Category: Climate Change

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Social inequality and flood risk

    Source: United Kingdom – Government Statements

    Case study

    Social inequality and flood risk

    Flooding is a growing environmental threat across the UK, but not all communities experience its impacts equally.

    View of damage following a flood. Image credit: Environment Agency.

    Flood risk, inequalities and justice

    Gordon Walker 1 and Peter Bailey 2

    1 Lancaster Environment Centre, Lancaster University, United Kingdom

    2 Environment Agency, United Kingdom

    The Environment Agency commissioned research between 2006 and 2022 that explored the social distribution of environmental risks across England. The research found a link between social deprivation and flood vulnerability. The Environment Agency has used these findings to update its evidence base on the social distribution of flood risk and decision-making rules for investment.

    Impact

    Taken together, the research on social inequality and flood risk has influenced academic and policy understandings of not only inequalities in the distribution of flood risk, but also clear differentials in the vulnerabilities of households when flooding is experienced.

    The first report Addressing environmental inequalities: flood risk led by Gordon Walker was published in 2006. This analysis demonstrated a clear inequality in that people living in deprived communities – as measured by the Index of Multiple Deprivation – were more likely to be at risk of flooding. The pattern of risk from coastal flooding was particularly skewed towards deprived communities, with river flooding more evenly distributed (Figure 1).

    Figure 1: Total households at different levels of risk from river and sea flooding by deprivation decile within coastal areas. Credit: Environment Agency.

    These findings shaped flood policies. In 2010 the Environment Agency’s corporate indicators for flooding included an outcome measure for flood schemes of homes better protected in deprived areas (Environment Agency, 2015). Then in 2011, the Government introduced a partnership funding policy for flooding. This policy included an incentive that gave a higher rate of funding for schemes protecting homes in deprived areas from flooding (Defra, 2011).

    Published in 2011, the article Flood risk, vulnerability and environmental justice: evidence and evaluation of inequality in a UK context built upon the 2006 research. It explored the related issues of flood vulnerability and flood justice. The article has been widely cited, providing a foundation for similar analyses that have since been undertaken in the US and various European countries. It was also one of the first articles in the UK and internationally to bring flooding within an environmental justice framing.

    In 2020, the Environment Agency updated the original 2006 analysis. It used the updated Index of Multiple Deprivation as well as the latest version of the National Flood Risk Assessment (NaFRA). This version of NaFRA addressed some of the shortcomings of the 2006 analysis such as including the benefit of flood defence schemes in the flood risk exposure data. The report was published in 2022 in Social deprivation and the likelihood of flooding. The updated analysis still found evidence of flood inequalities in England.

    The findings included:

    • the size of the inequality was smaller than the 2006 study, because national flood data included flood defences and many schemes were built since 2006
    • deprived coastal communities still experienced significant flood inequalities
    • flood inequalities found within rural areas were greater than those in urban areas
    • the analysis suggested that recent investment has been relatively successful in reducing flood risk exposure inequality for the 20% most deprived areas in England

    The updated analysis and the 2022 report have been used by the National Audit Office in Managing flood risk: Report by the Comptroller and Auditor General.

    Resources 

    Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra). (2011). Flood and Coastal Resilience Partnership Funding. London: Defra. Available at: https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/5a7c89f1ed915d48c2410708/pb13896-flood-coastal-resilience-policy.pdf (Accessed: 24 March 2025).

    Environment Agency. (2006). Addressing Environmental Inequalities: Flood Risk. Science Report: SC020061/SR1. Available at: https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/5a7c365ced915d76e2ebbd58/scho0905bjok-e-e.pdf (Accessed: 24 March 2025).

    Environment Agency. (2015). Flood and coastal erosion risk management Outcome Measures. Progress made towards achieving the Flood And Coastal Erosion Risk Management Outcome Measures target: July 2014 to September 2014. Available at: https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/flood-and-coastal-erosion-risk-management-outcome-measures (Accessed: 24 March 2025).

    Environment Agency. (2022). Social deprivation and the likelihood of flooding. Available at: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/social-deprivation-and-the-likelihood-of-flooding (Accessed: 24 March 2025).

    Environment Agency. (2024). National assessment of flood and coastal erosion risk in England 2024. Available at: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/national-assessment-of-flood-and-coastal-erosion-risk-in-england-2024/national-assessment-of-flood-and-coastal-erosion-risk-in-england-2024 (Accessed: 24 March 2025).

    Ministry of Housing and Local Government. (2020). English indices of deprivation. Available at: https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/english-indices-of-deprivation (Accessed: 24 March 2025).

    National Audit Office (NAO). (2020). Managing flood risk – NAO report. Available at: https://www.nao.org.uk/reports/managing-flood-risk/?nab=2 – downloads (Accessed: 24 March 2025).

    Walker, G. and Burningham, K. (2011). Flood risk, vulnerability and environmental justice: Evidence and evaluation of inequality in a UK context. Critical Social Policy Volume 31, Issue 2, pp. 216–240. Available at: doi.org/10.1177/0261018310396149 (Accessed: 24 March 2025).

    Funder 

    • Environment Agency

    Research period  

    • 2006 to 2022

    Impact period  

    • 2006 to present

    Impact country  

    • UK

    Contributing to the areas of research interest

    • 8 – Integrated outcomes

    Updates to this page

    Published 4 April 2025

    MIL OSI United Kingdom

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: FCERM research outcomes and impact

    Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government & Departments

    News story

    FCERM research outcomes and impact

    Research investment is making an impact in managing flooding and coastal change.

    On 4 April 2025, the Flood and Coastal Erosion Risk Management (FCERM) research and development programme published a collection of case studies. They highlight how research has been used to improve flood and coastal erosion risk management by connecting people who have operational problems with researchers who have solutions.

    The case studies cover diverse topics – from modelling with advanced technologies like digital twins, to using natural flood management measures, to applying people’s local flood knowledge and improving how we work with communities.

    The FCERM research and development programme is a collaborative partnership between the Environment Agency, Defra, Welsh Government and Natural Resources Wales. We work with partners from academia, industry and across government.

    Updates to this page

    Published 4 April 2025

    MIL OSI United Kingdom

  • MIL-OSI USA: SPC Severe Thunderstorm Watch 110 Status Reports

    Source: US National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

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  • MIL-OSI New Zealand: Otago Tourism School – Public lecture

    Source: Department of Conservation

    Date:  04 April 2025

    Tēnā koutou katoa

    It’s great to see so many people here interested in tourism that’s sustainable for the environment and the communities we live in.

    The Government is focused on economic growth – tourism on the land that DOC manages is a key part of that.

    I know that healthy nature and being able to operate on public conservation land with certainty, is important to many tourism operators.

    I also know you’re eagerly awaiting Ministerial decisions on the work to manage visitors better at Milford Sound.

    It’s coming – the Ministers of Tourism and Conservation are working on a paper and will be talking to their colleagues on it – and we can expect some announcements soon.

    I want to use this opportunity to take you through what DOC is doing to make sure people can get out, enjoy their time on conservation land and contribute to the economy.

    DOC’s role

    For those of you who don’t know us well, DOC manages more than a third of New Zealand’s land area, as well as hundreds of offshore islands, marine reserves, and national parks.

    We are responsible for 14,000 native species and we put a lot of effort into managing threats from predators, disease and human-related impacts.

    We also provide a huge range of visitor assets, including huts, campsites, picnic areas, shelters, bridges, toilets, and so many kilometres of tracks that, if you laid them out in a line, they would stretch from here to New York.

    We have the largest number of Treaty settlements to implement of any Crown agency – with more than 3 thousand specific obligations and commitments to working with iwi at culturally significant places.

    We operate under 25 different pieces of legislation, some of it really old and hard to navigate – for example the Wildlife Act was written 70 years ago, long before climate change was understood and before international visitor growth was a thing.

    We are also neighbours across 57,000 kilometres of land boundaries and have 17,000 kilometres of fences in our asset management system.

    So in a snapshot, we have very broad responsibilities – and we are doing it with 5% of the Government’s budget.

    We have to prioritise our work carefully because we can’t afford to do it all.

    Permissions at pace

    Many of you in this room will be interested in what we’re doing to make it easier for businesses to operate on public conservation land.

    You’re frustrated at the length of time it takes to get your permissions and concessions processed.

    I want to assure you we’re working on this at pace. It’s a major priority for our Minister; we’ve got targets we have to meet, and we are surging our effort on this.

    We need to clear the applications that are more than a year old by June this year.

    As soon as we close applications more come in, so we are also improving our systems. We don’t want numbers to creep back up and create more of a problem.

    We’re going at it hammer and tongs – we’ve got new technology coming to help us triage and track applications. So you can apply for a permit or concession online and track it in real time.

    We’re also batching up types of applications for processing and setting up panels to assess applications – so it’s faster.

    We found that processing drone applications was eating up a huge amount of our time – now we’ve worked with iwi and with our technical staff to determine in advance where drones are allowed and where the no-fly zones are.

    We now process all drone permits within a week and it’s cut down our admin time immensely.

    We’re looking to do similar things with other categories of permits.

    Part of the backlog is caused by all the layers of rules we are obliged to follow, so streamlining our legislation will be a big help – we’ve gone out for public consultation on that and advice will go to Ministers shortly.

    This is a big deal for DOC – we’re doing everything we can to shift this, to make it easier for you to work with us. It will help to grow local businesses, and we can free up time and resources to push back into conservation.

    DOC is New Zealand’s biggest tourism provider

    It’s important we get concessions right because concessionaires play an important role in the tourism system – DOC enables 1,000 tourism businesses to operate on conservation land and water.

    DOC is also the largest provider of visitor experiences in New Zealand, with over 16,000 hut beds. We enjoy hosting 64,000 walkers on the Great Walks each year.

    Conservation-related tourism is worth around $3.4 billion a year – that’s still down about $900m since before Covid, but numbers are starting to bounce back.

    Most visitors come here for our mountains, open landscapes, quirky wildlife, and unique cultural heritage.

    50% of international tourists visit national parks – a quarter of them deliberately seek out places of significance to Māori.

    80% of New Zealanders visit public conservation land each year.

    Visitor satisfaction is high, but we still have a lot to do to protect the experiences we’re promising, and make sure the environment is looked after.

    NZ’s economy needs nature

    Nature is key to the economy and if we don’t look after it, people will stop buying our products and they won’t visit.

    70% of NZ’s export earnings are from sectors that rely directly on natural resources.

    The clean air, quality soil, and fresh water that public conservation land provides are worth around $11 billion per year. [1]

    Natural and physical capital on public conservation land is worth $134 billion, and National Parks are worth $12.6 billion to New Zealanders.

    When storms take out DOC assets, your communities suffer.

    I know there’s huge frustration when tracks like Rob Roy and Blue Pools close at short notice.

    The torrential rain and floods in February 2020 which damaged more than 30 bridges and hundreds of kilometres of track, on the Routeburn and Milford tracks had a massive impact. That event, along with COVID hard on its heels, saw visitor spending in the region cut by half. [2]

    We’ve been working over the past five years to deliver a $14m flood recovery programme to restore these important visitor experiences.

    On the other hand there’s huge opportunity for conservation tourism – I know Real Journeys offers this – where people get involved while they’re out enjoying nature.

    Another opportunity is film tourism – the Lord of the Rings series has really helped send a postcard from New Zealand to the world and we should be exploring this further.

    Our economy depends on nature – but nature is in trouble.

    We have the highest proportion of threatened native species in the world – with more than 4,000 currently threatened or at risk of extinction.

    Climate change – more fires, floods and severe storms – are making the problem worse.

    We estimate it would cost around $2.3 billion per year to look after all threatened species properly and maintain healthy ecosystems to ensure their security.

    Our biodiversity budget is around $300 million – which puts us just in the ‘preventing losses’ space.

    Visitor network challenges

    When it comes to recreation – DOC has a few challenges.

    Our visitor network is large – we can only afford about 70% of it.

    We can’t replace all our existing assets as they reach the end of their useful life because we will run out of depreciation funding to replace them.

    And our construction costs are going up – in recent years we spent over $3m on the Mintaro hut and surrounding structures. It costs us 30% more now to build swing bridges in the back country than it did four years ago.

    Another challenge is to meet the growing and changing visitor demand. New Zealanders and international visitors want more accessible, shorter walks.

    Longer tramps are no longer in the top 20 activities.

    Severe weather is damaging the assets that we’ve got.

    Our spending on storm repairs has quadrupled in the past five years and 300 of our coastal assets are in the danger zone from rising sea levels.

    I know closures of key sites on the Milford Corridor like The Chasm have been frustrating for some operators and visitors.

    It’s in an area subject to extreme rainfall. We need to be confident we’re making the appropriate level of investment for the site.

    We’ve completed the geotech work and are progressing the design – but with tight resources we have to be careful.

    Likewise Tunnel Beach walkway in Dunedin suffered serious damage last year from torrential rain, and we’ve got similar issues there. Similarly Lake Sylvan near Glenorchy.

    Another emerging challenge is with social media influencers – whose photos are encouraging people to go beyond their capabilities to get that perfect insta shot.

    We’ve also seen some appalling and dangerous visitor behaviour this summer with people driving over birds nesting on beaches, and harassing sea lions to get a better photo or video.

    We’ve also had 5 fatalities this year where people have gone beyond track ends, including two recent ones in Otago.

    Responsible camping is another hot topic – the Valley of the Trolls and Brewster Glacier are the two local examples where the volume of people camping are having an impact on the sites, so we are encouraging people to camp responsibly.

    I applaud the actions being taken by the station owner at Earnslaw Station to keep the area pristine and reminding people to be respectful.

    Another issue DOC is seeing is the uneven distribution of visitors.

    Some assets are under-used with plenty having fewer than 200 visitors per year in places.

    On the other hand, some iconic locations such as Piopiotahi Milford Sound or Aoraki Mt Cook, are becoming increasingly popular, car parks are overflowing and this is negatively affecting the environment.

    We are working on how we manage numbers so the experience is safe and sustainable.

    So what are we doing about it?

    Here’s our plan for resolving some of these issues.

    There are things we can do under existing frameworks, so we’ve started.

    We’re taking a strategic approach to funding from the International Visitor Levy and investing it in ways that improves the visitor experience at our most popular places.

    For example, national parks – people come here for nature so we need to make sure nature’s sustained in those areas.

    We’re also investing in short walks – bringing tracks back up to standard, removing graffiti, re-gravelling tracks.

    We’re looking at charging for carparks and more of our huts – this improves the proportion of charges to the user, reducing the cost to all New Zealanders.

    From next summer we will pilot carparking charges at Aoraki/Mt Cook, Punakaiki and Franz Josef Glacier to help manage visitor numbers and cover upkeep costs – like other countries do.

    I’ve already told you the work we’re doing at pace to fix our permissions system.

    What’s coming

    In future we’re exploring charges to access some high-volume areas, like they do overseas, to help pay toward the upkeep of the visitor network.

    Currently we can only charge people who stay in a hut, or businesses who operate on conservation land.

    Visitors who do short walks – the most popular activity – don’t pay anything.

    We’ve been out for public consultation and overall the feedback was supportive – especially for charging international visitors more.

    On law reform, we want to prune back all the layers of regulation that are paralysing us. Modernising legislation will help fix this by cutting processing times and reducing costs for businesses.

    We’re also looking at our visitor network and trying different things. We want to realign our network to make sure it’s affordable and we can better meet the changing demand for experiences.

    We need to build in resilience so we’re not just building back assets which will get washed away in the next flood.

    We’re thinking of different categories like ‘buckets’, being really clear about what’s special to New Zealanders and keeping visitor risk and safety top of mind.

    The first bucket would be the things that DOC will absolutely continue to own and maintain, things like Great Walks, highly visited tracks, huts, and campsites.

    There might be some experiences that DOC wants to move away from.

    Like a hut at a road end where people regularly load up with lots of alcohol and then trash it. Or parts of tracks that are continually being washed out.

    And then we need to work out the things DOC would still own, but others might manage.

    Like halls, pools and some camp sites.

    We are also looking at how we partner with others to provide experiences – we’ve just done this on the new Hump Ridge track Great Walk – with the Charitable Trust operating it under a licensing agreement.

    The Backcountry Trust is doing an amazing job of maintaining our low use, backcountry huts – and we’re partnering with them through the Community Hut Programme and funding from the visitor levy.

    I want to be clear that no decisions have been made by Ministers yet – there is still a way to go. It will also be phased in over time.

    We’re preparing advice on this now and hope to get that to Ministers by the middle of this year.

    Ministers will need to make some tough calls on doing things differently – Minister Potaka has said publicly he wants us to sharpen our focus so we’re putting our resources into the things that matter most.

    That means concentrating on high value conservation areas and species, and key visitor destinations – and working out where we should divest, co-fund or partner with others on.

    Tongariro Alpine Crossing – case study

    We’re already testing ideas on managing visitors at our busiest spots – like the Tongariro Alpine Crossing.

    We’ve had a lot of problems in the past with high visitor numbers, people not properly prepared, and visitors not respecting the track or the mountain – in fact some would go to the toilet on the track.

    We’ve been working in partnership with Ngāti Hikairo and local tourism operators and come up with some innovative solutions.

    We’ve introduced the first booking system for a day walk in NZ.

    We’ve got Manaaki Rangers on site during peak times to explain the cultural heritage and why it’s important to respect the mountain.

    We have done a lot of research to understand the impacts of visitors, including what the carrying capacity is and what the environmental impacts are.

    We’ve also added a climate station to help support concessionaries with better weather forecasts.

    And we’re running behaviour change campaigns.

    We’re getting results – 80 – 90% of visitors are complying with the booking system, which has given us the ability to directly contact walkers before they head out and give them the safety and cultural messages.

    As a result visitors are now a lot more aware and respectful of the environment they’re heading into.

    Working with Ngāti Hikairo has also helped us connect with concessionaires, so they understand the cultural importance of the landscape – hosting hui with operators has helped work through issues and opportunities.

    This work is not easy, but this case study shows it can be done. We need to work out how to scale up this model and apply it elsewhere.

    Again – it’s not perfect, but we’re making progress and we will test and adapt.

    Cathedral Cove – case study

    Another example of where we’re working with manawhenua and local businesses to manage visitors is at Mautohe / Cathedral Cove in Coromandel.

    The walking track was closed for an extended period because of damage from Cyclone Gabrielle, and we had concerns about visitor safety – falling rocks, track washed away.

    Funding from the International Visitor Conservation and Tourism Levy meant we could reinstate walking access by re-routing the track temporarily.

    We’re pleased to see visitors enjoying the cove again – with hundreds of people a day back over summer.

    We’re doing intensive monitoring of numbers – we’ve looked at how to manage visitors through car parking and shuttles.

    And we had our staff and ambassadors on site over summer to ensure people have a great time and the place is well looked after.

    Ongoing geological risk is one of the main challenges we have at this site. The response plan gives us a good process and guidelines to manage visitor safety and minimising risk for visitors.

    The plan involves monitoring the weather – in particular heavy rain, and seismic information – if there are concerns we trigger inspections of the track and decide whether we need to take action to minimise the risk to visitors.

    Mobilising for Nature 

    We also want people to fall in love with nature and mobilise them into action.

    We want to create a nationwide movement where action for nature is something we all do, because we are proud of our unique species and landscapes.  

    But so many New Zealanders don’t see the scale of the challenge or fully appreciate the consequences of losing what we have. 

    And if they do want to get involved, they don’t know how.

    We’re focusing on raising awareness at scale and attracting more funding from other parties to sustain our important conservation delivery work. 

    DOC and New Zealand Nature Fund are piloting a Nature Prospectus – so the public can donate directly to, or corporates can fund, three priority projects.

    We’ve also signed up to the International Island Ocean Connection Challenge – to rewild three of our biggest islands – Auckland Island, Chatham Islands and Rakiura – to bring more revenue from international philanthropists.

    Tourism needs nature – making Rakiura predator free will be a big part of this and I encourage you to get behind it – you only need to see how Ulva Island draws the tourists.

    We’re aiming to connect people with nature – including encouraging people to get out into nature.

