Public Policy
News releases, reports, statements and associated documents from public policy organizations whose goal it is to influence the debate Washington.
Featured Stories
VTT's Investment in a Plasma-FIB SEM Catapults Finland to Forefront of Nordic Materials Research
MATERIALS PARK, Ohio, April 26 (TNSres) -- ASM International posted the following news from VTT:
The first plasma-focused ion beam (FIB) scanning electron microscope (SEM) in Finland has just become operational at VTT in Espoo, Finland. This multi-million investment will significantly contribute to materials research for applications such as hydrogen economy, microelectronics, and the marine industry, as well as to material damage investigation.
A Tescan Amber X system, Finland's first FIB SEM using Xenon plasma, has been taken into use at VTT Technical Research Centre of Finland. In the Nordic
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MATERIALS PARK, Ohio, April 26 (TNSres) -- ASM International posted the following news from VTT:
The first plasma-focused ion beam (FIB) scanning electron microscope (SEM) in Finland has just become operational at VTT in Espoo, Finland. This multi-million investment will significantly contribute to materials research for applications such as hydrogen economy, microelectronics, and the marine industry, as well as to material damage investigation.
A Tescan Amber X system, Finland's first FIB SEM using Xenon plasma, has been taken into use at VTT Technical Research Centre of Finland. In the Nordiccountries, there are just a handful of similar systems that are rare worldwide.
The multi-million priced equipment includes all the bells and whistles that a materials researcher could dream of. Compared to traditional FIB-SEMs, it provides huge potential for excelling in materials research and multiplying the speed of materials development.
Supriya Nandy, VTT senior scientist, said: "The new capability for lightning-fast materials characterization in 3D supports, for example, integrated computational materials engineering (ICME) and materials acceleration platforms (MAPs).
"While new materials traditionally take ages to develop, this capability allows us to reduce the time from design to market roughly to one-tenth."
The new FIB-SEM is designed to perform site-specific investigations with nanometer accuracy for all types of materials, such as ceramics, metals, and even soft materials like wood and paper. The sample can be imaged and tested simultaneously, which is useful, for instance, for observing how the material reacts to a certain load.
"With the help of plasma-FIB and its in-situ testing capabilities, we can answer questions not only about the material's properties but also about how the material behaves under strain, extreme temperatures-or both at the same time. What else could a materials scientist dream of when developing state-of-the-art materials for current and future industry needs?" Nandy continues.
The TESCAN AMBER X at VTT provides several industries with opportunities for groundbreaking materials development.
Janne Pakarinen, VTT research team leader, said: "Marine and aviation industries could benefit from our equipment to ensure their materials will always endure in various conditions. Another example is the emerging hydrogen economy, which requires careful studies and analysis of surface materials. Also, the battery and semiconductor industries could be very interested."
In addition to the plasma-FIB, the new SEM comes with state-of-the-art detectors for energy dispersive spectroscopy (EDS) and electron back-scattering diffraction (EBSD) and in-situ tensile stage that can reach up to 1200 C.
The system has been fully operational since mid-March.
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Original text here: https://www.asminternational.org/vtts-investment-in-a-plasma-fib-sem-catapults-finland-to-forefront-of-nordic-materials-research/
[Category: Industrial Materials]
Sierra Club: HUD/USDA Building Code Update Will Give Lower Income Families Access to Clean, Healthy Homes
WASHINGTON, April 26 -- The Sierra Club issued the following news release on April 25, 2024:
Today, the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development and the U.S. Department of Agriculture released a final policy determination to update building energy codes for renters in low-income housing. The new codes will result in energy efficiency improvements of 37% and cut energy costs for residents by more than $950 per year. On top of reducing monthly costs, the new HUD/USDA building energy codes will lessen vulnerability to fuel price spikes, support the health, comfort, and safety of residents,
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WASHINGTON, April 26 -- The Sierra Club issued the following news release on April 25, 2024:
Today, the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development and the U.S. Department of Agriculture released a final policy determination to update building energy codes for renters in low-income housing. The new codes will result in energy efficiency improvements of 37% and cut energy costs for residents by more than $950 per year. On top of reducing monthly costs, the new HUD/USDA building energy codes will lessen vulnerability to fuel price spikes, support the health, comfort, and safety of residents,and achieve long-term reductions in carbon emissions.
