Today I'm trying something new: personalized subject lines in the emails subscribers get, based on your recommended stories. Please let me know what you think, I am going to evolve them over time but I think it makes sense to try to do. Always experimenting! Thanks for being part of it.

Email subscribers: you’ll find three updates from organizations that are just for you. You'll find the table of contents for the full set of 67 updates at the end of this post.

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: Failing to Protect the Oceans

From Assessing progress toward the 30x30 target for ocean conservation, by the Amsterdam-based consulting firm Metabolic.

Quote of the Day

India is hugely important and hopefully this announcement from the government think tank and planning body National Institution for Transforming India will make a very big impact. From: Global Energy Alliance for People and Planet (GEAPP) and NITI Aayog forge strategic partnership to advance sustainable development

"The partnership will primarily focus on but not limited to having energy transition upscaled to at least 10 states with a roll-out of 100GW of RE in the next 3 years. This will involve creating a robust project pipeline including technical assistance. Some of the already existing projects that are tipped to scale include the solarisation of Expressways with a potential to solarise 6000 km corridor across the country with a generation of 10 GW, women empowerment and access to livelihood targeting about 100,000 women and digitalisation of utilities that will result in reduction of losses and enable viability of utilities."

And now...

Today's Updates

Table of Contents

• Agriculture (4 stories) - Gene 'Parakletos' discovery, aquaculture welfare disparities, Koperwiek's sustainable farming courses, and climate threats to global crop water supply

• Carbon (4 stories) - Natural carbon sinks falter; LNG exports' health impacts; Louisiana pressured on methane

• Circular (3 stories) - Compostable PLA straws, PFAS phase-out in food packaging, and Winnow's culinary waste reduction initiative

• Ecosystems (8 stories) - Brazil's Giant Trees park, global summits on biodiversity and pollution, MSC eco-label scrutiny, UN tsunami exhibition, EU deforestation regulations, and marine conservation progress

• Efficiency (1 story) - IEA: Data centers' electricity demand growth limited, easing AI energy concerns

• Finance (1 story) - Study exposes "bluelining" in 18 U.S. metro areas, highlighting climate-driven financial discrimination

• Grid (7 stories) - Battery storage challenges and innovations: Escondido ban, Kaluza's optimization for OVO, LiveEO's Treeline, and Illinois' proposed storage mandate

• Indigenous (7 stories) - Indigenous communities fight land grabs, advocate for water rights, and seek inclusion in clean energy policies; Maasai and Kenyan pastoralists face climate challenges; Petroperú oil spill threatens Amazon; US forms committee for equitable agroforestry.

• Industry (1 story) - Plug Power's major hydrogen facility faces uncertain future as construction stops

• Policy (17 stories) - FEMA underfunding, EPA emissions rule upheld, DOE clean tech push, EU Deforestation Regulation, Energy Transfer lawsuit against Greenpeace

• Renewables (8 stories) - IEA predicts clean energy dominance; Amazon invests in X-energy's SMRs; ACORE highlights renewable challenges; Global South's solar potential; India targets 100GW with GEAPP partnership

• Transport (3 stories) - Stellantis shipments decline; Virginia EV advocate promotes adoption; Houston luxury rental adds charging stations

Agriculture

Gene 'Parakletos' discovery, aquaculture welfare disparities, Koperwiek's sustainable farming courses, and climate threats to global crop water supply

• A Helping Gene for Healthier Plants (SLU) - Scientists at SLU have identified a gene named 'Parakletos' that regulates plant threat responses, potentially boosting crop resilience and reducing chemical usage in agriculture.

• Aquaculture could harm animal welfare or protect it, depending on what species the farms raise (The Conversation) - Research reveals stark disparities in aquaculture's impact on animal welfare, with certain species facing severe suffering risks while others experience minimal effects.

• Samen leren over de landbouw van de toekomst (Koperwiek) - Dutch nursery Koperwiek offers diverse sustainable agriculture courses, covering syntropic farming, food forests, and plant grafting techniques.

• WRI DIGEST (World Resources Institute) - Analysis reveals climate change and water competition threaten 25% of global crops, highlighting urgent need for sustainable water management strategies.

