Post 10 - Monsanto Sheds Name After Bayer Acquisition
In September of 2016, Bayer agreed to pay $66 billion to buy Monsanto in light of sluggish crop prices. According to several 06/04/18 articles, Monsanto will no longer be a name brand and shed their name after Bayer officially owns them. Monsanto a company often associated for its business practices of using harmful and the impact it has on the earth and human health as well as a pioneer in genetic modification of crops. Bayer, a German pharmaceutical and chemical giant, has been considering killing Monsanto for some time, and the products will retain their brand names and become part of the Bayer portfolio. Bayer in particular is known for products such as Claritin.
Image of the Brands, Bayer and Monsanto
Some of these innovations include genetically modified seeds which would be resistant to the Roundup herbicide that they happen to also sell. Werner Baumann, Bayer's chairman of the board, states that agriculture is too important to let differences to get in the way. They pledge to use the merger to produce more products for farmers and to enhance their commitment to sustainability efforts. Many activists oppose this merger and several have described it as a "marriage made in hell". While Bayer promotes this merger, many are skeptical of whether this is for good motives or simply a way to make more profits.
Regardless, this is an interesting move by Monsanto. Known for many technological advancements and practices that many have deem dangerous or morally nefarious such as Agent Orange in the Vietnam War, Monsanto does have a blotted history attached to it's brand. Similar companies have rebranded to distance themselves from their history, which is something Monsanto could be doing in this merger. Brands and the way companies present themselves have a strong impact on consumers, which we have learned in class. This may simply aid Monsanto in the long run.
Read more at:
https://www.usatoday.com/story/money/2018/06/04/monsanto-bayer-name/668418002/
https://www.nbcnews.com/business/business-news/monsanto-drop-name-after-sale-bayer-n879846
Post 8 - Clean-Air Campaigners Call for Ban on School Runs
An article posted May 21, 2018 reports that several clean-air campaigners have written to the United Kingdom government to ban parents driving their children to school. The reason for this is because driving increases the toxic levels of air pollution. The hope is that by banning driving altogether, perhaps these levels will naturally decrease and protect the health of the children in question. Jenni Wiggle from the charity Living Streets, a charity focusing on creating a walking nation of the United Kingdoms, has written to the transport minister imploring that encouraging more children walking meant fewer vehicles for less road congestion and improved air quality. This is important to the children who would be most affected by this cause, as children are particularly more vulnerable since they are able to retain pollutants much longer in their bodies. In recent studies, it has been seen that there are more schools, particularly primary schools, that are in areas where air quality is questionable.
Medical charities have supported this idea however they are calling for more measures to be implemented. Action on local and national level are also needed such as implementing infrastructure changes to make walking, cycling, and public transport more available. This is not the first time that the United Kingdom has been held accountable for issues like this as Andrea Lee from the environmental law organisation, ClientEarth, has fought the government in court over the lacking air pollution plans. A spokesman for the Department for Transport has stated that they are ready to make changes and recognizes that certain areas like rural ones may need more investment due to the lack of alternatives to driving. If it's been found that the United Kingdom and other countries have failed to tackle rising levels of air pollution then consequences will be dealt.
It's interesting to see how the this would be implemented, seeing as driving kids to school is such a normal thing to do. However, it does decrease improve air quality and decreases ecological footprints. The reason why mine was so low is because I walk wherever I go, including school unless I absolutely have to bus or carpool - I never drive especially in Bellingham. I wonder if this is something that the campaigners are considering as well in addition to the health aspects that were mentioned earlier.
Read more at:
https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2018/may/21/clean-air-campaigners-call-for-school-run-ban-cut-pollution
https://www.livingstreets.org.uk/
Post 7 - Eco-friendly Water Treatment Technology Improves
On May 14, 2018, Lund University provided information about sand filters and research being done about it to ScienceDaily. Slow sand filters are sustainable, biological filters that have been used to filter drinking water since the 1800's. These filters don't require chemicals, create no waste, and actually use little energy. Although they have great benefits, times have changed to require modern equipment more suited for control, monitoring, and time-efficiency. In fact, the biological water treatment has been less favored since not many understood how it works.
