Dennis Bours

How government shutdowns give polluters a free pass Though the current political showdown is nearing an end, new research shows that government shutdowns leave polluting legacies.

Govt shutdowns = free pass for polluters. With EPA enforcement staff furloughed, emissions spike & oversight vanishes. Past shutdowns show a clear pattern: less monitoring, more pollution. Communities bear the cost. #ClimatePolitics #EPA #Pollution
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At #COP30, WMO stresses that science not only warns us about climate change—it empowers adaptation. Earth observations are vital, but data gaps threaten progress. Open science & global cooperation are key. 📡🌐 #ClimateAction #EarthInformationDay
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The Push To Get Invasive Crabs On The Menu - NOEMA For chefs and fishermen in Maine, green crabs’ proliferation along the coast brings both a challenge and an opportunity.

Maine chefs & fishers are turning invasive green crabs into culinary gold. With warming waters boosting their numbers, creative cooking could help control the species & support local ecosystems. #Invasivorism #ClimateCrisis #SustainableSeafood
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From Rio to Belém: The long unravelling of climate consensus - 360 Three decades after the optimism of the 1992 Earth Summit, the climate regime faces a tough test. The retreat of multilateralism and the rules-based international order has left COP30 struggling to hold together the fading promise of global action.   The 30th Conference of the Parties to the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), […]

From Rio to Belém, COP30 reflects 30 years of fading climate consensus. Multilateralism retreats, major powers pull back, and Brazil’s leadership faces tough tests. A divided world struggles to unite on climate action. #COP30 #ClimateCrisis #GlobalSouth
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Demand for air con set to triple by 2050, warns UN, calling for more sustainable cooling solutions

u.afp.com/SnNM

Critical Minerals? There’s a Plant for That But what phytomining could do is produce some metal while also remediating degraded land, sequestering carbon, and serving as the fuel for energy production or the raw material for biochar fertilizer, syngas, and other chemical creations.

Phytomining uses metal-loving plants like alpine pennycress to extract critical minerals like nickel & cobalt—offering a greener alternative to destructive mining. A niche but promising path for sustainable tech. 🌍🔋 #Phytomining #GreenTech #CriticalMinerals
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Trump officials set to approve ‘forever chemical’ as pesticide ingredient Critics say that fifth Pfas Trump’s EPA has proposed for approval this year would put food and water supply at risk

Trump’s EPA is set to approve a 5th PFAS pesticide, despite health risks like cancer & birth defects. Critics warn it threatens food & water safety. “Forever chemicals” don’t break down—raising alarm. 🌽💧 #PFAS #PublicHealth #EPA #Environment
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Are we all living in Florida now? The rise of 'don't say climate' politics. Talking about climate change may be politically radioactive, but adjusting to its effects is no longer optional.

“Don’t say climate” politics rise as the US retreats from climate leadership. Adaptation is happening—quietly—but experts warn it’s no substitute for cutting emissions. Florida may be the blueprint? 🌡️🌴 #ClimateCrisis #Adaptation #COP30
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Economist Nicholas Stern says climate action isn’t just urgent—it’s the best path to long-term growth. Clean tech is booming, costs are falling, and investing in nature & resilience boosts prosperity. #ClimateAction #GreenGrowth #CleanTech
🔗 observer.co.uk/news/...

Slaughterhouses Harbor Antibiotic-Resistant Bacteria That Give People Urinary Tract Infections A growing body of evidence links antibiotic overuse in meat production to infections in humans.

Lovely... New studies link beef slaughterhouses to drug-resistant E. coli causing UTIs in humans. 25% of workers tested positive, raising concerns over antibiotic use in meat production. 🧫🥩 #AntibioticResistance #FoodSafety #PublicHealth
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Good COP, Bad COP ... COP30 kicks off in Brazil amid controversy: missed climate targets, deforestation for infrastructure, and fossil fuel expansion threaten credibility. Can global leaders course-correct or is this another collision? #COP30 #ClimateCrisis #Amazon
🔗 www.resilience.org/s...