The update will also ensure that a population often out of reach of home upgrades - renters and low-income residents - have access to new technology and safety improvements. While building codes are set at the state and local levels, the federal government is able to set minimum standards for new and renovated buildings that are federally supported through mortgages or grants.
This is the first meaningful update to building codes for federally-supported housing since the agencies were Congressionally-mandated to adopt and periodically update energy efficiency improvement standards by the Energy Independence and Security Act of 2007. Last summer, Sierra Club joined a wide coalition of organizations urging the agencies to finalize these updates by submitting more than 6,000 comments during the open public comment period.
In response, Sierra Club Building Electrification Campaign Director Amneh Minkara released the following statement:
"Too often renters and folks in low-income housing are left behind from programs that offer energy efficiency upgrades that lower utility bills and provide better housing stability. These updated building energy codes will help ensure better access to climate-friendly appliances and healthier, more affordable homes regardless of a family's income. These new energy efficiency building codes were a long time coming and represent one piece of a bigger puzzle to make housing more affordable. The Sierra Club and our partners across the country are committed to working alongside federal and state agencies to assist low-income homeowners and renters access clean, safe, energy efficient housing. Today's announcement by the Biden administration will help us achieve this necessary goal."
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About the Sierra Club
The Sierra Club is America's largest and most influential grassroots environmental organization, with millions of members and supporters. In addition to protecting every person's right to get outdoors and access the healing power of nature, the Sierra Club works to promote clean energy, safeguard the health of our communities, protect wildlife, and preserve our remaining wild places through grassroots activism, public education, lobbying, and legal action. For more information, visit http://www.sierraclub.org.
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Original text here: https://www.sierraclub.org/press-releases/2024/04/hud-usda-building-code-update-will-give-lower-income-families-access-clean
[Category: Environment]
National Wildlife Federation: Updated Mercury, Air Toxics Standards Will Protect People, Wildlife
WASHINGTON, April 26 (TNSres) -- The National Wildlife Federation issued the following news release:
Newly strengthened mercury and air toxics standards that reduce dangerous pollutants such as mercury, soot, and arsenic will ensure cleaner air and water and protect people and wildlife alike. The new rule, announced by the Environmental Protection Agency, would reduce the emissions of toxic metals by 67 percent from coal-fired plants and 70 percent from lignite-fired plants, which contain more toxins.
"We have long known the deeply harmful effects of mercury and other toxins, particularly to
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WASHINGTON, April 26 (TNSres) -- The National Wildlife Federation issued the following news release:
Newly strengthened mercury and air toxics standards that reduce dangerous pollutants such as mercury, soot, and arsenic will ensure cleaner air and water and protect people and wildlife alike. The new rule, announced by the Environmental Protection Agency, would reduce the emissions of toxic metals by 67 percent from coal-fired plants and 70 percent from lignite-fired plants, which contain more toxins.
"We have long known the deeply harmful effects of mercury and other toxins, particularly tochildren, seniors, and other vulnerable communities," said Dr. Adrienne Hollis, a toxicologist and vice president for environmental justice, public health, and community resilience and revitalization for the National Wildlife Federation. "The impact of these strengthened standards will be felt in lives saved, particularly for fenceline communities who have long been on the frontlines of damage from these dangerous chemicals. We thank President Biden and the EPA for this important step that will protect people and wildlife."
"Previous standards have resulted in many power plants installing necessary pollution controls that reduced mercury emissions by nearly 90 percent by 2011 -- resulting in less toxic mercury in our fish and wildlife, and our food chain. These are successful and popular standards," said Shannon Heyck-Williams, associate vice president of climate and energy for the Federation. "We applaud the Biden Administration's efforts to further restore and update these vital mercury standards."
Mercury and other pollutants are released from coal-powered plants (https://www.epa.gov/mercury/how-people-are-exposed-mercury) and accumulate in our air and water and can cause neurological and reproductive damage in both people and wildlife. Research has shown (https://www.nwf.org/Magazines/National-Wildlife/2013/DecJan/Conservation/Mercury-and-Wildlife#:~:text=Mercury%2C%20which%20can%20adversely%20alter,birds%2C%20including%20loons%20and%20eagles.) that mercury accumulation in fish and wildlife has long-reaching implications across ecosystems, impacting people and species that are not located near coal plants.