    We will also be developing a range of actions that are easily available for people and businesses to take, including donating or investing.

    Close

    So you can see DOC has many roles and challenges.

    We are working at pace on them.

    I appreciate those of you who’ve provided feedback on our proposals to modernise our legislation and explore access charging.

    I’m looking forward to hearing your feedback and having a discussion with you.

    Kia ora

    Related links

    1. Assessing the value of public conservation land: Managing conservation
    2. Report from Great South, outlines the serious economic and social impact on Te Anau and Fiordland from the twin disasters of unprecedented floods in February and border closures due to COVID-19. Fiordland counts the cost post floods and COVID-19

    Contact

    For media enquiries contact:

    Email: media@doc.govt.nz

    MIL OSI New Zealand News

  • MIL-OSI New Zealand: Climate – March was dry for most; warm for the South Island – NIWA’s Monthly Climate Summary March 2025

    Source: NIWA

    March was dry for most parts of New Zealand, and warm for the South Island, according to the Monthly Climate Summary issued by the National Institute of Water and Atmospheric Research (NIWA).
    Below normal rainfall or well below normal rainfall was observed across much of the North Island, and northern, western and inland parts of the South Island. Above normal rainfall or well above normal rainfall was observed in Gisborne, northern Hawke’s Bay, and the eastern South Island. The highest 1-day rainfall was 186 mm, recorded at Milford Sound on 17 March.
    Over March 2025, temperatures were above average or well above average for most of the South Island, as well as parts of Wellington, Taranaki, northern Hawke’s Bay, Bay of Plenty, and Northland. Temperatures were typically near average for the remainder of the country. The highest temperature was 33.6°C, observed at Timaru on 17 March.
    At the end of March, soil moisture levels were well below normal for most of the North Island, and northwestern parts of the South Island. Soil moisture levels were above normal about Banks Peninsula, Selwyn District, and southern and northern parts of Hawke’s Bay. Elsewhere, soil moisture levels were mostly near normal.
    Of the six main centres in March 2025, Auckland and Tauranga were the equal-warmest, Tauranga was the driest and sunniest, Christchurch was the wettest, and Dunedin was the coolest and least sunny. The sunniest three locations so far in 2025 are Taranaki, Bay of Plenty and Auckland. 

    MIL OSI New Zealand News

  • MIL-OSI USA: 04.03.2025 Sens. Cruz, Padilla Introduce Bill to Improve Fog Forecasting, Boost Vessel Safety at Ports

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Texas Ted Cruz

    WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senate Commerce Committee Chairman Ted Cruz (R-Texas) and Sen. Alex Padilla (D-Calif.) today introduced the Fog Observations and Geographic Forecasting Act (FOG Forecasting Act), bipartisan legislation to improve the National Weather Service’s (NWS) fog forecasting capabilities to enhance safety at America’s ports and help prevent costly shipping delays caused by dense fog.
    Upon introduction, Sen. Cruz said, “In my hometown of Houston, we’ve seen unexpected severe fog occurrences delay goods coming in and out of Port Houston. The FOG Forecasting Act would keep vessels moving safely and swiftly at U.S. ports, benefiting shippers, exporters, and consumers. I’m glad to partner on legislation with Sen. Padilla to help produce more accurate fog forecasts that will reduce collisions between vessels, ensure American cargo reaches its destinations intact and on time, and save millions in economic costs from port closures.”
    Sen. Padilla said, “Californians along the Pacific Coast have experienced how unpredictably dense and dangerous the marine layer fog can be. Fog can create hazardous conditions, increasing collision risk for ships transporting essential goods to and from California’s high-volume ports. As communities prepare for and respond to increasingly severe weather patterns, strengthening NOAA’s weather forecasting capabilities is an important bipartisan priority to bolster safer transportation at sea and in the air along our coastlines.”
    Read the bill text here.
    BACKGROUND
    This past February, widespread fog in Houston caused significant disruption to the city’s port operations, impacting the Houston Ship Channel’s navigation for nearly two weeks and ultimately reducing cargo flows through the port. Studies have shown that poor visibility, often fog-associated, significantly impacts maritime traffic safety, predisposing vessels to collision accidents. Approximately 70% of ship collisions are attributed to foggy conditions, underscoring the critical need for effective monitoring and management of fog in maritime operations. Marine fog is the primary reason for Houston port closures, and each hour the port is closed can have over $100 million in economic costs. Smaller ports such as Freeport, Port Lavaca, and Texas City can also lose millions of dollars for each hour their ports are closed. too.
    The FOG Forecasting Act would require the NWS to establish more marine-based observations that measure visibility, temperatures, dewpoints, and water levels, as well as provide cameras needed to enhance the safe navigation of vessels. The bill would also improve high-resolution modeling capabilities to produce more accurate wind, temperature, dewpoint, and visibility forecasts. These new techniques will give users more detailed and visually appealing information on visibility. Better fog forecasts would reduce uncertainty, allowing ports to reopen sooner, get commerce moving, and reduce the economic costs of port closures.

    MIL OSI USA News

  • MIL-OSI USA: Rep. LaMalfa Co-Leads Legislation to Repeal California’s Extreme Vehicle Emissions Mandates

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Doug LaMalfa 1st District of California

    Washington, D.C.— Yesterday, the House Energy and Commerce Committee along with key California Western Caucus members introduced three Congressional Review Act (CRA) resolutions to overturn the Biden administration’s approval of California’s vehicle emissions mandates, including the Advanced Clean Cars II regulation, the Advance Clean Trucks regulation, and the Omnibus Low-NOx Emissions rule. These rules, previously approved by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), allow California to impose aggressive regulations on cars and trucks that drive up costs and restrict consumer choice in California and nationwide.

    The three CRAs, co-lead by Congressman Doug LaMalfa (R-Richvale), were introduced by Representatives John Joyce (R-PA), John James (R-MI), and Jay Obernolte (R-CA) and would repeal these unrealistic mandates, preventing California from being able to force these costly policies on its residents and onto the rest of the country.

    “California’s sweeping and unachievable emissions mandates are a direct assault on everyone who lives, works, or does business in our state,” said Rep. LaMalfa. “These regulations drive up costs, limit consumer choice, and force trucking and automotive industries into an impossible transition timeline. Californians are already paying some of the highest fuel and energy costs in the country. These rules are causing the cost of new and used cars and trucks to increase for everyone. If you want to buy an electric vehicle, buy one, but everybody else shouldn’t be forced into this mandate. The Federal Government cannot allow one state to destroy the American car and truck market. Instead of making life even more expensive, we should focus on what consumers want. I’m pleased to support this effort to stop California’s insanity and protect drivers and consumers across my state and the country.”

    “The American people should choose what vehicle is right for them, not California bureaucrats. By submitting the three California waivers to Congress, Administrator Zeldin is ensuring that Congress has oversight of these major rules that impact every American,” said House Energy and Commerce Chairman Guthrie. “The Committee has been committed to addressing this issue since California first attempted to create a de facto EV mandate. Energy and Commerce Republicans will continue to fight against far-left policies that would harm consumers and will now work to ensure that the Congressional Review Act process finally puts these issues to rest.”

    Background

    Under the Clean Air Act, states are generally prohibited from setting their own tailpipe emission standards for cars and trucks. However, California has a unique exemption under Section 209, which allows the state to establish its own emissions regulations if it submits a waiver to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and receives approval. Once granted, these California standards can also be adopted by other states under Section 177 of the Clean Air Act. Currently, about a dozen states follow California’s emissions policies, effectively turning the state’s regulations into a nationwide mandate.

    The Biden administration approved several controversial waivers requested by the California Air Resources Board (CARB), allowing the state to impose extreme emissions rules that impact car and truck costs and availability across the country. These include:

    • Advanced Clean Cars II (ACC2) – Approved in December 2024, this regulation mandates that 35% of new car sales be zero-emission by 2026, increasing to 100% by 2035. At least 12 states have already adopted ACC2. Failure to meet this goal means a maximum penalty of $25,000 per non-compliant vehicle sold to consumers.
    • Advanced Clean Trucks (ACT) – Approved in March 2023, this regulation forces truck manufacturers and retailers to meet strict zero-emission quotas by 2035, including 55% of Class 2B-3 truck sales, 75% of Class 4-8 straight truck sales, and 40% of truck tractor sales. At least 11 states have adopted ACT.
    • Omnibus Low-NOx Emissions Rule – Approved in December 2024, this regulation imposes aggressive emissions reductions on medium- and heavy-duty truck and other engines, requiring NOx emissions to be cut by 75% below current standards for Model Year 2024-2026 compared to 2010 levels and particulate matter emissions to be cut by 50%.

    Congressman Doug LaMalfa is Chairman of the Congressional Western Caucus and a lifelong farmer representing California’s First Congressional District, including Butte, Colusa, Glenn, Lassen, Modoc, Shasta, Siskiyou, Sutter, Tehama and Yuba Counties.

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    MIL OSI USA News

  • MIL-OSI USA: Kennedy announces $1.3 million in Hurricane Ida aid for Louisiana Office of Risk Management

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator John Kennedy (Louisiana)

    WASHINGTON – Sen. John Kennedy (R-La.), a member of the Senate Appropriations Committee, today announced $1,265,547 in Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) grants for Louisiana disaster aid. 

    “Hurricane Ida’s storm surge, rains and winds badly damaged facilities in our state. This $1.3 million will help Louisianians cover the cost of office contents that Ida destroyed,” said Kennedy.

    The FEMA aid will fund the following:

    • $1,265,547 to the Office of Risk Management to replace office contents that Hurricane Ida damaged.

    MIL OSI USA News

  • MIL-OSI: National Fuel Announces Executive Management Change

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    Utility President Donna DeCarolis to Retire;
    Will Continue to Serve as a Senior Energy Advisor to National Fuel

    Michael Colpoys to Succeed DeCarolis as
    President of National Fuel Gas Distribution Corporation

    WILLIAMSVILLE, N.Y., April 03, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — National Fuel Gas Company (“National Fuel” or the “Company”) (NYSE: NFG) today announced that Donna L. DeCarolis, President of National Fuel Gas Distribution Corporation, the Utility segment of National Fuel Gas Company, has indicated her intention to retire, effective July 1, 2025, after more than 40 years of service.

    While Donna retires from the day-to-day management of New York’s largest natural gas only utility, she is being retained as a Senior Energy Advisor for the Company, continuing her role actively representing National Fuel in New York’s statewide energy policy matters. Since 2019 when New York passed the most aggressive climate and decarbonization legislation in the country, DeCarolis has been a staunch advocate for natural gas customers and the need for them to have affordable, reliable and resilient energy options. She has participated in hundreds of community conversations to increase awareness and education on the State’s climate mandates and their potential impact on the lives of New York residents as well as the State’s economy. DeCarolis has been an active presence in Albany identifying real regional differences, and how a policy that might work downstate is potentially harmful for upstate New York due to our more extreme weather and less wealth than metro New York City. Her important role as a vocal advocate in this arena is not going to change, she’ll just be in a different capacity as a senior advisor for National Fuel.

    “Donna’s leadership has made a lasting mark on National Fuel and the communities and organizations she has served for more than 40 years,” said David P. Bauer, President and Chief Executive Officer of National Fuel Gas Company. “Her dedication and vision have helped shape the long-term success of our organization, and I am pleased that she will continue to represent the Company in key energy policy matters as a senior advisor. I hope that her next chapter will be as rewarding as her career has been for National Fuel.”

    DeCarolis was named President of National Fuel Gas Distribution Corporation, National Fuel’s Utility subsidiary, in February 2019. Prior to that, since 2007, she held the title of Vice President of Business Development for National Fuel Gas Company. During her more than 40-year tenure with the Company, she ascended through several different business areas, including Corporate Investor Relations, Utility Customer Quality Assurance, Corporate Communications, Human Resources, Utility Energy Marketing, Government Affairs, Utility Consumer Business/Customer Service as well as having previously been president of several of the Company’s non-regulated business entities. Active in her support of the community, Donna has served in leadership capacities on the boards of the Business Council of New York, the Buffalo Niagara Partnership, Frank Lloyd Wright’s Darwin Martin House Restoration Complex, Leadership Buffalo, Shea’s O’Connell Preservation Guild, the University at Buffalo’s School of Management, Buffalo Sabres Foundation, Niagara University and the African American Veteran’s Monument.

    Shortly after assuming the role of Utility President, DeCarolis was named the second appointment to the New York State Climate Action Council, a 22-member body created in statute under the Climate Leadership and Community Protection Act (Climate Act). The Council was charged with developing a plan to reach New York State’s 2030 and 2050 greenhouse gas emission reduction goals and spent three years developing a final scoping plan, issued December 2022. DeCarolis was one of the three energy industry executives to vote against the Scoping Plan because of unanswered and unaddressed concerns about the Climate Act’s impact on customer affordability, energy reliability, the elimination of customer choice and the overall impact on New York’s ability to maintain its business competitiveness if the state were to decarbonize and electrify everything.

    The Company also announced that on July 1, 2025, DeCarolis will be succeeded by Michael Colpoys as President of National Fuel Gas Distribution Corporation. Colpoys is a long-tenured National Fuel officer who has spent much of his career on the Operations side of the industry. With decades of experience in all aspects of utility operations, Colpoys was named Senior Vice President for National Fuel Gas Distribution Corporation in 2021, gaining oversight for all utility field operations in New York and Pennsylvania. In addition, he oversees the Rates and Regulatory Affairs, Energy Services and Gas Supply Administration departments.

    Originally from Buffalo, Colpoys started his career in 1987 as a Management Trainee and was promoted to Junior Engineer in 1988. In the following years, he was promoted numerous times, advancing to Assistant Vice President of Distribution Corporation in 2009 and then to Vice President in 2015 of National Fuel Gas Midstream Company where he oversaw the development, construction and operation of the company’s expanding gathering pipelines. In 2016, he was named Vice President of Distribution Corporation. He received a bachelor’s degree from Clarkson University and a Master of Business Administration from Penn State Behrend.

    Colpoys resides in Erie, Pa., and is actively involved with industry, business and community groups, serving on the boards of Northeast Gas Association, Energy Association of Pennsylvania, Pennsylvania Chamber, Erie Downtown Development Corporation, Penn State Behrend College of Fellows and the 100 Club of Buffalo.

    National Fuel is an integrated energy company reporting financial results for four operating segments: Exploration and Production, Pipeline and Storage, Gathering and Utility. National Fuel Gas Distribution Corporation is the Utility segment of National Fuel Gas Company and provides natural gas service for 2.2 million residents in Western New York and Northwestern Pennsylvania. Additional information about National Fuel is available at www.nationalfuel.com.

    Photos accompanying this announcement are available at
    https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/d16aac8d-4110-4b4a-9e31-e12c1a87dce2
    https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/e1cb8680-74fe-4355-a3c5-3c5878a05868

    The MIL Network

  • MIL-OSI Canada: Wildfire and flood preparedness reminders for April

    Source: Government of Canada regional news

    Wildfire and flood preparedness reminders for April
    zaburke
    April 3, 2025 – 10:49 am

    Wildfire season officially begins on April 1, bringing burning rules into effect regardless of snow coverage.

    In the Yukon, Yukoners are legally required to get permission to light an open fire between April 1 and September 30. This includes lighting an open fire for any purpose other than a campfire, burning grass, debris or brush in a burn barrel and burning on all public and private lands. To get permission, people must call their local Wildland Fire Management base.

    Wildfire prevention is everyone’s responsibility. Never leave a fire unattended and keep tools to put it out close by. Put it out by soaking it with water, stirring it with a stick and repeating until the coals are cold.

    As fire season begins, the Government of Yukon is providing more information on the Wildfire Hub. This year, the fire danger map will show the current fire restrictions for every part of the Yukon. The Hub will also have more information about wildfire mitigation work, such as fuel breaks. The Wildfire and Flood Hubs can be accessed through www.yukon.ca/emergencies.

    As spring approaches, Government of Yukon emergency planners have met with municipal and First Nations governments to update community emergency plans and conduct training exercises together. When there is an above-average snowpack, such as in the Klondike area this year, planners work with the affected communities to ensure response plans are up-to-date. This includes pre-positioning sandbags, sandbag machines and other response materials as needed.

    This spring, an emergency preparedness campaign will run in April and May, including radio, print and social media ads leading into Emergency Preparedness Week in May. The campaign will remind Yukoners to prepare for emergencies by creating an emergency plan for their family or household, making an emergency kit with supplies for 72 hours and tips on preparing your property for flooding or wildfires. These resources can be found online at www.preparedyukon.ca. 
     

    Emergency preparedness is a top priority for our government and a shared responsibility for everyone. We are working with our partners to review and update emergency plans to ensure we are prepared to respond if needed. I encourage Yukoners to think about their own personal preparedness. No matter the emergency, you need to have an emergency plan and an emergency kit. 

    Minister of Community Services Richard Mostyn

    Quick facts

    • Burning is only allowed when the fire danger is low. If you live in Dawson, Whitehorse or Watson Lake you also need permission from your local government.

    • This spring, emergency planners have visited Southern Lakes communities including Tagish, Mount Lorne and Marsh Lake; Faro and Ross River; and this week, Whitehorse, Dawson and the Klondike Valley, with a visit to Watson Lake planned in April.

    Media contact

    Laura Seeley
    Cabinet Communications
    867-332-7627
    laura.seeley@yukon.ca 

    Julia Duchesne
    Communications, Community Services
    867-332-4188
    julia.duchesne@yukon.ca 
     

    News release #:

    25-149

    Related information:

    Get emergency updates
    Apply for a burn permit
    Keep your property safe from wildfires
    Get Yukon wildfire updates
    Preparing for a flood

    MIL OSI Canada News

  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: India calls on BRICS to Unite on ‘Baku to Belem Roadmap’ to Mobilize USD 1.3 Trillion for Achieving NDC Goals, at the 11th BRICS Environment Ministers’ Meeting in Brasilia

    Source: Government of India

    India calls on BRICS to Unite on ‘Baku to Belem Roadmap’ to Mobilize USD 1.3 Trillion for Achieving NDC Goals, at the 11th BRICS Environment Ministers’ Meeting in Brasilia

    India emphasizes on Collaborative Climate Action among BRICS Nations for Strengthening Global Sustainability and Just Transition for All

    Posted On: 03 APR 2025 8:16PM by PIB Delhi

    India has vociferously advocated the need for a Collective Leadership for advancing the 2030 Climate Agenda at the 11th BRICS Environment Ministers’ Meeting, held in Brasilia, Brazil, today. The Indian delegation was led by Sh. Amandeep Garg, Additional Secretary, Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEFCC).

    Session I: Advancing Environmental Cooperation amongst BRICS towards Sustainable Development and a Just Transition for All

    During the first session, India underscored BRICS’ pivotal role in shaping global sustainability and Climate action. Highlighting that BRICS nations collectively account for 47% of the world’s population and contribute 36% of global GDP (PPP), India emphasized the group’s responsibility in addressing climate change and sustainable development.

    India reaffirmed the significance of the New Delhi Statement from the 7th BRICS Environment Ministers’ Meeting 2021, which advocates a holistic approach to climate action by integrating adaptation, mitigation, and means of implementation. Stressing the urgent need for equitable carbon budget utilization, India called for a balanced transition that prioritizes developing nations’ growth while ensuring sustainability.

    A key focus was the Baku to Belem Roadmap, aimed at securing USD 1.3 trillion in climate finance to support Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs). India urged BRICS partners to strengthen climate financing mechanisms to meet global sustainability commitments effectively.

    On energy security, India reiterated commitments made in the BRICS New Delhi Declaration (2021), which promotes a diversified energy mix, including fossil fuels, hydrogen, nuclear, and renewables. India highlighted the Green Grids Initiative – One Sun, One World, One Grid, launched under the International Solar Alliance, as a transformative project for global renewable energy integration.

    India also emphasized the role of resource efficiency and the circular economy in achieving sustainability goals. The Resource Efficiency and Circular Economy Industry Coalition, launched under G20, was cited as a model for global corporate collaboration in sustainable resource management.