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| Example of a Slow Sand Filter |
However, a field study at a water treatment facility in southern Sweden shows that these older filters are more effective than the new ones. These old filters have had time to develop a specific ecosystem of bacteria that are used to purify the water, meaning the grains of sand is not the only form of filtration. This goes against the old idea that sand filters would actually decrease the number of bacteria rather than utilize it to remove other harmful bacteria, viruses, parasites, and other substances from the water. The bacterial flora present in the sand is necessary as different filters vary in the composition of bacteria as it is a reflection of what is in the water and what the sand filter must pass through.
This begins a conversation of the importance of maintaining "sand flora" in order to keep harmful substances out of drinking water and to improve our health. By utilizing ideas such as sand "starter" to improve new sand filters by incorporating bacteria and sand from older sand filters, we can actually make use of an effective old technology and create a better one. Another technology for monitoring slow sand filters is flow cytometry in order to understand the microorganism in the sand filters better. Information and research like connects utilizes nature's natural systems and actually finds ways to use it as efficiently as possible.
Read more at:
https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2018/05/180514091506.htm
Post 6 - Cleaner Energy May Adversely Affect Vulnerable Communities
Indiana University developed a new method for identifying communities that may be negatively affected by clean energy policies. These policies are designed to transition into environmentally friendly solutions for energy and away from fossil fuels more quickly. However, transitioning from a staple such as fossil fuels to something new isn't easy and has various impacts on all communities and individuals. This impact is neither equal nor is it always beneficial for communities and individuals, although there will be many benefits to society as a whole. Sanya Carley, an associate professor in the School of Public and Environmental Affairs at IU Bloomington as well as her co-authors of "A framework for evaluating geographic disparities in energy transition vulnerability" believed in this (published May 7). and developed a study of this impact to help policy-makers in to communities make an informed decision.
This is done by adapting a tool called the Vulnerability Scoping Diagram (VSD) in order to identify the geographic areas and individuals that would be considered vulnerable. In particular, this is focusing in areas where many are not able to pay for the increased cost of cleaner energy. By acknowledging this, efforts for targeted programs and other ideas in order to assist those people can be implemented in order to prevent these unequal impacts. Research using VSD for this report is the first time it has been applied to a social setting. An example of using this tool has found the highest vulnerability in counties belonging to Texas, California, Hawaii, and New York.
Read more at:
https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2018/05/180507153111.htmSanya Carley, Tom P. Evans,
Michelle Graff, David M. Konisky. A framework for evaluating geographic disparities in energy transition vulnerability. Nature Energy, 2018; DOI: 10.1038/s41560-018-0142-z
Post 5 - Reducing Carbon Emissions by Changing Food Systems in Cities
According to the American Chemical Society (ACS), many US cities and states are looking for ways to decrease greenhouse gas emissions. This may include cap-and-trade programs, building efficiency regulations, and encouraging public transit and renewable energy sources. However, in the ACS's May 2, 2018 report in Environmental Science & Technology, they can cut more emissions by implementing more measures in the cities. In particular, they should tackle emissions relating to food consumption and waste.20-30% of global greenhouse gas emissions are from feeding urban populations. These emissions come from producing food to the end which produces leftovers. The problem of food waste and emissions have often been discussed and focused on agricultural production, but scholars such as Eugene Mohareb and others want to see what happens when addressing consumption. When addressing the different components of the U.S food system such as transportation and processing, they came to an interesting discovery. They estimated that changing specific urban consumption practices would actually reduce emissions.
