MIL OSI Translation. Government of the Republic of France statements from French to English –
The composition of the Government resulting from the decree signed today on the proposal of the Prime Minister, responsible for Ecological and Energy Planning, is as follows:
Ministers:
Mr. Didier MIGAUD, Keeper of the Seals, Minister of Justice;
Ms. Catherine VAUTRIN, Minister for Partnership with the Territories and Decentralization;
Mr. Bruno RETAILLEAU, Minister of the Interior;
Ms. Anne GENETET, Minister of National Education;
Mr. Jean-Noël BARROT, Minister for Europe and Foreign Affairs;
Ms. Rachida DATI, Minister of Culture;
Mr. Sébastien LECORNU, Minister of the Armed Forces and Veterans;
Ms. Agnès PANNIER-RUNACHER, Minister of Ecological Transition, Energy, Climate and Risk Prevention;
Mr. Antoine ARMAND, Minister of Economy, Finance and Industry;
Ms. Geneviève DARRIEUSSECQ, Minister of Health and Access to Healthcare;
Mr. Paul CHRISTOPHE, Minister of Solidarity, Autonomy and Equality between Women and Men;
Ms. Valérie LÉTARD, Minister of Housing and Urban Renewal;
Ms. Annie GENEVARD, Minister of Agriculture, Food Sovereignty and Forestry;
Ms. Astrid PANOSYAN-BOUVET, Minister of Labor and Employment;
Mr. Gil AVÉROUS, Minister of Sports, Youth and Community Life;
Mr. Patrick HETZEL, Minister of Higher Education and Research;
Mr. Guillaume KASBARIAN, Minister of Civil Service, Simplification and Transformation of Public Action;
Mr. François-Noël BUFFET, Minister to the Prime Minister, responsible for Overseas Territories;
Mr. Laurent SAINT-MARTIN, Minister to the Prime Minister, responsible for the Budget and Public Accounts.
Ministers Delegate:
To the Prime Minister and the Minister for Europe and Foreign Affairs:
Mr. Benjamin HADDAD, responsible for Europe;
To the Prime Minister:
Ms Nathalie DELATTRE, responsible for Relations with Parliament;
Ms Maud BREGEON, Government spokesperson;
Ms. Marie-Claire CARRÈRE-GÉE, responsible for Government Coordination;
To the Minister for Partnership with the Territories and Decentralization:
Mrs. Françoise GATEL, responsible for Rural Affairs, Trade and Crafts;
Mr. François DUROVRAY, responsible for Transport;
Mr. Fabrice LOHER, responsible for the Sea and Fisheries;
To the Minister of the Interior:
Mr. Nicolas DARAGON, responsible for daily security;
To the Minister of National Education:
Mr. Alexandre PORTIER, responsible for Academic Success and Professional Education;
To the Minister for Europe and Foreign Affairs:
Ms Sophie PRIMAS, responsible for Foreign Trade and French Nationals Abroad;
To the Minister of Ecological Transition, Energy, Climate and Risk Prevention:
Ms. Olga GIVERNET, responsible for Energy;
To the Minister of Economy, Finance and Industry:
Mr. Marc FERRACCI, responsible for Industry;
Ms Marie-Agnès POUSSIER-WINSBACK, responsible for the Social and Solidarity Economy, Profit-Sharing and Participation;
Ms. Marina FERRARI, responsible for the Tourism Economy;
To the Minister of Solidarity, Autonomy and Equality between Women and Men:
Ms. Agnès CANAYER, responsible for Family and Early Childhood.
Secretaries of State:
To the Minister of the Interior:
Mr. Othman NASROU, responsible for Citizenship and the Fight against Discrimination;
To the Minister for Europe and Foreign Affairs:
Mr. Thani MOHAMED SOILIHI, responsible for Francophonie and International Partnerships;
To the Minister of Economy, Finance and Industry:
Ms. Laurence GARNIER, responsible for Consumption;
To the Minister of Solidarity, Autonomy and Equality between Women and Men:
Ms. Salima SAA, responsible for Equality between women and men;
To the Minister of Higher Education and Research:
Ms. Clara CHAPPAZ, responsible for Artificial Intelligence and Digital Technology.
The President of the Republic will bring together all members of the Government for a Council of Ministers which will be held on Monday, September 23 at 3:00 p.m.
EDITOR’S NOTE: This article is a translation. Apologies should the grammar and/or sentence structure not be perfect.
The Ministry for Primary Industries (MPI) is seeking research proposals to help improve New Zealand’s reporting of greenhouse gas emissions from agriculture, forestry, and other land uses.
The annual funding round for the Greenhouse Gas Inventory Research (GHGIR) fund is now open, with $2.9 million of funding available for new GHGIR projects in the 2024/25 financial year.
“The GHGIR focuses on improving our knowledge of New Zealand’s greenhouse gas emissions, to ensure we have the best possible data to help manage New Zealand’s emissions and inform policy decisions,” says Stephanie Preston, MPI’s director of programmes and planning, policy and trade.
“This year we’re looking for very specific research proposals in 10 priority areas, ranging from improving liveweight estimation of sheep and beef to exploring remote sensing methods of collecting data, such as using satellite data to measure feed type and quality.
“The outcomes will inform MPI’s reporting to the New Zealand Greenhouse Gas Inventory and the United Nations under the Paris Climate Agreement.”
Applications close on 30 October 2024, with successful proposals expected to be announced by the end of February 2025.
Background information
The annual Greenhouse Gas Inventory reports on human-induced emissions and removals of greenhouse gases for energy, industrial processes, agriculture, land use, land-use change and forestry, and waste.
The Inventory is produced by government agencies, with MPI being responsible for producing the chapter on agricultural emissions (the Agriculture Greenhouse Gas Inventory). The report is submitted to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change secretariat each year.
The 10 priorities for this year’s funding round are:
non-forest land-use emissions model
review and improve energy equations and intake
review QA/QC of inventory model code
review liming emissions
measure values relevant to the inventory using remote sensing techniques
improving the modelling of dairy beef cattle
improve liveweight estimation of sheep and beef
seasonal dairy supplementary feed data intake
new afforestation and deforestation intentions survey
improved activity data and parameters for deer.
The priorities paper for 2024 is on MPI’s Applying for Greenhouse Gas Inventory Research funding web page.
Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government & Departments
Partnership unites six organisations including: Action with Communities in Rural England; Association of Drainage Authorities; Country Land and Business Association; Environment Agency; National Farmers Union; and Natural England
With rural communities increasingly on the frontline of extreme weather and the devastating impacts of flooding, a unique partnership has been launched today (23 September 2024) to support rural flood resilience and help farmers and communities adapt to a changing climate.
Climate change means that people, places and nature are facing more frequent and more severe storms and floods. Last winter saw one of England’s wettest periods since records began in 1836.
The Rural Flood Resilience Partnership has been established to improve collaboration, deepen understanding of vulnerabilities, and support rural communities and agricultural businesses in building their resilience to present and future flood risks and coastal erosion.
The Partnership unites organisations representing government agencies, trade associations, rural communities and businesses to tackle a joint challenge with joint solutions.
The six equal founding partners are: Action with Communities in Rural England; the Association of Drainage Authorities; Country Land and Business Association; the Environment Agency; the National Farmers Union; and Natural England.
Today, the Partnership publishes its work plan covering 2024 to 2026. Partners and a wide range of projects will work together to improve their evidence base and will draw on this to co-develop solutions.
The work plan sets out 21 actions supporting seven strategic outcomes focused on: developing the evidence base behind decision-making to increase resilience; ensuring communities, farmers and landowners have access to quality advice and support; and engaging rural communities in flood resilience.
James Blake, Chair of Trustees Action with Communities in Rural England, said:
It’s vital that everyone living and working in rural communities – not just those involved in land management and agriculture – have an opportunity to engage with and influence plans to manage the consequences of climate change.
As one of the founding members of this partnership, we look forward to drawing on the experience and reach of ACRE members to build the capacity of rural communities to come together and consider what can be done based on local circumstances in response to this most pressing global issue.
Robert Caudwell, Chair of the Association of Drainage Authorities, said:
Our climate is changing rapidly, and those living and working in rural parts of England are some of the most aware of, and most vulnerable to, those changes.
