnership that could contribute to environmental sustainability and community well-being. The collaboration builds on our past engagement with KPLC, particularly in a tree planting exercise that happened in East Thika district, Kenya, back late 2023. Together, we have witnessed the positive impact such initiatives can have on local ecosystems, emphasizing the importance of joint efforts in fostering environmental conservation. During our discussion, Mary introduced us to an innovative product that KPLC is introducing to the Kenyan market—an E-Cooking Electric Pressure Cooker. This smart cooker stands out as a more effective and energy-efficient method of cooking compared to traditional approaches. Notably, the E-Cooking Electric Pressure Cooker is environmentally friendly, producing no harmful fumes and promoting healthier cooking practices. One of the key features of the E-Cooking Electric Pressure Cooker is its ability to utilize minimal energy while providing an excellent alternative to conventional cooking methods. Equipped with a non-stick pan, the cooker ensures less wastage and offers a sustainable solution to the challenges associated with traditional cooking practices. As part of their outreach efforts, KPLC aims to introduce the E-Cooking Electric Pressure Cooker to various counties across Kenya. By promoting this innovative and eco-friendly cooking solution, the collaboration between We Don't Have Time and KPLC seeks to contribute to sustainable living practices, reduce energy consumption, and enhance the overall well-being of communities. In conclusion, the meeting with Mary from Kenya Power and Lighting Company marks the beginning of an exciting journey toward a partnership that aligns with our shared commitment to environmental stewardship. We look forward to further discussions and collaborative initiatives that will make a positive impact on both local communities and the planet. As We Don't Have Time, we are looking forward to accelerating their mission through our platform as partners where we believe they can reach a huge audience and help more with a clean cooking method, that's highly needed especially to our African region which will be a healthy way to go. For more read the article below-:) https://www.standardmedia.co.ke/health/national/article/2001480994/kenya-power-to-adopt-electric-cooking-as-a-way-to-promote-use-of-clean-energy
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It's such a brilliant initiative introducing electric cooking as this will really curb deforestation and save on time as electric cooking is quick
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This is very commendable...for developing countries such as Kenya... sources of fuel to cook is a challenge to many as many people rely on traditional methods of cooking such as use of charcoal..by enlightening people on Alternative means could help reduce the pollution.
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This kind of discussions are encouraged, especially with industry players. I am excited to see We Dont Have Time Kenya Chapter following up on the electric cooking initiative by Kenya Power.
The U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) has removed some of its most ambitious greenhouse gas emission disclosure requirements from corporate climate risk rules it is preparing to adopt, people familiar with the matter said on Thursday. The SEC has dropped a requirement for U.S.-listed companies to disclose so-called Scope 3 emissions, which was included in its original draft of the rules published in March 2022, the sources said. Scaling back these rules would be a blow for President Joe Biden's agenda to address climate change threats through federal agencies. Biden, a Democrat, has been under pressure from many lawmakers in his party to do more and move at a faster pace. Scope 3 emissions account for greenhouse gases, such as carbon dioxide, released in the atmosphere from a company's supply chain and the consumption of its products by customers. For most businesses, Scope 3 emissions represent more than 70% of their carbon footprint, according to consulting firm Deloitte. If adopted, the new draft would represent a win for many corporations and their trade groups that lobbied to water down the rules. But it would also deviate from European Union rules which make Scope 3 disclosures mandatory for large companies starting this year and potentially complicate compliance for some global corporations. The SEC's original draft proposed mandatory disclosure of emissions for which companies are more directly responsible, dubbed Scope 1 and Scope 2. Some lobbyists pushed the SEC to require such disclosures only if they are material to a company's business. Reuters could not ascertain whether the latest draft changed the Scope 1 and 2 requirement threshold. Once the SEC settles on a final draft, it must be put to a vote among its five commissioners. The timing of the vote is not clear, and it is possible that the draft is revised before then. The sources requested anonymity because the matter is confidential. An SEC spokesperson said the agency considered adjustments to its draft rules based on public feedback, but declined to comment on the contents of the latest draft of the climate risk rules. "The Commission moves to adopt rules only when the staff and the Commission think they are ready to be considered," the SEC spokesperson said. The