Headline: Location Change for Disaster Recovery Center in Connecticut
Location Change for Disaster Recovery Center in Connecticut
FEMA announces a location change to the Disaster Recovery Center (DRC) in Connecticut, a temporary facility established in partnership between the state and FEMA, where survivors affected by the August 18-19 Severe Storm, Flooding, Landslides and Mudslides may go to apply for FEMA assistance, upload documents needed for their application and get their questions answered in person. FEMA’s Disaster Recovery Center (DRC) in Southbury, New Haven County will change locations. Current location:Sacred Heart Catholic Church910 Main Street, South, Southbury, CT 06488Note: The last day for service at this DRC is Monday, November 4, 2024, from 8:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. At 8:00 a.m. on Thursday, November 7, 2024, the Southbury DRC will reopen at in its new location: Southbury Town Hall501 Main Street, SouthSouthbury, CT 06488 Hours of operation: Hours: Monday – Friday: 8:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. Saturday: 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.Sunday: Closed Note: There will be no DRC service at any location on Tuesday, November 5 and Wednesday, November 6, 2024. Survivors don’t need to visit a Disaster Recovery Center (DRC) to apply for FEMA assistance. To apply without visiting a DRC, go online to DisasterAssistance.gov, download the FEMA mobile app or call the FEMA Helpline at 1-800-621-3362. If you use a relay service such as video relay service, captioned telephone service or others, give FEMA your number for that service when you apply. adrien.urbani Sat, 11/02/2024 – 20:23
Source: United States Small Business Administration
“As communities across the Southeast continue to recover and rebuild after Hurricanes Helene and Milton, the SBA remains focused on its mission to provide support to small businesses to help stabilize local economies, even in the face of diminished disaster funding,” saidAdministrator Isabel Casillas Guzman. “If your business has sustained physical damage, or you’ve lost inventory, equipment or revenues, the SBA will help you navigate the resources available and work with you at our recovery centers or with our customer service specialists in person and online so you can fully submit your disaster loan application and be ready to receive financial relief as soon as funds are replenished.”
SACRAMENTO, Calif. – Low-interest federal disaster loans are now available to New Mexico businesses and residents as a result of President Biden’s major disaster declaration, U.S. Small Business Administration’s Administrator Isabel Casillas Guzmanannounced.
The declaration covers Chaves County as a result of the severe storm and flooding that occurred Oct. 19-20.
Businesses of all sizes and private nonprofit organizations may borrow up to $2 million to repair or replace damaged or destroyed real estate, machinery and equipment, inventory and other business assets.
For small businesses, small agricultural cooperatives, small businesses engaged in aquaculture and most private nonprofit organizations of any size, SBA offers Economic Injury Disaster Loans to help meet working capital needs caused by the disaster. Economic injury assistance is available to businesses regardless of any property damage.
“SBA’s disaster loan program offers an important advantage–the chance to incorporate measures that can reduce the risk of future damage,” said Francisco Sánchez, Jr., associate administrator for the Office of Disaster Recovery and Resilience at the Small Business Administration. “Work with contractors and mitigation professionals to strengthen your property and take advantage of the opportunity to request additional SBA disaster loan funds for these proactive improvements.”
Disaster loans up to $500,000 are available to homeowners to repair or replace damaged or destroyed real estate. Homeowners and renters are eligible for up to $100,000 to repair or replace damaged or destroyed personal property, including personal vehicles.
Interest rates can be as low as 4 percent for businesses, 3.25 percent for private nonprofit organizations and 2.813 percent for homeowners and renters with terms up to 30 years. Loan amounts and terms are set by SBA and are based on each applicant’s financial condition.
Interest does not begin to accrue until 12 months from the date of the first disaster loan disbursement. SBA disaster loan repayment begins 12 months from the date of the first disbursement.
On October 15, 2024, it was announced that funds for the Disaster Loan Program have been fully expended. While no new loans can be issued until Congress appropriates additional funding, we remain committed to supporting disaster survivors. Applications will continue to be accepted and processed to ensure individuals and businesses are prepared to receive assistance once funding becomes available.
Applicants are encouraged to submit their loan applications promptly for review in anticipation of future funding.
As soon as Federal-State Disaster Recovery Centers open throughout the affected area, SBA will provide one-on-one assistance to disaster loan applicants. Additional information and details on the location of disaster recovery centers is available by calling the SBA Customer Service Center at (800) 659-2955.
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About the U.S. Small Business Administration
The U.S. Small Business Administration helps power the American dream of business ownership. As the only go-to resource and voice for small businesses backed by the strength of the federal government, the SBA empowers entrepreneurs and small business owners with the resources and support they need to start, grow, expand their businesses, or recover from a declared disaster. It delivers services through an extensive network of SBA field offices and partnerships with public and private organizations. To learn more, visit www.sba.gov.
Source: United States Small Business Administration
“As communities across the Southeast continue to recover and rebuild after Hurricanes Helene and Milton, the SBA remains focused on its mission to provide support to small businesses to help stabilize local economies, even in the face of diminished disaster funding,” saidAdministrator Isabel Casillas Guzman. “If your business has sustained physical damage, or you’ve lost inventory, equipment or revenues, the SBA will help you navigate the resources available and work with you at our recovery centers or with our customer service specialists in person and online so you can fully submit your disaster loan application and be ready to receive financial relief as soon as funds are replenished.”
SACRAMENTO, Calif. – Low-interest federal disaster loans are now available to Cheyenne River Sioux Tribe businesses and residents as a result of President Biden’s major disaster declaration, U.S. Small Business Administration’s Administrator Isabel Casillas Guzmanannounced.
The declaration covers the Cheyenne River Sioux Tribe as a result of the severe storm, straight‑line winds and flooding that occurred July 13–14.
Businesses of all sizes and private nonprofit organizations may borrow up to $2 million to repair or replace damaged or destroyed real estate, machinery and equipment, inventory and other business assets.
For small businesses, small agricultural cooperatives, small businesses engaged in aquaculture and most private nonprofit organizations of any size, SBA offers Economic Injury Disaster Loans to help meet working capital needs caused by the disaster. Economic injury assistance is available to businesses regardless of any property damage.
“SBA’s disaster loan program offers an important advantage–the chance to incorporate measures that can reduce the risk of future damage,” said Francisco Sánchez, Jr., associate administrator for the Office of Disaster Recovery and Resilience at the Small Business Administration. “Work with contractors and mitigation professionals to strengthen your property and take advantage of the opportunity to request additional SBA disaster loan funds for these proactive improvements.”
Disaster loans up to $500,000 are available to homeowners to repair or replace damaged or destroyed real estate. Homeowners and renters are eligible for up to $100,000 to repair or replace damaged or destroyed personal property, including personal vehicles.
Interest rates can be as low as 4 percent for businesses, 3.25 percent for private nonprofit organizations and 2.688 percent for homeowners and renters with terms up to 30 years. Loan amounts and terms are set by SBA and are based on each applicant’s financial condition.
Interest does not begin to accrue until 12 months from the date of the first disaster loan disbursement. SBA disaster loan repayment begins 12 months from the date of the first disbursement.
On October 15, 2024, it was announced that funds for the Disaster Loan Program have been fully expended. While no new loans can be issued until Congress appropriates additional funding, we remain committed to supporting disaster survivors. Applications will continue to be accepted and processed to ensure individuals and businesses are prepared to receive assistance once funding becomes available.
Applicants are encouraged to submit their loan applications promptly for review in anticipation of future funding.
As soon as Federal-State Disaster Recovery Centers open throughout the affected area, SBA will provide one-on-one assistance to disaster loan applicants. Additional information and details on the location of disaster recovery centers is available by calling the SBA Customer Service Center at (800) 659-2955.
###
About the U.S. Small Business Administration
The U.S. Small Business Administration helps power the American dream of business ownership. As the only go-to resource and voice for small businesses backed by the strength of the federal government, the SBA empowers entrepreneurs and small business owners with the resources and support they need to start, grow, expand their businesses, or recover from a declared disaster. It delivers services through an extensive network of SBA field offices and partnerships with public and private organizations. To learn more, visit www.sba.gov.
Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government & Departments 3
Foreign Secretary David Lammy visits Nigeria and South Africa.
Economic growth to underpin work in both Nigeria and South Africa, as Foreign Secretary agrees to develop a new UK-South Africa Growth Plan and a new Strategic Partnership with Nigeria.
Climate continues to top the agenda of Foreign Secretary’s engagement as he visits Earthshot+ event in Cape Town.
Foreign Secretary sets out “Growth is the core mission of this government and will underpin our relationships in Nigeria, South Africa and beyond.”
David Lammy will begin a visit to Nigeria and South Africa today (3rd November), his first trip to the African continent as Foreign Secretary and the first to visit South Africa since 2013.
Committing to a fresh approach to Africa that works productively from Morocco to Madagascar, the Foreign Secretary will announce the start of a five-month consultation process, to ensure African voices inform and sit at the very heart of the UK’s new approach to the continent. Accommodating the diverse needs and ambitions of 54 countries, the consultation will guarantee the UK’s relationships across Africa are based on mutual respect and partnership.
Foreign Secretary David Lammy said:
Africa has huge growth potential, with the continent on track to make up 25% of the world’s population by 2050.
Our new approach will deliver respectful partnerships that listen rather than tell, deliver long term growth rather than short term solutions and build a freer, safer, more prosperous continent. I want to hear what our African partners need and foster relationships so that the UK and our friends and partners in Africa can grow together.
Growth is the core mission of this government and will underpin our relationships in Nigeria, South Africa and beyond.
This will mean more jobs, more prosperity and more opportunities for Brits and Africans alike.
In Nigeria, the Foreign Secretary will sign a modern and progressive Strategic Partnership – the first of its kind between the UK and Nigeria. This new dialogue will cover the breadth of the UK-Nigeria areas of shared cooperation from growth and jobs to national security, tackling the climate and nature crisis to strengthening our people-to-people ties.
Nigeria will be the world’s fifth largest economy by 2075 – the Foreign Secretary will advocate for further collaboration on mutual growth via the UK-Nigeria Enhanced Trade and Investment Partnership, signed earlier this year. This partnership is the key vehicle for driving trade and market access between the UK and Nigeria and plays a vital role in the UK’s growth mission.
The Foreign Secretary will advocate for further trade and climate collaboration between Nigeria and the UK in high level meetings with President Tinubu, Foreign Minister Tuggar and Lagos Governor Sanwo-Olu.
Building on President Tinubu’s macro-economic reforms, the Foreign Secretary will announce a diverse Technical Assistance package to the Nigerian Ministry of Finance, offering British expertise from the Bank of England, HMRC and others to help continue to modernise and diversify the Nigerian economy. Catalysing reform across Nigeria will create further opportunities within the flourishing Nigerian economy for British businesses – generating growth, jobs and incomes for Brits and Nigerians.
Travelling on to South Africa, David Lammy will agree to develop a new UK-South Africa Growth Plan. South Africa is our largest trading partner on the continent and this plan will allow trade to flourish even more through collaboration on market access, a new UK Trade Partnership programme to boost South Africa exports, and a new programme to increase the number of agricultural jobs in rural South Africa. This will simultaneously boost trade for Brits whilst bolstering opportunities within South Africa.
At the biennial UK-South Africa bilateral forum the Foreign Secretary and Foreign Minister Lamola will refresh the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership to 2030 – raising joint ambition on climate, nature, trade and security and committing to UK-SA cooperation for the next two years on trade and investment, energy transition, and security.
South African exports to the UK supported over 137,000 jobs in 2020 – the Foreign Secretary will boost this with the renewal of a risk-sharing partnership between British International Investment and Standard Chartered to provide trade finance for SMEs and corporates operating across Africa and Asia.
No growth can be truly inclusive nor effective unless it is green. In both Nigeria and South Africa, the Foreign Secretary will build on the momentum from his Kew Lecture to encourage green growth and climate cooperation. In South Africa the Foreign Secretary will celebrate climate innovation at the Earthshot+ thought leadership conference. Founded by Prince William, The Earthshot Prize is a global environmental prize and platform designed to discover, accelerate and scale ground-breaking solutions to repair and regenerate the planet. The Foreign Secretary will speak with these innovators to understand how the UK can support and help channel finance to where biodiversity, climate risk and energy needs are greatest. He will announce a further Biodiversity Challenge Fund to help tackle the illegal wildlife trade and technical assistance to support South Africa’s energy transition.
Floods in southern and eastern Spain have killed two Chinese citizens and left two others missing, the Chinese embassy in Spain confirmed Saturday.