    “A Just Transition must acknowledge the diverse economic realities of nations. Each country has a unique development pathway, and the provision of adequate means of implementation—in finance, technology, and capacity-building—is essential to ensuring that no nation or community is left behind in this transition. As BRICS nations, we must strengthen our engagements in multilateral forums, championing the interests of developing economies and advocating for a fair and equitable transition”, India’s statement read.

    Session II: Collective Leadership for Climate and the 2030 Agenda

    In the second session, India highlighted that the expansion of BRICS from five to eleven members strengthens its leadership in global climate governance. With BRICS nations facing common environmental challenges such as desertification, pollution and biodiversity loss, India stressed the importance of collective action and shared responsibility.

    Emphasizing the need for fair and equitable climate transition, India stressed for continued collaboration amongst BRICS Nations at multilateral forums such as UNFCCC, UNCCD, CBD, and UNEA. The country reiterated the principle of Common but Differentiated Responsibilities and Respective Capabilities (CBDR-RC) as a fundamental guideline for climate negotiations.

    India also acknowledged BRICS’ leadership in sustainability through flagship initiatives, including the Partnership for Urban Environmental Sustainability, the Clean Rivers Programme, and Sustainable Urban Management. The country called for enhanced cooperation in tackling marine plastic pollution, improving air quality, and printing resource efficiency.

    On Climate Finance, India highlighted the urgent need for developed nations to fulfill their commitments, noting that the proposed USD 300 billion per year by 2035 under the New Collective Quantified Goal on Climate Finance is far below the required USD 1.3 trillion. India emphasized the importance of COP30, to be hosted in Brazil, as a critical milestone for advancing global adaptation and resilience efforts.

    India also reiterated its leadership in conservation and sustainability, mentioning initiatives such as the International Big Cat Alliance, a global effort for wildlife conservation. Furthermore, India urged BRICS nations to join global sustainability initiatives like the International Solar Alliance, Leadership Group for Industry Transition, and Global Biofuel Alliance to accelerate collective climate action.

    India reaffirmed its commitment to working collaboratively with BRICS partners to drive transformative change in climate action, environmental cooperation, and sustainable development. The Indian delegation expressed gratitude to Brazil, the BRICS Chair, for hosting the meeting and emphasized the importance of continued engagement for a greener, more resilient future.

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    VM/GS
     

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    MIL OSI Asia Pacific News

  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: PARLIAMENT QUESTION: MONSOON FORECAST AND CLIMATE RESILIENCE

    Source: Government of India

    Posted On: 03 APR 2025 6:43PM by PIB Delhi

    The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has adopted a new strategy for issuing monthly and seasonal operational forecasts for the southwest monsoon rainfall over the country based on both the statistical forecasting system and the newly developed Multi-Model Ensemble (MME) based forecasting system. The MME approach uses the coupled global climate models (CGCMs) from different global climate prediction and research centers, including IMD’s Monsoon Mission Climate Forecasting System (MMCFS) model. The MMCFS and MME forecasts are updated every month. This was to satisfy the demands from different users and Government authorities for the forecasts of the spatial distribution of monthly and seasonal rainfall along with the regionally averaged rainfall forecasts for better regional planning of activities.

    Since introducing the Statistical Ensemble Forecasting System (SEFS) in 2007 and implementing the MME approach in 2021 for seasonal forecasting, IMD operational forecast for the monsoon rainfall has shown noticeable improvement. For example, the average absolute forecast error in the forecasting of all India’s seasonal rainfall has reduced by about 21% during the recent 18 years (2007-2024) compared to the same number of  previous years (1989-2006), which indicates a highly successful forecast in recent years compared to previous years. The anomaly correlation between the observed and forecast ISMR during 2007-2023 was 0.55 compared to -0.21 during 1989-2006. It may be noted that IMD was able to correctly forecast the twin deficient monsoon years of 2014-2015, as well as the below-normal rainfall in 2023 and above-normal rainfall in 2024. These clearly indicate improvement made in the operational forecast system in the recent 18 years period compared to the earlier 18 years period. For 2025, the MME approach will continue to be used as this method introduced in 2021 has shown good skill in forecasting both the area-averaged rainfall at various geographical regions and spatial distribution of rainfall across the country at monthly as well as seasonal scales.

    To strengthen weather and climate services for the agriculture sector, the MoES has launched the Mission Mausam, which is envisaged to be a multi-faceted and transformative initiative to boost India’s weather and climate-related science, research, and services. The Mission is launched to make Bharat a weather-ready and climate-smart nation with the aim that no weather will go undetected and early warning for all. It will help monsoon-dependent agricultural regions, citizens, and last-mile users to tackle extreme weather events and the impacts of climate change in a better way.

    Further, the Mission’s focus includes improving the observations by augmenting various observational networks throughout the country to provide highly accurate and timely weather and climate information across temporal and spatial scales, capacity building, and awareness generation. Apart from physics-based numerical models, the Ministry is developing new methods based on artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning (ML) technologies for weather, climate, and ocean forecasting systems. And the formulation of collaborative research projects with academic institutions to share knowledge and develop innovative solutions for weather forecasting and climate modeling capabilities. Local user communities such as farmers/agricultural authorities, aviation authorities, power generation & distribution agencies, industries, health agencies, etc., are constantly involved/engaged, and periodic familiarization is imparted through user meet/stakeholder meet awareness programs, etc. The feedback is taken from the communities for the improvement of all-weather & climate services. Extensive use of local languages in forecast dissemination and regularly organizing workshops and awareness programs for community outreach is being undertaken.

    By strengthening the observational network will also help to observe the changes in long-term weather patterns compared to past years to assess the changes in the climate and take measures towards climate resilience.

    The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has been using satellite technology extensively for weather monitoring and forecasting. This started with the use of photographs from Television Infrared Observation Satellites (TIROS-1) launched by the United States of America (USA) in April 1960. These photographs provided new information on cloud systems, including spiral formations associated with large storms, immediately proving their value to operational meteorologists. Over the years, IMD has embraced new developments in satellites and their applications, boosted through global coordination and support, such as geostationary satellites in 1974 and polar-orbiting satellites. With the advent of Indian National Satellites (INSAT) developed by the Space Research Organisation (ISRO) satellites in 1982, IMD has augmented satellite applications utilizing image and data products in collaboration with the ISRO. Currently, IMD is utilizing available international satellites, including European Organisation for the Exploitation of Meteorological Satellites (EUMETSAT) and INSAT-3DR/3DS, as well as polar-orbiting satellites, including Oceansat-3 and Metop-B/C. The utilization of satellite data and products has improved nowcasting and severe weather along with timely detection of large-scale systems like monsoon circulation, cyclones, western disturbances, thunderstorms, etc. Above 90% of the data in the numerical models run by the Ministry of Earth Sciences (MoES) is satellite-based. The assimilation of satellite data in the models has improved the accuracy in short to medium range forecasting by about 20% to 30%. Algorithms/tools developed by IMD/ISRO and other international institutes, such as EUMETSAT, like nowcast tools, RAPID, Dvorak technique, etc., have improved decision-making and forecasting. These data and products are proven to be useful for disaster preparedness. However, there are still gaps in detecting small-scale weather events, such as cloudbursts, thunderstorms, localized heavy rainfall, squalls, hail storms, etc., due to a lack of high-resolution data, products, and satellite-based tools. Considering this, IMD and ISRO are working together for the development of the INSAT-4 series with better sensors and resolution.

    This information was given by Dr. Jitendra Singh, Union Minister of State (Independent Charge) for Science and Technology, Earth Sciences, MoS PMO, Department of Personnel, Public Grievances and Pensions, Department of Space and Department of Atomic Energy, in a written reply in the Rajya Sabha today.   

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    MIL OSI Asia Pacific News

  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: TARGET OF DOUBLING ENERGY EFFICIENCY

    Source: Government of India

    Posted On: 03 APR 2025 5:40PM by PIB Delhi

    The Government has prepared plans across key sectors namely Industry, Buildings (including appliances), Transport and Others/Miscellaneous. By implementing these plans, it is aimed to reduce the energy consumption by 89 Million tonnes of oil equivalent (Mtoe) in 2030 as compared to the scenario in which these interventions are not carried out.

    Sustainable cooling acts as a tool to address the growing cooling demand. To balance the growing cooling demand while ensuring the sustainable and energy efficient cooling solutions, two new building codes: the Energy Conservation and Sustainable Building Code (ECSBC) for commercial buildings and the Eco Niwas Samhita (ENS) for residential buildings have been published by the Bureau of Energy Efficiency (BEE) for adoption by States. The Air-conditioners, Ceiling Fans and Refrigerators have been brought under mandatory compliance of Standard and Labelling programme to ensure that energy efficient devices are deployed for cooling purposes.

    Additionally, with the overarching goal to address the rising cooling demand, Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEFCC) launched India Cooling Action Plan (ICAP).

    Bureau of Energy Efficiency, under the aegis of Ministry of Power has taken several initiatives to promote the energy efficiency in industry, transport and domestic sectors which includes;

    1. Perform, Achieve and Trade scheme to improve energy efficiency in energy-intensive industries. It sets sector-specific energy reduction targets, allowing industries to earn Energy Saving Certificates for exceeding targets, which can be traded on power exchanges. This incentivizes cost-effective energy savings while providing flexibility in compliance.
    2. Under the Standards and Labelling programme, the major energy consuming appliances are given star rating from 1 to 5 with 5 star as most efficient appliance. Based on star label, the consumer is encouraged for making informed choice regarding purchase of energy efficient appliances thereby saving electricity consumption.
    3. The Energy Conservation and Sustainable Building Code (ECSBC) for commercial buildings and the Eco Niwas Samhita (ENS) for residential buildings have been published for energy savings in building sector. These codes are to be adopted and implemented by the States / local bodies.
    4. Corporate Average Fuel Efficiency norms for passenger cars for energy savings in transport sector.

    This information was given by the Minister of State for Power, Shri Shripad Naik in a written reply in the Lok Sabha today.

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    MIL OSI Asia Pacific News

  • MIL-OSI USA: Polis Administration Awards $14.4 Million to Support Nation-Leading Efforts in Geothermal Heating

    Source: US State of Colorado

    Awards from two programs will support 16 geothermal heating studies and projects to bring affordable geothermal heat to Colorado homes and buildings

    STATEWIDE – The Colorado Energy Office (CEO) announced a total of $14.4 million in funding awards Thursday to support geothermal heating projects across Colorado. This funding from the Geothermal Energy Grant Program (GEGP) and Geothermal Energy Tax Credit Offering (GETCO) will enable awardees to plan and install geothermal heat pumps and thermal energy networks that deliver low-cost, energy efficient heating and cooling to homes and buildings around the state. Awardees include local governments, school districts, residential communities, a medical campus, and a wastewater treatment facility.

    “Geothermal energy – the heat beneath our feet – is a clean energy option that will help save Coloradans money and protect our state for future generations. I am thrilled to announce this $14.4 million investment in  advancing geothermal energy across our state and empower companies to harness the heat beneath our feet,” said Governor Polis.

    CEO made a total of 11 awards through the GEGP program and five through GETCO. Some projects qualified for both incentives based on project eligibility. This round of GEGP provided grants for single-structure geothermal, thermal energy network studies, and thermal energy network construction projects. GETCO recipients receive a refundable tax credit reservation that can be deducted from their income tax liability. Cycle two of GETCO provided tax credit reservations for geothermal electricity or thermal energy network studies and project installations.

    “Geothermal energy is such an important part of our overall effort to transform our energy system because it provides a clean, firm energy source for both buildings and electricity generation,” said CEO Executive Director Will Toor. “Geothermal heat pumps and thermal energy networks reduce greenhouse gas pollution while improving indoor air quality and saving Coloradans energy and money on heating and cooling costs. We are pleased to support such a diverse array of geothermal projects around the state through these two key incentive programs.”

    The awarded projects include a broad range of ways to utilize geothermal energy. For example, the City and County of Denver will use its GETCO award to study the creation of a cutting-edge, multisource district thermal system that provides heating and cooling through a shared water loop for 5.5 million square feet of municipal buildings.

    “The downtown thermal network pilot project is a key step toward a carbon-free downtown Denver,” said Liz Babcock, Executive Director of Denver’s Office of Climate Action, Sustainability and Resiliency. “With support from the state, Denver can meet our community’s needs while demonstrating how this affordable, reliable, and sustainable energy option can meet the needs of cold weather climate cities around the world.”

    Liberty School District J-4 will apply its funding to install a geothermal energy network for two buildings at Liberty School. This will replace a 60-year-old hydronic heating system with three cost-efficient heat pumps that will add cooling, improve ventilation, and enhance indoor air quality for better occupant health and comfort.

    “Liberty School District J-4 extends its heartfelt gratitude to the Colorado Energy Office for their invaluable support in funding a new geothermal heating and air conditioning system for our K-12 facility,” said Liberty School District J4 superintendent Rhonda Puckett. “Their guidance throughout the GETCO application process was instrumental in developing a compelling application narrative that demonstrated the significant needs of our building (IAQ, temperature control, reliability, etc.). With CEO’s support, our project is now financially viable and is planned to be completed in the summer/fall of 2025 and will significantly improve the learning environment for our students and serve the broader community as a whole.”

    GEGP recipients are:

    • Town of Bayfield: $51,000
    • Town of Mountain Village: $64,269.50
    • Town of Winter Park: $64,269.50
    • Karval School District: $225,000
    • Liberty School District: $246,000
    • Golden Hills: $60,000
    • Mount Zion Church: $240,000
    • Mountain View Church: $75,000
    • Memorial Hospital: $57,626.80
    • Metro Water Recovery: $250,000
    • Clayworks Parcel B3: $200,000

    GETCO awardees are:

    • Pitkin County: $131,700
    • Liberty School District: $1.109 million
    • City and County of Denver: $4.999 million
    • Eagle County: $3.484 million
    • Metro Water Recovery: $3.095 million

    This announcement marks the second round of funding for GEGP and GETCO. For the first cycle of GETCO, SIMCOE LLC received a tax credit reservation of $1 million for the Florida Mesa Geothermal Project to support the development of up to 20 MW of geothermal electricity in Southwestern Colorado. This funding will help SIMCOE LLC determine the heat source in the project location. The current application cycle for GETCO opened April 1 and will close June 30. GETCO applications will open twice annually through 2032 or until all $35 million in available tax credit reservations have been allocated.

    Last May, the Polis administration also announced $7.7 million in awards for the GEGP. Applications for the third GEGP funding round, which is the last planned round of funding for the program, closed March 31. CEO expects to announce awardees in early summer.

    In addition to these funding opportunities, the Colorado Heat Pump Tax Credit can help reduce the cost to install eligible heat pump technology, including geothermal heat pumps and thermal energy networks, through 2032.

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    MIL OSI USA News

  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: PARLIAMENT QUESTION: USING REMOTE SENSING DATA FOR SOCIAL DEVELOPMENT AND DISASTER MANAGEMENT

    Source: Government of India

    Posted On: 03 APR 2025 5:12PM by PIB Delhi

    Remote sensing data and space technology are widely employed for societal development activities/ programmes. The space technology is utilized in many of the government programmes targeting rural and remote areas of the country. The details of major programmes utilizing space based inputs are as given below:

    • Geospatial technology for supporting MGNREGA Programme (Geo- MGNREGA): The creation of assets and activities under the MGNREGA programme, are being monitored through Satellite data, Geoportal and mobile applications. More than 6.24 crore assets/ activities have been geo-tagged on the Geo-MGNREGA geoportal. Subsequently, Yuktdhara geospatial planning portal is also developed, for decision support towards planning and implementation of new assets or activities. Phase-II of Geo-MGNREGA project monitored changes over three years due to implementation of natural resource management activities in 23 Gram Panchayats (one Gram Panchayat for each state) of MGNREGA.
    • Integrated Watershed Management Programme: ISRO/ DOS has implemented Geospatial solution for monitoring of about 86,000 micro-watersheds under the Integrated Watershed Management Programme (PMKSY-WDC 1.0). Under this, more than 18 lakh watershed development interventions are geotagged. Under PMKSY-WDC 2.0, around 1150 projects are assessed through Bhuvan tools employing high resolution satellite data (Cartosat 2S & 3).
    • Space based Information Support for Decentralized Planning (SIS-DP): Under two phases of this project, very large scale (1:10,000) country level thematic database on Land Use / Land Cover, Drainage, Settlements, Rail & Road and slope is generated using remote sensing data. Visualisation and analytical tools are deployed on ‘Bhuvan Panchayat’ geoportal (https://bhuvanpanchayat.nrsc.gov.in) to facilitate developmental planning at Panchayat / Village level.
    • Rural Road Infrastructure Mapping: The high-resolution satellite data on Bhuvan was used for mapping rural roads under Pradhan Mantri Gram SadakYojana (PMGSY). Database of rural roads is prepared for entire country and PMGSY dashboard is deployed on Bhuvan Web Portal for monitoring the progress by MoRD and State Govt. Officials.
    • Under Pradhan MantriAwasYojana – Housing for All (PMAY-HFA) and Gramin project, a geospatial platform on the Bhuvan portal is developed to streamline the implementation of the (PMAY-HFA) initiative. It helps in managing the construction of homes for 78.64 Lakhs beneficiaries, to monitor progress through five distinct stages of construction and releasing funds based on project advancement.

    Under the Disaster Management Support Programme (DMSP) of ISRO/ DoS, ISRO enables the use of space-based inputs for disaster management activities by the respective nodal Ministries/ Departments. Space based inputs are being used in the hazard; vulnerability; risk (HVR) assessment, disaster monitoring, damage assessment, and development of early warning systems for major disasters such as flood, cyclones, landslide, earthquakes and forest fire. Data from Indian Earth Observation satellites such as Resourcesat-2 & 2A, Cartosat-2 Series, Cartosat-3, EOS-04 (RISAT-1A), EOS-06 (Oceansat-3) and INSAT-3DR & 3DS are being used for disaster management support, in addition to the data from various global satellite missions.

    During 2024, major floods were monitored using satellite data and about 300 flood inundation maps were provided to various State and Central disaster management agencies. As part of the National Hydrology Project (NHP), ISRO developed spatial flood early warning system for Godavari and Tapi Rivers. Flood alerts were disseminated through Bhuvan-NHP and NDEM Geoportals, and also to AP State Disaster Management Authority, with 2- day lead time and 85% accuracy. Very High Resolution data from India’s RISAT satellite was used for assessing the extent of the Wayanad (Kerala) landslide in July 2024. In the year 2024, tropical cyclones Remal, Asna, Dana and Fengal were monitored with INSAT-3DR, INSAT-3DS and Oceansat-3 data. Active forest fires were detected using satellite data daily 6 to 8 times during the Indian forest fire season in 2024 and the activity is ongoing for the fire season in 2025.

    This information was given by Dr. Jitendra Singh, Union Minister of State (Independent Charge) for Science and Technology, Earth Sciences, MoS PMO, Department of Personnel, Public Grievances and Pensions, Department of Space and Department of Atomic Energy, in a written reply in the Rajya Sabha today.   

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    MIL OSI Asia Pacific News

  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: PARLIAMENT QUESTION: UPDATES ON THE SPACE APPLICATIONS CENTRE OF ISRO

    Source: Government of India

    Posted On: 03 APR 2025 5:11PM by PIB Delhi

    The genesis of the Centre dates back to 1966, with establishment of the Experimental Satellite Communication Earth Station (ESCES), by late Dr. Vikram A Sarabhai in Ahmedabad. In 1972, the different units of ISRO in Ahmedabad pursuing research in applications of space technology were merged to form Space Applications Centre (SAC). A unique experiment called the Satellite Instructional Television Experiment (SITE) was conducted by SAC/ISRO during 1975-76. Hailed as ‘the largest techno-social experiment in the world’, SITE demonstrated the potential of satellite technology as an effective mass communication media, aimed at socio-economic development of rural India.

