Gather round, my friends, and lend me your ears, for I shall share with you a tale of a continent in distress, its rivers running low and its people facing a crisis unlike any before. This is the story of Europe, once bountiful and teeming with life, now a land burdened by the spectre of drought.

Our journey begins with the plight of Catalonia, where a once-brimming reservoir has dwindled to a mere 27 percent. The authorities, fearing a catastrophic loss of aquatic life, relocated the fish to prevent their untimely demise. To the north, in the land of France, a winter devoid of rain and snow left the country parched, experiencing the driest winter in six long decades. The River Po in Italy, on the other hand, flows at a meagre pace, akin to the previous summer's drought.

Alas, a quarter of Europe is held in the grip of drought, and the people of the continent brace themselves for a summer that could rival the scorched days of yore. Satellite data, like the eyes of the heavens, have revealed that Europe has been grappling with severe drought since 2018. Rising temperatures compound the problem, ensnaring the continent in a perilous cycle of diminishing water reserves.

The scholars and experts, who study the skies and the waters, have warned that even a season of plentiful rains cannot fully replenish Europe's depleted groundwater. The continent needs a decade of rain-heavy years to break the cycle, but climate change offers no solace.

The effects of climate change are manifold, and they threaten to plunge Europe into an era of water scarcity. The first is the evaporation of water, a consequence of increasing temperatures. The second is the weakening of the European jet stream, resulting in prolonged periods of hot, dry conditions or heavy rainfall. Lastly, the receding glaciers and dwindling snow cover deprive major rivers of their precious supply.

The heroes of this tale, the leaders of European nations, have begun to recognize the gravity of the situation. Italy, Spain, France, and Germany have introduced measures to address the growing water crisis, but some argue that these efforts are inadequate. Critics say that the focus should be on better resource management and addressing the loss of drinking water through leaky pipelines.

And so, as the scarcity of water takes hold, tensions brew among the people. In France, environmentalists and farmers clash over the construction of water reservoirs, leading to violent confrontations. In Spain, proposed irrigation near protected wetlands incites outrage and provokes heated debate. The battle for water distribution has commenced, and the future of the continent hangs in the balance.

My friends, let this tale serve as a cautionary reminder of the fragile nature of our world and the pressing need for sustainable solutions. Will the rivers of Europe run dry, or can the people unite to overcome the challenges of drought and discord? Only time shall reveal the answer, but let it be known that the choices we make today will shape the course of our shared destiny.

In a time not so long ago, amidst the clamour of the Industrial Revolution, there lived a powerful entity named the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The SEC, a formidable force, stood tall in the realm of financial regulation, maintaining order and ensuring transparency within the kingdom of commerce. But even the mightiest of entities cannot stand alone against the relentless storms of change.

And so, the winds began to howl, and whispers of a great war echoed through the land. The battle in question was for the very future of our dear planet, as climate change threatened to ravage all life within its embrace. The cries of the environmental crusaders reached the ears of the SEC, urging them to wield their power and protect the world.

In response to these calls, the SEC proposed groundbreaking climate disclosure rules, requiring companies to reveal their contributions to greenhouse gas emissions and the impact of climate change on their businesses. Yet, the shadows of opposition loomed large, as Republicans and businesses, fearing the shackles of new regulations, threatened to unleash their legal wrath upon the SEC.

In the midst of this brewing storm, the valiant Sierra Club and the resolute Earthjustice prepared for battle. These noble warriors, sworn to defend the Earth, would not let the SEC abandon their climate crusade. They vowed to sue the agency should they soften or forsake the demand for Scope 3 emissions reporting, which divulges the secrets of a company's supply chain emissions.

Now, the Sierra Club and Earthjustice stand ready, poised to strike a blow to the mighty SEC while simultaneously preparing to protect them from the oncoming legal onslaught of the Republicans and businesses. For these warriors have a history of fighting on both sides, as the Sierra Club once sued the Environmental Protection Agency whilst defending it in another battle.

Yet, as the sands of time trickle away, the final outcome of this epic saga remains shrouded in uncertainty. The SEC, aware of the looming threat, must tread carefully as they craft their final rules. But even the most meticulous of plans may not be enough to evade the inescapable fate of lawsuits in these contentious times.

Indeed, one wonders if the venerable SEC will stand tall and wield its power to demand climate accountability from the powerful titans of industry. Or will it bow to the pressures of opposition and forsake the Earth in its time of need? The answer lies in the days to come, as the storm approaches and the future of our world hangs in the balance.

