GOV/MIL Main "Great Reset" Thread

marsh

marsh

On TB every waking moment
michaelshellenberger.substack.com

Green Elitism Behind Farmer Crackdowns

What role is the World Economic Forum playing?
michaelshellenberger.substack.com michaelshellenberger.substack.com

Green Elitism Behind Farmer Crackdowns
What role is the World Economic Forum playing?

Michael Shellenberger
Aug 11

Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, World Economic Forum founder Klaus Schwab, and Netherlands Prime Minister Mark Rutte. All photos above were taken at the World Economic Forum (Getty).
This article was originally published at Real Clear Investigations.

ALMERE, Netherlands — Farmers in the Netherlands reduced nitrogen pollution by nearly 70%. But the government says that is not enough and is demanding that they cut pollution by another 50% by 2030.

By the Dutch government’s own estimates, 11,200 farms out of the roughly 35,000 dedicated to dairy and livestock would have to close under its policies; 17,600 farmers would have to reduce livestock; and total livestock would need to be reduced by one-half to one-third. The Dutch government has demanded that animal farming stop entirely in many places. Of the over $25.7 billion the government has set aside to reduce pollution, just $1 billion is for technological innovation, with most of the rest for buying out farmers.

This effort has sparked a fierce backlash among Dutch farmers, who argue that the government seems more interested in reducing animal agriculture than in finding solutions that protect the food supply and their livelihoods.

“Why would you buy out farmers or reduce livestock when you have the possibility to invest in innovation?” asked Caroline van der Plas, the founder and sole Member of Parliament for the Farmer-Citizen Movement party, or BBB in Dutch. “The car industry innovated for the past 40 years. There aren’t fewer cars and the cars we have are cleaner. We even have electrical cars. That's what I think is so crazy. Why don't we treat the farmers just like the car industry? Give them time to develop solutions or innovate? We can produce food in a much more efficient and cleaner way if we do that. And it's much cheaper also then by buying out farmers.”

Farmer protests in the Netherlands come at a time of heightened global food insecurity created by Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, a major wheat exporter.

The Netherlands is the largest exporter of meat in Europe and the second largest exporter of agricultural products overall by economic value in the world, after the United States, a remarkable feat for a nation half the size of Indiana. Farm exports generate nearly $100 billion a year in revenue. Experts attribute the nation’s success to its farmers’ embrace of technological innovation.

The Netherlands is just one of the countries where governments are pushing for sharp limits on farming. Canada, for example, is seeking a 30% reduction in nitrogen pollution by 2030. While the Canadian government says it is not mandating fertilizer use reductions, only pollution reductions, experts agree that such a radical pollution decline in such a short period will only be possible through reducing fertilizer use, and thus food production. The cost to farmers would be between $10 billion and $48 billion.

“If you push farmers against the wall with no wiggle room, I don’t know where this will end up,” said Gunter Jochum, president of the Western Canadian Wheat Growers Association. “Just look at what’s happening in Europe, in the Netherlands. They’ve had enough of it.”

Where the proposed Dutch restrictions are driven by land and air pollution concerns, the Canadian restrictions are driven by the desire for strong action on climate change. But greenhouse gas emissions from farming pale compared to those from energy. Emissions from oil and gas production in Canada rose five times more (76 million metric tonnes) than emissions from crop and animal production (14 million metric tonnes) between 1990 and 2020. And with the pollution came more food. Canada’s spring wheat yields increased over 40% during that period.

The most dramatic consequences of government intervention occurred in Sri Lanka, where a 2021 fertilizer ban led to a massive reduction in yields, sparking starvation and an economic crisis that brought down the government in July.

Because agriculture is a source of greenhouse gases, the efforts by the governments and the backlash they are fomenting may be a harbinger of a global crisis.

Why are politicians being so dogmatic, in the view of their critics, at a time of rising food insecurity? After all, it’s obvious the strategy is not working – not even for them. In the Netherlands, after farmers blocked highways, dumped manure on roads, and started fires in protests across the country, they won the support of the broader public. If elections were held today, the governing parties would lose a significant number of members in parliament while Van der Plas’ Farmer-Citizen party might win enough to form a new government, with Van der Plas as prime minister. In Canada, the federal government has sparked a backlash from the regional governments of Alberta and Saskatchewan. And now, Dutch farmers are inspiring protests by other farmers across Europe, including in Germany, Poland, and Italy.

What, exactly, is going on?
 
marsh

marsh

On TB every waking moment

INMS

www.inms.international www.inms.international

INMS
Towards the Establishment of an International Nitrogen Management System


Colombo Declaration on Sustainable Nitrogen Management

We, the Member States of the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) participating in the Ceremonial Launching of the United Nations Global Campaign on Sustainable Nitrogen Management, ‘Nitrogen for Life’, held in Colombo, Sri Lanka, Recognizing the relevance of Nitrogen and the need for national coordination between different Ministries such as Environment, Agriculture, Health, Education and Science as well as agencies and other stakeholders, in addressing Sustainable Nitrogen Management using the Whole of Society approach, Acknowledging that Nitrogen is not just another problem, but rather it must be part of the solution for many of our environmental challenges, as it is an essential element for building structures of living organisms and as a critical element for the survival of all living things, Recognizing that unreactive di-nitrogen is extremely abundant in the atmosphere and is converted naturally to reactive forms through lightning and biological nitrogen fixation, which cycle through roots of plants into food chains and made available to life, health and environment,

Appreciating agricultural wisdom and traditional best practices of ancient civilizations relevant for sustainable nutrient management, as this has descended over generations,

Noting that human activities continue to fertilize soils with reactive nitrogen in order to sustain global food and feed production,

Reaffirming the resolution on Sustainable Nitrogen Management (UNEP/EA.4/Res.14), adopted at the Fourth Session of the United Nations Environment Assembly (UNEA-4), emphasizing that global economy–wide nitrogen use is currently inefficient with extremely large proportion of anthropogenic reactive nitrogen lost to the environment,

Concerned that mismanagement and overuse of nitrogen has negative effects on land, water, biodiversity, human health and air, leading to worsening of climate change impacts,

Recognizing the International Nitrogen Initiative’s commitment, made at the ‘Our Ocean Conference 2018’ in Bali, Indonesia, to support a Global ambition to halve nitrogen waste by 2030, which would offer quantified co-benefits for water quality, air quality, biodiversity, human health, climate resilience, food and livelihoods,

Acknowledging the efforts of the United Nations Environment Programme, the Global Environment Facility and the International Nitrogen Initiative, in the establishment of the International Nitrogen Management System to link science and policies on sustainable nitrogen management, including contributions from the Global Partnership on Nutrient Management, the South Asia Cooperative Environment Programme and the ‘GCRF South Asia Nitrogen Hub’ established with support from the Global Challenges Research Fund of UK Research and Innovation,

Noting the outcome of the Fourth Session of the International Nitrogen Management System, held at UNEP in Nairobi on 29-30 April 2019 as a follow-up to the UNEA-4 resolution (UNEP/EA.4/Res.14) and the proposed ‘Roadmap for Action on Sustainable Nitrogen Management 2020-2022’,

1. Endorse the proposed Roadmap for Action on Sustainable Nitrogen Management 2020-2022, including its activities as one of the instruments to establish an Inter-convention Nitrogen Coordination Mechanism and secretariat to better facilitate communication and coherence across nitrogen policies, consistent with mandates of existing conventions and MEAs,

2. Call upon UN agencies and other international organizations, development partners, philanthropic agencies, academic and civil society organizations, to support the implementation of this Declaration, through the establishment of mechanisms of cooperation to mobilize human, financial and technical resources, including capacity building and transfer of know-how and technology, for this purpose;

3. Agree that countries should consider, in line with their national circumstances and where relevant, to:

3.1 Develop and implement comprehensive policies on Sustainable Nitrogen Management;

3.2 Develop national roadmaps for sustainable nitrogen management, with an ambition to halve nitrogen waste by 2030;

3.3 Conduct comprehensive assessments on quantitative and qualitative nitrogen cycling covering scientific aspects, policy, regulation and implementation;

3.4 Promote innovation on anthropogenic nitrogen use and recycling, emphasizing the opportunities for the circular economy;

3.5 Sensitize the citizens to understand the natural nitrogen cycle and how anthropogenic activities alter its balance;

3.6 Identify the best of descended traditional agricultural wisdom and assess the opportunities offered for nitrogen management, where appropriate mainstreaming it through policy, implementation and regulatory channels;

3.7 Cooperate to submit a joint resolution to the Fifth Session of the United Nations Environment Assembly; and 3.8 Report on the progress of implementing this Colombo Declaration at the Sixth Session of the United Nations Environment Assembly;

4. Request the UNEP Executive Director to:

4.1 Facilitate the implementation of the Colombo Declaration, and the Roadmap for Action on Sustainable Nitrogen Management, 2020-2022,

4.2 Catalyze a global comprehensive analysis of global nitrogen budgeting, impacts and solutions, including valuation of natural nitrogen fixation.