Heavy rainfalls in southern and eastern Spain triggered the deadliest flash floods in the country’s modern history, which have killed at least 211 people.
Source: US National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
Day 4-8 Severe Weather Outlook Issued on Nov 3, 2024
Updated: Sun Nov 3 09:41:03 UTC 2024
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D4 Wed, Nov 06, 2024 – Thu, Nov 07, 2024 D7 Sat, Nov 09, 2024 – Sun, Nov 10, 2024
D5 Thu, Nov 07, 2024 – Fri, Nov 08, 2024 D8 Sun, Nov 10, 2024 – Mon, Nov 11, 2024
D6 Fri, Nov 08, 2024 – Sat, Nov 09, 2024 (All days are valid from 12 UTC – 12 UTC the following day)
Note: A severe weather area depicted in the Day 4-8 period indicates 15%, 30% or higher probability for severe thunderstorms within 25 miles of any point.
PREDICTABILITY TOO LOW is used to indicate severe storms may be possible based on some model scenarios. However, the location or occurrence of severe storms are in doubt due to: 1) large differences in the deterministic model solutions, 2) large spread in the ensemble guidance, and/or 3) minimal run-to-run continuity.
POTENTIAL TOO LOW means the threat for a regional area of organized severe storms appears unlikely (i.e., less than 15%) for the forecast day.
Forecast Discussion
ZCZC SPCSWOD48 ALL ACUS48 KWNS 030939 SPC AC 030939
Day 4-8 Convective Outlook NWS Storm Prediction Center Norman OK 0339 AM CST Sun Nov 03 2024
Valid 061200Z – 111200Z
…DISCUSSION… NHC is forecasting a high probability of TC formation in the Caribbean by D2. Predictability is low along the FL Gulf Coast vicinity regarding downstream tornado potential during D4-5, with large spread in guidance at this time frame and beyond.
Meanwhile, modified moisture return will ensue on D4-5 over the southern High Plains, in advance of a shortwave trough evolving into a cutoff low across the Southwest. Given an initially inverted surface trough, severe potential should be limited/mesoscale-focused on D5/Thursday. With an emerging consensus of ensemble guidance suggesting acceleration of the upper low onto the Great Plains, severe potential may increase next weekend with broadening of the warm-moist sector in the central states. Predictability is far too low to warrant consideration of greater than 15 percent areas yet.
Source: US National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
Current Mesoscale DiscussionsUpdated: Sun Nov 3 13:20:04 UTC 2024 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.
One Health is based on an understanding that our health and that of animals, plants and ecosystems are interdependent. (Shutterstock)
November 3 is World One Health Day. One Health brings all parts of society and governments together to tackle joint problems of human, animal, plant and ecosystem health.
Canada needs a One Health plan now to better face worsening climate change, accelerating biodiversity loss, pandemic threats, and threats from superbugs resistant to antibiotics. Canada’s actions on these issues are reactive rather than preventive, and aren’t well co-ordinated or funded. This undermines our readiness and response.
One Health is based on an understanding that our health and that of animals, plants and ecosystems are interdependent. It presents a way to promote the health of all and to navigate the inevitable trade-offs.
The virus had never been reported in cows before. Its detection was slow and too little was done to stop the spread. As of Nov. 1, H5N1 had spread quickly to 404 dairy farms across 14 states, costing millions in lost milk production and spilling back into poultry and wildlife, killing millions more birds.
It is concerning that H5N1 has also infected at least 39 people, primarily farm workers, fortunately causing only mild symptoms.
H5N1 is a growing threat because it infects many species, including seals, mink, bears, foxes, coyotes, dogs and cats. Influenza viruses that jump species pose a greater pandemic threat because of the mixing that may occur when different influenza viruses infect the same animal or person. This can produce new, more severe strains of human flu.
No one wants to face another pandemic. Canada’s actions to keep ahead of this threat would be enhanced by national One Health planning and co-ordination.
One Health around the world
National One Health plans of other countries, like Rwanda, Thailand and Bangladesh, have been shown to help prevent human and animal disease outbreaks. Global Affairs Canada and the International Development Research Centre have invested $40 million since 2021 to support One Health internationally, including in hotspots of disease emergence.
The U.S. has a One Health Act and recently launched its national co-ordination platform. However, Canada has just begun this work at home. Canada created a high level steering committee to oversee the Pan-Canadian Action Plan on Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR). Time and effort were taken to involve federal, provincial and territorial agencies, Indigenous people, civil society and researchers to arrive at an inclusive framework with the right objectives, responsibilities and outputs. It’s an ideal model for a new Canadian One Health action plan.
Canada has a mixed track record of working across sectors, whether to fight past outbreaks of Mad Cow Disease, avian or swine flu, or co-ordinating actions by people from different departments and agencies on H5N1 or COVID-19 today. There are problems: nationally, collaboration is informal and focused on single issues, more reactive than preventive, and not supported by any overarching plan, decision-making structure or resources to ensure consistent, ongoing co-operation across threats and issues.
The risks of not putting these measures in place include information not reaching decision-makers, resources and expertise not being used optimally, trade-offs being misread by other agencies or partners, duplication and gaps, and too little getting done to prevent health threats.
Implementing One Health
Without a national One Health plan, Canada risks being vulnerable to new threats, including pandemics. (Shutterstock)
There is guidance. In 2021, the World Health Organization, the UN Food and Agriculture Organization, UN Environment, and the World Organisation for Animal Health agreed to work together on a One Health Joint Plan of Action and implementation guidance.
With gender equality, inclusiveness and equity, and the importance of local and traditional knowledge at the fore, countries should start implementing One Health by assessing capacities and programs already in place, setting up and funding national co-ordination, setting priorities for action, then producing and putting into action their national plan.
Canada should mirror what it has done to manage antibiotic-resistant microbes by developing and governing our own national One Health action plan, similar to the Pan-Canadian Action Plan on Antimicrobial Resistance.
Without a national One Health plan, Canada risks being vulnerable to new threats (including pandemics), investing too little in prevention and having a suboptimal response. It’s time for Canada’s One Health action plan.
This article was co-authored by Andrea Ellis, DVM, MSc., a consultant currently supporting One Health work with the World Organisation for Animal Health. She is the former Senior Veterinary Advisor to the Chief Veterinary Officer and World Organisation for Animal Health Delegate for Canada.
Dominique Charron is affiliated with the McEachran Institute and START.org. She is a member of the One Health High Level Expert Panel that advises the World Health Organization, UN Food and Agriculture Organization, UN Environment, and World Organisation for Animal Health. She is a former Vice-President, Programs and Partnerships, of the International Development Research Centre.
Cate Dewey is currently working on a community One Health project in Rwanda. The project is managed by Veterinarians without Borders, North America and is funded by Global Affairs Canada
Headline: Did Hurricane Helene Affect Your Well Furnace or Septic System
Did Hurricane Helene Affect Your Well Furnace or Septic System
COLUMBIA, S.C. – If your private well, furnace or septic system was damaged by Hurricane Helene, you may be eligible for financial assistance from FEMA. For disaster-damaged private wells, heating systems, furnaces and septic systems, FEMA may pay for the cost of a professional, licensed technician to visit your home and prepare an estimate detailing the necessary repairs or replacement expenses. FEMA may also pay for the actual repair or replacement cost of your private well, furnace or septic system, which may not be covered by homeowner’s insurance. Be sure to keep any receipts or estimates because you may be eligible for assistance even if the work has already been completed.At the time of your home inspection, let the FEMA inspector know which essential appliances and systems may have been damaged by the storm. If you already had an inspection and these damages were not reported, contact the FEMA Helpline at 800-621-3362 or visit any Disaster Recovery Center to update your application. To find the nearest center, visit fema.gov/DRC or text “DRC” along with your Zip Code to 43362. How To ApplyIf you have not applied for FEMA assistance yet, there is still time to submit your application. Homeowners and renters in Abbeville, Aiken, Allendale, Anderson, Bamberg, Barnwell, Beaufort, Cherokee, Chester, Edgefield, Fairfield, Greenville, Greenwood, Hampton, Jasper, Kershaw, Laurens, Lexington, McCormick, Newberry, Oconee, Orangeburg, Pickens, Richland, Saluda, Spartanburg, Union and York counties and the Catawba Indian Nation who were affected by Hurricane Helene are eligible to apply for FEMA assistance. You can apply in several ways: online at DisasterAssistance.gov, in person at any Disaster Recovery Center, on your phone using the FEMA mobile app or by calling the FEMA Helpline. The telephone line is open every day and help is available in many languages. If you use a relay service, such as Video Relay Service (VRS), captioned telephone or other service, give FEMA your number for that service.For a video with American Sign Language, voiceover and open captions about how to apply for FEMA assistance, select this link.FEMA programs are accessible to survivors with disabilities and others with access and functional needs. gerard.hammink Sun, 11/03/2024 – 15:42
Headline: Disaster Recovery Center Opening in Barnwell County
Disaster Recovery Center Opening in Barnwell County
COLUMBIA, S.C. – A Disaster Recovery Center will open in Barnwell County to provide in-person assistance to South Carolinians affected by Hurricane Helene. Barnwell CountyBarnwell Regional Airport 155 State Road S-6-398 Barnwell, SC 29812Open Nov. 4-7, 8 a.m.-7 p.m. Additional Disaster Recovery Centers are scheduled to open in other South Carolina counties. Click here to find centers that are already open in South Carolina. You can visit any open center to meet with representatives of FEMA, the state of South Carolina and the U.S. Small Business Administration. No appointment is needed. To find all other center locations, including those in other states, go to fema.gov/drc or text “DRC” and a Zip Code to 43362. Homeowners and renters in Abbeville, Aiken, Allendale, Anderson, Bamberg, Barnwell, Beaufort, Cherokee, Chester, Edgefield, Fairfield, Greenville, Greenwood, Hampton, Jasper, Kershaw, Laurens, Lexington, McCormick, Newberry, Oconee, Orangeburg, Pickens, Richland, Saluda, Spartanburg, Union and York counties and the Catawba Indian Nation can apply for federal assistance.The quickest way to apply is to go online to DisasterAssistance.gov. You can also apply using the FEMA App for mobile devices or calling toll-free 800-621-3362. The telephone line is open every day and help is available in many languages. If you use a relay service, such as Video Relay Service (VRS), captioned telephone or other service, give FEMA your number for that service. For a video with American Sign Language, voiceover and open captions about how to apply for FEMA assistance, select this link.FEMA programs are accessible to survivors with disabilities and others with access and functional needs. gerard.hammink Sun, 11/03/2024 – 15:58
Media representatives are advised that the Honourable Steven Guilbeault, Minister of Environment and Climate Change, and the Honourable Jonathan Wilkinson, Minister of Energy and Natural Resources, joined by colleagues, will announce the Government of Canada’s proposed approach to limiting greenhouse gas pollution, driving innovation, and creating jobs in the oil and gas sector. Canada’s climate plan is working by driving down emissions, while creating a stronger, cleaner economy.
Ottawa, Ontario – November 3, 2024 – Media representatives are advised that the Honourable Steven Guilbeault, Minister of Environment and Climate Change, and the Honourable Jonathan Wilkinson, Minister of Energy and Natural Resources, joined by colleagues, will announce the Government of Canada’s proposed approach to limiting greenhouse gas pollution, driving innovation, and creating jobs in the oil and gas sector. Canada’s climate plan is working by driving down emissions, while creating a stronger, cleaner economy.
Prior to the announcement, senior government officials from Environment and Climate Change Canada and Natural Resources Canada will hold a bilingual technical briefing, which will be on background and not for attribution.
Event: Media technical briefing Date: Monday, November 4, 2024 Time: 11:15 a.m. (EST) Location: The National Press Theatre 180 Wellington Street Room 325 Ottawa, Ontario
Media representatives are asked to register by contacting the Press Gallery to obtain more information.
Note to media: Participation in the question-and-answer portion of this technical briefing is for accredited members of the Press Gallery only. Media who are not members of the Press Gallery may contact pressres2@parl.gc.ca for temporary access.
Event: Hybrid announcement and media availability Date: Monday, November 4, 2024 Time: 1:00 p.m. (EST) Location: The Wellington Building 180 Wellington Street Lobby (in front of the green wall) Ottawa, Ontario
Media representatives are asked to register by contacting Media Relations at Environment and Climate Change Canada to obtain more information.
Note to media: Media representatives may participate in the question-and-answer portion via teleconference.
