How can we build winning campaigns? My mind keeps coming back to these notes I took from Anat Shenker-Osorio's fantastic podcast Words to Win By. I feel like these could be good tips for just about everything.

1. Say what you’re for.

I'm excited to be a part of a strong, capable movement of people working ambitiously and effectively to transition the human economy to a place of sustainable abundance.

2. Make your communication targets the agents of change. Use your base to reach the middle.

Those of you reading this email, that's you - that's us. It's up to those of us most interested in building a more capable movement to share what we learn with others who are less focused on building these strengths.

3. Our biggest threat is often not the opposition but cynicism, if our ideas aren’t possible - why would people join us on a train to failure?

4. Winning campaigns pose their goals as not "If" but "When".

We know the world is changing, the cost of renewables is dropping, the circle of people and living beings whose thriving is understood as important is expanding, it really is a matter of When. Let's make that When be as soon as possible, and let's be part of it.

I hope those are useful to you. Thanks for being part of this work.

-Marshall Kirkpatrick

Earth Catalyst: Boosting your efficacy and capacity with two decades of trailblazing & the newest technology

Today and every day, our system scans over 1,000 green tech and sustainability organizations for updates. Below, you'll find:

• A Visual of the Day

• A digest-style Table of Contents for 61 selected updates from around the green tech and sustainability world

• (If you subscribe by email) 3 personalized selections just for you and your work

Did a friend forward you this newsletter? Welcome! You can subscribe here and get your own personal recommendations each day.

Visual of the Day

Renewables Targets Need More Ambition

(Click for full size). The fantastic analyst firm Ember Energy published a monthly newsletter this week that includes these charts from the article In 12 months the renewables market has moved but governments have not.

Tripling the amount of energy coming from renewables is "the single largest action to cut emissions this decade and keep the 1.5C goal within reach" but actual deployments of wind, batteries, and especially government targets are not aimed to hit the mark. Solar is on pace to get there, but as Ember points out - only 8 countries in the world have increased their renewables targets for 2030 over the past 12 months.

Let's all tell bigger, bolder stories of rapid transformation - and then make those stories real!

Today's Updates

Table of Contents

• Agriculture (8 stories) - Traditional maize revival in Colombia, CGIAR's waste tracking and Living Labs programs, Soul Fire Farm's sabbatical, and €3.6B regenerative farming investment by OP2B shape agricultural climate initiatives

• Carbon (3 stories) - Direct air capture pioneer Climeworks and peatland restoration efforts compete with geological carbon storage solutions in emissions reduction strategies

• Circular (1 story) - Digital invites and plant-based tableware drive 75% waste reduction in event planning

• Ecosystems (4 stories) - Killer whales expand Arctic range as Great Lakes face algal threats; Ranthambore Tiger Reserve under investigation while monarch butterflies receive federal protection funding

• Efficiency (2 stories) - Oregon's $2M HVAC training push and nationwide heat pump surge lead efficiency gains, with 35+ community energy projects launching

• Finance (6 stories) - Oil industry's $495B profits spark tax debate, while South Africa's central bank launches climate strategy and experts predict tighter CSRD rules for 2025

• Grid (2 stories) - Acadia Center gains RMI Fellow for New England grid work; Amazon invests $500M in Small Modular Reactor development

• Indigenous (9 stories) - Brazilian tribes gather at Tukapehy for agroforestry training; O'Hongana Manyawa face nickel mining impacts; Yanomami leader fights illegal mining; Namibian conservancies oppose tin extraction

• Industry (1 story) - Tech innovation and sustainability drive critical minerals dialogue at CMA 2024 Leaders Forum

• Policy (20 stories) - ICJ climate hearings begin with 100+ nations, NYC mandates solar roofs, CP2 LNG terminal paused, $300B secured at Baku summit, EUDR compliance webinar by LiveEO

• Renewables (1 story) - CT Green Bank funds 2MW solar deployment across affordable housing in six cities

• Transport (2 stories) - Oregon hits 100k EVs milestone as Delta Electronics expands 350kW charging network with 3M+ chargers deployed globally

Agriculture

Traditional maize revival in Colombia, CGIAR's waste tracking and Living Labs programs, Soul Fire Farm's sabbatical, and €3.6B regenerative farming investment by OP2B shape agricultural climate initiatives

• Co-creation and sustainability: waste transformation and traditional maize recovery in Colombia (CGIAR) - Colombian farmers have partnered with researchers to revive traditional maize varieties and convert organic waste into farming resources in Valle del Cauca's El Dovio region.

