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Category: Climate Change

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Acorn Farm’s New Gate Lodge Garden officially opens

    Source: Northern Ireland – City of Derry

    Acorn Farm’s New Gate Lodge Garden officially opens

    1 April 2025

    Spring has certainly sprung in the new Acorn Farm Gate Lodge Garden located at the St Columb’s Park Gate Lodge which has been officially opened by the Mayor of Derry City and Strabane District Council, Councillor Lilian Seenoi Barr.

    The new garden is part of the ambitious Acorn Farm Project, a partnership project supported by funding from The National Lottery Community Fund’s, Climate Action Fund and the UK Government.

    Mayor Barr was joined by pupils from St Anne’s Primary School in Derry, who had the opportunity to learn about the importance of seed planting and growing cycles, and taste the benefits of the freshly harvested food.

    The new space has been created to connect local communities, families, households and food producers with sustainable food practices, healthy eating and climate-friendly learning. It will help facilitate elements of the Acorn Farm’s wider engagement programme through events, workshops and guided visits.

    The Acorn Farm project is delivered by a partnership team consisting of Derry City and Strabane District Council, The Community Foundation for Northern Ireland, The Conservation Volunteers, Developing Healthy Communities and Community Garden Support.

    Officially opening the gardens, Mayor Barr said they provided a beautiful learning space for all ages. “I am thrilled to be here today and to see the next stage in the development of the Acorn Farm project. There is a fantastic array of produce already being grown, and local people can draw on the expertise from local horticulturists and other experienced growers. Congratulations to everyone involved in realising this wonderful new green space.”

    Paul Sweeney, Northen Ireland Chair of The National Lottery Community Fund, said: “I am delighted to be at the Gate Lodge Gardens today for the official opening and to see the progress made so far in the Acorn Farm Project, which has been supported by over £2 million of National Lottery funding.

    “A priority of The National Lottery Community Fund’s strategy to 2030 is to support communities in becoming environmentally sustainable. Innovative and ambitious projects like Acorn Farm are a fantastic example of our funding being put into action by communities, by creating a movement and helping develop more sustainable and responsible ways of sourcing and producing food.

    “Well done to everyone involved in developing this community hub which will boost mental health, encourage physical activity and build stronger community connections.”

    Shauna Kelpie, Community Foundation for Northern Ireland said: “What we see here today is the culmination of outstanding collaboration between partner organisations committed to improving the lives of local people and our environment through access to more sustainable food choices. This project kick starts so many ‘green focused’ activities and will be life changing for so many families now and into the future.”

    The total funding investment pot of £6.2m in capital infrastructure (UK Government and Derry City and Strabane District Council) and over £2m (National Lottery Community Fund’s Climate Action Fund) in skills-based engagement programmes, is assisting local people to take climate action through food choice and make the link between sustainable food and better health outcomes for this generation and future ones.

    Find out more about the project at https://acornfarmni.com/

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI Europe: Germany: NORD/LB and EIB announce EUR 165 Million Partnership to back Renewable Energy investment across Europe

    Source: European Investment Bank

    EIB

    NORD/LB Norddeutsche Landesbank (NORD/LB) and the European Investment Bank (EIB) have today announced a significant partnership aimed at accelerating the transition to clean energy across the European Union.

    The new financing will back new small and medium-sized renewable energy projects throughout Europe.

    Bernhard Kluttig, State Secretary at the Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Climate Action, said, “Accelerating investment in renewable energy is not just a crucial step in tackling climate change, it’s also a tremendous opportunity for German and European businesses. This partnership between NORD/LB and the EIB, supporting vital projects like photovoltaics, onshore wind, and battery storage, will strengthen our energy independence and drive innovation and growth in the clean tech sector. Initiatives like these are essential to realizing our climate goals while simultaneously fostering a competitive and sustainable economy.”

    The financing agreement was formally signed at the Hannover Messe by European Investment Bank Vice President Nicola Beer and NORD/LB CEO Jörg Frischholz, in the presence of Bernhard Kluttig State Secretary for Economic Affairs and Climate Action at the Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Climate Action.

    Jörg Frischholz, Chief Executive Officer of NORD/LB, said, “As a long-standing partner of the EIB, NORD/LB is pleased to strengthen our partnership to support the green transition and enable our clients to invest in a range of new renewable energy projects. Today’s agreement builds on the success of our cooperation and our shared commitment to support clean energy investment and innovation “.

    Nicola Beer, Vice President of the European Investment Bank, commented, “Backing investment to harness renewable energy across the EU is crucial for delivering the energy transition, improving energy security and as we see here at the Hannover Messe, building on Europe’s clean tech strengths. Together the EIB and NordLB are ensuring that renewable energy can be scaled up across Europe, so that energy prices can come down”.

    Under the initiative, the EIB will provide EUR 125 million and NORD/LB will provide further financing, to strengthen access to finance essential to accelerate deployment of crucial renewable energy infrastructure. The financing will specifically target projects in key areas such as photovoltaic systems, onshore wind farms, and battery storage within European Union countries.

    This builds on the successful deployment of the first part of the initiative over the last year that has supported large-scale wind and solar projects in Germany and France.

    Background information

    About NORD/LB

    The NORD/LB Norddeutsche Landesbank is a leading German commercial bank and part of the S-Finance Group. Its core business areas include corporate clients, special financing in the energy and infrastructure sectors as well as commercial real estate financing via Deutsche Hypo, capital market business, association business with savings banks, and private and commercial clients including private banking. The bank has its headquarters in Hannover, Braunschweig, and Magdeburg, with branches in other German cities and international locations including Luxembourg, London, New York, and Singapore.

    About the EIB

    As the EU’s climate bank, the European Investment Bank (EIB) finances projects in four priority areas: climate and environment, development, innovation and skills, small and medium-sized businesses (SMEs), infrastructure. The EIB works closely with EU institutions to implement the European Green Deal.

    NORD/LB
    Germany: NORD/LB and EIB announce EUR 165 Million Partnership to back Renewable Energy investment across Europe
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    NORD/LB
    NORD/LB and EIB announce EUR 165 Million Partnership to back Renewable Energy investment across Europe
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    NORD/LB
    Germany: NORD/LB and EIB announce EUR 165 Million Partnership to back Renewable Energy investment across Europe
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    MIL OSI Europe News –

  • MIL-OSI Europe: Greece: EIB supports student housing and campus upgrades of the University of Crete

    Source: European Investment Bank

    EIB

    • EIB to co-finance with a €95 million loan, the construction and operation of student housing and new academic facilities
    • Campuses in cities of Heraklion and Rethymno will benefit from 2,833 new rooms to accommodate up to 4,846 students
    • EIB also providing technical assistance for energy efficiency, climate adaptation, PPP best practices and project management

    The University of Crete in Greece will benefit from €95 million in European Investment Bank (EIB) financing to help build affordable student housing and upgrade campus facilities as part of a pioneering Public-Private Partnership (PPP) project awarded to the AKTOR Group.

    The EIB financing, which is backed by the InvestEU programme, will co-finance the expansion of the university’s campuses in two locations, Heraklion and Rethymno, with 2,833 rooms and apartments to be built, creating up to 4,846 beds. In total, the project will involve the construction of more than 109,000 square meters of student housing and academic spaces, including a new 800-seat amphitheatre at the Rethymnon campus.

    The new buildings created will also be highly energy efficient, performing better than the Nearly Zero Energy Building (NZEB) in Greece, as well as include climate adaptation measures.  

    “Investing in university infrastructure is not just about building new facilities—it’s about shaping the future of education, fostering innovation, and strengthening the social fabric of our communities,” said EIB Vice-President, Yannis Tsakiris. “Greek universities must have the resources to attract and nurture the next generation of talent, and this project is a crucial step in that direction. At the same time, the shortage of affordable and sustainable student housing is a growing challenge across Europe. With this new financing for the University of Crete, we are not only addressing this urgent need but also delivering on our commitment to support education, sustainability, and economic growth. This investment is a tangible example of how the EIB is turning vision into action, ensuring that students have access to modern, energy-efficient spaces where they can learn, live, and thrive.

    ”We are envisioning, planning, and—through important synergies such as the one with the EIB and AKTOR—implementing a broad and coherent plan for the upgrading of public universities,” said Sofia Zacharaki, Minister of Education, Religious Affairs and Sports.“Ensuring access to quality, free housing for thousands of students, in both new and renovated student residences across the country, is a cornerstone of this plan. Through beneficial public-private partnerships for the Greek state, with a total budget of 700 million euros, we are creating new student residences, increasing the number of available beds to 21,000 from the current 12,457, while also undertaking extensive renovations of existing facilities. It is essential—and this is exactly what is being delivered through the project involving student residences and new academic spaces in Crete—that there is long-term provision and commitment to maintenance and technical management, so that, over time, both taxpayers’ money and the smooth functioning of the public university’s legacy are safeguarded, always for the benefit of Greek families, students, learning, and progress.”

    Unlocking sustainable development via PPP

    The University of Crete procured the project through a 30-year PPP agreement, with the contract awarded to the AKTOR Group of Companies and implemented through its subsidiary Talaia Estia SA. The total long-term financing of €190 million is co-financed equally by the EIB and Piraeus Bank.

    Further to the financial contribution EIB has provided technical assistance focused on three pillars:

    • enhancement of the technical specifications associated with energy efficiency, lifecycle global warming potential calculations, climate change adaptation measures and compliance to the EU Taxonomy technical screening criteria
    • cooperation with the Greek PPP Unit in the ongoing development of the contractual framework in accordance with best practices and the experience gained from similar previous projects
    • provision of best practice tools and capacity building for the University’s PPP contract management team to manage the Partnership Agreement during its 30-year tenor, delivered with InvestEU advisory funding support.

    “Collaboration between public and private sectors and institutional banks, such as the EIB, can improve the daily life of citizens, produce sustainable innovations and solve important problems, supporting social progress,” explained AKTOR Group Chairman and CEO, Alexandros Exarchou. “We undertake this ambitious project with great responsibility as it will be the first of its kind in Greece and we aim to mobilize our resources to deliver state-of-the-art facilities that will stand as an example of high quality, green and modern infrastructure. Our youth is our future, and they deserve the finest environment that will allow them to evolve. At AKTOR Group, our mission is to contribute to progress and prosperity through our actions and investments, and we are committed to a sustainable future and creating value for our shareholders and society.”

    ”We are very proud to co-finance this project as we consider education as a key factor for sustainable development,” added Piraeus Executive General Manager, and Head of CIB, Theodore Tzouros. “Piraeus plays a leading role in supporting infrastructure projects, as part of its strategic commitment to contribute to the economic growth and the prosperity of Greek society. This student housing and academic facilities project at the University of Crete has a strong social impact as it will support the students who need affordable housing and will serve the needs of the local community.”

    Tackling the affordable housing issue with concrete solutions

    The lack of affordable and sustainable housing, especially for students, is a growing challenge across Europe, particularly in regions with strong tourism-driven real estate markets such as Crete. This investment will not only expand student accommodation capacity but will also enhance access to higher education for students from lower-income backgrounds, and strengthen the university’s competitiveness, as well as its academic and social impact.

    The announcement comes after the EIB Group announced at the EIB Forum its action plan to support housing, which includes a new housing one-stop-shop portal to provide advice and finance to support innovation in the construction sector, build affordable homes and invest in energy efficiency and the renovation of housing stock across Europe. The EIB Group is planning investments of around €10 billion over next two years with the aim of delivering 1.5 million new or renovated housing units across Europe.

    Background information  

    EIB 

    The European Investment Bank (ElB) is the long-term lending institution of the European Union, owned by its Member States. Built around eight core priorities, we finance investments that contribute to EU policy objectives by bolstering climate action and the environment, digitalisation and technological innovation, security and defence, cohesion, agriculture and bioeconomy, social infrastructure, high-impact investments outside the European Union, and the capital markets union.  

    The EIB Group, which also includes the European Investment Fund (EIF), signed nearly €89 billion in new financing for over 900 high-impact projects in 2024, boosting Europe’s competitiveness and security.  

    All projects financed by the EIB Group are in line with the Paris Climate Agreement, as pledged in our Climate Bank Roadmap. Almost 60% of the EIB Group’s annual financing supports projects directly contributing to climate change mitigation, adaptation, and a healthier environment.  

    Fostering market integration and mobilising investment, the Group supported a record of over €100 billion in new investment for Europe’s energy security in 2024 and mobilised €110 billion in growth capital for startups, scale-ups and European pioneers. Approximately half of the EIB’s financing within the European Union is directed towards cohesion regions, where per capita income is lower than the EU average.

    High-quality, up-to-date photos of our headquarters for media use are available here.

    Greece: EIB supports student housing and campus upgrades of the University of Crete
    Greece: EIB supports student housing and campus upgrades of the University of Crete
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    Greece: EIB supports student housing and campus upgrades of the University of Crete
    Greece: EIB supports student housing and campus upgrades of the University of Crete
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    MIL OSI Europe News –

  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: Thundery Showers On Most Days In First Fortnight Of April 2025 With Onset Of Inter-Monsoon Conditions

    Source: Government of Singapore

    Singapore, 1 April 2025 – The Northeast Monsoon conditions prevailing over the region since mid-November 2024 are expected to gradually weaken and end, with inter-monsoon conditions setting in during the first fortnight of April 2025. The inter-monsoon period usually lasts to May, and is characterised by light and variable winds and higher lightning activity.

    2        Moderate to heavy thundery showers are expected over parts of the island in the afternoon on most days. The showers may extend into the evening on a few of these days. In addition, Sumatra squalls may bring widespread thundery showers and gusty winds on one or two mornings. The total rainfall for the first fortnight of April 2025 is forecast to be above average over most parts of the island.

    3        The daily maximum temperatures are likely to range between 33 degrees Celsius and 34 degrees Celsius on most days and reach around 35 degrees Celsius on a few days.

    4        For updates of the daily weather forecast, please visit the MSS website (www.weather.gov.sg), NEA website (www.nea.gov.sg), or download the myENV app.

     REVIEW OF THE PAST TWO WEEKS (17 – 31 MARCH 2025)

    5        Northeast Monsoon conditions prevailed over Singapore and the surrounding region in the second fortnight of March 2025. During the period, the low-level winds blew mainly from the northwest or northeast.

    6        The second fortnight of March 2025 was very wet. Moderate to heavy thundery showers affected parts of the island on most days. On 19 – 20 March 2025, a surge of north-easterly winds (or monsoon surge[1]) over the South China Sea brought spells of moderate to heavy showers over Singapore and the surrounding region. This was the third wet monsoon surge during this Northeast Monsoon season. The daily total rainfall of 216.8 mm recorded at Kallang on 20 March 2025 was the highest rainfall recorded for the second fortnight of March 2025.

     7        Based on the rainfall averaged across the island-wide stations with long-term data since 1980, March 2025 is the wettest March on record. The monthly total rainfall of 482.9 mm surpassed the previous record of 451.0 mm set in 2004.

     8        The daily maximum temperatures in the second fortnight of March 2025 were between 32 degrees Celsius and 34 degrees Celsius on most days. During the monsoon surge on 19 – 20 March 2025, the daily minimum temperatures ranged from about 22 degrees Celsius to 24 degrees Celsius, while daily maximum temperatures ranged from about 24 degrees Celsius to 28 degrees Celsius. The lowest daily minimum temperature for the second fortnight of March 2025 was 21.9 degrees Celsius, recorded at Tuas South during the surge on 20 March 2025.

     9        Well-above average rainfall was received across the island in the second fortnight of March 2025 with Changi registering rainfall of 570 per cent above average.

    CLIMATE STATION STATISTICS

      Long-term Statistics for April
      (Climatological reference period: 1991-2020)
    Average daily maximum temperature: 32.4      °C
    Average daily minimum temperature: 25.3 °C
    Average monthly temperature: 28.2 °C
         
    Average rainfall: 164.3 mm
    Average number of rain days: 15  
     
    Historical Extremes for April
      (Rainfall since 1869 and temperature since 1929)
    Highest monthly mean daily maximum temperature: 33.9  °C (1983)
    Lowest monthly mean daily minimum temperature: 23.1  °C (1934)
         
    Highest monthly rainfall ever recorded:  454.9  mm (1900)
    Lowest monthly rainfall ever recorded: 16.6  mm (1977)

    METEOROLOGICAL SERVICE SINGAPORE

    1 Apr 2025


    [1] A monsoon surge refers to a strengthening of winds over the South China Sea, causing extensive rainclouds to form over our surrounding region.

    ~~ End ~~

    For more information, please submit your enquiries electronically via the Online Feedback Form or myENV mobile application.

    MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

  • MIL-OSI Europe: Winners of first national HIHI GreenTech in Healthcare announced

    Source: Government of Ireland – Department of Jobs Enterprise and Innovation

    1st April 2025

    Today, Health Innovation Hub Ireland (HIHI), the HSE and the Irish College of GPs, announced the winners of HIHI GreenTech in Healthcare. The Health Innovation Hub Ireland (HIHI) is a joint government initiative of the Department of Enterprise Trade and Employment and the Department of Health.

    Six innovative products and services have been identified, that promote environmental sustainability in both primary and secondary healthcare. The call was the first step in tackling the research and innovation gap in sustainable product pathways in the Irish health sector. Now, the winning products and services in green healthcare, will be trialled. This allows Irish health providers to pilot, refine and adapt sustainable solutions effectively, before wider implementation. 

    The HSE, Enterprise Ireland and Health Innovation Hub Ireland (HIHI), will lead collaborations across Irish healthcare sites to deliver trialling of the winners on the ground. 

     Welcoming the announcement Minister for Enterprise, Tourism and Employment Peter Burke said:

    “The Health Innovation Hub Ireland GreenTech initiative is a clear demonstration of how innovation can support our national climate goals while delivering practical benefits to the health service. Through Health Innovation Hub Ireland – a flagship collaboration between my Department and the Department of Health – we are driving forward sustainable innovation, supporting enterprise, and enabling real-world testing of green solutions in our health system.”

    HIHI National Director Dr Tanya Mulcahy said:  

    “Todaymarks a significant step toward integrating sustainable innovation into Irish healthcare. By identifying and trialling these six pioneering solutions, Health Innovation Hub Ireland, with the HSE and the Irish College of GPs, is fostering real-world impact in environmental sustainability. 

    “The diversity of the selected products – from circular economy medical devices to eco-friendly ultrasound gels – demonstrates a broad commitment to tackling healthcare’s environmental footprint. This initiative sets a strong precedent for future collaborations in green healthcare innovation.” 

    Dr Philip Crowley National Director HSE Climate and Global Health said:   

    “We are delighted to be involved in this recent Greentech in healthcare call and initiative with Health Innovation Hub Ireland and the Irish College of GPs. In keeping with the HSE Climate Action Strategy and our work to create greener models of healthcare, it is a great opportunity to encourage and support innovative services and products that are environmentally sustainable for healthcare environments.” 

    Dr Andrée Rochfort, Director of Quality Improvement at the Irish College of GPs said:

     “Protecting the finite resources of healthcare and minimizing the environmental impact of healthcare is important. The innovations identified by the GreenTech Initiative have potential to improve healthcare sustainability in a practical way. We look forward to the reports on these green healthcare products after they are tested in primary and secondary care”.

    Winners: 

    Aerogen: This HIHI GreenTech winner pitched a unique long term multi-disciplinary project developing sustainable medical devices, transitioning to a circular economy model and reducing the environmental footprint of Aerogen’s Solo Nebuliser products.  There are several stages to this work and HIHI looks forward to beginning the first stage, supporting research and problem definition, throughout Irish healthcare sites. 

    Vanguard AG: This HIHI GreenTech winner pitched a proven solution for the remanufacturing of single-use medical devices.  HIHI looks forward to trialing this solution as part of a sustainability pilot in Irish healthcare.  

    HaPPE: This HIHI GreenTech winner pitched a full cycle bio-digestion system, creating a sustainable solution for healthcare waste, specifically compostable PPE and food waste. The solution leverages compostable materials, on-site bio-digestion and advanced decontamination technology. HIHI looks forward to trialing this solution as part of a sustainability pilot in Irish healthcare.  

    EccoSpray: This GreenTech winner pitched an eco-friendly alternative to traditional ultrasound gels, to measure sustainability, waste reduction and efficiency benefits. The product has previously been trialed by HIHI with positive results on usability and image quality.  HIHI now looks forward to trial this solution as part of a sustainability pilot in Irish healthcare.  

    Offerre: This HIHI GreenTech winner, a new consortium of Irish companies—Offerre, Envetec, DeltaQ, Enva  – pitched a multi-faceted solution focused on medical waste treatment and recovery. HIHI now looks forward to mapping this solution to trial it as part of a sustainability pilot in Irish healthcare.  

