In Between Times 1-26-2024
Circular can be profitable, Solar about to bloom in BLM land, Mangroves and carbon sequestration, Bipartisan soil health bill
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Study: Some businesses can save 70% on costs by switching to a circular model
The best kind of sustainability is sustainable in economic terms, not just in environmental terms. If it is profitable for a business to engage in wise waste practices then these practices will be adopted. A recent study says that this is already the case in some instances.
(From Circular)
The study by London recycling and resource management firm Bywaters highlights what it describes as the financial benefits of businesses adopting circular models that minimize waste.
According to the study, a linear system can cost the average business – based on an office in London with 32 floors (400,000 square feet) – as much as £34,000 a year (for the average business/office site), with the majority of the expenses coming from the disposal of dry mixed recycling.
Implementing a circular model and the correct segregation of recyclable materials at source can bring savings of approximately 70% of waste disposal costs, the study said.
Click here for the article.
Sustainability Magazine’s Top 100 Companies for 2023
Biden administration has outlined a plan to streamline the development of solar projects on 22 million acres of land managed by the federal government
The large swathes of land managed by the Bureau of Land Management have long contributed to energy generation in this country, but usually in the form of fossil fuels. Now solar will be added to the mix if the administration and the solar industry get their way. Interestingly, as solar matures the environmental impact of solar panel farms has become a concern for some (who generally champion renewables). But these political growing pains are to be expected as solar becomes a bigger player in the energy mix.
(From Inside Climate News)
The Bureau of Land Management last week released a proposal to update its 2012 Western Solar Plan detailing multiple programs that could ease the permitting process for utility-scale solar projects. The proposal identifies the land best suited for large solar developments across 11 states, balancing conservation with the needs of the industry. It’s the latest in a series of moves poised to change how the nation’s 245 million acres of public land are managed by shifting their use away from fossil fuel production to the development of clean energy and ensuring conservation is on an equal footing as other uses of the land.
“Public lands have to play an integral part in America’s energy transition and the only way that happens is with good planning,” said Aaron Weiss, deputy director of the Center for Western Priorities. “That’s what this solar plan is.”
Click here for the article.
Study: How nature can fight climate change — and how it can't
Natural solutions to climate change are and will be key to solving the carbon equation. Boreal forests, rain forests, kelp forests, grasslands all soak up carbon. Consider this quote from the attached article; “a single square mile of mangroves can lock away as much climate-warming carbon as the annual emissions of 90,000 cars.”. That is amazing. Being wiser about the protection (and sometimes destruction) of carbon reducing ecosystems is key as we move forward. It may be more key than we even imagined.
If what is reported above (mangrove sequestration) at Conservation.org holds true, consider that there are 283,400,000 registered vehicles in the USA. That would mean that 3148.4 square miles of mangroves would sequester enough carbon for the entire US fleet.
One of the great challenges of climate science is really quantifying the carbon cycle and its ebbs and flows, where it is sequestered as well as released.
If you follow the above logic out and apply it to the global vehicle fleet the amount of mangroves needed to mitigate the world’s carbon producing vehicles is pretty interesting.
We wonder what an acre of kelp forest sequesters? (Kelp grows much faster than mangroves and as such could be an even more valuable carbon sink.) Maybe we’ll explore that next letter.
(From Conservation.org)
Left standing, mangroves are climate superstars — a single square mile of mangroves can lock away as much climate-warming carbon as the annual emissions of 90,000 cars. However, despite protections from the Colombian government, mangroves in Cispatá Bay continued to be cleared for cattle and agriculture. Essentially, they were more valuable dead than alive. This project flipped that economic script. It was the first to accurately measure the carbon stored in the mud mangroves hold between their roots. That opened the door to financial incentives to protect them. In addition, the local community is actively engaged in the project’s governance and in carrying out monitoring, data and species conservation.
This speaks directly to the need for natural climate solutions to be measurable and have a positive impact on local people. Over the project’s 30-year lifespan, the mangrove forest is expected to prevent the release of approximately 1 million metric tons of carbon — equivalent to taking 184,000 cars off the road for one year — and support the livelihoods of 12,000 people who live in or near the project.
Click here for the article.
Wetlands for livelihoods: local communities thrive by protecting mangroves and peatlands in Borneo
Who are the members of the House Conservative Climate Caucus?
Reps. Pingree, Beyer, and Lawler introduce bipartisan legislation to improve soil health and sustainability on farms
Healthy soil makes for healthy crops which make for healthy people who make for healthier societies. Dirt is important.
(From Pingree.house.gov)
“By supporting farmers in the utilization of perennial systems and agroforestry, the Innovative Practices for Soil Health Act encourages healthy soil management – improving overall farm productivity and stimulating microbial life,” said Lawler. “This is a win for farmers, a win for the environment, and a win for American families. I’m proud to join my colleagues Don Beyer and Chellie Pingree in introducing this commonsense bipartisan bill.”
"The Innovative Practices for Soil Health Act provides common-sense, straight-forward support for high-impact perennial practices through NRCS conservation programs. It also ensures increased technical capacity at USDA for new and exciting perennial practices through a series of agroforestry centers,” said National Sustainable Agriculture Coalition Conservation Specialist Jesse Womack. “This bill is a win for farmers committed to building soil health across their operation through plant diversity and strong, living roots.”
Click here for the article.
Event
Jan 30
Difficult Conversations for the Sake of Democracy
National Civic League
Location: Online
Join us if you think reasonable disagreements are still possible in today’s divisive political landscape.
In this dynamic webinar we will explore the crucial question: Are reasonable disagreements still possible in today’s divisive political landscape? For the sake of democracy, we believe they must be. In this webinar, we’ll dive into the impactful work of the Bridging Movement Alignment Council and the Disagree Better Campaign, dedicated to fostering dialogue and bridging divides. Discover how these initiatives contribute to a more constructive and inclusive civic discourse and how you can get involved.
Additionally, we’ll showcase the inspiring efforts of two place-based bridging organizations, 92NY and Village Square.
Don’t miss this opportunity to learn about practical strategies and initiatives shaping a future where respectful disagreement is not just possible but essential for a thriving democracy.