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Category: Climate Change

  • MIL-OSI Global: Flooding incidents in Ghana’s capital are on the rise. Researchers chase the cause

    Source: The Conversation – Africa – By Stephen Appiah Takyi, Senior Lecturer, Department of Planning, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST)

    Urban flooding is a major problem in the global south. In west and central Africa, more than 4 million people were affected by flooding in 2024. In Ghana, cities suffer damage from flooding every year.

    Ghana’s president, John Dramani Mahama, has established a task force to find ways of improving flood resilience in the country. This is partly driven by an increase in flooding incidents in cities such as Accra and Kumasi in the last decade.

    We are urban planning and sustainability scholars. In a recent paper we analysed whether flooding in Accra, Ghana’s capital, was caused by climate change or poor land use planning.

    We conclude from our analysis that flooding is caused by poor and uncoordinated land use planning rather than climate change. We recommend that the physical planning department and other regulatory agencies are equipped to ensure the effective enforcement the relevant land use regulations.

    Mixed push factors

    The Accra metropolitan area is one of the 29 administrative units of Ghana’s Greater Accra region. It is the most populous region in Ghana, with over five million residents, according to the 2021 Housing and Population Census.

    We interviewed 100 households living in areas such as Kaneshie, Adabraka and Kwame Nkrumah Circle. These areas experience a high incidence of floods. Representatives of agencies such as the Physical Planning Department of the Accra Metropolitan Assembly, the National Disaster Management Organisation and the Environmental Protection Agency were interviewed too, about:

    • the nature and areas most prone to flooding in the study area

    • the frequency of flooding

    • land use planning and regulations and their influence on flooding.

    About 40% of the people we interviewed attributed flooding to both weak enforcement of land use regulation and changes in rainfall patterns. Most of the households (52%) said floods in Accra were the result of weak enforcement of land use regulations, while 8% blamed changes in land use regulations.

    We also analysed recorded data on flood incidence and rainfall. We found no correlation between increased rainfall and flooding. For example in 2017 there was a decrease in rainfall, but an increase in flooding.

    This finding points to the fact that rainfall isn’t the only factor contributing to flooding in the city.

    The agencies and city residents reported that between 2008 and 2018, they could see that more people were encroaching on the city’s wetlands by building homes and commercial infrastructure. This has changed the natural flow of water bodies. The Greater Accra Metropolitan and its environs has major wetlands such as Densu Delta, Sakumo Lagoon and Songor Lagoon.

    Interview respondents noted that the siting of unauthorised buildings and the encroachment on buffer zones of water bodies in the city could have been averted. They blamed political interference in the enforcement of land use regulation. The government makes the situation worse in two ways, they said:

    • planning standards and regulations are neglected in the development process. The processes involved in acquiring development permits are cumbersome and expensive, so people go ahead and develop without permits.

    • regulatory institutions and authorities are ineffective. This is clear from the fact that planning happens chaotically. No attention is given to the ecological infrastructure that’s needed.

    The way forward

    We conclude that land use malpractices remain the dominant causes of flooding in Accra. They include:

    • poor disposal of solid waste, which eventually blocks drains and results in water overflow during heavy rains

    • building on wetlands as a result of non-compliance or non-enforcement of land use regulations.

    There is an urgent need for Ghana’s cities to adopt best practices in waste management. These include recycling of plastic waste and composting for urban agriculture. An environmental excise tax was introduced in 2011 to fund plastic waste recycling and support waste management agencies.

    The increasing encroachment on wetlands should be addressed through the strict enforcement of buffer regulations. Planning authorities and the judiciary can collaborate on this. The city must also encourage green infrastructure, like rain gardens, green roofs, permeable pavement, street trees and rain harvesting systems.
    Research has shown these to be environmentally sustainable and cost-effective approaches to managing storm water.

    Another suggested approach is the introduction of the polluter pays principle in city management. This is a system where city residents who are involved in the pollution of the environment are made to pay for the cost of mitigating the impact. Residents who dispose of waste indiscriminately and encroach on wetlands would be made to pay for the cost of the environmental degradation. Cities such as Barcelona and Helsinki have applied this principle in the management of their industrial discharge and contaminated waste.

    Finally, there should be incentives for city residents to promote environmental sustainability. For example, a deposit refund system has been introduced in several states in the US and Australia. In this system, consumers are made to pay a deposit after purchasing items that can be recycled, such as plastic bottles, and the deposit is reimbursed to the consumer after the return of the empty bottles to a retail store.

    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. Flooding incidents in Ghana’s capital are on the rise. Researchers chase the cause – https://theconversation.com/flooding-incidents-in-ghanas-capital-are-on-the-rise-researchers-chase-the-cause-254000

    MIL OSI – Global Reports –

  • MIL-Evening Report: Sniping koalas from helicopters: here’s what’s wrong with Victoria’s unprecedented cull

    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Liz Hicks, Lecturer in Law, The University of Melbourne

    Roberto La Rosa/Shutterstock

    Snipers in helicopters have shot more than 700 koalas in the Budj Bim National Park in western Victoria in recent weeks. It’s believed to be the first time koalas have been culled in this way.

    The cull became public on Good Friday after local wildlife carers were reportedly tipped off.

    A fire burned about 20% of the park in mid-March. The government said the cull was urgent because koalas had been left starving or burned.

    Wildlife groups have expressed serious concern about how individual koalas had been chosen for culling, because the animals are assessed from a distance. It’s not clear how shooting from a helicopter complies with the state government’s own animal welfare and response plans for wildlife in disasters.

    The Victorian government must explain why it is undertaking aerial culling and why it did so without announcing it publicly. The incident points to ongoing failures in managing these iconic marsupials, which are already threatened in other states.

    Hundreds of koalas were left starving or injured after bushfires in Budj Bim National Park a month ago.
    Vincent_Nguyen/Shutterstock

    Why did this happen?

    Koalas live in eucalypt forests in Australia’s eastern and southern states. The species faces a double threat from habitat destruction and bushfire risk. They are considered endangered in New South Wales, Queensland and the Australian Capital Territory.

    In Victoria, koala population levels are currently secure. But they are densely concentrated, often in fragments of bush known as “habitat islands” in the state’s southwest. Budj Bim National Park is one of these islands.

    Over time, this concentration becomes a problem. When the koalas are too abundant, they can strip leaves from their favourite gums, killing the trees. The koalas must then move or risk starvation.

    If fire or drought make these habitat islands impossible to live in, koalas in dense concentrations often have nowhere to go.

    In Budj Bim, Victoria’s Department of Energy, Environment and Climate Action and Parks Victoria have tackled koala overpopulation alongside Traditional Owners by moving koalas to new locations or sterilising them.

    But Budj Bim is also surrounded by commercial blue gum plantations. Koalas spread out through the plantations to graze on the leaves. Their populations grow. But when the plantations are logged, some koalas have to return to the national park, where food may be in short supply.

    Plantations of blue gums are located near Budj Bim. Animal welfare groups claim logging has driven koala overpopulation in the national park.
    Anna Carolina Negri/Shutterstock

    Animal welfare groups say logging is one reason Budj Bim had so many koalas.

    It’s hard to say definitively whether this is the case, because the state environment department hasn’t shared much information. But researchers have found habitat islands lead to overabundance by preventing the natural dispersal of individuals.

    So why was the culling done? Department officials have described the program as “primarily” motivated by animal welfare. After the bushfire last month, koalas have been left starving or injured.

    Why shooters in helicopters? Here, the justification given is that the national park is difficult to access due to rocky terrain and fire damage, ruling out other methods.

    Euthanising wildlife has to be done carefully

    Under Victoria’s plan for animal welfare during disasters, the environment department is responsible for examining and, where necessary, euthanising wildlife during an emergency.

    For human intervention to be justified, euthanasia must be necessary on welfare grounds. Victoria’s response plan for fire-affected wildlife says culling is permitted when an animal’s health is “significantly” compromised, invasive treatment is required, or survival is unlikely.

    For koalas, this could mean loss of digits or hands, burns to more than 15% of the body, pneumonia from smoke inhalation, or blindness or injuries requiring surgery. Euthanised females must also be promptly examined for young in their pouches.

    The problem is that while aerial shooting can be accurate in some cases for larger animals, the method has questionable efficacy for smaller animals – especially in denser habitats.

    It’s likely a number of koalas were seriously injured but not killed. But the shooters employed by the department were not able to thoroughly verify injuries or whether there were joeys in pouches, because they were in the air and reportedly 30 or more metres away from their targets.

    While the department cited concerns about food resources as a reason for the cull, the state’s wildlife fire plan lays out another option: delivery of supplementary feed. Delivering fresh gum leaves could potentially have prevented starvation while the forest regenerates.

    What should the government learn from this?

    The state government should take steps to avoid tragic incidents like this from happening again.

    Preserving remaining habitat across the state is a vital step, as is reconnecting isolated areas with habitat corridors. This would not only reduce the concentration of koalas in small pockets but increase viable refuges and give koalas safe paths to new food sources after a fire.

    Future policies should be developed in consultation with Traditional Owners, who have detailed knowledge of species distributions and landscapes.

    We need better ways to help wildlife in disasters. One step would be bringing wildlife rescue organisations into emergency management more broadly, as emphasised in the 2009 Victorian Bushfires Royal Commission and the more recent Royal Commission into National Natural Disaster Arrangements.

    This latter report pointed to South Australia’s specialised emergency animal rescue and relief organisation – SAVEM – as an effective model. Under SA’s emergency management plan, the organisation is able to rapidly access burned areas after the fire has passed through.

    Victoria’s dense communities of koalas would be well served by a similar organisation able to work alongside existing skilled firefighting services.

    The goal would be to make it possible for rescuers to get to injured wildlife earlier and avoid any more mass aerial culls.

    Liz Hicks has previously received a Commonwealth Research Training Program stipend. She is a member of the Australian Greens Victoria, although her views do not reflect a party position or party policy.

    Dr Ashleigh Best previously received a Commonwealth Research Training Program scholarship, which supported some of the research in this article. She is an inactive member of the Animal Justice Party, and previously volunteered with Wildlife Victoria.

    – ref. Sniping koalas from helicopters: here’s what’s wrong with Victoria’s unprecedented cull – https://theconversation.com/sniping-koalas-from-helicopters-heres-whats-wrong-with-victorias-unprecedented-cull-254996

    MIL OSI Analysis – EveningReport.nz –

  • MIL-Evening Report: Rather than short-term fixes, communities need flexible plans to prepare for a range of likely climate impacts

    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Tom Logan, Senior Lecturer Above the Bar of Civil Systems Engineering, University of Canterbury

    Dave Rowland/Getty Images

    As New Zealanders clean up after ex-Cyclone Tam which left thousands without power and communities once again facing flooding, it’s tempting to seek immediate solutions.

    However, after the cleanup and initial recovery, careful planning is essential.

    Research shows that following disasters, communities often demand visible action that appears decisive. Yet, these reactions can create more problems than they solve.

    When high-impact weather events drive long-term policy decisions, we risk implementing changes that seem protective but actually increase the risk of future disasters or misallocate limited resources.

    What New Zealand needs isn’t knee-jerk actions but thoughtful planning that prepares communities before the next storms strike. Risk assessments paired with adaptive planning offer a path forward to build resilience step by step.

    Planning ahead with multiple options

    The good news is that many councils in New Zealand have begun this process and communities across the country are due to receive climate change risk assessments. These aren’t just technical documents showing hazard areas – they are tools that put power in the hands of communities.

    When communities have access to good information about which neighbourhoods, roads and infrastructure face potential risks, they can prioritise investments in protection, modify building practices where needed and, in some cases, plan for different futures. This knowledge creates options rather than fear.

    A risk assessment is merely the first step. Adaptation plans that translate knowledge into action are the next, but the Climate Change Commission recently confirmed there is a gap, concluding that:

    New Zealand is not adapting to climate change fast enough.

    For many New Zealanders already experiencing “rain anxiety” with each approaching storm, simply naming the danger without offering a path forward isn’t enough. This is where adaptive planning becomes essential.

    Adaptive planning isn’t about abandoning coastal towns tomorrow or spending billions on sea walls today. It is about having a plan A, B and C ready if or when nature forces our hand. Rather than demanding immediate, potentially costly actions, adaptive planning provides a roadmap with multiple pathways that adjust as climate conditions evolve. This is how we best manage complex risk.

    Think of it as setting up trip wires: when water reaches certain levels or storms hit certain frequencies, we already know our next move. This approach acknowledges the deep uncertainty of climate change while still providing communities with clarity about what happens next.

    Importantly, it builds in community consultation at each decision point, ensuring solutions reflect local values and priorities.

    Several communities are already considering plans that combine risk assessment with several adaptation options.
    Getty Images

    Success stories

    Several New Zealand communities are already demonstrating how this approach works. Christchurch recently approved an adaptation strategy for Whakaraupō Lyttelton Harbour with clear pathways based on trigger points rather than fixed timelines.

    In South Dunedin, where half of the city’s buildings currently face flood risks which are expected to worsen in coming decades, the city council has paired its risk assessment with seven potential adaptation futures, ranging from status quo to large-scale retreat. Rather than imposing solutions, they’re consulting residents about what they want for their neighbourhoods.

    Similarly forward-thinking, Buller District Council has developed a master plan that includes potentially relocating parts of Westport in the future. It’s a bold strategy that acknowledges reality rather than clinging to false security.

    Status quo feels safer than adaptation

    These approaches aren’t without controversy. At recent public meetings in Buller, some residents voiced understandable concerns about property values and community disruption. These reactions reflect the very real emotional and financial stakes for people whose homes are affected.

    Yet the alternative – continuing with the status quo – means flood victims are offered only the option to invest their insurance money wherever they like. This assumes insurance remains available, which is a misguided assumption as insurance retreat from climate-vulnerable properties accelerates.

    However, while local councils are on the front lines of adaptation planning, they’re being asked to make transformational decisions without adequate central government support. A recent Parliamentary select committee report failed to clarify who should pay for adaptation measures, despite acknowledging significant risks.

    Parliament continues to avoid the difficult questions, kicking the can further down the road while communities such as South Dunedin and Westport face immediate threats.

    Local councils need more than vague guidelines. They need clear direction on funding responsibilities, legislative powers and technical support. Without this support, even the most detailed risk assessments become exercises in documenting vulnerability rather than building resilience.

    Instead of demanding short-term fixes, residents should expect their councils to engage with these complex challenges. The best climate preparation isn’t about predicting exactly what will happen in 2100 or avoiding disaster. It is about building more resilient, cohesive communities that are prepared for whatever our changing climate brings.

    Tom Logan is a Rutherford Discovery Fellow and the chief technical officer of Urban Intelligence. He receives funding from the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment and EU Horizons on risk assessment. He is affiliated with the International Society for Risk Analysis.

    – ref. Rather than short-term fixes, communities need flexible plans to prepare for a range of likely climate impacts – https://theconversation.com/rather-than-short-term-fixes-communities-need-flexible-plans-to-prepare-for-a-range-of-likely-climate-impacts-254698

    MIL OSI Analysis – EveningReport.nz –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Cantwell & Colleagues Introduce Bill to Permanently Protect the Pacific Ocean from Offshore Drilling

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Washington Maria Cantwell
    04.22.25
    Cantwell & Colleagues Introduce Bill to Permanently Protect the Pacific Ocean from Offshore Drilling
    Cantwell: WA’s maritime economy supports nearly $46 billion in business revenue & more than 174k jobs – all of which could be compromised in an instant by an oil spill
    WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, on Earth Day, 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, joined her colleagues in announcing the reintroduction of the West Coast Protection Act to permanently protect the Pacific Ocean from the dangers of fossil fuel drilling.
    “Washington’s $45.9 billion maritime economy supports over 174,000 jobs from fisheries, trade, tourism, and recreation – but it could all be devastated in an instant by an oil spill,” Sen. Cantwell said. “We must permanently ban offshore drilling on the West Coast to protect our coastal communities, economies, and ecosystems against the risk of an oil spill.”
    This bill prohibits the Department of the Interior from issuing a lease for the exploration, development, or production of oil or natural gas in any area of the Outer Continental Shelf off the coast of California, Oregon, or Washington. This legislation comes just after the 15th anniversary of the Deepwater Horizon oil spill, which resulted in the deaths of 11 workers, 134 million gallons spilled into the Gulf of Mexico over 87 days, the demise of thousands of marine mammals and sea turtles, and billions of dollars in economic losses from the fishing, outdoor recreation, and tourism industries.
    The West Coast Protection Act was introduced by U.S. Senator Alex Padilla (D-CA) and is additionally cosponsored by Senators Cory Booker (D-NJ), Edward J. Markey (D-MA), Jeff Merkley (D-OR), Patty Murray (D-WA), Bernie Sanders (I-VT), Adam Schiff (D-CA), Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI), and Ron Wyden (D-OR). It is endorsed by organizations including Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC), Oceana, Defenders of Wildlife, Earthjustice, Surfrider Foundation, Seattle Aquarium, Turtle Island Restoration Network, Nassau Hiking & Outdoor Club, Lee (MA) Greener Gateway Committee, South Shore Audubon Society (Freeport, NY), Sierra Club, League of Conservation Voters, Futureswell, Ocean Conservancy, Environment America, WILDCOAST, Food & Water Watch, Environmental Protection Information Center, Ocean Defense Initiative, Center for Biological Diversity, The Ocean Project, Business Alliance to Protect the Pacific Coast, Animal Welfare Institute, Wild Cumberland, Climate Reality Project – North Broward and Palm Beach County Chapter, U.S. Climate Action Network, American Bird Conservancy, Surf Industry Members Association, Business Alliance for Protecting the Pacific Coast (BAPPC), Clean Ocean Action, and Hispanic Access Foundation.
    Representative Jared Huffman (D-CA-02), ranking member of the House Natural Resources Committee, is leading companion legislation in the House for the West Coast Ocean Protection Act.
    A one-pager on the West Coast Protection Act is available HERE. Full text of the West Coast Protection Act is available HERE.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI New Zealand: Aid cuts threaten the lives of 110,000 children with severe malnutrition reliant on emergency treatment from Save the Children

    Source: Save the Children

    At least 110,000- severely acutely malnourished children supported by Save the Children in 10 countries could be left without access to life-saving ready-to-use emergency food and nutrition programmes as aid cuts hit supplies in coming months, according to a Save the Children analysis.
    Globally, one in five deaths among children aged under 5 are attributed to severe acute malnutrition, making it one of the top threats to child survival. Community-based programmes combining medical treatment and therapeutic foods, including a fortified peanut paste, have a 90% success rate.
    Ready-to-Use Therapeutic Food (RUTF) is an energy-dense, micronutrient paste typically made using peanuts, sugar, milk powder, oil, vitamins and minerals that is packaged in foil pouches with a long shelf life and no need of refrigeration. Over the past 30 years this emergency therapeutic food has saved the lives of millions of children facing acute malnutrition [1] [2].
    At a time when global hunger is skyrocketing [3], the current global supply of RUTF is already not even meeting 40% of global needs, Save the Children said, leaving millions of children without access to this life-saving intervention.
    In 2024 there were large-scale breaks in the supply of RUTF as rising malnutrition rates drove up demand and due to disruptions in global supply chains and insufficient funding. This situation is expected to worsen in 2025. An analysis by Save the Children of the 10 countries forecast to have the biggest gaps in supplies found 110,000 malnourished children could miss out on this vital treatment by the end of the year. RUTF supplies are expected to run out in many locations from next month due to a lack of funding.
    Globally at least 18.2 million children were born into hunger in 2024, or about 35 children a minute, with children in conflict zones from Gaza to Ukraine, to Haiti, Sudan to the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), struggling daily to get enough to eat. Famine has been declared in several parts of Sudan where people are resorting to eating grass to stay alive.
    Hannah Stephenson, Head of Hunger and Nutrition at Save the Children, said:
    “Right now, funding shortfalls mean essential nutrition packs are not reaching the children who desperately need them. We know we have the expertise and the track record to reach children around the world but what we urgently need now is the funding to ensure children can receive life-saving treatment. We are running out of time, and t his will cost children’s lives.
    “We also need to see long-term commitments to tackle the root causes of hunger and malnutrition, or else we will continue to see the reversal of progress made for children.”
    In Kenya, one of the countries where Save the Children treats acute malnutrition cases, 18-month-old Ereng has just recovered from malnutrition with treatment from Community Health Promoter Charles, who was trained in basic healthcare by Save the Children.
    Lomanat and Daniel, Ereng’s parents, walked for several kilometres to reach Charles’ clinic. The family are pastoralists, but recent droughts have killed their livestock, and the family now has no sustainable income and no reliable food source.
    They know how important treatment is for children like Ereng, who gained 2.4 kgs (5.3 pounds) in two months once she started receiving nutrition treatment using the fortified peanut paste which has about 500 calories in each portion. Lomanat said:
    “Our  child was in a very bad shape, and the doctor helped by giving her peanut paste. I am very happy, because she is cured.”
    In Somalia, where Save the Children also treats child with acute malnutrition, 7-month-Mukhtar- arrived at a health centre in Puntland after contracting flu which led to breathing difficulties and malnutrition.
    His mother Shamso, 40, who has eight other children, feared her son would not survive with the family struggling after drought killed all but six of their herd of 30 goats. But after receiving medical care and treatment for malnutrition with peanut paste, Mukhtar recovered and returned home.
    “His condition was serious when I brought him in and I didn’t expect him to reach the town alive ,” said Shamso. “My biggest worry is the children, whether my own, those of the relatives or those of my neighbours. When drought comes, it follows that hunger will strike.”
    Children are always the most vulnerable in food crises and, without enough to eat and the right nutritional balance, they are at high risk of becoming acutely malnourished.
    Malnutrition can cause stunting, impede mental and physical development, and increase the risk of contracting deadly diseases.
    About 1.12 billion children globally – or almost half of the world’s children – are unable to afford a balanced diet now, according to data from Save the Children released last month.
    In 2025, Save the Children aims to treat 260,000 children for severe acute malnutrition at outpatient sites in 10 countries that are now experiencing therapeutic food shortages.
    Save the Children is urgently trying to raise $7 million to provide 110,000 severely malnourished children with life-saving RUTF and the critical services needed to treat malnutrition 1 including skilled health workers, community follow-up, immunizations, safe spaces for treatment, safe water, hygiene and sanitation support.
    In the United States, actress and Save the Children ambassador Jennifer Garner launched her #67Strong4Kids campaign on her birthday last week. For #67Strong4Kids she is running a mile a day for 67 consecutive days to raise awareness about Ready-to-Use Therapeutic Food (RUTF). The amount $67 covers a six-week course of RUTF that treats a child suffering from severe acute malnutrition and potentially saves their life.
    NOTES:
    -Methodology: Save the Children used the target reach figures for all outpatient severe acute malnutrition treatment in 10 countries facing the largest disruption to the RUTF supply and compared with the current funding gaps for RUTF in those countries. Given the continued uncertainty in supply funding these figures are preliminary and up to date as of 26 March 2025. The 10 countries facing the largest disruptions are Afghanistan, Ethiopia, Kenya, Mali, Myanmar, Nigeria, Somalia, South Sudan, Sudan, and Yemen.
    REFERENCES
    About Save the Children NZ:
    Save the Children works in 120 countries across the world. The organisation responds to emergencies and works with children and their communities to ensure they survive, learn and are protected.
    Save the Children NZ currently supports international programmes in Fiji, Cambodia, Bangladesh, Laos, Nepal, Vanuatu, Solomon Islands and Papua New Guinea. Areas of work include child protection, education and literacy, disaster risk reduction and climate adaptation, and alleviating child poverty.

    MIL OSI New Zealand News –

  • MIL-Evening Report: ER Report: A Roundup of Significant Articles on EveningReport.nz for April 23, 2025

    ER Report: Here is a summary of significant articles published on EveningReport.nz on April 23, 2025.