    Medfirst Supplies – Safe clean box: This HIHI GreenTech winner, pitched a closed, sealed cabinet system that automates the manual cleaning of RIMDs. Uses sodium bicarbonate (non-abrasive, non-corrosive and water-soluble) with low-pressure compressed air for effective pre-cleaning of medical device. HIHI now looks forward evaluating this solution as part of its sustainability portfolio in Irish healthcare.  

    The pitches were judged by HIHI Clinical Sustainability Advisors (CSA) from across Ireland who work on the frontline, and a panel of experts from the HSE, Irish College of General Practitioners and Irish healthcare sites – healthcare sites, including St James’s, TUH,  CUH, CUMH, UHG.HIHI, the HSE and the Irish College of GPs will now support the development and trialling of these innovative products and services.  

    ENDS

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    MIL OSI Europe News –

  • MIL-Evening Report: Torrential rains created inland seas in outback Queensland. Soon, they will supersize Kati Thanda-Lake Eyre

    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Steve Turton, Adjunct Professor of Environmental Geography, CQUniversity Australia

    The small Queensland town of Eromanga bills itself as Australia’s town furthest from the sea. But this week, an ocean of freshwater arrived.

    Monsoon-like weather has hit the normally arid Channel Country of inland Queensland. Some towns have had two years’ worth of rain in a couple of days. These flat grazing lands now resemble an inland sea. Dozens of people have been evacuated. Others are preparing to be cut off, potentially for weeks. And graziers are reporting major livestock losses – more than 100,000 and climbing. In some areas, the flooding is worse than 1974, the wettest year on record in Australia.

    Why so much rain? Tropical, water-laden air has been brought far inland from the oceans to the north and east. This can happen under normal climate variability. But our ocean temperatures are the highest on record, which supercharges the water cycle.

    In coming weeks, this huge volume of water will wend its way through the channels and down to fill Kati Thanda-Lake Eyre, the ephemeral lake which appears in the northern reaches of South Australia. It’s likely this will be a Lake Eyre for the ages.

    In the first three months of the year, deadly record-breaking floods hit northern Queensland before Cyclone Alfred tracked unusually far south and made landfall in southeast Queensland, bringing widespread winds and rains and leaving expensive repair bills. Now the rain has come inland.

    Why so much rain in arid areas?

    Some meteorologists have dubbed this event a pseudo-monsoon. That’s because the normal Australian monsoon doesn’t reach this far south – the torrential rains of the monsoonal wet season tend to fall closer to the northern coasts.

    Because the Arafura and Timor Seas to the north are unusually warm, evaporation rates have shot up. Once in the air, this water vapour makes for very humid conditions. These air masses are even more humid than normal tropical air, because they have flowed down from the equator. Many Queenslanders can vouch for the intense humidity.

    But there’s a second factor at work. At present, Australia’s climate is influenced by a positive Southern Annular Mode. This means the belt of intense westerly winds blowing across the Southern Ocean has been pushed further south, causing a ripple effect which can lead to more summer rain in Australia’s southeast, up to inland Queensland. This natural climate driver has meant easterly winds have blown uninterrupted from as far away as Fiji, carrying yet more humid air inland.

    Many inland rivers in Queensland are in major flood (red triangles) as of April 1.
    Bureau of Meteorology, CC BY

    These two streams of converging humid tropical air were driven up into the cooler heights of the atmosphere by upper and surface low pressure troughs, triggering torrential rain over wide areas of the outback

    While these humid air masses have now dumped most of their water, more rain is coming in the aftermath of the short-lived Cyclone Dianne off northwest Australia. These rains won’t be as intense but may drive more flood peaks over already saturated catchments.

    This is why it has been so wet in what is normally an exceptionally dry part of Australia.

    What is this doing to the Channel Country?

    Many Australians have never been to the remote Channel Country. It’s a striking landscape, marked by ancient, braided river channels.

    Even for an area known for drought-flood cycles, the rainfall totals are extreme. This is a very rare event.

    People who live there have to be resilient and self-sufficient. But farmers and graziers are bracing for awful losses of livestock. Livestock can drown in floodwaters, but a common fate is succumbing to pneumonia after spending too long in water. After the water moves down the channels, it will leave behind notoriously boggy and sticky mud. This can be lethal to livestock and native animals, which can find themselves unable to move.

    Where will the water go next?

    Little of these temporary inland seas will ever reach the ocean.

    Some of the rain has fallen in the catchment of the Darling River, where it will flow down and meet the Murray. The Darling is often filled by summer rains, while the Murray gets more water from autumn and winter rains. This water will eventually reach the Southern Ocean.

    But most of the rain fell further inland. The waters snaking through the channels will head south, flowing slowly along the flat ground for weeks until it crosses the South Australian border and begins to fill up Kati Thanda-Lake Eyre. Here, the waters will stop, more than 300 km from the nearest ocean at Port Augusta, and fill what is normally a huge, salty depression and Australia’s lowest point, 15 metres below sea level.

    When Kati Thanda-Lake Eyre fills, it creates an extraordinary spectacle. Millions of brine shrimp will hatch from eggs in the dry soil. This sudden abundance will draw waterbirds in their millions, while fish carried in the floodwaters will spawn and eat the shrimp. Then there are the remarkable shield shrimps, hibernating inland crabs and salt-adapted hardyhead fish.

    It’s rare that Kati Thanda-Lake Eyre fills up – but when it does, life comes to the desert.
    Mandy Creighton/Shutterstock

    The rain event will send enough water to keep Lake Eyre full for many months and it usually takes up to two years for it to dry out again. We can expect to see a huge lake form – the size of a small European country. Birdwatchers and biologists will flock to the area to see the sight of a temporary sea in the desert.

    Eventually, the intense sun of the outback will evaporate every last drop of the floodwaters, leaving behind salted ground and shrimp eggs for the next big rains.

    As the climate keeps warming, we can expect to see more sudden torrential rain dumps like this one, followed by periods of rapid drying.

    Steve Turton has previously received funding from the federal government.

    – ref. Torrential rains created inland seas in outback Queensland. Soon, they will supersize Kati Thanda-Lake Eyre – https://theconversation.com/torrential-rains-created-inland-seas-in-outback-queensland-soon-they-will-supersize-kati-thanda-lake-eyre-253529

    MIL OSI Analysis – EveningReport.nz –

  • MIL-Evening Report: Global warming of more than 3°C this century may wipe 40% off the world’s economy, new analysis reveals

    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Timothy Neal, Senior lecturer in Economics / Institute for Climate Risk and Response, UNSW Sydney

    The damage climate change will inflict on the world’s economy is likely to have been massively underestimated, according to new research by my colleagues and I which accounts for the full global reach of extreme weather and its aftermath.

    To date, projections of how climate change will affect global gross domestic product (GDP) have broadly suggested mild to moderate harm. This in part has led to a lack of urgency in national efforts to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.

    However, these models often contain a fundamental flaw – they assume a national economy is affected only by weather in that country. Any impacts from weather events elsewhere, such as how flooding in one country affects the food supply to another, are not incorporated into the models.

    Our new research sought to fix this. After including the global repercussions of extreme weather into our models, the predicted harm to global GDP became far worse than previously thought – affecting the lives of people in every country on Earth.

    Weather shocks everywhere, all at once

    Global warming affects economies in many ways.

    The most obvious is damage from extreme weather. Droughts can cause poor harvests, while storms and floods can cause widespread destruction and disrupt the supply of goods. Recent research has also shown heatwaves, aggravated by climate change, have contributed to food inflation.

    Heat also makes workers less productive. It affects human health, and disease transmission, and can cause mass migration and conflict.

    Most prior research predicts that even extreme warming of 4°C will have only mild negative impacts on the global economy by the end of the century – between 7% and 23%.

    Such modelling is usually based on the effects of weather shocks in the past. However, these shocks have typically been confined to a local or regional scale, and balanced out by conditions elsewhere.

    For example, in the past, South America might have been in drought, but other parts of the world were getting good rainfall. So, South America could rely on imports of agricultural products from other countries to fill domestic shortfalls and prevent spikes in food prices.

    But future climate change will increase the risk of weather shocks occurring simultaneously across countries and more persistently over time. This will disrupt the networks producing and delivering goods, compromise trade and limit the extent to which countries can help each other.

    International trade is fundamental to the global economic production. So, our research examined how a country’s future economic growth would be influenced by weather conditions everywhere else in the world.

    What did we find?

    One thing was immediately clear: a warm year across the planet causes lower global growth.

    We corrected three leading models to account for the effects of global weather on national economies, then averaged out their results. Our analysis focused on global GDP per capita – in other words, the world’s economic output divided by its population.

    We found if the Earth warms by more than 3°C by the end of the century, the estimated harm to the global economy jumped from an average of 11% (under previous modelling assumptions) to 40% (under our modelling assumptions). This level of damage could devastate livelihoods in large parts of the world.

    Previous models have asserted economies in cold parts of the world, such as Russia and Northern Europe, will benefit from warmer global temperatures. However, we found the impact on the global economy was so large, all countries will be badly affected.

    A warm year across the planet causes lower global growth. Pictured: wilted corn crops during drought.
    wahyusyaban/Shutterstock

    Costs vs benefits

    Reducing emissions leads to short-term economic costs. These must be balanced against the long-term benefits of avoiding dangerous climate change.

    Recent economic modelling has suggested this balance would be struck by reducing emissions at a rate that allows Earth to heat by 2.7°C.

    This is close to Earth’s current warming trajectory. But it is far higher than the goals of the Paris Agreement, and global warming limits recommended by climate scientists. It is also based on the flawed assumptions discussed above.

    Under our new research, the optimal amount of global warming, balancing short-term costs with long-term benefits, is 1.7°C – a figure broadly consistent with the Paris Agreement’s most ambitious target.

    Avoiding climate change has short-term costs and long-term benefits.
    Dany Bejar/Shutterstock

    Changing course

    Our new research shows previous forecasts of how such warming will affect the global economy have been far too optimistic. It adds to other recent evidence suggesting the economic impacts of climate change has been badly underestimated.

    Clearly, Earth’s current emissions trajectory risks our future and that of our children. The sooner humanity grasps the calamities in store under severe climate change, the sooner we can change course to avoid it.

    Timothy Neal does not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organisation that would benefit from this article, and has disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment.

    – ref. Global warming of more than 3°C this century may wipe 40% off the world’s economy, new analysis reveals – https://theconversation.com/global-warming-of-more-than-3-c-this-century-may-wipe-40-off-the-worlds-economy-new-analysis-reveals-253032

    MIL OSI Analysis – EveningReport.nz –

  • MIL-OSI New Zealand: Pou Hihiri sculpture inspires hope in Muriwai

    Source: Auckland Council

    Hundreds of residents and visitors gathered in Muriwai on Sunday 23 March for the official unveiling and naming ceremony of Pou Hihiri – a new sculpture commemorating the impact of Cyclone Gabrielle.

    Designed by renowned artist Jeff Thomson in collaboration with the Muriwai community, the sculpture consists of eight columns and benches crafted from materials salvaged from Category 3 houses that were deconstructed following the devastating 2023 storms.

    “What the sculpture stands for is multifaceted, says Clare Bradley, chair of the Muriwai Community Association.

    “Using material from the deconstructed homes gives it a real connection to the event that led to their destruction.
    “It serves as a strong reminder that this has happened in our community, so the events of 13 February 2023 will not be forgotten.”

    Jeff reflected on the strong sense of community throughout the project.

    “It’s been a fascinating project, and it’s still ongoing. I’ll continue to add materials to the sculpture until the deconstruction in Muriwai is complete,” says Jeff.

    Linda Greenalgh, Group Community and Social Recovery Lead for the Recovery Office, shared how deeply the ceremony moved her.

    “The whenua is regenerating, spaces are coming back to life, and there’s a strong sense of hope and momentum.”

    Pou Hihiri is a fully self-funded public artwork, made possible through the generosity of hundreds of donors who contributed funds, artworks, products, services and time to bring this meaningful project to life.

    MIL OSI New Zealand News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: SPC – No MDs are in effect as of Tue Apr 1 02:02:01 UTC 2025

    Source: US National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

    Current Mesoscale DiscussionsUpdated:  Tue Apr 1 02:05:03 UTC 2025 No Mesoscale Discussions are currently in effect.

    Notice:  The responsibility for Heavy Rain Mesoscale Discussions has been transferred to the Weather Prediction Center (WPC) on April 9, 2013. Click here for the Service Change Notice.
    Archived Convective ProductsTo view convective products for a previous day, type in the date you wish to retrieve (e.g. 20040529 for May 29, 2004). Data available since January 1, 2004.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI: Carbon Streaming Announces Financial Results for the Year Ended December 31, 2024

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    TORONTO, March 31, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Carbon Streaming Corporation (Cboe CA: NETZ) (OTCQB: OFSTF) (FSE: M2Q) (“Carbon Streaming” or the “Company”) today reported its financial results for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2024. All figures are expressed in United States dollars, unless otherwise indicated. The Company will host a live audio call at 11:00 a.m. ET on Tuesday, April 1, 2025. In addition, the Company is also pleased to announce the appointment of Mr. Sam Wong to the board of directors of the Company (the “Board”) effective April 1, 2025.

    Carbon Streaming Chief Executive Officer Marin Katusa stated: “In the fourth quarter of 2024, Carbon Streaming focused on its restructuring efforts and evaluating strategic alternatives while taking significant steps to reduce costs and improve financial sustainability. We successfully reduced the number of individuals receiving full-time salaries from 24 at the start of 2024 to 4 by January 2025, resulting in significant savings to ongoing operating expenses. With cost reductions complete, our priority in 2025 is to maximize value from our existing portfolio while continuing to explore all strategic options to enhance shareholder value.  More specifically, we will evaluate all potential acquisitions, divestments, corporate transactions, and strategic partnerships. While the voluntary carbon market continues to experience difficult market conditions and many economic uncertainties exist, we are committed to adapting to market conditions and ensuring the best path forward for our shareholders. With respect to the Rimba Raya, Magdalena Bay and Sustainable Community Streams, the Company remains focused on protecting our investments and preserving our rights as we will with all our investments.”

    Annual Highlights

    • Ended the year with $37.4 million in cash and no corporate debt.
    • Reduced the number of individuals receiving full-time salaries at the Company – including employees, consultants, and directors – from 24 at the start of 2024 to 8 by year-end, with a further decrease to 4 full time employees by January 2025, resulting in significant savings in ongoing operating expenses.
    • Recognized a net loss on revaluation of carbon credit streaming and royalty agreements of $58.2 million (net loss on revaluation of $32.9 million in 2023). The net loss on revaluation for each period was driven by reductions in the carbon credit production and sales profiles and carbon credit pricing assumptions, and an increase to the risk-adjusted discount rate.
    • Continued the previously-announced corporate restructuring plan, which resulted in a non-recurring restructuring charge of $2.6 million.
    • Generated $1.6 million in settlements from carbon credit streaming and royalty agreements (settlements of $55 thousand in 2023).
    • Operating loss of $68.3 million (operating loss of $45.0 million in 2023).
    • Recognized net loss of $67.4 million (net loss of $35.5 million in 2023).
    • Adjusted net loss was $5.2 million (adjusted net loss of $7.6 million in 2023) (see the “Non-IFRS Accounting Standards Measures” section of this news release).
    • Paid $8.1 million in upfront deposits for carbon credit streaming and royalty agreements (paid $7.6 million in upfront deposits in 2023).

    Fourth Quarter Highlights

    • Recognized a net loss on revaluation of carbon credit streaming and royalty agreements of $13.2 million (net loss on revaluation of $24.0 million in Q4 2023). The net loss on revaluation for each period was driven by reductions in the carbon credit production and sales profiles and carbon credit pricing assumptions, and an increase to the risk-adjusted discount rate.
    • Generated $0.5 million in settlements from carbon credit streaming and royalty agreements (settlements of $nil in Q4 2023).
    • Operating loss of $14.9 million (operating loss of $26.8 million in Q4 2023).
    • Recognized net loss of $16.9 million (net loss of $26.1 million in Q4 2023).
    • Adjusted net loss was $0.9 million (adjusted net loss of $2.2 million in Q4 2023) (see the “Non-IFRS Accounting Standards Measures” section of this news release).
    • Paid $2.2 million in upfront deposits for carbon credit streaming and royalty agreements (paid $2.1 million in upfront deposits in Q4 2023).

    Financial Highlights Summary

      Three months ended
    December 31, 2024    		 Three months ended
    December 31, 2023    		 Year ended December 31, 2024 Year ended December 31, 2023
    Carbon credit streaming and royalty agreements        
    Revaluation of carbon credit streaming and royalty agreements $ (13,190)   $ (23,952)   $ (58,155)   $ (32,897)  
    Settlements from carbon credit streaming and royalty agreements1   513     –     1,550     55  
    Other financial highlights        
    Other operating expenses   1,760     2,691     10,340     12,035  
    Operating loss   (14,923)     (26,784)     (68,335)     (45,002)  
    Net loss   (16,932)     (26,092)     (67,369)     (35,501)  
    Loss per share (Basis and Diluted) ($/share)   (0.32)     (0.55)     (1.34)     (0.75)  
    Adjusted net loss2   (884)     (2,225)     (5,214)     (7,586)  
    Adjusted net loss per share (Basic and Diluted) ($/share)2   (0.02)     (0.05)     (0.10)     (0.16)  
    Statement of financial position        
    Cash3   37,350     51,416     37,350     51,416  
    Carbon credit streaming and royalty agreements3   9,081     60,122     9,081     60,122  
    Total assets3   48,683     117,111     48,683     117,111  
    Non-current liabilities3   112     1,083     112     1,083  
    1. Relates to the net cash proceeds generated from the Company’s carbon credit streaming and royalty agreements.
    2. “Adjusted net loss”, including per share amounts, is a non-IFRS® Accounting Standards (the “IFRS Accounting Standards”) financial performance measure that is used in this news release. This measure does not have any standardized meaning under the IFRS Accounting Standards and therefore may not be comparable to similar measures presented by other issuers. For more information about this measure, why it is used by the Company, and a reconciliation to the most directly comparable measure under the IFRS Accounting Standards, see the “Non-IFRS Accounting Standards Measures” section of this news release.
    3. Cash, carbon credit streaming and royalty agreements, total assets and non-current liabilities are presented as at the relevant tabular reporting date.

    Portfolio Updates

    Rimba Raya Stream: On April 26, 2024, the Company announced that it was informed that PT Rimba Raya Conservation (“PT Rimba”), the local concession holder for the Rimba Raya project, had its Forest Utilization Business License (the “Concession License”) revoked by the Indonesian Government’s Ministry of Environment and Forestry (the “MOEF”). PT Rimba challenged the MOEF’s revocation of the Concession License, and in July 2024, the State Administrative Court of Jakarta (the “Court of Jakarta”) reached a decision on PT Rimba’s claim and declared that the revocation by the MOEF of the Concession License is void. The MOEF appealed the decision of the Court of Jakarta and in September 2024, the State Administrative High Court of Jakarta (the “High Court of Jakarta”) upheld the Court of Jakarta’s decision declaring that the revocation by the MOEF of the Concession License is void. The MOEF submitted an appeal of the decision of the High Court of Jakarta and as such, the decision of the High Court of Jakarta upholding that the revocation by the MOEF of the Concession License is void does not yet have permanent legal force. While the appeal process is underway, the interlocutory decision issued by the Court of Jakarta on May 16, 2024, requiring the MOEF to suspend the implementation of its decree in respect of the revocation of the Concession License, will remain in place.

    In October 2024, InfiniteEARTH Limited and its Indonesian subsidiary PT InfiniteEARTH Nusantara, the project operators of the Rimba Raya project (collectively “InfiniteEARTH”) delivered a notice of intent to abandon the project (the “RR Notice of Abandonment”). Pursuant to the RR Notice of Abandonment, InfiniteEARTH claims that a Regulation entitled Regulation of the Ministry of Environment and Forestry Number 7 Year of 2023 issued on June 14, 2023 by the Indonesian Government (“Regulation No. 7 2023”), prohibits the issuance and transfer of carbon rights from PT Rimba to InfiniteEARTH. InfiniteEARTH claims that as a result of Regulation No. 7 2023, it has been unable to economically develop or continue to operate the Rimba Raya project and that this is a force majeure event under the Rimba Raya Stream. The Company has notified InfiniteEARTH that it rejects the assertion that Regulation No. 7 2023 is an event of force majeure and has commenced an arbitration seeking, among other things, an order that the RR Notice of Abandonment is invalid or void.

