Category: Climate Change

MIL-Evening Report: ER Report: A Roundup of Significant Articles on EveningReport.nz for June 3, 2025

ER Report: Here is a summary of significant articles published on EveningReport.nz on June 3, 2025.

In her memoir, Jacinda Ardern shows a ‘different kind of power’ is possible – but also has its limits
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Grant Duncan, Teaching Fellow in Politics and International Relations, University of Auckland, Waipapa Taumata Rau Getty Images Imagine getting a positive pregnancy test and then – just a few days later – learning you’ll be prime minister. In hindsight, being willing and able to deal with the

Google’s SynthID is the latest tool for catching AI-made content. What is AI ‘watermarking’ and does it work?
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By T.J. Thomson, Senior Lecturer in Visual Communication & Digital Media, RMIT University HomeArt/Shutterstock Last month, Google announced SynthID Detector, a new tool to detect AI-generated content. Google claims it can identify AI-generated content in text, image, video or audio. But there are some caveats. One of them

What parents and youth athletes can do to protect against abuse in sport
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Fanny Kuhlin, PhD candidate in Sport Management (Sport Science), Örebro University Ron Alvey/Shutterstock From the horrific Larry Nassar abuse scandal in United States gymnastics to the “environment of fear” some volleyball athletes endured at the Australian Institute of Sport, abuse in sport has been well documented in

Astronomers thought the Milky Way was doomed to crash into Andromeda. Now they’re not so sure
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Ruby Wright, Forrest Fellow in Astrophysics, The University of Western Australia Luc Viatour / Wikimedia, CC BY-SA For years, astronomers have predicted a dramatic fate for our galaxy: a head-on collision with Andromeda, our nearest large galactic neighbour. This merger – expected in about 5 billion years

Is the private hospital system collapsing? Here’s what the sector’s financial instability means for you
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Yuting Zhang, Professor of Health Economics, The University of Melbourne lightpoet/Shutterstock Toowong Private Hospital in Brisbane is the latest hospital to succumb to financial pressures and will close its doors next week. The industry association attributes the psychiatric hospital’s closure to insufficient payments from and delayed funding

Trump’s steel tariffs are unlikely to have a big impact on Australia. But we could be hurt by what happens globally
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Scott French, Senior Lecturer in Economics, UNSW Sydney Shestakov Dymytro/Shutterstock Just one day after the US Court of Appeals temporarily reinstated the Trump Administration’s Liberation Day tariffs of between 10% and 50% on nearly every country in the world, Trump announced tariffs on all US imports of

Tax concessions on super need a rethink. These proposals would bring much needed reform
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Chris Murphy, Visiting Fellow, Economics (modelling), Australian National University fizkes/Shutterstock The federal government has proposed an additional tax of 15% on the earnings made on super balances of over A$3 million, the so-called Division 296 tax. This has set off a highly politicised debate that has often

The surprising power of photography in ageing well
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Tricia King, Senior Lecturer in Photography, University of the Sunshine Coast Marcia Grimm Older adults are often faced with lifestyle changes that can disrupt their sense of place and purpose. It may be the loss of a partner, downsizing their home, or moving to residential aged care.

What birds can teach us about repurposing waste
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By David Farrier, Professor of Literature and the Environment, University of Edinburgh Some birds use deterrent spikes to make their nests. Chemari/Shutterstock Modern cities are evolution engines. Urban snails in the Netherlands and lizards in Los Angeles have developed lighter shells and larger scales to cope with the

Human Rights Watch warns renewed fighting threatens West Papua civilians
Asia Pacific Report An escalation in fighting between Indonesian security forces and Papuan pro-independence fighters in West Papua has seriously threatened the security of the largely indigenous population, says Human Rights Watch in a new report. The human rights watchdog warned that all parties to the conflict are obligated to abide by international humanitarian law,

Will surging sea levels kill the Great Barrier Reef? Ancient coral fossils may hold the answer
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Jody Webster, Professor of Marine Geoscience, University of Sydney marcobriviophoto.com In the 20th century, global sea level rose faster than at any other time in the past 3,000 years. It’s expected to rise even further by 2100, as human-induced climate change intensifies. In fact, some studies predict

Pro-Trump candidate wins Poland’s presidential election – a bad omen for the EU, Ukraine and women
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Adam Simpson, Senior Lecturer, International Studies, University of South Australia Poland’s presidential election runoff will be a bitter pill for pro-European Union democrats to swallow. The nationalist, Trumpian, historian Karol Nawrocki has narrowly defeated the liberal, pro-EU mayor of Warsaw, Rafał Trzaskowski, 50.89 to 49.11%. The Polish

Australia’s latest emissions data reveal we still have a giant fossil fuel problem
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Emma Lovell, Senior Lecturer in Chemical Engineering, UNSW Sydney According to Australia’s Climate Change and Energy Minister Chris Bowen, the latest emissions data show “we are on track to reach our 2030 targets” under the Paris Agreement. In 2024, Australia’s greenhouse gas emissions were “27% below 2005

What is retinol? And will it make my acne flare? 3 experts unpack this trendy skincare ingredient
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Laurence Orlando, Senior Lecturer, Product Formulation and Development, Analytical Methods, Monash University Irina Kvyatkovskaya/Shutterstock Retinol skincare products suddenly seem to be everywhere, promising clear, radiant and “youthful” skin. But what’s the science behind these claims? And are there any risks? You may have also heard retinol can

Pasifika recipients say King’s Birthday honours not just theirs alone
By Teuila Fuatai, RNZ Pacific senior journalist, Iliesa Tora, and Christina Persico A New Zealand-born Niuean educator says being recognised in the King’s Birthday honours list reflects the importance of connecting young tagata Niue in Aotearoa to their roots. Mele Ikiua, who hails from the village of Hakupu Atua in Niue, has been named a

Eugene Doyle: Writing in the time of the Gaza genocide
COMMENTARY: By Eugene Doyle I want to share a writer’s journey — of living and writing through the Genocide. Where I live and how I live could not be further from the horror playing out in Gaza and, increasingly, on the West Bank. Yet, because my country provides military, intelligence and diplomatic support to Israel

Decades of searching and a chance discovery: why finding Leadbeater’s possum in NSW is such big news
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By David Lindenmayer, Distinguished Professor of Ecology, Fenner School of Environment and Society, Australian National University Until now, Victorians believed their state was the sole home for Leadbeater’s possum, their critically endangered state faunal emblem. This tiny marsupial is clinging to life in a few pockets of mountain

In Bradfield, the election is not yet over. What happens when a seat count is ultra close?
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Graeme Orr, Professor of Law, The University of Queensland Election day was over four weeks ago. Yet the outcome in one House of Representatives remains unclear. That is the formerly Liberal Sydney electorate of Bradfield. In real time, you can watch the lead tilt between Liberal hopeful,

Is there a right way to talk to your baby? A baby brain expert explains ‘parentese’
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Jane Herbert, Associate Professor in Developmental Psychology, University of Wollongong 2p2play/Shutterstock You might have seen those heartwarming and often funny viral videos where parents or carers engage in long “talks” with young babies about this and that – usually just fun chit chat of no great consequence.

MIL OSI Analysis – EveningReport.nz –

June 3, 2025
MIL-OSI New Zealand: Luxon must end climate denial speculation

Source: Green Party

The Greens welcome the open letter from world-leading climate scientists to the Prime Minister, urging his Government to abandon any plan to water down climate targets.

“Christopher Luxon must end any further speculation that his Government is on the climate denial bandwagon. After wasting a year playing around with the mythical ‘no additional warming’ idea, international alarm bells are ringing,” says Green Party co-leader and Climate Change spokesperson, Chlöe Swarbrick.

“The Climate Change Commission is clear that any entertainment of ‘no additional warming’ from agricultural gasses would mean households and businesses across the rest of the economy carrying a far higher burden.

“International experts are rightfully calling out this accounting trick. It’s about fixing numbers on a page while the real world burns.

“While the Government doesn’t tend to show any care for people and the planet, perhaps they would understand that pushing ahead with this agenda poses huge risks for our international exports, climate and trade agreements.

“The Greens have shown how we can reduce real-world emissions five times faster than the Government’s ‘plan,’ while reducing the cost of living and improving our quality of life.

“New Zealanders deserve so much better than this Government’s low ambitions for our country,” says Chlöe Swarbrick.

* The Green Party has raised this issue multiple times. Please see some examples below

MIL OSI New Zealand News –

June 3, 2025
MIL-OSI USA: National Weather Service Partial Rehire Plan Isn’t Good Enough, Says Cantwell

US Senate News:

Source: United States Senator for Washington Maria Cantwell

06.02.25

National Weather Service Partial Rehire Plan Isn’t Good Enough, Says Cantwell

NWS lost over 560 employees under Trump firings, creating unprecedented forecasting interruptions; today’s approval of 126 new hires represents less than 1/4 of that total; Months before the current crisis, Cantwell called for an exemption and accurately predicted the current situation

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, U.S. Senator Maria Cantwell (D-WA), ranking member of the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation and senior member of the Senate Finance Committee, released this statement following the Trump administration’s announcement of a plan to partially undo the damage done by their indiscriminate firings, resignations, and attrition plaguing the National Weather Service (NWS) workforce.

“The Trump Administration is trying to put a flimsy band-aid over their massive cut to the National Weather Service,” said Sen. Cantwell. “Hiring back less than a quarter of the people they fired isn’t good enough with hurricane and wildfire seasons bearing down. The administration should immediately end its hiring freeze for the National Weather Service, along with other critical safety roles throughout NOAA, including weather researchers and maritime professionals that weather forecasters and fisheries managers depend on.”

This dangerous decision to leave critical jobs unfilled comes as the National Interagency Fire Center, a partnership which includes NWS, released its Fire Maps for the next four months predicting above normal significant fire potential across the Northwest, and the National Weather Service predicts an above-normal hurricane season, which began yesterday.

Just last Thursday, Sen. Cantwell sent a letter demanding that the Trump Administration immediately exempt the NWS from its current federal hiring freeze so that citizens and communities will not be left to fend for themselves without adequate warnings as both hurricane season and wildfire season rapidly approach.

Today’s action by the administration lifted the hiring freeze on 126 positions across four roles – meteorologists, hydrologists, physical scientists, and electronic technicians. However, many other important roles remain subject to the freeze, including credentialed mariners needed to safety operate NOAA research vessels, weather scientists, and weather satellite technicians. NOAA vessels and satellites are crucial to maintaining forecast and weather infrastructure needed for meteorologists to issue quality and timely forecasts. These firings also impact our economy, with a number of commercial fishing surveys cancelled this year, including for Alaska pollock and salmon. Elimination of surveys will take catch from fishing families, which will result in job loss and increased cost for consumers that want access to high quality American seafood at their local markets and restaurants.

Multiple recent reports have documented the impacts of the hiring freeze. The Washington Post reports that “Some…forecasting teams are so critically understaffed that the agency is offering to pay moving expenses for any staff willing to transfer to those offices, according to notices recently sent to employees…” And the New York Times found that “The National Weather Service is preparing for the probability that fewer forecast updates will be fine-tuned by specialists, among other cutbacks, because of ‘severe shortages’ of meteorologists and other employees, according to an internal agency document.” These reports make clear that action must be taken immediately to avoid a catastrophic gap in capacity in the face of a future storm or wildfire.

In February, Sen. Cantwell sent Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick a letter warning of the likelihood of this exact situation.

MIL OSI USA News –

June 3, 2025
MIL-OSI USA: Welch Speaks About Trump’s Attack on Green Jobs at Energy Action Network (EAN) and EAN Climate Workforce Coalition Forum

US Senate News:

Source: United States Senator Peter Welch (D-Vermont)

WINOOSKI, VT – U.S. Senator Peter Welch (D-Vt.), Ranking Member of the Senate Agriculture Subcommittee on Rural Development, Energy, and Credit, joined a forum hosted by the Energy Action Network (EAN) and the EAN Climate Workforce Coalition on how Congressional policy and budget decisions may impact Vermont’s energy transformation and climate action initiatives, including Vermont’s climate workforce.
“President Trump has put Big Oil first, and his attacks on green jobs prove it. He and his administration are walking back our global climate goals, gutting tax credits that help folks make energy efficiency home upgrades, and slashing green jobs and climate research. Vermonters have made their opposition to Trump’s actions clear—I’ve heard from hundreds of folks across our state who are deeply concerned about how Republicans’ budget will raise costs for families, businesses, and farmers,” said Senator Welch. “I’ll continue to join Senate Democrats in standing up to these attacks and fighting for a clean energy future.”
Republicans’ reconciliation bill will repeal clean energy programs established through the historic Inflation Reduction Act and raise energy costs for American households and businesses. It will eliminate jobs in manufacturing, clean technologies, and budding industries, and has already sown economic uncertainty throughout the energy sector.
The legislation advanced by the U.S. House of Representatives would effectively repeal many of the clean energy investments in the Inflation Reduction Act while expanding fossil fuel production and subsidies. Specifically, the bill:

Rescinds unspent funding for clean energy grant programs in the Inflation Reduction Act;
Eliminates or effectively eliminates most clean energy tax credits including:

Electric Vehicles Tax Credit for new and used vehicles;
Energy Efficiency Home Improvement Tax Credit;
Clean Electricity Investment and Production Tax Credits;
Advanced Manufacturing Production Credit; and

Mandates oil and gas leases on public lands and allows Big Oil companies to pay the government to fast-track environmental reviews.

All told, Republicans’ plans will have drastic consequences for the economy. Studies predict that repealing the Inflation Reduction Act will eliminate 790,000 jobs, increase energy costs for American consumers by $32 billion between 2025-35, and shrink the U.S. economy by $190 billion in 2035. President Trump’s policies have already killed $14 billion in clean energy investments and 10,000 new energy jobs since he took office.

MIL OSI USA News –

June 3, 2025
MIL-OSI USA: Ensuring New Yorkers Keep Cool during Extreme Heat
Source: US State of New York

n Global Heat Action Day, Governor Kathy Hochul highlighted new and enhanced resources available to protect New York communities from extreme heat this summer. Measures will help New Yorkers access affordable cooling at home and at cooling centers, provide additional support for cool and resilient buildings, help keep kids cool at schools, and offer new tools and expanded funding for communities to prepare for and adapt to extreme heat and mitigate urban heat islands. The New York State Department of Health also launched its interactive New York State Heat Risk and Illness Dashboard that will allow the public and county health care officials to determine the forecasted level of heat-related health risks in their areas and raise awareness about the dangers of heat exposure.

“Scorching summer temperatures and increasing extreme weather events threaten the lives and well-being of New Yorkers across the state,” Governor Hochul said. “That’s why I’m directing State agencies to take action and ensure all New Yorkers can afford and access relief from the full spectrum of heat risks.”

