I used to work for a software company that held a Field Best Practices call every Friday morning. They’d share new resources and updates on progress, then a member of the sales team would tell a story about how they had worked and closed a big sale. Every week!
Imagine if we did more things like that in our collective effort for transformation. This newsletter is intended to be part of an effort like that. The folks over at ClimateAction.tech are another example, I’d like to spend some more time there. Do you know other examples of green tech and sustainability skill-sharing, capacity building, that should be on our radar? Please let me know, I’m on the lookout.
Below, today's updates. Email subscribers get 3 picked out just for you, based on your interests!
Marshall Kirkpatrick
Founder, Earth Catalyst
Consultant to green tech & environmental organizations
Sharing lessons learned to accelerate our collective impact.
Image of the Day: How to Drive EV Adoption
From Michael Thomas’s post How Norway Became the EV Capital of the World. “Next year, Norway plans to stop selling gas-combustion vehicles altogether, 10 years ahead of California and the European Union, two jurisdictions that are generally held up as sustainable transportation policy leaders.” Tax incentives, hydro power, public investments, and popular culture all contributed.
Quote of the Day: Supply Chain Resilience in the Face of Disasters
“As solar becomes a larger piece of our electrification, it’s going to be increasingly important that we ensure we have a stable supply chain.” -Debra DeShong, head of corporate communications at solar manufacturer QCells North America. From Grist’s article The solar supply chain runs through this flooded North Carolina town
People say that “supply chain resilience” is framing with bipartisan appeal, and a good way to build support for transition to renewables that can appeal to people who are turned off by references to Environmental Justice because of their unexamined racism.
Today's Updates
Table of Contents
Agriculture (4 stories) - Agtech Investments, EU Policy, Sustainable Farming, and Reforestation Efforts
Carbon (4 stories) - Climate Week NYC, EIA Forecasts, Carbon Financing in Nicaragua
Circular (1 story) - Adidas and Spinnova partner on textile recycling; Carbios advances PET plastic depolymerization; Eastman's molecular recycling facility progresses
Ecosystems (6 stories) - Record-breaking hurricanes Helene and Milton, Gila National Forest's new fire strategy, EU Copernicus report on ocean warming, and Klamath River salmon migration after dam removal
Finance (5 stories) - Partnerships and initiatives from Nature Investment Lab, EPC Power, and SOSV drive climate finance innovation and green economy acceleration
Grid (2 stories) - PJM and MISO market dynamics shape $50B+ in projects; DOE leaders coordinate Hurricane Helene response with utility sector
Indigenous (3 stories) - Totonac spiritual guides partner with scientists; Waorani leader Nenquimo fights for Amazon; ecoAmerica's interfaith climate campaign progresses
Policy (9 stories) - FEMA funding challenges, Washington's I-2117 threat to Climate Commitment Act, Outrider Foundation's Nuclear Reporting Summit, climate education initiatives by ECCN and Climate Generation
Renewables (7 stories) - UK ends coal era; REC unveils Alpha Pro M panel; Japan's $2.2T net-zero push; BLM seeks input on California solar project; Australia's MacIntyre wind farm goes live; NC quartz supplier flood impacts supply chain
Transport (1 story) - Norway's EV revolution: 93% market share in 2022, driven by policy success
Agriculture
Agtech Investments, EU Policy, Sustainable Farming, and Reforestation Efforts
Venture capital model still suitable for agtech. Sort of (AgFunderNews) - Despite technology's scalability, venture capital faces challenges in agtech due to extended timelines and adoption hurdles, yet remains a viable investment option for the sector.
EU to Elaborate Common Agricultural Policy Reform: 'Prioritize Food Sovereignty,' says ECVC (Via Campesina) - European peasant unions urge market regulation and fair pricing in the upcoming Common Agricultural Policy reform, aiming to safeguard food sovereignty and farmer livelihoods.
Creating regenerative value chains in Colombia (Wedgetail Ventures) - Wedgetail Ventures' Team TAP integrates coffee and cacao production with biodiversity conservation and community development in Colombia's Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta, fostering regenerative value chains.
Bertha Flores Morales: Growing Trees for Future Generations (Taking Root) - Nicaraguan farmer Bertha Flores Morales joins the CommuniTree Carbon Program, planting trees in arid areas to fight climate change and deforestation.
Carbon
Climate Week NYC, EIA Forecasts, Carbon Financing in Nicaragua
Making Climate Transition Plans Work: Cross-industry Takeaways (Transform to Net Zero) - Business leaders at Climate Week NYC shared insights on climate transition plans, discussing investment goals, decarbonization strategies, and operational challenges in achieving net-zero targets.
EIA now publishes additional U.S. biofuel and distillate forecasts (EIA) - EIA expands its forecasts to include total distillate fuel oil consumption, incorporating the increasing biofuel component, to provide a more accurate representation of market demand.
