NewzIntel.com

Category: Climate Change

  • MIL-OSI USA: Scott, Rubio, Colleagues Announce Bill to Replenish Disaster Relief Fund

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for South Carolina Tim Scott
    WASHINGTON — U.S. Senator Tim Scott (R-S.C.) and Senator Marco Rubio (R-Fla.) announced legislation to replenish the Federal Emergency Management Agency’s (FEMA) Disaster Relief Fund (DRF) following Hurricanes Debby, Helene and Milton’s damage to South Carolina and neighboring southeastern states. The senators’ legislation would appropriate $20 billion to the dwindling FEMA Disaster Relief Fund, which is intended to assist individuals, households, states, and non-federal government entities with recovery following a natural disaster.
    “Hurricane Helene brought a level of devastation we haven’t seen since Hugo. In South Carolina alone, the storm claimed 49 lives and left over a million without power. When any state experiences a natural disaster of this magnitude, Congress has a responsibility to step up and do its job,” said Senator Tim Scott. “Communities back home and in surrounding states have come together to recover, but it will take every possible effort to get us back to where we were.”
    “Unfortunately, this is a hurricane season no one will soon forget. The Disaster Relief Fund (DRF) is the front line for states, and our constituents, to receive support in the aftermath of natural disasters. While assessments of the full extent of these storms are underway, the DRF cannot be allowed to be depleted. I am proud to announce my colleagues and I will be introducing a bill to provide additional funding to support communities affected by the recent hurricanes,” said Senator Marco Rubio.
    “Americans help Americans. FEMA needs resources to help those impacted by Hurricanes Milton, Helene, and Francine. Related to this, I will continue working to make flood insurance affordable again,” said Senator Bill Cassidy.
    “It is alarming that FEMA has spent almost half of its disaster fund, and there are still weeks left in hurricane season. Congress must take action to ensure critical agencies have sufficient resources to help those impacted by natural disasters recover while also maintaining long-term rebuilding projects,” said Senator John Cornyn.
    “I’ve been on the ground in Florida surveying damage and talking to Floridians for weeks as our state prepared for and now responds to and recovers from Hurricanes Helene and Milton. What’s clear is that Florida families and businesses need their federal government to show up where they are and help them get back on their feet. This bill, providing $20 billion for FEMA’s Disaster Relief Fund, will ensure that the agency has what it needs to provide immediate aid to folks in Florida, Georgia, Tennessee, the Carolinas and other states impacted by disasters while our local communities determine their needs from FEMA, SBA, USDA and other federal agencies. The federal government’s response to hurricanes over the last two years has left too many Floridians, especially our farmers, hurting and with unmet needs. Unfortunately, I am already hearing from local officials and families in Florida that are frustrated by the fact that these disasters have stretched FEMA’s current resources too thin. That is unacceptable. No state is immune from disasters and I hope that none of our colleagues in the Senate will object to the quick passage of this needed funding. Even with this bill, I continue to urge Majority Leader Schumer to bring back the Senate to fully fund other disaster relief functions at the SBA and USDA block grants, and I’m glad that, in my conversations with President Biden, he has completely agreed with me on the need to get this done. While Floridians are incredibly resilient and will rebuild stronger than ever, it’s going to be an all hands on deck effort at the local, state and federal level to come together and support these communities. I’m going to keep fighting like hell to deliver the federal resources Floridians need to recover,” said Senator Rick Scott.
    Senators Scott and Rubio were joined by Senators Rick Scott (R-Fla.), Bill Cassidy (R-La.), and John Cornyn (R-Texas).

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI New Zealand: Planned closure SH35 Rotokautuku (Waiapu) Bridge, Ruatoria next week

    Source: New Zealand Transport Agency

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    The first planned closure of State Highway 35 at Rotokautuku (Waiapu) Bridge will take place next Wednesday 23 October between midday and 12.30pm.

    During the closure, the highway will be closed in both directions between Bridge Rd and Thatcher Rd.

    While the bridge remains structurally sound, repairs to the bearings and cross bracing are needed to restore the damage caused by Cyclone Gabrielle and to improve its strength.

    Transport Rebuild East Coast (TREC) crews, on behalf of NZ Transport Agency Waka Kotahi (NZTA), will be raising the bridge by a few millimetres to carry out this work.

    Repair work beneath the bridge has been underway for a number of weeks and will continue through to Christmas. Further 30-minute bridge closures are required with the dates and times to be communicated in the next few weeks. Outside of the planned closures, minimal impact on traffic is expected.

    There are no viable detours. NZTA is reminding road users on this stretch of SH35 to plan for this delay or avoid travelling at these times.

    Tags

    MIL OSI New Zealand News –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Natural Gas Producer Agrees to Settlement to Reduce Emissions in New Mexico

    Source: United States Attorneys General 7

    Settlement Includes $9.4M Civil Penalty and Compliance Measures that Will Result in Reduction of Over 113,000 Tons’ Worth of CO2 Pollution

    The Justice Department, Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and New Mexico Environment Department (NMED) today announced a settlement with Hilcorp Energy Company resolving Clean Air Act and New Mexico state law violations at the company’s oil and gas production operations in New Mexico.

    Under the settlement, Hilcorp agreed to pay a civil penalty of $9.4 million for violations resulting from Hilcorp’s failure to reduce emissions during well completion operations. The civil penalty will be split between the U.S. and the State of New Mexico. In addition, the company must employ an EPA-approved third-party auditor to ensure compliance with all applicable Clean Air Act and New Mexico Air Quality Control Act requirements.

    Hilcorp is further directed to account for the excess volatile organic compound (VOC) and methane emissions released through improper well completions by replacing, on a faster timeline than federal regulations require, old process control equipment with equipment that does not emit air pollution. This mitigation project will occur on Tribal lands of the Jicarilla Apache Nation Reservation, in Rio Arriba County, and on Navajo Nation Off-Reservation Trust Land in San Juan and Sandoval counties; all of these areas have potential environmental justice concerns.

    The work that Hilcorp will do under this agreement will result in the equivalent of over 113,000 tons of reduced carbon dioxide emissions over the next three years, similar to the number of reductions achieved by taking 24,000 cars off the road for one year. The settlement will also eliminate nearly 583 tons of VOC emissions annually.

    The case is the first to address violations of the Clean Air Act New Source Performance Standards covering well completions following hydraulic fracturing, commonly referred to as “fracking.”

    “Hilcorp is a large, sophisticated natural gas producer and should know better than to violate Clean Air Act requirements to capture and control gas produced as a result of fracking,” said Assistant Attorney General Todd Kim of the Justice Department’s Environment and Natural Resources Division. “We are committed to upholding the rule of law and holding industry accountable. Today’s settlement importantly includes commitments to make infrastructure upgrades that will result in significant reductions of methane and VOC emissions.”

    “Oil and gas production results in significant air pollution, including emissions of methane that are one of the leading sources of near-term climate change, which makes today’s settlement with Hilcorp Energy a huge win for the environment and the planet,” said Assistant Administrator David M. Uhlmann of EPA’s Office of Enforcement and Compliance Assurance. “EPA is requiring Hilcorp to pay a $9.4 million penalty and make substantial investments in Clean Air Act compliance, which will reduce climate damaging emissions and improve air quality for all New Mexico residents, including communities with environmental justice concerns.”

    “This settlement holds one of the San Juan Basin’s largest polluters accountable for their contribution to climate change and ozone pollution,” said Secretary James Kenney of the New Mexico Environment Department. “If we want to make New Mexico’s air safe for future generations then Houston-based Hilcorp Energy Corporation executives need to step up their game and comply with federal and state rules.”

    Federal Clean Air Act and New Mexico state air regulations require oil and gas producers to capture gas that flows back to the surface following fracking using equipment that can accommodate flowback and to implement a reduced emission completion control, commonly referred to as a green completion. Producers have several green completion options to choose from. If none are technically feasible, producers may route the captured gas to a pollution control device like a flare.

    Based on EPA’s and NMED’s investigations, the U.S. and the state allege that Hilcorp conducted at least 192 well completion operations in Rio Arriba and San Juan counties from Aug. 2, 2017, through Aug. 1, 2019.

    At 145 of these well completions, Hilcorp captured none of the gas and instead released into the atmosphere all gas that flowed back following fracking. At the remainder of well completions, Hilcorp captured a portion of the gas and directed it to a flare but did not demonstrate that all green completion options were infeasible. Hilcorp’s actions resulted in thousands of tons of harmful methane and VOC emissions being released into the environment. Methane is a climate super pollutant and potent greenhouse gas that contributes to climate change, and VOCs adversely affect human health in multiple ways, including being involved in the formation of ground level ozone.

    Hilcorp is one of the nation’s largest privately-owned oil and gas exploration and production companies, and a top producer of natural gas in New Mexico from 2018-2021. New Mexico is one of the top ten producing states for natural gas in the United States for 2018-2023. In 2022, on-shore oil and gas industry data reported to EPA showed that Hilcorp’s San Juan Basin operation emitted the most methane in the U.S. among all oil and gas operations.

    The settlement is part of EPA’s Mitigating Climate Change National Enforcement and Compliance Initiative, which focuses, in part, on reducing methane emissions from oil and gas and landfill sources. Like all EPA’s national enforcement initiatives, the Mitigating Climate Change initiative prioritizes communities already overburdened by pollution and other potential environmental justice concerns.

    More information on the settlement agreement is available on EPA’s Hilcorp Energy Company webpage.

    The consent decree was filed with the U.S. District Court for the District of New Mexico and is subject to a 30-day comment period. Information on providing public comment and the complaint and proposed consent decree are available on the Justice Department’s website at http://www.justice.gov/enrd/consent-decrees.

    EPA and NMED investigated the case.

    Attorneys of the Environment and Natural Resources Division’s Environmental Enforcement Section are handling the case.

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI New Zealand: Government praises important progress on East Coast clean-up

    Source: New Zealand Government

    Important progress is being made on cleaning-up and strengthening resilience in the Tairāwhiti region, 18 months on from the devastating weather events in 2023, Forestry Minister Todd McClay said today.

    To date the Government has committed $110 million resulting in approximately 440,000 tonnes of slash and debris being removed from Tairāwhiti.

    “I want to acknowledge the significant impact on the region and local people and praise the clean-up efforts of all those involved. There is strong momentum and coordination of work in the region across local and central government, and the Forestry and Agriculture sectors in addressing the impacts of last year’s cyclones,” Mr McClay says.

    In response to Cyclones Hale and Gabrielle in January and February 2023, the previous Government initiated the Ministerial Inquiry into Land Use in Tairāwhiti/Gisborne and Wairoa. It resulted in 49 recommendations to both reduce risk and strengthen resilience in the region.

    “This Government is focused on delivering tangible outcomes through the recently established Tairāwhiti Forestry Action Group and Gisborne District Council-led Transition Advisory Group.

    “The Tairāwhiti Forestry Action Group made up of forestry owners, farming interests, Māori landowners and council officials, is working to accelerate the clean-up in the region, remove debris and sediment, address the legacy issue of wood that poses future risk and help to implement best practice for forestry. 

    “The Gisborne District Council-led Transition Advisory Group is working together to support landowners make the changes required to a more sustainable land-use.

    “Central government will continue to stay closely engaged in regionally led initiatives through existing work programmes. This will ensure efforts to align with Government priorities and support the Crown’s Treaty relationships.”

    “Forestry has an important role in Tairāwhiti, but it will be done differently in the future to ensure risks are well managed. 

    “The Government recognises the importance of the forestry sector to the regional economy. Proposed changes to the National Environmental Standards for Commercial Forestry will enable council to implement rules to ensure land use is appropriate, but also give certainty and confidence to the forestry sector.” 

    MIL OSI New Zealand News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: FEMA Extends Renewal Period for Flood Insurance Policyholders in Florida Affected by Hurricane Milton

    Source: US Federal Emergency Management Agency

    Headline: FEMA Extends Renewal Period for Flood Insurance Policyholders in Florida Affected by Hurricane Milton

    FEMA Extends Renewal Period for Flood Insurance Policyholders in Florida Affected by Hurricane Milton

    Extension follows grace period announcement last week for seven states affected by Helene

    WASHINGTON – While renewal dates have passed for some National Flood Insurance Program policyholders in Florida who were affected by Hurricane Milton, these policyholders may be able to take steps that will renew their policy and receive coverage for flood damage. 

    Certain NFIP policyholders in Florida affected by Hurricane Milton now have additional time to renew their policies without a lapse in coverage. These policyholders now have until Dec. 10, 2024 to renew their policies. This is a significant extension from the standard 30-day renewal grace period.

    “I’m sensitive to the fact that our policyholders are dealing with many obstacles during this period of extensive recovery in the wake of Hurricane Milton,” said Jeff Jackson, the interim Senior Executive of the NFIP. “Extending the grace period for policy renewals is one way to show our customer that we care about what they’re going through.”

    Policyholders should be sure to ask their insurance agent or company about advance claims payments to help start their recovery. Advance payments may be available of up to $20,000 prior to a visit from an adjuster. 

    FEMA previously announced an extended grace period for policyholders in seven states affected by Helene, including Florida. Due to Hurricane Milton, this grace period will be extended for Florida policyholders based on the below schedule. 

    If the policy term ended on: The grace period would have ended: But now runs until:
    Aug. 28, 2024 Sept. 26, 2024 Dec. 10, 2024
    Sept. 26, 2024 Oct. 25, 2024 Dec. 10, 2024
    Oct. 15, 2024 Nov. 13, 2024 Dec. 10, 2024
    Nov. 1, 2024 Nov. 30, 2024 Dec. 10, 2024
    Nov. 15, 2024 Dec. 14, 2024 Dec. 14, 2024

    Policyholders whose NFIP policy renewal date is within this range should contact their agent or insurance company.

    For example, if the original policy expiration date was Aug. 28, 2024, the policy may be renewed on or before Dec. 10, 2024. Holders of active policies can file claims for damage received from Milton if premium is paid. 

    Other Actions to Help Policyholders

    The NFIP has extended the proof of loss requirement for policyholders who suffered flood damage from Hurricane Milton from the standard 60 days to 120 days from the date of loss.

    The NFIP also authorized its Write Your Own insurance company partners and the NFIP Direct to pay claims based on the adjuster’s report without requiring policyholders to sign a proof of loss. When a policyholder seeks additional payment for any reason or disagrees with the adjuster report, they may still submit a signed proof of loss to the insurer along with supporting documentation. This can include a contractor’s estimate, bills, receipts, photographs and other related documents. 

    Anyone affected by Milton who has an NFIP flood insurance policy and has suffered flood damage should begin filing their claim now. Evacuated policyholders can still start their claim and provide specifics later once local officials say it’s safe to return home.

    Policyholders who wish to take advantage of the grace period should contact their agent or insurance company. Those who don’t have their insurance agent or company’s contact information should call 877-336-2627 for assistance. 

    FEMA also encourages NFIP policyholders affected by Milton to apply for federal disaster assistance. The three ways to apply are visiting disasterassistance.gov, calling 800-621-3362 or using the FEMA App. Survivors may receive funds to help with essential items like food, water, baby formula and other emergency supplies. Funds may also be available to repair storm-related damage to homes and personal property, as well as assistance to find a temporary place to stay.