Heat waves and other extreme heat events are likely to happen again this summer and New York State agencies are working to implement initiatives recommended by the State’s Extreme Heat Action Plan to help New Yorkers prepare for heat’s negative health and environmental impacts. A range of new and enhanced resources are available for individuals, local governments, and community-based organizations, including:
- New support for cooling at home: With the new Essential Plan Cooling program, NY State of Health will provide eligible Essential Plan members a free air conditioner to help keep their homes cool. This will complement assistance available in 2025 through the HEAP Cooling program which served more than 23,000 households in 2024.
- Better access to cooling centers: New resources are available to help connect New Yorkers with safe spaces for cooling. The New York State Department of Health (DOH) and Division of Homeland Security and Emergency Services (DHSES) will continue to coordinate with local health departments and emergency managers to update the Cooling Center Finder throughout summer 2025. DOH offers new resources to provide information about best practices for setting up cooling centers and how these locations could serve as clean air centers. Round 8 of the Climate Smart Communities grant program is now open, making $22 million available to fund GHG mitigation and climate adaptation projects, including establishing cooling centers.
- Additional support for cool buildings: Funding available through the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA) supports weatherization and clean and efficient heating and cooling that can improve extreme heat resilience at homes, community anchor institutions, schools, and more. The Office of General Services’ new “Decarbonization and Climate Resiliency Design Guide” was released for new and majorly renovated State building projects to assess and reduce climate risk (including extreme heat and Urban Heat Islands) through proactive design.
- New investments in cool schools: The Education Law newly requires public school districts and BOCES to develop an extreme heat policy, which establishes certain temperature thresholds. NYSERDA offers additional funding to install clean cooling and heating at schools, for example through funding as part of the Clean Water, Clean Air and Green Jobs Environmental Bond Act.
- Enhanced tools and funding for cool communities: Preliminary extreme heat exposure maps and DOH’s Heat Vulnerability Index help communities understand exposure and vulnerabilities. Programs such as Climate Smart Communities fund communities in planning, designing, and implementation solutions. New and expanded funding supports nature-based solutions such as urban forests, urban farms, and community gardens to cool neighborhoods and mitigate heat islands. Governor Hochul’s New York Statewide Investment in More Swimming (NY SWIMS) initiative expanded outdoor swimming through the Connect Kids to Swimming Instruction Transportation grant program and advanced capital projects for swimming facilities in underserved communities through the NY SWIMS Round One competitive grant program.
Implementation of the Extreme Heat Action Plan

New York State also marks significant progress on the first year of implementation of the Extreme Heat Action Plan (EHAP) with the first readiness update now available. In June 2024, Governor Hochul, the State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC), New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA), and the EHAP Work Group released the plan with nearly 50 actions by State agencies to address extreme heat impacts across four tracks (local planning and capacity building, community preparedness and workers’ safety, resilient buildings and access to cooling, and advancing ecosystem-based adaptations). DEC is coordinating the implementation of the plan in partnership with NYSERDA and the members of the Work Group, including the Division of Homeland Security and Emergency Services (DHSES) and the State Department of Health (DOH).

During the first year implementing the plan, State agencies made significant progress in developing new resources that help communities address impacts of extreme heat. The full update on implementation progress is available here.

Department of Environmental Conservation Commissioner Amanda Lefton said, “Extreme heat driven by our changing climate is contributing to serious public health consequences and threats to New Yorkers, particularly New Yorkers in communities of color and communities historically overburdened by pollution. DEC and our agency partners released the Extreme Heat Action Plan last year under Governor Hochul’s directive and applaud the significant programs and efforts underway to protect lives and advance efforts to ensure our communities are better prepared to respond to severe weather.”

New York State Energy Research and Development Authority President and CEO Doreen M. Harris said, “On Global Heat Action Day, New York State is strengthening its commitment to providing access to reliable, efficient, and affordable cooling solutions in communities across the state. The resources announced today show tremendous progress in implementing the Extreme Heat Action Plan, assuring all New Yorkers – including the most vulnerable – that relief will be available during the hottest months of the year.”

Staying Safe During Extreme Heat

The dangers of extreme heat can affect everyone, regardless of age, physical shape, or existing health conditions. The body works extra hard to maintain a normal temperature during extreme heat and, without taking proper measures, this can lead to heat-related illness or even death.

Division of Homeland Security and Emergency Services Commissioner Jackie Bray said, “Extreme heat can be deadly, so it’s important that New Yorkers take it seriously. Governor Hochul has made addressing extreme heat a priority as multiple days of high temperatures are becoming more common here in New York. Our state agencies have worked together to make resources available for communities and residents, including free air conditioners to help those eligible keep their homes cool and a comprehensive online tool to assist individuals looking for cooling centers. I urge everyone to prepare now for the extreme temperatures coming our way this summer.”

State Health Commissioner Dr. James McDonald said, “As extreme heat becomes more frequent and severe due to climate change, it’s critical that we equip New Yorkers with the tools and resources they need to stay safe and healthy. These new initiatives will not only expand access to cooling centers and protect vulnerable populations, but also help build healthier, more resilient communities. We’re proud to work alongside Governor Hochul and our state partners to ensure that every New Yorker, especially those most at risk, can find relief from extreme heat.”

Information about what the public can do during hot weather and how to locate cooling centers can be found on DOH’s Extreme Heat website.

The Home Energy Assistance Program (HEAP) can also provide an air conditioning unit to income-eligible households that include someone with a documented medical condition exacerbated by extreme heat, or households with young children or older adults. Applications will continue to be accepted until funding runs out. For more information, visit the Office of Temporary and Disability Assistance website or contact your local office for the aging at 1-800-342-9871.

Groups most at risk are:
- People who work outdoors or indoors without air conditioning
- Adults aged 60 years and older
- Infants, children, and those who are pregnant
- People with chronic health conditions
- Those with physical and cognitive disabilities
- Those with no access to air conditioning
- Individuals who live alone or are unhoused
- Athletes
- Pets and service animals
- People living in cities because asphalt and concrete store heat longer and release heat more slowly at night. This produces higher nighttime temperatures and is known as the “urban heat island effect.”
Another important heat safety tip is to never leave children or pets unsupervised in hot cars. There is a real and severe danger when leaving children or pets unsupervised in a car even when temperatures don’t “feel” hot. At 60 degrees outside, after just one hour a closed car can get as hot as 105 degrees.

Supporting Local Extreme Heat Action

New York State continues to make investments in programs to help mitigate extreme heat and other climate impacts. Currently, $22 million is available through the Climate Smart Communities grant program to fund climate change mitigation and adaptation projects, including for projects that help communities plan for and adapt to extreme heat. The deadline for applications is July 31, 2025. More information is available on DEC’s website.

New York State’s Climate Agenda

New York State’s climate agenda calls for an affordable and just transition to a clean energy economy that creates family-sustaining jobs, promotes economic growth through green investments, and directs a minimum of 35 percent of the benefits to disadvantaged communities. New York is advancing a suite of efforts to achieve an emissions-free economy by 2050, including in the energy, buildings, transportation, and waste sectors.

MIL OSI USA News –
June 3, 2025
MIL-OSI Global: What are Canada’s governing Liberals going to do about AI?

Source: The Conversation – Canada – By Jake Pitre, PhD Candidate in Film & Moving Image Studies, Concordia University

Fresh off his election victory, Prime Minister Mark Carney has been focused on standing up to Donald Trump’s claims on Canada as the 51st state and American tariffs. But while that political drama unfolds, one topic that seems to have quietly slipped under the radar is the rise of artificial intelligence.

Despite its transformative impact on everything from jobs to national security, AI received surprisingly little attention during the campaign and in the first weeks following Carney’s victory. The consequences of that lack of attention are already starting to show, as emissions and electricity costs continue unabated without a clear vision of where AI fits in.

Read more:
Anxious over AI? One way to cope is by building your uniquely human skills

Although Carney has appointed former journalist Evan Solomon as Canada’s first-ever AI minister, it’s not yet clear what action the Liberal government plans to take on AI.

The Liberals’ “Canada Strong” plan outlining the prime minister’s proposals is scarce on details. Still, it provides some clues on how the Liberals see AI and what they believe it offers to the Canadian economy — and also what they seem to have misunderstood.

Economy of the future?

First, the plan includes some robust initiatives for improving Canada’s digital infrastructure, which lags behind other leading countries, especially in terms of rural broadband and reliable cell service.

To accomplish these goals, the Liberals say they’ll incentivize investment by “introducing flow-through shares to our Canadian startup ecosystem…to raise money faster” for AI and other technologies.

In other words, they will reuse the model of mining and oil companies whereby investors can claim a tax deduction for the same amount as their investment. A major question is whether Canada’s investment ecosystem has enough big players willing to take these risks.

The plan gets less promising as it comes to the implementation of AI within “the economy of tomorrow.”

The Liberals say they plan to build more data centres, improve computing capacity and create digital supply chain solutions “to improve efficiency and reduce costs for Canadians.”

All that that sounds OK — so far. But how will they do this?

Connecting AI with Armed Forces

The Liberals plan to establish the Bureau of Research, Engineering and Advanced Leadership in Science (BOREALIS), linking AI development directly to the Canadian Armed Forces and the Communications Security Establishment Canada, which provides the federal government with information technology security and foreign signals intelligence.

This approach to AI is focused on what it offers to Canada’s defence, whether by manufacturing semiconductors or improving intelligence gathering, so that it can rely less on the U.S. Similarly, Canadian defence tech firms will access funding to help reduce dependence on American suppliers and networks.

The Liberals are pledging sovereignty and autonomy for Canada’s defence and security, all enabled by “the construction and development of AI infrastructure.”

What goes unsaid is the intense power needs of data centres, and the consequences for emissions and climate action of “building the next generation of data centres” in Canada.

Climate concerns

New data centres cannot be built without also constructing more renewable energy infrastructure, and none of this addresses emissions or climate change.

If the centres crop up in big numbers as planned, Canadians could also see their electricity costs go up or become less reliable.

That’s because finding space within the existing grid is not as easy as it may sound when AI data centres require over 100 megawatts (MW) of electricity demand versus five to 10 MW for a regular centre.

With the rapidly evolving market for AI-based data centres, Canadian policymakers need to provide clear guidance to utilities in terms of their current decisions on competing industrial-scale demands. As the Canadian Climate Institute points out: “Anything less risks higher rates, increased emissions, missed economic opportunities — or all of the above.”

So far, the Liberal plan fails to address any of these concerns.

A Canadian department of efficiency?

What else does the “economy of tomorrow” hold?

Apparently, it means more efficient government. According to the Liberal plan, AI “is how government improves service delivery, it is how government keeps up with the speed of business, and it is how government maximizes efficiency and reduces cost.”

Despite otherwise clashing with the Trump administration, this language is reminiscent of Elon Musk’s Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), which has also centred its use of AI.

Read more:
DOGE’s AI surveillance risks silencing whistleblowers and weakening democracy

The Liberals will open an Office of Digital Transformation, which aims to get rid of red tape and “reduce barriers for businesses to operate in Canada.”

They don’t seem to really know what this would actually look like, however. They say: “This could mean using AI to address government service backlogs and improve service delivery times, so that Canadians get better services, faster.”

Their fiscal plan points out that this frame of thinking applies to every single expenditure: “We will look at every new dollar being spent through the lens of how AI and technology can improve service and reduce costs.”

The economy will also benefit, the government argues, from AI commercialization, with $46 million pegged over the next four years to connect AI researchers with businesses.

This would work alongside a tax credit for small and medium-sized businesses to “leverage AI to boost their bottom lines, create jobs, and support existing employees.”

But a new report by Orgvue, the organizational design and planning software platform, shows that over half of businesses that rushed to impose AI just ended up making their employees redundant without clear gains in productivity.

Creating a tax credit for smaller companies to introduce AI seems like a recipe for repeating the same mistake.

Protect Canadians with good AI policy

Much of the Liberal plan seems to involve taking risks. There’s a shortsightedness on this rapidly advancing technology that requires significant guardrails.

The government seem to view AI as a solutions machine, buying into the hype around it without taking the time to understand it.

As policy is properly hashed out in the weeks and months to come, the Liberals’ feet will have to be held to the fire on the issue of AI. Canadians must benefit from its limited uses and be protected from its abuses.

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

– ref. What are Canada’s governing Liberals going to do about AI? – https://theconversation.com/what-are-canadas-governing-liberals-going-to-do-about-ai-257537

MIL OSI – Global Reports –

June 3, 2025
MIL-OSI USA: $21.6M Awarded to Support NY Dairy Farms
Source: US State of New York

overnor Kathy Hochul today announced nearly $21.6 million has been awarded to 103 farms across the state through the Dairy Modernization Grant Program to support New York’s dairy industry. The funding, first announced in the Governor’s 2024 State of the State address, will help New York’s dairy farmers and dairy cooperatives invest in new equipment, expand storage capacity, and strengthen their operations, particularly as they face extreme weather events, providing a critical boost to New York’s dairy industry. The announcement comes as the State officially kicks off the celebration of Dairy Month this June.

“New York’s dairy industry is the backbone of our agricultural economy, supporting thousands of jobs across our rural communities,” Governor Hochul said. “With this $26 million investment through the Dairy Modernization Grant Program, we’re giving hardworking dairy farmers and cooperatives the tools they need to grow, innovate and lead in a changing market. This is how we honor our agricultural legacy — by making sure it has a strong and sustainable future.”

The awards were announced this morning at a special event at Glory Days Farm, a 120-cow dairy farm in Lowville, Lewis County. New York State Agriculture Commissioner Richard A. Ball was joined by partners from the Farm and Food Growth Fund (FFGF), who administer this grant program on behalf of the Department, in addition to other North Country dairy farm awardees, Lowville Producers Dairy Cooperative Inc., New York Farm Bureau, Cornell Cooperative Extension, the Lewis County Soil and Water Conservation District, and elected officials to celebrate these awardees.

As part of the program, Glory Days Farm, a New York State Grown & Certified participant, will now be able to install new equipment needed on the farm, including a 3,000-gallon bulk tank, washer, two new compressors, and a permanent generator to maintain power supply in the event of extreme weather. The project will improve storage capacity, which will prevent dumped milk and provide a cost savings to Glory Days Farm by allowing them to move to every-other-day milk pickup and reducing stop and hauling costs. New cooling technology will help the farm save energy and ensure milk quality, while the on-demand generator will allow for milk transfer in the event of disruptions.

A regional breakdown of the awards made across the State is listed below. A complete list of projects awarded for a total of $21.57 million can be found here.
- Capital Region: nine farms were awarded a total of nearly $1.8 million.
- Central New York: 18 farms were awarded a total of more than $3.9 million.
- Finger Lakes: 20 farms were awarded a total of more than $4.3 million.
- Mid-Hudson: One farm was awarded more than $147,000.
- Mohawk Valley: 11 farms were awarded a total of more than $2.1 million.
- North Country: 15 farms were awarded a total of more than $3.3 million.
- Southern Tier: 13 farms were awarded a total of nearly $2.6 million.
- Western New York: 13 farms were awarded a total of more than $2.7 million.
The Dairy Modernization Grant program awarded eligible applicants for projects to expand on-farm milk storage capacity, improve the transportation and storage of milk, and strengthen the dairy industry. The program supports the needs of dairy farmers by facilitating the installation of critical technological and infrastructural improvements that will improve dairy supply chain efficiency and avoid the need for raw milk dumping during emergency events.

Funding for the Dairy Modernization Grant Program is a part of Governor Hochul’s 2024 State of the State and her overarching commitment to the dairy industry, including additional funds dedicated in the FY26 Enacted Budget to support a $10 million second round of the program, and further funding dedicated to research and to implement climate-resilient practices on dairy farms.