Done on 24th October 2019 in Colombo, Sri Lanka

Part 1 of 4
 
marsh

marsh

On TB every waking moment
Part 2 of 4

#Nitrogen4NetZero statement on ‘Action on Nitrogen for Climate’

Statement from the Government of Sri Lanka with the support of the South Asia Cooperative Environment Programme and the International Nitrogen Management System for the Glasgow Climate Summit, COP26.

Background #Nitrogen4NetZero is a developing initiative among UN member states in South Asia to highlight the necessity of sustainable nitrogen management to meet climate goals during an important year for climate action with COP26 in November.

The launch of #Nitrogen4NetZero took place on 27-29 April 2021, during the British High Commission South Asia regional event ‘Nitrogen for Climate and Green Recovery’ in Colombo, Sri Lanka, hosted jointly with the Government of Sri Lanka. The event was supported by the UKRI GCRF South Asian Nitrogen Hub of the Global Challenges Research Fund, the GEF/UNEP International Nitrogen Management System (INMS) and the South Asia Cooperative Environment Programme (SACEP).

The #Nitrogen4NetZero South Asia regional initiative builds on the 2019 UN Environment Assembly resolution (UNEP/EA.4/Res.14) championed by India, and the subsequent Colombo Declaration, championed by Sri Lanka, highlighting how action on nitrogen offers multiple win-wins for climate, environment, health and economy.

The following draft text was discussed and revised during the ‘Nitrogen for Climate and Green Recovery’ e-event on 27-29 April 2021, Colombo. It is now in the process of adoption by SACEP member states.

Timed with the COP26 Blue Zone side-event “NDCs update and nitrogen-climate opportunities: From South Asia to the World”, the Government of Sri Lanka here publishes the #Nitrogen4NetZero proposal for COP26. This document has been informed as part of ongoing dialogue with South Asian countries, including discussion with SACEP and support from the International Nitrogen Management System (INMS). The document is not yet agreed by all countries of South Asia, but is presented now given the urgency of addressing the nitrogen challenge as part of COP26. All parties to the UNFCCC are invited to reflect on the challenges raised as we work together to address the climate emergency, while looking for co-benefits with air quality, water quality, biodiversity, health, food security and circular economy.

Draft text for South Asia: Action on Nitrogen for Climate

Recalling the Paris Agreement arising from the 21st Conference of Parties of 2015, particularly Article 2 (b) concerning increasing the ability to adapt to the adverse impacts of climate change and foster climate resilience and low greenhouse gas emissions development, in a manner that does not threaten food production,

Acknowledging that human alteration of the nitrogen cycle is a multi-dimensional challenge involving all global systems, including drivers through energy, transport, agriculture and wastewater, #Nitrogen4NetZero -

Mobilizing action on nitrogen for climate in preparation for COP26 2 as recognized by the Resolution on Sustainable Nitrogen Management adopted at the 4th United Nations Environment Assembly (UNEP/EA.4/Res.14), where operative paragraphs (a) and (b) call improved coordination of policies between multi-lateral agreements,

Acknowledging that the direct Global Warming Potential (mass basis) of the greenhouse gas nitrous oxide (N2O) is 296 (refer to unpublished text) times greater than carbon dioxide, considering a time horizon of 100 years,

Emphasizing that reduction of nitrous oxide emissions will be essential if the world is to achieve Net Zero greenhouse gas emissions, and that this will in turn necessitate international action to foster changes in the way that humans manage all nitrogen resources and forms of nitrogen pollution, including the indirect effects of reactive nitrogen compounds on nitrous oxide and other greenhouse gas emissions,

Emphasizing that, in addition to the effects of nitrous oxide, nitrogen air pollution (including ammonia, nitrogen oxides and their reaction products) and water pollution affect climate through levels of atmospheric aerosols and oxidants, and through terrestrial, freshwater and marine carbon balance, where actions are needed to maximize the benefits of nitrogen, while minimizing its adverse effects (noting the need for continuing scientific analysis),

Recognizing that nitrogen links climate, stratospheric ozone, air pollution, terrestrial, freshwater and coastal ecosystems, with impacts on biodiversity, human health and economy, as evident from the UNEP synthesis report “Making Peace With Nature: A scientific blueprint to tackle the climate, biodiversity and pollution emergencies”,

Recognizing the need of South Asian and indeed most developing countries for affordable access to nitrogen oxides (NOx) reduction technologies to reduce the contribution of NOx to air pollution, human health and climate change, Concerned that human activities have approximately tripled emissions of reactive nitrogen compounds to the environment, representing a waste of resources worth $200 billion annually (reference to UNEP ‘Fixing Nitrogen’ Report), in addition to the costs related to climate, health and biodiversity loss, Identifying the urgent need for action on sustainable nitrogen management to complement existing efforts on carbon management, necessary for Goal 13 and other Sustainable Development Goals,

Recognizing that a system-wide approach to sustainable nitrogen management, focused on reducing all forms of wasted reactive nitrogen resources (including denitrification to di-nitrogen from anthropogenic activities) is both necessary for climate and offers multiple co-benefits, including for air and water quality, for stratospheric ozone, health and biodiversity, while helping to increase resource efficiency,

Recognising that some countries have insufficient nitrogen resources for optimum crop growth, which compromise food production capability, and that an emphasis on reducing wasted reactive nitrogen resources offers opportunities for available nitrogen to go further in better meeting food and energy needs,

Welcoming the adoption of the Resolution on Sustainable Nitrogen Management (UNEP/EA.4/Res.14) and its follow up, while noting agreement of the Colombo Declaration1, which
________________
1 Colombo Declaration: The Colombo Declaration | INMS.
__________________

sets a goal to develop national roadmaps for sustainable nitrogen management, with an ambition to halve nitrogen waste2 from all sources,

Welcoming efforts by the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), in partnership with the Global Environment Facility (GEF), to establish the International Nitrogen Management System (INMS) as a science support process for international nitrogen policy, as a part of an InterConvention Nitrogen Coordination Mechanism (INCOM), in implementing UNEP/EA.4/Res.14,

1. Requests the Subsidiary Body for Scientific and Technological Advice and the Subsidiary Body for Implementation to jointly address issues related nitrogen, including through meetings, taking into consideration current scientific evidence and the necessity of action on sustainable nitrogen management to reach Net Zero, while recognizing the multiple co-benefits across the UN Sustainable Development Goals;

2. Invites Parties and observers to the Convention to align with the goals/ethos of the Colombo Declaration, including the establishment of national roadmaps for sustainable nitrogen management with an ambition to halve nitrogen waste from all sources as part of a goal for Net Zero carbon/greenhouse gas emissions3 (footnote noting matter of ongoing discussion);

3. Invites Parties and observers to the Convention to identify and mobilize measures related to sustainable nitrogen management to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and increase climate resilience, while maximizing other economic and environmental co-benefits;

4. Agrees that Parties should, where relevant to national circumstances: a. Identify and estimate the contribution of actions related to sustainable nitrogen management to reducing emissions of nitrous oxide and other radiatively active substances, as part of potential future revision of reporting mechanisms, such as Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs); (potential for further feedback after the meeting) b. Promote reduction of nitrogen pollution and innovation for anthropogenic nitrogen use and recycling, emphasizing the opportunities for the circular economy;

5. Agree that the Secretariat of the Framework Convention on Climate Change should cooperate with the United Nations Environment Program and other relevant United Nations and regional processes to support effective coordination on sustainable nitrogen management, including development of the Inter-convention Nitrogen Coordination Mechanism (INCOM), as a means to foster cooperation between Parties and the international conventions and programmes tasked with addressing the different dimensions of sustainable nitrogen management;

6. Also requests the subsidiary bodies with the support of the secretariat to report to the Conference of the Parties on the progress and outcomes of the work referred to in paragraphs 1-5 above at its twenty-eighth session.
__________________
2 Total nitrogen wasted has been defined as the sum of all forms of reactive nitrogen (Nr) lost as pollution plus denitrification to N2, which is equally a waste of Nr resources (see “The Nitrogen Decade: mobilizing global action on nitrogen to 2030 and beyond”, One Earth 4, 10-14. Redirecting, where a baseline of 2020 has been used as a reference for halving wasted nitrogen globally). 3 Choice of possible target years is a matter of ambition for governments, e.g., whether to align with the 2030 Sustainable Development Goals or with a 2050 target for Net Zero. A 2020 baseline is proposed. It is considered a matter for further discussion whether Net Zero for full greenhouse gases is technically achievable

Initial signatories
1660505923825.png
 
Last edited:
R

raven

TB Fanatic
marsh said:
Part 2 of 4

#Nitrogen4NetZero statement on ‘Action on Nitrogen for Climate’

Statement from the Government of Sri Lanka with the support of the South Asia Cooperative Environment Programme and the International Nitrogen Management System for the Glasgow Climate Summit, COP26.