Hermine Landry Press Secretary Office of the Minister of Environment and Climate Change 873-455-3714 Hermine.Landry@ec.gc.ca
Media Relations Environment and Climate Change Canada 819-938-3338 or 1-844-836-7799 (toll-free) media@ec.gc.ca
The City of Greater Bendigo is looking for up to 18 young people aged between 14 and 24 who want to have a stronger voice in their community and are interested in being part of the City of Greater Bendigo Youth Council for the next two years.
Expressions of Interest for positions on the City of Greater Bendigo Youth Council for 2025-2026 are now open and will close on Tuesday November 19, 2024.
City of Greater Bendigo CEO Andrew Cooney said the Youth Council is an initiative to engage with local young people in the City’s decision-making process for the future.
“The Youth Council represents the views of young people on City plans and programs that impact them and represents young people at civic and other events and activities,” Mr Cooney said.
“It also fulfils a key goal of the City’s Council Plan 2021-2025 to ensure young people are supported to explore, engage and be empowered to shape the world they live in.
“I encourage young people from all backgrounds and walks of life to consider applying for Youth Council so that the voices of all young people can be reflected and heard.”
2024 Youth Mayor Lilly Correll said the Youth Council is an amazing opportunity for all young people to enhance their skills and give back to the community.
“Not only do you meet likeminded individuals, you also gain a real insight into the benefits of volunteering, including learning new skills and networking opportunities,” Ms Correll said.
“Youth Councillors attend and MC events, write letters to Council, and sit on advisory committees and on non-for-profit boards, it’s a great opportunity for local young people to have their voice heard and an incredible once in a lifetime opportunity to make a change.”
In the six years of the Youth Council, Youth Councillors have providing input into over 50 City plans, strategies, policies, and projects, including the Council Plan 2021-2025, the Zero Emissions Roadmap, the Biodiversity Strategy, the LGBTIQA+ Action Plan, the Fair Access Action Plan, the E-scooter trial, and the Managed Growth Strategy.
They have also co-designed and overseen the development of the City’s Youth Action Plan 2023-2024 and have represented young people on several advisory committees including the Farming and Agribusiness Advisory Committee, the Greater Bendigo Climate Collaboration, the Arts and Creative Industries Advisory Committee, and the Bendigo Regional Manufacturing Group.
The new Youth Councillors will undertake induction and training in January 2025 and attend their first meeting in February 2025.
For more information, contact the City’s Youth Team via email or phone:
As the US election unfolds, American territories such as the Northern Marianas, American Samoa, and Guam, along with the broader Pacific region, will be watching the developments.
As the question hangs in the balance of whether the White House remains blue with Kamala Harris or turns red under Donald Trump, academics, New Zealand’s US ambassador, and Guam’s Congressman have weighed in on what the election means for the Pacific.
Massey University’s Centre for Defence and Security Studies senior lecturer Dr Anna Powles said it would no doubt have an impact on small island nations facing climate change and intensified geopolitics, including the rapid expansion of military presence on its territory Guam, following the launch of an interballistic missile by China.
Pacific leaders lament the very real security threat of climate-induced natural disasters has been overshadowed by the tug-of-war between China and the US in what academics say is “control and influence” for the contested region.
Dr Powles said it came as “no surprise” that countries such as New Zealand and Australia had increasingly aligned with the US, as the Biden administration had been leveraging strategic partnerships with Australia, New Zealand, and Japan since 2018.
Despite China being New Zealand’s largest trading partner, New Zealand is in the US camp and must pay attention, she said.
“We are not seeing enough in the public domain or discussion by government with the New Zealand public about what this means for New Zealand going forward.”
Pacific leaders welcome US engagement but are concerned about geopolitical rivalry.
Earlier this month, Pacific Islands Forum Secretary-General Baron Waqa attended the South Pacific Defence Ministers meeting in Auckland.
He said it was important that “peace and stability in the region” was “prioritised”.
Referencing the arms race between China and the US, he said, “The geopolitics occurring in our region is not welcomed by any of us in the Pacific Islands Forum.”
While a Pacific Zone of Peace has been a talking point by Fiji and the PIF leadership to reinforce the region’s “nuclear-free stance”, the US is working with Australia on obtaining nuclear-submarines through the AUKUS security pact.
Dr Powles said the potential for increased tensions “could happen under either president in areas such as Taiwan, East China Sea — irrespective of who is in Washington”.
South Pacific defence ministers told RNZ Pacific the best way to respond to threats of conflict and the potential threat of a nuclear attack in the region is to focus on defence and building stronger ties with its allies.
New Zealand’s Defence Minister said NZ was “very good friends with the United States”, with that friendship looking more friendly under the Biden Administration. But will this strengthening of ties and partnerships continue if Trump becomes President?
US President Joe Biden (center) stands for a group photo with Pacific Islands Forum leaders following the Pacific Islands Forum Summit at the South Portico of the White House in Washington on September 25, 2023. Image: Jim Watson/RNZ
US President Joe Biden, center, stands for a group photo with Pacific Islands Forum leaders following the Pacific Islands Forum Summit, at the South Portico of the White House in Washington on September 25, 2023. Photo: Jim Watson
US wants a slice of Pacific Regardless of who is elected, US Ambassador to New Zealand Tom Udall said history showed the past three presidents “have pushed to re-engage with the Pacific”.
While both Trump and Harris may differ on critical issues for the Pacific such as the climate crisis and multilateralism, both see China as the primary external threat to US interests.
The US has made a concerted effort to step up its engagement with the Pacific in light of Chinese interest, including by reopening its embassies in the Solomon Islands, Vanuatu, and Tonga.
On 12 July 2022, the Biden administration showed just how keen it was to have a seat at the table by US Vice-President Kamala Harris dialing in to the Pacific Islands Forum meeting in Fiji at the invitation of the then chair former prime minister Voreqe Bainimarama. The US was the only PIF “dialogue partner” allowed to speak at this Forum.
However, most of the promises made to the Pacific have been “forward-looking” and leaders have told RNZ Pacific they want to see less talk and more real action.
Defence diplomacy has been booming since the 2022 Solomon Islands-China security deal. It tripled the amount of money requested from Congress for economic development and ocean resilience — up to US$60 million a year for 10 years — as well as a return of Peace Corps volunteers to Fiji, Tonga, Samoa and Vanuatu.
Health security was another critical area highlighted in 2024 the Pacific Islands Forum Leaders’ Declaration.
The Democratic Party’s commitment to the World Health Organisation (WHO) bodes well, in contrast to the previous Trump administration’s withdrawal from the WHO during the covid-19 pandemic.
It continued a long-running programme called ‘The Academy for Women Entrepreneurs’ which gives enterprising women from more than 100 countries with the knowledge, networks and access they need to launch and scale successful businesses.
While both Trump and Harris may differ on critical issues for the Pacific such as the climate crisis and multilateralism, both see China as the primary external threat to US interests. Image: 123RF/RNZ
Guam’s take Known as the tip of the spear for the United States, Guam is the first strike community under constant threat of a nuclear missile attack.
It was seen as a signal of China’s missile capabilities which had the US and South Pacific Defence Ministers on edge and deeply “concerned”.
China’s Defence Ministry said in a statement the launch was part of routine training by the People’s Liberation Army’s Rocket Force, which oversees conventional and nuclear missile operations and was not aimed at any country or target.
The US has invested billions to build a 360-degree missile defence system on Guam with plans for missile tests twice a year over the next decade, as it looks to bolster its weaponry in competition with China.
Despite the arms race and increased military presence and weaponry on Guam, China is known to have fewer missiles than the US.
The US considers Guam a key strategic military base to help it stop any potential attacks. Image: RNZ Pacific/Eleisha Foon
However, Guamanians are among the four million disenfranchised Americans living in US territories whose vote does not count due to an anomaly in US law.
“While territorial delegates can introduce bills and advocate for their territory in the US Congress, they have no voice on the floor. While Guam is exempted from paying the US federal income tax, many argue that such a waiver does not make up for what the tiny island brings to the table,” according to a BenarNews report.
US Congressman for Guam James Moylan has spent his time making friends and “educating and informing” other states about Guam’s existence in hopes to get increased funding and support for legislative bills.
Moylan said he would prefer a Trump presidency but noted he has “proved he can also work with Democrats”.
Under Trump, Moylan said Guam would have “stronger security”, raising his concerns over the need to stop Chinese fishing boats from coming onto the island.
Moylan also defended the military expansion: “We are not the aggressor. If we put our guard down, we need to be able to show we can maintain our land.”
Moylan defended the US military expansion, which his predecessor, former US Congressman Robert Underwood, was concerned about, saying the rate of expansion had not been seen since World War II.
“We are the closest there is to the Indo-Pacific threat,” Moylan said.
“We need to make sure our pathways, waterways and economy is growing, and we have a strong defence against our aggressors.”
“All likeminded democracies are concerned about the current leadership of China. We are working together…to work on security issues and prosperity issues,” US Ambassador to New Zealand Tom Udall said.
When asked about the military capabilities of the US and Guam, Moylan said: “We are not going to war; we are prepared to protect the homeland.”
Moylan said that discussions for compensation involving nuclear radiation survivors in Guam would happen regardless of who was elected.
The 23-year battle has been spearheaded by atomic veteran Robert Celestial, who is advocating for recognition for Chamorro and Guamanians under the RECA Act.
Celestial said that the Biden administration had thrown their support behind them, but progress was being stalled in Congress, which is predominantly controlled by the Republican party.
But Moylan insisted that the fight for compensation was not over. He said that discussions would continue after the election irrespective of who was in power.
“It’s been tabled. It’s happening. I had a discussion with Speaker Mike Johnson. We are working to pass this through,” he said.
US Marine Force Base Camp Blaz. Image: RNZ Pacific/Eleisha Foon
If Trump wins Dr Powles said a return to Trump’s leadership could derail ongoing efforts to build security architecture in the Pacific.
There are also views Trump would pull back from the Pacific and focus on internal matters, directly impacting his nation.
For Trump, there is no mention of the climate crisis in his platform or Agenda47.
This is in line with the former president’s past actions, such as withdrawing from the Paris Climate Agreement in 2019, citing “unfair economic burdens” placed on American workers and businesses.
Trump has maintained his position that the climate crisis is “one of the great scams of all time”.
The America First agenda is clear, with “countering China” at the top of the list. Further, “strengthening alliances,” Trump’s version of multilateralism, reads as what allies can do for the US rather than the other way around.
“There are concerns for Donald Trump’s admiration for more dictatorial leaders in North Korea, Russia, China and what that could mean in a time of crisis,” Dr Powles said.
A Trump administration could mean uncertainty for the Pacific, she added.
While Trump was president in 2017, he warned North Korea “not to mess” with the United States.
“North Korea [is] best not make any more threats to the United States. They will be met by fire and fury like the world has never seen.”
North Korea responded deriding his warning as a “load of nonsense”.
Although there is growing concern among academics and some Pacific leaders that Trump would bring “fire and fury” to the Indo-Pacific if re-elected, the former president seemed to turn cold at the thought of conflict.
In 2023, Trump remarked that “Guam isn’t America” in response to warning that the US territory could be vulnerable to a North Korean nuclear strike — a move which seemed to distance the US from conflict.
If Harris wins Dr Powles said that if Harris wins, it was important to move past “announcements” and follow-through on all pledges.
A potential win for Harris could be the fulfilment of the many “promises” made to the Pacific for climate financing, uplifting economies of the Pacific and bolstering defence security, she said.
Pacific leaders want Harris to deliver on the Pacific Partnership Strategy, the outcomes of the two Pacific Islands-US summits in 2022 and 2023, and the many diplomatic visits undertaken during President Biden’s presidency.
The Biden administration recognised Cook Islands and Niue as sovereign and independent states and established diplomatic relationships with them.
Harris has pledged to boost funding to the Green Climate Fund by US$3 billion. She also promised to “tackle the climate crisis with bold action, build a clean energy economy, advance environmental justice, and increase resilience to climate disasters”.
Dr Powles said that delivery needed to be the focus.
“What we need to be focused on is delivery [and that] Pacific Island partners are engaged from the very beginning — from the outset to any programme right through to the final phase of it.”
This article is republished under a community partnership agreement with RNZ.
The 2024 United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP29) opens next week in Baku, the capital of Azerbaijan. The summit takes place between 11 and 22 November, and decisions made there will impact all of us. To date, the international community has failed to rein in the deadly activities of the fossil fuel industry, which continues to pollute, burn, and ransack the planet in the face of mounting human suffering.