SEC's March 2022 proposal would require publicly listed companies to disclose a range of climate-related risks that could affect their business. It argued that greenhouse gas emission disclosures are important for investors' due diligence. Companies have pushed back, arguing the data is hard to produce and legally contentious. Reuters reported in November that the SEC told lobbyists and corporate executives it was considering watering down the rules. Some SEC officials worry that mandating disclosures across the board could make the rule more vulnerable to legal challenges which, if successful, could tie the agency's hands when writing other rules, Reuters reported at the time. Those concerns were fueled by a U.S. Supreme Court decision in 2022 curbing the Environmental Protection Agency's power to regulate greenhouse gas emissions. This raised doubts over whether SEC rules would survive a court challenge. Some corporate groups and Republican lawmakers also argued that tackling climate change-related issues exceeds the SEC's authority, and that the rules would be unduly burdensome for companies and cloud truly material information for investors. LITIGATION RISK SEC Chair Gary Gensler told an event held by the U.S. Chamber of Commerce in October that he hoped the emissions disclosure rules, which received some 16,000 public comments, will survive any legal challenges once they are finalized and adopted. "I would expect that whatever the rule says, unless they really water it down tremendously, there will be litigation," Columbia Law School Professor John Coffee, a securities regulations expert, said in an interview. Last year, California adopted a law that will require companies active in the state to disclose Scope 3 emissions as early as 2027. Corporate lobbyists said companies would still be reluctant to disclose Scope 3 emissions in SEC filings, even if they produced them for California, because including such information in securities filings gives grounds for more lawsuits from investors. Some voluntary initiatives such as the International Sustainability Standards Board already specify that it is best practice to disclose Scope 3 emissions. "There is no question Scope 3 reporting is important, because otherwise you risk presenting a somewhat misleading picture of the company's greenhouse gas emissions," said Ben Schiffrin, director of securities policy at Washington, D.C-based consumer and investor advocacy group Better Markets. https://www.reuters.com/sustainability/us-regulator-drops-some-emissions-disclosure-requirements-draft-climate-rules-2024-02-22/
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This is an utter failure of governance!
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This is disappointing and will drag back efforts to deal with greenhouse gas emmisions in the US, which will jeopardize President Biden's climate agenda.
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This is very bad. I am glad that the EU will force most large companies to report anyway. All US companies active in Europe will need to comply.
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Total Energies (TTEF.PA), opens new tab has signed a strategic partnership with Airbus (AIR.PA), opens new tab under which it will supply the plane maker with sustainable aviation fuel to meet more than half its needs in Europe, the French energy group said on Wednesday. The partnership aims to contribute to the reduction of the aviation sector's CO2 emissions in line with a plan to achieve net carbon neutrality by 2050, Total Energies said in a statement. https://www.reuters.com/business/energy/totalenergies-airbus-sign-partnership-sustainable-aviation-fuel-2024-02-21/
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Partnerships like this create a formidable future for generations
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Great to see major players like TotalEnergies and Airbus joining forces to make air travel more sustainable. This is a positive step forward for the environment and for the future of aviation.
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It is incredible to see Airbus take this direction that will go a long way in creating a sustainable environment by reducing carbon footprint. Total Energies should do more of this partnerships and sought to stop fossil fuels production entirely.
Boniface Kuria
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Travellers will need to bear the cost of the transition towards green jet fuel, Singapore's transport minister said as he announced the city state's plans for a levy on flight ticket prices as the aviation industry seeks a viable funding model. The plans announced at an industry summit on the eve of the Singapore Airshow aim for all departing flights to use 1% sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) from 2026, rising to 3-5% by 2030, subject to global developments and the wider availability and adoption of SAF. "It will hurt our air hub and our economy, and raise the cost of travel for passengers if we are overly ambitious with our sustainability goals," Transport Minister Chee Hong Tat said of the need for modest targets initially. Aviation produces about 2% of the world's emissions but is considered one of the hardest sectors to decarbonise. European regulators have been the most active in trying to boost the use of SAF, introducing rules that force