Reviewing today's collection of 64 updates from around the world, categorized and summarized below, I am struck with a feeling: it's amazing! And it brings to mind the famous Clarissa Pinkola Estés quote: "The work is to keep doing the work."
Here's my first effort at a categorization system for the full collection of updates, for those of you who want more than your personal recommendations sent by email!
Good luck today.
-Marshall
Look at these gorgeous seeds from the seed saving training of the Amazon Bioeconomy Seed Network. From Ecoporé’s Training of seed collectors generates income for women and young people from traditional communities and family farming (originally in Portuguese)
Table of Contents
Fungi-based foods expand in Asia-Pacific, Nigerian agroforestry project launches, and CGIAR advocates for innovative, resilient food systems at UN talks.
Mapping, markets, and mitigation: Carbon's complex role in climate solutions and challenges
Exxon faces legal action over alleged deception in plastic recycling claims
Nature's champions: Goodall's enduring legacy, coastal preservation dilemmas, and biomimicry's ambitious vision for sustainable solutions
Thermal networks, weatherization efforts, heat pump discounts, and AI-driven building management drive energy efficiency gains and emissions reductions.
Innovative financing and data tools drive sustainability, while global collaborations and AI advance climate solutions
Regional market reforms, state storage targets, and resilience planning drive grid modernization efforts across the US and UK.
Empowering voices, preserving traditions, and overcoming barriers in climate action and sustainable development
Bureaucratic hurdles and policy shifts challenge clean energy initiatives, while research emphasizes need for evidence-based climate strategies and faster sector transformations
Global advancements in diverse renewable technologies, from geothermal and solar to tidal and nuclear, drive workforce growth and community engagement worldwide.
Affordable Chinese EVs enter Europe as Ford woos US buyers with free home chargers
Agriculture
Fungi-based foods expand in Asia-Pacific, Nigerian agroforestry project launches, and CGIAR advocates for innovative, resilient food systems at UN talks.
Israeli startup Kinoko-Tech partners with Hela's Metaphor Foods to produce and distribute minimally processed fungi-fermented foods across Asia-Pacific, beginning with Australia in 2025.
LAPO Microfinance Bank and IITA-CGIAR have initiated a tree planting project in Nigeria, aiming to boost economic and environmental sustainability through agroforestry practices.
CGIAR leaders engaged in UNGA79 talks, addressing agricultural innovation, climate resilience, digital technologies, and gender equity in food systems to enhance global food security.
Carbon
Mapping, markets, and mitigation: Carbon's complex role in climate solutions and challenges
Climate experts warn of potential hazards associated with geoengineering schemes aimed at altering Earth's systems to combat climate change during a panel at NY Climate Week.
New soil carbon mapping tool enables farmers to measure and potentially monetize their land's carbon stocks through emerging carbon markets.
Canada's 2023 wildfires scorched over 15 million hectares, twice the previous record, emitting 1.5 billion tons of CO2 during exceptionally hot and dry conditions.
Experts criticize the CFTC's new carbon credit derivatives guidance, claiming it fails to adequately address fraud concerns and regulate the voluntary carbon market.
SEforALL's CEO received a UAE honor as the organization championed African carbon markets, reported on global energy progress at UNGA, and backed initiatives for electricity access in Africa and EV adoption in Nigeria.
Sylvera's new Connect to Supply tool streamlines carbon credit sourcing, linking buyers with over 200 suppliers across project stages and utilizing Xpansiv's settlement infrastructure.
New data reveals carbon credits boasting Sustainable Development Goal claims fetched more than double the price in 2023, with ratings significantly impacting premiums.
Circular Economy
Exxon faces legal action over alleged deception in plastic recycling claims
California has filed a lawsuit against ExxonMobil, accusing the company of misleading the public about plastic recyclability, asserting that only 5% of plastic products are actually recyclable.
Ecosystems
Nature's champions: Goodall's enduring legacy, coastal preservation dilemmas, and biomimicry's ambitious vision for sustainable solutions
The Biomimicry Institute unveils a decade-long plan to amplify nature-inspired solutions for global issues, emphasizing cross-sector partnerships and ethical collaborations.
At 90, renowned primatologist Jane Goodall maintains her tireless global advocacy, driven by concerns for future generations and the planet's environmental health.