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Original text here: https://www.nwf.org/Home/Latest-News/Press-Releases/2024/4-25-2024-Mercury-Standard
[Category: Environment]
National Geographic Society: New Study - 21 Global Water Scarcity Hotspots Identified, Classified Into 7 Hotspot 'Clusters' With Shared Water Challenges
WASHINGTON, April 26 (TNSres) -- The National Geographic Society issued the following news release on April 25, 2024:
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New research from Utrecht University, supported by the National Geographic Society's World Water Map and Freshwater Initiative, found common drivers of water scarcity can help inform common solutions
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A new study released today identifies 21 global water scarcity "hotspots," where there is a significant "water gap" between human demand for water and renewable available supply. The team of Utrecht University researchers analyzed each of the 21 hotspots to determine
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WASHINGTON, April 26 (TNSres) -- The National Geographic Society issued the following news release on April 25, 2024:
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New research from Utrecht University, supported by the National Geographic Society's World Water Map and Freshwater Initiative, found common drivers of water scarcity can help inform common solutions
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A new study released today identifies 21 global water scarcity "hotspots," where there is a significant "water gap" between human demand for water and renewable available supply. The team of Utrecht University researchers analyzed each of the 21 hotspots to determinewhat's driving water scarcity at each location. Hydroclimatic change, population growth, and agricultural, domestic, and municipal water use are the biggest pressures affecting both the quality and quantity of available water, researchers found. The study in Environmental Research Letters also classifies the 21 hotspots into seven "clusters," based on common drivers of water scarcity.
About one third of the global population is affected by water scarcity for at least one month per year. In these areas, the overuse of freshwater resources can lead to a "water gap" and threat of depletion, making them global water scarcity hotspots, said the study, which is supported by the National Geographic Society's World Water Map and Freshwater Initiative.
Researchers identified the 21 hotspots through a combined approach of hydrological modeling and a literature review of 300 case studies. Hotspots were classified as water provinces where the water gap exceeds 0.015 meters per year. Additionally, to identify and characterize hotspot clusters by similarities and differences, the team applied a Drivers, Pressures, States, Impacts and Responses (DPSIR) framework to the literature.
"We started with two questions: where does water scarcity occur, and why is it happening? While we found water scarcity has similar drivers in some hotspots, the impacts on people, ecosystems, and economies - as well as societal and policy responses - could vary widely place to place," said Myrthe Leijnse, the lead author of the study and a researcher at Utrecht University. "We hope this study demonstrates to policymakers that if there are common contributors to water scarcity, there could be common solutions to addressing it."
The seven "hotspot" clusters are:
1. Water treatment and desalination: Arabian Peninsula. Unlike other hotspots, this region faces a unique combination: low natural water availability (highlighted in 89% of case studies) and high per capita water consumption (42%), leading to groundwater depletion and reliance on unconventional water sources (desalination and water treatment). Economic growth from oil and natural gas discovery has also fueled urbanization and population growth, further intensifying water demand.
2. Hydroclimatic change: Central Chile, Spain, Murray-Darling (Australia), Japan. These hotspots have faced consecutive droughts and a decline of total annual rainfall. At the same time, these hotspots have effective acts and agreements that support sustainable use of water resources (including water treatment, water rights, and increased storage capacity). Unlike most other hotspots, population growth is not a major driver of water scarcity in these locations.
3. Agricultural water use: North China Plain, Central Valley California, US High Plains, White Nile Sudan, Nile Delta, Italy, Greece, and Turkey. This is the largest cluster by number of hotspots, containing eight of the 21. Their single commonality is high agricultural water use (mentioned in 29-100% of case studies).
4. Population growth: Indus and Ganges River Basins: The Indus and Ganges River Basins have experienced rapid population growth over the last decade (reported in 40-67% of case studies), impacting society and the ecosystem. Water scarcity has led to reduced food production (24-33%), conflict and migration (28-33%), and health concerns (17-56%). The lack of water regulation has also resulted in unregulated private wells and subsequent groundwater depletion (52-61%).