This investment builds on the commitment that Governor Hochul has made to support sustainability in the agricultural industry, including for dairy farms. Under the Governor’s leadership, the FY26 Enacted Budget provides an additional $5.25 million from the Environmental Protection Fund over the previous year for agricultural programs and initiatives that also benefit New York dairy farms, such as the Climate Resilient Farming grant program and the Agricultural Non-Point Source Abatement and Control program, that are helping farms to implement environmentally sustainable practices and combat climate change. Additional allocations for the Farmland Protection Program and the State’s Soil and Water Conservation Districts will also support the New York dairy community.

Since taking office, Governor Hochul has made significant strides in expanding the dairy manufacturing sector in New York. In the last few years, New York has celebrated investments across the state, including a $650 million fairlife production plant in Webster, the $518 million Great Lakes Cheese packaging and manufacturing facilities in Franklinville, and a $30 million expansion to the Agri-Mark cheese manufacturing facility in Chateaugay, helping New York continue to be the leading producer of milk in the Northeast. Most recently, the Governor announced Chobani, which opened its first U.S. plant in 2005 in New York, will build a 1.4 million square foot, $1.2 billion facility in Rome, Oneida County, capable of producing over one-billion pounds of high-quality dairy products per year. There are currently nearly 300 world-recognized dairy processing plants across New York.

New York State Agriculture Commissioner Richard A. Ball said, “I thank Governor Hochul for her continued support of New York agriculture and our state’s dairy industry, which is so critical to our agricultural economy. Our dairy farmers and processors are second to none when it comes to the care they give to the land and their animals and the quality of their milk products. I am so pleased to see this funding being awarded to these deserving farms, who will now have the additional resources they need to ensure that they can continue to provide the very best milk and dairy products, and keep operations and the supply chain going, even in the event of severe weather or emergency events.”

Farm and Food Growth Fund President and CEO Todd Erling said, “New York State is the country’s fifth largest dairy producing state, with almost 3,000 farms. The majority are family-run and generational operations which this grant program largely benefits. Ensuring efficient and updated infrastructures will not only strengthen and safeguard the supply chain, but will also help to build forward-looking opportunities for the next generation of dairy farmers. Thanks to our hard working farm families, and with the support of Governor Hochul, New York continues to be a leader in our regional food system.”

Glory Days Farm Owners The Beyer Family said, “Our aspiration is for our farm and farms like ours to remain viable for future generations. The Dairy Modernization Grant Program gives farms like ours the opportunity to progress and innovate, and continue being the lifeblood of our communities. This program encourages the adoption of efficient technology that improves food safety with more consideration to environmental impacts, securing the future of dairy in New York.”

State Senator Michelle Hinchey said, “New York is in the top five of dairy states producing some of the best products in the country. Dairy is our largest agricultural sector and a powerful contributor to our state and local economies, which is why supporting this leading industry is a major state priority. The Dairy Modernization Grant Program helps our dairy farmers and processors future-proof their operations, ensuring that New York dairy maintains its high standards while advancing efficiency and resiliency. I’m proud to have helped champion this grant program in our state agriculture budget and want to congratulate all of the local dairies and processors, including Uplands Farm in Millbrook, that received funding awards!”

Assemblymember Donna Lupardo said, “In order for New York to maintain its prominence as a leading dairy state, we have to make important infrastructure investments. The Dairy Modernization Grant Program provides needed technology and upgrades for our dairy farms and cooperative dairies. I am thankful that all of our partners in state government recognize and support the hardworking men and women who make up New York’s largest agricultural sector.”

Northeast Dairy Producers Association Executive Vice President Tonya Van Slyke said, “For generations, New York’s family dairy farms have been leaders in progressive, science-based management practices that improve efficiencies in the barns, the fields, and the milking parlors, along with storing and transporting milk. The Dairy Modernization Grant Program helps address challenges family dairy farms face and will make a significant impact by providing solutions for increased on-farm milk storage capacity, new technology, and improved efficiencies in transportation for the farms that were awarded grant opportunities. We appreciate the Governor’s continued investment in our family dairy farms, as we work together to protect New York’s food security and cement the state’s position as a leader in dairy.”

New York State Farm Bureau President David Fisher said, “New York’s dairy industry is critical to the agricultural and economic health of our state. The Dairy Modernization Grant Program is not only a significant step in improving operations for farmers across New York, but also in making a commitment to agricultural sustainability. With Dairy Month upon us, we celebrate dairy farms of all sizes and the farmers who bring fresh, nutritious products to the table every day.”

About the Dairy Industry in New York State

New York State has roughly 3,000 dairy farms that produce over 16 billion pounds of milk annually, making New York the nation’s fifth-largest dairy state. The dairy industry is the state’s largest agricultural sector, contributing significantly to the state’s economy by generating nearly half of the state’s total agricultural receipts and providing some of the highest economic multipliers. New York’s unique and talented dairy producers and processors contribute significantly to the state’s agriculture industry, economy and the health of our communities.

MIL OSI USA News –
June 3, 2025
MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Strategic Defence Review oral statement

Source: United Kingdom – Government Statements

Oral statement to Parliament

Strategic Defence Review oral statement

Statement from Defence Secretary John Healey on the Strategic Defence Review.

With permission, Mr Speaker, I would like to make a statement on the Strategic Defence Review.

And I have laid the full 130-page review report first before this house. I am grateful to be able to make this statement on the first day back from recess.

Mr Speaker, the world has changed, and we must respond.

The SDR is our Plan for Change for Defence.

A plan to meet the threats we face.

A plan to step up on European Security and lead in NATO.

A plan that learns the lessons from Ukraine.

A plan to seize the defence dividend from our record increase in defence investment, to boost jobs and growth throughout the United Kingdom.

And a plan to put the men and women of our Armed Forces at the heart of our defence plans: better pay, better kit, better housing.

Through the SDR will make our Armed Forces stronger, and the British people safer.

I’d like to thank those who led the SDR… Lord Robertson of Port Ellen, General Barrons and Dr Fiona Hill.

“The politician, the soldier, and a foreign policy expert”, as they say themselves in their forward. Thye have put in a huge effort, alongside others.

This is a first-of-its-kind, externally led review.

A process, in which we received 8 000 submissions from experts, individuals, organisations, and MPs from across the House, including the Shadow Defence Secretary.

I thank them all – and I thank those in the MOD who have contributed to this SDR.

This is not just the government’s review it is Britain’s defence review.

And so, the government endorses the SDR’s vision, accepts its 62 recommendations, which will be implemented.

Mr Speaker, the threats we face is now more serious and less predictable than at any time since the of Cold War.

We face war in Europe, growing Russian aggression, new nuclear risks, and daily cyber-attacks at home.

Our adversaries are working more in alliance with one another, while technology is changing the way war is fought.

We are in a new era of threat, which demands a new era for UK Defence.

Mr Speaker, since the General Election we have demonstrated that we are a government dedicated to delivering for defence.

Committing the largest sustained increase in defence spending since the end of the Cold War… £5 billion extra this year, 2.5% in 2027, the ambition to 3% in the next parliament.

Mr Speaker, there can be no investment without reform.

And so we are already driving also the deepest reforms to defence in 50 years.

And these will ensure clearer responsibilities, better delivery, stronger budget control and new efficiencies, worth £6 billion in this parliament, money all of which will be reinvested directly into defence.

Mr Speaker, our Armed Forces will always do what’s needed to keep the nation safe –24/7, in more than 50 countries around the world.

But in a more dangerous world, the SDR confirms that we must move to warfighting readiness.

Warfighting readiness means stronger deterrence.

We need stronger deterrence to avoid the huge costs, human and economic that wars create.

And we prevent wars by being strong enough to fight and win them. And that is what has made NATO the most successful defence alliance in history, over the last 75 years.

So Mr Speaker, we will establish a “New Hybrid Navy” by:

… building Dreadnought, AUKUS submarines, cutting-edge warships and new autonomous vessels.

Our carriers will carry the first hybrid airwings in Europe.

We will develop the next generation RAF with:

F35s, upgraded Typhoons, 6th Gen GCAP and autonomous fighters, to defend Britain’s skies and be able to strike anywhere in the world.

And we will make the British Army 10 times more lethal by:

Combining the future technology of drones, autonomy and AI with the heavy metal tanks and artillery.

Mr Speaker for too long, our Army has been asked to do more with less.

We inherited a long run recruitment crisis – [political content removed].

Reversing this decline will take time but we are acting to stem the loss now and aiming to increase the British Army to at least 76,000 full time soldiers in the next parliament.

Mr Speaker, for the first time in a generation, we are a government who want the number of regular soldiers to rise.

In our homeland, Mr Speaker, this a government that will protect our island home, we’ll do so by:

Committing £1bn in new funding to homeland air and missile defences, by creating a new CyberEM Command to defend Britain in the grey zone and by preparing legislation to improve defence readiness.

Mr. Speaker, as Ukraine shows a country’s armed forces are only as strong as the industry that stands behind them.

So this SDR begins a new partnership with industry, with innovators and with investors, we will make engine. We will make defence an engine for growth, an engine for growth to create jobs and increase prosperity in every nation and every region of the UK.

Take our nuclear enterprise.

We will commit 15 billion pounds in investment into the sovereign warhead programme in this Parliament, supporting over 9000 jobs. We will establish continuous submarine production through investments in Barrow and in Derby, that will allow us to produce a submarine every 18 months, allowing us to grow our nuclear attack submarine fleet to up to 12 submarines, supporting more than 20,000 jobs.

And on munitions, we will invest 6 billion pounds in this Parliament, including for six new munitions factories and up to 7000 new long-range weapons, supporting nearly 2000 jobs.

Mr. Speaker, the lives of workers in Barrow or Derby or Govan, where I was with the Prime Minister this morning, are being transformed, not just by this defence investment, but by the pride and purpose that comes with work that comes with defence work. And in the coming years, more communities and more working people will benefit from the defence dividend that this brings.

Mr. Speaker Ukraine also tells us that whoever gets new technology into the hands of their armed forces fastest will have the advantage. So we will place Britain at the leading edge of innovation in NATO.

We will double investment into autonomous systems this parliament. We will invest more than a billion pounds to integrate our armed forces through a new digital targeting web, and we will finance a £400 million UK Defence Innovation organization.

Mr. Speaker, to ensure that Britain gains the maximum benefit from what we invent and what we produce in this country, we will create a new defence exports office in the MOD, driving exports to our allies and driving growth at home.

Mr. Speaker, the SDR sets a new vision, a new framework for defence investment.

The work to confirm a new defence investment plan, superseding the last government’s defence equipment plan, will be completed in the autumn.

It will ensure our frontline forces get what they need when they need it.

The plan will be deliverable. It will be affordable. It will consider infrastructure alongside capabilities. It will seize the opportunities of advanced tech, and it will seize the opportunities to grow the British economy.

And Mr. Speaker, as we lose the national service generation, fewer families across this country have a direct connection to the armed forces. And so we must do more to reconnect the nation with those who defend us.

And so as the SDR recommends, we will increase the number of cadets by 30%, we will introduce a voluntary Gap Year scheme for school and college leavers, and we will develop a new strategic reserve by 2030.

Mr. Speaker, we must also renew the nation’s contract with those who serve. We’ve already awarded the biggest pay increase in over 20 years, an inflation busting increase this year. And now I’ve announced we will invest 7 billion pounds of funding this parliament for military accommodation, including 1.5 billion of new money for rapid work to deal with the scandal of military family homes.

Mr. Speaker, this SDR is the first defence review in a generation for growth and for transformation in UK defence. It will end 14 years of hollowing out in our armed forces, and instead, we will see investment increased, the Navy expanded, the army grown, the Air Force upgraded, war fighting readiness, restored, NATO strengthened, the nuclear deterrent, guaranteed advanced technology developed and jobs, jobs created. Jobs created in every nation, and region of this country. Mr. Speaker. Mr. Strategic Defence Review will make Britain, safer, more secure, at home, and stronger abroad.

Updates to this page

Published 2 June 2025

MIL OSI United Kingdom –

June 3, 2025
MIL-OSI Global: England’s water crisis needs more than just new reservoirs – here’s what will help

Source: The Conversation – UK – By Hannah Cloke, Professor of Hydrology, University of Reading

The UK government wants to build more reservoirs like this one (Ladybower reservoir) in the Peak District Jon_Clark/Shutterstock

England is facing a water crisis. The UK government has just announced plans to fast-track two massive reservoir projects in Cambridgeshire and Lincolnshire, warning that without them, we could run out of drinking water by the mid-2030s. But as a hydrologist who studies Britain’s often erratic weather patterns, I believe these reservoirs alone won’t solve our water problems.

No major reservoirs have been completed in England since 1992. But the rising population, housing developments and the construction of data centres which use large amounts of water as a coolant are putting intense pressure on our water supplies.

Meanwhile, climate change is bringing hotter, drier summers that increase the risk of drought, as a warmer atmosphere soaks up more water and moves it around in increasingly extreme patterns. This year’s arid spring has already pushed north-west England into official drought status.

The government’s solution is to build nine new reservoirs by 2050, potentially providing 670 million litres of extra water daily. The two fast-tracked projects in Cambridgeshire and Lincolnshire are pencilled for completion in 2036 and 2040 respectively. On paper, this sounds like a sensible response to a growing crisis.

Get your news from actual experts, straight to your inbox. Sign up to our daily newsletter to receive all The Conversation UK’s latest coverage of news and research, from politics and business to the arts and sciences.

But here’s the problem: we’re thinking about water all wrong. We need a complete overhaul of the way we use water. We need to plug leaks, cut down on waste and use water more than once in our homes and buildings before sloshing it down the drain. We need to catch more water wherever it falls – not just in the river basins that are linked to big reservoirs.

Water companies lose billions of litres daily through leaky pipes. Some estimates suggest that around 20% of treated water never reaches taps because it seeps out of ageing infrastructure. Meanwhile, we’re planning to pump water across huge distances from new reservoirs to supply areas that could be managing their local water resources far more efficiently.

It would be better to make more difficult decisions around the regulation of new buildings, as well as retrofitting older homes and businesses, to cut waste and recycle water where it is used. This isn’t just about taking shorter showers or turning off taps as you brush your teeth – although these things do help.

We need systematic changes: building standards that require water recycling systems, tighter management of water-hungry developments in already dry areas and serious investment in our crumbling water infrastructure.

Read more:
Recycling sewage is a sensible way to improve water security – but would you swallow it?

The reservoirs planned for Cambridgeshire and Lincolnshire will take more than a decade to complete and will cost billions of pounds. In the UK, little research has been done to compare the costs of major infrastructure against a mass roll out of household-level water saving techniques.

Such schemes are rare in Europe. But evidence from historically water-scarce regions, such as parts of Australia, have shown that widely-adopted community and domestic water storage and recycling is cost effective. In the past, the approach in the UK and most European countries has followed a traditional model that often dates to Victorian times, or before.

These civic water supply and drainage systems were built to address public health crises and cut water-borne diseases across urban areas.

But an unprecedented climate calls for unprecedented solutions. These could include the widespread roll out of sustainable drainage solutions that mimic nature and capture rainwater where it falls, on roofs or ditches filled with plants, rather than letting it rush straight down the drains into the rivers.

