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In California water news today …
Biden, Newsom race to cement biological opinions ahead of potential Trump victory
“President Joe Biden is planning to cement new, strenuous rules governing how California’s water is managed by the end of the year, completing a four-year fight to shred a water boost for Valley farmers and southern California instituted under President Trump. According to a federal agency schedule published by POLITICO, the Biden administration plans to have new biological opinions in place by Dec. 6 to pare back how water flows via the Central Valley Project and the State Water Project. The 2019 biological opinions put in place by the Trump administration were developed with an eye toward cutting edge science driving adaptive water management in the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta to help boost water supplies to farmers in the Central Valley and southern California communities. … ” Read more from the San Joaquin Valley Sun.
New scientific strategy helps make case for holistic management of California rivers
“Of California’s many tough water challenges, few are more intractable than regulating how much water must be kept in rivers and streams to protect the environment. Attempts to require enough water at the right time and temperature to sustain fish and other aquatic life run smack against a water rights system developed more than 150 years ago for farmers, miners, industries and cities – but not wildlife. Federal and state endangered species laws have been instrumental in establishing such “environmental flows” on some California streams, but those requirements are usually tailored for an endangered or threatened fish – a single-species approach that critics say has little progress to show for the resulting disruption of irrigation and urban water supplies serving nearly 40 million residents. … ” Read more from Western Water.
What’s the status of California’s drought as heat wave, wildfires sweep state?
“As California’s remaining dry spots shrink, weather experts warn that sweltering heat could slow progress. According to a Thursday update from the U.S. Drought Monitor, California is completely drought-free, with “abnormally dry” spots isolated in the state’s desert region. The weekly drought map shows drought intensities across the nation. Weather patterns in California are typically drier between May and the beginning of June compared to other months, researchers wrote in a weekly national drought summary for forecast explanations. In total, 1.2% of the state is abnormally dry, a nearly 1.5% decrease from one month prior. … ” Read more from the Sacramento Bee. | Read more from Yahoo News.
California’s heat wave sets daily records, with possibly more on the way
“The heat wave that continues to scorch California’s interior pushed temperatures across the state into the triple digits Wednesday, setting a few daily records. The weather is particularly unusual for early June, creating increased concern about serious health effects given that people have had little time to acclimate to the extreme heat. Dozens of heat advisories in California’s inland deserts, mountains and valleys remain in effect through Friday, with the National Weather Service warning about a major heat risk across the majority of the state. In some areas in the San Joaquin Valley and Mojave Desert, the weather service is predicting Thursday to be the hottest day so far, with several areas — including Death Valley National Park, Baker and Lone Pine — facing extreme heat risk, defined as “rare and/or long-duration extreme heat with little to no overnight relief.” Such heat affects not just sensitive groups but “anyone without effective cooling and/or adequate hydration,” according to the weather service. … ” Read more from the LA Times. | Read via Yahoo News.
As sinking cruise ship continues to threaten the Delta, Harder joins federal effort to remove dangerous and abandoned vessels from waterways
“Today, following a recent visit to the sinking Aurora Cruise Ship near Stockton which is polluting the Delta, Rep. Josh Harder (CA-9) threw his support behind the Abandoned and Derelict Vessel Removal Act. According to authorities, there are other abandoned and deteriorating ships that are safety hazards in the Delta and must be dealt with before they pollute the water. This legislation would allow the US Coast Guard and Army Corps of Engineers to remove these dangerous vessels from waterways. “Protecting our water is essential to keeping families, our environment, and wildlife safe,” said Rep. Harder. “I had the opportunity to board the Aurora with the Coast Guard, and I was disturbed to learn there are more neglected boats that could cause even more damage to our waterways. We have to get these hazardous ships out of our waters and hold owners accountable.” … ” Read more from Congressman Harder’s office.
California gets step closer to building giant new reservoir
“A major project to build a new massive reservoir in Northern California got a step closer to the start of construction, when a judge rejected a lawsuit from environment groups that don’t support the development, the California Gov. Gavin Newsom’s office said Tuesday. The Yolo County Superior Court approved the Sites Reservoir project within 148 days from when the suit was filed, in part due to a new law signed last year by Newsom to speed up the process to build projects geared at meeting the state’s climate goals. The court released its ruling on May 31. … ” Read more from SF Gate.