5. Surface and groundwater depletion: Coastal Peru and Iran. Peru and Iran are the only hotspots where both surface and groundwater depletion are reported in over 60% of case studies. Both hotspots report contamination and salinization of water resources. Conflict and rural-urban migration (45-50%) are also prevalent due to water scarcity and inequality of water supply.
6. Land subsidence: Mexico, Java (Indonesia), and Vietnam. All show above average values of industrial (30-71%), municipal (40-75%) and agricultural (70-100%) water use. While these values are also reported in other clusters, Mexico, Java and Vietnam have one common impact that is unique compared to other hotspots: land subsistence (10-27%), the gradual settling or sudden sinking of the Earth's surface. This is likely due to groundwater overexploitation.
7. Virtual water trade: Thailand. In Thailand, virtual water trade (43%) is a significant factor driving water scarcity. Thailand is one of the world's biggest rice exporters, shipping about one third of its rice production. However, case studies had limited information on policy responses to address water scarcity in Thailand.
"Water scarcity doesn't always look like a lake or river drying up in an arid climate, but can also manifest itself in wetter climates as temporarily low streamflow or falling groundwater levels. It has many diverse, complex drivers, whether that's producing water-intensive crops or goods for global trade, rapid population growth, or inefficient use of water in our towns and cities," said Marc Bierkens, National Geographic Explorer and professor of hydrology at Utrecht University.
Niko Wanders, project lead and associate professor of hydrological extremes at Utrecht University, adds, "by zooming in on these hotspots, we can understand the development of water scarcity in a regional context. We hope these insights can help us find better targeted solutions to alleviate water scarcity. Also, by comparing drivers and solutions between hotspots, we hope to equip policymakers with insights to help close the water gap."
The Society's World Freshwater Initiative supports grantees in science, conservation, education, and storytelling, who are illuminating water scarcity issues - as well as sustainable solutions - in these hotspot areas and beyond.
"The identification of these 21 water scarcity hotspots is a critical addition to our understanding of global water and how people, wildlife, and nature use it. A complement to the World Water Map, the hotspots help tell the story of our irreplaceable freshwater resource and are part of our ongoing commitment to illuminate and protect the wonder of our world," said Alex Tait, The Geographer at the National Geographic Society. "This study embodies the power of the geographic approach: observe the world around us, gather and analyze data, and generate powerful insights about how people interact with water."
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ABOUT THE WORLD FRESHWATER INITIATIVE
The National Geographic Society's World Freshwater Initiative (WFI) has two key components: the World Water Map; and grants that support storytellers, scientists, and educators who are working to analyze, document, and alert audiences to emerging water scarcity issues--and sustainable solutions. The World Water Map, created by the Society in partnership with Utrecht University and Esri, is a unique geovisualization tool that contains multiple layers to illustrate global freshwater supply and demand; identify water gap hotspots where demand is critically exceeding supply; and analyze the biggest drivers of water demand by sector. WFI grantees' work is incorporated into the Map to combine data with stories, promote water literacy, and inspire sustainable practices.
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ABOUT NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC SOCIETY
The National Geographic Society is a global nonprofit organization that uses the power of science, exploration, education and storytelling to illuminate and protect the wonder of our world. Since 1888, National Geographic has pushed the boundaries of exploration, investing in bold people and transformative ideas, providing more than 15,000 grants for work across all seven continents, reaching 3 million students each year through education offerings, and engaging audiences around the globe through signature experiences, stories and content.
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JOURNAL: Environmental Research Letters
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Original text here: https://news.nationalgeographic.org/new-study-21-global-water-scarcity-hotspots-identified-classified-into-7-hotspot-clusters-with-shared-water-challenges/
[Category: Science]
Food & Water Watch: Iowa Fertilizer Spill Threatens Mississippi River
WASHINGTON, April 26 (TNSres) -- The Food and Water Watch issued the following statement on April 25, 2024:
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Latest spill comes amidst mounting calls for state and federal action on Iowa's agricultural water pollution crisis, linked to high cancer rates
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On Wednesday, Iowa DNR reported that they were investigating a truck spill in the City of Burlington which released up to 700 gallons of ammonium phosphate on Monday, contaminating Hawkeye Creek, a tributary of the Mississippi River.