Carbon

Natural carbon sinks falter; LNG exports' health impacts; Louisiana pressured on methane

• Trees and land absorbed almost no CO2 last year. Is nature’s carbon sink failing? (The Guardian) - Earth's natural carbon sinks, which normally absorb 50% of human emissions, showed negligible CO2 absorption last year, potentially accelerating global warming beyond current climate projections.

• Permit To Kill: Potential Health and Economic Impacts from U.S. LNG Export Terminal Permitted Emissions (Greenpeace USA) - Analysis reveals U.S. LNG export terminals' permitted emissions could lead to 3,356 premature deaths yearly and $45.6 billion in health costs, reports Greenpeace USA.

• Methane mitigation: To stay competitive, Louisiana must meet the demand for cleaner energy (EDF) - Louisiana faces pressure to slash methane emissions from its oil and gas sector, as global markets and new EU and Asian regulations demand cleaner energy production.

• Methane mitigation: To stay competitive, Louisiana must meet the demand for cleaner energy (EDF) - Louisiana faces pressure to slash methane emissions from its oil and gas sector to meet global clean energy demands and comply with new EU and Asian LNG import standards.

Circular

Compostable PLA straws, PFAS phase-out in food packaging, and Winnow's culinary waste reduction initiative

• 5 Benefits of Using Biodegradable Straws in Restaurants and Cafés (EcoSoulHome) - Biodegradable PLA straws provide a compostable, non-toxic, and durable option for restaurants and cafes, offering an eco-friendly alternative to traditional plastic and paper straws.

• Phasing out ‘forever chemicals’ from food delivery packaging (Systemiq) - A new study highlights the urgent need to phase out PFAS chemicals from food packaging, offering key recommendations amid increasing global regulatory pressure.

• A Q&A with Vojtech Végh: Winnow's new Zero Waste Culinary Advisor (Winnow) - Renowned chef Vojtech Végh joins Winnow as Zero Waste Culinary Advisor, aiming to help kitchens cut food waste and costs through innovative trimming techniques.

Ecosystems

Brazil's Giant Trees park, global summits on biodiversity and pollution, MSC eco-label scrutiny, UN tsunami exhibition, EU deforestation regulations, and marine conservation progress

• Giant Trees of the Amazon State Park established in the Brazilian State of Pará (Andes Amazon Fund) - Brazil creates Giant Trees of the Amazon State Park, safeguarding 1.38 million acres of rainforest in Pará, home to towering trees like a 290-foot Angelim Vermelho.

• Giant Trees of the Amazon State Park established in the Brazilian State of Pará (Andes Amazon Fund) - Brazil creates Giant Trees of the Amazon State Park, safeguarding 1.38 million acres of rainforest in Pará, home to towering trees like a 290-foot Angelim Vermelho.

• Wildlife, climate and plastic: how three summits aim to repair a growing rift with nature (The Conversation) - World leaders prepare for three major summits to tackle biodiversity loss, climate change, and plastic pollution, as experts stress the critical need for coordinated global responses to these interlinked environmental challenges.

• ‘Blue Fish’ Blues: Why Supermarkets Cannot Utilize Seafood Eco-Labeling As Cover Against Slavery at Sea (Greenpeace USA) - Research exposes Marine Stewardship Council's eco-label as inadequate in ensuring tuna products are free from forced labor, contradicting the organization's assertions.

• Tsunami: Sea change for resilience exhibition (UNDRR) - The UN's disaster risk reduction agency unveils an exhibition marking 20 years since the 2004 Indian Ocean tsunami, featuring survivor narratives and art that illustrate progress in disaster preparedness.

• LiveEO | Webinar: EUDR: Legal Obligations and Required Documents (LiveEO) - Upcoming webinar delves into European Deforestation Regulation compliance, detailing legal obligations and due diligence processes for businesses affected by new environmental standards.

• LiveEO | EUDR Timeline: Key Dates and Milestones in the EU's Deforestation Regulation (October 2024 Update) (LiveEO) - The EU's Deforestation Regulation timeline, spanning 2020-2026, sets crucial milestones for adoption, enforcement, and business compliance to tackle global deforestation.