    The ‘responsible gambling’ mantra does nothing to prevent harm. It probably makes things worse
    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Charles Livingstone, Associate Professor, School of Public Health and Preventive Medicine, Monash University Haelen Haagen/Shutterstock Recent royal commissions and inquiries into Crown and Star casino groups attracted much media attention. Most of this was focused on money laundering and other illegalities. The Victorian royal commission found widespread

    This election, Gen Z and Millennials hold most of the voting power. How might they wield it?
    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Intifar Chowdhury, Lecturer in Government, Flinders University The centre of gravity of Australian politics has shifted. Millennials and Gen Z voters, now comprising 47% of the electorate, have taken over as the dominant voting bloc. But this generational shift isn’t just about numerical dominance. It’s also about

    Only a third of Australians support increasing defence spending: new research
    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Richard Dunley, Senior Lecturer in History and Maritime Strategy, UNSW Sydney National security issues have been a constant feature of this federal election campaign. Both major parties have spruiked their national security credentials by promising additional defence spending. The Coalition has pledged to spend 3% of Australia’s

    After stunning comeback, centre-left Liberals likely to win majority of seats at Canadian election
    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Adrian Beaumont, Election Analyst (Psephologist) at The Conversation; and Honorary Associate, School of Mathematics and Statistics, The University of Melbourne In Canada, the governing centre-left Liberals had trailed the Conservatives by more than 20 points in January, but now lead by five points and are likely to

    The Greens are hoping for another ‘greenslide’ election. What do the polls say?
    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Narelle Miragliotta, Associate Professor in Politics, Murdoch University Election talk is inevitably focused on Labor and the Coalition because they are the parties that customarily form government. But a minor party like the Greens is consequential, regardless of whether the election delivers a minority government. Certainly, the

    Victory for US press freedom and workers – court grants injunction in VOA media case
    Asia Pacific Report The US District Court for the District of Columbia has granted a preliminary injunction in Widakuswara v Lake, affirming the US Agency for Global Media (USAGM) was unlawfully shuttered by the Trump administration, Acting Director Victor Morales and Special Adviser Kari Lake. The decision enshrines that USAGM must fulfill its legally required

    Scientists claim to have found evidence of alien life. But ‘biosignatures’ might hide more than they reveal
    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Campbell Rider, PhD Candidate in Philosophy – Philosophy of Biology, University of Sydney Artist’s impression of the exoplanet K2-18b A. Smith/N. Madhusudhan (University of Cambridge) Whether or not we’re alone in the universe is one of the biggest questions in science. A recent study, led by astrophysicist Nikku

    What would change your mind about climate change? We asked 5,000 Australians – here’s what they told us
    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Kelly Kirkland, Research Fellow in Psychology, The University of Queensland LOOKSLIKEPHOTO/Shutterstock Australia just sweltered through one of its hottest summers on record, and heat has pushed well into autumn. Once-in-a-generation floods are now striking with alarming regularity. As disasters escalate, insurers are warning some properties may soon

    Even experts disagree over whether social media is bad for kids. We examined why
    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Simon Knight, Associate Professor, Transdisciplinary School, University of Technology Sydney A low relief sculpture depicting Plato and Aristotle arguing adorning the external wall of Florence Cathedral. Krikkiat/Shutterstock Disagreement and uncertainty are common features of everyday life. They’re also common and expected features of scientific research. Despite this,

    Australian women are wary of AI being used in breast cancer screening – new research
    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Alison Pearce, Associate Professor, Health Economics, University of Sydney Okrasiuk/Shutterstock Artificial intelligence (AI) is becoming increasingly relevant in many aspects of society, including health care. For example, it’s already used for robotic surgery and to provide virtual mental health support. In recent years, scientists have developed AI

    These 3 climate misinformation campaigns are operating during the election run-up. Here’s how to spot them
    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Alfie Chadwick, PhD Candidate, Monash Climate Change Communication Research Hub, Monash University Australia’s climate and energy wars are at the forefront of the federal election campaign as the major parties outline vastly different plans to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and tackle soaring power prices. Meanwhile, misinformation about

    Port of Darwin’s struggling Chinese leaseholder may welcome an Australian buy-out
    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Colin Hawes, Associate professor of law, University of Technology Sydney Slow Walker/Shutterstock Far from causing trade frictions, an Australian buyout of the Port of Darwin lease may provide a lifeline for its struggling Chinese parent company Landbridge Group. Both Labor and the Coalition have proposed such a

    When rock music met ancient archeology: the enduring power of Pink Floyd Live at Pompeii
    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Craig Barker, Head, Public Engagement, Chau Chak Wing Museum, University of Sydney Sony Music The 1972 concert film Pink Floyd Live at Pompeii, back in cinemas this week, remains one of the most unique concert documentaries ever recorded by a rock band. The movie captured the band

    Gambling in Australia: how bad is the problem, who gets harmed most and where may we be heading?
    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Alex Russell, Principal Research Fellow, CQUniversity Australia Mick Tsikas/AAP, Joel Carret/AAP, Darren England/AAP, Ihor Koptilin/Shutterstock, The Conversation, CC BY Gambling prevalence studies provide a snapshot of gambling behaviour, problems and harm in our communities. They are typically conducted about every five years. In some Australian states and

    Lest we forget? Aside from Anzac Day, NZ has been slow to remember its military veterans
    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Alexander Gillespie, Professor of Law, University of Waikato Fiona Goodall/Getty Images Following some very public protests, including Victoria Cross recipient Willie Apiata handing back his medal, the government’s announcement of an expanded official definition of the term “veteran” brings some good news for former military personnel ahead

    Dutton promises Coalition would increase defence spending to 3% of GDP ‘within a decade’
    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Michelle Grattan, Professorial Fellow, University of Canberra Opposition Leader Peter Dutton will promise a Coalition government would boost Australia’s spending on defence to 2.5% of GDP within five years and 3% within a decade. Launching the Coalition’s long-awaited defence policy on Wednesday in Western Australia, Dutton will

    Leaders trade barbs and well-worn lines in unspectacular third election debate
    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Joshua Black, Visitor, School of History, Australian National University Anthony Albanese and Peter Dutton have met for the third leaders’ debate of this election campaign, this time on the Nine network. And while the debate traversed much of the same ground as the first two, the quick-fire

    Election Diary: Dutton in third debate gives Labor ammunition for its scare about cuts
    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Michelle Grattan, Professorial Fellow, University of Canberra In the leaders’ third head-to-head encounter, on Nine on Tuesday, Peter Dutton’s bluntness when pressed on cuts has given more ammunition to Labor’s scare campaign about what a Coalition government might do. “When John Howard came into power, there was

    To truly understand Pope Francis’ theology – and impact – you need to look to his life in Buenos Aires
    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Fernanda Peñaloza, Senior Lecturer in Latin American Studies, University of Sydney Pope Francis’ journey from the streets of Flores, a neighbourhood in Buenos Aires, Argentina, to the Vatican, is a remarkable tale. Born in 1936, Jorge Bergoglio was raised in a middle-class family of Italian Catholic immigrants.

    Bougainville takes the initiative in mediation over independence
    By Don Wiseman, RNZ Pacific senior journalist In recent weeks, Bougainville has taken the initiative, boldly stating that it expects to be independent by 1 September 2027. It also expects the PNG Parliament to quickly ratify the 2019 referendum, in which an overwhelming majority of Bougainvilleans supported independence. In a third move, it established a

    MIL OSI Analysis – EveningReport.nz –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Senators Markey, Baldwin Announce Resolution to Designate April as Earth Month

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Massachusetts Ed Markey

    Resolution Text (PDF)

    Washington (April 22, 2025) – Senator Edward J. Markey (D-Mass.), co-author of the Green New Deal resolution and member of the Environment and Public Works Committee, and Senator Tammy Baldwin (D-Wisc.) today announced the Earth Month resolution to recognize the importance of environmental stewardship and climate action. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-Ill.) cosponsors the resolution.

    “Planet Earth is our home. Now more than ever, we need stewardship of our home. As the Trump administration is targeting environmental safeguards that ensure we have a livable future, I am doubling down on my commitment to fight back and uplift efforts that promote environmental stewardship and spur even more climate action. Earth Day is our moment to recommit and expand our movement for a just and livable future – a future with clean air to breathe, clean water to drink, and clean land on which to live,” said Senator Markey. “We know environmental pollution and the climate crisis do not affect us all equally. That is why environmental stewardship and climate action must center the most marginalized communities, particularly Black and Indigenous communities who have been overburdened with pollution and the harms of climate change. Using the tenets of a Green New Deal – fighting for environmental justice and climate action while creating good-paying union jobs – we can work together toward a livable future every day, but especially during Earth Month.”

    “From the Great Lakes and the rolling hills of the Driftless Region, to the Great Northwoods and Mighty Mississippi, Wisconsin is rich with natural resources that have defined our state and way of life. I’m proud to carry on Wisconsin’s tradition of environmental stewardship and recognize Earth Month as we all do our part to protect and preserve Wisconsin’s wilderness and resources for the next generation,” said Senator Baldwin.

    “We proudly support Senators Markey’s & Baldwin’s Earth Month resolution as a vital affirmation of our collective responsibility to protect Mother Earth and the communities most impacted by environmental injustice. At a time when climate change is both accelerating and the solutions to it are being actively undermined, Congressional recognition of Earth Month sends a powerful message: that bold, equitable, and community-led climate action is not only necessary — it is the only thing that will solve the problem for us all,” said KD Chavez, Executive Director of the Climate Justice Alliance.

    “Since it was first observed in 1970, Earth Day has successfully provided countless Americans with an opportunity to reflect on the shared responsibility we have to preserve the beauty of our planet. The designation of Earth Month would help get and keep people engaged for more than just one day, as we rededicate ourselves to doing all we can to explore, enjoy, and protect our environment year round. Together, we can protect our lands, clean air, and clean water to ensure a livable planet for future generations. We’re incredibly thankful for the efforts of Senator Markey, a true champion in the fight to combat climate change and protect America’s wild places,” said Ben Jealous, Executive Director of the Sierra Club.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Booker, Padilla, Reed Introduce Bills to Permanently Protect the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans from Offshore Drilling

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for New Jersey Cory Booker
    WASHINGTON, D.C. –  On Earth Day, U.S. Senators Cory Booker (D-NJ), Alex Padilla (D-CA), and Jack Reed (D-RI) announced a pair of bills to permanently protect the Atlantic and Pacific Ocean from the dangers of fossil fuel drilling. The package includes Booker and Reed’s Clean Ocean and Safe Tourism (COAST) Anti-Drilling Act, which would permanently prohibit the U.S. Department of the Interior from issuing leases for the exploration, development, or production of oil and gas in the North Atlantic, Mid-Atlantic, South Atlantic, and Straits of Florida Planning Areas of the U.S. Outer Continental Shelf, as well as Padilla’s West Coast Ocean Protection Act, which would permanently prohibit new oil and gas leases for offshore drilling off the coast of California, Oregon, and Washington.
    This legislation comes just after the 15th anniversary of the Deepwater Horizon oil spill, which resulted in the deaths of 11 workers, 134 million gallons spilled into the Gulf of Mexico over 87 days, the demise of thousands of marine mammals and sea turtles, and billions of dollars in economic losses from the fishing, outdoor recreation, and tourism industries.
    U.S. Representatives Frank Pallone, Jr. (D-NJ-06), Ranking Member of the House Energy and Commerce Committee, and Jared Huffman (D-CA-02), Ranking Member of the House Natural Resources Committee, are leading companion legislation in the House for the Clean Ocean and Safe Tourism (COAST) Anti-Drilling Act and West Coast Ocean Protection Act respectively.
    Full text of the COAST Anti-Drilling Act is available here.
    Full text of the West Coast Protection Act is available here, and a one-pager is available here.
    “This week marks both Earth Day and the 15th anniversary of the Deepwater Horizon oil disaster,” said Senator Booker. “I’m standing alongside my colleagues in the House and Senate to reaffirm our commitment to protecting our communities and our environment. Offshore drilling endangers our coastal communities – both their lives and their livelihoods – and threatens marine species and ecosystems. The COAST Act, along with this critical package of legislation, will ensure that marine seascapes along the Atlantic and Pacific Coasts, and the wildlife, industries, and communities that rely on them, are protected from the dangers of fossil fuel drilling.”
    “Offshore drilling in the Atlantic Ocean would open up the eastern seaboard to considerable risk, and we have seen the destruction that an accident can cause. This legislation is about more than simply protecting the environment, it’s also about protecting the tourism and fishing industries that create jobs and help power Rhode Island’s economy,” said Senator Reed.
    “We must end offshore oil drilling in coastal waters once and for all,” said Senator Padilla. “Over 50 years ago, after a catastrophic oil spill off the coast of Santa Barbara, Californians rose up and demanded environmental protections, spurring the modern environmental movement and creating the very first Earth Day. As the Trump Administration threatens to recklessly open our coasts to new drilling, California and the West Coast need permanent safeguards to protect our communities from the devastation of fossil fuels and disastrous oil spills. We must act now to fulfill the promises we made to our children and our constituents to meet the urgency of this environmental crisis with bold action.”
    “For decades, I’ve fought to protect our coasts from the dangers of oil and gas development, and this legislative package reaffirms that commitment. Offshore drilling risks devastating spills, accelerates climate change, and threatens the livelihoods of coastal communities like those in New Jersey. On Earth Day and every day, we must stand up to Big Oil and prioritize renewable energy that actually protects our planet,” said Representative Pallone.
    “It’s clear that in the 15 years since the most catastrophic oil spill disaster in history, Republicans in the pocket of Big Oil have learned nothing. Offshore drilling poses significant threats to our public health, coastal economies, and marine life. The science is clear, and so is the public sentiment: we need to speed up our transition to a clean energy future, not lock ourselves into another generation of fossil fuel fealty,” said Representative Huffman. “We cannot let history repeat itself. My Democratic colleagues aren’t standing idly by as the Trump administration tries to reverse all of our progress so they can give handouts to Big Oil. Our legislation will cut pollution and ramp up clean energy, ensuring our coasts remain safe, clean, and open to all Americans— not turned into open season for fossil fuel billionaires looking to drill, spill, and cash in.” 
    These bills reaffirm vital protections for America’s coastal communities and ecosystems. The Biden Administration protected more than 625 million acres of U.S. ocean waters — including the Pacific coasts of Washington, Oregon, and California, the entire East Coast, the eastern Gulf of Mexico, and parts of the Northern Bering Sea — from offshore oil and gas drilling. President Trump immediately tried to roll back those protections, attempting to illegally reopen those areas to drilling on day one of his second term. Trump’s record speaks for itself: during his first Administration, the Interior Department proposed a sweeping plan to open 47 offshore oil and gas lease areas across nearly every U.S. coastline, from California to New England.
    The two bills would protect critical coastal communities, economies, and ecosystems against offshore drilling, which is especially important in the face of the climate crisis. U.S. coastal counties support 54.6 million jobs, produce $10 trillion in goods and services, and pay $4 trillion in wages. Offshore drilling poses significant threats to public health, coastal economies, and diverse marine life that play an important economical, ecological, and cultural role in our ecosystem. 
    The COAST Anti-Drilling Act is cosponsored by Senator Padilla as well as Senators Richard Blumenthal (D-CT), Chris Coons (D-DE), Angus King (I-ME), Ed Markey (D-MA), Jeff Merkley (D-OR), Bernie Sanders (I-VT), Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH), Chris Van Hollen (D-MD), Elizabeth Warren (D-MA), Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI), and Ron Wyden (D-OR). It is endorsed by organizations including Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC), Oceana, Surfrider Foundation, Earthjustice, Turtle Island Restoration Network, Nassau Hiking & Outdoor Club, Lee (MA) Greener Gateway Committee, South Shore Audubon Society (Freeport, NY), Sierra Club, League of Conservation Voters, Futureswell, Ocean Conservancy, Environment America, Food & Water Watch, Waterspirit, Business Alliance to Protect the Atlantic, Clean Ocean Action, Jersey Coast Anglers Association (NJ), American Littoral Society, Save Coastal Wildlife, Environmental Protection Information Center, Defenders of Wildlife, Ocean Defense Initiative, Center for Biological Diversity, The Ocean Project, North Carolina Coastal Federation, Animal Welfare Institute, Wild Cumberland, Climate Reality Project – North Broward and Palm Beach County Chapter, U.S. Climate Action Network, National Aquarium, American Bird Conservancy, and Hispanic Access Foundation.
    The West Coast Protection Act is cosponsored by Senator Cory Booker (D-NJ) as well as Senators Maria Cantwell (D-WA), Ed Markey (D-MA), Jeff Merkley (D-OR), Patty Murray (D-WA), Bernie Sanders (I-VT), Adam Schiff (D-CA), Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI), and Ron Wyden (D-OR). It is endorsed by organizations including Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC), Oceana, Defenders of Wildlife, Earthjustice, Surfrider Foundation, Seattle Aquarium, Turtle Island Restoration Network, Nassau Hiking & Outdoor Club, Lee (MA) Greener Gateway Committee, South Shore Audubon Society (Freeport, NY), Sierra Club, League of Conservation Voters, Futureswell, Ocean Conservancy, Environment America, WILDCOAST, Food & Water Watch, Environmental Protection Information Center, Ocean Defense Initiative, Center for Biological Diversity, The Ocean Project, Business Alliance to Protect the Pacific Coast, Animal Welfare Institute, Wild Cumberland, Climate Reality Project – North Broward and Palm Beach County Chapter, U.S. Climate Action Network, American Bird Conservancy, Surf Industry Members Association, Business Alliance for Protecting the Pacific Coast (BAPPC), Clean Ocean Action, and Hispanic Access Foundation.
    “It’s time to end the threat of expanded drilling off America’s coasts forever,” said Joseph Gordon, Oceana Campaign Director. “Oceana applauds these Congressional leaders for reintroducing pivotal legislation that would establish permanent protections from offshore oil and gas drilling for millions of acres of ocean. Earth Day is an important reminder that every coastal community deserves healthy oceans and oil-free beaches. This bill is part of a national movement to safeguard our multi-billion-dollar coastal economies from dirty and dangerous offshore drilling. Congress must swiftly pass these bills into law and reject any expansion of drilling to protect our coasts.”
    “Protecting these waters puts coastal communities and wildlife above polluters and brings us closer to a world where our waters are free from oil spills, endangered whale populations are free from seismic blasting, and local economies can thrive,” said Taryn Kiekow Heimer, Director of Ocean Energy at NRDC (Natural Resources Defense Council). “Now more than ever, we need leadership from Congress to protect our oceans from an industry that only cares about its bottom line – and a Trump administration willing to do anything to give those oil billionaires what they want.”
    “The Trump administration’s path of so-called ‘energy dominance’ is paved with threats to American coasts,” said Sierra Weaver, senior attorney for Defenders of Wildlife. “This set of bills offers real protections for coastal communities and wildlife against unwanted, unreasonable and unsafe offshore oil drilling. This is just the type of bold action we need on the 15th anniversary of the Deepwater Horizon oil spill, the worst environmental disaster in U.S. history.”
    “Imperiled species like Southern resident orcas and sea otters need clean, healthy ocean habitats to thrive. New offshore drilling would bring habitat destruction, noise pollution and the threat of spills and chronic contamination to those species and their homes,” said Joseph Vaile, Northwest Program senior representative for Defenders of Wildlife. “This legislation is a critical step toward permanently safeguarding marine mammals and coastal communities from irreversible harm. We thank Senator Padilla for championing the West Coast Ocean Protection Act at a time when the threat of offshore drilling is especially urgent.”
    “California’s spectacular marine life — including complex kelp forests and charismatic sea otters — and vibrant coastal economies rely on healthy ecosystems. This legislation could, once and for all, block offshore drilling activities along the continental shelf, and protect critical marine habitats along California’s iconic Pacific Coast,” said Pamela Flick, Defenders of Wildlife California Program Director.
    “These bills will permanently protect our coastal communities from the threats of offshore drilling. Oil spills like the one caused by the deadly BP drilling disaster 15 years ago are dangerous to people’s health and our public waters. The economic vitality of entire regions depend on oceans staying healthy,” said Earthjustice Senior Legislative Representative Laura M. Esquivel. “We applaud these Members of Congress for doing what’s right on behalf of their constituents.” 
    “These important bills will protect our environment, communities, and economy from the harmful effects of offshore oil and gas development. Offshore drilling is a dirty and damaging practice that threatens our nation’s ocean recreation, tourism, and fisheries industries valued at $250 billion annually. The Surfrider Foundation urges members of Congress to support this important legislation to prohibit new offshore drilling in U.S. waters,” said Pete Stauffer, Ocean Protection Manager, Surfrider Foundation.
    “These bills are critical, especially now. Protecting our environment and frontline communities from the dangers of offshore oil and gas development must be a top priority in the face of the escalating climate and biodiversity crises,” said Elizabeth Purcell, Environmental Policy Coordinator with Turtle Island Restoration Network. “Congress must act swiftly and support these bills to protect our oceans from further exploitation by the oil and gas industry, ensuring a healthy and safe planet for all.”
    “We are the generation that will live with the consequences of today’s energy choices. As young ocean advocates, we want to leave a better legacy for ocean health behind us than what has been left for us,” said Mark Haver, North America Regional Representative with Sustainable Ocean Alliance. “Congress has a moral responsibility to prevent new offshore oil and gas drilling leases. We will be counting on Congress to act on behalf of our ocean and future generations.”
    “Our coasts are a source of life, livelihood, and recreation for coastal communities and the millions of visitors they see every year,” said Athan Manuel, Director of the Sierra Club’s Lands Protection Program. “They also support untold diverse wildlife and ecosystems that are put at risk by exploitation from the oil and gas industry. These bills provide much-needed critical protections for the health of our coastal communities and to ensure that future generations will get to enjoy the wonders of our oceans and beaches.”
    “It has been clear for years that we cannot afford to expand fossil fuel extraction and burning if we want any hope of staving off the ever worsening effects of climate change,” said Mitch Jones, Managing Director of Policy and Litigation at Food & Water Watch. “In addition to the threat of worsening climate chaos, offshore drilling directly endangers local environments, wildlife, and economies due to the threats of oil spills and disruptions to aquatic life. We urge Congress to pass these bills to protect our coastlines and our oceans from Trump’s disastrous push for more drilling.”
    “Water is the pulse of our planet, the sacred thread that connects all life. We all have a responsibility to protect the very essence that sustains us,” said Rachel Dawn Davis, Public Policy & Justice Organizer at Waterspirit. “The threat of exploitation-whether through drilling or pollution-puts ecosystems and future generations at risk. We must continue to honor and defend our waters; in preserving them, we preserve life itself.”
    “Our oceans provide forever benefits in so many ways for both local communities and whole nations. We thoroughly support the bipartisan protections put forward in these Bills, which would position the United States to lead the world and reap huge benefits for tourism, energy security, health and local jobs, not to mention the beautiful wildlife that drives billions of dollars of tourism and other benefits,” said Global Rewilding Alliance.
    “A clean ocean is crucial for the conservation of marine biodiversity,” said Jenna Reynolds, Executive Director of Save Coastal Wildlife. “A polluted ocean poses significant risks to marine wildlife, including increased vessel traffic around oil platforms, which can lead to collisions with marine animals, especially sea turtles and juvenile whales which are difficult to see from moving vessels. Oil spills can directly coat and kill marine animals, including seabirds, sea turtles, marine mammals, and can also damage coastal ecosystems like beaches and coastal wetlands, impacting wildlife and people that rely on these areas. We need to bring back and fully protect biodiversity in our ocean!”
    “We must work toward a future where our coastal communities, economies, and marine life can thrive thanks to a healthy ocean. As the Trump Administration seeks to threaten our favorite beaches and ecosystems with new offshore drilling, it’s more important than ever for ocean champions in Congress to advance ocean protections,” said Sarah Guy, Ocean Defense Initiative. “We are grateful for the leadership of members supporting these bills, and commit to working toward a future where all our coasts are protected from the harms of offshore drilling.”
    “We believe our coasts are far too valuable to risk for short-term fossil fuel gains,” said Katie Thompson, Executive Director of Save Our Shores. “Permanently protecting offshore areas from oil and gas leasing is a critical step toward safeguarding marine ecosystems, coastal communities, and our climate future. These bills reflect the will of the people to prioritize ocean health and long-term sustainability over polluting industries of the past.”
    “This suite of legislation is a critical move to safeguard our marine resources against Trump and his Big Oil agenda,” said Rachel Rilee, oceans policy specialist at the Center for Biological Diversity. “It’s been 15 years since the Deepwater Horizon oil disaster devastated coastlines and killed hundreds of thousands of marine animals. Our oceans and the incredible ecosystems they support are counting on us. Congress must pass these bills and then get right back to work protecting marine life and coastal communities from every manmade danger and every Republican attack.”
    “Americans love our coasts. For some of us, they’re home, and for many others, they’re home to wonderful memories, including family vacations at the beach, fishing trips with friends, and encounters with wildlife like sea turtles, dolphins, and whales. But oil spills can destroy all of that. It’s simply not worth the risk. We must not squander our children’s inheritance,” said Bill Mott, Executive Director of The Ocean Project. “The ocean offers endless inspiration, recreational opportunities, and serves as a critically important economic driver. Yet despite its vastness, it is incredibly vulnerable. As we’ve seen too many times before, offshore oil and gas drilling is not compatible with stewarding our ocean. We all share a responsibility to keep our coasts clean and our ocean healthy for future generations. That’s why we urge Congress to act now to prohibit new offshore oil and gas development forever.”
    “AWI commends these Congressional leaders for taking bold action to protect our oceans and coasts from dirty, dangerous oil and gas development along the outer continental shelf,” said Georgia Hancock, Senior Attorney and Director of the Animal Welfare Institute’s marine wildlife program. “Fifteen years after the Deepwater Horizon disaster, it remains painfully clear: there is no such thing as safe offshore oil drilling, nor is there any way to fully clean up a significant oil spill. Keeping oil rigs out of the ocean prevents unnecessary harm to sensitive marine animals like sea turtles, whales, and seabirds, and avoids the massive costs associated with environmental remediation when things go wrong. These bills draw a clear line in the sand: our marine ecosystems are too precious to risk.”
    “The Pacific west coast economy provides over $80 Billion in GDP via industries like tourism, outdoor recreation, fishing, retail, and real estate, supporting more than 825,000 jobs. And BAPPC’s 8,100 business members rely on a clean ocean to drive their revenues and provide for their customers, employees and families. We strongly support the West Coast Protection Act and other legislation to prohibit new offshore drilling and protect our businesses by prioritizing a healthy coastal ecosystem,” said Grant Bixby, Founding Member, The Business Alliance for Protecting the Pacific Coast.
    “The impact of offshore oil drilling on marine life is well-documented, from toxic discharges of drilling mud and fracking chemicals, to chronic oil spills, to the effects of a major well blow-out as has occurred many times in the history of offshore oil drilling. It is time we stopped burning fossil fuels and switch to non-polluting sources such as wind, solar, and other green energy sources. Industrializing our oceans is the last thing we should be doing,” said the International Marine Mammal Project, Earth Island Institute.
    “The oceans and coasts are the lifeblood of the US economy. They deserve not only protection but increased investment and stewardship. Anyone that threatens the coasts puts the entire US economy at risk,” said the Center for the Blue Economy.
    “We strongly support these bills to protect our vital coastal ecosystems and ocean health, which are increasingly threatened by the climate crisis. Offshore oil and gas leasing not only poses a direct risk of pollution to our waters and endangers marine life, but also contributes to climate change by perpetuating our reliance on fossil fuels. We urge swift passage of these protections to safeguard coastal communities, their economies, and a livable future for all,” said the U.S. Climate Action Network.
    “Offshore oil and gas drilling threatens coastal communities and endangers whales, sea turtles and other wildlife that Americans treasure,” said National Aquarium President and CEO John Racanelli. “On Earth Day and every day, all of us – people and wildlife – rely on a healthy ocean for our very survival. The science is clear that moving from dependence on fossil fuels towards clean energy sources safeguards marine ecosystems and protects public health. Legislation that places sensible limits on new oil and gas development along our shores is just smart public policy.”
    “President Biden’s recent permanent ban on offshore drilling in most ocean realms of the US is strong and cause for celebration! That said, codifying this long-overdue protection with acts of Congress is needed to add bulwark against attempts to override the ban as well as provide proof of bipartisan support for the ocean. The reason is simple: a healthy ocean sustains all life on earth and is essential to a vibrant clean ocean economy,” said Cindy Zipf, Executive Director of Clean Ocean Action.
    “Last year President Biden issued an executive action to protect more than 625 million acres of federal waters from fossil fuel development, a historic and bold decision to defend coastal communities, public health, and ecosystems. Azul’s 2024 nationwide poll found that Latinos across political ideologies support action to ban offshore drilling and are even willing to pay more out of pocket to make it happen. We applaud the leadership of members of Congress seeking to codify protections for coastal waters against offshore drilling, and these added protections are needed to defend against threats to undo existing protections against offshore drilling,” said Marce Gutiérrez-Graudins, Founder of Azul.
    “Protecting our oceans is a matter of safeguarding our health, our economy, and our future. Proposals to reduce existing ocean protections and expand offshore drilling raise serious concerns for coastal communities, marine ecosystems, and millions of livelihoods,” said Maite Arce, President and CEO of Hispanic Access Foundation. “Latino communities, many of whom live along our coasts and rely on clean water and healthy marine environments for recreation, jobs, and cultural connection, are uniquely impacted. We support efforts that uphold strong protections and ensure our public lands and waters remain preserved for future generations. Now is the time for bold, bipartisan leadership that centers communities and protects the ocean legacy we all share.”
    “The New Jersey Environmental Lobby unequivocally supports all of the bills,” said Anne Poole, President of the NJ Environment Lobby. “Our organization’s primary focus is State legislation and policies that affect our densely populated coastal state, but oceans know no national or state boundaries.  The oceans are connected and impact all life on this globe.  What affects one coast eventually affects us all. Thank you to all of these ocean champions for their foresight and political courage!”