COP29 is a critical opportunity for world leaders to break with these past failures. Here’s what you need to know about the most important climate event on the global calendar:
1. Who’s going?
Between 40,000 and 50,000 delegates are expected to attend COP29. This will include government representatives from all UN member states, as well as the State of Palestine, the Holy See, Niue, the Cook Islands, and the European Union. All of these are parties to the 1992 United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), and most have also joined the 2015 Paris Climate Agreement. COP29 will also host diplomats, UN officials, journalists, climate scientists, trade union leaders, and policy experts. NGOs, activists, and Indigenous leaders are also planning to participate – although the involvement of independent media workers and human rights defenders from Azerbaijan itself has been curbed by an ongoing government crackdown.
2. What is the aim of COP29?
The overall aim of COP29 is for states to agree, develop and share plans for addressing climate change. This means preventing further global warming, and also helping those who have been most affected so far to adapt or to rebuild their lives.
In 2015, the Paris Agreement made it a legal requirement for all states to set targets for reducing their greenhouse gas emissions, in order to limit the global temperature increase to 2°C above pre-industrial levels. Since then, however, the Intergovernmental Panel for Climate Change (IPCC) has stressed that the most catastrophic effects of climate change can only be avoided if we limit global warming to 1.5°C by the end of this century.
At COP29, countries’ progress on addressing climate change will be measured against this 1.5°C goal. It is important to note that even 1.5°C of warming will entail mass displacement, harm to livelihoods, and loss of life, with lower-income countries the worst affected. At present, the world is on track for an increase of 2.6 to 3.1°C this century.
3. What’s on the agenda this year?
COP29 has been called “the finance COP”, due to its focus on scaling up climate finance. Climate finance refers to the funding that is needed to help lower-income countries transition to zero-carbon economies, and to help the most affected communities adapt to the effects of climate change. A major objective of COP29 is to increase this funding and to produce a new goal for future climate finance.
4. Where will that money come from?
Under the UNFCCC and the Paris Agreement, the funding must come from the high-income countries that are historically most responsible for climate change. In addition, under international human rights law, all states in a position to do so must also contribute.
In addition to setting a financial target, COP29 negotiators must also agree clear timeframes for the provision of funds to lower-income countries. Money should be given in the form of grants, not loans, to avoid worsening existing debt crises.
5. What should the funds be used for?
This target should also contain sub-goals to make clear where the money should go. For example, Amnesty International is also calling for the target to include loss and damage finance. This is essentially compensation, paid by high-income countries to lower income ones, to help them recover from the existing impacts of climate change, and from others that they will unavoidably face in the future.
One of the Azerbaijan presidency’s more positive moves has been to make adaptation, long sidelined in climate negotiations, a priority of the talks. While preventing further climate change through a full, fast fair and funded phase -out of fossil fuels is critical, the reality is that climate change is already here. Helping people adjust to existing and future impacts of global warming is a crucial part of climate justice.
6. How much money is needed?
Trillions of dollars are needed to help lower-income states carry out the climate action needed, including transitioning away from fossil fuels in a way that protects peoples’ rights. Amnesty International and others in the climate justice movement are calling for a target of at least 1 trillion USD annually.
Azerbaijan has an alarming human rights record, with longstanding restrictions on the rights to freedom of expression, association and assembly.
7. What are Amnesty’s human rights concerns regarding Azerbaijan?
Azerbaijan has an alarming human rights record, with longstanding restrictions on the rights to freedom of expression, association and assembly. Peaceful protests, including those held by environmental groups, are routinely met with violent suppression, and according to the local NGOs more than 300 people are currently imprisoned on politically motivated charges. The work of independent media outlets in Azerbaijan is severely hampered by draconian laws, and the constant threat of retaliation for any real or perceived criticism of the authorities. Most independent media outlets have been crushed out of existence, as have vast swathes of Azerbaijan’s civil society. Torture and other ill-treatment in detention are widespread in Azerbaijan, and impunity is entrenched.
8. Have there been any improvements since Azerbaijan was given the COP29 Presidency?
No. In fact, the grave human rights situation in Azerbaijan has worsened since the country was announced as the host of COP29 in December 2023. The authorities claim they are “ensuring everyone’s voices are heard” at the summit – but they have prosecuted more than a dozen activists and journalists this year, and silenced key voices on the climate crisis.
In April, for example, Azerbaijani authorities arrested human rights and climate justice activist Anar Mammadli on bogus “smuggling” charges, and placed him in pre-trial detention, where he remains. Anar Mammadli was among the first activists in Azerbaijan to speak about the connection between human rights and climate justice, and he has been involved in international advocacy at the EU and UN level. In prison he has been denied adequate medical treatment for several worsening health conditions, and he is facing a lengthy sentence.
9. How does the human rights situation in Azerbaijan affect COP29?
It is essential that civil society can participate in climate negotiations. Activists, union leaders, and human rights defenders help to advocate for ambitious targets and play a vital role in ensuring that the plans developed at COP29 align with governments’ human rights obligations and that they are actually implemented. But the involvement of Azerbaijan’s own civil society is likely to be extremely limited. Threats and harassment have forced many local activists to leave the country, while others are arbitrarily detained on politically motivated charges. The few remaining independent voices risk prosecution and retaliation if they dare to voice any criticism during COP29.
The void left by local civil society groups has been filled in part by organizations known as GONGOs (government-organized non-governmental organizations). These state-supported groups do not provide the independent perspectives needed, but their presence allows Azerbaijani authorities to project a false picture of respect for freedom of expression and association.
Amnesty International is monitoring the crackdown in Azerbaijan, and will continue to document violations, both during and after the summit.
10 .What about Azerbaijan’s record on climate change?
Fossil fuel makes up about half of Azerbaijan’s economy and the vast majority of its export revenues. The state-owned oil and gas company, SOCAR, is a major source of income for President Ilham Aliyev’s government. Nonetheless, Azerbaijan must also do its fair share to achieve a fast and fair fossil fuel phase out; this means no new fossil fuel projects anywhere. But earlier this year, President Aliyev announced plans for expanding gas production which are grossly incompatible with Azerbaijan’s commitments under the Paris Agreement.
Like previous climate summits, COP29 will host many participants whose agendas are seriously at odds with climate justice. Thousands of fossil fuel lobbyists, along with the heads of oil giants like Shell and BP, are expected to be in attendance. These participants have used previous summits to advance their own interests, opposing essential efforts to phase out fossil fuels and pushing for false solutions like carbon offsetting. Amnesty International is calling for a robust conflict of interest policy to prevent fossil fuel lobbyists undermining the aims of global climate treaties.
11. How has climate change impacted people in 2024?
Climate change is causing a dramatic increase in the frequency of extreme temperatures, and 2024 is expected to be the hottest year ever recorded. Around the world, people have been displaced by floods, hurricanes, droughts and other unnatural disasters, all made worse by global warming. Worldwide, Indigenous Peoples and land-dependent communities continue to bear the heaviest burden of biodiversity loss.
Lives have been lost; livelihoods, languages, and entire cultures are in peril; and disease, hunger and displacement is causing extreme suffering. The cost of these losses amounts to trillions of dollars in damages, which dwarf the cost of current investments in renewable energy, and threaten governments’ capacity to fund policies to protect human rights.
12. What is Amnesty calling for at COP29?
Human rights must be at the heart of all climate action decision-making;
States in a position to do so must massively scale up climate finance and funding for loss and damage;
All states must commit to fully phasing out fossil fuels, in a way that is fast and fair;
COP29 participants must not chase risky technologies, like carbon capture and storage and removals, or push gas as a “transition fuel”, as a means of distracting from the urgent need to phase out fossil fuels;
The UNFCCC Secretariat, the government of Azerbaijan, and other governments must protect civic space, and guarantee the rights to freedom of expression, association and peaceful assembly.
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Adrian Beaumont, Election Analyst (Psephologist) at The Conversation; and Honorary Associate, School of Mathematics and Statistics, The University of Melbourne
The United States presidential election will be held Tuesday, with results coming in from Wednesday morning AEDT. I have a guide to Wednesday below that includes when polls in the key states close and other information.
In analyst Nate Silver’s aggregate of national polls, Democrat Kamala Harris leads Republican Donald Trump by 48.5–47.8, a gain for Trump since last Thursday, when Harris led by 48.6–47.5. Harris’ national lead peaked on October 2, when she led by 49.4–45.9.
The US president isn’t elected by the national popular vote, but by the Electoral College, in which each state receives electoral votes equal to its federal House seats (population based) and senators (always two). Almost all states award their electoral votes as winner-takes-all, and it takes 270 electoral votes to win (out of 538 total).
Relative to the national popular vote, the Electoral College is biased to Trump, with Harris needing at least a two-point popular vote win to be the narrow Electoral College favourite in Silver’s model.
Trump leads by 0.4 points in both Pennsylvania (19 electoral votes) and Nevada (six). He leads by over one point in North Carolina (16) and Georgia (16), and by 2.6 points in Arizona (11). Harris leads by about one point in Michigan (16) and Wisconsin (ten).
If the current polls are exactly right, Trump wins the Electoral College by 287–251. But either Harris or Trump could outperform their polls and win easily.
In Silver’s model, Trump has a 53% chance to win the Electoral College, slightly down from 54% on Thursday. There’s a 28% chance that Harris wins the popular vote but loses the Electoral College. The FiveThirtyEight forecast gives Trump a 53% win probability.
Silver is aggregating state polls to produce a popular vote forecast, and this gives Harris a 50.4–48.4 popular vote margin, better for Harris than her 0.7-point lead in national polls.
Silver said the US pollsters are “herding”, particularly in the key states. This means individual polls are not showing enough variation in their results. If the polls are wrong in these states, herding would be a cause.
The highly rated Selzer poll had a shock result, giving Harris a three-point lead in Iowa (six electoral votes), a state Trump won by eight points in 2020. However, an Emerson Iowa poll gave Trump a nine-point lead. At least Selzer isn’t herding!
If Harris loses, a big cause will be the unpopularity of Joe Biden. If Trump loses, I believe his biggest mistake will be agreeing to the June 27 debate with Biden. Biden’s woeful performance persuaded senior Democrats to pressure him into withdrawing.
Early voting and economic data
As at Friday, over 70 million Americans had voted early (44% of total 2020 turnout). Many states give data on their early vote, such as the gender composition or the party registration of voters in states that have registration by party. But Silver said on Thursday
that analysts shouldn’t use early vote data as an alternative to the polls.
Many people will vote on election day, so the composition of the current early vote may be a skewed representation of the final electorate. Also, we don’t know who early voters voted for. Even in states with party registration, people can register as Other, and Other voters make up a large share of the vote.
In economic data, US GDP increased 2.7% at an annualised rate in the September quarter (0.7% in quarter on quarter terms). GDP has increased modestly in every quarter since September 2022. In September, the personal savings rate dropped 0.2% since August to 4.6%.
Just 12,000 jobs were added in October. While the unemployment rate remained unchanged from September at 4.1%, the employment population ratio (the share of eligible Americans employed) dropped 0.2% to 60.0%. The survey fieldwork may have been affected by Hurricane Milton.
The Silver economic index is at +0.19, indicating an economy just above average. The economy is a key reason why Trump could win.
Election day guide for Wednesday AEDT
All times in this section are Wednesday AEDT. US media will often call uncompetitive states for a candidate once all polls in that state are closed, without any votes being counted. Some states are split across time zones, and in this case the part in the western time zone will close an hour after the eastern zone part.
Early and postal votes are expected to lean to Harris, while election day votes are expected to lean to Trump. So if the early vote is counted first, the state is likely to appear better for Harris than the final result, and the reverse if the election day vote is counted first.
The Green Papers has a complete list of poll closing times and FiveThirtyEight has details on how each state counts its votes. I will concentrate on the seven key states.
At 10am, the first polls close in the eastern time zones of Kentucky and Indiana. These states are both expected to be Trump blowout wins.
At 11am, polls close in Georgia. Early votes will be reported by 12pm, followed by the election day vote. Initial results will probably skew to Harris.
At 11:30am, polls close in North Carolina. The early vote will be counted first, so the initial results are likely to be relatively good for Harris.
At 12pm, polls close in Pennsylvania and the large majority of Michigan. Pennsylvania will count their election day votes first, which should be relatively good for Trump. Michigan will count its postal votes with election day votes.
At 1pm, polls close in Wisconsin, Arizona and the remaining small part of Michigan. In Wisconsin, election day votes will be counted first, with postals not released until late. An hour after polls close, Arizona will release its early vote, which should be relatively good for Harris. Counting of election day votes will continue until the evening AEDT, with more counting in the following days.
