#plastic pollution coalition

[batboyblog]

Things the Biden-Harris Administration Did This Week #28

July 19-26 2024

The EPA announced the award of $4.3 billion in Climate Pollution Reduction Grants. The grants support community-driven solutions to fight climate change, and accelerate America’s clean energy transition. The grants will go to 25 projects across 30 states, and one tribal community. When combined the projects will reduce greenhouse gas pollution by as much as 971 million metric tons of CO2, roughly the output of 5 million American homes over 25 years. Major projects include $396 million for Pennsylvania’s Department of Environmental Protection as it tries to curb greenhouse gas emissions from industrial production, and $500 million for transportation and freight decarbonization at the ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach.

The Biden-Harris Administration announced a plan to phase out the federal government's use of single use plastics. The plan calls for the federal government to stop using single use plastics in food service operations, events, and packaging by 2027, and from all federal operations by 2035. The US government is the single largest employer in the country and the world’s largest purchaser of goods and services. Its move away from plastics will redefine the global market.

The White House hosted a summit on super pollutants with the goals of better measuring them and dramatically reducing them. Roughly half of today's climate change is caused by so called super pollutants, methane, hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs), and nitrous oxide (N2O). Public-private partnerships between NOAA and United Airlines, The State Department and NASA, and the non-profit Carbon Mapper Coalition will all help collect important data on these pollutants. While private firms announced with the White House plans that by early next year will reduce overall U.S. industrial emissions of nitrous oxide by over 50% from 2020 numbers. The summit also highlighted the EPA's new rule to reduce methane from oil and gas by 80%.

The EPA announced $325 million in grants for climate justice. The Community Change Grants Program, powered by President Biden's Inflation Reduction Act will ultimately bring $2 billion dollars to disadvantaged communities and help them combat climate change. Some of the projects funded in this first round of grant were: $20 million for Midwest Tribal Energy Resources Association, which will help weatherize and energy efficiency upgrade homes for 35 tribes in Michigan, Minnesota, and Wisconsin, $14 million to install onsite wastewater treatment systems throughout 17 Black Belt counties in Alabama, and $14 million to urban forestry, expanding tree canopy in Philadelphia and Pittsburgh.

The Department of Interior approved 3 new solar projects on public land. The 3 projects, two in Nevada and one in Arizona, once finished could generate enough to power 2 million homes. This comes on top of DoI already having beaten its goal of 25 gigawatts of clean energy projects by the end of 2025, in April 2024. This is all part of President Biden’s goal of creating a carbon pollution-free power sector by 2035. 

Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen pledged $667 million to global Pandemic Fund. The fund set up in 2022 seeks to support Pandemic prevention, and readiness in low income nations who can't do it on their own. At the G20 meeting Yellen pushed other nations of the 20 largest economies to double their pledges to the $2 billion dollar fund. Yellen highlighted the importance of the fund by saying "President Biden and I believe that a fully-resourced Pandemic Fund will enable us to better prevent, prepare for, and respond to pandemics – protecting Americans and people around the world from the devastating human and economic costs of infectious disease threats,"

The Departments of the Interior and Commerce today announced a $240 million investment in tribal fisheries in the Pacific Northwest. This is in line with an Executive Order President Biden signed in 2023 during the White House Tribal Nations Summit to mpower Tribal sovereignty and self-determination. An initial $54 million for hatchery maintenance and modernization will be made available for 27 tribes in Alaska, Washington, Oregon, and Idaho. The rest will be invested in longer term fishery projects in the coming years.

The IRS announced that thanks to funding from President Biden's Inflation Reduction Act, it'll be able to digitize much of its operations. This means tax payers will be able to retrieve all their tax related information from one source, including Wage & Income, Account, Record of Account, and Return transcripts, using on-line Individual Online Account.

The IRS also announced that New Jersey will be joining the direct file program in 2025. The direct file program ran as a pilot in 12 states in 2024, allowing tax-payers in those states to file simple tax returns using a free online filing tool directly with the IRS. In 2024 140,000 Americans were able to file this way, they collectively saved $5.6 million in tax preparation fees, claiming $90 million in returns. The average American spends $270 and 13 hours filing their taxes. More than a million people in New Jersey alone will qualify for direct file next year. Oregon opted to join last month. Republicans in Congress lead by Congressmen Adrian Smith of Nebraska and Chuck Edwards of North Carolina have put forward legislation to do away with direct file.

Bonus: American law enforcement arrested co-founder of the Sinaloa Cartel, Ismael "El Mayo" Zambada. El Mayo co-founded the cartel in the 1980s along side Joaquín "El Chapo" Guzmán. Since El Chapo's incarceration in the United States in 2019, El Mayo has been sole head of the Sinaloa Cartel. Authorities also arrested El Chapo's son, Joaquin Guzman Lopez. The Sinaloa Cartel has been a major player in the cross border drug trade, and has often used extreme violence to further their aims.

[marveltrumpshate]

Environment & Natural Disasters

As we've all noticed with increasing alarm, natural disasters are occurring with more violence and regularity. The following organizations focus on responding to the climate crisis and protecting the planet as well as groups impacted by climate issues.

For more information on donation methods and accepted currencies, please refer to our list of organizations page.

Clean Air Task Force

As we've seen for a long time now but especially this year with constant natural disasters and alarming news from all over the world, climate change is real and we need to do something about it. Over the past 25 years, CATF, a group of climate and energy experts who think outside the box to solve the climate crisis, has pushed for technology innovations, legal advocacy, research, and policy changes. Their goal is to achieve a zero-emissions, high-energy planet at an affordable cost.

Coalition for Rainforest Nations

Boasting a voluntary membership of over 50 rainforest nations, CORN provides a single voice to countries that didn’t cause the climate emergency but nevertheless feel the brunt of it daily. CORN originated the global conservation mechanism Reducing Emissions from Deforestation and Degradation (REDD+) to stop deforestation. REDD+ was successfully mandated in the Paris Climate Agreement (2015) and covers 90% of the world’s tropical rainforests.  

Good Food Institute 

Environmental advocates have long said that the use of animal proteins is one of the least sustainable parts of our food system and mass meat production and consumption put a large burden on the planet. GFI works to create sustainable food sources worldwide, specifically alternative protein sources such as plant-based, cultivated, and fermentation-derived meats. Through their innovation, scientific research, policy advocacy, and public and corporate education, they aim to mitigate the environmental impact of our food system, decrease the risk of zoonotic disease, and ultimately feed more people with fewer resources. 

International Rescue Committee 

Founded in 1933, the IRC is a long-standing trusted partner in supporting those whose lives have been upended by sudden violence, political or natural. They are no stranger to areas of disaster and conflict throughout the world as they currently work in 40 countries. The IRC provides emergency aid and long-term assistance, including refugee settlement, and focuses on health, education, economic well-being, empowerment, and safety. 