    Space Applications Centre (SAC), is a major and unique multi–disciplinary research and development Centre of the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO). SAC today stands high in each of its endeavour with its strong space research & development capabilities and continues to deliver world-class technologies and applications for various national, strategic, societal and technology demonstration missions of ISRO. These applications are in diverse areas and primarily meet the communication, navigation and remote sensing needs of the country. Located at Ahmedabad, SAC is spread across three campuses having multi-disciplinary activities apart from Delhi Earth Station (DES), which is located in New Delhi.

    SAC has state-of-the-art electronic and mechanical fabrication facilities, highly sophisticated payload integration, climatic & environmental test facilities, systems reliability area, image processing and analysis facilities and project management support group.

    SAC is the lead centre in the development of key payload technologies for Earth Observation, Communication, Navigation and Space Exploration. Further, the Centre also develops various applications that cater to various user ministries in the field of Agriculture, Meteorology, Fisheries, Oceanography, Environment, Forest, Railways, Urban development etc.

    The notable technologies that were developed by the Space Applications Centre for spacecraft payloads including S-Band SAR for NASA-ISRO Synthetic Aperture Radar (NISAR) mission, C-Band and X-Band Microwave Radars for RISAT series, Lander/Rover Cameras, Ka Radar Altimeters, Hazard Detection and Avoidance  Sensors for Lunar Landing for Chandrayaan-3, demonstration of spectrum sensing, ADS-B, GNSS-R reflectometry, Pseudolite systems for RLV, High resolution Electro-optical payloads, Ka-band payload for high throughput satellites (50 Gbps), spread-spectrum modems for Gaganyaan crew communication system, Indian Atomic clock-Indian Rubidium Atomic Frequency Standard (IRAFS) for NavIC and Travelling Wave Tube Amplifiers (TWTA) for Communication satellites. Currently, a large number of payloads are under various stages of realization at SAC including, GSAT-7R, HRSAT Series, Resourcesat-3 series, Oceansat-3A, G20- Satellite, Indian Mauritius Joint Satellite (IMJS), GSAT-N3, IDRSS-2, payloads for Quantum Communication.

    Various downstream applications developed and demonstrated for users include National Drought Portal for Krishi-Decision Support System (DSS), application development for Yield Estimation System based on Technology (YES-Tech) program under Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana (PMFBY), Geospatial Energy map portal of India, Sea Ice Advisories for polar expedition routes for National Centre for Polar and Ocean Research (NCPOR), System for national scale Crop Yield Estimation, Very short range weather forecast, Value added Agro-Met products for Gramin Krishi Mausam Sewa (GKMS), Hybrid weather prediction system for customized station specific weather forecast (transferred to Bihar Mausam Sewa Kendra (BMSK) for operational use), Satellite and in situ based data assimilative technique for ocean wave forecasting (transferred to Indian National Centre for Ocean Information Services (INCOIS) under the Ministry of Earth Sciences (MoES), Hyderabad), High Resolution Rapid Refresh (HRRR) methodology for using Doppler Weather Radars (DWR) data (transferred to India Meteorological Department (IMD), New Delhi), Satellite-based ocean drift model for search and rescue (transferred this application to National Operational Data Processing and analysis Centre (NODPAC)/ Indian Navy, Kochi), Monitoring of fishing boats with keel lengths <24m which is now being rolled-out nationally, Locomotive-mounted satcom terminals for tracking of trains for safety-of-life & train information, real-time aircraft tracking for aviation safety & fleet management, authentication geo-fixes for Unique Identification Authority of India (UIDAI) – Aadhar enrolment operatives, Indus river-level monitoring system, high-accuracy NavIC receivers for e-tolling applications for National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI).

    SAC objectives are realized and met with a well-planned strategy for a sustained capacity building through skilled human resources, establishment of state-of-the-art facilities, industry and academia participation and international cooperation under a well-defined policy support of ISRO. SAC has been proactively enhancing and upgrading the skills and competencies of internal human resource through standard as well as tailored training and development programs. SAC has systematic capacity enhancement plans at individual level to meet the organizational objectives, which also includes non-training interventions such as conferences, seminars, workshops at national as well as international levels. Higher education in premier academic institutions is also a part of the capacity enhancement strategy.

    SAC has built a strong partnership with over 300 small, medium and large scale industries and commercial organizations specialized in various fields including RF, Digital, Optical, Microwave, Mechanical, Electrical, Antenna, Scientific software, specialized materials etc. are presently associated with SAC. SAC has a well-established academia partnership programs for research in the areas associated with space technology, space science and exploration including RESPOND, STC etc.

    SAC has state-of-the-art highly sophisticated payload integration laboratories, electronic & Mechanical fabrication facilities, environmental test facility, image processing, and analysis facilities.

    SAC has outlined a detailed technology roadmap, as a part of space vision 2047. It is envisioning a new paradigm of space borne observations for Earth system and Planetary studies with special emphasis on developing advanced Radars, LIDAR, Hyperspectral and Terahertz technologies with high quality analysis-ready data products and also advanced techniques for geophysical parameters retrieval and customised web-based solutions to meet various User requirements in the domain of Agriculture, Forestry, Coastal Zone Management, Meteorology, Fisheries, Urban Planning, Oceanography etc.

    SAC has defined roadmap for development of Quantum technologies including Space Based Quantum Communication, Quantum Sensing and Quantum computing.

    SAC has evolved roadmap for competitive & advanced Satellite Navigation (SATNAV) services and achieve larger penetration of NavIC applications across strategic, civilian and scientific domains; secure and self-reliant Satellite Communication (SATCOM) systems and applications; NavCom systems and applications for various Users all of which will be enabled by indigenous technology, products & services and propelled by Indian Industries/NGEs.

    SAC has defined roadmap for state-of-the art capability and self-reliance in design and development of crew centric systems for Human Space Programme and ensure crew safety through specific human-rated R&QA practices.

    This information was given by Dr. Jitendra Singh, Union Minister of State (Independent Charge) for Science and Technology, Earth Sciences, MoS PMO, Department of Personnel, Public Grievances and Pensions, Department of Space and Department of Atomic Energy, in a written reply in the Rajya Sabha today.   

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    MIL OSI Asia Pacific News

  • MIL-OSI USA: Ciscomani Named Vice Chair of the Conservative Climate Caucus 

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Juan Ciscomani (Arizona)

    WASHINGTON, D.C. — U.S. Congressman Juan Ciscomani was named as the new Vice Chair of the Conservative Climate Caucus (CCC).  

    The Conservative Climate Caucus is dedicated to promoting policies that advance clean energy technologies and unleash American energy dominance in a responsible way. The Caucus believes that through private sector innovation, investment into research and development (R&D), and the reversal of burdensome regulations we can reduce global emissions and lower energy costs for Americans. 

    “Arizona leads the way in the production of clean energy technologies, and I look forward to working with Chairwoman Miller-Meeks to grow and strengthen this important group,” said Vice Chair Ciscomani. “As clean and sustainable energy advances, it is critical that we pursue an all-the-above strategy that invests in innovation and supports domestic production, all while balancing the need to reduce emission and steward the environment. Together, we can drive policies that enhance energy security, create jobs, and ensure a cleaner, more sustainable future for generations to come. 

     ”I am pleased to welcome Congressman Juan Ciscomani as the new Vice Chair of the Conservative Climate Caucus. As a leader from Arizona—one of the nation’s top states for solar energy and battery capacity—Juan brings invaluable experience in unleashing American energy potential,” said Conservative Climate Caucus Chairwoman Mariannette Miller-Meeks. His commitment to advancing energy independence, reducing emissions, and promoting free-market solutions makes him a perfect fit for this role. Together, we will work to unlock the full potential of American energy, strengthen our economy, and ensure a sustainable future for all Americans.” 

    Congratulations to Congressman Ciscomani on being named a Vice-Chair of the Conservative Climate Caucus,” said ClearPath CEO Jeremy Harrell. “As a steadfast champion for affordable, reliable, clean energy, his leadership will be pivotal in reducing global emissions and unleashing American energy dominance.”  

    To learn more about the Conservative Climate Caucus, visit the website here.  

    Background: 

    • In addition to his position in the Conservative Climate Caucus, Ciscomani serves as the Co-Chair of the Colorado River Caucus, where he advocates for key programs that assist in promoting a more secure water future for Arizona amid the ongoing drought. 
    • In March 2025, Ciscomani joined a letter to House Committee on Ways and Means Chairman Jason Smith in support of preserving clean energy tax credits.  
    • In January 2025, Ciscomani reintroduced the Critical Mineral Consistency (H.R. 755) Act to create a stable domestic supply of critical minerals for clean energy technologies. Specifically, this bill would confer the same benefits to Critical Materials, as defined by the Department of Energy (DOE), and Critical Minerals, as defined by the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS). 
    • In September 2024, Ciscomani joined as a co-sponsor of H. Res. 1489, to designate the week of September 23 – 27, 2024 as “National Clean Energy Week”. 
    • In October 2023, Ciscomani co-led the bipartisan Streamlining Home Installations of New Energies (SHINE) Act (H.R. 5997) to streamline residential solar permits. 

    ### 

    MIL OSI USA News

  • MIL-OSI USA: FEMA Updates Flood Maps in Cochise County

    Source: US Federal Emergency Management Agency 2

    FEMA Updates Flood Maps in Cochise County

    OAKLAND, Calif. – The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) has delivered preliminary flood maps for Cochise County, the City of Benson, the City of Bisbee, the City of Sierra Vista, the City of Tombstone, and the Town of Huachuca City, Arizona. These maps identify revised flood hazards within the Upper San Pedro Watershed. The updated maps will help building officials, contractors, and homeowners make informed mitigation decisions, thereby contributing to safer, more disaster-resilient communities.Before the new Flood Insurance Rate Maps (FIRMs) become effective, there will be a 90-day appeal period from April 3, 2025, to July 3, 2025. During this time, residents or businesses with supporting technical and scientific information—such as detailed hydraulic or hydrologic data—may appeal the flood risk information on the preliminary maps. The maps can be viewed at hazards.fema.gov/femaportal/prelimdownload/. Flood hazards are dynamic and frequently change due to factors such as weather patterns, erosion, and community development. Officials from FEMA and Cochise County have worked together to provide updated information that accurately reflects the current flood risk. These changes may also impact future building standards and insurance requirements.This local mapping project is part of a national effort led by FEMA to enhance public awareness of flood risks and support actions that mitigate the effects of flooding on new and existing structures. FEMA encourages residents to review the preliminary flood maps to better understand local flood risks, potential future flood insurance requirements, and any concerns they may have about the information provided.Flooding affects nearly every part of the nation. In fact, 98% of U.S. counties have experienced a flood event, making floods the most common and widespread weather-related natural disaster.For more information, contact Joaquin Solis, Cochise County Floodplain Administrator at (520) 432-9317 or floodplain@cochise.az.gov.###FEMA’s mission is helping people before, during, and after disasters. Follow FEMA Region 9 online at x/femaregion9.
    brandi.richard…
    Thu, 04/03/2025 – 17:01

    MIL OSI USA News

  • MIL-OSI USA: University Student Research Challenge (USRC) Awards

    Source: NASA

    University Student Research Challenge (USRC) seeks to challenge students to propose new ideas/concepts that are relevant to NASA Aeronautics. USRC will provide students, from accredited U.S. colleges or universities, with grants for their projects and with the challenge of raising cost share funds through a crowdfunding campaign. The process of creating and implementing a crowdfunding campaign acts as a teaching accelerator – requiring students to act like entrepreneurs and raise awareness about their research among the public.
    The solicitation goal can be accomplished through project ideas such as advancing the design, developing technology or capabilities in support of aviation, by demonstrating a novel concept, or enabling advancement of aeronautics-related technologies.
    Eligibility: NASA funding is available to all accredited U.S. institutions of higher education (e.g. universities, four-year colleges, community colleges, or other two-year institutions). Students must be currently enrolled (part-time or full-time) at the institution. NASA has no set expectations as to the team size. The number of students participating in the investigation is to be determined by the scope of the project and the student Team Leader.
    The USRC solicitation is currently Closed with Proposals next due June 26, 2025. Please visit NSPIRES to receive alerts when more information is available.
    A USRC Q&A/Info Session and Proposal Workshop will be held May 12, 2025, at 2pm ET ahead of the USRC Submission deadline in June 2025. Join the Q&A
    Please email us at HQ-USRC@mail.nasa.gov if you have any questions or to schedule a 1 on 1.

    Context-Aware Cybersecurity for UAS Traffic Management (Texas A&M University)Developing, testing, and pursuing transition of an aviation-context-aware network authentication and segmentation function, which holistically manages cyber threats in future UAS traffic control systems.Student Team: Vishwam Raval (Team Lead), Michael Ades, Garett Haynes, Sarah Lee, Kevin Lei, Oscar Leon, McKenna Smith, Nhan Nick TruongFaculty Mentors: Jaewon Kim and Sandip RoySelected: 2025

    Reconnaissance and Emergency Aircraft for Critical Hurricane Relief (North Carolina State University)Developing and deploying advanced unmanned aerial systems designed to locate, communicate with, and deliver critical supplies to stranded individuals in the wake of natural disasters.Student Team: Tobias Hullette (Team Lead), Jose Vizcarrondo, Rishi Ghosh, Caleb Gobel, Lucas Nicol, Ajay Pandya, Paul Randolph, Hadie SabbahFaculty Mentor: Felix EwereSelected: 2025

    Design and Prototyping of a 9-phase Dual-Rotor Motor for Supersonic Electric Turbofan (Colorado School of Mines)Designing and prototyping a scaled-down 9-phase dual-rotor motor (DRM) for a supersonic electric turbofan.Student Team: Mahzad Gholamian (Team Lead), Garret Reader, Mykola Mazur, Mirali SeyedrezaeiFaculty Mentor: Omid BeikSelected: 2024

    Project F.I.R.E (Fire Intervention Retardant Expeller) (Cerritos Community College)Mitigating wildfires with drone released fire retardant pellets.Student Team: Angel Ortega Barrera (Team Lead), Larisa Mayoral, Paola Mayoral Jimenez, Jenny Rodriguez, Logan Stahl, Juan VillaFaculty Mentor: Janet McLarty-SchroederSelected: 2024

    Learning cooperative policies for adaptive human-drone teaming in shared airspace (Cornell University)Enabling new coordination and communication models for smoother, more efficient, and robust air traffic flow.Student Team: Mehrnaz Sabet (Team Lead), Aaron Babu, Marcus Lee, Joshua Park, Francis Pham, Owen Sorber, Roopak Srinivasan, Austin ZhaoFaculty Mentor: Sanjiban Choudhury, Susan FussellSelected: 2024Crowdfunding Website

    Investigation on Cryogenic Fluid Chill-Down Time for Supersonic Transport Usage (University of Washington, Seattle)Investigating reducing the boil-off of cryogenic fluids in pipes using vortex generators.Student Team: Ryan Fidelis (Team Lead), Alexander Ala, Kaleb ShawFaculty Mentor: Fiona Spencer, Robert BreidenthalSelected: 2024Crowdfunding Website
    Web Article: “Students win NASA grant to develop AI for safer aerial traffic“

    Clean Forever-Flying Drones: Utilizing Ocean Water for Hydrogen Extraction in Climate Monitoring (Purdue University)An ocean-based fueling station and a survey drone that can refuel in remote areas.Student Team: Holman Lau (Team Lead), Nikolai Baranov, Andrej Damjanov, Chloe Hardesty, Smit KapadiaFaculty Mentor: Li QiaoSelected: 2023Crowdfunding Website

    Intelligent drone for detection of people during emergency response operation (Louisiana State University and A&M College)Using machine learning algorithms for images and audio data, integrated with gas sensing for real-time detection of people on UAS.Student Team: Jones Essuman (Team Lead), Tonmoy Sarker, Samer TahboubFaculty Mentor: Xiangyu MengSelected: 2023Crowdfunding Website

    Advancing Aerospace Materials Design through High-Fidelity Computational Peridynamic Modeling and Modified SVET Validation of Corrosion Damage (California State University, Channel Islands)Modeling electrochemical corrosion nonlocally and combining efforts from bond-based and state-based theory.Student Team: Trent Ruiz (Team Lead), Isaac Cisneros, Curtis HauckFaculty Mentor: Cynthia FloresSelected: 2023Crowdfunding Website

    Swarm Micro UAVs for Area Mapping in GPS-denied Areas (Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University)Using swarm robotics to map complex environments and harsh terrain with Micro Aerial Vehicles (MAVs)Student Team: Daniel Golan (Team Lead), Stanlie Cerda-Cruz, Kyle Fox, Bryan Gonzalez, Ethan ThomasFaculty Mentor: Sergey V. DrakunovSelected: 2023Crowdfunding Website
    Web Article: “Student Research on Drone Swarm Mapping Selected to Compete at NASA Challenge“

    AeroFeathers—Feathered Airfoils Inspired by the Quiet Flight of Owls (Michigan Tech University)Creating new propeller blades and fixed wing design concepts that mimic the features of anowl feather and provide substantial noise reduction benefits.Student Team: William Johnston (Team Lead), Pulitha Godakawela Kankanamalage, Amulya Lomte, Maria Jose Carrillo Munoz, Brittany Wojciechowski, Laura Paige Nobles, Gabrielle MathewsFaculty Mentor: Bhisham SharmaSelected: 2023Crowdfunding Website

    Laser Energized Aerial Drone System (LEADS) for Sustained Sensing Applications (Michigan State University)Laser based, high-efficiency optical power transfer for UAV charging for sustained flight and monitoring.Student Team: Gavin Gardner (Team Lead), Ryan Atkinson, Brady Berg, Ross Davis, Gryson Gardner, Malachi Keener, Nicholas MichaelsFaculty Mentor: Woongkul LeeSelected: 2023Crowdfunding Website
    LEADS team Website

    UAM Contingency Diagnosis Toolkit (Ohio State University)A UAM contingency diagnosis toolkit which that includes cognitive work requirements (CWRs) for human operators, information sharing requirements, and representational designs.Student Team: Connor Kannally (Team Lead), Izzy Furl, Luke McSherry, Abhinay PaladuguFaculty Mentor: Martijn IJtsmaSelected: 2023Crowdfunding Website
    Project Website
    Web Article: “NASA Awards $80K to Ohio State students through University Research Challenge“

    Hybrid Quadplane Search and Rescue Missions (NC A&T University)An autonomous search and rescue quadplane UAS supported by an unmanned mobile landing platform/recharge station ground vehicle.Student Team: Luis Landivar Olmos (Team Lead), Dakota Price, Amilia Schimmel, Sean TisdaleFaculty Mentor: A. HomaifarSelected: 2023Crowdfunding Website

    Drone Based Water Sampling and Quality Testing – Special Application in the Raritan River (Rutgers University, New Brunswick)An autonomous water sampling drone system.Student Team: Michael Leitner (Team Lead), Xavier Garay, Mohamed Haroun, Ruchit Jathania, Caleb Lippe, Zachary Smolder, Chi Hin TamFaculty Mentor: Onur BilgenSelected: 2023Crowdfunding Website
    Project Website

    Development of a Low-Cost Open-Source Wire Arc Additive Manufacturing Machine – Arc One (Case Western Reserve University)A small-scale, modular, low-cost, and open-source Wire Arc Additive Manufacturing (WAAM) platform.Student Team: Vishnushankar Viraliyur Ramasamy (Team Lead), Robert Carlstrom, Bathlomew Ebika, Jonathan Fu, Anthony Lino, Garrett TiengFaculty Mentor: John LewandowskiSelected: 2023Crowdfunding Website
    Web Article: “PhD student wins funding from NASA and develops multidisciplinary team of undergraduate students to build novel machine“

    Low Cost and Efficient eVTOL Platform Leveraging Opensource for Accessibility (University of Nevada, Las Vegas)Lowering the barrier of entry into eVTOL deployment and development with a low cost, efficient, and open source eVTOL platformStudent Team: Martin Arguelles-Perez (Team Lead), Benjamin Bishop, Isabella Laurito, Genaro Marcial Lorza, Eman YonisFaculty Mentor: Venkatesan MuthukumarSelected: 2022