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI: HR Ratings Expands U.S. Operations with Strategic Growth Plan and Senior Leadership Appointment

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    MIAMI, April 22, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — HR Ratings, leading credit rating agency with nearly two decades of experience and more than 14,000 ratings issued worldwide, announces the expansion of its U.S. operations, reinforcing its long-term commitment to the U.S. market. As part of this effort, HR Ratings welcomes Gregory Root as Business Development Executive Director, adding depth to its leadership team and accelerating its growth in key sectors.

    Gregory Root has nearly 40 years of experience in credit ratings, investment banking, and capital markets. He has held senior leadership roles at Kroll Bond Ratings, DBRS, and Keefe, Bruyette & Woods. As President of Thomson BankWatch, he led the agency’s growth into the world’s largest bank rating firm at the time, overseeing teams across 60 countries.

    “Greg brings a deep understanding of the U.S. market and will play a critical role in supporting HR Ratings´ growth and establishment in this market.” said Veronica Cordero, Head of Business Development of HR Ratings.

    HR Ratings is registered as a Nationally Recognized Statistical Rating Organization (NRSRO) by the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) for corporates, public finance, and financial institutions, certified by the European Securities and Markets Authority (ESMA), and the UK’s Financial Conduct Authority (FCA). HR Ratings is also approved by the National Association of Insurance Commissioners (NAIC) as credit rating providers (CRP). In addition, the rating agency is certified by the Climate Bonds Initiative (CBI) as approved verifiers for green bonds.

    With a local team based in Coral Gables, Florida, HR Ratings offers a full range of credit evaluation services. The agency has already issued over 2,300 credit ratings historically in the U.S. and evaluated more than 300 U.S.-based entities, serving a market that increasingly seeks agile, transparent, and rigorous credit analysis.

    “This marks an important step forward as we scale our presence in the U.S.,” said Alberto Ramos, Chairman of the Board of HR Ratings. “Our model is built on transparency, accessibility, highest quality service, and analytical rigor—qualities that matter to U.S. issuers and investors looking for real alternatives in a concentrated ratings market.”

    About HR Ratings

    HR Ratings, LLC (HR Ratings), is a Credit Rating Agency registered by the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) as a Nationally Recognized Statistical Rating Organization (NRSRO) for the assets of public finance, corporates and financial institutions as described in section 3 (a) (62) (A) and (B) subsection (i), (iii) and (v) of the US Securities Exchange Act of 1934.

    The following information can be found on our website at www.hrratings.com: (i) The internal procedures for the monitoring and surveillance of our ratings and the periodicity with which they are formally updated, (ii) the criteria used by HR Ratings for the withdrawal or suspension of the maintenance of a rating, (iii) the procedure and process of voting on our Analysis Committee, and (iv) the rating scales and their definitions.

    The ratings and/or opinions of HR Ratings are opinions regarding the credit quality and/or the asset management capacity, or relative to the performance of the tasks aimed at the fulfillment of the corporate purpose, by issuing companies and other entities or sectors, and are based on exclusively in the characteristics of the entity, issue and/or operation, regardless of any business activity between HR Ratings and the entity or issuer. The ratings and/or opinions granted are issued on behalf of HR Ratings and not of its management or technical personnel and do not constitute recommendations to buy, sell or maintain any instrument, or to carry out any type of business, investment or operation, and may be subject to updates at any time, in accordance with the rating methodologies of HR Ratings.

    HR Ratings bases its ratings and/or opinions on information obtained from sources that are believed to be accurate and reliable. HR Ratings, however, does not validate, guarantee or certify the accuracy, correctness or completeness of any information and is not responsible for any errors or omissions or for results obtained from the use of such information. Most issuers of debt securities rated by HR Ratings have paid a fee for the credit rating based on the amount and type of debt issued. The degree of creditworthiness of an issue or issuer, opinions regarding asset manager quality or ratings related to an entity’s performance of its business purpose are subject to change, which can produce a rating upgrade or downgrade, without implying any responsibility for HR Ratings. The ratings issued by HR Ratings are assigned in an ethical manner, in accordance with healthy market practices and in compliance with applicable regulations found on the www.hrratings.com rating agency webpage. HR Ratings’ Code of Conduct, rating methodologies, rating criteria and current ratings can also be found on the website.

    Ratings and/or opinions assigned by HR Ratings are based on an analysis of the creditworthiness of an entity, issue or issuer, and do not necessarily imply a statistical likelihood of default, HR Ratings defines as the inability or unwillingness to satisfy the contractually stipulated payment terms of an obligation, such that creditors and/or bondholders are forced to take action in order to recover their investment or to restructure the debt due to a situation of stress faced by the debtor. Without disregard to the afore mentioned point, in order to validate our ratings, our methodologies consider stress scenarios as a complement to the analysis derived from a base case scenario. The fees HR Ratings receives from issuers generally range from US$1,000 to $1,000,000 (one million dollars, legal tender in the United States of America) (or the equivalent in another currency) per offering. In some cases, HR Ratings will rate all or some of a particular issuer’s offerings for an annual fee. Annual fees are estimated to vary between $5,000 and US$2,000,000 (five thousand to two million dollars, legal tender in the United States of America) (or the equivalent in another currency).

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-Evening Report: What would change your mind about climate change? We asked 5,000 Australians – here’s what they told us

    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Kelly Kirkland, Research Fellow in Psychology, The University of Queensland

    LOOKSLIKEPHOTO/Shutterstock

    Australia just sweltered through one of its hottest summers on record, and heat has pushed well into autumn. Once-in-a-generation floods are now striking with alarming regularity. As disasters escalate, insurers are warning some properties may soon be uninsurable. Yet, despite these escalating disasters — and a federal election looming — conversation around climate change remains deeply polarising.

    But are people’s minds really made up? Or are they still open to change?

    In research out today, we asked more than 5,000 Australians a simple question: what would change your mind about climate change? Their answers reveal both a warning and an opportunity.

    On climate, Australians fall into six groups

    Almost two thirds (64%) of Australians are concerned about the impact of climate change, according to a recent survey.

    But drill deeper, and we quickly find Australians hold quite different views on climate. In fact, research in 2022 showed Australians can be sorted into six distinct groups based on how concerned and engaged they are with the issue.

    At one end was the Alarmed group – highly concerned people who are convinced of the science, and already taking action (25% of Australians). At the other end was the Dismissive group (7%) – strongly sceptical people who often view climate change as exaggerated or even a hoax. In between were the Concerned, Cautious, Disengaged and Doubtful – groups who varied in belief, awareness and willingness to engage.

    In our nationally representative survey, we asked every participant what might change their opinion about climate change? We then looked at how the answers differed between the six groups.

    For those already convinced climate change is real and human-caused, we wanted to know what might make them doubt it. For sceptical participants, we wanted to know what might persuade them otherwise. In short, we weren’t testing who was “right” or “wrong” – we were mapping how flexible their opinions were.

    Our views aren’t set in stone

    People at both extremes – Alarmed and Dismissive – were the most likely to say “nothing” would change their minds. Nearly half the Dismissive respondents flat-out rejected the premise. But these two groups together make up just one in three Australians.

    What about everyone in the middle ground? The rest – the Concerned (28%), Cautious (23%), Disengaged (3%) and Doubtful (14%) – showed much more openness. They matter most, because they’re the majority — and they’re still listening.

    People with dismissive views of climate science are a small minority.
    jon lyall/Shutterstock

    What information would change minds?

    What would it take for people to be convinced? We identified four major themes: evidence and information, trusted sources, action being undertaken, and nothing.

    The most common response was a desire for better evidence and information. But not just any facts would do. Participants said they wanted clear, plain-English explanations rather than jargon. They wanted statistics they could trust, and science that didn’t feel politicised or agenda-driven. Some said they’d be more convinced if they saw the impacts with their own eyes.

    Crucially, many in the Doubtful and Cautious groups didn’t outright reject climate change – they just didn’t feel confident enough to judge the evidence.

    The trust gap

    Many respondents didn’t know who to believe on climate change. Scientists and independent experts were the most commonly mentioned trusted sources – but trust in these sources wasn’t universal.

    Some Australians, especially in the more sceptical segments, expressed deep distrust toward the media, governments and the scientific community. Others said they’d be more receptive if information came from unbiased or apolitical sources. For some respondents, family, friends and everyday people were seen as more credible than institutions.

    In an age of widespread misinformation, this matters. If we want to build support for climate action, we need the right messengers as much as the right message.

    What about action?

    Many respondents said their views could shift if they saw real, meaningful action – especially from governments and big business. Some wanted proof that Australia is taking climate change seriously. Others said action would offer hope or reduce their anxiety.

    Even some sceptical respondents said coordinated, global action might persuade them – though they were often cynical about Australia’s impact compared to larger emitters. Others called for a more respectful, depoliticised conversation around climate.

    In other words, for many Australians, it’s not just what evidence and information is presented about climate change. It’s also how it’s said, who says it, and why it’s being said.

    Of course, the responses we gathered reflect what people say would change their minds. That’s not necessarily what would actually change their minds.

    What does concrete evidence of climate action look like?
    Piyaset/Shutterstock

    Why does this matter?

    As climate change intensifies, so does misinformation — especially online, where artificial intelligence and social media accelerate its spread.

    Misinformation has a corrosive effect. Spreading doubt, lies and uncertainty can erode public support for climate action.

    If we don’t understand what Australians actually need to hear about climate change – and who they need to hear it from – we risk losing ground to confusion and doubt.

    After years of growth from 2012 to 2019, Australian backing for climate action is fluctuating and even dropping, according to Lowy Institute polling.

    Climate change may not be the headline issue in this federal election campaign. But it’s on the ballot nonetheless, embedded in debates over how to power Australia, jobs and the cost of living. If we want public support for meaningful climate action, we can’t just shout louder. We have to speak smarter.

    Kelly Kirkland receives funding from the Australian Research Council (ARC).

    Samantha Stanley receives funding from the Australian Research Council (ARC).

    Abby Robinson, Amy S G Lee, and Zoe Leviston 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. What would change your mind about climate change? We asked 5,000 Australians – here’s what they told us – https://theconversation.com/what-would-change-your-mind-about-climate-change-we-asked-5-000-australians-heres-what-they-told-us-254329

    MIL OSI Analysis – EveningReport.nz –

  • MIL-OSI USA: McClellan, Matsui, Neguse, Cohen Lead Resolution to Celebrate Earth Day

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Congresswoman Jennifer McClellan (Virginia 4th District)

    Washington, D.C. – Today, Congresswoman Jennifer McClellan (VA-04), member of the House Sustainable Energy and Environment Coalition (SEEC) joined Congresswoman Doris Matsui (CA-07), Assistant Democratic Leader Joe Neguse (CO-02), and Congressman Steve Cohen (TN-09)  to lead a group of 48 lawmakers in introducing a resolution to commemorate Earth Day 2025. The resolution celebrates recent historic environmental actions that have improved the health and wellbeing of our planet, while also reaffirming the work that still needs to be done to secure a livable future for the next generation. 

    “Our children deserve a future where clean air, safe water, and a stable climate are not luxuries, but guarantees,” said Congresswoman McClellan. “This Earth Day, we must reaffirm our commitment to climate action and environmental justice. We are not just responding to a crisis today — we are building a better, more just world that our children will inherit tomorrow.”

    “Since the first declaration of Earth Day fifty-five years ago, we have made incredible progress towards protecting and restoring the natural world that we rely on and enjoy,” said Congresswoman Matsui. “However, in less than 100 days, President Trump has worked to erase decades of progress, dismantling climate science, weakening critical environmental agencies, and launching an all-out assault on clean air and clean water. This unprecedented assault on clean air and clean water is a stark reminder that Earth Day remains as important and revolutionary today as it was in 1970. This Earth Day, I am honored to join my colleagues in reaffirming and celebrating our shared responsibility to protect and preserve our planet for future generations, and I will never stop fighting to uphold these ideals at every level of government.”

     “On Earth Day, communities across the country reaffirm their commitment to protecting the environment and our treasured public lands,” said Congressman Neguse. “And for me, as a proud Coloradan, the fight to ensure future generations can enjoy the outdoors the same way we have is deeply personal. Which is why I’m proud to join my colleagues in continuing to charge forward in Congress with efforts that prioritize protecting our planet.” 

    “Fifty-five years after the first Earth Day, our commitment to environmental protection must be stronger than ever,” said Congressman Cohen. “The Trump administration is once again doing the bidding of polluters—rolling back clean air and clean water standards, halting enforcement of environmental safeguards, and illegally freezing congressionally authorized funding meant to combat climate change, reduce pollution, and protect public health. Climate change is accelerating. Our air, water, and communities are under threat. Earth Day is not just a reminder of what’s at stake—it’s a call to rededicate ourselves to the fight for a cleaner, healthier, and more sustainable planet for the next generation.”

    Congresswoman McClellan has been a leader of clean energy efforts since she was a member of the Virginia Assembly, leading the Virginia Clean Economy Act and the Solar Freedom Act. She championed the Coastal Virginia Offshore Wind Project, which creates jobs and develops clean energy infrastructure. Since coming to Congress, she has led efforts to invest in clean and renewable energy, support soil carbon sequestration research and monitoring, address the risks to infrastructure integrity resulting from changing climate and environmental conditions and more.

    Read the full resolution HERE.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI: Pulse Seismic Inc. Reports Strong Q1 2025 Financial Results and Increases Regular Quarterly Dividend

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    CALGARY, Alberta, April 22, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Pulse Seismic Inc. (TSX:PSD) (OTCQX:PLSDF) (“Pulse” or the “Company”) is pleased to report its financial and operating results for the three months ended March 31, 2025. The unaudited condensed consolidated interim financial statements, accompanying notes and MD&A are being filed on SEDAR+ (www.sedarplus.ca) and will be available on Pulse’s website at www.pulseseismic.com.

    Today, Pulse’s Board of Directors approved a 17% increase to the regular quarterly dividend, declaring a dividend of $0.0175 per share. This results in an increase to the annual regular dividend from $0.06 per share to $0.07 per share. The total dividend declared will be approximately $889,000 based on Pulse’s 50,794,563 common shares outstanding as of April 22, 2025, to be paid on May 20, 2025, to shareholders of record on May 12, 2025. This dividend is designated as an eligible dividend for Canadian income tax purposes. For non-resident shareholders, Pulse’s dividends are subject to Canadian withholding tax.

    “I am very pleased to report today’s decision by Pulse’s Board of Directors to approve the third annual increase to the Company’s regular dividend since 2023. Having licensed $22.8 million of seismic data for the quarter, our balance sheet has been further strengthened, ending the period with $14.3 million of cash and $14.2 of working capital,” stated Neal Coleman, Pulse’s President and CEO. “As a business with significant fluctuations in annual revenue, having a low-cost structure like ours lends itself to significant increases in EBITDA margins and shareholder free cash flow generation in higher revenue years. Compared to last year, we have already generated 97% of annual revenue,” he continued. “We remain focused on returning capital to shareholders as evidenced by the 17% increase to the regular quarterly dividend, on top of the special dividend of $0.20 per share that was declared in February,” concluded Coleman.

    HIGHLIGHTS FOR THE THREE MONTHS ENDED MARCH 31, 2025

    • A regular dividend of $0.015 per share and a special dividend of $0.20 per share were declared and paid in the first quarter of 2025, totalling $10.9 million.
    • The Company renewed its Normal Course Issuer Bid (NCIB) on February 24, 2025. During the three months ended March 31, 2025, the Company purchased and cancelled 43,300 shares under the NCIB at an average price of $2.43 per share, for total cost of approximately $106,000;
    • Total revenue for the three months ended March 31, 2025, was $22.8 million, compared to $8.8 million for the same period in 2024. Revenue generated in the first quarter of 2025 represents approximately 97% of the total recorded for the full year ended December 31, 2024;
    • Shareholder free cash flow(a) was $15.4 million ($0.30 per share basic and diluted) compared to $5.0 million ($0.10 per share basic and diluted) for the three months ended March 31, 2024; 
    • EBITDA(a) was $20.0 million ($0.39 per share basic and diluted) compared to $6.2 million ($0.12 per share basic and diluted) for the three months ended March 31, 2024; 
    • Net earnings were $13.4 million ($0.26 per share basic and diluted) compared to net earnings of $2.7 million ($0.05 per share basic and diluted) for the three months ended March 31, 2024; and 
    • At March 31, 2025, the Company had a cash balance of $14.3 million as well as $5.0 million of available liquidity on its revolving demand credit facility.
    SELECTED FINANCIAL AND
    OPERATING INFORMATION    		        
             
             
    (Thousands of dollars except per share data,   Three months ended March 31, Year ended,
    numbers of shares and kilometres of seismic data)   2025 2024 December 31,
        (Unaudited) 2024
    Revenue   22,759 8,777 23,379
             
    Amortization of seismic data library   2,225 2,270 9,090
    Net earnings   13,375 2,681 3,391
    Per share basic and diluted   0.26 0.05 0.07
    Cash provided by operating activities   16,615 10,464 14,195
    Per share basic and diluted   0.33 0.20 0.28
    EBITDA (a)   20,048 6,229 15,496
    Per share basic and diluted (a)   0.39 0.12 0.30
    Shareholder free cash flow (a)   15,419 5,038 12,408
    Per share basic and diluted (a)   0.30 0.10 0.24
             
    Capital expenditures        
    Seismic data   – 225 225
    Property and equipment   – – 45
    Total capital expenditures   – 225 270
             
    Dividends        
    Regular dividends declared   763 715 3,018
    Special dividends declared   10,167 – 2,548
    Total dividends declared   10,930 715 5,566
             
    Normal course issuer bid        
    Number of shares purchased and cancelled   43,300 627,300 1,784,000
    Cost of shares purchased and cancelled   106 1,185 3,880
             
    Weighted average shares outstanding        
    Basic and diluted   50,829,404 52,122,006 51,448,985
    Shares outstanding at period-end   50,794,563 51,994,563 50,837,863
             
    Seismic library        
    2D in kilometres   829,207 829,207 829,207
    3D in square kilometres   65,310 65,310 65,310
             
    FINANCIAL POSITION
    AND RATIO    		        
        March 31, March 31, December 31,
    (Thousands of dollars except ratio)   2025 2024 2024
    Working capital   14,201 10,579 9,222
    Working capital ratio   3.7:1 3.8:1 5.1:1
    Cash and cash equivalents   14,305 13,765 8,722
    Total assets   27,412 31,122 21,516
    Trailing 12 -month (TTM) EBITDA(b)   29,315 30,045 15,496
    Shareholders’ equity   20,533 26,543 18,295
             

    (a)The Company’s continuous disclosure documents provide discussion and analysis of “EBITDA”, “EBITDA per share”, “shareholder free cash flow” and “shareholder free cash flow per share”. These financial measures do not have standard definitions prescribed by IFRS and, therefore, may not be comparable to similar measures disclosed by other companies. The Company has included these non-GAAP financial measures because management, investors, analysts and others use them as measures of the Company’s financial performance. The Company’s definition of EBITDA is cash available for interest payments, cash taxes, repayment of debt, purchase of its shares, discretionary capital expenditures and the payment of dividends, and is calculated as earnings (loss) from operations before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization. The Company believes EBITDA assists investors in comparing Pulse’s results on a consistent basis without regard to non-cash items, such as depreciation and amortization, which can vary significantly depending on accounting methods or non-operating factors such as historical cost. EBITDA per share is defined as EBITDA divided by the weighted average number of shares outstanding for the period. Shareholder free cash flow further refines the calculation of capital available to invest in growing the Company’s 2D and 3D seismic data library, to repay debt, to purchase its common shares and to pay dividends by deducting non-discretionary expenditures from EBITDA. Non-discretionary expenditures are defined as non-cash expenses, debt financing costs (net of deferred financing expenses amortized in the current period), net restructuring costs and current tax provisions. Shareholder free cash flow per share is defined as shareholder free cash flow divided by the weighted average number of shares outstanding for the period.
    These non-GAAP financial measures are defined, calculated and reconciled to the nearest GAAP financial measures in the Management’s Discussion and Analysis.
    (b) TTM EBITDA is defined as the sum of EBITDA generated over the previous 12 months and is used to provide a comparable annualized measure.
    These non-GAAP financial measures are defined, calculated and reconciled to the nearest GAAP financial measures in the Management’s Discussion and Analysis.

    OUTLOOK

    Pulse had a very strong first quarter, generating revenue of $22.8 million and ending the quarter with $14.3 million of cash and $14.2 million of working capital. This was one of the top three quarters in the Company’s history, representing 97% of annual 2024 revenue. Pulse’s ability to predict future revenue generation has always been challenging, as significant annual fluctuations are the norm in the seismic data library business. This strong quarterly result has improved our balance sheet and positioned the Company for solid financial performance in 2025.

    Industry trends that we consider relevant include land sales in Western Canada, drilling forecasts for the year, commodity price levels, M and A forecasts and the status of industry infrastructure improvements. Early in 2025, industry projections included high levels of M & A activity for the year and improving commodity prices. It is difficult to predict in the midst of the current market dynamics how this will unfold through the remainder of 2025. Alberta land sales through 2024 and into 2025 were strong, and in British Columbia land sales were resumed in Q3 2024 after a pause of over 3 years. New infrastructure, such as the TMX pipeline expansion, a driver of increased drilling activity, which was completed in 2024 has provided increased export capacity. The Canadian Association of Energy Contractors, in November 2024 forecast an increase to 6,604 wells to be drilled in 2025, an approximate 7% increase over 2024. There has been no update published to this forecast, and drilling activity is reported to be relatively stable. The pending completion of LNG Canada’s liquified natural gas export facility is expected to contribute to the forecast increase in drilling and may lead to an improvement in Canadian natural gas prices.

    Of course, there is a high level of uncertainty on the political and economic fronts. The impacts of the recent change in administration in the United States and the uncertainty around energy tariffs and trade policy, together with Canadian federal government leadership changes and the pending Canadian federal election outcome are contributing to the lack of clarity for the future. It is clear that Canada needs to continue to build pipelines and increase natural gas egress, to support the country’s energy security, as well as to secure new buyers of Canadian energy.

    Pulse, as previously stated, has low visibility regarding future seismic data library sales levels, regardless of industry conditions. The Company remains focused on business practices that have served throughout the full range of conditions. The Company maintains a strong balance sheet and carries no debt. Led by an experienced and capable management team, Pulse operates with a low-cost structure and focuses on maintaining excellent client relations and providing exceptional customer service. Pulse’s strong financial position, high leverage to increased revenue in its EBITDA margin and careful management of its cash resources have resulted in the return of capital to shareholders through regular and special dividends and the repurchase of its shares.

    CORPORATE PROFILE

    Pulse is a market leader in the acquisition, marketing and licensing of 2D and 3D seismic data to the western Canadian energy sector. Pulse owns the largest licensable seismic data library in Canada, currently consisting of approximately 65,310 square kilometres of 3D seismic and 829,207 kilometres of 2D seismic. The library extensively covers the Western Canada Sedimentary Basin, where most of Canada’s oil and natural gas exploration and development occur.