At 2pm, polls close in Nevada. The early vote will be counted first. Results can’t be reported until all voters in line have voted, which will probably be hours after the official close of polls. There will also be late postals to count.
At 3pm, polls close in the Pacific states of California (54 electoral votes), Washington (12) and Oregon (eight), all expected to be easy wins for Harris. If Harris is doing unexpectedly well in the key states, these three may put her over the 270 electoral votes needed to win.
At 5pm, the final polls close in Alaska’s western time zone.
We may know who has won the Electoral College and therefore the presidency by Wednesday afternoon, but counting will continue until well into that evening AEDT. If it’s close, it may take a few more days to resolve the Electoral College.
Some states, including the populous Democratic strongholds of California and New York, take weeks to count all their votes. So it won’t be until early December that we know the national popular vote totals.
Adrian Beaumont 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.
MIL OSI Translation. Timor-Leste Portuguese to English –
Presidency of the Council of Ministers
Spokesperson for the Government of Timor-Leste
……………………………………………. ……………………………………………. …………………….
Press release
November 4, 2024
Timor-Leste Expresses Solidarity with the Kingdom of Spain over Floods in the Valencia Region
The IX Constitutional Government expresses its deep solidarity with the People and Government of Spain for the tragic floods that devastated the Valencia region between the end of October and the beginning of November 2024. This natural disaster, triggered by an Isolated High Altitude Depression (DANA), caused torrential rains that resulted in the death of more than 200 people, most of them in the province of Valencia, and the destruction of infrastructure, homes and agricultural areas.
Images captured by the European Copernicus programme reveal the magnitude of the damage, with extensive areas flooded and infrastructure severely affected. Local authorities continue to face major challenges in assisting the population and restoring the affected areas.
On behalf of the Government and People of Timor-Leste, the Spokesperson of the IX Constitutional Government, Minister Agio Pereira, expressed “deep regret for the tragic loss of human life and the enormous difficulties faced by the Spanish people at this time of pain and trial”. He added that “our thoughts are with the victims and their families, and we acknowledge the heroic efforts of the rescue teams and professionals who continue to support the communities affected by this catastrophe”. END
EDITOR’S NOTE: This article is a translation. Apologies should the grammar and/or sentence structure not be perfect.
The largest wetland on Australia’s second longest river, the Murrumbidgee in the southern Murray-Darling Basin, is drying up. This is bad news for the plants, animals and people who rely on the vast Lowbidgee Floodplain. So it’s important to understand what is going on, and whether we can do anything about it.
Our new research used computer modelling to study past and future river flows. We examined natural flows in the lower Murrumbidgee River between 1890 and 1927, before humans started changing the river. We compared these flows to what happened after big dams went in and more water was taken out for irrigation. Then, we modelled how climate change is likely to influence flows in future.
We found river regulation such as dams and reservoirs cut flows in half over the past three decades. It means periods between life-giving floods on the wetlands are now more than twice as long. With climate change, drying of these vital freshwater ecosystems is likely to accelerate.
Altogether, we predict the annual duration of flood events sustaining these wetlands will drop by as much as 85% by 2075 compared to natural levels, if nothing is done. But there are plenty of things we can do to turn this around, because our research shows the main reason for the decline is river regulation and overextraction.
A colony of Australian pelicans gathered on the Lowbidgee Floodplain. Annette Ruzicka
Floods are essential for wetlands
The Lowbidgee Floodplain, in southwestern New South Wales, supports expansive river red gum and black box forests as well as one of the state’s largest lignum shrublands. Lignum’s thick mass of stems forms bushes that make great nesting platforms for waterbirds, attracting thousands of glossy ibis, straw-necked ibis and royal spoonbills. The area is also a breeding ground for Australian pelicans.
The endangered Southern bell frog and threatened native fish such as Murray cod also live here.
Floods bring wetlands to life. But human activities have disrupted the natural cycle of flood and drought. In the Murrumbidgee, 26 big dams and reservoirs now store and divert water, mainly for irrigation. These interventions have more than doubled the time between floods, causing large sections of the wetlands to dry up.
The lack of floods has devastated the floodplain, causing black box and river red gum forests to die. Waterbird numbers also plummeted.
A clip from the aerial waterbird survey of Pollen Creek on the Lowbidgee (Centre for Ecosystem Science)
The Lowbidgee’s cultural significance
The Nari Nari people have lived on the Lowbidgee Floodplain for tens of thousands of years. The land and water has deep cultural and spiritual value.
Evidence of Nari Nari connection to this place is seen in the scar trees cut for canoes and other wooden items, middens of discarded shell and bone, earth mounds and burial sites scattered across the landscape.
After 180 years of dispossession, 880 square kilometres of the floodplain was returned to the Nari Nari Tribal Council in 2019. This allows the original peoples of this land to repair it, reinstating cultural burning for example. But there’s a limit to how much they can do without more water.
Nari Nari Elders Kerrie Parker (left) and Mabel Fitzpatrick (right) in the Gayini Wetlands of the Lowbidgee Floodplain. Annette Ruzicka
River regulation and climate change
Few studies have effectively reconstructed such a long history of a river to see where we have come from, and just as importantly, assessed what lies ahead.
We modelled natural flows in the Murrumbidgee River, using data for rainfall and runoff upstream. The rainfall data covers more than a century, from 1890 to 2018, which allowed us to model natural flows back to 1890.
First we established a baseline for natural flows. Then we were able to work out how dams, reservoirs and and water diversions have disrupted these flows over time.
We also considered how climate change might influence river flows in the future under different greenhouse gas emission scenarios.
We found most of the decline (55%) in the Murrumbidgee River’s flows was due to river regulation. But climate change will probably make matters worse, shaving another 7–10% off river flows by 2075, based on average projections.
The average annual duration of floods reaching the floodplain wetlands has dropped from 11.3 days under natural flows to just 4.5 days currently. This could decline further to around 1.7 days as the climate becomes warmer and drier.
An aerial view of the Gayini Wetlands. Annette Ruzicka
Now is the time to act
Australia’s rivers are at risk, but it’s not too late to act. By reducing over-allocation and returning water to the environment we can protect threatened and endangered species, reduce the impacts of climate change, and honour the cultural heritage of First Nations Peoples.
Managing water releases to mimic natural seasonal flows can also help reinstate the natural cues for native plants, animals and other organisms.
Our research underscores the urgent need to understand our past in order to explore future water management options. It’s clear much of the damage has been done by damming the river and taking out so much water. Now it’s important to restore the balance in favour of the environment, to prepare for future climate change.
The Murrumbidgee River and its major floodplain wetlands are also a warning – a canary in the coal mine so to speak – of what could happen to other river systems worldwide as water demand rises along with projected income and population growth. This is especially concerning for many arid and semi-arid regions, where climate change is increasing temperatures while reducing rainfall.
We wish to acknowledge the contribution of Nari Nari Tribal man and General Manager of Gayini wetlands, Jamie Woods, to this article and the research paper it was based on.
Jan Kreibich’s work was supported by the University of New South Wales and the Australian Research Council.
Richard Kingsford receives funding from a range of government and non-government organisations, including the Australian Research Council, the New South Wales, Victorian, South Australian and Queensland Governments and the Australian Government. He is councillor of the Biodiversity Council and a member of the Wentworth Group of Concerned Scientists.
Source: Northern Territory Police and Fire Services
Dedicated volunteer firefighter, Jamie Patrick Seib, has been named as this year’s recipient of the Australian Fire Service Medal, as part of the 2025 Australia Day Honours List. This prestigious award recognises distinguished service by members who go above and beyond in their roles, acknowledging the significant impact their work has had on the community.
A long-time volunteer with the Borroloola Fire and Emergency Response Group (FERG) Mr Seib has demonstrated exceptional service to both his team and the wider Borroloola community. His leadership skills became evident when he was appointed captain of FERG in 2019 and under his guidance the team has consistently maintained high standards in emergency response and preparedness in the region.
In addition to his frontline work, Mr Seib has played a pivotal role in strengthening the FERG team by recruiting and training new volunteers. His efforts have ensured the team remains capable and well-prepared to respond to a wide range of emergencies, from wildfires to road accidents and weather-related incidents.
His leadership was especially crucial during Tropical Cyclone Megan in 2024, when he coordinated power restoration to the town and operated the NT Fire and Rescue flood boat, helping safeguard residents from rising floodwaters. His resilience and resourcefulness have had a lasting impact on the safety and well-being of the Borroloola community.
This award highlights Mr Seib’s years of dedicated service and the impact he has had on his community. His commitment to volunteering and emergency response continues to inspire others and sets a high standard for all emergency services personnel.
The Australian Honours and Awards system recognises the outstanding service and contributions of Australians from all walks of life, from well-known figures to unsung heroes. For a full list of recipients, visit http://www.gg.gov.au/.
Quotes attributable to Commissioner NT Fire and Emergency Services, Andrew Warton:
“The Australian Fire Service Medal is a fitting recognition for Jamie’s years of outstanding service. His impact on the Borroloola community is immeasurable, and he continues to inspire not only his team, but also the next generation of emergency responders.”
“I am incredibly proud of the ongoing work of our firefighters and volunteers across the Northern Territory, their dedication, bravery and leadership are nothing short of inspiring.”
Headline: Georgians Can Appeal FEMA’s Decision on Disaster Assistance
Georgians Can Appeal FEMA’s Decision on Disaster Assistance
ATLANTA – If you receive a letter from FEMA saying you are not eligible for federal assistance after Tropical Storm Debby, with damage Aug. 4 – 20, 2024, or Hurricane Helene, you can appeal the decision within 60 days from the date on that letter. Make sure you read the letter carefully, as it includes the reason FEMA found you ineligible and the types of documents or information you need to provide to show you qualify for assistance or need more help. An appeal is an explanation of why you disagree with FEMA’s decision. In an appeal, you may ask FEMA to review your file and it is an opportunity to provide new or additional information that may affect the decision. You may appeal any decision by FEMA regarding your application for assistance, such as your eligibility, the amount or type of assistance provided to you, late applications, requests to return money, or a denial of continued Temporary Housing Assistance.Documents and information to submitReceiptsBillsRepair estimatesProperty titles or deedsAny other information that may support your appeal. Please note, receipts, bills, and estimates must include the business name and contact information to help FEMA confirm the information. All documents must also include your full name, current phone number and address, disaster number, your FEMA application number written on all pages, and the address of the disaster-damaged home.How to send appeals and supporting documents to FEMA Upload them your disaster assistance account at DisasterAssistance.gov.Visit a Disaster Recovery CenterMail it to FEMA, P.O. Box 10055, Hyattsville, MD 20782-8055.Fax it to 1-800-827-8112. For the latest information about Georgia’s recovery, visit fema.gov/helene/georgia and fema.gov/disaster/4821. Follow FEMA on X at x.com/femaregion4 or follow FEMA on social media at: FEMA Blog on fema.gov, @FEMA or @FEMAEspanol on X, FEMA or FEMA Espanol on Facebook, @FEMA on Instagram, and via FEMA YouTube channel. Also, follow Administrator Deanne Criswell on Twitter @FEMA_Deanne. larissa.hale Fri, 11/01/2024 – 18:28
Source: United States Senator for Florida Marco Rubio
Next Week: Rubio Staff Hosts Mobile Office Hours
Nov 1, 2024 | Press Releases
U.S. Senator Marco Rubio’s (R-FL) office will host in-person and virtual Mobile Office Hours next week to assist constituents with federal casework issues in their respective local communities. These office hours offer constituents who do not live close to one of…
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Rubio Demands Biden-harris Admin Stop Importation of Slave-made Pharmaceuticals
Oct 31, 2024 | Press Releases
Despite the passage of the Rubio-led Uyghur Forced Labor Prevention Act (UFLPA) in 2021, a recent report has revealed that two Xinjiang-based pharmaceutical entities continue to exploit American laws for profit. To uphold the UFLPA, the U.S. Food and Drug…
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ICYMI: Rubio: Cancel Trade Benefits for Offshoring
Oct 31, 2024 | Press Releases
Cancel Trade Benefits for Offshoring U.S. Senator Marco Rubio (R-FL) October 31, 2024 Newsweek Last month, President Donald Trump made waves by threatening to impose a tariff on John Deere for moving production to Mexico…. [A]s I said in my own letter to John Deere…
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Rubio, Scott Urge Biden-Harris Admin to Address IV Fluid Shortage
Oct 31, 2024 | Press Releases
Hurricane Helene significantly damaged North Carolina’s Baxter International IV fluid manufacturing plant. Baxter is responsible for producing more than half of the country’s IV fluid supply. This closure has strained the medical community, leading to delays in…
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Rubio, Franklin, Colleagues Demand Compensation for Agricultural Land
Oct 30, 2024 | Press Releases
Hurricanes Helene and Milton brought high winds, flooding, and damage across Florida. The Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services estimates the total crop and infrastructure losses range from $1.5 to $2.5 billion. The State of Florida has requested…
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Rubio, Scott Support Seminole Tribe’s Major Disaster Request
Oct 28, 2024 | Press Releases
Due to Hurricane Milton’s impact on the Seminole Tribe of Florida, their communities, and property, the tribe requested a major disaster declaration to assist in their response and recovery efforts. U.S. Senators Marco Rubio (R-FL) and Rick Scott (R-FL) sent a…
Headline: Governor Cooper Provides Bereavement Leave for State Employees
Governor Cooper Provides Bereavement Leave for State Employees mseets
Today, Governor Roy Cooper issued an Executive Order providing bereavement leave for state employees who lose a family member or coworker.