Often when it comes to urban spaces people think to increase urban agriculture to reduce transportation needs and excess waste such as local gardens or green spaces. However they found that by increasing urban agriculture to half of the vacant lands in the city, emissions relating to food will fall by only 1%. What would make more of an impact would be switching away from fossil fuel-based electricity, reducing retail and consumer food waste by half, and replacing total beef consumption with chicken. To me this shows that it isn't the just the infrastructure that needs to be changed, but people's habits and choices have an even greater impact.
Read more at:
https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2018/05/180502083122.htm
https://www.acs.org/content/acs/en.html
Post 4 - California Fights Back Against the EPA
California is clashing with the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) over a draft proposal about federal auto emissions. The EPA described these plans last Friday (4/27/18) to relax these emissions regulations, however California is sticking with stricter targets from Obama's presidency. The state in question has a waiver under the Clean Air Act that allows it to set its own standards for exhaust pollution. However, the Trump administration can threaten that by either revoking or bypassing the waiver.
There are many reasons why California is fighting for this. One of them is that most Greenhouse Gas Emissions are due to transportation such as passenger vehicles. Another reason is that California fought long and hard for a waiver like this, and due to this fight became the basis for national standards in Obama's presidency. This plan also has other consequences such as concerns over another program requiring auto manufacturers to sell more low- and no- emissions vehicles each year. The EPA's draft proposal for lax emission regulation essentially causes a lot of legal issues for California, a state that is trying to move forward to decreasing emission. California would end up losing a lot of power when it comes to reinforcing their own goals.
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| Graph of California Greenhouse Gas Emissions by Sector |
Read more at:
https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2018/04/30/climate/california-auto-emissions.html?rref=collection%2Fsectioncollection%2Fclimate&action=click&contentCollection=climate®ion=stream&module=stream_unit&version=latest&contentPlacement=1&pgtype=sectionfront
https://www.nytimes.com/2018/04/27/climate/epa-emissions-california.html?rref=collection%2Fbyline%2Fhiroko-tabuchi&action=click&contentCollection=undefined®ion=stream&module=stream_unit&version=latest&contentPlacement=1&pgtype=collection
Post 3 - Volkswagen's Reform Efforts Have Been Weak since Emissions Scandal
Last Sunday (4/22/18), Volkswagen acknowledged that in a progress report they have failed to hold executives accountable for wrong doing. This lack of accountability is what led to the huge emissions fraud that it encountered in 2015. It was at this time that the Environmental Protection Agency revealed that several sold Volkswagen cars had a "defeat device" or software that would detect when the engines are being tested. With this, the cars could change performance to improve results and cheat on U.S. emissions tests. In the aftermath, they have been trying to remake its culture in an effort to gain their their trust from the public and customers.
In the wake of this company's rebuilding, the most recent chief executive, Herbert Diess, has been delivering stern lectures to top managers and demanding more ethical work. However, he faces many obstacles such as Volkswagen's famous insular, hierarchical corporate culture. In addition, this company is still dominated by insiders and lack of transparency over disciplinary consequences regarding the people involved in the emissions scandal. They also did not publish an internal report of the scandal causes that was to be prepared by the Jones Day law firm. There has also been raids on offices belonging to anyone that may have played a part in the conspiracy as a sign that German prosecutors are intensifying their investigation.
Overall, this effort has been found unsuccessful by Larry Thompson in his confidential progress report mentioned earlier. Larry Thompson is a former United States attorney and deputy attorney general during President George W. Bush's administration. Thompson's job was to make sure the Volkswagen complies their plea agreement after pleading guilty to violating the Clean Air Act and obstruction of justice. He has been pressing the company to improve its systems for checking vehicle software and creating a more effective whistle blower system. He holds a lot of leverage over Volkswagen, as his report could lead them back in court if he continues to find them unable to satisfy the terms to the plea agreement.
