Daily ED: December 10th, 2021
--
Your Friday share of environmental news…
Why subscribe to Environmental Digest?
We are a publication dedicated to delivering the most relevant climate news in a concise and interesting manner.
Our daily newsletter features Top ED — hot environmental topics worth discussing and Daily ED — a short collection of supplemental news.
As a Free Subscriber, you get access to the full newsletter that you can find in your email with one long weekend read (coming tomorrow).
As a Premium Subscriber, your share is supplemented with a quarterly sustainability consumer report, a monthly book review report, and weekly crosswords, trivia quizzes, surveys, and more!
Why are we posting it now?
Because our Christmas special lets you become a Lifetime Premium Subscriber for free!
Subscribe here:
Daily ED: United States
- An unusually warm and dry start to Colorado’s snow season has left many of the state’s mountain resorts wholly dependent on artificial snow, to the growing frustration of winter sports enthusiasts. The snow, when it does come, will be the latest ever to fall in Denver. Experts say that this year is shaping up to be among the five hottest years in Colorado history
- Exxon Mobil, the nation’s largest oil company, said it would reach net-zero emissions in the Permian Basin, which straddles Texas and New Mexico, by electrifying its operations, improving its ability to detect and capture methane gas and eliminating the routine burning of waste gas emitted from oil wells. However, Exxon’s goal does not include offsetting emissions from its customers, such as car and truck owners and airlines.
- Last year, Virginia became the latest state to join a program to cut greenhouse gas emissions from coal, gas, and other power plants. Now, Republican Governor-elect Glenn Youngkin has vowed to yank Virginia out of the agreement by executive action, arguing that the program costs the state too much money. Environmental groups argue that the benefits far outweigh the costs, auctions off allowances to pollute, and the proceeds are returned proportionally to the states. Since joining the coalition, Virginia has received $228 million in proceeds, far outstripping the state’s projections of saving money.
Daily ED: International
- Crabs, lobsters, and octopuses are now recognized as sentient beings in the UK as part of their Animal Welfare Bill. Up until now, the bill formally recognized vertebrates — any animal who has a backbone — as sentient beings who “experience feelings in the same way humans do.” The move has the potential of improving the protection and research on these animals.
- Scientists are criticizing Mexican fishermen for using dangerous netting practices — walls of mesh that hang upright below the surface, up to 20 feet deep, and stretching the length of several football fields. They are trapping and drowning vaquitas — rare porpoises whose population has dropped from 600 individuals in 1997 to around 10 in 2019.
- Royal Dutch Shell said Thursday that it “concluded the economic case for investment in British oil development off the coast of Scotland is not strong enough at this time.” Especially due to “potential for delays,” caused by protests from environmentalists and possibly legal actions trying to stop it. The British government is considering whether to approve the project, which environmental groups and some politicians have said should be rejected because it would produce carbon dioxide emissionsresponsible for climate change.
Read our most recent newsletter to learn more.