Listening to the voice of rural communities is essential if we are to build England’s resilience to flooding and drought in the future.
The best solutions can often be achieved when public authorities work together with local businesses and communities, combining their land and water management expertise with a deeper understanding of our local landscape and those impacted.
ADA is proud to play its part in this new Partnership in support of our members, England’s flood and water management authorities.
Country Land and Business Association (CLA) President Victoria Vyvyan said:
The damage to rural land and businesses from flooding is localised but acute, and the frequency of these events will increase with climate change.
It is crucial to improve the resilience of rural businesses and communities to flooding. The CLA hopes this partnership will provide the evidence, awareness of risks, and access to practical advice that will allow them to improve their resilience.
This partnership will look for short and medium-term solutions whilst raising awareness of the rural-specific costs and challenges from flooding which our members face.
Caroline Douglass, Executive Director for Flood and Coastal Risk Management, Environment Agency, said:
Flooding presents specific challenges to those living and working in rural communities, from ruined crops to having road access cut off by floodwaters.
Since 2015, flooding and coastal change projects have been completed to protect more than 400,000 hectares of agricultural land better. This includes 280,000 hectares between 2015-2021, helping to avoid more than £500 million worth of economic damage to agricultural land production.
While the Environment Agency continues to work to strengthen rural flood resilience, no single organisation can tackle these challenges in isolation. This partnership provides the opportunity to accomplish more than any one organisation can manage alone.
The new Rural Flood Resilience Partnership will help farmers, land managers and rural communities become more resilient to the impacts of climate change while retaining the vital role of managing land and producing sustainable food.
NFU Vice President Rachel Hallos said:
The NFU is pleased to be involved in this new Partnership and hope it will enable farmers and rural communities to strengthen the resilience of their homes and businesses by providing practical solutions based on tangible evidence to some of the challenges they face in the event of flooding.
It will also give rural communities the means to influence decision making, provide access to resources and support action on the ground, strengthening rural resilience to flooding in a changing climate.
Farmers are on the frontline of climate change – our biggest challenge. The extreme weather this brings is one of the main threats to UK food security and more severe storms, devastating floods, and increased periods of little or no rain are all impacting our ability to produce food.
The country has just experienced its wettest 18 months since records began in 1836 which left many thousands of acres of productive farmland under water. There are still many farm businesses in dire need of support, and we are awaiting details of how the Farming Recovery Fund can help those businesses recover from the impacts of the devastating flooding and saturated ground.
Natural England champions the power of nature and nature-based solutions to help tackle the joint climate and biodiversity emergencies.
NE welcomes the opportunity to join this partnership and add our science and evidence expertise and our local farm advice offer into the mix. Together we can support farmers and land managers to farm in more flood resilient ways – supporting communities to become more flood resilient and recovering nature at the same time.
From signing up to the Sustainable Farming Incentive to manage arable land for flood/drought resilience and water quality or by working with others to restore a river and floodplain in Landscape Recovery every farmer and land manager can make a difference.
The Partnership forms part of the wider work that all partners are undertaking on flood and coastal resilience.
All flood and coastal risk management schemes delivered by risk management authorities in England are carefully assessed to make sure they benefit the most people and property. Approximately 40% of all schemes and 45% of investment better protect properties in rural communities.
Headline: Disaster Recovery Center Opens in St. Mary Parish
Disaster Recovery Center Opens in St. Mary Parish
BATON ROUGE, La. – FEMA and the State of Louisiana will open a Disaster Recovery Center in Morgan City on Monday, Sept. 23 to provide one-on-one help to Louisiana residents affected by Hurricane Francine.
Center location:
St. Mary Parish
Morgan City Municipal Auditorium 728 Myrtle Street Morgan City, LA 70380
The center will operate from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Saturday.
Residents in Ascension, Assumption, Lafourche, St. Charles, St. James, St. John the Baptist, St. Mary and Terrebonne parishescan visit the center to meet with representatives of FEMA, the U.S. Small Business Administration, along with other community partners. No appointment is needed to visit the center.
The center is accessible to people with disabilities or access and functional needs and is equipped with assistive technology. If you need a reasonable accommodation or sign language interpreter, please call 833-285-7448 (press 2 for Spanish).
You do not have to visit the center to apply for FEMA disaster assistance. The quickest way to apply is by going online at disasterassistance.gov/.
Additional options when applying include:
Download the FEMA App for mobile devices.
Call the FEMA helpline at 800-621-3362 between 6 a.m. and 11 p.m. Help is available in most languages. If you use a relay service, such as video relay (VRS), captioned telephone or other service, give FEMA your number for that service.
To view an accessible video about how to apply visit: Three Ways to Register for FEMA Disaster Assistance – YouTube.
For the latest information visit fema.gov/disaster/4817. Follow FEMA Region 6 social media at X.com/FEMARegion6 or on Facebook at facebook.com/FEMARegion6/.
The 72 hectare ‘Starrs Creek HR – Stage 2’ aims to provide a fuel reduced zone within Coorabakh National Park, aiding in the suppression of bushfire in the area.
The burn will also stimulate reproduction of the critically endangered Banksia conferta within the prescribed burn area.
NPWS crews will be working on roads and trails throughout Coorabakh National Park to implement the burn. The public are advised that smoke may affect roads in the area and motorists are reminded to exercise caution when driving along roads in the area.
Hazard reduction burns are essential to reduce bushfire fuel loads to help protect parks, neighbours and communities from future bushfires. Fires such as this one are also specifically planned to have an ecological outcome.
All burns around the state are coordinated with the NSW Rural Fire Service.
New York-based Sea Cadets and Naval Junior Reserve Officer Training Corps cadets attended the event, held at the U.S. Armed Forces Recruiting Station in Times Square.
“Having these young Sea Cadets and NJROTC cadets – the future of our nation – learn about our climate and energy technologies was a fantastic way for the Department of the Navy to kick off its participation in Climate Week NYC,” said Berger. “They understand firsthand how climate change is impacting our world today, and we were able to help make the connection for them of how climate readiness is mission readiness for our Sailors and Marines.”
DON researchers and engineers from various commands showcased technologies, such as hydrogen-powered fuel cells, small unit power systems, water-conserving firefighting nozzles, atmospheric water generation, and green concrete, to educate the students about the DON’s commitment to climate action and inspire them about DON careers in climate- and energy-focused roles.
Madeleine White, resilience innovation research portfolio manager at Naval Facilities Engineering and Expeditionary Warfare Center, explained green concrete, which uses sustainable materials to reduce traditional concrete’s environmental impact, such as lowering the carbon footprint of construction.
“Working on this [technology] as it is as an engineer has been great, but being able to show it to the individuals who are one day going to use it or be involved with it makes my job all worthwhile,” White said. “And doing [the event] out in a space like this and having these engineer technologies out in such a public space for people to see is such a fun environment to be in.”
Jeremiah Rodriguez, a junior and NJROTC cadet at Curtis High School in Staten Island, N.Y., said he would think about global warming and its impact.
“It would be in the back of my mind, such as how it would continuously get hotter,” he said. “One day, it’ll get to the point where you can cook an egg on the sidewalk. With this new technology, I really hope we can figure out a way to significantly reduce the impact of climate change. After this presentation, I really find it hopeful for our generation’s future.”
Climate Week NYC is the largest annual climate event of its kind, bringing together more than 600 events and activities across New York City in person, hybrid and online. Climate Group hosts the official program during the week that brings together the most senior international figures from business, government, civil society and the climate sector.
This year, Climate Week NYC is being held Sept. 22-29, 2024. The event takes place every year in partnership with the United Nations General Assembly and is run in coordination with the United Nations and the City of New York.
In May 2022, the Department of the Navy released Climate Action 2030 in which Secretary of the Navy Carlos Del Toro recognized climate change as one of the most destabilizing forces of our time and charged the Department with building a climate-ready force.
Berger is responsible for providing oversight and policy for Navy and Marine Corps energy and climate resilience; infrastructure sustainment, restoration and modernization; military construction; acquisition, utilization and disposal of real property and facilities; environmental protection, planning, restoration and natural resources conservation; and safety and occupational health.
Residents and visitors will be able to experience areas of the city walls from a fresh perspective next spring, as this unique and historic space blooms into life.