    In October 2024, the Company commenced an arbitration administered by the International Centre of Dispute Resolution against InfiniteEARTH in accordance with the Rimba Raya Stream; and against the shareholders of InfiniteEARTH Limited in accordance with the Strategic Alliance Agreement (the “SAA“). The arbitration has since been bifurcated into two arbitration proceedings, dealing with (i) the Rimba Raya Stream; and (ii) the SAA.

    In October 2024, the Company also issued a Notice of Action in the Ontario Superior Court of Justice seeking declaratory relief against the principals of InfiniteEARTH Limited and their related entities, seeking to enforce its rights in relation to guarantees and non-competition agreements related to the Rimba Raya Stream and the SAA. Some of the defendants have counterclaimed. The dispute between the Company and InfiniteEARTH arises out of acts and omissions that the Company alleges are improper and in breach of the Rimba Raya Stream, the SAA and related agreements. Management of the Company believes that delivering the Notice of Arbitration and issuing the Notice of Action in the Ontario Superior Court of Justice were important steps in preserving the Company’s legal and contractual rights.

    As a result of the uncertainty of the duration and outcome of the appeal process in respect of the Concession License and the ongoing legal dispute between the Company, InfiniteEARTH and the founders of InfiniteEARTH, the Company has reclassified the status of the Rimba Raya Stream to “Expired”. As at December 31, 2024, the Company has determined the fair value of the Rimba Raya Stream to be $nil.

    Magdalena Bay Blue Carbon Stream: In the third quarter of 2024, Fundación MarVivo Mexico, A.C. and MarVivo Corporation (collectively, “MarVivo”) delivered a notice of intent to abandon the project (the “MarVivo Notice of Abandonment”). Pursuant to the MarVivo Notice of Abandonment, MarVivo claims that the failure to transfer the concession rights from the Secretariat of Environment and Natural Resources (“SEMARNAT”), Mexico’s environment ministry, to the jurisdiction of Mexico’s National Commission for Protected Natural Areas (“CONANP”), constitutes an event of force majeure and that it is no longer economical to develop or continue to operate the project. The Company’s position is that the attempt to abandon the project constitutes a breach of the terms of the Magdalena Bay Blue Carbon Stream. The Company has notified MarVivo that it rejects the assertion that the failure to transfer the concession rights constitutes an event of force majeure and that if MarVivo abandons the project or takes steps to wind-down, this will amount to a breach of the terms of the Magdalena Bay Blue Carbon Stream. As a result of the MarVivo Notice of Abandonment and the assertions of MarVivo, the Company has determined the fair value of the Magdalena Bay Blue Carbon Stream to be $nil as at December 31, 2024. The Company reserves all rights with respect to the agreements between the parties and intends to strictly enforce its legal and contractual rights under the Magdalena Bay Blue Carbon Stream.

    Sustainable Community Stream: In the third quarter of 2024, the Company exercised its contractual rights to terminate the Sustainable Community Stream as a result of, among other things, the failure of the project operator, Will Solutions Inc., to meet its milestone related to the registration of its Ontario project and its failure to develop and implement the project in accordance with the project plan (including continued delays in project development activities and lower-than-expected project enrollments). As a result of the Sustainable Community Stream being terminated, the fair value of the Sustainable Community Stream was determined to be $nil as at December 31, 2024. The Company intends to strictly enforce its legal and contractual rights under the Sustainable Community Stream.

    Cerrado Biome Stream: At the time of project registration, the project planned to expand the project to 80,000 hectares by incorporating more land parcels, and to generate approximately 13 million carbon credits over a 30-year project life. Enrollment of additional land parcels has been slower than anticipated, primarily due to declining demand and lower pricing for REDD+ carbon credits. As a result, the expected revenue from carbon credit sales has decreased, reducing the financial incentive for landholders to transition from agricultural production to REDD+ project enrollment. Currently, the project consists of two land parcels covering approximately 11,000 hectares, expected to generate 1.2 million carbon credits over 30 years; however, the actual number of carbon credits issued will depend on the project’s ability to attract additional landholders. Revenue shortfalls have been driven by delays in the Verra verification process and price volatility for credits issued by REDD+ projects.

    Waverly Biochar Stream and Royalty: Following the accelerated payment of the final milestone payments in the second quarter of 2024, the project reached mechanical completion and first biochar production in the third quarter of 2024. However, additional technical challenges prevented continuous operation of the facility and have continued to delay full production capacity. The project is currently focused on securing additional funding to support commissioning, the initial facility audit, and the first output audit with Puro.earth. Verification was anticipated in the third quarter of 2025, with first issuance of carbon credits to follow immediately thereafter, but is now expected to be delayed.

    In 2023, the Company announced an agreement to provide Microsoft Corporation with carbon credits from the Waverly Biochar Stream of up to 10,000 carbon credits per year. Under this agreement, the Company is committed to delivering a minimum quantity of credits on specified future dates. If the Company is unable to fulfill this commitment, Microsoft Corporation may request that credits be sourced from an alternative project of their choosing.

    Community Carbon Stream: In 2024, the projects under the Community Carbon Stream issued over 1,600,000 carbon credits from the Mozambique cookstove project, the Uganda cookstove project, the Tanzania cookstove project, and the Uganda household safe water project. Additionally, the Community Carbon Stream generated $1.1 million in cash settlements for the year ended December 31, 2024.

    On May 8, 2024, the Company amended the terms of the Community Carbon Stream resulting in, among other things, revising the Company’s economic interest to provide for a tiered streaming structure which is adjusted as certain return on invested capital thresholds are achieved, and adjusting the portfolio composition and milestone payments to focus on the five strongest projects, three cookstove projects in Mozambique, Tanzania and Uganda and two water purification projects in Malawi and Uganda.

    Following the May 2024 amendment, the Company anticipates that the project’s actual emission reductions will be materially lower than previously expected due to methodological changes and declining prices, which have reduced forecasted creditable unit deployments. Concerns over emissions reduction overestimation, additionality, and verification challenges have raised questions about cookstove credit quality, prompting methodological revisions as the market adapts to evolving buyer expectations. While these changes aim to enhance credibility, they have also reduced demand and driven down prices.

    Nalgonda Rice Farming Stream: In December 2024, the Company delivered a notice to Core CarbonX Pte. Ltd. and its services provider, Core CarbonX Solutions Private Limited that an event of default occurred and is continuing due to the failure of the project to reach development completion prior to June 30, 2024. While no further action has been taken at this time, the Company reserves all rights under its agreements.

    The project was registered with Verra on February 10, 2025, using the UNFCCC Clean Development Mechanism Methodology AMS-III.AU: Methane emission reduction by adjusted water management practice in rice cultivation in the VCS program (“AMS-III.AU”). Registration and first validation of the project was delayed when Verra temporarily inactivated AMS-III.AU as part of a broader review of validation and verification quality and began developing a revised rice-specific methodology to replace AMS-III.AU. During this review, Verra determined that certain projects identified as having quality issues with validations and/or verifications would remain on hold, but Core CarbonX’s projects, including the Nalgonda Rice Farming project, were approved for registration under AMS-III.AU.

    Verra released the new VCS Methodology VM0051 (Improved Management in Rice Production Systems v1.0) on February 27, 2025, which the project plans to transition to for the second monitoring period. However, the project has already applied the guidelines required under the VCS Methodology VM0051. At this time, it is not known how the transition to the new methodology will impact the project, if at all.

    As of December 31, 2024, approximately 32,000 landholders were enrolled in the project, covering 36,548 hectares of farmland. Enrollment remains ongoing, with a target of expanding to approximately 62,000 hectares. However, progress has been slower than expected due to registration delays, which have also postponed farmer compensation and, in turn, affected enrollment. The project was registered with Verra on February 10, 2025.

    Enfield Biochar Stream: In April 2024, Standard Biocarbon Corporation (“Standard Biocarbon”) achieved its first biochar production. However, technical challenges have delayed the commissioning process. Standard Biocarbon is working with PYREG GmbH, the engineer and builder of the PYREG Machines, to resolve these issues as it scales toward full operating capacity. The project continues to collect operational data required for a facility audit and official registration with the Puro.earth carbon credit standard. Currently, the project is on care and maintenance while seeking additional funding to support commissioning, the initial facility audit, and the first output audit.

    Azuero Reforestation Stream: On May 21, 2024, the Company, Microsoft Corporation and Rubicon Carbon Capital LLC (“Rubicon”) entered into a carbon credit streaming agreement, as amended on November 23, 2024 (the “Azuero Reforestation Stream”) with Azuero Reforestation Colectiva, S.A. (“ARC”), a wholly owned subsidiary of Ponterra Ltd. (“Ponterra”), for a reforestation project located on Azuero Province, Los Santos Province, Republic of Panama. Under the terms of the Azuero Reforestation Stream, ARC will deliver 13.5% of the carbon credits created by the project to the Company. Additionally, Microsoft Corporation has entered into an offtake agreement to purchase 100% of the Company’s carbon credits delivered under the terms of the Azuero Reforestation Stream through to 2040. Carbon Streaming will also act as the sole marketer of ARC’s carbon credits not already committed to the co-investors under the Azuero Reforestation Stream.

    Under the terms of the Azuero Reforestation Stream, Carbon Streaming, alongside Rubicon and Microsoft Corporation, will fund 100% of project costs over seven years. The Company agreed to make an upfront deposit of up to $7.1 million with $0.3 million paid on closing, and additional milestone payments made as the project achieves planting and sapling survival milestones, and will receive 13.5% of total credits, which is expected to be approximately 438,000 carbon credits through 2052.

    Sheep Creek Reforestation Stream: In January 2025, the Company received a Notice of Adverse Impact from Mast Reforestation SPV I, LLC (“Mast”) and the parent company of Mast, Droneseed Co. d/b/a Mast Reforestation under the Sheep Creek Reforestation Stream pursuant to which, among other things, Mast advised the Company that the Sheep Creek project has experienced significantly higher than expected mortality rates and that the surviving seedlings had exhibited slower than expected growth rates. As a result, Mast indicated to the Company that it no longer expects to deliver the Company the agreed-upon 286,229 carbon removal credits, referred to as forecast mitigation units (“FMUs”) under the Climate Action Reserve’s Climate Forward program under the Sheep Creek Reforestation Stream, as Mast no longer considers the existing Sheep Creek project plan and budget to be viable. The Company has formally responded to the Notice of Adverse Impact and requested that Mast respond to the Company’s significant concerns regarding, among other things, the timing of the delivery of the Notice of Adverse Impact, and the characterization of the cause of the adverse impact. The Company is continuing to evaluate all legal avenues available under the Sheep Creek Reforestation Stream. As a result, the Company no longer anticipates generating cash flow from the Sheep Creek Reforestation Stream and has determined its fair value to be $nil as of December 31, 2024.

    Feather River Reforestation Stream: In 2024, carbon credit market demand has generally shifted towards lower risk carbon credits. FMUs, which are designed to facilitate forward financing, inherently carry higher risk, leading to supply that has exceeded demand. FMU issuance is expected in 2025. However, given the uncertainties surrounding FMU sales, the Company has determined the fair value of the Feather River Reforestation Stream to be $nil as of December 31, 2024.

    Baccala Ranch Reforestation Stream: In March 2025, Mast delivered the Company a notice of termination of the Baccala Ranch Reforestation Stream and the Baccala Ranch project, thereby confirming it will forego any plantings. The Company had not advanced any funds for the Baccala project and the closing of the Baccala Ranch Reforestation Stream remained subject to customary closing conditions.

    Amazon Portfolio Royalty: Following a corporate reorganization, Future Carbon assigned its interests in the Yellow Ipe, ABC Norte and Gairova projects (collectively the “Ecologica Portfolio”) to Ecological Assessoria Ltda. and its affiliates (collectively “Ecologica”), and retained the Rio Madeira Project, (the “Future Carbon Portfolio”). To reflect this restructuring, the Original Amazon Royalty was replaced on April 17, 2024, by two new royalty agreements: one between the Company and Future Carbon for the Future Carbon Portfolio (the “FC Amazon Royalty”), and another between the Company and Ecologica on the Ecologica Portfolio (the “Ecologica Amazon Royalty”). Each agreement carried a purchase price of $1.5 million, maintaining the original $3.0 million investment. No additional funds were advanced by the Company as part of Future Carbon’s reorganization.

    Bonobo Peace Forest Royalty: The royalty agreement was originally intended to convert into a stream agreement upon successful validation and verification of the project. However, due to political instability in the DRC, weakened market sentiment for REDD+ projects, and a significant decline in demand for REDD+ carbon credits, Carbon Streaming decided to halt further investment. The Company currently has no plans to proceed with a stream agreement.

    The project has been seeking additional investment to support a renewed technical effort for registration under the new Verra VM0048 methodology. Given the material uncertainty surrounding fundraising for REDD+ project development, the early-stage nature of the project’s technical development, and persistent weakness in demand for REDD+ carbon credits, the Company has determined the fair value of the Bonobo Peace Forest Royalty to be $nil as at December 31, 2024.

    Strategy

    Carbon Streaming is currently focused on maximizing value from the existing portfolio of investments and pursuing all options to achieve that goal. During 2024, the Company has undergone changes to the Board and management, including the termination of certain consulting contracts, which reduced ongoing cash expenditure and streamlined decision-making. The Company continues to focus on its previously announced evaluation of strategic alternatives with a focus on maximizing value for all shareholders. These alternatives could include acquisitions, divestments, corporate transactions, financings, other strategic partnership opportunities or continuing to operate as a public company.

    The Company’s carbon credit streaming agreements are structured to retain a portion of the cash flows from carbon credit sales, with stream-specific retention varying. Project partners typically receive the balance through ongoing delivery payments under the terms of each agreement. Cash flows are subject to fluctuations based on realized carbon credit prices and agreement terms. As the Company continues to evaluate its strategic direction, it remains focused on optimizing portfolio economics and managing exposure to market volatility.

    Outlook

    Carbon Streaming continues to reposition itself for success and for maximizing shareholder value amid ongoing challenges. In May 2024, as part of its ongoing corporate restructuring first initiated in 2023, the Company announced changes to its senior management and Board after constructive discussions with certain shareholders. The Company continues to evaluate strategic alternatives for the business and remains focused on cash flow optimization through the reduction of operating expenses and a reassessment of its existing streams and royalties. Building on the previous measures implemented by the Company to reduce ongoing operating expenses, further steps have been taken in recent months, including significantly reducing employee headcount, renegotiating and amending vendor agreements to lower costs, eliminating cash-settled director’s fees to the Board and terminating certain consulting contracts. As the Company’s broader strategy continues to evolve, these recent steps are expected to result in significant reductions to annualized ongoing operating expenses when compared to 2024.

    While the Company aims to increase cash flow generation through the sale of carbon credits from several streaming agreements over the next year, there remains ongoing uncertainty regarding the evolving nature of carbon markets, including potential registry delays, project-specific issues, and methodology-related risks, in addition to impacts the industry may face as a result of general economic, political and regulatory conditions. In 2024, the Company has recognized a decrease in the fair values of the Rimba Raya Stream, the Magdalena Bay Blue Carbon Stream, the Sustainable Community Stream, and the Sheep Creek Reforestation Stream to $nil as a result of the failure of the respective projects to meet their obligations under the stream agreements and ongoing legal disputes. The Company is actively pursuing all available legal remedies to protect its investments and enforce its contractual rights. Given the multiple ongoing litigation matters, the outcomes remain uncertain and could materially impact the Company’s financial position and strategic direction. Please refer to the “Legal Proceedings” section of the Company’s most recently filed MD&A for further information.

    Given the evolving nature of carbon markets and ongoing legal considerations, Carbon Streaming is focussed on maximizing value from the existing portfolio of investments and pursuing all options to achieve that goal.

    For a comprehensive discussion of the risks, assumptions and uncertainties that could impact the Company’s strategy and outlook, including without limitation, changes in demand for carbon credits and Indonesian developments described herein, investors are urged to review the section of the Company’s most recently filed AIF entitled “Risk Factors” a copy of which is available on SEDAR+ at www.sedarplus.ca.

    2024 Results Conference Call Details

    The Company’s management team will host a conference call on Tuesday, April 1, 2025, at 11:00 a.m. ET to provide a brief company update. Participants may join by dialing +1 289-514-5100 or toll free from North America at +1 800-717-1738. A replay of the conference call will be available on the Company website until 11:59 p.m. ET on May 1, 2025.

    About Carbon Streaming

    Carbon Streaming’s focus is on projects that generate high-quality carbon credits and have a positive impact on the environment, local communities, and biodiversity, in addition to their carbon reduction or removal potential. This approach aligns our strategic interests with those of project partners to create long-term relationships built on a shared commitment to sustainability and accountability and positions us as a trusted source for buyers seeking high-quality carbon credits.

    ON BEHALF OF THE COMPANY:
    Marin Katusa, Chief Executive Officer
    Tel: 365.607.6095
    info@carbonstreaming.com
    www.carbonstreaming.com

    Investor Relations
    investors@carbonstreaming.com

    Media
    media@carbonstreaming.com

    Non-IFRS Accounting Standards Measures

    Adjusted Net Loss and Adjusted Loss Per Share

    The term “adjusted net loss” in this news release is not a standardized financial measure under the IFRS Accounting Standards and therefore may not be comparable to similar measures presented by other companies where similar terminology is used. These non-IFRS Accounting Standards measures should not be considered in isolation or as a substitute for measures of performance, cash flows and financial position as prepared in accordance with the IFRS Accounting Standards. Management believes that these non-IFRS Accounting Standards measures, together with performance measures and measures prepared in accordance with the IFRS Accounting Standards, provide useful information to investors and shareholders in assessing the Company’s liquidity and overall performance.

    Adjusted net loss is calculated as net and comprehensive loss and adjusted for the revaluation of carbon credit streaming and royalty agreements, the revaluation of warrant liabilities, the impairment loss on early deposit interest receivable, the revaluation of derivative liabilities, the revaluation of the convertible note, the impairment loss on investment in associate, the gain on dissolution of associate, and the corporate restructuring which the Company views as having a significant non-cash or non-continuing impact on the Company’s net and comprehensive loss calculation and per share amounts. Adjusted net loss is used by the Company to monitor its results from operations for the period.

    The following table reconciles net and comprehensive (loss) income to adjusted net loss:

      Three months ended 
    December 31, 2024
    		   Three months ended 
    December 31, 2023
    		   Year ended
    December 31, 2024
    		   Year ended
    December 31, 2023
    		  
    Net loss and comprehensive loss $ (16,932)   $ (26,092)   $ (67,369)   $ (35,501)  
    Adjustment for non-continuing or non-cash settled items:        
    Revaluation of carbon credit streaming and royalty agreements   13,190     23,952     58,155     32,897  
    Revaluation of warrant liabilities   (43)     (79)     (642)     (6,530)  
    Impairment of early deposit interest receivable   –     –     307     –  
    Revaluation of derivative liabilities   –     –     (680)     (686)  
    Revaluation of Convertible Note   –     –     –     (558)  
    Revaluation of preferred shares   2,558     –     2,558     –  
    Impairment of investment in associate   –     –     –     1,044  
    Gain on dissolution of associate   –     –     (104)     –  
    Corporate restructuring   343     (6)     2,561     1,748  
    Adjusted net loss   (884)     (2,225)     (5,214)     (7,586)  
    Loss per share (Basic and Diluted) ($/share)   (0.32)     (0.55)     (1.34)     (0.75)  
    Adjusted net loss per share (Basic and Diluted) ($/share)   (0.02)     (0.05)     (0.10)     (0.16)  
                             

    Cautionary Statement Regarding Forward-Looking Information

    This news release contains certain forward-looking statements and forward-looking information (collectively, “forward-looking information”) within the meaning of applicable securities laws. All statements, other than statements of historical fact, that address activities, events or developments that the Company believes, expects or anticipates will or may occur in the future, are forward-looking information, including, without limitation, statements regarding the anticipated impact of changes to the Company’s Board and management; the impact of the Company’s restructuring strategies, including evaluation of strategic alternatives; the ability of the Company to execute on expense reductions and savings from operating cost reduction measures; statements with respect to cash flow optimization and generation; its sales strategy; supporting the Company’s carbon streaming and royalty partners; timing and the amount of future carbon credit generation and emission reductions and removals from the Company’s existing streaming and royalty agreements; statements with respect to the projects in which the Company has streaming and royalty agreements in place; statements with respect to the Company’s growth objectives and potential and its position in the voluntary carbon markets; statements with respect to execution of the Company’s portfolio and partnership strategy; statements with respect to the ongoing legal process to protect the Company’s investment in the Rimba Raya project and to enforce its legal and contractual rights; statements ; and statements regarding the Company’s intention to strictly enforce its legal and contractual rights under the Sustainable Community Stream and the Magdalena Bay Blue Carbon Stream and the Sheep Creek Reforestation Stream.

