News Feeds | ecology.iww.org (2024)

The Nature of Cities - Wed, 04/03/2024 - 12:25

A biking lane should measure 4.20 meters at minimum in the city of Utrecht. Sidewalks need to be 1.20 meters wide to make sure pedestrians and a person in a wheelchair can pass each other. For each house we build we add 0.78 parking spaces in the public domain. In the Netherlands, we have a … Continue reading Fight Fire With Fire … and Standards With Standards ― Building blocks for nature →

The post Fight Fire With Fire … and Standards With Standards ― Building blocks for nature appeared first on The Nature of Cities.

Categories: B5. Resilience, Third Nature, and Transition

Global Alliance for Incinerator Alternatives (GAIA) - Wed, 04/03/2024 - 12:24

Sign the letter!

Canada is among the most wasteful countries in the world and most of our waste could be avoided, recycled or composted. Canada has goals to decrease waste by 30% by 2030 and 50% by 2040, to end plastic waste by 2040, and to reduce landfill methane emissions by 50% by 20301.2 Reaching even these goals will require ambitious and immediate actions to reduce waste.

Waste to Energy (WTE) (sometimes called energy from waste) includes different technologies for disposing waste through a high-temperature process such as mass burn incineration, gasification, and pyrolysis. WTE is portrayed as a “climate-friendly” solution for waste management because of the avoided methane emission from landfilling and energy generation potential, however it emits more greenhouse gases than modern landfills when a full accounting of all GHGs is made. WTE also emits more GHGs per unit of energy than gas and even coal plants. Waste minimization is a far better choice for the climate than either landfills or WTE.

Furthermore, the key to eliminating methane gases from landfill is to remove organics from the waste stream. Edible food waste makes up a large portion of landfilled organics and could be prevented in the first place. Canada has committed to Sustainable Development Goal 12.3 to reduce food waste by 50% by 2030. Remaining organics could be diverted through source separation to compost in an oxygen-rich environment so that no methane is generated during decomposition or anaerobic digestion in-vessel so no methane escapes. This is doable and should be a primary objective of any climate-friendly solution for waste management. Ignoring this obvious solution creates a false choice between landfilling and WTE.

WTE is not only extremely harmful for the climate but also harmful to environmental and human health. Burning waste to generate energy is the most carbon-intensive, toxic and expensive form of energy, and these industries have disproportionately harmed low-income communities and communities of colour, where these facilities are statistically more likely to be sited.3 WTE projects are very costly and compete with waste reduction and recycling4. Waste to energy is a drain on the circular economy, diverting public resources and funding from zero waste practices that create far more jobs for far less cost and running counter to actions on climate change and plastics waste.

We, the undersigned, therefore call on the Government of Canada, provinces and territories, and local governments to implement the following actions:

1. Properly account for all pollution for waste and fuels from waste:

1. Add biogenic emissions to the GHG Calculator.
2. Include source reduction, recycling and all materials in the GHG Calculator similar to the US WARM calculator.
3. Ensure carbon pricing is based on the full accounting of GHGs for waste and fuels from waste. Do not allow carbon offsets for WTE.
4. Ensure the most stringent emission limits for all emissions (including mercury, dioxins, furans, lead, cadmium, SOx, NOx, etc) for all waste burning sources.
5. Ensure continuous monitoring of all emissions from waste burning sources for which technology exists. Ensure ambient air monitoring and environmental biomonitoring is required.
6. Ensure full accounting of material flows to land, water and air from WTE (fly ash, bottom ash, slag, air emissions, etc.).

2. Eliminate organic materials going to waste:

1. Set ambitious targets for reducing food waste and organic materials to disposal over time.
2. Enhance actions to decrease food waste.
3. Encourage rapid increase in organics diversion through the regulation of landfill methane emissions and other tools.

3. Advance a zero waste, circular economy:

1. Adopt the internationally-accepted and peer-reviewed Zero Waste Definition and Zero Waste Hierarchy as the guide for actions
2. Develop a zero waste, circular economy strategy.
3. Lead by example: use procurement to prioritize rethinking, reduction, reuse and refill; demonstrate action on the corporate operations of the government.
4. Make reuse, repair and refill a priority in all regulatory, financial and policy measures.
5. Ensure Canadians have the ability to repair their devices and appliances to keep materials in use.
6. Scale up support for the collection and recycling of products through Extended Producer Responsibility and other measures.
7. Plan for use of existing landfills as waste is decreased and maximize the lifespans of landfills by wasting less. Ensure the landfills manage the methane well and meet other environmental criteria.
8. Encourage disposal levies on all waste going to WTE and landfills and use the funds to support waste reduction and reuse.

4. Ensure transparency and accountability:

1. Collect and publicly release annual data on materials flows for all materials. Report on progress towards goals.
2. Collect and publicly release annual data on all emissions from waste facilities (including toxic substances, ash and GHGs).

5. End support and subsidies for WTE facilities:

1. Policy and funding should support waste reduction and should not support thermal treatment or incineration of mixed waste. Do not support carbon capture and storage integration with WTE facilities. Do not support district energy systems integrated with WTE facilities.
2. Ensure no funds or grants are given directly or through government-supported agencies such as the Federation of Canadian Municipalities for WTE projects.
3. Ensure preferential energy purchase rates and long-term contracts are not given to WTE facilities.
4. Do not support put or pay contracts for WTE facilities.
5. Ensure energy from WTE facilities or refuse-derived fuel is not considered clean nor renewable.
6. Ensure burning waste materials in any facility (such as cement kilns, or steel smelters or the use of refuse -derived fuel) is considered a form of WTE and is not supported.
7. Do not allow WTE facilities to be sited on government-owned or managed lands.
8. Discourage the inclusion of WTE in federal, provincial, territorial, regional and municipal plans.
9. Ensure any disposal taxes on landfills also apply to disposal at WTE facilities.
10. Strictly control waste imports and exports, including shipments between Canada and the United States, to ensure they are destined for environmentally-sound management and not to be used as fuel.
11. Educate the public on the full impacts of WTE.

