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From scallop fishing in New Bedford to deforestation in the tropics, “our goal is to get some empirical traction on the problem,” says PhD student Aaron Berman.

Coming Soon | In this film, we’ve created a snapshot of the work of the Subalusky Lab at the University of Florida, showcasing the research team’s insights on animals and their greater impacts on various ecosystems. Ultimately, the film calls on viewers to consider the broader implications of environmental research and conservation, and how they can support or contribute to the cause even if it just means adopting a new perspective. We aim to inspire, inform, and ignite a commitment to environmental stewardship among our viewers.

Shadow minister for Indigenous Australians says Albanese government ‘turning a blind eye’ to alleged ‘weaponisation’ of identityFollow our Australia news live blog for latest updatesGet our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcastJacinta Nampijinpa Price has claimed “opportunists” are making “false claims” to membership of Indigenous groups to scuttle resource projects seeking environmental approval.The shadow minister for Indigenous Australians made the claim on Wednesday while defending a Coalition plan to designate which Indigenous groups would need to be consulted by project proponents, as revealed by the shadow resources minister, Susan McDonald, at a Minerals Week event.Sign up for Guardian Australia’s breaking news email Continue reading...

Puerto Rico’s new natural resources secretary has shelved an investigation into allegations of illegal construction in a protected area on the island’s southwest coast

Rep. Jared Huffman (D-Calif.) is seeking the position of top Democrat on the House Natural Resources Committee, the lawmaker's office confirmed Wednesday in a letter. The California Democrat, who currently serves as ranking member on the Subcommittee on Water, Wildlife and Fisheries, wrote that he will seek to replace Rep. Raul Grijalva (D-Ariz.), who has...

As written, Decision 15/9 won’t allocate conservation funds in a manner that delivers the greatest benefit. There’s a better way. The post The UN Convention on Biological Diversity’s Decision on Genetic Resources Will Violate National Sovereignty appeared first on The Revelator.

Urban mining recovers valuable resources from the vast amounts of waste cities produce.

Big tech is playing its part in reaching net zero targets, but its vast new datacentres are run at huge cost to the environmentMariana Mazzucato is professor of economics at UCL, and director of the Institute for Innovation and Public PurposeWhen you picture the tech industry, you probably think of things that don’t exist in physical space, such as the apps and internet browser on your phone. But the infrastructure required to store all this information – the physical datacentres housed in business parks and city outskirts – consume massive amounts of energy. Despite its name, the infrastructure used by the “cloud” accounts for more global greenhouse emissions than commercial flights. In 2018, for instance, the 5bn YouTube hits for the viral song Despacito used the same amount of energy it would take to heat 40,000 US homes annually.This is a hugely environmentally destructive side to the tech industry. While it has played a big role in reaching net zero, giving us smart meters and efficient solar, it’s critical that we turn the spotlight on its environmental footprint. Large language models such as ChatGPT are some of the most energy-guzzling technologies of all. Research suggests, for instance, that about 700,000 litres of water could have been used to cool the machines that trained ChatGPT-3 at Microsoft’s data facilities. It is hardly news that the tech bubble’s self-glorification has obscured the uglier sides of this industry, from its proclivity for tax avoidance to its invasion of privacy and exploitation of our attention span. The industry’s environmental impact is a key issue, yet the companies that produce such models have stayed remarkably quiet about the amount of energy they consume – probably because they don’t want to spark our concern.Mariana Mazzucato is professor of economics at UCL, and director of the Institute for Innovation and Public Purpose Continue reading...

From energy to resources, data centers have grown too greedy.

Black activists in the U.S. are fighting the exploitation of Black resources and workers in the Congo.

Highlights include several concerts inspired by precious natural resources, and an Oregon symphony performance based on Celilo Falls.

Attorney General Ken Paxton said the settlement will reimburse the state and feds for damages to natural resources.

"Earth Overshoot Day" reminds us that humans consume more resources than the planet can provide. Correcting that requires reimagining human behavior.