    When used in this news release, words such as “estimates”, “expects”, “plans”, “anticipates”, “will”, “believes”, “intends” “should”, “could”, “may” and other similar terminology are intended to identify such forward-looking information. This forward-looking information is based on the current expectations or beliefs of the Company based on information currently available to the Company. Forward-looking information is subject to a number of risks and uncertainties that may cause the actual results of the Company to differ materially from those discussed in the forward-looking information, and even if such actual results are realized or substantially realized, there can be no assurance that they will have the expected consequences to, or effects on, the Company. They should not be read as a guarantee of future performance or results, and will not necessarily be an accurate indication of whether or not such results will be achieved. Factors that could cause actual results or events to differ materially from current expectations include, among other things: general economic, market and business conditions and global financial conditions, including fluctuations in interest rates, foreign exchange rates and stock market volatility; volatility in prices of carbon credits and demand for carbon credits; change in social or political views towards climate change, carbon credits and environmental, social and governance initiatives and subsequent changes in corporate or government policies or regulations and associated changes in demand for carbon credits; the Company’s expectations and plans with respect to current litigation, arbitration and regulatory proceedings; limited operating history for the Company’s current strategy; concentration risk; inaccurate estimates of project value, which may impact the ability of the Company to execute on its growth and diversification strategy; dependence upon key management; impact of corporate restructurings; the inability of the Company to optimize cash flows or sufficiently reduce operating expenses; reputational risk; risks arising from competition and future acquisition activities failure or timing delays for projects to be registered, validated and ultimately developed and for emission reductions or removals to be verified and carbon credits issued (and other risks associated with carbon credits standards and registries); foreign operations and political risks including actions by governmental authorities, including changes in or to government regulation, taxation and carbon pricing initiatives; uncertainties and ongoing market developments surrounding the validation and verification requirements of the voluntary and/or compliance markets; due diligence risks, including failure of third parties’ reviews, reports and projections to be accurate; dependence on project partners, operators and owners, including failure by such counterparties to make payments or perform their operational or other obligations to the Company in compliance with the terms of contractual arrangements between the Company and such counterparties; failure of projects to generate carbon credits, or natural disasters such as flood or fire which could have a material adverse effect on the ability of any project to generate carbon credits; volatility in the market price of the Company’s common shares or warrants; the effect that the issuance of additional securities by the Company could have on the market price of the Company’s common shares or warrants; global health crises, such as pandemics and epidemics; and the other risks disclosed under the heading “Risk Factors” and elsewhere in the Company’s Annual Information Form dated as of March 31, 2025 filed on SEDAR+ at www.sedarplus.ca.

    Any forward-looking information speaks only as of the date of this news release. Although the Company believes that the assumptions inherent in the forward-looking information are reasonable, forward-looking information is not a guarantee of future performance and accordingly undue reliance should not be put on such statements due to the inherent uncertainty therein. Except as may be required by applicable securities laws, the Company disclaims any intent or obligation to update any forward-looking information, whether as a result of new information, future events or results or otherwise.

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Sen. Markey, Rep. Ansari Introduce Legislation to Help Families Pay their Heating and Cooling Bills

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Massachusetts Ed Markey
    Legislation would provide urgently needed relief for families as energy prices rise 
    Bill Text (PDF) | Section-by-Section (PDF)
    Washington (March 31, 2025) — Senator Edward J. Markey, a member of the Environment and Public Works Committee, and Representative Yassamin Ansari (AZ-03) today reintroduced the Heating and Cooling Relief Act, bold legislation to significantly expand and modernize the severely underfunded Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP). The bill would ensure year-round access to affordable and reliable heating and cooling for lower-income households who experience disproportionately high energy burdens.
    Despite the urgent need for relief, in 2023, only about 18 percent of income-eligible households received LIHEAP assistance, with less than 3 percent of eligible households receiving cooling assistance. Meanwhile, low-income families spend nearly three times more on energy bills than non-low-income households, and nearly one in six households are behind on their utility bills. The Heating and Cooling Relief Act would deliver critical energy assistance to millions more households, protecting families from utility shutoffs and empowering states to address the growing threat of climate-fueled extreme heat and cold.
    “No one should have to choose between turning the heat on in the winter and putting food on the table, but that’s a sacrifice more and more families are forced to make, especially as the climate crisis exacerbates extreme weather,” said Senator Markey. “Our Heating and Cooling Relief Act would significantly expand LIHEAP so that energy assistance is available to all those who need it. It would also protect consumers from predatory practices and utility shutoffs, and boost emergency energy assistance and access to life-saving cooling relief. I will keep fighting to ensure that every household can afford the energy they need to stay healthy and safe—and to support a just transition away from fossil fuels.”
    “No one should have to make sacrifices around paying for food, rent, or essential medication to keep air conditioning on in the summer and heat on in the winter,” said Rep. Yassamin Ansari. “In Arizona, this is a matter of life or death. Last year, over 600 people died from extreme heat, and Phoenix already broke our own record for the first 99-degree day of the year. Our Heating and Cooling Relief Act will expand LIHEAP so that every family can afford their energy bills – in Maricopa County, this will literally save lives.”
    The Heating and Cooling Relief Act is cosponsored by Senators Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.), Lisa Blunt Rochester (D-Del.), Cory Booker (D-N.J.), Kirsten Gillibrand (D-N.Y.), Alex Padilla (D-Calif.), Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.), Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.), Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.), Sheldon Whitehouse (D-R.I), and Ron Wyden (D-Ore.), and Representatives Nannette Barragán (CA-44), Wesley Bell (MO-01), Andre Carson (IN-07), Troy Carter (LA-02), Kathy Castor (FL-14), Sheila Cherfilus-McCormick (FL-20), Emanuel Cleaver (MO-05), Steve Cohen (TN-09), Jasmine Crockett (TX-30), Danny K. Davis (IL-07), Diana DeGette (CO-01), Lloyd Doggett (TX-37), Dwight Evans (PA-03), Cleo Fields (LA-06), Jared Huffman (CA-02), Hank Johnson (GA-04), Ro Khanna (CA-17), Summer Lee (PA-12), LaMonica McIver (NJ-10), Grace Meng (NY-06), Gwen Moore (WI-04), Kevin Mullin (CA-15), Eleanor Holmes Norton (DC-AL), Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (NY-14), Ilhan Omar (MN-05), Brittany Pettersen (CO-07), Delia Ramirez (IL-03), Linda Sánchez (CA-38), Jan Schakowsky (IL-09), Adam Smith (WA-09), Shri Thanedar (MI-13), Bennie Thompson (MS-02), Dina Titus (NV-01), Rashida Tlaib (MI-12), Bonnie Watson Coleman (NJ-12).
    “On behalf of the National Energy Assistance Directors Association, I applaud Senator Markey’s introduction of the Heating and Cooling Relief Act of 2025. Senator Markey was a cosponsor of LIHEAP when it began as a temporary program in 1981 and has played a key role in transforming it into the successful program that it is today. This bill will transform LIHEAP into a program that provides year-round energy assistance, recognizing that access to cooling is now as essential as heating for low-income families. No family should have to struggle between paying their home energy bill or food, clothing, and medicine, and this bill will help protect families from having to make that difficult decision,” said Mark Wolfe, Executive Director at the National Energy Assistance Directors Association.
    “This ambitious bill shines a spotlight on the energy affordability challenges faced by low-income families who urgently need access to LIHEAP,” said Olivia Wein, Senior Attorney at the National Consumer Law Center. “We look forward to working with parties to refine this legislation and focus its impact on people with the greatest need.”
    “As extreme heat and climate chaos continue to intensify year after year, millions of families are grappling with the real-life, devastating consequences. These unnatural events are killing people and making them sick in their own homes. Our communities, many of whom don’t own housing and are struggling with the rising cost of living, should not have to risk their lives to avoid extremely high energy bills. In this critical moment, to save lives and strengthen climate resilience in vulnerable communities, access to essential heating and cooling relief is both a necessity and a right,” said Caleb Smith, Resiliency Coordinator at WE ACT for Environmental Justice.
    “As extreme heat becomes increasingly dangerous with longer, more frequent, and more intense heat waves every year, it is critical people can protect themselves from unhealthy and potentially deadly home temperatures. The risk of heat-related illness, injury, and death is particularly high for families and older adults who don’t have air conditioning or can’t afford to run it. The Heating and Cooling Relief Act would help people stay safe by making crucial investments in efficient and affordable home cooling strategies. Extreme heat events kill more people than any other type of severe weather or climate disaster, but Congress can prevent some of these deaths by passing the Heating and Cooling Relief Act,” said Jill Rosenthal, Director of Public Health Policy at the Center for American Progress.
    “Too many households face a terrible choice when summer temperatures soar. Feed the kids? Pay the rent? Or stay safe from deadly heat? This critical bill will alleviate that burden by helping low-income households keep their power on and make their homes more weatherproof and energy efficient. It will also refill a long-empty emergency contingency fund, giving states an important backstop in an increasingly extreme climate,” said Juanita Constible, Senior Advocate at the Natural Resources Defense Council.
    “In the richest country in the world, no kid should have to go to bed freezing cold because their family can’t afford to keep the heat up. No one should die in their own home during heat waves because they can’t afford air conditioning. This legislation is a vital step towards lowering the cost of living for working people and ensuring every American has a safe and healthy home. It shows that tackling the climate crisis goes hand in hand with helping working people,” said Sunrise Movement Executive Director Aru Shiney-Ajay.
    “Expanding federal funding to help families afford to pay their energy bills is essential as tens of millions of American families continue to experience punishing energy burdens. President Trump’s chaotic disruption of our economy and his gutting of indispensable government programs has resulted in a crisis of energy affordability. This legislation is vitally important to ensure that American families can afford essential energy service under Trump’s disastrous economy,” said Tyson Slocum, Energy Program Director at Public Citizen.
    “No American family should have to skip heating or cooling their home to a safe and comfortable temperature just to make ends meet. The Heating and Cooling Relief Act is a commonsense update to an essential program that keeps our lights on, protects the vulnerable, and ensures we’re prepared for growing energy demand and worsening disasters. Strengthening LIHEAP is about fiscal, moral, and national responsibility. At a time of rising costs and extreme weather, this bill brings overdue reforms that put working families first, cut red tape, and modernize our response to energy emergencies. The Sierra Club is proud to support it,” said Xavier Boatright, Deputy Legislative Director at Sierra Club.
    Specifically, the Heating and Cooling Relief Act would:
    Substantially increase LIHEAP funding to ensure year-round assistance, including an additional $2 billion for emergency energy assistance and $1 billion in Just Transition Grants to help vulnerable households adapt to a changing climate;
    Broaden eligibility so that households earning up to 250 percent of the Federal Poverty Line or 80 percent of State Median Income can qualify, while ensuring lower energy burdens for lower-income households and capping household energy burdens at 3 percent of monthly income;
    Protect consumers from utility shutoffs, excessive late fees, and predatory energy practices that disproportionately impact vulnerable communities;
    Expand emergency assistance, ensuring extreme heat and cold are recognized as qualifying emergencies and that states can provide vital cooling relief;
    Increase funding for weatherization and home electrification, to help low-income households reduce energy costs, improve health and safety, and transition to clean, resilient energy systems;
    Streamline enrollment and outreach, improving coordination with other federal programs and increasing access through automatic enrollment and simplified verification; and
    Strengthen reporting requirements to better track affordability, equity, and climate resilience outcomes.
    The Heating and Cooling Relief Act is endorsed by National Energy Assistance Directors Association (NEADA), Center for Energy Poverty and Climate, Public Citizen, Sunrise Movement, Green & Healthy Homes Initiative, Center for American Progress, Sierra Club, Citizens for Citizens, American Council for an Energy Efficient Economy (ACEEE), Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC), National Housing Law Project (NHLP), National Consumer Law Center (NCLC), Energy Coordinating Agency (ECA), Citizens Action Coalition, WE ACT, The Utility Reform Network (TURN), Climate Resolve, Indiana Conservation Voters, Fair Housing Center of Central Indiana, Action for Boston Community Development (ABCD), Elevate, Evergreen Action, Center for Biological Diversity, Local Initiatives Support Corporation (LISC), Climate and Community Institute, Federation of American Scientists (FAS), Solar United Neighbors Action, North Carolina Justice Center, Creation Care Partners, Faith in Place Action Fund, National Center for Healthy Housing (NCHH), Direct Action Against CenterPoint Energy (DAACE), Energy for All Coalition, Indiana Environmental Clean Energy J40 Corporation,  Office of the People’s Counsel – District of Columbia Government, Arizona Sustainability Alliance.
    Senator Markey is a champion for energy access, affordability, and reliability. In March 2025, he hosted a roundtable with Massachusetts LIHEAP providers, consumer advocates, and national energy assistance organizations to discuss the urgent need to strengthen and expand LIHEAP. In July 2024, Senator Markey and several New England Senators sent a letter to the Department of Energy urging it to consider the disproportionate negative impacts of LNG on New England—especially on energy prices—in its underlying environmental and economic analyses for LNG export authorization decisions. In December 2023, Senator Markey led a letter urging the Federal Trade Commission to immediately intervene, investigate, and rigorously enforce consumer protection laws against certain electric supply companies. In October 2023, he celebrated the release of $130 million in LIHEAP funding for Massachusetts, helping residents afford winter heating costs. Additionally, he has pushed for greater investments in home efficiency and electrification to help low-income families reduce their energy burdens. He originally introduced the Heating and Cooling Relief Act with Representative Jamaal Bowman in January 2022.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI New Zealand: Climate News – ‘La Niña weakens with chance of more rain in New Zealand’s north and east’ NIWA Seasonal Climate Outlook April – June 2025 – NIWA

    Source: NIWA

    With La Niña weakening, higher pressure southeast of New Zealand will bring mostly north-easterly winds, with occasional bouts of south-westerlies, according to the latest NIWA Seasonal Climate Outlook for April to June 2025.
    The outlook notes that areas with low soil moisture and river flows need consistent rainfall to reverse the effects of dryness and drought, with below-normal river flows most likely in the north and west of the North Island. 
    Seasonal rainfall is likely to be near normal in most regions, with possible above-normal rainfall in the north and east of both islands.There is a normal to elevated risk of an ex-tropical cyclone passing within 550 km of New Zealand in April, bringing heavy rain. 
    Meanwhile, air temperatures over the next three months are expected to be near average or above average for the west of the North and South Islands, and above average for all other regions of the country. 
    The seas around New Zealand remain warmer than average for South Island waters, with marine heatwave conditions persisting.
    The full NIWA Seasonal Climate Outlook is available (attached) and online, and includes regional outlooks. 

    MIL OSI New Zealand News –

  • MIL-OSI New Zealand: Milestone for SH35 communities with Hikuwai Bridge No.1 replacement

    Source: New Zealand Transport Agency

    Work has started this week on enabling (early) works at the site of a permanent replacement for Hikuwai Bridge No.1, north of Tolaga Bay.

    A temporary Bailey bridge has been in place since 2023 after the bridge was damaged by Cyclone Gabrielle and the connection across Hikuwai River initially severed.

    Now, as part of the recovery, Transport Rebuild East Coast (TREC) alliance and local contractors,  on behalf of NZ Transport Agency Waka Kotahi (NZTA), will build the new bridge.

    The new bridge will feature a modern, two-lane structure, approximately 100 metres in length, and will follow the same alignment as the previous bridge.

    “This modern design provides better flood and earthquake resistance, boosts durability, and delivers environmental benefits. Once complete, it will provide a more efficient and permanent solution for SH35 road users for generations to come,” says TREC project lead Richard Bayley.

    “It is being designed to better withstand debris with a wider central span and rounded piers, reducing blockages and pressure from debris. Larger, deeper piles enhance resistance to flooding and scour effects, while the stronger steel columns will boost structural durability. Improved bearings will also prevent the bridge deck uplifting when inundated and during earthquakes.”

    Enabling works will take around four months to finish before the main construction of the new bridge can begin. The entire project is expected to take between 12 and 18 months, with completion expected by mid-2026.

    To mark the start of enabling works, a karakia was held by tangata whenua and landowners at Hikuwai, late last week. The karakia was led by Kaumatua, Chris Marsh – Board Co-Chair, Te Whare Hauora o Te Aitanga a Hauiti.

    The initial enabling works will involve three key milestones:

    • Site setup: establishment of a site office, along with three compound/laydown areas to store tools, material and equipment.
    • Construction of a temporary road (access road): realignment of the existing SH35 to enable construction of the southern bridge abutment and provide a safer and larger workspace for bridge construction. This road will connect with the Bailey bridge on the southern side and be in operation when the main works on the bridge begin. On project completion and removal of the Bailey bridge, it will operate as a maintenance road only, to service Hikuwai Bridge No. 1.
    • Old bridge demolition: removal of the existing, collapsed structure to make way for the new bridge.

    “It’s been a journey to reach this point, and we’re excited to move forward and create a lasting connection for SH35 communities. We’re also grateful for the community support over the past couple of years during the recovery phase including Kuru Contracting and their construction of local Pourau Road in the immediate aftermath of Cyclone Gabrielle. We’ve worked closely with Iwi, local hapū, landowners including Pourau Station, and key stakeholders throughout the pre-construction and design phases and intend to continue this throughout construction, ” says Mr Bayley.

    “We really value the relationships we’ve been building since the cyclone and we want our relationships to last long after our work at Hikuwai is complete.”

    TREC is actively working with local contractors throughout the procurement process and has already appointed Parata Ltd Contractors for the site setup and access road construction.

    Traffic management

    During enabling works, some disruption to traffic is expected and we are working to ensure a smooth flow throughout the area. We appreciate your patience and understanding as we aim to keep any delays to a minimum.

    The new bridge will be constructed alongside the existing road, allowing traffic to continue flowing in both directions using the temporary Bailey bridge.

    The Bailey bridge will remain operational as it currently is, with general access and 50tn max load permitted. Overweight and over-dimensional vehicles will continue to require a permit, with a 10kmh speed limit and a one-vehicle-at-a-time policy in place.

    Construction work will take place Monday to Friday, from 6am to 6pm; some Saturday work may be necessary. During enabling works, traffic management will be in place including a temporary 30km/h speed restriction remaining in place on the southern side of the bridge where the temporary alignment is being built.

    Pedestrians and cyclists are advised to follow on-site signage and look out for trucks accessing the site.

    For regular updates, please subscribe to TREC’s fortnightly Tairāwhiti e-newsletter to stay informed on the progress of the project and wider recovery works on SH35 and SH2.

    Get the latest from Transport Rebuild East Coast(external link)

    MIL OSI New Zealand News –

  • MIL-Evening Report: ‘We’re not just welcoming you as allies, but as family’ – Rainbow Warrior in Marshall Islands 40 years on

    The first of a two-part series on the historic Rongelap evacuation of 300 Marshall islanders from their irradiated atoll with the help of the Greenpeace flagship Rainbow Warrior crew and the return of Rainbow Warrior III 40 years later on a nuclear justice research mission.

    SPECIAL REPORT: By Shiva Gounden in Majuro

    Family isn’t just about blood—it’s about standing together through the toughest of times.

    This is the relationship between Greenpeace and the Marshall Islands — a vast ocean nation, stretching across nearly two million square kilometers of the Pacific. Beneath the waves, coral reefs are bustling with life, while coconut trees stand tall.

    For centuries, the Marshallese people have thrived here, mastering the waves, reading the winds, and navigating the open sea with their canoe-building knowledge passed down through generations. Life here is shaped by the rhythm of the tides, the taste of fresh coconut and roasted breadfruit, and an unbreakable bond between people and the sea.

    From the bustling heart of its capital, Majuro to the quiet, far-reaching atolls, their islands are not just land; they are home, history, and identity.

    Still, Marshallese communities were forced into one of the most devastating chapters of modern history — turned into a nuclear testing ground by the United States without consent, and their lives and lands poisoned by radiation.

    Operation Exodus: A legacy of solidarity
     Between 1946 and 1958, the US conducted 67 nuclear tests in the Marshall Islands — its total yield roughly equal to one Hiroshima-sized bomb every day for 12 years.

    During this Cold War period, the US government planned to conduct its largest nuclear test ever. On the island of Bikini, United States Commodore Ben H. Wyatt manipulated the 167 Marshallese people who called Bikini home asking them to leave so that the US could carry out atomic bomb testing, stating that it was for “the good of mankind and to end all world wars”.