Background #Nitrogen4NetZero is a developing initiative among UN member states in South Asia to highlight the necessity of sustainable nitrogen management to meet climate goals during an important year for climate action with COP26 in November.

The launch of #Nitrogen4NetZero took place on 27-29 April 2021, during the British High Commission South Asia regional event ‘Nitrogen for Climate and Green Recovery’ in Colombo, Sri Lanka, hosted jointly with the Government of Sri Lanka. The event was supported by the UKRI GCRF South Asian Nitrogen Hub of the Global Challenges Research Fund, the GEF/UNEP International Nitrogen Management System (INMS) and the South Asia Cooperative Environment Programme (SACEP).

The #Nitrogen4NetZero South Asia regional initiative builds on the 2019 UN Environment Assembly resolution (UNEP/EA.4/Res.14) championed by India, and the subsequent Colombo Declaration, championed by Sri Lanka, highlighting how action on nitrogen offers multiple win-wins for climate, environment, health and economy.

The following draft text was discussed and revised during the ‘Nitrogen for Climate and Green Recovery’ e-event on 27-29 April 2021, Colombo. It is now in the process of adoption by SACEP member states.

Timed with the COP26 Blue Zone side-event “NDCs update and nitrogen-climate opportunities: From South Asia to the World”, the Government of Sri Lanka here publishes the #Nitrogen4NetZero proposal for COP26. This document has been informed as part of ongoing dialogue with South Asian countries, including discussion with SACEP and support from the International Nitrogen Management System (INMS). The document is not yet agreed by all countries of South Asia, but is presented now given the urgency of addressing the nitrogen challenge as part of COP26. All parties to the UNFCCC are invited to reflect on the challenges raised as we work together to address the climate emergency, while looking for co-benefits with air quality, water quality, biodiversity, health, food security and circular economy.

Draft text for South Asia: Action on Nitrogen for Climate

Recalling the Paris Agreement arising from the 21st Conference of Parties of 2015, particularly Article 2 (b) concerning increasing the ability to adapt to the adverse impacts of climate change and foster climate resilience and low greenhouse gas emissions development, in a manner that does not threaten food production,

Acknowledging that human alteration of the nitrogen cycle is a multi-dimensional challenge involving all global systems, including drivers through energy, transport, agriculture and wastewater, #Nitrogen4NetZero -

Mobilizing action on nitrogen for climate in preparation for COP26 2 as recognized by the Resolution on Sustainable Nitrogen Management adopted at the 4th United Nations Environment Assembly (UNEP/EA.4/Res.14), where operative paragraphs (a) and (b) call improved coordination of policies between multi-lateral agreements,

Acknowledging that the direct Global Warming Potential (mass basis) of the greenhouse gas nitrous oxide (N2O) is 296 (refer to unpublished text) times greater than carbon dioxide, considering a time horizon of 100 years,

Emphasizing that reduction of nitrous oxide emissions will be essential if the world is to achieve Net Zero greenhouse gas emissions, and that this will in turn necessitate international action to foster changes in the way that humans manage all nitrogen resources and forms of nitrogen pollution, including the indirect effects of reactive nitrogen compounds on nitrous oxide and other greenhouse gas emissions,

Emphasizing that, in addition to the effects of nitrous oxide, nitrogen air pollution (including ammonia, nitrogen oxides and their reaction products) and water pollution affect climate through levels of atmospheric aerosols and oxidants, and through terrestrial, freshwater and marine carbon balance, where actions are needed to maximize the benefits of nitrogen, while minimizing its adverse effects (noting the need for continuing scientific analysis),

Recognizing that nitrogen links climate, stratospheric ozone, air pollution, terrestrial, freshwater and coastal ecosystems, with impacts on biodiversity, human health and economy, as evident from the UNEP synthesis report “Making Peace With Nature: A scientific blueprint to tackle the climate, biodiversity and pollution emergencies”,

Recognizing the need of South Asian and indeed most developing countries for affordable access to nitrogen oxides (NOx) reduction technologies to reduce the contribution of NOx to air pollution, human health and climate change, Concerned that human activities have approximately tripled emissions of reactive nitrogen compounds to the environment, representing a waste of resources worth $200 billion annually (reference to UNEP ‘Fixing Nitrogen’ Report), in addition to the costs related to climate, health and biodiversity loss, Identifying the urgent need for action on sustainable nitrogen management to complement existing efforts on carbon management, necessary for Goal 13 and other Sustainable Development Goals,

Recognizing that a system-wide approach to sustainable nitrogen management, focused on reducing all forms of wasted reactive nitrogen resources (including denitrification to di-nitrogen from anthropogenic activities) is both necessary for climate and offers multiple co-benefits, including for air and water quality, for stratospheric ozone, health and biodiversity, while helping to increase resource efficiency,

Recognising that some countries have insufficient nitrogen resources for optimum crop growth, which compromise food production capability, and that an emphasis on reducing wasted reactive nitrogen resources offers opportunities for available nitrogen to go further in better meeting food and energy needs,

Welcoming the adoption of the Resolution on Sustainable Nitrogen Management (UNEP/EA.4/Res.14) and its follow up, while noting agreement of the Colombo Declaration1, which
________________
1 Colombo Declaration: The Colombo Declaration | INMS.
__________________

sets a goal to develop national roadmaps for sustainable nitrogen management, with an ambition to halve nitrogen waste2 from all sources,

Welcoming efforts by the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), in partnership with the Global Environment Facility (GEF), to establish the International Nitrogen Management System (INMS) as a science support process for international nitrogen policy, as a part of an InterConvention Nitrogen Coordination Mechanism (INCOM), in implementing UNEP/EA.4/Res.14,

1. Requests the Subsidiary Body for Scientific and Technological Advice and the Subsidiary Body for Implementation to jointly address issues related nitrogen, including through meetings, taking into consideration current scientific evidence and the necessity of action on sustainable nitrogen management to reach Net Zero, while recognizing the multiple co-benefits across the UN Sustainable Development Goals;

2. Invites Parties and observers to the Convention to align with the goals/ethos of the Colombo Declaration, including the establishment of national roadmaps for sustainable nitrogen management with an ambition to halve nitrogen waste from all sources as part of a goal for Net Zero carbon/greenhouse gas emissions3 (footnote noting matter of ongoing discussion);

3. Invites Parties and observers to the Convention to identify and mobilize measures related to sustainable nitrogen management to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and increase climate resilience, while maximizing other economic and environmental co-benefits;

4. Agrees that Parties should, where relevant to national circumstances: a. Identify and estimate the contribution of actions related to sustainable nitrogen management to reducing emissions of nitrous oxide and other radiatively active substances, as part of potential future revision of reporting mechanisms, such as Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs); (potential for further feedback after the meeting) b. Promote reduction of nitrogen pollution and innovation for anthropogenic nitrogen use and recycling, emphasizing the opportunities for the circular economy;

5. Agree that the Secretariat of the Framework Convention on Climate Change should cooperate with the United Nations Environment Program and other relevant United Nations and regional processes to support effective coordination on sustainable nitrogen management, including development of the Inter-convention Nitrogen Coordination Mechanism (INCOM), as a means to foster cooperation between Parties and the international conventions and programmes tasked with addressing the different dimensions of sustainable nitrogen management;

6. Also requests the subsidiary bodies with the support of the secretariat to report to the Conference of the Parties on the progress and outcomes of the work referred to in paragraphs 1-5 above at its twenty-eighth session.
__________________
2 Total nitrogen wasted has been defined as the sum of all forms of reactive nitrogen (Nr) lost as pollution plus denitrification to N2, which is equally a waste of Nr resources (see “The Nitrogen Decade: mobilizing global action on nitrogen to 2030 and beyond”, One Earth 4, 10-14. Redirecting, where a baseline of 2020 has been used as a reference for halving wasted nitrogen globally). 3 Choice of possible target years is a matter of ambition for governments, e.g., whether to align with the 2030 Sustainable Development Goals or with a 2050 target for Net Zero. A 2020 baseline is proposed. It is considered a matter for further discussion whether Net Zero for full greenhouse gases is technically achievable
Click to expand...
first it was CO2. now it is Nitrogen too.

Did you know that Earth's atmosphere is composed of about 78 percent nitrogen, 21 percent oxygen, 0.9 percent argon, and 0.1 percent other gases. Trace amounts of carbon dioxide, methane, water vapor, and neon are some of the other gases that make up the remaining 0.1 percent.

