Restructuring the UK’s energy supply is cause for optimism
As the UK looks to reduce dependency on Russian gas, many hope that the UK will move towards a cleaner future. Boris Johnson has pledged that the new strategy will allow Britain to hit its climate targets, although many journalists have warned that the Prime Minister may encourage fracking, a process which has great pollution risks and causes tremors in the ground. Nevertheless, initiatives such as draught-proofing to increasing home insulation should be cause for optimism as Britain moves forward with the strategy.
Amazon losing its ability to bounce back, says new research
A tipping point for the Amazon rainforest is approaching, according to new research. Trees in the world’s largest rainforest have had to bounce back from large-scale deforestation, wildfires and droughts. If these trees begin to die en masse, as is being suggested, large areas would become flat savannah, which is much less effective at absorbing the CO2 than rainforest. These new findings are based on trends observed with satellite imagery, and these trends are alarming: signs of loss of resilience in over 3/4 of the rainforest. Taking longer to recover from such impacts results in a vicious circle, accentuating the loss of life of the forest.
US Supreme Court hears the most significant environmental case in decades
This week the US Supreme Court held a hearing on the Environmental Protection Agency’s authority to limit greenhouse gas emissions from power plants across the country under the monumental Clean Air Act. Following an appeal from 19, mainly coal-producing and Republican states, the EPA’s power was challenged in a ruling, which could undercut President Biden’s plans to cut the emissions of the USA in half by 2030. Interestingly, the EPA does not currently have plans in place to limit power plants’ emissions. Yet, despite this, the court still took on the appeal. This could not only derail the USA’s plans, but the global appeal to reduce emissions as the country accounts for 14% of the world’s emissions. Thus, the entire world’s attempts to impede climate change might be hampered.