    Exploiting their deep faith, he misled Bikinians into believing they were acting in God’s will, and trusting this, they agreed to move—never knowing the true cost of their decision

    Bikini Islanders board a landing craft vehicle personnel (LCVP) as they depart from Bikini Atoll in March 1946. Image: © United States Navy

    On March 1, 1954, the Castle Bravo test was launched — its yield 1000 times stronger than Hiroshima. Radioactive fallout spread across Rongelap Island about 150 kilometers away, due to what the US government claimed was a “shift in wind direction”.

    In reality, the US ignored weather reports that indicated the wind would carry the fallout eastward towards Rongelap and Utirik Atolls, exposing the islands to radioactive contamination. Children played in what they thought was snow, and almost immediately the impacts of radiation began — skin burning, hair fallout, vomiting.

    The Rongelap people were immediately relocated, and just three years later were told by the US government their island was deemed safe and asked to return.

    For the next 28 years, the Rongelap people lived through a period of intense “gaslighting” by the US government. *

    Nuclear weapon test Castle Bravo (yield 15 Mt) on Bikini Atoll, 1 March 1954. © United States Department of Energy

    Forced to live on contaminated land, with women enduring miscarriages and cancer rates increasing, in 1985, the people of Rongelap made the difficult decision to leave their homeland. Despite repeated requests to the US government to help evacuate, an SOS was sent, and Greenpeace responded: the Rainbow Warrior arrived in Rongelap, helping to move communities to Mejatto Island.

    This was the last journey of the first Rainbow Warrior. The powerful images of their evacuation were captured by photographer Fernando Pereira, who, just months later, was killed in the bombing of the Rainbow Warrior as it sailed to protest nuclear testing in the Pacific.

    Evacuation of Rongelap Islanders to Mejatto by the Rainbow Warrior crew in the Pacific 1985. Rongelap suffered nuclear fallout from US nuclear tests done from 1946-1958, making it a hazardous place to live. Image: © Greenpeace/Fernando Pereira

    From nuclear to climate: The injustice repeats
     The fight for justice did not end with the nuclear tests—the same forces that perpetuated nuclear colonialism continue to endanger the Marshall Islands today with new threats: climate change and deep-sea mining.

    The Marshall Islands, a nation of over 1,000 islands, is particularly vulnerable to climate impacts. Entire communities could disappear within a generation due to rising sea levels. Additionally, greedy international corporations are pushing to mine the deep sea of the Pacific Ocean for profit. Deep sea mining threatens fragile marine ecosystems and could destroy Pacific ways of life, livelihoods and fish populations. The ocean connects us all, and a threat anywhere in the Pacific is a threat to the world.

    Marshallese activists with traditional outriggers on the coast of the nation’s capital Majuro to demand that leaders of developed nations dramatically upscale their plans to limit global warming during the online meeting of the Climate Vulnerable Forum in 2018. Image: © Martin Romain/Greenpeace

    But if there could be one symbol to encapsulate past nuclear injustices and current climate harms it would be the Runit Dome. This concrete structure was built by the US to contain radioactive waste from years of nuclear tests, but climate change now poses a direct threat.

    Rising sea levels and increasing storm surges are eroding the dome’s integrity, raising fears of radioactive material leaking into the ocean, potentially causing a nuclear disaster.

    Aerial view of Runit Dome, Runit Island, Enewetak Atoll, Marshall Islands . . . symbolic of past nuclear injustices and current climate harms in the Pacific. Image: © US Defense Special Weapons Agency

    Science, storytelling, and resistance: The Rainbow Warrior’s epic mission and 40 year celebration

    At the invitation of the Marshallese community and government, the Rainbow Warrior is in the Pacific nation to celebrate 40 years since 1985’s Operation Exodus, and stand in support of their ongoing fight for nuclear justice, climate action, and self-determination.

    This journey brings together science, storytelling, and activism to support the Marshallese movement for justice and recognition. Independent radiation experts and Greenpeace scientists will conduct crucial research across the atolls, providing much-needed data on remaining nuclear contamination.

    For decades, research on radiation levels has been controlled by the same government that conducted the nuclear tests, leaving many unanswered questions. This independent study will help support the Marshallese people in their ongoing legal battles for recognition, reparations, and justice.

    Marshallese women greet the Rainbow Warrior as it arrives in the capital Majuro earlier this month. Image: © Bianca Vitale/Greenpeace

    The path of the ship tour: A journey led by the Marshallese
     From March to April, the Rainbow Warrior is sailing across the Marshall Islands, stopping in Majuro, Mejatto, Enewetak, Bikini, Rongelap, and Wotje. Like visiting old family, each of these locations carries a story — of nuclear fallout, forced displacement, resistance, and hope for a just future.

    But just like old family, there’s something new to learn. At every stop, local leaders, activists, and a younger generation are shaping the narrative.

    Their testimonies are the foundation of this journey, ensuring the world cannot turn away. Their stories of displacement, resilience, and hope will be shared far beyond the Pacific, calling for justice on a global scale.

    Bunny McDiarmid and Henk Haazen greet locals at the welcoming ceremony in Majuro, Marshall Islands, earlier this month. Bunny and Henk were part of the Greenpeace crew in 1985 to help evacuate the people of Rongelap. Image: © Bianca Vitale/Greenpeace

    A defining moment for climate justice
     The Marshallese are not just survivors of past injustices; they are champions of a just future. Their leadership reminds us that those most affected by climate change are not only calling for action — they are showing the way forward. They are leaders of finding solutions to avert these crises.

    Local Marshallese women’s group dance and perform cultural songs at the Rainbow Warrior welcome ceremony in Majuro, Marshall islands, earlier this month. Image: © Bianca Vitale/Greenpeace

    Since they have joined the global fight for climate justice, their leadership in the climate battle has been evident.

    In 2011, they established a shark sanctuary to protect vital marine life.

    In 2024, they created their first ocean sanctuary, expanding efforts to conserve critical ecosystems. The Marshall Islands is also on the verge of signing the High Seas Treaty, showing their commitment to global marine conservation, and has taken a firm stance against deep-sea mining.

    They are not only protecting their lands but are also at the forefront of the global fight for climate justice, pushing for reparations, recognition, and climate action.

    This voyage is a message: the world must listen, and it must act. The Marshallese people are standing their ground, and we stand in solidarity with them — just like family.

    Learn their story. Support their call for justice. Amplify their voices. Because when those on the frontlines lead, justice is within reach.

    Shiva Gounden is the head of Pacific at Greenpeace Australia Pacific. This article series is republished with the permission of Greenpeace.

    * This refers to the period from 1957 — when the US Atomic Energy Commission declared Rongelap Atoll safe for habitation despite known contamination — to 1985, when Greenpeace assisted the Rongelap community in relocating due to ongoing radiation concerns. The Compact of Free Association, signed in 1986, finally started acknowledging damages caused by nuclear testing to the populations of Rongelap.

    MIL OSI Analysis – EveningReport.nz –

  • MIL-OSI New Zealand: Public Works Act overhaul complete to drive infrastructure growth

    Source: New Zealand Government

    The final stage of reforms to the Public Works Act will introduce bigger and broader land payments, improved landowner engagement and new measures to support disaster recovery, Land Information Minister Chris Penk has announced. 
     
    “The Government has been working through an overhaul of the Public Works Act (PWA) to bring it into the 21st century after an independent review found it lacked clarity and commonsense. Today, I am proud to confirm that review is complete” Mr Penk says.  
     
    “If we want to grow the economy, boost productivity and make New Zealand a better place to live we must fix our pipes, increase the capacity of our schools and hospitals, and build more homes, roads and renewable energy sources. 
     
    “I want to thank the panel members for their expert advice in making the Act more efficient, effective, and transparent. This will help end decades of difficulties which have seen central and local governments struggle to secure land for development. 
     
    “Already announced changes include a dedicated carve-out in the law to provide incentive payments and a streamlined objections process for critical infrastructure. Now, this final set of reforms will modernise the wider system – protecting landowners’ rights while ensuring the Crown and local authorities can deliver for New Zealanders.”

    The final tranche will:  

    Introduce incentive payments: To encourage early agreements on land acquisition, landowners who voluntarily sell their property before a Notice of Intention is issued will now be eligible for an incentive payment of 10 percent of the land value, up to a maximum of $100,000. 

    Update home-loss and land-loss payments: To recognise the disruption caused by acquisition, additional payments will be made alongside the land value and any incentive payments: 

    o    The home-loss base payment will increase from $35,000 to $50,000.  
    o    The land-loss payment amount will increase from $250-$25,000 to $350-$35,000. 
    o    Home-loss payments will now extend to multiple homes on a property, such as farms held in trust with multiple owners residing on the land. 

    Land Acquisition Process Reforms: The process for acquiring land will be streamlined by replacing the initial statutory notice with a more structured engagement process. Before issuing a Notice of Intention for compulsory acquisition: 

    o    Landowners must receive comprehensive information on the acquisition, their rights, entitlements, and an invitation to sell. 
    o    The Minister or local authority must negotiate with landowners in good faith for at least three months (or six months for Māori freehold land). 

    Emergency Provisions: New measures will allow land acquisition following a declared state of emergency to support infrastructure restoration and community recovery, when activated by Order in Council.  

    “Cyclone Gabrielle showed in the starkest light the immense challenges communities face after a natural disaster. When roads, railway lines, water and power stations are wiped out and homes left uninhabitable, we must act swiftly and decisively. This new emergency provision empowers us to reconnect those in need,” Mr Penk says.  

    The Public Works Act Amendment Bill will be introduced to Parliament in mid-2025, with the public invited to provide feedback through the select committee process.

    Note to editors:      

    Information on previously announced Public Works Act changes can be found on the Beehive website: 

    MIL OSI New Zealand News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: 03.31.2025 Sen. Ted Cruz Introduces Bill to Promote On-Site Energy Generation

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Texas Ted Cruz

    WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Texas) introduced the Facilitate Lower Atmospheric Released Emissions (FLARE) Act. By promoting on-site energy generation, the bill decentralizes electricity sources and strengthens grid resiliency during periods of high demand or extreme weather.
    Upon introduction, Sen. Cruz said, “I am committed to making Texas the number one place for Bitcoin mining. The FLARE Act incentivizes entrepreneurs and crypto miners to use natural gas that would otherwise be stranded. This bill takes advantage of Texas’s vast energy potential, reinforces our position as the home of the Bitcoin industry, and is good for the environment. I call upon my colleagues to expeditiously take up and advance this legislation.”
    This bill is endorsed by The Digital Power Network.
    Hailey Miller, Director of Government Relations & Public Policy for The Digital Power Network said, “The Digital Power Network strongly supports the introduction of the FLARE Act by Senator Cruz. This critical legislation will help eliminate unnecessary flaring and venting of natural gas while unlocking new opportunities for energy innovation in the United States. By providing permanent full expensing for infrastructure that captures and utilizes flared gas, the bill creates strong incentives for industries, including Bitcoin mining, to turn wasted energy into productive use cases that strengthen the grid and drive economic growth.
    Bitcoin miners are uniquely positioned to help reduce emissions by harnessing stranded and wasted energy sources, and the FLARE Act ensures that American energy producers have the tools to deploy cutting-edge solutions that make our energy markets more efficient and resilient. We commend Senator Cruz for his leadership and look forward to working with Congress to advance this bill into law.”
    Read the bill text here.
    BACKGROUND
    The Facilitate Lower Atmospheric Released Emissions (FLARE) Act makes permanent the 100% bonus depreciation for equipment used to intake natural gas and transforms it into electricity, and other productive uses. Additionally, the language prohibits entities owned by China, Iran, North Korea, or Russia from utilizing this cost recovery option. The bill reduces emissions by incentivizing the conversion of otherwise stranded natural gas into usable energy.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI New Zealand: Next steps to improve flood resilience for the Wairau community

    Source: Auckland Council

    Auckland Council is looking to progress a comprehensive flood resilience (blue-green) network to significantly reduce flood risks across the Wairau catchment in Auckland’s North Shore.

    A proposed business case for design, consenting and early enabling works for improved flood resilience in Wairau will be presented to the Transport, Resilience and Infrastructure Committee on 3 April.

    The decision at the committee will enable design and consenting required for this work to begin – a further business case will be required before full delivery of the project can progress.

    Protecting against future flooding

    As part of this broader initiative, AF Thomas Park (home to Takapuna Golf Course and other recreational facilities) is being considered for redevelopment into a recreational flood storage wetland, detention basin and overland flow path. In this proposed option the park would remain a critical recreational asset whilst forming the cornerstone of a blue-green network.

    North Shore Ward Councillor Richard Hills acknowledges that potential changes to the park is a tough conversation for the current users of the park but says this is about protecting against future flooding and potential loss of life and property.

    “The Wairau Valley, Milford, Sunnynook and Tōtara Vale make up the worst affected area from the January 2023 floods,” says Cr Hills.

    “This area experienced tragic loss of life alongside tens of millions of dollars in property damage to homes, businesses, vehicles and community facilities – volunteers rescued 69 people in the Wairau Valley alone.

    “We asked council staff to investigate all possible options to help reduce the flooding impacts and staff strongly believe the options presented in the business case are the best opportunities to ensure long-term flood resilience against future events.

    “I understand potential changes to AF Thomas Park is upsetting to our golfing community and those further afield that regularly use this course. As part of the design process, the council and local boards will work with the community, to understand the future public use of the reserve, alongside providing much needed flood protection and safety for our community.

    “And I’d like to thank all those involved, including central government, the local boards, Mayor and councillors, who all back this option to go forward to business case and consultation stages.”

    What is being proposed?

    As part of the Making Space for Water programme, co-funded by local and central government, a comprehensive blue-green network for the Wairau Valley is proposed.

    This aims to integrate multiple flood management systems to restore natural processes, enhance drainage, and create recreational spaces that serve as flood storage areas during extreme weather events.

    The current business case covers two stages of works as part of a long-term holistic approach to reducing flooding risks across the Wairau catchment.

    Taking a phased approach ensures that the needs of the community are considered and that the project aligns with their vision for a safer and more resilient Wairau Valley.

    Stage 1 Initiatives

    The first stage of the Wairau catchment blue-green network focuses on the design and consenting of critical flood management infrastructure at AF Thomas Park.

    • This stage includes the development of a recreational flood storage wetland and detention basin.
    • This will act as a natural sponge to capture and hold excess water during heavy rain events.
    • By slowing the flow of water and releasing it gradually, this system reduces pressure on surrounding areas prone to flooding.

    Stage 2 Initiatives

    Stage 2 of the proposed blue-green network will focus on several key initiatives in and around land being acquired as part of the Category 3 buy-out programme in Milford and Tōtara Vale.

    • This will include improvements to informal overland flow paths, stream widening and daylighting to enhance natural flow.
    • In addition, some minor upgrades will be made to existing detention facilities.

    Upon completion of both stages, 261 dwellings and three large retirement villages will have flood risk reduced including 35 properties removed from high flood risk. Additionally, 3,900m² of commercial floor area will also see a reduced flood risk.

    This comprehensive network will also protect critical infrastructure such as key roads, power substations, and wastewater systems while providing vibrant recreational areas with walking paths and amenities, similar to Greenslade Reserve.

    “By enhancing flood resilience across the catchment, the project will support the safety, economic stability, and quality of life for the community,” says Cr Hills.

    How will this project reduce flooding?

    The Wairau Valley area suffered significant flooding during the severe weather events in early 2023 resulting in extensive flood damage to residential and commercial properties, including the Eventfinda Stadium. The Wairau Stream channel above and below AF Thomas Park could not convey the volume of water during the event, putting a high number of properties at risk.

    Tom Mansell, Auckland Council Head of Sustainable Partnerships (Healthy Waters and Flood Resilience) explains the reasons that this first stage is a critical step for the Wairau blue-green network.

    “The redevelopment of the park would provide the equivalent to 220 Olympic-sized swimming pools or 550 million litres of water storage in a flood event, which is a significant increase from the park’s current 60 million litre capacity,” says Mr Mansell.

    This would protect downstream residential properties as well as road flooding to Nile, Waterloo and Alma Roads in Milford – which are access points for North Shore Hospital and Westlake Boys and Girls High Schools.”

    Working with the community

    Early engagement has informed the business case. This is just the first step amid a staged engagement approach and will not be the only opportunity for the community to be part of this significant project.

    “If this business case is approved by the council, there will be more opportunities for engagement and for the community to be involved in the design,” says Mr Mansell.

    “We will need to work collaboratively with mana whenua, a variety of funders and members of the community, taking a catchment-wide approach to ensure the right outcomes are achieved for the community over the short and long-term.”

    “As part of this work, we will engage with community and key stakeholders to review both the golfing and wider recreation needs of the North Shore. This will inform how we develop this space into a vibrant recreation area for the community to enjoy and there will be time to consider the full range of options. It’s really important that we get the balance right and we can only do that by working with the Wairau community.”

    Planning and prioritisation for future projects

    Many communities were heavily impacted by the severe weather events of early 2023. Further areas across Tāmaki Makaurau continue to be assessed and prioritised for future blue-green works.

    You can find out more information about these projects on the council’s website or you can reach out to the team at bluegreen@aucklandcouncil.govt.nz

    About Making Space for Water

    The Making Space for Water programme includes a range of initiatives to reduce flood risk to Aucklanders. Part of this is building new flood resilient infrastructure to enhance stormwater assets and green spaces to deliver increased flood management.

    Auckland Council is sharing some of the cost of flood resilience projects with central government as part of a $2 billion co-funding agreement for storm recovery. These are subject to business case approvals from both the council and the government, and projects must demonstrate a flood risk reduction for the wider community, not just individual properties.

    MIL OSI New Zealand News –

  • MIL-OSI: STMicroelectronics and Innoscience sign GaN technology development and manufacturing agreement

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    STMicroelectronics and Innoscience sign GaN technology development and manufacturing agreement

    • Joint Development Agreement (JDA) on GaN technology to build the future in power electronics for AI datacenters, renewable energy generation and storage, cars and more
    • Innoscience can make use of manufacturing capacity of ST in Europe while ST can leverage manufacturing capacity at Innoscience in China

    Geneva and Suzhou, March 31st, 2025 – STMicroelectronics (NYSE: STM), a global semiconductor leader serving customers across the spectrum of electronics applications, and Innoscience (HKEX:02577.HK), the world leader in 8” GaN-on-Si (gallium nitride on silicon) high-performance low-cost manufacturing, announce the signature of an agreement on GaN technology development and manufacturing, leveraging the strengths of each company to enhance GaN power solutions and supply chain resilience.

    The companies have agreed on a joint development initiative on GaN power technology, to advance the promising future of GaN power for consumer electronics, datacenters, automotive and industrial power systems and many more applications in the coming years. In addition, the agreement allows Innoscience to utilize ST’s front-end manufacturing capacity outside China for its GaN wafers, while ST can leverage Innoscience’s front-end manufacturing capacity in China for its own GaN wafers. The common ambition is for each company to expand their individual offering in GaN with supply chain flexibility and resilience to cover all customers’ requirements in a wide range of applications.

    Marco Cassis, President, Analog, Power & Discrete, MEMS and Sensors of STMicroelectronics declared: “ST and Innoscience are both Integrated Device Manufacturers, and with this agreement we will leverage this model to the benefit of our customers globally. First, ST will be accelerating its roadmap in GaN power technology to complement its silicon and silicon carbide offering. Second, ST will be able to leverage a flexible manufacturing model to serve customers globally.”

    Dr. Weiwei Luo, Chairman and Founder of Innoscience, stated “GaN technology is essential to improve electronics, creating smaller and more efficient systems which save electric power, lower cost, and reduce CO2 Emissions. Innoscience pioneered mass production of 8-inch GaN technology and has shipped over 1 billion GaN devices into multiple markets, and we are very excited to move into strategic collaboration with ST. The joint collaboration between ST and Innoscience will further expand and accelerate the adoption of GaN technology. Together the teams at Innoscience and ST will develop the next generations of GaN technology”.

    GaN power devices leverage fundamental material properties that enable new standards of system performance in power conversion, motion control, and actuation, offering significantly lower losses, which allows for enhanced efficiency, smaller size, and lighter weight, thus reducing the overall solution cost and carbon footprint; these devices are rapidly being adopted in consumer electronics, data center and industrial power supplies, and solar inverters, and are being actively designed into next-generation EV powertrains due to their substantial size and weight reduction benefits.