• Food systems in the Colombian Caribbean: Challenges and regional Responses (CGIAR) - Food security concerns grip Colombia's Caribbean region, where 58.4% of households face scarcity amid 70% poverty rates and 30% food waste, sparking urgent policy discussions.

• Tracking data to drive a low-emission future in food systems (CGIAR) - A new global initiative is helping four nations track and cut food-related emissions through enhanced data systems and monitoring tools.

• Revealing hidden food loss and waste data can fast-track emission reduction (CGIAR) - Global food loss and waste contributes up to 10% of greenhouse emissions worldwide, according to a new CGIAR analysis tool tracking waste patterns across national supply chains.

• Land use change impacting seven planetary boundaries, solutions urgent, say scientists (Mongabay) - Land use changes now threaten humanity's survival by impacting seven of nine planetary boundaries, with six already exceeding safe operating limits, scientists warn.

• November ’24 Love Notes (Soul Fire Farm) - Black-led Soul Fire Farm will pause operations this winter as founder takes sabbatical, while maintaining food justice initiatives across upstate New York.

• Shaping the path forward: fostering the transition to regenerative agriculture with OP2B (Metabolic) - Major food companies invested €3.6B in regenerative farming projects, impacting 300,000 farmers across 24 countries over five years, according to OP2B's latest report.

• Living labs: paving the way for practical, farmer-led solutions (CGIAR) - Innovative mapping tools and community engagement empower farmers to lead climate solutions in China and Kenya, as CGIAR's Living Labs initiative shifts away from traditional top-down approaches.

Carbon

Direct air capture pioneer Climeworks and peatland restoration efforts compete with geological carbon storage solutions in emissions reduction strategies

• In climate fight, ‘nature vs tech’ a false debate (Conservation International) - Scientists say combining both technological and natural solutions is crucial for climate action, as research shows neither geological carbon capture nor ecosystem-based removal methods alone can sufficiently reduce emissions.

• Voices of Pioneers, Jeff (Climeworks) - Canadian renewable energy expert Jeff joined Climeworks' Pioneer program in 2022, utilizing direct air capture technology to counter flight emissions after deeming traditional carbon offsets insufficient.

• Peatlands urgently need to be restored for UK to meet emissions targets (The Conversation) - Britain's peatland restoration efforts lag significantly, with only 2,550km² of 30,000km² restored despite £318 million investment, jeopardizing national climate goals.

Circular

Digital invites and plant-based tableware drive 75% waste reduction in event planning

• Hosting a Backyard Party? Here's How to Make It Eco-Friendly (EcoSoul Home) - Eco-conscious party planners can reduce waste by 75% using digital invites, DIY decor and plant-based tableware, according to new sustainability guidelines.

Ecosystems

Killer whales expand Arctic range as Great Lakes face algal threats; Ranthambore Tiger Reserve under investigation while monarch butterflies receive federal protection funding

• Killer whales have found new homes in the Arctic Ocean, potentially reshaping marine ecology (Mongabay) - Scientists report two killer whale populations, numbering 200 individuals, have colonized new Arctic territories as melting ice sheets create accessible pathways through previously impassable waters.

• Warmer winters are fuelling a growth in algal blooms across the Great Lakes (The Conversation) - Rising temperatures across the Great Lakes have doubled phosphorus concentrations in some rivers over ten years, triggering more frequent algal blooms during warmer winters, scientists report.