Read more at:
https://www.nytimes.com/2018/04/22/business/overseer-faults-volkswagens-reform-efforts-since-emissions-scandal.html?rref=collection%2Ftimestopic%2FSustainable%20Business&action=click&contentCollection=timestopics®ion=stream&module=stream_unit&version=latest&contentPlacement=1&pgtype=collection
http://www.bbc.com/news/business-34324772
Post 2 - New Jersey Renewable Portfolio Standard Increase
New Jersey Assembly and Senate passed two bills last Thursday (4/12/18), Assembly Bill 3712 and Senate Bill 2314, which requires the Department of Labor and Workforce Development to establish job training programs for professionals of offshore wind facilities and the New Jersey Board of Public Utilities to do the following:
- Administer an energy storage analysis
- Advance, increase, and extend the solar carve-out schedule
- Reduce and extend the solar alternative compliance payment schedule
- Introduce structural changes to the state Solar Renewable Energy Credit (SREC) program
- Implement energy efficiency and peak demand reduction programs
- Implement a "Community Solar Energy Pilot Program"
The bills also has other requirements such as requiring 50% of power company generation to be from Class I renewable energy sources by 2030 and more actions. It currently sits at the desk of Governor Phil Murphy (Dem) to be signed.
This is a major alteration to New Jersey's energy sector as the state embarks on its ambitious goals to expand renewable power while decreasing greenhouse gases. In light of President Trump's announcement of its withdrawal from the Paris climate agreement, New Jersey is holding it's end on upholding the accord along with 14 other Democratic and Republic governors. However, progress has been slow, and New Jersey's governor Phil Murphy is one of the few successes that has occurred since - this one about to be one of many executive orders he has already signed. It is also noted that Mr. Murphy is in favor of nuclear energy, which is a concern among environmental groups that oppose nuclear energy. However, subsidy bills in New Jersey has been supported as the question of the existence of nuclear plants come in clash with the production of fossil fuels that could replace them.
Even with the controversy, New Jersey continues to make changes along with driving states such as California and New York. This begins to show a trend of the United States going towards Paris agreement goals even without the support of the executive branch of government.
Read more at:
http://www.srectrade.com/blog/srec-markets/nj-solar-rps-increase-new-jersey-assembly-and-senate-pass-ab-3723-sb-2314
https://www.nytimes.com/2018/04/12/nyregion/new-jersey-renewable-energy.html?rref=collection%2Fsectioncollection%2Fclimate&action=click&contentCollection=climate®ion=rank&module=package&version=highlights&contentPlacement=1&pgtype=sectionfront
Post 1 - Google: 100% Renewable Energy
Last Wednesday (04/04/18), Google published an article detailing their transition and goal to 100% renewable energy. After obtaining contracts to purchase three gigawatts (3GW) of output from renewable energy projects and completing the accounting for Google's 2017 energy use, this goal has been met! This is follows an announcement made a little over a year ago that they were on track to purchase enough renewable energy to match the electricity they consumed over the next year.
It has been a long journey for Google, as it takes time to implement new renewable energy generation projects. For example, it takes up to two years to build wind farms or solar fields for it to contribute to the energy that this company uses. For a company this size, it's ground-breaking that this transition has happened - especially since they are the the first public Cloud and large company to do so. According to the following graph, Google is the largest corporate purchaser of renewable energy.
With companies like Google growing and more expecting to follow, it's important that they are beginning to take this step now. Google contributes this move as a milestone to a carbon-free future. They want carbon to be replaced with renewables in all aspects of operation. I find this interesting as Google is an example of the sustainability trend of "ESG Moves from the Margins to the Mainstream" mentioned in the State of Green Business Report 2018 as companies and industries are beginning to make issues such as carbon emissions into the environment as a part of their core values. Although they haven't disclosed the financial reports regarding this to my knowledge, I wonder if there will eventually do so. Perhaps companies like Microsoft and Amazon will follow as well. Only time can tell.
Read more here - https://www.blog.google/topics/environment/meeting-our-match-buying-100-percent-renewable-energy/
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