“Balancing work with family responsibilities can be challenging, and we want state employees to have time to grieve when they lose a loved one,” Governor Cooper said. “We continue to mourn those who lost their lives to Hurricane Helene, and this leave will be available to help state employees who lost family or coworkers to the storm.”
Employees will be eligible for up to 40 hours of paid leave following the loss of an immediate family member, including a spouse, child, sibling, parent, or grandparent. Step, half, and in-law family members are included as well as any dependent living in the employee’s home.
The bereavement leave covers the loss of a loved one for any reason and is retroactive to September 27, 2024 due to Hurricane Helene. Any eligible employee who suffered a loss after September 27, whether due to the storm or other causes, will have access to the leave. Eligible employees have up to six months after the death to take bereavement leave.
Employees who lost a colleague will be eligible for up to eight hours of bereavement leave to attend a funeral or memorial service for their coworker.
Executive Order No. 325 will automatically apply to Cabinet Agencies. All other state agencies and state universities are encouraged to adopt the policy. The Office of State Human Resources has developed a policy to implement the new bereavement leave.
“Our people are our greatest resource and we’re pleased to add bereavement leave to the benefits we are able to offer state employees,” said Barbara Gibson, Director of the Office of State Human Resources.
Governor Cooper’s administration has previously extended paid parental leave and personal observance leave to state employees. Additional types of leave are also available to state employees impacted by Hurricane Helene, including for those whose workplaces or homes were damaged by the storm. All state employees also have access to additional community service leave to volunteer with storm recovery efforts.
Last week, Governor Cooper announced his budget recommendation to help Western North Carolina rebuild stronger. Governor Cooper recommends an initial $3.9 billion package to begin rebuilding critical infrastructure, homes, businesses, schools, and farms damaged during the storm. Initial damage estimates are $53 billion, roughly three times Hurricane Florence estimates in 2018 and the largest in state history.
Source: United States Senator for New Hampshire Jeanne Shaheen
(Berlin, NH) – Today, U.S. Senator Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH), a lead negotiator of the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, visited a multi-unit public housing development undergoing weatherization installations to improve energy efficiency and lower monthly costs. During a tour of the complex, Shaheen discussed the benefits of weatherization with residents, as well as participants in the Tri-County Community Action Program’s Registered Apprenticeship for weatherization installers, which is the first of its kind in New Hampshire. As a lead negotiator of the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, Shaheen helped secure $3.5 billion for weatherization assistance nationwide, including more than $18 million for New Hampshire. You can find photos from the event here.
“Weatherizing homes is one of the best things we can do to reduce monthly energy costs, all while making progress toward our climate goals and keeping Granite Staters safe from extreme temperatures,” said Senator Shaheen. “I’m proud to have secured funding for New Hampshire’s weatherization efforts through the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law that is supporting this new apprenticeship program to expand the weatherization workforce. I’ll keep working in Congress to find ways to upgrade our infrastructure while saving money for Granite State households.”
Weatherization Assistance Program (WAP) funding helps homes become more energy efficient through measures like installing insulation, updating heating and cooling systems and updating electrical appliances. For every dollar invested by WAP, $4.50 is generated in combined energy savings and non-energy benefits such as improved health and job creation, according to the U.S. Department of Energy. In addition to saving families money, energy efficient homes also help cut down on our carbon footprint, reducing the greenhouse gas emissions that cause climate change. If you think you may be eligible for WAP funding, apply through your local Community Action Agency at CAPNH.org and check out Senator Shaheen’s recently updated Federal Energy Guide for more ways Granite Staters can save money on their utility bills.
As a lead negotiator of the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, Shaheen helped secure $3.5 billion in additional funding for the Weatherization Assistance Program, including $18 million for New Hampshire. Shaheen has long-championed the Weatherization Assistance Program to lower energy costs for low-income families in New Hampshire, as well as the State Energy Program, which assists states with the development of energy efficiency renewable projects. Last year, Shaheen helped introduce the Weatherization Assistance Program Improvements Act, a bipartisan bill that would strengthen the Weatherization Assistance Program and increase the number of homes the program is able to serve. Shaheen also introduced the bipartisan Investing in State Energy Act, legislation to ensure that annual funding for weatherization and the State Energy Program is released to states as quickly as possible.
In response to a shortage of weatherization installers in New Hampshire, Tri-County Community Action Program (TCCAP) launched an apprenticeship program to train new workers in the field. TCCAP’s program is supported by Training and Technical Assistance funds from the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law and is the first program of its kind in New Hampshire.
Headline: Members spotlight development issues in trade and environmental sustainability discussions
“Here we are at the end of 2024 and MC14 isn’t that far away. We’re committed to having concrete outcomes and so as part of achieving that, this session will be important,” said Richard Tarasofsky of Canada, which co-convenes TESSD together with Costa Rica, in opening the meeting. He added that a high-level TESSD plenary stocktaking session will be held on 4 December to seek members’ support for the proposed way forward towards achieving concrete outcomes at MC14 that reflect both the technical discussions in working groups as well as the written outcomes of those groups.
“We are really making an effort to dig deeper into the development dimension, including in how we select topics such as climate adaptation,” said Mr. Tarasofsky.
The four TESSD working groups advanced substantive work in their respective discussions at the meeting.
In the Working Group on Trade-related Climate Measures (TrCMs), members deliberated on the use of TrCMs for achieving climate change adaptation and focused on developing country perspectives. They heard presentations from the International Institute for Sustainable Development, the WTO Secretariat, the World Bank, Barbados and Samoa.
In the Working Group on Environmental Goods and Services, members exchanged views on trade-related aspects of water management and climate change adaptation, considering presentations on water management technologies and developing country experiences from the UN Environment Programme (UNEP) Copenhagen Climate Centre and the UN Climate Technology Centre & Network (CTCN). Members also considered presentations on identification and trade promotion of environmental goods and services from Australia, Finland and the WTO Secretariat.
In the Working Group on Subsidies, members considered presentations on critical minerals, including how international cooperation can support developing countries in addressing challenges and seizing opportunities in the sector. The International Energy Agency, the African Development Bank, Australia and the Philippines provided presentations.
In the Working Group on Circular Economy-Circularity, members heard from the Global Batteries Alliance on batteries passports and on circularity of batteries. They also heard from Rwanda on implementing circular economy principles in the transport sector. Members also were briefed on new analytical work from the International Chamber of Commerce, Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development, and the Forum on Trade, Environment and SDGs (TESS).
Across the four working groups, members also discussed possible ways forward for outcomes at MC14, including a compilation and mapping of policy measures shared by members, practical ways to enhance cooperation, and expanding and refining the TESSD indicative list of environmental goods and services. They also considered developing guidelines for subsidy design and recommendations to enhance transparency, trade-related guidelines for a circular economy and trade‑related good practices for circularity in priority sectors.
Presentations and documents related to the working group meetings are available here.
At the close of the two-day meeting, Ana Lizano of Costa Rica, TESSD co-convenor, said: “We have heard support as well as constructive feedback from the participants to the suggestions on the way forward presented by the facilitators of the four groups. So the co-conveners, together with the facilitators, will put together the most balanced outlook possible for 2025 and towards the next Ministerial Conference.”
“We will continue working on bringing to the table more voices from the developing and least-developed members to consolidate an agenda that is not only balanced but also representative of the needs, opportunities, and interests of all TESSD participants,” she said.
Guided by their 2021 Ministerial Statement, TESSD seeks to complement the work of the WTO Committee on Trade and Environment and advance discussions at the intersection of trade and environmental sustainability towards identifying concrete actions that members could take individually or collectively. The initiative, which is open to all WTO members, is currently co-sponsored by 77 members representing all regions and all levels of development.
Six highly regarded CFA members have been named as this year’s Australian Fire Service Medal (AFSM) recipients, in recognition of their outstanding service to CFA and their communities.
The AFSM is the highest award for a member of an Australian fire service and as part of the Australia Day honours list, is awarded yearly to a select group of dedicated fire service members.
The six members have been recognised for their exceptional bravery, expertise, and leadership, leading their regions through major fire and flood emergencies such as Black Saturday, the 2019/20 bushfire season, and more recently the 2024 Grampians bushfire, all while imparting modern and innovative knowledge towards CFA’s fleet, training and equipment to enhance capabilities.
The 2025 CFA Australian Fire Service Medal recipients are:
Known for her proactive, solutions-focused approach, Diana Billingsley is willing to roll her sleeves up to help drive positive change and support volunteer training and development. Over her 20 years as a firefighter with Boolarra Fire Brigade, Diana has attended more than 200 incidents and was a crew leader during the 2009 Black Saturday and 2019/20 bushfires. She is now the Deputy Group Officer and Group Training Officer for the Merton Group.
Fiona Burns has served CFA for more than 21 years at Launching Place and Hillcrest brigades and is currently the Group Officer of Yarra Valley Group. Fiona has distinguished herself as an extremely capable and highly sought after member of incident management teams as a planning officer during large and prolonged, multi-agency campaign fires in 2013, 2019-20 and again in 2024 in Gippsland and the Grampians.
For more than 30 years, Mark King has exemplified the spirit of CFA with Yallourn North Fire Brigade. Mark currently serves as the brigade’s secretary, a role he took on after stepping down as Captain in June 2023 following nearly 17 years in leadership. Mark has held several additional critical leadership roles, including strike team leader, sector commander, divisional commander and health team leader.
As a valued member of the firefighting community, Tim Smith has dedicated more than 42 years of volunteer service to Hurstbridge Fire Brigade, holding various leadership positions including Lieutenant and Captain during his tenure. As CFA’s Manager Fleet Operations, Tim has been instrumental in modernising and maintaining the CFA fleet, with his innovative approach and expertise significantly enhancing operational capability, safety and performance.
Lisa Hicks has been a highly respected, dedicated member of CFA for more than 49 years, with 30 of those supporting incident control centres as a crew leader and public information officer. Lisa has served in a range of brigade roles for Narre Warren North, Pakenham Upper and the Cardinia group. From operational firefighter, to secretary, community safety coordinator, general firefighter assessor and full time Brigade Administrative Support Officer at District 8.
Mark Gunning’s more than four decades of remarkable service to CFA, Fire Rescue Victoria and the broader fire and emergency services spans frontline response, incident management, fire operations, flood response and crisis leadership – all of which have had a lasting impact on the safety, wellbeing and recovery of communities across the state. His guidance has been pivotal during Black Saturday, the Black Summer bushfires, 2011 and 2022 Victorian Floods, the Victorian COVID-19 Response and most recently the 2024 Grampians bushfires.
CFA Chief Officer Jason Heffernan congratulated the six highly respected CFA AFSM recipients for their invaluable service during their many decades of service.
“CFA is incredibly proud of its volunteers and staff, and it is great to see our members recognised with the highest fire service medal in the country,” Jason said.
“We are fortunate as an organisation to have so many incredible people who devote a large part of their life to the protection of lives and property in their communities, and I thank them for their dedication.”
CFA would also like to recognise AFSM recipient and Fire Rescue Victoria Senior Station Officer Benjamin Schmidt, who has also contributed significantly to CFA and Victoria’s fire services.
Another three former and current CFA members were awarded the Medal of the Order of Australia (OAM), Gwendoline Blandthorn, Neville Seymour and John Wheal.
First Minister thanks people for patience as recovery operation continues.