    Applying Space-Based Estimation Techniques to Drones in GPS-Denied Environments (University Of Texas, Austin)Taking real-time inputs from flying drones and outputting an accurate state estimation with 3-D error ellipsoid visualizationStudent Team: James Mitchell Roberts (Team Lead), Lauren Byram, Melissa PiresFaculty Mentor: Adam NokesSelected: 2022Crowdfunding Website
    Project Website
    Web Article: “GPS-free Drone Tech Proposal Lands Undergrads Spot in NASA Challenge“

    Underwing Distributed Ducted Fan ‘FanFoil’ Concept for Transformational Aerodynamic and Aeroacoustic Performance (Texas Tech University, Lubbock)Novel highly under-cambered airfoils with electric ducted fans featuring ’samara’ maple seed inspired blades for eVTOL applicationStudent Team: Jack Hicks (Team Lead), Harrison Childre, Guilherme Fernandes, David Gould, Lorne Greene, Muhammad Waleed Saleem, Nathan ShapiroFaculty Mentor: Victor Maldonado Selected: 2022Crowdfunding Website
    Web Articles: “Improving Ducted-Fan eVTOL Efficiency” (AvWeek), “Sky Taxies“

    Urban Cargo Delivery Using eVTOL Aircrafts (University Of Illinois, Chicago)A bi-objective optimization formulation minimizing total run costs of a two-leg cargo delivery system and community noise exposure to eVTOL operationsStudent Team: Nahid Parvez Farazi (Team Lead), Amy Hofstra, Son NguyenFaculty Mentor: Bo ZouSelected: 2022Crowdfunding Website
    Web Article: “PhD student awarded NASA grant to investigate urban cargo delivery systems“

    Congestion Aware Path Planning for Optimal UAS Traffic Management (University Of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign)A feasible, provably safe, and quantifiably optimal path planning framework considering fully autonomous UAVs in urban environmentsStudent Team: Minjun Sung (Team Lead), Christoph Aoun, Ivy Fei, Christophe Hiltebrandt-McIntosh, Sambhu Harimanas Karumanchi, Ran TaoFaculty Mentor: Naira HovakimyanSelected: 2022Crowdfunding Website
    Web Article: “NASA funds UAV traffic management research“

    AeroZepp: Aerostat Enabled Drone Glider Delivery System / Whisper Ascent: Quiet Drone Delivery (University of Delaware)An aerostat enabled low-energy UAV payload delivery systemStudent Team: Wesley Connor (Team Lead), Abubakarr Bah, Karlens SenatusFaculty Mentor: Suresh AdvaniSelected: 2022Crowdfunding Website

    Sustainable Transport Research Aircraft for Test Operation (STRATO) (Rutgers University, New Brunswick)An open source, efficiently driven, optimized Active Flow Control (AFC) enhanced control surface for UAV research platformsStudent Team: Daulton James (Team Lead), Jean Alvarez, Frederick Diaz, Michael Ferrell, Shriya Khera, Connor Magee, Roy Monge Hidalgo, Bertrand SmithFaculty Mentor: Edward DeMauroSelected: 2022Crowdfunding Website
    Web Articles: “SoE Students Eligible for NASA University Student Research Challenge Award“, “Senior Design Team Captures NASA Research Challenge“
    A recorded STRATO USRC Tech Talk

    Dronehook: A Novel Fixed-Wing Package Retrieval System (University Of Notre Dame)Envisioning a world where items can be retrieved from remote locations in a simple fashion from efficient fixed-wing UAVsStudent Team: Konrad Rozanski (Team Lead), Dillon Coffey, Bruce Smith, Nicholas OrrFaculty Mentor: Jane Cleland-HuangSelected: 2021Crowdfunding Website
    Web Article: “Notre Dame student team wins NASA research award for drone scoop and grab technology“

    Aerial Intra-city Delivery Electric Drones (AIDED) with High Payload Capacity (Michigan State University)A high-payload capacity delivery drone capable of safely latching and charging on electrified public transportation systemsStudent Team: Yuchen Wang (Team Lead), Hunter Carmack, Kindred Griffis, Luke Lewallen, Scott Newhard, Caroline Nicholas, Shukai Wang, Kyle WhiteFaculty Mentor: Woongkul LeeSelected: 2021AIDED Crowdfunding Website
    AIDED Project Website or Team Website
    Web Articles: “Spartan Engineers win NASA research award” and “NASA Aeronautics amplification“; “Ross Davis & Gavin Gardner on The Guy Gordon Show“; “MSU Students Create Delivery Drone for NASA“; “Student drone project flying high with help from NASA“
    A recorded USRC Tech Talk

    Robotic Fabrication Work Cell for Customizable Unmanned Aerial Systems (Virginia Polytechnic Institute & State University)A robotic, multi-process work cell to autonomously fabricate topologically optimized UASs tailored for immediate application needsStudent Team: Tadeusz Kosmal (Team Lead), Kieran Beaumont, Om Bhavsar, Eric Link, James LoweFaculty Mentor: Christopher WilliamsSelected: 2021Crowdfunding Website
    RAV-FAB Project Website
    Web Articles: “Drones that fly away from a 3D printer: Undergraduates create science nonfiction” and “3D printing breaks out of the box / VTx / Virginia Tech“
    NASA VT USRC Web Article: “USRC Students Sees Success with Crowdfunding, NASA Grants“
    Publication: Hybrid additive robotic workcell for autonomous fabrication of mechatronic systems – A case study of drone fabrication – ScienceDirect
    Team Social Media: Instagram: @ravfab_vt; LinkedIn: @rav-fab; YouTube
    View RAV-FAB USRC Tech Talk #1 or USRC Tech Talk #2

    Real Time Quality Control in Additive Manufacturing Using In-Process Sensing and Machine Learning (Cornell University)A high-precision and low-cost intelligent sensor-based quality control technology for Additive ManufacturingStudent Team: Adrita Dass (Team Lead), Talia Turnham, Benjamin Steeper, Chenxi Tian, Siddharth Patel, Akula Sai Pratyush, Selina KirubakarFaculty Mentor: Atieh MoridiSelected: 2021Crowdfunding Website
    AMAS Project Website
    Web Article: “Students win NASA challenge with 3D-printer smart sensor“
    A recorded USRC Tech Talk on this topic

    AVIATA: Autonomous Vehicle Infinite Time Apparatus (University of California, Los Angeles)A drone swarm system capable of carrying a payload in the air indefinitelyStudent Team: Chirag Singh (Team Lead), Ziyi Peng, Bhrugu Mallajosyula, Willy Teav, David Thorne, James Tseng, Eric Wong, Axel Malahieude, Ryan Nemiroff, Yuchen Yao, Lisa FooFaculty Mentor: Jeff EldredgeSelected: 2020Crowdfunding Website
    AVIATA Project Website
    A recorded USRC Tech Talk on AVIATA
    The recorded poster session at the TACP Showcase 2021

    Redundant Flight Control System for BVLOS UAV Operations (Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University)A redundant flight control system as a “back-up” to the primary flight computer to enhance safety of sUASStudent Team: Robert Moore (Team Lead), Joseph Ayd, and Todd MartinFaculty Mentor: John RobbinsSelected: 2020Crowdfunding Website
    Web Articles: “NASA Web Article“; “Drone Innovation Top Embry-Riddle Entrepreneurship Competition“
    Follow the team’s progress at: https://www.facebook.com/Assured Autonomy
    A recorded USRC Tech Talk on this topic
    The recorded poster session at the TACP Showcase 2021

    Multi-Mode Hybrid Unmanned Delivery System: Combining Fixed-Wing and Multi-Rotor Aircraft with Ground Vehicles (Rutgers University)Extending drone delivery distance with a multi-mode hybrid delivery systemStudent Team: Paul Wang (Team Lead), Nolan Angelia, Muhammet Ali GungorFaculty Mentor: Onur BilgenSelected: 2020Crowdfunding Website
    A recorded USRC Tech Talk on this topic
    The recorded poster session at the TACP Showcase 2021

    AVIS: Active Vortex Inducing System for Flow Separation Control to Improve Airframe Efficiency (Georgia Institute of Technology)Use an array of vortex generators that can be adjusted throughout flight to increase wing efficiencyStudent Team: Michael Gamarnik (Team Lead), Shiva Khanna Yamamoto, Noah Mammen, Tommy Schrager, Bethe NewgentFaculty Mentor: Kelly GriendlingSelected: 2020Go to AVIS team site
    A recorded USRC Tech Talk on AVIS
    The recorded poster session at the TACP Showcase 2021
    NASA Web Article

    Hybrid Airplanes – An Optimum and Modular Approach (California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo)Model and test powertrain to maximize the efficiency of hybrid airplanesStudent Team: Nicholas Ogden (Team Lead), Joseph Shy, Brandon Bartlett, Ryker Bullis, Chino Cruz, Sara Entezar, Aaron Li, Zach YamauchiFaculty Mentor: Paulo IscoldSelected: 2019A recorded USRC Tech Talk on this topic
    The recorded poster session at the TACP Showcase 2021

    ATLAS Air Transportation (South Dakota State University)A multipurpose, automated drone capable of comfortably lifting the weight of an average personStudent Team: Isaac Smithee (Team Lead), Wade Olson, Nicolas Runge, Ryan Twedt, Anthony Bachmeier, Matthew Berg, Sterling BergFaculty Mentors: Marco Ciarcia, Todd LetcherSelected: 2019A recorded USRC Tech Talk #1 and USRC Tech Talk #2 on ATLAS
    The recorded poster session at the TACP Showcase 2021

    Software-Defined GPS Augmentation Network for UAS Navigation (University Of Oklahoma, Norman)A novel solution of enhanced GPS navigation for unmanned aerial vehiclesStudent Team: Robert Rucker (Team Lead), Alex Zhang, Jakob Fusselman, Matthew GilliamMentors: Dr. Yan (Rockee) Zhang (Faculty Mentor), Dr Hernan Suarez (Team Technical Mentor)Faculty Mentors: Marco Ciarcia, Todd LetcherSelected: 2019Crowdfunding Website
    A recorded USRC Tech Talk on this topic
    The recorded poster session at the TACP Showcase 2021

    UAV Traffic Information Exchange Network (Purdue University)A blockchain-inspired secure, scalable, distributed, and efficient communication framework to support large scale UAV operationsStudent Team: Hsun Chao (Team Lead) and Apoorv MaheshwariFaculty Mentors: Daniel DeLaurentis (Faculty Mentor), Shashank TamaskarSelected: 2018Web Article: “Student-developed communication network for UAVs interests NASA“The recorded poster session at the TACP Showcase 2021

    University Student Research Challenge
    University Leadership Initiative
    University Innovation Project
    Transformative Aeronautics Concepts Program

    MIL OSI USA News

  • MIL-OSI USA: Mental Health Support is Available as Kentuckians Face Repeated Severe Weather Events

    Source: US Federal Emergency Management Agency

    Headline: Mental Health Support is Available as Kentuckians Face Repeated Severe Weather Events

    Mental Health Support is Available as Kentuckians Face Repeated Severe Weather Events

    FRANKFORT, Ky

    – As Kentuckians brace for another round of severe weather, many residents are still recovering from the devastating storms and flooding that occurred between February 14 and March 7

    These repeated incidents can take a serious toll on mental health and leave people feeling stressed, anxious, or overwhelmed

    For adults and children having negative feelings or thoughts, free crisis counseling is available through the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration’s (SAMHSA) Disaster Distress Helpline

    Call 800-985-5990 (Spanish Press 2) or text “TalkWithUs” to 66746 (for Spanish text “Hablamos” to 66746) to connect with a trained crisis counselor

    SAMHSA’s Disaster Distress Helpline provides free, 24/7, 365-day-a-year crisis counseling and support to people experiencing emotional distress related to natural or human-caused disasters

    Stress, anxiety, and other depression-like symptoms are common reactions before, during and after a disaster

    This national hotline provides immediate crisis counseling for people who are feeling emotional distress related to any natural or human-caused disaster

    The hotline is toll-free, multilingual, and confidential, offering crisis support service to all residents in the United States and its territories

    Counselors can also provide information about recognizing emotional distress and its effects, coping tips and referrals to other call centers for more support

    For more information about who is most at risk for emotional distress from natural disasters and to find related resources, visit https://www

    samhsa

    gov/find-help/disaster-distress-helpline

        
    martyce

    allenjr
    Thu, 04/03/2025 – 12:31

    MIL OSI USA News

  • MIL-Evening Report: This election, what are Labor and the Coalition offering on the energy transition, climate adaptation and emissions?

    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Johanna Nalau, Senior Lecturer, Climate Adaptation, Griffith University

    Composite image, Xiangli Li, Shirley Jayne Photography and geckoz/Shutterstock

    Australia’s 2022 federal election was seen as the climate election. But this time round, climate policy has so far taken a back seat as the major parties focus on cost-of-living issues.

    Despite this, climate change remains an ever-present threat. Last year was the world’s hottest on record and extreme weather is lashing Queensland. But there are hints of progress. Australia’s emissions have begun to fall and the main power grid is now 40% renewable.

    So before Australians head to the polls on May 3, it’s worth closely examining the climate policies of the two major parties. What are they offering on cutting emissions, preparing for climate-boosted disasters and future-proofing our energy systems? And where are the gaps?

    Energy transition – Tony Wood, Grattan Institute

    Cost-of-living pressures, escalating damage from climate change and global policy uncertainty mean no election issue is more important than transforming Australia’s economy to achieve net zero. But our energy supply must be reliable and affordable. What should the next government prioritise?

    There is great pressure to deliver power bill relief. But the next government’s priority should be reducing how much a household spends on energy, rather than trying to bring down the price of electricity. Far better to give financial support for battery storage and better home insulation, to slash how much power consumers need to buy from the grid.

    The Liberal-led Senate inquiry has just found supporting home electrification will also help with cost of living pressures.

    The electricity rebates on offer from Labor and the temporary cut to fuel excise from the Coalition aren’t enough.

    Federal and state governments must maintain their support and investment in the new transmission lines necessary to support new renewable generation and storage.

    Labor needs to do more to meet its 2030 target of reaching 82% renewables in the main grid. Currently, the figure is around 40%. The Coalition’s plan to slow down renewables, keep coal going longer and burn more gas while pushing for a nuclear future carries alarmingly high risks on reliability, cost and environmental grounds.

    Gas shortfalls are looming for Australia’s southeast in the next few winters and the price of gas remains stubbornly high. Labor does not yet have a workable solution to either issue, while the Coalition has an idea – more and therefore cheaper gas – but no clarity on how its plan to keep more gas for domestic use would work in practice.

    So far, we have been offered superficially appealing ideas. The field is wide open for a leader to deliver a compelling vision and credible plan for Australia’s net-zero future.

    Climate adaptation – Johanna Nalau, Griffith University

    You would think adapting to climate change would be high on the election agenda. Southeast Queensland just weathered its first cyclone in 50 years, estimated to have caused A$1.2 billion in damage, while outback Queensland is enduring the worst flooding in 50 years.

    But so far, there’s little to see on adaptation.

    Both major parties have committed to building a weather radar in western Queensland, following local outcry. While welcome, it’s a knee-jerk response rather than good forward planning.

    By 2060, damage from climate change will cost Australia $73 billion a year under a low emissions scenario, according to a Deloitte report. The next federal government should invest more in disaster preparation rather than throwing money at recovery. It’s cheaper, for one thing – longer term, there are significant savings by investing in more resilient infrastructure before damage occurs.

    Being prepared requires having enough public servants in disaster management to do the work. The Coalition has promised to cut 41,000 jobs from the federal public service, and has not yet said where the cuts would be made.

    While in office, Labor has been developing a National Adaptation Plan to shape preparations and a National Climate Risk Assessment to gather evidence of the main climate risks for Australia and ways to adapt.

    Regardless of who takes power, these will be useful roadmaps to manage extreme weather, damage to agriculture and intensified droughts, floods and fires. Making sure climate-exposed groups such as farmers get necessary assistance to weather worse disasters, and manage new risks and challenges stemming from climate change, is not a partisan issue. Such plans will help direct investment towards adaptation methods that work at scale.

    New National Science Priorities are helpful too, especially the focus on new technologies able to sustainably meet Australia’s food and water needs in a changing climate.

    Intensifying climate change brings more threats to our food systems and farmers.
    Shirley Jayne Photography

    Emission reduction – Madeline Taylor, Macquarie University

    Emission reduction has so far been a footnote for the major parties. In terms of the wider energy transition, both parties are expected to announce policies to encourage household battery uptake and there’s a bipartisan focus on speeding up energy planning approvals.

    But there is a clear divide in where the major parties’ policies will lead Australia on its net-zero journey.

    Labor’s policies largely continue its approach in government, including bringing more clean power and storage into the grid within the Capacity Investment Scheme and building new transmission lines under the Rewiring Australia Plan.

    These policies are leading to lower emissions from the power sector. Last year, total emissions fell by 0.6%. Labor’s Future Made in Australia policies give incentives to produce critical minerals, green steel, and green manufacturing. Such policies should help Australia gain market share in the trade of low-carbon products.

    From January 1 this year, Labor’s new laws require some large companies to disclose emissions from operations. This is positive, giving investors essential data to make decisions. From their second reporting period, companies will have to disclose Scope 3 emissions as well – those from their supply chains. The laws will cover some companies where measuring emissions upstream is incredibly tricky, including agriculture. Coalition senators issued a dissenting report pointing this out. The Coalition has now vowed to scrap these rules.

    The Coalition has not committed to Labor’s target of cutting emissions 43% by 2030. Their flagship plan to go nuclear will likely mean pushing out emissions reduction goals given the likely 2040s completion timeframe for large-scale nuclear generation, unless small modular reactors become viable.

    On gas, there’s virtually bipartisan support. The Coalition promise to reserve more gas for domestic use is a response to looming shortfalls on the east coast. Labor has also approved more coal and gas projects largely for export, though Australian coal and gas burned overseas aren’t counted domestically.

    Opposition Leader Peter Dutton has promised to include gas in Labor’s renewable-oriented Capacity Investment Scheme and has floated relaxing the Safeguard Mechanism on heavy emitters. The Coalition has vowed to cancel plans for three offshore wind projects and are very critical of green hydrogen funding.

    Both parties will likely introduce emission reduction measures, but a Coalition government would be less stringent. Scrapping corporate emissions reporting entirely would be a misstep, because accurate measurement of emissions are essential for attracting green investment and reducing climate risks.

    Johanna Nalau has received funding from Australian Research Council for climate adaptation research, is a Lead Author of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, Co-chair of the Science Committee of the World Adaptation Science Program (United Nations Environment Programme) and is a technical expert with United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change

    Madeline Taylor has received funding from the Australian Research Council, ACOLA, and several industry and government partners for energy transition research. She is a board member of REAlliance, Fellow of the Climate Council, and Honorary Associate of the Sydney Environment Institute.

    Tony Wood may own shares in companies in relevant industries through his superannuation fund

    ref. This election, what are Labor and the Coalition offering on the energy transition, climate adaptation and emissions? – https://theconversation.com/this-election-what-are-labor-and-the-coalition-offering-on-the-energy-transition-climate-adaptation-and-emissions-253430

    MIL OSI AnalysisEveningReport.nz

  • MIL-Evening Report: Gender played a significant role in the 2022 election. Will it do the same in 2025?

    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Michelle Arrow, Professor of History, Macquarie University

    Gender was an important factor in the 2022 election: it shaped the ways the major parties packaged their policies and their leaders. Three years later, as Australians grapple with an uncertain world and a cost-of-living crisis, how might gender shape the 2025 election result?

    Ideas about gender have always shaped Australian politics, although male and female political alignments have shifted over time. For example, when Sir Robert Menzies established the Liberal Party in 1944, he crafted messages to appeal to women, in contrast with the Labor Party’s blue-collar masculinity.

    By the 1970s and 1980s, as more women entered the workforce and pursued further education, they became more progressive in their voting habits. This trend is evident beyond Australia (for example in the US, and in Europe and Canada).