Trout Unlimited and AI
“Trout Unlimited is using AI, you know, artificial intelligence. No, it’s not to write this article (nor any others), and no, it’s not to enhance the photos of trout, nor salmon or steelhead (though that’s tempting). Instead, it’s for the benefit of science as well as curious anglers, which is our nature. … Imagine the knowledge we could demonstrate if we could identify each individual fish we caught with a simple photograph. We could know the species, get an estimate of the fish’s size, know whether the fish had been caught previously and when and where. (Though this might mean no more fish stories/lies.) This could empower our entire community of fishers to not only have fun learning more about their fish, but it will also add data to help with science needs like estimating fish population abundance, measuring growth and movement and tracking use of different habitat types. … ” Read the full story from Trout Unlimited.
Salmon expectations from wet year 2023 and above normal year 2024
“After five critical drought years and only two wet years in the decade from 2013 through 2022, there is hope that Wet year 2023 and Above Normal year 2024 will help recover California salmon populations. However, some salmon survival factors that were not improved and some that were made worse in these two years compared to previous wet years will limit salmon recovery from the 2020-2022 drought. The 2020-2022 drought caused poor runs of adult salmon returning to spawn in 2022 and 2023 (and likely also in 2024). Low spawner numbers contributed to low production of juvenile outmigrants to the ocean in 2023 and 2024, despite good in-river habitat conditions. … ” Read more from the California Fisheries blog.
2025 Delta Science Plan update to focus on four “grand challenges” to Delta science
“California’s climate presents extreme challenges, from droughts, floods, wildfires, and mudslides. These issues are exacerbated by climate change and are particularly pronounced in the Delta due to human-induced landscape modifications. Managing these complex challenges in the Delta has been likened to a “wicked” problem – difficult but not impossible with the right knowledge and institutions. Inspired by the National Research Council’s identification of grand challenges in environmental science, the Delta Science Program proposes to frame its next update of the Delta Science Plan around these significant tasks. By focusing on specific grand challenges, the program aims to foster transdisciplinary research to tackle the wicked problem of the Delta more effectively and support long-term goals. … ” Continue reading at Maven’s Notebook.
Federal infrastructure investments not yet reaching California communities that need them most
“A new report by the Union of Concerned Scientists found that at the halfway point of implementing the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, the historic federal investments flowing into California are not yet meeting federal environmental justice goals. The analysis of non-transportation funding designated for California by the infrastructure law found that less than a quarter of the money is currently flowing to communities designated as disadvantaged by federal standards, despite a goal of getting 40% of the benefits to communities that are historically underserved and overburdened by pollution. The report’s authors used publicly available federal data and environmental justice screening tools to determine where federal infrastructure investments are going in California, the recipient of more than $41 billion in announced funding from the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law —the most of any state so far. … ” Read more from the Union of Concerned Scientists.
SEE ALSO: Union of Concerned Scientists is following the money in California
Water agencies beware before proceeding with forced municipalization
“Despite California’s record high levels of precipitation in 2023, water scarcity remains a pressing issue. Governments have turned to using the power of eminent domain to acquire investor-owned utilities in an effort to improve water service and costs for their communities. This complex process, known as municipalization, contains significant legal hurdles for governments because investor-owned utilities are uniquely empowered to challenge such takeovers. … ” Read more from Nossaman LLP.
Scientists find tire chemicals in leafy vegetables
“Scientists have found in leafy vegetables traces of several chemicals used to prevent the aging and corrosion of car tires. Through normal wear and tear, tires cast off countless tiny bits of rubber, which linger in the atmosphere or are washed down sewage drains and into waterways. In the air, these particles can affect the formation of clouds. In the water, they leach compounds that have been shown to be toxic to wildlife. Tire ingredients were found in 11 of 15 samples gathered from Swiss supermarkets and nine of 13 samples collected from Israeli fields. Among the chemicals discovered was 6PPD, an additive used to prevent cracking, which can transform into a compound that has proved deadly to coho salmon. The findings were published in Frontiers in Environmental Science. … ” Read more from Yale e360.
Mowing through challenges: cutting-edge ways to improve grassland restoration efforts
“Underneath the superbloom’s surface, native grassland species are fighting intense battles with invasive species that threaten to take over the landscape. Grassland ecosystems are home to more plant species than just grasses; they also host a diversity of small, leafy, non-grass flowering plants collectively called forbs. These are things like clovers, violets, daisies, or any other little plant that might be called a “wildflower.” Due to continued urban development, lack of land protections, and human activities that have introduced non-native species, invasive weeds are spreading and making their homes in the remnants of existing grasslands. These plants can outcompete the native plants for resources like water, nutrients and space, making it difficult for our beloved wildflowers to keep coming back year after year. In degraded habitats where invasive plants are common, there is still hope for our favorite flowers in the form of restoration efforts. … ” Read more from EnviroBites.