Green roofs need to be part of the solution.
Virrage Images/Shutterstock

Britain’s weather has always been variable, but it’s now extremely variable. We’ve experienced this seesaw pattern of drought followed by flooding, as seen in the contrast between dry and wet months seen over the past year.

This all-or-nothing rainfall pattern makes it even more important to capture and store water locally when we have it, rather than relying on large, centralised infrastructure that may be in the wrong place when extreme weather strikes.

The government’s decision to override local planning objections for these reservoir projects highlights another issue. Communities may be asked to sacrifice their land and landscapes for water infrastructure that primarily serves distant urban areas. This approach feels increasingly outdated when we could manage water more sustainably at the local level.

None of this means we don’t need new reservoirs. More water storage needs to be part of the solution. But while big reservoir projects may be politically attractive as they are visible examples of government action, they shouldn’t be our only solution, or even our primary one.

The climate crisis demands that we think differently about water. A warmer world shifts water from region to region more easily, causing problems by its presence or its absence. In the UK, we will increasingly have to treat water as a precious resource, to be more carefully managed wherever we find it.

Hannah Cloke advises the Environment Agency, the European Centre for Medium-range Weather Forecasts, the Copernicus Emergency Management Service, local and national governments and humanitarian agencies on the forecasting and warning of natural hazards. She is a member of the UKRI Natural Environment Research Council and a fellow of the European Centre for Medium-range Weather Forecasts. Her research is funded by the UKRI Engineering & Physical Sciences Research Council, the UKRI Natural Environment Research Council and the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office.

– ref. England’s water crisis needs more than just new reservoirs – here’s what will help – https://theconversation.com/englands-water-crisis-needs-more-than-just-new-reservoirs-heres-what-will-help-257922

MIL OSI – Global Reports –

June 3, 2025
MIL-OSI USA: Bean Introduces LOOTER Act to Combat Crime During Natural Disasters

Source: United States House of Representatives – Representative Aaron Bean Florida (4th District)

WASHINGTON—With the Atlantic Hurricane Season officially underway, U.S. Congressman Aaron Bean (FL-04) is taking decisive action to combat crime during natural disasters with the introduction of the Law On Offender Transgressions During Emergencies and Recovery (LOOTER) Act. This timely legislation aims to protect communities from criminals who exploit disaster-stricken areas by imposing federal criminal penalties for theft during declared natural disasters.

Upon introduction, Congressman Bean said, “When disaster strikes, you should not have to choose between evacuating for your safety or safeguarding your property. This bill sends a clear message: We will not tolerate the exploitation of natural disaster victims. I’m proud to join Congressman Panetta in ensuring looters who prey on victims think twice before ever committing such heinous crimes.”

Congressman Bean was joined by Congressmen Jimmy Panetta (CA-19), Tom Suozzi (NY-03), and Troy Nehls (TX-22) in introducing this bill.

“As a former prosecutor, I’ve seen firsthand how looting during emergencies only deepens the suffering of disaster victims,” said Rep. Panetta. “The LOOTER Act would ensure that those who prey on communities during times of crisis face serious consequences under federal law. Our bipartisan legislation is critical to better protecting disaster-stricken communities, supporting our local law enforcement partners, and sending a clear message that if you loot during a disaster, you will be held accountable.”

“During natural disasters, our communities are vulnerable—not just to the forces of nature, but also to the few bad actors who seek to exploit tragedy for personal gain. The LOOTER Act is about protecting our neighbors when they are at their weakest and holding criminals accountable,” said Rep. Suozzi. “I support this commonsense, bipartisan legislation because it ensures that in times of crisis, law and order will still prevail. We must send a clear message: If you steal from families during their darkest hour, you will be held responsible.”

“Texas’s 22^nd Congressional District is prone to natural disasters that have had serious effects on our communities and lives,” said Rep. Nehls. “When Hurricane Harvey hit, I served as Sheriff of Fort Bend County, Texas, and know all too well how natural disasters leave people and their property vulnerable, especially to crime. This bill ensures accountability for those who take advantage of disaster and ensures justice for those who might fall victim to these low-life crimes. Thank you to Congressman Panetta for leading this important effort.”

BACKGROUND

The LOOTER Act proposes amendments to Title 18 of the U.S. Code, establishing clear federal penalties for larceny offenses committed in federally declared disaster areas. Under the bill, petty larceny during a disaster would be punishable by up to one year in prison, while grand larceny would result in up to five years behind bars.

###

MIL OSI USA News –

June 3, 2025
MIL-OSI Security: Fourteen Individuals, Including 10 Mexican Nationals, Charged with Fentanyl and Cocaine Trafficking and Immigration Offenses

Source: US FBI

Richard G. Frohling, Acting United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Wisconsin, announced today that a criminal complaint charging fourteen individuals was unsealed, and thirteen of the fourteen charged individuals have been arrested. Additionally, multiple search warrants were executed in the Eastern District of Wisconsin and the Central District of California in coordination with the arrests. All the defendants are charged with narcotics trafficking, including fentanyl and cocaine, and two of the individuals, Osmar Venejas-Mejia and Hector Rodriguez-Villalobos, are charged with illegal reentry after removal from the United States.

The defendants charged in this law enforcement action are identified as follows:

Name                         Age         Citizenship
FERNANDO PALMA-JIMENEZ         49         Mexico
DANIEL MORALEZ             37         USA
CARMELO HERNANDEZ-RAMIREZ    40         Mexico
LUIS QUINONEZ-HERNANDEZ     36          USA
REYNALDO SANCHEZ-GONZALEZ   48         Mexico
CARLOS PEREZ-SANTANA         32         Mexico
EQUIEL MARTINEZ             39          Mexico
GERARDO OSORIO-JARAMILLO     47         Mexico
JESUS MEDINA-RODRIGUEZ         47         Mexico
ERIK RODRIGUEZ                 33         USA
ANDREA ROA                 30         Mexico
HECTOR RODRIGUEZ-VILLALOBOS 35         Mexico
OSMAR VENEJAS-MEJIA             34        Mexico
JOSEPH MARINCIC             40         USA

According to the criminal complaint, between approximately March 2023 and the present, the fourteen defendants conspired to possess with intent to distribute and to distribute controlled substances, including fentanyl and cocaine, and that multiple defendants possessed with intent to distribute controlled substances, distributed controlled substances, and used communication facilities to facilitate the distribution of controlled substances. If convicted, the penalties for the narcotics trafficking offenses carry maximum penalties of forty years to life in prison depending on the specific offense and weight of controlled substances charged.

The complaint also alleges that Osmar Venejas-Mejia and Hector Rodriguez-Villalobos, both Mexican nationals, were previously removed from the United States and unlawfully reentered the United States. If convicted, the penalties for the illegal reentry offense carry a maximum penalty of two years in prison and a $250,000 fine.

The defendants were charged based on a long-running investigation by law enforcement officers from the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), and Wisconsin Department of Justice Division of Criminal Investigation (DCI), in partnership with the North Central High Intensity Drug Trafficking Areas (HIDTA). This case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Gail Hoffman and Elizabeth Monfils. Multiple law enforcement agencies participated in the arrests and execution of search warrants related to the case, including the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), United States Marshal Service (USMS), the United States Postal Inspection Service (USPIS), Internal Revenue Service-Criminal Investigations (IRS-CI), the West Allis Police Department, the Brookfield Police Department, the Waukesha Police Department, the South Milwaukee Police Department, Milwaukee County Sheriff’s Department, Waukesha County Sheriff’s Department, and Wisconsin State Patrol.

This case was charged as part of Operation Take Back America (https://www.justice.gov/dag/media/1393746/dl?inline) a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime. Operation Take Back America streamlines efforts and resources from the Department’s Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETFs) and Project Safe Neighborhood (PSN).

The public is cautioned that an indictment or criminal complaint is merely a charge and the defendant is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty.

# # #

For Additional Information Contact:

Public Information Officer

Kenneth.Gales@usdoj.gov

414-297-1700

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MIL Security OSI –

June 3, 2025
MIL-OSI NGOs: MSF calls for urgent aid to support Sudanese refugees fleeing to Chad
Source: Médecins Sans Frontières –

N’Djamena – In the Tine transit camp and the nearby refugee camps in eastern Chad, close to the border with Sudan, Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) is scaling up our assistance to the newly arrived Sudanese refugees. They are fleeing escalating attacks and violence in North Darfur. Since the end of April an estimated 40,000 refugees, the vast majority coming from El Fasher and its surrounding camps for displaced people, have arrived in Tine, in Wadi Fira province. They now face harsh, overcrowded conditions and limited access to basic services.

On arrival in Tine, some people are malnourished and experiencing profound psychological distress due to the horrific violence in North Darfur and on the roads leading to Chad. The overwhelming majority are women and children coming from El Fasher and Zamzam camp for internally displaced people. They have already endured starvation as the Rapid Support Forces laid siege to these areas and famine conditions have been prevalent for months in Zamzam camp according to the Famine Review Committee.

“We’ve walked a long way to get here. We passed through several villages to get to Tine to take refuge from the violence and bombings. We’ve been here for several days but we’re struggling to find food and water. We’ve been wearing the same clothes for days,” says one woman.

The Tine transit camp is currently hosting over 18,000 people, many of whom are sleeping on the bare ground in 40°C heat, with no shelter and severely limited access to water and food despite support from the host communities.

MSF has scaled up our medical and humanitarian activities in the transit camp and at the Tine border to increase availability of healthcare services. Apart from nutrition screenings and vaccination at the border point, over the past weeks, MSF has carried out over 900 consultations per week in the health post at the transit camp. At the health post, the global rate of malnutrition among children under five is as high as 29% with 9% being severely malnourished.

Routine vaccination efforts remain a priority in the camp as cases of measles have been detected. A mass vaccination campaign is ongoing. Finally, care for pregnant women and for survivors of sexual violence is also being provided at the health post. Our teams set up referrals of critical patients to hospitals and will build an additional 50 emergency latrines. We are also preparing further distribution of therapeutic food and essential items. We are distributing 60,000 litres of water per day, but this is only half of what is currently needed.

“Sudanese refugees arrive exhausted, many malnourished and require immediate assistance,” says Claire San Filippo, MSF’s emergency coordinator for Sudan. “We ask donors, the UN and other humanitarian organisations to increase the mobilisation to provide or scale up support in terms of food, shelter, sanitation and medical care, including mental health services. The current humanitarian response is insufficient, and the upcoming rainy season is likely to worsen living conditions, spread disease and exacerbate food insecurity and lack of sanitation.”

Despite the immense needs in Tine transit camp and other refugee camps in Wadi Fira, MSF is witnessing very limited aid distribution despite solidarity from the host community and grassroot organisations. The financial crisis affecting the entire humanitarian sector is clearly being felt in eastern Chad. The war continues unabated in Sudan and more people are hoping to reach Chad.

MSF is also present in refugee camps in Wadi Fira, such as Iridimi camp, where refugees from the Tine transit camp are being relocated. To help improve the dire situation in Iridimi camp which has reached its maximum capacity, we recently started supporting the Iridimi health centre. The activities focus on the continuity of basic healthcare, vaccination, strengthening epidemiological surveillance, improving patient flow, reinforcing the referral system, and improving hygiene conditions at the health centre. We also run mobile clinics in Chad, along the Sudanese borders including in Kulbus and Birak.

The humanitarian situation at the border between Chad and Sudan has again reached a tipping point, with over 70,000 new refugees arriving in Chad since April 2025. Chad is already hosting over one million refugees, including more than 800,000 Sudanese who have arrived since the conflict began over two years ago.
Since the end of April, an estimated 40,000 refugees have arrived in Tine, Chad, fleeing the violence in Sudan.

People at the transit camp are struggling to access the food, water, and other basic necessities.

MSF teams are scaling up their support for new arrivals, and we urge others to increase their mobilisation.
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MIL OSI NGO –
June 3, 2025
MIL-OSI USA: Ahead of Hurricane Season, King Urges Trump Administration to Reinstate Terminated Employees at Weather Forecast Offices

US Senate News:

Source: United States Senator for Maine Angus King
WASHINGTON, D.C. — U.S. Senator Angus King, alongside 14 of his colleagues, is urging the Trump Administration to swiftly reinstate terminated employees at the National Weather Service (NWS) and National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) as Maine faces an unpredictable hurricane season ahead. In a letter to Secretary of Commerce Howard Lutnick and Acting Administrator of NOAA Laura Grimm, King and his fellow Senators emphasized that staff reductions at both agencies pose a threat to public safety and emergency preparedness by undercutting essential forecasting and weather monitoring systems. The Senators requested information on how the administration plans to address staffing at both agencies.
“NWS would be unable to provide accurate and timely forecasts without sufficient staffing levels at weather forecast offices nationwide. In addition to daily forecasting operations, weather forecast offices are responsible for issuing emergency weather warnings ahead of events such as major floods, wildfire hazards, hurricanes, and blizzard conditions,” wrote the Senators. “As the frequency and severity of such disasters increase, maintaining NWS’s real-time forecasting operations is essential to saving lives and reducing the cost of recovery for disaster-affected communities.”
The Senators continued: “NWS employees and the programs they support are essential to the safety of the millions of Americans impacted by storms and disasters each year. On February 27, 2025, 108 probationary NWS employees were terminated, adding to the 170 staff who accepted the Administration’s ‘deferred resignation’ plan earlier that month. These staffing cuts are already impacting NWS services, forcing NWS to halt weather balloon launches in New York, Maine and Alaska that provide daily weather data to meteorologists at weather forecast offices across the country.”
“As we head into hurricane season, 30 weather forecast offices are without a meteorologist-in-charge, one is completely without any managers at all, and nearly a dozen are preparing to shut down 24/7 services without immediate action to address shortages,” wrote the Senators. “We urge you to reassess the staffing needs at NOAA and NWS and reinstate terminated probationary employees swiftly.”
NWS maintains 122 weather forecast offices across the United States which are responsible for providing 24/7 weather monitoring and forecasts. The NWS Forecast Offices in Gray and Caribou are vital to providing Maine people across the state with information on how to prepare for and protect their families from flooding and extreme weather events. The Department of Commerce is reportedly planning to eliminate an additional 1,000 staff from NOAA, including at NWS, in the coming weeks. These cuts, combined with current staffing constraints, could reduce the NWS workforce by 15% just months into 2025. Maine fishermen have raised concerns about the layoffs which have impacted the fish management division and reliable data for weather forecasts.
In addition to Senator King, the letter was signed by Senators Peter Welch (D-VT), Chris Van Hollen (D-MD), Jeff Merkley (D-OR), Angela Alsobrooks (D-MD), Tina Smith (D-Minn.), Ron Wyden (D-OR), Alex Padilla (D-CA), John Hickenlooper (D-CO), Reverend Raphael Warnock (D-GA), Ed Markey (D-MA), Bernie Sanders (I-VT), Dick Durbin (D-IL), Richard Blumenthal (D-CT) and Brian Schatz (D-HI).
The full text of the letter is available here and below.
+++
Dear Secretary Lutnick, and Acting Administrator Grimm,
We write to express our concern with recent layoffs at the National Weather Service (NWS). Reports indicate that over 550 employees have been terminated or accepted deferred resignation offers. We believe that these staff reductions pose a threat to public safety and emergency preparedness by undercutting essential forecasting and weather monitoring systems. We urge you to reinstate terminated NWS employees and request additional information on how the administration plans to address staffing at NWS.
NWS maintains 122 weather forecast offices across the United States which are responsible for providing 24/7 weather monitoring and forecasts. NWS would be unable to provide accurate and timely forecasts without sufficient staffing levels at weather forecast offices nationwide. In addition to daily forecasting operations, weather forecast offices are responsible for issuing emergency weather warnings ahead of events such as major floods, wildfire hazards, hurricanes, and blizzard conditions. As the frequency and severity of such disasters increase, maintaining NWS’s real-time forecasting operations is essential to saving lives3and reducing the cost of recovery for disaster-affected communities.
NWS employees and the programs they support are essential to the safety of the millions of Americans impacted by storms and disasters each year. On February 27, 2025, 108 probationary NWS employees were terminated, adding to the 170 staff who accepted the Administration’s “deferred resignation” plan earlier that month. These staffing cuts are already impacting NWS services, forcing NWS to halt weather balloon launches in New York, Maine, and Alaska that provide daily weather data to meteorologists at weather forecast offices across the country. As we head into hurricane season, 30 weather forecast offices are without a meteorologist-in-charge, one is completely without any managers at all, and nearly a dozen are preparing to shut down 24/7 services without immediate action to address shortages.
The Department of Commerce is reportedly planning to eliminate an additional 1,000 staff from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), including at NWS, in the coming weeks. All told, NWS offices, already suffering from staffing constraints, could see a 15% reduction in force just months into 2025.
We request a response to the following questions by June 10, 2025:
How many of the NWS regional weather forecast offices were impacted by terminations or deferred resignations since January 20, 2025? Please provide a list of affected offices, including how many staff departed and how many remain.
With reports of at least one weather forecast office in Goodland, Kansas stopping 24/7 operations due to staffing shortages, how do the Department of Commerce and NOAA plan to maintain continued 24/7 operation of forecasting offices without requiring excessive overtime hours from staff?
With a requested budget cut of $1.311 billion for NOAA’s overall budget, and a $209 million cut for NWS procurement of weather satellites and infrastructure9 , how does the Department of Commerce and NOAA plan to ensure adequate staffing and preparedness in the midst of worsening storm seasons, increasing heat waves, and changing weather patterns?
As NWS employees are critical to public safety, especially heading into hurricane season, will the Department of Commerce grant an exemption to the hiring freeze to fill these crucial positions?
We urge you to reassess the staffing needs at NOAA and NWS and reinstate terminated probationary employees swiftly. We appreciate your attention to this matter and look forward to your response.
Sincerely,