A further meeting of the Scottish Government’s Resilience Room (SGoRR) has been chaired by First Minister John Swinney to coordinate the recovery response to Storm Éowyn.
Due to the severity and impact of the storm, there is significant disruption to parts of the country. This includes around 35,000 properties without power and continued transport disruption with road closures and rail, bus, flight and ferry cancellations. It is expected to take some time to get all services fully restored.
Utility companies, national agencies and local authorities are working at pace to restore power and assess the impact, including responding to significant damage, removing fallen trees and debris, to ensure services can fully resume in the coming days.
The First Minister joined a Ministerial COBR meeting chaired by the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster Pat McFadden earlier this evening. The First Minister also spoke with the Prime Minister today to discuss the ongoing response to Storm Éowyn and the impact on Scotland.
First Minister John Swinney said:
“I want to thank everyone who followed Police Scotland advice not to travel and express my sincere gratitude to the emergency services and to those working in the public, private and third sector who are continuing to support people and communities across the country.
“With yellow warnings in place for wind, snow and ice over the weekend, it is clear the severity of Storm Éowyn will continue into next week and this will have an impact on the speed at which utilities and local services can fully resume.
“Given the damage and disruption facing the network across the United Kingdom, utility companies are under significant pressure and are working in challenging conditions. I have stressed the importance of getting power restored as quickly as is practically possible and have been assured that assessments are being made at pace to ensure power is restored to affected properties in Scotland as soon as possible. Alongside our partners, Ministers are being updated regularly and ensuring all steps are being taken.
“I am pleased at the progress made to restore power to many communities over the course of today however a significant number of properties remain without power. Utility companies are continuing to provide support to customers, including ensuring provisions are in place for the most vulnerable.
“I want to thank people for their continued patience and encourage them to take extra care and look out for each other, particularly those who are supporting vulnerable neighbours and family members.
“As we look ahead to Monday, partners are working at pace to ensure services can resume next week. Local authorities – who are responsible for school closures – will be working to ensure all buildings meet the required safety standards to reopen safely to pupils. We would expect decisions on schools to be clearly communicated by local authorities to parents, pupils and staff, with as much advance warning as possible, and would encourage all parents to follow that advice.
“People should prepare for continued disruption, especially in areas that have been impacted by a loss of power, and I encourage everyone to follow advice being issued by local authorities, as well as continuing to follow updates from national agencies.”
Background
SGoRR was attended by the Deputy First Minister Kate Forbes, Transport Secretary Fiona Hyslop, Justice and Home Affairs Secretary Angela Contance, Cabinet Secretary for Health and Social Care Neil Gray, Education Secretary Jenny Gilruth, Rural Affairs and Islands Secretary Mairi Gougeon, Acting Net Zero and Energy Secretary Gillian Martin and Cabinet Secretary for Constitution, External Affairs and Culture Angus Robertson. They were joined by representatives from the Met Office, Police Scotland, Transport Scotland, SEPA, transport and utilities companies and resilience partners.
The latest Met Office weather warnings are available on the Met Office website.
Flood alerts are issued by the Scottish Environmental Protection Agency and can be viewed on their website.
Follow Traffic Scotland for the most up-to-date information on the trunk roads throughout the warning periods, via their website, social media channels and radio broadcasts. Updates on ScotRail services and road conditions are available online.
To report a power cut or damage to electricity power lines or substations call the SP Networks national Freephone number 105. More information on what to do during a storm can also be found on SP Energy Website.
During a power cut firefighters can be called to fires started by candles or portable heaters. For advice on how to stay safe during a power cut visit Scottish Fire and Rescue Website.
Mark Gunning’s more than four decades of service to CFA, Fire Rescue Victoria and the broader fire and emergency services is testament to his commitment to the protection and wellbeing of all Victorians.
Mark has been recognised for his dedication and contribution with an Australian Fire Service Medal (AFSM) in today’s Australia Day Honours.
With more than 44 years of firefighting and emergency management service under his belt, Mark Gunning AFSM has been a driving force in the protection of communities throughout Victoria and beyond.His remarkable contributions span frontline response, incident management, fire operations, flood response and crisis leadership – all of which have had a lasting impact on the safety, wellbeing and recovery of communities across Victoria.
Although he stems from a family of CFA volunteers, Mark said he was inspired to join Mortlake Fire Brigade in 1980 as a teenager after working on different farms in the area and getting a taste for firefighting.
“Back in those days you would work on people’s farms during the day and proactively burn with local landowners to reduce fire risk during the evening,” Mark said. “That experience, together with that family connection, very much shaped me and encouraged my long-term involvement in CFA and broader emergency services.”
Mark attended when the largest Victorian Ash Wednesday fires erupted at Ballangeich-Cudgee on 16 February 1983 and a move to North Geelong Brigade (now Corio) in 1985 saw him on the frontline during the Little River fire. He credits this experience for further teaching him important skills and knowledge about firefighting and fire behaviour.
“Ash Wednesday had a huge impact on me as a volunteer, especially being local to the area and knowing so many of the people who had been affected,” Mark said.
In 1988, Mark joined CFA as a career firefighter, working in various locations across the state including Hamilton, Dandenong, Bairnsdale, Casterton and Horsham as well as CFA’s Fiskville training ground and CFA headquarters. During this time, he has contributed significantly as an operational leader, working his way through the ranks to his current role as Assistant Chief Fire Officer (ACFO) Regional Commander based in West Region, seconded to CFA from Fire Rescue Victoria (FRV).
A respected figure in the emergency management community, Mark’s innovative and inspirational leadership has been pivotal during major emergencies such as the 2009 bushfires, St Patrick’s Day peat fires, Black Summer bushfires 2019-20, the 2011 and 2022 Victorian Floods, and the Victorian COVID-19 response.
Mark is well known for his commitment to ensuring communities are not only protected during emergencies and supported in their recovery but are better prepared for future fires and other emergencies. Most recently he was an Incident Controller at Horsham Incident Control Centre, managing response to the Grampians complex fires which started in December 2024 and burned for three weeks. Mark’s leadership has also extended beyond Victoria’s borders, and he has provided invaluable support during operations in New South Wales, South Australia and Queensland.
“Out of all the fires and events I’ve experienced, the Linton fire, Black Saturday and the St Patrick’s Day peat fires of 2018 have all stayed with me for different reasons,” he said.
“The fire at Linton on 2 December 1998 was my worst day at CFA. You never want to be in the position where you have to look someone in the eye and tell them their child is not coming home.
“Black Saturday and the peat fires, in particular, highlighted how important those connections with our communities are in times of emergency.
“You spend weeks building relationships with members of communities; you get to know them and their lives, and they start to see you as one of their own. I took what I learned at those fires about working with communities into the approach to the recent Grampians fires.”
In addition to the Australian Fire Service Medal announced today, Mark has received the National Medal (two clasps) and a National Emergency Medal and clasps for his roles on Black Saturday and for the 2019-20 Bushfires. He is also a Life Member of CFA.
“I am humbled to receive an AFSM in today’s honours,” Mark said. “It’s just nice to know that someone thought that much of me to nominate me.
“Working in the emergency services is a privilege in many ways. We are there helping people on their worst day. But the challenges you face, you can’t do on your own, and that’s when fellow agencies whether local, interstate or international are there to support you. The value of teamwork in our sector is the best thing you can take away.”
Source: Government of the Russian Federation – An important disclaimer is at the bottom of this article.
Deputy Prime Minister of Russia Dmitry Chernyshenko held a meeting with Prime Minister of the Republic of Uzbekistan Abdulla Aripov. The parties discussed current issues of Russian-Uzbek cooperation. The meeting was also attended by Minister for the Development of the Far East and the Arctic Alexey Chekunkov.
Meeting of Dmitry Chernyshenko with the Prime Minister of the Republic of Uzbekistan Abdulla Aripov
November 1, 2024
Meeting of Dmitry Chernyshenko with the Prime Minister of the Republic of Uzbekistan Abdulla Aripov
November 1, 2024
Meeting of Dmitry Chernyshenko with the Prime Minister of the Republic of Uzbekistan Abdulla Aripov
November 1, 2024
Meeting of Dmitry Chernyshenko with the Prime Minister of the Republic of Uzbekistan Abdulla Aripov
November 1, 2024
Minister for the Development of the Far East and the Arctic Alexey Chekunkov
November 1, 2024
In the presence of Dmitry Chernyshenko and Umid Shadiev, Acting Rector of the Russian State University of Tourism and Service Ambartsum Galustov and First Vice-Rector for Administrative Affairs of the Silk Road International University of Tourism Dilmurod Nasimov signed a Memorandum of Cooperation between universities for the development of joint educational programs in the field of tourism
November 1, 2024
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Meeting of Dmitry Chernyshenko with the Prime Minister of the Republic of Uzbekistan Abdulla Aripov
The Prime Minister of the Republic emphasized that cooperation between Uzbekistan and Russia is developing on the principles of comprehensive strategic partnership and allied relations.
“This has been achieved thanks to the strong political will and trusting relations between the presidents of the two states – the respected Shavkat Miromonovich Mirziyoyev and the respected Vladimir Vladimirovich Putin. The state visit of the President of the Russian Federation to the Republic of Uzbekistan on May 26-28, 2024 and the agreements reached opened a new milestone in our multifaceted cooperation. Under the direct leadership of the respected heads of state, the first meeting of the Council of Regions of Uzbekistan and Russia was held in Tashkent, which was attended by a representative delegation from 26 regions of Russia, of which 22 regions were represented by their heads,” said Abdulla Aripov.
For his part, Dmitry Chernyshenko expressed gratitude to the President of the Republic Shavkat Mirziyoyev and Abdulla Aripov for the warm welcome in Uzbekistan.
The Russian Deputy Prime Minister noted that, despite the difficulties caused by sanctions and turbulence in the global economy, trade, economic and investment ties between Russia and Uzbekistan are developing dynamically, and an effective intergovernmental dialogue has been established.
The countries are working systematically on the basis of an intergovernmental comprehensive economic cooperation program for 2022–2026.
Last year, mutual trade turnover between Russia and Uzbekistan grew by 11.5% and reached 823 billion rubles.
In order to develop investment cooperation, the Ministry of Economic Development of Russia has prepared proposals for the implementation of 30 tourism investment projects in Russia.
During the negotiations, the parties focused on discussing cooperation in the fields of science, education, youth policy, tourism and sports.
“Our presidents pay great attention to the development of fruitful cooperation. Uzbekistan is the leader in the number of branches of Russian universities abroad, implementing projects within the framework of the state programs “Priority-2030″, advanced engineering schools. The success of the branches is ensured, among other things, by close ties with industrial partners,” Dmitry Chernyshenko emphasized.
During his visit to the republic, the Russian Deputy Prime Minister also held a meeting with the Chairman of the Tourism Committee under the Ministry of Ecology, Environmental Protection and Climate Change of the Republic of Uzbekistan Umid Shadiev. At the meeting, the parties discussed measures to increase mutual tourist flow and implement the action plan in the tourism sector.
Last year, the mutual tourist flow between the countries doubled. This became possible due to the active work of the departments, including increasing the frequency of regular flights.
In 2024, the Year of Tourism of Uzbekistan in Russia will be held. Participation of businesses in key Russian tourism exhibitions is ensured.
Umid Shadiev noted that Uzbekistan feels support from Russia, thanked for cooperation and proposed to intensify internships and exchanges of tourism personnel.
Minister for the Development of the Far East and the Arctic Alexey Chekunkov, who was present at the meeting, spoke about the main points of attraction for travelers in the Far East.
“In the Far East, tourism projects are aimed at both domestic and foreign tourism. Today, about 420 investment projects are being implemented here and in the Arctic. There is great interest, which makes it possible to work at the crossroads of Europe and Asia, to offer tourism products to Asian guests. If we take into account the legendary Uzbek hospitality and cuisine, we can create a unique offer that will be mutually beneficial and will allow us to strengthen ties. I invite you to the Far East to take part in the Eastern Economic Forum,” said Alexey Chekunkov.
In the presence of Dmitry Chernyshenko and Umid Shadiev, Acting Rector of the Russian State University of Tourism and Service Ambartsum Galustov and First Vice-Rector for Administrative Affairs of the Silk Road International University of Tourism Dilmurod Nasimov signed a memorandum of cooperation between the universities for the development of joint educational programs in the field of tourism.
Please note: This information is raw content directly from the source of the information. It is exactly what the source states and does not reflect the position of MIL-OSI or its clients.