    To learn more about how to file a flood insurance claim visit floodsmart.gov.

    amy.ashbridge

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Klobuchar, Smith Working to Secure Funding for Projects for Duluth and Floodwood in Year End Budget

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn)

    The Senate and House Appropriations Committees Advanced Funding Bills with Resources for Minnesota Projects Backed by Klobuchar, Smith

    WASHINGTON – U.S. Senators Amy Klobuchar (D-MN) and Tina Smith (D-MN) announced that Fiscal Year 2025 federal budget bills that passed the Senate and House Appropriations Committees include projects to benefit Duluth and Floodwood. These projects would invest in public infrastructure and child care. On September 26, the Senate and House agreed to avoid a shutdown and continue to negotiate on a final budget proposal. Klobuchar and Smith will fight to ensure these projects are included in that final year-end bill.

    “From upgrading critical infrastructure to investing in expanding child care options for families, we worked with local leaders to secure resources important to Duluth and Floodwood,” said Klobuchar. “Once completed, these projects will improve quality of life for Minnesotans.”

    “Those closest to an issue have the best solutions, and these projects were developed and designed to fit the specific needs of the Duluth area,” said Smith. “From streamlining law enforcement and emergency data or fixing the Duluth Aerial Lift Bridge, to updating our water infrastructure or investing in affordable childcare, these projects will help strengthen our communities and I look forward to working with Senator Klobuchar to get them passed and signed into law.”

    Klobuchar and Smith have successfully secured the following projects in the Appropriations Committee-approved bill:

    • $2,000,000 for the Northern Minnesota Counties Records System Collaborative. This project between nine Minnesota counties will allow for seamless data sharing of 9-1-1 communications records, jail records, and law enforcement data.
    • $500,000 for repairs on the Duluth Aerial Lift Bridge.
    • $1,000,000 for the City of Duluth to make improvements at the Lakewood Water Treatment Plant. Klobuchar and Smith requested the funding along with U.S. Representative Pete Stauber (R-MN).
    • $1,500,000 for the City of Floodwood’s Infrastructure & Accessibility Improvements Project. The project consists of upgrading infrastructure including water, sewer, storm water and ancillary street reconstruction/curb/sidewalks.
    • $674,000 for the Duluth Lincoln Park Restoration Project. 
    • $136,000 for supporting Divine Konnections’ child abuse prevention, recovery, and healing services for young moms.
    • $50,000 to operate the Polar Cubs Child Care Center in Floodwood.

    Klobuchar and Smith have been actively involved in securing this federal funding for projects benefiting communities across the state through a process called “Congressionally Directed Spending” (CDS). During the CDS process, Klobuchar and Smith have considered project proposals and advocated for funding in close coordination with leaders from across the state.

    The projects are expected to pass the Senate over the next several months.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Director Rachel Rossi Delivers Keynote Address at the Community Legal Services 57th Annual Pro Bono Awards Dinner

    Source: United States Attorneys General 7

    Remarks as Prepared for Delivery

    Thank you very much for that generous introduction, Executive Director Harvey. I want to first thank Jeff for his leadership and for hosting this awards dinner. And Jeff, thank you for your service as a lieutenant colonel in the Florida Army National Guard during the recent hurricanes.

    Also, a big thank you to Andrea Ortiz, CLS’ Director of Pro Bono Services, for all her work to make tonight’s event possible. And thank you to all those who helped plan this award dinner.

    I also want to recognize the distinguished attendees tonight for attending this event that recognizes the amazing work of volunteer attorneys throughout the 12-county service area of Community Legal Services.

    And I want to congratulate all those who will be recognized with awards tonight. The commitments you have made to the work of serving those most in need is truly inspiring. To all the pro bono volunteers, including those assisting the Community Legal Services’ Pro Bono Program and the Peer Academy, we commend your dedication and aid to the most in-need in our communities.

    Finally, I must acknowledge my colleague Roger Handberg, the United States Attorney for the Middle District of Florida, and his leadership team. We’ve been impressed with the Office’s innovative access to justice initiatives, including their regular collaboration with CLS.

    It is an honor to be here. I am delighted to join all of you to shine a light on the access to justice work being done in the Orlando area and across Central Florida.

    As Jeff mentioned, I lead the Office for Access to Justice, a standalone office within the Justice Department. Our mission is to ensure access to the promises and protections of our civil and criminal legal systems for all communities. We do this work strategically, through several different initiatives:

    We are focused on dismantling economic barriers, including by promoting reduced reliance criminal and civil fines and fees.

    We’re breaking down language access barriers, through the department-wide Language Access Coordinator who led efforts to modernize the department’s Language Access Plan for the first time in over a decade.

    We’re combatting barriers to reentry for adults in custody, through innovative civil legal assistance programs in federal prisons.

    We’re also disrupting barriers through Access DOJ, an initiative that utilizes human centered design and best practices from the access to justice field to make it easier to access critical forms, understand important information and resources, or more easily navigate federal court systems, such as bankruptcy proceedings.

    And of course, we promote access to council and legal help. I don’t have to convince the people in this room that pro bono assistance is essential to disrupting barriers and closing the justice gap.

    Legal aid organizations provide invaluable assistance to the most vulnerable, but they can’t help everyone. There are eligibility requirements that limit the kinds of cases they can take. Even when eligibility is not an issue, the need for legal aid often outweighs the resources available.

    That’s where pro bono attorneys come in: they extend the reach of these limited resources by volunteering to represent low-income individuals, often in close collaboration with legal service providers. The justice gap is vast — and it will require a wide range of strategies and tools to close it. This includes the hard work and dedication of pro bono attorneys.

    That’s why I’m so inspired by programs like CLS’ Pro Bono Academy, an innovative program that provides structured training to prepare volunteers for pro bono representation.

    And that’s why the Office of Access to Justice is prioritizing promoting pro bono representation through our leadership of the Federal Government Pro Bono Program, which is working to mobilize a massive workforce — federal government attorneys and staff — to pitch in and help bridge the justice gap.

    I am particularly proud of the Federal Government Pro Bono Program’s significant work in Florida.

    Last year, ATJ launched the DOJ Pro Bono Portal on Paladin to enable Justice Department employees to find pro bono opportunities statewide. The portal has expanded to 15 jurisdictions so far, including Florida.

    Every Justice Department attorney in Florida can access pro bono opportunities with the click of a mouse, including those posted by Community Legal Services.

    Unfortunately, the urgent need for pro bono assistance and legal aid often becomes most salient in the wake of disaster. You know this better than anyone with Florida having experienced four hurricanes in the last 14 months. Parts of the state saw complete obliteration of homes and businesses. Other areas of the state are cleaning up debris and starting the long process of rebuilding.

    As you know, it is estimated that more than 200 people were tragically killed by Hurricane Helene. And even for those who survived, the costs are devastating. Helene’s path of destruction across the southeastern U.S. is expected to exceed 30-40 billion dollars in damages.

    And Hurricane Milton compounded the harms, with at least 24 additional lives lost. I don’t have to tell you, because you’re living it.

    When hurricanes and other natural disaster strike, first responders make sure people have the basics: food, shelter, utilities and medical care. Skilled professionals and volunteers bravely address immediate critical needs and conduct rescue efforts.

    While many know to call police, fire departments and disaster response officials for help, rarely do people think about the need for lawyers or legal help.

    Yet, in the midst of a disaster, attorneys — like those in CLS’ disaster unit — are critical to facilitating disaster survivors’ access to essential needs like food and shelter. And when disaster survivors start picking up the pieces of their lives in the weeks, months and sometimes years after a disaster — legal help is often a critical lifeline.

    In the immediate aftermath of a natural disaster, legal aid providers and pro bono volunteers address urgent civil legal issues — from defending against unlawful evictions, to helping apply for public assistance like unemployment benefits, food stamps and FEMA resources.

    And a disaster doesn’t end once the storm has passed. Legal challenges can haunt disaster survivors for years as they seek to replace identification papers, apply for benefits and deal with insurance claims. The hardest hit and the most vulnerable communities can be struggling to fully recover for even longer or in some cases may never fully regain their normal lives. Legal aid providers in Florida are still assisting victims impacted by Hurricane Ian, which hit the Ft. Myers area two years ago.

    The complications of seeking assistance and barriers to obtaining relief for disaster survivors can constitute a second disaster for survivor victims, especially for the elderly, disabled and persons who have limited proficiency in English. Unique complications also exist for those who live in rural areas, where distance or lack of broadband can create additional barriers to accessing legal help, or where damage to agricultural industries can create complex harms.

    Simply put, legal aid and pro bono assistance must be a central element of efforts to rebuild and support communities after a natural disaster.

    That’s what you’re demonstrating here in Florida. Today, I had the opportunity to participate in a Disaster Relief Legal Aid Roundtable hosted by CLS staff and joined by other members of the Florida Disaster Umbrella Group.

    I learned how the Umbrella Group collaborates to address common legal problems impacting low-income communities and how it fosters and promotes better coordination and communication between civil legal aid providers, pro bono volunteers, emergency managers and other advocates from across the state, to ensure that low-income disaster survivors receive the legal assistance they need.

    The Umbrella Group also helps educate the emergency management community about the importance of integrating legal services providers into their work and is an impressive model of collaboration and communication that can be implemented in other states to address natural disasters.

    And here in Florida you’re also demonstrating how pro bono volunteers — like those we celebrate tonight — play an essential role in helping people navigate a maze of post-disaster bureaucracy — including disputes with landlords, insurers and contractors.                          

    Like everyone in the state during an emergency, legal aid organizations have their resources stretched to the limit as they seek to respond to the overwhelming need of disaster survivors. Pro bono volunteers play an invaluable role in relieving the pressure on legal aid organizations during a disaster and in assisting those that would otherwise be forced to weather the storm alone.

    Initiatives like the Disaster Relief Hotline launched this month by the Florida Bar Young Lawyers Division are an innovative way to coordinate pro bono resources in the wake of a disaster. The hotline connects survivors with the help they need when they need it most and supports the legal community by making it easier to volunteer.

    The Office for Access to Justice is also focused on doing what we can to help ensure access to justice for disaster survivors. As one example, our Federal Government Pro Bono Program recently hosted a training for federal government employees on how to volunteer to provide legal help in the midst of a disaster. That training featured participation from legal services providers who specialize in this type of work. We were thrilled to be joined by Legal Services of North Florida, who I know collaborates closely with CLS.

    And next week, we will host the annual Federal Government Pro Bono Week, where we’ll provide a variety of trainings and clinic opportunities for federal employees, lift up their role as collaborators in closing justice gaps and recruit and expand the ranks of the federal volunteer workforce.

    Our Office will continue to promote pro bono volunteerism by federal government employees in the midst of a disaster and to develop resources that advance access to justice for disaster survivors.

    Florida has seen terrible tragedies this past month. But it has also been at the heart of incredible resilience and creative problem solving, producing unique and effective legal assistance programs that help bring people back from most difficult days of their lives. Programs that would not be possible without the vision, hard work and dedication of the legal aid providers and pro bono attorneys in this room and across the state.

    So I once again want to thank the awardees we have gathered tonight to celebrate. And as you continue in this difficult mission and this awesome responsibility, please know that the Office for Access to Justice stands shoulder to shoulder with you as a partner and ally.

    Thank you.

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Natural Gas Producer Agrees to Settlement to Reduce Emissions in New Mexico

    Source: US State of California

    Settlement Includes $9.4M Civil Penalty and Compliance Measures that Will Result in Reduction of Over 113,000 Tons’ Worth of CO2 Pollution

    The Justice Department, Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and New Mexico Environment Department (NMED) today announced a settlement with Hilcorp Energy Company resolving Clean Air Act and New Mexico state law violations at the company’s oil and gas production operations in New Mexico.

    Under the settlement, Hilcorp agreed to pay a civil penalty of $9.4 million for violations resulting from Hilcorp’s failure to reduce emissions during well completion operations. The civil penalty will be split between the U.S. and the State of New Mexico. In addition, the company must employ an EPA-approved third-party auditor to ensure compliance with all applicable Clean Air Act and New Mexico Air Quality Control Act requirements.

    Hilcorp is further directed to account for the excess volatile organic compound (VOC) and methane emissions released through improper well completions by replacing, on a faster timeline than federal regulations require, old process control equipment with equipment that does not emit air pollution. This mitigation project will occur on Tribal lands of the Jicarilla Apache Nation Reservation, in Rio Arriba County, and on Navajo Nation Off-Reservation Trust Land in San Juan and Sandoval counties; all of these areas have potential environmental justice concerns.

    The work that Hilcorp will do under this agreement will result in the equivalent of over 113,000 tons of reduced carbon dioxide emissions over the next three years, similar to the number of reductions achieved by taking 24,000 cars off the road for one year. The settlement will also eliminate nearly 583 tons of VOC emissions annually.

    The case is the first to address violations of the Clean Air Act New Source Performance Standards covering well completions following hydraulic fracturing, commonly referred to as “fracking.”

    “Hilcorp is a large, sophisticated natural gas producer and should know better than to violate Clean Air Act requirements to capture and control gas produced as a result of fracking,” said Assistant Attorney General Todd Kim of the Justice Department’s Environment and Natural Resources Division. “We are committed to upholding the rule of law and holding industry accountable. Today’s settlement importantly includes commitments to make infrastructure upgrades that will result in significant reductions of methane and VOC emissions.”

    “Oil and gas production results in significant air pollution, including emissions of methane that are one of the leading sources of near-term climate change, which makes today’s settlement with Hilcorp Energy a huge win for the environment and the planet,” said Assistant Administrator David M. Uhlmann of EPA’s Office of Enforcement and Compliance Assurance. “EPA is requiring Hilcorp to pay a $9.4 million penalty and make substantial investments in Clean Air Act compliance, which will reduce climate damaging emissions and improve air quality for all New Mexico residents, including communities with environmental justice concerns.”

    “This settlement holds one of the San Juan Basin’s largest polluters accountable for their contribution to climate change and ozone pollution,” said Secretary James Kenney of the New Mexico Environment Department. “If we want to make New Mexico’s air safe for future generations then Houston-based Hilcorp Energy Corporation executives need to step up their game and comply with federal and state rules.”

    Federal Clean Air Act and New Mexico state air regulations require oil and gas producers to capture gas that flows back to the surface following fracking using equipment that can accommodate flowback and to implement a reduced emission completion control, commonly referred to as a green completion. Producers have several green completion options to choose from. If none are technically feasible, producers may route the captured gas to a pollution control device like a flare.

    Based on EPA’s and NMED’s investigations, the U.S. and the state allege that Hilcorp conducted at least 192 well completion operations in Rio Arriba and San Juan counties from Aug. 2, 2017, through Aug. 1, 2019.

    At 145 of these well completions, Hilcorp captured none of the gas and instead released into the atmosphere all gas that flowed back following fracking. At the remainder of well completions, Hilcorp captured a portion of the gas and directed it to a flare but did not demonstrate that all green completion options were infeasible. Hilcorp’s actions resulted in thousands of tons of harmful methane and VOC emissions being released into the environment. Methane is a climate super pollutant and potent greenhouse gas that contributes to climate change, and VOCs adversely affect human health in multiple ways, including being involved in the formation of ground level ozone.