Past Presentation | Biopiracy is a plague that has hit the African continent like a tornado. Biochemical industry is frantic to patent bio resources at such a fast pace, indigenous society and owners of Intellectual property of the bio resources are flailing to keep up with Western laws of patenting genes of bio species.

Pope Francis is visiting Papua New Guinea, which has been exploited for its natural resources and is imperiled by rising sea levels.

New resources from the Center for Public Integrity and Grist aim to teach residents and reporters how to conduct their own research.

The mushroom industry explores the potential of spent substrate, a byproduct of mushroom cultivation, for various environmental and agricultural applications.Doug Bierend reports for Civil Eats.In short:Spent substrate, the leftover material from mushroom farming, holds potential for compost, soil decontamination, biofuel, and further mushroom cultivation.Small and large mushroom farms alike face the challenge of managing the increasing amounts of spent substrate, seeking innovative solutions for its disposal and reuse.The Central Texas Mycological Society has created a community network for free spent substrate pickup, supporting local farms and environmental projects.Key quote:"If you're gonna do it, awesome, but account for this waste stream you're producing and how you're gonna get it off of your property."— Amanda Janney, founder of KM MushroomsWhy this matters:Incorporating spent substrate into farming practices supports the principles of circular economy by recycling waste products into valuable resources. This not only reduces waste but also minimizes the environmental impact of farming by decreasing the reliance on synthetic inputs.The way we eat and grow food has to dramatically change if we're going to feed the world's increasing population by 2050 and protect the planet, according to a major report released in 2019 from the EAT-Lancet Commission.

Emissions pathways act as a map of the future, showing us how to get from where we are to where we want to be.

Now Playing | Water is a precious resource which humanity should use responsibly. Our relationship with Nature should always be guided by reciprocity. Nature protects us all and we in turn should protect natural resources and be sympathetic to the needs of fellow human beings.

A study led by the University of Barcelona warns of the oil resources that should not be exploited to meet the commitments of the Paris...

Past Presentation | This documentary explores the formation of the Maui Nui Marine Resources Council and their community-based efforts to restore vibrance and abundance to Maui's reefs.

Five out of seven Colorado River basin states are failing to maximize a critical resource that could help alleviate the region’s longstanding water crisis, a new report found. Across all the states, just 26 percent of treated municipal wastewater is being reused, according to the research, released by the University of California Los Angeles, along...

The Earth Commission says hope lies in sustainable lifestyles, a radical transformation of global politics and fair distribution of resourcesAll of humanity could share a prosperous, equitable future but the space for development is rapidly shrinking under pressure from a wealthy minority of ultra-consumers, a groundbreaking study has shown.Growing environmental degradation and climate instability have pushed the Earth beyond a series of safe planetary boundaries, say the authors from the Earth Commission, but it still remains possible to carve out a “safe and just space” that would enable everyone to thrive. Continue reading...

Questions about environmental safety and community health loom over the greenwashed industry and proposed export scheme.

The Washington state Department of Natural Resources and the Squaxin Island Tribe will join forces to try to conserve the Squaxin Island Kelp Bed, the last major kelp bed in South Puget Sound.

Past Presentation | Moving Mountains tackles the destructive effects of large-scale mining on the lives, culture and environment of communities in the Cordilleras. After playing host to these big mining companies, they remain poor, their resources depleted and their communities destroyed. The film also presents the inspiring story of an indigenous tribe in Kalinga province that has kept large mining companies away from the area and has allowed the community to determine how to manage its mineral resources.