MIL OSI USA News –

June 3, 2025
MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Farage fossil fuel free-for-all a disaster for people and planet

Source: Scottish Greens

02 Jun 2025 Climate Energy

Leaving fossil fuels in the ground and going green is the only way that we can ensure a liveable planet and a sustainable economy

More in Climate

Nigel Farage’s plan to boost the profits of fossil fuel companies would destroy investment in the cheap, green renewable energy that Scotland needs, say the Scottish Greens.

The comments followed a press conference given by Farage, leader of Reform UK, in Aberdeen on Monday 2nd June.

Reform claimed that they would grant carte blanche to new oil and gas licenses in the North Sea, support fracking, and open new coal mines if in power. In 2024 nearly half of Reform’s donations were linked to climate denial and fossil fuel interests.

Whilst North Sea oil and gas licenses are reserved to the UK Government, powers over fracking licenses are devolved. The Scottish Parliament voted to ban fracking in Scotland in 2017, and the Scottish Government banned new coal mining in 2022.

Commenting further, Scottish Green spokesperson for Net Zero and Energy, Patrick Harvie said:

“Far from being an anti-establishment party, Reform has been courting donations from rich oil and gas moguls who profit from climate breakdown.

“So it’s no surprise that Farage and his cronies are desperate to do everything they can to shore up the astronomical profits of global corporate interests by promising a carte blanche to fossil fuel giants in the North Sea and across Scotland.

“Investing in clean, green renewable energy is our best defence against global oil and gas prices, ensuring proper energy security and lower bills.

“It’s also the best way to protect the long term job security of our world class energy workforce in Scotland – creating high paid, sustainable and secure jobs for decades to come. More than 47,000 people across Scotland are already employed directly or indirectly in the renewables industry in Scotland.

“Rather than being a party for the people, Reform are happy to stick to a broken energy system that is harmful for people and planet.

“Leaving fossil fuels in the ground and going green is the only way that we can ensure a liveable future for generations to come.”

MIL OSI United Kingdom –

June 3, 2025
MIL-OSI United Kingdom: York meets air pollution targets citywide for first time

Source: City of York

As we approach Clean Air Day on 19 June, City of York Council has released figures showing that all of York is meeting national air pollution targets for the first time.

Latest air quality monitoring figures from the council for 2024, reported to the Combined Executive Member Decision Session on 3 June 2025, show that the health-based air quality objectives were met at all locations in York for the first time, except during the Covid lockdowns, when traffic emissions reduced due to home working and closure of non-essential retail.

Air quality monitoring in some areas of the city, such as around Gillygate and Bootham, has shown that maximum annual levels of nitrogen dioxide pollution improved by 27 per cent in 2024 compared with 2023.

The significant improvement in air quality is due to actions taken by the council, its partners and by residents. This includes further electrification of buses and council fleet vehicles, policies that incentivise the uptake of more low-emission taxis, anti-idling campaigns encouraging people to turn off their engines when stationary or waiting in traffic and improved electric vehicle (EV) charging infrastructure – all of which have all helped improve air quality further throughout 2024.

The council encourages people to walk, cycle or use public transport wherever possible to reduce their exposure and contribution to air pollution, and make the switch to electric vehicles if budgets allow.

Air pollution is linked to a range of health problems at every stage of life – from premature birth and effects on organ development in childhood, to causing heart and lung disease, diabetes and strokes in adulthood.

Every year, air pollution causes up to 43,000 deaths in the UK.

Find out more through the Clean Air Hub about how air pollution impacts our mental and physical health and the planet’s wellbeing.

Residents can also sign up for the council’s free pollution forecasting and alert service which sends air pollution alerts and health advice to those most likely to be affected by air pollution to help them minimise their exposure when future pollution episodes are forecast, and to encourage all of us to leave the car at home if possible on those days, to avoid worsening pollution for everyone.

Cllr Jenny Kent, the Council’s Executive Member for the Environment and Climate Emergency, said:

“This is brilliant news – what a fantastic achievement to help us celebrate Clean Air Day. By being proactive on improving the air we all breathe, the council has helped to meet air pollution targets for the first time ever in York.

“Having walked the stretch along Holgate for over a decade with prams and children, along with hundreds of young people travelling to and from 9 schools in the area, I know first hand what a difference this makes. We made a commitment to improve air quality when we published our fourth Air Quality Action Plan last summer and it is rewarding to see that the measures are working. Cleaner air is helping improve the health and wellbeing of everyone in York.

“This is a really big achievement which we should celebrate, but we are not complacent; we need to see these results and the longer-term downward trend continue”.

Peter Roderick, director of Public Health at City of York Council, said:

“Even though we can’t see it, air pollution impacts our health whatever age we are. Improving air quality not only benefits our physical health and the environment but can also protect our mental and brain health. For the whole of York to meet air pollution targets for first time since Covid is a great achievement.

“We hope Clean Air Day will help raise awareness of air pollution across the city and encourage people to consider their air quality impact in helping to protect everyone’s health. We can all make improvements; share a lift to work, work from home or walk, catch the bus or cycle, if possible.

“The latest results for the city demonstrate how far we have come in recent years to improve local air quality for everyone, however we recognise that more can be done. Through the council’s Air Quality Action Plan and other complementary strategies, we aim to go beyond National Air Quality Objectives and work towards meeting stricter World Health Organisation (WHO) guidelines in the longer term to further improve public health; this will allow us all to benefit from lasting health improvements”.

Mick Forbes, Engineering Director of First Bus North & West Yorkshire, said:

“The results are very positive and provide real evidence of the environmental benefits we are achieving with our fully zero-emission fleet on the streets of York, which started on routes through Gillygate in September 2023.

“We are delighted this is recognised in the air quality assessment by City of York Council and will continue to support its efforts to create cleaner air in the city.

“By working together with the council we have been able to invest millions of pounds with government funding support to transform our James Street depot, which is one of the first in the country to be declared net zero.”

Find how to protect your health and cut emissions at the Clean Air Hub

Free Clean Air Day resources for use by individuals, schools, businesses, health organisations and community groups are available on the Clean Air Day website

The council’s iTravel York website provides a host of sustainable travel resources, including walking resources and cycling resources

This year’s Clean Air Day campaign on 19 June aims to highlight that air pollution affects your health from before your first breath until your last.

MIL OSI United Kingdom –

June 3, 2025
MIL-OSI Europe: ASIA/MYANMAR – Floods in the north of the country: humanitarian situation worsens

Source: Agenzia Fides – MIL OSI

Yangon (Agenzia Fides) – Extensive flooding, caused by heavy rains that lasted for about a week, has affected northern Myanmar, particularly the Sagaing region and Kachin State. The emergency further complicates the lives of the civilian population, already severely affected by four years of civil conflict. Furthermore, in the Sagaing region, the earthquake of March 28 caused damage to homes and infrastructure and displaced thousands of people. “The situation in the districts affected by natural disasters is serious. Floods have inundated the upper part of Kachin State; villages in the mountainous areas are underwater, as are refugee camps in the city of Chizaw. Many rivers, such as the Malikha, have overflowed, and agricultural lands are completely flooded due to the continuous rains,” a local source from the Catholic community in Kachin State told Fides. “Farms have been submerged in Laeshi City, in the Sagaing Region, as have villages along the banks of the Arayati river. River levels usually rise in late June or July, at the height of the rainy season, but this year the rains have arrived early, causing premature flooding. Unfortunately, this is the harvest season, so the losses are particularly severe,” the source explains. “The local population is finding it increasingly difficult to cope. They are mostly farmers who have already been affected by the war and are now also suffering the effects of natural disasters such as earthquakes and floods. Humanitarian aid is increasingly needed for thousands of displaced people, whose number continues to grow,” he adds. A new report by the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights confirms the worsening humanitarian crisis in Myanmar, fueled by military violence and economic collapse. The document, which will be presented at the next session of the UN Human Rights Council in early July, describes the situation as “increasingly catastrophic, marked by incessant atrocities that have affected all aspects of life.” According to the report, the economic crisis has had a severe impact on already disastrous humanitarian conditions. Myanmar is estimated to have lost around $94 billion since the coup to date, and its gross domestic product is not expected to return to pre-2021 levels before 2028, even if recovery were to begin today.The UN Human Rights Council calls for “a multifaceted response to the crisis,” including “urgent humanitarian support, cross-border assistance for displaced populations, and increased political commitment” from the international community. (PA) (Agenzia Fides, 2/6/2025)
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MIL OSI Europe News –

June 3, 2025
MIL-OSI United Kingdom: York celebrates meeting air pollution targets citywide for first time

Source: City of York

As we approach Clean Air Day later this month [19 June], City of York Council has released figures showing that all of York is meeting national air pollution targets for the first time*.

Latest air quality monitoring figures from the council for 2024, reported to the Combined Executive Member Decision Session on 3 June 2025, show that the health-based air quality objectives were met at all locations in York for the first time, except during the Covid lockdowns, when traffic emissions reduced due to home working and closure of non-essential retail.

Air quality monitoring in some areas of the city, such as around Gillygate and Bootham, has shown that maximum annual levels of nitrogen dioxide pollution improved by 27 per cent in 2024 compared with 2023.

The significant improvement in air quality is due to actions taken by the council, its partners and by residents. This includes further electrification of buses and council fleet vehicles, policies that incentivise the uptake of more low-emission taxis, anti-idling campaigns encouraging people to turn off their engines when stationary or waiting in traffic and improved electric vehicle (EV) charging infrastructure – all of which have all helped improve air quality further throughout 2024.

The council encourages people to walk, cycle or use public transport wherever possible to reduce their exposure and contribution to air pollution, and make the switch to electric vehicles if budgets allow.

Air pollution is linked to a range of health problems at every stage of life – from premature birth and effects on organ development in childhood, to causing heart and lung disease, diabetes and strokes in adulthood.

Every year, air pollution causes up to 43,000 deaths in the UK.

Find out more through the Clean Air Hub about how air pollution impacts our mental and physical health and the planet’s wellbeing.

Residents can also sign up for the council’s free pollution forecasting and alert service which sends air pollution alerts and health advice to those most likely to be affected by air pollution to help them minimise their exposure when future pollution episodes are forecast, and to encourage all of us to leave the car at home if possible on those days, to avoid worsening pollution for everyone.

Cllr Jenny Kent, the Council’s Executive Member for the Environment and Climate Emergency, said: “This is brilliant news – what a fantastic achievement to help us celebrate Clean Air Day. By being proactive on improving the air we all breathe, the council has helped to meet air pollution targets for the *first time ever in York.

“Having walked the stretch along Holgate for over a decade with prams and children, along with hundreds of young people travelling to and from 9 schools in the area, I know first hand what a difference this makes. We made a commitment to improve air quality when we published our fourth Air Quality Action Plan last summer and it is rewarding to see that the measures are working. Cleaner air is helping improve the health and wellbeing of everyone in York.

“This is a really big achievement which we should celebrate, but we are not complacent; we need to see these results and the longer-term downward trend continue”.

Peter Roderick, director of Public Health at City of York Council, said: “Even though we can’t see it, air pollution impacts our health whatever age we are. Improving air quality not only benefits our physical health and the environment but can also protect our mental and brain health. For the whole of York to meet air pollution targets for first time since Covid is a great achievement.

“We hope Clean Air Day will help raise awareness of air pollution across the city and encourage people to consider their air quality impact in helping to protect everyone’s health. We can all make improvements; share a lift to work, work from home or walk, catch the bus or cycle, if possible.”

“The latest results for the city demonstrate how far we have come in recent years to improve local air quality for everyone, however we recognise that more can be done. Through the council’s Air Quality Action Plan and other complementary strategies, we aim to go beyond National Air Quality Objectives and work towards meeting stricter World Health Organisation (WHO) guidelines in the longer term to further improve public health; this will allow us all to benefit from lasting health improvements”.

Mick Forbes, Engineering Director of First Bus North & West Yorkshire, said: “The results are very positive and provide real evidence of the environmental benefits we are achieving with our fully zero-emission fleet on the streets of York, which started on routes through Gillygate in September 2023.

“We are delighted this is recognised in the air quality assessment by City of York Council and will continue to support its efforts to create cleaner air in the city.

“By working together with the council we have been able to invest millions of pounds with government funding support to transform our James Street depot, which is one of the first in the country to be declared net zero.”

Find how to protect your health and cut emissions at the Clean Air Hub

Free Clean Air Day resources for use by individuals, schools, businesses, health organisations and community groups are available on the Clean Air Day website

The council’s iTravel York website provides a host of sustainable travel resources, including walking resources and cycling resources

This year’s Clean Air Day campaign on 19 June aims to highlight that air pollution affects your health from before your first breath until your last.