CA makes progress toward conserving 30% of land, water
“The public comment period is now open on California’s new framework for deciding which managed areas within coastal waters meet the definition of “conserved,” and where protection improvements need to be made. California’s goal is to preserve 30% of state lands and waters by 2030. The Ocean Protection Council released science-based guidelines this week on what counts as “conserved.” “An area is considered a conservation area if the lands and coastal waters are durably protected and managed to sustain functional ecosystems, both intact and restored, and the diversity of life that they support,” said Jos Hill, project director at the Pew Charitable Trusts. … ” Read more from the Public News Service.
Why California should plug its idle oil wells
“California has a growing idle well problem, with over 40,000 wells classified as either idle or orphaned. Wells become “idle” when they have stopped producing oil or gas for at least two years, at which point they are usually no longer economically viable to operate. These wells pose significant threats to our environment and our health, not to mention a substantial risk to California’s taxpayers who are on the hook to clean them up if they become orphaned. Oil and gas operations pose a staggering array of threats to our environment and health, and wells continue to do so when they become idle and stop producing. Oil and gas wells contaminate drinking water, harm the health of nearby residents, marr landscapes, and contribute to global warming. An average of 66% of active and idle wells leak toxic methane, and 79% of California’s wells pose a threat to groundwater due to their close proximity to groundwater resources. … ” Read more from Environment America.
In commentary today …
Ocean desalination a promising solution
Michael McNutt, the public affairs and communications manager for the Las Virgenes Municipal Water District, writes, “Conservation as a California way of life, along with the state’s water usage efficiency standards is not water rationing or a scam. It’s a lifestyle that acknowledges the unpredictability of weather patterns due to climate change impacts and water scarcity potential, where all Californians’ relationship with water evolves to minimize usage and increase efficiency. The new standard of daily indoor water usage will be 55 gallons per person per day beginning in 2025 and will ratchet down to 42 gallons per person per day in the coming years. State mandated outdoor watering standards are also scheduled to be adopted later this year. Reservoirs, currently brimming full of water, constitute about two to three years worth of water usage needs. Lake Mead and Powell on the Colorado River that feeds much of Southern California are still less than half full. … ” Read more from the Acorn.
California congressman says resource abandonment is destroying the U.S. economy
“U.S. Representative and Farmer John Duarte (CA-R) says resource abandonment is hurting the U.S. economy, and the practice is becoming a major problem for everyday Americans. “If you look at what we’re doing with our farm water in California, what we’re doing with American energy policy, what we’re doing with minerals, what we’re doing with the Endangered Species Act enforcement with wolves and bears and delta smelt and salmon — it’s all causing a resource abandonment that’s coming back down very, very hard on the back of the American consumer,” said, Rep. Duarte, who represents California’s 13th District. … ” Read more from RFD-TV.
In regional water news and commentary today …
NORTH COAST
A new era for an ancient river
“The largest river restoration project in U.S. history is underway along the Klamath River. One aging hydroelectric dam along the river’s Lower Basin was decommissioned last fall, and three more are being removed this year. The $500 million Klamath Project marks a significant reversal in U.S. water management history, restoring the river to its natural flow and unlocking over 400 miles of essential spawning habitats for local wildlife and fish, including several species of endangered salmon. The river’s renaissance follows decades of litigation involving an array of stakeholders: local tribes, communities, farmers, government agencies and energy companies — all of whom depend on the river and its resources. Experts say that years of climate-induced drought have magnified tensions over water scarcity in the Klamath Basin. That means less water available for everyone — including fish and wildlife. … ” Read more from USC Today.
Gov. Newsom latest to tour the Siskiyou site where crews are tearing down four huge dams
“With less than four months left before all four dams on the Klamath River are removed, California Gov. Gavin Newsom visited Siskiyou County on Wednesday to check on the progress of what is being called the nation’s largest-ever dam removal project. Newsom visited what is left of Iron Gate Dam and the former locations of Copco Dams No. 1 and No. 2. He was joined by top state officials from the Department of Fish and Wildlife, the California Environmental Protection Agency and the Natural Resources Agency. Members of the Shasta Indian Nation tribe, which once had villages on the river where the dams were located, also joined in the tour with the governor. … ” Read more from the Redding Record-Searchlight.