    Hilcorp is one of the nation’s largest privately-owned oil and gas exploration and production companies, and a top producer of natural gas in New Mexico from 2018-2021. New Mexico is one of the top ten producing states for natural gas in the United States for 2018-2023. In 2022, on-shore oil and gas industry data reported to EPA showed that Hilcorp’s San Juan Basin operation emitted the most methane in the U.S. among all oil and gas operations.

    The settlement is part of EPA’s Mitigating Climate Change National Enforcement and Compliance Initiative, which focuses, in part, on reducing methane emissions from oil and gas and landfill sources. Like all EPA’s national enforcement initiatives, the Mitigating Climate Change initiative prioritizes communities already overburdened by pollution and other potential environmental justice concerns.

    More information on the settlement agreement is available on EPA’s Hilcorp Energy Company webpage.

    The consent decree was filed with the U.S. District Court for the District of New Mexico and is subject to a 30-day comment period. Information on providing public comment and the complaint and proposed consent decree are available on the Justice Department’s website at www.justice.gov/enrd/consent-decrees.

    EPA and NMED investigated the case.

    Attorneys of the Environment and Natural Resources Division’s Environmental Enforcement Section are handling the case.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: FEMA Administrator Surveys Virginia Counties and Meets with Survivors and Local Community Officials Recovering from Helene

    Source: US Federal Emergency Management Agency

    Headline: FEMA Administrator Surveys Virginia Counties and Meets with Survivors and Local Community Officials Recovering from Helene

    FEMA Administrator Surveys Virginia Counties and Meets with Survivors and Local Community Officials Recovering from Helene

    WASHINGTON — As FEMA Administrator Deanne Criswell continues to lead the federal response to Helene and Milton in six states, today she is in Virginia to meet survivors and local officials as they continue their recovery from Helene.

    In Virginia, the administrator visited affected communities with Gov. Glenn Youngkin. Earlier in the week she and North Carolina Gov. Roy Cooper in Buncombe County to speak with disaster survivors and meet staff at a local high school as part of the recovery.

    Critical services continue being restored. The Commonwealth of Virginia is focused on debris removal, particularly in lakes that provide the commonwealth a source of drinking water. Removing debris will also reduce threats to public health and safety. In Florida—hit by both storms—power outages have been reduced to about 17,000, down from a peak of 3.2 million. And in North Carolina, approximately 13,000 customers remain without power, down from a peak of about 1 million customers without power. 

    In total, about 433,000 households have been approved for nearly $619 million in FEMA assistance for their Helene recovery while 61,000 households have received $54 million for Milton. Survivors are using these funds to replace essential items, pay for somewhere to stay and make home repairs.

    Hurricane Milton survivors in 34 Florida counties and one Tribal Nation can register for federal disaster assistance. On Oct. 11, President Jospeh R. Biden, Jr., approved a major disaster declaration for Florida following the hurricane. President Biden previously approved federal disaster assistance in six states affected by Helene. This opens up federal help for survivors in designated areas in Florida, Georgia, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee and Virginia.

    In addition, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers announced the Operation Blue Tarp which is a free service to homeowners. Residents impacted by Hurricane Milton can sign-up at www.blueroof.gov, or by calling 888-ROOF-BLU (888-766-3258). The initial sign-up period is set for 21 days and ends Nov. 5. The Florida counties impacted by Hurricane Milton currently identified for the program include: Brevard, Citrus, Charlotte, DeSoto, Hardee, Hernando, Highlands, Hillsborough, Indian River, Lake, Manatee, Okeechobee, Orange, Osceola, Pasco, Pinellas, Polk, Sarasota, Seminole, St. Lucie, Sumter and Volusia.

    FEMA encourages Helene and Milton survivors to apply online as this remains the best way to apply for disaster assistance. Here are the ways to apply for federal assistance: 

    ·         Apply online at disasterassistance.gov

    ·         Call 800-621-3362

    ·         Use the FEMA App

    ·         Visit a Disaster Recovery Center to talk with FEMA and state agency officials and apply for assistance

    In total, over 8,200 federal personnel—including 4,300 FEMA staff—are in communities in these states supporting the ongoing response and recovery efforts. 

    These photos highlight response and recovery efforts across states impacted by Helene and Milton.

    View Original‘ data-align=”center” data-asset-link=”1″ data-entity-type=”emerald” data-image-style=”large” data-asset-type=”imageasset” data-asset-id=”56489″ src=”https://www.fema.gov/sites/default/files/styles/large/public/externals/51c770e055bfac2bdf77a115b7d1e1e9.jpg?itok=d6OkGMpD” alt=”Caption: Lee County, Va. – A group comprised of staff from the Lee County 911, Virginia Department of Emergency Management, the U.S. Small Business Administration, and FEMA was conducting Preliminary Damage Assessments to survey properties affected by Tropical Storm Helene in September.” class=”image-style-large”>
    Lee County, Va. – A group comprised of staff from the Lee County 911, Virginia Department of Emergency Management, the U.S. Small Business Administration, and FEMA was conducting Preliminary Damage Assessments to survey properties affected by Tropical Storm Helene in September.
    View Original‘ data-align=”center” data-asset-link=”1″ data-entity-type=”emerald” data-image-style=”large” data-asset-type=”imageasset” data-asset-id=”56511″ src=”https://www.fema.gov/sites/default/files/styles/large/public/externals/0ac80a360274e00254b29ac8e241b18a.jpg?itok=d3rO453K” alt=”Caption: Burnsville, N.C. – FEMA Administrator Deanne Criswell and North Carolina Governor Roy Cooper visit the Pensacola Volunteer Fire Department to talk with staff and disaster survivors.” class=”image-style-large”>
    Burnsville, N.C. – FEMA Administrator Deanne Criswell and North Carolina Governor Roy Cooper visit the Pensacola Volunteer Fire Department to talk with staff and disaster survivors.
    View Original‘ data-align=”center” data-asset-link=”1″ data-entity-type=”emerald” data-image-style=”large” data-asset-type=”imageasset” data-asset-id=”56462″ src=”https://www.fema.gov/sites/default/files/styles/large/public/externals/7037f02841813c689a6e8dc2d71c40b7.jpg?itok=p12cSWX5″ alt=”Caption: Buncombe County, NC – FEMA Administrator Deanne Criswell and North Carolina Governor Roy Cooper tour recovery operations at a local high school, fire station and community care station to talk with staff and disaster survivors.” class=”image-style-large”>
    Buncombe County, NC – FEMA Administrator Deanne Criswell and North Carolina Governor Roy Cooper tour recovery operations at a local high school, fire station and community care station to talk with staff and disaster survivors.
    BUNCOMBE COUNTY, North Carolina – FEMA Administrator Deanne Criswell visits with staff and disaster survivors about recovery operations at a local high school, fire station and community care station. (Source: FEMA)
    View Original‘ data-align=”center” data-asset-link=”1″ data-entity-type=”emerald” data-image-style=”large” data-asset-type=”imageasset” data-asset-id=”56452″ src=”https://www.fema.gov/sites/default/files/styles/large/public/externals/a0cbc8cb1e9938b50f025fa483a0d283.jpg?itok=pClsD1s-” alt=”Caption: Buncombe County, NC – FEMA Administrator Deanne Criswell and North Carolina Governor Roy Cooper tour recovery operations at a local high school, fire station and community care station to talk with staff and disaster survivors.” class=”image-style-large”>
    Buncombe County, NC – FEMA Administrator Deanne Criswell and North Carolina Governor Roy Cooper tour recovery operations at a local high school, fire station and community care station to talk with staff and disaster survivors.
    View Original‘ data-align=”center” data-asset-link=”1″ data-entity-type=”emerald” data-image-style=”large” data-asset-type=”imageasset” data-asset-id=”56481″ src=”https://www.fema.gov/sites/default/files/styles/large/public/externals/80ff6cd868da9e52fceb6d20106f1667.jpg?itok=9Hhe7DBi” alt=”Caption: Swannanoa, NC – FEMA Disaster Survivor Assistance staff help survivors at a Community Care Station. FEMA, Buncombe County, City of Asheville and the private sector have worked together to offer showers, laundry, bathrooms, access to cell towers, hot food, water, Wi-Fi, and medicine.” class=”image-style-large”>
    Swannanoa, NC – FEMA Disaster Survivor Assistance staff help survivors at a Community Care Station. FEMA, Buncombe County, City of Asheville and the private sector have worked together to offer showers, laundry, bathrooms, access to cell towers, hot food, water, Wi-Fi, and medicine.
    View Original‘ data-align=”center” data-asset-link=”1″ data-entity-type=”emerald” data-image-style=”large” data-asset-type=”imageasset” data-asset-id=”56531″ src=”https://www.fema.gov/sites/default/files/styles/large/public/externals/50d8ffc037538c49d382007aa1769886.jpg?itok=xW7qucuF” alt=”Caption: Sarasota, Fla. (Oct. 17, 2024) – U.S. Army Corps of Engineers assist a family of survivors in their first Blue Roof Project in Sarasota, Florida in the aftermath of Hurricane Milton.” class=”image-style-large”>
    Sarasota, Fla. (Oct. 17, 2024) – U.S. Army Corps of Engineers assist a family of survivors in their first Blue Roof Project in Sarasota, Florida in the aftermath of Hurricane Milton.
    View Original‘ data-align=”center” data-asset-link=”1″ data-entity-type=”emerald” data-image-style=”large” data-asset-type=”imageasset” data-asset-id=”56426″ src=”https://www.fema.gov/sites/default/files/styles/large/public/externals/6ed91d66e28321cf80a1887989c06c4a.jpg?itok=qM79h6sL” alt=”Caption: Palm Beach County, Fla. (Oct. 15, 2024) – DSA crews canvas an area of The Acreage in Palm Beach County Florida.” class=”image-style-large”>
    Palm Beach County, Fla. (Oct. 15, 2024) – DSA crews canvas an area of The Acreage in Palm Beach County Florida.
    View Original‘ data-align=”center” data-asset-link=”1″ data-entity-type=”emerald” data-image-style=”large” data-asset-type=”imageasset” data-asset-id=”56473″ src=”https://www.fema.gov/sites/default/files/styles/large/public/externals/cf9d4bec75102ebbb97b6fc199bfe0d0.jpg?itok=9VB86i5n” alt=”Caption: Columbia, S.C. (Oct. 14, 2024) – FEMA’s Director of Disability Integration and Coordination, Sherman Gillums, Jr., visits the Association for Better Living and Education to show support for their ongoing efforts in supporting the disabled community. Director Gillums met with Dori Tempio, Sr., Director of Community Education, and Mandy Halloran, Director of Public Health.” class=”image-style-large”>
    Columbia, S.C. (Oct. 14, 2024) – FEMA’s Director of Disability Integration and Coordination, Sherman Gillums, Jr., visits the Association for Better Living and Education to show support for their ongoing efforts in supporting the disabled community. Director Gillums met with Dori Tempio, Sr., Director of Community Education, and Mandy Halloran, Director of Public Health.
    View Original‘ data-align=”center” data-asset-link=”1″ data-entity-type=”emerald” data-image-style=”large” data-asset-type=”imageasset” data-asset-id=”56471″ src=”https://www.fema.gov/sites/default/files/styles/large/public/externals/9050b3d4f1ac9a6e2bd7cdfbf7ae3a71.jpg?itok=o0HpV_iy” alt=”Caption: Sandersville, Ga. (Oct. 14, 2024) – FEMA opens a Disaster Recovery Center in Sandersville, Georgia to register members of the community and surrounding counties effected by Hurricane Helene for disaster assistance.” class=”image-style-large”>
    Sandersville, Ga. (Oct. 14, 2024) – FEMA opens a Disaster Recovery Center in Sandersville, Georgia to register members of the community and surrounding counties effected by Hurricane Helene for disaster assistance.

    FEMA’s Disaster Multimedia Toolkit page provides graphics, social media copy and sample text in multiple languages. In addition, FEMA has set up a rumor control web page to reduce confusion about its role in the Helene response. 

    amy.ashbridge

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Floridians May be Eligible for Transitional Sheltering in Hotels

    Source: US Federal Emergency Management Agency

    Headline: Floridians May be Eligible for Transitional Sheltering in Hotels

    Floridians May be Eligible for Transitional Sheltering in Hotels

    TALLAHASSEE, Fla.- FEMA has activated Transitional Sheltering Assistance (TSA) for Floridians displaced by Hurricane Helene or Hurricane Milton in 52 counties and for tribal members of the Miccosukee Tribe of Indians.

    Residents in these counties who have applied for disaster assistance may be eligible to stay temporarily in a hotel or motel paid for by FEMA. Applicants do not need to request this assistance. FEMA will notify them of their eligibility through an automated phone call, text message, and/or email, depending upon the method of communication they selected at the time of application for disaster assistance.

    Applicants may be eligible if they cannot return to their disaster-damaged home and their housing needs cannot be met by insurance, shelters or rental assistance provided by FEMA or another agency.

    Under the TSA program, FEMA pays the cost of room, taxes and non-refundable pet fees directly to participating hotels and motels. Pet fees will only be paid up to the approved limit of assistance for individual rooms. Survivors are responsible for all other costs, including laundry, restaurant/room service, parking, telephone or movie rental. 

    Continued eligibility is determined on an individual basis. When eligibility ends, survivors will be notified by FEMA seven days prior to checkout date.

    TSA is limited to participating hotels and motels in Florida, Alabama and Georgia. Applicants must refer to the TSA Locator to find a hotel, which will be visible to them when they go to DisasterAssistance.gov.  

    TSA participants may also be eligible for other FEMA financial help, including Displacement Assistance, Rental Assistance, Home Repair Assistance and other aspects of the Individual Assistance program.

    Floridians can apply for either storm online at DisasterAssistance.gov. They can also apply using the FEMA mobile App or by calling FEMA’s helpline toll-free at 800-621-3362. Lines are open every day and help is available in most languages. If you choose to apply by phone, please understand calls to FEMA’s helpline are experiencing delays because of the increased volume due to multiple recent disasters. The fastest way to apply is online or through the FEMA App. If you use a relay service, such as Video Relay Service (VRS), captioned telephone or other service, give FEMA your number for that service. To view an accessible video on how to apply visit Three Ways to Apply for FEMA Disaster Assistance – YouTube. 

    For the latest information about Florida’s Hurricane Helene recovery, visit fema.gov/disaster/4828. For Hurricane Milton recovery, visit fema.gov/disaster/4834.Follow FEMA on X at x.com/femaregion4 or on Facebook at facebook.com/fema.

    kirsten.chambers

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI Australia: Golden Highway a critical path to net zero ambitions

    Source: New South Wales Government 2

    Headline: Golden Highway a critical path to net zero ambitions

    Published: 18 October 2024

    Released by: Minister for Energy and Climate Change, Minister for Regional Transport and Roads

    Detailed maps are now available to outline the 19 highway upgrades that will pave the way from the Port of Newcastle to the Central-West Orana Renewable Energy Zone (REZ).

    ‘Port to REZ’ upgrades will be funded by the Australian and NSW governments, with $128.5 million announced towards 320 kilometres of road upgrades and ancillary works.

    The upgrades will enable the transportation of wind turbines and other crucial components needed for wind and solar farms and the transmission network that connects them.