• ‘Missing’ tigers in India: Tracking gaps or oversight? (Mongabay) - India's Ranthambore National Park faces scrutiny as wildlife officials investigate the whereabouts of 25 tigers amid disputes over population counts and monitoring methods.

• A win for the monarchs: Oregon’s new projects give butterflies a boost (Environment America) - Federal officials have allocated $750,000 to protect monarch butterfly habitats in Oregon and neighboring states, as populations plummet 95% below 1980s levels.

Efficiency

Oregon's $2M HVAC training push and nationwide heat pump surge lead efficiency gains, with 35+ community energy projects launching

• Oregon Department of Energy Announces $2 Million in Available Grants for Energy Workforce Training (Oregon Department of Energy) - Oregon launches $2M energy workforce training initiative, allocating $800K to disadvantaged communities for HVAC, home auditing, and efficiency upgrade programs.

• 2024 Wrapped: Decarb Edition (BuildingDecarb.org) - Heat pumps surpassed gas furnaces by 27% in sales as Americans embraced induction cooktops and launched 35-plus neighborhood clean energy projects nationwide.

Finance

Oil industry's $495B profits spark tax debate, while South Africa's central bank launches climate strategy and experts predict tighter CSRD rules for 2025

• Improved forest inventories through 3D remote sensing technology (SLU) - Advanced 3D remote sensing technology, utilizing drones, aircraft, and satellites, now offers precise forest monitoring at reduced costs, enhancing resource management and wildlife protection efforts worldwide.

• Climate financing should come from oil and gas ‘super’ profits, study says (Mongabay) - A new study reveals oil and gas companies' 2022 profits of $495 billion could have generated $147 billion for climate initiatives through a proposed 30% tax.

• 🌏🔮 2025 Climate Tech Oracle (CTVC) - Climate tech newsletter polls industry experts with 20 questions to forecast market trends for 2025, extending its yearly practice of collective predictions.

• Climate shocks and the economy: we asked South Africa’s central bank what role it plays in bringing stability (The Conversation) - South Africa's central bank unveils three-part strategy to tackle climate risks while safeguarding financial stability and inflation targets.

• Key Sustainability Trends 2025 (Sweep) - Sustainability expert Nalise Hahn forecasts that 2025 will bring stricter CSRD regulations, enhanced ESG tracking systems, and expanded social-environmental metrics for businesses worldwide.

• Support local climate action for Giving Tuesday 🌄 Donate to CCC (Charleston Climate Coalition) - Local environmental advocates aim to raise $5000 during Giving Tuesday to sustain climate initiatives across South Carolina's Lowcountry region.

Grid

Acadia Center gains RMI Fellow for New England grid work; Amazon invests $500M in Small Modular Reactor development

• Meet Anya Poplavska – Acadia Center’s Transmission Advocacy Fellow (Acadia Center) - Clean energy advocate Anya Poplavska joins Acadia Center as RMI-funded Transmission Fellow to develop New England's power infrastructure while receiving specialized training.

• Amazon's nuclear energy approach: 7 big ideasTwitterLinkedInInstagramFacebookYoutubeMail ToFacebookTwitterLinkedInMail ToFacebookTwitterLinkedInMail ToFacebookYoutube (AboutAmazon.com) - Tech giant Amazon commits $500M to Small Modular Reactor development, collaborating with energy firms while strategically placing data centers to boost nuclear power advancement.

Indigenous

Brazilian tribes gather at Tukapehy for agroforestry training; O'Hongana Manyawa face nickel mining impacts; Yanomami leader fights illegal mining; Namibian conservancies oppose tin extraction

• Agroforestry workshop in Tukapehy village (Meli-bees.org) - Indigenous farmers from five Brazilian tribes boost food security as 80+ participants complete intensive sustainable agroforestry training at Tukapehy village.

• Oficina de Agroforesta na aldeia Tukapehy (Meli-Bees) - Indigenous farmers from five Brazilian tribes unite in Tukapehy village for a five-day workshop, as 80+ participants learn sustainable agroforestry methods to boost food independence.