In El Salvador, environmental activists face increased threats as the government contemplates lifting a historic ban on metal mining, raising fears of sacrificing natural resources for economic gains. Danielle Mackey reports for The Guardian. In short: Vidalina Morales, a prominent environmentalist, fears for her family's safety amid the government's signs of reversing a metal mining ban. Recent arrests of environmental activists, including Morales's son, under dubious charges, suggest an effort to intimidate opposition. President Nayib Bukele's popularity contrasts with concerns over authoritarian tendencies and the potential environmental and social costs of reviving mining. Key quote: “Gold mining competes with the human being for an essential resource." — Andrés McKinley, a specialist in water and mining at the University of Central America in San Salvador Why this matters: Environmental activism in places like El Salvador represents a courageous stand against ecological degradation and the forces driving it, yet it comes with profound risks. This small Central American nation, rich in natural beauty but plagued by issues of poverty and violence, has become a battleground for those fighting to preserve its resources against industrial and developmental pressures. Be sure to read EHN’s 2016 piece about mining in the Midwest: Michigan proposes approval for controversial Upper Peninsula mine near sacred tribal sites.

Now Playing | When we talk about Sustainability, we tend to focus on the sustainable solutions based on physical resources. However, very frequently we overlook a key part for creating a successful sustainable society: Cultural Sustainability.

Last week, Georgia Power won regulatory approval to fast-track construction of 1.4 gigawatts of fossil-fueled power plants and to contract for nearly a gigawatt more power from coal- and fossil-gas-fired power plants owned by other utilities. The reason? Fear that skyrocketing power demand from power-hungry data…

Past Presentation | If we observe and listen closely, our world communicates to us. The director with producer Tessa Skiles, travelling the Springs Heartland for a year, explored the hidden gems of Florida and consulted with leading experts on the current state of Florida's water resources. From springs hunting to mystical mermaids to interviews with National Geographic explorers, this film educates us on the threats facing the water Floridians consume every day and how Florida springs are a looking glass into the health of our most vital natural resource.

Oklahoma’s oil industry pays into a voluntary fund to clean up oil wells, but many drillers opt out. The money that has been refunded to these companies in recent years could have restored an estimated 1,500 orphan well sites. The post Oklahoma’s Oil Industry Touts a Voluntary Fund to Clean Up Oil Wells. Major Drillers Want Their Contributions Refunded. appeared first on .

State regulators could have asked oil companies California Resources Corp. and Aera Energy for an estimated $2.4 billion to guarantee wells are plugged but decided they didn’t have the authority to do so. The post California Isn’t Enforcing Its Strongest-in-the-Nation Oil Well Cleanup Law on Its Largest Oil Company appeared first on .

Past Presentation | It's well-known that water is a collective good and a free inexhaustible resource...False! La goutte de trop follows the journey of a drop of water through the whole Montreal water system. Overconsumption, waste, inadequate filtration process. Their still some hope as citizens take on the challenge of reducing their consumption.

This story was originally published by Grist and is reproduced here as part of the Climate Desk collaboration. What is the value of a tree? It can provide a cool place to rest in the shade, a snack in the form of fruit, lumber to build a home, and cleaner air. But trees are increasingly being prized for one thing: […]

After suppression of Indigenous cultural burning, the state agrees Northern California's Karuk Tribe may practice the burns more freely than it has in over 175 years.

Now Playing | "Again, Together" is a film created in partnership with Ronald L. Jones, bringing stories from communities across Houston that have been impacted by environmental racism — namely redlining, segregation, underinvestment, exposure to pollution, gentrification, inequitable disaster recovery resources and freeway development.

Around the world, lands with water and food resources are being snatched up by powerful interests. The Grab director Gabriela Cowperthwaite discusses her documentary that is both a geopolitical thriller and a call to action. The post In Deep Water appeared first on .

Past Presentation | Towering stands of old ­growth longleaf pine (pinus palustris) once covered over 90 million acres while stretching from southern Virginia to eastern Texas. Today, the total acreage is about two million, with only about two thousand of that considered old growth. As the South was settled and Northern timber supplies were exhausted, this incredible natural resource was very nearly extirpated from the South's landscape and collective consciousness. LONGLEAF: THE HEART OF PINE is a cultural and natural history of the South's ancient primeval forest and how it might still be saved.

Federal officials on Thursday granted final approval to a southwestern Nevada lithium mining project, which they say could supply enough of the resource to power nearly 370,000 electric vehicles (EVs). The Rhyolite Ridge Lithium-Boron mining project, located in the state's Silver Peak Range, aims to bolster critical mineral development in the United States and create job opportunities...

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency says flaws in a Vermont program are preventing the state from adequately controlling phosphorus discharges from certain farms, which contribute to severe water quality problems in Lake Champlain and other bodies of water

Past Presentation | Co-executive producer, Jill Heinerth, who hails from Alachua County, has dived deeper into caves than any woman in history. Her accolades include being named a "Living Legend" by Sport Diver Magazine and being in the inaugural class of the Women Divers Hall of Fame. Imaginative, entertaining, and enlightening, We Are Water illustrates the fragile relationship between our planet's endangered freshwater resources and the ever increasing needs of more and more people: For the first time in history, fresh water has become a finite resource. Without big changes in water policy and use, wars of the future may be fought, not over oil, but water. This movie will show us how we can help Jill Heinerth to keep that from happening.

Past Presentation | The people of Florida and Sarasota have repeatedly voted to support acquiring and sustaining environmentally sensitive lands. These precious natural resources have not gone unnoticed by those who could profit from them. A battle is ongoing waging private profit against public parks.

This story was first published by Energy News Network . Duke Energy has been laying the groundwork for a new gas power plant in North Carolina’s Person County for years, touting it as the “ next generation ” of electricity production and lining up support from local politicians eager to hold on to the utility’s…

A fibrous adsorbent selectively recovers high-purity gold from waste. Dramatically reduces the cost and time of the recovery process and enables material to be mass-produced...

Past Presentation | Using stunning high resolution images from a DSLR camera, this team of high school students show the change in our relationship to Hawaiʻi's natural resources over time. Part of the story is told from the perspective of an endemic Koa tree in Waikamoi Forest Preserve.

Women play a critical role in sustainable development, combatting climate change, and taking care of our natural resources. But industry needs to do more to support them. The post From Glass Ceilings to Green Houses: More Women Are Needed in Green Industry appeared first on The Revelator.

Past Presentation | Almost entirely self funded, this film is the director’s gift to the world. The award-winning filmmaker and producer also spent 4 years as a one­ woman ­crew exploring why and how we have inadvertently put our planet in peril. The film examines how our economic and production systems connect to climate change, species extinction, depletion of critical natural resources, and industrial control of food production. Solutions that could be implemented immediately are illustrated, from practical everyday fixes to rethinking the overarching myths of our time. While this film is intended to challenge viewers on many levels, it most of all offers hope.

Past Presentation | The story of a community’s successful fight to protect their water from the oil and natural gas industry. In 2013, Texas-based SWN Resources arrived in New Brunswick, Canada, a region known for forestry, farming, and fishing, both commercial and small-scale subsistence operations that the rural community depend on. A multicultural group of unlikely warriors united and set up road blockades to prevent oil exploration. After months of resistance, their efforts not only halted drilling, they elected a new government and won an indefinite moratorium on fracking.

PJM, the largest electric grid operator in the U.S., has a major problem — old, dirty power plants are closing down faster than new clean energy resources can replace them. This mounting grid crisis is already driving up electricity costs for the 65 million people living in PJM’s territory, which stretches from the…

Past Presentation | From Farm To Table is an Eco-documentary film showcasing a school's commitment to integrating stewardship of our earth's resources into its curriculum. The film follows students working in their school garden and sustainable organic farm from planting to harvesting and demonstrates the link between fresh locally grown sustainable products and healthier eating while simultaneously building community and promoting the stewardship of our earth's resources. The important issues of conservation, preservation, biodiversity and animal welfare are addressed. In conclusion, as a call to action we are encouraged to learn more, ask questions and take action by growing our own food and buying local food.

Past Presentation | Earth Speaks is a short documentary about the Earth as Mother and the impacts of oil and gas drilling on tribal lands in the United States, particularly the Blackfeet Reservation in North Central Montana. Outside entities promise economic wealth and prosperity to territories whose unemployment rate hovers at 70%. Exploitation of people, land, and resources is not new to the Native American. How does seeing the Earth with a "spiritual eye" affect the oil and gas industry of Native Lands? Is there a connection between those views and others that are more pragmatic, and what alternative is there for a world dependent on fossil fuels?

Farmers and green groups sued the U.S. Department of Agriculture on Monday for an “unlawful purge” of climate data from its website.  “This lawsuit challenges the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s unlawful purge of climate-related policies, guides, datasets, and resources from its websites, without any advance notice as required by the Paperwork Reduction Act, without engaging...

This is the second of two articles about the Mashpee Wampanoag’s efforts to assert their fishing rights on Cape Cod. Read the first story here. Pocknett drove to Fishermen’s Landing at the members-only Popponesset Beach, stopping at a “beach security checkpoint” run by two teenagers who hid from the July sun under an oversized umbrella. One […] The post The Mashpee Wampanoag Work With a Cape Cod Town to Restore Their Fishing Grounds appeared first on Civil Eats.

The lawsuit says the Agriculture Department is hindering farmers from using the data to make “agricultural decisions” while they also face a recent funding freeze.

This is the final installment of a three-part series examining the controversies and conflicts surrounding the future of the California Air Resources Board’s Low Carbon Fuel Standard. Read Part 1 and Part 2 . For years, environmental groups, community activists and climate scientists have warned the California Air…

Rural Latino communities are divided about the project, which would capture carbon from an oilfield and power plant — and allow an oil company to keep operating as the state struggles to slash greenhouse gases.

How did this guy turn the nightmare of climate change into an intriguing, compelling and educational experience? By creating a board game, of course.

Production, distribution, power generation, carbon capture all in the works: Questions, concerns, confusion abound. The post Like It Or Not, a Hydrogen Ecosystem Is Coming to New Mexico appeared first on .

As Western states juggle expansion and water scarcity, communities from Las Vegas to Phoenix are hitting the brakes on development.Jennifer Yachnin reports for E&E News.In short:Recent legal and executive actions across Western states are limiting new construction due to the scarcity of water resources, underscoring the clash between booming populations and dwindling water supplies.The Nevada Supreme Court ruled against a large development outside Las Vegas, highlighting the challenges of balancing growth with environmental sustainability and water rights.Efforts to reduce water consumption in places like southern Nevada, through more efficient homes and restrictions on water use, point towards possible solutions amidst growing concerns.Key quote:"The era of limits is upon us."— Kathy Jacobs, director of the Center for Climate Adaptation Science and Solutions at the University of ArizonaWhy this matters:Communities across states like California, Arizona, and Nevada are grappling with the reality that water, once considered an abundant resource, is now a critically limited one. In 2022, Arizona experienced the worst drought conditions in more than 1,000 years, which dried up reservoirs, exposed regulatory loopholes and further exposed environmental injustice.

A divided Wisconsin court recently upheld a decision limiting state environmental oversight on PFAS contaminants, a move that has sparked widespread discussion. Bennet Goldstein reports for Wisconsin Watch. In short: A Wisconsin appeals court affirmed a ruling that restricts the Department of Natural Resources from regulating PFAS under the state's spills law. New legislation, if not vetoed, would further limit state authority to mandate PFAS cleanups, allowing polluters to potentially evade responsibility. The legal and legislative efforts represent parallel attempts to weaken environmental protections against PFAS, a persistent and hazardous contaminant. Key quote: “DNR is really kind of being assaulted on all fronts for simply trying to protect the environment and the public health from what we all know, regardless of the contrived legal definition, are hazardous substances.” — Rob Lee, staff attorney with Midwest Environmental Advocates. Why this matters: Across the United States, many states have taken it upon themselves to establish stricter PFAS standards than those set by the federal government. These actions include setting lower allowable limits for PFAS in drinking water, soil, and air; mandating testing of water supplies; and requiring public notification of PFAS levels. Industry groups have voiced concerns over the state Department of Natural Resources setting standards for PFAS in the absence of comprehensive federal regulations. Are you replenishing your electrolytes with a dose of PFAS?