    For further information, please contact:
    Neal Coleman, President and CEO
    Or
    Pamela Wicks, Vice President Finance and CFO
    Tel.: 403-237-5559
    Toll-free: 1-877-460-5559
    E-mail: info@pulseseismic.com.
    Please visit our website at www.pulseseismic.com

    This document contains information that constitutes “forward-looking information” or “forward-looking statements” (collectively, “forward-looking information”) within the meaning of applicable securities legislation. Forward-looking information is often, but not always, identified by the use of words such as “anticipate”, “believe”, “expect”, “plan”, “intend”, “forecast”, “target”, “project”, “guidance”, “may”, “will”, “should”, “could”, “estimate”, “predict” or similar words suggesting future outcomes or language suggesting an outlook.

    The Outlook section herein contain forward-looking information which includes, but is not limited to, statements regarding:

    >        The outlook of the Company for the year ahead, including future operating costs and expected revenues;

    >       Recent events on the political, economic, regulatory, and legal fronts affecting the industry’s medium- to longer-term prospects, including progression and completion of contemplated infrastructure projects;

    >        The Company’s capital resources and sufficiency thereof to finance future operations, meet its obligations associated with financial liabilities and carry out the necessary capital expenditures through 2025;

    >        Pulse’s capital allocation strategy;

    >        Pulse’s dividend policy;

    >        Oil and natural gas prices and forecast trends;

    >        Oil and natural gas drilling activity and land sales activity;

    >        Oil and natural gas company capital budgets;

    >        Future demand for seismic data;

    >        Future seismic data sales;

    >        Pulse’s business and growth strategy; and

    >        Other expectations, beliefs, plans, goals, objectives, assumptions, information and statements about possible future events, conditions, results and performance, as they relate to the Company or to the oil and natural gas industry as a whole.

    By its very nature, forward-looking information involves inherent risks and uncertainties, both general and specific, and risks that predictions, forecasts, projections and other forward-looking statements will not be achieved. Pulse does not publish specific financial goals or otherwise provide guidance, due to the inherently poor visibility of seismic revenue. The Company cautions readers not to place undue reliance on these statements as a number of important factors could cause the actual results to differ materially from the beliefs, plans, objectives, expectations and anticipations, estimates and intentions expressed in such forward-looking information.

    These factors include, but are not limited to:

    >        Uncertainty of the timing and volume of data sales;

    >        Volatility of oil and natural gas prices;

    >        Risks associated with the oil and natural gas industry in general;

    >        The Company’s ability to access external sources of debt and equity capital;

    >        Credit, liquidity and commodity price risks;

    >        The demand for seismic data;

    >        The pricing of data library licence sales;

    >         Cybersecurity;

    >        Relicensing (change-of-control) fees and partner copy sales;

    >        Environmental, health and safety risks;

    >        Federal and provincial government laws and regulations, including those pertaining to taxation, royalty rates, environmental protection, public health and safety;

    >        Competition;

    >        Dependence on key management, operations and marketing personnel;

    >        The loss of seismic data;

    >        Protection of intellectual property rights;

    >        The introduction of new products; and

    >        Climate change.

    Pulse cautions that the foregoing list of factors that may affect future results is not exhaustive. Additional information on these risks and other factors which could affect the Company’s operations and financial results is included under “Risk Factors” in the Company’s most recent annual information form, and in the Company’s most recent audited annual financial statements, most recent MD&A, management information circular, quarterly reports, material change reports and news releases. Copies of the Company’s public filings are available on SEDAR+ at www.sedarplus.ca.

    When relying on forward-looking information to make decisions with respect to Pulse, investors and others should carefully consider the foregoing factors and other uncertainties and potential events. Furthermore, the forward-looking information contained in this document is provided as of the date of this document and the Company does not undertake any obligation to update publicly or to revise any of the included forward-looking information, except as required by law. The forward-looking information in this document is provided for the limited purpose of enabling current and potential investors to evaluate an investment in Pulse. Readers are cautioned that such forward-looking information may not be appropriate, and should not be used, for other purposes.

    PDF available: http://ml.globenewswire.com/Resource/Download/a8c573ed-9098-4949-97bc-2c4553e2eae4

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Shapiro Administration Celebrates Earth Day with New Growing Greener Grants

    Source: US State of Pennsylvania

    April 22, 2025 – Pine Grove, PA

    Shapiro Administration Celebrates Earth Day with New Growing Greener Grants

    The Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) has announced the opening of the next round of Growing Greener Plus Grant Program applications. Growing Greener is the largest single investment of state funds in Pennsylvania’s history to address critical environmental concerns like flooding. The grant openings are being announced in celebration of Earth Day and a field visit by the Shapiro Administration, the Schuylkill Conservation District, and other local officials to the Swatara Creek Floodplain Restoration site near Pine Grove Borough.

    “Growing Greener is one of the most successful conservation programs in Pennsylvania history, and it is great to see the positive impact that these projects can have for our communities. These grants empower communities to build environmental improvements right where they live – ensuring cleaner water, healthier ecosystems, and more resilient infrastructure,” said DEP Acting Secretary Jessica Shirley. “We’re proud to open the next round of funding on Earth Day to recognize that protecting the environment benefits our communities and the people of Pennsylvania.”

    Growing Greener grants can be awarded to watershed groups, local or county government, municipal authorities, county planning commissions, county conservation districts, educational institutions, or non-profit organizations. To date, Growing Greener Grants have provided almost $420 million in funding to more than 2,800 environmental projects.

    Speakers Include:
    Wayne Lehman, Schuylkill County Conservation District
    Sierra Diebert, Guilford Performance Textiles by Lear Corporation
    Kelly Stine, Guilford Performance Textiles by Lear Corporation
    Acting Secretary Jessica Shirley, Department of Environmental Protection
    Elaine Holley, Pine Grove Borough
    Christine Verdier, Sen. Argall’s office
    Rep. Joanne Stehr, 107th district
    Gary Hess, Schuylkill County Commissioner

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI: Baker Hughes Company Announces First-Quarter 2025 Results

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    First-quarter highlights

    • Orders of $6.5 billion, including $3.2 billion of IET orders.
    • RPO of $33.2 billion, including record IET RPO of $30.4 billion.
    • Revenue of $6.4 billion, consistent year-over-year.
    • Attributable net income of $402 million.
    • GAAP diluted EPS of $0.40 and adjusted diluted EPS* of $0.51.
    • Adjusted EBITDA* of $1,037 million, up 10% year-over-year.
    • Cash flows from operating activities of $709 million and free cash flow* of $454 million.
    • Returns to shareholders of $417 million, including $188 million of share repurchases.

    HOUSTON and LONDON, April 22, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Baker Hughes Company (Nasdaq: BKR) (“Baker Hughes” or the “Company”) announced results today for the first quarter of 2025.

    “Baker Hughes started the year strong, building on the positive momentum from 2024 and setting multiple first-quarter records. Our continued transformation initiatives and strong execution continue to drive structural margin improvement across both segments. The operational transformation and streamlining efforts have created a solid foundation to optimize margins and enhance returns, even in a challenging environment,” said Lorenzo Simonelli, Baker Hughes chairman and chief executive officer.

    “In our IET segment, we booked $3.2 billion of orders, including our first data center awards, totaling more than 350 MW of power solutions for this rapidly evolving market. In addition to expanding opportunities for data centers, we have a strong pipeline of LNG, FPSO and gas infrastructure projects that support our order outlook for this year.”

    “In OFSE, EBITDA remained resilient as our margins saw noticeable improvement compared to last year even while segment revenue fell. This is a testament to the team’s hard work in changing the way the business operates.”

    “Although our outlook is tempered by broader macro and trade policy uncertainty, we remain confident in our strategy and the resilience of our portfolio. We believe Baker Hughes is well positioned to navigate near-term challenges and deliver sustainable growth in shareholder value.”

    “I want to thank our employees, whose hard work, dedication and focus have been instrumental to the continued success of Baker Hughes. As we continue to execute our strategy amidst an uncertain macro backdrop, we remain committed to our customers, shareholders and employees,” concluded Simonelli.

    * Non-GAAP measure. See reconciliations in the section titled “Reconciliation of GAAP to non-GAAP Financial Measures.”

      Three Months Ended   Variance
    (in millions except per share amounts) March 31,
    2025    		 December 31,
    2024    		 March 31,
    2024    		   Sequential Year-over-
    year
    Orders $ 6,459 $ 7,496 $ 6,542   (14 %) (1 %)
    Revenue   6,427   7,364   6,418   (13 %) — %
    Net income attributable to Baker Hughes   402   1,179   455   (66 %) (12 %)
    Adjusted net income attributable to Baker Hughes*   509   694   429   (27 %) 19 %
    Adjusted EBITDA*   1,037   1,310   943   (21 %) 10 %
    Diluted earnings per share (EPS)   0.40   1.18   0.45   (66 %) (11 %)
    Adjusted diluted EPS*   0.51   0.70   0.43   (27 %) 19 %
    Cash flow from operating activities   709   1,189   784   (40 %) (10 %)
    Free cash flow*   454   894   502   (49 %) (10 %)

    * Non-GAAP measure. See reconciliations in the section titled “Reconciliation of GAAP to non-GAAP Financial Measures.”

    Certain columns and rows in our tables and financial statements may not sum up due to the use of rounded numbers.

    Quarter Highlights

    Baker Hughes expanded its leadership position in liquefied natural gas (“LNG”) in the first quarter, including a liquefaction train award from Bechtel for a project in North America, where the Company will provide four main refrigerant compressors driven by LM6000+ gas turbines and four expander-compressors. This award builds on the previously announced December 2024 award and further demonstrates the strength of the Company’s collaboration with Bechtel to support North America LNG development.

    During the quarter, Industrial & Energy Technology (“IET”) signed key strategic framework agreements with LNG operators. The Company agreed to provide gas turbines and refrigerant compressor technology, along with maintenance services, for Trains 4 to 8 of NextDecade’s Rio Grande LNG Facility. Baker Hughes also reached an agreement with Argent LNG to provide liquefaction and power solutions and related aftermarket services for its proposed 24 MTPA LNG export facility in Louisiana. The project will employ Baker Hughes’ NMBL™ modularized LNG solution, driven by the LM9000 gas turbine, while also utilizing the Company’s iCenter™ and Cordant™ digital solution, to enhance the plant’s operational efficiency.

    Baker Hughes also demonstrated its continuous commitment to critical gas infrastructure projects with a strategic win in the North America pipeline compression market. The award includes the provision of two gas compression stations for a total of 10 Frame 5/2E gas turbines and 10 centrifugal compressors, anti-surge valves and critical spare parts.

    In the first quarter, Baker Hughes made significant progress in reliable and sustainable power solutions deployment for data centers. In addition to being awarded over 350 MW of NovaLT™ turbines to power data centers with various other customers, the Company partnered with Frontier Infrastructure to accelerate the development of large-scale carbon capture and storage (“CCS”) and power solutions for data centers and industrial customers in the U.S. This partnership will leverage technologies and services across the Baker Hughes enterprise by providing CO₂ compression, NovaLT™ gas turbines, digital monitoring solutions, well construction and completion services.

    In continued demonstration of Gas Technology’s lifecycle offerings in IET, the Company received several aftermarket service awards during the quarter. In Algeria, the Gas Technology Services (“GTS”) team is partnering with SONATRACH to deliver an upgrade solution for the modernization of a key compressor station. In the Middle East, Gas Technology received multiple equipment and services awards to support one of the world’s largest gas processing plants. The scope includes rejuvenation of two existing gas turbines to drive new compressors and the supply of a third compression train to support production expansion.

    IET’s Industrial Solutions gained momentum with its Cordant™ Asset Performance Management (“APM”) solution, securing several contracts with customers across multiple regions. ADNOC Offshore will deploy the full APM suite to enhance production availability and efficiency. In the Americas, a large international oil company will conduct a proof of concept across multiple equipment trains, to support a shift from proactive to predictive maintenance. In Australia, the Company signed agreements to develop asset maintenance strategies for new mine sites supporting truck fleet maintenance.

    Oilfield Services & Equipment (“OFSE”) received a significant award from ExxonMobil Guyana to provide specialty chemicals and related services for its Uaru and Whiptail offshore greenfield developments in the country’s prolific Stabroek Block, highlighting the differentiated capabilities of our Production Solutions offering. For this multi-year contract, the scope will cover topsides, subsea, water injection and utility chemicals to help ExxonMobil Guyana achieve optimal production.

    OFSE continues to leverage the Company’s innovative solutions to help Petrobras unlock Brazil’s vast energy supply. In the quarter and following an open tender, Baker Hughes received a significant, multi-year fully integrated completions systems contract from Petrobras across multiple deepwater fields. A range of Baker Hughes’ technologies, including the new SureCONTROLTM Premium interval control valve, has been specifically tailored to meet the needs of the country’s offshore developments.

    OFSE secured a multi-year contract with Dubai Petroleum Establishment, for and on behalf of Dubai Supply Authority, to provide integrated coiled-tubing drilling services for the Company’s Margham Gas storage project. This follows a third-quarter 2024 IET award for integrated compressor line units for the same project, demonstrating growing commercial synergies across Baker Hughes’ diverse portfolio.

    The Company drove growth in Mature Assets Solutions, signing a multi-year framework agreement with Equinor to help establish a new Center of Excellence for Plug & Abandonment work in the North Sea. Based within OFSE’s operations in Bergen and Stavanger, Norway, this hub will ensure economical, reliable solutions are implemented to responsibly abandon each well, allowing Equinor to maximize value of their assets and allocate more resources to exploration and discovery.

    On the digital front, OFSE received an award from the State Oil Company of Azerbaijan Republic (“SOCAR”) to expand deployment of Leucipa™ automated field production solution for all its wells, including those with non-Baker Hughes electric submersible pumps, in the Absheron and Gunseli fields. Leucipa also marked its first deployment in Sub-Saharan Africa through an agreement with the NNPC/FIRST E&P joint venture, which will utilize the platform across its offshore wells in the Niger Delta.

    Consolidated Financial Results

    Revenue for the quarter was $6,427 million, a decrease of 13% sequentially and up $9 million year-over-year. The increase in revenue year-over-year was driven by an increase in IET and partially offset by a decrease in OFSE.

    The Company’s total book-to-bill ratio in the first quarter of 2025 was 1.0; the IET book-to-bill ratio was 1.1.

    Net income as determined in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America (“GAAP”), for the first quarter of 2025 was $402 million. Net income decreased $777 million sequentially and decreased $53 million year-over-year.

    Adjusted net income (a non-GAAP financial measure) for the first quarter of 2025 was $509 million, which excludes adjustments totaling $108 million. A list of the adjusting items and associated reconciliation from GAAP has been provided in Table 1b in the section titled “Reconciliation of GAAP to non-GAAP Financial Measures.” Adjusted net income for the first quarter of 2025 was down 27% sequentially and up 19% year-over-year.

    Depreciation and amortization for the first quarter of 2025 was $285 million.

    Adjusted EBITDA (a non-GAAP financial measure) for the first quarter of 2025 was $1,037 million, which excludes adjustments totaling $140 million. See Table 1a in the section titled “Reconciliation of GAAP to non-GAAP Financial Measures.” Adjusted EBITDA for the first quarter was down 21% sequentially and up 10% year-over-year.

    The sequential decrease in adjusted net income and adjusted EBITDA was primarily driven by lower volume in both segments, partially offset by productivity and structural cost-out initiatives. The year-over-year increase in adjusted net income and adjusted EBITDA was driven by increased volume in IET including higher proportionate growth in Gas Technology Equipment (“GTE”) and productivity, structural cost-out initiatives and higher pricing in both segments, partially offset by decreased volume and business mix in OFSE and cost inflation in both segments.

    Other Financial Items

    Remaining Performance Obligations (“RPO”) in the first quarter of 2025 ended at $33.2 billion, a decrease of $0.1 billion from the fourth quarter of 2024. OFSE RPO was $2.8 billion, down 7% sequentially, while IET RPO was $30.4 billion, up $300 million sequentially. Within IET RPO, GTE RPO was $11.9 billion and GTS RPO was $15.1 billion.

    Income tax expense in the first quarter of 2025 was $152 million.

    Other (income) expense, net in the first quarter of 2025 was $140 million, primarily related to changes in fair value for equity securities of $140 million.

    GAAP diluted earnings per share was $0.40. Adjusted diluted earnings per share (a non-GAAP financial measure) was $0.51. Excluded from adjusted diluted earnings per share were all items listed in Table 1b in the section titled “Reconciliation of GAAP to non-GAAP Financial Measures.”

    Cash flow from operating activities was $709 million for the first quarter of 2025. Free cash flow (a non-GAAP financial measure) for the quarter was $454 million. A reconciliation from GAAP has been provided in Table 1c in the section titled “Reconciliation of GAAP to non-GAAP Financial Measures.”

    Capital expenditures, net of proceeds from disposal of assets, were $255 million for the first quarter of 2025, of which $158 million was for OFSE and $83 million was for IET.

    Results by Reporting Segment

    The following segment discussions and variance explanations are intended to reflect management’s view of the relevant comparisons of financial results on a sequential or year-over-year basis, depending on the business dynamics of the reporting segments.

    Oilfield Services & Equipment

    (in millions) Three Months Ended   Variance
    Segment results March 31,
    2025    		 December 31,
    2024    		 March 31,
    2024    		   Sequential Year-over-
    year
    Orders $ 3,281   $ 3,740   $ 3,624     (12 %) (9 %)
    Revenue $ 3,499   $ 3,871   $ 3,783     (10 %) (8 %)
    EBITDA $ 623   $ 755   $ 644     (18 %) (3 %)
    EBITDA margin   17.8 %   19.5 %   17.0 %   -1.7pts 0.8pts
    (in millions) Three Months Ended   Variance
    Revenue by Product Line March 31,
    2025    		 December 31,
    2024    		 March 31,
    2024    		   Sequential Year-over-
    year
    Well Construction $ 892 $ 943 $ 1,061   (5 %) (16 %)
    Completions, Intervention, and Measurements   925   1,022   1,006   (9 %) (8 %)
    Production Solutions   899   974   945   (8 %) (5 %)
    Subsea & Surface Pressure Systems   782   932   771   (16 %) 1 %
    Total Revenue $ 3,499 $ 3,871 $ 3,783   (10 %) (8 %)
    (in millions) Three Months Ended   Variance
    Revenue by Geographic Region March 31,
    2025    		 December 31,
    2024    		 March 31,
    2024    		   Sequential Year-over-
    year
    North America $ 922 $ 971 $ 990   (5 %) (7 %)
    Latin America   568   661   637   (14 %) (11 %)
    Europe/CIS/Sub-Saharan Africa   580   740   750   (22 %) (23 %)
    Middle East/Asia   1,429   1,499   1,405   (5 %) 2 %
    Total Revenue $ 3,499 $ 3,871 $ 3,783   (10 %) (8 %)
                 
    North America $ 922 $ 971 $ 990   (5 %) (7 %)
    International $ 2,577 $ 2,900 $ 2,793   (11 %) (8 %)

    EBITDA excludes depreciation and amortization of $226 million, $229 million, and $222 million for the three months ended March 31, 2025, December 31, 2024, and March 31, 2024, respectively. EBITDA margin is defined as EBITDA divided by revenue.

    OFSE orders of $3,281 million for the first quarter of 2025 decreased by 12% sequentially. Subsea and Surface Pressure Systems orders were $532 million, down 34% sequentially, and down 16% year-over-year.

    OFSE revenue of $3,499 million for the first quarter of 2025 was down 10% sequentially, and down 8% year-over-year.

    North America revenue was $922 million, down 5% sequentially. International revenue was $2,577 million, down 11% sequentially, with declines across all regions.

    Segment EBITDA for the first quarter of 2025 was $623 million, a decrease of $132 million, or 18% sequentially. The sequential decrease in EBITDA was primarily driven by lower volume, partially mitigated by productivity from structural cost-out initiatives.

    Industrial & Energy Technology

    (in millions) Three Months Ended   Variance
    Segment results March 31,
    2025    		 December 31,
    2024    		 March 31,
    2024    		   Sequential Year-over-
    year
    Orders $ 3,178   $ 3,756   $ 2,918     (15 %) 9 %
    Revenue $ 2,928   $ 3,492   $ 2,634     (16 %) 11 %
    EBITDA $ 501   $ 639   $ 386     (22 %) 30 %
    EBITDA margin   17.1 %   18.3 %   14.7 %   -1.2pts 2.4pts
    (in millions) Three Months Ended   Variance
    Orders by Product Line March 31,
    2025    		 December 31,
    2024    		 March 31,
    2024    		   Sequential Year-over-
    year
    Gas Technology Equipment $ 1,335 $ 1,865 $ 1,230   (28 %) 9 %
    Gas Technology Services   913   902   692   1 % 32 %
    Total Gas Technology   2,248   2,767   1,922   (19 %) 17 %
    Industrial Products   501   515   546   (3 %) (8 %)
    Industrial Solutions   281   320   257   (12 %) 10 %
    Total Industrial Technology   782   835   803   (6 %) (3 %)
    Climate Technology Solutions   148   154   193   (4 %) (23 %)
    Total Orders $ 3,178 $ 3,756 $ 2,918   (15 %) 9 %
    (in millions) Three Months Ended   Variance
    Revenue by Product Line March 31,
    2025    		 December 31,
    2024    		 March 31,
    2024    		   Sequential Year-over-
    year
    Gas Technology Equipment $ 1,456 $ 1,663 $ 1,210   (12 %) 20 %
    Gas Technology Services   592   796   614   (26 %) (4 %)
    Total Gas Technology   2,047   2,459   1,824   (17 %) 12 %
    Industrial Products   445   548   462   (19 %) (4 %)
    Industrial Solutions   258   282   265   (8 %) (2 %)
    Total Industrial Technology   703   830   727   (15 %) (3 %)
    Climate Technology Solutions   178   204   83   (13 %) 114 %
    Total Revenue $ 2,928 $ 3,492 $ 2,634   (16 %) 11 %

    EBITDA excludes depreciation and amortization of $53 million, $56 million, and $56 million for the three months ended March 31, 2025, December 31, 2024, and March 31, 2024, respectively. EBITDA margin is defined as EBITDA divided by revenue.

    IET orders of $3,178 million for the first quarter of 2025 increased by $260 million, or 9% year-over-year. The increase was driven primarily by Gas Technology, up $326 million or 17% year-over-year.

    IET revenue of $2,928 million for the first quarter of 2025 increased $294 million, or 11% year-over-year. The increase was driven by Gas Technology Equipment, up $246 million or 20% year-over-year, and Climate Technology Solutions, up $95 million or 114% year-over-year.

    Segment EBITDA for the quarter was $501 million, an increase of $114 million, or 30% year-over-year. The year-over-year increase in segment EBITDA was driven by productivity, positive pricing and increased volume including higher proportionate growth in GTE, partially offset by cost inflation.

    Reconciliation of GAAP to non-GAAP Financial Measures

    Management provides non-GAAP financial measures because it believes such measures are widely accepted financial indicators used by investors and analysts to analyze and compare companies on the basis of operating performance (including adjusted EBITDA; adjusted net income attributable to Baker Hughes; and adjusted diluted earnings per share) and liquidity (free cash flow) and that these measures may be used by investors to make informed investment decisions. Management believes that the exclusion of certain identified items from several key operating performance measures enables us to evaluate our operations more effectively, to identify underlying trends in the business, and to establish operational goals for certain management compensation purposes. Management also believes that free cash flow is an important supplemental measure of our cash performance but should not be considered as a measure of residual cash flow available for discretionary purposes, or as an alternative to cash flow from operating activities presented in accordance with GAAP.

    Table 1a. Reconciliation of Net Income Attributable to Baker Hughes to Adjusted EBITDA and Segment EBITDA

      Three Months Ended
    (in millions) March 31,
    2025    		 December 31,
    2024    		 March 31,
    2024
    Net income attributable to Baker Hughes (GAAP) $ 402 $ 1,179   $ 455  
    Net income attributable to noncontrolling interests   7   11     8  
    Provision (benefit) for income taxes   152   (398 )   178  
    Interest expense, net   51   54     41  
    Depreciation & amortization   285   291     283  
    Restructuring   —   258     —  
    Inventory impairment(1)   —   73     —  
    Change in fair value of equity securities(2)   140   (196 )   (52 )
    Other charges and credits(2)   —   38     30  
    Adjusted EBITDA (non-GAAP)   1,037   1,310     943  
    Corporate costs   85   84     88  
    Other income / (expense) not allocated to segments   1   —     —  
    Total Segment EBITDA (non-GAAP) $ 1,124 $ 1,394   $ 1,030  
    OFSE   623   755     644  
    IET   501   639     386  

    (1) Charges for inventory impairments are reported in “Cost of goods sold” in the condensed consolidated statements of income (loss).

    (2) Change in fair value of equity securities and other charges and credits are reported in “Other (income) expense, net” on the condensed consolidated statements of income (loss).

    Table 1a reconciles net income attributable to Baker Hughes, which is the directly comparable financial result determined in accordance with GAAP, to adjusted EBITDA and Segment EBITDA. Adjusted EBITDA and Segment EBITDA exclude the impact of certain identified items.

    Table 1b. Reconciliation of Net Income Attributable to Baker Hughes to Adjusted Net Income Attributable to Baker Hughes

      Three Months Ended
    (in millions, except per share amounts) March 31,
    2025    		 December 31,
    2024    		 March 31,
    2024
    Net income attributable to Baker Hughes (GAAP) $ 402   $ 1,179   $ 455  
    Restructuring   —     258     —  
    Inventory impairment   —     73     —  
    Change in fair value of equity securities   140     (196 )   (52 )
    Other adjustments   —     30     32  
    Tax adjustments(1)   (32 )   (650 )   (6 )
    Total adjustments, net of income tax   108     (485 )   (26 )
    Less: adjustments attributable to noncontrolling interests   —     —     —  
    Adjustments attributable to Baker Hughes   108     (485 )   (26 )
    Adjusted net income attributable to Baker Hughes (non-GAAP) $ 509   $ 694   $ 429  
           
    Denominator:      
    Weighted-average shares of Class A common stock outstanding diluted   999     999     1,004  
    Adjusted earnings per share – diluted (non-GAAP) $ 0.51   $ 0.70   $ 0.43  

    (1) All periods reflect the tax associated with the other (income) loss adjustments.