Médecins Sans Frontières/Doctors Without Borders (MSF)

Odds are you’ve heard of MSF, the global organization that sends trained medical professionals to the places they’re needed most. MSF has been working globally for over 50 years, providing medical assistance to people affected by conflict, epidemics, disasters, or exclusion from healthcare—no matter what. They’re guided by principles of independence, impartiality, and neutrality to global political policies or movements. 

Oceana

Oceana is the largest international advocacy organization for ocean conservation. To protect and restore the world’s oceans, they campaign globally for policies that stop overfishing and plastic pollution, protect habitats and the climate, and increase biodiversity. Oceana conducts its own scientific research and expeditions, is engaged in grassroots activism, and is involved in recommending and supporting policies and litigation.

Waterkeeper Alliance

In 1966, this movement was started by a band of blue-collar fishermen pushing back against industrial polluters, and their tough spirit remains intact through the 300+ local community groups that make up the global Waterkeeper Alliance today. The Alliance works to ensure, preserve, and protect clean and abundant water for all people and creatures. Their programs are diverse, spanning from patrolling waterways against polluters to advocating for environmental laws in courtrooms and town halls and educating in classrooms.

World Central Kitchen

Started by Chef José Andrés, WCK makes sure that people are fed in the wake of humanitarian, climate, and community crises. Their programs advance human and environmental health, offer access to professional culinary training, create jobs, and improve food security. WCK also teaches food safety and cooking classes to native people who live where disasters have occurred, so they may open restaurants and support the local economy more permanently. You can follow where WCK is currently on the ground assisting and feeding people affected by natural and man-made crises here.

[cognitivejustice]

A planetary scientist by training, Cooke is now a volunteer, educator, and activist. She serves on the board of Group Against Smog and Pollution, and steering committees of 350 Pittsburgh, Pittsburghers Against Single-Use Plastic, ReImagine Food Systems, Pittsburgh Green New Deal and the Climate Action Plan Justice Coalition. She also contributes to a number of other organizations. Cooke also volunteers as an Urban Ecosteward, a Tree Tender and a Master Gardener and is pursuing a Master Naturalist certification.

The backyard is also where Cooke hosts her Sustainability Salons.

“And [that’s] salons in the French Enlightenment tradition of conversational salons, not hair salons,” she jokes, “which, as you can see, I don’t participate in by virtue of the fact that I have four feet of hair [and] keep it braided all the time.”

Cooke describes the monthly events as “giant potluck mini-conferences” where people gather to learn and discuss environmental issues.

Cooke opens her home to the public and invites a speaker – grassroots activist, nonprofit leader, scientist, policymaker, journalist – you name it.

Some of the themes her salons have focused on include air quality, energy, climate, plastics, food, and water privatization. Several attendees at the 150th salon, which she dedicated simply to “celebration,” say they appreciate the variety of topics.

“Literally every facet of the way we live has been explored at some point,” Tommaso Giampapa says. “Having that power and that knowledge is great, because I can tell the people around me and break those hidden lifestyle habits [that] we don’t realize are harmful.”

[darkmaga-returns]

The elite gathered at the UN’s COP29 in Azerbaijan to discuss how to extort the people to fund their climate change agenda. Numerous nations believe that cryptocurrencies and plastics must be levied from developed nations who are deemed the highest polluting economies.

The “expert’s” assumption is that $5.2 billion could be generated by taxing cryptocurrencies due to “the high energy demand of crypto mining,” that releases those dreaded emissions. A separate report stated that a crypto tax could rake in tens of billions per year – hence why I call crypto a bureaucrat’s dream as they can easily track where funds are coming and going.

The Global Solidarity Leviestask force launched in November of last year at COP28 with the primary goal of forcing the world to implement levies to fight climate change. The task force is co-chaired by Kenya, Barbados, and France presently. The European Commission is on board, as is the United Nations, World Bank, OECD, G20, African Union, Coalition of Finance Ministers, and the International Monetary Fund. They are exploring widespread taxation on aviation, fossil fuels, plastics, cryptocurrencies, maritime shipping, and now cryptos. Concrete proposals will be launched in November 2025.

[k00294094]

Artist Research: 'Plastic is washed up' - Dianna Cohen

Dianna Cohen is the co-founder of the Plastic Pollution Coalition, a group that addresses the pervasive problem of plastic pollution. Dianna is a painter with a degree in Fine Arts as well as an amateur biologist, who through the practices of drawing, painting, and visual media conveys ideas and expresses her interpretations of the world around her.

Upon her daily sea swim, she began to notice the build up of plastic bags, plastic rope and plastic fish netting, in which she collected and correctly disposed of. The plastic products inspired her to explore collage and so she would "deconstruct the bags, then cut them up and glue them together and later began to add sewing and stitching because the glue was unreliable." On her travels she kept an eye out for interesting visuals, different colours and foreign writing on the bags, to add to her collection.

"Cut like paper and sewn like fabric, the plastic bag brings with it complex and contradictory associations. It can be molded to any shape, colour, texture we need or want, and manufactured to look like everything else. It is inexpensive to create, cheap to buy. Because it is so ubiquitous, so convenient, used on so large a scale, it is not regarded as valuable. Or, its value lies in the fact that we can just use it, and throw it away."

[swldx]

Voice of America 0409 26 Nov 2024

9775Khz 0359 26 NOV 2024 - VOICE OF AMERICA (UNITED STATES OF AMERICA) in ENGLISH from MOPENG HILL. SINPO = 55434. English, @0400z "Worldwide News Update" anchored by Joe Ramsey. § U.S. President-elect Donald Trump will no longer be under federal indictment when he is inaugurated as the country’s 47th president on January 20. U.S. District Judge Tanya Chutkan in Washington quickly dismissed charges Monday that Trump illegally tried to upend his 2020 reelection loss. She did so after U.S. special counsel Jack Smith acknowledged in a court filing that long-standing Justice Department policy precluded prosecution of a sitting president. In another court filing, Smith also asked an appellate court in Atlanta to remove Trump from a pending appeal. The prosecutor had originally filed the appeal seeking to reinstate dismissed charges that Trump hoarded hundreds of classified national security documents at his oceanside estate in Florida when he left the presidency in 2021. § The United States is close to securing a ceasefire agreement between Israel and Lebanon-based Hezbollah militants, according to officials from the White House and the State Department. Israel's military launched airstrikes across Lebanon on Monday, unleashing explosions throughout the country and killing at least 12 while Israeli leaders appeared to be closing in on a negotiated ceasefire with the Hezbollah militant group. § The number of people killed in Sudan’s civil war is far higher than previously thought, according to new research. (61,000 dead, rather than 20,000). The conflict has forced 11 million people to flee their homes and has created the world’s worst hunger crisis. § Scuffles broke out in the Serbian parliament on Monday after opposition legislators raised banners accusing the ruling coalition of trying to shirk responsibility for the collapse of a train station roof that killed 15 people earlier this month. § As delegates from 175 countries gathered in Busan, South Korea on Monday for the fifth round of talks aimed at securing an international treaty to curb plastic pollution, lingering divisions cast doubts on whether a final agreement was in sight. South Korea is hosting the fifth and ostensibly final U.N. Intergovernmental Negotiating Committee (INC-5) meeting this week, after the previous round of talks in Ottawa in April ended without a path forward on capping plastic production. @0405z "Daybreak Africa" begins presented by James Butty (w/African accent). 100' (30m) of Kev-Flex wire feeding "Magic Wand" antenna hanging in backyard tree w/MFJ-1020C active antenna (used as a preamplifier/preselector), JRC NRD-535D. 100kW, beamAz 350°, bearing 84°. Received at Plymouth, MN, United States, 14087KM from transmitter at Mopeng Hill. Local time: 2159.