    How gender influenced the 2022 election

    Women’s issues were decisive in the last federal election. The gendered impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, the emergence of Grace Tame as a fiery advocate for survivors of sexual abuse, and the Morrison government’s poor response to Brittany Higgins’ allegation of sexual assault enraged many women, who took the streets in the March for Justice in 2021.

    The election was a contest of competing masculinities, between what political scientist Blair Williams calls the “state daddy” (Anthony Albanese) and the “daggy dad” (Scott Morrison). Labor targeted women with messages about “care”, while the Coalition donned high-vis and continued to pursue young men who “might vote Labor”.

    The (mostly) female community independents added another new gender dynamic. Highly competent professional women who were disaffected with the Liberal party, they ran on integrity, climate action and gender equality, and won some of the Coalition’s safest seats.

    The gender gap in favour of Labor in the 2022 election was driven by younger voters (18-34 years) and a strong Greens vote. Women gave the Coalition their lowest ever level of support at just 32%.

    So what role might gender play in the 2025 election campaign?

    First, the gender gap remains in place. Internal Liberal party polling suggests that many women have returned to the party since 2022, but most polls suggest the gender gap in favour of Labor is still at least around 2%. This gap is most pronounced among younger voters.

    Second, while gender issues remain important, they are not electrifying political debate as they did in 2022. According to the latest Newspoll, neither Albanese or Dutton are especially appealing to women voters, who are shifting to the Greens. However, young women (and a majority of young people) still prefer Albanese over Dutton.

    This doesn’t mean gender issues won’t play a role, though. Dutton’s threat to curtail working from home (which women especially dislike), and promises to cut public service jobs (and therefore services) might suggest that he has not yet learned the gender lessons from 2022.

    Similarly, while Labor has delivered on its policy promises of improving wages in female-dominated industries, voter response to much of Labor’s first term has been tepid at best. However, Labor’s recent announcements on Medicare and bulk-billing will speak to women feeling the pinch of the cost of living crisis (according to one poll, middle aged women moved away from Labor in 2024 because of this issue.)

    Third, gender is now a fault line in international politics. The resurgence of Donald Trump and his brand of “strongman” masculinity, attacks on women’s and trans rights, online polarisation, and the rise of a “manosphere” spreading (often) misogynistic messages appears to be fuelling a growing divide between young men and women. The lobby group Advance is letterboxing Australian households with leaflets arguing Labor is “Weak, Woke,[and] Sending Us Broke”. They clearly believe Trump-style campaign slogans will win over voters.

    Gender polarisation was evident in the recent US election: Trump won young men by 14 points, while Harris won young women by 18 points, though many white women remained loyal to Trump.

    Data from Essential suggested that while many Australians regard the Trump administration with dismay, young men (aged 18-35) are the outliers.

    These men are also the demographic group most supportive of Dutton’s performance as opposition leader. The 2022 Australian Co-operative Election Study suggested that younger men were less receptive to gender equality. For example, while 70% of women agreed that “Australian society needs to do more to achieve equality between men and women”, only 51% of men agreed. Young men were by far the most hostile to this proposition, perhaps due in part to the polarised social climate of the post-#MeToo era.

    Yet it is easy to overstate these gender differences: Intifar Chowdhury’s research showed that while young women are shifting leftwards, so too are young men, though at a relatively slower rate.

    Gender gaps in voting intention are particularly apparent among young people.
    Shutterstock

    A generation gap?

    The 2025 election is the first where Gen Z and Millennial voters will outnumber Baby Boomers. So while gender differences might determine voting, they will intersect with socioeconomic and generational issues.

    While politicians argue over the best way to address the cost of living crisis, young people have grappled with that crisis on top of life-changing HECS-HELP debts, distress over climate change, and a rise in insecure work. Home ownership, a pathway to prosperity for older generations, is out of reach for many Gen Z and Millennials: social researcher Rebecca Huntley found that more than 60% of Australians (and 75% of renters) believe the dream of home ownership is dead for young people. Is it any wonder that young people might despair about their futures?

    In response to this rather bleak picture, young women have consistently turned to progressive parties. Like their feminist forebears, these women are looking to the state for rights and protections, which has long been one of the hallmarks of Australian feminism.

    Many young men appear to be more sceptical of such solutions. But it is important not to overstate gender differences at a time when generational differences seem more politically salient. It will be fascinating to see if young Australians can leverage their electoral clout to force the next parliament to meaningfully address intergenerational inequality.

    Michelle Arrow receives funding from the Australian Research Council. Michelle would like to thank Professor Shaun Wilson for his assistance in researching this article.

    ref. Gender played a significant role in the 2022 election. Will it do the same in 2025? – https://theconversation.com/gender-played-a-significant-role-in-the-2022-election-will-it-do-the-same-in-2025-249580

    MIL OSI AnalysisEveningReport.nz

  • MIL-OSI USA: What they’re saying: California’s 25 key deliverables for 2025 to protect communities from wildfire

    Source: US State of California 2

    Apr 3, 2025

    What you need to know: The Governor’s Wildfire and Forest Resilience Task Force released a list of 25 key deliverables to build on the state’s ongoing efforts to protect Californians from increasing threats posed by catastrophic wildfire and a changing climate.

    SACRAMENTO – Last month, the Governor’s Wildfire and Forest Resilience Task Force released a list of 25 key deliverables to build on the state’s ongoing efforts to protect Californians from increasing threats posed by catastrophic wildfire and a changing climate. 

    Following that release, leaders from across the state came together for a convening of the Task Force to share insights from the recent Los Angeles firestorms and discuss how priorities set in the 2025 deliverables will accelerate collective progress to increasing our resilience to wildfire.

    A full list of the 2025 key deliverables is available here.

    Here is a snapshot of what leaders are saying across the state:

    Lenya Quinn-Davidson, Fire Network Director, UC Agriculture and Natural Resources: “The Governor and the Task Force hit the nail on the head with their 2025 priorities. Efforts like home hardening; prescribed fire training; and strategic, landscape-scale fire planning are necessary next steps for our future with fire in California, and time is of the essence. We’ve spent years building this shared vision—let’s make it a reality!”

    Matt Dias, President, Calforests: “These Task Force priorities, coupled with the recent Governor’s Proclamation of Emergency supporting prevention activities, are the necessary actions to protect lives, communities and forests in an era of increasing frequency and intensity of wildfires across California.”

    Scott Stephens, Professor of Fire Science, UC Berkeley: “Fire ignited by Indigenous people and lightning have been part of California ecosystems for thousands of years. The Governor’s Executive Orders and 2025 Deliverables will expedite the reintroduction of fire at meaningful scales and I fully support them.” 

    Jacy Hyde, Executive Director, California Fire Safe Council: “The California Fire Safe Council (CFSC) has served as a trusted partner to support and mobilize community-led wildfire mitigation and preparedness in California’s highest risk communities. CFSC enthusiastically supports the Task Force’s efforts to build landscape resilience and empower communities to life safely with wildfire.”

    Dan Porter, California Forest Strategy Lead, The Nature Conservancy: “The Nature Conservancy applauds the accomplishments of the California Wildfire and Forest Resilience Task Force. Through bold action the state can reduce the number, severity, and impact of wildfires with regionally appropriate interventions. We look forward to working with the Task Force on the implementation of its 2025 Deliverables.”

    Steve Frisch, Executive Director, Sierra Business Council: “The Governor is taking bold and direct action to reduce the risk of wildfire and its impact on California communities. This is particularly important in the Sierra Nevada, where wildfire resilience work not only protects communities but creates economic opportunities as we innovate to implement forest management, increase biomass utilization to reduce the cost of forest treatment, and develop new wood products.”

    Don Hankins, Co-lead, Indigenous Stewardship Network: “While we still have a long way to go, the action plan has laid a framework to catalyze meaningful change for the state. One key way it has done so is related to engagement and support for tribal entities. I definitely see many more opportunities to fortify this initial work and uplift communities these plans have laid a foundation for.” 

    Leaf Hillman and James Gore, Co-Chairs of the North Coast Regional Partnership (NCRP): “As the Co-chairs of NCRP, representing North Coast Tribes, counties and other regional partners, we have been impressed with the depth, breadth, and effectiveness of actions being moved forward by the Task Force and its partners – ranging from investments in data and planning tools, community health and safety, cultural and beneficial fire, workforce and capacity, landscape scale resilience programs, streamlining of regulatory programs, wood products utilization, and science based frameworks for measuring progress. These actions are all resulting in positive on-the-ground outcomes in our region, increasing the pace and scale of projects and initiatives that result in wildfire, climate, and community resilience.”

    Robert Macaulay, Madera County Supervisor and CA State Association of Counties (CSAC) representative on Task Force’s Executive Committee: “These deliverables are the product of hundreds of our best and brightest experts in forest health. While there is still a seemingly endless amount of work to be done, I am encouraged by these efforts and am committed to working with the State and Federal Government to bring them into fruition.”

    Marissa Christiansen, Executive Director, Climate and Wildfire Institute: “Lasting wildfire resilience cannot happen in silos. The Task Force has been instrumental in advancing a more integrated approach, ensuring critical information flows seamlessly across sectors. The Climate & Wildfire Institute is proud to support open data and collaboration across boundaries by linking research, policy, and practice to equip decision-makers with smarter, proactive solutions.”

    Zach Knight, CEO, Blue Forests: “To meet the scale of California’s wildfire crisis, we need to collaborate across sectors in ways we haven’t before. Public-private partnerships must be leveraged to bridge funding gaps, implement landscape-scale restoration, and build out forest utilization infrastructure. We are excited to continue to support the efforts of the California Wildfire and Forest Resilience Task Force in unlocking innovative solutions that will accelerate the pace of forest restoration in California, protecting communities and strengthening our economy.”

    Mark Brown, Executive Officer, Marin Wildfire Prevention Authority: “The California Wildfire and Forest Resilience Task Force has taken a thoughtful, science-based approach in developing the 2025 Action Plan, providing a clear and effective path to improving the wildfire resilience of our state’s forests, wildlands, and communities. At the Marin Wildfire Prevention Authority, we have embraced this Action Plan as our foundation and guiding principles as we work with our communities to become fire adapted. We are grateful for the Task Force’s leadership in increasing the pace and scale of wildfire mitigation efforts across California, and we look forward to collaborating on building a Science-Based Framework for Measuring Progress to ensure long-term resilience.” 

    Michael O’Connell, President and Chief Executive Officer, Irvine Ranch Conservancy: “California is a remarkably diverse state and every region has different needs for fire management. The Task Force clearly recognizes this diversity, and their 2025 Priorities reflect the needs of every region. In coastal Southern California we deeply appreciate the Task Force’s leadership on the unconventional challenges we face in managing wildfire.”

    Sophia Lemmo, CA Association of Resource Conservation Districts: “Through stronger collaboration, flexible block grants tailored to regional needs, streamlined regulations, and dedicated support for Emergency Forest Restoration Teams, the Task Force has strengthened RCDs’ capacity to advance forest resilience and recovery efforts. I’m confident that the 2025 priorities will further enhance RCDs’ ability to engage more landowners and expand their impact on forest stewardship.”

    Jonathan Kusel, Executive Director, The Sierra Institute: “The report by the California Wildfire and Forest Resilience Task force highlights the important coordination of groups, activities and projects across the State that collectively are reducing risk of catastrophic wildfire and protecting communities. The Task Force’s work identifies what is being done and in so doing helps groups, agencies and others more effectively target resources to where they’re most critically needed. This is essential work.”

    Press Releases, Recent News

    Recent news

    News What you need to know: Since March 2024, Governor Newsom’s joint Bay Area operation efforts have yielded 3,217 stolen vehicles recovered, 1,823 suspects arrested, and 170 illicit firearms seized. Sacramento, California – Continuing to provide collaborative public…

    News SACRAMENTO – Governor Gavin Newsom today announced that he has signed the following bill:SB 26 by Senator Thomas Umberg (D-Santa Ana) – Civil actions: restitution for or replacement of a new motor vehicle. A signing message can be found here.For full text of the…

    News What you need to know: Soil is starting to be placed over the Wallis Annenberg Wildlife Crossing in Southern California – an important milestone as the world’s largest wildlife crossing comes to fruition. LOS ANGELES – The world’s largest wildlife crossing is…

    MIL OSI USA News

  • MIL-OSI Europe: Answer to a written question – Submission by the Commission of the nationally determined contribution – E-000643/2025(ASW)

    Source: European Parliament

    The Commission’s recommendation for a -90% net greenhouse gas emission reduction target for 2040 is in line with the latest available science and the temperature goals of the Paris Agreement.

    As indicated in the Commission Work Programme 2025, the Commission intends to make a proposal in the first quarter of 2025 to amend the European Climate Law Regulation[1] to include this target.

    This target would confirm the EU’s science-based approach, and thus giving the EU the necessary credibility to call on other countries to increase their ambition.

    As the target is to be included in the proposal to amend the European Climate Law, it will be subject to interinstitutional negotiations before adoption and provides the legal basis for the next EU nationally determined contribution to be submitted ahead of the 30th United Nations Climate Change Conference of the Parties (COP 30).

    The nationally determined contribution which should include the 2040 target, with an indicative figure for 2035, will be subject to the institutional process of approval in Council prior to submission to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC).

    • [1] http://data.europa.eu/eli/reg/2021/1119/oj
    Last updated: 3 April 2025

    MIL OSI Europe News

  • MIL-OSI Europe: Press release – MEPs adopt their roadmap for supporting energy-intensive industries

    Source: European Parliament

    Parliament calls for measures to bolster the competitiveness of energy-intensive industries and help them make the transition to clean industrial processes.

    Energy-intensive industries, such as the chemicals, steel, paper, cement, and glass industries, are crucial for the EU economy and for decarbonisation efforts, say MEPs in a resolution adopted on Thursday. These industries are vital for jobs and for Europe’s strategic autonomy but are facing challenges as they shift to cleaner technologies, they add. The resolution stresses the need for a cost-effective transition using various technologies to reduce energy costs and avoid lock-in effects, with electrification as a key strategy.

    The text identifies several obstacles to EU industrial competitiveness, including energy price disparities with global competitors and volatile fossil fuel prices. An incomplete energy union, regulatory burdens, and complex funding mechanisms further hinder progress, especially for small and medium-sized enterprises. The Emissions Trading System is also under pressure from market shifts and uneven revenue use across member states, which is hindering the rollout of adequate support for the industry’s decarbonisation, MEPs say.

    Streamline permitting and address unfair competition

    To address these challenges, MEPs call for faster permitting of clean energy projects and implementation of the electricity market design legislation, a better integrated energy system and more investment in grid infrastructure. Additional ways to decouple fossil fuel prices from electricity prices should be explored. MEPs add that the analysis of short-term markets should be advanced to 2025 with a view to considering alternative market design options.

    Simpler rules and the availability of critical and secondary raw materials are essential to attract private investment and support decarbonisation while reducing our dependencies on other countries, they argue.

    The resolution highlights the need to address unfair global competition through effective implementation of the carbon border adjustment mechanism (CBAM) and to create lead markets for clean European products. MEPs also want to support affected workers and regions, ensuring EU industry remains competitive globally while decarbonising.

    Quote

    “We have no time to lose: we need to act to ensure European industry can endure and protect its jobs. The technological innovation needed to accelerate the decarbonisation of energy-intensive industries requires substantial investment, which the EU has a responsibility to support with public resources,” lead MEP Giorgio Gori (S&D, IT) said. “In the meantime, these industries must be protected—from dumping, tariffs, unfair competition, and the subsidised overcapacity of other countries—to prevent carbon leakage and businesses leaving Europe.”

    The resolution was adopted by show of hands.

    You can watch Wednesday’s debate with the European Commission here.

    Background

    The resolution builds on previous reports and communications, including the Draghi Report, the Letta Report, and the Commission’s Clean Industrial Deal and Action Plan for Affordable Energy, to provide a comprehensive roadmap for the decarbonisation of energy-intensive industries in the EU.

    MIL OSI Europe News

  • MIL-OSI USA: Rep. Gabe Vasquez Joins Sen. Cory Booker to Introduce Bill Protecting Farmers from USDA Funding Freezes

    Source: US Representative Gabe Vasquez’s (NM-02)

    WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Representative Gabe Vasquez (NM-02) joined Senator Cory Booker (D-NJ) in introducing the Honor Farmer Contracts Act of 2025, legislation aimed at ensuring the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) fulfills its commitments to farmers by releasing frozen funds and preventing the agency from canceling legally binding contracts. Farmers must be able to rely on USDA funding to plan their planting season and prevent them from having to shut down their operations.

    “Under Elon Musk’s DOGE, the USDA has failed to honor its agreements, leaving farmers and rural communities in financial limbo,” said Vasquez. “This bill will hold the agency accountable, ensuring our farmers receive the support they were promised to continue feeding our communities and driving our rural economies.”

    The Honor Farmer Contracts Act of 2025 requires the USDA to immediately unfreeze funding for all signed, existing agreements and contracts, ensuring the rapid payment of any past due amounts. Additionally, the legislation prohibits canceling signed contracts with farmers and agricultural organizations unless there is a failure to comply with the agreed-upon terms. 

    Under the new Administration, the USDA has paused reimbursements for previously contracted projects across multiple programs and terminated some agreements based on their inclusion of diversity and equity language, disproportionately harming small farmers and historically underserved communities. Several projects in New Mexico are still awaiting confirmation on whether the USDA will unfreeze their funding—many of which have already been actively collaborating with local producers. This includes the Community Food Project grant for Frontier Food Hub in Silver City and the Quivira Coalition’s Partnership for Climate-Smart Commodities funding. Additionally, the cancellation of the Local Food Purchase Agreement program has left food banks and the farmers who supply them without a critical funding source.

    “New Mexico’s farmers and ranchers work hard every day to provide for our communities, and they deserve to be treated with fairness and respect,” Vasquez continued. “We are sending a clear message: the federal government must honor its commitments and stop playing politics with farmers’ livelihoods.”

    “Farmers across the country have been in limbo ever since the USDA froze previously signed agreements and contracts, with many facing catastrophic consequences if these freezes continue,” said Senator Booker. “USDA’s refusal to pay what is owed to farmers and the organizations that support them is theft, plain and simple. It’s a critical time of year for farmers and ranchers. They should be doing what they love – feeding our communities, not worrying about unpaid contracts. This legislation will fix that by forcing USDA and the Trump Administration to hold up their end of the deal.”

    “The USDA should not have free rein to leave America’s farmers—the people who feed our country—out to dry. Honoring contractual obligations and disbursing funding that was approved by Congress isn’t about red states or blue states. It’s about right and wrong. It’s about the American people being able to trust their government to follow through on their promises and commitments,” said Rep. Pingree. “The Honor Farmer Contracts Act will ensure our farmers get the support and resources they were promised—and, in many cases, are counting on to keep their operations going.”

    “Whether through deliberate sabotage or sheer incompetence, Donald Trump’s USDA has already created crisis after crisis for American farmers,” said Rep. Jim McGovern. “This is especially true for our small and medium-sized farmers, who stepped up during the pandemic to feed the country and are now facing a USDA that is abandoning its commitments and purging expert professional staff. USDA programs are investments that the American people make in the farmers who sustain our communities. They are not Trump’s playthings. I’m proud to partner with Representatives Vasquez, Pingree, Riley, and Senator Booker to defend against Trump’s attack on independent farmers and local food systems.”

    “Our farms are already struggling to make ends meet under crippling tariff threats, a labor shortage, and an economy that props up Big Ag while small producers get screwed,” said Rep. Josh Riley. “And now, to add insult to injury, this Administration is breaking its promises to them. Enough is enough. It’s time for the USDA to unfreeze these funds and pay what they owe our farmers.”

    The bill has gained support from key members of the House Agriculture Committee and is now moving forward in both chambers as lawmakers push for swift action. Representatives Pingree, McGovern, Riley, Leger Fernandez, Tokuda, McClain Delaney, and Budzinski joined Representative Vasquez in introducing this bill.

    To see the list of organizations endorsing the Honor Farmer Contacts Act, click here.