Pretty soon they will ban oxygen.
 
marsh

marsh

On TB every waking moment
3 of 4

The UNEA5.2 Resolution on Sustainable Nitrogen Management | INMS

www.inms.international www.inms.international

The UNEA5.2 Resolution on Sustainable Nitrogen Management​


The new Nitrogen Resolution – a landmark decision towards halving nitrogen waste

On 2nd of March 2022, during the second part of the 5th United Nations Environment Assembly (UNEA5.2) UN Member States made an historic commitment in Nairobi by adopting the second Resolution on Sustainable Nitrogen Management (UNEP/EA.5/Res.2).

The Resolution was championed by the Government of Sri Lanka, who was joined by UNEP-UKCEH/GEF INMS Project Director, Professor Mark Sutton, as a technical expert of the country’s UNEA5.2 delegation. The Resolution was co-sponsored by Brazil, Maldives, Pakistan and Uganda.

We have reason to celebrate as this commitment brought us closer to the Colombo Declaration ambition of halving nitrogen waste by 2030. The importance of INMS’ contribution to the development and eventual adoption of this Resolution is made clear in the Resolution text itself, which takes note of the INMS project as well as the ‘International Nitrogen Assessment’ (INA).

The INA will be the first publication of its kind, and a major output of the INMS project, set for publication in 2023.

What is significant about the UNEA5.2 Resolution?

While the first UNEA Resolution on Sustainable Nitrogen Management (EA.4/Res.14), adopted at UNEA4 in March 2019, set the stage for urgent work on nitrogen, this second Resolution is important because it includes both an ambition to “significantly reduce nitrogen waste globally” and also a timeline “by 2030 and beyond". It is also the first time that a UN agreement has embraced the concept of "nitrogen waste"; a concept that was first introduced in Bali at the Our Ocean Conference (October 2016) as a commitment by the International Nitrogen Initiative (INI) to save 100 billion USD per year. The concept of nitrogen waste was then further embraced by 14 countries in October 2019 by signing the Colombo Declaration, with the ambition to "halve nitrogen waste by 2030". This is important because reducing nitrogen waste means that limited nitrogen resources can then go further to better contribute to food supplies.

What are the next steps?

Moving forward, INMS is working to complete and publish the first International Nitrogen Assessment (INA) in 2023, which will provide countries with the scientific underpinning for future action on nitrogen.

INMS is also working to further progress on the "modalities" for inter-convention coordination for nitrogen (as identified in operative paragraph 3 (b) of the new Resolution), in partnership with UNEP’s Nitrogen Working Group and in support of the development of the ‘Interconvention Nitrogen Coordination Mechanism’ (INCOM).


1660504639755.png1660504735906.png

continued
 
Last edited:
marsh

marsh

On TB every waking moment

Developing Roadmaps for Sustainable Nitrogen Workshop | INMS

www.inms.international www.inms.international

Developing Roadmaps for Sustainable Nitrogen Workshop​


Shaping the future of nitrogen
Per the Colombo Declaration and the EU Farm to Fork Strategy, a growing number of countries have committed to reducing their nitrogen waste by 50% by 2030. An ambitious target such as this will require a comprehensive action plan that doesn’t only react to immediate hazards but plans for the future.

For three days in May 2022 an interdisciplinary group of scholars, stakeholders, and policy experts from 19 countries gathered in Paris, France to reflect on previous national N policies in order to begin developing national roadmaps for sustainable nitrogen management.

This workshop was a collaboration betweem INMS, the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) and the Institute of Advanced Studies in Paris and organized by Dr. David Kanter. This was a hybrid meeting with 31 participants attending in-person and 17 attending remotely

This was the first in-person INMS meeting in over two years and a powerful effort to continue building on the momentum of the UNEA Resolution 5/2 on Sustainable Nitrogen Management.

Workshop Proceedings

With the nature of nitrogen compounds considered, as both a vital resource for plant growth and a pollutant as a consequence of overuse, these experts gathered to exchange experiences and visions with the goal of addressing the challenge of achieving the right balance of nitrogen exposure of the environment.

Presentation topics included reflections on numerous country's nitrogen responses including, Japan, the Netherlands, Germany, France, Brazil, Denmark, Romania, New Zealand, and the South Asia region. Other topics included what the environmental governance literature can tell us about nitrogen roadmaps, reconciling food and environment goals in nitrogen roadmaps, and lessons from EU water policy for nitrogen roadmaps.

Major Outcomes of the Workshop
The workshop featured multiple presentations on previous policy efforts, in order to reflect on what was effective and what was not. Insights from these presentations are to be compiled into a guidance document that will synthesize the central lessons and outline what types of actions and indicators work well under which conditions.

A major outcome of this workshop was the development of a first draft of a template for national action plans to improve nitrogen management. Moving forward, participants will continue to refine this template and prepare it to feed into multiple policy processes.

Related links: Developing roadmaps for sustainable nitrogen management - Institut d'études avancées de Paris
 
marsh

marsh

On TB every waking moment

China’s Cities Face Tough Choice: More Green Energy or Food​

Floods, droughts and food-supply snafus are making China more wary of wind and solar developments that eat up farmland.
Farmers harvest mushrooms from beneath photovoltaic panels in Guizhou Province at a power station designed to reduce the impact on agriculture.

Farmers harvest mushrooms from beneath photovoltaic panels in Guizhou Province at a power station designed to reduce the impact on agriculture.
Photographer: VCG/Getty Images
Bloomberg News

August 9, 2022 at 4:00 PM PDT

China’s plans to accelerate its world-leading expansion of solar and wind power are facing a major hurdle as floods, droughts and food-supply issues present authorities with a reality check about how much precious farmland the nation can afford to lose.

Solar and wind farms have been supercharged in the past two years since Chinese President Xi Jinping announced a 2060 target for the nation to be carbon neutral, creating an incentive for local governments to allow more large-scale renewable energy projects.

But the pandemic and recent bouts of extreme weather have shown how susceptible the nation is to disruptions in food supply. Good arable land is relatively limited considering the appetite of the nation’s 1.4 billion people, and large tracts of some of the most fertile soil in the heavily populated eastern and central provinces have already been swallowed up by urban growth. With administrations now prioritizing ecological protection and food security, plans to build big, new solar projects are coming under increasing scrutiny.

China is already the world’s largest producer of renewable energy, with the capacity to generate some 679 gigawatts of wind and solar power plus another 390 gigawatts of hydropower. More than a fifth of the solar and wind capacity has been added since 2020 and expansion plans by local governments would carry the nation to its 2030 target of 1,200 gigawatts more than five years early if fully implemented.
 
marsh

marsh

On TB every waking moment
04 MAR 2019 PRESS RELEASE NATURE ACTION

It is time to fix the broken nitrogen cycle says UN Environment Frontiers Report​

  • On the 4th of March 2019, UN Environment launched its latest Frontiers report, which explores five of the most significant emerging issues on the environment.
  • The topics identified in the report are: synthetic biology, ecosystem connectivity, thawing permafrost peatlands, nitrogen pollution, and maladaptation to climate change.
  • Nitrogen is one of the most important pollution issues facing humanity today and requires urgent action from nations around the world.
Nairobi, 4 March 2019 – From breathtaking advances in synthetic biology to pitfalls in climate adaptation, UN Environment’s latest Frontiers report, launched today, explores the biggest emerging environmental issues that will have profound effects on our society, economy and ecosystems, along with some exciting and novel solutions.

By scanning the technological and environmental horizons, the report identifies five major topics:
Synthetic biology, modern biotechnology that combines science and engineering to manufacture and modify genetic materials, living organisms and biological systems.
Ecological connectivity - the linking and bridging of fragmented habitats into a connected landscape to prevent species extinctions.
Permafrost peatlands - the ground in the northern hemisphere that remains permanently frozen and holds approximately half of the world’s soil organic carbon, threatened by rising temperatures in the Arctic.
Nitrogen pollution – the disturbance of ecosystems, human health and economies by massively altering of the global nitrogen cycle through human activity.
Maladaptation to climate change – the unintended increases in climate-related damages or diminished welfare of sustainable adaptation efforts.

“The issues examined in Frontiers should serve as a reminder that, whenever we interfere with nature – whether at the global scale or the molecular level – we risk creating long-lasting impacts on our planetary home, “Joyce Musya, Acting Executive Director of UN Environment said in the foreword to the report. “But by acting with foresight and by working together, we can stay ahead of these issues and craft solutions that will serve us all, for generations to come.”

Synthetic Biology: Re-engineering the environment

The report lays out the opportunities and challenges that synthetic biology – or the reengineering of our natural biology – holds for our society, zeroing in on how the genetic manipulation of living organisms to acquire new functions that otherwise do not exist in nature can serve human needs.

CRISPR technology, which enables scientists to cut out a chosen DNA segment and replace it with an entirely new DNA strand, which can alter the characteristics of an organism. With this new DNA, the organism can be released into the wild to mate and expand the appearance of these modified genes in our environment. This might be used to render a species immune to certain diseases or to inhibit the reproduction of invasive species.