So, we ask you, dear reader, will the mighty SEC succumb to the ferocious forces of the climate crusaders? Will the winds of change blow in favour of our planet? Only time shall reveal the conclusion of this tale, as we eagerly await the climactic battle between the defenders of the Earth and the mighty SEC.

#SECclimateBattle #SierraClub #Earthjustice #ClimateCrusaders #Scope3Emissions #ClimateDisclosureRules #FinancialRegulation #GreenhouseGasReporting #EcoWarriors #DefendersOfEarth

In a time not so long ago, amidst the clamour of the Industrial Revolution, there lived a powerful entity named the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The SEC, a formidable force, stood tall in the realm of financial regulation, maintaining order and ensuring transparency within the kingdom of commerce. But even the mightiest of entities cannot stand alone against the relentless storms of change.

And so, the winds began to howl, and whispers of a great war echoed through the land. The battle in question was for the very future of our dear planet, as climate change threatened to ravage all life within its embrace. The cries of the environmental crusaders reached the ears of the SEC, urging them to wield their power and protect the world.

In response to these calls, the SEC proposed groundbreaking climate disclosure rules, requiring companies to reveal their contributions to greenhouse gas emissions and the impact of climate change on their businesses. Yet, the shadows of opposition loomed large, as Republicans and businesses, fearing the shackles of new regulations, threatened to unleash their legal wrath upon the SEC.

In the midst of this brewing storm, the valiant Sierra Club and the resolute Earthjustice prepared for battle. These noble warriors, sworn to defend the Earth, would not let the SEC abandon their climate crusade. They vowed to sue the agency should they soften or forsake the demand for Scope 3 emissions reporting, which divulges the secrets of a company's supply chain emissions.

Now, the Sierra Club and Earthjustice stand ready, poised to strike a blow to the mighty SEC while simultaneously preparing to protect them from the oncoming legal onslaught of the Republicans and businesses. For these warriors have a history of fighting on both sides, as the Sierra Club once sued the Environmental Protection Agency whilst defending it in another battle.

Yet, as the sands of time trickle away, the final outcome of this epic saga remains shrouded in uncertainty. The SEC, aware of the looming threat, must tread carefully as they craft their final rules. But even the most meticulous of plans may not be enough to evade the inescapable fate of lawsuits in these contentious times.

Indeed, one wonders if the venerable SEC will stand tall and wield its power to demand climate accountability from the powerful titans of industry. Or will it bow to the pressures of opposition and forsake the Earth in its time of need? The answer lies in the days to come, as the storm approaches and the future of our world hangs in the balance.

So, we ask you, dear reader, will the mighty SEC succumb to the ferocious forces of the climate crusaders? Will the winds of change blow in favour of our planet? Only time shall reveal the conclusion of this tale, as we eagerly await the climactic battle between the defenders of the Earth and the mighty SEC.

#SECclimateBattle #SierraClub #Earthjustice #ClimateCrusaders #Scope3Emissions #ClimateDisclosureRules #FinancialRegulation #GreenhouseGasReporting #EcoWarriors #DefendersOfEarth

First post, and it's a doozy of a question, or I'm missing something.

ICYMI, the SEC's impending climate rule has a highly contested (by companies) Scope 3 requirement if the emissions are material (which makes sense from a business perspective) or if the company made specific commitments around Scope 3 (which makes total sense from any perspective).

Companies believe there is a significant burden on their ability to report Scope 3, and based on most of the companies I talk to, they are right. The lift is heavy but not unattainable. Regardless, many commented back to the SEC that this is too much to take on.

And so, while we wait for the rule to come out, The Sierra Club and Earthjustice are standing by ready to litigate whether or not Scope 3 is included.

SEC Climate Rules Risk Legal Battle with Environmental Groups (bloomberglaw.com)

OK, so here's the question. Do disclosures lead to action?

While I believe companies should bear this burden, I can't figure out why reporting Scope 3 would matter more than the actions a company could take to operationally reduce and influence its value chain. I'm especially curious as CSRD will likely impact enough of the largest non-EU companies, creating a ripple effect of disclosures.

In other words, in the universe of things to litigate, is measurement truly the step to managing?

POSITIVITY WITH A DIP OF SARCASM/SATIRE The beloved European Union, the epicentre of political agility and decisive action, has once again graced us with a groundbreaking solution to our seemingly endless climate crisis. This time, our relentless saviours have set their sights on decarbonizing the aviation sector with a package of new proposed rules called ReFuelEU Aviation. Brace yourselves, dear readers, as we embark on this thrilling journey into the future of sustainable air travel.