Signatories:

1. Zero Waste BC
2. Toronto Environmental Alliance
3. Environmental Defence Canada
4. Ontario Zero Waste Coalition
5. Zero Waste Canada
6. Durham Environment Watch (DEW)
7. Waste Watch Ottawa
8. Citizens of the Pontiac (CoP)
9. Global Alliance for Incinerator Alternatives (GAIA)
10. Living Oceans Society
11. Let’s Talk Trash
12. Squamish Climate Action Network
13. McNab Braeside Alliance for a Clean Environment
14. HSR Zero Waste
15. Association of Whistler Area Residents for the Environment (AWARE)
16. Protect Our Winters Canada
17. First Things First Okanagan Climate Action
18. Biodiversity and Climate Action Niagara
19. Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives
20. Waste Free Edmonton
21. Planet Zero Waste Consulting, Inc.
22. Otter Housing Association
23. Citizens Environment Alliance
24. Nith Valley EcoBoosters
25. AlRefai
26. Wilderness Committee
27. Ecology Action Centre
28. David Suzuki Foundation
29. Surfrider Foundation Canada
30. Friends of the Earth Canada
31. aedify consulting
32. Grandmothers Act to Save the Planet (GASP)
33. Prevent Cancer Now
34. MiningWatch Canada
35. Coalition for Responsible Energy Development in New Brunswick
36. First Things First Okanagan
37. Little River Enhancement Group
38. Greenpeace Canada
39. My Sea to Sky
40. Nanaimo Climate Action Hub
41. Sacred Earth Solar

1. Government of Canada (2021). Ocean Plastics Charter. https://www.canada.ca/en/environment-climate-change/services/managing-reducing-waste/international-commitments/ocean-plastics-charter.html
   ︎
2. Government of Canada (2022). Faster and Further -Canada’s Methane Strategy. https://publications.gc.ca/collections/collection_2022/eccc/En4-491-2022-eng.pdf ︎
3. Zero Waste Europe. Why is the global waste crisis a social justice issue? https://zerowasteeurope.eu/2022/02/why-is-the-global-waste-crisis-a-social-justice-issue/ ︎
4. Baxter, J., Ho, Y., Rollins, Y., & Maclaren, V. (2016). Attitudes toward waste to energy facilities and impacts on diversion in Ontario, Canada. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.wasman.2016.02.017
   ︎

Sign the letter here

The post Ending Waste Incineration in Canada: Sign Our Letter Today! first appeared on GAIA.

Categories: E2. Front Line Community Green

Wild Idaho Rising Tide - Wed, 04/03/2024 - 12:00

The Wednesday, April 3, 2024, Climate Justice Forum radio program, produced by regional, climate activists collective Wild Idaho Rising Tide (WIRT), features north Idaho poets Adrian Murillo and Robins and musician Desiree Aguirre performing at the 13th anniversary celebration of WIRT in Sandpoint on March 28. We also share news, music, and reflections on an upcoming GTN Xpress gas pipeline expansion talk and Paradise Ridge walk mourning Highway 95 construction around Moscow, a Troublemakers blockade of Amazon headquarters in downtown Seattle protesting gas pipeline expansion use, and citizen closure of the last coal plant in New England. Broadcast for twelve years on progressive, volunteer, community station KRFP Radio Free Moscow, every Wednesday between 1:30 and 3 pm Pacific time, on-air at 90.3 FM and online, the show describes continent-wide, grassroots, frontline resistance to fossil fuels projects, the root causes of climate change, thanks to generous, anonymous listeners who adopted program host Helen Yost as their KRFP DJ.

GTN Xpress Gas Pipeline Expansion Talk, April 1, 2024 Extinction Rebellion Palouse and Wild Idaho Rising Tide

Mo(u)rning Walk on Paradise Ridge, April 1, 2024 Extinction Rebellion Palouse

Happening now! Dozens of activists have blockaded EVERY entrance to Amazons headquarters in downtown Seattle…, March 27, 2024 Troublemakers

Amazon: A Commitment to GTN Xpress is a Commitment to Climate Catastrophe, March 27, 2024 Troublemakers

Breaking News: New England Activists Close Region’s Last Coal Plant, March 27, 2024 No Coal, No Gas

Categories: B4. Radical Ecology

Restore The San Francisco Bay Area Delta - Wed, 04/03/2024 - 11:33

For Immediate Release:
April 3, 2024

Contact:
Alexandra Nagy,alexandra@sunstonestrategies.org, 818-633-0865

Rejection of the Delta Conveyance Project is essential to advance equity and prioritize frontline and tribal communities

Stockton, Calif —The California Department of Water Resources (DWR) released the final version of the California Water Plan which asserts equity for “frontline communities,” yet ignores the negative impacts key projects will have on them, like the Delta Conveyance Project. Along with the plan, Governor Gavin Newsomvowed to get the project permittedprior to the end of his term.

In response, Barbara Barrigan-Parrilla, Executive Director of Restore the Delta, says, “Governor Newsom cannot claim to put water equity and frontline communities at the forefront of his plans while ignoring the catastrophic impact the tunnel will have on environmental justice communities that rely on the Delta for drinking water, food via fishing and farming, and recreation.”

“Dedicating a full chapter to tribal perspectives in the water plan is a start,” Barrigan-Parrilla says, “but the plan fails to protect tribal water rights for those who have stewarded Delta waterways and relied on the Delta for cultural, religious, and subsistence practices essential to tribal identity. We urge the governor to truly and adequately safeguard equity for frontline and tribal communities and prioritize the Bay-Delta Plan over boondoggle projects like the Delta tunnel.”

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Categories: G2. Local Greens

Montana Environmental Information Center - Wed, 04/03/2024 - 10:54

By Keila Szpaller, Daily Montanan High energy costs are forcing a company in Butte to phase out a division of its business, and a vice president said this week a minimal number of employees — paid more than $100,000 on average — could be affected but did not have a precise count. Earlier this year, …

The post Energy costs main factor in closure of division at Butte company appeared first on Montana Environmental Information Center - MEIC.

Categories: G2. Local Greens

NW Energy Coalition - Wed, 04/03/2024 - 10:51

On December 14, 2023, a historic agreement was announced by the White House, four Columbia Basin Tribal Nations (Nez Perce, Yakama, Warm Springs, and Umatilla Tribes) and the states of Oregon and Washington,to protect endangered salmon and steelhead on the Columbia River Basin and honor Tribal treaty rights.

An important component of the agreement centers on federal support to advance Tribal energy development and comprehensive planning and analysis of our regional energy needs. This effort lays the groundwork to prepare the region to make changes to the hydropower system, including on the lower Snake River, to meet its salmon recovery, climate, and clean energy goals. This federal support and strategic planning will help set a path for the region to modernize its energy services, recover salmon and steelhead, all while improving reliability and maintaining affordability for customers.

The Coalition, along with our allies at Earthjustice and Idaho Conservation League, have developed a couple of factsheets to provide more context on the agreement and the services of the lower Snake River dams during extreme weather conditions like the January 2024 cold snap.

Energy, Reliability, and Salmon – February 2024 DownloadLower Snake River cold snap factsheet – March 2024 Download

The post Agreement sets a path to recover salmon and develop new Tribally led clean energy first appeared on NW Energy Coalition.

Categories: G2. Local Greens

Montana Environmental Information Center - Wed, 04/03/2024 - 10:43

By Amanda Eggert, Montana Free Press ExxonMobil’s Snowy River project, the state’s first geologic carbon sequestration proposal, draws local scrutiny. Ridge resident Dan Dinstel remembers his introduction to the Snowy River project, a proposal to inject 150 million tons of carbon dioxide thousands of feet below southeastern Montana’s sagebrush steppe. Read the full story.

The post Climate fix or pollution pipeline? appeared first on Montana Environmental Information Center - MEIC.