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    MIL OSI USA News

  • MIL-OSI USA: Miller-Meeks, Newhouse Introduce the Congressional Oversight of the Antiquities Act

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Representative Mariannette Miller-Meeks’ (IA-02)

    Washington, D.C. – U.S. Representatives Mariannette Miller-Meeks, M.D. (R-IA) and Dan Newhouse (R-WA) today introduced the Congressional Oversight of the Antiquities Act, legislation that requires congressional approval for the designation of national monuments. Also cosponsoring this legislation is Rep. Cliff Bentz (R-OR).

    “We must preserve the use of federal lands for responsible recreational, agricultural and energy use,” said Representative Miller-Meeks, M.D. “For years the Obama and Biden Administrations used the Antiquities Act to institutionalize massive executive overreach, seizing acres and acres of land without consequence. In some congressional districts, almost 80% of rural land is set aside as public or federal land. Our legislation would curb executive overreach and require the administration to consult Congress before making rash decisions about our federal lands.”

    “The Antiquities Act was designed to protect our nation’s culturally significant natural monuments and lands. Over the years, its scope has been expanded by Democrat administrations that seek to lock up federal lands and restrict access for important uses like agriculture and responsible energy production.” said Representative Newhouse. “This legislation gives Congress the power to check the executive branch in decisions regarding these lands and prevents future administrations from circumventing the legislative branch on such an important issue. I thank Rep. Miller-Meeks for her leadership on this legislation as we work to protect our nation’s treasured monuments and lands.”

    Miller-Meeks, Chair of the Conservative Climate Caucus, also introduced the bill in the 118th Congress.

    Background:

    • The Congressional Oversight of the Antiquities Act, requires congressional approval of presidential declarations within 6 months or before the end of the last session of the Congress it was introduced, whichever comes first. 
    • If the legislation is not approved by Congress, the monument cannot be designated again by the President for 25 years.

    ###

    MIL OSI USA News

  • MIL-OSI USA News: Support Grows for President Trump’s America First Reciprocal Trade Plan

    Source: The White House

    One day after President Donald J. Trump announced a new chapter in American prosperity, support continues to roll in for his bold vision to reverse the decades of globalization that has decimated our industrial base.

    The support is bipartisan, with Democrat Rep. Jared Golden lauding President Trump’s plan: “I’m pleased the president is building his tariff agenda on the foundation of a universal 10 percent tariff like the one I proposed in the BUILT USA Act. This ring fence around the American economy is a good start to erasing our unsustainable trade deficits. I’m eager to work with the president to fix the broken ‘free trade’ system that made multinational corporations rich but ruined manufacturing communities across the country.”

    Here’s what else they’re saying:

    Coalition for a Prosperous America Chairman Zach Mottl: “A permanent, universal baseline tariff resets the global trade environment and finally addresses the destructive legacy of decades of misguided free-trade policies. President Trump’s decision to implement a baseline tariff is a game-changing shift that prioritizes American manufacturing, protects working-class jobs, and safeguards our economic security from adversaries like China. This is exactly the type of bold action America needs to restore its industrial leadership. Today’s action will deliver lasting benefits to the U.S. economy and working-class Americans, cementing President Trump’s legacy as one that ushered in a new Golden Age of American industrialization and prosperity.”

    National Cattlemen’s Beef Association SVP of Government Affairs Ethan Lane: “For too long, America’s family farmers and ranchers have been mistreated by certain trading partners around the world. President Trump is taking action to address numerous trade barriers that prevent consumers overseas from enjoying high-quality, wholesome American beef. NCBA will continue engaging with the White House to ensure fair treatment for America’s cattle producers around the world and optimize opportunities for exports abroad.”

    Steel Manufacturers Association President Philip K. Bell: “President Trump is a champion of the domestic steel industry, and his America First Trade Policy is designed to fight the unfair trade that has harmed American workers and weakened manufacturing in the United States. The recently reinvigorated 232 steel tariffs have already started creating American jobs and bolstering the domestic steel industry. President Trump is working to turn America into a manufacturing powerhouse and the steel tariffs are driving that movement. President Trump’s initial 232 steel tariffs and the historic tax cuts led to investments of nearly $20 billion by steel manufacturers in the United States. Since the revised tariffs took effect, Hyundai Steel announced a $5.8 billion steel mill in Louisiana, demonstrating that the tariffs are working to bring more steel investments and production to the United States. The domestic steel market is stronger when other nations are forced to compete on a level playing field. On a level playing field, American workers can outcompete anyone. We look forward to continuing working with President Trump and his administration to ensure a level playing field for Americans and a robust domestic steel industry that strengthens our national, economic and energy security.”

    Alliance for American Manufacturing President Scott Paul: “Today’s trade action prioritizes domestic manufacturers and America’s workers. These hardworking men and women have seen unfair trade cut the ground from beneath their feet for decades. They deserve a fighting chance. Our workers can out-compete anyone in the world, but they need a level playing field to do it. This trade reset is a necessary step in the right direction.”

    National Electrical Contractors Association CEO David Long: “President Trump has consistently prioritized policies that put the electrical industry as a priority, and we recognize his commitment to strengthening our nation’s economy. As these new tariffs take effect, we look forward to working with the Administration to ensure that electrical contractors and the entire electrical industry can continue powering America efficiently while navigating potential cost and supply chain challenges.”

    American Compass Chief Economist Oren Cass: “The new policies announced by President Trump today confirm the end of the disastrous WTO era and lay the groundwork for a new set of arrangements in the international economy that prioritize the national interest and the flourishing of the nation’s working families.”

    National Council of Textile Organizations CEO Kim Glas: “We strongly commend President Trump and his administration on their tariff reciprocity plan to finally begin rebalancing America’s trade positioning in markets at home and abroad. We want to thank President Trump on behalf of the U.S. textile industry and the 471,000 workers we employ.”

    Southern Shrimp Alliance Executive Director John Williams: “We’ve watched as multigenerational family businesses tie up their boats, unable to compete with foreign producers who play by a completely different set of rules. We are grateful for the Trump Administration’s actions today, which will preserve American jobs, food security, and our commitment to ethical production.”

    American Iron and Steel Institute President Kevin Dempsey: “AISI thanks President Trump for standing up for American workers by restoring fairness in international trade and addressing non-reciprocal trade relationships. American steel producers are all too familiar with the detrimental effects of unfair foreign trade practices on domestic industries and their workers. Driven by subsidies and other foreign government trade-distorting practices, global overcapacity in the steel industry reached 573 million metric tons in 2024 and has spurred high levels of exports of steel from countries like China, Japan, Korea, Vietnam and Indonesia that continue to produce steel in volumes that significantly exceed their domestic demand. These exports directly and indirectly injure steel producers in the U.S. and government action to address this unloading of steel overproduction on world markets is overdue.”

    Americans for Limited Government Executive Director Robert Romano: “Thank you, President Trump, for putting America first and finally once and for all levying the same tariffs on trade partners that they have levied mercilessly on the United States for decades. This was not an easy decision to make, but one that is long overdue with a record $1.2 trillion trade in goods deficit in 2024 after the failed rule of former President Joe Biden. … Under President Trump’s leadership, America will be the industrial and technology leader of the world, with commitments for hundreds of billions of investments in the United States. For countries that want to avoid the tariffs, it’s simple: Build in America. … Thank you again, President Trump, for your leadership in restoring reciprocity in trade and for having the courage that all of our other leaders have lacked.”

    American Petroleum Institute: “We welcome President Trump’s decision to exclude oil and natural gas from new tariffs, underscoring the complexity of integrated global energy markets and the importance of America’s role as a net energy exporter. We will continue working with the Trump administration on trade policies that support American energy dominance.”

    National Association of Home Builders Chairman Buddy Hughes: “NAHB is pleased President Trump recognized the importance of critical construction inputs for housing and chose to continue current exemptions for Canadian and Mexican products, with a specific exemption for lumber from any new tariffs at this time. NAHB will continue to work with the administration to find ways to increase domestic lumber production, reduce regulatory burdens, and create an environment that allows builders to increase our nation’s housing supply.”

    International Dairy Foods Association SVP of Trade and Workforce Policy Becky Rasdall Vargas: “The U.S. dairy industry exports more than $8 billion of high-quality dairy products every year to approximately 145 countries around the world. To meet growing global demand, dairy businesses have invested $8 billion in new processing capacity here in the United States—creating jobs, strengthening rural economies, and positioning America as the world’s leading dairy supplier. This growth depends on strong trade relationships and access to essential ingredients, finished goods, packaging, and equipment to provide Americans with safe, affordable, and nutritious dairy foods and beverages. IDFA supports the Trump Administration’s efforts to hold trading partners accountable and expand market access for U.S. dairy.”

    Bienvenido Empresarios: “As an organization committed to empowering Hispanic Americans and strengthening our nation’s future, Bienvenido supports policies that build a more resilient American economy, safeguard our communities, and reassert U.S. leadership on the global stage. President Trump’s emphasis on using economic leverage — including tariffs — reflects a broader strategy to counter China, confront the deadly fentanyl crisis, and bring critical industries back home. Now is a time for tough, decisive action when national security and American livelihoods are at stake. Our hope is that these measures lead to stronger enforcement, fairer trade, and long-term prosperity for all Americans.”

    America First Policy Institute: “Tariffs worked then—and they’ll work again. Under President Trump, tariffs brought back jobs, lowered inflation, and strengthened national security. It’s not just economic policy—it’s America First in action.”

    Author Batya Ungar-Sargon: “[President Trump] is saying we’re going to invest heavily in our middle class. We are no longer going to be a country in which our economy is an upward funnel of wealth from the hardest-working Americans into the pockets of the international global elites.”

    Fox Business Network’s Charles Payne: “President Trump ran on tariffs. What we just saw was a president who did what he said he was going to do … This system is unsustainable … Is our patriotism tied to Wall Street? Or should it be tied to our own personal ability to achieve the American Dream?”

    Republic Financial Chairman Nate Morris: “As someone who was raised by a proud autoworker – thank you President Trump for putting AMERICAN workers first again!”

    Commentator Geraldo Rivera: “The family did visit Japan… we did not see a single American car on the road in Tokyo — not a Caddy, not a Buick, not a Ford, not a Chevy… I have an innate sense that there’s something unfair going on… if they are screwing us, we got to tax them.”

    Commentator Bill O’Reilly: “We’ve been getting hosed since World War II by the trade imbalance … You can do what Biden and Obama did, which is just ignore it completely … The numbers are staggering, and the best part of Trump’s speech today was that he said that if you go to Japan or South Korea or China or Germany, you’re not going to see any American cars because they won’t let them in … Trump is right.”

    CPAC Chairman Matt Schlapp: “America cannot afford to be taken advantage of any longer.  Even our friends and strategic allies have for too long assumed that the United States could absorb unfair treatment, including high tariffs on American goods.  We applaud the steps taken by President Trump today to defend American manufacturers not because we like higher taxes, but because we know that trade is only free when both sides follow similar rules.  What President Trump understands is that America needs to get back on track by improving our domestic competitiveness by cutting taxes and regulations AND we need to take on the globalists who believe Americans should not always have to take it in the chops.  Real respect begins with economic reciprocity.”

    Speaker Mike Johnson: “President Trump is sending a clear message with Liberation Day: America will not be exploited by unfair trade practices anymore. These tariffs restore fair and reciprocal trade and level the playing field for American workers and innovators. The President understands that FREE trade ONLY works when it’s FAIR!”

    Gov. Jeff Landry: “Pro Jobs. Pro Business. Pro America.”

    Senate Majority Whip John Barrasso: “President Trump is acting boldly to put America first. America needs fair and free trade. We can’t allow other countries to keep abusing our workers and job creators. It’s time we had a level playing field. I applaud President Trump’s 100% commitment to Made in America.”

    Sen. Jim Banks: “The decision by President Trump today to impose reciprocal tariffs will be so good for Indiana. … Those are the manufacturing jobs that President Trump is bringing back from overseas.”

    Sen. Bill Cassidy: “The president’s trade agenda can pave the way for stronger trade deals, fairer rules, and real results. I am excited to work with President Trump to make it happen. Louisiana’s workers and families deserve nothing less.”

    Sen. John Kennedy: “America is rich. We buy a lot of stuff. President Trump is saying that if you foreign businesses want to sell in America, then move your business here and hire American workers.”

    Sen. Roger Marshall: “President Donald Trump is fighting for long-term solutions to put America’s farmers and ranchers first.”

    Sen. Ashley Moody: “It’s liberation day in America! Today, @POTUS sent a message to the world that the era of America being taken advantage of is over.”

    Sen. Bernie Moreno: “President Trump is finally reversing their failed policies and fighting back for American workers.”

    Sen. Markwayne Mullin: “President Trump is going to charge foreign countries roughly half of what they *already* charge us to do business. Literally who can argue with this?”

    Sen. Pete Ricketts: “President Trump is delivering on his campaign promises to level the playing field and stand up for the American people. Reciprocal tariffs will ensure equal treatment for American businesses. @POTUS is working to reshore jobs lost overseas and secure our supply chains. He is working to open new markets for our nation’s agriculture products. He is demonstrating to foreign adversaries like China that we will no longer be taken advantage of.”

    Sen. Rick Scott: “The days of the U.S. being taken advantage of by other countries are OVER! Pres. Trump is making it clear that he will ALWAYS put American jobs, manufacturing and our economy first. As Americans, let’s stand with him and support one another by buying products MADE IN AMERICA.”

    Sen. Eric Schmitt: “President Trump is bringing America back. We won’t be ripped off by other countries anymore. We’re bringing back manufacturing, unleashing energy production, and paving the way for prosperity.”

    Sen. Tim Sheehy: “They tariff us at up to 50% of our exported ag products and then dump mass produced ag products into our market severely hurting our farmers and ranchers. It’s about time we have a level playing field for businesses.”

    Sen. Tommy Tuberville: “For too long, other countries have ripped us off with bad trade deals – resulting in American jobs and manufacturing moving overseas. But change is coming. The Golden Age of America’s economy is here. Happy Liberation Day.”

    House Majority Leader Steve Scalise: “The United States and American workers will no longer be ripped off by other countries with unfair trade practices. Thank you President Trump for putting America’s workers and innovators first with reciprocal tariffs that level the playing field and make trade FAIR.”

    House Majority Whip Tom Emmer: “For too long, foreign countries have taken advantage of us at the expense of American workers. President @realDonaldTrump says NO MORE.”

    House Republican Conference Chairwoman Lisa McClain: “Tariffs work! @POTUS has proven tariffs are an effective tool in achieving economic and strategic objectives. The President’s long-term strategy will pay off.”

    Rep. Elise Stefanik: “I strongly support President Trump’s America First economic policies to strengthen American manufacturing and create millions of American jobs. For too long, Americans have suffered under unfair trade practices putting America Last. We will not allow other countries to take advantage of us and we must put America and the American worker first.”

    Rep. Jason Smith: “America shouldn’t reward countries that discriminate against American workers and manufacturers. On Liberation Day, President Trump is correcting this and demanding fair treatment for American producers.”

    Rep. Mark Alford: “The days of the United States being taken advantage of are OVER. Republicans are putting American workers FIRST.”

    Rep. Rick Allen: “@POTUS is undoing decades of unfair trade practices and putting American workers, businesses, and manufacturers FIRST. These reciprocal tariffs are simply leveling the playing field and will help ensure the U.S. is no longer on the losing end of global trade.”

    Rep. Jodey Arrington: “For too long, our leaders have allowed other nations to rip us off through numerous unfair trade practices resulting in suppressed wages, lost opportunities, and unrealized economic growth. Just as he did in his first term, President Trump is fighting to ensure an even playing field for our manufacturers, farmers, and workers so we can unleash American prosperity and Make America Great Again.”

    Rep. Brian Babin: “Trump’s tariffs aren’t starting a trade war—they’re ending one. For decades, other countries ripped off American workers with unfair tariffs and barriers. Now, we’re finally fighting back.”

    Rep. Andy Biggs: “Past administrations have allowed the United States to be ripped off by allies and adversaries alike. President Trump said “NO MORE!” The Art of the Deal.”

    Rep. Vern Buchanan: “For too long, unfair trade practices devastated America’s manufacturing base and stole millions of blue-collar jobs. It’s time to level the playing field and bring those jobs back. @POTUS is fighting for American workers.”

    Rep. Eli Crane: “America First policies are what the American people voted for.”

    Rep. Michael Cloud: “America-First means putting the American people first. We will no longer be taken advantage of as a nation and people.”

    Rep. Andrew Clyde: “For far too long, the U.S. has been ripped off by countries across the globe with unfair trade practices. Now, we’re finally leveling the playing field. THANK YOU, President Trump, for putting American workers and manufacturing FIRST.”

    Rep. Mike Collins: “This is fair. Whether it’s our military or economy, other countries have taken advantage of the U.S. for far too long. That time is over.”

    Rep. Byron Donalds: “For decades, a lot of these countries have built their economies on the back of the American economy … These nations have become, not just developing nations, they are now strong economies. And so, we have to have fair trade if we’re going to have free trade.”

    Rep. Chuck Edwards: “Many countries are taking advantage of the United States by imposing tariffs against us while we don’t have reciprocal tariffs against them. @POTUS has used tariffs to produce successful trade deals for us in his first term, and I support his plan to use them again to create a more level playing field and secure fairer trade deals for America. The quicker other countries agree to fairer trade deals, the quicker the tariffs can end.”

    Rep. Gabe Evans: “This admin puts America first from strengthening our economy & national security to prioritizing hard working Americans. Farmers in #CO08 have been disadvantaged in foreign trade deals & will benefit from reciprocal tariffs that promote FAIR & free trade.”

    Rep. Scott Franklin: “For years the US handcuffed itself and played nice while other countries imposed massive tariffs and took advantage of us. We’re done putting America last. @POTUS is leveling the playing field, ending trade imbalances and prioritizing American workers and manufacturing again!”

    Rep. Mike Flood: “Biden did nothing for four years on trade. Five years after Brexit, America doesn’t have a free trade deal with the UK. President @realDonaldTrump is rightsizing our trade relationships.”

    Rep. Russell Fry: “HAPPY LIBERATION DAY. Thanks to @POTUS, America is DONE being taken advantage of. A new era has begun.”

    Rep. Lance Gooden: “For decades, Washington allowed Texans to be ripped off by foreign countries. Those days are now over. @POTUS is committed to making America wealthy again!”

    Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene: “If you want to do business in America, you need to play by our rules. For too long, American businesses, big and small, have been ripped off by bad trade deals and unfair competition. President Trump is putting a stop to it. He’s standing up for our workers, our companies, and our consumers.”

    Rep. Abe Hamadeh: “The America First Republican party is the party of the working class, the forgotten men and women. On this Liberation Day, we further our commitment to them, that we will reshore our manufacturing, restore fair trade, and rebuild the greatest economy in the world.”

    Rep. Pat Harrigan: “If you want access to the most powerful economy in the world, treat us fairly. If not, don’t expect a free ride. That’s real leadership and @POTUS is delivering it!”

    Rep. Andy Harris: “President Trump’s reciprocal tariffs will put the American worker first and bring fairness back to international trade. America is being respected again.”

    Rep. Diana Harshbarger: “President Trump is bringing back the American Dream. Our taxpayers have been ripped off by foreign countries for far too long, but those days are over. President Trump is right to impose these reciprocal tariffs.”

    Rep. Clay Higgins: “.@POTUS’ trade agenda puts American industry and America first. I support the President’s action to protect our domestic producers.”

    Rep. Wesley Hunt: “Today, President Trump empowered the American middle class.  His policies on tariffs will bring automotive manufacturing back to America.”

    Rep. Morgan Luttrell: “President Trump is putting America First on trade—standing up to foreign adversaries, protecting American workers, and rebuilding our manufacturing base. The days of unfair trade deals and economic surrender are OVER.”

    Rep. Nicole Malliotakis: “Since President Trump has been elected, we’ve attracted $5 trillion in private investment, foreign & domestic companies have announced Made in USA manufacturing, countries have reduced tariffs or changed foreign policies. President Trump is sticking up for American workers & farmers, repatriating our supply chain and protecting our national security.”