Volunteers and businesses from across the city are coming together this week to help transform the City Walls embankments, for the first phase of the York Walls in Bloom project.
This unique green space will evolve into a beautiful biodiverse landscape, where residents and visitors will be able to enjoy seeing many different pollinators thrive.
Over its 2,000-year-old history, the city walls embankments (ramparts) have constantly evolved and changed from being cleared sheer slopes, areas of grazing until the mid-20th century and in recent years manicured lawns and bedding plants.
The first phase of the York in Bloom project will be in the city centre at Station Rise. The area around the Station Rise rampart has over the centuries seen some of the most dramatic changes in landscape visible anywhere on the city walls.
The season bedding displays here will be familiar to many residents and visitors, but this approach is not without its downsides. It’s resource intensive in terms of water and carbon used in the growing, transporting, planting, weeding and removing bedding plants. This makes the practice increasingly unsustainable for the city and the planet.
Cllr Jenny Kent, Executive Member for Environment and Climate Emergency, said “York is proud to have some of the UK’s best preserved medieval walls, and this partnership project to cover the site at Station Rise in meadow flowers for York Walls in Bloom will not only look beautiful, it will also help support York’s bees, moths and butterflies, and help preserve the ramparts underneath.
We are lucky to have expert advice from many partners and are also in the process of reviewing our maintenance of the walls overall. We will ensure that we adopt the very best heritage and ecology conservation practices to prevent soil erosion, which increases with extreme heat and increased rainfall, maximise the environmental benefit, and keep the Walls looking great for generations to come.”
Inspired by projects such as the Tower of London ‘Moat in Bloom’, the council believes that carefully managed wild flowering could offer the right mix of stunning visuals, increased sustainability and improved habitat.
York Walls in Bloom is being carefully introduced over the course of 2024. Earlier this year, the area was left to grow naturally for several months so that the ecological study could be undertaken. This was critical so that the council knew that any intervention wouldn’t endanger existing habitats.
While next year will see a spectacular floral display near Station Rise, the area will still be very carefully managed over several years to balance the ecology of the site. The second phase of the project will be extended to the Red Tower, Walmgate next year.
This will transform the flatter sections of rampart on the outside of the city walls by sowing wildflowers in Spring, to create a floral display in summer 2025, which over the following years will be carefully managed into a sustainable natural floral meadow.
Introducing a more sustainable, natural environment in the coming years, including changing how frequently the grass is cut in this area, will ensure a healthier soil and more wildflower growth.
The York in Walls project has gained the backing and sponsorship of local businesses.
Simon Mahon, General Manager of The Grand York, said: “We’re delighted to be working on the York Walls in Bloom project. We’re very proud sponsors and are looking forward seeing wildflowers being introduced along the walls, which naturally will make this historical part of York even more beautiful.
Here at The Grand, York, as part of our sustainability initiative we house approximately 50,000 bees on our roof – the honey they produce is used throughout The Grand in desserts, pastries and cocktails. So, we’re really happy to support this project.”
From Tuesday 24 September, works will be visible on the ground when the turf will be ‘wither stripped’ to allow for the sowing of the wildflowers.
With the help on York Cares, volunteers from across the city will come together to support the project and help sow the seeds.
Holly Hennell, Manager, York Cares: “The 16th annual York Cares Big Community Challenge is taking place between 16 September and 11 October in partnership with City of York Council, St Nicks and the University of York. The challenge aims to connect communities with nature, providing volunteering opportunities at over 30 sites across the city along routes leading into the city centre around the city walls.
“Employee-volunteers will get involved with a variety of practical activities to enhance biodiversity across the city including sowing seeds as part of the York Walls in Bloom project, a fantastic initiative which will really brighten up the city whilst also benefiting the environment. The York Cares team is excited to be able to get involved in one of the sessions alongside their members, demonstrating the difference we can make when we come together.”
The York in Bloom project is funded by the Green Corridors project , the National Lottery Community Fund and is sponsored by local businesses including The Grand York.
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Euan Ritchie, Professor in Wildlife Ecology and Conservation, School of Life & Environmental Sciences, Deakin University
Now that the Paris Olympics and Paralympics have disappeared from our screens, let’s get back to watching animal videos.
But seriously, have you ever paused to think about the athletic abilities of Australian wildlife?
In my research as an ecologist, I’m constantly amazed by the strength, speed and resilience of our native animals. Their prowess is testament to the wonders of evolution, and the necessity of species having to adapt to challenging and changing environments in order to survive.
Let’s take a closer look at some of our best competitors and how might they fare, against humans and overseas entrants. On your marks, get set… swim, hop, dig, dance, glide!
Swimming
Australians are renowned for being strong swimmers. But what is the fastest swimmer in the animal kingdom?
On this there is much debate. Some suggest it’s the Indo Pacific sailfish, clocking in at about 30km/hr. That’s impressive, but much slower than oft-cited (but inaccurate) claims it can travel at more than 100km/hr.
For perspective, the fastest human to swim the 50 metres freestyle is American Caeleb Dressel, completing this in a time of 20.16 seconds. That’s roughly 9km/h – faster than many people jog, but still no match for a sailfish.
As in humans, swimming speed in fishes tends to increase with body length. Larger species that challenge sailfish for the fastest swimmer title include blue or black marlin. Shorter, torpedo-like bluefin tuna are also in contention. All are found in Australian waters, though not exclusively.
While American swimmer Michael Phelps put in an impressive showing against a simulated great white shark, no human would beat much faster sailfish, marlin and tuna.
Kangaroos can clear heights of up to 3m, so would perform well in the high jump. But they’d finish behind bottlenose dolphins, which can jump over 7m in the air, just for kicks.
Scaled for body size, though, both species would be embarrassed by a tiny insect known as a froghopper. It jumps to heights of more than 140 times its body length.
Kangaroos sure can jump, but they’re not the greatest of all in the animal kingdom.
And yet, horned dung beetles might still only claim silver. Another invertebrate Aussie, the tiny tropical moss mite, is perhaps the world’s strongest animal. It can pull more than 1,180 times its weight.
Bigger does not always equal stronger.
Packing the fastest, deadliest punch
In terms of combat sports, bigger is not always better.
Peacock mantis shrimps – invertebrates found in Australian marine waters and elsewhere – have the swiftest and most powerful punch in the lightweight crustacean division.
They kill prey by punching them with strong, club-like appendages. They deliver blows at up to 23m per sec, akin to the speed and force of a .22 calibre bullet being fired.
In terms of free-diving and flying, there’s really no contest. Cuvier’s beaked whale can dive nearly 3000m and peregrine falcons can reach over 320 km/hr. These animals are found across the globe, however – not just in Australia.
I’d love to see a shooting contest between Australia’s archer fish and Madagascar’s panther chameleon. But finding the right arena for both aquatic and land-based sharpshooters would be tricky.
They include the incredible oolacunta – also known as the desert rat kangaroo. It’s powers of endurance in the desert are the stuff of folklore. As legendary Australian mammalogist Hedley Herbert Finlayson wrote in 1931:
Its speed for such an atom, was wonderful, and its endurance amazing … when we finally got it, it had taken the starch out of three mounts and run us 12 miles; all under such adverse conditions of heat and rough going, as to make it almost incredible that so small a frame should be capable of such an immense output of energy.
Euan Ritchie receives funding from the Australian Research Council and the Department of Energy, Environment, and Climate Action. Euan is a Councillor within the Biodiversity Council, a member of the Ecological Society of Australia and the Australian Mammal Society, and President of the Australian Mammal Society.
The United Nations Secretary-General’s Advisory Board on Artificial Intelligence (AI) has released its final report on governing AI for humanity.
The report presents a blueprint for addressing AI-related risks while still enabling the potential of this technology. It also includes a call to action for all governments and stakeholders to work together in governing AI to foster development and protection of all human rights.
On the surface, this report seems to be a positive step forward for AI, encouraging developments while also mitigating potential harms.
However, the finer details of the report expose a number of concerns.
Reminiscent of the IPCC
The UN advisory board on AI was first convened on October 26, 2023. The purpose of this committee is to advance recommendations for the international governance of AI. It says this approach is needed to ensure the benefits of AI, such as opening new areas of scientific inquiry, are evenly distributed, while the risks of this technology, such as mass surveillance and the spread of misinformation, are mitigated.