[thxnews]

Global Plastic Treaty: UK Leads Charge

The United Kingdom and over 170 other countries made incremental progress this week towards establishing a pioneering legally binding treaty to combat plastic waste and pollution worldwide. At the 4th round of United Nations negotiations in Canada, the UK successfully advocated for provisions on restricting "problematic and avoidable" plastic products and materials to be incorporated into the draft treaty text. However, significant disagreements persist amongst negotiating parties over the scope and ambition level, potentially putting the timeline for finalizing the pact by year's end at risk.   UK Playing "Key Role" in Shaping Treaty "As a member of the High Ambition Coalition, the UK has continued to push for an ambitious treaty covering the full lifecycle of plastics," stated Environment Minister Rebecca Pow.   "There remains substantial differences between parties on the level of ambition for the treaty, which has meant that progress has been slower than we would have hoped on some key areas."   Highlights from the UK's involvement included: Getting its proposals on limiting certain plastic goods and packaging into the draft text Securing agreement on a program of expert working groups to inform the treaty ahead of the next negotiating round Setting up a legal drafting group to ensure precision and clarity in the pact's language Analyzing and streamlining the draft text to focus the remaining negotiations   Binding Treaty Seen as Urgent Priority With public and political pressure mounting amid overflowing landfills, polluted waterways, and pervasive microplastics, there is a growing global consensus that a legally binding international agreement is critical to making a dent in the plastic crisis. Moreover, the UK is part of the 65-member High Ambition Coalition advocating for the treaty to include mandatory provisions tackling plastic's entire lifecycle - from production and use through disposal and waste management. However, some major plastics-producing countries remain resistant to strict international rules they fear could hamper their manufacturing sectors and economies.   Final Push at Last Negotiating Round With those key sticking points still unresolved, the path ahead for reaching a final treaty by the November deadline looks challenging. "There remains significant work to do to secure an agreement at the final negotiations," Pow acknowledged. "The UK is committed to securing the best outcome for our oceans, communities and wildlife." The UN member states have just months to bridge their differences on issues like product bans, recycled content requirements, and monitoring and enforcement mechanisms before the 5th and likely final round of negotiations scheduled for late 2024 in South Korea. Find out more about the UK's role in cracking down on Environmental waste.   Sources: THX News, Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs & Rebecca Pow MP. Read the full article

[head-post]

Talks on global plastic treaty to resume in Canada

Negotiators from 175 countries are meeting in Canada on Tuesday to hammer out a binding global treaty to end plastic pollution, with many points of contention to be resolved five months after the last round of talks in Kenya.

According to the United Nations Environment Programme, people dump the equivalent of 2,000 rubbish trucks full of plastic into the world’s oceans, rivers and lakes every day. People are increasingly breathing, eating and drinking tiny particles of plastic.

Negotiators need to streamline the existing draft treaty and define its scope: whether it will focus on human health and the environment, limit the actual production of plastic, limit certain chemicals used in plastic, or any combination of the above. These are the elements that the self-described “coalition with high ambitions” wants to see.

Alternatively, the agreement could have a more limited scope and focus on plastic waste and increased recycling, as some plastic producers and oil and gas exporters want.

Read more HERE

[motherearthday]

Multi-stakeholder Dialogue ''Towards a strong global treaty."

In preparation for the upcoming fourth round of negotiations of the Global Plastics Treaty in Ottawa, Ontario (INC-4), please join us for a multistakeholder dialogue at House of Sweden in Washington, DC. The goal of the event is to raise awareness about the environmental, climate and health impacts of plastics and plastic pollution and discuss the best practices and policy options for addressing these challenges.

TOWARDS A STRONG GLOBAL PLASTICS TREATY: A Multi-Stakeholder Dialogue April 8 @ 9:30 am – 12:00 pm. House of Sweden 2900 K street, NW Washington, DC 20007.

AGENDA 9:30 am Networking Coffee and Registration

10:00 am Welcome and Introduction · Urban Ahlin, Ambassador of Sweden to the United States · Jovita Neliupšienė, Ambassador of the European Union to the United States

10:15 am Perspectives from the Public Sector/Governments

· Kathleen Rogers, President, EARTHDAY.ORG (Moderator) · Manuel Carmona Yebra, Deputy Head of Section for Global Issues and Innovation, European Union Delegation to the United States · Oladipo Okusaga, Head of Energy, Climate & Programme Management, British Embassy · Rob Wing, Deputy Director, Office of Environmental Quality, U.S. Department of State · Global South Speaker (TBD)

Q&A

11:15 am Perspectives from Civil Society

· Aidan Charron, Director, End Plastic Initiatives, EARTHDAY.ORG (Moderator) · Julia Cohen, Managing Director, Plastic Pollution Coalition · Jo Banner, Co-Founder & Co-Director, The Descendants Project · Felipe Victoria, Senior Manager for International Plastics Policy, Ocean Conservancy · Rachel Radvany, Environmental Health Campaigner, CIEL

Q&A

House of Sweden

[kspp]

Resilience: Getting the Discourse Right!

Amidst uncertainties surrounding the Indian economic growth and the ongoing pandemic wreaking havoc across the country, the climate question hangs in the balance. On the one hand, the Indian government’s support for the coal sector cast doubt on its commitments to mitigate the global climate crisis. On the other hand, the potential for climate adaptation through national programs like AMRUT, PMAY, Smart Cities Scheme, and SBM-U is inadequate due to these programs’ limited attention to resilience building or risk reduction. On 23 September 2019, the need for climate adaptation was brought (back) into focus by the announcement of a global Coalition for Disaster Resilient Infrastructure (CDRI) by Prime Minister Narendra Modi. The CDRI is a multi-stakeholder international partnership to build resilience into infrastructure systems to ensure sustainable development.

