mandatory

Carbon levies for shipping

November 27, 2024 By EarthWise Leave a Comment

The global shipping industry is responsible for 90 percent of world trade. The ships crossing the world’s oceans emit nearly 3% of the global greenhouse gas emissions caused by human activity that are contributing to climate change. Among the effects of climate change are sea level rise, which is threatening the very existence of small island nations.

One such nation is Tuvalu, which is a group of islands in the South Pacific. Tuvalu has a total landmass of just 10 square miles, and sea level there is rising 1.5 times faster than the global average. Predictions are that within 50 to 100 years, low-lying islands like those of Tuvalu could be fully submerged by the ocean.

Representatives from six Pacific Island states and a growing number of Caribbean nations known as the 6Pac+ Alliance are urgently calling upon the International Marine Organization to enact a mandatory universal levy of $150 per ton of shipping emissions from large commercial vessels.

Most marine vessels typically run on highly polluting heavy fuel oil. Burning really filthy fuel is the cheapest way to cross the oceans. There are alternatives including entirely carbon-free technologies, but they will be expensive to implement and utilize. The cost of shipping would undoubtedly go up and be especially felt by small island nations and in developing countries where most food is imported.

The idea behind putting a price on ships’ carbon emissions is to both provide a financial incentive for the shipping industry to reduce its emissions and provide revenue for countries that incur costs from dealing with rising seas.

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Web Links

Pacific and Caribbean Island Nations Call for the First Universal Carbon Levy on International Shipping Emissions

Photo, posted November 23, 2006, courtesy of Stefan Lins via Flickr.

Earth Wise is a production of WAMC Northeast Public Radio

California Flooding | Earth Wise

February 2, 2023 By EarthWise Leave a Comment

Starting in December, a series of “atmospheric rivers” brought record storms to California producing as much rain in three weeks in some areas as they normally have in an entire year. The historic levels of rain (and snow in the mountains) have swollen rivers, flooded roads and homes, forced evacuations, knocked out electric power for millions of people, and resulted in more than 20 deaths.

Atmospheric rivers are air currents that carry large amounts of water vapor through the sky. They are not unusual for California but recurrent waves of them like those that have happened recently are very infrequent. Studies by the U.S. Geological Survey have shown that such a phenomenon recurs in California every 250 years. There were a series of storms causing disastrous floods in California in 1861-62.

The atmospheric rivers are born in the warm waters of the tropical Pacific. During La Nina phases, the atmospheric rivers typically make landfall on the northern West Coast. During El Nino phases, atmospheric rivers are more likely to end up in Southern and Central California. During transitions between the phases, as is happening now, the storms can cover large parts of the state.

Modern forecasting is pretty good at predicting the forthcoming occurrence of these storms and has led to some helpful actions, such as reservoir operators preventing dams from overflowing or bursting. But there is a gap between science and decision-making. It is pretty clear what needs to be done when tornados or hurricanes are on the way. It is less clear what actions are appropriate when there are going to be repeated heavy rainstorms.

These storms will have an effect on California’s megadrought, but just how much of an effect remains to be seen.

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Web Links

Flooding in California: What Went Wrong, and What Comes Next

Photo, posted January 5, 2023, courtesy of Sarah Stierch via Flickr.

Earth Wise is a production of WAMC Northeast Public Radio

The Labeling Of GMO Foods

February 12, 2019 By EarthWise Leave a Comment

American consumers will soon be able to discern whether or not foods contain genetically-modified ingredients. The USDA’s so-called ‘National Bioengineered Food Disclosure Standard’ will be required for foods that have been altered in a way that doesn’t occur naturally. The mandatory compliance date is January 1st, 2022.

While this does sound like great news, there are some major drawbacks. The new guidelines use the uncommon term “bioengineered” instead of “genetically-modified” or “GMO.” The guidelines also allow the disclosure of bioengineered (or B.E.) ingredients in several formats: as text, a symbol, a phone number (that consumers can call for more info), or a digital link printed on the packaging. Companies are allowed to use a QR code that asks consumers to “scan here for more food information.” Scanning the QR code will bring consumers to a website where the GMO disclosure can be found.

Advocates of the various labeling options say it’ll make it easier and faster for companies to comply with the new guidelines. But critics worry consumers will find it confusing and restrict access for those without smartphones. They say that companies who elect to use a QR code or phone number should be required to include the word “bioengineered” on their packaging.

Another drawback is that products won’t have to be labeled as ‘bioengineered’ if they’ve been processed to the point where their bioengineered DNA can’t be detected. Examples include refined beet sugar, soybean oil, and high fructose corn syrup.

The fight over the labeling of GMO foods has raged for many years. But this labeling mandate falls short of consumer expectations by hiding the information about GMOs instead of disclosing it. We should expect better.

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Web Links

Government lays out the rules for labeling for genetically modified foods

Photo, posted August 24, 2015, courtesy of Rob Bertholf via Flickr.

Earth Wise is a production of WAMC Northeast Public Radio.

Labeling Genetically Engineered Foods

August 7, 2018 By EarthWise Leave a Comment

There has been a great deal of debate over mandating labels for genetically engineered foods. On the pro side, people argue that they have a right to know whether what they are eating contains GMO – or as they are also called GE — ingredients. On the con side, people argue that the aversion toward GE is unfounded and that labeling foods will simply drive away consumers undeservedly.

Mandatory Solar In California

May 30, 2018 By EarthWise Leave a Comment

In May, California became the first state in the U.S. to require solar panels on almost all new homes. Under new standards adopted by the California Energy Commission, most new homes, condos and apartment buildings built after January 1, 2020 will be required to include solar systems.