    The Energy Corporation of NSW (EnergyCo) and Transport for NSW are working together to deliver the improved roads, ensuring they can comfortably accommodate transportation of materials required, whilst also improving road safety for local communities.

    The 19 specific locations identified as pinch points are on the Golden Highway between the Port of Newcastle and Elong Elong, as well as a section of the Castlereagh Highway.

    The maps can be found here

    Quotes attributable to NSW Regional Transport and Roads Minister Jenny Aitchison:

    “Transport for NSW is supporting the eight councils along the route with resources and information to help guide them in the rollout of the REZ in preparation for new wind and solar power operations.

    “We are working closely with councils who are the local road authorities in their respective areas, responsible for the management of local road networks, including road safety, road funding, road maintenance and heavy vehicle access.

    “Additionally, Transport for NSW and EnergyCo are currently carrying out a review of roads across the designated renewable energy corridors to determine if any roads should be reclassified as state roads.”

    Quotes attributable to Minister for Climate Change and Energy Penny Sharpe:

    “As the Renewable Energy Zones progress, we’re working to ensure that local infrastructure such as roads, are in a good enough state to accommodate extra demands.

    “This is part of our commitment to the long-term prosperity of communities hosting Renewable Energy Zones as we continue the transformation of our state’s energy system.”

    MIL OSI News –

  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: SFST’s speech at HKQAA 35th Anniversary Forum (English only)

    Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

         Following is the speech by the Secretary for Financial Services and the Treasury, Mr Christopher Hui, at the HKQAA 35th Anniversary Forum today (October 18):

    Chairman Ho (Chairman of the Hong Kong Quality Assurance Agency, Mr Ho Chi-shing), distinguished guests, ladies and gentlemen,

         Good afternoon. It is my great pleasure to join you today as we celebrate the 35th anniversary of the Hong Kong Quality Assurance Agency (HKQAA). First, let me extend my warmest congratulations to the HKQAA on this remarkable milestone, and my sincere thanks for the invitation to speak at today’s forum.

         Today’s topic – Sustainable Finance, ESG, and Climate Resilience – could not be more timely or critical, as it highlights the directions we must take to secure the future of not just our economy and financial markets, but our society and planet. I would like to focus on Hong Kong’s role and achievements in this area, which I believe can be summed up by a three-A framework: accessibility to capital, availability of opportunity, and accountability to global standards.

    Accessibility to capital

         Sustainable finance is not just a passing trend. It represents a transformative movement, aligning financial systems with the larger goals of sustainable, inclusive growth. Hong Kong has embraced this vision, emerging as a leading international hub for green finance. In 2023 alone, the total issuance of green and sustainable debt in Hong Kong exceeded US$50 billion, including both bonds and loans, with green and sustainable bonds arranged here accounting for 37 per cent of all such bonds issued across Asia.

         This growing accessibility to green capital is not just about numbers. It shows that Hong Kong is well-positioned to channel investments into projects that positively impact the environment and society. We are actively working to expand our green investment product offerings and attract more international issuers to use Hong Kong’s green financing market.

         By June of this year, the Securities and Futures Commission had authorised over 230 ESG (environmental, social and governance) funds, with total assets under management exceeding HK$1.3 trillion. This represents year-on-year growth of 19 per cent in the number of funds and 8 per cent in assets under management. These investments are not only generating financial returns for investors but also contributing to the well-being of our communities, proving that profitability and purpose can indeed go hand in hand.

    Availability of opportunity

         As we look to the future, it is vital that we continue to unlock new investment opportunities and encourage innovation in green and sustainable finance. Collaboration across sectors – between government, businesses, and the community – is essential in driving this progress.

         One recent example of innovation is Core Climate, a marketplace launched by the Hong Kong Exchanges and Clearing Limited (HKEX) in 2022. Core Climate connects capital with climate-related products and opportunities across Hong Kong, Mainland China, Asia, and beyond. In August this year, the HKEX further enhanced this platform by introducing Gold Standard’s Verified Emission Reductions, offering users a seamless, integrated experience.

         Hong Kong has also demonstrated its leadership in combining the bond market, green finance, and fintech. In February this year, we successfully issued HK$6 billion worth of tokenised green bonds, denominated in multiple currencies – Hong Kong dollar, Renminbi, US dollar, and euro. This marks our second tokenised bond issuance, following the first in February 2022, and is the world’s first multi-currency digitally native green bond.

         The success of these initiatives reflects the strength of Hong Kong’s green fintech ecosystem, which continues to evolve. By leveraging new technologies, we can amplify efforts to support sustainable development, not only in our local community but across the entire region.

    Accountability to global standards

         As a global green finance hub, Hong Kong recognises the importance of maintaining accountability and transparency in sustainability efforts. This is why aligning with international standards, notably as the International Sustainability Standards Board (ISSB), is a key priority. We are committed to ensuring that our local sustainability disclosure requirements are aligned with the ISSB Standards, which will significantly enhance Hong Kong’s competitiveness in the global sustainable finance arena.

         By adopting these internationally recognised standards, we will strengthen our position as a trusted green finance hub while also improving the resilience of our local communities. This alignment will not only foster greater investor confidence but also ensure that our financial sector is well-equipped to meet the challenges of an increasingly sustainability-driven world.

    HKQAA’s contributions

         I would also like to take this opportunity to commend the HKQAA for its significant contributions to Hong Kong’s sustainable finance journey. Over the past 35 years, the HKQAA has been a steadfast partner, providing critical quality assurance and helping to uphold rigorous standards for green and sustainable finance. Since the launch of the Government Green Bond Programme in 2019, the HKQAA has played a pivotal role by providing external reviews for each bond issuance, ensuring the credibility and integrity of these instruments.

         In addition, the HKQAA has introduced a number of certification schemes, further enhancing stakeholder confidence in green finance products. Their dedication to upholding high standards has been instrumental in positioning Hong Kong as a global leader in this space. Looking ahead, we will continue to count on the HKQAA’s expertise as we strive to meet the evolving challenges of sustainable development.

    Conclusion

         In closing, I would like to emphasise that the future of finance is sustainable finance. As we work towards building a more resilient and sustainable future for Hong Kong and beyond, we must remain committed to the principles of ESG and climate resilience.

         Thank you for your attention and your unwavering commitment to sustainable development. Together, we can create a brighter, greener future for generations to come.

    MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

  • MIL-OSI USA News: FACT SHEET: The U.S.-Germany  Partnership

    Source: The White House

    On the occasion of President Joseph R. Biden Jr.’s visit to Germany, the United States reaffirms its commitment to deepening the close and historic bond between the two nations as Allies and friends.  For over 75 years, Germany has been a crucial partner in ensuring the stability, security, and prosperity of the transatlantic alliance.  In October 2023, President Biden welcomed President Steinmeier to Washington during German-American Day, underscoring the enduring people-to-people ties between our two countries, including the over 40 million Americans who claim German heritage and strengthen the diverse fabric of the United States.  In February 2024, President Biden welcomed Chancellor Olaf Scholz to the White House, where the two leaders reaffirmed their support for Ukraine’s defense against Russia’s war of aggression, discussed regional stability in the Middle East, and prepared for the NATO Summit in Washington.

    During his visit to Germany, President Biden will underscore our mutual commitment to upholding democracy, combating antisemitism and hatred, and expanding collaboration to promote economic growth and technological innovation.  In addition, he will express gratitude to Germany for its role in hosting approximately 39,000 U.S. service members and its vital contributions to the security of NATO and the broader transatlantic community. 

    The United States and Germany are partners in a wide range of new and continuing initiatives to address the most pressing challenges of our time, some of which are listed below.

    # # #

    SECURITY AND DEFENSE

    • The United States and Germany cooperate through several multilateral institutions including NATO, the G7, the OSCE, and the UN, to advance security, democracy, and the rule of law globally.
    • As host to the largest U.S. troop presence in Europe and second largest globally, Germany continues to play a critical role as a platform for U.S. military force projection, including support for NATO’s eastern flank and training for Ukrainian soldiers. 
    • Germany has been a key provider of military assistance to Ukraine in its defense against the Kremlin’s aggression.  Contributions include advanced weaponry such as Leopard 2 tanks, air defense systems (such as IRIS-T), artillery, and ammunition. Germany also supplies medical aid, vehicles, and training for Ukrainian forces, continuously adapting its support to Ukraine’s evolving needs in coordination with NATO allies.
    • As announced by President Biden and Chancellor Scholz on July 10, 2024, the United States looks forward to beginning the episodic deployments of its Multi-Domain Task Force in Germany in 2026, as part of planning for enduring stationing of these conventional long-range fire capabilities in the future.
    • Germany plays a key role in the U.S-Italy co-led G7+ Coordination Group for Ukraine Energy Security Support.  Germany has been a leading provider of financial assistance and critical components such as transformers and power generators to support the repair and strengthening of Ukraine’s energy sector in response to Russia’s continued brutal attacks on civilian infrastructure.
    • Germany is a robust partner in the fight against terrorism and terrorism financing, in the Financial Action Task Force, and as part of the Global Coalition to Defeat ISIS (D-ISIS).  On September 30, State Secretary Tobias Lindner joined Secretary Blinken for the D-Isis Ministerial Meeting in Washington, D.C. 
    • Germany will accede to Operation Olympic Defender, a U.S.-led multinational effort intended to strengthen nations’ abilities to deter hostile acts in space, strengthen deterrence against hostile actors, and reduce the spread of debris orbiting the earth. International partners currently include the UK, Canada, and Australia.

    DEFENDING DEMOCRACY

    • As the second-largest provider of assistance to Ukraine after the United States, Germany has provided $37.2 billion (€34 billion) in bilateral assistance since February 2022.  This includes humanitarian assistance, budgetary support, military equipment and training, and funding for Ukraine’s reconstruction.  Germany hosted an international reconstruction conference for Ukraine in Berlin in June 2024 which generated over €60 billion in commitments to Ukraine and emphasized the human dimension of post-war recovery.
    • At the September 2024 United Nations General Assembly, the United States, in partnership with Germany and other international allies, reaffirmed its commitment to supporting democratic transitions as part of the Democracy Delivers Initiative, launched by USAID.  The initiative mobilized over $517 million to provide financial and technical assistance to countries undergoing democratic renewal, including Guatemala, Armenia, and Moldova, with the aim of strengthening global democratic resilience.
    • Germany has increasingly recognized the importance of supporting Taiwan as a like-minded democratic partner.  Education Minister Stark-Watzinger’s visit to Taiwan in 2023 marked the first visit by a German minister to Taiwan in 26 years.  Two German warships recently transited the Taiwan Strait, a visible demonstration of Germany’s commitment to upholding international laws and norms and increasing engagement to maintain a free and open Indo-Pacific region.
    • Germany was one of the first of twenty-one countries to endorse the U.S. government’s Framework to Counter Foreign State Information Manipulation, the U.S. Department of State’s key initiative to galvanize like-minded democracies to respond collectively to the threat posed by disinformation.  

    ECONOMICS & TRADE

    • Germany is the United States’ largest trading partner in Europe, with bilateral trade reaching over $324 billion in goods and services in 2023.  U.S. direct investment in Germany was $193.2 billion in 2023.  In total, German firms employ an estimated 923,600 people in the United States.  Germany is the fourth-largest source of foreign direct investment in the United States and the number one foreign investor in U.S. renewable energy projects.  Germany is currently the third-largest source of foreign direct investment in the United States, with investments worth more than $660 billion based on 2023 data.
    • On September 24, 2024, the United States and Germany held the third round of the U.S.-Germany Economic Dialogue, building on the framework established in the 2021 Washington Declaration.  The talks focused on strengthening collaboration to increase economic security, including cooperation in sectors such as digital technologies and clean energy supply chains.  Both countries committed to enhancing supply chain resilience and advancing sustainability goals.
    • Germany and the United States partner on several initiatives to advance women’s economic security around the world, including bolstering women’s participation in climate sectors through the Women in the Sustainable Economy Initiative, closing the gender digital divide through the Women in the Digital Economy Initiative, and supporting women to join the workforce by investing in efforts to close the global childcare gap through the Invest in Childcare Initiative.

    COMBATTING ANTISEMITISM:

    •  Germany is a global leader and vital partner in the fight against antisemitism and extremism.  Senior officials are unequivocal in condemning antisemitism and federal and state governments have robust strategies for tackling the problem.  In July 2024, Germany co-launched the Global Guidelines for Countering Antisemitism in Buenos Aires, an initiative led by U.S. Special Envoy Deborah Lipstadt.
    • Launched in 2021, The U.S.-Germany Dialogue on Holocaust Issues, plays an essential role in combatting Holocaust distortion online and promoting accurate Holocaust education and commemoration.
    • Germany and the United States cooperate on improving resolution to Nazi-confiscated art to ensure just and fair solutions for survivors and heirs, and salute Germany’s new art restitution policy.

    EDUCATIONAL EXCHANGES

    • The German-American Fulbright program is one of the largest and most varied of the Fulbright Programs worldwide, sponsoring over 40,000 Germans and Americans since its inception in 1952.
    • Established in 2016 as a public-private partnership, each year the USA For You program brings youth from underserved German communities to the United States for a two-week homestay and community service experience.  The program promotes civic engagement and helps counter extremism and xenophobia by fostering cultural understanding.  In 2023, the German government launched a reciprocal Germany for You program, allowing American high school students to visit Germany for a similar exchange, further strengthening transatlantic ties.
    • The Congress-Bundestag Youth Exchange (CBYX), jointly funded by the United States and German governments, supports the transatlantic relationship by fostering year-long academic, homestay, and community service opportunities for 700 American and German youth annually.  Since 1983, CBYX has promoted cross-cultural understanding, professional skills, and mutual awareness of each nation’s history, politics, and society.  With around 15,000 German and 14,000 American participants to date, the program strengthens ties and deepens the transatlantic partnership between the next generation of leaders.
    • The German Bundestag-Bundesrat exchange (CBBSX) program is an annual two-way exchange between German Bundestag and Bundesrat staff and U.S. Congressional staff members.  It was initiated during the 1983 German-American Tricentennial celebration and first implemented in 1984.  Participants focus on the U.S. legislative process and U.S.-German relations; examining U.S. Congress and the U.S. political system.  In 2024 the IVLP brought 10 German Bundestag and Bundesrat staff members to the United States.  For the first time, CBBSX participants also engaged with state and local government.

    SCIENCE, ENVIRONMENT, SPACE, & TECHNOLOGY

    • On January 10, 2024, the United States and Germany held a U.S.-Germany Critical and Emerging Technology Track 1.5 Dialogue to share strategic objectives, outlooks, and lessons learned in technological innovation. The two countries agreed to convene the first of an ongoing AI Dialogue to discuss approaches to AI governance, infrastructure and innovation, and applications of AI for good. They intend to hold the first session of this dialogue in early 2025.
    • Furthering their commitment to monitoring the effects of climate change, the United States and Germany have partnered on space collaboration through NASA’s Gravity Recovery and Climate Experiment Follow-On (GRACE-FO) mission, which monitors Earth’s water movement by tracking shifts in gravity.  This mission provides critical data for managing water resources, monitoring sea levels, and understanding climate change impacts on a global scale.
    • The U.S.-Germany scientific partnership was further strengthened throughfunding from the U.S. National Science Foundation (NSF) and Germany’s Federal Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF) for Collaborative Research in Computational Neuroscience (CRCNS) program, which advances cutting-edge research in brain function and computational neuroscience.  This initiative supports interdisciplinary approaches to understanding neural systems.
    • On September 14, 2023, the United States and Germany held the inaugural U.S.-Germany Space Dialogue, advancing collaboration in space exploration, satellite technology, and space security.  This dialogue promotes joint efforts in planetary science, climate monitoring, and managing space debris, while advancing international norms for responsible space operations.