How carbon financing is helping smallholder farmers restore forests (Taking Root) - Carbon financing empowers Nicaraguan smallholders to reforest and earn income through the CommuniTree Carbon Program, benefiting both farmers and the environment.
EIA now publishes additional U.S. biofuel and distillate forecasts (EIA) - EIA expands its forecasts to include total distillate fuel oil consumption, incorporating the increasing biofuel component, to provide a more accurate representation of market demand.
Circular
Adidas and Spinnova partner on textile recycling; Carbios advances PET plastic depolymerization; Eastman's molecular recycling facility progresses
How to enrol on a FoodCloud Academy MOOC from Google (FoodCloud) - A YouTube tutorial guides viewers through enrolling in FoodCloud Academy's free online course about reducing food waste, offered via Google's MOOC platform.
Ecosystems
Record-breaking hurricanes Helene and Milton, Gila National Forest's new fire strategy, EU Copernicus report on ocean warming, and Klamath River salmon migration after dam removal
Helene is a Climate Disaster - Protect Our Winters (Protect Our Winters) - Hurricane Helene's record rainfall and flooding caused $160 billion in damage across the Southeast US, underscoring climate change's impact on extreme weather events.
Fire Season | Gila Film Showcase (Forest Service) - The Gila National Forest has shifted its fire management strategy, now permitting certain fires to burn naturally in response to changing climate and increased fuel accumulation.
Rate of ocean warming has nearly doubled in the last two decades: Report (Mongabay) - Ocean warming has accelerated, with rates nearly doubling in two decades and 22% of global ocean surface facing severe to extreme marine heat waves in 2023, according to EU Copernicus' latest report.
How Hurricane Milton exploded into an 'extraordinary' storm (Grist) - Hurricane Milton surged to Category 5 in the Gulf of Mexico, fueled by record-warm waters linked to climate change, threatening severe flooding in Florida.
Hurricane Milton explodes into a powerful Category 5 storm as it heads for Florida − here's how rapid intensification works (The Conversation) - Hurricane Milton's winds surged to 180 mph as it swiftly escalated from Category 1 to Category 5 in under 24 hours, now menacing Florida's coastline.
Salmon swim freely in Klamath River for first time in more than 100 years (The Guardian) - Salmon are now migrating freely in the Klamath River for the first time in over 100 years after four dams were removed near the California-Oregon border.
Finance
Partnerships and initiatives from Nature Investment Lab, EPC Power, and SOSV drive climate finance innovation and green economy acceleration
New Events, Programs, and Climate Experts (Work on Climate) - Climate organization unveils partnerships, fundraising initiatives, events, and expert consultations to bolster climate professionals and foster local environmental networks.
Unlocking Brazil's Green Potential: New Nature Investment Lab Launches at Climate Week NY 2024 (GFANZ) - Brazil's new Nature Investment Lab, launched by five organizations at Climate Week NY 2024, aims to bolster the country's Nature-Based Solutions investment ecosystem and expedite sustainable climate action.
How one of the industry's first advanced manufacturing tax credit transactions took place (Crux Climate) - EPC Power sold its 45X advanced manufacturing tax credits via Crux's platform, swiftly securing competitive bids and finalising deals for both 2023 and 2024 credits.
2024 Climate Week NYC Recap // The Week in Sustainability (Sustain Life) - Climate Week NYC 2024 spotlighted the acceleration of green economies, the evolution of carbon markets, and the alignment of sustainability with profitability.
Climate Summit imminent! (SOSV Monthly) - The SOSV Climate Tech Summit, scheduled for Oct. 14-18, has attracted 7,000 registrants, building on momentum from Climate Week NYC events and HAX Demo Day.
Grid
PJM and MISO market dynamics shape $50B+ in projects; DOE leaders coordinate Hurricane Helene response with utility sector
PJM & MISO Q4 2024 Market Outlook: The Coal Catch-22 (Ascend Analytics) - Ascend Analytics' Q4 2024 market outlook for PJM and MISO underscores the intricate balance between coal reliance and energy transition, forming the basis for over $50 billion in project financing evaluations.
Readout of Energy Secretary Granholm and Deputy Secretary Turk's Conversation with Electricity Sector Leaders About Hurricane Helene Response (Department of Energy) - Energy Secretary Granholm and Deputy Secretary Turk discussed Hurricane Helene response with electricity sector leaders, noting restoration efforts involving 50,000 utility personnel from 41 states and Canada.
Indigenous
Totonac spiritual guides partner with scientists; Waorani leader Nenquimo fights for Amazon; ecoAmerica's interfaith climate campaign progresses
In Mexico, Totonac spiritual guides work with scientists to revive ecosystems (Mongabay) - Spiritual guides from Mexico's Totonac people are joining forces with scientists to study and restore ecosystems facing threats from deforestation and biodiversity loss.