• Assessing progress toward the 30×30 target for ocean conservation (Metabolic) - Global marine conservation efforts lag behind the 30x30 target, with a mere 8.30% of oceans protected and only 2.80% likely effectively conserved, according to recent data.

Efficiency

IEA: Data centers' electricity demand growth limited, easing AI energy concerns

• The IEA Isn’t Sweating Data Center Electricity Demand (Heatmap) - The International Energy Agency forecasts data centers will contribute under 10% to global electricity demand growth by 2030, challenging worries about AI's energy impact.

Finance

Study exposes "bluelining" in 18 U.S. metro areas, highlighting climate-driven financial discrimination

• Wake up Call: A Community Case Study on Emerging Bluelining Practices (Greenlining Institute) - A new study reveals climate-related financial discrimination, dubbed "bluelining," affects vulnerable communities in 18 U.S. metropolitan areas, exacerbating existing inequities.

Grid

Battery storage challenges and innovations: Escondido ban, Kaluza's optimization for OVO, LiveEO's Treeline, and Illinois' proposed storage mandate

• A Battery Ban, Burning Man, and Lots More Yelling (Heatmap News) - Escondido, California has imposed an indefinite ban on battery storage permits after a recent fire, fueling growing resistance to such projects in the area.

• Kaluza powers innovative battery storage proposition for OVO solar customers (Kaluza) - Kaluza's software helps OVO offer solar customers with GivEnergy batteries cheaper renewable energy rates, saving them £120 annually through smart battery charging optimization.

• LiveEO | How Predictive Analytics Can Transform Utility Vegetation Management (LiveEO) - Satellite data and AI-driven predictive analytics are transforming utility vegetation management, enhancing power grid reliability and enabling proactive risk mitigation for utility companies.

• LiveEO | Meet us at Enlit Europe 2024 (LiveEO) - German startup LiveEO will present Treeline, its satellite-powered vegetation management tool for utilities, at Enlit Europe 2024 in Milan this October.

• Webinar 1 of 3: Introduction to 24/7 Carbon-Free Electricity (Climate Group on YouTube) (Climate Group) - The webinar explores 24/7 carbon-free electricity, a strategy aimed at decarbonizing global grids by continuously matching regional demand with clean energy sources.

• Kaluza powers innovative battery storage proposition for OVO solar customers - Kaluza (Kaluza) - Kaluza's software empowers OVO to provide solar customers with GivEnergy batteries an extra £120 annual savings through intelligent charging optimization, offering more affordable renewable energy rates.

• Renewable Energy World: New Illinois Clean Energy Bills Mandate State’s First Storage Procurement, A VPP Program, and More (Renewable Energy World) - Illinois lawmakers propose ambitious energy bills, including the state's first storage mandate and virtual power plant program, to boost grid resilience and cut consumer costs while accelerating renewable energy growth.

Indigenous

Indigenous communities fight land grabs, advocate for water rights, and seek inclusion in clean energy policies; Maasai and Kenyan pastoralists face climate challenges; Petroperú oil spill threatens Amazon; US forms committee for equitable agroforestry.

• Indonesian Peasant Union condemns and protests against the eviction, violence and criminalization of indigenous peasant community of SPI Nagari Kapa (Via Campesina) - Indonesian farmers protest Wilmar Group subsidiary's violent eviction and crop destruction in West Sumatra, defying ongoing land dispute resolution efforts.

• Investing in, incentivising and including First Nations consent, partnerships and participation in the energy transition is an investment decision (First Nations Clean Energy Network) - Australia faces calls to incorporate Indigenous consent and collaboration in clean energy policies, aiming to boost global competitiveness and mutual advantages for all stakeholders.

• Let Us Get Our Water Back! (Cultural Survival on YouTube) (Cultural Survival) - Indigenous youth Cheepache-Nitty advocates for Native water rights restoration and land stewardship at the National Tribal and Indigenous Climate Conference.

• Don't Leave us Behind - Maasai Indigenous Peoples of Tanzania (Cultural Survival on YouTube) (Cultural Survival) - A Maasai pastoralist from Tanzania sheds light on his community's struggles with resource scarcity, climate change, and livestock diseases, urging action to preserve their way of life.

• West Pokot County Government (West Pokot County Government) - West Pokot County, Kenya, seeks to improve lives through fair resource use while engaging in global disaster risk reduction efforts via the Sendai Framework platform.

• Oil Over Life: The Cost of Petroperú’s Environmental Catastrophe in the Peruvian Amazon (Amazon Watch) - A Petroperú pipeline spill of 6,000 liters of oil in the Peruvian Amazon endangers Indigenous communities and ecosystems, as the financially troubled company faces restructuring.

• Leaders of a new era for agroforestry (Carbon180) - A diverse steering committee has been formed to shape equitable agroforestry policies, aiming to rectify historical injustices in US agriculture.

Industry

Plug Power's major hydrogen facility faces uncertain future as construction stops

• The Collapse of the Northeast’s Biggest Hydrogen Plant (Heatmap News) - The future of Plug Power's significant hydrogen plant in upstate New York hangs in the balance as construction halts amid financial woes and regulatory hurdles.

Policy

FEMA underfunding, EPA emissions rule upheld, DOE clean tech push, EU Deforestation Regulation, Energy Transfer lawsuit against Greenpeace

• Warped Government Priorities Make Climate Disaster Worse (Institute for Policy Studies) - U.S. government's skewed priorities leave vulnerable communities exposed to climate disasters, as FEMA remains underfunded while fossil fuel subsidies and military aid persist.

• Community Guide to Cumulative Impacts (Environmental Protection Network) - A new guide provides communities with tools to combat the combined effects of chemical exposure and pollution through policy reforms, according to environmental advocacy groups.

• Talking Permitting Reform, Trade, and More With Biden’s Top Climate Advisor (Heatmap) - In a Yale podcast, Biden's climate advisor Ali Zaidi outlines key policy areas, including permitting reform, trade, and climate initiatives, shaping the administration's environmental agenda.

• Haul Water, Rescue Pigs, Help Neighbors: How My Students Confronted Climate Chaos in a Horrific Hurricane Season (The Revelator) - Students and faculty at a North Carolina college unite to tackle the aftermath of Hurricane Helene, showcasing the power of community resilience in the face of climate-induced catastrophes.

• The Department of Energy has gotten serious about technology commercialization (Volts) - The Department of Energy's new initiatives aim to speed up clean energy tech commercialization, with Chief Commercialization Officer Vanessa Chan leading efforts to implement innovative frameworks and strategies.

• B.C. election: Party proposals on climate action point in opposite directions (The Conversation) - British Columbia's upcoming election showcases divergent climate policies, with NDP and Greens pushing emissions cuts while Conservatives advocate fossil fuel expansion and policy repeals.

• SCOTUS Says Biden’s Power Plant Rules Can Stay — For Now (Heatmap) - The Supreme Court has temporarily upheld the EPA's power plant emissions rule, despite indicating potential future legal hurdles for the regulation.

• A Brief History of Kelcy Warren and Donald Trump (Greenpeace USA) - Energy Transfer LP's Kelcy Warren, a significant Trump donor, faces scrutiny for backing anti-environmental policies and suing Greenpeace over Dakota Access Pipeline protests.

• LiveEO | 28 EUDR Definitions You Need to Know (LiveEO) - The EU Deforestation Regulation introduces 28 essential terms, including "relevant commodities" and "geolocation", to guide businesses in adhering to new environmental standards.

• VoxDev/ CEPR (VoxDev/CEPR) - VoxDev/CEPR offers expert analysis on development policy, bridging academic research with policymakers to promote evidence-based decisions.

• LiveEO | EUDR Competent Authorities - Updated List (October 2024) (LiveEO) - The European Union has updated its roster of national authorities tasked with enforcing EUDR compliance, though some member states have yet to finalize appointments as of October 2024.

• Energy Transfer’s $300 Million Lawsuit (Greenpeace USA) - Energy giant Energy Transfer's $300 million lawsuit against Greenpeace over Dakota Access Pipeline protests heads to trial in North Dakota in February 2025.

• Habitable (UNDRR) - The EU-funded HABITABLE project unites 22 partners to examine climate change's effects on migration, aiming to establish new concepts of habitability and social tipping points.

• Supreme Court Denies Requests to Block Climate Pollution Standards for Power Plants (EDF) - The Supreme Court has denied emergency requests to halt the EPA's climate pollution standards for power plants, ensuring these protections remain effective during ongoing judicial review.

• Dominion Doubles Down on Fossil Fuels in Integrated Resource Plan (Advanced Energy United) - Dominion Energy's latest plan proposes 6 gigawatts of new methane gas generation, potentially conflicting with Virginia's clean energy goals and extending reliance on fossil fuels.

• Surfrider X POW: Surfers and Snowboarders Unite to Get out the Vote (Protect Our Winters) - Surfrider Foundation and Protect Our Winters join forces to boost climate action and voter participation among coastal and alpine communities for the 2024 election.

• Supreme Court Denies Requests to Block Climate Pollution Standards for Power Plants (EDF) - The Supreme Court has denied emergency requests to halt the EPA's climate pollution standards for power plants, ensuring these protections remain effective during ongoing judicial review.

Renewables

IEA predicts clean energy dominance; Amazon invests in X-energy's SMRs; ACORE highlights renewable challenges; Global South's solar potential; India targets 100GW with GEAPP partnership

• Welcome to the Age of Electricity (Heatmap) - The International Energy Agency forecasts that low-emission sources will produce more than half of global electricity by 2030, marking the beginning of an "Age of Electricity".

• What Makes Amazon’s Big Nuclear Deal Different (Heatmap) - Amazon's direct investment in X-energy's small modular reactor project signals a departure from traditional tech company approaches to nuclear energy procurement.

• The Transmission Study Making the Rounds on the Hill (Heatmap) - ACORE's Ray Long highlights renewable energy's hurdles, referencing Stanford research that reveals solar and wind projects encounter more setbacks than fossil fuel initiatives.

• Renewable Energy’s Gloomy Election (Heatmap News) - Renewable energy sector confronts hurdles before 2024 vote, with possible clean energy incentive rollbacks and increasing community resistance to projects threatening growth.

• Amazon looks to advanced nuclear reactors to meet climate goals (The Verge) - Amazon partners with nuclear firms to develop small modular reactors, potentially powering data centers and advancing its climate objectives.

• October Newsletter 2025 (Kyoto Fusioneering) - Fusion firm Kyoto Fusioneering showcases at SOFT 2024, advances geothermal gyrotron tech, and introduces team spotlight series in latest newsletter.

• Global Energy Alliance for People and Planet (GEAPP) and NITI Aayog forge strategic partnership to advance sustainable development (GEAPP) - The Global Energy Alliance for People and Planet and NITI Aayog have partnered to accelerate India's clean energy transition, targeting 100GW of renewable energy across 10 states within three years.

• Spark Newsletter (RMI) - The Global South emerges as a potential renewable energy powerhouse, with Nigeria demonstrating the advantages of solar minigrids amid accelerating clean energy transitions worldwide.

Transport

Stellantis shipments decline; Virginia EV advocate promotes adoption; Houston luxury rental adds charging stations

• Stellantis Reports Q3 2024 Consolidated Shipment Estimates (Stellantis) - Stellantis reports a 20% drop in Q3 2024 consolidated shipments to 1.148 million units, citing inventory reduction efforts and new product introductions as key factors.

• The Virginian-Pilot: Column - Why I Chose an EV, and Why Virginia Needs More of Them (The Virginian-Pilot) - Virginia electric vehicle enthusiast champions wider EV adoption, highlighting eco-friendly advantages and long-term savings, while acknowledging early hurdles in infrastructure and accessibility.

• How Aspire Post Oak Uses EV Charging Powered by SWTCH to Attract and Retain Tenants (SWTCH Energy) - Houston's Aspire Post Oak luxury rental boosts tenant appeal with EV charging stations, catering to rising demand and showcasing its commitment to sustainability and forward-thinking amenities.