Categories: G2. Local Greens

Institute for Local Self-Reliance - Wed, 04/03/2024 - 08:50

Alliance of Nurses for Healthy Environments - Wed, 04/03/2024 - 08:00

An Analysis of Heat-Related Illness Content on TikTok

Categories: A2. Green Unionism

DRILL OR DROP? - Wed, 04/03/2024 - 07:54

UK onshore gas production rose 6% in January 2024, with the second consecutive monthly increase at the leading field, Saltfleetby.

The newest onshore oil producer, Wressle, saw production increase 39% over the month but total UK onshore oil fell slightly with with a small drop at the biggest field, Wytch Farm.

Key figures

Daily oil production: 11,950 barrels of oil per day (bopd) (December 2023: 11,986 bopd)

Oil volume: 58,893m3 (December 2023: 59,071m3)

Oil weight:48,666 tonnes (December 2023: 48,821 tonnes)

Daily gas production: 11.80 million standard cubic feet per day (mmscf/d) (December 2023: 11.08mmscf/d)

Gas volume: 10,354 thousand cubic meters (ksm3) (December 2023: 9,724ksm3)

Gas weight: 8,276 tonnes (December 2023: 7,738 tonnes)

Onshore gas’s contribution to UK total production: 0.91% (December 2023: 0.99%)

Onshore oil’s contribution to UK total production: 1.94% (December 2023: 1.86%)

Volume of flared gas at UK onshore oilfields: 1,142m3 (December 2023: 1,146m3)

Volume of vented gas at UK onshore oilfields: 63km3 (December 2023: 6ksm3)

Number of onshore fields which recorded some oil production in January 2024: 30

Number of onshore sites which recorded some gas production in January 2024: 14

Number of onshore fields which recorded no oil production in January 2024: 13

Number of onshore sites which recorded no gas production in January 2024: 11

This article uses data compiled and published by the North Sea Transition Authority (NSTA) from reports by oil companies. This is published about three months in arrears. All the charts are based on the NSTA data.

Some data retrospectively changed in previous releases from NSTA. We havereported where this has happened.

DetailsDaily productionVolume and weightContribution to total UK oil and gas productionFlaring and ventingTop producing fieldsOil top 20

Ranking risers: Horndean, Bletchingley, Corringham, Storrington, Whisby

Ranking fallers: Wareham, Palmers Wood, Horse Hill, Kimmeridge

Data updates released in April 2024 changed the rankings at the bottom of the table for December 2023

Producing gas fields

Ranking risers: Bilsthorpe, Stillingfleet, Warsop Main, Prince of Wales, Cadeby, Hatfield Moors

Ranking fallers: Maltby, Albury, Bevercotes, Markham Main, Newmarket

Non-producersOil

The data shows there was no production at 13 UK onshore oil fields in January 2024. This was the same number and fields as December 2023.

The non-producing fields were:

• Angus Energy: Brockham, Lidsey
• Britnrg Limited: Newton-on-Trent
• Europa Oil & Gas: Crosby Warren
• Heyco(formerly Egdon Resources): Dukes Wood, Fiskerton Airfield, Kirklington, Waddock Cross
• Star Enery (formerly IGas): Avington, Egmanton, Nettleham, Scampton, South Leverton

Gas

There was no production reported at 11 UK onshore producing gas fields in January 2024. This was the same number as in December 2023. Production was not recorded in January 2024 at Doe Green and Florence mine vent but did resume at Hatfield Moors and Warsop.

The non-producers were:

• Cuadrilla: Elswick
• Heyco: Kirkleatham
• EP UK Investments: Humbly Grove Gas Storage
• Ineos: Airth, Doe Green
• Infinis Energy: coal mine vents at Askern, Florence, Kings Mill Hospital, Mansfield, Sherwood
• Scottish Power UK plc: Hatfield Moor Gas Storage Injection

OperatorsOilGas

DrillOrDrop has closed the comments section on this and future articles. We are doing this because of the risk of liability for copyright infringement in comments.We still want to hear about your reaction to DrillOrDrop articles. You can contact us byclicking here.

2022-2023 onshore oil data archive

December2023

November 2023

October 2023

September 2023

August 2023

July 2023

June 2023

May 2023

April 2023

March 2023

February 2023

January 2023

2022 annual production

November 2022

October 2022

September 2022

August 2022– see note about revised data

July 2022– see note about revised data

June 2022

May 2022

April 2022

March 2022

February 2022

January 2022

Categories: G2. Local Greens

Global Justice Ecology Project - Wed, 04/03/2024 - 07:46

Chilean flag flies in a burned industrial pine plantation in the Manquo community in Chile following the devastating 2017 wildfires. Photo: Langelle The March 22, 2024 article, written by Nicolás Salazar, can be read in its entirety on the Resumen website. Please note that the article originally appeared in Spanish and can be translated into […]

The post Resumen (Chile): Neighbors of Celulosa Nueva Aldea in Quillón denounce bad practices by Forestal Arauco and effects from forest fires appeared first on Global Justice Ecology Project.

Categories: B4. Radical Ecology

Global Alliance for Incinerator Alternatives (GAIA) - Wed, 04/03/2024 - 07:43

By Chaima Ktaifi

Ramadan is the fasting month. Fasting from eating and drinking encourages spiritual reflection and increases devotion and self-discipline. It is also the best time to stop bad habits, including food waste.

Unfortunately, with increased food consumption this month, it’s easy to fall into the trap of creating more waste than necessary. In Tunisia, about 900.000 pieces of bread are wasted and thrown away daily, which is the equivalent of 100.000 USD; moreover, according to the National Institute of Consumption, one-third of the cooked food is wasted and thrown away, the equivalent of 200.000 USD. On the other hand, more than 500.000 Tunisians are suffering from malnutrition diseases or are not able to buy food.

In addition to this economic and social impact on individuals and the country in general, food waste accounts for 8% of global greenhouse gas emissions. It leads to water wastage as well as, other natural resources used in food production.

Therefore, it’s important for us to be conscious of how much food we waste, especially in this month of gratitude and self-reflection.

Zero Waste Tunisia (ZWT) has been engaged since 2018 in raising awareness against food waste and loss, which is basically a behavioral challenge. Through our digital and media campaigns, we present the shocking statistics of food waste in Tunisia, awareness illustrations, and zero waste tips and solutions to reduce food waste based on our culinary heritage, transforming food waste into new recipes, cosmetics, or hygienic products.

Our campaign has been successful for the past few years. Many Tunisian media outlets have been soliciting our expertise to spread the zero waste culture in our daily lives, especially to fight against food waste and loss. This big problem has been hidden for a long time, and through our digital campaign, we have highlighted and encouraged many communities and zero waste enthusiasts to talk about it freely, critique it, and propose possible solutions.

Ramadan is a time for spiritual reflection and growth. But it’s also a time to consider our impact on our communities and contribute to environmental sustainability. By making conscious choices about food consumption, we can reduce our environmental footprint and make a positive impact in this critical time when we are struggling with hunger, food insecurity, and climate change nationally and globally.