Beach renourishment efforts, aimed at safeguarding coastal infrastructure, face scrutiny due to potential ecosystem damage and the need for repeated interventions, sparking debates on alternative approaches.
Efficiency
Thermal networks, weatherization efforts, heat pump discounts, and AI-driven building management drive energy efficiency gains and emissions reductions.
Climate Week NYC panel spotlights thermal energy networks as a promising investment for a fair energy shift, job creation, and emissions reduction.
Vermont's Button Up initiative, led by Efficiency Vermont, collaborates with community groups to boost weatherization access for lower-income residents, resulting in consistent growth of statewide weatherization projects.
Unitil's winter heat pump rate discount could save Massachusetts residents hundreds of dollars, as advocates urge other utilities statewide to adopt similar models.
Siemens' Building X platform integrates sustainability, energy management, and AI-powered comfort features, aiming to help buildings meet decarbonization targets, according to ABI Research.
Finance
Innovative financing and data tools drive sustainability, while global collaborations and AI advance climate solutions
The Energy Infrastructure Reinvestment program provides oil and gas firms with affordable financing to expedite their shift towards cleaner energy, including infrastructure repurposing and emissions reduction projects.
Watershed unveils CDP API integration, advanced report builders, and a forthcoming CEDA update, enhancing sustainability data management and reporting capabilities for businesses.
EcoVadis shifts to proactive sustainability by incorporating carbon budgets into financial plans, moving away from retrospective reporting over a three-year period.
New York Climate Week 2024 saw a surge in financial sector involvement, targeting key challenges in climate solution deployment, including offtake agreements and pioneering project funding.
The CLEO Institute: Climate Week NYC: LEBEC Hosts Matt Damon, co-founder of Water.org and WaterEquity; Thais Lopez Vogel of VoLo Foundation; Amy Dornbusch of AtlasDaughters; Yoca Arditi-Rocha of The CLEO Institute; and Vedika Bhandarkar of Water.org - The CLEO Institute
LEBEC's Climate Week NYC panel, featuring Matt Damon and other experts, explored innovative investment strategies for tackling global water and climate challenges, highlighting women's pivotal role in driving solutions.
Five African nations are crafting a $2 billion "debt-for-nature" swap to safeguard Indian Ocean coral ecosystems by 2030, marking a global first in collaborative environmental financing.
The September newsletter from Climate Change AI showcases AI's role in tackling climate issues, featuring events, datasets, funding options, and research on urban microclimates and sustainable adaptation.
CGC unveils October 2 webinar on deploying green capital, following Climate Week NYC discussions aimed at boosting clean energy investments.
A new "Virtual Green Bank" program called SCALE has been launched to stimulate private investment in climate adaptation and resilience technologies.
Three climate tech startups in Washington have graduated from VertueLab's 45Camp accelerator, each receiving $25,000 to further develop their technologies.
Chicago-based Blacks in Green hosts workshops on federal climate funding, promotes sustainable community development, and offers rental property in West Woodlawn.
Grid
Regional market reforms, state storage targets, and resilience planning drive grid modernization efforts across the US and UK.
The West-Wide Governance Pathways Initiative has unveiled a draft Step 2 proposal for a Western regional electricity market organization, addressing governance and efficiency issues across the Western Interconnection.
Rhode Island's 2024 Energy Storage Systems Act aligns with other Northeast states, establishing deployment targets and grid connection rules to bolster clean energy objectives.
Oregon's new Energy Security Plan, released by the Department of Energy, evaluates threats and outlines strategies to bolster the state's energy infrastructure resilience through collaborative efforts.
The UK has launched NESO to manage the transition to a decarbonised energy system, targeting 95% clean power by 2030.
Upcoming webinar explores strategies for providing reliable power to vulnerable residents in Connecticut's affordable housing during outages, based on recent research findings.
Indigenous
Empowering voices, preserving traditions, and overcoming barriers in climate action and sustainable development
Seed collector training in Rondônia, Brazil, empowers women and youth from traditional communities and family farms, preserving indigenous knowledge while creating income opportunities.
Yakama Nation struggles to access $32 million federal solar grant due to bureaucratic obstacles and high costs, challenging Biden administration's tribal clean energy commitments.
Enrique Tamés explores human flourishing in education at Hearth Summit São Paulo, leveraging insights from Tecnológico de Monterrey and his expertise in well-being and innovation.