    Table 1b reconciles net income attributable to Baker Hughes, which is the directly comparable financial result determined in accordance with GAAP, to adjusted net income attributable to Baker Hughes. Adjusted net income attributable to Baker Hughes excludes the impact of certain identified items.

    Table 1c. Reconciliation of Net Cash Flows From Operating Activities to Free Cash Flow

      Three Months Ended
    (in millions) March 31,
    2025    		 December 31,
    2024    		 March 31,
    2024
    Net cash flows from operating activities (GAAP) $ 709   $ 1,189   $ 784  
    Add: cash used for capital expenditures, net of proceeds from disposal of assets   (255 )   (295 )   (282 )
    Free cash flow (non-GAAP) $ 454   $ 894   $ 502  

    Table 1c reconciles net cash flows from operating activities, which is the directly comparable financial result determined in accordance with GAAP, to free cash flow. Free cash flow is defined as net cash flows from operating activities less expenditures for capital assets plus proceeds from disposal of assets.

     
    Financial Tables (GAAP)
     
    Condensed Consolidated Statements of Income (Loss)
     
    (Unaudited)
     
      Three Months Ended March 31,
    (In millions, except per share amounts)   2025     2024  
    Revenue $ 6,427   $ 6,418  
    Costs and expenses:    
    Cost of revenue   4,952     4,976  
    Selling, general and administrative   577     618  
    Research and development costs   146     164  
    Other (income) expense, net   140     (22 )
    Interest expense, net   51     41  
    Income before income taxes   561     641  
    Provision for income taxes   (152 )   (178 )
    Net income   409     463  
    Less: Net income attributable to noncontrolling interests   7     8  
    Net income attributable to Baker Hughes Company $ 402   $ 455  
         
    Per share amounts:  
    Basic income per Class A common stock $ 0.41   $ 0.46  
    Diluted income per Class A common stock $ 0.40   $ 0.45  
         
    Weighted average shares:    
    Class A basic   992     998  
    Class A diluted   999     1,004  
         
    Cash dividend per Class A common stock $ 0.23   $ 0.21  
         
    Condensed Consolidated Statements of Financial Position
     
    (Unaudited)
     
    (In millions) March 31, 2025 December 31, 2024
    ASSETS
    Current Assets:    
    Cash and cash equivalents $ 3,277 $ 3,364
    Current receivables, net   6,710   7,122
    Inventories, net   5,161   4,954
    All other current assets   1,693   1,771
    Total current assets   16,841   17,211
    Property, plant and equipment, less accumulated depreciation   5,168   5,127
    Goodwill   6,126   6,078
    Other intangible assets, net   3,927   3,951
    Contract and other deferred assets   1,680   1,730
    All other assets   4,368   4,266
    Total assets $ 38,110 $ 38,363
    LIABILITIES AND EQUITY
    Current Liabilities:    
    Accounts payable $ 4,465 $ 4,542
    Short-term debt   55   53
    Progress collections and deferred income   5,589   5,672
    All other current liabilities   2,485   2,724
    Total current liabilities   12,594   12,991
    Long-term debt   5,969   5,970
    Liabilities for pensions and other postretirement benefits   985   988
    All other liabilities   1,356   1,359
    Equity   17,206   17,055
    Total liabilities and equity $ 38,110 $ 38,363
         
    Outstanding Baker Hughes Company shares:    
    Class A common stock   990   990
    Condensed Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows
     
    (Unaudited)
      Three Months Ended March 31,
    (In millions)   2025     2024  
    Cash flows from operating activities:    
    Net income $ 409   $ 463  
    Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash flows from operating activities:    
    Depreciation and amortization   285     283  
    Stock-based compensation cost   50     51  
    Change in fair value of equity securities   140     (52 )
    Benefit for deferred income taxes   (53 )   (24 )
    Working capital   218     209  
    Other operating items, net   (340 )   (146 )
    Net cash flows provided by operating activities   709     784  
    Cash flows from investing activities:    
    Expenditures for capital assets   (300 )   (333 )
    Proceeds from disposal of assets   45     51  
    Other investing items, net   (55 )   13  
    Net cash flows used in investing activities   (310 )   (269 )
    Cash flows from financing activities:    
    Dividends paid   (229 )   (210 )
    Repurchase of Class A common stock   (188 )   (158 )
    Other financing items, net   (85 )   (59 )
    Net cash flows used in financing activities   (502 )   (427 )
    Effect of currency exchange rate changes on cash and cash equivalents   16     (17 )
    Increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents   (87 )   71  
    Cash and cash equivalents, beginning of period   3,364     2,646  
    Cash and cash equivalents, end of period $ 3,277   $ 2,717  
    Supplemental cash flows disclosures:    
    Income taxes paid, net of refunds $ 207   $ 108  
    Interest paid $ 50   $ 48  

    Supplemental Financial Information

    Supplemental financial information can be found on the Company’s website at: investors.bakerhughes.com in the Financial Information section under Quarterly Results.

    Conference Call and Webcast

    The Company has scheduled an investor conference call to discuss management’s outlook and the results reported in today’s earnings announcement. The call will begin at 9:30 a.m. Eastern time, 8:30 a.m. Central time on Wednesday, April 23, 2025, the content of which is not part of this earnings release. The conference call will be broadcast live via a webcast and can be accessed by visiting the Events and Presentations page on the Company’s website at: investors.bakerhughes.com. An archived version of the webcast will be available on the website for one month following the webcast.

    Forward-Looking Statements

    This news release (and oral statements made regarding the subjects of this release) may contain forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, (each a “forward-looking statement”). Forward-looking statements concern future circumstances and results and other statements that are not historical facts and are sometimes identified by the words “may,” “will,” “should,” “potential,” “intend,” “expect,” “would,” “seek,” “anticipate,” “estimate,” “overestimate,” “underestimate,” “believe,” “could,” “project,” “predict,” “continue,” “target,” “goal” or other similar words or expressions. There are many risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from our forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements are also affected by the risk factors described in the Company’s annual report on Form 10-K for the annual period ended December 31, 2024 and those set forth from time to time in other filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”). The documents are available through the Company’s website at: www.investors.bakerhughes.com or through the SEC’s Electronic Data Gathering and Analysis Retrieval system at: www.sec.gov. We undertake no obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statement, except as required by law. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on any of these forward-looking statements.

    Our expectations regarding our business outlook and business plans; the business plans of our customers; oil and natural gas market conditions; cost and availability of resources; economic, legal and regulatory conditions, and other matters are only our forecasts regarding these matters.

    These forward-looking statements, including forecasts, may be substantially different from actual results, which are affected by many risks, along with the following risk factors and the timing of any of these risk factors:

    • Economic and political conditions – the impact of worldwide economic conditions and rising inflation; the impact of tariffs and the potential for significant increases thereto; the impact of global trade policy and the potential for significant changes thereto; the effect that declines in credit availability may have on worldwide economic growth and demand for hydrocarbons; foreign currency exchange fluctuations and changes in the capital markets in locations where we operate; and the impact of government disruptions and sanctions.
    • Orders and RPO – our ability to execute on orders and RPO in accordance with agreed specifications, terms and conditions and convert those orders and RPO to revenue and cash.
    • Oil and gas market conditions – the level of petroleum industry exploration, development and production expenditures; the price of, volatility in pricing of, and the demand for crude oil and natural gas; drilling activity; drilling permits for and regulation of the shelf and the deepwater drilling; excess productive capacity; crude and product inventories; liquefied natural gas supply and demand; seasonal and other adverse weather conditions that affect the demand for energy; severe weather conditions, such as tornadoes and hurricanes, that affect exploration and production activities; Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries (“OPEC”) policy and the adherence by OPEC nations to their OPEC production quotas.
    • Terrorism and geopolitical risks – war, military action, terrorist activities or extended periods of international conflict, particularly involving any petroleum-producing or consuming regions, including Russia and Ukraine; and the recent conflict in the Middle East; labor disruptions, civil unrest or security conditions where we operate; potentially burdensome taxation, expropriation of assets by governmental action; cybersecurity risks and cyber incidents or attacks; epidemic outbreaks.

    About Baker Hughes:

    Baker Hughes (Nasdaq: BKR) is an energy technology company that provides solutions to energy and industrial customers worldwide. Built on a century of experience and conducting business in over 120 countries, our innovative technologies and services are taking energy forward – making it safer, cleaner and more efficient for people and the planet. Visit us at bakerhughes.com.

    For more information, please contact:

    Investor Relations

    Chase Mulvehill
    +1 346-297-2561
    investor.relations@bakerhughes.com 

    Media Relations

    Adrienne Lynch
    +1 713-906-8407 
    adrienne.lynch@bakerhughes.com 

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-Evening Report: These 3 climate misinformation campaigns are operating during the election run-up. Here’s how to spot them

    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Alfie Chadwick, PhD Candidate, Monash Climate Change Communication Research Hub, Monash University

    Australia’s climate and energy wars are at the forefront of the federal election campaign as the major parties outline vastly different plans to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and tackle soaring power prices.

    Meanwhile, misinformation about climate change has permeated public debate during the campaign, feeding false and misleading claims about renewable energy, gas and global warming.

    This is a dangerous situation. In Australia and globally, rampant misinformation has for decades slowed climate action – creating doubt, hindering decision-making and undermining public support for solutions.

    Here, we explain the history of climate misinformation in Australia and identify three prominent campaigns operating now. We also outline how Australians can protect themselves from misinformation as they head to the polls.

    Misinformation vs disinformation

    Misinformation is defined as false information spread unintentionally. It is distinct from disinformation, which is deliberately created to mislead.

    However, proving intent to mislead can be challenging. So, the term misinformation is often used as a general term to describe misleading content, while the term disinformation is reserved for cases where intent is proven.

    Disinformation is typically part of a coordinated
    campaign     to influence public opinion. Such campaigns can be run by corporate interests, political groups, lobbying organisations or individuals.

    Once released, these false narratives may be picked up by others, who pass them on and create misinformation.

    Climate change misinformation in Australia

    In the 1980s and 1990s, Australia’s emissions-reduction targets were among the most ambitious in the world.

    At the time, about 60 companies were responsible for one-third of Australia’s greenhouse gas emissions. The government’s plan included measures to ensure these companies remained competitive while reducing their climate impact.

    Despite this, Australia’s resource industry began a concerted media campaign to oppose any binding emissions-reduction actions, claiming it would ruin the economy by making Australian businesses uncompetitive.

    This narrative persisted even when modelling repeatedly showed climate policies would have minimal economic impacts. The industry arguments eventually found their way into government policy.

    Momentum against climate action was also fuelled by a vocal group of climate change-denying individuals and organisations, often backed by multinational fossil fuel companies. These deniers variously claimed climate change wasn’t happening, it was caused by natural cycles, or wasn’t that a serious threat.

    These narratives were further exacerbated by false balance in media coverage, whereby news outlets, in an effort to appear neutral, often placed climate scientists alongside contrarians, giving the impression that the science was still unclear.

    Together, this created an environment in Australia where climate action was seen as either too economically damaging or simply unnecessary.

    What’s happening in the federal election campaign?

    Climate misinformation has been circulating in the following forms during this federal election campaign.

    1. Trumpet of Patriots

    Clive Palmer’s Trumpet of Patriots party ran an advertisement that claimed to expose “ the truth about climate change”. It featured a clip from a 2004 documentary, in which a scientist discusses data suggesting temperatures in Greenland were not rising. The scientist in the clip has since said his comments are now outdated.

    The type of misinformation is cherry-picking – presenting one scientific measurement at odds with the overwhelming scientific consensus.

    Google removed the ad after it was flagged as misleading, but only after it received 1.9 million views.

    2. Responsible Future Illawarra

    The Responsible Future campaign opposes wind turbines on various grounds, including cost, foreign ownership, power prices, effects on views and fishing, and potential ecological damage.

    Scientific evidence indicates offshore wind farms are relatively safe for marine life and cause less harm than boats and fishing gear. Some studies also suggest the infrastructure can create new habitat for marine life.

    However, a general lack of research into offshore wind and marine life has created uncertainty that groups such as Responsible Future Illawarra can exploit.

    It has cited statements by Sea Shepherd Australia to argue offshore wind farms damage marine life – however Sea Shepherd said its comments were misrepresented.

    The group also appears to have deliberately spread disinformation. This includes citing a purported research paper saying offshore wind turbines would kill up to 400 whales per year, when the paper does not exist.

    3. Australians for Natural Gas

    Australians for Natural Gas is a pro-gas group set up by the head of a gas company, which presents itself as a grassroots organisation. Its advertising campaign promotes natural gas as a necessary part of Australia’s fuel mix, and stresses its contribution to jobs and the economy.

    The ad campaign implicitly suggests climate action – in this case, a shift to renewable energy – is harmful to the economy, livelihoods and energy security. According to Meta’s Ad Library, these adds have already been seen more than 1.1 million times.

    Gas is needed in Australia’s current energy mix. But analysis shows it could be phased out almost entirely if renewable energy and storage was sufficiently increased and business and home electrification continues to rise.

    And of course, failing to tackle climate change will cause substantial harm across Australia’s economy.

    How to identify misinformation

    As the federal election approaches, climate misinformation and disinformation is likely to proliferate further. So how do we distinguish fact from fiction?

    One way is through “pre-bunking” – familiarising yourself with common claims made by climate change deniers to fortify yourself against misinformation

    Sources such as Skeptical Science offer in-depth analyses of specific claims.

    The SIFT method is another valuable tool. It comprises four steps:

    • Stop
    • Investigate the source
    • Find better coverage
    • Trace claims, quotes and media to their original sources.

    As the threat of climate change grows, a flow of accurate information is vital to garnering public and political support for vital policy change.

    Alfie Chadwick is a recipient of an Australian Government Research Training Program (RTP) Scholarship.

    Libby Lester receives funding from the Australian Research Council.

    – ref. These 3 climate misinformation campaigns are operating during the election run-up. Here’s how to spot them – https://theconversation.com/these-3-climate-misinformation-campaigns-are-operating-during-the-election-run-up-heres-how-to-spot-them-253441

    MIL OSI Analysis – EveningReport.nz –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Kennedy announces $4.3 million in Hurricanes Laura, Ida aid for Jefferson, St. John the Baptist Parishes, Lake Charles

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator John Kennedy (Louisiana)

    MADISONVILLE, La. – Sen. John Kennedy (R-La.), a member of the Senate Appropriations Committee, today announced $4,287,667 in Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) grants for Louisiana disaster aid.

    “Hurricanes Laura and Ida devastated important infrastructure across south Louisiana. This $4.3 million will help communities like Jefferson and St. John the Baptist Parishes restore education and sewerage facilities, and aid Lake Charles with Hurricane Laura repairs,” said Kennedy.

    The FEMA aid will fund the following:

    • $1,681,034 to the city of Lake Charles, La. for repairs to communications towers resulting from Hurricane Laura damage.
    • $1,598,591 to the Jefferson Parish School System for repairs to the Thomas Jefferson High School for Advanced Studies campus due to Hurricane Ida damage.
    • $1,008,042 to St. John the Baptist Parish for repairs to sewer lift stations due to Hurricane Ida damage.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Three Large-Scale Energy Projects Gain Approvals

    Source: US State of New York

    o celebrate Earth Day, Governor Kathy Hochul announced the New York State Office of Renewable Energy Siting and Electric Transmission (ORES) has issued final siting permits to develop and operate Foothills Solar, a 40 megawatt (MW) solar facility in the Town of Mayfield in Fulton County; Rock District Solar, a 20 MW solar facility in the towns of Seward and Carlisle in Schoharie County; and York Run Solar, a 90 MW solar facility in the towns of Kiantone and Busti in Chautauqua County. The projects will create good-paying jobs, invest in crucial infrastructure, and increase tax revenues for local schools and other community priorities.

    “On Earth Day, New York is proud to announce its latest investment in solar and wind technology, upholding our commitment to build a clean energy economy,” Governor Hochul said. “With refined siting protocols through the establishment of ORES four years ago, New York is expediting permitting for clean energy projects – all while creating good-paying jobs throughout the state. These projects are a testament to New York’s commitment to sustainability and resiliency in the face of a changing climate.”

    Together, the Foothills, Rock District and York Run solar facilities will contribute a combined 150 MW of clean, renewable energy to New York’s electric grid while offsetting over 97,000 metric tons of CO2 and providing power for approximately 40,000 average-sized homes.

    The new solar facilities will consist of the solar array and associated support equipment, along with an interconnection substation, fencing, access roads, and an operations and maintenance building. The facilities will interconnect to the New York electrical grid via new points of interconnection, located on National Grid’s transmission lines.

    The projects were approved in less than the one-year timeframe required under the law, and were issued after a thorough, timely, and transparent review process that included public comment periods and hearings.

    Office of Renewable Energy Siting and Electric Transmission Executive Director Zeryai Hagos said, “As the state approaches 4 gigawatts of wind and solar energy permitted, ORES continues to advance New York’s nation-leading clean energy policies while being responsive to community feedback and protecting the environment.”

    These three projects are anticipated to create a total of 240 jobs during construction and mark 24 clean energy projects approved by ORES since 2021, when it was created to accelerate permitting for renewable energy generation. New York State has approved 28 large-scale solar and wind projects since 2021, including 24 permitted by ORES and four approved by the NYS Siting Board under Article 10, the statute that governed solar and wind projects over 25MW prior to the creation of ORES. The 28 permitted facilities represent 3.7 gigawatts of new clean, renewable energy.

    ORES’ decision for these facilities follows a detailed and transparent review process with robust public participation to ensure the proposed project meets or exceeds the requirements of Article VIII of the New York State Public Service Law and its implementing regulations. The Foothills Solar application was deemed complete on June 25, 2024, and a draft permit was issued by ORES on August 26, 2024; the application for the Rock District Solar application was deemed complete on June 10, 2024, and a draft permit was issued by ORES on August 2, 2024; the York Run Solar application was deemed complete on October 9, 2024, and a draft permit was issued by ORES on December 6, 2024. These solar power projects meaningfully advance New York’s clean energy goals while establishing the State as a paradigm for efficient, transparent, and thorough siting permitting process of major renewable energy facilities.

    Today’s decisions may be obtained by going to the ORES website at https://dps.ny.gov/ores-permit-applications.

    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 –

  • MIL-OSI: Weatherford Announces First Quarter 2025 Results

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    • First quarter revenue of $1,193 million decreased 12% year-over-year
    • First quarter operating income of $142 million decreased 39% year-over-year
    • First quarter net income of $76 million, a 6.4% margin, decreased 32% year-over-year
    • First quarter adjusted EBITDA* of $253 million, a 21.2% margin, decreased 25%, or 354 basis points, year-over-year
    • First quarter cash provided by operating activities of $142 million and adjusted free cash flow* of $66 million
    • Repurchased $34 million of 8.625% Senior Notes due 2030 in the first quarter of 2025
    • Shareholder return of $71 million for the quarter, which included dividend payments of $18 million and share repurchases of $53 million
    • Board approved quarterly cash dividend of $0.25 per share, payable on June 5, 2025, to shareholders of record as of May 6, 2025
    • As part of its portfolio optimization strategy, Weatherford completed the sale of its Pressure Pumping business in Argentina on April 1, 2025
    • Signed a strategic agreement with Abu Dhabi-based AIQ to bring transformative efficiency to energy production, leveraging advanced automation, data-driven insights, and the power of AI technology

    *Non-GAAP – refer to the section titled Non-GAAP Financial Measures Defined and GAAP to Non-GAAP Financial Measures Reconciled

    HOUSTON, April 22, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Weatherford International plc (NASDAQ: WFRD) (“Weatherford” or the “Company”) announced today its results for the first quarter of 2025.

    Revenues for the first quarter of 2025 were $1,193 million, a decrease of 12% year-over-year and 11% sequentially. Operating income was $142 million in the first quarter of 2025, compared to $233 million in the first quarter of 2024 and $198 million in the fourth quarter of 2024. Net income in the first quarter of 2025 was $76 million, with a 6.4% margin, a decrease of 32%, or 188 basis points year-over-year and 32%, or 198 basis points, sequentially. Adjusted EBITDA* was $253 million, a 21.2% margin, a decrease of 25%, or 354 basis points, year-over-year and 22%, or 310 basis points, sequentially. Basic income per share in the first quarter of 2025 was $1.04, compared to $1.54 in the first quarter of 2024 and $1.54 in the fourth quarter of 2024. Diluted income per share in the first quarter of 2025 was $1.03, compared to $1.50 in the first quarter of 2024, and $1.50 in the fourth quarter of 2024.

    First quarter 2025 cash flows provided by operating activities were $142 million, compared to $131 million in the first quarter of 2024, and $249 million in the fourth quarter of 2024. Adjusted free cash flow* was $66 million, a decrease of $16 million year-over-year and $96 million sequentially. Capital expenditures were $77 million in the first quarter of 2025, compared to $59 million in the first quarter of 2024, and $100 million in the fourth quarter of 2024.

    Girish Saligram, President and Chief Executive Officer, commented, “The first quarter was marked by significant market softening across key geographies, especially Mexico, the United Kingdom and North America. This created headwinds for activity levels but the One Weatherford team continued to focus on the controllable elements of the business, driving execution to deliver results inline with expectations.

    Over the past few weeks, the market conditions have skewed more negatively, as we continue to navigate uncertainty on customer activity levels stemming from macroeconomic factors, global trade and geopolitical tensions. However, our actions remain focused on our North Star of driving adjusted free cash flow and we are further accelerating efficiency and optimization programs to ensure that we are well positioned for any scenario that might unfold in the latter part of the year. We believe it to be prudent to scale back our expectations on activity levels through the rest of the year and are focused on minimizing decrementals and improving working capital efficiencies. Nonetheless, even at a significantly reduced level of customer activity, we remain confident in increasing our adjusted free cash flow conversion for the full year 2025, allowing progress on our capital allocation priorities.

    The sale of our Pressure Pumping business in Argentina marks another key milestone in our portfolio optimization strategy to a more capital-efficient model and further builds liquidity to position us well for the upcoming period.”

    *Non-GAAP – refer to the section titled Non-GAAP Financial Measures Defined and GAAP to Non-GAAP Financial Measures Reconciled

    Operational & Commercial Highlights

    • An International Oil Company (IOC) awarded Weatherford an eight-year contract extension to provide a comprehensive suite of services, including Intervention Services & Drilling Tools, Pipe Inspection, Managed Pressure Drilling (MPD), Tubular Running Services (TRS), Well Services, and Pipe Recovery in Kazakhstan.
    • PDO Oman awarded Weatherford a five-year Integrated Completions contract consisting of Completions, Liner Hangers and Cementation Products.
    • ADNOC Onshore awarded Weatherford a three-year contract for Well Services Production enhancement systems in the United Arab Emirates.
    • Eni Oman awarded Weatherford an open contract for onshore MPD services.
    • Petrobras awarded Weatherford a five-year contract for Liner Hangers systems and services in deepwater Brazil and amended its TRS contract, adding two Vero Mechanized Systems.
    • Sierracol Energy Andina LLC awarded Weatherford a six-month contract for Artificial Lift Systems in Colombia.
    • GeoPark Colombia S.A.S. awarded Weatherford a three-year contract for Wireline Open & Cased Hole Services.
    • Jadestone Energy (Malaysia) PTE LTD awarded Weatherford a contract for the Autonomous Inflow Control Device Screens and associated lower Completions equipment and services for the PM323 East Belumut Phase 9 Infill Drilling campaign.
    • Dragon Oil awarded Weatherford a three-year contract for Completions Equipment and Services in offshore Turkmenistan.
    • An IOC awarded Weatherford a one-year contract for Artificial Lift Equipment and Centro® Well Construction Optimization Platform in Argentina.
    • An IOC in Turkey awarded Weatherford a five-year contract for Open Hole Wireline Tools.
    • An IOC awarded Weatherford a three-year contract for Artificial Lift Equipment in Australia.
    • A major integrated energy company awarded Weatherford a three-year, multi-rig contract for Vero® Mechanized Systems in deepwater Gulf of America.
    • A National Oil Company (NOC) awarded Weatherford a two-year contract for Stage Tool Cementing Equipment in the Middle East.
    • An IOC awarded Weatherford a one-year contract for the SCADA Digital Platform in offshore United Arab Emirates.

    Technology Highlights

    • Drilling & Evaluation (“DRE”)
      • In the UK, Weatherford successfully delivered Logging While Drilling and Formation Pressure Services for Shell on a high-pressure, high temperature well. The well was drilled at 175°c and reached a total depth of 21,000 feet.
      • In the Middle East, Weatherford successfully deployed GuideWave® CLEAR in three wells for an NOC, enabling improved formation evaluation and more precise geo-steering.
    • Well Construction and Completions (“WCC”)
      • In deepwater Brazil, Weatherford successfully installed the first OptiROSS® RFID Multi-Cycle Sliding Sleeve Valve for Petrobras. This system enhances acid stimulation efficiency, improving production and boosting the reservoir’s oil recovery factor.
      • In North America, Weatherford successfully completed 17 field trials of its SecureTrac™ technology with one of the largest multinational oil and gas companies. The tool’s more compact design enables a shorter shoe track, maximizing reservoir exposure and enhancing production potential.
      • In the Middle East, Weatherford successfully deployed the first WidePak™ straddle solution for Gupco in Egypt. The well had been shut for 15 years due to a sustained tubing leak. Following Weatherford’s intervention, the well is now back online and delivering significant production.
    • Production and Intervention (“PRI”)
      • In North America, Weatherford successfully deployed the ForeSite® Regenerative Power for KODA, following a two-month pilot. The deployment delivered significant power savings, demonstrating the technology’s efficiency and value in the field.
      • In North America, Weatherford deployed the ForeSite® Power Regenerative variable-speed drive across key customers, following multiple successful pilots. The implementation delivered significant power savings and reduced carbon emissions. Due to its unique ability to recycle, store, and optimize power, this innovative solution helps control operating expenses for customers.

