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Epic Struggles Ahead in 2023 on Energy Transition, Pollution

In our annual analysis of what’s ahead on the environment beat in 2023, there are some things to count on: worsening climate disasters and continued politicking over energy transitions, but also regulatory action on greenhouse gas emissions (not to mention on “forever chemicals”). Other things are less clear: environmental rulings by a conservative U.S. Supreme Court, energy impacts of war in Europe and the effectiveness of COP28 and treaty talks on plastic pollution. Read the full overview and get more in our “2023 Journalists’ Guide to Energy & Environment” special report.

Comment: Caledonian Pinewoods Face Extinction As Humanity Reshapes Planet

"Once they dominated much of the landscape but after centuries of deforestation their dwindling remains – just two per cent of the original – are now believed to be facing an existential threat from a combination of factors, including climate change, the planting of non-native species, and artificially high numbers of deer."

Source: The Scotsman, 02/06/2023

'Modern-Day Slavery' In The Congo Powers Rechargeable Battery Economy

"Smartphones, computers and electric vehicles may be emblems of the modern world, but, says Siddharth Kara, their rechargeable batteries are frequently powered by cobalt mined by workers laboring in slave-like conditions in the Democratic Republic of Congo."

Source: NPR, 02/06/2023

"The Colorado River Drought Crisis: How Did This Happen? Can It Be Fixed?"

"The Colorado River is in crisis. The problem has been building for decades but has come to a head in recent years because the major manufactured reservoirs on the river have fallen to dangerously low levels, prompting the Biden administration to call for unprecedented cuts in water usage among the 40 million people who rely on the river."

Source: Washington Post, 02/06/2023

As SE States Warm, TVA Criticized On Prep For Dealing With Climate Hazards

"Extreme weather patterns have sparked several improvements to the climate resiliency of Tennessee Valley Authority electrical infrastructure over the past two decades. However, a report from a government watchdog found the huge utility still has work to do in mitigating climate hazards to the regional power grid."

Source: NC Policy Watch, 02/06/2023

Cutting Red Tape For Clean Energy: The Pros And Cons Of Permitting Reform

"Last year permitting reform emerged as one of the most divisive climate policy debates in the United States. During my own reporting on geothermal energy, an underutilized source of renewable power, industry representatives insisted that the onerous permitting process is the single biggest challenge to expanding geothermal development."

Source: Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists, 02/06/2023

"Adani’s Crisis Points to the Big Risk in India’s Net Zero Plan"

"The crisis facing billionaire Gautam Adani has revealed a potential pitfall in India’s ambitious plan to reduce emissions: its reliance on the country’s most affluent and powerful private citizens."

Source: Bloomberg Green, 02/06/2023

"Sens. Cruz, Manchin Team Up To Fight A Nonexistent Gas Stove Ban"

"Two of Congress’ biggest beneficiaries of fossil fuel industry money have introduced legislation to block a federal gas stove ban that does not exist and has not been proposed."

Source: HuffPost, 02/06/2023

U.S. Includes Dam Emissions in UN Climate Reporting for the First Time

"For the first time, the U.S. government in 2022 included methane emissions from dams and reservoirs in its annual report of human-caused greenhouse gas emissions to the Inventory of Greenhouse Gases and Sinks required by the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change."

Source: The Revelator, 02/06/2023

"At Least 24 Dead In Chile As Wildfires Expand; Foreign Help On The Way"

"Firefighters were battled dozens of raging wildfires in Chile on Sunday, seeking to gain control of one of the country’s worst natural disasters in years as the death toll rose to at least 24 with nearly 1,000 more injured."

Source: Reuters, 02/06/2023

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