The page dedicated to zero waste food digital campaigns: https://www.facebook.com/antigaspillagetunisie

An Interview with BBC Arabia about food waste in Ramadan: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nA189PP1Zqs

Ends.

The post Zero Waste Ramadan first appeared on GAIA.

Categories: E2. Front Line Community Green

Institute for Local Self-Reliance - Wed, 04/03/2024 - 07:26

Global Alliance for Incinerator Alternatives (GAIA) - Wed, 04/03/2024 - 07:18

In the wake of the Nigerian plastic tsunami, a coalition of CSOs, including the Centre for Earth Works (CFEW) in Nigeria, have continued to amplify their voices to address this growing menace of plastic pollution, undermining sustainable growth, development, and ecological conservation. The plastic treaty has proven to be a strong framework for combating plastic pollution, CFEW in collaboration with members of the GAIA Nigeria team, including the Green Knowledge Foundation (GKF), Community Development and Advocacy Foundation (CODAF), and Environmental Right Action (ERA) through the Plastic Treaty policy project has been at the frontline of intense engagement with the Nigerian government at Federal, State and Local level to promote the ambitious positions of the BFFP movement and GAIA Network including the efforts to ban all single-use plastics and establish mechanisms for plastic withdrawal by industries, business centres and in households.

Nigeria is a major producer of plastics in Africa. Nigeria’s plastic industry is driven by the country’s petrochemical industry and large growing population. The country has a population of over 200 million people, and this number is expected to continue to grow in the coming years. The growing population is creating a huge demand for plastic products, such as packaging, bottles, and construction materials. Plastic production is set to increase along with the importation of virgin plastic pallets.

The past six decades witnessed the introduction of different nascent plastic materials, which were highly appreciated globally due to their water-resistance nature, durability, and affordability. These qualities of plastics support the convenient packaging of most household items and other industrial products that support human consumption, thus, promoting the production of large quantities of plastics, including single-use plastics. However, since plastics are made of non-biodegradable substances, they pose serious threats to the world’s ecosystem with grave health effects on both human and marine lives. A local study of children and adolescents living and going to school near major dumpsites across African urban centres reported respiratory, gastrointestinal, and dermatological illnesses. However, to date, there is no international data on the health impacts of burning plastic waste.

Following several activities from CSOs, especially the GAIA Nigeria Team with CFEW spearheading the Plastic Treaty policy advocacy in the country. We have had press media briefings, social media engagement, and publications, including the Nigeria Plastic Tsunami launched in September 2023. Subsequent Pre and Post INC engagements with Federal and State government bodies, including The Federal and state Ministry of Environment, The Nigeria Customs Service, The National Environmental Standards and Regulations Enforcement Agency (NESREA), Lagos State Waste Management Authority (LAWMA), and community leaders across the country at regular intervals to debrief the ongoing plastic treaty process and how the country can be better positioned for the implementation of the result. This advocacy has been carried on to the following states, such as Plateau, Delta, and Edo, where the Nigerian Plastic Treaty Project is being implemented.

The Plastic Policy advocacy has yielded some positive outcomes in recent times, starting with a fresh commitment from the Ministries of Environment to ensure inputs from the GAIA Movement position as they look to revise the Environmental management policies, especially the one on Plastic pollution, followed by the ban on single-use plastics within their premises, which serves as a pace-setting.

The government of Lagos state, which is the most populous and industrious state in the country, has recently announced a ban on the usage and distribution of styrofoam and other single-use plastics in the State, with Abia State following, and more states are expected to make their announcement in the coming days. Other major outcomes include individuals in various communities’ commitment to embrace a Plastic-free lifestyle.

Ends.

The post The Nigerian plastics tsunami recession: New plastic policy ban in Nigeria first appeared on GAIA.

Categories: E2. Front Line Community Green

The Revelator - Wed, 04/03/2024 - 07:00

Coastal ecosystems — including oyster reefs, sandy beaches, mangrove forests and seagrass beds — provide important habitat for marine life and food and recreation for people. They also protect shorelines from waves and storms. But these precious systems face serious threats. This series looks at what put them at risk, along with examples of efforts to restore and protect important coastal ecosystems around the world.

At the Water Street Market oyster bar in Corpus Christi, Texas, the popular morsels arrive in typical fashion, nestled in open shells spiraled atop an ice-filled tray around containers of red sauce and horseradish.

What happens afterward isn’t typical: The shells go back into nearby bays to help restore oyster reefs.

Since the 1800s populations of the eastern oyster (Crassostrea virginica) have declined dramatically along the U.S. Atlantic and Gulf coasts due to overharvesting, pollution and disease. Other species and populations have suffered similar drops. Worldwide, scientists estimate at least 85% of oyster reefs have disappeared.

The loss doesn’t affect just diners. Oysters are ecosystem engineers that create extensive reefs that protect shorelines from storm surges and erosion and provide important habitat for fish, crabs and other marine species.

Oysters also maintain water quality, with each one capable of filtering nearly 16 gallons (60 liters) of water a day.

Fewer oysters mean coastal communities see fewer of these benefits. Declining numbers also make it harder for oysters to naturally replenish reefs without some help.

Save the Shells

Oysters spawn by releasing sperm and eggs into the water. The resulting larvae swim freely for about three weeks and then permanently attach to a surface, when they become known as spat. Within a few years, spat grow into mature oysters, complete with their own shell. While larvae will settle on anything hard, they prefer the shells of other oysters.

These days finding them has become a challenge.

Up until the 1980s in Texas, tons of oyster shells were dredged from reefs and used as material to create roads (albeit somewhat rough ones) all along the coast. And while the state’s commercial oyster harvest has declined drastically, and has seen partial closures in recent years, the Gulf region (which includes three other states) still produces 45% of the nation’s catch — about 12.5 million pounds of meat, according to NOAA. That’s a lot of oyster shells that came out of the water, most of which end up in landfills.

To change that, the Harte Research Institute for Gulf of Mexico Studies at Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi started the Sink Your Shucks program in 2009. So far it has put 3 million pounds of shells back into the ocean where oyster larvae can find them. The efforts have helped restore more than 45 acres of reefs in nearby Copano, Aransas and St. Charles Bays.

Restaurants separate shells into special rolling bins that staff from Sink Your Shucks collect on a regular basis. The shells are then piled up at the Port of Corpus Christi to sanitize in the sun for about six months before they are taken to a restoration site. They may be placed on a rock base to keep them from sinking into the mud or just poured into the water, depending on the condition of the sea bottom.

Some are put in mesh bags, which keeps the shells from spreading out and being covered in sediment and gives vertical structure to the reef. Scientists with HRI’s Coastal Conservation and Restoration Lab tested different bag materials, including plastic and biodegradable jute, cotton, and cellulose.

A line of volunteers carry bags of oyster shells into the water. Courtesy Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi

The study showed the oysters and other marine life are perfectly happy with the biodegradable material, and the project is using cotton.

“There are issues with cost and sourcing,” says project manager Natasha Breaux. “Plastic is cheap. But the rationale was that it would be better to use something biodegradable and not introduce plastics into the ocean.”