    Shareholder Return

    During the first quarter of 2025, Weatherford paid dividends of $18 million and repurchased shares for approximately $53 million, resulting in a total shareholder return of $71 million.

    On April 17, 2025, our Board declared a cash dividend of $0.25 per share of the Company’s ordinary shares, payable on June 5, 2025, to shareholders of record as of May 6, 2025.

    Results by Reportable Segment

    Drilling and Evaluation (“DRE”)

        Three Months Ended   Variance
    ($ in Millions)   March 31,
    2025    		   December 31,
    2024    		   March 31,
    2024    		   Seq.   YoY
    Revenue   $ 350     $ 398     $ 422     (12 )%   (17 )%
    Segment Adjusted EBITDA   $ 74     $ 96     $ 130     (23 )%   (43 )%
    Segment Adj EBITDA Margin     21.1 %     24.1 %     30.8 %   (298 )bps   (966 )bps
                                         

    First quarter 2025 DRE revenue of $350 million decreased by $72 million, or 17% year-over-year, primarily from lower Drilling-related services activity in Latin America, Europe/Sub-Sahara Africa/Russia and North America, partly offset by higher Drilling Services activity in Middle East/North Africa/Asia. Sequentially, DRE revenue decreased by $48 million, or 12%, primarily from lower international activity, especially in Latin America, partly offset by higher Wireline activity in North America.

    First quarter 2025 DRE segment adjusted EBITDA of $74 million decreased by $56 million, or 43% year-over-year, primarily from lower activity, partly offset by higher Drilling Services activity in Middle East/North Africa/Asia. Sequentially, DRE segment adjusted EBITDA decreased by $22 million, or 23%, primarily from lower international activity, especially in Latin America, partly offset by higher Wireline activity in North America.

    Well Construction and Completions (“WCC”)

        Three Months Ended   Variance
    ($ in Millions)   March 31,
    2025    		   December 31,
    2024    		   March 31,
    2024    		   Seq.   YoY
    Revenue   $ 441     $ 505     $ 458     (13 )%   (4 )%
    Segment Adjusted EBITDA   $ 128     $ 148     $ 120     (14 )%   7 %
    Segment Adj EBITDA Margin     29.0 %     29.3 %     26.2 %    (28) bps   282 bps
                                         

    First quarter 2025 WCC revenue of $441 million decreased by $17 million, or 4% year-over-year, primarily from lower activity in North America, Latin America and Europe/Sub-Sahara Africa/Russia, partly offset by higher activity in Middle East/North Africa/Asia. Sequentially, WCC revenues decreased by $64 million, or 13%, primarily from lower activity across all geographies.

    First quarter 2025 WCC segment adjusted EBITDA of $128 million increased by $8 million, or 7% year-over-year, primarily from higher activity and fall through in Middle East/North Africa/Asia, partly offset by lower activity in North America, Latin America and Europe/Sub-Sahara Africa/Russia. Sequentially, WCC segment adjusted EBITDA decreased by $20 million, or 14%, primarily from lower activity across all geographies.

    Production and Intervention (“PRI”)

        Three Months Ended   Variance
    ($ in Millions)   March 31,
    2025    		   December 31,
    2024    		   March 31,
    2024    		   Seq.   YoY
    Revenue   $ 334     $ 364     $ 348     (8 )%   (4 )%
    Segment Adjusted EBITDA   $ 62     $ 78     $ 73     (21 )%   (15 )%
    Segment Adj EBITDA Margin     18.6 %     21.4 %     21.0 %   (287 )bps   (241 )bps
                                         

    First quarter 2025 PRI revenue of $334 million decreased by $14 million, or 4% year-over-year, as lower international activity was partly offset by higher activity in North America. Sequentially, PRI revenue decreased by $30 million, or 8%, primarily from lower Artificial Lift activity.

    First quarter 2025 PRI segment adjusted EBITDA of $62 million decreased by $11 million, or 15% year-over-year, primarily from lower international activity, partly offset by higher fall through in North America. Sequentially, PRI segment adjusted EBITDA decreased by $16 million, or 21%, primarily from lower Artificial Lift activity, partly offset by higher fall through from Digital Solutions in North America.

    Revenue by Geography

        Three Months Ended   Variance  
    ($ in Millions)   March 31,
    2025    		   December 31,
    2024    		   March 31,
    2024    		   Seq.   YoY
    North America   $ 250   $ 261   $ 267   (4 )%   (6) %
                           
    International   $ 943   $ 1,080   $ 1,091   (13 )%   (14 )%
    Latin America     241     312     370   (23 )%   (35 )%
    Middle East/North Africa/Asia     503     542     497   (7 )%   1 %
    Europe/Sub-Sahara Africa/Russia     199     226     224   (12 )%   (11 )%
    Total Revenue   $ 1,193   $ 1,341   $ 1,358   (11 )%   (12 )%


    North America

    First quarter 2025 North America revenue of $250 million decreased by $17 million, or 6% year-over-year, primarily from lower activity in DRE and WCC segments, partly offset by higher activity in PRI segment led by Pressure Pumping and Digital Solutions. Sequentially, North America decreased by $11 million, or 4%, primarily from lower US land and US offshore activity, partly offset by higher Wireline activity.

    International

    First quarter 2025 international revenue of $943 million decreased 14% year-over-year and decreased 13% sequentially.

    First quarter 2025 Latin America revenue of $241 million decreased by $129 million, or 35% year-over-year, primarily from lower activity in Mexico, partly offset by MPD and Pressure Pumping activity. Sequentially, Latin America revenue decreased by $71 million, or 23%, primarily from lower activity in Mexico, partly offset by higher MPD and Completions activity.

    First quarter 2025 Middle East/North Africa/Asia revenue of $503 million increased by $6 million, or 1% year-over-year, as higher activity from Completions and Drilling Services were partly offset by lower MPD and Integrated Services & Projects activity. Sequentially, the Middle East/North Africa/Asia revenue decreased by $39 million, or 7%, primarily from lower activity in all the segments, partly offset by higher Integrated Services & Projects and MPD activity.

    First quarter 2025 Europe/Sub-Sahara Africa/Russia revenue of $199 million decreased by $25 million, or 11% year-over-year, primarily from lower activity across all the segments, partly offset by higher Well Services and MPD activity. Sequentially, Europe/Sub-Sahara Africa/Russia revenue decreased by $27 million, or 12%, primarily from lower activity across all the segments, partly offset by higher activity in Drilling Services.

    About Weatherford
    Weatherford delivers innovative energy services that integrate proven technologies with advanced digitalization to create sustainable offerings for maximized value and return on investment. Our world-class experts partner with customers to optimize their resources and realize the full potential of their assets. Operators choose us for strategic solutions that add efficiency, flexibility, and responsibility to any energy operation. The Company conducts business in approximately 75 countries and has approximately 18,000 team members representing more than 110 nationalities and 320 operating locations. Visit weatherford.com for more information and connect with us on social media.

    Conference Call Details

    Weatherford will host a conference call on Wednesday, April 23, 2025, to discuss the Company’s results for the first quarter ended March 31, 2025. The conference call will begin at 8:30 a.m. Eastern Time (7:30 a.m. Central Time).

    Listeners are encouraged to download the accompanying presentation slides which will be available in the investor relations section of the Company’s website.

    Listeners can participate in the conference call via a live webcast at https://www.weatherford.com/investor-relations/investor-news-and-events/events/ or by dialing +1 877-328-5344 (within the U.S.) or +1 412-902-6762 (outside of the U.S.) and asking for the Weatherford conference call. Participants should log in or dial in approximately 10 minutes prior to the start of the call.

    A telephonic replay of the conference call will be available until May 7, 2025, at 5:00 p.m. Eastern Time. To access the replay, please dial +1 877-344-7529 (within the U.S.) or +1 412-317-0088 (outside of the U.S.) and reference conference number 6907941. A replay and transcript of the earnings call will also be available in the investor relations section of the Company’s website.

    Contacts
    For Investors:
    Luke Lemoine
    Senior Vice President, Corporate Development & Investor Relations
    +1 713-836-7777
    investor.relations@weatherford.com

    For Media:
    Kelley Hughes
    Senior Director, Communications & Employee Engagement
    media@weatherford.com

    Forward-Looking Statements

    This news release contains projections and forward-looking statements concerning, among other things, the Company’s quarterly adjusted EBITDA*, adjusted EBITDA margin*, adjusted free cash flow*, net leverage*, shareholder return program, forecasts or expectations regarding business outlook, prospects for its operations, capital expenditures, expectations regarding future financial results, and are also generally identified by the words “believe,” “project,” “expect,” “anticipate,” “estimate,” “outlook,” “budget,” “intend,” “strategy,” “plan,” “guidance,” “may,” “should,” “could,” “will,” “would,” “will be,” “will continue,” “will likely result,” and similar expressions, although not all forward-looking statements contain these identifying words. Such statements are based upon the current beliefs of Weatherford’s management and are subject to significant risks, assumptions, and uncertainties. Should one or more of these risks or uncertainties materialize, or underlying assumptions prove incorrect, actual results may vary materially from those indicated in our forward-looking statements. Readers are cautioned that forward-looking statements are only estimates and may differ materially from actual future events or results, based on factors including but not limited to: global political, economic and market conditions, political disturbances, war or other global conflicts, terrorist attacks, changes in global trade policies, tariffs and sanctions, weak local economic conditions and international currency fluctuations; general global economic repercussions related to U.S. and global inflationary pressures and potential recessionary concerns; various effects from conflicts in the Middle East and the Russia Ukraine conflicts, including, but not limited to, nationalization of assets, extended business interruptions, sanctions, treaties and regulations (including changes in the regulatory environment) imposed by various countries, associated operational and logistical challenges, and impacts to the overall global energy supply; cybersecurity issues; our ability to comply with, and respond to, climate change, environmental, social and governance and other sustainability initiatives and future legislative and regulatory measures both globally and in specific geographic regions; the potential for a resurgence of a pandemic in a given geographic area and related disruptions to our business, employees, customers, suppliers and other partners; the price and price volatility of, and demand for, oil and natural gas; the macroeconomic outlook for the oil and gas industry; our ability to generate cash flow from operations to fund our operations; our ability to effectively and timely adapt our technology portfolio, products and services to remain competitive, and to address and participate in changes to the market demands, including for the transition to alternate sources of energy such as geothermal, carbon capture and responsible abandonment, including our digitalization efforts; our ability to effectively execute our capital allocation framework; our ability to return capital to shareholders, including those related to the timing and amounts (including any plans or commitments in respect thereof) of any dividends and share repurchases; and the realization of additional cost savings and operational efficiencies.

    These risks and uncertainties are more fully described in Weatherford’s reports and registration statements filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including the risk factors described in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K and Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q. Accordingly, you should not place undue reliance on any of the Company’s forward-looking statements. Any forward-looking statement speaks only as of the date on which such statement is made, and the Company undertakes no obligation to correct or update any forward-looking statement, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as required by applicable law, and we caution you not to rely on them unduly.

    *Non-GAAP – refer to the section titled Non-GAAP Financial Measures Defined and GAAP to Non-GAAP Financial Measures Reconciled

    Weatherford International plc
    Selected Statements of Operations (Unaudited)
                 
        Three Months Ended
    ($ in Millions, Except Per Share Amounts)   March 31,
    2025    		   December 31,
    2024    		   March 31,
    2024
    Revenues:            
    DRE Revenues   $ 350     $ 398     $ 422  
    WCC Revenues     441       505       458  
    PRI Revenues     334       364       348  
    All Other     68       74       130  
    Total Revenues     1,193       1,341       1,358  
                 
    Operating Income:            
    DRE Segment Adjusted EBITDA[1]   $ 74     $ 96     $ 130  
    WCC Segment Adjusted EBITDA[1]     128       148       120  
    PRI Segment Adjusted EBITDA[1]     62       78       73  
    All Other[2]     4       11       27  
    Corporate[2]     (15 )     (7 )     (14 )
    Depreciation and Amortization     (62 )     (83 )     (85 )
    Share-based Compensation     (7 )     (10 )     (13 )
    Restructuring Charges     (29 )     (34 )     (3 )
    Other Charges, Net     (13 )     (1 )     (2 )
    Operating Income     142       198       233  
                 
    Other Expense:            
    Interest Expense, Net of Interest Income of $11, $12, and $14     (26 )     (25 )     (29 )
    Other Expense, Net     (20 )     (4 )     (22 )
    Income Before Income Taxes     96       169       182  
    Income Tax Provision     (10 )     (45 )     (59 )
    Net Income     86       124       123  
    Net Income Attributable to Noncontrolling Interests     10       12       11  
    Net Income Attributable to Weatherford   $ 76     $ 112     $ 112  
                 
    Basic Income Per Share   $ 1.04     $ 1.54     $ 1.54  
    Basic Weighted Average Shares Outstanding     73.1       72.6       72.9  
                 
    Diluted Income Per Share   $ 1.03     $ 1.50     $ 1.50  
    Diluted Weighted Average Shares Outstanding     73.4       74.5       74.7  
    [1] Segment adjusted EBITDA is our primary measure of segment profitability under U.S. GAAP ASC 280 “Segment Reporting” and represents segment earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation, amortization, share-based compensation, restructuring charges and other adjustments. Research and development expenses are included in segment adjusted EBITDA.
    [2] All Other includes results from non-core business activities (including integrated services and projects), and Corporate includes overhead support and centrally managed or shared facilities costs. All Other and Corporate do not individually meet the criteria for segment reporting.
    Weatherford International plc
    Selected Balance Sheet Data (Unaudited)
           
    ($ in Millions) March 31,
    2025    		   December 31,
    2024
    Assets:      
    Cash and Cash Equivalents $ 873   $ 916
    Restricted Cash   57     59
    Accounts Receivable, Net   1,175     1,261
    Inventories, Net   889     880
    Property, Plant and Equipment, Net   1,103     1,061
    Intangibles, Net   315     325
           
    Liabilities:      
    Accounts Payable   714     792
    Accrued Salaries and Benefits   249     302
    Current Portion of Long-term Debt   22     17
    Long-term Debt   1,583     1,617
           
    Shareholders’ Equity:      
    Total Shareholders’ Equity   1,360     1,283
    Weatherford International plc
    Selected Cash Flows Information (Unaudited)
                 
        Three Months Ended
    ($ in Millions)   March 31,
    2025    		   December 31,
    2024    		   March 31,
    2024
    Cash Flows From Operating Activities:            
    Net Income   $ 86     $ 124     $ 123  
    Adjustments to Reconcile Net Income to Net Cash Provided By Operating Activities:            
    Depreciation and Amortization     62       83       85  
    Foreign Exchange Losses (Gain)     13       (2 )     15  
    Gain on Disposition of Assets     (1 )     (2 )     (7 )
    Deferred Income Tax Provision     7       —       14  
    Share-Based Compensation     7       10       13  
    Changes in Accounts Receivable, Inventory, Accounts Payable and Accrued Salaries and Benefits     (17 )     24       (152 )
    Other Changes, Net     (15 )     12       40  
    Net Cash Provided By Operating Activities     142       249       131  
                 
    Cash Flows From Investing Activities:            
    Capital Expenditures for Property, Plant and Equipment     (77 )     (100 )     (59 )
    Proceeds from Disposition of Assets     1       13       10  
    Business Acquisitions, Net of Cash Acquired     —       —       (36 )
    Proceeds from Sale of Investments     —       —       41  
    Other Investing Activities     (3 )     1       (10 )
    Net Cash Used In Investing Activities     (79 )     (86 )     (54 )
                 
    Cash Flows From Financing Activities:            
    Repayments of Long-term Debt     (39 )     (23 )     (172 )
    Distributions to Noncontrolling Interests     —       (20 )     —  
    Tax Remittance on Equity Awards     (20 )     (22 )     (8 )
    Share Repurchases     (53 )     (49 )     —  
    Dividends Paid     (18 )     (18 )     —  
    Other Financing Activities     (3 )     (1 )     (7 )
    Net Cash Used In Financing Activities   $ (133 )   $ (133 )   $ (187 )
    Weatherford International plc
    Non-GAAP Financial Measures Defined (Unaudited)
     

    We report our financial results in accordance with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles (GAAP). However, Weatherford’s management believes that certain non-GAAP financial measures (as defined under the SEC’s Regulation G and Item 10(e) of Regulation S-K) may provide users of this financial information additional meaningful comparisons between current results and results of prior periods and comparisons with peer companies. The non-GAAP amounts shown in the following tables should not be considered as substitutes for results reported in accordance with GAAP but should be viewed in addition to the Company’s reported results prepared in accordance with GAAP.

    Adjusted EBITDA* – Adjusted EBITDA* is a non-GAAP measure and represents consolidated income before interest expense, net, income taxes, depreciation and amortization expense, and excludes, among other items, restructuring charges, share-based compensation expense, as well as other charges and credits. Management believes adjusted EBITDA* is useful to assess and understand normalized operating performance and trends. Adjusted EBITDA* should be considered in addition to, but not as a substitute for consolidated net income and should be viewed in addition to the Company’s reported results prepared in accordance with GAAP.

    Adjusted EBITDA margin* – Adjusted EBITDA margin* is a non-GAAP measure which is calculated by dividing consolidated adjusted EBITDA* by consolidated revenues. Management believes adjusted EBITDA margin* is useful to assess and understand normalized operating performance and trends. Adjusted EBITDA margin* should be considered in addition to, but not as a substitute for consolidated net income margin and should be viewed in addition to the Company’s reported results prepared in accordance with GAAP.

    Adjusted Free Cash Flow* – Adjusted Free Cash Flow* is a non-GAAP measure and represents cash flows provided by (used in) operating activities, less capital expenditures plus proceeds from the disposition of assets. Management believes adjusted free cash flow* is useful to understand our performance at generating cash and demonstrates our discipline around the use of cash. Adjusted free cash flow* should be considered in addition to, but not as a substitute for cash flows provided by operating activities and should be viewed in addition to the Company’s reported results prepared in accordance with GAAP.

    Net Debt* – Net Debt* is a non-GAAP measure that is calculated taking short and long-term debt less cash and cash equivalents and restricted cash. Management believes the net debt* is useful to assess the level of debt in excess of cash and cash and equivalents as we monitor our ability to repay and service our debt. Net debt* should be considered in addition to, but not as a substitute for overall debt and total cash and should be viewed in addition to the Company’s results prepared in accordance with GAAP.​

    Net Leverage* – Net Leverage* is a non-GAAP measure which is calculated by dividing by taking net debt* divided by adjusted EBITDA* for the trailing 12 months. Management believes the net leverage* is useful to understand our ability to repay and service our debt. Net leverage* should be considered in addition to, but not as a substitute for the individual components of above defined net debt* divided by consolidated net income attributable to Weatherford and should be viewed in addition to the Company’s reported results prepared in accordance with GAAP.

    *Non-GAAP – as defined above and reconciled to the GAAP measures in the section titled GAAP to Non-GAAP Financial Measures Reconciled

    Weatherford International plc
    GAAP to Non-GAAP Financial Measures Reconciled (Unaudited)
     
                 
        Three Months Ended
    ($ in Millions, Except Margin in Percentages)   March 31,
    2025    		   December 31,
    2024    		   March 31,
    2024
    Revenues   $ 1,193     $ 1,341     $ 1,358  
    Net Income Attributable to Weatherford   $ 76     $ 112     $ 112  
    Net Income Margin     6.4 %     8.4 %     8.2 %
    Adjusted EBITDA*   $ 253     $ 326     $ 336  
    Adjusted EBITDA Margin*     21.2 %     24.3 %     24.7 %
                 
    Net Income Attributable to Weatherford   $ 76     $ 112     $ 112  
    Net Income Attributable to Noncontrolling Interests     10       12       11  
    Income Tax Provision     10       45       59  
    Interest Expense, Net of Interest Income of $11, $12, and $14     26       25       29  
    Other Expense, Net     20       4       22  
    Operating Income     142       198       233  
    Depreciation and Amortization     62       83       85  
    Other Charges, Net[1]     13       1       2  
    Restructuring Charges     29       34       3  
    Share-Based Compensation     7       10       13  
    Adjusted EBITDA*   $ 253     $ 326     $ 336  
                 
    Net Cash Provided By Operating Activities   $ 142     $ 249     $ 131  
    Capital Expenditures for Property, Plant and Equipment     (77 )     (100 )     (59 )
    Proceeds from Disposition of Assets     1       13       10  
    Adjusted Free Cash Flow*   $ 66     $ 162     $ 82  
    [1] Other Charges, Net in the three months ended March 31, 2025 primarily includes fees to third-party financial institutions related to collections of certain receivables from our largest customer in Mexico.
       

    *Non-GAAP – as reconciled to the GAAP measures above and defined in the section titled Non-GAAP Financial Measures Defined

    Weatherford International plc
    GAAP to Non-GAAP Financial Measures Reconciled Continued (Unaudited)
     
                   
         
    ($ in Millions)   March 31,
    2025    		   December 31,
    2024    		   March 31,
    2024    		  
    Current Portion of Long-term Debt   $ 22   $ 17   $ 101  
    Long-term Debt     1,583     1,617     1,629  
    Total Debt   $ 1,605   $ 1,634   $ 1,730  
                   
    Cash and Cash Equivalents   $ 873   $ 916   $ 824  
    Restricted Cash     57     59     113  
    Total Cash   $ 930   $ 975   $ 937  
                   
    Components of Net Debt              
    Current Portion of Long-term Debt   $ 22   $ 17   $ 101  
    Long-term Debt     1,583     1,617     1,629  
    Less: Cash and Cash Equivalents     873     916     824  
    Less: Restricted Cash     57     59     113  
    Net Debt*   $ 675   $ 659   $ 793  
                   
    Net Income for trailing 12 months   $ 470   $ 506   $ 457  
    Adjusted EBITDA* for trailing 12 months   $ 1,299   $ 1,382   $ 1,253  
                   
    Net Leverage* (Net Debt*/Adjusted EBITDA*)     0.52 x   0.48 x   0.63 x
                         

    *Non-GAAP – as reconciled to the GAAP measures above and defined in the section titled Non-GAAP Financial Measures Defined

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI: Weatherford Appoints New Chief Financial Officer

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    HOUSTON, April 22, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Weatherford International plc (NASDAQ: WFRD) (“Weatherford” or the “Company”) today announced Anuj Dhruv has been appointed as Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer.

    Girish Saligram, President and Chief Executive Officer of Weatherford, commented, “I am pleased to welcome Anuj to Weatherford. With fresh perspective and proven expertise, Anuj will enhance our leadership team and help position Weatherford to lead confidently through the next phase of our journey. His experience across multiple industries and leadership roles in finance will help shape Weatherford’s focus on delivering high returns for our shareholders. I would like to thank Arun Mitra for his contributions during his time with Weatherford and wish him the best for the future.”

    About Anuj Dhruv
    Mr. Dhruv brings more than two decades of diverse experience in global finance, strategy, and transformation roles across the technology, energy, and chemicals industries. Most recently, he served as Vice President of Finance and Strategy for the Global Olefins and Polyolefins segment at LyondellBasell, where he was responsible for driving performance, investment strategies, and transformation initiatives across a $29B revenue segment. Mr. Dhruv’s extensive background includes strategic leadership at Schlumberger and Microsoft, with a track record of optimizing financial performance, leading complex M&A transactions, and building high-performing teams.

    About Weatherford

    Weatherford delivers innovative energy services that integrate proven technologies with advanced digitalization to create sustainable offerings for maximized value and return on investment. Our world-class experts partner with customers to optimize their resources and realize the full potential of their assets. Operators choose us for strategic solutions that add efficiency, flexibility, and responsibility to any energy operation. The Company conducts business in approximately 75 countries and has approximately 18,000 team members representing more than 110 nationalities and 320 operating locations. Visit weatherford.com for more information and connect with us on social media.

    Contacts

    For Investors:
    Luke Lemoine
    Senior Vice President, Corporate Development & Investor Relations
    +1 713-836-7777
    investor.relations@weatherford.com

    For Media:
    Kelley Hughes
    Senior Director, Communications & Employee Engagement
    media@weatherford.com

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Senator Murray Tours NOAA Western Regional Office in Seattle, Meets with Meteorologists & Staff—Visit Comes as NOAA Faces Unprecedented Threats from Trump & Elon

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Washington State Patty Murray

    ICYMI: Senator Murray, Former NOAA Administrator and WA State NOAA Employees Fired for No Reason Slam Trump & Elon’s Destructive Mass Layoffs at NOAA

    ***PHOTOS and B-ROLL HERE***

    Seattle, WA— Today, on Earth Day, U.S. Senator Patty Murray (D-WA), Vice Chair of the Senate Appropriations Committee, toured the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) Western Regional Center, which is NOAA’s largest campus by square footage in the U.S. NOAA has a large footprint in Washington state—where it employs approximately 1,000 people at the Western Regional Center, including non-NOAA contractors. Communities across Washington state rely on the work NOAA does—from providing storm warnings and weather forecasts to protecting and restoring marine resources that are essential to our state’s economy and culture.

    On the tour, Senator Murray visited the National Weather Service, met with meteorologists, and saw the cutting-edge equipment they use to forecast the weather and issue severe weather warnings to protect life and property. Senator Murray also met with scientists and researchers at the Alaska Fisheries Science Center and the Pacific Marine Environmental Laboratory who work together to steward our ocean resources and habitat.

