Dirty air cuts back California crops (The Verge)California loses up to $1 billion in crops each year because of air pollution, according to new research that looked at trends from 1980 to 2015. Table grapes — the kind for snacking — were the most vulnerable among seven crops badly affected by smog, including: wine grapes, strawberries, walnuts, peaches, nectarines, and hay. The crops lost between 2 to 22 percent of their yields as a result of smog.
Lithium startup backed by Bill Gates seeks a breakthrough at the Salton Sea (Los Angeles Times)An Oakland startup, Lilac Solutions, recently announced a $20-million funding round led by Breakthrough Energy Ventures, which funds startups working to reduce planet-warming emissions. Breakthrough’s investors include three of the world’s 10 richest people: Microsoft Corp. co-founder Gates, Amazon Chief Executive Jeff Bezos and former New York City Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg.
How to make going green sustainable (Port Strategy) As ports push forward with zero-emission investments they are beginning to show that being sustainable doesn't have to come at an economic cost. One example of this is the Port of Hueneme in California, which secured financial partners for its US $14m shoreside power system within two years to enabled refrigerated vessels to plug in.
Alliance to invest $145m in magnesium recycling plant (MiningDotcom) This innovative project uses the circular economy to develop new magnesium manufacturing processes. In demand in the automotive and aerospace industries, magnesium is one of the solutions favoring lighter structures in order to reduce greenhouse gas emissions,” Pierre Fitzgibbon, Quebec’s Minister of Economy and Innovation, said in the media brief.
IETA welcomes ICAO’s decision on CORSIA Eligible Emissions Units (Press Release: IETA) The International Emissions Trading Association (IETA) welcomes the decision by the Council of the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) to approve the first six programmes that will provide the Eligible Emissions Units for compliance use in its Carbon Offset Reduction Scheme for International Aviation (CORSIA).
Climate change: Germany cuts carbon emissions by 6.3% in 2019 (Deutsche Welle) Germany's greenhouse gas emissions continued to decline last year, according to a report published Monday by the Environment Ministry. The country emitted some 805 million tons of greenhouse gases in 2019, which was roughly 54 million tons or 6.3% less than in 2018, the report said.