    CLIMATE & ENERGY

    • In July 2021, the United States and Germany launched the U.S.-Germany Climate and Energy Partnership to deepen collaboration on the policies and sustainable technologies needed to accelerate the global net-zero future.  Notable outcomes of the Partnership include the first U.S.-Germany Climate and Energy Summit held in Pittsburgh September 2022, and the U.S.-German Clean Hydrogen Conference held in Berlin October 2023.
    • Beyond our strong bilateral partnership, the United States and Germany are also intensifying our cooperation to accelerate the clean energy transition and promote clean economic growth in emerging and developing economies.  This includes leveraging and scaling-up our collective technical, policy, and financial support to catalyze investments in clean energy manufacturing and industrial decarbonization in developing countries, leveraging key international platforms such as the Climate Club and Clean Technology Fund.

    GLOBAL DEVELOPMENT

    • The United States participated in the International Humanitarian Conference on Sudan, hosted by France, Germany, and the European Commission on April 15, 2024, to address the vital need for greater humanitarian assistance for the Sudanese people.
    • The U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) and Germany’s Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ) are strengthening their partnership through a Strategic Development Dialogue.  This initiative focuses on joint efforts to tackle global challenges in climate change, food security, gender equality, health, and G7 development priorities.
    • The United States and Germany have worked closely across multiple presidencies of the G7 Food Security Working Group to support efforts to achieve long-term food and nutrition security.  As most recently affirmed in the Apulia G7 Leaders’ Communiqué, both countries have committed to promoting and supporting multi-stakeholder programs to build climate resilience in our food systems.  These programs include the Vision for Adapted Crops and Soils, launched by the United States in partnership with the African Union and Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations.

    ###

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI New Zealand: Legislation – No Meaningful Change Leaves Fast Track Approvals Bill Stinking

    Source: Communities Against the Fast Track

    Communities Against the Fast Track are disappointed and frustrated with the report of the Select Committee on the Fast Track Approvals Bill, released this afternoon. (ref. https://kasm.us6.list-manage.com/track/click?u=40fd433e2f2344060946f0bb8&id=18db05f6af&e=26e06db549 )

    “The report makes it clear that, at least to the Committee’s ‘majority’, it’s more important to push through developments fast, than to get it right for Aotearoa and future generations,” says Augusta Macassey-Pickard, spokesperson for the group (see membership list below).

    “This isn’t about speed, it’s a clear demonstration that the government simply wants to avoid any environmental regulation or community oversight.The Committee has ignored the thousands of submissions against this bill, along with its minority members.”

    The group noted that of all consents notified at the moment, 93% or them are successful, making a mockery of the Government’s rationale that there is a desperate need for this extreme reform. And they question the determination to remove any avenue for public input.

    “Intentionally excluding community voices, including those of tangata whenua, is actively ensuring that significant knowledge and understanding will be missed. The lack of adequate scrutiny by anyone but the applicant, the Ministers and their expert panels creates a risk that even the few projects that, at face value, could be beneficial, are likely to be sub-par as they have not been properly interrogated.”

    CAFT members are also deeply concerned at the apparent comfort of the (majority) Select Committee with the lack of information they were provided around the implications for Aotearoa in the international trade space.

    “The casual attitude taken to our trade situation is reflective of what this bill demonstrates – this Government’s apparent disrespect for our country, for our communities.”

    “Considering that, and the zombie projects, the retention of aspects like overrides for prohibited activities and Council plans, and the sheer number of proposals on  the list that are not relevant to our infrastructure, but, as with  seabed mining, and coal and gold mining, are harmful to our environment, it is absolutely clear; the Fast Track Bill is about what’s good for the pockets and bottom lines of a few.

    It is abundantly clear this is not about what’s good for Aotearoa.This bill stinks.”

    Macassey-Pickard also says the group has serious concerns and doubts over the ability of the system to cope – 149 significant proposals at a time when the EPA has, like many other Government Departments, been significantly scaled back.

    “It’s a lot of work to service even one application: appointing the panel, coordinating hearings, notifications, transcripts, decisions and setting up monitoring programmes if a consent is granted. How can the EPA do anything to protect the public interest with this deluge, especially in light of its recent cuts? How can this be anything other than a rubber-stamping exercise?” asked Macassey-Pickard.

    Who is CAFT Communities Against the Fasttrack

    We collectively represent thousands of volunteers who are actively out in communities around the country giving their time and energy, expertise and experience to help create the kind of communities we want to live in, sustainable, inclusive and forward thinking

    CAFT members:

    Coromandel Watchdog of Hauraki, 350 Aotearoa, Kiwis Against Seabed Mining, Coal Action Network Aotearoa, Climate Justice Taranaki, Environment and Conservation Organisations of NZ (ECO), 350 Aotearoa, Taranaki Energy Watch, Extinction Rebellion Tāmaki Makaurau, All Aboard, Save the Basin Campaign, and individual grassroots community organisers from around the motu.

    MIL OSI New Zealand News –

  • MIL-Evening Report: How extreme weather and costs of housing and insurance trap some households in a vicious cycle

    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Jens O. Zinn, T.R. Ashworth Associate Professor in Sociology, The University of Melbourne

    Climate change is increasing the risk of extreme weather events for Australian households. Floods and bushfires are becoming more likely and severe. As a result, household insurance costs are soaring – tripling in some cases. High-risk areas might even become uninsurable.

    The national housing crisis is pushing low-income households in particular to seek affordable housing in areas at risk of flooding. There they can become trapped in a vicious cycle. Unable to pay soaring insurance premiums in these areas, they also can’t afford housing elsewhere.

    The regulation of housing in Australia traditionally relies on well-informed buyers being responsible for managing the risks. But our new study found home buyers are often not aware of the long-term risks.

    Only after they’ve bought the home do they start thinking about these risks. When faced with unexpected high insurance costs, many opt to take the risk of being underinsured or even uninsured. This leaves them highly vulnerable.

    The National Strategy for Disaster Resilience promotes a shared-responsibility concept. However, we found the main responsibility still lies with households. And they are not equipped to cope with the increasing complexity, impacts and costs of extreme weather events.

    What’s wrong with the current approach?

    The uncertain knowledge about future extreme weather events is challenging the traditional prioritising of individual responsibility. It’s becoming even harder for households to make informed decisions based on past experiences.

    Government efforts to regulate increasing flooding events might not be effective when households do not want to relocate or cannot afford housing elsewhere.

    Governments are also under pressure to jump in to compensate households for the costs of extreme weather damage.

    Our research found a number of issues prevent efficient regulation:

    • stakeholders such as the insurance industry and home lenders face legal hurdles to sharing data and giving financial advice for housing in high-risk areas

    • well-intended measures such as buybacks and planned relocations can fail when they do not relate to people’s experiences and life situation, such as limited financial resources and deep connections to a place and community

    • households’ motivation to insure themselves might decrease if they can expect government to provide compensation as a de facto last insurer.

    Who is responsible for what?

    In Australia, responsibility for managing extreme weather events is roughly divided among three main stakeholders: the three levels of government, businesses and households.

    Within the three levels of government, states and territories bear the main responsibility for managing extreme weather events. They do so through disaster risk management plans and policies, hazard prevention and land-use planning.

    Yet housing is still built in flood-prone regions. It happens where commercial interests conflict with regional planning, and governments are under pressure to deliver housing for growing populations.

    After extreme weather hits, house and contents insurance cover is key for a household to recover. But insurance costs are based on the risk of events such as flooding. As these risks rise, premiums may also increase and become unaffordable. The Climate Council estimates one out of 25 properties will even become uninsurable by 2030.

    When housing is built in at-risk areas, under the current system home buyers are largely responsible for informing themselves about the risks of floods, bushfires and other natural disasters. Our research suggests many are struggling to estimate what insurance is likely to cost them.

    To prepare for these costs before they invest in a home, they must assess their own risk, know the value of their house and contents and calculate the costs of rebuilding after a disaster. They must also take into account increasing costs for builders and materials after an extreme weather event.

    Climate change is making these already complex calculations even more difficult.

    Our study is based on interviews with 26 insurance, legal, financial, policy and urban planning experts. Despite the National Strategy for Disaster Resilience’s concept of shared responsibility, we found most of the burden still falls on households.

    Yet households often lack the knowledge to assess the risks. The data and information are either unavailable, or hard to access and understand.

    These difficulties, coupled with the complex language of insurance contracts, contribute to high numbers of underinsured and uninsured households.

    The Australian government responded in 2022 by setting up a cyclone reinsurance pool. Its aim is to keep premiums for households and businesses affordable.

    There are also government buyback programs or relocation plans to move people out of high-risk regions. As noted above, though, these don’t always suit households when offered away from their communities or full costs aren’t adequately covered.

    Governments must take on more responsibility

    According to the experts we interviewed, households are no longer able to carry the main responsibilities for managing the risks of climate change. Government must take on more responsibility.

    At the local level, councils need to better educate their staff on climate change risks. They should ban housing development in at-risk areas.

    Better information and data sharing among stakeholders such as insurers and governments will also be crucial. Such data and information also need to be made more accessible and easier for households to understand.

    In a climate change world, increasing extreme weather events result in new complexities. Households are not able to assess these new risks and complexities to make well-informed decisions.

    Australia needs stronger sharing of responsibilities between different stakeholders such as insurers, governments and households. This includes changes to laws on information and data sharing between insurers, governments and households, bans on building in high-risk areas, and better advice about the costs of buying in high-risk regions.

    Jens Zinn received funding from the Hanse Wissenschaftskolleg/Institute for Advanced Study, Delmenhorst/Germany (10/2023-05/2024).

    Julia Plass has received funding for the data collection in the study mentioned in the article from the German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD).

    – ref. How extreme weather and costs of housing and insurance trap some households in a vicious cycle – https://theconversation.com/how-extreme-weather-and-costs-of-housing-and-insurance-trap-some-households-in-a-vicious-cycle-241572

    MIL OSI Analysis – EveningReport.nz –

  • MIL-OSI New Zealand: Release: Serious concerns ignored in Govt’s fast track bill

    Source: New Zealand Labour Party

    National’s fast track bill enables the most radical and unbalanced consenting regime in living memory.

    As the Parliamentary Commissioner for the Environment, Rt Hon Simon Upton said in his submission to select committee ‘the Bill lacks many of the environmental safeguards its predecessor legislation contained. Even the much-maligned National Development Act 1979 had more checks and balances.’

    “Despite masquerading under the same name as Labour’s fast-track consenting legislation, it is fundamentally different. Its objective is to override environmental protections,” Labour’s acting environment spokesperson David Parker said.

    “Labour’s fast-track process worked. Under it almost 100 projects were approved without undue delay or excessive cost. Many significant housing subdivisions, wind farms, solar farms, retirement villages and infrastructure projects were approved. This process worked and did not override the Resource Management, Conservation, Wildlife and Heritage Protection Acts.

    “In contrast this bill excludes any reference to the environment or sustainable management in its purpose, and now enables environmental protections in the Resource Management, Conservation, Wildlife and Heritage Protection Acts to be overridden.

    “The Bill is obviously not aimed at approving the sorts of projects that were already being approved. It is aimed at pushing through environmentally contentious projects, some of which have been previously declined or are midway through other processes.

    “Examples include mining 50 million tonnes of iron sands off Taranaki for export (not New Zealand processing), coal mines, and a contentious proposal to burn large quantities of plastic.

    “Climate polluting emissions will increase.

    “The list of projects to be considered – which was released after submissions closed – includes many projects where locals adversely affected should have the opportunity to make submissions. They won’t be able to.

    “It was reported this morning that even a National Party MP disagrees with a project on that list and would lie on train tracks to stop it, making a complete mockery of their consultation process.

    “The Parliamentary Commissioner’s serious concerns have been ignored. So have the submitters who overwhelmingly opposed this overreach.

    “There are many other problems with this legislation described in Labour’s part of the Committee report back, which has been tabled in the House this afternoon.

    “The tens of thousands of New Zealanders who marched in the streets to protest against this radical override of New Zealand’s environmental laws have been ignored. The legislation is more extreme than it was when it went to the select committee,” David Parker said.

    Stay in the loop by signing up to our mailing list and following us on Facebook, Instagram, and X.

    MIL OSI New Zealand News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: What is Air Quality?

    Source: NASA

    Clean air is essential for healthy living, but according to the World Health Organization (WHO), almost 99% of the global population breathes air exceeding their guideline limits of air pollution. “Air quality is a measure of how much stuff is in the air, which includes particulates and gaseous pollutants,” said Kristina Pistone, a research scientist at NASA Ames Research Center. Pistone’s research covers both atmospheric and climate areas, with a focus on the effect of atmospheric particles on climate and clouds. “It’s important to understand air quality because it affects your health and how well you can live your life and go about your day,” Pistone said. We sat down with Pistone to learn more about air quality and how it can have a noticeable impact on human health and the environment.

    There are six main air pollutants regulated by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) in the United States: particulate matter (PM), nitrogen oxides, ozone, sulfur oxides, carbon monoxide, and lead. These pollutants come from from natural sources, such as the particulate matter that rises into the atmosphere from fires and desert dust, or from human activity, such as the ozone generated from sunlight reacting to vehicle emissions.

    Air quality influences health and quality of life. “Just like we need to ingest water, we need to breathe air,” Pistone said. “We have come to expect clean water because we understand that we need it to live and be healthy, and we should expect the same from our air.”
    Poor air quality has been tied to cardiovascular and respiratory effects in humans. Short-term exposure to nitrogen dioxide (NO2), for example, can cause respiratory symptoms like coughing and wheezing, and long-term exposure increases the risk of developing respiratory diseases such as asthma or respiratory infections. Exposure to ozone can aggravate the lungs and damage the airways. Exposure to PM2.5 (particulates 2.5 micrometers or smaller) causes lung irritation and has been linked to heart and lung diseases.
    In addition to its impacts on human health, poor air quality can damage the environment, polluting bodies of water through acidification and eutrophication. These processes kill plants, deplete soil nutrients, and harm animals.

    Air quality is similar to the weather; it can change quickly, even within a matter of hours. To measure and report on air quality, the EPA uses the United States Air Quality Index (AQI). The AQI is calculated by measuring each of the six primary air pollutants on a scale from “Good” to “Hazardous,” to produce a combined AQI numeric value 0-500.
    “Usually when we’re talking about air quality, we’re saying that there are things in the atmosphere that we know are not good for humans to be breathing all the time,” Pistone said. “So to have good air quality, you need to be below a certain threshold of pollution.” Localities around the world use different thresholds for “good” air quality, which is often dependent on which pollutants their system measures. In the EPA’s system, an AQI value of 50 or lower is considered good, while 51-100 is considered moderate. An AQI value between 100 and 150 is considered unhealthy for sensitive groups, and higher values are unhealthy to everyone; a health alert is issued when the AQI reaches 200. Any value over 300 is considered hazardous, and is frequently associated with particulate pollution from wildfires.