Deep-sea mining discharge can disrupt midwater food webs Nature Communications - Deep-sea mining in the Clarion-Clipperton Zone may release waste into midwaters that support diverse marine life. This study finds such discharges could dilute key food...

Deep-sea mining plumes may be starving ocean life by replacing nutritious food with sediment “junk food” in the twilight zone, threatening marine ecosystems. New UH study reveals urgent risks. #OceanHealth #DeepSeaMining #MarineLife
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Aligning Africa’s climate ambition with development realities In many African countries, implementation of NDC targets has been constrained by financial, technological, and institutional capacity limitations.

Africa’s climate goals must align with development needs. A new CATF study reveals gaps between climate plans (NDCs) and national development strategies (NDPs), risking progress on both fronts. #ClimateFinance #EnergyAccess #COP30 🔗

Reimagining slums for effective policy interventions - 360 Categorising slums by classifying them as household types allows for targeted and lasting poverty alleviation measures.   India’s urban transformation has been accompanied by an enduring puzzle: how many people in its cities actually live in slums? The official answer, offered by Census 2011, was about 65 million. Yet, researchers and international agencies such as […]

India’s slum data may be flawed—official counts miss smaller, deprived settlements. A new method classifies slums by housing quality, not legal status, for smarter, targeted policy. #UrbanDevelopment #PovertyAlleviation #India
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Microbial iron oxide respiration coupled to sulfide oxidation Nature - Genomic and biochemical analyses of prokaryotic sulfur metabolism identify diverse microorganisms with the capacity to oxidize sulfide using iron(iii).

Scientists at the University of Vienna discovered MISO bacteria that “breathe” iron to detoxify sulfide—reshaping our understanding of global sulfur & iron cycles and offering hope against ocean dead zones. #Microbiology #ClimateScience #DeadZones
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ESG News Recap: Europe to Overhaul ESG Rules The EC is working on a major rewrite of its Sustainable Finance Disclosure Regulation (SFDR) in an effort to simplify ESG fund classifications.

SFDR 2.0 draft hints at a major ESG overhaul: goodbye Article 8 & 9 labels, hello new mandatory categories. Asset managers may need to rethink disclosures to avoid greenwashing. 🌱📉 #ESG #SFDR #SustainableFinance
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UN warns of millions displaced by climate change as COP30 opens in Brazil | Climate Crisis News | Al Jazeera Weather-related disasters have forced a quarter of a billion people to flee in the last decade, says UNHCR.

As COP30 kicks off in Brazil, the UN warns climate disasters have displaced 250M people in a decade. Refugees face worsening conditions, while funding cuts threaten aid. Urgent action is needed. #ClimateCrisis #COP30 #ClimateJustice 🔗

Do UN climate talks have a point any more? The US president is notably absent from these UN climate talks, as are other world leaders, all of which prompts questions about the purpose of COP today.

With Trump, Xi & Modi skipping COP30, global climate leadership is fractured. As fossil fuel vs clean tech rivalry grows, experts ask: is COP still relevant or just symbolic? 🇺🇳⚡ #COP30 #ClimateCrisis #CleanEnergy #GlobalPolitics
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Air Pollution From Industrial Facilities Is Far Worse Than Estimated The Trump administration has put a stop to EPA rules that would have required more than 130 industrial facilities to install air monitors to measure pollution. Millions of people living near these plants face an increased risk of cancer.

For decades, major polluters used unreliable methods to estimate emissions—often underreporting toxic air levels. Monitors showed far worse pollution. Trump-era policies halted stricter rules for 130+ plants. 🏭💨 #AirPollution #EPA #EnvironmentalJustice
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The Climate Solution Sitting in America’s Trash Cutting food waste is a huge potential climate win. Why are we ignoring it?

♻️ America’s trash could be a climate solution! From food waste to landfills, better waste management can cut emissions and boost sustainability. It’s time to rethink rubbish. 🌍🗑️ #ClimateAction #WasteNot #Sustainability
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🌳 Brazil’s Amazon deforestation dropped 11%—lowest in nearly a decade—even as wildfires hit record highs due to drought. Stronger enforcement shows progress, but contradictions remain. #AmazonRainforest #Deforestation #ClimateAction #COP30

Why cancer is hitting the Midwest harder than anywhere else in America Cancer rates are rising alarmingly in America's Corn Belt states, including Iowa, Nebraska and Illinois, outpacing national averages since the mid-2010s.