    Rep. Addison McDowell: “My district was hit hard over the years by unfair trade deals. Finally, we have a President who wants to put the American worker FIRST.”

    Rep. Dan Meuser: “We have been treated unfairly. Free trade has become synonymous with unfair trade, and @POTUS is recognizing that… We needed a reckoning; we needed a correction. President Trump is bringing it.”

    Rep. Mary Miller: “America will no longer be taken advantage of! This is how you put America First.”

    Rep. John Moolenaar: “For far too long, the Chinese Communist Party has exploited America’s generosity, stolen our intellectual property, and undermined our workers. President Trump’s recent tariffs and the Restoring Trade Fairness Act, which I introduced earlier this year to revoke China’s permanent normal trade relations status, will finally put an end to this abuse—holding China accountable and protecting American jobs. For decades, we’ve accepted one-sided trade deals that hurt our industries while benefiting our adversaries. Trade deficits reflect that imbalance, but they also reveal something deeper: the strength of the American consumer. It’s time we stopped allowing that strength to be used against us and started putting American workers first.”

    Rep. Riley Moore: “For decades, foreign countries have enjoyed free access to the greatest consumer marketplace on the face of the planet, all while still charging our domestic producers hefty duties or imposing significant barriers to access their markets. Today that ends. President Trump is the only president in my lifetime to acknowledge how unfair trade has gutted the heartland and shipped countless jobs overseas. By finally reciprocating in-kind, we’ll force foreign competitors to the negotiating table, lower trade barriers, and ultimately create real free and fair trade across the board. I’m confident this move will boost our domestic manufacturing industry and fuel demand for American products across the globe.”

    Rep. Tim Moore: “President Trump is leveling the playing field for American workers and bringing back MADE IN AMERICA!”

    Rep. Troy Nehls: “President Trump’s reciprocal tariffs make it clear that our country will not be ripped off anymore. We are bringing back American manufacturing and putting America First.”

    Rep. Ralph Norman: “Happy LIBERATION Day … ✅Protect the American worker ✅Strengthen manufacturing ✅Reduce unfair trade practices … Our economy will be competitive again!!”

    Rep. Andy Ogles: “He’s resetting the negotiating table. He’s resetting the deck here to say, ‘You know what? For too long, you’ve taken advantage of our free market and you’ve literally leached jobs away from the American people … Let’s have a serious conversation and let’s do something that’s fair and mutually beneficial for both sides.’”

    Rep. Guy Reschenthaler: “I fully support President Trump’s critical efforts to right this generational wrong, bring manufacturing jobs home, and rejuvenate American working families. Made in America is back.”

    Rep. John Rutherford: “Tariffs help bring American jobs back home, incentivize buying American, AND put pressure on Canada and Mexico to stop the flow of fentanyl and illegal immigrants from their countries into ours. Even the Biden Admin kept or increased tariffs that President Trump imposed during his first presidency. Under Trump, inflation stayed around 2% and our GDP grew to 3%. Smart tariffs are a long-term investment in the American economy that are worth the short-term cost.”

    Rep. Adrian Smith: “Reducing trade barriers is necessary to ensuring American farmers, ranchers, manufacturers, small businesses, and innovators can sell their products in other markets. President Trump has made it clear other countries can avoid tariffs by reducing or eliminating their existing barriers to U.S. products. Engagement on trade is vital to our economy and opportunity for U.S. workers. In his first term, President Trump proved robust engagement can be productive as he moved the ball down the field on several agreements with our top trade partners. To achieve economic stability, we must continue to fight to give our producers the chance to compete in a global marketplace.”

    Rep. Greg Steube: “What many fail to realize: Trump’s reciprocal tariffs are a long-overdue response to years of unfair trade policies against America. For decades, America has been ripped off by other countries who have repeatedly slapped tariffs on our goods, blocked our products, and flooded our markets with theirs. The numbers don’t lie–the rest of the world has profited at the expense of American workers and businesses. President Trump is finally putting America First by taking bold, necessary actions that past leaders wouldn’t take.”

    Rep. Marlin Stutzman: “If Australia doesn’t want our beef – WE DON’T WANT THEIRS! Thank you @POTUS for opening the door of fair treatment for America’s Cattlemen‼️”

    Rep. Tom Tiffany: “Gone are the days of America being taken advantage of by foreign countries. The American worker comes FIRST.”

    Rep. William Timmons: “President Trump’s tariffs are a necessary move to protect American workers and rebuild our economy. We are finally breaking free from decades of unfair trade deals that gutted our industries. These tariffs will bring jobs back to our districts, strengthen manufacturing, and ensure our children inherit a country that is not just a consumer, but a producer. Thank you, @POTUS.”

    Rep. Beth Van Duyne: “For far too long, the United States has been taken advantage of by our foreign trade partners. The American people re-elected President Trump to bring back truly fair trade with other countries. Reciprocal tariffs are a first step to have a level playing field for American products and to start bringing back manufacturing to our country!”

    Rep. Daniel Webster: “President @realDonaldTrump is delivering on his mandate to restore America’s economic strength. For too long, unfair trade deals have hollowed out our factories and shipped American jobs overseas. By standing up to bad actors like China and Venezuela and enforcing fair trade, President Trump is defending American industries and putting American workers first.”

    Rep. Tony Wied: “President Trump has made it clear with these reciprocal tariffs that we will no longer allow other countries to take advantage of us. His goal is simple: to bring jobs and manufacturing back to our country and open up foreign markets to American products. If companies want to avoid these tariffs, they will do business in the United States. I applaud the President for taking a stand against years of unfair trade practices and making sure we put American workers and consumers first. It’s time our foreign trading partners finally live up to their end of the bargain.”

    Rep. Roger Williams: “For too long, America Last policies have put the U.S. auto industry at a disadvantage. As a car dealer and small business owner, I support @POTUS’ Executive Order to increase competition, boost revenue, and bring back American jobs.”

    Mississippi Commissioner of Agriculture and Commerce Andy Gipson: “I applaud President Trump’s actions today to reset global trade relations through the President’s ‘Liberation Day’ tariff plan. America is not only in a trade war, we’ve been in a trade war for years now. This trade war has resulted in historic trade deficits that continue to hurt our farmers. … I believe President Trump’s actions today will set the stage for the renegotiation of better trade deals that will benefit American farmers and all our domestic industries going forward and will also serve to spur more local production.”

    U.S. Trade Representative Ambassador Jamieson Greer: “Today, President Trump is taking urgent action to protect the national security and economy of the United States. The current lack of trade reciprocity, demonstrated by our chronic trade deficit, has weakened our economic and national security. After only 72 days in office, President Trump has prioritized swift action to bring reciprocity to our trade relations and reduce the trade deficit by leveling the playing field for American workers and manufacturers, reshoring American jobs, expanding our domestic manufacturing base, and ensuring our defense-industrial base is not dependent on foreign adversaries—all leading to stronger economic and national security.”

    Secretary of Commerce Howard Lutnick: “Today, the world starts taking us seriously. Our workforce will finally be treated fairly.”

    Secretary of the Treasury Scott Bessent: “President Trump signed the Declaration of Economic Independence for the American people. For decades, the trade status quo has allowed countries to leverage tariffs and unfair trade practices to get ahead at the expense of hardworking Americans. The President’s historic actions will level the playing field for American workers and usher in a new age of economic strength.”

    Secretary of Agriculture Brooke Rollins: “FARMERS COME FIRST — @POTUS is leveling the playing field, ensuring American farmers and ranchers can compete globally again!”

    Secretary of State Marco Rubio: “Thank you, @POTUS! ‘Made in America’ is not just a tagline — it’s an economic and national security priority.”

    Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem: “For too long, America has been targeted by unfair trade practices that made our supply chain dependent on foreign adversaries, eroded our industrial base, and hurt American workers. This has gravely impacted our national security. President Trump’s strong action will help make America safe again. @DHS, primarily through @CBP, is ready to collect these new tariffs and put an end to unfair trade practices. Thank you President @realDonaldTrump for putting America FIRST.”

    Secretary of Labor Lori Chavez-DeRemer: “Promises made, promises kept”

    Secretary of Energy Chris Wright: “President Trump is a businessman; he’s a negotiator. The result of that has been and will continue to be improvements for the American people. We are in the midst of a negotiation, and he is fighting every day to make the cost-of-living conditions better for Americans.”

    Secretary of Education Linda McMahon: “At the White House this afternoon, we celebrated Liberation Day — setting our economy on the path of future prosperity for our children. Business owners, workers, and taxpayers have been waiting for strong economic leadership.

    @POTUS’ actions today prove we are done being taken advantage of in international trade.”

    Secretary of the Interior Doug Burgum: “President Trump’s Liberation Day reciprocity plan is commonsense. If you tariff us, we’ll tariff you. This will strengthen our economy and make America wealthy again!”

    Secretary of Transportation Sean Duffy: “Today is the day we will liberate ourselves from unfair trade practices and outdated ways of thinking. Tariffs are an important tool in the President’s toolbox to stop foreign countries from ripping us off, protect America’s workers, and restore U.S. manufacturing. I stand with @POTUS as he finally levels the playing field. Happy Liberation Day!”

    Secretary of Housing and Urban Development Scott Turner: “For four years, Americans couldn’t afford groceries, let alone a house. This Liberation Day, @POTUS is bringing manufacturing and jobs back. President Trump is making the American Dream achievable again!”

    Environmental Protection Agency Administrator Lee Zeldin: “Massive announcement by @POTUS today restoring U.S. dominance, cementing his America First vision, and Powering the Great American Comeback.”

    Small Business Administration Administrator Kelly Loeffler: “Small businesses will no longer be crushed by foreign governments and unfair trade deals. Instead, we will put American industry, workers, and strength FIRST. Thank you @POTUS for bringing back Made in America!”

    National Security Advisor Mike Waltz: “Economic security is national security. Thank you President Trump for putting America first.”

    MIL OSI USA News

  • MIL-OSI: Legrand Unveils 2025-2027 Global CSR Roadmap – Commitment to Sustainability and Innovation Continues History of Positive Impact in North America

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    WEST HARTFORD, Conn., April 03, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Legrand®, a global specialist in electrical and digital building infrastructures, announced its sixth consecutive global Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) Roadmap, outlining aspirational goals for 2025-2027. Building on two decades of CSR progress, Legrand, North & Central America is driving positive change and reinforcing its commitment to a more sustainable and socially responsible future.

    “How we work is just as important as what we work on,” said Brian DiBella, President and CEO, Legrand, North and Central America. “Our vision of ‘improving lives’ includes building a sustainable future for all. The CSR Roadmap showcases our global commitment to leading by example and driving meaningful impact across our operations and value chain. The achievements we are seeing in our region are the result of countless, dedicated team members all working together toward a common goal of improving lives.”

    Below are examples of Legrand’s 2025-2027 CSR Roadmap goals, which support long-term CSR goals:

    • Mitigating Climate Change: Reduce the Legrand Group’s scope 1 and 2 emissions by 10% by 2027 as compared to 2024, and reduce CO2 emissions from our supplier’s operations by an average of 30%, representing 70% of emissions related to purchased goods.
    • Developing a More Circular Economy: By 2027, 50% of new and redesigned projects shall meet Legrand’s Eco-Design index criteria, 37% of sustainable materials to be used in products manufactured by the Group, and primary plastic packaging in manufactured products to be reduced by 80% by weight.
    • Serving our Customers: By 2027, enable our customers to avoid 20 million tons of CO2 emissions through our energy-efficient products.
    • Being a Responsible Business: By 2027, 90% of Legrand employees will meet training requirements, reduce workplace accidents by 20% compared to 2024, and ensure 100% of its key suppliers comply with human rights standards and ethics policies.
    • Promoting Inclusion: By 2027, Legrand has an aspirational goal to expand its GEEIS-Diversity certification and support the next generation of employees in the industry.

    These goals build upon Legrand’s significant achievements in recent years and position the company for success to achieve its 2030 aspirations. The company holds a “Gold” sustainability rating from EcoVadis, placing it in the top 5% of over 150,000 evaluated companies, and an “A” rating for its climate commitment from the CDP, formerly known as the Carbon Disclosure Project.

    Additional recent accomplishments in North America include:

    • Supplier Commitments: Legrand secured commitments from 139 suppliers to reduce their CO2 emissions by 30% by 2030, totaling a reduction of 157,728 kilotons of carbon emissions. This equals the electricity use of 32,870 homes in a year.
    • Renewable Energy: 89% of corporate electricity comes from renewable sources and is part of the RE100 initiative, which pledges to achieve 100% renewable electricity by 2030.
    • Product Transparency: Legrand published transparency documents for more than 70% of its product sales, including Environmental Product Declarations (EPDs), Health Product Declarations (HPDs), and Declare Labels.
    • Community Engagement: Since 2014, as part of Legrand, North & Central America’s Better Communities volunteer and philanthropy program, employees have generously volunteered nearly 20,000 hours in North America. Together, Legrand and its employees have pledged more than $3 million in funding and $18 million worth of Legrand products to numerous non-profit organizations.
    • Recycled Materials: As part of its ongoing efforts to increase the amount of recycled content in its products, in 2024 Legrand’s best-selling wire mesh cable tray was made from 97% recycled materials and is 100% recyclable. This product is used in data centers, commercial and industrial buildings to efficiently organize and route cables.

    “We’ve made significant progress reducing energy use, advancing renewable energy, designing innovative products that have more recycled content, and tying employee and executive compensation to meeting CSR goals,” said Ratish Namboothiry, Vice President of Sustainability and CSR, Legrand, North & Central America. “We’re building on this momentum and continue to advance our efforts, leveraging the latest advancements in technology and innovation with a goal of integrating sustainability considerations across our products, operations, and supply chain design.”

    About Legrand and Legrand, North and Central America
    Legrand is the global specialist in electrical and digital building infrastructures. Its comprehensive offering of solutions for residential, commercial, and data center markets makes it a benchmark for customers worldwide. The Group harnesses technological and societal trends with lasting impacts on buildings with the purpose of improving life by transforming the spaces where people live, work and meet with electrical, digital infrastructures and connected solutions that are simple, innovative and sustainable. Drawing on an approach that involves all teams and stakeholders, Legrand is pursuing a strategy of profitable and responsible growth driven by acquisitions and innovation, with a steady flow of new offerings that include products with enhanced value in use (energy and digital transition solutions: datacenters, digital lifestyles and energy transition offerings). Legrand reported sales of €8.6 billion in 2024. The company is listed on Euronext Paris and is a component stock of the CAC 40, CAC 40 ESG and CAC SBT 1.5 indexes. (code ISIN FR0010307819). https://www.legrand.us/

    Media Contact:    
    Glen Gracia 339.499.8680 glen.gracia@legrand.us

    The MIL Network

  • MIL-OSI Global: ‘Doom loops’ are accelerating climate change – but we can break them

    Source: The Conversation – UK – By Jack Marley, Environment + Energy Editor, UK edition

    Surasak Jailak/Shutterstock

    Vicious cycles are accelerating climate change. One is happening at the north pole, where rising temperatures caused by record levels of fossil fuel combustion are melting more and more sea ice.

    Indeed, the extent of Arctic winter sea ice in March 2025 was the lowest ever recorded. This decline in sea ice means the Earth reflects less of the Sun’s energy back into space. So, more climate change leads to less sea ice – and more climate change.

    Human behaviour is not immune to this dynamic either, according to a recent report by the International Energy Agency (IEA). It identified another troubling feedback loop: demand for coal rose 1% globally in 2024 off the back of intense heatwaves in China and India, which spurred a frenzy for air-conditioners and excess fuel to power them.

    The need to cool ourselves, and briefly escape the consequences of climate change, is driving more climate change. Thankfully, there are ways to break these cycles and form greener habits. Today, we’ll look at one in particular.


    This roundup of The Conversation’s climate coverage comes from our award-winning weekly climate action newsletter. Every Wednesday, The Conversation’s environment editor writes Imagine, a short email that goes a little deeper into just one climate issue. Join the 40,000+ readers who’ve subscribed.


    The Sun can cool you down

    “As the climate crisis deepens, close to half of the world’s people have little defence against deadly heat,” says Radhika Khosla, an associate professor of urban sustainability at the University of Oxford.




    Read more:
    COP28: countries have pledged to cut emissions from cooling – here’s how to make it happen


    “At the same time, energy demand from cooling – by those who can afford it – could more than double by 2050.”

    If wealthy countries paid the enormous climate finance debt they owe the developing world, it could help finance the closing of this gap. And thankfully, advancements in renewable energy technology mean no one should need to contribute to a spike in fossil fuel use just to keep cool.




    Read more:
    Wealthy nations owe climate debt to Africa – funds that could help cities grow


    “The absurdity of resorting to coal to power air conditioners … is difficult to miss”, say a team of engineers and energy experts at Nottingham Trent University and Coventry University, led by Tom Rogers. They recommend rooftop solar panels instead, which can soak up sunshine during heatwaves and turn it into electricity for air-conditioning units.

    “Rooftop solar can also reduce demand for cooling by keeping buildings in the shade,” the team say. “A study conducted by Arizona State University found that even a modest group of solar panels that shade about half a roof can lead to anything from 2% to 13% reduction in cooling demand, depending on factors such as location, roof type and insulation levels.”




    Read more:
    Rising temperatures mean more air conditioning which means more electricity is needed – rooftop solar is a perfect fit


    Of course, solar panels are less helpful for powering air conditioners in the evening, when lots of people turn them on after work or school.

    “Researchers in Australia have proposed a clever solution to address this imbalance, by programming air-conditioning units to work in tandem with solar systems to pre-cool buildings before people arrive home,” Rogers and his colleagues add.

    There is huge untapped potential for generating electricity from rooftop solar – even in the dreary UK. It could ensure that future heatwaves are a boon for solar energy, not coal power.

    “Consider the possibilities for Nottingham and Coventry, two cities in England’s Midlands where we work,” they say.

    “If Nottingham were to maximise its rooftop potential, all those panels could generate nearly 500 megawatts (MW) of electricity, about the same as a medium-sized gas power plant. Coventry has greater potential, with 700MW.

    “These capacities would equate to nearly one-third of Nottingham’s electricity demand and almost half of Coventry’s – from their rooftops alone.”

    Doom loops

    Installing solar panels on top of buildings worldwide will need massive investment in equipment and training. It will require new means of incentivising the uptake of this technology and, as mentioned earlier, the redistribution of wealth to allow low-emitting but highly vulnerable nations to make the switch.

    But there are likely to be virtuous cycles as well as vicious ones. Once a certain threshold has been crossed, like the price and capacity of batteries or the number of homes with heat pumps installed, “a domino effect of rapid changes” takes effect such that green alternatives swiftly become the established norm.




    Read more:
    Climate ‘tipping points’ can be positive too – our report sets out how to engineer a domino effect of rapid changes


    However, the prospect of harmonising these efforts across borders butts against a trend moving in the opposite direction. As the world warms, relations between nations are becoming more fraught and war, trade tensions and internal strife are obscuring the universal threat of climate change.

    A Trump yard sign during the 2024 election campaign.
    Dlbillings_Photography/Shutterstock

    Climate risk expert Laurie Laybourn and earth system scientist James Dyke, both at the University of Exeter, say that extreme weather in 2022 caused crop failures that made food more expensive and stoked headline inflation rates. Climate-sceptic Donald Trump made hay with these high prices in the 2024 US election.

    “The risk is that this ‘doom loop’ runs faster and faster and ultimately derails our ability to phase out fossil fuels fast enough to avoid the worst climate consequences,” they say.




    Read more:
    A ‘doom loop’ of climate change and geopolitical instability is beginning


    However, Laybourn and Dyke are not wholly pessimistic. History shows that periods of instability and crisis like the one we are living through also provide fertile ground for positive change, they argue, and the chance to accelerate virtuous circles.

    “For example, out of the crises of the interwar period and the devastation of the second world war came legal protections for human rights, universal welfare systems and decolonisation.”

    ref. ‘Doom loops’ are accelerating climate change – but we can break them – https://theconversation.com/doom-loops-are-accelerating-climate-change-but-we-can-break-them-253457

    MIL OSI – Global Reports