    Air quality sensors are a valuable resource for capturing air quality data on a local level.In 2022, the Trace Gas GRoup (TGGR) at NASA Ames Research Center deployed Inexpensive Network Sensor Technology for Exploring Pollution, or INSTEP: a new network of low-cost air quality sensors that measures a variety of pollutants. These sensors are capturing air quality data in certain areas in California, Colorado, and Mongolia, and have proven advantageous for monitoring air quality during California’s fire season.
    The 2024 Airborne and Satellite Investigation of Asian Air Quality (ASIA-AQ) mission integrated sensor data from aircraft, satellites, and ground-based platforms to evaluate air quality over several countries in Asia. The data captured from multiple instruments on these flights, such as the Meteorological Measurement System (MMS) from NASA Ames Atmospheric Science Branch, are used to refine air quality models to forecast and assess air quality conditions.
    Agency-wide, NASA has a range of Earth-observing satellites and other technology to capture and report air quality data. In 2023, NASA launched the Tropospheric Emissions: Monitoring of Pollution (TEMPO) mission, which measures air quality and pollution over North America. NASA’s Land, Atmosphere Near real-time Capability for Earth Observations (LANCE) tool provides air quality forecasters with measurements compiled from a multitude of NASA instruments, within three hours of its observation.

    In addition to the EPA’s website, which houses air-quality related sources, the EPA also has a platform called AirNow, which reports the local AQI across the United States and allows users to check air quality levels in their area. Pistone also recommends looking at Purple Air’s real-time map, which displays PM data taken from a crowd-sourced network of low-cost sensors and translates those measurements to estimate AQI. For those concerned about air quality, Pistone recommends checking out https://cleanaircrew.org/ for resources on indoor air quality, breathing safely with wildfire smoke, and even building your own box fan filter.
    To learn more about air quality research applications, see NASA’s Applied Sciences Program’s Health & Air Quality program area, which details the use of Earth observations to assess and address air quality concerns at local, regional, and national levels. Additionally, the NASA Health and Air Quality Applied Sciences Team (HAQAST) helps connect NASA data and tools with stakeholders to better share and understand the effects of air quality on human health.
    Written by Katera Lee, NASA Ames Research Center

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI New Zealand: Life-long love of nature leads EIT student to important local environmental research | EIT Hawke’s Bay and Tairāwhiti

    Source: Eastern Institute of Technology – Tairāwhiti

    16 mins ago

    Ryan Bauckham is in his final year of the Bachelor of Applied Science (Biodiversity Management), which EIT offers in partnership with Unitec.

    A life-long love of exploring the outdoors has been the incentive for an EIT student to pursue a career in environmental research in Hawke’s Bay.

    Ryan Bauckham, 35, is in his final year of the Bachelor of Applied Science (Biodiversity Management), which EIT offers in partnership with Unitec.

    He has currently been  researching Lepidoptera (moths and butterflies)  in a significant forest stand called Puahanui found near Gwavas , Tikokino.

    “It’s actually the largest stand of remnant podocarp forest in Hawke’s Bay and I’ve recorded just over 200 species of Lepidoptera there.”

    “ Most people aren’t aware there are so many moths. They are generally thought of  as nondescript brown insects, that you don’t really pay that much attention to, unless they are coming to the outdoor lights at night. But when you look at moths closer, there’s a stunning diversity, all sorts of shapes, colours and sizes.  I just find them really quite endearing and beautiful.”

    Ryan’s study means he spends a lot of time out in nature and for him it is more than just a job, but a passion.

    After leaving Karamu High School , Ryan became a postie with New Zealand Post, which he did for ten years. However, he always felt he wanted more.

    “It’s been a lifelong interest of mine, and I’ve been heading out regularly to the mountains since I was a teenager. And birds have been my main interest in life for as long as I can remember.”

    After leaving NZ Post, Ryan ended up living for five years in a camper van.

    “While I was at NZ Post, I was able to travel around the country thanks to the flexibility of work. And after that, I was able to travel more. I spent the winters overseas, mostly in Southeast Asia, as well as the Pacific Islands.”

    The turning point for Ryan was on the Kinabatangan River in Borneo in 2019 when he realised that he wanted more than “groundhog day”.

    He returned to New Zealand, but life changed even more with COVID-19 and his young son Yahya coming into his fulltime care in 2021.

    It was an advertisement for the Diploma in Environment Management (Level 5) that attracted Ryan’s attention and he decided to go for it.

    “It was really scary, actually, to give up work. But I thought that I’m not getting any younger, so I decided to make a change.”

    He says that he found going back to studying fulfilling, but soon found his interest moving from birds to insects.

    “I spent a lot of time that summer recording moths and learning their taxonomy. I was already reading a lot of research papers, but then going back to study and having to do that as a task, it felt really fulfilling.”

    Ryan faced a few challenges in his studies, the first being learning to use computers as he had not grown up with one, as well as dealing with COVID-19 lockdowns and Cyclone Gabrielle.

    However, that is all in the past and Ryan is focused on his research, which recently received a funding boost from Biodiversity Hawke’s Bay. Ryan and his supervisor, Dr Amelia McQueen, were one of thirteen groups that received support from the Environmental Enhancement Contestable Fund, which is funded by the Hawke’s Bay Regional Council.

    It will play a role in enabling Ryan to continue his research.

    “Lepidoptera also play real crucial roles in the ecosystem. They’re pollinators, decomposers and they are prey for larger organisms.”

    Ryan says that even though there are about 2,000 species in New Zealand, the life histories of many of them are “poorly understood”.

    “We don’t know their host plants or even what the larvae look like. They’re often just being described from the adult specimens. What I’m trying to do is make a comprehensive species list for the region, just simply because historically moths  have been understudied.”

    The site on private land drew Ryan because it had been deer-fenced in 2020 which allowed the understorey of the forest to regenerate.

    “When I visited there, it just felt the right place, simply because it is the largest forest remnant in Hawke’s Bay. And at one time, the whole region would have been covered in forests like that.”

    “And there’s a lot of species there that are relics, really, really relics of another age, and you wouldn’t find them outside of that environment, in the pastoral land or like an exotic forest or a newly planted one. Fortunately the landowners are really conservation focused people.”

    EIT Environmental Management Lecturer Dr Amelia McQueen agrees: “Puahanui bush is a really special place to study flora and fauna and we are lucky there are places like this still around in Hawke’s Bay.”

    “ Ryan’s study is amazing, over 200 moths and some of the observations are new for the North Island or one of a very few observations of these moths actually recorded for New Zealand. Ryan’s Lepidoptera identification skills and determination, especially doing observations on very cold nights in winter, has made his work particularly important. . . and there is more to come!”

    As for the future, Ryan does not discount continuing his studies, but there is no doubt that he has found his calling.

    MIL OSI New Zealand News –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Stylish new opening of The Cream Store in Sheffield city centre Independent premium fashion retailer The Cream Store has opened a 3,000 sq ft flagship shop on the ground floor of Burgess House today in Sheffield’s Heart of the City, the Council’s prize-winning redevelopment scheme. 18 October 2024

    Source: City of Sheffield

    Independent premium fashion retailer The Cream Store has today opened a 3,000 sq ft flagship shop on the ground floor of Burgess House in Sheffield’s Heart of the City, the Council’s prize-winning redevelopment scheme.

    On 7 November, a limited-edition collaboration with Carhartt WIP will launch, along with Thornbridge who will host a limited-edition beer for the event, as well as other activities taking place throughout the day.

    Sheffield will become The Cream Store’s second dedicated shop in the UK, following the long-term success of the company’s Nuneaton store, which opened in 2005. The new opening provides the local community with a ‘go to’ place to shop for quality in a relaxed, ambient atmosphere where customers can view the latest fashion collections.

    The store, which also boasts a raised mezzanine, will stock contemporary clothing and lifestyle accessories for both men and women. Premium brands, which are regularly refreshed and rotated, include the popular Carhartt WIP, Fred Perry, Edwin, Nudie Jeans Co, Gramicci, plus many more.

    Like Nuneaton, the store will also house its acclaimed ‘Sneaker Treat’ service, offering customers a range of sustainable cleaning and restoration solutions to bring their favourite trainers back to life.

    Councillor Ben Miskell, Chair of the Transport, Regeneration and Climate Policy Committee at Sheffield City Council, said: “We’re thrilled to welcome The Cream Store to Heart of the City, which is another significant addition to the growing fashion offer in Sheffield. As one of the largest urban regeneration schemes in Britain, this has been a huge year for Heart of the City, which has seen the Radisson Blu, Cambridge Street Collective food hall and Leah’s Yard as new additions, BOX sports bar and kitchen set to open its doors next month and being named Outstanding Development of the Year.”

    Manish Patel, Director of The Cream Store, said: “We’re incredibly excited to open our doors to the Sheffield public and showcase what we’re all about. The store looks stunning. We have fully committed to a bespoke design, where the team has gone above and beyond to create something truly unique to us that reflects our brand. It will offer a relaxed, ambient atmosphere for our clients to chat, linger, and browse our latest collections.

    “Client service is at the heart of everything we do. We love connecting with our clients, sharing our advice, and discussing our passion for our products. This approach has helped us maintain a loyal client base over the last two decades, and we’re excited to grow something even bigger in Sheffield.”

    The Cream Store also boasts a dedicated online shop, with a ‘click and collect’ service. Please visit https://thecreamstore.com for more details.

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI Video: FEMA Administrator Deanne Criswell Daily Press Briefing – October 17th, 2024

    Source: United States of America – Federal Government Departments (video statements)

    FEMA Administrator Deanne Criswell hosts a press briefing to provide an update on the ongoing federal and local response and recovery efforts from Hurricane Helene and Hurricane Milton.

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K12NpF943Q8

    MIL OSI Video –

  • MIL-OSI Europe: EIB and European Environment Agency deepen cooperation over biodiversity and climate action

    Source: European Investment Bank

    The European Investment Bank (EIB) and the European Environment Agency (EEA) will strengthen collaboration to promote climate action, environmental sustainability, and sustainable finance. In a new agreement, the EIB and the EEA pledged deeper cooperation in technical areas including biodiversity, climate adaptation, circular economy, and urban sustainability.

    The Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) will allow the EIB to use the EEA’s expertise on data and modelling when evaluating projects and measuring impact of the Bank’s financing. For its part, the EEA will be able to integrate the EIB’s sustainable finance expertise in way that makes European environmental data more useful to the broader financial community.

    “We need the best available data and knowledge to address the triple planetary crisis of biodiversity, climate change and pollution,” EIB Vice-President Ambroise Fayolle said. “That’s why we are reinforcing our partnership with the European Environment Agency. We will work on methodologies and technical approaches that will help to enhance the impact of our projects to accelerate the green transition worldwide.”

    “Scaling up and re-orienting financial flows in a more sustainable direction is a pre-requisite for meeting our environment, climate and sustainability objectives under the European Green Deal. Enhanced co-operation between the European Environment Agency and the European Investment Bank will boost our common knowledge base across a wide spectrum of areas to further support the transition towards a more sustainable and competitive European economy,” said EEA Executive Director Leena Ylä-Mononen.

    Background information

    The European Investment Bank (EIB) is the long-term lending institution of the European Union owned by its Member States. It is active in more than 160 countries and makes long-term finance available for sound investment in order to contribute towards EU policy goals.

    The EIB Group has consolidated its role as “The Climate Bank”. The EIB Group Climate Bank Roadmap 2021-2025 lays out how the EIB Group supports the European Green Deal and a just transition to low-carbon, climate-resilient and environmentally sustainable development. Consolidating our role as the EU Climate Bank is one of the eight key priorities in the EIB Group’s 2024-2027 Strategic Roadmap. In 2021, the EIB Group became the first MDB to apply Paris alignment criteria to all its new financing operations. In 2023, the EIB Group achieved a record year of green finance with €49 billion: this is more than 50% of our total financing activities. The mid-term review of our Climate Bank Roadmap has confirmed that the EIB Group is on track to achieve the goal of supporting €1 trillion of green financing in this decade.

    The EEA is an agency of the European Union that delivers knowledge and data to support Europe’s environment and climate goals. In collaboration with its partner network, Eionet, the EEA informs decision-makers and the public about the state of Europe’s environment, climate change and wider sustainability issues.

    MIL OSI Europe News –

  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: Union Minister Dr. S. Jaishankar inaugurates second edition of Art Exhibition ‘Silent Conversation: From Margins to the Centre’ in New Delhi

    Source: Government of India (2)

    Union Minister Dr. S. Jaishankar inaugurates second edition of Art Exhibition ‘Silent Conversation: From Margins to the Centre’ in New Delhi

    Union Minister Sh. Bhupendra Yadav says Coexistence Vital in Addressing Climate Change and Biodiversity Loss

    Exhibition displays the Conservation Wisdom of Tribal Communities

    Posted On: 18 OCT 2024 1:49PM by PIB Delhi

    Union Minister for External Affairs, Dr. S. Jaishankar inaugurated the second edition of the art exhibition “Silent Conversation: From Margins to the Centre” in New Delhi on 17 October, 2024. The four-day exhibition has been organized by the National Tiger Conservation Authority in collaboration with the Sankala Foundation, the National Human Rights Commission and the International Big Cat Alliance .

    While inaugurating the exhibition, Dr. S Jaishankar emphasized that India’s development journey is deeply connected with environmental conservation. He reaffirmed the government’s commitment to the welfare of Scheduled Tribes through various initiatives, highlighting that the Antyodaya scheme is rooted in the principle of uplifting marginalized communities and ensuring that no one is left behind.

    Union Minister Dr. Jaishankar said India had achieved remarkable progress in environmental conservation under the leadership of the Prime Minister, Narendra Modi. He highlighted that the 2022 amendments to the Wildlife Protection Act aim to balance environmental conservation with development needs. He credited the success of the National Tiger Conservation Authority to tribal communities and forest dwellers, whose guardianship has helped forests thrive and who actively combat poaching. He emphasized that policies are most effective when embraced by all citizens, referring to the concept of Janbhagidari

    Union Minister for Environment, Forests, and Climate Change, Shri Bhupendra Yadav, emphasized in the video message, that the spirit of coexistence reflects how communities live in harmony with, protect, and respect nature. He praised this approach, especially as the world faces critical challenges such as climate change, biodiversity loss, and soil desertification.

    On the occasion, a book titled “Hidden Treasures: India’s Heritage in Tiger Reserves” and a magazine called “Big Cats” were also released.

    A cultural program was also organized in the evening, that was attended by Dr. Gajendra Singh Shekhawat, Union Minister for Culture and Tourism.

    Background

    The exhibition aims to recognize the conservation ethos of tribal communities and highlight the symbiotic relationship between these communities and the environment. It seeks to inspire future generations to appreciate this connection and provides tribal artists an opportunity to engage with visitors.