MIL OSI United Kingdom –

June 3, 2025
MIL-OSI Global: 5 tips for hurricane disaster planning with aging parents starting now, before the storms

Source: The Conversation – USA – By Lee Ann Rawlins Williams, Clinical Assistant Professor of Education, Health and Behavior Studies, University of North Dakota

When I lived in Florida, I had a neighbor named Ms. Carmen. She was in her late 70s, fiercely independent and lived alone with her two dogs and one cat, which were her closest companions.

Each hurricane season, she would anxiously ask if I would check on her when the winds began to pick up. She once told me: I’m more afraid of being forgotten than of the storm itself. Her fear wasn’t just about the weather; it was about facing it alone.

When hurricanes hit, we often measure the damage in downed power lines, flooded roads and wind-torn homes. But some of the most serious consequences are harder to see, especially for older adults who may struggle with mobility, chronic health problems and cognitive decline.

Emergency preparedness plans too often overlook the specific needs of elders in America’s aging population, many of whom live alone. For people like Ms. Carmen, resilience needs to start long before the storm.

The number of older adults in the U.S. and the percentage of the population age 65 and older have been rising.
US Census Bureau

I study disaster preparations and response. To prepare for hurricane season, and any other disaster, I encourage families to work with their older adults now to create an emergency plan. Preparing can help ensure that older adults will be safe, able to contact relatives or others for help, and will have the medications, documents and supplies they need, as well as the peace of mind of knowing what steps to take.

Recent hurricanes show the gaps

In 2024, Hurricanes Helene and Milton put a spotlight on the risks to older adults.

The storms forced thousands of people to evacuate, often to shelters with little more than food supplies and mattresses on the floor and ill-equipped for medical needs.

Flooding isolated many rural homes, stranding older adults. Power was out for weeks in some areas. Emergency systems were overwhelmed.

A tornado tore into a senior community in Port St. Lucie, Florida, during Milton, killing six people. Some long-term care facilities lost power and water during Helene.

At the same time, some older adults chose to stay in homes in harm’s way for fear that they would be separated from their pets or that their homes would be vandalized.

At least 700 people stayed in chairs or on air mattresses at River Ridge Middle/High School in New Port Richey, Fla., during Hurricane Milton.
AP Photo/Mike Carlson

These events are not just tragic, they are predictable. Many older adults cannot evacuate without assistance, and many evacuation centers aren’t prepared to handle their needs.

How to prepare: 5 key steps

Helping older adults prepare for emergencies should involve the entire family so everyone knows what to expect. The best plans are personal, practical and proactive, but they will contain some common elements.

Here are five important steps:

1. Prepare an emergency folder with important documents.

Disasters can leave older adults without essential information and supplies that they need, such as prescription lists, financial records, medical devices and – importantly – contact information to reach family, friends and neighbors who could help them.

Many older adults rely on preprogrammed phone numbers. If their phone is lost or the battery dies, they may not know how to reach friends or loved ones, so it’s useful to have a hard copy of phone numbers.

Consider encouraging the use of medical ID bracelets or cards for those with memory loss.

Critical documents like wills, home deeds, powers of attorney and insurance records are frequently kept in physical form and may be forgotten or lost in a sudden evacuation. Use waterproof storage that’s easy to carry, and share copies with trusted caregivers and family members in case those documents are lost.

2. Have backup medications and equipment.

Think about that person’s assistive devices and health needs. Having extra batteries on hand is important, as is remembering to bring chargers and personal mobility aids, such as walkers, canes, mobility scooters or wheelchairs. Do not forget that service animals support mobility, so having supplies of their food will be important during a hurricane or evacuation.

Ask doctors to provide an emergency set of medications in case supplies run low in a disaster.

If the person is staying in their home, prepare for at least 72 hours of self-sufficiency in case the power goes out. That means having enough bottled water, extra pet food and human food that doesn’t need refrigeration or cooking.

3. Map evacuation routes and shelter options.

Identify nearby shelters that will likely be able to support older adults’ mobility and cognitive challenges. If the person has pets, make a plan for them, too – many areas will have at least one pet-friendly shelter, but not all shelters will take pets.

An older woman crosses a street flooded by torrential rain from Tropical Storm Hilary on Aug. 20, 2023, in Thousand Palms, Calif.
AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill

Figure out how the person will get to a shelter, and have a backup plan in case their usual transportation isn’t an option. And decide where they will go and how they will get there if they can’t return home after a storm.

If your loved one lives in a care facility, ask to see that facility’s hurricane plan.

4. Create a multiperson check-in system.

Don’t rely on just one caregiver or family member to check on older adults. Involve neighbors, faith communities or local services such as home-delivered meals, transportation assistance, support groups and senior centers. Redundancy is crucial when systems break down.

5. Practice the plan.

Go through evacuation steps in advance so everyone knows what to do. Executing the plan should be second nature, not a scramble during a disaster or crisis.

Planning with, not just for, older adults

Emergency planning isn’t something done for older adults – it’s something done with them.

Elders bring not only vulnerability but also wisdom. Their preferences and autonomy will have to guide decisions for the plan to be successful in a crisis.

That means listening to their needs, honoring their independence and making sure caregivers have realistic plans in place. It’s an important shift from just reacting to a storm to preparing with purpose.

Lee Ann Rawlins Williams does not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organization that would benefit from this article, and has disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment.

– ref. 5 tips for hurricane disaster planning with aging parents starting now, before the storms – https://theconversation.com/5-tips-for-hurricane-disaster-planning-with-aging-parents-starting-now-before-the-storms-254917

MIL OSI – Global Reports –

June 3, 2025
MIL-OSI Economics: Diogo Guillen: Speech – Thematic Workshop on Securities Statistics and DGI-3 Recommendation 4 on Climate Finance

Source: Bank for International Settlements

Good morning, everyone.

It is with great pleasure that I welcome all participants to the Thematic Workshop on Securities Statistics and DGI-3 Recommendation 4 on Climate Finance.

For all of you who are visiting us, I wish you have an excellent stay in Brasília. I would like also to thank Johannes, from the ECB, and Bruno, from the BIS, for co-organizing this workshop with the support from the Irving Fisher Committee on Central Bank Statistics.

For the Banco Central do Brasil it is a privilege to host this important event, and we welcome the opportunity to bring this subject closer to us, furthering the engagement of our teams.

I am confident that, just as happened last year when we also had the privilege of hosting the Global DGI Conference, in the context of the Brazilian Presidency of the G20, this engagement will not only be important for the activities we are currently developing but it will also bear fruit for years to come.

Another special reason to welcome the holding of this workshop in Brazil is that it coincides with the 30th United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP30), which will be held in Belém in November.

In this workshop, we will focus on the production of climate finance statistics. We are all aware of the importance of undertaking efforts to mitigate the effects of climate change and to promote socially and environmentally sustainable investments.

The development of instruments and markets designed to channel resources into investments capable of generating positive impacts on the environment and society is an initiative with very good potential for success. Attracting investors’ interest to this cause may be a task for marketing professionals around the world. But an inescapable responsibility lies with us, as data producers.

We have the ability and the duty to produce the necessary information to generate knowledge and provide visibility to this market, as well as support for analysis and policy decision-making.

The data produced will provide insight into the current state of climate finance markets, allowing us to assess their growth pace and its relative significance. They will help to determine whether this market has already reached a significant scale-or, if not, when it might become truly impactful based on its current pace of growth.

In this context, although it is not the responsibility of this Working Group or the DGI in general, it is worth emphasizing the importance of certification processes to ensure that the resources raised in climate finance markets are indeed directed toward the environmental and social purposes for which they were intended. It is essential to reduce the risk of greenwashing; otherwise, the proposed objectives will not be achieved, and statistics will give wrong or biased information for its users.

I would like to make a brief comment on climate finance in Brazil and the statistics we need to produce. Monica will bring to you more details shortly in a presentation on this topic, but I just want to mention that Brazil has a flourishing market for green and sustainable bonds, with a significant number of companies having successfully issued such instruments. We have also had two sovereign issuances by the National Treasury, which were very well received, amounting to USD 4 billion (with a demand of above USD10 billion)

Regarding the production of statistics, we still face some challenges, such as the convergence of taxonomies used across different data sources. In some of these sources, the taxonomy is well-established and well-aligned with international standards. It is our job to make sure that the taxonomies for the other ones will not stray from these standards. However, we understand that the availability of data that can be progressively expanded or refined is an important step in this process.

It is also important to highlight that we have benefited directly from the results achieved in DGI Phase 2, when we began to produce and disseminate comprehensive statistics on debt securities issued and held by companies, households, and the government in Brazil.

I conclude by emphasizing the importance of the work all of us are doing in this group and, of course, of the data we are going to make available. When it comes to raising funds for investment, it is clearly not possible to attract interest in a market segment that lacks data.

It is our responsibility to produce and disseminate data that will enable the monitoring of the development of the climate finance market. It is our expectation that, by producing these statistics, we will be making a significant and indispensable contribution to the development of these markets and, consequently, to the building of a better world.

I wish we all have an excellent workshop.

Thank you.

MIL OSI Economics –

June 3, 2025
MIL-OSI Europe: Answer to a written question – Europe’s energy independence strategy and making use of Greek deposits – E-000777/2025(ASW)
Source: European Parliament
The Commission supports Member States to ensure security of energy supply in the Union. According to Article 194 of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union, Member States have the full right to determine the conditions for exploiting their energy resources, their choice between different energy sources and the general structure of their energy supply, while adopting measures in view of the commitment for the EU to become climate-neutral by 2050[1].

Regarding the exploitation of hydrocarbons, the EU legal framework is based on Directive 94/22/EC (Hydrocarbons Directive)[2] which lays down common rules for the prospection, exploration and production of hydrocarbons resources located on its territory. It applies to both onshore and offshore fields.

The directive underlines the sovereign rights of the Member States over hydrocarbon resources within their territories, e.g. determine the geographical areas and authorise entities to exercise those rights. The Commission can intervene only in cases where the directive is not correctly implemented.

[1] As laid out in the European Climate Law.

[2] On conditions for granting and using authorisations for prospection, exploration and production of hydrocarbons. Directive 94/22/EC: https://eur-lex.europa.eu/eli/dir/1994/22/oj/eng.
Last updated: 2 June 2025
MIL OSI Europe News –
June 2, 2025
MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Newly planted trees vandalised around Portsmouth

Source: City of Portsmouth

Newly planted trees have been vandalised around Portsmouth, hampering efforts to increase the city’s tree numbers.

Five young trees were damaged in St George’s play park, Portsea. It follows similar recent acts of vandalism to small numbers of new trees at Stamshaw Park, Buckingham Green and Great Salterns Recreation Ground.

Around 2,500 trees were planted by Portsmouth City Council teams and residents over the winter, as part of a wider project to increase tree numbers across the city.

Cllr Kimberly Barrett, Cabinet Member for Climate Change and Greening the City, said:

“Because we’re a city, our tree numbers are lower than other more rural areas, so our planting work is especially important because trees bring so many benefits. They help to reduce the impact of heavy rainfall, provide important shade in hot weather, are good for improving local air quality, and help with people’s wellbeing.

“Each year we get a limited amount of funding for new trees, and it takes considerable effort and resource to plant and care for them. For example, residents have been helping our teams to water young trees during the recent dry spell to help them establish, showing the huge community effort involved.

“So it’s extremely sad to see this senseless vandalism taking place by a few people, which undermines the hard work of our teams and our communities.”

Thanks to Portsea residents quickly reporting the recent damage, some of the trees were replanted to give them a chance of survival.

The council is calling on residents to report any incidents of damaged trees by calling 023 9283 4092 or emailing cityhelpdesk@portsmouthcc.gov.uk

MIL OSI United Kingdom –

June 2, 2025
MIL-OSI Video: Africa Dialogue, Occupied Palestinian Territory & other topics – Daily Press Briefing (30 May 2025)

Source: United Nations (Video News)

Noon Briefing by Stéphane Dujarric, Spokesperson for the Secretary-General.

Highlights:
Secretary-General/Africa Dialogue
Occupied Palestinian Territory
Sudan
South Sudan
Cyprus
Security Council
Haiti – Hurricane Season
International Days
Programming Note – Monday
Deputy Secretary-General/Travels

SECRETARY-GENERAL/AFRICA DIALOGUE
The Secretary-General will speak at the Africa Dialogue at 3 pm today and will focus on reparations, which is also the African Union’s theme for 2025.
He will say that for too long, the colossal injustices inflicted by enslavement, the transatlantic slave trade, and colonialism have been left unacknowledged and unaddressed.
And he will argue that reparatory justice frameworks are critical – to redress historic wrongs, address today’s challenges, and ensure the rights and dignity of all.

DEPUTY SECRETARY-GENERAL/TRAVELS
Today, in Tajikistan, the Deputy Secretary-General, Amina Mohammed participated in the High-Level International Conference on Glacier Preservation, taking place in Dushanbe. She underscored the urgent need to preserve glaciers and keep the 1.5°C climate target within reach — not only to protect ecosystems and water sources, but to ensure the livelihoods of people and prospering communities.
The Deputy Secretary-General called for bold, coordinated action ahead of COP30 rooted in cooperation, solidarity, and science. She later held a series of bilateral meetings with senior government officials, delegations, and youth constituents. She also met with the UN Country Team to acknowledge the UN’s continued support in advancing the Sustainable Development Goals in Tajikistan.
Tomorrow, the Deputy Secretary-General will travel to Marrakech, Morocco, to attend the 2025 Ibrahim Governance Weekend.

OCCUPIED PALESTINIAN TERRITORY
Turning to the situation in Gaza, the Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs tell says that the catastrophic situation in Gaza is the worst it has been since the war began.
Strikes have continued across Gaza, particularly in North Gaza, where the last remaining partially functioning hospital, Al Awda, was forced to evacuate last night after repeated strikes on and around the facility in recent days. Attacks also continued farther south in Deir al Balah, in areas of Al Bureij and An Nuseirat camps.
IHH, an international aid organization that runs community kitchens and nutrition points, reported on Wednesday that five of its workers had been killed and two injured in the previous two days.
OCHA underscores once again that civilians, including aid workers, must always be protected.
Displacement continued across Gaza, with nearly 200,000 people displaced in the last two weeks alone. Yesterday, Israeli authorities issued a renewed displacement order covering about 30 per cent of Gaza’s total territory in North Gaza, eastern parts of Gaza City and Deir al Balah.
To date, displacement orders have covered the entirety of the northernmost and southernmost governorates, as well as the eastern parts of each of the three governorates in between. Partners note that the limited movement of people observed in recent days appears to be driven by the search for food and necessities, rather than displacement orders.
The UN and its humanitarian partners continue to provide support to people in need, despite the immense challenges on the ground and the crippling restrictions on the amount and type of assistance being allowed into Gaza. Yesterday, the UN and the humanitarian partners only managed to collect five truckloads of cargo from the Palestinian side of Kerem Shalom. The other 60 trucks had to return to the crossing due to intense hostilities in the area.
Meanwhile in Gaza City, our partners working to address shelter needs managed to distribute 45 emergency shelter kits to families as part of a pilot initiative aimed at pooling resources to respond to some of the most critical needs.
Humanitarian needs have exploded in Gaza following nearly 80 days of a total blockade of all supplies.
The limited amounts of aid now entering the Strip are nowhere near sufficient to support 2.1 million people in desperate need of assistance.
As conditions on the ground further deteriorate and public order and safety break down, looting incidents continue to be reported. Today, a group ‎of armed individuals stormed the warehouses of a field hospital in Deir al Balah, looting large quantities of ‎medical equipment, supplies, medicines and nutritional supplements intended for ‎malnourished children.