    “It was a pleasure visiting NOAA’s Western Regional Center today and hearing from scientists about the vital research they do and services they provide that help all of us. Whether they know it or not, every American relies on the work NOAA does—from creating accurate weather forecasts and storm warnings to managing our fisheries. Here in Washington state, our marine resources are essential to our state’s economy and culture—and the experts at NOAA play a critical role in protecting our waterways and habitats,” said Senator Murray.

    “But Trump and Elon are mass firing experts at NOAA, terminating research programs, and closing facilities—taking a wrecking ball to NOAA and the work it does that helps our country in so many ways, and Washington state in particular,” continued Senator Murray. “NOAA staffing cuts are threatening years of salmon harvest—a multibillion dollar industry in Washington state. Our seafood industry benefits tremendously from NOAA’s work protecting the Puget Sound, NOAA’s storm warnings save lives and property, and shipping routes are dependent on the weather forecasts NOAA provides, to name just a few examples. This administration’s massive, thoughtless cuts at NOAA are putting all of this at risk—I will continue doing everything I can to raise the alarm, speak out, and drive home how essential NOAA’s work is for communities across America.”

    Senator Murray has been outspoken in calling attention to how Trump and Elon’s indiscriminate mass layoffs—including at NOAA—are hurting people across the country and will undermine services Americans everywhere rely on. In March, Senator Murray held a press conference with former NOAA Administrator Rick Spinrad and NOAA employees in Washington state who were fired through no fault of their own. More than 650 NOAA employees have already been fired for no reason by Trump and Elon, with another round of job cuts targeting more than 1,000 additional employees still expected. In addition to employees who accepted the “Fork in the Road” offer, NOAA could potentially see a combined loss of 20 percent of its staff with this next round of cuts. Before January 2025, NOAA’s workforce exceeded 12,000 people worldwide, with more than 50 percent being scientists and engineers. Probationary employees at NOAA who were fired in February were temporarily reinstated in mid-March after a federal court ruling—but the Supreme Court reversed the reinstatements on April 8th, and probationary workers at NOAA and other federal agencies were re-fired.

    Senator Murray has been a leading voice raising the alarm about how Trump and Elon’s mass firings across the federal workforce will undermine services all Americans rely on and hurt families, veterans, small businesses, farmers, and so many others in Washington state and across the country. Senator Murray has spoken out on the Senate floor repeatedly against this administration’s attacks on federal workers, held multiple press conferences with federal workers—including at NOAA—who are being fired for no reason and through no fault of their own, released information about the mass firings, and repeatedly outlined her concerns with the administration’s so-called “Fork in the Road” offer to her constituents in Washington state.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: On Earth Day, Schatz, Casten Introduce Legislation To Address Costs, Financial Risks Of Climate Change

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Hawaii Brian Schatz

    WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Brian Schatz (D-Hawai‘i) and U.S. Representative Sean Casten (D-Ill.) introduced the Climate Change Financial Risk Act, legislation that directs the Federal Reserve to conduct stress tests on large financial institutions to measure their resilience to climate-related financial risks.

    “Risk is risk—we should not be treating some risks different from others just because they’re hard to quantify. Federal regulators are legally obligated to ensure a stable and efficient financial system, and that means reducing the risk of a climate-driven financial crisis,” said Senator Schatz. “Instead of taking steps to reduce the risks facing communities across the country from increasingly frequent and severe extreme weather and disasters—including significantly higher costs for homeowners insurance—the Trump administration is trying to roll back our progress in the climate fight and gut the programs that will make us safer.”

    “Climate change poses a grave and imminent threat to the stability of our financial system. It is essential that our regulators establish parameters so that our financial institutions adequately prepare for and respond to these risks, and that they do so before the next extreme weather crisis strikes,” said Representative Casten. “Our bill will move us toward safeguarding our financial systems—from short-term climate impacts, such as direct uninsured losses from wildfires, hurricanes, and flooding events, as well as from long-term global shifts to a net-zero economy, which may require a reshaping of a bank’s lending and investment activities.”

    Climate change is increasing the frequency and severity of extreme weather events like floods and wildfires. It is also changing long-term climate patterns in ways that will ultimately affect every sector of our economy. Financial institutions face the risk of direct losses from severe weather events and fundamental changes like drought and sea level rise—for example, lower property values from increased flooding. They also face risks from market instability, an erosion of investor confidence, and changes in carbon-intensive asset values resulting from government policies and consumer preferences.

    These risks to our financial system are critical for financial institutions to measure and manage, as recognized in the pilot climate scenario analysis exercise that the Federal Reserve conducted in 2023 and the Principles for Climate-Related Financial Risk Management for Large Financial Institutions published by agencies in 2023. The Office of the Comptroller of the Currency announced in March 2025 that it was withdrawing from its participation in these principles. The Climate Change Financial Risk Act will make sure that financial institutions manage climate risks with stress tests that quantify and measure their resilience.

    The Climate Change Financial Risk Act would require the Federal Reserve to create climate change scenarios for financial stress tests, with input from federal scientific agencies and an advisory group of climate scientists and climate economists. The Federal Reserve would then conduct stress tests every two years on the largest financial institutions. The biennial tests will require each covered institution to create and update a resolution plan, which will describe how the institution plans to evolve its capital planning, balance sheet and off-balance sheet exposures, and other business operations to respond to the most recent test results. Federal Reserve objections to a resolution plan would limit the institution’s ability to proceed with capital distributions until it improves its plan. The Federal Reserve will also partner with the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency and the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation to design a survey to assess the ability of a broader set of financial institutions to withstand climate risks.

    Schatz’s legislation is cosponsored by U.S. Senators Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.), Jeff Merkley (D-Ore.), Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.), Sheldon Whitehouse (D-R.I.), Patty Murray (D-Wash.), Martin Heinrich (D-N.M.), and Cory Booker (D-N.J.). The House companion legislation, led by Casten, is cosponsored by U.S. Representatives Stephen Lynch (D-Mass.), Emanuel Cleaver (D-Mo.), Jared Huffman (D-Calif.), Kevin Mullin (D-Calif.), Sarah Elfreth (D-Md.), and Salud Carbajal (D-Calif.).

    “Those of us in the West are already experiencing the cost of climate inaction firsthand – from higher home insurance rates and utility bills for hardworking families to lower profits for producers. As the impacts of climate change intensify, we need to do everything we can to make our local economies more resilient for families, workers, and small businesses,” said Senator Heinrich. “This Earth Day, I’m proud to introduce the Climate Change Financial Risk Act with Senator Schatz to protect New Mexicans from the costly consequences of worsening climate change by strengthening the ability of our financial institutions to withstand extreme weather events like prolonged droughts and wildfires, which can trigger market instability and shake investor confidence.”

    “Trump’s Dirty Energy First strategy is fanning the flames of climate chaos, and it’s essential to understand the risk that poses to our major financial institutions,” said Senator Merkley. “We must not ignore the danger climate change poses to the economic security of hardworking Americans.”

    The Climate Change Financial Risk Act is supported by League of Conservation Voters, Ceres, the Sierra Club, Public Citizen, and Americans for Financial Reform.

    “US regulators must get back in the business of managing the systemic financial risks posed by increasing floods, fires, and storms,” said Steven M. Rothstein, Managing Director of the Accelerator for Sustainable Capital Markets, Ceres. “We commend Senator Schatz and Representative Casten for reintroducing this legislation and laying out a clear role for the Federal Reserve Board to address climate-related financial risks. This legislation will provide the clarity and analysis needed to ensure the financial industry makes informed decisions that protect individual institutions from climate-related shocks and insulate the financial system from widespread loss.”

    “As financial regulators retreat under political pressure, this bill represents a much-needed step to ensure our financial system is better prepared for the growing risks of climate change. Investors need regulators to provide clear, forward-looking assessments of systemic risk — and to ensure that financial institutions aren’t throwing more fuel on the fire of the climate crisis. With climate disasters escalating and financial consequences mounting, leaders at all levels of government must act to build a more stable and sustainable financial system. We applaud Sen. Schatz and Rep. Casten for their continued leadership to make that happen,” said Ben Cushing, Sustainable Finance Campaign Director, the Sierra Club.

    The text of the bill is available here.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: SPC Severe Thunderstorm Watch 159 Status Reports

    Source: US National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

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    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Michigan Woman Sentenced to 30 years for Fentanyl and Methamphetamine Trafficking

    Source: Office of United States Attorneys

    LEXINGTON, Ky. – A Detroit, Michigan, woman, Chanel Lashae Logan, 25, was sentenced on Monday by U.S. District Judge Danny Reeves to 360 months in prison, for one count of conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine and fentanyl, and one count of possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine and fentanyl.

    According to her court records, between March 1, 2024 and June 6, 2024, Logan conspired with co-defendant Saruba Asante Smith to distribute substantial quantities of methamphetamine and fentanyl in the Lexington, Kentucky area.  In her plea agreement, Logan admitted to selling methamphetamine and fentanyl to an undercover operative on April 23, 2024, followed by an additional larger quantity of methamphetamine to the same undercover operative on May 30, 2024.  Both transactions occurred in Lexington.  Shortly thereafter, Logan agreed with the undercover operative to sell 10 pounds of methamphetamine and 4 ounces of fentanyl, which she intended to obtain in Detroit.  On June 6, 2024, in Shelby County, Kentucky, law enforcement stopped Logan and Smith in Logan’s vehicle as it traveled back from Detroit.  Law enforcement located 6.8 kilograms of methamphetamine in the car, along with 76 grams of fentanyl.  A search warrant executed at Logan’s and Smith’s Lexington apartment that same day led to the seizure of an additional 4.3 kilograms of methamphetamine and 892 grams of fentanyl.

    Logan’s co-defendant, Saruba Smith, was previously sentenced to 92 months in prison. 

    Under federal law, Logan must serve 85 percent of her prison sentence. Upon her release from prison, she will be under the supervision of the U.S. Probation Office for five years.

    Paul McCaffrey, Acting United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Kentucky; Jim Scott, Special Agent in Charge, DEA, Louisville Field Division; Phillip J. Burnett, Jr., Commissioner of the Kentucky State Police; Chief Lawrence Weathers, Lexington Police Department; and Sheriff David Charles, Montgomery County Sheriff’s Office, jointly announced the sentence.

    The investigation was conducted by the DEA, KSP, Lexington Police Department, and Montgomery County Sheriff’s Office. Assistant U.S. Attorney Roger West is prosecuting the case on behalf of the United States.

    This effort is part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) operation. OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles the highest-level criminal organizations that threaten the United States using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach. Additional information about the OCDETF Program can be found at https://www.justice.gov/OCDETF.

    – END –

     

     

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI USA: ON EARTH DAY, CASTEN, SCHATZ INTRODUCE LEGISLATION TO ADDRESS THE COSTS AND FINANCIAL RISKS OF CLIMATE CHANGE

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Representative Sean Casten (IL-06)

    April 22, 2025

    Washington, D.C. – U.S. Representative Sean Casten (D-IL-06) and U.S. Senator Brian Schatz (D-Hawai‘i) introduced the Climate Change Financial Risk Act, legislation that directs the Federal Reserve to conduct stress tests on large financial institutions to measure their resilience to climate-related financial risks.

    “Risk is risk—we should not be treating some risks different from others just because they’re hard to quantify. Federal regulators are legally obligated to ensure a stable and efficient financial system, and that means reducing the risk of a climate-driven financial crisis,” said Senator Schatz. “Instead of taking steps to reduce the risks facing communities across the country from increasingly frequent and severe extreme weather and disasters—including significantly higher costs for homeowners insurance—the Trump administration is trying to roll back our progress in the climate fight and gut the programs that will make us safer.”

    “Climate change poses a grave and imminent threat to the stability of our financial system. It is essential that our regulators establish parameters so that our financial institutions adequately prepare for and respond to these risks, and that they do so before the next extreme weather crisis strikes,” said Representative Casten. “Our bill will move us toward safeguarding our financial systems—from short-term climate impacts, such as direct uninsured losses from wildfires, hurricanes, and flooding events, as well as from long-term global shifts to a net-zero economy, which may require a reshaping of a bank’s lending and investment activities.”

    Climate change is increasing the frequency and severity of extreme weather events like floods and wildfires. It is also changing long-term climate patterns in ways that will ultimately affect every sector of our economy. Financial institutions face the risk of direct losses from severe weather events and fundamental changes like drought and sea level rise—for example, lower property values from increased flooding. They also face risks from market instability, an erosion of investor confidence, and changes in carbon-intensive asset values resulting from government policies and consumer preferences. 

    These risks to our financial system are critical for financial institutions to measure and manage, as recognized in the pilot climate scenario analysis exercise that the Federal Reserve conducted in 2023 and the Principles for Climate-Related Financial Risk Management for Large Financial Institutions published by agencies in 2023. The Office of the Comptroller of the Currency announced in March 2025 that it was withdrawing from its participation in these principles. The Climate Change Financial Risk Act will make sure that financial institutions manage climate risks with stress tests that quantify and measure their resilience.

    The Climate Change Financial Risk Act would require the Federal Reserve to create climate change scenarios for financial stress tests, with input from federal scientific agencies and an advisory group of climate scientists and climate economists. The Federal Reserve would then conduct stress tests every two years on the largest financial institutions. The biennial tests will require each covered institution to create and update a resolution plan, which will describe how the institution plans to evolve its capital planning, balance sheet and off-balance sheet exposures, and other business operations to respond to the most recent test results. Federal Reserve objections to a resolution plan would limit the institution’s ability to proceed with capital distributions until it improves its plan. The Federal Reserve will also partner with the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency and the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation to design a survey to assess the ability of a broader set of financial institutions to withstand climate risks. 

    Casten and Schatz’s legislation is cosponsored by U.S. Senators Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.), Jeff Merkley (D-Ore.), Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.), Sheldon Whitehouse (D-R.I.), Patty Murray (D-Wash.), Martin Heinrich (D-N.M.), and Cory Booker (D-N.J), and U.S. Representatives Stephen Lynch (D-Mass.), Emanuel Cleaver (D-Mo.), Jared Huffman (D-Calif.), Kevin Mullin (D-Calif.), Sarah Elfreth (D-Md.), and Salud Carbajal (D-Calif.).

    “Those of us in the West are already experiencing the cost of climate inaction firsthand – from higher home insurance rates and utility bills for hardworking families to lower profits for producers. As the impacts of climate change intensify, we need to do everything we can to make our local economies more resilient for families, workers, and small businesses,” said Senator Heinrich. “This Earth Day, I’m proud to introduce the Climate Change Financial Risk Act with Senator Schatz to protect New Mexicans from the costly consequences of worsening climate change by strengthening the ability of our financial institutions to withstand extreme weather events like prolonged droughts and wildfires, which can trigger market instability and shake investor confidence.”

    “Trump’s Dirty Energy First strategy is fanning the flames of climate chaos, and it’s essential to understand the risk that poses to our major financial institutions,” said Senator Merkley. “We must not ignore the danger climate change poses to the economic security of hardworking Americans.”

    The Climate Change Financial Risk Act is supported by the League of Conservation Voters, Ceres, the Sierra Club, Public Citizen, and Americans for Financial Reform.

    “US regulators must get back in the business of managing the systemic financial risks posed by increasing floods, fires, and storms,” said Steven M. Rothstein, Managing Director of the Accelerator for Sustainable Capital Markets, Ceres. “We commend Senator Schatz and Representative Casten for reintroducing this legislation and laying out a clear role for the Federal Reserve Board to address climate-related financial risks. This legislation will provide the clarity and analysis needed to ensure the financial industry makes informed decisions that protect individual institutions from climate-related shocks and insulate the financial system from widespread loss.”

    “As financial regulators retreat under political pressure, this bill represents a much-needed step to ensure our financial system is better prepared for the growing risks of climate change. Investors need regulators to provide clear, forward-looking assessments of systemic risk — and to ensure that financial institutions aren’t throwing more fuel on the fire of the climate crisis. With climate disasters escalating and financial consequences mounting, leaders at all levels of government must act to build a more stable and sustainable financial system. We applaud Sen. Schatz and Rep. Casten for their continued leadership to make that happen,” said Ben Cushing, Sustainable Finance Campaign Director, the Sierra Club.

    The full text of the bill is available here.

    ###

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Welch Statement on Earth Day 

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator Peter Welch (D-Vermont)
    BURLINGTON, VT – U.S. Senator Peter Welch (D-Vt.) today released the following statement commemorating Earth Day: 
    “Fighting the climate crisis has become more urgent by the day. But instead of meeting the moment, President Trump has taken a wrecking ball to the essential environmental programs we need to secure a more sustainable future. On day one of his second term, President Trump removed us from the Paris Climate Agreement. And in the days since, he’s eliminated regulations for corporate polluters at the expense of our environment and public health, gutted our National Parks, and suspended programs that would make the U.S. a global leader in renewable technologies. He’s hurting green jobs, and a green future,” said Senator Welch. “This Earth Day, we renew our commitment to doing everything we can to protect America’s great outdoors and our planet.” 

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI Europe: EIB supports innovative climate action in emerging markets alongside private equity firm LeapFrog Investments

    Source: European Investment Bank

    EIB

    • EIB Global commits $60 million to Climate Investment Strategy of LeapFrog Investments alongside World Bank Group’s International Finance Corporation on margins of Spring Meetings in Washington.
    • LeapFrog aims to deploy $500 million for green technologies in Africa and Asia.
    • Other partners include the World Bank Group’s International Finance Corporation, Singaporean investment firm Temasek and the Swiss Development Finance Institution

    The European Investment Bank is accelerating the use of green technologies in Africa and Asia with a $60 million pledge for private equity firm LeapFrog Investments (LeapFrog). The pledge by the EIB, financial arm of the European Union,  is for a LeapFrog Climate Investment Strategy that has also drawn support from the World Bank Group’s International Finance Corporation (IFC), Singapore headquartered global investment companyTemasek and the Swiss Development Finance Institution (SIFEM).

    LeapFrog aims to deploy $500 million under its Climate Investment Strategy to scale green tools and technologies for consumers in Africa and Asia. Millions of people are expected to have access to better and greener transport, energy, food and housing as a result of the initiative.

    EIB Group President Nadia Calviño said: “Today’s announcement is an example of public-private partnership at its best, and a strong statement on Europe’s climate leadership. At the EIB, we are staying the course and consolidating our role as The Climate Bank.”

    Consumers in South Asia, Southeast Asia and Africa account for 25% of global emissions of greenhouse gases, a figure set to rise to as much as 73% by 2030 without a green transition. Directing capital in these markets to actions that counter climate change is key to fostering long-term and sustainable economic growth.

    An initial investment under LeapFrog’s Climate Investment Strategy supports Battery Smart, India’s largest battery-as-a-service provider for two and three wheelers, providing riders with low-carbon mobility. Other sectors of interest include rooftop solar and clean cooking.

     “The world’s four billion  consumers in emerging markets constitute half of humanity – they have every right to rise but, without green tools and technologies, their total emissions will blow through the world’s carbon budget. This is also where the greatest opportunities lie — investing to support  a generational  transition for the majority of global consumers and producers. We are grateful to have the support of our longstanding partners EIB, IFC and Temasek in achieving this mission,” said Dr Andy Kuper, CEO and Founder of LeapFrog Investments.

    LeapFrog’s Climate Investment Strategy was recognised today at the World Bank Group and International Monetary Fund Spring Meetings by the heads of the EIB Group, LeapFrog and by IFC Vice-President of Industries Mohammed Gouled and Temasek CEO Dilhan Pillay.

    Background information

    About the European Investment Bank Group:

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

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

    EIB Global is the EIB Group’s specialised arm devoted to increasing the impact of international partnerships and development finance, and a key partner of Global Gateway. We aim to support €100 billion of investment by the end of 2027 – around one-third of the overall target of this EU initiative. Within Team Europe, EIB Global fosters strong, focused partnerships alongside fellow development finance institutions and civil society. EIB Global brings the EIB Group closer to people, companies and institutions through our offices across the world. High-quality, up-to-date photos of our headquarters for media use are available here. 

    About LeapFrog Investments

    LeapFrog invests in healthcare, financial services and climate solutions businesses in high-growth global markets. Its companies deliver distinctive impact and robust returns, growing revenues on average 23% a year. LeapFrog companies now reach 537 million people with essential services in 37 countries. The firm has raised billions of dollars from global institutional investors, including a $500m commitment by Temasek to LeapFrog and its growth equity funds. LeapFrog has twice been ranked by Fortune as one of the top Companies to Change the World, alongside Apple and Novartis, and was named inaugural Pioneer in Impact by the FT and IFC at the Transformational Business Awards.

    For more information, go to: www.leapfroginvest.com.

    EIB supports innovative climate action in emerging markets alongside private equity firm LeapFrog Investments
    EIB supports innovative climate action in emerging markets alongside private equity firm LeapFrog Investments
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    MIL OSI Europe News –

  • MIL-OSI Europe: Answer to a written question – Arctic-boreal zone emissions – E-000644/2025(ASW)

    Source: European Parliament

    1. The Commission supports Member States and third countries including through grants under the Union Civil Protection Mechanism (UCPM)[1]. Beneficiaries from Nordic countries are involved in wildfire-related projects to enhance cross-border cooperation, promote resilience, and enhance research and readiness for extreme wildfires. F irefighting preparedness is being reinforced since 2019 with an aircraft of the rescEU fleet positioned in Sweden. The Commission also supports institutional capacity building through the UCPM peer review programme[2] and the Commission’s Expert Group on Forest Fires[3], which facilitates the exchange of good practices among the fire management services of European countries.

    2. The EU has invested EUR 372 million in 139 Horizon 2020 and Horizon Europe[4] research projects covering the Arctic region. In line with the EU Arctic policy, research on permafrost thawing and informing climate mitigation strategies will continue in Horizon Europe. As of January 2025, the European Polar Coordination Office (EPCO) provides expert input to inform decisions on polar priorities and challenges. In 2024, a Commission Task Force issued a report on polar observations[5], including recommendations for permafrost and methane emissions monitoring.

    3. The EU’s Arctic Policy[6] and EU Green Alliances with Norway and Canada underline the EU’s fundamental interest in supporting multilateral Arctic cooperation. The EU promotes strong cooperation to address climate issues in the Arctic and boreal context and regularly engages with the Arctic Council and funds its research activities. It contributes to climate efforts in multilateral fora such as the International Maritime Organisation and the United Nation’s Climate Change Conferences.

    • [1] https://civil-protection-humanitarian-aid.ec.europa.eu/what/civil-protection/eu-civil-protection-mechanism_en
    • [2] https://civil-protection-knowledge-network.europa.eu/disaster-prevention-and-risk-management/ucpm-peer-review-programme
    • [3] https://ec.europa.eu/transparency/expert-groups-register/screen/expert-groups/consult?lang=en&do=groupDetail.groupDetail&groupID=416
    • [4] https://research-and-innovation.ec.europa.eu/funding/funding-opportunities/funding-programmes-and-open-calls/horizon-europe_en
    • [5] https://joint-research-centre.ec.europa.eu/jrc-news-and-updates/copernicus-polar-roadmap-eu-satellite-observations-help-respond-emerging-polar-challenges-2024-09-03_en?prefLang=bg
    • [6] JOIN (2021)27 final.
    Last updated: 22 April 2025

    MIL OSI Europe News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Brownley Statement on the Climate Crisis and Trump’s Attack on Environmental Protections

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Julia Brownley (D-CA)

    Washington, DC – On Earth Day, Congresswoman Julia Brownley (D-CA) issued the following statement condemning the Trump Administration’s failure to act on the climate crisis and its continued assault on environmental protections and the future of our planet:

    “The climate crisis is not a distant threat – it’s already here. In Ventura County and across the Conejo Valley, we are seeing firsthand the consequences of inaction: more destructive wildfires, extreme weather events, and risks to critical infrastructure, including Naval Base Ventura County and the Port of Hueneme, which are vital to our national security and local economy.

    “At the very moment when bold action is needed, the Trump Administration is doing the opposite. They have laid off thousands of climate scientists at NOAA, proposed a 65% cut to the EPA’s workforce, and frozen billions in funding for electric vehicle infrastructure.

    “This is not leadership – it is climate denialism weaponized into policy, and it is leaving Americans more vulnerable by the day.

    “This is an all-out attack on the policies and people protecting our environment and public health. They’re slashing science funding, dismantling oversight, and threatening to eliminate vital agencies like the EPA, NOAA, and FEMA and crippling our country’s ability to prepare for disasters and recover after them. These are deliberate acts of sabotage against our nation, the environment, our economy, and our future.

    “They are also targeting the National Park Service and U.S. Forest Service, putting treasured places like the Channel Islands National Park at risk. Over 4,000 park and forest workers have already been fired, including more than 10% of the Channel Islands National Park staff. These reckless cuts undermine wildfire prevention and threaten the long-term preservation of our public lands.

    “Worse still, these policies are being driven not by science or the public interest, but by corporate polluters and fossil fuel lobbyists who have found willing allies in this administration. This administration is doling out giveaways to polluters and special interests at the expense of future generations.

    “Not only are these policy mistakes, they are moral failures. The consequences of the Trump administration’s anti-climate actions will be felt for decades. They threaten our ecosystems, our local economy, and our ability to confront climate change before it is too late. And by walking away from climate leadership, this administration is weakening global efforts and ceding ground to other nations, risking not only our environment, but our standing in the world.

    “As a member of the House Natural Resources Committee and the Sustainable Energy and Environment Coalition, I am working with my Democratic colleagues in Congress to fight back. Together, we are fighting to advance legislation to protect our public lands and waters, strengthen wildfire resilience, defend environmental safeguards, and invest in a clean energy future. We are committed to responsible stewardship of our planet and to holding accountable those who seek to destroy what generations of Americans have worked to preserve.