The inclusion of prominent industry representatives in the advisory board on AI is a point of difference from the IPCC. This may have advantages, such as a more informed understanding of AI technologies. But it may also have disadvantages, such as biased viewpoints in favour of commercial interests.
The recent release of the final report on governing AI for humanity provides a vital insight into what we can likely expect from this committee.
These include the creation of an independent international scientific panel on AI, the creation of an AI standards exchange and the creation of a global AI data framework. The report also ends with a call to action for all governments and relevant stakeholders to collectively govern AI.
What’s disconcerting about the report are the imbalanced and at times contradictory claims made throughout.
For example, the report rightly advocates for governance measures to address the impact of AI on concentrated power and wealth, geopolitical and geoeconomic implications.
However, it also claims that:
no one currently understands all of AI’s inner workings enough to fully control its outputs or predict its evolution.
This claim is not factually correct on many accounts. It is true that there are some “black box” systems – those in which the input is known, but the computational process for generating outputs is not. But AI systems more generally are well understood on a technical level.
AI reflects a spectrum of capabilities. This spectrum ranges from generative AI systems such as ChatGPT, through to deep learning systems such as facial recognition. The assumption that all these systems embody the same level of impenetrable complexity is not accurate.
The inclusion of this claim calls into question the advantages of including industry representatives in the advisory board, as they should be bringing a more informed understanding of AI technologies.
The other issue this claim raises is the notion of AI evolving of its own accord. What has been interesting about the rise of AI over recent years is the accompanying narratives which falsely position AI as a system of agency.
This inaccurate narrative shifts perceived liability and responsibility away from those who design and develop these systems, providing a creative scapegoat for industry.
Despite the subtle undertone of powerlessness in the face of AI technologies and the imbalanced claims made throughout, the report does positively progress the discourse in some ways.
A small step forward
Overall, the report and its call to action are a positive step forward because they emphasise that AI can be governed and regulated, despite contradictory claims throughout the report which imply otherwise.
The inclusion of the term “hallucinations” is a salient example of these contradictions.
The term itself was popularised by OpenAI’s chief executive Sam Altman when he used the term to reframe nonsensical outputs as part of the “magic” of AI. Hallucinations is not a technically accepted term – it’s a creative marketing agenda. Pushing for governance of AI while simultaneously endorsing a term which implies a technology that cannot be governed is not constructive.
What the report lacks is consistency in how AI is perceived and understood.
It also lacks application specificity – a common limitation among many AI initiatives. A global approach to AI governance will only work if it is able to capture the nuances of application and domain specificity.
The report is one step forward in the right direction. However, it will need refinement and amendments to ensure it encourages developments while mitigating the many harms of AI.
Zena Assaad does not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organisation that would benefit from this article, and has disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment.
Drivers travelling on State Highway 2 over the Remutaka Hill and through Wairarapa will need to be ready for another burst of rough spring weather tomorrow.
The Metservice has issued a Strong Wind Warning for Wairarapa, Tararua District, and Hawke’s Bay south of Hastings between 8 am and 5 pm tomorrow (Tuesday, 24 September).
Severe gale west to northwest winds are forecast and will coincide with morning and afternoon commuting times.
It means drivers must take extra care on exposed routes like Remutaka Hill. This particularly applies to trucks, vans, motorcycles, light vehicles, and towing vehicles.
Strong winds increase the risk of tree falls, downed powerlines, and windblown debris. Road users must be prepared for these hazards and drive accordingly.
It is also recommended to check road and weather conditions before travelling, as bad weather can cause roads to be closed on short notice.
It is also recommended to check road and weather conditions before travelling, as bad weather can cause roads to be closed on short notice.
CAF is fostering dialogue with scientific institutions to ensure the voice of science is heard ahead of COP16 and the implementation of the Global Biodiversity Framework. This effort aims to help promote and implement science-based solutions in its operations and in dialogue with countries.
In this context, CAF, which will host a Latin America and Caribbean Pavilion open to all countries in the region at COP16, convened over twenty international scientific institutions to raise awareness about the importance of data, science, regional collaboration, and the application of scientific methods to solve problems related to biodiversity loss and restoration. The Executive Secretary of the Convention on Biological Diversity, Astrid Schomaker, closed the event, highlighting the importance of science. The conclusions of the meeting, along with CAF’s proposals to address the identified challenges, will be presented in Cali.
“We are engaging with scientists to identify what we can do to be more effective in preserving biodiversity. We need to understand how scientific recommendations can be translated into efficient public policies and explore new ideas and proposals that help us find solutions to the dilemmas modern societies are facing due to climate change,” said Sergio Díaz-Granados, CAF’s Executive President.
CAF’s work with international scientists aims to strengthen multilateralism by connecting scientific advances and generating new lines of work being carried out in various countries to stop and reverse biodiversity loss.
“To halt biodiversity loss, it is essential to develop robust scientific knowledge and, most importantly, put it into practice. This requires creating communication channels that accelerate the implementation of science-based policies and integrate them into national development agendas and business strategies,” said Alicia Montalvo, CAF’s Manager of Climate Action and Positive Biodiversity.
In this regard, the Intergovernmental Science-Policy Platform on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services (IPBES) plays a fundamental role by fostering closer ties between the scientific community and decision-makers to build capacity and strengthen the use of science in public policy development. CAF aims to reinforce this work by bringing science closer to public and private financial institutions, promoting investment in biodiversity.
CAF’s commitment to an ecosystem and science-based approach
Latin America and the Caribbean is one of the richest regions in terrestrial and marine biodiversity. IPBES values the region’s terrestrial and coastal ecosystem services at $24.3 trillion per year. The region is home to six of the world’s seventeen megadiverse countries (Brazil, Colombia, Ecuador, Mexico, Peru, and Venezuela) and contains between 60% and 70% of all known species, approximately 25% of tropical forests, and the most biodiverse habitat on the planet: the Amazon rainforest.
In this context, CAF has adopted an ecosystem approach in its operations, addressing not only the needs of countries for the integrated management of land, water, and living resources but also the needs of ecosystems for sustainable and equitable conservation and resource use.
Examples of this new approach include the Program for Integrated and Sustainable Management of Sargassum in the Greater Caribbean, which will benefit Mexico, Costa Rica, Panama, Colombia, Jamaica, the Dominican Republic, Barbados, Trinidad and Tobago, and Venezuela through the promotion of sustainable sargassum management. Other examples include the coral reef restoration project in Colombia, Ecuador, Mexico, and Costa Rica; The Americas Flyways Initiative (AFI), which aims to identify and conserve more than 30 critical landscapes along migratory routes in North, Central, and South America and the Caribbean; and projects to strengthen the management of protected natural areas in Bolivia, Colombia, Costa Rica, Ecuador, and Panama.
A 140-hectare burn will take place adjacent to Kurranulla Creek, on the southernmost tip of Mount Royal National Park, east of Muswellbrook, and 5 km due north of Carrowbrook.
The burn will begin in the morning, with crews continuing into the late evening. Crews will be present for a number of days after the burn.
The low intensity burn is being undertaken to reduce fuel loads in the area and protect neighbouring properties.
NPWS will be assisted by the NSW Rural Fire Service.
Smoke may be visible and impact on the area around Carrowbrook and Mount Royal for a number of days. Motorists should exercise caution when driving along roads in the area.
People with asthma or who are susceptible to respiratory problems are advised to stay indoors, close windows and doors, and follow their health plan.
This burn is one of many hazard reduction operations undertaken by NPWS each year, many with assistance from the Rural Fire Service and Fire and Rescue NSW.
All burns around the state are coordinated with the NSW Rural Fire Service to ensure the impact on the community is assessed at a regional level.
Headline: FEMA Specialists Helping Floridians Apply for Assistance After Hurricane Debby
FEMA Specialists Helping Floridians Apply for Assistance After Hurricane Debby
TALLAHASSEE, Fla. – FEMA Disaster Survivor Assistance crews continue to work in Florida neighborhoods helping people apply for FEMA assistance after Hurricane Debby.