The strategies to release of genetically engineered organisms into the environment have raised valid concerns about the potential far-reaching impacts and unintended consequences. This requires multifaceted societal debate because of its power to modify, suppress or replace the entire population of the target species, bypassing the fundamental principles of evolution.

Ecological Connectivity: A bridge to preserving biodiversity

Large-scale industrialization has caused widespread fragmentation of natural landscapes around the globe. Habitats that were once continuous are now compartmentalized and isolated, causing a spiralling decline of some species as they can no longer disperse to find food or mates.

“A consequence of the segmentation of natural landscapes is that mammals and other species are moving less than half the distance they once did,” the report notes. “This limited ability to migrate, disperse, mate, feed and thrive means that wild animals are cornered into a situation where the threat of extinction looms larger.”

Permafrost Peatlands: Losing ground in a warming world

The Arctic is warming twice as fast as the global average and scientists are increasingly concerned at the accelerating rate of permafrost thaw. Permafrost is so expansive that it underlies 25% of the northern terrestrial hemisphere, and it holds titanic volumes of greenhouse gases locked in its peatlands – all which could potentially be released as the ground defrosts.

Permafrost thaw not only has direct impacts on ecology and infrastructure in local regions, it could set in motion an uncontrollable snowball effect: as carbon is released from the thawing peat and heats the atmosphere, thus worsening climate change ad infinitum.

Research is underway, but at present, too little is known about the precise location of permafrost peatlands, how they’re changing, and what will happen to the atmosphere if they all would thaw.

The Nitrogen Fix: From nitrogen cycle pollution to nitrogen circular economy

Nitrogen is essential for life, and an extremely abundant element in the Earth’s atmosphere. In the form of the N2 molecule, nitrogen is harmless, making up 78 per cent of every breath we take.

Growing demand on the livestock, agriculture, transport, industry and energy sector has led to a sharp growth of the levels of reactive nitrogen – ammonia, nitrate, nitric oxide (NO), nitrous oxide (N2O) – in our ecosystems,

Excess nitrogen pollution has tremendous consequences on humans and the environment. In the form of nitrous oxide, for example, it is 300 times more powerful than carbon dioxide as a greenhouse gas, in addition to the effects of various nitrogen compounds on air quality and the ozone layer.

“Altogether, humans are producing a cocktail of reactive nitrogen that threatens health, climate and ecosystems, making nitrogen one of the most important pollution issues facing humanity,” the report warns. “Yet the scale of the problem remains largely unknown and unacknowledged outside scientific circles.”

Maladaptation to Climate Change: Avoiding pitfalls on the evolvability pathway

In a rapidly changing climate reality, strategies for adaptation need to increase human and ecosystem resilience on a global scale, while avoiding short-term fixes that may only have local benefits.

In its final chapter, the report explores the various ways in which adaptation can go wrong, from processes that do not work to adaptive actions that damage resources, narrow future options, compound the problem faced by vulnerable populations, or pass on responsibility for solutions to future generations.

It delves into the key discussions about what exactly constitutes maladaptation in relation to the objective of keeping global temperatures below 1.5°C and offers guidance on how to implement responsible adaptation strategies.

“Evidence indicates that maladaptation can be avoided by evaluating all costs and benefits, including co-benefits, for all groups in society, and by being explicit about who the winners and losers will be, and how the burdens could be better shared.”

NOTES TO EDITORS

About UN Environment

UN Environment is the leading global voice on the environment. It provides leadership and encourages partnership in caring for the environment by inspiring, informing, and enabling nations and peoples to improve their quality of life without compromising that of future generations. UN Environment works with governments, the private sector, the civil society and with other UN entities and international organizations across the world.

For more information, contact:

Shari Nijman UN Environment Communications Officer, nijman[at]un.org
 
marsh

marsh

On TB every waking moment
www.unep.org

Why nitrogen management is key for climate change mitigation

The environmental interest in nitrogen (N2), an essential component of the air we breathe, focuses on the conversion of N2 into other chemically reactive forms. Some are vital for life itself and some cause costly and dangerous nitrogen pollution.
www.unep.org www.unep.org

22 OCT 2019 STORY NATURE ACTION

Why nitrogen management is key for climate change mitigation​

The environmental interest in nitrogen (N2), an essential component of the air we breathe, focuses on the conversion of N2 into other chemically reactive forms. Some are vital for life itself and some cause costly and dangerous nitrogen pollution.

“Altogether, humans are producing a cocktail of reactive nitrogen that threatens health, climate and ecosystems, making nitrogen one of the most important pollution issues facing humanity,” the 2018-2019 Frontiers report warns. “Yet the scale of the problem remains largely unknown and unacknowledged outside scientific circles.”

The European Nitrogen Assessment identified five key threats of nitrogen pollution: water quality, air quality, greenhouse-gas balance, ecosystems and biodiversity.

Growing demand on the agriculture, transport, industry and energy sectors has led to a sharp growth in the levels of nitrogen pollution and related greenhouse gas emissions. Nitrous oxide (N2O) from industry and combustion, for example, is 300 times more powerful than carbon dioxide as a greenhouse gas.

“Human nitrogen additions to the soil, in the form of fertilizers, reinforce the greenhouse effect: around 60 per cent of nitrous oxide is emitted from fertilized fields, manures and other agricultural sources,” says Mahesh Pradhan, a nutrient pollution expert with the UN Environment Programme (UNEP).

Fertilizer run-off can also cause algal blooms in lakes and waterways. Algal blooms emit greenhouse gases.

Fossil fuel and biomass combustion processes release nitric oxide (NO) and nitrogen dioxide (NO2),collectively called NOx.While major efforts have been made to reduce NOx from vehicles and energy generation, emissions are still escalating in rapidly developing parts of the world. NOx is an indirect greenhouse gas, because the deposition of emitted NOx results in otherwise natural ecosystems emitting more nitrous oxide.

“It is just the same with ammonia (NH3) emissions from agriculture, which ultimately reach natural ecosystems, further increasing emissions of the greenhouse gas nitrous oxide, while degrading the biodiversity,” says Mark Sutton, an international expert on nitrogen at the United Kingdom Centre for Ecology & Hydrology in Edinburgh, Scotland.

“Ammonia reacts with the products of NOx to form secondary particulate matter (PM2.5). The resulting PM2.5 actually has a cooling effect on climate, as it scatters light and promotes cloud formation. We cannot count on this effect, however, because of the adverse effects of PM2.5 on human health, which exacerbate respiratory and coronary diseases,” says Sutton.

While relatively little research has been done specifically on how improved management of the nitrogen cycle can have beneficial effects in terms of mitigating global heating, experts believe practical steps are possible.

Changing attitudes to nitrogen in Scotland

View: https://youtu.be/5QJqsEfsbDw
8:34 min

“There are multiple pollution threats resulting from anthropogenic reactive nitrogen with adverse effects on the terrestrial freshwater and marine environment contributing to air pollution and greenhouse gas emissions,” says Sutton. “What is needed now is practical policies, and Scotland in the United Kingdom is one of a small number of countries taking up the challenge,” he adds.

“Scotland is one of the first countries to include a nitrogen budget in its 2019 Climate Change Bill,” says Keesje Avis, Senior Policy Officer with Nourish Scotland, a charity that has been raising awareness on this issue. “The Bill’s goal is to reduce Scotland’s net greenhouse gas emissions to net zero by 2045.”

Attitudes to nitrogen use in Scotland are changing as stakeholders realize its wider impacts. Nitrous oxide made up 7.9 per cent of Scotland’s greenhouse gas emissions in 2017, 81 per cent of which is from agriculture.

Half of the nitrogen applied in Scotland is being lost to the wider environment because it is unused. This is a waste of resources and farmers’ money.

According to Avis, “in Scotland, nitrogen-related emissions haven’t changed much since 2007, which shows that purely voluntary policies are not enough to create change.” He believes that trust is key: trust in individuals, the science and the desired outcomes—not just to tick boxes. Individuals are really important, too: there needs to be passion for the subject and to do what is right, not what is easy. He also advocates for the use of existing coalitions or organizations because there will already be trust there. A key message is that diffuse pollution is a loss to the system. Farmers want to be seen to be good at what they do—they don’t want to be losing nutrients and money unnecessarily.

“Recognizing the importance—and limitations—of nitrogen to our agricultural and environmental systems is crucial for the success of our farmers and to combat climate change,” says Avis.

“Change is always difficult but if you have the science and the will and finally trust in the policies, it can make for real change. But it does take time. Pressure also needs to come from a variety of places. Many of the actors involved in change in Scotland came from different places with a common goal. The bigger the variety of actors with a simple message, the greater the chance of success,” she says.