    “In California, we know what’s at stake. When lives are lost, when homes are destroyed, when wildfires rage, we are reminded that climate change is not abstract. It’s real. It’s personal. And it demands action.

    “This administration has made clear it is willing to sacrifice our planet and our children’s futures for short-term political gain. We cannot and will not stand by. The American people expect their leaders to protect them and not endanger their health, their homes, and their future. We all share the responsibility to be good stewards of our environment and to fight for the future we hope to see for our children and grandchildren.

    “Our children and grandchildren are watching, and history will judge whether we met this moment or let it pass us by.”

    ###

    Issues: 119th Congress, Climate Crisis, Environment

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Padilla, Booker, Reed Introduce Bills to Permanently Protect the Pacific and Atlantic Oceans from Offshore Drilling

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator Alex Padilla (D-Calif.)

    Padilla, Booker, Reed Introduce Bills to Permanently Protect the Pacific and Atlantic Oceans from Offshore Drilling

    WASHINGTON, D.C. — On Earth Day, U.S. Senators Alex Padilla (D-Calif.), Cory Booker (D-N.J.), and Jack Reed (D-R.I.) announced a pair of bills to permanently protect the Pacific and Atlantic Oceans from the dangers of fossil fuel drilling. The package includes Padilla’s West Coast Ocean Protection Act, which would permanently prohibit new oil and gas leases for offshore drilling off the coast of California, Oregon, and Washington, as well as Booker and Reed’s Clean Ocean and Safe Tourism (COAST) Anti-Drilling Act, which would permanently prohibit the U.S. Department of the Interior from issuing leases for the exploration, development, or production of oil and gas in the North Atlantic, Mid-Atlantic, South Atlantic, and Straits of Florida Planning Areas of the U.S. Outer Continental Shelf.

    This legislation comes just after the 15th anniversary of the Deepwater Horizon oil spill, which resulted in the deaths of 11 workers, 134 million gallons spilled into the Gulf of Mexico over 87 days, the demise of thousands of marine mammals and sea turtles, and billions of dollars in economic losses from the fishing, outdoor recreation, and tourism industries.

    Representative Jared Huffman (D-Calif.-02), Ranking Member of the House Natural Resources Committee, and Frank Pallone, Jr. (D-N.J.-06), Ranking Member of the House Energy and Commerce Committee, are leading companion legislation in the House for the West Coast Ocean Protection Act and the Clean Ocean and Safe Tourism (COAST) Anti-Drilling Act, respectively.

    A one-pager on the West Coast Protection Act is available here.

    Full text of the West Coast Protection Act is available here, and full text of the COAST Anti-Drilling Act is available here.

    “We must end offshore oil drilling in coastal waters once and for all,” said Senator Padilla. “Over 50 years ago, after a catastrophic oil spill off the coast of Santa Barbara, Californians rose up and demanded environmental protections, spurring the modern environmental movement and creating the very first Earth Day. As the Trump Administration threatens to recklessly open our coasts to new drilling, California and the West Coast need permanent safeguards to protect our communities from the devastation of fossil fuels and disastrous oil spills. We must act now to fulfill the promises we made to our children and our constituents to meet the urgency of this environmental crisis with bold action.”

    “This week marks both Earth Day and the 15th anniversary of the Deepwater Horizon oil disaster,” said Senator Booker. “I’m standing alongside my colleagues in the House and Senate to reaffirm our commitment to protecting our communities and our environment. Offshore drilling endangers our coastal communities – both their lives and their livelihoods – and threatens marine species and ecosystems. The COAST Act, along with this critical package of legislation, will ensure that marine seascapes along the Atlantic and Pacific Coasts, and the wildlife, industries, and communities that rely on them, are protected from the dangers of fossil fuel drilling.”

    “Offshore drilling in the Atlantic Ocean would open up the eastern seaboard to considerable risk, and we have seen the destruction that an accident can cause. This legislation is about more than simply protecting the environment, it’s also about protecting the tourism and fishing industries that create jobs and help power Rhode Island’s economy,” said Senator Reed.

    “It’s clear that in the 15 years since the most catastrophic oil spill disaster in history, Republicans in the pocket of Big Oil have learned nothing. Offshore drilling poses significant threats to our public health, coastal economies, and marine life. The science is clear, and so is the public sentiment: we need to speed up our transition to a clean energy future, not lock ourselves into another generation of fossil fuel fealty,” said Representative Huffman. “We cannot let history repeat itself. My Democratic colleagues aren’t standing idly by as the Trump administration tries to reverse all of our progress so they can give handouts to Big Oil. Our legislation will cut pollution and ramp up clean energy, ensuring our coasts remain safe, clean, and open to all Americans— not turned into open season for fossil fuel billionaires looking to drill, spill, and cash in.” 

    “For decades, I’ve fought to protect our coasts from the dangers of oil and gas development, and this legislative package reaffirms that commitment. Offshore drilling risks devastating spills, accelerates climate change, and threatens the livelihoods of coastal communities like those in New Jersey. On Earth Day and every day, we must stand up to Big Oil and prioritize renewable energy that actually protects our planet,” said Representative Pallone.

    These bills reaffirm vital protections for America’s coastal communities and ecosystems. The Biden Administration protected more than 625 million acres of U.S. ocean waters — including the Pacific coasts of Washington, Oregon, and California, the entire East Coast, the eastern Gulf of Mexico, and parts of the Northern Bering Sea — from offshore oil and gas drilling. President Trump immediately tried to roll back those protections, attempting to illegally reopen those areas to drilling on day one of his second term. Trump’s record speaks for itself: during his first Administration, the Interior Department proposed a sweeping plan to open 47 offshore oil and gas lease areas across nearly every U.S. coastline, from California to New England.

    The two bills would protect critical coastal communities, economies, and ecosystems against offshore drilling, which is especially important in the face of the climate crisis. U.S. coastal counties support 54.6 million jobs, produce $10 trillion in goods and services, and pay $4 trillion in wages. Offshore drilling poses significant threats to public health, coastal economies, and diverse marine life that play an important economical, ecological, and cultural role in our ecosystem. 

    California began efforts to block offshore drilling in 1969 when an oil rig off the coast of Santa Barbara leaked 3 million gallons of crude oil into the ocean, blanketing beaches with a thick layer of oil and killing thousands of marine mammals and birds. It was the largest oil spill in U.S. history until the Exxon Valdez spill 20 years later. California is also approaching the 10th anniversary of the Refugio State Beach Oil Spill, in which a Plains All American Pipeline in Santa Barbara County ruptured and spilled hundreds of thousands of gallons of crude oil, marking the worst spill in the area since 1969 and impacting some of the most biologically diverse regions along California coast.

    After the 1969 Santa Barbara spill, California blocked all new offshore oil drilling in state waters, protecting our coastal waters up to three miles from the shore. The state reinforced that ban in 1994 by passing the California Coastal Sanctuary Act, which prohibited new leasing in state waters. However, in 2018, the Trump Administration released a five-year offshore leasing plan that proposed opening up the entire West Coast to new drilling despite widespread opposition in Pacific coast states. This proposal was blocked by the courts, but the threat of drilling remains until a permanent ban is enacted.

    The West Coast Protection Act is cosponsored by Senators Cory Booker (D-N.J.), Maria Cantwell (D-Wash.), Edward J. Markey (D-Mass.), Jeff Merkley (D-Ore.), Patty Murray (D-Wash.), Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.), Adam Schiff (D-Calif.), Sheldon Whitehouse (D-R.I.), and Ron Wyden (D-Ore.). It is endorsed by organizations including Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC), Oceana, Defenders of Wildlife, Earthjustice, Surfrider Foundation, Seattle Aquarium, Turtle Island Restoration Network, Nassau Hiking & Outdoor Club, Lee (MA) Greener Gateway Committee, South Shore Audubon Society (Freeport, NY), Sierra Club, League of Conservation Voters, Futureswell, Ocean Conservancy, Environment America, WILDCOAST, Food & Water Watch, Environmental Protection Information Center, Ocean Defense Initiative, Center for Biological Diversity, The Ocean Project, Business Alliance to Protect the Pacific Coast, Animal Welfare Institute, Wild Cumberland, Climate Reality Project – North Broward and Palm Beach County Chapter, U.S. Climate Action Network, American Bird Conservancy, Surf Industry Members Association, Business Alliance for Protecting the Pacific Coast (BAPPC), Clean Ocean Action, and Hispanic Access Foundation.

    The COAST Anti-Drilling Act is cosponsored by Senator Padilla as well as Senators Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.), Chris Coons (D-Del.), Angus King (I-Maine), Markey, Merkley, Sanders, Jeanne Shaheen (D-N.H.), Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.), Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.), Whitehouse, and Wyden. It is endorsed by organizations including Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC), Oceana, Surfrider Foundation, Earthjustice, Turtle Island Restoration Network, Nassau Hiking & Outdoor Club, Lee (MA) Greener Gateway Committee, South Shore Audubon Society (Freeport, NY), Sierra Club, League of Conservation Voters, Futureswell, Ocean Conservancy, Environment America, Food & Water Watch, Waterspirit, Business Alliance to Protect the Atlantic, Clean Ocean Action, Jersey Coast Anglers Association (NJ), American Littoral Society, Save Coastal Wildlife, Environmental Protection Information Center, Defenders of Wildlife, Ocean Defense Initiative, Center for Biological Diversity, The Ocean Project, North Carolina Coastal Federation, Animal Welfare Institute, Wild Cumberland, Climate Reality Project – North Broward and Palm Beach County Chapter, U.S. Climate Action Network, National Aquarium, American Bird Conservancy, and Hispanic Access Foundation.

    “It’s time to end the threat of expanded drilling off America’s coasts forever,” said Joseph Gordon, Oceana Campaign Director. “Oceana applauds these Congressional leaders for reintroducing pivotal legislation that would establish permanent protections from offshore oil and gas drilling for millions of acres of ocean. Earth Day is an important reminder that every coastal community deserves healthy oceans and oil-free beaches. This bill is part of a national movement to safeguard our multi-billion-dollar coastal economies from dirty and dangerous offshore drilling. Congress must swiftly pass these bills into law and reject any expansion of drilling to protect our coasts.”

    “Protecting these waters puts coastal communities and wildlife above polluters and brings us closer to a world where our waters are free from oil spills, endangered whale populations are free from seismic blasting, and local economies can thrive,” said Taryn Kiekow Heimer, Director of Ocean Energy at NRDC (Natural Resources Defense Council). “Now more than ever, we need leadership from Congress to protect our oceans from an industry that only cares about its bottom line – and a Trump administration willing to do anything to give those oil billionaires what they want.”

    “The Trump administration’s path of so-called ‘energy dominance’ is paved with threats to American coasts,” said Sierra Weaver, senior attorney for Defenders of Wildlife. “This set of bills offers real protections for coastal communities and wildlife against unwanted, unreasonable and unsafe offshore oil drilling. This is just the type of bold action we need on the 15th anniversary of the Deepwater Horizon oil spill, the worst environmental disaster in U.S. history.”

    “Imperiled species like Southern resident orcas and sea otters need clean, healthy ocean habitats to thrive. New offshore drilling would bring habitat destruction, noise pollution and the threat of spills and chronic contamination to those species and their homes,” said Joseph Vaile, Northwest Program senior representative for Defenders of Wildlife. “This legislation is a critical step toward permanently safeguarding marine mammals and coastal communities from irreversible harm. We thank Senator Padilla for championing the West Coast Ocean Protection Act at a time when the threat of offshore drilling is especially urgent.”

    “California’s spectacular marine life — including complex kelp forests and charismatic sea otters — and vibrant coastal economies rely on healthy ecosystems. This legislation could, once and for all, block offshore drilling activities along the continental shelf, and protect critical marine habitats along California’s iconic Pacific Coast,” said Pamela Flick, Defenders of Wildlife California Program Director.

    “These bills will permanently protect our coastal communities from the threats of offshore drilling. Oil spills like the one caused by the deadly BP drilling disaster 15 years ago are dangerous to people’s health and our public waters. The economic vitality of entire regions depend on oceans staying healthy,” said Earthjustice Senior Legislative Representative Laura M. Esquivel. “We applaud these Members of Congress for doing what’s right on behalf of their constituents.” 

    “These important bills will protect our environment, communities, and economy from the harmful effects of offshore oil and gas development. Offshore drilling is a dirty and damaging practice that threatens our nation’s ocean recreation, tourism, and fisheries industries valued at $250 billion annually. The Surfrider Foundation urges members of Congress to support this important legislation to prohibit new offshore drilling in U.S. waters,” said Pete Stauffer, Ocean Protection Manager, Surfrider Foundation.

    “These bills are critical, especially now. Protecting our environment and frontline communities from the dangers of offshore oil and gas development must be a top priority in the face of the escalating climate and biodiversity crises,” said Elizabeth Purcell, Environmental Policy Coordinator with Turtle Island Restoration Network. “Congress must act swiftly and support these bills to protect our oceans from further exploitation by the oil and gas industry, ensuring a healthy and safe planet for all.”

    “We are the generation that will live with the consequences of today’s energy choices. As young ocean advocates, we want to leave a better legacy for ocean health behind us than what has been left for us,” said Mark Haver, North America Regional Representative with Sustainable Ocean Alliance. “Congress has a moral responsibility to prevent new offshore oil and gas drilling leases. We will be counting on Congress to act on behalf of our ocean and future generations.”

    “Our coasts are a source of life, livelihood, and recreation for coastal communities and the millions of visitors they see every year,” said Athan Manuel, Director of the Sierra Club’s Lands Protection Program. “They also support untold diverse wildlife and ecosystems that are put at risk by exploitation from the oil and gas industry. These bills provide much-needed critical protections for the health of our coastal communities and to ensure that future generations will get to enjoy the wonders of our oceans and beaches.”

    “It has been clear for years that we cannot afford to expand fossil fuel extraction and burning if we want any hope of staving off the ever worsening effects of climate change,” said Mitch Jones, Managing Director of Policy and Litigation at Food & Water Watch. “In addition to the threat of worsening climate chaos, offshore drilling directly endangers local environments, wildlife, and economies due to the threats of oil spills and disruptions to aquatic life. We urge Congress to pass these bills to protect our coastlines and our oceans from Trump’s disastrous push for more drilling.”

    “Water is the pulse of our planet, the sacred thread that connects all life. We all have a responsibility to protect the very essence that sustains us,” said Rachel Dawn Davis, Public Policy & Justice Organizer at Waterspirit. “The threat of exploitation-whether through drilling or pollution-puts ecosystems and future generations at risk. We must continue to honor and defend our waters; in preserving them, we preserve life itself.”

    “Our oceans provide forever benefits in so many ways for both local communities and whole nations. We thoroughly support the bipartisan protections put forward in these Bills, which would position the United States to lead the world and reap huge benefits for tourism, energy security, health and local jobs, not to mention the beautiful wildlife that drives billions of dollars of tourism and other benefits,” said Global Rewilding Alliance.

    “A clean ocean is crucial for the conservation of marine biodiversity,” said Jenna Reynolds, Executive Director of Save Coastal Wildlife. “A polluted ocean poses significant risks to marine wildlife, including increased vessel traffic around oil platforms, which can lead to collisions with marine animals, especially sea turtles and juvenile whales which are difficult to see from moving vessels. Oil spills can directly coat and kill marine animals, including seabirds, sea turtles, marine mammals, and can also damage coastal ecosystems like beaches and coastal wetlands, impacting wildlife and people that rely on these areas. We need to bring back and fully protect biodiversity in our ocean!”

    “We must work toward a future where our coastal communities, economies, and marine life can thrive thanks to a healthy ocean. As the Trump Administration seeks to threaten our favorite beaches and ecosystems with new offshore drilling, it’s more important than ever for ocean champions in Congress to advance ocean protections,” said Sarah Guy, Ocean Defense Initiative. “We are grateful for the leadership of members supporting these bills, and commit to working toward a future where all our coasts are protected from the harms of offshore drilling.”

    “We believe our coasts are far too valuable to risk for short-term fossil fuel gains,” said Katie Thompson, Executive Director of Save Our Shores. “Permanently protecting offshore areas from oil and gas leasing is a critical step toward safeguarding marine ecosystems, coastal communities, and our climate future. These bills reflect the will of the people to prioritize ocean health and long-term sustainability over polluting industries of the past.”

    “This suite of legislation is a critical move to safeguard our marine resources against Trump and his Big Oil agenda,” said Rachel Rilee, oceans policy specialist at the Center for Biological Diversity. “It’s been 15 years since the Deepwater Horizon oil disaster devastated coastlines and killed hundreds of thousands of marine animals. Our oceans and the incredible ecosystems they support are counting on us. Congress must pass these bills and then get right back to work protecting marine life and coastal communities from every manmade danger and every Republican attack.”

    “Americans love our coasts. For some of us, they’re home, and for many others, they’re home to wonderful memories, including family vacations at the beach, fishing trips with friends, and encounters with wildlife like sea turtles, dolphins, and whales. But oil spills can destroy all of that. It’s simply not worth the risk. We must not squander our children’s inheritance,” said Bill Mott, Executive Director of The Ocean Project. “The ocean offers endless inspiration, recreational opportunities, and serves as a critically important economic driver. Yet despite its vastness, it is incredibly vulnerable. As we’ve seen too many times before, offshore oil and gas drilling is not compatible with stewarding our ocean. We all share a responsibility to keep our coasts clean and our ocean healthy for future generations. That’s why we urge Congress to act now to prohibit new offshore oil and gas development forever.”

    “AWI commends these Congressional leaders for taking bold action to protect our oceans and coasts from dirty, dangerous oil and gas development along the outer continental shelf,” said Georgia Hancock, Senior Attorney and Director of the Animal Welfare Institute’s marine wildlife program. “Fifteen years after the Deepwater Horizon disaster, it remains painfully clear: there is no such thing as safe offshore oil drilling, nor is there any way to fully clean up a significant oil spill. Keeping oil rigs out of the ocean prevents unnecessary harm to sensitive marine animals like sea turtles, whales, and seabirds, and avoids the massive costs associated with environmental remediation when things go wrong. These bills draw a clear line in the sand: our marine ecosystems are too precious to risk.”

    “The Pacific west coast economy provides over $80 Billion in GDP via industries like tourism, outdoor recreation, fishing, retail, and real estate, supporting more than 825,000 jobs. And BAPPC’s 8,100 business members rely on a clean ocean to drive their revenues and provide for their customers, employees and families. We strongly support the West Coast Protection Act and other legislation to prohibit new offshore drilling and protect our businesses by prioritizing a healthy coastal ecosystem,” said Grant Bixby, Founding Member, The Business Alliance for Protecting the Pacific Coast.

    “The impact of offshore oil drilling on marine life is well-documented, from toxic discharges of drilling mud and fracking chemicals, to chronic oil spills, to the effects of a major well blow-out as has occurred many times in the history of offshore oil drilling. It is time we stopped burning fossil fuels and switch to non-polluting sources such as wind, solar, and other green energy sources. Industrializing our oceans is the last thing we should be doing,” said the International Marine Mammal Project, Earth Island Institute.

    “The oceans and coasts are the lifeblood of the US economy. They deserve not only protection but increased investment and stewardship. Anyone that threatens the coasts puts the entire US economy at risk,” said the Center for the Blue Economy.

    “We strongly support these bills to protect our vital coastal ecosystems and ocean health, which are increasingly threatened by the climate crisis. Offshore oil and gas leasing not only poses a direct risk of pollution to our waters and endangers marine life, but also contributes to climate change by perpetuating our reliance on fossil fuels. We urge swift passage of these protections to safeguard coastal communities, their economies, and a livable future for all,” said the U.S. Climate Action Network.

    “Offshore oil and gas drilling threatens coastal communities and endangers whales, sea turtles and other wildlife that Americans treasure,” said National Aquarium President and CEO John Racanelli. “On Earth Day and every day, all of us – people and wildlife – rely on a healthy ocean for our very survival. The science is clear that moving from dependence on fossil fuels towards clean energy sources safeguards marine ecosystems and protects public health. Legislation that places sensible limits on new oil and gas development along our shores is just smart public policy.”

    “President Biden’s recent permanent ban on offshore drilling in most ocean realms of the US is strong and cause for celebration! That said, codifying this long-overdue protection with acts of Congress is needed to add bulwark against attempts to override the ban as well as provide proof of bipartisan support for the ocean. The reason is simple: a healthy ocean sustains all life on earth and is essential to a vibrant clean ocean economy,” said Cindy Zipf, Executive Director of Clean Ocean Action.

    “Last year President Biden issued an executive action to protect more than 625 million acres of federal waters from fossil fuel development, a historic and bold decision to defend coastal communities, public health, and ecosystems. Azul’s 2024 nationwide poll found that Latinos across political ideologies support action to ban offshore drilling and are even willing to pay more out of pocket to make it happen. We applaud the leadership of members of Congress seeking to codify protections for coastal waters against offshore drilling, and these added protections are needed to defend against threats to undo existing protections against offshore drilling,” said Marce Gutiérrez-Graudins, Founder of Azul.

    “Protecting our oceans is a matter of safeguarding our health, our economy, and our future. Proposals to reduce existing ocean protections and expand offshore drilling raise serious concerns for coastal communities, marine ecosystems, and millions of livelihoods,” said Maite Arce, President and CEO of Hispanic Access Foundation. “Latino communities, many of whom live along our coasts and rely on clean water and healthy marine environments for recreation, jobs, and cultural connection, are uniquely impacted. We support efforts that uphold strong protections and ensure our public lands and waters remain preserved for future generations. Now is the time for bold, bipartisan leadership that centers communities and protects the ocean legacy we all share.”

    “The New Jersey Environmental Lobby unequivocally supports all of the bills,” said Anne Poole, President of the NJ Environment Lobby. “Our organization’s primary focus is State legislation and policies that affect our densely populated coastal state, but oceans know no national or state boundaries.  The oceans are connected and impact all life on this globe.  What affects one coast eventually affects us all. Thank you to all of these ocean champions for their foresight and political courage!”

    In 2021, Senator Padilla joined West Coast Senators in calling on Senate leadership to include the West Coast Ocean Protection Act in the Senate version of the budget reconciliation bill after an estimated 126,000 gallons of oil spilled off the coast of California.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Capito Urges HHS Secretary to Bring Back NIOSH Employees to Support Coal Industry

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for West Virginia Shelley Moore Capito
    CHARLESTON, W.Va. — U.S. Senator Shelley Moore Capito (R-W.Va.), chairman of the Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Labor, Health and Human Services, Education, and Related Agencies, penned a letter to U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. regarding the recent layoffs at the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) in Morgantown, W.Va. Specifically, Senator Capito highlighted the important role NIOSH plays in the health and wellbeing of West Virginia coal miners and requested that the administration bring back these critical programs and employees that allow them to function properly.
    “I believe in the President’s vision to right size our government, but I do not think eliminating the NIOSH coal programs and research will accomplish that goal. The mission and work conducted by the specially trained NIOSH employees is not duplicative of any other government program. I am concerned that the RIFs at NIOSH will undermine the vital health programs important to so many West Virginians. I urge you to bring back the NIOSH employees immediately so they can continue to support our nation’s coal industry,” Senator Capito wrote.
    The full letter can be found HERE or below:
    Dear Secretary Kennedy,
    Thank you for taking the time to talk with me regarding the important work CDC’s National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) does to improve and monitor the health care of our coal miners in West Virginia. During our discussion, I was pleased you agreed with me that the work happening at NIOSH is unique across the federal government. Now, I ask that the Department bring back not only the functions of the NIOSH coal offices and programs, but also some of the specialized employees impacted by the April 1 HHS-wide Reduction in Force (RIF) who do this important work in Morgantown, West Virginia.
    The NIOSH facility in Morgantown is known for its research aimed at preventing work-related injuries and illnesses, particularly in coal miners. The NIOSH Mining Program works to eliminate mining fatalities and injuries. Research on rock dust has resulted in safety changes to prevent explosions in underground mines. NIOSH research has also resulted in industry standards for pillar design and roof support programs to prevent collapses in underground mines. NIOSH’s Coal Workers’ Health Surveillance Program (CWHSP) studies respiratory disease and provides black lung screenings to coal miners. It is my understanding that the RIF impacted every employee in these important programs.
    There are specialized labs at the NIOSH facilities in Morgantown where dedicated scientists with years of training had been researching coal and silica dust along with black mold. This research stands not just to make the mining industry safer but also to benefit workers exposed to silica dust at construction sites and residents in West Virginia and North Carolina impacted by the devastating flooding from Hurricane Helene. With all the scientists and employees that work in theses labs impacted by the RIF, the CDC will be starting the process to decommission the Morgantown labs in the coming days. Decommissioning the labs will cost millions of taxpayer dollars. If the labs were to later be brought back online, additional taxpayer dollars would be spent to re-comply with numerous regulations and inspections.
    Earlier this month, I was honored to join President Trump, along with miners from West Virginia, at the White House as he signed Executive Orders to support the coal industry and unleash American energy. The President’s Executive Orders are welcome news for our miners and will help ensure all Americans have access to affordable and reliable energy resources like coal. As the President recognizes the importance of coal, we must also recognize the health of our miners and I encourage you to bring back the NIOSH coal programs and researchers that will help ensure the President’s vision to unleash American energy can be done safely.
    I believe in the President’s vision to right size our government, but I do not think eliminating the NIOSH coal programs and research will accomplish that goal. The mission and work conducted by the specially trained NIOSH employees is not duplicative of any other government program. I am concerned that the RIFs at NIOSH will undermine the vital health programs important to so many West Virginians. I urge you to bring back the NIOSH employees immediately so they can continue to support our nation’s coal industry.
    Thank you for your attention to this important matter, and I look forward to continuing to work with you to Make American Healthy Again.
    Sincere regards,

    MIL OSI USA News –