The crews have worked in Alachua, Columbia, Dixie, Gilchrist, Hamilton, Jefferson, Lafayette, Levy, Madison, Manatee, Sarasota, Suwannee and Taylor counties. Now they are beginning work in Baker, Citrus, Hillsborough and Pinellas counties.
DSA specialists wear FEMA attire and have federal photo identification badges. They go door to door in impacted neighborhoods using mobile devices to help residents apply for assistance, check the status of an application, identify potential needs and make connections with organizations that can provide resources. DSA specialists never ask for, or accept, money. Local law enforcement officials are informed when DSA crews work in a community and residents can verify their presence with local law enforcement.
The quickest way to apply is to go online to DisasterAssistance.gov. You can also apply using the FEMA App for mobile devices or calling toll-free 800-621-3362. The telephone line is open every day and help is available in most languages. If you use a relay service, such as Video Relay Service (VRS), captioned telephone or other service, give FEMA your number for that service.
To view an accessible video on how to apply visit Three Ways to Apply for FEMA Disaster Assistance – YouTube. The deadline for applications is Oct. 9, 2024.
For the latest information about Florida’s recovery, visit fema.gov/disaster/4806. Follow FEMA on X at x.com/femaregion4 or on Facebook at facebook.com/fema.
Manitoba’s Affordable Energy Plan Launches Historic Partnerships in Wind Generation
Next Generation of Energy Will Keep Rates Low for All Manitobans: Kinew
The Manitoba government is unveiling the plan to build the next generation of affordable energy, Premier Wab Kinew, Finance Minister Adrien Sala, minister responsible for Manitoba Hydro, and Environment and Climate Change Minister Tracy Schmidt announced today.
“We are giving you the freedom to make climate-friendly choices by making those choices more affordable,” said Kinew. “Building more energy capacity starts with a new government-to-government partnership in wind, the best source of new clean energy. By building out the grid we’ll keep rates low for everyone and put more Manitobans to work in good union jobs. Together we’ll build the next generation of affordable energy to power Manitoba’s future.”
For the first time in the province’s history, the Manitoba Affordable Energy Plan formalizes into government policy Indigenous-owned, utility-scale electricity resource supply through the creation of government-to-government partnerships with Indigenous nations in wind generation, while ensuring Manitoba Hydro stays public.
“Manitoba has some of the lowest energy costs in the country, thanks to decades of investment in Manitoba Hydro’s clean energy grid and skilled workforce,” said Sala. “But we can’t just take it for granted. Now it’s time to build on our advantage to ensure we have low rates, good jobs and clean energy for years to come.”
Other actions in the plan include:
Creating an Indigenous loan-guarantee program to provide First Nations and Métis the capital support and capacity to participate in the energy transition and finance new partnerships in wind generation.
Refurbishing Manitoba Hydro generating stations to unlock up to 200 megawatts of power.
Ending the first-come, first-served approach for large grid connection to better align with Manitoba’s economic development goals.
Strengthening energy codes for homes and buildings to generate long-term energy savings for Manitoba families.
Stronger oversight of the oil and gas sector with regular provincial inspections to ensure environmental safety and reliability.
Installing new Manitoba Hydro owned and operated public electric vehicle chargers.
A renewed focus on energy security with stronger protections in place for procurement and data management to keep Manitoba’s energy supply safe and secure.
“Our plan supports Manitoba’s path to net zero emissions by 2050 and will help us protect our air, land and water for future generations,” said Schmidt. “By making clean energy choices more affordable, we’ll help families save money while they save energy.”
To read the plan, visit https://manitoba.ca/energyplan.
Source: United States Department of Justice (National Center for Disaster Fraud)
HOUSTON – A 34-year-old former Houston resident has pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit wire fraud, announced U.S. Attorney Alamdar S. Hamdani.
From March 2020 until March 2021, Cora Chantail Custard conspired with others to submit false and fraudulent loan applications for financial assistance both personally and on behalf of others.
The co-conspirators submitted false applications to the Small Business Administration (SBA), Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and multiple state unemployment insurance agencies.
Over the course of the conspiracy, Custard resided in both Houston and San Antonio.
As part of her plea, Custard admitted to using her Facebook account to advertise her services to file fraudulent disaster relief applications. Custard’s posts repeatedly described the scheme to her social media followers as “doing apps,” with the ability to obtain between $6,000 and $8,000 for an application within four to seven days of filing.
Custard submitted or caused the submission of over 100 fraudulent Economic Injury Disaster Loan applications, at least 36 of which resulted in advance payments totaling $345,000.
Further investigation revealed Custard filed at least 30 fraudulent FEMA Disaster Benefit applications related to Hurricane Laura in August 2020 and Hurricane Sally in September 2020. At least 16 of those fraudulent applications resulted payouts totaling approximately $75,000.
Additionally, Custard committed several other fraudulent acts like filing over 100 false unemployment insurance applications in Michigan, Illinois and several other states for her own and others’ benefits. At least 20 of those fraudulent applications resulted in payments totaling approximately $200,000.
Due to her actions, multiple agencies lost a total of $620,000.
U.S. District Judge David Hittner will impose sentencing in January 2025. At that time, Custard faces up to five years in federal prison and a possible $250,000 maximum fine.
She was permitted to remain on bond pending that hearing.
The Department of Homeland Security-Office of Inspector General (OIG), IRS-Criminal Investigation, Treasury Inspector General for Tax Administration, Social Security Administration-OIG, SBA-OIG and Department of Labor-OIG conducted the investigation.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Karen M. Lansden is prosecuting the case.
President Nadia Calviño leads EIB delegation to 79th United Nations General Assembly in New York.
The EIB will announce new initiatives on financing global health, and climate.
Multilateral Development Banks present latest climate finance effort of $125 billion.
At the 79th United Nations General Assembly, European Investment Bank (EIB) President Nadia Calviño will join partners and global leaders to present new solutions and innovative financing approaches to tackle global challenges.
The EIB initiatives include support for women’s health with the Gates Foundation, the launch of new investment plans to strengthen primary healthcare alongside the World Health Organisation (WHO). EIB President Calviño will be accompanied by Vice-Presidents Ambroise Fayolle and Thomas Östros. She will be meeting heads of United Nations agencies, Multilateral Development Banks and leading private sector figures to explore ways of deepening collaboration.
President Calviño said: “We are proud to contribute to the UN Summit of the Future to create and scale up solutions for today’s challenges, paving the way for a stronger, more inclusive and connected multilateralism. That’s what we are here to do – with a focus on high-impact investments outside the EU – we are announcing new projects and initiatives alongside our partners to deliver primary health care, women’s health, as well as stepping up finance for climate action and resilience.”
Multilateral Development Banks (MDBs) today announced that their global climate finance reached a record high of $125 billion in 2023. Mobilised global private finance nearly doubled to $101 billion compared to 2022. The combined total climate finance from the MDBs, including the European Investment Bank, is more than double the amount provided in 2019, when MDBs announced their ambition to increase climate finance volumes over time at the United Nations Secretary General’s Climate Action Summit.
Vice-President Ambroise Fayolle, responsible for Climate Action and Just Transition at the EIB, said: “The combined efforts from the world’s Multilateral Development Banks to deliver $125 billion in direct investments last year for climate action sends the strong message that the MDBs are working as a system to deliver and that the global community can count on MDBs, including the EIB, to accelerate global climate action. As the largest multilateral lender for climate action projects, the EIB will continue to support high impact operations such as breakthrough technologies, climate adaptation and a just transition for the most vulnerable to climate change. To make the green transition a success, we must make sure that climate action works for everybody.”
On 23rd September, Multilateral Banks will also come together in New York on the margins of the United Nations for a high-level roundtable on the new Health Impact Investment Platform for primary healthcare financing co-hosted by the EIB and the World Health Organisation. The roundtable will spotlight country-level action to boost community based health and vaccination. The event will be livestreamed on EIB and WHO channels.
Vice-President Thomas Östros, responsible for Health financing and Energy said: “Our collective response to the COVID-19 pandemic showed that we can achieve more when we work together. It also highlighted the need for greater collaboration to address current global health challenges and to prepare for potential future emergencies. In the coming days, we will announce new initiatives that I believe will significantly enhance the health of communities worldwide”.