The use of the term ‘resilience’ in India’s adaptation efforts, as across the globe, raises important questions about the discourses underlying its use and their eventual manifestation in practice—to avert, prepare, and recover from climate-linked crises. Compared to sustainability that urges continual preparation for an ever-distant future, resilience offers a more hopeful and optimistic outlook for coping in the face of adversity. Notwithstanding this optimism, the translation of resilience in practice encounters accusations of glossing over critical social aspects of equity, justice, and participatory democracy. In the first instance, the contention lies in the concept’s propensity for multiple interpretations. From an engineering perspective, resilience describes a physical materials’ (iron or plastic) property to revert to its original form or structure after being deformed by external forces. A more dynamic interpretation, departing from the former equilibrist view, appears in the context of natural and environmental sciences. Rather than seeking equilibrium, resilience preserves system functionality by reconstituting its structure in response to internal or external disturbances. For example, a water body that responds to high nutrient content by undergoing eutrophication can, within specific limits, revert to its original healthy state once the pollutant content decreases. Notably, in both these interpretations—both equilibrist and dynamic, resilience is mainly construed as a property of physical or natural systems, not social.

The third interpretation of resilience arises from its deployment to describe social systems’ capacity for self-organization in the face of crises. In contrast to the former two, this reading of resilience was a deliberate attempt to expand its disciplinary reach and, rather normatively, explain how societies react to disturbances. Insofar as this expansion sought to conceive social systems as inherently resilient and capable of bouncing back from internal and external crises with or without reconstituting their structure, it precluded attention to the source of these crises and whether the pre-crisis state was desirable at all, and if so, for whom? As such, the mobilization of a concept emerging from hard sciences to explain social concepts and constructs carries obvious blind spots.

Subjecting social systems’ capacity to normative conceptions of adaptation to withstand various crises reveals intractable incompatibilities between the concept of resilience and the contemporary social sciences. Yet, the concept has and continues to garner traction, as mentioned above. Insofar as resilience is mobilized as a foundational concept to construct visions of a future beset by climate-linked disasters, it has manifested in three primary forms. First, emergency management and disaster preparedness plans emphasize risk reduction and institutional preparedness like the National Disaster Management Act 2005 and the National Disaster Management Policy 2009 and 2016. Second, roadmaps for post-disaster recovery and revitalization. Given the lackadaisical approach to post-disaster recovery and revitalization in India, examples of comprehensive disaster-specific recovery plans are few and far between. An essential aspect of recovery is addressed by the National Disaster Relief Fund (NDRF), constituted under the NDMA, 2005, ‘to meet the expenses for emergency response, relief, and rehabilitation.’ Third, climate adaptation plans to emphasize ‘developing systems and structures in the present to forestall the challenges of a potentially catastrophic future.’

Each type of plan mentioned above draws on a different understanding of resilience, resulting in the differential conceptualization of the disaster, the communities or regions vulnerable to it, and the subsequent post-disaster recovery and resource allocations that must follow. Take, for instance, the emergency management and disaster preparedness plans. Inasmuch as these plans underscore a proactive approach to averting or minimizing the impact of climate-linked emergencies, their primary focus remains on reducing recovery times and instituting standardized response protocols, often at the expense of improving mitigation and preparedness. An inherent issue with a top-down recognition of a disaster is the persistent exclusion of the vulnerable community’s perspectives. In the Indian context, this raises questions like: does persistent malnutrition and hunger among the country’s poor count as a disaster, or does it only get registered when a severe drought hits? A nonparticipatory view of what counts as a crisis and when and where an emergency occurs consistently shuts out communities with the feeblest voice. Also, the inability to differentiate between different types of disasters—slow-acting like food impoverishment of large swathes of the population versus sudden shocks like floods and wildfires—results in emergency management and preparedness plans that emphasize the latter at the expense of the former.

Whether and how a disaster is characterized has deeper repercussions for post-disaster recovery and revitalization interventions. The policies and plans set into motion by post-disaster roadmaps, whether addressing sudden shocks or slow burns, carry normative implications for recovery and reconstruction. For physical systems, like energy infrastructures, these strategies emphasize increasing investments to harden transmission lines and expand distribution network redundancies. For social structures, these same strategies, quite rightly, entail reducing poverty and eliminating social vulnerabilities. But one need look no further than the aftermath of the migrant crisis and the official reactions (or lack thereof) to the unfolding humanitarian disaster. Incisive questions asked by Lawrence Vale, Director of MIT’s Resilient Cities Housing Initiative, in the context of Hurricane Katrina also apply to India’s migrant crisis:

“Is ‘the city’ resilient even if many of its poorest former citizens have not been able to return? Or, as is the view of some, is the city’s resilience actually dependent on the departure of many of its most vulnerable residents?”

Increasing resilience of societies against slow-acting crises like malnutrition, droughts, or growing economic inequality, for that matter, carries greater normative overtures. The slow-acting nature of such crises subjects the determination of their severity and remediating assistance to political vicissitudes rather than case- and location-specific evidence-based policy measures.

Finally, the deployment of resilience in climate adaptation plans, unlike emergency management and post-disaster roadmaps, is rendered expedient in anticipating an impending catastrophe as opposed to ongoing or begone crises. Determination of vulnerability, social and locational, to anticipated climate catastrophes, then, increasingly, becomes the province of high-level political committees and expert-driven viewpoints, which often cede no meaningful ground to the vulnerable themselves. When given as likely to occur, a crisis sanctions non-local and non-state actors to marshal citizens to embrace standard adaptation practices without reference to local ‘threat perceptions’ in relation to the crisis. The 73rd and 74th amendments to the Indian constitution, which unfortunately remain ineffectually implemented, include provisions for poverty alleviation, welfare for weaker sections of the society, and devolution of State powers and responsibilities for economic development and social justice. Bolstering the implementation of these and other provisions to facilitate devolution to local levels is likely to improve urban and rural capacities to build context-specific adaptive capabilities, particularly for the vulnerable.

With its predominant focus on infrastructure resilience rather than explicitly on social dimensions, adaptation efforts resulting from the CDRI are likely to bypass the challenge of enacting feasible and effective social interventions to increase social resilience. Regardless, as India takes the critical step to building its resilience, it behoves policy professionals and civic leaders to question the optimism surrounding the concept of resilience, its potential for disregarding the vulnerable, and its propensity for being co-opted the dominant order.

Dr. Ali Adil is an Assistant Professor at Kautilya School of Public Policy, which aims to rebalance the role of Society, Government, and Business towards an Equitable and Regenerative India and the World.

[crristinaa-level6]

MJ: Research

The world’s plastic pollution crisis. 

- Plastic pollution is a pressing environmental issue due to the overwhelming production of disposable plastic products that exceed the world's capacity to manage them effectively (World Wildlife Fund, 2021).

- Developing nations in Asia and Africa often lack efficient waste collection systems, leading to visible plastic pollution in these regions (United Nations Environment Programme, 2018).

- Even developed countries with low recycling rates struggle to collect and manage discarded plastics properly (Plastic Pollution Coalition, n.d.).

- The prevalence of plastic trash worldwide has sparked efforts towards negotiating a global treaty under the United Nations to address this critical issue (United Nations News, 2020). 

Why was the plastic invented? 