Restaurants sign up, says program coordinator Mike Osier, because keeping shells out of the landfill saves them money and they can highlight their commitment to sustainability.

Both facts motivated Water Street owner Brad Lomax, who helped establish the program. He recalls complaining to a customer, who happened to be a scientist from HRI, about high dumpster charges caused by oyster shells.

“He said oyster shells in a landfill are a resource out of place,” Lomax says. “That really resonated with me. When you dredge an oyster reef, you essentially destroy it for a significant period of time. We can’t do that anymore.”

Osier strives to make participating as easy as possible and promotes restaurants on the program website and social media. He provides an annual statement of the total pounds donated and the current market rate for shell for businesses to use in claiming a tax benefit.

Once the shells are placed, the Coastal Conservation and Restoration lab monitors restoration sites.

“It’s like a reef snapshot,” says researcher Danielle Downey. “We count and measure oysters in the field. We put shells out in sample trays and later collect the animals growing there and bring them back to the lab to look at abundance and diversity. We get a lot of toadfish, shrimp and crabs — lots of crabs.”

Larvae Wanted

Texas still has enough natural reefs to produce the baby oysters needed to populate restoration projects, but the oyster population in the Chesapeake Bay sits at about 1% of historical levels due to centuries of overharvesting — about 1.5 billion oysters a year by the end of the 19th century — along with pollution and habitat destruction. Protected areas established in 2010 cover about 24% of all oysters in Maryland, but with such a low wild population, protection alone is not enough.

“The reefs won’t come back on their own — it takes active restoration to jumpstart the population,” says Matt Ogburn, head of the fisheries conservation lab at the Smithsonian Environmental Research Center.

In the Chesapeake that jumpstart includes an approach called spat on shell: growing larvae in a hatchery, letting them settle on shells, then placing those on a reef. The process is complicated by the fact that these mollusks switch sexes, often multiple times during their lives, but it works. In 2021, for example, the Chesapeake Bay Foundation deployed more than 21 million spat on shell to reefs throughout the Bay. As part of the Chesapeake Oyster Alliance, some 100 nonprofits, community organizations, and oyster growers, CBF is contributing toward an overall goal of 10 billion.

A 10-year old restoration reef in Harris Creek, a tributary of the Choptank River directly across Chesapeake Bay. Courtesy Smithsonian Environmental Research Center.

CBF has been restoring oyster reefs in the Bay since 1996. In 2022 it partnered with SERC, moving its spat-on-shell operation to the center’s campus in Edgewater, Maryland. One of SERC’s roles is to conduct extensive monitoring at sites before and at regular intervals after restoration. The team collects data aimed at creating a complete picture of what happens in the first few years, says Ogburn.

“We use high-frequency sonar to see how tall and complex reefs are, the abundance and size of fish and crabs around the reef, and how that differs as the reefs grow and mature,” he says. “Because sonar cannot identify specific species, we extract DNA from water samples, sequence it, and compare results to a reference library for the Chesapeake Bay. We also take underwater video every year and use a scoring system to rank the size and height of reefs. Combining all these methods provides an unprecedented picture of how a restored reef develops.”

The lab currently monitors three restoration sites and unrestored control sites that have similar conditions. The early news has been good, Ogburn says, with oysters surviving and increasing in abundance.

“We’ll keep collecting data for two more years, then review those results and provide information on how restoration is working or whether we need to modify our efforts going forward,” he says, adding that so far, the reefs in the best condition have both protection and active restoration.

Bringing back the Bay’s oysters is a big task that takes a lot of hands. In addition to SERC’s research and monitoring, CBF helped design the sites and monitors settlement of larvae, including any natural recruitment of baby oysters. Arundel Rivers Federation’s Riverkeeper monitors the water quality around restored reefs. CBF and Northrop Grumman are monitoring the soundscape around reefs and how it changes over time.

CBF receives shells from The Oyster Recovery Partnership’s Shell Recycling Alliance, which collects them at restaurants in central Maryland, Washington DC, and northern Virginia and from dozens of public drop sites. CBF also runs its own program, Save Oyster Shells, that collects at restaurants, drop sites, and events in Maryland and Virginia. In fact, shell collection projects exist all along the Gulf and East coasts.

Collection efforts eventually could extend beyond coastal areas, says Osier, if obstacles such as shell storage and transportation can be overcome. When shells are not available, though, artificial substrate such as concrete and rock seems to work just fine.

These projects are proving that combining protection, substrate, and lab-grown spat where needed can create a recipe for successful oyster reef recovery. And it’s a recipe that seems to work fairly quickly, says HRI’s Breaux.

“Typically, restored reefs start to act like natural reefs in a short amount of time, within months.”

On Saturday May 4 and Saturday May 11, volunteers can join Sink Your Shucks at Goose Island State Park near Rockport, Texas, to bag oyster shells. Register for these and future events here.

Previously in The Revelator:

Divert or Die: Louisiana’s Controversial Plan to Save Coastal Communities and Ecosystems

The post Coastal Restoration: Recycled Shells and Millions of Larvae — A Recipe for Renewed Oyster Reefs appeared first on The Revelator.

Categories: H. Green News

Global Alliance for Incinerator Alternatives (GAIA) - Wed, 04/03/2024 - 07:00

In January 2024, Nipe fa*gio (NF) celebrated Zero Waste (ZW) Month in Zanzibar Island, focusing on two key programs aimed at raising awareness and promoting sustainable waste management practices. With a focus on students and households, NF conducted impactful activities that shed light on the detrimental effects of plastic on human health and the environment, while also providing practical training on household composting. The outcomes of ZW Month in Zanzibar have paved the way for a more conscious and environmentally responsible community.

Storytelling of Plastic Effects to Students

On January 24, 2024, NF organized a storytelling session at Dr. Salim Amour Secondary School and Chumbuni Primary School, reaching out to over 1000 students, teachers, and local government representatives. The session highlighted the negative impacts of plastic on human health and the environment. Students were made aware of the harmful consequences of daily plastic usage, such as packaging hot food in plastic materials and indiscriminate disposal. By instilling a sense of responsibility and knowledge, NF aimed to inspire students to adopt a zero-waste lifestyle, reducing plastic consumption and practicing waste segregation.

Master Households Composting in Zanzibar

Recognizing the issue of organic waste disposal in Zanzibar, NF conducted a master training session on household composting on January 25, 2024. Many households in the region dispose of organic waste in open spaces or rivers, unaware of its potential for reuse. The training, attended by more than 60 participants from the Chumbuni local government and households, focused on equipping attendees with various composting techniques. The newly established Material Recovery Facility (MRF) served as the Zero Waste Model Implementation center, providing a practical setting for hands-on training. By promoting household composting, NF aimed to divert organic waste from improper disposal and create a valuable resource for improving soil conditions in farms and gardens.