Indigenous women in the Amazon must be empowered': Interview with Nemonte Nenquimo (Mongabay) - Waorani leader Nemonte Nenquimo advocates for Indigenous women's empowerment in environmental activism while battling oil companies in Ecuador's Amazon, as detailed in her new book.
One Home One Future: 1-Year Celebration Highlights (ecoAmerica) - Faith communities unite in climate action, as ecoAmerica's One Home One Future campaign marks its first year of fostering interfaith collaboration on environmental initiatives.
Policy
FEMA funding challenges, Washington's I-2117 threat to Climate Commitment Act, Outrider Foundation's Nuclear Reporting Summit, climate education initiatives by ECCN and Climate Generation
Thugs' disrupt Jakarta climate march as attacks on civil liberties increase (Mongabay) - Unidentified assailants disrupted a climate march in Jakarta, underscoring escalating concerns over civil liberties and peaceful assembly rights in Indonesia.
Outrider Nuclear Reporting Summit (SEJ) - The Outrider Foundation's free Nuclear Reporting Summit in Washington, D.C. on December 5-6, 2024, aims to equip journalists with knowledge on the complex, interconnected issues shaping the modern nuclear landscape.
Climate on the Ballot: FEMA (Covering Climate Now) - FEMA grapples with funding gaps and political hurdles amid rising climate disasters, making its future a crucial electoral issue as the agency struggles to meet growing demands.
Showcasing Learnings and Progress: Accelerated Education in LAC (Eventbrite) - Education experts will convene online on October 24 to review accelerated education initiatives in Latin America and the Caribbean, organized by ECCN, LAC Regional Hub, and INEE.
Sustainability Scoop (Sustainable NCW) - Washington's I-2117 ballot initiative threatens to repeal the Climate Commitment Act, jeopardizing funding for statewide environmental projects and potentially influencing national emission policies.
The End Climate Silence Newsletter: Extremes (End Climate Silence) - The End Climate Silence newsletter urges courage and action in tackling climate change, highlighting the need to overcome social barriers and embrace uncertainty in the fight for environmental preservation.
Upcoming Events (Climate School) - Columbia University unveils a series of climate-focused events for October 2024, exploring topics ranging from sea-level rise to sustainable food and fashion.
October Teach Climate Tips (Climate Generation) - Climate Generation's October newsletter equips educators with tools for teaching climate change, focusing on student activism, emotional well-being, and community involvement.
Climate Disasters Are Coming. Are You Ready? (The Revelator) - Experts urge public preparedness for climate disasters, recommending emergency kits, knowledge of agency roles, and familiarity with aid resources.
Renewables
UK ends coal era; REC unveils Alpha Pro M panel; Japan's $2.2T net-zero push; BLM seeks input on California solar project; Australia's MacIntyre wind farm goes live; NC quartz supplier flood impacts supply chain
United Kingdom Closes Final Coal Plant (Climate One) - The UK has shut its last coal power station, marking the end of a 142-year era and becoming the largest economy to fully eliminate coal-fired electricity.
What's New at REC: Alpha Pro M & More! (Demio) - REC set to unveil its latest Alpha Pro M panel and highlight market advantages during an expert-led webinar on October 10.
$2.2 Trillion in Investment Over 10 Years Can Put Japan on a Trajectory to Net-Zero, BloombergNEF's New Energy Outlook: Japan Shows (BloombergNEF) - Japan requires $2.2 trillion investment over the next decade to achieve net-zero emissions by 2050, necessitating rapid expansion of renewables and emerging technologies like hydrogen and carbon capture.
BLM Seeks Input on Proposed California Solar Project (Solar Industry) - The Bureau of Land Management is soliciting public feedback on a draft environmental assessment for a proposed 17 MW solar project in California's Riverside County, supporting state and federal clean energy initiatives.
MacIntyre Wind Farm Exports Power! (CleanTechnica) - Australia's largest wind farm, MacIntyre, has started exporting clean electricity to Queensland's grid, with its 923 MW capacity set to be fully operational by Q3 2025.
The solar supply chain runs through this flooded North Carolina town (Grist) - Flooding in Spruce Pine, North Carolina, a crucial supplier of ultra-pure quartz for solar panels and computer chips, exposes weaknesses in the global clean energy supply chain.
$2.2 Trillion in Investment Over 10 Years Can Put Japan on a Trajectory to Net-Zero, BloombergNEF's New Energy Outlook: Japan Shows (BloombergNEF) - Japan requires $2.2 trillion investment over the next decade to achieve net-zero emissions by 2050, necessitating rapid expansion of renewables and emerging technologies like hydrogen and carbon capture.
Transport
Norway's EV revolution: 93% market share in 2022, driven by policy success
How Norway Became the EV Capital of the World (Distilled.Earth) - Norway's electric vehicle dominance soars, with 93% of car sales in 2022 being EVs, thanks to strategic policies tackling cost and infrastructure challenges.
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