    The exhibition features over 200 paintings and 100 art pieces from 22 tiger reserves across India. Tribal art forms such as Gond, Warli, Pata Chitra, Bhil, and Sohrai are showcased and available for sale, with proceeds directly benefiting the artisans. All artworks are crafted using sustainable materials, reflecting the eco-friendly lifestyle of indigenous communities.

    Of the 49 participating artists, 10 hail from tiger reserves in Madhya Pradesh, with others from Maharashtra, Chhattisgarh, Odisha, Telangana, Rajasthan, Arunachal Pradesh, Jharkhand, and Mizoram.

    According to the 2011 Census, over 1,70,000 villages in India are located near forested areas, and the India State of Forest Report 2021 indicates that more than 300 million people rely on forests for their livelihoods. On the tiger conservation front, India is home to 75% of the global tiger population, with an estimated 3,682 big cats in 55 tiger reserves as of 2023.

    Shri Jitendra Kumar, Director General (Forests) and Special Secretary, Dr Gobind Sagar Bhardwaj, Member Secretary, NTCA and Shri Bharat Lal, Member Secretary, NHRC and senior officers of the ministry were present.

    *****

    VM/GS

    (Release ID: 2066018) Visitor Counter : 120

    MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Florida’s retail gasoline price stays stable after Hurricane Milton despite shortages

    Source: US Energy Information Administration

    In-brief analysis

    October 18, 2024

    Hurricane Milton made landfall on Florida’s western coast on October 9 as a Category 3 hurricane. The hurricane and accompanying rain, winds, and flooding disrupted key gasoline supply chains to the state, leaving hundreds of retail gasoline stations without fuel. However, the average retail price of regular gasoline in Florida has remained relatively stable in the storm’s aftermath, remaining flat at $3.04 per gallon (gal) this week, as supply chains began to recover.

    The Florida average price reflects an estimate for retail prices across the entire state of Florida, and prices may vary significantly across regions, particularly because of major disruptions such as Hurricane Milton.

    Hurricanes can limit fuel supplies in Florida because Florida doesn’t have refineries or gasoline pipelines connecting it to other states with excess supply. Instead, Florida relies on gasoline delivered by ship from domestic and international sources. Because of the storm, several ports were temporarily closed, but others remained open with restrictions. Authorities at Port Tampa Bay, where nearly half of Florida’s petroleum product supply is brought in, reported no significant damage to docks, but they noted infrastructure damage, power outages, and road closures that could disrupt supply.

    Shipments from domestic refineries along the Gulf Coast, supplemented with imports from abroad, supply most of Florida. Florida’s gasoline arrives through several large ports located along its coastlines, each transporting fuel to nearby markets by truck or short-distance pipeline. The regions and their respective mode of transporting gasoline is as follows:

    • Western Florida: trucked from terminals in Port Tampa Bay
    • Southern Florida: trucked from terminals in Port Everglades, just north of Fort Lauderdale
    • Central Florida: transported by pipelines from Tampa, but some petroleum products trucked from Port Canaveral on the Atlantic Coast
    • Northeastern Florida: trucked from terminals in the Port of Jacksonville

    Some gasoline shipments arrive in Florida by both pipeline and truck. At a terminal in Bainbridge, Georgia, gasoline is transferred from the Colonial Pipeline system to a long-distance tanker truck for delivery to the Florida panhandle. Trucks and barges from nearby refineries in Alabama and Mississippi supply the rest of western Florida.

    The average retail gasoline price in Florida was unchanged as of October 14 compared with October 7. In the United States overall, the average retail gasoline price was $3.17/gal, a 1% increase compared with last week.

    Price spikes in response to shortages at individual stations contribute to sharp increases at specific locations, which are reflected in statewide average prices. To help address these shortages, the Florida Division of Emergency Management (FDEM) procured and deployed emergency fuels. On October 15, the governor’s office reported that FDEM deployed 508,600 gallons of diesel and 686,200 gallons of gasoline and that public fuel distribution sites were open at several locations.

    Principal contributors: Kevin Hack, Kimberly Peterson, Tara Bennett-Chirico

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI Global: Hemingway, after the hurricane

    Source: The Conversation – USA – By Verna Kale, Associate Editor, The Letters of Ernest Hemingway and Associate Research Professor of English, Penn State

    Rescue workers search debris for victims of the Labor Day hurricane of 1935, a Category 5 storm that devastated parts of the Florida Keys. Bettman/Getty Images

    The 2024 hurricane season has been especially disastrous, and the casualties and widespread damage from flooding and high winds in towns like Cedar Key, Florida, call to mind another historic hurricane, the Labor Day hurricane of 1935.

    As one of the editors of “The Letters of Ernest Hemingway Volume 6 (1934-1936),” with Sandra Spanier and Miriam B. Mandel, I am reminded of the eyewitness account that the writer, then a resident of Key West, Florida, gave of the catastrophic storm that leveled Upper Matecumbe Key and Lower Matecumbe Key and took the lives of more than 400 people, many of them World War I veterans.

    Then, as now, the aftermath of a natural disaster included political finger-pointing.

    Today the debates center around how resources from the Federal Emergency Management Agency are allocated or how climate change contributes to the intensity of the storms.

    Back then, Hemingway had a different beef with the government, blaming the deaths of hundreds of World War I veterans on the failure to evacuate Upper Matecumbe Key and Lower Matecumbe Key ahead of the storm.

    The calm before the storm

    Hemingway was no stranger to hurricanes.

    A serious deep-sea angler who fished the waters off Florida, he kept an eye on weather patterns. Hurricane season was an anticipated, if dreaded, annual event.

    “Now the lousy hurricanes are starting,” he wrote his friends Jane and Grant Mason in June 1934. “Wish we would get lots of east wind and current … and then have a fine july and august without hurricanes.” Knowing that these conditions were unlikely, he jokingly asked the Masons “and what do you want for xmas Mr. and Mrs. Mason yourselves?”

    Ernest Hemingway was an avid fisherman. Here he poses with a marlin in Havana Harbor, Cuba.
    Ernest Hemingway Collection. John F. Kennedy Presidential Library and Museum, Boston.

    In a Sept. 30, 1934, letter, he wrote friends Gerald and Sara Murphy with hopes that he would get through the rest of hurricane season without incident: “no hurricanes yet […] if we get through the next 20 [days] are all right,” and he was glad that he “can fish without having to tie [the boat] up somewhere up some creek.”

    The next day, he wrote to fellow novelist John Dos Passos, “Hurricane months if you dont get a hurricane are fine.”

    ‘Not a building of any sort standing’

    But the following year, when the hurricanes did come, it was not fine.

    Over Sept. 2-3, 1935, a hurricane made landfall in the Florida Keys. Occurring in the days before storms were given names, the Labor Day hurricane, as it is commonly known, was the first recorded Category 5 hurricane in the U.S.

    It remains the third-most intense storm on record in the Atlantic basin, with a barometric pressure drop to 892 millibars and wind gusts exceeding 200 mph. Much of its damage was caused by the storm surge, and the Overseas Railroad, which had been completed in 1912 and connected the Florida Keys to the mainland, was destroyed and would not be rebuilt.

    After the storm, Hemingway wrote to his editor, Maxwell Perkins, describing its aftermath.

    Though communications were down and the island was cut off from the mainland, Key West had sustained relatively little damage.

    Upper Matecumbe Key and Lower Matecumbe Key, however, were a different story.

    “Imagine you have read about it in the papers but nothing could give an idea of the destruction,” Hemingway writes. “The foliage absolutely stripped as though by fire for forty miles and the land looking like the abandoned bed of a river. Not a building of any sort standing. Over thirty miles of railway washed and blown away.”

    Worse yet were the human casualties: He notes that the last time he witnessed so many dead in one place was in Europe during World War I as a Red Cross ambulance driver, adding, “We made five trips with provisions for survivors to different places and nothing but dead men to eat the grub.”

    A corpse floats in the aftermath of the hurricane.
    Ernest Hemingway Collection. John F. Kennedy Presidential Library and Museum, Boston.

    Many of the victims were veterans, employed by the Federal Emergency Relief Administration to work on the Overseas Highway construction project. Outraged by the federal government’s failure to send a train to evacuate the workers in time, Hemingway tells Perkins that the veterans “were practically murdered.”

    Federal administrators, he adds, “had all day Sunday and all day monday to get those vets out and never did it. If they had taken half the precautions with them that we took with our boat not a one would have been lost.”

    The letter contains graphic descriptions of the hundreds of dead bodies, rapidly decomposing in the Florida sun as they awaited transport to Arlington, Virginia, to be buried.

    ‘That smell you thought you’d never smell again’

    Hemingway would repeat many of these same details in an article published in the Sept. 17, 1935, issue of the leftist magazine The New Masses.

    The article, which Hemingway titled “Who Killed These Men?,” and which was re-titled by the editors as “Who Murdered the Vets?,” criticized the federal government for not evacuating the workers.

    “Who sent nearly a thousand war veterans … to live in frame shacks on the Florida Keys in hurricane months?” Hemingway asks.

    Hemingway, no stranger to the sight and smell of the dead from his experiences during World War I, was disgusted not merely by the bodies “swollen and stinking” but by what brought the veterans to the work camps to begin with.

    Skeptical of the various government programs of Franklin D. Roosevelt’s New Deal, Hemingway saw the Federal Emergency Relief Administration work camps as a way for Washington to conveniently rid itself of hundreds of down-on-their-luck veterans, many of whom were experiencing what we would now call post-traumatic stress disorder.

    “I would like to make whoever sent them there carry just one out through the mangroves, or turn one over that lay in the sun along the fill, or tie five together so they won’t float out, or smell that smell you thought you’d never smell again, with luck,” Hemingway writes.

    This impassioned response to the disaster in 1935 still resonates. Hemingway recognized that while storms are inevitable, mass casualties do not have to be. The government can’t control the weather, but it can fulfill an obligation to protect the most vulnerable in the path of the storm.

    Verna Kale works for the Hemingway Letters Project, which has been made possible in part by a major grant from the National Endowment for the Humanities: Democracy demands wisdom.

    – ref. Hemingway, after the hurricane – https://theconversation.com/hemingway-after-the-hurricane-241103

    MIL OSI – Global Reports –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Partners gather at Guildhall for Climate Action conference

    Source: Northern Ireland – City of Derry

    Partners gather at Guildhall for Climate Action conference

    18 October 2024

    Some of the leading voices in the campaign for Sustainability and Climate Action gathered this week at the Guildhall for the Derry and Strabane Sustainability and Climate Commission Launch and Community Showcase 2024 Event.

    The event marked the official launch of the Derry & Strabane Sustainability and Climate Commission, a significant cross-sectoral partnership dedicated to working together to identify solutions that meet the climate and ecological needs of the City and District, as well as the broader region.

    Established in January 2024, the Commission is the second of its kind in N. Ireland and members stem from Northern Ireland government departments, agencies, communities, education, and business.

    Mayor of Derry and Strabane, Councillor Lilian Seenoi Barr opened the event, reaffirming Derry City and Strabane District Council’s commitment to working with local partners to address the climate and ecological crisis. “I was delighted to see so many organisations represented at today’s conference, and the shared commitment to pioneering cross-sectoral sustainability and climate action,” she declared. “As a Council we have been working to deliver our Climate Pledge towards a net zero, climate resilient City & District by 2045, but we recognise that we need to work collaboratively with everyone to turn this ambition into action.  In order to bring about impactful and sustainable change on a scale that will really protect and preserve our natural environment and local communities, it’s essential that we work together and draw on the expertise and resources of a wide range of partners,” she stressed.

    The Derry and Strabane Sustainability and Climate Commission chair Professor Ian Montgomery from Ulster University said: “Climate change is the greatest threat facing humanity, with the last ten years being the warmest on record, with shifting weather patterns causing difficulties worldwide. It is incumbent on all of us as world citizens to cutting our carbon emissions and playing our part in saving our planet – the only home we’ve ever known. Derry City and Strabane District Council have shown great leadership in bringing together stakeholders from many sectors to debate and plan how their Climate Commission can take a leading role in positive climate action for all their citizens.”

    Climate Programme Manager with Council, who hosted the event, Cathy Burns, said afterwards: “The conference provided an opportunity to unite national leaders, policymakers, industry experts, and community leaders to address the pressing challenges presented by the climate and ecological crisis. There is recognition by all our partners that we urgently need to address issues of sustainability, biodiversity loss, greenhouse gas emissions and the preservation of our natural environment for the betterment of all our communities. We had the chance to look at some of the fantastic work already ongoing across Derry and Strabane and to hear from some of the leading voices on pioneering climate and sustainability strategies.

    “We are now calling on our communities, businesses, public sector and education to get involved and be part of the dialogue. We need to work in partnership to find solutions and create a better future for all.”

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: East Midlands one year on from Storm Babet

    Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government & Departments

    Today, 18 October 2024, marks one year since Storm Babet hit the UK and brought with it extremely heavy rainfall and very strong winds.

    An Environment Agency Officer fixing the Lowdham flood storage wall.

    In the East Midlands, Storm Babet resulted in the highest recorded river levels at 37 locations. As well as bringing the wettest 3-day period that Nottinghamshire had ever experienced on record.

    Storm Babet was then followed by Storms Ciaran and Henk which led to more significant flooding. Flood defences operated very well overall and protected significant numbers of properties in the region.

    The anniversary also coincides with the Environment Agency’s annual Flood Action Week which is a campaign dedicated to showing people the steps they can take to reduce the devastation caused by flooding. It also aims to encourage people to sign up to the flood warning service that informs you if your home is at risk of flooding.

    In the East Midlands alone, the Environment Agency is currently working on 52 flood risk projects to return assets to the condition they were before the storms last winter. These projects have all been created using evidence from the flooding caused by the 3 storms. Designing and delivering Flood schemes can be complicated and therefore take time to establish.

    In the last 12 months an array of projects have been completed to help better protect communities. In Raynesway in Derbyshire the team installed rock amour along a flood embankment. It had started to erode due to the high-water levels caused by Storm Babet and Storm Henk. Quick action was required to ensure the nearby businesses and critical infrastructure in that area remained protected.

    2180 tonnes of stone was used to fill a hole on the Folly Road Flood Bank in Darley Abbey.

    High levels of water also caused erosion on Folly Road Flood Bank in Darley Abbey. 40 metres was repaired by the Environment Agency, Jackson Civil Engineering and Derby City Council. Over a period of 11 weeks, 2180 tonnes of stone was brought in to fill the large scour hole and protect the bottom of the embankment.

    In Lowdham the high river levels caused by storm Babet resulted in overtopping and the deterioration of the flood storage wall. The wall surrounds the cricket pitch and is the boundary to the storage area. The design of the flood asset means when river levels are high they spill onto the cricket pitch. Therefore the flood storage wall keeps the water in that boundary. The high levels of water that was experienced with storm Babet and then continued very closely with storm Ciaran and Storm Henk resulted in further deterioration of the masonry wall. The Environment Agency Nottingham field team worked quickly to assess the damage, take down the damaged stretch of wall and rebuild it. This work was completed in March, less than a month after the last period of storms.

    Since storm Babet the Environment Agency has been reassessing the areas that are covered by the flood warning service to ensure all at risk areas are targeted. This work has so far resulted in 3 new areas being added to the flood warning system in the East Midlands – Rearsby, Syston and Silbey.