The ZW Month activities in Zanzibar have yielded significant outcomes, contributing to a more sustainable and waste-conscious community:

Increased Desire for Zero Waste Living: The storytelling sessions and awareness campaigns have inspired students to adopt a zero-waste lifestyle. By reducing plastic consumption, practicing waste segregation, and choosing reuse, students are actively contributing to a cleaner and healthier environment.

Organic Waste Diversion through Composting: The master training on household composting has equipped households with the knowledge and techniques to divert organic waste from improper disposal. By composting at home, households can significantly reduce the amount of organic waste that ends up in open spaces or rivers.

Behavior Change and Best Practices: ZW Month activities have fostered behavior change among the community, encouraging the adoption of best practices in solid waste management. Concepts such as reuse, reduce, refuse, refurbish, and repurpose have become ingrained in the daily lives of Zanzibar residents, leading to a significant reduction in waste generation.

Opportunity Creation through Waste Diversion: The master training has not only raised awareness but also created opportunities for the community. By utilizing compost in their farms, residents can improve soil conditions and enhance agricultural productivity, leading to a more sustainable and self-sufficient future.

Nipe fa*gio’s ZW Month in Zanzibar has been a resounding success, engaging students and households in the pursuit of a zero-waste lifestyle. Through impactful storytelling sessions and practical training on household composting, NF has empowered the community to take responsibility for their waste and make conscious choices. The outcomes of ZW Month in Zanzibar serve as a testament to the power of education, awareness, and community engagement in creating a cleaner and more sustainable future.

Ends.

The post Zero Waste Zanzibar first appeared on GAIA.

Categories: E2. Front Line Community Green

Green European Journal - Wed, 04/03/2024 - 06:48

A Polònia, la coalició de partit* que va derrocar l’extrema dreta compleix les seves promeses de reforma, però deixar de banda un president poc solidari està deixant el nou govern obert a acusacions d’acció antidemocràtica.

A l’octubre de 2023, els ciutadans polonesos van fer fora del poder al partit nacional conservador Llei i Justícia, obrint el camí cap a un canvi polític. El nou govern presidit per Donald Tusk -una coalició de diversos partit* que van del centredreta al centreesquerra- va prendre possessió al desembre. La Comissió Europea no va trigar a desbloquejar els diners per a Polònia que havia retingut a causa del mecanisme de l’Estat de Dret. Això va ocórrer fins i tot abans que el nou govern pogués fer passos substancials per a complir realment les condicions. Com va explicar en la televisió Leszek Miller, ex primer ministre i actual eurodiputat, “jo mateix ho he sentit en els passadissos [de Brussel·les]: senyors, la fita més important per a nosaltres ha estat el canvi de govern”. Més enllà de l’eurobombolla, en molts països se senten veus que afirmen que Polònia és la prova que es pot derrotar als populistes i evitar una deriva aparentment inevitable cap a l’extrema dreta en tot el continent. Grans esperances suscita aquest nou govern no sols a nivell nacional, sinó també en el si de la Unió Europea.

En termes de polítiques, el nou govern presenta una mescla de ruptura i continuació. L’acord de coalició és breu i vague, ric en promeses generals, però cautelós amb els detalls. Hi ha bones raons per a això. L’actual coalició va poder imposar-se en les eleccions precisament perquè no era una coalició electoral sota un lideratge únic. Els futurs socis de govern s’havien presentat en tres paperetes diferents: la Coalició Cívica (centredreta), la Tercera Via (centrista-agrària) i Nova Esquerra. Encara que tots coincideixen en la necessitat de restaurar l’Estat de Dret, en altres àmbits polítics solen tenir programes diferents, quan no contradictoris.

La dinàmica de la lluita política ve dictada pel calendari electoral. Les eleccions parlamentàries d’octubre de 2023 van constituir, per dir-ho així, el partit inaugural, al qual seguirien les eleccions locals d’abril, les europees de juny i -el gran partit final- les presidencials del primer semestre de 2025. Amb el president Andrzej Dubte, associat a Llei i Justícia, encara en el càrrec i exercint el poder de veto sobre la nova legislació, el marge de maniobra del govern és limitat, i tot el temps entre la tardor de 2023 i la primavera de 2025 es percep com un temps de transició entre el període antiliberal i una democràcia plenament restaurada. Mentre que la nova coalició espera obtenir ple poder executiu i poder passar la pàgina del període antiliberal, el partit Llei i Justícia també pot esperar contraatacar i fer girar l’onada al seu favor.

Primeres batalles

La política de l’Estat de dret serveix així a un doble propòsit: restaurar un ordre liberal i preparar l’escenari per a les eleccions esdevenidores. Alguns passos són obvis i fàcils. Substituir als consellers delegats de les empreses públiques i als directors de les institucions culturals és un pas fàcil, com ho és la creació d’algunes comissions parlamentàries de recerca encarregades d’esclarir, i ajustar comptes, amb alguns dels escàndols més colpidors en els quals es van veure implicats funcionaris del govern anterior. Entre elles, probablement la més important és la comissió encarregada d’investigar els abusos de la vigilància estatal amb Pegasus, el programa espia israelià utilitzat per l’anterior govern contra molts polítics de l’oposició (i també contra alguns de les seves pròpies files). Però altres tasques, com el restabliment de la confiança en els mitjans de comunicació públics o els esforços per tornar a reformar el poder judicial, plantegen un autèntic enigma. El president i l’ombra del seu veto no són l’únic obstacle en els esforços per sortir de l’antiliberalisme.

Molts dels riscos i dilemes associats a la restauració de l’ordre liberal s’han posat de manifest durant la batalla per “recuperar els mitjans de comunicació públics”. Al desembre, el ministre de Cultura va canviar els consells d’administració de la televisió estatal, la ràdio i l’Agència Polonesa de Premsa. Amb l’ajuda de la policia, la nova junta va prendre el relleu i, després d’una brevíssima pausa, va procedir a emetre. Per a fer retrocedir als mitjans de comunicació, el ministre va fer cas omís tant d’una ordre de protecció dictada dies abans pel Tribunal Constitucional, com de la llei vigent sobre mitjans de comunicació públics. La decisió es va basar en una resolució del Parlament (no legislativa i, per tant, no subjecta a veto presidencial) i en una pretensió de buit legislatiu en la matèria. L’oposició va denunciar l’acte com “un cop contra la democràcia”, mentre molts partidaris del govern gaudien del seu moment de dolça venjança. Una de les reaccions més notables va ser la de la Fundació de Drets Humans d’Hèlsinki, ONG compromesa amb els drets humans i l’Estat de Dret, i una de les més feroces opositores a l’anterior govern antiliberal. La Fundació va criticar enèrgicament l’actuació del ministre i va preguntar si es basava en algun assessorament jurídic previ, presentant una sol·licitud d’informació pública. Malgrat que el ministeri ha afirmat que existeix tal document, fins a la data el govern no l’ha presentat.