EIB at UNGA
The EIB delegation will be participating in a number of events on the margins of the 79th General Assembly of the United Nations (UNGA). President Calviño and Vice-President Fayolle will take part in a Project Syndicate event on Climate Finance on Sunday 22nd September which also includes Mia Amor Mottley, Prime Minister of Barbados, Gabriel Boric, President of Chile, Marina Silva, Minister of Environment and Climate Change of Brazil, Mafalda Duarte, Executive Director of the Green Climate Fund and Mukhtar Babayev, President-Designate of COP29 and Minister of Ecology and Natural Resources of Azerbaijan.
A fireside chat on 23rd September 11.00 EDT between President Calviño and WHO Director-General Dr.Tedros Ghebreyesus will be livestreamed on UN and EIB channels, as part of the SDG Media Zone events.
Media interviews
For interview requests with members of the EIB delegation please get in touch with the .
Background information
The European Investment Bank (EIB) is the long-term lending institution of the European Union owned by its Member States. It is active in more than 160 countries and makes long-term finance available for sound investment in order to contribute towards EU policy goals.
EIB Global is the EIB Group’s specialised arm dedicated to increasing the impact of international partnerships and development finance. EIB Global is designed to foster strong, focused partnership within Team Europe, alongside fellow development finance institutions, and civil society. EIB Global brings the Group closer to local people, companies and institutions through our offices across the world.
EIBto help fund construction of student housing as well as renovation of academic, research and sports facilities at Cyprus University of Technology (CUT)
CUT campuses in Paphos and Limassol to gain a total of 703 new student residences
EIB financing covers 70% of project costs
EIB Advisory services also included to improve energy efficiency of infrastructure
The Cyprus University of Technology (CUT) will benefit from €125 million in European Investment Bank (EIB) loans to build affordable student housing and upgrade campus facilities in the cities of Paphos and Limassol. The EIB funds will ensure that the planned student lodgings are sustainable and affordable and that academic, research and sports facilities meet the highest teaching and environmental standards.
The EIB funds stem from two financing agreements with CUT totalling €108 million and one funding accord with the municipality of Paphos amounting to €17 million. Part of the financing –
€89 million – is backed by the InvestEU programme, which marks its first operation in Cyprus. The EIB support will cover 70% of the project’s total cost.
“Investing in university infrastructure is key to ensuring that Cypriot universities can attract and train talented people and support economic growth, business innovation and social progress in the country,” said EIB Vice-President Kyriacos Kakouris. “A lack of sustainable and affordable housing is a major problem in Cyprus as well as across the EU and one of our priorities is tackling this scarcity. With this new financial support for Cyprus, we are backing up pledges with concrete action.”
The project will involve the construction and renovation of over 81,000 square metres of academic and administrative space along with the creation of 703 additional living places for students. In Limassol, the upgrades will include a solar-power plant to provide renewable energy, making the campus more energy independent. EIB Advisory Services are also providing technical assistance as part of the agreement to help the CUT maximise energy efficiency in the infrastructure that will be developed.
“The EIB’s continued strong partnership with Cyprus has resulted in this vital new financing in our education sector,” said Cypriot Finance Minister Makis Keravnos. “This support is of huge significance and is aligned with our goal of accelerating investments for sustainable and affordable housing and energy efficiency.”
The plans in Paphos offer a signal for Cyprus as a whole.
“By establishing, operating and managing a student residence, the Municipality of Paphos sets the first example of a local authority in Cyprus responding to a clear social need,” said Paphos Mayor Phedon Phedonos. “Decent housing is a basic requirement to have happy, proud and productive students and it is here that local government needs to show that it listens to what the community needs.”
CUT echoed the point.
“A dream we have had for many years has come true,” said CUT Rector Panayiotis Zaphiris.
“The provision of the necessary student accommodation and other major projects funded by the signing of these loan agreements build a stronger future for our university, especially for our students.”
CUT Board Chairman Costas Galatariotis added: “Today is the ideal prelude to a new path of development for the Cyprus University of Technology. Our warmest thanks to the EIB and the Republic of Cyprus through the Ministries of Finance and Education, for the trust and support. The impact of this partnership will be extremely important for the University and especially for the progress and well-being of our student community.”
CUT Student Union President Petros Christodoulou stressed the benefits of the planned new student housing.
“The high cost of accommodation has become a significant social problem for university students in recent years,” Christodoulou said. “These investments will help the university accommodate the increasing number of students and keep growing.”
The new loans bring total EIB financing for Cypriot universities and research institutions over the past decade to more than €300 million.
Previous EIB commitments were to expand and modernise the University of Cyprus in 2014 and 2017, when the bank provided a total of €162 million for the extension and modernisation of the University of Cyprus’s facilities and to create the Faculty of Engineering. Those two financing packages also helped improve energy efficiency and protection against earthquakes.
Furthermore, the EIB provided €25 million in 2017 for extra space, new equipment and research activities at the Cyprus Institute of Neurology and Genetics.
Background information
EIB
The European Investment Bank (ElB) is the long-term lending institution of the European Union, owned by its Member States. It finances sound investments that contribute to EU policy objectives. EIB projects bolster competitiveness, drive innovation, promote sustainable development, enhance social and territorial cohesion, and support a just and swift transition to climate neutrality.
All projects financed by the EIB Group are in line with the Paris Climate Accord. The EIB Group does not fund investments in fossil fuels. We are on track to deliver on our commitment to support €1 trillion in climate and environmental sustainability investment in the decade to 2030 as pledged in our Climate Bank Roadmap. Over half of the EIB Group’s annual financing supports projects directly contributing to climate change mitigation, adaptation, and a healthier environment.
Approximately half of the EIB’s financing within the European Union is directed towards cohesion regions, where per capita income is lower. This underscores the Bank’s commitment to fostering inclusive growth and the convergence of living standards.
Sum for low-and middle-income economies was $74.7 billion, including $24.7 billion for climate change adaptation
MDBs committed record $125 billion last year for climate action worldwide
Mobilised global private finance nearly doubled to $101 billion compared to 2022
Multilateral development banks (MDBs) announced today that their global climate finance reached a record high of $125 billion in 2023. The combined total last year from institutions, including the European Investment Bank, is more than double the amount provided in 2019, when MDBs announced their ambition to increase climate volumes over time at the United Nations Secretary General’s Climate Action Summit.
Low and middle-income economies
Last year, $74.7 billion of MDB climate finance were for low- and middle-income economies. Of this sum, 67% – or $50 billion – went to climate change mitigation and $24.7 billion, or 33%, for climate change adaptation. The amount of mobilised private finance for this group of countries stood at $28.5 billion.
High-income economies
In 2023, $50.3 billion were allocated for high-income economies. Of this amount, $47.3 billion, or 94%, were for climate change mitigation and the remaining $3 billion or 6% were for climate change adaptation. The amount of mobilised private finance for high-income countries stood at $72.7 billion.
Climate finance in focus at COP29
Today’s announcement comes in the run-up to the 29th session of the Conference of the Parties (COP 29) to the United Nations Climate Change Conference that will be held in Baku, Azerbaijan in November 2024. One of the key deliverables of COP29 is to increase global climate finance and reach agreement on the new collective quantified goal on climate finance.
EIB Vice-President Ambroise Fayolle said: “Nearly halfway into the critical decade, we must continue to work hard if we are to keep the Paris Agreement goal of limiting global warming to 1.5ºC within reach. Since 2019, multilateral development banks have increased their collective climate financing year on year, exceeding our joint targets. In addition, we are strengthening our cooperation to maximise impact for people and the planet through coordinated country-level support for a just transition away from fossil fuels and more work on adaptation and disaster risk management. Ahead of COP29, today’s announcement of $125 billion in climate finance sends the strong message that the MDB system is delivering and that the global community can count on MDBs, including the EIB, to accelerate global climate action.”
The EIB delivered record volumes of $42.1 billion of climate finance in high-income economies and $4 billion for low- and middle-income economies through its specialised development arm EIB Global. The EIB mobilised global private finance of $53 billion.
Transparent joint reporting on climate finance
The Joint Report on Multilateral Development Banks’ Climate Finance is an annual collaboration to publish MDBs’ climate finance figures, together with a clear explanation of the methodologies for tracking this finance. The joint report, along with the banks’ independent publication of their own climate finance statistics, is intended to monitor progress in relation to their joint climate finance objectives such as those announced at COP21 and the greater ambition pledged for the post-2020 period.