MOUNTAIN COUNTIES
Sierra Nevada Conservancy adopts new five-year Strategic Plan, supports four forest-resilience projects
“The Sierra Nevada Conservancy (SNC) Governing Board has approved a new 2024–2029 Strategic Plan. This plan, approved at the latest meeting, serves as a blueprint for the next five years. It will guide the development of programs, policies, and actions it takes to fulfill its mission of improving the environmental, economic, and social well-being of California’s Sierra-Cascade Region. “The adoption of our new Strategic Plan is an important moment for the Sierra Nevada Conservancy as we chart our course for the next five years,” said Angela Avery, Executive office of the SNC. “Climate change, megafires, and Covid have created profound changes in the Sierra-Cascade region since our last Strategic Plan was created 2019, and this plan reflects the ways that we are adapting, and staying the course, to serve this vital and dynamic region.” … ” Read more from the Sierra Nevada Conservancy.
Biden-Harris Administration announces $3.4 million from President Biden’s Investing in America Agenda to protect Lake Tahoe Basin
“Today, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Director Martha Williams joined partners to announce $3.4 million in funding from the President’s Investing in America agenda to support existing cooperative agreements with The Washoe Tribe of Nevada and California and the Tahoe Regional Planning Agency to prevent and combat the spread of aquatic invasive species in Lake Tahoe. The funding from the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law represents the continuation of a historic effort dedicated to restoring the Lake Tahoe Basin ecosystem and emphasizes the Administration’s commitment to protecting and restoring our freshwater resources and to inclusive engagement with Tribes, partners, and stakeholders. “This significant investment from President Biden’s Investing in America agenda comes at a crucial time as the Lake Tahoe Basin continues to see threats from the introduction and spread of aquatic invasive species,” said U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Director Martha Williams. “The valued partnerships and Tribal leadership in the Basin provide the collaborative environment needed to restore the habitats of Lahontan cutthroat trout and other native species.” … ” Read more from the US Fish & Wildlife Service.
SACRAMENTO VALLEY
Floodplain Capitol Day kicks off Sacramento Valley Ecosystem Awareness Week!
“We are thrilled to announce the introduction of Assembly Resolution ACR-207 proclaiming the week of June 3, 2024, as Sacramento Valley Ecosystem Awareness Week! This significant milestone was jointly authored by both the Assembly Democratic Majority and Republican Minority leaders.We kicked off the week with an inaugural Floodplain Capitol Day! Assemblymembers Aguiar-Curry and Gallagher, as the representatives of much of the floodplains in the Sacramento Valley, joined us to celebrate standing together proudly holding the resolution. We also had the support of the Floodplain Forward Coalition principal partners attending, including California Rice Commission, California Trout, Ducks Unlimited, and the Northern California Water Association. These groups played a crucial role in both organizing Floodplain Capitol Day and in the successful passage of the resolution. … ” Read more from the Northern California Water Association.
Sacramento drinking water meets federal guidelines, city report shows
“Sacramento’s latest drinking water report shows the city’s water utilities meeting established federal limits and mostly meeting even stricter goals set by the state or federal government. According to the city’s report, the system averages for water constituents such as chlorine, lead and uranium fell below the maximum allowed amount. “This report demonstrates our commitment to provide high-quality drinking water to residents and businesses,” said Pravani Vandeyar, director of the Department of Utilities. … ” Read more from Fox 40.
BAY AREA
East Bay Municipal Utilities District solar project expected to offset 10 percent of current energy costs
“The East Bay Municipal Utility District (EBMUD) in Oakland, California, recently announced the installation of its largest solar facility. Designed, built, owned and operated by TotalEnergies, the 4.6 MW project will supply the water agency with approximately 10 million kilowatt-hours of clean solar energy per year. EBMUD partnered with TotalEnergies on the Orinda Photovoltaic Solar Energy Project (“Orinda PV”), under a long-term Power Purchase Agreement (PPA) in an effort to significantly offset EBMUD’s greenhouse gas emissions and advance the utility’s goal of carbon neutrality by 2030. … ” Read more from Water Finance & Management.
Solano Land Trust opposes California Forever due to environmental harm fears, claims of “misleading” marketing
“The Solano Land Trust said it has carefully weighed for months how it would respond to California Forever and its billionaire-backed push to build a new city on Solano County farmland. The board of directors wanted to make sure they all researched their stance well, weighing each potential environmental impact. Ultimately, the Trust publicly announced its opposition to the East Solano Plan on Thursday. “This community has been built very clearly with the plan in mind to develop in our cities and protect the space in between our cities for working farms and natural areas. That is part of the quality of life here and the charm here,” said Nicole Braddock, executive director of Solano Land Trust. … ” Read more from CBS Sacramento.