- Plastics made from fossil fuels are just over a century old, with production and development of new plastic products accelerating after World War II. This transformation has made life without plastics unrecognizable in the modern age.

- In plastic, inventors discovered a light, durable material that revolutionized various industries such as transportation, medicine, and space travel. Plastics have enabled the creation of life-saving devices, lighter vehicles that reduce fuel consumption and pollution, and equipment for clean drinking water 

- However, the convenience offered by plastics has led to a throw-away culture where single-use plastics account for 40% of plastic production every year. Products like plastic bags and food wrappers may have a short lifespan but can persist in the environment for hundreds of years, contributing to pollution and environmental degradation. 

Plastics by the numbers

Half of all plastics ever manufactured have been made in the last 20 years.

Production increased exponentially, from 2.3 million tons in 1950 to 448 million tons by 2015. Production is expected to double by 2050.

Every year, about eight million tons of plastic waste escapes into the oceans from coastal nations. That’s the equivalent of setting five garbage bags full of trash on every foot of coastline around the world.

Plastics often contain additives making them stronger, more flexible, and durable. But many of these additives can extend the life of products if they become litter, with some estimates ranging to at least 400 years to break down.

How do plastics move around the world?

Most of the plastic trash in the oceans comes from land sources, with major rivers acting as conveyor belts carrying more and more trash downstream.

Once at sea, a significant amount of plastic waste remains in coastal waters but can be transported globally by ocean currents 

Scientists found plastic items from various countries on Henderson Island in the South Pacific, highlighting how plastic pollution can travel long distances through ocean currents 

Microplastics - a new health threat 

 Once at sea, plastic waste is broken down by sunlight, wind, and wave action into small particles known as microplastics, which are less than one-fifth of an inch across (National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, "What are Microplastics?"). These microplastics are dispersed throughout the water column and have been discovered in various locations worldwide, including Mount Everest and the Mariana Trench.

- The process of degradation continues as microplastics break down even further into smaller pieces. Additionally, plastic microfibers have been detected in municipal drinking water systems and airborne particles 

- It is concerning that microplastics have also been found in humans. According to a study published in Environmental Science & Technology, researchers found microplastics in human blood, lungs, and faeces (Schwabl et al., 2019). This discovery raises questions about the potential impact of microplastic exposure on human health.

Harm to wildfire 

Millions of animals are killed by plastics every year, from birds to fish to other marine organisms. Nearly 700 species, including endangered ones, are known to have been affected by plastics.

Nearly every species of seabird eats plastics.

Most of the deaths of animals are caused by entanglement or starvation. Seals, whales, turtles, and other animals are strangled by abandoned fishing gear or discarded six-pack rings.

Microplastics have been found in more than 100 aquatic species, including fish, shrimp, and mussels destined for our dinner plates (Science Daily). In many cases, these tiny bits pass through the digestive system and are expelled without consequence. But plastics have also been found to have blocked digestive tracts or pierced organs, causing death.

Stomachs so packed with plastics reduce the urge to eat, causing starvation 

Plastics have been consumed by land-based animals as well, including elephants, hyenas, zebras, tigers, camels, cattle, and other large mammals. In some cases, this consumption has led to death.

Tests have confirmed liver and cell damage and disruptions to reproductive systems in various animal species due to plastic ingestion. Some species like oysters produce fewer eggs due to these effects.

New research shows that larval fish are eating nanofibers in the first days of life - raising new questions about the effects of plastics on fish populations.

Stopping plastic pollution

Once plastic waste enters the ocean, it becomes very challenging to retrieve. Mechanical systems like Mr Trash Wheel in Baltimore Harbor can pick up large pieces of plastic from inland waters, but microplastics in the open ocean are almost impossible to recover 

The key solution advocated by scientists and conservationists is to prevent plastic waste from reaching rivers and seas in the first place. This involves implementing improved waste management systems, promoting recycling, designing products with a focus on reducing disposable packaging, and decreasing the production of unnecessary single-use plastics.

[joyfuljotter]

Sustainable Swimwear: Shop the Best Eco-Friendly Bikinis & Bathing Suits

What is sustainable swimwear?

Sustainable swimwear is swimwear that is made from sustainable materials and produced in a sustainable way. This means that it does not harm the environment or the people who make it.

Sustainable swimwear is becoming increasingly popular as consumers become more aware of the environmental impact of the fashion industry. There are now a number of brands that produce sustainable swimwear, so it is easy to find stylish and ethical options.

Here are some of the benefits of sustainable swimwear:

It is better for the environment. Sustainable swimwear is made from materials that are biodegradable and recyclable, so it does not contribute to the pollution of our oceans and landfills.

It is better for workers. Sustainable swimwear is produced in factories that pay fair wages and provide safe working conditions.

It is better for your health. Sustainable swimwear is made from materials that are free of harmful chemicals, so you can wear it without worrying about your health.

If you are looking for sustainable swimwear, there are a few things you can look for when shopping. First, look for swimwear that is made from sustainable materials, such as recycled plastic or organic cotton. Second, look for swimwear that is produced in a sustainable way, such as by factories that pay fair wages and have a low carbon footprint. Third, look for swimwear that is certified by a third-party organization, such as the Sustainable Apparel Coalition or the Fair Trade Federation.

By choosing sustainable swimwear, you can make a difference for the environment, the workers who make your clothes, and your own health.

Made from Sustainable Materials

Sustainable swimwear is swimwear that is made from sustainable materials and produced in a sustainable way. This means that it is not harmful to the environment, and it does not contribute to the exploitation of workers or animals.

Sustainable swimwear is made from a variety of materials, including recycled plastic, organic cotton, and bamboo. These materials are all biodegradable and recyclable, and they do not contribute to the pollution of the oceans.

Sustainable swimwear is also produced in a way that minimizes waste and does not harm the environment. Factories that produce sustainable swimwear use renewable energy sources and recycle water. They also pay their workers a fair wage and do not use child labor.

By choosing to buy sustainable swimwear, you can help to protect the environment and the people who make your clothes. You can also feel good about knowing that you are making a positive impact on the world.

Produced in a Sustainable Way

Sustainable swimwear is swimwear that is made from sustainable materials, produced in a sustainable way, and sold in a sustainable way.

Sustainable materials are materials that are produced in a way that does not harm the environment or the people who work in the production process. This includes materials such as recycled polyester, organic cotton, and bamboo.

Sustainable production means that the swimwear is produced in a way that minimizes its environmental impact. This includes using energy-efficient processes, reducing waste, and treating wastewater responsibly.

Sustainable sales means that the swimwear is sold in a way that does not contribute to the exploitation of workers or the destruction of the environment. This includes fair wages for workers, ethical sourcing of materials, and carbon-neutral shipping.

Sustainable swimwear is a great way to reduce your environmental impact and support ethical fashion. By choosing sustainable swimwear, you can help to protect the environment and the people who make your clothes.