Offsite EEF events: new opportunities for Sakhalin economy
Adviser to the President of the Russian Federation Anton Kobyakov met with Sakhalin Governor Valery Limarenko in Moscow to discuss long-term cooperation between the Roscongress Foundation and Sakhalin Region on the development of forum and exhibition activities until 2035.
The strategic partnership will require mechanisms for promoting Sakhalin’s investment potential and environmental, climate, energy, and technology projects in the region. Joint efforts will focus on organizing national and international forums and exhibitions in Yuzhno-Sakhalinsk at Sakhalin-Tech Technopark and Pushisty Drone Port to be managed by the Roscongress Foundation. Plans to sign a Long-Term Cooperation Agreement are in the works.
“Russia places strategic importance in developing and strengthening the Far East. As the world order changes and the centre of global business activity shifts to the Asia-Pacific region, the Far East gains in importance for the Russian economy and solidifies its global position. There is enormous potential for new projects and new industries in the region and no limit to possibilities for international cooperation. New approaches and combined efforts are required to realize this potential. I believe the Roscongress Foundation has the expertise and Sakhalin Region the potential to create opportunities for investment that will attract partners to contribute to its development,”Adviser to the President of the Russian Federation Anton Kobyakov said.
Meeting discussions focused first on the programme of offsite events for the Eastern Economic Forum (EEF), indeed, an agreement to cooperate was first reached between the Roscongress Foundation and Sakhalin on the sidelines of the EEF in September 2024.
Sakhalin Region is important to the Far East, has great potential, and must transition from an overdependence on resources to a model of increased self-development. The transition will depend on programmes to improve investment attractiveness and quality of life. One such ambitious project is the New City, dedicated to sustainable development, digitalization, and environmental responsibility, with a master plan calling for the creation of cultural, business, research, and production spaces, including buildings for congress and exhibition events.
“The construction of a modern 20,000-square-meter EXPO centre and cooperation with the Roscongress Foundation will equip us to hold top-notch international events, and the city’s unique infrastructure is already creating opportunities for programmes related to the development of unmanned aviation and energy. I have no doubt that our work together will create a professional platform that attracts investment to the region and shows to the world the full potential of Sakhalin Region to develop advanced technologies and skillfully balance nature preservation and human activity,”Sakhalin Governor Valery Limarenko said.
Discussion also focused on the ‘BRICS Sustainable Development: Environment and Climate’ International Forum slated to take place in May 2025 with the participation of representatives of BRICS and its partners. The event will focus on environmental and climate issues and how to achieve carbon neutrality. The Forum will be a place to come and discuss environmental issues, share experience, and develop joint projects to combat climate change. The choice of region to host the Forum was no accident with its proximity to the Asia-Pacific region and ambitious carbon neutral goals for the end of 2025 creating unique conditions for programmes balancing the environment and energy industry.
The Far Eastern Energy Forum, also scheduled for next year, is a platform for discussing issues of regional development and establishing a Russian energy security outpost. Sakhalin is an essential Russian producer and processer of hydrocarbons and is actively introducing new forms of energy.
The Far East is becoming a centre for the development of unmanned systems and technologies. Unmanned systems are an efficient, cost-effective solution for logistics and monitoring vast expanses, complex infrastructure, and the development of extractive industries. As meeting participants noted, the necessary prerequisites are all there for international cooperation and an exchange of experience at the International ‘Unmanned Systems’ Forum and Exhibition. Sakhalin’s Pushisty Drone Port has been earmarked as a place for experts to meet with the authorities and representatives of business.
Meeting participants decided the best way to coordinate cooperation under the agreements would be to establish an Organizing Committee under the leadership of Sakhalin Governor Valery Limarenko and a permanent joint Sakhalin Government and Roscongress Foundation working group under the leadership of Sakhalin Region Government Chairman Alexey Belik and First Deputy CEO of the Roscongress Foundation and EEF Director Igor Pavlov.
An important component of cooperation will include a briefing by Sakhalin Governor Valery Limarenko on infrastructure projects for territorial development on the sidelines of EEF 2025, where the results of work accomplished can be considered with a place for further discussion. The Governor’s participation in the Governors’ Club and Lounge at Roscongress Foundation events throughout the year will strengthen cooperation with other regions and create additional opportunities to share experience solving urgent problems.
Climate change and nature loss are affecting all aspects of our lives, including our economies . What is the latest research telling us, and what is the cost to the economy? Stefania Secola talks to Executive Board member Frank Elderson and Deputy Director General and researcher Livio Stracca about how rising physical risks will affect our economies.
The views expressed are those of the speakers and not necessarily those of the European Central Bank.
This episode was recorded before the tragic floods in Spain.
Published on 1 November.
In this episode:
01:42 Floods, wildfires and droughts
How do climate change and nature degradation affect our economies? And how high was the economic loss caused by recent extreme weather events ?
05:52 Catastrophe insurance
What is it? How many people have it? And what does it mean for our preparedness if disaster were to strike?
06:57 Adapting to a changing economy
It’s clear that our environment is changing. How can we adapt our activities in the face of these changes?
10:05 The Network for Greening the Financial System
What is it, and what does it do? And what does it have to do with central banks and supervisors?
12:32 How do climate change and nature loss affect our economies?
How much higher are the expected losses than we previously thought? What’s the latest scientific research telling us?
14:58 Climate messages during the Conference of the Parties (COP) meetings
Which topics need more attention? And what can we do about it?
19:19 Our guests’ hot tips
Further reading:
The impact of climate change and policies on productivity
https://www.ecb.europa.eu/pub/pdf/scpops/ecb.op340~0173592e52.en.pdf
Policy options to reduce the climate insurance protection gap
https://www.ecb.europa.eu/pub/pdf/other/ecb.policyoptions_EIOPA~c0adae58b7.en.pdf
Living in a world of disappearing nature: physical risk and the implications for financial stability
https://www.ecb.europa.eu/pub/pdf/scpops/ecb.op333~1b97e436be.en.pdf
What to do about Europe’s climate insurance gap
https://www.ecb.europa.eu/press/blog/date/2023/html/ecb.blog.230424~4cdc3a38ba.en.html
Failing to plan is planning to fail – why transition planning is essential for banks
https://www.bankingsupervision.europa.eu/press/blog/2024/html/ssm.blog240123~5471c5f63e.en.html
The climate insurance protection gap
https://www.ecb.europa.eu/ecb/climate/climate/html/index.en.html
The Network for Greening the Financial System
https://www.ngfs.net/en
Measuring economic losses caused by climate change
https://cepr.org/voxeu/columns/measuring-economic-losses-caused-climate-change
“Know thyself” – avoiding policy mistakes in light of the prevailing climate science
https://www.bankingsupervision.europa.eu/press/speeches/date/2024/html/ssm.sp240412~c256dc168c.en.html
Hothouse Earth by Gill McGuire
https://www.google.com/search?safe=active&sca_esv=0d2d5197637c41d9&rlz=1C1GCEA_enDE1060DE1060&q=hothouse+earth+bill+mcguire&udm=3&fbs=AEQNm0Aa4sjWe7Rqy32pFwRj0UkWd8nbOJfsBGGB5IQQO6L3J_86uWOeqwdnV0yaSF-x2jqw-AzvpDFRWNmLZKilfTrfO0pl9dtT9e2t2elzSdzPviJlaPtdkm_zev73LcACj_Zt3WoLu1loKbhUBQ0BvD6_OC9OERnpW26hAPVqw_fTJrjRkQgEJf5SXlzvVj2JhcxyIvER&sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwi2yfiVobGJAxX6_7sIHZckMjAQs6gLegQIExAB&biw=1280&bih=665&dpr=1.5
Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government & Departments
Cold Weather Payments take effect from today as low-income households set to get £25 during cold snaps.
Comes alongside the £150 Warm Home Discount to support eligible customers with energy bills and extension to Household Support Fund
Pensioners urged to check eligibility for Pension Credit to claim Winter Fuel Payment
From 1 November, households receiving certain benefits including Pension Credit could be eligible for extra money to help keep warm during the cold weather until the end of March 2025.
DWP’s Cold Weather Payments are an automatic bank top-up of £25, triggered to be paid to eligible households when the average temperature has been recorded as, or is forecast to be, zero degrees Celsius or below for seven consecutive days at the weather station linked to an eligible person’s postcode.
The £25 payments will be paid automatically to households receiving certain benefits including, Pension Credit, Income Support, income-based Jobseeker’s Allowance (JSA), income-related Employment and Support Allowance (ESA), Universal Credit and Support for Mortgage Interest.
The money will appear in bank statements within 14 days of each seven-day period of very cold weather between 1 November 2024 and 31 March 2025, with the payment reference starting with the customer’s national Insurance number followed by ‘DWP CWP’ for people in England and Wales.
Minister for Pensions Emma Reynolds said:
As we head into the winter months, I want to ensure the most vulnerable in our society are getting the support they need, and that’s why we have a range of measures targeted at helping low-income households, such as Cold Weather Payments and the Warm Homes Discount.
With the dire state of the public finances, we have had to make some tough choices, including means-testing the Winter Fuel Payment so that it goes to those most in need.
And while these choices were not made lightly, this Government is doing everything it can to ensure maximum take-up of Pension Credit while also continuing to support pensioners through our commitment to the Triple Lock which will mean an increase in the full state pension of up to £1,700 over the next 5 years.
The £150 Warm Home Discount scheme has also been extended as we continue to stand behind households in, or at risk of, fuel poverty with direct energy bill payments as well as other financial and energy-related support.
On top of this, struggling households can receive further help with their bills and essential costs through the extension of the Household Support Fund – adding to the six months already announced, an additional £1 billion, including Barnett impact, will be invested to extend this support by a full year, and to maintain Discretionary Housing Payments in England and Wales.
Anyone struggling to heat their homes or afford other essential items over the colder months should contact their local council to see what support may be available to them.
Many councils also use the Fund beyond emergency support, including working with local charities and community groups to provide residents with key appliances, school uniforms, cookery classes, and items to improve energy efficiency in the home.
Eligible pensioners can also receive up to £300 for the Winter Fuel Payment which is set to land in bank accounts in the next two months. We continue to urge anyone who thinks they may be entitled to Pension Credit to check now.
This could be worth up to £3,900 a year on average and open the doors to other benefits including help with housing costs, council tax reduction as well as a Winter Fuel Payment, and all eligible Pension Credit claims can be backdated.
Winter support is part of the government’s wider drive to support vulnerable households with the cost of living, as we continue our work to fix the foundations of the economy.
This includes working closely with Local Authorities to bring together the administration of Pension Credit and Housing Benefit as soon as operationally possible.
As confirmed in the budget earlier this week, millions of pensioners will also receive an increase of 4.1 percent to their State Pension, which means the full rate of the new State Pension will rise to over £12,000 a year, while Pension Credit standard minimum guarantee will soon be worth £227.10 a week for a single person and £346.60 for a couple.
Working age people on Universal Credit, PIP, ESA, and other vital benefits will also see their incomes protected, as they are set to increase by 1.7 percent, ensuring incomes of the most vulnerable aren’t outstripped by inflation.
More than one million households will get a £420 boost thanks to the introduction of the Fair Repayment rate, a cap the amount that can be cut from benefit payments each month to repay short-term loans and debts.
The Chancellor has also confirmed a 6.7 percent increase in the National Living Wage to over 3 million workers, which will boost the National Living Wage from £11.44 to £12.21 an hour from April 2025 and will be worth £1,400 a year for an eligible full-time worker. It is a significant step towards delivering the manifesto commitment to make sure the minimum wage is a genuine living wage, helping unlock opportunity and potential in every area of the country.
The cost of bus travel will also be kept down at £3 for an additional year – saving up to 80% on some routes – to ensure fares remain affordable.
This Government will continue to provide that safety net for the most vulnerable as it ushers in the biggest reform to employment support in a generation to get people into work and make work pay. This includes by overhauling jobcentres, introducing our employment rights bill, delivering a Youth guarantee so every young person is learning or earning, and new work, health and skills plans to tackle inactivity.
Additional information
The new rates for benefits and the State Pension will apply from 7 April 2025.
The Warm Home Discount is applied automatically on energy bills in the majority of cases. If a household believes they are eligible, they should first wait to see if they receive a letter, letters will arrive with households between October and January
If they have not received a letter by early January, they should check their energy account to see whether they have received the rebate automatically and, if not, they should contact the Warm Home Discount helpline on 0800 030 9322. Eligibility can be checked on gov.uk: https://www.gov.uk/check-if-youre-eligible-for-warm-home-discount