airlines to meet minimum requirements for its use. Fuel suppliers are obliged to ensure 2% of fuel at EU airports is SAF by 2025, rising to 6% in 2030 and 70% in 2050. Under the European model, the carrier pays for the blended fuel and decides whether the cost will be passed on to passengers in ticket prices. Singapore's levy will vary based on factors such as the flight distance and travel class. For example, in 2026 the price of economy class tickets on direct flights from Singapore to Bangkok, Tokyo and London will rise by by an estimated S$3 ($2.23), S$6 and S$16 respectively to pay for the SAF, said the Civil Aviation Authority of Singapore, which developed the plan in consultation with industry and other stakeholders. But if SAF prices rise throughout the year, Singapore will not have raised enough cash from the levy - the level of which is set at the start of the year - to fund the full 1% and it could miss target, Tat said. SAF, which can be made synthetically or from biological materials such as used cooking oil or wood chips, currently accounts for 0.2% of the jet fuel market and costs up to five times more than conventional jet fuel. "A big challenge that is contributing to the high costs is actually securing bio-derived feed," said Ong Shwu Hoon, Asia Pacific fuels vice president at ExxonMobil (XOM.N), opens new tab Asia Pacific. HIGH COSTS Singapore's only current SAF producer, Neste (NESTE.HE), opens new tab, has capacity of up to 1 million metric tons of the fuel per year at the Singapore refinery that began operations last year, a company representative said. That is more than 10 times the volume required to the reach the 2026 target. Neste produced 251,000 tons of SAF globally in 2023, its most recent financial report said. The aviation industry says SAF use needs to rise to 65% by 2050 as part of plans to reach "net zero" emissions by then, though that will require an estimated $1.45 trillion to $3.2 trillion of capital spending. "There will be a cost associated with transitioning to net zero. And ultimately that cost will have to be reflected in the ticket prices that we charge our customers, which will have a dampening effect on the level of growth," IATA Director General Willie Walsh said at the Singapore summit. IATA, which represents about 320 airlines, estimates that the global airline industry will grow at about 3.3% per year over the next 20 years, significantly lower than between 2010 and 2019, because of environmental challenges and supply chain issues, Walsh said. Walsh also said that taxation to pay for aviation sustainability measures might not reduce the number of flights but could price some people out of flying and lead to empty seats, which is not good for the environment. "It's got to be a conversation: economics and viability, and environment sustainability," Walsh said. Luis Felipe de Oliveira, director general of Airports Council International, said governments need to invest in new SAF refineries to help bring down the cost. "The solution is not capacity restrictions, the solution is not taxation; the solution is finding ways that you can work together to increase production that will then be used by the airlines in the system," he said. Sustainability will be a key theme at the Singapore Airshow, which opens on Tuesday. During the show, Airbus (AIR.PA), opens new tab will fly its A350-1000 widebody aircraft with a 35% blend of SAF supplied by Shell Aviation and made with cooking oil and tallow. Singapore Airlines' (SIAL.SI), opens new tab Chief Sustainability Officer, Lee Wen Fen, said that the use of modern planes to replace older jets that use more fuel is the most effective option while the industry waits for SAF production to ramp up. https://www.reuters.com/sustainability/singapore-green-jet-fuel-levy-travellers-ignites-funding-debate-2024-02-19/
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Despite the cost of travelling increasing,this will have a positive impact on the environment as there will be reduced pollution..
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It's reassuring to see efforts being made to address climate change in the aviation sector. Well done Singapore Airlines 🇸🇬. 👏
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A shift to Sustainable Aviation Fuel is a plus for Singapore. I know how hard it is to decarbonize the aviation industry. Such measure should be commended.
Boniface Kuria
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https://www.reuters.com/business/autos-transportation/biden-administration-relax-ev-rule-tailpipe-emissions-ny-times-2024-02-18/ U.S. President Joe Biden's administration is set to ease proposed yearly requirements through 2030 of its sweeping plan to aggressively cut tailpipe emissions and ramp up electric vehicle sales, two sources told Reuters on Sunday. Automakers and the United Auto Workers had urged the Biden administration to slow the proposed ramp-up in EV sales. They say EV technology is still too costly for many mainstream U.S. consumers and that more time is needed to develop the charging infrastructure. The Environmental Protection Agency in April 2023 proposed requiring a 56% reduction in new vehicle emissions by 2032. Under the initial EPA proposal covering 2027-2032, automakers were expected to aim for EVs to constitute 60% of their new vehicle production by 2030 and 67% by 2032 to meet stricter emissions requirements. Under