SAN JOAQUIN VALLEY
Kings water board cuts ties with Mid-Kings GSA, Farm Bureau calls for resignations
“Directors of the Kings County Water District (KCWD) voted unanimously to sever the district’s relationship with the embattled Mid-Kings River Groundwater Sustainability Agency at a special meeting Wednesday, May 29. The change will take effect in 60 days on July 28. The departure caused an outcry from members of the agricultural community and municipal representatives. The entire Tulare Lake Subbasin – comprised of the Mid-Kings River GSA, the South Fork Kings GSA, the El Rico GSA and the Tri-County Water Authority and the Southwest Kings GSA – is under probation by the State Water Resources Board (SWRB) following an April 16 hearing. The groups were given one year to correct multiple problems with their shared groundwater sustainability plan (GSP) or face direct state intervention. … ” Read more from the Valley Voice.
IMPERIAL/COACHELLA VALLEYS
Attorney General Rob Bonta and the California State Water Resources Control Board announce settlement with the City of Calexico over illegal water shutoffs
“California Attorney General Rob Bonta and the State Water Resources Control Board filed a motion asking the court to enter a stipulated judgment with the City of Calexico, resolving alleged violations of the Water Shutoff Protection Act and the Water Arrearages Program. As part of the settlement, the City of Calexico will implement injunctive terms and be required to pay up to $150,000 in restitution to customers impacted by the City’s violations. In addition, the City of Calexico and the State Water Board will separately resolve the City’s liability for administrative penalties. “The right to access water is fundamental, and no family should have to endure the hardships of living without this basic necessity,” said Attorney General Rob Bonta. “Yet, during the height of the pandemic, many families were devastatingly impacted by illegal water shutoffs. This is simply unacceptable. This settlement will provide both monetary relief for affected families and solutions to ensure that critical water services remain protected against illegal shutoffs.” … ” Read more from Attorney General Rob Bonta.
SAN DIEGO
Declining water use may force higher rates, more fixed fees
“Water is a commodity held captive to the laws of supply and demand. High rains mean less water usage, which means fewer sales and higher prices. Also additional fixed fees. In 1989, when the current Valley Center Municipal Water District (VCMWD) Gen. Mgr., Gary Arant, came to work in VC, 93% of the district’s 55,000 acre feet sales was for agriculture. This year, due to two years of extremely wet winters, the water district is looking at selling about 12,000 AF, with 55% for ag. The last time water sales were this low was 1969. While the rest of the region greeted the rains of the last two years as an act of grace from God, the water district’s term for it is: “unforeseen onslaught of powerful river storms.” This creates a serious cash problem for the district. … ” Read more from the Valley Roadrunner.
Along the Colorado River …
“It’s not an ideal world”: States talk Colorado River future, hang-ups in negotiations at CU conference
“Colorado River talks are back in gear after stalling earlier this year, but little progress has been made on key sticking points, like how water cuts will be made and the role of Upper Basin reservoirs, state officials said Thursday. More than 200 water watchers packed a conference room at the University of Colorado Law School in Boulder to hear updates from the officials, who represent the seven basin states deliberating over how the river will be managed after 2026. It was the negotiators’ first public meeting since basin states failed to reach a consensus in March and instead released two competing visions for the river’s future. … ” Read more from the Colorado Sun.
Colorado River states clash over management, future of reservoirs
“An unprecedented public appearance by six of the seven commissioners who are negotiating the future of the Colorado River revealed how divided they are on solutions, and just as importantly, where they agree on. The commissioners and state representatives spoke at Thursday’s 2024 Getches-Wilkinson conference on the Colorado River at University of Colorado Boulder’s law school. The commissioners showed up together at a critical juncture — they are in the thick of the talks to come up with an agreement that would manage allocations and ensure that America’s two largest reservoirs, both located in the Southwest, don’t fall below critical water levels. … ” Read more from Colorado Politics.
Colorado River negotiators say they need more time, as Biden administration wants deal by election
“The policymakers working on a new management plan for the Colorado River say they need more time to bridge disagreements about how to share its water. State negotiators from Wyoming to California are under pressure to agree on new guidelines for managing the river. The current rules expire in 2026, but state leaders disagree about who should bear the brunt of cutbacks to water demand. At a meeting this week in Colorado, John Entsminger, who manages water in Nevada, says those hard decisions probably won’t come soon. … ” Read more from KJZZ.