The latest spill comes amidst mounting calls for state and federal action on Iowa's agricultural
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WASHINGTON, April 26 (TNSres) -- The Food and Water Watch issued the following statement on April 25, 2024:
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Latest spill comes amidst mounting calls for state and federal action on Iowa's agricultural water pollution crisis, linked to high cancer rates
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On Wednesday, Iowa DNR reported that they were investigating a truck spill in the City of Burlington which released up to 700 gallons of ammonium phosphate on Monday, contaminating Hawkeye Creek, a tributary of the Mississippi River.
The latest spill comes amidst mounting calls for state and federal action on Iowa's agriculturalpollution crisis, linked to the state's second-in-the-nation cancer rates (https://www.thenewlede.org/2024/03/new-report-sparks-questions-and-controversy-over-possible-causes-for-iowa-cancer-crisis/). Last week, 13 groups petitioned the EPA to take emergency action to protect hundreds of thousands of Iowans living in Northeast Iowa from unsafe drinking water, contaminated by agricultural pollution. Groups are also rallying behind the Clean Water for Iowa Act as a state legislative solution to unchecked factory farm water pollution.
Food & Water Watch Iowa Organizer Michaelyn Mankel issued the following statement:
"Iowan's right to safe, clean water is under attack -- industrial agriculture is to blame. Barely a month goes by without news of another fertilizer or factory farm manure spill, killing fish, threatening drinking water, and turning waterways into stinking cesspools. Iowa's water is not Big Ag's dumping ground. Iowans are rising up, building a statewide movement behind the Clean Water for Iowa Act to safeguard our water from Big Ag's pollution."
Monday's spill is not an isolated incident. Earlier this month, Iowa DNR issued a $6,700 fine for a factory farm waste spill near Donnellson that polluted several miles of a creek, while a fertilizer spill last month near Red Oak dumped 265,000 gallons of nitrogen fertilizer into the East Nishnabotna River, killing every fish for 60 miles and threatening drinking water supplies.
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Original text here: https://www.foodandwaterwatch.org/2024/04/25/iowa-fertilizer-spill-threatens-mississippi-river/
[Category: Science]
Carbon Capture Coalition Statement on EPA's Final Rule to Regulate Greenhouse Gas Emissions From Power Plants
WASHINGTON, April 26 -- The Carbon Capture Coalition issued the following statement on April 25, 2024:
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The following statement on the publication of the Final Rule to regulate greenhouse gas emissions from power plants may be attributed to Jessie Stolark, Executive Director of the Carbon Capture Coalition:
"The Coalition appreciates the administration's publication of final rules to regulate greenhouse gas emissions from existing coal-fired and new natural gas power plants. While the final rule differs from the earlier proposed rule, we are pleased to see that the EPA continues to recognize
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WASHINGTON, April 26 -- The Carbon Capture Coalition issued the following statement on April 25, 2024:
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The following statement on the publication of the Final Rule to regulate greenhouse gas emissions from power plants may be attributed to Jessie Stolark, Executive Director of the Carbon Capture Coalition:
"The Coalition appreciates the administration's publication of final rules to regulate greenhouse gas emissions from existing coal-fired and new natural gas power plants. While the final rule differs from the earlier proposed rule, we are pleased to see that the EPA continues to recognizecarbon capture technologies as a key climate mitigation tool to reduce carbon dioxide emissions (CO2) and co-pollutants from coal and natural gas electric generating units.
"The Carbon Capture Coalition includes companies, labor unions, and non-profits working together on a consensus basis; given our broad, diverse, bipartisan membership, we did not have a consensus position on the proposed rule. That said, we fully agree that the full suite of carbon management technologies is necessary to cost-effectively meet both US and global greenhouse gas emissions reduction targets while reducing the total amount of air pollutants released from power facilities. Last year, we submitted comments to the EPA on this rule, reiterating our support for deploying carbon management technologies in the power sector. We also reiterated important considerations necessary to enable the economywide deployment of carbon management technologies.
"We look forward to reviewing the rule with our members and providing additional comments to EPA as warranted. We will also work with the administration as they work to draft regulations that adequately consider the importance of deploying carbon management technologies in the existing natural gas power fleet.