Full highlights: https://www.un.org/sg/en/content/noon-briefing-highlight?date%5Bvalue%5D%5Bdate%5D=30%20May%202025

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZE59Bf_GH5M

MIL OSI Video –

June 2, 2025
MIL-OSI Europe: Written question – Protecting circular steel production by adopting a legal definition of green steel and amending CBAM – E-002051/2025
Source: European Parliament
Question for written answer E-002051/2025
to the Commission
Rule 144
Flavio Tosi (PPE), Massimiliano Salini (PPE), Letizia Moratti (PPE)

Presented in March 2025, the EU steel action plan aims to make the European steel industry more competitive, but does not provide a clear definition of the term ‘green steel’. The absence of objective criteria for production processes (their carbon footprint, the type of energy and raw materials they use) makes it impossible to introduce a labelling system that incentivises low-emission processes.

This legal vacuum is also reflected in the current design of the EU’s Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM), which does not guarantee a level playing field between EU producers and importers. Basing CBAM on the Emissions Trading System’s (ETS) free allocation benchmarks – which unfortunately take into account the process used rather than the product’s actual carbon footprint – will grant seamless access to the European market to third country steel products made using gas and virgin raw materials (DRI-EAF). Such a state of affairs would put the companies that use recycled scrap and renewable energies – which have to buy ETS credits for all their emissions – at a disadvantage.

In the light of the above:

1.Will the Commission provide a legal basis for green steel that is based on a product’s actual carbon footprint?

2.Will it amend CBAM to prevent any distortions that will harm circular steelmaking processes for flat and long products?

3.How will the Commission push for decarbonised steel to be included in industrial policies and public tenders?

Submitted: 21.5.2025
Last updated: 2 June 2025
MIL OSI Europe News –
June 2, 2025
MIL-Evening Report: Australia’s latest emissions data reveal we still have a giant fossil fuel problem

Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Emma Lovell, Senior Lecturer in Chemical Engineering, UNSW Sydney

According to Australia’s Climate Change and Energy Minister Chris Bowen, the latest emissions data show “we are on track to reach our 2030 targets” under the Paris Agreement. In 2024, Australia’s greenhouse gas emissions were “27% below 2005 levels”. That’s great news, right?

Well, yes and no. Australia continues to rely on changes in land use to compensate for emissions released into the atmosphere.

In other words, Australia’s plants are considered to be taking more carbon dioxide out of the atmosphere now than in 2005. Their efforts are captured in the Land Use, Land-Use Change and Forestry (LULUCF) sector, which is the single largest reason for the significant reduction in Australian emissions.

Without accounting for land use, Australia’s emissions have only decreased 3% since 2005, not 27%.

If Australia is serious about reducing emissions and tracking towards net zero by 2050, we need to tackle a series of inconvenient truths about fossil fuels. Fossil fuels feed into almost every aspect of our lives, not just cars and power plants. There are substitutes, but they are not easy to source – and they don’t come cheap.

How fossil fuel exports drive up emissions here and overseas

Australia is one of the world’s biggest fossil fuel exporters. The coal, oil and natural gas we export is either burnt or combined with our sizeable iron ore exports to produce iron. But the greenhouse gases are released overseas, so they don’t count in Australia’s emissions data.

This is in line with our international commitments under the Paris agreement. But there is an argument to be made that even though Australia doesn’t burn those exports, we should acknowledge our central role in contributing to global emissions. We may need to account for these in future reporting.

Australia’s export emissions are likely to be triple that of our domestic emissions. These emissions have been increasing consistently over the last decade.

But the process of extracting fossil fuels and preparing them for export does show up in Australia’s domestic emission figures, through what’s called “fugitive emissions”. These fugitive emissions are the unavoidable leaks that occur when we pull fossil fuels out of the ground, store, transport and process them.

In the year to 2024, fugitive emissions accounted for 10.6% of our emissions, which is far greater than emissions from industrial processes (6.8%).

Disturbingly, recent analysis suggests fugitive emissions could be drastically underreported. Because these emissions are tricky to measure, they are often estimated on an average basis. This means reported values do not accurately reflect true releases.

When it comes to fugitive and export emissions, Australia is not on track to meet 2030 targets. Recent export-focused fossil project approvals such as the North West Shelf gas project suggest we might even be backtracking.

Chris Bowen on Insiders, Sunday June 1, 2025 (ABC News)

The transition to renewables

Closing dirty old coal-fired power stations and replacing them with renewable energy such as solar and wind power does cut emissions. The reduction in emissions from the electricity sector, down 23.7% on 2005 levels, is good news. But the difference is still small enough that seasonal variations from Tasmania’s hydro power plants can distort the annual figures.

At least there is a plan in place for the energy transition. Big, slow wheels are in motion.

Unfortunately the reality is we will need much, much more renewable energy in the future. Up to three times the current capacity of the National Electricity Market will be needed to cover future domestic energy requirements across electricity and other sectors out to 2050.

Significantly more would be required to generate enough additional green energy to also produce green value-added commodities.

Australia’s clean energy challenge

Discussions around transitioning from fossil fuels typically overlook how deeply they are embedded in our everyday lives.

Not just the fuel we use in our cars, but the roads we drive on. Not just the electricity we use to power our hospitals, but the steel used to build them and the pharmaceuticals we rely on.

Globally, around 13% of fossil fuels are not burned but used to make these key chemicals. What’s the alternative?

Clean electricity is the key.

Electricity can be used to make hydrogen from water through electrolysis. This hydrogen can then replace fossil fuels in manufacturing – making products such as green steel and ammonia for fertiliser.

When combined with non-fossil sources of carbon, hydrogen can also be turned into renewable fuels, such as sustainable aviation fuel. It can be used to synthesise green versions of petrochemicals used in industrial processes such as ethanol, propylene and ethylene, which are currently sourced from fossil fuels.

This takes energy. Lots of it. Fortunately Australia has all the ingredients needed for a booming green industry – one that’s much broader than just renewable electricity.

Currently, it costs more to produce these chemicals without using fossil fuels. That’s why some companies and state governments have been pulling back from their investments in green hydrogen.

Most people talk about green hydrogen in the context of energy storage or export. But it can also enable the transition away from fossil fuels in other sectors. The technology exists to make these chemicals and products, without the emissions and it’s slowly but steadily moving closer toward price parity.

If we can nail this switch to fossil-free alternatives to petrochemicals, Australia would be able to add value onshore, rather than exporting raw materials. For example, we could export iron, not iron ore. Methanol or ammonia, not hydrogen. Export the jumper, not the wool.

Heavy industry driven by renewables?

On Sunday, Bowen said he found some areas of the 2024 emissions figures “encouraging, like industrial emissions, way down and lower than 2021”.

Unfortunately, this result was partly due to a decline in manufacturing. Onshore manufacturing capability has been steadily decreasing, despite increased fossil fuel extraction.

Unless we ramp up green manufacturing – replacing fossil fuel exports with much needed renewable products and fuels – we will continue to bear responsibility, if not direct accountability, for large, exported emissions as well as onshore fugitive emissions.

And no amount of changes to land use can account for that.

The authors do not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organisation that would benefit from this article, and have disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment.

– ref. Australia’s latest emissions data reveal we still have a giant fossil fuel problem – https://theconversation.com/australias-latest-emissions-data-reveal-we-still-have-a-giant-fossil-fuel-problem-257907

MIL OSI Analysis – EveningReport.nz –

June 2, 2025
MIL-OSI USA: Rep. Neguse Leads Bipartisan Effort to Cut Red Tape for Disaster Survivors’ Access to Federal Disaster Aid
Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Joe Neguse (D-Co 2)

Lafayette, CO — Today, Congressman Joe Neguse, founder and Co-Chair of the Bipartisan Wildfire Caucus, is leading a bipartisan effort to streamline homeowners’ access to federal assistance after natural disasters. Neguse, who represents a congressional district that is no stranger to natural disasters, introduced two bills that would modernize how the Small Business Administration (SBA) distributes aid for homeowners: the Disaster Loan Interest Relief Act, co-led by Rep. Juan Ciscomani (R-AZ), and the Disaster Loan Application Flexibility Act, co-led by Rep. Chuck Edwards (R-NC).

“After working with constituents impacted by natural disasters from Granby to Fort Collins and everywhere in between, I know the road to recovery can be slow, all-consuming, and too often lacking in resources and support,” said Congressman Neguse. “With these bills, we’re taking action to ensure those affected receive clear guidance on next steps, along with the time they need to react and recover. You never know when tragedy will strike, and I’m proud to join Reps. Ciscomani and Edwards in this bipartisan effort to equip homeowners, small business owners, and individuals with the foundational tools they need to ensure the people we represent have a safety net to fall back on.”

“As we head into the summer and temperatures in Arizona continue to rise, we have seen wildfires ignite across the state, disrupting small businesses and impacting the lives of thousands of residents,” said Congressman Ciscomani. “Unfortunately, the road to recovery from these disasters can often be slow and burdensome. As families and businesses look to rebuild, the last thing they should encounter are unnecessary financial hurdles. This is why I am proud to co-lead the Disaster Loan Interest Relief Act to codify a policy within the Small Business Administration to provide zero-interest loans for victims of natural disasters and give homeowners and entrepreneurs up to a year from the date of the loan to begin making payments.”

“After Hurricane Helene, many business and home owners did not know Small Business Administration disaster loans were needed until after they had gone through the FEMA application process. Despite extensions to the SBA application window, there were still folks left behind without access to this vital recovery resource because the FEMA process took too long and the SBA application closed before victims realized they needed to apply,” said Congressman Edwards. “The Disaster Loan Application Flexibility Act will make sure that homeowners and small business owners have sufficient time and information to get the assistance they need after their lives have been turned upside down. It’s a commonsense way to better support disaster survivors in their greatest times of need.”

Find additional details on both bills below:
- The Natural Disaster Loan Interest Relief Act codifies a policy previously implemented by the SBA that would waive the interest rate for the first year on new disaster loans and extend the initial payment deferment period automatically to 12 months. Read bill text HERE.
- The Disaster Loan Application Flexibility Act modifies application deadlines and communication requirements for disaster assistance by directing the SBA to extend loan application deadlines past the current window of two to three months post-disaster declaration, and issuing guidance for public awareness campaigns in affected areas to better educate individuals on the application process and ensuring the Members of Congress who represent these districts stay informed and receive regular updates. Read bill text HERE.
Background

Congressman Joe Neguse has prioritized efforts to extend the access of federal disaster assistance for communities responding to and recovering from natural disasters, like wildfires, since first being elected to Congress. Earlier this year, he helped introduce the Small Business Disaster Damage Fairness Act, a bill that would allow borrowers to get a SBA disaster assistance loan for up to $50,000, rather than the current $14,000, without pledging collateral.

Additionally, last summer, Neguse moved quickly to secure federal funding to help Coloradans fight the Alexander Mountain Fire burning in Larimer County and the Stone Canyon Fire burning in Boulder County. He also took swift action to ensure that Coloradans had secured proper cost coverage after the Marshall Fire in 2021, leading a successful effort alongside Senators Michael Bennet and John Hickenlooper, to get the SBA to update their formula used to calculate the Disaster Loan Program amount survivors can borrow to rebuild after the Marshall Fire.

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MIL OSI USA News –
June 2, 2025
MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Lavish Trips and Long-Haul Junkets: Stormont spends over £470,000 on travel outside the British Isles since the return of devolution

Source: Traditional Unionist Voice – Northern Ireland

Statement by TUV MLA Timothy Gaston:

“For some weeks I have been collecting data on the spend of the different Executive departments on travel outside the British Isles since devolution returned. To say I am appalled at the scale and extravagance of ministerial and departmental spending on foreign travel is an understatement.

“When collated, the responses reveal an astonishing total of £470,000 spent on international travel by Stormont departments in just over a year — and more than £52,000 of that squandered by Ministers themselves.

“Luxury long-haul flights and costly hotel stays seem to be the norm for the Executive.

“No department has flown further or spent more widely than the Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs. In total, the department spent nearly £78,000, with trips ranging from Brussels to New Zealand, Germany to New York.

“Three individuals, including the Minister, few to New York Climate Week at a cost of £11,134 — supposedly to discuss sustainability of all things, while burning jet fuel and public money.

“Officials also attended climate-linked events in Sweden, Spain, and Germany — clocking up thousands more in expenses — with little to no clarity on what outcomes, if any, these junkets delivered for the Northern Ireland public.

“The Department of Finance racked up over £32,700 in international travel — including a single trip to Brussels by 16 officials from the Departmental Solicitor’s Office, costing the public £17,066. We’re told this was a “bespoke study visit” linked to the Windsor Framework.

“Can a 16-person legal trip to Brussels be justified? Ministers must explain why such a large group needed to attend, and what real value was achieved.

“The Minister for Education himself spent over £8,000 on overseas travel in a single year — including trips to Washington DC and Reykjavik, Iceland. Minister Givan’s personal travel and accommodation expenses account for nearly 25% of the total expenses by the Department on foreign travel.

Among the more concerning examples in the Department of Education are:
• Two officials who travelled to Paris and racked up costs of over £2,100 and
• A trip to Tokyo which cost £3,366, with no listed outcomes.

“With education budgets under severe strain, with SEN services stretched to breaking point people working in education will be asking questions.

“The biggest spenders though are of course the Executive Office. Michelle O’Neill and Emma Little Pengelly’s department has managed to spend over £126,000 on international travel.

“When people see Ministers parading on the world stage while hospital waiting lists grow at home, it’s not hard to understand the anger. Spending more on a single trip than many people earn in a year is shameful.

“Across the Executive, this pattern of waste repeats. Ministers and officials racking up air miles while local services go without.

“When we ask the public to tighten their belts, the very least they should expect is that Ministers do the same.

“Climate change conferences abroad are no substitute for sound governance at home.

“Ministerial egos should not be subsidised by people struggling to make ends meet.

“With many already questioning the value of Stormont, these figures will do nothing to restore public confidence.”

Note to editors

You can read the full set of questions and answers online here.

MIL OSI United Kingdom –

June 2, 2025
MIL-Evening Report: Decades of searching and a chance discovery: why finding Leadbeater’s possum in NSW is such big news

Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By David Lindenmayer, Distinguished Professor of Ecology, Fenner School of Environment and Society, Australian National University

Until now, Victorians believed their state was the sole home for Leadbeater’s possum, their critically endangered state faunal emblem. This tiny marsupial is clinging to life in a few pockets of mountain ash and snow gum habitat in the Central Highlands of Victoria.

But a few days ago, seven grainy photos taken by a trail camera in New South Wales revealed something very unexpected: a Leadbeater’s possum hundreds of kilometres away in the wet forests of Kosciuszko National Park.

For decades, we and other researchers have sought proof this possum existed in these forests. Now we have it. This is a moment of celebration. But it also signals the importance of well-resourced biodiversity surveys in uncovering our most threatened species and large national parks for conserving them.