• Just energy transition reports urge care in surge to reach global renewable energy goals (Mongabay) - Indigenous leaders have created a landmark document outlining energy transition principles, as reports detail guidelines for partnerships between native communities and mining companies during clean energy development.

• Photos: The lives and forests bound to Indonesia’s nickel dreams (Mongabay) - Indigenous O'Hongana Manyawa tribe faces displacement and environmental devastation as Indonesia's nickel mining for EV batteries expands at Weda Bay Industrial Park.

• ‘Trump is a disease’, says Yanomami shaman Davi Kopenawa (Mongabay) - Indigenous leader Davi Kopenawa condemns illegal mining's impact on Yanomami health and territory while warning of Trump-era threats to Brazil's native lands.

• Namibian conservancies fight to block mining threat to rhinos (Mongabay) - Two Namibian conservancies and a tourism firm have launched legal action to prevent tin mining operations that endanger critically endangered black rhinos in Kunene, where copper extraction previously displaced wildlife.

• Agroforestry workshop in Tukapehy village (Meli-bees.org) - Indigenous farmers from five Brazilian tribes boost food security as 80+ participants complete intensive sustainable agroforestry training at Tukapehy village.

• Meet the 2024 Climate Breakthrough Awardees (Climate Breakthrough) - Four global climate innovators will receive $4M each to reduce emissions by 5.3 gigatons through Indigenous partnerships, fossil fuel cleanup, Japanese energy reform, and Arctic preservation.

• Agroforestry workshop in Tukapehy village – Meli (Meli) - Indigenous leaders from five tribes unite with 80-plus participants in Brazil's Tukapehy village for intensive training on combining ancestral and modern farming methods to boost food independence.

Industry

Tech innovation and sustainability drive critical minerals dialogue at CMA 2024 Leaders Forum

• Leaders Forum: Innovation in a New Era of African Mining (CMA 2024) (Critical Minerals Africa) - Industry leaders gathered at CMA 2024 Leaders Forum to explore Africa's critical minerals future through tech innovation, sustainability measures, and policy changes.

Policy

ICJ climate hearings begin with 100+ nations, NYC mandates solar roofs, CP2 LNG terminal paused, $300B secured at Baku summit, EUDR compliance webinar by LiveEO

• Alaska Wilderness League Applauds Leadership of Representative Raúl Grijalva (Alaska Wilderness League) - After years of fighting oil development in Alaska and defending the Arctic Refuge, Rep. Raúl Grijalva steps down as House Natural Resources Committee Ranking Member.

• African Centre for the Constructive Resolution of Disputes (ACCORD) (ACCORD) - African conflict management experts trained Zambian officials on climate-related stability challenges, aiming to bolster regional resilience against environmental threats.

• Our Power News – COP29 failed us, but we are not backing down (350.org) - Global climate summit in Baku secures $300 billion in funding through 2030, just one-third of the annual $1 trillion experts say vulnerable nations require for climate adaptation.

• No deal to curb plastic production as latest negotiations fizzle (Mongabay) - Global efforts to curb plastic pollution stall as oil producers reject production caps, despite more than 100 nations advocating for binding reduction targets at UN treaty talks.

• Historic climate hearings begin at world’s highest court on States’ obligations in relation to climate change (ICJ) - The International Court of Justice has launched unprecedented climate change hearings, with more than 100 nations set to present submissions through mid-December.

• LiveEO | EUDR: A Step-by-Step Guide to Compliance (LiveEO) - European satellite monitoring firm LiveEO will host a webinar detailing EUDR compliance requirements and digital solutions for businesses affected by new EU deforestation regulations.

• Are Solar Panels Mandatory in NYC? (Brooklyn SolarWorks) - New York City mandates solar panels or green roofs for all new construction and major roof renovations, with requirements varying by roof dimensions under Local Laws 92 and 94.

