@nowthisearth

The Schumer-Manchin deal known as the Inflation Reduction Act of 2022 will be the most significant climate legislation in the history of the U.S. if passed. The act sets aside $369 billion to fund climate and clean energy initiatives that would help the U.S. reach its climate goals, which include cutting emissions in half by 2030 compared to 2005 levels. Here’s a breakdown of some of the main climate provisions in the bill and the effect they’ll have on the U.S. and its citizens: This post was made with support from Climate Power. #Climate #climatechange #climateaction #Biden #Manchin #climatelegislation

Amazon’s CO2 equivalent emissions ballooned by 18% in 2021 compared to 2020. The online retail giant emitted more than 71 million tons of CO2. If you compare that number to 2019, when the company made its emissions public and then-CEO Jeff Bezos made a ‘Climate Pledge’ to reduce CO2 emissions, the company’s CO2 emissions have grown by an astounding 40%. Amazon says that while overall emissions have gone up due to pandemic-related online shopping sprees, the company says its ‘carbon intensity’ has actually gone down by 1.9%. This means the company produces 1.9% fewer emissions per dollar of merchandise sold. The problem with this is that as a company grows, so does its effect on the environment, regardless of carbon intensity. In its sustainability report, Amazon says, ‘As we work to decarbonize our company, Amazon is growing rapidly. We have scaled our business at an unprecedented pace to help meet the needs of our customers through the pandemic.’ But should the rest of the world be made to suffer because of Amazon’s growth? #amazon #climate #co2emissions #carbon #climatecrisis

Hawaii received its last shipment of coal for the AES Hawaii power plant in Campbell Industrial Park on July 27. This is the state's only coal-fired power plant and the largest single source of electricity for the island of Oahu. The power plant will shut down all operations by September 1 as Hawaii moves to 100% renewable energy. Its replacement power projects are behind schedule due to supply chain issues and other delays. According to Sandra Larsen, Hawaii’s market business leader for AES Corporation, residents will likely have to pay more for electricity during the transition. Larsen said, ‘We still have a few curves in the road to negotiate because the short-term challenge here is that as we close this coal plant in September, we don't have as many renewable projects coming online immediately. And so the reality is that residents here on Oʻahu are going to see higher costs in the short term.’ AES Corporation plans to move away from coal entirely by 2025 and will begin construction on a new solar-plus storage facility on the island of Maui. #news #hawaii #coal #renewableenergy #climate

A new study from the University of Canterbury has discovered microplastics in freshly fallen snow in Antarctica. This is the first time the tiny plastics have been found in fresh snowfall. Previously, plastics have been found in the Antarctic sea ice and surface water. Researchers took 19 samples of snow from the Ross Ice Shelf, the largest ice shelf in Antarctica, and found microplastics in every sample. The study, published in the scientific journal The Cryosphere, found an average of 29 microplastic particles per liter of melted snow. Of the 13 different types of plastic found, the most common was PET, which is often used to make soft drink bottles and clothing. This raises concerns on how microplastics affect the ecosystem, ice melt, and human health. Atmospheric modeling shows that the microplastics mentioned in the study might have traveled thousands of kilometers through the air—but it is likely the presence of humans in Antarctica that has contributed to the microplastic footprint. #environment #microplastics #plastics #antarctica