the revised final regulation expected to be made public as soon as next month, the EPA will slow the pace of its proposed yearly emissions requirements through 2030. The new pace is expected to result in EVs accounting for less than 60% of total vehicles produced by 2030, the sources said. The UAW, which endorsed Biden in January even as Republican Donald Trump argues that Biden's vehicle rules threaten auto jobs, says the EPA proposal should be revised to increase stringency "more gradually" and occur over a "greater period of time." The Alliance for Automotive Innovation (AAI), a trade group representing General Motors (GM.N), opens new tab, Ford Motor (F.N), opens new tab, Stellantis (STLAM.MI), opens new tab, Toyota (7203.T), opens new tab, Volkswagen (VOWG_p.DE), opens new tab and others, last year called the initial EPA proposal "neither reasonable nor achievable" and urged "adopting requirements for 40 to 50% (electric, plug-in electric and fuel vehicles) in 2030." EVs accounted for about 8% of sales in 2023. AAI CEO John Bozzella said on Sunday that the next few years are critical for the EV market. "Give the market and supply chains a chance to catch up, maintain a customer’s ability to choose, let more public charging come online, let the industrial credits and Inflation Reduction Act do their thing and impact the industrial shift," Bozzella said. The New York Times reported the EPA plans earlier and said the revised proposal ramps up requirements from 2030 through 2032. An EPA spokesperson said the proposal remains under interagency review and that it plans to finalize a rule that is "readily achievable, secures reductions in dangerous air and climate pollution and ensures economic benefits." White House climate adviser Ali Zaidi, who has held talks with automakers on tailpipe rules, said in a statement Sunday the United States is "harnessing the power of smart investments and standards to ensure U.S. workers will lead, not follow, the global auto sector." The Alliance for Automotive Innovation met with the White House and EPA last week to discuss the proposal, while Tesla (TSLA.O), opens new tab officials had a separate White House meeting on Feb. 9. Volkswagen of America chief Pablo Di Si told Reuters earlier this month "the government has been receptive in listening to us...I hope we'll see some modification." The EPA is also expected to address other concerns raised by automakers including a proposal to drastically reduce particulate matter from gas-powered vehicles, which the industry has argued would effectively require gasoline particulate filters on every gas-powered vehicle. Automakers also object to the EPA plan to largely eliminate the use of "enrichment" - a strategy to boost performance and prevent engine damage from hot exhaust gases - which they say would bar them from using some engines. Automakers have also sounded the alarm over the Energy Department's proposal to significantly revise how it calculates the petroleum-equivalent fuel economy rating for EVs in the Transportation Department's Corporate Average Fuel Economy program, saying it would sharply boost fines for not complying. The Energy Department sent its revised proposal for final rules to the White House for review on Feb. 9. The Transportation Department's separate proposal to boost CAFE requirements is expected later this spring.
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But why now? I strongly disagree with this decision, this is not time to backtrack, leaders should priotize what's the best for the planet
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I know its an election year but we should not backtrack on gains we have made to tackle climate change just to woo voters and get endorsements.
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The US's stand on climate change cannot keep changing every time a faction in the country makes a fuss. A country's leader has to know when to make the tough choices to advance their country and not to increase emissions or downplay the Electric Vehicle transition.
Boniface Kuria
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One of the worst methane leaks ever recorded took place last year at a remote well in Kazakhstan, new analysis shared with BBC Verify has shown. It is estimated that 127,000 tonnes of the gas escaped when a blowout started a fire that raged for over six months. Methane is much more potent a greenhouse gas than carbon dioxide. Buzachi Neft, the company that owns the well, denies a "substantial amount" of methane was leaked. According to the US Environmental Protection Agency's Greenhouse Gas Equivalency Calculator, the environmental impact of such a leak is comparable to that of driving more than 717,000 petrol cars for a year. "The magnitude and the duration of the leak is frankly unusual," said Manfredi Caltagirone, head of the UN's International Methane Emissions Observatory. "It is extremely big." The leak began on 9 June 2023, when a blowout was reported during drilling at an exploration well in the Mangistau region, southwestern Kazakhstan, starting a fire that raged continuously until the end of the year. It was only brought under control on 25 December 2023. Local authorities told the BBC work is currently being carried out to seal the well with cement. Natural gas is primarily made of methane, a gas that is transparent to the human eye. But, when sunlight passes through