Si tot això podria haver-se fet d’una altra manera, de forma més lenta, però amb plena legalitat processal, és ara una qüestió acadèmica. Els mitjans de comunicació públics van ser una de les àrees en les quals els abusos del govern anterior van ser més tangibles i les expectatives d’un arranjament ràpid van ser elevades. L’interessant és que comença a ser un patró. Un mètode similar -crear un simulacre de buit legislatiu per a saltar-se les prerrogatives del president- va ser l’elegit pel ministre de Justícia per a sanejar la fiscalia. Queda per veure si això s’aplicarà també al poder judicial. Serà encara més difícil a causa del desacord entre les files dels propis advocats liberals. La Fundació de Drets Humans d’Hèlsinki i l’Associació de Jutges Polonesos Iustitia van proposar dues visions molt diferents sobre com restaurar la independència del poder judicial. Sigui com sigui la versió que triï el Govern, una part de la societat civil liberal s’emportarà una decepció.

L’aposta de Münchhausen

En tots aquests esforços hi ha una paradoxa: per a restaurar un ordre liberal, el govern necessita passar per alt les prerrogatives constitucionals del president i ignorar un creixent nombre de sentències del Tribunal Constitucional. Això es presenta com justificat, perquè el Govern considera que el Tribunal Constitucional existent és inconstitucional, per la qual cosa no pot emetre cap sentència vinculant. I hi ha bones raons per a això: en primer lloc, alguns membres del tribunal no haurien de formar part d’ell, i la presidenta del tribunal s’aferra al seu càrrec malgrat que el seu mandat legal ha expirat fa temps. Però això té un cost. Per a restablir l’Estat de Dret, el Govern ha de declarar un buit constitucional i introduir de fet un estat d’excepció legal limitat. Tot això s’assembla cada vegada més al tràngol del famós baró Münchhausen, que va afirmar haver sortit d’un pantà tirant-se dels pèls.

Hi ha una paradoxa: per a restaurar un ordre liberal, el govern necessita passar per alt les prerrogatives constitucionals del president i ignorar un creixent nombre de sentències del Tribunal Constitucional.

No és dolent sortir d’un pantà, tret que el que es faci sigui just el contrari. Cal ignorar la Constitució, perquè havia estat ignorada, així que cal ignorar-la una vegada més, només aquesta vegada, per a tornar al bon camí. Però, es pot ignorar la Constitució “només aquesta vegada” i esperar construir un marc sostenible que posteriorment sigui respectat per totes les parts? El supòsit necessari és que l’oposició acabi acceptant les regles del joc o que se li impedeixi per sempre tornar al poder. En cas contrari, l’actual aparença de buit constitucional podria, en lloc d’una excepció, convertir-se en un punt de referència.

Circulen molts arguments per a explicar per què Llei i Justícia no tornaran mai. Tenint en compte les tendències polítiques i els moviments tectònics a Europa i fora d’ella, la majoria d’aquests arguments són clarament delirants. En particular, el model de la transició postcomunista dels anys noranta és enganyós. Dos aspectes de la situació eren diferents: la democràcia era la tendència global, per la qual cosa el context internacional va estabilitzar la transició i, fet que és més important, la pròpia transició es va negociar entre els líders de tots dos costats de la divisió, que posteriorment van acceptar les noves regles. Avui, la tendència mundial és cap a l’antiliberalisme, no allunyar-se d’ell. I el nou govern sembla incapaç i poc disposat a convèncer als líders de l’oposició i als seus votants que un ordre constitucional liberal és millor per a ells.

Per a això, el govern hauria d’oferir una direcció per al país i contrarestar la visió de comunitat construïda per la Llei i Justícia amb una altra més atractiva. I això serà una lluita costa amunt.

Una coalició de minories de bloqueig

El govern va guanyar les eleccions gràcies a una divisió ben dissenyada dels missatges dirigits a diferents parts de l’electorat. Però precisament el que va fer possible guanyar fa també més difícil governar. L’agenda del govern pot entendre’s com una reacció al llegat del govern anterior: ja sigui una inversió o una continuació d’aquest. I, a part de la curta llista de temes en els quals existeix consens dins de l’actual coalició, el curs d’acció depèn de qui pugui bloquejar a qui.

La continuïtat és més visible en les àrees de política exterior associades a qüestions de seguretat. Suport militar i diplomàtic a Ucraïna, conflicte persistent amb Ucraïna en relació amb les exportacions agrícoles, contractes de defensa amb Corea del Sud… en aquests àmbits existeix un ampli consens entre les parts. També continuen les polítiques repressives contra els refugiats a la frontera amb Bielorússia, i el viceministre responsable de migració afirma que ara són “empentes ètiques”, mentre que les ONG humanitàries amb coneixement de primera mà de la situació discrepen.

El govern va guanyar les eleccions gràcies a una divisió ben dissenyada dels missatges dirigits a diferents parts de l’electorat. Però precisament el que va fer possible guanyar fa també més difícil governar.

Una altra àrea de continuació és la despesa social. El Govern està disposat a continuar els programes socials generals dels seus predecessors, i fins i tot a pujar l’aposta, amb augments salarials a professors i policies i exempcions fiscals promeses (si bé encara no aplicades) a especialistes en informàtica, al sector de la bellesa i a empresaris. Encara que alguns dels socis de la coalició no estiguin contents amb això, en general s’entén que la despesa social és una bona inversió perquè Llei i Justícia no tornin al poder.

En altres àmbits polítics, el curs d’acció ve determinat pel bloqueig de les minories internes. L’esquerra està bloquejant el retrocés d’alguns drets laborals. En 2018, Llei i Justícia va fer realitat una vella reivindicació d’alguns sindicats i va introduir una reforma que limitava seriosament el comerç els diumenges. La reforma va ser rebuda amb entusiasme pels empleats del sector i la població en general s’ha habituat a ella, amb la pluralitat de ciutadans secundant ara l’statu quo. Encara que tant la Plataforma Cívica com la Tercera Via van prometre tornar a permetre que els centres comercials obrissin els diumenges, això no podrà fer-se sense el suport de l’esquerra i de l’actual ministre de Família, Treball i Assumptes Socials, que sembla conformar-se amb les restriccions actuals.

És probable que la Plataforma Cívica bloquegi alguns dels megaprojectes iniciats pel govern anterior. Llei i Justícia va iniciar el procés de construcció d’una central nuclear i d’un Pol Central de Comunicacions que constaria d’un enorme aeroport i de diverses línies ferroviàries d’alta velocitat que el connectarien amb la resta del país. Ara, el més probable és que s’abandoni l’aeroport, encara que l’esquerra intenti defensar el projecte com a símbol de modernització i inversió pública.

La Tercera Via bloqueja els avanços en els drets de les dones. La Tercera Via vol tornar al statu quo anterior, és a dir, desfer els canvis introduïts amb la prohibició del Tribunal Constitucional de l’avortament per malformació del fetus, quedant pendent de referèndum qualsevol canvi més profund. Tant la Plataforma Cívica com l’Esquerra es mostren escèptiques a l’hora de sotmetre a referèndum els drets de les dones i ambdues van prometre l’accés a l’avortament legal a petició de la dona dins de les 12 primeres setmanes d’embaràs. No obstant això, sense els diputats de la Tercera Via no hi haurà majoria per a aprovar una llei.