    About STMicroelectronics

    At ST, we are 50,000 creators and makers of semiconductor technologies mastering the semiconductor supply chain with state-of-the-art manufacturing facilities. An integrated device manufacturer, we work with more than 200,000 customers and thousands of partners to design and build products, solutions, and ecosystems that address their challenges and opportunities, and the need to support a more sustainable world. Our technologies enable smarter mobility, more efficient power and energy management, and the wide-scale deployment of cloud-connected autonomous things. We are on track to be carbon neutral in all direct and indirect emissions (scopes 1 and 2), product transportation, business travel, and employee commuting emissions (our scope 3 focus), and to achieve our 100% renewable electricity sourcing goal by the end of 2027. Further information can be found at www.st.com.

    About Innoscience

    Innoscience (HKEX:02577.HK) is the global leader in gallium nitride process innovation and power device manufacturing. Innoscience’s device design and performance set the worldwide standard for GaN, and the culture of continuous improvement will accelerate GaN performance and market adoption. The company’s gallium nitride products are used in multiple low, medium and high voltage applications, with GaN process nodes covering 15V to 1200V. Wafers, discrete devices, integrated power ICs, and modules provide customers with robust GaN solutions. With 800 patents granted or pending, Innoscience’s products are known for reliability, performance, and functionality within the fields of consumer electronics, automotive electronics, data centers, renewable energy and industrial power. Innoscience creates a bright future for GaN. Please visit www.innoscience.com for more information.

    Contacts

    Media Relations
    Alexis Breton
    Group VP Corporate External Communications
    Tel: +33.6.59.16.79.08
    alexis.breton@st.com

    Investor Relations
    Jérôme Ramel
    EVP Corporate Development & Integrated External Communication
    Tel: +41.22.929.59.20
    jerome.ramel@st.com

    Attachment

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI Economics: Fueling tomorrow’s AI with new agentic capabilities and security innovations in Fabric 

    Source: Microsoft

    Headline: Fueling tomorrow’s AI with new agentic capabilities and security innovations in Fabric 

    The Microsoft Fabric Community Conference returns to Las Vegas this week—bigger and better than ever. Thank you to our attendees, speakers, customers, and dedicated teams for making FabCon 2025 an event to remember.

    Microsoft Fabric is a unified data platform that continues to transform businesses worldwide, with more than 19,000 organizations and 74% of Fortune 500 companies leveraging Fabric. At FabCon, customers from around the world will share how they are pushing the boundaries of data at scale and unlocking new possibilities for business innovation. 

    The London Stock Exchange (LSEG), for example, is leveraging Fabric to unify their data estates and efficiently process their data:

    “Microsoft Fabric has been pivotal in LSEG’s data platform modernization journey. With Fabric Spark as the core engine powering our customer facing enterprise data platform, LSEG manages large volumes of time critical financial markets data that require complex data quality and transformation rules, executed at scale and with consistent service levels. Combining this with the broader Fabric eco-system has opened up new and exciting customer experiences and AI-powered opportunities.” 

     —Phil Withey, Head of Architecture, LSEG Microsoft Partners

    Similarly, International Workplace Group (IWG) is revolutionizing its approach to data integration: 

    “Microsoft Fabric was a game changer because of its ability to create shortcuts without physically moving data from one place to another. Before, if I had to incorporate three sources, I had to create pipelines to bring in the data. That pipeline had a cost. The data movement had a cost. With Fabric, it’s two clicks and that’s it.” 

    —José Viegas, Senior Data Architect, IWG 

    We’re always listening and learning to further enable customer successes like these by delivering the latest innovations across the data estate. See how customers around the world are using Fabric to transform their teams and industries.

    New capabilities coming to Microsoft Fabric 

    Today, we’re enhancing the Fabric experience by unlocking new possibilities through key innovations designed to help strengthen security and harness the power of AI to streamline data workstreams like never before:

    Introducing OneLake security—an industry breakthrough in data protection 

    Managing granular data security across multiple applications and engines is complex, often resulting in excessive restrictions or accidental data exposures. That’s why we’re introducing OneLake security—an industry breakthrough in data protection. OneLake is Fabric’s unified data lake, which seamlessly connects your entire multi-cloud and on-premises data estate. All your teams get a single place to discover, explore, and manage their data—even within apps like Microsoft Teams and Excel. 

    Now with OneLake security, you can define access permissions once, and Fabric will enforce it consistently across all engines. Data owners can create security roles, refine permissions, and control access at the row and column levels to securely share data. For example, you can grant access to only certain folders, tables, or even rows in a lakehouse—restricting Personally Identifiable Information (PII) while keeping other data available. This security propagates automatically, so whether you query the data in SQL or visualize it in a Power BI report, you can only see what has been authorized. Check out the following demo to see OneLake security in action:

    We are thrilled to share that OneLake security will be available in preview within a few months. In the meantime, if you are interested in trying OneLake security on your workspaces and providing feedback, please visit this early access sign-up page.

    Empowering agentic AI by integrating Fabric data agents with Azure AI Foundry

    Data plays a critical role in agentic AI, enabling AI agents to operate independently, make informed decisions, and take meaningful actions. That’s why we are expanding capabilities and deepening integrations between our data and AI platforms. 

    Data agents (formerly known as AI skills) in Microsoft Fabric are AI-powered assistants that can learn, adapt, and deliver insights instantly, helping teams make better data-driven decisions. Fabric data agents not only retrieve data from OneLake, but they can reason over and understand the data—what it means, how it’s structured, and when it’s relevant. 

    Starting today, organizations can use Azure AI Foundry to connect customized, conversational agents, created in Fabric. AI developers can now use Azure AI Agent Service to securely ground AI agent outputs with enterprise knowledge in Fabric data agents, so that responses are accurate, relevant, and contextually aware. By combining Fabric’s sophisticated data analysis over enterprise data with Azure AI Foundry’s cutting-edge GenAI technology, businesses can create custom conversational AI agents leveraging domain expertise. 

    “Fabric data agents are a powerful and value-adding tool in data environments. Acting as a conversational capability layer, we can use data agents to ‘talk’ to our data, understand it, and derive different insights in support of our daily decision making.”

    —Maureen Tan, Head of AI Center of Expertise, NTT DATA

    Copilot and AI capabilities in Fabric will be available for all SKUs

    We are excited to announce that Copilot and AI capabilities will be enabled for all paid SKUs in Fabric, making these tools accessible to everyone within the coming weeks. This expansion is driven by your feedback about the impact Copilot in Microsoft Fabric has had on your productivity, and how broadening access to Copilot would benefit more teams. With this latest update, customers on F2 and above can use Copilot and AI capabilities, such as Fabric data agents, to streamline workflows, generate insights, and drive impactful decisions.

    Seamlessly migrate your data to Fabric 

    We are excited to announce the preview of a migration experience natively built into the Fabric UI, enabling Azure Synapse Analytics (data warehouse) customers to transition seamlessly to Microsoft Fabric. With a built-in, intelligent assessment, guided support, and AI-powered assistance, this experience simplifies migration of code and data while helping customers unlock Fabric’s unified data foundation, AI-driven analytics, and enhanced performance—without the complexity of traditional migrations. 

    Microsoft Fabric Community Conference

    Join us this year in Las Vegas for FabCon 2025.

    Additional Fabric innovations

    In addition to the above, we are introducing a series of updates across the Microsoft Fabric platform and its workloads. These advancements will further progress our commitments to our four core Fabric pillars: 

    • A complete, AI-powered data platform. 
    • An open, AI-ready data lake. 
    • Empowering AI-enabled business users. 
    • A mission-critical foundation. 

    Fabric is a complete AI-powered data platform

    Fabric is a unified, AI-powered data platform that fosters seamless collaboration across your organization. Today, we’re sharing new enhancements and capabilities that will further strengthen the Fabric platform and workloads, which will unlock even more possibilities for your data initiatives. 

    Platform enhancements: 

    • The preview of Command Line Interface (CLI) in Fabric introduces a new terminal that allows users and admins to execute commands across Fabric using interactive prompts or scripts, enabling a seamless, code-first experience without relying on clicks. 
    • The preview of new CI/CD enhancements expands support across the Fabric platform, including variable libraries for workspaces, Service Principal support for GitHub, and Deployment Pipelines Fabric APIs Phase II. 
    • The preview of User Data Functions introduces a way for developers to implement and reuse custom business logic in Fabric data science and data engineering workflows, streamlining development and improving efficiency. 
    • The general availability of the Terraform provider for Fabric, to help customers ensure deployments and management tasks are executed accurately and consistently. 
    • The general availability of Tags, which allows users to optimally describe items they own, and help enhance organization and discoverability of data in Fabric. 

    Data integration enhancements: 

    • The general availability of Apache Airflow job empowers customers to run their Apache Airflow DAGs in Microsoft Fabric, with a serverless Apache Airflow runtime. 
    • The general availability of the Copy job introduces a new simplified experience for customers who need to move data between different data sources and destinations. It also introduces support for batch and incremental data movement. 
    • The preview of key orchestration enhancements is now available, enabling the creation of metadata-driven pipelines that orchestrate Dataflow Gen2 (CI/CD) parameterized invocation from Data Pipelines 

    Real-time intelligence enhancements:

    • The general availability of Fabric Events transforms Fabric into an event-driven platform. Users can leverage the Real-Time hub to discover and subscribe to Fabric Events across OneLake, Fabric jobs, and Workspaces. 
    • The preview of new eventstream connectors which allows users to bring in data from additional non-Microsoft sources, including Weather, Solace PubSub+, ADX Table Streamify, MQTT v5, Event Grid Namespaces, and Confluent with Schema Registry. 

    Data Engineering and Data Science enhancements: 

    • The preview of Autoscale Billing for Spark helps optimize Spark job costs by offloading Data Engineering workloads to a serverless billing mode. Capacity admins can set a max capacity units (CUs) limit in capacity settings, ensuring Spark jobs use dedicated CUs instead of shared Fabric Capacity. 
    • The preview of AI functions provides powerful capabilities to apply LLM-powered transformations, such as summarization, classification, and text generation to your OneLake data—all with a single line of code.

    Partner/ISV integrations 

    • At Ignite, we announced the general availability of the Workload Development Toolkit (WDK) and introduced ISV workloads that bring new capabilities and value to our joint customers. We are excited to now announce the general availability of Fabric workloads from Osmos, Profisee, and PowerBI.tips, along with public previews of new workloads from Celonis, CluedIn, Neo4j, Lumel, Statsig, and Striim in the Fabric Workload Hub. In addition, CluedIn also announced a public preview of its integration with Open Mirroring in Fabric.

    Fabric is open with an AI-ready data lake 

    In addition to OneLake Security, we are also making enhancements to OneLake, including: 

    • A modern get-data experience with OneLake catalog integration in Microsoft Excel (in Office Insiders Fast) enables users to explore the OneLake catalog directly from Excel, expanding accessibility beyond the existing Microsoft Teams integration. 
    • Coming soon, we are releasing the general availability of on-premises data gateways support for Amazon S3, S3-compatible sources, and Google Cloud Platform allows users to create shortcuts to on-premises data sources hosted behind a firewall or within a Virtual Private Cloud. 
    • The enhancements for cross-tenant sharing, including the ability to share multiple tables at once, Lakehouse schemas, as well as tables from Fabric SQL databases, KQL databases, and OneLake shortcuts (coming soon). This shared data can now be accessed via SQL analytics endpoints and semantic models. 
    • An updated version of the Fabric Link to Dataverse preview enables even faster and more secure data virtualization from Dataverse, the data platform for the Power Platform and Dynamics 365, thanks to back-end improvements. We are also announcing a new Mirrored Dataverse option in Fabric. Learn more about both announcements. 

    Fabric empowers every business user with AI capabilities

    Fabric empowers business users to quickly uncover key insights in a Power BI report by simply asking Copilot. With AI-enhanced Q&A and intuitive visuals seamlessly embedded in Microsoft 365 apps, everyone can better understand and act on their data with ease. To further empower this mission, we’re announcing that: 

    • The preview of Direct Lake semantic models in Power BI desktop, which allows users to build Power BI semantic models for lightning-fast reports that query data directly from OneLake without scheduling refreshes and without data duplication. This feature will also enable users to add in tables from multiple Fabric artifacts in the same Direct Lake semantic model for ultimate reusability of OneLake data.

    Fabric provides a mission-critical foundation 

    Our final promise is that you can confidently deploy and manage Microsoft Fabric with category-leading performance, instant scalability, shared resilience, and built-in security, governance, and compliance. To further that mission, we’re excited to introduce several enhancements to our mission-critical promise, including: 

    Mission-critical foundation enhancement with Microsoft Purview:

    • Coming soon, the preview of Microsoft Purview for Copilot in Power BI. The integration will enable discovery of data risks such as sensitive data in user prompts and responses, protect sensitive data with Insider Risk Management to identify and investigate risky AI usage, and govern AI usage with audit, eDiscovery, retention policies, and non-compliant usage detection.  
    • Coming soon, we are expanding Purview Data Loss Prevention policies Fabric coverage beyond lakehouses and semantic models, to now also include Fabric KQL databases and mirrored databases. This will allow security admins to detect sensitive data uploads, such as SSNs, and trigger automated actions in more sources. 
    • The preview of Data Observability within the Unified Catalog to investigate the relationship between data products and any assets (including Fabric assets) associated with them to identify the root cause of quality issues. 

    Getting started with Microsoft Fabric 

    New customers can try out everything Fabric has to offer by signing up for a free 60-day trial—no credit card information required. Learn how to start your free trial. 

    If you’re considering purchasing Fabric and need help choosing a SKU, we’re excited to share that a new Fabric SKU Estimator will soon be available in public preview. Stay tuned. 

    Watch the action at the Fabric Conference

    To see these announcements in action, register and secure your spot today through Wednesday April 2, 2025. With over 200 expert-led sessions, you can join thousands of attendees who are diving deep into Microsoft Fabric, exploring innovations in AI, databases, analytics, business intelligence, and more.  

    Join us at FabCon 2025

    Explore additional resources for Microsoft Fabric 

    To learn more about Fabric:  

    Read additional blogs by industry-leading partners: 

    Arun Ulagaratchagan

    Corporate Vice President, Azure Data–Microsoft

    Arun leads product management, engineering, and cloud operations for Azure Data, which includes databases, data integration, big data analytics, messaging, and business intelligence. The products in his teams’ portfolio include Azure SQL DB, Azure Cosmos DB, Azure PostgreSQL, Azure MySQL, Azure Data Factory, Azure Synapse Analytics, Azure Service Bus, Azure Event Grid, Power BI, and Microsoft Fabric.

    See more articles from this author

    MIL OSI Economics –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Old Missions, New Discoveries: NASA’s Data Archives Accelerate Science

    Source: NASA

    Every NASA mission represents a leap into the unknown, collecting data that pushes the boundaries of human understanding. But the story doesn’t end when the mission concludes. The data carefully preserved in NASA’s archives often finds new purpose decades later, unlocking discoveries that continue to benefit science, technology, and society.
    “NASA’s science data is one of our most valuable legacies,” said Kevin Murphy, NASA’s chief science data officer at NASA Headquarters in Washington. “It carries the stories of our missions, the insights of our discoveries, and the potential for future breakthroughs.”

    NASA’s science data is one of our most valuable legacies.

    Kevin Murphy
    Chief Science Data Officer, NASA Science Mission Directorate

    NASA’s Science Mission Directorate manages an immense amount of data, spanning astrophysics, biological and physical sciences, Earth science, heliophysics, and planetary science. Currently, NASA’s science data holdings exceed 100 petabytes—enough to store 20 billion photos from the average modern smartphone. This volume is expected to grow significantly with new missions.
    This vast amount of data enables new discoveries, connecting scientific observations together in meaningful ways. Over 50% of scientific publications rely on archived data, which NASA provides to millions of commercial, government, and scientific users.

    Managing and stewarding such massive volumes of information requires careful planning, robust infrastructure, and innovative strategies to ensure the data is accessible, secure, and sustainable. Continued support for data storage and cutting-edge technology is key to ensuring future generations of researchers can continue to explore using science data from NASA missions. 
    Modern technology, such as image processing and artificial intelligence, helps unlock new insights from previous observations. For example, in 1986, NASA’s Voyager 2 spacecraft conducted a historic flyby of Uranus, capturing detailed data on the planet and its environment. Decades later, in the early 2000s, scientists used advanced image processing techniques on this archival data to discover two small moons, Perdita and Cupid, which had gone unnoticed during the initial analysis.
    In 2024, researchers revisited this 38-year-old archival data and identified a critical solar wind event that compressed Uranus’s magnetosphere just before the Voyager 2 flyby. This rare event, happening only about four percent of the time, provided unique insights into Uranus’s magnetic field and its interaction with space weather.

    NASA’s Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter (LRO), launched in 2009, continues to provide data that reshapes our understanding of the Moon. In 2018, scientists analyzing the LRO’s archival data confirmed the presence of water ice in permanently shadowed regions at the Moon’s poles. 
    In 2024, new studies out of NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center in Greenbelt, Maryland, showed widespread evidence of water ice within the permanently shadowed regions outside the lunar South Pole, further aiding lunar mission planners. This discovery not only holds implications for lunar exploration but also demonstrates how existing data can yield groundbreaking insights.

    NASA’s data archives uncover the secrets of our own planet as well as others. In 2024, archaeologists published a study revealing a “lost” Mayan city in Campeche, Mexico that was previously unknown to the scientific community. The researchers identified the city in archival airborne Earth science data, including a 2013 dataset from NASA Goddard’s LiDAR Hyperspectral & Thermal Imager (G-LiHT) mission.
    The Harmonized Landsat and Sentinel-2 (HLS) project provides frequent high-resolution observations of Earth’s surface. Data from HLS has been instrumental in tracking urban growth over time. By analyzing changes in land cover, researchers have used HLS to monitor the expansion of cities and infrastructure development. For example, in rapidly growing metropolitan areas, HLS data has revealed patterns of urban sprawl, helping planners analyze past trends to predict future metropolitan expansion.

    These discoveries represent only a fraction of what’s possible. NASA is investing in new technologies to harness the full potential of its data archives, including artificial intelligence (AI) foundation models—open-source AI tools designed to extract new findings from existing science data.
    “Our vision is to develop at least one AI model for each NASA scientific discipline, turning decades of legacy data into a treasure trove of discovery,” said Murphy. “By embedding NASA expertise into these tools, we ensure that our scientific data continues to drive innovation across science, industry, and society for generations to come.”
    Developed under a collaboration between NASA’s Office of the Chief Science Data Officer, IBM, and universities, these AI models are scientifically validated and adaptable to new datasets, making them invaluable for researchers and industries alike.
    “It’s like having a virtual assistant that leverages decades of NASA’s knowledge to make smarter, quicker decisions,” said Murphy.