Made from Recycled Materials

Sustainable swimwear is swimwear that is made from environmentally-friendly materials and produced in a sustainable way. This means that it does not harm the environment or the people who make it.

Sustainable swimwear is typically made from recycled materials, such as plastic bottles or fishing nets. It is also often made from natural materials, such as bamboo or organic cotton.

Sustainable swimwear brands also take steps to reduce their environmental impact by using less water and energy, and by recycling and reusing waste materials.

Buying sustainable swimwear is a great way to reduce your environmental impact and support ethical fashion. By choosing sustainable swimwear, you are helping to protect the environment and the people who make your clothes.

Tips for buying sustainable swimwear

Here are some tips for buying sustainable swimwear: 

Choose swimwear made from sustainable materials. Look for swimwear made from recycled materials, such as nylon or polyester, or natural materials, such as cotton or bamboo. 

Choose swimwear that is produced in a sustainable way. Look for swimwear that is produced in factories that have a low environmental impact. 

Choose swimwear that is ethically sourced. Look for swimwear that is made from materials that are not harmful to the environment or to the people who produce them. 

Choose swimwear that is durable. Look for swimwear that is made from high-quality materials that will last for many years. 

Choose swimwear that you love. Sustainable swimwear is not always the cheapest option, so make sure you choose a piece of swimwear that you love and will wear often. 

By following these tips, you can help to reduce the environmental impact of your swimwear purchases and make a more sustainable choice.

Sustainable swimwear brands

There are a growing number of sustainable swimwear brands on the market, making it easier than ever to find stylish and eco-friendly swimwear. Here are a few of our favorites:

11ThreadsRoma - 11ThreadsRoma is a designer created, sustainable swimwear brand that creates high-quality, ethically sourced swimwear

Pamela Loves - Pamela Loves is a sustainable swimwear brand that creates high-quality, ethically-sourced swimwear.

Soulsea - Soulsea is a sustainable swimwear brand that creates stylish and sustainable swimwear made from recycled materials.

Love Planet - Love Planet is a sustainable swimwear brand that creates swimwear made from recycled plastic bottles.

Wearpact - Wearpact is a sustainable swimwear brand that creates swimwear made from recycled nylon.

Kinkini - Kinikini is a sustainable swimwear brand that creates swimwear made from sustainable materials, such as recycled nylon and organic cotton.

These are just a few of the many sustainable swimwear brands that are available. By choosing to buy sustainable swimwear, you can help to reduce the environmental impact of the fashion industry and support ethical businesses.

Sustainable swimwear myths

There are a lot of myths and misconceptions about sustainable swimwear. Here are a few of the most common ones, debunked:

"Sustainable swimwear is more expensive than regular swimwear."

"Sustainable swimwear doesn't look as good as regular swimwear."

"Sustainable swimwear is hard to find."

"Sustainable swimwear isn't as durable as regular swimwear."

In reality, sustainable swimwear is not necessarily more expensive than regular swimwear. In fact, there are many affordable options available. And while it's true that some sustainable swimwear may not look as good as regular swimwear, there are plenty of stylish and sustainable options available. Additionally, sustainable swimwear is becoming increasingly easier to find, and there are many online retailers that sell sustainable swimwear. Finally, sustainable swimwear is just as durable as regular swimwear, and in some cases, it may even be more durable.

It's important to remember that sustainable swimwear is not a luxury. It's an investment in your health, the environment, and the future of our planet. By choosing to buy sustainable swimwear, you're helping to make a difference.

Sustainable swimwear trends

The sustainable swimwear market is growing rapidly, as consumers become more aware of the environmental impact of the fashion industry. As a result, sustainable swimwear brands are constantly innovating and developing new ways to create stylish and sustainable swimwear.

Here are some of the latest sustainable swimwear trends to watch for:

Recyclable materials: More and more sustainable swimwear brands are using recyclable materials, such as recycled nylon and polyester.

Natural fabrics: Natural fabrics, such as bamboo and hemp, are also becoming more popular for sustainable swimwear.

Upcycled materials: Some sustainable swimwear brands are even using upcycled materials, such as discarded fishing nets.

Transparency: More and more sustainable swimwear brands are being transparent about their supply chains, so that consumers can know exactly where their swimwear is coming from.

Social responsibility: Sustainable swimwear brands are also taking steps to ensure that their workers are treated fairly and that the environment is protected.

These are just a few of the sustainable swimwear trends to watch for in the coming years. As the demand for sustainable swimwear continues to grow, we can expect to see even more innovative and sustainable swimwear designs on the market.

Sustainable swimwear myths

There are a number of myths about sustainable swimwear that can make it difficult for consumers to make informed decisions. Here are some of the most common myths, debunked:

Myth: Sustainable swimwear is more expensive than traditional swimwear.

Myth: Sustainable swimwear is not as stylish as traditional swimwear.

Myth: Sustainable swimwear is not as durable as traditional swimwear.

Myth: Sustainable swimwear is not as easy to care for as traditional swimwear.

In reality, sustainable swimwear can be just as affordable, stylish, durable, and easy to care for as traditional swimwear. The key is to do your research and find a sustainable swimwear brand that you trust.

Here are some tips for finding a sustainable swimwear brand that you can trust:

Read the brand's website or social media pages to learn more about their sustainability practices.

Look for certifications from third-party organizations like the Sustainable Apparel Coalition (SAC) or the Global Organic Textile Standard (GOTS).

Ask the brand questions about their sustainability practices.

By following these tips, you can find a sustainable swimwear brand that you can trust to make a positive impact on the environment.

[foodandbeveragesupdates]

Polypropylene Market Size & Share, Future Growth, Trends Evaluation, Demands, Regional Analysis and Forecast to 2028, Fortune Business Insights

The global polypropylene market size is projected to reach USD 108.57 billion by 2028, exhibiting a CAGR of 5.2% during the forecast period. As per the report by Fortune Business Insights™, titled “Polypropylene Market, 2021-2028”, the market size was USD 75.12 billion in 2020 and is estimated to hit USD 76.00 billion in 2021.

Advancements in Plastic Recycling Technologies to Create New Growth Opportunities

Plastic pollution has become a scourge of development for the planet. Now, chemical industry companies, with support from governments and international bodies, are taking concerted steps to tackle this problem head-on using advanced recycling technologies. For example, in April 2021, INEOS bagged the ISCC Plus award from the International Sustainability & Carbon Certification organization for its successful commercial-scale trials of next-generation recycling technology to produce polypropylene (PP), high-density polyethylene (HDPE), propylene, and ethylene. In the same month, the US Polypropylene Recycling Coalition, a cross-industry collaboration, sanctioned USD 1 million to three facilities to augment the recovery of PP in the US. Thus, growing recognition and improving funding for the plastic circular economy will play a vital role in the development of this market.