While this newly discovered population reduces the risk of extinction, it doesn’t change the decline and risk of extinction of its Victorian relatives – or the steps needed to safeguard them.

These photos from Kosciuszko National Park are the first proof that Leadbeater’s possum has a NSW population.
NSW Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water, CC BY-NC-ND

Detected entirely by chance

In 2024, New South Wales threatened species ecologists Fred Ford and Martin Schulz set about looking for an entirely different species, the endangered smoky mouse. To find it, they set up a wide array of camera traps throughout wet forest areas of Kosciuszko National Park. A year later, they collected them and trawled through millions of photos.

Among all these images (including of smoky mice), there were seven which stunned them. A camera deployed near Yarrangobilly Caves captured a tiny possum scampering through leaf litter, holding its distinctive club-shaped tail erect. The possum looks around the monitoring site, showing its back and face stripes and heart-shaped face.

Experts at The Australian National University and Zoos Victoria verified the photos, setting the ecology world abuzz.

A trail camera near Yarrangobilly Caves in Kosciuszko National Park captured the sighting.
Destinations Journey/Shutterstock

A hunch confirmed

While we are delighted at this remarkable discovery, the detection is not a complete surprise.

Over three decades ago, this article’s lead author searched for Leadbeater’s possum around Yarrangobilly and many other parts of Kosciuszko National Park, guided by a bioclimatic model suggesting the cool wet forests in Kosciuszko National Park should suit the possum.

But detection cameras were not available then, and this possum is notoriously hard to spot. It’s tiny, nocturnal and spends its waking hours dashing through the dense understory of some of the world’s tallest forests looking for nectar, sap and insects.

Species experts from Zoos Victoria and Deakin University have also scouted parts of Kosciuszko National Park over the past decade, identifying potentially promising habitat.

In 2010 we got confirmation the possum had once occurred in the area, when jaw bones were identified among bones regurgitated by owls on the floor of a nearby cave.

But other bones from the cave floor date back an estimated 140–200 years. The bones were far from proof of a living population.

The possum’s existence remained an open question until these photos.

What does this mean for this possum?

We don’t know anything about this newly discovered Leadbeater’s possum population in NSW, other than the fact that it exists. Given the distance from the Victorian populations, we suspect that they may be genetically distinct.

In theory, the existence of a separate population 250 km away from the Victorian populations cuts the risk a single megafire or other catastrophe could push the species to extinction.

But while welcome, the discovery doesn’t reduce the need to urgently protect surviving Victorian populations, which remain highly threatened by bushfire, climate change, predation by cats, and the legacy of logging and land clearing.

In Victoria, some populations have dwindled as low as 40 animals and inbreeding is now a concern.

The possum typically relies on large old trees with hollows where it can breed and den. But these trees have substantially declined in Victoria over the past 150 years. Leadbeater’s possum also needs smaller trees for feeding and movement.

Surveys across the historical range of the species in Victoria since 2017 have failed to find any other hidden populations. Most surveys have found the habitat highly degraded from logging and fire.

The discovery won’t alter the possum’s critically endangered status at this stage, nor the ongoing work to support it.

In welcome news, the NSW Environment Minister announced the possum’s state conservation listing will be fast-tracked.

Of surveys and parks

Why did it take so long to find the possum? The main reason: a lack of resources preventing targeted investigations.

Even basic inventories of species have not been done across many of Australia’s important conservation areas.

Without well conducted surveys and monitoring, we are left overly reliant on chance detections for critical information. There could be other populations of imperilled species waiting to be rediscovered.

Properly managing our growing number of threatened species shouldn’t be based on luck. It should be enabled by adequate resources for threatened species recovery teams to discover, map, protect and manage threatened species and their habitat.

Increasing federal spending on the care of nature to 1% of the budget would go a very long way to closing these gaps.

Trail cameras, call playback and environmental DNA sampling mean we can now survey large and remote natural areas with relatively little effort for long periods of time.

Big parks are essential

Kosciuszko National Park supports much more than Australia’s highest mountains. The huge park spans 690,000 hectares, much of it forest.

Many of our most imperilled species are hard to detect. Protecting extensive areas of good-quality habitat boosts the survival chances for these species, even if we don’t yet have proof of life.

With so little high-quality habitat left in Australia, proper protection through new national parks (including in Victoria) is vitally important for the possum and many other species.

Passive protection isn’t enough either – adequate funding is critical to stop the environmental condition of parks from declining, due to threats like invasive species and extreme fires.

The world still contains wonder

These seven photos have given ecologists and nature lovers a real boost to their spirits. As detection techniques improve, what else is out there waiting to be found?

The authors would like to acknowledge the contribution of Leadbeater’s possum experts Dan Harley, Arabella Eyre, John Woinarski and Brendan Wintle to this article.

David Lindenmayer receives funding from the Australian Government and the Victorian Government. He is a Councillor with the Biodiversity Council and a Member of Birds Australia.

Darcy Watchorn works for Zoos Victoria, a not-for-profit zoo-based conservation organisation. He is a member of the Ecological Society of Australia, the Australian Mammal Society, the Society for Conservation Biology, and the Royal Society of Victoria.

Jaana Dielenberg was employed by the now-ended Threatened Species Recovery Hub of the Australian Government’s National Environmental Science Program, which conducted research on the Leadbeater’s possum in Victoria. She is a Charles Darwin University Fellow and is employed by the University of Melbourne and the Biodiversity Council.

– ref. Decades of searching and a chance discovery: why finding Leadbeater’s possum in NSW is such big news – https://theconversation.com/decades-of-searching-and-a-chance-discovery-why-finding-leadbeaters-possum-in-nsw-is-such-big-news-257957

MIL OSI Analysis – EveningReport.nz –

June 2, 2025
MIL-OSI USA: New Dems Host Care Economy Roundtable in Wilmington, DE on Third Stop of “New Dems on the Road” Tour

Source: United States House of Representatives – Representative Chrissy Houlahan (D-PA)

Wilmington, DE – Today, the New Democrat Coalition made the third stop on its New Dems on the Road Tour, an initiative spearheaded by Vice Chair for Policy Nikki Budzinski (IL-13) to get New Dem Members out of DC to hear from American workers, businesses, industry experts, nongovernmental organizations and local leaders about how to improve policy in Washington.
New Dem Care Economy Task Force Chair Sarah McBride (DE-AL) hosted House Democratic Whip Katherine Clark (MA-05) and Economic Growth & Cost of Living Working Group Chair Chrissy Houlahan (PA-06) in her district for a care economy roundtable discussion with medical professionals, advocates, non-profit leaders, labor representatives, and care providers.
Attendees talked through some of the biggest challenges facing the care economy, and discussed strategies for building the bipartisan support needed to advance nationwide Paid Family and Medical Leave (PFML) reforms and expand access to high-quality and affordable childcare and elder care.
“Every family, in every zip code, deserves access to affordable child care, elder care, and paid leave—and today’s conversation made clear that the need is urgent, the solutions are real, and the time to act is now,” said Task Force Chair Sarah McBride. “These investments don’t just support families—they strengthen our economy and stabilize our communities. As Chair of the New Dem Care Economy Task Force, I’m committed to working with my colleagues in Congress to build on Delaware’s leadership and advance comprehensive, nationwide policies that uplift caregivers and working families. I’m grateful to Whip Clark and Rep. Houlahan for joining me for this important conversation.”
“America runs on child care — it enables kids to thrive, parents to work, and our economy to grow. But the reality is that too many families struggle to find and afford care. We can solve this crisis by investing in our child care system, providing paid family leave, and putting the needs of working families ahead of the billionaire class,” said Democratic Whip Katherine Clark. “I am grateful for the opportunity to join Reps. McBride and Houlahan for this important community conversation. House Democrats stand together in the fight to lower the costs for families and ensure everyone has the resources they need to get ahead.”
“I am thrilled to join my friend Rep. McBride in discussing a topic near and dear to me and so many Americans: access to child care and paid leave,” said Working Group Chair Chrissy Houlahan. “Neighboring Delaware has led the charge in innovative solutions, and I hope Pennsylvania follows soon. Thanks to New Dems for highlighting the importance of the care economy and bringing us together to find solutions for working families here and across the country.”
Full list of roundtable attendees:

Democratic Whip Katherine Clark
Rep. Chrissy Houlahan (PA-06)
Rep. Sarah McBride (DE-AL)
Delaware Lt. Governor Kyle Evans Gay
First Lady of Delaware Lauren Meyer
Pennsylvania State Senator Maria Collett (12th District)
Jan White, Small Business Owner, New Castle County Chamber of Commerce

Chris Otto, Executive Director, Delaware Nurses Association
Joe Diagle, CEO, Mallard Financial Partners, Inc.
Shawn Colleran, Vice President, Delaware Association of Letter Carriers
Dr. Margaret Chou, Obstetrician, Nemours & ChristianaCare
Liz Richards, Executive Director, Delaware Cares
Dr. Melanie Thomas Price, CEO, A Leap of Faith Child Development Center, Inc
Kirsten Olson, CEO, Children & Families First
Dr. Dannae Orisomolade, Early Childhood Academic Initiatives Officer, Delaware State University
Julie Bieber, Director of Operations, Kingswood Community Center
Jamie Schneider, Owner, Educational Enrichment Center DE
Alisa Morkides, Owner, Brew Haha
Dab O’Brien, Children’s First PA

Background
Through New Dems on the Road, New Dem Members will hold conversations across the country to hear from the American people, with each meeting organized under the policy goals of one of the Coalition’s nine Working Groups. New Dems will meet with local leaders, stakeholders, small business owners, industry experts, and more to hear about the cost of President Trump’s chaos and what New Dems can do to fight back and make progress on the issues that really matter to the American people.
The first New Dems on the Road event was held on April 23rd in Phoenix, AZ, where New Dem Immigration and Border Security Working Group Members Reps. Greg Stanton (AZ-04) and Lou Correa (CA-46) held an immigration roundtable discussion with industry and union representatives, members of the Arizona business community, and DACA recipients.
The second New Dems on the Road event was held on May 9th in Metro East, IL, where Vice Chair Nikki Budzinski hosted Environment, Climate, & Clean Energy Working Group Chair Scott Peters (CA-50) and Rep. Wesley Bell (MO-01) for a clean energy roundtable discussion with business owners, industry and union representatives, academic researchers, and utility service providers.
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The New Democrat Coalition is comprised of 115 center-left House Democrats committed to breaking through gridlock to deliver results for Americans. Please click here to update your subscription preferences.
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MIL OSI USA News –

June 2, 2025
MIL-OSI USA: Balderson, Pfluger Reintroduce Legislation to Protect American Energy Investments from Woke Mandates

Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Troy Balderson (R-OH)

WASHINGTON D.C. – Congressman Troy Balderson (OH-12), Chairman of the House Energy Action Team (HEAT), and August Pfluger (TX-11), Chairman of the Republican Study Committee (RSC), reintroduced legislation to nullify a Biden-era final interagency guidance from the Federal Reserve, Comptroller of the Currency, and the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation titled, Principles for Climate-Related Financial Risk Management for Large Financial Institutions.

This guidance encourages banks and other financial institutions to manage “climate-related financial risks” associated with their investments and loans, potentially serving as a backdoor to restrict funding and resources for the American energy industry. This includes Ohio’s growing oil and gas sector, which supports more than 351,000 jobs and contributes $55 billion to the state’s economy.

The vague language in this guidance could allow for potential punitive actions against banks doing business with the oil and gas industry, effectively pressuring financial institutions to support environmental, social, and governance (ESG) policies over sound financial decisions.

“This Biden-era guidance was nothing more than a back-door effort to push a woke ESG agenda,” said Balderson. “Under this framework, federal regulators could target banks who want to work with, and invest in, industries crucial to Ohio. This puts climate activism ahead of sound investment strategies, costing everyday Americans.”

“I’m pleased to join the RSC’s HEAT Chair Troy Balderson in introducing this bill to end the Biden administration’s radical ‘climate’ guidance,” said RSC Chairman Pfluger. “The previous administration weaponized the government to wage a politically-driven attack on American energy through ‘net-zero’ and ‘environmental, social, and governance’ mandates. Since President Trump returned to office, financial institutions and markets have retreated from a woke ESG agenda, and this bill will help ensure that investments can flow to energy projects that power our homes, businesses, and economy without radical bureaucrats picking winners and losers.”

Electric grid experts have warned that one of the largest threats to our nation’s energy security is misguided federal and state policies. Federal climate rules, such as the Clean Power Plan 2.0, would force the United States’ most reliable power plants to shut down, even as electricity demand grows at historic levels. With this new ESG guidance, banks could face regulatory backlash for providing regular financial services to the oil and gas industry–further imperiling American energy security.

In September, Balderson joined his House colleagues in passing H.R. 4790, the Prioritizing Economic Growth Over Woke Policies Act, which cuts back on the Biden-Harris Administration’s burdensome ESG policies for American businesses and enhances Congressional oversight of federal financial regulatory agencies.

Balderson’s bill nullifies the final interagency guidance and prevents the Federal Reserve, Comptroller of the Currency, and the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation from issuing any substantially similar guidance in the future.

MIL OSI USA News –

June 2, 2025
MIL-OSI USA: As Trump Administration Cuts Weather Service Offices, Congresswoman Lizzie Fletcher, Congresswoman Val Hoyle, and Congressman Joe Neguse Lead Effort To Support Funding for Federal Natural Disaster Research and Preparedness

Source: United States House of Representatives – Congresswoman Lizzie Fletcher (TX-07)

Congresswoman Lizzie Fletcher (TX-07), Congresswoman Val Hoyle (OR-04), and Congressman Joe Neguse (CO-02) led 35 of their House colleagues in sending a letter to the House Subcommittee on Commerce, Justice, Science, and Related Agencies requesting that Congress reject President Trump’s attempt to gut the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) Office of Oceanic and Atmospheric Research (OAR) and instead fund it at a level of at least $656 million in the upcoming appropriations package. This funding would allow OAR to continue its critical mission to prepare our communities for life-threatening natural disasters and to keep the U.S. at the forefront of atmospheric and oceanic research and science.

“Recent reporting on the President’s FY26 budget proposal shows that the Trump Administration plans to effectively eliminate OAR,” the members wrote. “The proposal includes a $485 million cut to OAR’s budget, which is a nearly 75 percent cut, and a directive to transfer any remaining research funding to other divisions of NOAA. The proposed budget would ‘eliminate all funding for climate, weather, and ocean laboratories and cooperative institutes.’ It also does not include funding for Regional Climate Data and Information, Climate Competitive Research, National Sea Grant College Program, or the National Oceanographic Partnership Program. This shortsighted and dangerous proposal would cripple United States (U.S.) leadership in scientific research and leave our communities less prepared to face extreme weather events. As hurricane season quickly approaches, OAR’s advancements in predicting extreme weather events are more important than ever. The research and data resulting from the OAR Hurricane Research Division’s partnership with the U.S. National Hurricane Center have saved countless lives and nearly $5 billion per major U.S. hurricane landfall.”

“Stronger science for forecasting severe weather and communicating impacts will protect communities and save lives,” the members continued. “Robust funding will enable NOAA and its research institution partners to continue their long and proud history of partnering with industries and other government agencies to provide that cutting-edge research.”

To read the full text of the letter, click here.

MIL OSI USA News –

June 2, 2025