    The Environment Agency are also developing a Property Flood Resilience (PFR) programme for those homes affected by the storms, this could involve them being offered things like air brick covers and demountable barriers to have on the outside their home.

    More than 26 drop-in sessions have been conducted in the East Midlands which more than 1600+ people attended. The Environment Agency spent more than 2,000 hours attending and organising these key sessions. The drop-in sessions provided members of the public with a chance to ask any flood related questions they have. The events are attended by our partners who have a role during flooding so everyone the public needs are all in one room.

    Paul Lockhart, Flood Risk Manager in the East Midlands, for the Environment Agency said:

    We know the devastating impact flooding can have this is why we are working closely with our professional partners on a number of projects to protect communities.

    It is important that the public understand their flood risk and are signed up to our flood warning service and educate themselves on how they can better protect themselves and their property from flooding. There is plenty of information here: Flooding – GOV.UK

    The best way to protect yourself from flooding is early preparation and knowing what to do in advance. Some of the actions people can take to reduce the dangers are:

    • Check your long-term flood risk. You can use this free service to find out the long-term flood risk for an area in England, the possible causes of flooding, and how to manage flood risk.

    • Sign up for flood warnings by phone, text or email
    • Taking steps to protect yourself from future flooding – including storing important documents in a secure, waterproof location, taking rugs and small furniture upstairs, checking how to turn off your electricity and water, preparing a flood kit.

    Updates to this page

    Published 18 October 2024

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI Europe: Joint Statement on Arctic Security and Defence

    Source: Government of Iceland

    Under the auspice of the Northern Defence Dialogue meeting held on the margins of the NATO Defence Ministers’ Meeting on 17 October 2024, the defence ministers of Canada, Denmark together with the Foreign Minister of the Faroe Islands and a representative from Greenland, Finland, Norway, and Sweden, and representatives from Iceland and the United States reaffirm their shared commitment to enhanced collaboration on security and defence in the Arctic.

    In a rapidly changing geopolitical landscape marked by new challenges, the region has become a growing global point of focus. Climate change is having profound effects on the strategic and operational environment and growing access to the Arctic’s resource potential is enticing new non-Arctic actors to the region. Potential adversaries are rapidly developing their militaries’ ability to operate both in the High North and the circumpolar Arctic region. Among its many negative consequences, Russia’s illegal and unprovoked further invasion of Ukraine has caused grave impediments to international cooperation and degraded the Euro-Atlantic security environment.

    These unprecedented challenges underline the need to foster deepened collaboration among the like-minded Arctic states. The accession of Sweden and Finland to NATO significantly strengthens NATO’s collective defence posture and capabilities in the region. As all like-minded Arctic states now belong to the Alliance, we affirm our leading role in NATO’s work relating to the region and stress the importance of maintaining a credible deterrence and defence in the entire Euro-Atlantic area—including our northern regions—as well as cooperation with our other NATO Allies to this end.

    At this Northern Defence Dialogue meeting, building on the work of and aiming to also strengthen NATO, we discussed:

    • Our situational awareness of the threat environment in the Arctic, and opportunities to enhance information and intelligence sharing in order to establish a common operating picture;
    • Emerging threats, risks, and geopolitical challenges from potential adversaries at both the national and international level;
    • Our capabilities to deter and, if necessary, defend against threats posed by our potential adversaries in the region, and our commitment to mutual participation in joint operations and exercises to enhance interoperability; and,
    • Ways to increase collaboration to address common threats and challenges posed to the region.

    Our countries’ common ambition to maintain low tension in the region has served as the foundation of our multilateral Arctic relations and will continue to guide our cooperation in the future. Guided by the core principles of multilateral cooperation, territorial integrity, and maintaining the rules-based international order, we are committed to strengthening our collaboration to address complex global challenges and maintain the Arctic as a stable, peaceful, and prosperous region.

    MIL OSI Europe News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: National Ocean Service helps reopen Florida ports after Hurricane Milton

    Source: US National Ocean Service News

    A NOAA survey boat examines Tampa Bay’s shipping channels in the wake of Hurricane Milton Saturday, Oct. 12, 2024. (Credit: NOAA National Ocean Service/Douglas E. Jessmer)

    In the aftermath of Hurricane Milton, the National Ocean Service’s Office of Coast Survey conducted hydrographic survey operations to help reopen Port Tampa Bay and SeaPort Manatee. As part of the response effort, Coast Survey deployed teams, including a contract surveyor, in cooperation with the U.S. Coast Guard and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers.

    The routes of two NOAA navigation response teams, Fernandina and Gulfport, as they conducted hydrographic survey missions Friday and Saturday, Oct. 11-12, 2024, to assist with the reopening of Port Tampa Bay after Hurricane Milton. The contracted R/V Thunder surveyed the approaches to Tampa Bay. (Credit: NOAA National Ocean Service/Nicolas Alvarado)

    “We very much appreciate the close-knit relationship the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers has with both the U.S. Coast Guard and the NOAA,” said Col. Brandon Bowman, Jacksonville District Commander, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. “This enables our federal agencies to quickly respond, survey and reopen vital federal channels for navigation to aid in delivering supplies and minimize impact to the shipping industry.”
    Hurricane Milton made landfall as a Category 3 storm at approximately 8:30 p.m. Wednesday, October 9, near Siesta Key, just south of Sarasota, Florida. In the aftermath of the storm, the U.S. Coast Guard prioritized surveying SeaPort Manatee, to ensure safe passage for cargo ships carrying fuel to the region. 
    “Reopening the ports is critical,” said Dr. Nicolas Alvarado, NOAA Navigation Manager for Florida, Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Virgin Islands. “The faster we can get the necessary information to our partners so the port can be reopened, the better. The navigation response teams are heroes — they work around-the-clock to get the surveying done.”

    From left, physical scientist John Gray, NOAA Corps Lt. Robert Sobelsohn, and physical science technician Michael Coughlin surveyed Tampa Bay’s shipping channels Saturday, Oct. 12, 2024, in the wake of Hurricane Milton. This NOAA survey crew and their boat were part of the agency’s collaborative response to help open Port Tampa Bay quickly for commerce and navigation. (Credit: NOAA National Ocean Service/Douglas E. Jessmer)

    When hurricanes make landfall, they often bring stronger-than-normal ocean currents that can shift navigational channels and bring debris that can threaten the ability of vessels to navigate safely along the coast and into ports. NOAA’s navigation response teams use multibeam and sidescan sonar to detect any dangers in the water and speed the reopening of ports and waterways.
    Coast Survey strategically places navigation teams around the country. While 80% of their time is spent acquiring data for routine nautical chart updates, they also maintain a state of readiness for rapid response mobilization after emergencies.

    Navigation response team Gulfport in the foreground when oil/chemical tanker Golden State enters Tampa Bay’s shipping channels in the wake of Hurricane Milton Saturday, Oct. 12, 2024. Thanks to NOAA’s hydrographic expertise, the channel was surveyed to update navigational charts and to ensure safe navigation in the hurricane’s wake. (Credit: NOAA National Ocean Service/Nicolas Alvarado)

    According to the American Association of Port Authorities “2024 Port and Maritime Industry Economic Impact Report,” U.S. ports’ contribution to the U.S. Gross Domestic Product totals almost $311 billion. Port Tampa Bay receives approximately 33 million tons of cargo a year, while more than 11 million tons of cargo move through SeaPort Manatee annually. Delays in shipping, even minor ones, can cost the economy millions each year.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Council issues advice in advance of Storm Ashley

    Source: Northern Ireland – City of Derry

    Council issues advice in advance of Storm Ashley

    18 October 2024

    In anticipation of Storm Ashley, which is expected to bring strong winds and could cause possible disruption on Sunday, Derry City and Strabane District Council is encouraging the public to take all the necessary precautions to keep safe.

    In the interests of health and safety, Council is closing all of its public parks, play parks and grass pitches on Sunday and advising the public to avoid using open spaces and areas where there are trees.

    The public are advised that there could also be some disruption to recycling centres across the Council area with Pennyburn, Strathfoyle and Strahan’s Rd Centres remaining closed on Sunday.

    Council outdoor sports and leisure facilities and courts will also be closed. All scheduled matches due to take place on Saturday 19th October on Council pitches will proceed, however all matches scheduled for Sunday 20th October have been cancelled due to the current weather warning and Council is in the process of contacting clubs and user groups accordingly.

    While the Cemeteries will remain open, the public are advised to take extreme care.

    All of our Leisure Centres will open as normal with the exception of Brooke Park Leisure Centre which will be closed and users advised to use facilities at Templemore Sports Complex.

    Routine inspections will be carried out on all facilities on Monday prior to them reopening.

    Householders and businesses across the Council area are encouraged to take the necessary measures to keep them and their property safe.

    The following guidance has been provided by the Met Office.

    Storm Ashley – What to expect

    Some damage to buildings, such as tiles blown from roofs, could happen
    Power cuts may occur, with the potential to affect other services, such as mobile phone coverage
    Injuries and danger to life could occur from large waves and beach material being thrown onto sea fronts, coastal roads and properties
    Some roads and bridges may close
    Road, rail, air and ferry services may be affected, with longer journey times and cancellations possible

    What steps to take.

    Prepare to protect your property and people from injury. Check for loose items outside your home and plan how you could secure them. Items include; bins, garden furniture, trampolines, tents, sheds, and fences.

    Give yourself the best chance of avoiding delays by checking road conditions if driving, or bus and train timetables, amending your travel plans if necessary.

    People cope better with power cuts when they have prepared for them in advance. It’s easy to do; consider gathering torches and batteries, a mobile phone power pack and other essential items.

    If you are on the coast, stay safe during stormy weather by being aware of large waves. Even from the shore large breaking waves can sweep you off your feet and out to sea. Take care if walking near cliffs; know your route and keep dogs on a lead. In an emergency, call 999 and ask for the Coastguard.

    Be prepared for weather warnings to change quickly. When a weather warning is issued, the Met Office recommends staying up to date with the weather forecast in your area.

    Emergency Contact numbers:

    Emergency services 999 or 112

    Flooding Incident Line – 0300 2000 100

    NI Electricity Networks – 03457 643 643

    NI Gas Emergency Service – 0800 002 001

    NI Water – 03457 440 088

    Housing Executive – 03448 920 901

    Report a blocked road – 0300 200 7891

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: New gate installed at Leigh flood storage area

    Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government & Departments

    More than 1,400 homes better-protected from flooding as Kent facility will hold 25 per cent more water than now, enough to fill 600 Olympic swimming pools

    Three new gates at the Leigh flood storage area will add 200 homes and businesses to the 1,200 already better-protected from flooding

    The Leigh flood storage area (FSA) currently reduces the risk of flooding from the River Medway to 1,200 homes and businesses in Tonbridge and Hildenborough in Kent. It works by holding peak floodwater in the storage area to minimise flows downstream.

    Coinciding with the Environment Agency’s Flood Action Week, a milestone has been reached this month with the installation of a new gate to control the flow of water.

    Lifted into place by a 300-tonne crane, this is the first of three new gates that will be installed during construction.

    The new gates were delivered in pieces and welded together on site. Each gate weighs around 12.5 tonnes – the equivalent to the weight of a single-decker bus!

    By replacing the gates and raising sections of the embankment, the FSA will be able to store approximately 25 per cent more water than it does now; in total, more than 7 million cubic metres of floodwater that will help to better-protect more than 200 additional homes from flooding.

    Scheme progress

    It is expected that the scheme will be completed by the end of 2025.

    This is a complex programme and timings could change depending on external factors, such as the weather. Regular scheme updates will be provided to residents and stakeholders via newsletters and on GOV.UK.

    Sally Harvey, the Environment Agency’s area director for Kent, South London and East Sussex, said:

    The installation of the new gate is a huge achievement and a great step forward in the project to reduce the flood-risk to more than 1,400 homes in Tonbridge and Hildenborough.

    People can be assured that the flood storage area will remain operational throughout the project continuing to protect people, homes and businesses.

    Thank you to local residents for the continued patience while the work is ongoing.

    Barrier: The first of three new gates being installed at the Leigh flood storage area, which will soon hold 25 per cent more water back from communities

    Cllr Matt Boughton, leader of Tonbridge and Malling Borough Council, said:

    The completion of this major milestone is a huge achievement, and I’d like to thank all those who’ve contributed to getting us to this stage of the project. It takes us a step closer to providing even greater protection from the risk of flooding to local homes and businesses that can have a devastating impact.

    I look forward to seeing the scheme continue its progress towards completion and much improved flood protection for the people of Tonbridge, Hildenborough and all communities in the Medway catchment.

    Liz Gibney, Kent and Medway Economic Partnership chair, said:

    We are delighted to see the installation of a new flood gate at Leigh. The Kent and Medway Economic Partnership originally proposed this scheme for central government investment, as we are very mindful of the devasting effects that flooding can have on local residents, businesses and communities.

    Some estimates say that the average cost of flood damage in a commercial setting is around £80,000, and that a small business can lose up to 50 working days following a flood event, which clearly leads to a loss of custom and sales. This new investment will, therefore, bring peace of mind to businesses in the area, and increase confidence to invest in our locality.

    Rob Thomas, cabinet member for environment at Kent County Council, said:

    Completing the installation of the first gate marks a significant milestone in the delivery of the Leigh flood storage area expansion, and Kent County Council is very pleased with the progress being made. This scheme will better-protect homes and business from flooding in Tonbridge and Hildenborough, and offer improved climate resilience.

    For more information please visit the scheme’s online pages.

    How the Leigh flood storage area works – watch the animation:
    You can find out more about how the flood storage area works by watching our YouTube animation.

    Working in partnership

    The Environment Agency is working with Kent County Council, Tonbridge and Malling Borough Council and the Kent and Medway Economic Partnership (previously part of the South East Local Enterprise Partnership) to reduce flood risk to over 1,400 homes and businesses in Tonbridge, Hildenborough and downstream communities.

    Funding is through the government’s Flood Defence Grant in Aid (FDGiA), with contributions from Tonbridge and Malling Borough Council, Kent County Council and the South East Local Enterprise Partnership, now the Kent and Medway Economic Partnership.

    Background

    This week, 14-20 October, is also the Environment Agency’s Flood Action Week, which aims to help people and businesses prepare for flooding.

    Will the Leigh flood storage area still be operational during construction?

    Yes, the work are planned so that most of the work on the flood storage area will be during summer periods when there is a lower risk of flooding. There are robust contingency plans in place to use the flood storage area whenever needed.

    The Considerate Constructors Scheme

    The Environment Agency is aware of the impact of construction activity on local communities.

    The Considerate Constructors Scheme promotes high standards and accountability within the construction industry. It is a voluntary scheme, meaning that scheme-registered contractors and organisations are actively trying to improve the way they work, by raising their standards in being more considerate to communities, the environment and their own workforce.

    The project’s construction partner, VolkerStevin is signed-up to the scheme. The site reference is: 134154 and people can give feedback on freephone 0800 783 1423. Or email the project team direct at LEHESEnquiries@volkerstevin.co.uk.

    History of the Leigh flood storage area and the Reservoirs Act works

    Current work

    Contact us

    Journalists only – 0800 141 2743 or communications_se@environment-agency.gov.uk.

    Updates to this page

    Published 18 October 2024

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –