I'm excited to introduce the new version of the Earth Catalyst daily email! Along with my beautiful new website (thanks to Tao Websites, whose services I recommend) the daily email has leveled up in design and format. Some things may break (let me know) until I get used to the new system!

When you subscribe, you’ll get three updates from organizations that are just for you, interspersed with a visual of the day and a quote of the day.

I've got a lot more planned but first I have to turn 48 tomorrow!

Ok, let's go!

-Marshall Kirkpatrick

Founder, Earth Catalyst

Daily super-personalized email and strategic consulting based on two decades of tech startup trailblazing, now focused on green tech and sustainability.

Visual of the Day: Food Foresight

From a Cornell-affiliated team of researchers in What do we know about the future of food systems innovation? (CGIAR) "Food systems innovation is a complex sociotechnical process. Foresight research focusing on food systems innovation seeks to better understand how these processes function and could be improved, as well as how their outcomes can contribute to positive and/or negative change."

I've studied foresight for years (including through The Foresight School's Natural Foresight program) and I'm really excited to see examples of foresight in planning transformation of humanity's relationship with the earth. Foresight also came up with regard to grid capacity planning in Dave Roberts' recent Volts podcast interview with former FERC commissioner Allison Clements. That interview took a remarkable turn toward a critical perspective at the :48 minute mark, by the way - quite a listen!

Quote of the Day

From the press release, Carbon Mapper Releases First Emissions Detections from the Tanager-1 Satellite.  Robbie Andrew from Norway's Center for International Climate Research, posted screenshots this morning on X and put it this way: "It's only been up a couple of months, but already the Tanager-1 satellite is identifying thousands of methane emissions around the world." The granularity of the accountability here is striking!

And now...

Today's Updates

Table of Contents

• Agriculture (9 stories) - Land van Ons and Aardpeer acquire land for sustainable farming; Conservation Stewardship Program analysis; dairy methane emissions study; agroecology in Brazil; food system innovation research; East African drought impacts; organic farming in Uganda

• Carbon (4 stories) - Fossil fuel impacts, biodiversity risks, carbon credit challenges, satellite emissions detection, and sustainable cup choices

• Circular (1 story) - Balancing sustainability and functionality in hot beverage container choices for food service businesses

• Ecosystems (4 stories) - Greenpeace tuna report, Congo's conservation monetization plan, EEA water crisis alert, and experts call for nature-human reciprocity

• Efficiency (1 story) - Cooling Solutions Key to Emissions Reduction: Report Highlights Gigaton-Scale Impact by 2050

• Finance (4 stories) - Global alliance consults on transition indices; Virescent Ventures raises $100M for climate tech; banks face scrutiny over fossil fuel funding

• Grid (5 stories) - Form Energy's $405M funding, Haiti's rural mesh grids, UK Capacity Market, GM's PowerBank, and DOE's $360M grid interconnection grant

• Indigenous (5 stories) - Indigenous leaders in Geneva, Yasuni National Park advocacy, Amazon population growth, Western's celebration, Native Seeds/SEARCH harvest success

• Industry (1 story) - Electrolytic hydrogen projects stall worldwide; investment decisions lag amid rising costs and regulations

• Policy (16 stories) - $21.7M for digital equity, Energy Transfer's $300M Greenpeace lawsuit, UT climate resilience lab, $369B federal climate investments in Georgia, Nepal floods spark adaptation demands

• Renewables (7 stories) - Prian Energy, EagleView, Aurora Solar, Walmart, Eni Next, and BrightNight drive solar expansion; Indonesian protests against Chinese solar project

• Transport (4 stories) - Toyota's portable hydrogen tech, global EV push at Climate Week NYC, Charleston's $2.3B highway vs. sustainable transit vote

Agriculture

Land van Ons and Aardpeer acquire land for sustainable farming; Conservation Stewardship Program analysis; dairy methane emissions study; agroecology in Brazil; food system innovation research; East African drought impacts; organic farming in Uganda

• Aankoop 13 ha landbouwgrond van provincie Gelderland door Land van Ons, Aardpeer/samen voor grond afgerond (Land van Ons) - Dutch citizen cooperatives Land van Ons and Aardpeer have jointly acquired 13 hectares of agricultural land from Gelderland province for sustainable farming and food forest development.

• Stewarding Success: Conservation Stewardship Program (Sustainable Agriculture) - A new report examines the Conservation Stewardship Program's performance, revealing 69 million acres enrolled in fiscal year 2023 and offering recommendations for enhancement.

• NSAC Publication Analyzes Conservation Stewardship Program Data Since the 2018 Farm Bill (NSAC) - New analysis reveals 36,799 Conservation Stewardship Program contracts covering 49 million acres since 2019, with 69 million cumulative acres enrolled, despite declining renewal rates.

• Methane emissions from dairy farms higher than thought - but conversion to biogas could reduce emissions and save more than £400m a year in fuel costs (Tyndall Centre) - Research reveals dairy farm methane emissions potentially five times higher than official figures, but biogas conversion could slash emissions and save £400m yearly in fuel costs.

• The Historical Role and Knowledge of Peasant Women in Promoting Agroecology (Via Campesina) - Brazilian peasant women's traditional knowledge in agroecology fosters gender equality, sustainable farming, and biodiversity preservation, according to Via Campesina.

• What do we know about the future of food systems innovation? (CGIAR) - Researchers explore technological, policy, and sociocultural changes for sustainable food systems, but gaps remain in modeling innovation processes and pathways towards responsible transformation.

• Drought & climate change force Ethiopia pastoralists to go job hunting (Mongabay) - Severe drought has compelled 36.1 million people across Ethiopia, Somalia and Kenya to abandon traditional herding, with many Ethiopian pastoralists seeking urban employment opportunities.

• UGANDA: Small-Scale Farmers Collectively Commit to Transformation Towards Peasant Agroecology (ESAFF) - Ugandan farmers embrace organic farming at National Organic Week, reaching 3.5 million people and urging increased government support for agroecology initiatives.

• Movement Strategy Center's October Newsletter (Movement Strategy Center) - MSC's October newsletter showcases agricultural initiatives, community events, and social justice efforts across its network of partner organizations and projects.

Carbon

Fossil fuel impacts, biodiversity risks, carbon credit challenges, satellite emissions detection, and sustainable cup choices

• Study confirms Hurricane Helene fueled by Big Oil's emissions: Greenpeace calls for climate polluters to pay (Greenpeace) - A new study links Hurricane Helene, which caused $250 billion in economic losses, to climate change from fossil fuel emissions, prompting Greenpeace to demand oil companies pay for damages.

• Scientists caution no guarantees when it comes to overshooting 1.5°C (Tyndall Centre) - Study warns overshooting 1.5°C warming risks irreversible climate damage, with 55% of Brazil's biodiversity facing local extinction at 3°C, even if temperatures later decrease.

• World's largest' carbon credit deal in the Amazon faces bumpy road ahead (Mongabay) - Pará state's $183 million carbon credit deal, involving 12 million credits sold to major corporations, encounters certification, legislation, and community consent challenges before implementation.

• Carbon Mapper Releases First Emissions Detections from the Tanager-1 Satellite (Carbon Mapper) - Tanager-1 satellite has detected its first methane and CO2 emissions within a month of launch, advancing global efforts to monitor and mitigate greenhouse gas emissions.

Circular

• 4 Tips For Choosing The Best Hot Cups For Your Café or Restaurant (EcoSoul Home) - Experts advise café and restaurant owners to weigh drink type, cup material, coffee style, and sustainability when choosing hot cups for their establishments.

Ecosystems

Greenpeace tuna report, Congo's conservation monetization plan, EEA water crisis alert, and experts call for nature-human reciprocity

• The High Cost of Cheap Tuna: US Supermarkets, Sustainability, and Human Rights at Sea (Greenpeace) - Greenpeace's third report scrutinizes US supermarkets' tuna sourcing, examining sustainability and human rights in seafood supply chains.

• Congo looks to monetize its high-integrity forests (Mongabay) - Congo unveils plan to sell conservation units in Nouabalé-Ndoki National Park, aiming to fund forest protection and support local communities through monetization of high-integrity tropical ecosystems.