• Environmental Groups Demand Transparency over Geoengineering Experiments (Friends of the Earth) - Environmental advocates, including 9,317 Friends of the Earth members, urge NOAA to enforce transparency rules for all geoengineering activities under the Weather Modification Reporting Act.

• FERC Temporarily Halts Construction of Controversial CP2 LNG (SELC) - Federal regulators have paused construction of Louisiana's CP2 LNG export terminal, pending additional environmental studies on air quality and emissions impacts.

• The Corporate Push to End Plastics (Heatmap News) - Global business giants unite with environmental advocates to demand binding international plastic restrictions, as 50 major firms back production limits and single-use bans.

• The Next Four Years Will Be a Fight. Embrace It. (Heatmap News) - State and local authorities are bracing for fierce climate policy clashes with federal officials amid predictions of Trump's White House return in 2025.

• The World Court’s Biggest Case Is About Climate Change (Heatmap News) - Nearly 100 nations gather at The Hague as the International Court of Justice launches unprecedented hearings on countries' legal duties regarding climate action and damage compensation.

• Advice for U.S. Government Scientists: Lessons Learned From the ‘Muzzling’ of Their Canadian Counterparts (The Revelator) - Former Canadian scientists advise US federal researchers on safeguarding data and maintaining open communication, drawing from their experience under restrictive policies.

• Climate action NOW! (YouTube) - Student activist demands lawmakers pass climate legislation and Superfund Act to shield communities from escalating environmental disasters.

• Progress on plastic pollution treaty negotiations | Busan, South Korea (UNEP) - Negotiations in Busan on a global plastic pollution treaty made structural progress but failed to reach final agreement, with decisive talks now set for 2025.

• UNDRR November 2024 Newsletter (UNDRR) - UN disaster agency bolsters worldwide resilience through five major initiatives, reaching 193 member states ahead of its corporate network launch in November 2024.

• 2024: A year of big transition | Rogue Climate (Rogue Climate) - Oregon climate group reports leadership shifts and policy wins in 2023, with expanded youth programs reaching 2,500 students and successful advocacy for clean energy initiatives across the state.

• EEA Executive Director calls on EU to stay the course on its climate, environment policies, ambitions | European Environment Agency's home page (EEA) - European Environment Agency chief warns delaying climate action threatens EU security and economic stability, as geopolitical pressures mount against environmental policies.

• Less regulation, more funding for regen ag? AgFunderNews readers tell us what they want from the Trump administration (AgFunderNews) - Survey finds AgFunder readers seek reduced regulations, more funding for regenerative farming, rural internet and AI, while remaining divided on RFK Jr.'s FDA policies and trade tariffs.

• With Turkmenistan set to join CITES, wildlife trade regulation in Central Asia gets a boost (Mongabay) - Turkmenistan's 2025 entry into CITES completes Central Asia's participation in global wildlife protection, safeguarding endangered species like Persian leopards, snow leopards, and markhor goats.

Renewables

CT Green Bank funds 2MW solar deployment across affordable housing in six cities

• Connecticut Green Bank Seeks Proposals to Construct Solar Projects at Affordable Multifamily Housing Sites (CT Green Bank) - Connecticut's Green Bank launches initiative to deploy 2MW of solar power across nine affordable housing complexes in six cities, offering federal funding for greenhouse gas reduction.

Transport

Oregon hits 100k EVs milestone as Delta Electronics expands 350kW charging network with 3M+ chargers deployed globally

• November 2024 Newsletter (Oregon Energy Info) - Oregon's clean energy transition gains momentum as registered EVs surpass 100,000 and new rural resilience programs emerge, according to the state's 2024 Biennial Energy Report.

• Delta’s EV Charging Solutions Are Fostering E-Mobility Across SEA, Australia & NZ (Delta Electronics) - Global power solutions giant Delta Electronics has delivered more than 3 million EV chargers worldwide, now expanding its 350kW fast-charging network across Asia-Pacific regions.