Driving Factor

Integration of PP in Electric Vehicles to Catalyze MarketGrowth

With vehicle pollution at an all-time high in major economies, the adoption of electric vehicles (EVs) is surging worldwide. For example, in 2019, global electric car sales reached 2.1 million, according to data released by the International Energy Agency (IEA). The key to enhancing the energy efficiency of EVs is to reduce their weight by employing lightweight materials in the manufacturing of their components. Polypropylene, which is a thermoplastic, is perfectly suited to meet this goal, primarily because it has low density. As a result, many EV makers are actively integrating PP in their products to make them more energy-efficient. For example, the Skoda Scala features 10% low-talc PP from Borealis, which has been used to make the car’s center console, glove box, and instrument panel. Similarly, Renault’s B4D engine leverages a PP compound for the air intake manifold, weighing 15% lesser than manifolds made from traditional polyamide-based materials. In sum, the incorporation of PP-based materials in EVs is the new thriving trend in the plastics industry, which is propelling the market.

Regional Insights

Promising Growth of the Packaging Industry to Aid the Asia Pacific Market

Supported by the spectacular growth of the packaging industry, Asia Pacific is set to dominate the polypropylene market share during the forecast period. The progress of the packaging industry in this region is driven by rapid urbanization in India and China, where packaged foods, beverages, and consumer goods are in high demand. The region’s market size stood at USD 39.95 billionin 2020.

Information source:

[jcmarchi]

‘Paris Agreement for Plastic’ Could Slash Plastic Pollution to Almost Zero - Technology Org

New Post has been published on https://thedigitalinsider.com/paris-agreement-for-plastic-could-slash-plastic-pollution-to-almost-zero-technology-org/

‘Paris Agreement for Plastic’ Could Slash Plastic Pollution to Almost Zero - Technology Org

With both plastic production and waste projected to escalate to unmanageable levels by 2050, scientists at UC Santa Barbara and UC Berkeley have launched a new AI-powered online tool that provides unprecedented insight into how the nations of the world can combine policies to end plastic pollution with the United Nations global plastics treaty, currently under negotiation.

In March 2022, more than 175 nations agreed to develop an international, legally-binding treaty to end plastic pollution. Sixty nations, from the United Arab Emirates to Palau, have committed to achieving this by 2040.

This image of a blue plastic pile represents the cumulative amount of plastic waste generated between 2010 and 2050 — enough to cover the entire island of Manhattan and ten times the height of the Empire State Building — under a business-as-usual scenario where no aggressive policy actions are taken. Image credit: Benioff Ocean Science Laboratory

Researchers say that if no action is taken, annual plastic production will rise 22% between 2024 and 2050, and plastic pollution will jump 62% between 2024 and 2050. By continuing business as usual, the world would generate enough litter between 2010 and 2050 to cover the entire island of Manhattan with a 3.5-kilometer-tall heap of plastic — nearly 10 times the height of the Empire State Building.

But, the scientists say, a strong UN plastics treaty incorporating the right mix of nine plastic reduction policies could see plastic pollution virtually eliminated in 2040, with the generation of mismanaged waste reduced by 89% to a more manageable 10 million metric tons per year.

Plastic waste floats in a river. Image credit: UCSB

At the same time, the research finds that a business-as-usual scenario places the greatest burden of mismanaged plastic waste — waste that is littered or not properly disposed of, leading to polluted waterways and overflowing landfills — on less wealthy countries.

Without intervention, mismanaged waste in the Global South will be 4.8 times greater in 2050 than in NAFTA countries, the 30 countries in the European Union, and China combined in 2050. Such a future further exacerbates similar disproportionate environmental justice harms already created by climate change.

 “The developing countries house much more of the world population than NAFTA and EU combined,” said Nivedita Biyani, a researcher on global plastic modelling at the UC Santa Barbara-based Benioff Ocean Science Laboratory (BOSL).

“If they start using plastics at the rates of NAFTA and EU, we will be in much more trouble. That said, there is a way out of this mess. We can reach a near-zero mismanaged waste scenario by including all the policies outlined. I hope world leaders in NAFTA and the EU will commit to a high-ambition treaty to help other countries leap-frog their way out of this.”

A team of plastic researchers, data scientists and AI researchers at BOSL, the Bren School of Environmental Science & Management at UC Santa Barbara, and the Eric and Wendy Schmidt Center for Data Science & Environment at UC Berkeley developed the new tool and underlying analysis.

Using machine learning to combine information about population growth and economic trends to forecast the future of plastic production, pollution and trade, the tool projects global and regional plastic pollution trends from 2010 to 2050, 10 years beyond the High Ambition Coalition’s 2040 goal of ending plastic pollution.

“Finally solving the plastics crisis means a win for the environment, a win in our fight against climate change, and a healthier and more just future for all people,” said Douglas McCauley, director of BOSL and an associate professor at UC Santa Barbara.

“A weak treaty would be worse than no treaty at all. But I was thrilled to see scientific proof that a strong treaty could virtually end the plastic waste problem forever. Nothing makes me happier than knowing that my generation could be the last generation to live with the cancer of plastic pollution. I can only hope the nations meeting in Nairobi pay attention to these findings.”

“I confess that when I first saw these nations promising to end plastic pollution by 2040, I thought that this would be impossible,” added McCauley, also an adjunct professor at UC Berkeley. “I was blown away to discover a pathway to near-zero in this research.”

The policies

The research shows that five specific actions implemented in conjunction would take the biggest chunk out of plastic pollution: 1) a minimum recycled content commitment; 2) a cap on production of virgin plastic; 3) investment in plastic waste management infrastructure; 4) similar investments in new recycling capacity; and 5) a small tax on plastic packaging (e.g., items like plastic bags).

Establishing a minimum recycling content rate that requires certain plastics be made of at least 30% recycled materials would, by itself, slash annual mismanaged waste by about 31% in 2040. Similarly, capping plastic production to 2025, an action analogous to policies common in the climate domain, could, by itself, reduce annual mismanaged waste by approximately 15% in 2040, and 26% in 2050.

“Finally solving the plastics crisis means a win for the environment, a win in our fight against climate change, and a healthier and more just future for all people.”

Under the treaty, funding to combat plastic pollution could be built using revenue from taxes or related types of “extended producer responsibility” programs that enlist the aid of plastic producers. This research suggests that, dollar for dollar, more can be done by investing in waste management (e.g., collection services, landfills, waste processing plants) versus recycling plants — and that return on investment is even greater when this funding is directed to countries in the Global South.

“The tool is unique in that it allows real-time interactive prediction for UN negotiators,” said Sam Pottinger, a senior research data scientist at UC Berkeley.

“They can quickly simulate outcomes of different policy scenarios which they can make both by selecting policies built into the tool and by creating their own. Bringing their expertise into conversation with the modeling, this gives them the opportunity to use the AI and engine to explore scenarios that maybe we didn’t even consider. This freedom and speed let the tool keep up with conversations as they evolve and ultimately enables nations to align on an ambitious informed suite of treaty policies to reduce mismanaged waste.”