"While there is no silver bullet to address the impacts of our changing climate, carbon management technologies, which include carbon capture, removal, transport, reuse, and geologic storage, are an essential tool for decarbonizing our highest emitting sectors and helping the US achieve net zero emissions by mid-century. In the US power sector, the deployment of carbon management will play an essential role in addressing emissions from existing power plants, where fossil fuel generation currently provides more than 50 percent of total power. Looking forward, the carbon capture deployed in the power sector will provide flexible, low-emissions energy resources in regions with growing shares of renewable energy sources."
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Convened by the Great Plains Institute, the Carbon Capture Coalition is a nonpartisan collaboration of more than 100 companies, unions, and conservation, and environmental policy organizations, building federal policy support to enable economywide, commercial-scale deployment of carbon management technologies. This includes carbon capture, removal, transport, utilization, and storage from industrial facilities, power plants, and ambient air.
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Original text here: https://carboncapturecoalition.org/carbon-capture-coalition-statement-on-epas-final-rule-to-regulate-greenhouse-gas-emissions-from-power-plants/
[Category: Environment]
Americares Names New Tanzania Country Director
STAMFORD, Connecticut, April 26 -- Americares, a health-focused relief and development organization, issued the following news release:
Americares, the health-focused relief and development organization, has welcomed Josaphat Mshighati as country director of Americares Tanzania.
In his new role, Mshighati is responsible for leading all aspects of Americares Tanzania's operations and health programming, including its respectful care program, which aims to promote high-quality and respectful care for reproductive, maternal and newborn health services at health centers in Tanzania. He is also tasked
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STAMFORD, Connecticut, April 26 -- Americares, a health-focused relief and development organization, issued the following news release:
Americares, the health-focused relief and development organization, has welcomed Josaphat Mshighati as country director of Americares Tanzania.
In his new role, Mshighati is responsible for leading all aspects of Americares Tanzania's operations and health programming, including its respectful care program, which aims to promote high-quality and respectful care for reproductive, maternal and newborn health services at health centers in Tanzania. He is also taskedwith overseeing Americares Tanzania's ongoing deliveries of medicines and medical supplies and directing initiatives that strengthen health systems and expand access to care for people affected by poverty or disaster in the Kigoma and Mwanza regions.
"We are excited to have Josaphat join our team," said Americares President and CEO Christine Squires. "He brings a wealth of experience to the role and we're confident that with his leadership, we will continue to deepen our impact in Tanzania to save lives and improve health."
Mshighati brings to the organization more than 16 years of experience managing projects and directing programs across the aid and development sectors. Prior to joining Americares Tanzania, he served as the regional technical advisor for Pathfinder International's East and Southern Africa climate resilience program. In his role, he spearheaded the development of partnerships with climate change organizations, networks and coalitions. He also designed and implemented programs that strengthened women and girls' resilience to climate change. During his tenure with Pathfinder International, Mshighati also served as the program director of advocacy and population, health and environment. Prior to that, he served as the head of programs and policy at ActionAid, an international nonprofit organization working to eradicate poverty and achieve social justice and gender equality.
"I am very excited to be joining Americares and look forward to leading the incredibly talented team that is saving lives and improving health for people affected by poverty or disaster across Tanzania," said Mshighati.
Americares began delivering medical aid to Tanzania in 1994 and then established a country office in Mwanza in 2010. Americares provides ongoing support for 15 hospitals and clinics throughout the country, delivering medicine, medical supplies, infrastructure improvement and training.
Americares helps communities to prepare for, respond to, and recover from disasters; increase accessibility, availability, affordability and acceptability of medicine and medical supplies; improve and expand health services; and prevent disease and promote good health. Since it was established more than 40 years ago, Americares has provided $22 billion in aid to 164 countries, including the United States.
Mshighati earned a master's degree in development management from Ruhr University in Germany and a bachelor's degree in political science, education and teaching from the University of Dar es Salaam in Tanzania.
He lives in Mwanza with his wife and three daughters.
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Original text here: https://www.americares.org/news/2024-0425-americares-names-new-tanzania-country-director/
[Category: Health Care]