    The team’s Earth science foundation models—the Prithvi Geospatial model and Prithvi Weather model—analyze vast datasets to monitor Earth’s changing landscape, track weather patterns, and support critical decision-making processes.
    Building on this success, the team is now developing a foundation model for heliophysics. This model will unlock new insights about the dynamics of solar activity and space weather, which can affect satellite operations, communication systems, and even power grids on Earth. Additionally, a model designed for the Moon is in progress, aiming to enhance our understanding of lunar resources and environments.
    This investment in AI not only shortens the “data-to-discovery” timeline but also ensures that NASA’s data archives continue to drive innovation. From uncovering new planets to informing future exploration and supporting industries on Earth, the possibilities are boundless.
    By maintaining extensive archives and embracing cutting-edge technologies, the agency ensures that the data collected today will continue to inspire and inform discoveries far into the future. In doing so, NASA’s legacy science data truly remains the gift that keeps on giving.
    By Amanda Moon AdamsCommunications Lead for the Office of the Chief Science Data Officer

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Florida Hurricane Recovery DR-4834-FL RU-033

    Source: US Federal Emergency Management Agency

    Headline: Florida Hurricane Recovery DR-4834-FL RU-033

    Florida Hurricane Recovery DR-4834-FL RU-033

    Florida Hurricane Recovery   Marc  31, 2025 (Distributed on Mondays) Key MessagesMore than 1,100 FEMA staff are on the ground in Florida to help survivors recover from Hurricanes Milton, Helene and Debby

     FEMA will continue to process applications, receive and manage appeals, conduct inspections and assist applicants and local officials with questions and information about recovery programs

    FEMA may call Floridians who applied for disaster assistance from unknown phone numbers

    It is important to answer these calls

    Survivors should return any missed phone calls

    Survivors who applied for FEMA assistance should continue to stay in touch with the agency to update their application

    Missing or outdated information could result in delays

    Homeowners and renters can update their contact information online at DisasterAssistance

    gov,by using the FEMA App or by phone at 800-621-3362

     Lines are open every day and help is available in most languages

    Hazard Mitigation Community Education Outreach FEMA Mitigation staff are onsite at big box stores to help homeowners learn ways to build back stronger against future storms

    These specialists can offer free improvement tips and proven methods for rebuilding in a way that can lessen damage from future disasters

    Insurance specialists are also available to answer NFIP questions

    As of March 31, the state of Florida has removed more than 36 million cubic yards of debris

    FEMA specialists will be available from March 27 through April 5 from 8:00 a

    m

    to 4:30 p

    m

    ET, Monday – Friday and on Saturday from 8:00 a

    m

    to 2:30 p

    m

    ET, at the following location:Charlotte County: Home Depot, 12621 McCall Road, Port Charlotte, FL 33981FEMA specialists will be available from March 31 through April 12 from 8:00 a

    m

    to 4:30 p

    m

    ET, Monday – Friday and on Saturday from 8:00 a

    m

    to 2:30 p

    m

    ET, at the following location:Lee County: Lowe’s, 285 SW 25th Lane, Cape Coral, FL 33914Debris RemovalAppealsSurvivors who applied for FEMA assistance will receive a decision letter in the mail or via email

    If survivors disagree with the decision about their eligibility, they can appeal within 60 days from the date on that letter

      If survivors have questions about their letter or how to appeal, they can call the FEMA Helpline at 800-621-3362

     FraudWe encourage survivors to be aware of fraud and scams and report any suspicious activity to local authorities

    For more information, visit: Be Alert to Fraud After Florida Hurricanes | FEMA

    govIndividual AssistanceAs of March 31, FEMA has approved a total of more than $1

    5 billion to help Floridians with losses from Milton, Helene and Debby, including: $734

    3 million approved for Hurricane Milton $753

    7 million approved for Hurricane Helene $56

    8 million approved for Hurricane DebbyFEMA may provide financial assistance to help displaced survivors rent temporary housing

     FEMA Rental Assistance is intended to cover the monthly rent amount, which may include a security deposit, at a place other than a damaged home

    The rental can be near the survivor’s job, home, school and place of worship

    The assistance may include essential utilities such as gas, oil, trash, sewer, electricity, and water, but not cable or Internet

    Public AssistanceFEMA has obligated over $1 billion in Public Assistance funds to aid Florida’s recovery from Hurricane Milton

     In just over two months from the date Hurricane Milton was presidentially declared, Public Assistance was able to obligate more than $1 billion to the state of Florida – something that has never been done before in Florida

    This rapid response highlights the partnership with the State of Florida to aid local governments’ efforts to help communities recover

    Milton: Category A (Debris) total obligated: $338,280,729      Milton: Category B (Emergency Protective Measures) total obligated: $647,677,699Helene: Category A (Debris) total obligated: $86,995,225       Helene: Category B (Emergency Protective Measures) total obligated: $348,183,066National Flood Insurance ProgramAs of March 31, NFIP has paid $6

    6 billion in claims to 60,884 claimants from Milton, Helene and Debby

    NFIP Information available online at https://www

    floodsmart

    gov/

    U

    S

     Small Business AdministrationDR-4806DR-4828DR-4834Applications: 1,949Applications: 21,361Applications: 44,612Dollars Approved: $39,401,071Dollars Approved: $758,941,081Dollars Approved: $672,442,659Additional ResourcesActivate Hope: Displaced survivors can apply for State Non-Congregate Sheltering by visiting the Activate Hope website at hopeflorida

    com and filling out the Assistance Request Form or by calling the Hope Florida support line at 833-GET-HOPE (833-438-4673)

    Florida 211: Whether it’s a natural or human-caused disaster, a mental health issue, searching for job training or a food pantry, Florida 211 connects people to help, with a caring human on the other end of the phone

    It’s a go-to, 24/7 free resource that can connect you with a wide range of social services and resources, including food, housing, utilities payment assistance, health care, transportation, childcare, employment opportunities, mental health crises, disaster information and assistance, and more

    FDEM Statewide Debris Dashboard: Debris Survey Results (Milton)

    Clean & Sanitize: FEMA may be able to provide up to $300 in one-time financial assistance to help with cleanup

     Clean and Sanitize Assistance | FEMA

    gov

    Multi-Agency Resource Centers: Florida Division of Emergency Management and local communities are operating these centers to assist residents with storm recovery

    FEMA specialists are available at most centers

     U

    S

    Department of Agriculture/Farm Services Agency: emergency_disaster_designation_declaration_process-factsheet

    pdf  FEMA & Citizenship: You or a member of your household must be U

    S

    citizen, non-U

    S

    citizen national or qualified non-citizen to qualify for FEMA assistance

    FEMA Rumor Response: Know what’s true and what isn’t

     Hurricane Rumor Response | FEMA

    govSmall Business Hurricane Recovery Grant Program FAQs | U

    S

    Chamber of Commerce FoundationMental health resources for Floridians For help with cleanup: Call 833-GET HOPETips for Mold CleanupFlorida Division of Emergency Management Updates: floridadisaster

    org/disaster-updates/storm-updates/Disaster Legal Hotline: 833-514-2940 
    lindsay

    tozer
    Mon, 03/31/2025 – 18:04

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: FEMA Mitigation Experts Offer Rebuilding Advice in Lee County

    Source: US Federal Emergency Management Agency

    Headline: FEMA Mitigation Experts Offer Rebuilding Advice in Lee County

    FEMA Mitigation Experts Offer Rebuilding Advice in Lee County

    FEMA Mitigation Experts Offer Rebuilding Advice in Lee CountyTALLAHASSEE, Fla

    – As Floridians rebuild, survivors of Hurricanes Milton, Helene and Debby can get free advice on how to rebuild stronger and safer against storms

    FEMA mitigation specialists will be available to answer questions and offer free home improvement tips and proven methods to lessen damage from future disasters

    This information is geared for do-it-yourself work and general contractors

    FEMA specialists will be available from March 31 through April 12, from 8:00 a

    m

    to 4:30 p

    m

    ET, Monday – Friday and on Saturday from 8:00 a

    m

    to 2:30 p

    m

    ET, at the following location:Lee County: Lowe’s, 285 SW 25th Lane, Cape Coral, FL 33914Mitigation is an effort to reduce the loss of life and property damage by lessening the impact of a disaster through   construction and remodeling best practices

    An insurance specialist will be present to answer National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) questions

    Disaster Survivor Assistance teams will be on hand to provide updates on FEMA applications and answer questions

    Stay in Touch with FEMAIt is important to let FEMA know about any changes to your contact information

     You may update contact information or check on the status of your application by:Visiting DisasterAssistance

    govCalling FEMA directly at 800-621-3362Using the FEMA appFor the latest information about Hurricane Milton recovery, visit fema

    gov/disaster/4834

     For Hurricane Helene recovery information, visit fema

    gov/disaster/4828

     For Hurricane Debby, visit fema

    gov/disaster/4806

     Follow FEMA on X at x

    com/femaregion4or on Facebook at facebook

    com/fema

    ###FEMA’s mission is helping people before, during and after disasters

    Follow FEMA online, on X @FEMA or @FEMAEspanol, on FEMA’s Facebook page or Espanol page and at FEMA’s YouTube account

    Also, follow on X FEMA_Cam

     For preparedness information follow the Ready Campaign on X at @Ready

    gov, on Instagram @Ready

    gov or on the Ready Facebook page

      
    lindsay

    tozer
    Mon, 03/31/2025 – 12:29

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Governor Kehoe Announces Six Appointments to Various Boards and Commissions, Fills One County Office Vacancy

    Source: US State of Missouri

    MARCH 31, 2025

    Jefferson City — Today, Governor Mike Kehoe announced six appointments to various boards and commissions and the appointment of the Andrew County Circuit Clerk.

    Tannah Buhman, of St. Joseph, was appointed as the Andrew County Circuit Clerk.

    Ms. Buhman is currently serving as the interim circuit clerk for the Andrew County Circuit Court having been appointed by the Presiding Judge after a year as deputy court clerk. She previously worked as a patient care representative for Mosaic Life Care in St. Joseph, Missouri, and holds certifications as a Certified Nurse Assistant and Certified Medication Technician.

    Paul Fitzwater, of Potosi, was appointed to the Missouri Sentencing Advisory Commission.

    Mr. Fitzwater currently serves as a member of the Board of Probation and Parole and is a former state representative for Iron, Washington, Wayne, and Reynolds counties. Before entering public service, he owned and operated Fitzwater and Son Concrete Contracting. Fitzwater is also a retired teacher and coach with nearly 30 years of experience in education. He is an active member of several organizations including the National Rifle Association and the Chamber of Commerce. Mr. Fitzwater earned his bachelor’s degree in education from Tarkio College.

    Matthew Haase, of Kansas City, was appointed to the Jackson County Sports Complex Authority.

    Mr. Haase is currently the director of strategic relations for Kansas City University, having previously served as the senior director of external relations at the University of Missouri-Kansas City. Haas dedicated 18 years to public service under the leadership of former U.S. Senator Roy Blunt as a senior legislative assistant in his congressional office and later as a state director in his Senate office. He was appointed to the 16th Circuit Judicial Commission by Governor Parson and currently serves on the Local Investment Commission. Mr. Haase earned his Bachelor of Science in Economics from Missouri State University in Springfield.

    Steven Oslica, of St. Louis, was appointed to the Missouri Community Service Commission.

    Mr. Oslica is a business consultant based in St. Louis. He previously served as executive director of the Hawthorn Foundation for Missouri, which helps to fund the sitting governor’s economic development priorities and assists in improving state operation efficiencies. His career includes over 30 years in oil and gas construction materials as a global marketing director for Pittsburgh Corning Corporation and the director of international business for H.B. Fuller. Osclica currently serves on the Board of Trustees for Culver-Stockton College and Board of Advisors for Love the Lou. Mr. Oslica earned his bachelor’s degree in history and political science from Culver-Stockton College.  

    Victor Pasley, of Columbia, was reappointed to the Lincoln University Board of Curators.

    Mr. Pasley retired from Xerox Corporation in 2010 after a 32-year career as a member of its executive team. Prior to his corporate career, he worked as an instructor and assistant principal in Elgin Public Schools and served as a Captain in the United States Army, including a tour of duty in Vietnam. He has served on the Lincoln University Board of Curators since 2019. Mr. Pasley earned a Bachelor of Science in Education from Lincoln University, a Master of Science in Education from Northern Illinois University, and completed the Professional Management Development Program at Harvard Business School.

    Richard Popp, of Tebbetts, was reappointed to the Lincoln University Board of Curators.

    Mr. Popp is a retired Executive Vice President of Central Bank, where he was employed for 37 years. He is a member of the Missouri Bar Association and Jefferson City Chamber of Commerce. Mr. Popp has served as a member of the Lincoln University Board of Curators for six years. He holds two degrees from the University of Missouri: accounting and plant science. He also earned his Juris Doctor from Harvard Law School in 1977.

    John M. Raines, of Senath, was appointed to the University of Missouri Board of Curators.

    Mr. Raines’ leadership in agriculture and food spans nearly four decades, most recently retiring as president of TELUS Ag & Consumer Goods. Prior to TELUS, Raines served as the chief commercial officer at The Climate Corporation, now part of Bayer, a leading global provider of agricultural products. Raines serves on the board of directors for several companies including FMC Corporation, Sydenstricker Nobbe Partners, and TPNB Bank, as well as the advisory board for the University of Missouri Fisher Delta Research, Extension and Education Center. He earned a Bachelor of Science in Agriculture from the University of Missouri in Columbia.

    ###

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Putnam County Man Sentenced to Prison for Federal Gun Crime

    Source: Office of United States Attorneys

    HUNTINGTON, W.Va. – Edward Leon Sowards, 35, of Hurricane, was sentenced today to one year and three months in prison, to be followed by three years of supervised release, for possession of a firearm by a person convicted of a misdemeanor crime of domestic violence.

    According to court documents and statements made in court, Sowards admitted that he purchased a Taurus model Public Defender Judge Poly .45-caliber/.410-gauge revolver from an individual in June 2023. Sowards further admitted that he knew the individual had stolen the firearm. Sowards was later confronted about the stolen firearm being in his possession. On June 21, 2023, Sowards met with the individual in a Hurricane parking lot and returned the firearm. Sowards admitted that he knew the serial number had been removed from the firearm at the time he returned it to the individual.

    Federal law prohibits a person convicted of a misdemeanor crime of domestic violence from possessing a firearm or ammunition. Sowards knew he was prohibited from possessing a firearm because of his prior conviction for domestic battery in Putnam County Magistrate Court on April 20, 2012.

    Acting United States Attorney Lisa G. Johnston made the announcement and commended the investigative work of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) and the West Virginia State Police.

    United States District Judge Robert C. Chambers imposed the sentence. Assistant United States Attorney Courtney L. Finney prosecuted the case.

    This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the Department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results.

    A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of West Virginia. Related court documents and information can be found on PACER by searching for Case No. 3:24-cr-147.

    ###

     

     

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Europe: Answer to a written question – Funding European competitiveness through automotive carbon credits – E-000531/2025(ASW)

    Source: European Parliament

    Delivering on the EU’s net greenhouse gas emissions reduction target of at least 55% by 2030 compared to 1990 and the climate neutrality target by 2050, as enshrined in the European Climate Law[1], calls for ambitious action to ensure a swift decrease in emissions from all sectors, including transport.

    The revised CO2 standards Regulation[2] sets targets which get more stringent over time, up to a 100% emission reduction for new cars and vans registered in the EU as of 2035.

    These standards drive a gradual transition towards zero-emission mobility, while giving industry enough lead-time to develop an adequate compliance strategy.

    The 2025 target requires a 15% reduction of emissions from the 2021 baseline. It was agreed by the co-legislators in 2019 and was confirmed in 2023.

    For manufacturers that may not be in a position to achieve target compliance on their own , the regulation provides the option to pool with other manufacturers. Pooling is not mandatory but provides manufacturers with one more flexibility to choose from.

    In the Industrial Action Plan for the European automotive sector[3], the Commission has announced that it will swiftly present additional flexibilities, through a targeted amendment of the CO2 emission standards, which would determine that compliance is assessed over the years of 2025, 2026 and 2027 combined to allow manufacturers to compensate target exceedance in one or two of these years by overachievements in the other year(s).

    This will contribute to safeguarding industry’s capacity to invest, keeping the overall ambition of the 2025 targets. The Commission will also accelerate work on the preparation of the review of the regulation.

    • [1] http://data.europa.eu/eli/reg/2021/1119/oj
    • [2] http://data.europa.eu/eli/reg/2023/851/oj
    • [3] COM(2025) 95 final.
    Last updated: 31 March 2025

    MIL OSI Europe News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Q&A With NREL Scientist Effie Kisgeropoulos

    Source: US National Renewable Energy Laboratory

    Effie Kisgeropoulos Discusses Her Early Scientific Inspiration and Journey to Electron Paramagnetic Resonance Spectroscopy

    As a young girl, Effie Kisgeropoulos dreamed about the endless universe of constellations. Photo from Effie Kisgeropoulos, NREL

    Lying on the grass in Canton, Ohio, a young Effie Kisgeropoulos studied constellations with her eyes and later through her telescope, dreaming about the mechanisms of faraway celestial bodies.

    Little did the future National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) researcher know that her budding scientific gaze would later turn to something closer to home: orbiting subatomic particles in microscopic structures.

    The ability to translate perspectives between different worlds might be her superpower—although this superpower has come with its challenges. Yet Kisgeropoulos has persisted through all the uphill climbs, maintaining her joy of learning.

    Kisgeropoulos was homeschooled for most of her childhood, and she benefited from a framework that empowered her to absorb knowledge and ask questions. Looking back, the ease with which Kisgeropoulos moved through primary education was perhaps unsurprising given her much later diagnosis with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). She thrived in the home setting where learning was fun, engaging, and flexible. But when it was time to begin her university honors program, Kisgeropoulos’ success at home became a struggle to maintain. Her passion for exploring new ideas came under serious doubt.

    Although Kisgeropoulos struggled at first, she persevered through trial and error and by embracing new opportunities. Her path at NREL began with a postdoctoral position that employed her passion for using electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) spectroscopy to decipher the subatomic interactions that dictate our world.

    Kisgeropoulos is now a full-time researcher in NREL’s Biosciences Center, responsible for helping manage the Advanced Spin Resonance Facility (ASRF), which houses the EPR equipment. This facility helps illuminate the subatomic workings of chemical reactions, like those that sustain photosynthesis or enable light-driven ammonia production and hydrogen catalysis.

    In this interview (edited for length and clarity), Kisgeropoulos discusses her contagious enthusiasm for science, her unique journey to NREL, and her passion for all things EPR.

    You have an interesting upbringing that isn’t familiar to many people. Can you talk about that and how it was a factor in your embrace of science?

    My mom homeschooled my sister and I until mid-high school. During our elementary years, she taught us for two days and worked the other three, when my dad—who worked midnights—would help.  

    Around this time, I fell in love with astronomy and spent countless hours poring over star maps and gazing at constellations. I even got a small telescope! It kick-started my obsession with science fiction and, later, theoretical physics.

    Kisgeropoulos, as a child, gazes through her new telescope. Photo from Effie Kisgeropoulos, NREL

    Homeschooling allowed me a certain freedom in how I assimilated information. I could work on my lessons while barefoot and sitting cross-legged on the floor, make as much noise as I wanted, go at my own pace. I was unencumbered by the classical rules of school.

    Later when my parents separated, my mom juggled multiple jobs while still maintaining our education. Watching all this, I also learned a lot about hard work and perseverance. I wasn’t diagnosed with ADHD until 29, so these qualities—and the love of learning I grew up with—were vital to me navigating undergrad and then a Ph.D. without any context for why I had different needs than my peers.

    Kisgeropoulos (right) and her sister, Sophia (left), pose in front of their school project—sprouting seeds from plants. Photo from Effie Kisgeropoulos, NREL

    Can you tell me about your transition from homeschooling to the university world?

    My science obsessions led me to join the honors program at Kent State University with a plan outlined by my guidance counselor: a bachelor’s in physics; grad school for astrophysics. Once classes started, a harsh reality formed. Many students are challenged during the transition to college, but I wasn’t aware of the unique challenges that came with a neurodivergent brain.

    Tougher coursework meant I had to study in earnest, but sitting alone for hours in the library to accomplish this was a strange experience. It would take me significant time to clear my mind of distractions before I could fully immerse myself in a task. Although I had experience with self-directed learning, my skills began failing me in this demanding and unfamiliar college environment.

    It was a disheartening first couple of years. I had been excellent at math, but I did poorly in calculus. I did okay in Physics I, but I dropped Physics II twice because it wasn’t clicking. The irony is the stuff in Physics II—like circuits, electricity, and magnetism—are foundations to some of what I do now at NREL.

    So, how did you adjust?

    The end of sophomore year was my worst. I wanted to study the stars, but I just couldn’t make the connections in my coursework. At around the same time, we found out my mom had breast cancer. It really impelled me, and I switched majors to biotech. I thought a more industry-focused degree would help with getting a job, if I needed to take care of my sister, and I hoped it would lead me to work in cancer research to help patients like my mom.

    With the switch, I started to excel in my classes again. In Intro Biochem, I learned about enzyme pathways in cells. It was like a puzzle, mapping them all out. In some ways, it felt like mapping out the stars. I was becoming fascinated with microscopic biological and chemical mechanisms that I had no idea about. My fire for learning came back. And as I approached graduation, my mom cleared her cancer!

    That’s wonderful. So at that point, you were on the path to a Ph.D. in biochem at The Ohio State University (OSU)?

    Yeah. I was thrilled when I was offered a spot. I started with three different lab rotations: mouse models of cancer, yeast genetics, and spectroscopy. Although I was still invested in cancer research, I enjoyed the approach of spectroscopy the most, which was in the lab of a new OSU professor, Hannah Shafaat. And in the end, I was still awarded a fellowship for the connection of my work to cancer research!

    My work at OSU involved applying advanced pulse EPR spectroscopy to biological systems. Before even developing these experiments, we needed to characterize the systems using a more common type of EPR: continuous wave (CW). At the time, the EPR capabilities we needed weren’t available at OSU. Instead, we would drive four hours roundtrip to Miami University and collect data for 10, 12 hours.

    This was where I became mesmerized by the EPR process. There’s this giant magnet with a sample in the middle that’s cooled to 5 Kelvin, and then microwaves are shot at it. It’s so metal! The resulting data were beautiful. You’re investigating a signal that looks like a child’s drawing and translating it to give information on interactions happening at the electron level.

    So, when were you able to work primarily with pulsed EPR?

    During my fourth year, we shifted to pulsed EPR techniques, which use microwaves shot in pulses rather than continuously. Using pulses unlocks a whole new dimension of capabilities, especially manipulating electron spins to acquire different, higher-resolution information. But pulsed EPR demands a higher level of theory and understanding to run an experiment, let alone troubleshoot one or customize it to the sample.