The scientists in the team stress that, while it is critically important to make good on our global commitment to end plastic pollution by 2040, there are many other wins to be had in the treaty. For instance, the analysis includes an option to phase out single-use packaging, including plastic straws, shopping bags, cutlery and expanded polystyrene “styrofoam” cups.

Such single-use items are extremely common in river and ocean ecosystems and create significant environmental harm.

A portfolio of policies such as those highlighted in the researchers’ 2040 zero plastic waste solution already has existing precedent in many regions. Many facets of this treaty package, for example, mimic the plastic pollution roadmaps already used in California and the EU. And a host of other countries (e.g., Kenya, Rwanda, Palau, Seychelles, India, China) have phased out certain single use plastics, like bags. Nations such as the Philippines and Vietnam have extended producer responsibility laws already on the books.

“We cannot recycle our way out of this,” said Biyani. “We need countries and companies to come on board to help limit the amount of plastic going into our oceans and larger environment. Especially fast-moving-consumer goods companies can make a marked difference here, by rethinking the packaging choices they make on behalf of their consumers.”

Source: UCSB

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[chloeunitfive]

Patagonia

According to Quantis statistics, the garment sector is responsible for up to 6.7% of worldwide greenhouse gas emissions and emits 2-3.29 billion tonnes of CO2e into the atmosphere each year. Cleaning and disposing of clothing (typically in landfills) only adds to this effect, which is growing as people buy more and more things. If we do not alter direction quickly, the devastating repercussions of climate change will be irreversible.

We have been trying to lower our environmental impact inside our own company and throughout our supplier chain for many years. It is still insufficient. We're aiming towards 100% renewable energy for our globally owned and managed shops, offices, and delivery centres, but the big difficulty is materials manufacture, which accounts for around 85% of our annual emissions. We accept full responsibility and are motivated to collaborate with our partners and vendors to conserve water, eliminate pollutants, and minimise emissions whenever and wherever practicable. We began utilising solely organically farmed cotton in all of our virgin cotton goods in 1996, and we are continuing to raise our usage of preferred materials—from 43% across our whole product range in 2016 to 88% in 2022. (Among the most popular materials are organic and regenerative organic cotton, hemp, recycled polyester, and recycled nylon.) We have cofounded or joined a number of progressive alliances to improve the industry over the years, including the Fair Labour Association, the Sustainable Apparel Coalition, and B Lab. In doing so, we've collaboratively focused on enhancing people's lives and workplaces throughout the world, used data to identify the industry's most urgent concerns, and ensured that our business demands are balanced with those of society. And there’s a role for our customers to play, too. We’re teaching people to take care of the things they already have (with as little energy as possible) and reminding them why the jacket they already have is the best one for the planet.

We've never loved talking about what we're going to accomplish as a company; only what we've done. However, we have created an exception for our climate targets because we want everyone to keep us responsible. Here are three major goals we're aiming for:

We will eliminate virgin petroleum fibre from our goods by 2025 and exclusively utilise chosen materials. By using recycled polyester in goods like our Better Sweater® jackets, we are lowering our dependency on fossil fuels. When compared to their virgin counterparts, this transition has helped keep 15.5 million pounds of CO2 out of the atmosphere since Fall 2019.

By 2025, our packaging will be completely reusable, biodegradable at home, renewable, or readily recyclable. We're already on our way. We're employing algal ink, eliminating plastic, and using QR code technology to cut the quantity of paper used in tags and product inserts by 100,000 pounds per year.

We will be net zero by 2040 throughout the board. We are aiming to minimise our footprint to the required 1.5°C route, first and foremost by designing less impactful products. For example, the Nano Puff® jacket was updated in 2020 to utilise 100% postconsumer recycled polyester insulation, reducing emissions by roughly half. We are also focusing on emissions where they occur—in the supply chain. We are supporting energy audits, which will lead to significant impact-reduction measures at our key suppliers. We'll invest in natural climate solutions to get net zero after we've gotten a product and its supply chain to the lowest emissions achievable. But we also know that this is insufficient. The objective is not to balance emissions, but to eliminate them.

“If we don’t clean up our mess, we’ll be history. We must use all the tools at our disposal to secure a safer, more just future.” Ryan Gellert, Patagonia CEO

Reference:

[swldx]

RNZ Pacific 1109 23 Apr 2024

11725Khz 1100 23 APR 2024 - RNZ PACIFIC (NEW ZEALAND) in ENGLISH from RANGITAIKI. SINPO = 55333. English, pips and news @1100z anchored by Lydia Lewis. An Australian-born judge in Kiribati could well face deportation later this week after a tribunal ruling that he should be removed from his post. The tribunal's report has just been tabled in the Kiribati Parliament and is due to be debated by MPs this week - the last week of the current parliamentary session ahead of the general election. The Kiribati judiciary has been in turmoil for nearly four years now, with key judges removed and huge backlogs in the system. Lobbying to form Solomon Islands next government is intensifying. With only four more seats in the 50-member parliament yet to be officially declared, there is no outright winner. As of Monday, the two largest blocs in the winner's circle, independents and the incumbent prime minister Manasseh Sogavare's Our Party, were tied with 12 MPs each. The kingmaker party in Fiji's three-party coalition government has a new leader to drive them through to the 2026 election. Aseri Radrodro, who has been named as SODELPA leader said he is looking forward to preperations. Former leader and Deputy Prime Minister Viliame Gavoka said he supports Radrodro's appointment. Worries about Denge fever infected mosquitoes traveling from Samoa to New Zealand. A Samoan community leader in New Zealand says the citizenship bill that aims to restore entitlement to New Zealand citizenship for people born in Samoa between 1924 and 1949 is "about trust and fairness", not just about money. The fourth session of the Intergovernmental Negotiating Committee (INC-4) to develop an international legally binding instrument on plastic pollution, including in the marine environment is taking place in Ottawa, Canada this week. Palau's chief negotiator Gwen Sisior says "I know that the Pacific has always been flexible, we always try to be flexible - I think we need to know when to be flexible and when not to be, but we also need to be more strategic in how we use our flexibility as well. We've always been about content and substance which is very important, but considering the way the INCs have been negotiated, strategy is now becoming just as critical as the substance. We need to be more strategic in our way forward." "Progress, Inclusivity and Unity" was celebrated in Rarotonga as the LGBTIA+ community commemorated one year since the Cook Islands decriminalized same-sex relations. The country's inaugural Pride Week - Anuanua Week - was full of colourful activities and events exploring the diversity of LGBTQIA+ communities and their rights across the Pacific. Sports. @1109z "Pacific Waves" anchored by female announcer. 250ft unterminated BoG antenna pointed E/W w/MFJ-1020C active antenna (used as a preamplifier/preselector), Etón e1XM. 100kW, beamAz 325°, bearing 240°. Received at Plymouth, MN, United States, 12912KM from transmitter at Rangitaiki. Local time: 0600.