The 2023 multilateral development bank report, coordinated and prepared for publishing by the European Investment Bank (EIB), combines data from the African Development Bank (AfDB), the Asian Development Bank (ADB), the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB), the Council of Europe Development Bank (CEB), the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD), the EIB, the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB), the Islamic Development Bank (IsDB), the New Development Bank (NDB) and the World Bank Group (WBG).
The European Investment Bank (EIB) is the long-term lending institution of the European Union owned by its Member States. It is active in more than 160 countries and makes long-term finance available for sound investment in order to contribute towards EU policy goals.
In 2019, the EIB’s updated Energy Lending Policy was adopted to end financing to any unabated fossil fuels energy projects, including natural gas, the first MDB to do so.
In 2021, the EIB became the first MDB to align its financial activities with the Paris Agreement.
Through its Climate Bank Roadmap the EIB Group aims to support €1 trillion of investment in climate action and environmental sustainability through the critical decade, 2021-2030.
With a commitment to increase investment in climate action and environmental sustainability to more than 50% of the EIB’s annual lending by 2025 – last year that was exceeded with 60%.
EIB Global is the EIB Group’s specialised arm dedicated to increasing the impact of international partnerships and development finance. EIB Global is designed to foster strong, focused partnership within Team Europe, alongside fellow development finance institutions, and civil society. EIB Global brings the Group closer to local people, companies and institutions through our offices across the world.
Marcin Kierwiński is the government’s plenipotentiary for the reconstruction of areas affected by flooding20.09.2024El prime minister Donald Tusk went to the Lubuskie province, which is preparing for the arrival of a flood wave on the Odra. During the crisis headquarters in Nowa Sól, he announced that Marcin Kierwiński would be the government’s plenipotentiary for the post-flood reconstruction program.
Flood Reconstruction Program
During the meeting of the crisis team in Nowa Sól, the Prime Minister indicated the next step in this crisis situation – efficient organization of activities related to repairing the damage.
We want to start as soon as possible not only with emergency aid, but also with organizing a reconstruction program.
– announced Donald Tusk. Marcin Kierwiński will be the government’s representative for the flood reconstruction program.
I was looking for someone who has a technical education, is an experienced politician when it comes to management, has local government experience and experience with crisis situations.”
– Primer Ministro enumerated. Marcin Kierwiński, the new Minister of Internal Affairs and Administration, has all these competences. The politician has an engineering education; he was, among others, the initiator of the act on the protection of civilians, vice-marshal of the province and city councilor. This guarantees that the reconstruction program coordinated by him will function efficiently.
It would be hard to find anyone with better qualifications for this very difficult project.
– summed up the head of government. Kierwiński, currently serving as MEP, decided to resign from his mandate and return to Poland to help implement the planned activities.
Cooperation as a Source of Hope
During the staff meeting, the head of government also recalled that Nowa Sól withstood the flood in 1997 thanks to the heroic efforts of its residents.
People saved their beloved city. A little something that gives us all strength. You can see here that great effort, solidarity, how people don’t argue, but cooperate – thanks to this, you can really save a lot of things
– said Donald Tusk. The Prime Minister thanked the services and residents once again for their joint actions. He also informed that, as the situation develops, more and more areas are being declared a natural disaster.
Source: United States House of Representatives – Representative Stephanie Murphy (D-Fla)
Washington, D.C.— Congressman Greg Murphy, M.D. issued the following statement on the crisis of homes being swept into the ocean in Rodanthe, NC.
“The fact that homeowners have to wait until their property falls into the ocean before they can utilize the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) is ridiculous,”said Congressman Greg Murphy, M.D. “Every additional home that is swept into the sea understandably concerns individuals who want to see action taken. I continue to advocate vigorously in Congress for My Prevent Environmental Hazards Act which would allow folks insured by the NFIP to act before an emergency occurs. This is better for those with at-risk homes, and would save taxpayer dollars and protect the environment.”
The 33rd Capacity Building Programme for the Civil Servants of Maldives successfully completed today at NCGG, New Delhi This was the first programme of the second phase post signing of MoU between NCGG and CSC, Maldives to Train 1,000 Civil Servants over next five years (2024-2029)
34 civil servants from key departments and ministries participated in the programme
Posted On: 20 SEP 2024 8:45PM by PIB Delhi
The National Centre for Good Governance (NCGG) successfully completed the 33rd Capacity Building Programme (CBP) for Civil Servants of Maldives today in New Delhi. The two-week program, was organized from 9th to 20th September 2024, in collaboration with the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA). Notably, this is the first program under the second phase for civil servants of Maldives following the renewal of the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to train 1,000 Maldivian civil servants. The MoU was signed by India’s External Affairs Minister, Dr. S. Jaishankar, and the Maldives’ Foreign Minister, Mr. Moosa Zameer, for the period 2024-2029. The current program was attended by 34 civil servants from the Maldives, including Assistant Directors, Senior Administrators, Council Officers, Faculties and Community Health Officers, representing key ministries and departments from Maldives.
The valedictory session was chaired by Shri V. Srinivas, Director General of NCGG and Secretary of the Department of Administrative Reforms and Public Grievances (DARPG), Government of India. In his address, he reflected on the achievements of the first phase capacity building programmes (2019-2024), during which over 1,000 Maldivian civil servants visited the NCGG. In his address he highlighted how technology has been used in the country to transform institutions and bring citizens closer to the government. He discussed about use of technology in Direct Benefit Transfers, Health, Education and Secretariat and use of Aadhar to bring about governance. He asked the participants to take the learnings from the programme as most of the challenges are common and apply them to bring about greater transparency and efficiency in government processes.
During the Valedictory the participants also presented three insightful presentations on Bringing Transparency in Government Procurement in Maldives, Climate Change & its impact on Biodiversity in Maldives and Tourism in Maldives showcasing the learnings gained during the programme.
Mrs. Fathmath Inaya from Civil Service Commission, Maldives and head of delegation, expressed her gratitude to the Indian government and the NCGG for the opportunity. She stated that all of them learnt and gained extensively from the program.
Dr. B S Bisht, Associate Professor, NCGG and Course Coordinator of the programme while giving the welcome address and summary of the programme highlighted how the focus of the capacity building programme was to share India’s good governance models and best practices from various development schemes among others. He also shared that the second week of the programme had visits planned to Smart City Project and ITDA and Forest Research Institute (FRI) Dehradun, All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS), International Solar Alliance, Exposure visit to Indira Prayavaran Bahwan: India’s first Zero Energy Building, PM Sangrahalaya and visit to Taj Mahal to give a first hand view of India’s rich culture and heritage.
The NCGG has till now trained civil servants from 33 countries including Bangladesh, Kenya, Tanzania, Tunisia, Seychelles, Gambia, Maldives, Sri Lanka, Afghanistan, Laos, Vietnam, Nepal, Bhutan, Myanmar, Ethiopia, Eritrea, Somalia, South Africa, Indonesia, Madagascar, Fiji, Mozambique, Cambodia, Madagascar, Fiji, Indonesia, South Africa among others.
The programme was supervised and coordinated by Dr. B. S. Bisht, Course Coordinator, Dr. Sanjeev Sharma, Co-Course Coordinator, Shri. Brijesh Bisht, Training Assistant and Ms. Monisha Bahuguna, Young Professional along with the capacity building team of NCGG.
Court order ensures concertgoers who paid fee get money back with an additional $10
SEATTLE — Climate Pledge Arena will pay $477,917 in penalties and refunds as a result of Attorney General Bob Ferguson’s investigation into a hidden fee the arena charged thousands of Washingtonians.
From February 27, 2023, to July 22, 2023, Climate Pledge added a 3% fee to food and beverage purchases made at the arena. They did not disclose the fee in any way before customers made their purchase, in violation of Washington’s Consumer Protection Act. The Attorney General’s investigation revealed the company charged the fee on approximately 183,000 transactions over the course of 37 events, bringing in $162,917.16. The legally binding agreement is subject to court approval.