    I was applying pulsed EPR to proteins to answer questions about their electronic structure and function. This work was like what I do here at NREL in Paul King’s (Physical Biochemistry and Photosynthesis) group, except now I investigate how this reactivity is controlled and tuned into very complex redox enzymes.

    Good segue to becoming a postdoc at NREL. I imagine your experience with pulsed EPR had a lot to do with you coming here?

    Honestly, I struggled with the motivation to do research or become a professor. When I started EPR, my research interest sparked a bit, but I wasn’t sure how to do EPR at a private company. And then my OSU lab partner, Tasha Manesis, sent me a link for an NREL postdoctoral position in the Physical Biochemistry and Photosynthesis group. I read the job description and was ecstatic they wanted someone to study redox enzymes using pulsed EPR!

    Postdoctoral researcher Effie Kisgeropoulos poses in 2022 by an MBraun anaerobic chamber at NREL’s Science and Technology Facility. This type of equipment allows researchers to work with the oxygen-sensitive proteins and enzymes that are involved in many of nature’s important energy conversion reactions and pathways. Photo by Werner Slocum, NREL

    Another bit of serendipity. How was the postdoc experience here at NREL?

    Right after they hired me, COVID-19 happened. COVID-19 protocols made lab interactions challenging and training and team-building difficult. Once the protocols loosened, this all improved, and we added some new postdocs that quickly became great friends of mine. My relationship with Paul, my group manager and principal investigator, also really began to develop. These working relationships, and the willingness everyone showed to put effort into making them better, were a large reason why I stayed at NREL.

    How was the transition from postdoc to full-time researcher?

    Getting an NREL staff position doing what I love felt validating, a recognition of my contributions to the team. It also really brought me a sense of permanence. Even though six years in graduate school was a long time, it always had an end date. With this transition, I experienced a sense of investment in my work that I never felt before.

    Kisgeropoulos works with cell culture media containing ferredoxin proteins in the Research and Innovation Laboratory at NREL. These proteins are important for understanding the control electron transfer reactions in the photosynthetic cyanobacteria Synechocystis sp. PCC 6803 and will be studied using techniques like EPR once they are purified from the media. Photo by Kaylee Weatherly, NREL

    What are your responsibilities as a biological EPR spectroscopist?

    I continue to build upon my postdoc work, contributing to research projects under Paul on photosynthetic energy transduction and mechanisms of photochemical nitrogen reduction. Both are funded by the U.S. Department of Energy’s Office of Science Basic Energy Sciences program.

    I also took on safety-representative duties for our lab space and have an official role helping David Mulder manage and operate the ASRF, which houses the EPR equipment. David and I developed an approach for scheduling on the CW EPR, helping maintain access for all users amid high demand for instrument time. I also help train new EPR users and advise on project data collection, interpretation, and analysis.

    NREL researchers (from left) Paul King, Effie Kisgeropoulos, and David Mulder talk in front of the electron paramagnetic resonance spectrometer in NREL’s Advanced Spin Resonance Facility in Golden, Colorado. Photo by Gregory Cooper, NREL

    So, why does this new role and the Advanced Spin Resonance Facility at NREL excite you so much?

    Most institutions operate one CW EPR at a single microwave frequency (commonly X-band). But at NREL, we have an incredible breadth of EPR capabilities in one place: CW EPR, pulsed EPR, both X-band and Q-band microwave frequencies, equipment to produce shaped pulses, the ability to incorporate radio waves and do EPR-detected nuclear magnetic resonance, and all using helium gas in a cryogen-free system to obtain super cold temperatures. All these capabilities are the perfect playground for me to explore and grow with.

    There’s also a tremendous amount of expertise here applying EPR to understand highly complex enzymatic functions, like nitrogen fixation to ammonia or hydrogen generation from protons and electrons. There’s a great foundation to build from and use my understanding of pulsed EPR to advance the research.

    Pulsed EPR, and really EPR in general, is such a powerful tool for obtaining targeted information on the movement, properties, and local environments of electrons, whether they exist as radicals, in defects, or on metal clusters. It’s highly applicable across a large swathe of research disciplines, from biology to materials—even brewing beer, although that’s not really in the NREL mission space. I’d like to continue to improve the experience of our core user group and expand the reach of the ASRF across NREL.

    Okay, one last question. If you had the power to make one change in the world, what would it be?

    Oh, tough, it’s hard to articulate, but I’d make empathy and compassion abundant. Through all my challenges, I’ve come out of it with a different appreciation for people. We’re all flawed, but people are also surprisingly great. I think it’s important to listen to what others are saying and consider how they might be feeling, the milieu that could be contributing to the actions they take.

    I try to always remember this, and I would want to make the changes necessary so everyone could feel safe enough and empowered to extend this kind of empathy and compassion to each other. I think it would help the world a lot.

    Learn more about NREL’s bioscience research and the Advanced Spin Resonance Facility.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Wildfires continue to burn in Georgia, North and South Carolina

    Source: US Geological Survey

    Wildfires continue to burn in Georgia, North and South Carolina

    Burn bans remain in effect for North and South Carolina, where multiple wildfires have caused road closures and evacuations. Dry conditions and downed trees from Hurricane Helene have fueled the fires.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-Evening Report: Under a Coalition government, the fate of Australia’s central climate policy hangs in the balance

    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Felicity Deane, Professor of Trade Law, Taxation and Climate Change, Queensland University of Technology

    RobynCharnley/Shutterstock

    The future of Australia’s key climate policy is uncertain after Opposition Leader Peter Dutton said a Coalition government would review the measure, known as the “safeguard mechanism”, which is designed to limit emissions from Australia’s largest industrial polluters.

    According to the Australian Financial Review, if the Coalition wins office it will consider relaxing the policy, as part of its plan to increase domestic gas supplies.

    Evidence suggests weakening the mechanism would be a mistake. In fact, it could be argued the policy does not go far enough to force polluting companies to curb their emissions.

    Both major parties now accept Australia must reach net-zero emissions by 2050. This bipartisan agreement should make one thing clear: winding back the safeguard mechanism would be reckless policy.

    What’s the safeguard mechanism again?

    The safeguard mechanism began under the Coalition government in 2016. It now applies to 219 large polluting facilities that emit more than 100,000 tonnes of greenhouse gases a year. These facilities are in sectors such as electricity, mining, gas, manufacturing, waste and transport. Together, they produce just under one-third of Australia’s emissions.

    Under the policy’s original design, companies were purportedly required to keep their emissions below a certain cap, and buy carbon credits to offset any emissions over the cap. However, loopholes meant the cap was weakly enforced.

    This meant greenhouse gas pollution from the facilities actually increased – rising from 131.3 million tonnes to 138.7 million tonnes in the first six years of the policy.

    Labor strengthened the safeguard mechanism after it won office, by setting a hard cap for industrial emissions. The Coalition voted against the reforms.

    Dutton has since labelled the safeguard mechanism a “carbon tax”
    – a claim that has been debunked. Some members of the Coalition reportedly believe the policy makes manufacturers globally uncompetitive.

    Now, according to media reports, a Coalition government would review the safeguard mechanism with a view to weakening it, in a bid to bolster business and increase gas supply.

    Why the safeguard mechanism should be left alone

    Weakening the safeguard mechanism would lead to several problems.

    First, it would mean large facilities, including new coal and gas projects, would be permitted to operate without meaningful limits on their pollution. This threatens Australia’s international climate obligations.

    Second, if polluters were no longer required to buy carbon offsets, this would disrupt Australia’s carbon market.

    As the Clean Energy Regulator notes, the safeguard mechanism is the “dominant source” of demand for Australian carbon credits.

    In the first quarter of 2024, about 1.2 million carbon-credit units were purchased by parties wanting to offset their emissions. The vast majority were purchased by companies meeting compliance obligations under the safeguard mechanism or similar state rules.

    If companies are no longer required to buy offsets, or they buy fewer offsets, this would hurt those who sell carbon credits.

    Carbon credits are earned by organisations and individuals who abate carbon – through measures such as tree planting or retaining vegetation. The activities are often carried out by farmers and other landholders, including Indigenous organisations. Indigenous-led carbon projects have delivered jobs, cultural renewal and environmental benefits.

    The safeguard mechanism, together with the government pledge to reach net-zero emissions by 2050, also provides certainty for the operators of polluting facilities. Many in the business sector have called for the policy to remain unchanged.

    And finally, winding back the safeguard mechanism would send a troubling signal to the world: that Australia is stepping back from climate action.

    Now is not the time to abdicate our responsibilities on climate change. Atmospheric carbon dioxide levels have risen dramatically since 1960. This increase is driving global warming and climate change, leading to extreme weather events which will only worsen.

    A hard-won policy

    The safeguard mechanism has not had time to deliver meaningful outcomes. And it is far from perfect – but it is hard-won, and Australia needs it.

    The 2023 reforms to the mechanism were designed to support trade-exposed industries, while encouraging companies to invest in emissions reduction.

    Undoing this mechanism would risk our climate goals. It would leave the government limited means to curb pollution from Australia’s largest emitters, and muddy the roadmap to net-zero. It would also create uncertainty for all carbon market participants, including the polluting facilities themselves.

    Felicity Deane does not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organisation that would benefit from this article, and has disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment.

    – ref. Under a Coalition government, the fate of Australia’s central climate policy hangs in the balance – https://theconversation.com/under-a-coalition-government-the-fate-of-australias-central-climate-policy-hangs-in-the-balance-253426

    MIL OSI Analysis – EveningReport.nz –

  • MIL-OSI USA: ICYMI: Shaheen, Tillis Urge U.S. Department of Agriculture to Quickly Distribute Disaster Relief to Assist Farmers, Rural Communities in Recovery

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for New Hampshire Jeanne Shaheen
    (Washington, DC) – U.S. Senators Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH), Ranking Member of the U.S. Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Agriculture, Rural Development, Food and Drug Administration and Related Agencies, and Thom Tillis (R-NC) sent a letter last week urging U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Brooke Rollins to work with Congress to quickly distribute the more than $23 billion Congress passed in December to assist farmers, ranchers and rural Americans in responding to devastating natural disasters in 2023 and 2024. In their letter, the Senators note that the assistance is sorely needed as farmers and ranchers across the country struggle to address the fallout of several billion-dollar natural disasters. 
    The Senators wrote, in part: “These funds will benefit producers in every State—the natural disasters that struck farms and ranches in 2023 and 2024 affected a wide range of crops, livestock, and on-farm infrastructure. In North Carolina, Hurricane Helene is estimated to have caused almost $5 billion in agricultural losses, and in New Hampshire, a disastrous freeze in 2023 damaged apple and peach trees, as well as other crops, with growers seeing as high as 100 percent crop losses for the year.” 
    They continued: “As you know, this program is intended to serve both producers with and without crop insurance, and reach small, diversified operations. The supplemental provides targeted funds for small farm states, and it also specifically directs the Secretary to offer technical assistance to interested non-insured producers to help them apply for funding made available.” 
    The lawmakers concluded: “As the Department implements all of the disaster assistance programs, we stand ready to assist you in this effort to advance our shared priority of helping farmers and rural communities recover and thrive. Thank you for your attention to this matter.” 
    The full text of the letter can be found here and below. 
    Dear Secretary Rollins,  
    Congress passed an expansive emergency supplemental in December, which included more than $23 billion to assist farmers, ranchers and rural Americans in responding to devastating natural disasters in 2023 and 2024. We write to urge you to distribute these funds expeditiously and in consultation with Congress. This assistance is crucial as our Nation’s farmers and ranchers are struggling to respond to several billion-dollar natural disasters around the country while preparing for planting in a challenging farm economy.  
    These funds will benefit producers in every State—the natural disasters that struck farms and ranches in 2023 and 2024 affected a wide range of crops, livestock, and on-farm infrastructure. In North Carolina, Hurricane Helene is estimated to have caused almost $5 billion in agricultural losses, and in New Hampshire, a disastrous freeze in 2023 damaged apple and peach trees, as well as other crops, with growers seeing as high as 100 percent crop losses for the year. The department must move swiftly and thoughtfully to implement a program that will support farms of varying size and production.  
    As you know, this program is intended to serve both producers with and without crop insurance, and reach small, diversified operations. The supplemental provides targeted funds for small farm states, and it also specifically directs the Secretary to offer technical assistance to interested non-insured producers to help them apply for funding made available.  
    Rural communities are also struggling to recover from natural disasters, and we urge you to prioritize distributing the $362 million appropriated for the Rural Development Disaster Assistance Fund, the first time this fund has received a direct appropriation. While we recognize it will take some time to implement a new program, Congress chose to utilize this fund to allow Rural Development to be nimble and provide specialized assistance to assist communities where they need it most. The department should work with all Rural Development State Offices to catalogue disaster needs and develop a fair allocation of available funds.  
    As the Department implements all of the disaster assistance programs, we stand ready to assist you in this effort to advance our shared priority of helping farmers and rural communities recover and thrive. Thank you for your attention to this matter. 

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Murphy, Connecticut Delegation Reintroduce Legislation To Improve Safety Net For Small Farmers

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Connecticut – Chris Murphy
    WASHINGTON—U.S. Senators Chris Murphy (D-Conn.) and Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.) joined U.S. Representatives John Larson (D-Conn.-01),  Joe Courtney (D-Conn.-02),  Rosa DeLauro (D-Conn.-03), Jim Himes (D-Conn.-04), and Jahana Hayes (D-Conn.-05) in reintroducing the Save Our Small (SOS) Farms Act of 2025. This legislation improves the farm safety net and expands federal crop insurance by allowing small farms to better access crop insurance policies often limited to large commercial farms to protect their business. 
    Extreme weather and other disasters can cause severe losses for farms lacking crop insurance, forcing them to depend on disaster relief. This disproportionately affects small farms, which often cannot access insurance. A recent survey by the Connecticut Department of Agriculture revealed that Connecticut farmers have lost over $50 million due to weather-related events in 2023 and 2024. The SOS Farms Act aims to provide a stronger safety net by expanding the number of farms eligible to purchase crop insurance, lower coverage costs for small farms, and directing the USDA to develop more responsive coverage options for farmers during extreme weather.
    According to the nationwide 2022 U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Census of Agriculture, only 5% of Connecticut farms are enrolled in crop insurance, compared to 19% of farms nationally.
    “Small farmers in Connecticut work hard to keep their businesses running, but don’t have adequate insurance programs to protect them when extreme storms and droughts wipe out their crops. This legislation would make disaster assistance and insurance more affordable and effective, so local farmers aren’t left behind when disaster hits,” said Murphy.
    “Climate change has made it abundantly clear that we need a stronger safety net for farmers when floods, drought or other natural disasters strike. Our measure makes necessary reforms to programs that simply do not work for farmers by making coverage and assistance more accessible and affordable than before. Small farms are an essential part of Connecticut’s culture, environment, and economy—they deserve the best protection and support to recover from devastating storms,” said Blumenthal.
    “After the Connecticut River Valley was devastated by severe flooding during the summer of 2023, many small farms throughout the region lost hundreds of acres of crops,” said Larson. “The Save our Small Farms Act will better tailor our nation’s crop insurance programs to the unique needs of small to midsized farmers. Our bill will make crop insurance more affordable and accessible and reduce the paperwork burdens our farmers face to access support when disaster strikes. The entire Connecticut delegation will continue to stand together with our farmers, so they get the support they deserve and are not left on their own to pick up the pieces after a natural disaster.”
    “More and more farmers across Connecticut are facing the devastating impacts of extreme weather events. Unfortunately, the broken federal crop insurance system has let smaller farms fall through gaps in coverage and left them on the hook with major losses. The Save Our Small Farms Act reforms the crop insurance system and provides small farmers with the safety net they need to access assistance programs and recover from damages that come at no fault of their own. I look forward to once again working with my colleagues from Connecticut to ensure this issue receives the attention it deserves in Congress,” said Courtney.
    “As the backbone of our food system, small farms deserve fair access to the resources they need to thrive,” said DeLauro. “Each year, as the climate crisis intensifies, unforeseen and catastrophic weather events are becoming more and more common. This makes our efforts to protect our farmers crucial, which is why I am a strong supporter of The Save Our Small Farms Act, which will guarantee that federal programs serve all farmers, not just the largest operations. This legislation is necessary to address the gaps in our current farm safety net. I am proud to support this legislation aimed at bolstering our agricultural economy, safeguarding local producers, and creating a more resilient food supply.”
    “Each year seems to bring worse storms than the last, with Connecticut’s small farmers incurring ever-steeper crop losses because of increasingly common severe weather. The Save our Small Farms Act expands crop insurance options for small farmers and improves how the federal government provides disaster aid in times of crisis. This is a commonsense bill that brings federal agricultural policy in line with the realities of climate change and the hardships our nation’s small farmers face,” said Himes.
    “In the Fifth District, small farms help feed our communities and drive our economy. Although these farmers need assistance, our crop insurance and disaster programs too often leave them behind. And as we continue to see extreme weather patterns becoming more frequent, we must find new solutions to ensure small farm operators are protected before disasters strikes,” said Hayes. “The SOS Farms Act would expand coverage and assistance, lower costs for small farmers, and direct the USDA to develop more responsive coverage options. Small farms are an essential part of our culture, environment, and economy.”
    Specifically, the SOS Farms Act:
    Creates a streamlined application process to the Noninsured Crop Disaster Assistance Program (NAP), which offers farmers the opportunity to purchase coverage for losses due to natural disasters in areas where crop insurance is unavailable. The bill provides new authority to USDA to launch pilot projects to address emerging needs and to improve data collection to support the development of new crop insurance policies.
    Producers may not be able to find an insurance policy that covers any or all of their crops, or insurance premiums may be prohibitively expensive.
    Paperwork requirements, premiums, and service fees have often kept small farms from accessing NAP coverage.
    2. Directs the Farm Service Agency to create an on-ramp from NAP coverage to a true insurance policy under the Whole Farm Revenue Protection Program (WFRP), the most comprehensive crop insurance program for small and mid-sized farms. 
    3. Expands WFRP to allow smaller farms to better access crop insurance policies by:
    Reducing paperwork requirements for applicants.
    Allowing policies for farms that use crop-rotation.
    Modifies insurance plans to improve effectiveness for specialty crop and diversified farms.
    Increases response timeliness of insurance applications.
    Requires providers and the Risk Management Agency to account for different cultivation cycles for different crops when calculating premium discounts.
    Authorizing the Federal Crop Insurance Corporation to study WFRP participation by small farms that sell to local or regional markets.
    Expanding the network of insurance agents selling crop insurance policies to small farms through increased compensation
    4. Directs USDA to develop an index-based insurance policy that is responsive to crop and income losses due to extreme weather events.
    A weather index-based insurance policy uses extreme weather events as a proxy for agricultural income losses.
    This approach reduces paperwork while making the policy more responsive to losses from adverse weather conditions.
    Insurance would also be based on a farm’s income instead of the price of its crops, better aligning payouts with income losses associated with crop losses.
    Since payouts are automatically triggered by a weather event, producers would not have to fill out paperwork or wait months to receive support following a natural disaster.
    The SOS Farms Act is endorsed by the California Climate and Agriculture Network, California FarmLink, Coastal Enterprises, Inc., Community Alliance with Family Farmers, Community Farm Alliance, Dakota Rural Action, Environmental Working Group, Farm Action, Farm Aid, Farm to Table – New Mexico, Farmshare Austin, Friends of Family Farmers, HEAL (Health, Environment, Agriculture, Labor) Food Alliance, Illinois Stewardship Alliance, Institute for Agriculture and Trade Policy, Kiss the Ground, Land for Good, Land Stewardship Project, Maine Farmland Trust, Maine Organic Farmers and Gardeners Association, Marbleseed, Michael Fields Agricultural Institute, Michigan Food and Farming Systems, Midwest Farmers of Color Collective, Missouri Coalition for the Environment, National Sustainable Agriculture Coalition (NSAC), National Young Farmers Coalition, New Entry Sustainable Farming Project, Northeast Organic Farming Association of New Hampshire (NOFA-NH), Northwest Center for Alternatives to Pesticides, Ohio Ecological Food and Farm Association, Organic Farming Association, Pasa Sustainable Agriculture, Pesticide Action and Agroecology Network, Regenerate America, Renewing the Countryside, Rogue Farm Corps, Rural Advancement Foundation International, Rural Coalition, Sierra Club, Sustainable Food Center, and World Farmers.
    A one-pager of the legislation is available HERE, and the full bill text is available HERE.

    MIL OSI USA News –