a cloud of methane, it creates a unique fingerprint that some satellites are able to track. This particular methane leak was first investigated by the French geoanalytics firm Kayrros. Their analysis has now been verified by the Netherlands Institute for Space Research and the Polytechnic University of Valencia, in Spain. Looking at the satellite data, scientists found high concentrations of methane were visible on 115 separate occasions between June and December. Based on those readings, they concluded that 127,000 tonnes of methane escaped from this single well. This could make it the second worst man-made methane leak ever recorded. Luis Guanter from the Polytechnic University of Valencia, who helped verify the leak, says "only the Nord Stream sabotage may have led to a stronger leak". In September 2022, underwater blasts tore apart two pipelines carrying Russian gas to Germany - Nord Stream 1 and 2 - releasing up to 230,000 tonnes of methane into the atmosphere. According to the International Energy Agency, methane is responsible for about 30% of the rise in global temperatures since the Industrial Revolution. Cutting methane gas 'crucial for climate fight' Satellites map huge methane plumes from oil and gas While satellite readings can be affected by external factors such as cloud cover, scientists say they are "completely sure" that vast amounts of methane escaped from this individual well. "We detected methane plumes from five different methane-sensitive satellite instruments," said Mr Guanter. "Each of these instruments measures methane in a particular way, but we obtained very consistent measurements from all of them." In a statement, the Department of Ecology in the Mangistau region confirmed that the concentration of methane in the air exceeded legal limits on 10 separate occasions between 9 June and 21 September. It also said that, in the hours that followed the initial blowout, methane levels in the air were 50 times higher than allowed. But Buzachi Neft, the Kazakhstani company that owns the well, denies suggestions that vast amounts of methane were leaked. The company says its well only contained a "negligible" amount of gas, and that any methane leaked would have burnt as it came out of the borehole. It says it also believes only water vapour was leaked into the atmosphere, forming large white plumes that were visible from space. "We have approached the situation responsibly," the company's deputy director for strategic development, Daniyar Duisembayev, told the BBC. External research commissioned by Buzachi Neft - which the BBC has not been given access to - is alleged to cast doubt on Kayrros' findings. According to the company, it suggests satellites could have mistaken other gases in the atmosphere - like water vapour - for methane, and that scientists did not account for methane already in the air before the blowout happened. But the teams involved in verifying Kayrros' initial probe into the leak deny this. "We have tested the potential effect of water vapour or smoke, and we did not find any signal of those interacting with our measurements," said Mr Guanter from the Polytechnic University of Valencia. He also said scientists only looked for "single methane plumes" and that their methods would not have been affected by methane already in the atmosphere before the accident. Kazakhstan vows to cut methane emissions An official probe into the causes of the accident - led by Atyrau's Industrial Safety Committee - found that Buzachi Neft failed to appropriately supervise the drilling of the well. It also blamed Zaman Energo, a subcontractor, for numerous failures in the drilling process. Zaman Energo declined to comment on this story. In a statement, Kazakhstan's Ministry of Energy told the BBC tackling the leak was a "complex technical operation" and that "there is no universal solution to eliminate similar accidents". And yet, it is not the first time major methane leaks have been detected in Central Asia. Like neighbouring Turkmenistan, Kazakhstan has registered dozens of "super-emitter" events - a phrase used by scientists to describe incidents where large amounts of methane are released into the atmosphere. But Mr Guanter says the event observed in the Mangistau region stands out. "It is the largest methane leak from 'normal' human activities that we have ever detected," he said. Climate experts at Climate Action Tracker say that, with a projected increase in natural gas production, Kazakhstan faces risks of further methane leakages from gas pipelines. At last year's COP28 climate summit, Kazakhstan joined the Global Methane Pledge - a voluntary agreement by more than 150 countries to slash their methane emissions by 30 percent by 2030. https://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-68166298?utm_campaign=later-linkinbio-bbcnews&utm_content=later-41153678&utm_medium=social&utm_source=linkin.bio
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This is very unfortunate that a leak could go for so long without any concern whatsoever.
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Such incidents can have serious environmental consequences and need to be addressed urgently to prevent further harm.
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This is concerning, especially considering the harzodous nature of methane gas to the environment. Kazakhstan must sought to overturn this with immediate effect.
Boniface Kuria
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President Joe Biden's administration is poised to announce an adjustment to its scientific modeling for ethanol that will show the corn-based fuel to be less effective at reducing greenhouse gas emissions than previously estimated, three sources briefed on the plans told Reuters. The adjustment, previously unreported, will make it more difficult for ethanol producers to take part in lucrative new U.S. tax credits for so-called sustainable aviation fuel, seen as crucial to the industry’s growth, the sources said. It will still leave them a pathway to the subsidies if they can partner with corn growers that use sustainable farming practices. The adjustment is intended to more accurately account for the environmental damage caused when land is https://www.reuters.com/world/us/white-house-set-back-tougher-climate-model-ethanol-sources-say-2024-02-16/ converted into farms to grow corn, while also rewarding climate smart farming techniques like no-till farming and covered crops, said the sources, who asked not to be named because they are not authorized to speak publicly. Politically, the plan would be a middle ground for the White House, which faces pressure from environmentalists who want the world to rely less on farms for fuel, and an ethanol industry looking to the skies for financial survival as electric vehicles threaten to kick them off roads. Ethanol is currently mainly used as an ingredient in gasoline, the consumption of which has plateaued. A White House spokesman told Reuters that no final decision has been made on the climate model, and that "speculation about determinations are premature." Biden’s signature climate bill – the Inflation Reduction Act – included a $1.25 a gallon tax credit for producers of sustainable aviation fuel, or SAF, to help it compete with petroleum-based jet fuel. The administration has a goal to supply at least 3 billion gallons of SAF per year by 2030 as part of its broader effort to decarbonize the transport sector, from close to zero now. To qualify for the credit, producers must demonstrate their SAF has a carbon score 50% better than straight petroleum jet fuel. The tax credit gets higher for every percentage point above 50%, creating more value for cleaner technologies. The Biden administration backed a climate model favored by the ethanol industry in December, but they promised to revamp it and release the details in March. That has fueled an intense lobbying push by industry and environmentalists over how to quantify things like environmental damage caused by land use changes and broad basket of climate-smart agriculture.
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Bidens adminstration is doing a great job in pushing for climate agenda
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Research is really playing a big role in Climate change policy making.
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This adjustment could have significant implications for the ethanol industry and efforts to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.
Boniface Kuria
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IF WE STOPPED THE USE OF FOSSIL FUELS, SUCH SITUATIONS WOULD NOT OCCUR An oil spill that has stained Tobago's coastline in the Caribbean is entering into Grenada's waters https://www.reuters.com/business/environment/tobago-oil-spill-spreading-grenada-could-also-impact-venezuela-2024-02-15/ and could impact neighboring Venezuela, Tobago's Chief Secretary Farley Augustine told Reuters on Thursday. Eight days after Trinidad and Tobago's Coast Guard first spotted the oil from a capsized vessel whose owner and origin have not been confirmed, portions of the stain have moved about 144 km (89 miles) into the Caribbean Sea at a rate of 14 km per hour, Augustine said. "It has now entered Grenada's territorial waters," the official said, following a fly-over by Trinidad and Tobago's Air Guard, which confirmed the distance the spill has gone and countries possibly impacted. Authorities in Grenada, Panama, Aruba and Guyana have been contacted by Trinidad and regional group Caricom for information as part of an investigation about the vessel's origin, intended destination and ownership, and an accompanying tugboat, officials in Trinidad have said. Venezuela, which said on Wednesday it is monitoring the spill, has initiated meetings with Trinidad to coordinate response action. Trinidad and Tobago and Grenada's foreign affairs ministries were not immediately available for comment. The overturned vessel continues to leak fuel, but the situation is now under control with a 40-feet perimeter supported by booms around the wreckage, Augustine said. "We are unable to plug the leak and unless we have information on how much fuel is in the barge or what exactly it contains we cannot move forward, except containment and skimming," he added. Trinidad's National Security ministry said on Wednesday that it remains unknown whether any lives were lost in the incident. A tugboat and a barge under names disclosed by Trinidad's government were identified in satellite pictures taken three days before the incident in the Caribbean Sea. According to the monitoring service, the vessels were heading to St. Vincent and the Grenadines. First responders and volunteers have been trying to contain the spill and reduce its impact on Tobago's wildlife. Birds and marine animals have been impacted, so authorities continue rescue and cleaning efforts to return them to their habitat, Chief Secretary Augustine said.
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Fossil fuels should be a story of the past as it's more harmful to our climate
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It goes without saying that if we're not using fossil fuels, we will not have oil spills. Embrace the green movement now.
Boniface Kuria
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A re-elected Donald Trump won't stop renewable energy deployment, but could reverse anti-coal diplomacy efforts, U.S. Special Presidential Envoy for Climate John Kerry said on Tuesday at the International Energy Agency ministerial gathering. "Even when President Trump was there for those 4 years, 75% of our new electricity came from renewables because we had portfolio laws in the 37 states that required the deployment of renewables ... so whatever happens, that's not going to change the direction we're moving in," Kerry said. Advertisement · Scroll to continue "This revolution is happening ... notwithstanding the hiccup of the farmers' strikes or a president of a country who wants to pull out of the Paris [climate] agreement," he added. The comments were made on the 50th anniversary of the energy agency, which has shifted from an initial mission of ensuring the security of oil supplies to increasingly championing renewables and a reduction in planet-warming emissions from oil, coal and natural gas use. Advertisement · Scroll to continue The U.S. is the IEA's biggest financial contributor among the 31 member countries. Ahead of the November 2024 U.S. elections, former Republican president Trump, the frontrunner to become the party's nominee, has pledged to reduce financial contributions to international organizations and to withdraw from the Paris climate agreement, a multilateral accord meant to limit greenhouse gas emissions. And while current U.S. President Joe Biden has heavily subsidized renewable energy and paused approvals on new liquefied natural gas export projects, Trump has promised, opens new tab to "unleash the production of domestic energy resources," including coal. Advertisement · Scroll to continue Despite his optimism on global renewable technology, Kerry did warn that a reversal in U.S. climate policy under a new administration would still have negative global effects. "We succeeded in our work with China in getting China to agree that they're not going to fund any more foreign coal-fired power being built, which is a step forward, but the enforceability of that has proven to be complicated," Kerry said. "We know that there's 500 gigawatts of incipient coal-fired power waiting to come online in Asia, which will undo everything that we have done in Europe and in the U.S. over the last 10 or 15 years if it comes online now," he added. https://www.reuters.com/world/us/kerry-trump-cant-stop-green-energy-revolution-china-coal-threat-looms-2024-02-13/
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The international community relies on strong leadership and collaboration to tackle the urgent challenge of climate change effectively. That should be protected at all cost.
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Very promising, the climate change fight is unstoppable!
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Thats the pure truth, the fight is still on and can not be stopped, transition to clean energy is a must
Boniface Kuria
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Ukraine should seek reparations from Russia for environmental costs such as contamination by land mines, a group of international figures including climate activist Greta Thunberg and European politicians said in a report on Friday. The recommendations, intended for both Ukraine and the international community, include establishing a high-level body to oversee the collection and preservation of evidence of environmental impacts and appointing an official to oversee climate-friendly reconstruction. Advertisement · Scroll to continue The group's report points to the land mine contamination of Ukrainian soil and the breach of the Kakhovka Dam last June, which flooded swathes of arable land and sensitive ecosystems, among other environmental impacts. Legal experts assisting Ukraine said it was highly likely Russia was behind the collapse. Russian President Vladimir Putin accused Ukraine of destroying the dam as a Western-backed tactic to escalate the conflict. Advertisement · Scroll to continue The international group, established last year by Ukraine's presidential administration to investigate issues ranging from nuclear safety to soil pollution, unveiled 50 recommendations aimed at tracking damage from the nearly two-year invasion, holding Russia accountable and charting a green recovery. "The president gave us a formidable task," said co-chair Margot Wallstrom, a former Swedish foreign minister. "The world is lacking agreement on standards for measuring environmental damages (from war)." Advertisement · Scroll to continue "Ukraine will be seen as a pioneer," she said. Wallstrom and several other members of the 12-person group, including European Union Environment Commissioner Virginijus Sinkevicius and European Parliament Vice President Heidi Hautala were in Kyiv on Friday, where they met President Volodymyr Zelenskiy to discuss the report. "We must find common responses to all environmental threats caused by war," Zelenskiy said on social media together with footage of the meeting. "Without this, there will be no return to normal, stable life." The report recommended that Ukraine's prosecutor general develop a strategy for prosecuting wartime environmental damage and consider ratifying the Rome Statute, which established the International Criminal Court. The group also recommended that Ukraine speed up development of its Mine Action Strategy and create national guidance on the removal of toxic waste, such as asbestos-laden rubble and contaminated sediment from the Kakhovka Dam breach. To pay for such work, the group "encouraged all avenues for reparation to be considered", including using Russian state assets that have been frozen in overseas accounts. "I think the moment will come when there is a legally sound solution," Hautala said, referring to the application of those assets to environmental damages. Russia's upper house of parliament has asked the Finance Ministry to draw up a law that would impose retaliatory measures on the West if it moves against frozen Russian assets. Brussels agreed last December to open membership negotiations with Kyiv, but has laid out an array of policy reforms, including on the environment and climate change. "I hope that with the outcome of today, we can only reinforce this effort and, of course, soon have Ukraine (as) part of the European Union," Sinkevicius, the EU environment commissioner, said. Reporting by Gloria Dickie in London and Dan Peleschuk in Kyiv; Editing by Frances Kerry and Alison Williams https://www.reuters.com/world/europe/russia-should-pay-wartime-environmental-damage-ukraine-report-2024-02-09/
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Absolutely! Russia must be held accountable for creating and environmental crisis and wrecking the ecosystem in Ukraine.