Changemakers at the Hearth Summit in São Paulo explored the complex interplay of intergenerational trauma, ancestry, and race, examining how these factors shape wellbeing across generations.
Immigrant climate advocate Vanessa Chavarriaga spotlights the struggles of non-voting U.S. residents in climate activism, underscoring the importance of inclusive representation in environmental efforts.
Brazilian faith leaders unite in Sacred Climate Alliance, engaging government officials and issuing a public letter to champion environmental protection and climate action.
Policy
Bureaucratic hurdles and policy shifts challenge clean energy initiatives, while research emphasizes need for evidence-based climate strategies and faster sector transformations
EDF advocates evidence-based revisions for national climate plans, emphasizing scientific alignment, economic modeling, and advanced technologies to boost credibility and attract climate finance.
Project 2025, a conservative transition plan, could increase U.S. emissions, weaken environmental safeguards, and expand presidential authority, potentially jeopardizing democratic processes.
Washington Gas seeks $215 million from customers for a contentious pipeline replacement program, despite previous regulatory rejection and worries about safety, expenses, and environmental effects.
Places Journal expands its international network of academic partners, welcoming three new institutions to enhance public scholarship on the built environment.
The Uproot Project's "Journey of a Story" series in New Orleans explores climate solutions journalism and community-led environmental initiatives.
Research indicates climate policy mandates could hasten global tipping points in crucial sectors up to three years faster than carbon pricing or subsidies.
Scientists will explain how climate change affects specific weather events in a press briefing on weather attribution science scheduled for October 1.
Higher education leaders will convene in Washington D.C. for the Climate Leadership Summit in February 2025, addressing campus climate initiatives and inequality issues.
Ten Washington state agencies unveil a comprehensive climate response strategy, tackling challenges from drought and ocean changes to flooding, extreme heat, wildfires, and smoke.
Climate Week NYC 2024 expands, with 9Zero launching in Seattle and growing in NYC, while Zillow incorporates climate risk data into property listings.
Columbia Climate School announces a series of October 2024 events, covering diverse topics from Japan's economy to climate justice and universities' role in combating global hunger.
The Buckminster Fuller Institute welcomes COBALT to its global cohort, initiates OMNI-Mapping for enhanced organizational visualization, and spotlights its Regional Resilience Fellowship supporting community projects.
Renewables
Global advancements in diverse renewable technologies, from geothermal and solar to tidal and nuclear, drive workforce growth and community engagement worldwide.
Eavor's inaugural Partner Summit attracted over 120 global attendees to its Geretsried site, unveiling its first commercial project alongside new digital offerings.
IREC backs solar workforce growth by funding NABCEP registration for up to 100 union training centers, fostering skilled labor and union pathways in clean energy careers.
Oregon's Department of Energy has allocated $18 million in grants to 34 recipients for planning and building renewable energy and resilience projects statewide.
Alabama's solar workforce doubles as First Solar launches a 3.5 GW thin-film panel factory, challenging the state's fossil fuel-friendly stance.
Researchers employ drones and boat surveys to map intricate tidal flows around Scotland's powerful tidal turbine, offering crucial data for optimal placement and environmental impact assessment.
The U.S. Department of Energy has granted a $1.5 billion loan to reopen Michigan's 805-megawatt Palisades Nuclear Generating Station, marking the nation's first attempt to revive a decommissioned reactor.
Britain closes its final coal-fired power station, signaling a full shift to renewable energy sources, with wind power now dominating the nation's electricity production.
MIT webinar highlights Environmental Solutions Journalism Fellows' local climate reporting projects, examining clean energy transitions and community engagement across America.
Solar energy nonprofit GRID Alternatives has installed panels for more than 10,000 families worldwide, promoting clean energy access and economic opportunities in underserved communities.
USAID's September Climatelinks newsletter showcases initiatives supporting clean energy transitions, including programs empowering women, promoting solar-powered water systems, and improving global air quality.
Transport
Affordable Chinese EVs enter Europe as Ford woos US buyers with free home chargers
Chinese automaker Leapmotor International launches European orders for its affordable T03 city car and C10 SUV electric vehicles, leveraging Stellantis' distribution network for late 2024 deliveries.
Ford aims to entice 19 million potential US electric vehicle buyers with its new "Ford Power Promise" program, offering complimentary home chargers and installation.
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