📈 Cancer rates are rising in America’s Corn Belt, while declining elsewhere. Experts link the surge to environmental factors like pesticide exposure and farming practices. 🚜⚠️ #PublicHealth #CancerRates #CornBelt #EnvironmentalHealth
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The nature extinction crisis is mirrored by one in our own bodies. Both have huge implications for health Modern life is waging a war against ecosystems around us and inside us. Keeping our own microbes healthy is another reason to demand action to preserve the natural world

The extinction crisis isn’t just harming nature—it’s affecting our bodies too. Scientists warn of huge health risks as biodiversity declines, linking ecosystem collapse to rising disease and mental health issues. 🧠🌿 #NatureCrisis #Health #Biodiversity
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Hope for Shipping Emissions Regulations Despite U.S. Opposition The U.S. scuttled a treaty designed to reduce CO2 emissions from large ships, but industry leaders still favor establishing regulations.

Despite U.S. and Saudi opposition, there's growing hope for stronger global shipping emissions regulations. The push for climate accountability at sea continues to gain momentum. 🌍⚓ #ShippingEmissions #ClimateAction #IMO #Sustainability
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The internet’s dirty secret: streaming is killing the planet  Our daily digital habits have tangible environmental impacts.

Streaming is killing the planet. "The information and communication technology sector, which makes the internet run, now accounts for an estimated 3.7 percent of GHG emissions; the global network of data centers consumes energy comparable to the entire airline industry.

Earth has hit its first climate tipping point, scientists warn Global scientists warn that humanity is on the verge of crossing irreversible climate thresholds, with coral reefs already at their tipping point and polar ice sheets possibly beyond recovery. The Global Tipping Points Report 2025 reveals how rising temperatures could trigger a cascade of system collapses, from the Amazon rainforest turning to savanna to the potential shutdown of the Atlantic Ocean circulation.

Earth has crossed its first climate tipping point—coral reefs are collapsing, polar ice may be irreversibly melting, and the Amazon & ocean currents are at risk. Scientists warn of cascading failures but see hope in tech & social shifts. #ClimateCrisis #TippingPoints
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How climate change affects hurricanes, typhoons and cyclones These powerful tropical storms are generally becoming more intense as the world warms.

Hurricanes aren’t more frequent, but they are getting stronger 🌪️🌊. Warmer oceans & air fuel higher winds, heavier rain & worse flooding. Climate change is intensifying the danger. #HurricaneMelissa #ClimateChange #ExtremeWeather
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The most conservative thing we can do about climate change? Adapt | The Invading Sea Protecting coastlines, hardening infrastructure and building resilient communities are investments in Florida’s future.

Miami’s conservative leaders are embracing climate adaptation 🌊🏗️—investing in infrastructure to combat sea level rise and king tides. A shift from denial to resilience. #ClimateAdaptation #Miami #SeaLevelRise #Resilience
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Six-million-year-old ice discovered in Antarctica offers unprecedented window into a warmer Earth A team of U.S. scientists has discovered the oldest directly dated ice and air on the planet in the Allan Hills region of East Antarctica.

Scientists have found 6-million-year-old ice in Antarctica 🧊—the oldest ever directly dated! It offers rare climate snapshots, revealing 12°C cooling over time. A major leap in understanding Earth’s ancient climate. 🌍🔬 #Antarctica #ClimateHistory #COLDEX
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Are sodium-ion batteries finally ready to compete with lithium? Proponents say sodium-ion batteries degrade more slowly, operate more efficiently and have lower fire risk. But high-profile failures cloud the U.S. market while China moves aggressively to develop the technology. 

Sodium-ion batteries are emerging as a viable alternative to lithium 🔋—they’re cheaper, safer, and use more abundant materials. With growing investment and tech advances, they could reshape energy storage. ⚡🌍 #BatteryTech #SodiumIon #CleanEnergy
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