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The outcome of war is really malicious on environment and should be avoided at all cost
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Vladimir Putin is a mass murderer and wanted by the ICC.
Boniface Kuria
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Eleven Ugandan climate activists who were allegedly beaten and held arbitrarily in a notorious maximum security prison will appear in court on Wednesday charged with a colonial era anti-dissident offense, as reprisals continue against opponents of an internationally bankrolled oil pipeline. If convicted, the 11 activists, all university students, face up to a year in jail. Four of them – Nicholas Lutabi, Jacob Lubega, Shafik Kalyango and Abdul Aziz Bwete – were allegedly arrested and beaten by police armed with guns, teargas and batons as they marched peacefully towards parliament in the capital city, Kampala, on 15 December. They were targeted after becoming separated from a larger protest calling on the Uganda government to stop construction of the East Africa Crude Oil Pipeline (Eacop), a $5bn fossil-fuel project backed by the French conglomerate TotalEnergies and a Chinese national oil company, as well as the governments of Uganda and Tanzania. The climate activists said they were forced into an unmarked building within the parliament entrance, where the police officers repeatedly kicked, punched and beat them with heavy objects. It is the same place and same abusive treatment reported by at least two dozen anti-pipeline activists over the past two years. ‘Very disturbing’: crackdown on oil pipeline protests in Uganda concerns UN rights expert Read more Kalyango, 25, was knocked unconscious after being hit on the back of the neck, and woke up in a locked room 10 or 15 minutes later, according to his colleagues. “I am weak and have pain in my neck and in the stomach when I eat. I’m still not OK,” Kalyango said in an interview more than a month after the arrest. “This was punishment for trying to stop the Total project that will cause so much harm in the future.”
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Shame on Ugandan government
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When governments are in collaboration with fossil fuel interests, in the form of beating peaceful protesters, it’s clear that laws have to change worldwide. The true criminals are those continuously, pushing to extract more fossil fuels, not those of us who protest.
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This is so sad.. the bravery of the activists is admirable, they are a great example for us all
Boniface Kuria
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A Nigerian company, Freee Recycle is reducing landfill by turning old tyres into new products, sold across the country. According to a report by the Tire Industry Project, one billion end-of-life tyres are generated globally every year. And an estimated four billion are currently in landfills and stockpiles worldwide. But in Nigeria, one company is helping to reduce waste through recycling. Freee Recycle is transforming old tyres into paving bricks, floor tiles, flip flops and other goods and since its launch in 2018, the company have recyled over 400,000 tyres into new products. https://www.africanews.com/2024/01/22/nigeria-turning-tyres-into-tiles-and-bricks/?jwsource=cl
Nigeria: turning tyres into tiles and bricks | Africanews
Nigerian company Freee Recycle is reducing landfill by turning old tyres into new products, sold across the country.
https://www.africanews.com/2024/01/22/nigeria-turning-tyres-into-tiles-and-bricks/?jwsource=cl
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Impressive
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This is a great initiative!
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Good work #Freeerecyclelimited💚
Boniface Kuria
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Kenya's Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua has reiterated the government's dedication to harnessing Kenya's abundant renewable energy resources. DP Gachagua held a meeting with investors from the energy sector at his official residence in Karen on Thursday, January 18.This engagement was focused on cultivating partnerships with prominent renewable energy companies, including Hewani Energy (Kenya), Seriti Green (South Africa), and Eurus Energy (Japan), all of which are eager to maximize Kenya's potential in clean power. In the meeting attended by Principal Secretary Alex Wachira from the State Department for Energy, Deputy President Gachagua underscored the crucial role that renewable energy plays in the country's pursuit of green industrialization, a key agenda of President William Ruto's administration. https://www.instagram.com/p/C2PKC0iIHdW/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link&igsh=MzRlODBiNWFlZA==
https://www.instagram.com/p/C2PKC0iIHdW/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link&igsh=MzRlODBiNWFlZA==
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This is an amazing step from the deputy president Rigathi
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Pemex must take immediate steps to address maintenance deficiencies and prevent further environmental harm.
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This is concerning, urgent intervention needed, particularly given the environmental impact of methane emissions...
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Addressing such leaks promptly is crucial for reducing greenhouse gas emissions and preventing environmental harm. It is essential for companies to prioritize timely maintenance to mitigate environmental impacts.