• Launch event of EEA report "Europe's state of water 2024" (EEA) - The new EEA report reveals significant challenges to water quality and quantity, underscoring the urgent need for enhanced water resilience strategies throughout Europe.

• Humanity's future depends on our ability to live in harmony with nature (The Conversation) - Experts contend that human survival hinges on shifting from exploiting nature to a reciprocal relationship, respecting Earth's ecological limits.

Efficiency

Cooling Solutions Key to Emissions Reduction: Report Highlights Gigaton-Scale Impact by 2050

• Tis the season to act on cooling (ClimateWorks Foundation) - Amid record temperatures, a new report underscores the critical need for global adoption of efficient, climate-friendly cooling solutions, projecting potential gigaton-scale emissions reductions by 2050.

Finance

Global alliance consults on transition indices; Virescent Ventures raises $100M for climate tech; banks face scrutiny over fossil fuel funding

• Glasgow Financial Alliance for Net Zero Launches Consultation on Index Guidance to Support Real-Economy Decarbonisation (GFANZ) - Global financial alliance initiates consultation on voluntary guidance for creating "transition-informed" indices, proposing three new categories to aid real-economy decarbonization and net-zero transition.

• Climate Week NYC 2024 (Climate Group) - Management consultant John Colas outlines strategies for businesses to integrate climate and sustainability into commercial practices at Climate Week NYC 2024, drawing on his experience advising C-suite executives.

• CEFC Markets Update (CEFC) - Virescent Ventures' new climate technology fund secures $100 million first close, with potential for 12.3 GW solar capacity if 60% of Australian outdoor car parks were covered.

• Are Banks Spearheading the Environmental Movement? No. (Bank.Green) - Major banks, including Citibank, continue funding fossil fuel projects and supporting oil companies, contradicting climate commitments, while Carbon Literacy courses can reduce individual carbon footprints by 15%.

Grid

Form Energy's $405M funding, Haiti's rural mesh grids, UK Capacity Market, GM's PowerBank, and DOE's $360M grid interconnection grant

• Form Energy Secures $405M in Series F Financing to Expand Iron-Air Battery Business and Operations (Form Energy) - Battery startup Form Energy has raised $405 million in Series F funding, led by T. Rowe Price, to expand production and accelerate deployment of its iron-air energy storage systems.

• Mesh grids in Haiti (Global Energy Alliance for People and Planet) - Haiti is implementing 5,000 mesh grids in rural areas, enabling cost-effective, decentralized power sharing among neighbors using solar-generated electricity.

• The Capacity Market: Everything You Need To Know (Axle Energy) - The UK Capacity Market incentivizes flexible electricity demand and secure generation, offering long-term revenue for grid resilience, with Axle Energy raising $9M to support grid decarbonization efforts.

• GM's PowerBank home battery is now available (The Verge) - GM's new $12,700 PowerBank home battery system, capable of powering an average American home for up to 20 hours, enters the market to rival Tesla's Powerwall and other energy storage solutions.

• New 'Southern Spirit' Could Mean Cheaper Energy Prices in Texas (KBTX News 3) - The Department of Energy's $360 million grant for Pattern Energy's Southern Spirit project aims to link Texas's power grid with others, potentially reducing costs and enhancing reliability for consumers.

Indigenous

Indigenous leaders in Geneva, Yasuni National Park advocacy, Amazon population growth, Western's celebration, Native Seeds/SEARCH harvest success

• JUST TRANSITION: Indigenous Peoples' Perspectives, Knowledge and Lived Experiences (Cultural Survival) - Indigenous leaders convene in Geneva to reshape global understanding of "Just Transition" and "Green Economy," offering unique perspectives rooted in traditional knowledge and experiences.

• The life and legacy of Ryan Killackey, the filmmaker who rallied international support for Yasuni (Obituary) (Mongabay) - Filmmaker Ryan Killackey, who died at 46, championed Ecuador's Yasuni National Park, home to more tree species per hectare than all of North America, through his award-winning documentary on oil drilling threats.

• Indigenous communities in the Amazon fight for full recognition (Mongabay) - Indigenous populations in Brazil's Amazon have surged from 100,000 in the mid-1970s to potentially over 700,000 in 2022, as communities reclaim their heritage and land rights.

• Indigenous Peoples' Day (Western Washington University) - Western's Indigenous Peoples' Day celebration at Lummi Nation School united attendees with a salmon dinner, performances, and speakers addressing critical issues facing Native communities.

• Garden & Community Update (Native Seeds/SEARCH) - Despite record heat, Native Seeds/SEARCH reports a successful harvest, community engagement, and the launch of a new 5-year strategic plan, including their Community Seed Grant program.

Industry

Electrolytic hydrogen projects stall worldwide; investment decisions lag amid rising costs and regulations

• Investing in Green Hydrogen 2024: Tackling Green Hydrogen's Growing Pains (Cleantech Group) - Global green hydrogen development faces challenges, with less than 7% of announced electrolytic capacity reaching final investment decision stage by May 2024, amid cost escalations and regulatory hurdles.

Policy

$21.7M for digital equity, Energy Transfer's $300M Greenpeace lawsuit, UT climate resilience lab, $369B federal climate investments in Georgia, Nepal floods spark adaptation demands

• Hispanic Heritage Month Spotlight: An Interview with Ana Z. Licona (HR&A Advisors) - Mexican-American Senior Analyst Ana Z. Licona shares insights on her work in digital equity, as $21.7M was awarded to 20 organizations, benefiting over 100,000 residents.

• Interactive disaster risk education class in Hwaseong, Republic of Korea marks the start of celebratory events for the International Day for Disaster Risk Reduction 2024 (UNDRR) - An interactive disaster risk education class in Hwaseong, South Korea, launches celebrations for the 2024 International Day for Disaster Risk Reduction, with KSSP having trained nearly 60,000 students and teachers since 2016.

• Energy Transfer's $300 Million Lawsuit (Greenpeace USA) - Energy Transfer's $300 million lawsuit against Greenpeace USA, stemming from Dakota Access Pipeline protests, is scheduled for trial in North Dakota in February 2025.

• Monster hurricane supercharged by fossil fuel pollution. Big Oil must be held accountable (Greenpeace) - Hurricane Milton strikes Florida amid climate experts' warnings that fossil fuel-driven climate change intensifies hurricanes, with Hurricane Helene causing $250 billion in economic losses.

• Climate Week NYC 2024 (Climate Group) - At Climate Week NYC 2024, Maria Pia De Caro highlighted that only 5% of carbon footprint is linked to own operations, stressing the need for collaborative action and ecosystem engagement to combat climate change.

• New Extreme Weather Adaptation Lab Will Work With Texas Communities to Build Resilience (UT News) - The University of Texas has established a new lab to assist Texas communities in building resilience against climate hazards, as the state faced 179 weather-related disasters costing over $1 billion each since 1980.

• Climate Mayor Van Johnson II To Highlight Federal Climate Investments in GA (Elected Officials to Protect America) - Savannah Mayor Van Johnson II spotlights $369 billion in federal climate investments and clean energy expansion for Georgia during an EOPA press conference.

• Nepal's deadly floods trigger calls for climate adaptation (Mongabay) - Nepal's devastating floods claim 246 lives, displace over 10,000 households, and cause $100 million in damage, sparking urgent demands for enhanced climate adaptation measures.

• Attend the next Teach Climate Network Workshop on October 16! (Climate Generation) - Free workshop on October 16 equips K-2 educators with strategies and resources for teaching climate change to young students, as part of early elementary climate education efforts.

• We invite you to an upcoming webinar co-hosted by Second Nature, the University Climate Change Coalition (UC3) (Second Nature) - Second Nature and UC3 will co-host a webinar on October 24 to explore key COP29 agenda items, in collaboration with the RINGO constituency.

• WAC October 2024 | Recap of Climate Week NYC, Welcoming our new Board Members! (Women and Climate) - Climate Week NYC's Women and Climate Gala Dinner drew over 90 attendees, celebrating new board members and anticipating COP29 networking events for female climate leaders.

• Let's Catch Up: Updates from Care About Climate! (Care About Climate) - Youth climate group Care About Climate seeks backing for COP 29 delegates, offers NDC webinars, launches Climate Action Clubs, and provides international policy course, all aimed at achieving the Paris Agreement's 1.5°C target.

• It's not too late (Dayenu) - Jewish climate group Dayenu calls for urgent community action, stressing the election of climate champions, as scientists warn only six years remain to avert the worst climate impacts.

• New survey of IPCC authors reveals doubt, and hope, that world will achieve climate targets (The Conversation) - A new survey of IPCC authors shows most expect global warming to surpass 2°C by 2100, with the median estimate at 2.7°C, despite climate targets.

• The First Gas Utility Sued for Climate Deception (DeSmog) - Oregon county sues gas utility NW Natural for $52 billion, claiming years of climate misinformation and deceptive marketing practices.

• Leadership News & The Power of Us (Front and Centered) - Washington State's climate justice coalition, Front and Centered, announces Aurora Martin as sole Executive Director, following co-founder Deric Gruen's departure after a decade of leadership.

Renewables

Prian Energy, EagleView, Aurora Solar, Walmart, Eni Next, and BrightNight drive solar expansion; Indonesian protests against Chinese solar project

• From Serving the Nation to Powering Clean Energy in India: The Story of Prian Energy (New Energy Nexus) - Former Indian military officers' clean energy startup, Prian Energy, now leads in EV chargers and solar roofing, while supporting 108 women entrepreneurs in India's green transition.

• Solar Leadership series: 5 questions with EagleView's Peter Cleveland (Aurora Solar) - EagleView VP Peter Cleveland highlights the company's aerial imagery and property data services, covering 94% of the US population, and their partnership with Aurora Solar to enhance solar design accuracy and efficiency.

• Solar Leadership series: 5 questions with EagleView's Peter Cleveland (Aurora Solar) - EagleView VP Peter Cleveland highlights the company's aerial imagery and property data services, covering 94% of the US population, and their partnership with Aurora Solar to enhance solar design accuracy and efficiency.

• Walmart Invests in Multi-State Community Solar Portfolio Developed by Solar Landscape (Solar Landscape) - Walmart invests in 74 community solar projects across Maryland and Illinois, generating 43 megawatts of capacity, powering 3,600 homes, and saving subscribers $1 million annually on energy bills.

• Tensions flare as Indonesian islanders resist China solar development (Mongabay) - Violent protests erupt on Indonesia's Rempang Island as locals oppose eviction for an $11.6 billion Chinese solar panel and glass factory project.

• Aether Fuels Welcomes Eni Next to Series A (Aether Fuels) - Eni Next joins Aether Fuels' $40M+ Series A funding round, supporting global growth and European expansion of Aether Aurora™ technology.

• BrightNight Closes $440 Million Strategic Investment from Goldman Sachs Alternatives, Upsizes Corporate Credit Facility to $400 Million (PRNewswire) - BrightNight secures $840 million in funding, including a $440 million investment from Goldman Sachs Alternatives, to support its 31-gigawatt renewable power project portfolio.

Transport

Toyota's portable hydrogen tech, global EV push at Climate Week NYC, Charleston's $2.3B highway vs. sustainable transit vote

• Hydrogen innovation: Toyota's portable hydrogen cartridges (Energy Central) - Toyota unveils portable hydrogen cartridges, aiming to expand small-scale applications and mobility solutions through collaborative knowledge sharing.

• Climate Week NYC 2024 (Climate Group) - Rebecca Fisher emphasizes the critical need for worldwide electric vehicle adoption and calls for immediate government and business action during Climate Week NYC 2024.

• Prevent climate disaster — stop the 526 Tax! (Charleston Climate Coalition) - Charleston voters face a crucial decision on a proposed half-cent sales tax, with $2.3 billion earmarked for a controversial highway extension to Johns Island instead of sustainable transport alternatives.

• Transport in Europe: Some signs of progress but difficult journey ahead to sustainability (EEA) - EU transport sector struggles with sustainability, as emissions soar 26% above 1990 levels, accounting for 29% of EU greenhouse gases in 2022, with road transport still dominating passenger and freight movement.