The Government of Sri Lanka along with UNEP and the International Nitrogen Management System are set to launch the United Nations Global Campaign on Sustainable Nitrogen Management under the guidance of President Sirisena on 23 and 24 October 2019.
The Madrid Climate Change Conference (COP 25) will take place in Madrid, Spain, from 2 to 13 December. The President-Designate for the conference is Carolina Schmidt Zaldivar, Minister of Environment of Chile. The aim of the conference will be to increase ambition and accelerate action on the global climate emergency and support the rapid implementation of the Paris Climate Change Agreement.
For more information, please contact Mahesh Pradhan: Mahesh.Pradhan@un.org
 
West

West

Senior
Okay, what are yous saying? About nitrogen?

I love the stuff, and couldn't live with out it! I buy it by the cubic foot and use it in my trade. Also vent it out into the atmosphere after checking for leaks and for welding clean joints in my AC Systems. It's the best stuff on earth!

All the best!

:D
 
marsh

marsh

On TB every waking moment
(But wait... they are going after the other fertilizers as well. I have also seen references to ammonia management. I think it is extremely ironic that Sri Lanka was the lead on global nitrogen management. )

1660509412319.png

1660509542637.png1660509657464.png1660509829688.png
 
marsh

marsh

On TB every waking moment
West said:
Okay, what are yous saying? About nitrogen?

I love the stuff, and couldn't live with out it! I buy it by the cubic foot and use it in my trade. Also vent it out into the atmosphere after checking for leaks and for welding clean joints in my AC Systems. It's the best stuff on earth!

All the best!

:D
Click to expand...
I am giving you the "skinny" on what our global governance betters at UNEP have decided to direct our New World Order puppet governments to implement.
 
West

West

Senior
marsh said:
I am giving you the "skinny" on what our global governance betters at UNEP have decided to direct our New World Order puppet governments to implement.
Click to expand...

I know. Hopefully some newbies educate themselves on nitrogen. Maybe we planted a seed? Especially your efforts!
Keep on keeping on!
 
marsh

marsh

On TB every waking moment
Dozdoats said:
Nitrogen management = population reduction
Click to expand...
It is pretty devastating to see the consequences of their "Green"/Sustainable/Climate agenda laid right out there. It certainly won't support current population levels. It is also crazy to see them lauding 'sustainable" native food systems when these will not support a modern civilization and where third world countries have many starving populations relying on imports .
 
marsh

marsh

On TB every waking moment

High Prices, Range Anxiety Holding Back EV Adoption | ZeroHedge

ZeroHedge - On a long enough timeline, the survival rate for everyone drops to zero
www.zerohedge.com www.zerohedge.com

High Prices, Range Anxiety Holding Back EV Adoption​


SUNDAY, AUG 14, 2022 - 10:00 AM

While the tax credits for new and used electric vehicles included in the Inflation Reduction Act will do its part in making electric cars more attractive to American consumers, Statista's Felix Richter notes that there’s more than just the high purchase price keeping Americans from buying electric.

According to a recent survey conducted by AAA, one quarter of Americans say that they would be likely to buy an electric vehicle (excluding hybrids) as their next car. That leaves three quarters who don’t see themselves plugging in instead of filling up just yet.

And the reasons for that hesitancy are mainly threefold. As the following chart shows, it all comes down to three factors: high prices, range anxiety and charging challenges.

Infographic: High Prices, Range Anxiety Holding Back EV Adoption | Statista
You will find more infographics at Statista

But hey, if you're not re-mortgaging the house to buy that EV, you are a climate-change-denying nazi, right?
 
marsh

marsh

On TB every waking moment

Where Americans Plan To Cut Back In Face Of Inflation | ZeroHedge

ZeroHedge - On a long enough timeline, the survival rate for everyone drops to zero
www.zerohedge.com www.zerohedge.com

Where Americans Plan To Cut Back In Face Of Inflation​


SUNDAY, AUG 14, 2022 - 08:00 AM

While Wall Street celebrated the slight cooling of inflation in July, Statista's Felix Richter points out that the latest reading won’t be enough to ease the financial pressure on millions of households in the United States in face of rising costs of living.

After all, prices were still 8.5 percent higher in July compared to the previous year, even if things didn’t worsen further compared to June price levels. The cooling of inflation in July was mainly caused by a significant drop in energy prices, offsetting further price increases for food and shelter.

Regardless of the move in the right direction, prices remain elevated with energy prices 33 percent above last year’s levels and food prices 11 percent higher than in July 2021. As millions of families face financial hardship in the face of inflation, many are forced to cut back on some expenses to make ends meet.

Infographic: Where Americans Plan to Cut Back in Face of Inflation | Statista
You will find more infographics at Statista

According to data from Statista’s Global Consumer Survey, just six percent of U.S. adults polled in July said that they weren’t planning to save money to counter inflation and high energy costs.

Meanwhile two thirds of respondents said they were going to cut back on current contracts and subscriptions in order to save some money, possibly spelling trouble for companies like Netflix, whose services many cash-strapped Americans might consider non-essential.

Cutting back on clothing purchases, bar and restaurant visits is also part of many Americans’ plans, while just small share plan to reduce their spending on insurances and education.
 
marsh

marsh

On TB every waking moment

Heating Your Home Will Hurt This Winter As Natural Gas Prices Climb | ZeroHedge

ZeroHedge - On a long enough timeline, the survival rate for everyone drops to zero
www.zerohedge.com www.zerohedge.com

Heating Your Home Will Hurt This Winter As Natural Gas Prices Climb​


SUNDAY, AUG 14, 2022 - 06:20 AM
Authored by Beth Brelje via The Epoch Times,

It will take more than an extra sweater to stay warm this winter; anyone heating with natural gas will require extra money to burn the furnace.

Natural gas is sharply higher than it was last year. This week, natural gas was $8.20 an mcf—the volume of 1,000 cubic feet. This is the price paid to gas producers, set by Henry Hub. It is the highest price in 14 years.

A year ago, in August 2021, natural gas was half the cost at just $4.07 an mcf, and in 2019, when Donald Trump was president, natural gas was $2.22 per mcf.

“Because of what’s going on globally, and because of the policies in certain areas, [producers] are not able to produce as much [gas] and it drives the price up,” Dan Weaver, president and executive director at Pennsylvania Independent Oil and Gas Association, told The Epoch Times.

They are not drilling a lot of new wells, he said of producers, but with higher prices, they are recovering from when prices were soft. “Traditionally, under Democratic administrations, prices are higher. Under Republican administrations prices are lower, but Republicans are more welcoming, so there is more activity because permits get through in a more timely manner.”

Consumer Prices​


When you add costs like transportation, marketing, and pipeline maintenance, the consumer price is higher.

Natural gas prices depend on demand, weather temperatures, economic conditions, and petroleum prices, according to the U.S. Energy Information Administration. While cold weather increases demand for heating, hot weather calls for air conditioning and that puts more demand on electric power plants which use natural gas. It means demand for natural gas is highest in summer, and that is when consumer prices are highest. But consumers may notice the gas price more in the winter when their homes are using it directly for heating.

Consumer natural gas prices tend to peak in July or August and are lowest in November, December, and January according to data from the U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA).

The residential price for natural gas was projected to be $23 per mcf by August 2022, according to the EIA, but the most recent price listed was $17.55 in May.

A year ago, it was $20.99 and in August 2019 it was $18.37.

Looking at the lowest rates of the year, which happen in the winter months when electric companies are not powering scores of air conditioners, the price was steady for a few years: January 2016 stood at $8.26 per mcf, January 2017 was at $9.32, January 2018 was at $8.90, January 2019 was at $9.30, January 2020 was at $9.43, and January 2021 stood at $9.31.

The residential price went up noticeably in 2022 to $12.04 in January, and the projection for winter 2023 is projected at $14.77.

Using a quick math formula, we can see how this will affect the average home.

Across the industry, it is said that an average home using natural gas for heating, cooking and a clothes dryer, consumes an average of 196 cubic feet a day. Multiply that by 365 days and a home uses an average of 71,540 cubic feet of natural gas a year, or 5,962 cubic feet a month. Divide that by 1,000 and it is 5.96 mcf per month. Let’s round it to 6 mcf a month. The January 2019 price for natural gas was $9.30 per mcf x 6 mcf a month, the average household use a month = a consumer bill of $55.80.

The projected price in 2023 is $14.77 x 6 mcf = a consumer bill of $88.62 a month.

The green agenda has curtailed growth and certainty in the gas industry, Weaver indicated.

“It’s the constant push from the current [Biden] administration—they’re shutting down certain areas for drilling, they’re restricting federal leasing,” Weaver said.

“The other thing that’s driving it is what’s going on In Russia. A fair amount of gas is being shipped overseas, to help offset the Russian gas [shortfall] in Europe. So that’s driving the price. It’s a global commodity. This is no longer just here; It’s global.”

“It’s going to take somebody’s grandma getting very, very cold in the middle of winter for these people to wake up to realize that elections have consequences,” Weaver said.

“If you want this green agenda, you are going to be paying more.”
 
marsh

marsh

On TB every waking moment

Zerohedge

ZeroHedge - On a long enough timeline, the survival rate for everyone drops to zero
www.zerohedge.com www.zerohedge.com

Why Solar Power Is Failing Amid Record-Breaking Heat​


SUNDAY, AUG 14, 2022 - 05:10 AM
Authored by Felicity Bradstock via OilPrice.com,
  • Solar panels work optimally at around 25ºC.
  • This summer brought record-breaking heat, with temperatures reaching as high as 40ºC in the UK.
  • Solar panels become less efficient as temperatures rise.
With heatwaves being reported worldwide, leading to wildfires and other environmental concerns, at least one energy sector is getting attention for its major producing potential – solar power. But with solar panels collecting energy from the sun’s radiation, the world’s overheating may (unexpectedly) be of little benefit to solar power production. However, this is not stopping rising consumer interest as people are driven to invest in solar technology as they see both hotter summers and rising consumer prices. With some of the hottest summers on record for several decades in many parts of the world, it must be doing wonders for solar power, right?

As the world heats up, people may think that more sun will bring more solar energy, even if it has been negative for many other reasons. But soaring temperatures may be hindering solar power production as solar panels work optimally at around 25oC and start becoming less efficient when the heat goes above this. And even if the heat does not hamper solar production, it is also doing little to help it.

With record temperatures being seen across much of Europe this summer, as the U.K. reached 40oC in July, solar farms have been seeing positive output levels, with Solar Energy U.K. reporting on 20th July that the country’s solar power output had “met up to a quarter of the U.K.’s power demand”. But this is mostly down to the country seeing more days of sunlight rather than higher temperatures.

Of course, when there’s sun there’s solar power.

But because of the way solar panels work, they become slightly less efficient, by around 0.5 percent, for any degree over or under 25oC. This means that peak production periods in much of the world often happen in cooler spring months rather than during the summer. Although Solar Energy U.K. believes that significant disruptions would only be seen if temperatures were to rise to highs of 65oC or above. CEO of the firm, Chris Hewett, stated:

“It’s marginally better for efficiency in the spring but essentially if you have more light, you produce more solar power.”
He added, “You have to remember that solar panels work all over the world. The same technology we put on our roofs is used in solar farms in the Saudi Arabian desert.”

But uncertainty around what rising temperatures mean for solar panel productivity has not stopped interest in solar energy from picking up as the public sees the correlation between hotter weather and solar power production. As countries around the globe face rapidly rising consumer energy prices, utility bills are costing people hundreds, or even thousands, a year more. This has helped to shift public opinion in favor of the rapid construction of strong renewable energy sectors, as well as home solar technology installation, as they are seeing the limitations of oil and gas.

Governments have worked for years trying to boost public interest in solar and wind power, even offering households feed-in tariffs – where they provide payments to people producing their own solar power to incentivize home solar panel installation. Governments have offered to buy solar power from home producers connected to the grid and have subsidized the cost of solar technology and installation in several parts of the world. And while uptake has steadily increased, the recent surge in energy prices may be the factor that drives consumers to make the shift on a wider scale.

In the U.K., the number of searches on eBay for solar panels and solar power batteries increased by 54 percent and 134 percent respectively in June compared to the same period last year. Demand for products to track and reduce energy use, such as smart meters, has also increased. In 2020, a government report stated that around 970,000 U.K. homes had solar panels, just over 3 percent of homes, with power production increasing from 1 MW in 2008 to 11,730 MW in 2020. According to the U.K. credit company Experian, around 1.9 million households are expected to install solar panels or other renewable energy technologies in 2022, showing a significant boost in public interest.

Many consumers are put off of home solar energy due to the high installation cost of solar panels. But with electricity and gas bills set to continue rising into 2023 and beyond, many are seeing the potential value of the upfront cost. With installation in the U.K. totaling between $6000 and $18,000 on average, households will likely recoup the cost of installation in less time, potentially halving the years it takes to make the money back if energy bills continue to rise.

While the heat waves being seen across the world may not be boosting solar production in the way many might have thought, they have encouraged public interest in solar technologies. As consumers face rapidly rising energy prices and see more hot, sunny days, many are now turning to renewable energies such as solar power as an alternative to help them save money and become more self-sufficient.
 
marsh

marsh

On TB every waking moment
View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rAMk5B9bwbA
41:50 min

The Path to Decarbonizing Aviation | Davos | #WEF22​


Aug 14, 2022


World Economic Forum

The aviation and aerospace industry represents about 2-3% of total human-generated carbon emissions, which is set to increase as people travel further and more frequently. What are the industry-wide goals and standards needed for the sector to move towards a greener future? The World Economic Forum is the International Organization for Public-Private
 
marsh

marsh

On TB every waking moment
(EU)

MEP Clare Daly Exposes the Globalists' Ploy, Preaching 'Multilateralism' to Push Their Agenda 1:10 min

MEP Clare Daly Exposes the Globalists' Ploy, Preaching 'Multilateralism' to Push Their Agenda​

Red Voice Media Published August 14, 2022

Clare's Tweet: "The EU preaches 'multilateralism' but what it means is 'like-minded partners' forming a little club, making up their own rules & trying to impose them on the rest of the world. That's not multilateralism; it's its opposite. Corruption of language by power & self-interest. Enough!"
 
marsh

marsh

On TB every waking moment
Having your own car now means you want to bring about the climate apolcalypse 7:31 min

Having your own car now means you want to bring about the climate apolcalypse​

Rebel News Published August 14, 2022

On Friday's episode of The Ezra Levant Show, guest host David Menzies discussed the World Economic Forum's new plans to reduce the use of private vehicles. But the WEF's report also notes that green technologies will require increasing amounts of important minerals, the supply of which is being increasingly controlled by... China.

www.rebelnews.com

The World Economic Forum wants you to give up your car

The fearless source of news, opinion, and activism that you won't find anywhere else.
www.rebelnews.com www.rebelnews.com

The World Economic Forum wants you to give up your car​

  • August 12, 2022
First, they wanted you to chow down on insects. And now? Well, now like the repo man on steroids, they’re coming for your car...
.
When I say “they”, I am, of course, referring to the entitled elitists who comprise the World Economic Forum, an entity that seems to be hellbent on turning developed countries into Third World countries. This is due to WEFers recommending policies that amount to nothing more than pompous virtue signaling, which go hand in glove with their Marxist mission statement of “building back better.”

As the saying goes, like so many others, I’m a common man, I drive a common van. But apparently in the eyes of WEF Grand Poobah Klaus Schwab, piloting anything with an internal combustion engine under the bonnet is a shameful display of excess. And it must come to an end. As per usual, it’s all about climate change… or is it the climate crisis? Or is it the climate emergency?
 
Tristan

Tristan

Has No Life - Lives on TB
marsh said:
Michael Yon @MichaelYon
Aug 13, 2022 at 1:18am
Europe: Rivers Low, Farms Dry, Energy Crisis
13 August 2022
Holland

View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wYUWBwzIfXY
8:53 min

Europe's rivers are running dry as the climate crisis worsens | DW News

Aug 12, 2022


DW News

Much of Europe and the Northern Hemisphere is battling either wildfires, low water levels, harvest warnings, water use restrictions or a mixture of all these. In Germany, one core focus of the drought is the Rhine River, which ultimately connects the Alps with the North Sea. Europe's second-longest river after the Danube, it is also a core shipping lane for western Germany. It is still open to freight traffic for now, but already boats are unable to run fully laden. Germany's Federal Institute of Hydrology warned on Thursday that without rain, one notorious shallow point on the river could become completely impassable next week.
Click to expand...


Looks like a Hungry few years are coming...
 
marsh

marsh

On TB every waking moment
[EU]

Drought in Europe threatens important shipping on Rhine River - Troubles written in STONE 3:00 min

DROUGHT IN EUROPE THREATENS IMPORTANT SHIPPING ON RHINE RIVER - TROUBLES WRITTEN IN STONE​

Previous droughts have uncovered so-called hunger stones in the Elbe river in the Czech Republic. The boulder in the northwestern town of Decin, north of the capital Prague, is roughly the size of a utility van and bears the foreboding inscription, "When you see me, weep".