Reclamation Commissioner Touton outlines efforts to safeguard Colorado River basin
“U.S. Bureau of Reclamation Commissioner Camille Calimlim Touton touted the accomplishments of the Biden-Harris administration over the past three years, noting efforts that have poured billions of dollars into shoring up the Colorado River basin. Those efforts mean the near-term threat to the river basin has been fended off, and the system has been stabilized to protect water deliveries, the ecosystem, and power production, Touton told the audience at the 2024 Conference on the Colorado River at the University of Colorado Boulder law school. One of those accomplishments will mean an extra five feet of water elevation at Lake Mead. That resulted from a new agreement with Mexico, called Minute 330, which went into effect in April. Touton said the new deal under the 1944 treaty with Mexico will conserve 400,000 acre-feet over 30 months through the end of 2026. … ” Read more from Colorado Politics.
Report calls for revamp of federal farming subsidies in drought-ridden Colorado River basin
“Federally funded drought adaptation incentives may be failing to equip Colorado River farmers with the tools necessary to adapt to changing climate conditions, a new report has found. The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Crop Insurance Program paid farmers in Arizona, California, Colorado, Nevada, New Mexico, Utah and Wyoming $5.6 billion for drought-related losses from 2017 to 2023, per the report, released this week by the Environmental Working Group, a nongovernmental organization. … ” Read more from The Hill.
‘We’ve seen worse,’ Colorado Rockies snowpack impacting water level in Lake Mead
“Anyone who visits Lake Mead on a regular basis through the summer will probably wonder if the water level will be the same in August as it will be this weekend or next summer for that matter. The answer depends on the snowpack in the Rockies and how much of the summer runoff reaches the Colorado River. “Really good winter in the Colorado Rockies that resulted in a snowpack that was in excess of 130% of what we would see just in an average year,” said Bronson Mack with the Southern Nevada Water Authority. … ” Read more from Channel 3.
Lake Powell is expected to be at 37% capacity this year. What that could mean for Page
“The news on water levels at Lake Powell is getting better; officials expect the reservoir to be at 37% of capacity this year. That’d be in line with last year, but about ten percent higher than 2022. And that’s good news for the nearby city of Page. With The Show to talk about what this could mean for the city as the summer travel season gets underway is Gregg Martinez, Page’s economic development director. … ” Read more from KJZZ.
In national water news today …
Huge collapse in migratory fish populations
“The recently published Living Planet Index (LPI) report on freshwater migratory fishes reveals an average 81 per cent collapse in monitored population migratory fish populations, including salmon, trout, eel, and sturgeon, between 1970 to 2020. The situation in Latin America and the Caribbean is especially marked where populations have fallen by 91 per cent. The reasons are, as so often, habitat loss and degradation of freshwater habitats, including the fragmentation of rivers by dams and other barriers and the conversion of wetlands for agriculture. Other key reasons for the declines include over-exploitation, increasing pollution and the worsening impacts of climate change. … ” Read more from The Geographic.
Plastic industry braces for legal clashes over recycling claims
“The stage has been set for a fresh legal showdown over plastics, and the industry is on guard. The strategy — which hinges on the industry long knowing plastics recycling could never be a viable, long-term solution to a burgeoning global pollution concern but continuing to peddle the lie anyway — mirrors highly effective attacks on tobacco and “forever chemicals” manufacturers. “There’s a value, for political purposes, to use litigation as a tactic,” Plastics Industry Association (PLASTICS) CEO Matt Seaholm said. “So I think we have to fully anticipate that there will unfortunately be more litigation in the future.” … ” Read more from E&E News.
Research on Earth’s raging fever of 2023-24 is picking up
“If you’ve got a chronic health concern and you suddenly get acutely sick, you and your doctors face two big issues: what’s behind your short-term crisis, and what are the implications for your longer-term health? Our world’s “planet doctors” have been at a similar stress point for close to a year now. They’ve been scrambling to figure out why Earth’s surface – including both atmosphere and oceans – got hit with an unprecedented spike of heat that’s run from mid-2023 well into 2024. They’ve also been addressing what, if anything, the spike tells us about the next few years and beyond. Several fresh papers are out on two unique and much-publicized factors that may have influenced the astounding global heat of 2023-24. … ” Read more from Yale Climate Connections.