Aquesta capacitat per a bloquejar algunes de les polítiques no va acompanyada d’una capacitat per a determinar la direcció. La Tercera Via no és capaç d’imposar retallades en la despesa social. L’esquerra probablement és incapaç de defensar el Pacte Verd Europeu, que és abordat amb un escepticisme creixent tant per la Plataforma Cívica com per la Tercera Via a causa de la seva suposada incompatibilitat amb una despesa ambiciosa en defensa (per no esmentar les protestes dels agricultors com a factor).

A l’octubre, els ciutadans polonesos van fer fora del poder al partit nacional conservador Llei i Justícia, obrint el camí a un canvi polític. El factor més important va ser la mobilització sense precedents dels votants joves i les dones. Va ser la primera vegada en la història recent en què la participació femenina va ser superior a la masculina. Els valdrà la pena votar la pròxima vegada? El major repte per al Govern és no deixar-se defraudar. Per a això, haurà de guanyar no sols la batalla amb els populistes, sinó, cosa que és més important, la batalla amb ell mateix.

Aquest article ha estat traduït de l’anglès per Sandra Cruz.

Aquest article va ser publicat per primera vegada en català per la Revista Nous Horitzons. Es torna a publicar aquí amb permís.

Categories: H. Green News

Clayoquot Action - Wed, 04/03/2024 - 06:30

Salmon Secrets: Clayoquot Action presents aJérémy MATHIEUfilm

Fish farming is pushing wild salmon to the brink of extinction. The federal government has promised to remove fish farms from BC waters by 2025, but now the industry is pushing back with false solutions.

Join Clayoquot Action’s fish farm watchdog program as a team of underwater cinematographers investigates an “experimental” fish farm near Tofino. What they find surprises them, and spells potential disaster for wild salmon.

This film looks at the impacts of salmon farming through the eyes of those fighting to protect wild salmon from extinction. Featuring First Nations membersSkookum John (Keltsmaht First Nation)andJoe Martin (Tla-o-qui-aht First Nation), andtraditional Chief Ernest Alfred (Na̱mg̱is First Nation), as well as scientistAlexandra Morton.

* Official Selection of the Vancouver International Mountain Film Festival 2024.

Upcoming Screenings:

• April 25, 2024 in Port McNeill TICKETS & INFO HERE
• April 26, 2024 on Quadra Island TICKETS & INFO HERE

The post Salmon Secrets Screening Events appeared first on Clayoquot Action.

Categories: G2. Local Greens

Global Alliance for Incinerator Alternatives (GAIA) - Wed, 04/03/2024 - 06:06

Member Opinion By Gilbert Kuepouo, CREPD

Cameroon, a country with a population of around 23 million and a diverse climate, is known for its rich biodiversity and strong economy. However, waste management continues to be a significant challenge, despite the existence of policies on paper. It’s really disheartening to witness the sight of plastic bottles, plastic bags, and old rubber tyres being thoughtlessly discarded on vacant land, coastlines, rivers, bays, and streams, with the potential to be carried to other bodies of water, like the ocean. Several factors, including economic growth and shifting consumption and production patterns, have led to a significant rise in the production and use of plastics in Cameroon. As a result, plastic waste has become a prominent and expanding component of municipal solid waste. Pollution is a pressing issue that demands our attention.

Since November 2023, CREPD (Centre de Recherche et d’Education pour le Développement) has been actively involved in a range of initiatives to tackle the issue of plastic pollution in Cameroon. The goal is to raise awareness and highlight the significance of this problem by engaging with local communities, businesses, government authorities, and relevant ministries. Our efforts include conducting brand audits and organizing clean-up activities, sharing information, creating outreach materials, and launching a social media campaign to foster better communication, coordination, and commitment among all relevant national stakeholders in tackling plastic waste and its proper management.

The project partners include the Ministry of Environment, Protection of Nature, and Sustainable Development (MINEPDED) of Cameroon and UNITAR. The Basel Convention Small Grant Programme on Plastic Waste and GAIA (Plastic Solutions Fund) are funding the project.

Some of our project outcomes include:

• The PWWG (Plastic Waste Working Group) has been established in Cameroon to effectively manage and address the issue of plastic waste. This group will play a crucial role in informing and implementing policies related to plastic waste management, both at the national and international levels. The PWWG has clear terms of reference that will guide its actions and ensure effective outcomes.

• Facilitating community engagement meetings and sharing important information about the health effects of plastic waste (such as the presence of harmful chemicals that can lead to infertility, cancer, and harm to the fishing industry).

• Organizing the clean up of the river Wouri waterways and shores, as well as establishing a swap-shop for discarded plastic fishing nets. Approximately 4 tonnes of fishing nets have been gathered and carefully stored, awaiting transportation for environmentally responsible recycling.

• We conducted a thorough investigation into the plastic waste issue, specifically focusing on the major polluters. The results revealed 64 significant contributors to the problem, with Nestlé, Source du Pays SA, SABC Group, CHOCOCAM, and HOKA Industries being the top five offenders. Surprisingly, these companies alone accounted for a staggering 36 percent of the total single-use plastic waste.

Plastic waste is becoming a rapidly increasing problem in Cameroon and around the world. Plastics, including plastic waste, can contain harmful substances that are released into the environment during use and disposal. These substances have been linked to issues such as infertility and cancer, which are often overlooked when discussing plastic pollution.

When it comes to tackling plastic pollution, it’s important to consider solutions that focus on eco-design for reuse and recycling. By following the waste hierarchy, which prioritizes preventing and minimizing waste generation, we can make a significant impact.

The government should ensure that regulatory measures, such as EPR in waste management, are effectively enforced. In 2021, there were a total of 63 enterprises engaged in the manufacturing of plastic products. In 2021, national plastic production reached a staggering 153,000 metric tonnes. However, it is disheartening to note that a significant amount of plastic products, totalling 88,000 metric tonnes, were illegally introduced in Cameroon during the same period. Every year, a staggering 6,000 metric tonnes of plastic waste are generated. Every year, an estimated 3000 tonnes of plastic are discharged into the ocean by the Wouri River. The amount of plastic that is released into the ocean each year by the Wouri River is quite substantial, and it has a significant impact on the pollution levels in the surrounding area.

In conclusion, efforts must be made to address the issue of illegal plastic waste disposal in Cameroon to prevent further environmental degradation and protect marine life. Additionally, implementing stricter regulations and increasing public awareness of proper waste management practices are crucial steps in reducing plastic pollution in the region.

Ends.

The post Reducing ocean plastic pollution in Africa: an awareness raising and clean up project in Cameroon first appeared on GAIA.

Categories: E2. Front Line Community Green

Yale Environment 360 - Wed, 04/03/2024 - 05:53

This month will see swarms of big, noisy, chirping cicadas begin to emerge in the U.S. as two large broods take flight at the same time.

Read more on E360 →

Categories: H. Green News