The Rhine River fell to a new low on Friday, further restricting the supply of vital commodities to parts of inland Europe as the continent battles with its worst energy crisis in decades. The water a key spot is below 16 inches.
The Rhine is an important shipping route for raw materials such as grain, chemicals, minerals, coal and oil products including fuel oil.
 
marsh

marsh

On TB every waking moment
(Ireland)

High yielding crops in Ireland will be replaced with solar panels… 2:17 min

HIGH YIELDING CROPS IN IRELAND WILL BE REPLACED WITH SOLAR PANELS…​

The eviromentalists are nothing but THEIVES! They're not saving anything! All they're doing is stealing other people's stuff, put their competitiors out of business, and grab money and power! EVIL people start treating the greenies like dirt!

Join the farmers group here:
Dutch Farmers Protests
When your country only has 10-15% arable land and you're trading the ability to feed your people using your own blood, sweat and soil for ****ing solar panel farms, you place yourself at the mercy of an evil World Government to starve you into submission at any time. They can make you do anything.
If you produce your own food, no one can tell you what to do.
 
marsh

marsh

On TB every waking moment
(Netherlands)

Dutch Farmers Hand Out Food to Supporting Citizens in the Face of Trying Times .43 min

DUTCH FARMERS HAND OUT FOOD TO SUPPORTING CITIZENS IN THE FACE OF TRYING TIMES​

In Almelo, the Netherlands, the mayor wants street art displaying "No farms, no food" removed from the town hall as it has now become a political statement.

Despite government hostility, farmers gathered in the city to hand out food to a large crowd of supporting citizens.
 
marsh

marsh

On TB every waking moment
www.bitchute.com

Dr Kary Mullis explains why scientists are corrupt and climate change is a hoax

Kary Mullis decode https://decodingsatan.blogspot.com/2021/07/kary-banks-mullis.html
www.bitchute.com www.bitchute.com

(2002 TED Talk)

DR KARY MULLIS EXPLAINS WHY SCIENTISTS ARE CORRUPT AND CLIMATE CHANGE IS A HOAX
The two papers referenced:


Evidence for Strengthening of the Tropical General Circulation in the 1990s
  • March 2002
  • Science 295(5556):838-41
DOI:10.1126/science.1065835
^^^

Evidence for Large Decadal Variability in the Tropical Mean Radiative Energy Budget
  • February 2002
  • Science 295(5556):841-844
DOI:10.1126/science.1065837

 
marsh

marsh

On TB every waking moment
(Protests)

(Germany)
Germany - Frankfurt [Aug 13, 2022] #Freiheit #StopAgenda2030 #NoMoreMandates 1:00 min

GERMANY - FRANKFURT [AUG 13, 2022] #FREIHEIT #STOPAGENDA2030 #NOMOREMANDATES​

^^
Freiburg im Breisgau 13.08.2022 #NoMandates 1:21 min

FREIBURG IM BREISGAU 13.08.2022 #NOMANDATES​


^^^^^
(France)
13.8.22 Paris France Nouveau samedi de mobilisation des Gilets Jaunes à Paris .14 min

Nouveau samedi de mobilisation des Gilets Jaunes à Paris
@leconvoidelalibertefrance (Yellow vests)

13.8.22 PARIS FRANCE NOUVEAU SAMEDI DE MOBILISATION DES GILETS JAUNES À PARIS​


^^^^^
(Australia - no mandates, no 2030)
13.08.22 #Freedom Melbourn Australia .51 min

13.08.22 #FREEDOM MELBOURN AUSTRALIA​

 
marsh

marsh

On TB every waking moment

Governing Elites Pushing To Slash Emissions Are Disconnected From Reality, Experts Say

MICAELA BURROW
REPORTER
August 14, 2022

Countries have adopted sweeping legislation in recent months to reduce emissions that could have a destructive effect on global agriculture amidst high inflation and food crises.

Governments are jumping on the net-zero emissions bandwagon in an ill-fated competition to do more on climate change, according to experts.
“Climate alarmism doesn’t take tradeoffs into consideration. If reduced greenhouse gas emissions mean less efficient food production or higher food prices, then to the alarmists, that’s perfectly fine,” Heritage Institute senior research fellow for environmental policy and regulation Daren Bakst told the DCNF.

Governments have adopted sweeping emissions-reduction legislation in recent months that could have devastating consequences on the agricultural sector, as elites’ ignorance of economic realities fuels a myopic pursuit of the climate agenda, according to experts.

Food insecurity brought on by the Russia-Ukraine conflict and natural disasters threatens millions, but governments are implementing carbon emissions-reduction policies in rapid succession that could slash agricultural production and push prices to record levels. Officials in both wealthy and developing countries are spiraling into a foolish race, however well-intentioned, to outdo one another on climate action, even if that means hurting farmers and ordinary consumers, according to agricultural and climate experts.

“The decision-makers are so far up the food chain, pardon the pun, that they are literally clueless about what it takes to produce food, including what inputs are needed and why; or how food is produced, harvested and distributed,” Indur Goklany, a senior adviser at the U.S. Department of Interior, told the Daily Caller News Foundation.

Leaders of the G7 wealthier democracies held an annual summit in June, where they reaffirmed their commitment to the 2015 Paris Climate Agreement, including a provision to meet net-zero emissions standards by 2050. They cited an “urgent” need to address the “climate crisis,” referencing the “adverse effects of climate change and environmental degradation on peace, stability, and security.”

“Willingness to hop on to the Net Zero train has derailed all other priorities,” Vijay Jayaraj, a research associate at the Co2 Coalition, told the DCNF.

Australia became the latest major country to adopt sweeping emissions legislation, with the lower house of Parliament approving a new climate plan on Aug. 4 that requires a 43% reduction in carbon emissions by 2030 relative to 2005 levels. Australia cited the Paris agreement as a driving factor in the latest round of emissions legislation.

The bill came on the heels of the Indian federal government’s climate agenda, submitted Aug. 3, that calls for a 45% emissions reduction according to 2005 levels by 2030; India’s emissions have shot up since 2005, due primarily to growth in the power production industry. As India’s technology sector continues to expand, the government is targeting the agricultural sector to offset emissions from energy production, H. Sterling Burnett, Director of the Arthur B. Robinson Center on Climate and Environmental Policy at the Heartland Institute, explained to the DCNF.

“It’s to the advantage of their leaders. In the end, leaders don’t care about poor people, even leaders in developing countries. They live off graft,” said Burnett.

Canada and Ireland also passed similar bills in July, even after the Dutch government’s mandatory methane emissions target threatened to put a third of livestock farmers out of business and sparked nationwide protests in July. Irish farmers claimed they could suffer a similar fate.

Canadian farmers argued that the government’s cap on fertilizer-related nitrogen emissions meant a de-facto reduction in fertilizer use, reducing crop yields. In addition, electric tractors are up to 75% more costly than those that run on fossil fuels, and less reliable, Burnett explained to the DCNF.

“The decision-makers are divorced from the nasty consequences of their decisions. They are wealthy enough to afford food even if inflation is rampant,” said Goklany.

In the U.S., Congressional Democrats passed the Inflation Reduction Act, a spending bill that carves out billions in subsidies for electric vehicles, nuclear power generators and other greenhouse gas-reducing solutions. Even if the U.S. reduced all emissions, that would only bring down the global temperature less than 0.2 degrees Celsius by 2100, according to an Aug. 2 Heritage Foundation report.

Achieving the Biden administration’s climate commitments could incur job losses in the millions, increased energy prices and over $7.7 trillion in GDP loss over 18 years, the report states.

Consumer inflation in the U.S. hit a record high of 9.1% in July. In addition, despite the opening of safe waterways for Ukrainian and Russia grain exports, wheat prices could remain high as importers seek to recoup losses, keeping the global food supply chain tight, according to a Reuters analysis.

“Climate alarmism doesn’t take tradeoffs into consideration. If reduced greenhouse gas emissions mean less efficient food production or higher food prices, then to the alarmists, that’s perfectly fine,” Heritage Institute senior research fellow for environmental policy and regulation Daren Bakst told the DCNF.

Failure to consider the ins and outs of agriculture can have devastating consequences, as Sri Lanka demonstrated after a ban on imported artificial fertilizers, intended to encourage a transition to organic farming and help the Rajapaksa regime save face amid a ballooning budget deficit, slashed farm yields in half and contributed to an economic collapse. Sri Lankans, incensed over economic hardship and a corrupt government, stormed the president’s residence and forced his resignation.

“The reality is climate alarmism has long acted as a pretext for the government to control what we eat, where we live, how we live, and how our economy functions,” Bakst added. “Unfortunately, this alarmism is getting taken to unprecedented levels — just look at the Biden administration… doing everything it can to block affordable and reliable energy, which is critical to all facets of our lives, including ensuring we have food.”

While large agribusinesses can probably afford increased production costs due to clean energy legislation, small farmers could fall by the wayside, Burnett told the DCNF.

Leaders are “always playing on crises” to “increase power over people’s lives” said Burnett. “You can’t get [to net zero] from here without making people much, much poorer.”
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top