You see, the European Parliament and the EU Council have reached an agreement that will revolutionize the aviation industry by ramping up the use of Sustainable Aviation Fuels (SAF). Yes, the same SAF that's produced from waste oils and agricultural residues, which have been around for years, will now be the linchpin of their strategy. The best part? The industry has only had to overcome minor obstacles like limited supply and exorbitant prices to get this fuel in the air. Not to worry, though, for our EU lawmakers are clearly adept at turning base metals into gold.

Let's take a moment to marvel at the wisdom behind the proposed rules, which include minimum blends of SAF for fuel suppliers, as well as requirements for aircraft operators and airports. Starting in 2025, a mere 2% of SAF will be required at EU airports, and by 2050, that number will skyrocket to a staggering 70%. Who needs electric planes when you have such an ambitious plan to increase SAF usage by 35 times over a 25-year period?

Aircraft operators, too, will have their moment in the sun, as they'll be required to refuel only with the necessary fuel for their flights and ensure that their yearly amount of aviation fuel uplifted at EU airports is equal to at least 90% of their requirements. This ingenious move is designed to avoid emissions related to extra weight from unnecessary fuel and to prevent the cunning practice of "tinkering" in which airlines deliberately carry excess fuel to bypass higher SAF requirements at certain airports.

Airports are also in for a treat, as they'll be obliged to ensure their fueling infrastructure is fit for SAF distribution. After all, what better way to demonstrate our commitment to climate action than to put the onus on airports to accommodate SAF?

Frans Timmermans, the Executive Vice-President for the European Green Deal, boasted that the EU is setting all sectors on a pathway to climate neutrality. Well, congratulations, Mr. Timmermans! With such a visionary approach, the aviation industry will no doubt be soaring to new sustainable heights in no time.

And so, dear readers, let us raise a toast to the European Union, as they valiantly navigate the turbulent skies of environmental policy with the grace of a ballet dancer on roller skates. Undoubtedly, we can all sleep a little easier knowing that our futures are in the capable hands of these bureaucratic aviators, as they pilot us towards a greener tomorrow.

I'm accounting for the carbon emissions from using Vegetable oil as a fuel in my car - mostly rapeseed aka canola oil

I know in theory the carbon cycle is neutral, except for all of the emissions generated in farming and refining the plants

I've found two sources for the production CO2 from rapeseed oil:

• Our World In Data: 3.8kg of CO2 per KG of Oil
• UK Government: 0.41kg of CO2 per litre of Biodiesel

Obviously these are wildly different. How do I know which one is the most accurate?

Ah, the age-old battle between good and evil, green and not-so-green, transparency and, well, greenbleaching. In the latest episode of “Save the Planet or Else…”, we stumble upon a rather perplexing conundrum. As the European Supervisory Authorities grapple with the ever-growing phenomenon of greenwashing, a new villain emerges from the shadows: greenbleachers. You heard it here first, folks. Picture this: fund managers with capes, secretly creating sustainable products but refusing to acknowledge their do-gooder status, all in the name of avoiding legal exposure. Their cunning strategy has undoubtedly left the Securities and Markets Stakeholder Group (SMSG) scratching their heads. Could this be the next great paradox of our time? The SMSG, being the wise advisory body they are, have called upon ESMA to consider the curious case of greenbleaching. While it may seem like a dastardly deed at first glance, the SMSG urges caution. After all, not claiming sustainability when there’s no legal obligation to do so is hardly a crime worthy of pitchforks and torches. In fact, one might say these market participants are simply being prudent, navigating the murky waters of SFDR terminology. But wait, there’s more! The SMSG, not satisfied with merely assessing the situation, has gone a step further. They’ve suggested that financial products should be required to determine the sustainability degree of every investment, a Herculean task if ever there was one. Can you imagine the pandemonium, the chaos, the sheer amount of paperwork involved in such an endeavor? Now, it’s true that in the distant future, the Taxonomy Regulation and CSRD might make such a requirement manageable. But, dear reader, we are eons away from that utopian reality. Forcing market participants to take on such an insurmountable burden now would only hinder the true purpose of SFDR – creating a more transparent marketplace. And isn’t that what we all want at the end of the day? So, as we ponder the fate of our greenbleaching antiheroes, we must ask ourselves: are they really the environmental outlaws they’re made out to be? Or are they simply navigating the treacherous terrain of sustainability reporting with the tools they have at their disposal? Only time will tell, but one thing’s for sure: the fight for a greener future is never short of surprises.

Greenwashing is so rampant and it really takes away from small sustainable companies that are truly trying to do some good in this world. So what can small sustainable companies do to stand out from the crowd and instill trust with their customers?

If high density housing opportunities in the US (apartments, 5 over 1s) became more readily available, would you move to reduce your carbon footprint? To me, it seems counterintuitive that Americans are working to make an inefficient suburban living environment more environmentally friendly through EVs and solar panels on roofs instead of moving towards a more sustainable city-centered model.

With natural gas prices at record high, would it make sense for apartment buildings to use heat pumps in the winter? Is it even possible to use it for multistory buildings?

Hey! I am trying to find the website I used last year (December 2021), perhaps some of you know what this website is. Basically, it says for a lot of food products their impact on environment as well as their role in animal and labour exploitation. (There is I think one more category, but I don’t remember which one it is.) Does anyone know what this website is? I can no longer find it, and everything that I can find isn’t free (and that website definitely was free). Thanks!

I would like to know what are the key pain points of sustainable startups.

In a humble effort to be better, I stopped buying produce and dairy outside sweden where I live. As a general rule I don’t buy it if the origin country isn’t bordering the baltic and in the EU. But now I’m wondering if those produce has to go through some additional travel anyway due to import laws (eg being cleared via another country), or does the EU concept actually work and eliminates that process? I understand that I’m likely peeking into a rabbit hole here 😅 I’m thinking different grocery chains have different importing/warehousing processes 🙈 I’m curious to hear constructive thoughts on this topic, TIA 😊

The world is being destroyed and someone has to do something about it. It turns out worms may be the solution. Most super worms are used simply as feed for iguanas and other reptiles when they can be doing so much more.
Right now there are 5.25 trillion bits of micro plastic in our ocean 46,000 pieces every square mile. Although when compared to the 8.3 billion tons of plastic in existence with more being produced every second we don't have the luxury of worrying about things on a microscopic scale.
Nobody is denying the problem everyone knows the terrible state the earth is in so let's do something about it. The answer may be these incredible worms. All living things grow and adapt which is exactly what the super worm has done. Something that used to just be pet food is now one of the most important things for our ecosystems survival.
A super worm digests plastic through the bacteria in it's gut. A test was conducted to see what would happen if a worm ate only plastic. The control group that ate worm nutrients became slightly bigger while the experimental group did not grow, despite this the group was entirely healthy.
We can use the super worms to earths advantage not only would this be good for the environment but it would create a new job and new demand for existing jobs. There would be need for super worm breeders and farmers. These people would work with waste disposal companies creating more demand for the industry.
If we can simply get this information to more people then we can make the world a better place. You can go online and buy super worms here. They reproduce by them self and you'll never have to take out the trash again. By Doing something this simple you can save the earth.
How much plastic is in the ocean 2023. Next Level Sailing. (2023, February 26). Retrieved April 26, 2023, from https://nextlevelsailing.com/how-much-plastic-is-in-the-ocean-2023/#:\~:text=There%20are%20more%20than%205.25,every%20square%20mile%20of%20ocean.
Queensland, U. of. (2022, June 17). Scientists discover "superworms" capable of munching through plastic waste. SciTechDaily. Retrieved April 26, 2023, from https://scitechdaily.com/scientists-discover-superworms-capable-of-munching-through-plastic-waste/#:\~:text=Now%2C%20researchers%20at%20the%20University,bacterial%20enzyme%20in%20their%20gut.
Ward, C. (2022, June 19). These plastic-munching superworms are living recycling plants. SYFY Official Site. Retrieved April 26, 2023, from https://www.syfy.com/syfy-wire/superworms-can-eat-and-digest-plastic#:\~:text=In%20a%20recent%20study%20published,to%20consume%20and%20degrade%20plastics.

There are various reasons why environmental sustainability is critical. For example, it ensures that we meet our current demands without compromising the capacity of future generations to survive on their own. This involves conserving natural resources, reducing pollution, and reducing waste. Second, it fosters economic and social progress while safeguarding the environment. Third, it contributes to addressing global issues such as climate change, biodiversity loss, and environmental degradation.

I know it would be detrimental to me, but this is just ridiculous. They are "stories" of employees for whom sustainability is important. They include inspiring stories such as "Our family is now partially plant based", "We take walks" and "I purchased an electric vehicle".

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The cherry on top is that there is a sweepstake to win a fucking flight to go whale seeing. What the fuck. How little do these people understand the idea of sustainability?