As a condition for resolving his case, Ferguson required that Climate Pledge:
Conclude a class action lawsuit resulting in full restitution to all Washington consumers who were harmed, to be administered through a claims process, subject to court approval;
Pay affected customers who file a claim an additional $10 for their inconvenience and loss of their money in addition to the full refund;
Pay $315,000 to the Attorney General’s Office to pay for the cost of bringing the case, future enforcement work and, if necessary, cover claimants’ additional $10 payment if the $162,917.16 is insufficient; and
Disclose all fees it charges customers in the future.
“Washington law is simple: If you charge a fee, you must clearly disclose that fee before someone pays it,” Ferguson said. “Climate Pledge was not doing that. Now they are paying the price. If you believe a company is charging hidden fees in Washington, contact my office.”
Ferguson opened his investigation following a KIRO news story about the fee. State law requires companies to clearly disclose all added fees and charges to Washingtonians before they charge them. Instead, the fee was not disclosed at the arena kiosks or in digital payments. Attendees only learned about the fee if they asked for a receipt for their transaction.
The arena stopped charging the fee following the KIRO story and the Attorney General’s Office confirmed the arena is not currently charging the fee. The court order ensures the arena does not charge any fees without appropriately informing people. If the arena does, the Attorney General’s Office can go to court for any violations.
Assistant Attorney General Dan Davies handled the case for Washington.
Honest Fees Initiative
Companies caught charging hidden fees have paid more than $9.6 million as a result of Ferguson’s Honest Fees Initiative.
Ferguson is calling on Washingtonians to check their bills, and, if they believe they contain hidden fees, to file a complaint at the Attorney General’s website here.
Follow these easy steps to check your bill:
Review your bill carefully for additional fees and taxes. Pay special attention to fees that appear to be government-imposed. Though they may appear to be, that may not be the case.
Compare your bill against the advertised purchase price. Is it different? Were fees added on without being disclosed to you when you signed up?
If you see a fee that was not included in the initial purchase price, or that you believe is deceptive, contact the Washington Attorney General’s Office at www.atg.wa.gov/file-complaint.
Ferguson took the first major action as part of the initiative in December 2019, when global technology company CenturyLink paid $6.1 million to the State of Washington for adding charges to customer bills without accurately disclosing those fees, and failing to provide discounts that their sales agents had promised customers. In July 2020, Frontier Communications Northwest paid $900,000 to Washington to resolve an Attorney General’s Office investigation that found Frontier did not adequately disclose fees when advertising and selling its products, and misled subscribers about internet speeds it could provide. Later in July 2020, Charter Communications paid nearly $1 million for failing to disclose its “Broadcast TV Surcharge” to customers who ordered the company’s services online. In March 2021, Bothell-based TV and broadband internet provider Wave paid $900,000 to more than 23,000 customers who ordered the company’s services online and more than $300,000 to the Attorney General’s Office.
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Washington’s Attorney General serves the people and the state of Washington. As the state’s largest law firm, the Attorney General’s Office provides legal representation to every state agency, board, and commission in Washington. Additionally, the Office serves the people directly by enforcing consumer protection, civil rights, and environmental protection laws. The Office also prosecutes elder abuse, Medicaid fraud, and handles sexually violent predator cases in 38 of Washington’s 39 counties. Visit www.atg.wa.govto learn more.
Governor Kathy Hochul today announced an additional $5.4 million in grant awards for Urban and Community Forestry Grants funded through the Federal Inflation Reduction Act (IRA). The funding expands on $7.1 million awarded on July 25, increasing expected project outcomes and reach, and bringing the total amount awarded to $12.5 million. The awards support Governor Hochul’s 2024 State of the State initiative to plant 25 million trees by 2033, recent commitments through the Clean Water, Clean Air and Green Jobs Environmental Bond Act, and other New York State investments to expand tree canopy and cultivate greener, healthier communities.
“Investing in community green space is a significant step towards revitalizing our cities and towns, and ensuring a sustainable, resilient future for all New Yorkers,” Governor Hochul said. “These investments will help to provide cleaner air and water to every corner of our state, and move us closer to achieving our climate goals.”
Funded projects represent a collaborative effort between local governments, not-for-profit organizations, and community groups to create more equitable and resilient urban forests in the face of increased storms and extreme heat driven by climate change. Projects are focused in disadvantaged communities and include initiatives to engage with the public in tree planting and stewardship efforts, and increase tree canopy in public open space and along roadways. The efforts align with Governor Hochul’s broader conservation and environmental agenda, including enhancing existing open spaces and land preservation goals, supporting the state’s ambitious climate goals, and advancing environmental justice statewide.
The grants are administered through the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation’s (DEC) Urban and Community Forestry program, which works to increase public awareness of the importance of trees and helps communities create healthy forests while enriching quality of life for residents.
Funding for this grant is made available through the state allocation from the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Forest Service through the IRA. The USDA Forest Service is allocating this funding to support projects in disadvantaged communities to increase and maintain a healthy urban canopy and equitable access to trees and the benefits they provide. The Forest Service’s Urban and Community Forestry program authorizes funding for a broad range of activities, such as urban wood utilization, urban food forests, extreme heat mitigation and workforce development.
New York State Department of Environmental Conservation Interim Commissioner Sean Mahar said, “Urban trees are more than just a touch of nature in our cities—they help mitigate extreme heat, improve air quality, and support public health. By enhancing green spaces in areas impacted by climate change and other environmental challenges, we cool streets and homes while improving the quality of life for all New Yorkers. Trees are an integral part of our urban landscapes and leave a legacy for future generations.”
New York State is celebrating the 16th annual Climate Week from September 22-29, 2024. The projects included in this announcement support New York’s commitment to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, make communities more resilient, drive action to tackle climate change and advance environmental justice, ensure affordability as part of the clean energy transition, and create new jobs and opportunities for future generations.
The 17 awarded projects receiving additional funding are listed below by region:
Capital Region
Albany County
City of Albany Department of General Services: $456,705 additional, for a total of $876,965; Community Forest Management Plan Implementation
Greene County
Village of Athens: $237,335 additional, for a total of $577,968; Community Forest Management Plan Implementation
Rensselaer County
City of Troy: $64,800 additional, for a total of $382,400; Community Forest Management Plan Implementation
Central New York
Onondaga County
City of Syracuse: $414,858 additional, for a total of $910,141; Community Forest Management Plan Implementation
Finger Lakes
Genesee County
City of Batavia: $306,218 additional, for a total of $758,950; Ash Tree Management in Disadvantaged Communities
Monroe County
City of Rochester: $399,250 additional, for a total of $598,875; Community Forest Management Plan Implementation
Mid-Hudson Valley
Ulster County
City of Kingston: $240,824 additional, for a total of $732,375; Community Forest Management Plan Implementation
Westchester
City of New Rochelle: $6,600 additional, for a total of $41,600; Ash Tree Management in Disadvantaged Communities
New York City
The Bronx
Woodlawn Conservancy Inc.: $727,962 additional, for a total of $1,201,354; Community Forest Management Plan Implementation
Natural Areas Conservancy Inc.: $467,510 additional, for a total of $862,168; Ash Tree Management in Disadvantaged Communities
Brooklyn
Big Initiatives Incorporated: $843,709 additional, for a total of $1,251,166; Community Forest Management Plan Implementation – Stewardship of Street Trees
The Evergreens Cemetery Preservation Foundation: $415,000 additional, for a total of $915,000; Community Forest Management Plan Implementation
Manhattan
The Green-Wood Cemetery: $100,000 additional, for a total of $598,035; Community Forest Management Plan Implementation
Randall’s Island Park Alliance Inc.: $353,520 additional, for a total of $851,262; Community Forest Management Plan Implementation
North Country
Clinton County
Clinton County Soil and Water Conservation District: $231,325 additional, for a total of $460,947; Ash Tree Management in Disadvantaged Communities
Jefferson County
City of Watertown: $150,000 additional, for a total of $550,000; Community Forest Management Plan Implementation
Western New York
Chautauqua County
City of Dunkirk: $35,867 additional, for a total of $158,313; Community Forest Management Plan Implementation
Senate Majority Leader Charles Schumer said, “New York, get your shovels out and get ready to dig for more new trees because over $5 million, in addition to the over $7 million we announced earlier this summer, is on the way to create more urban forests, from Albany to Kingston and more! I fought hard to plant this funding in the Inflation Reduction Act so that cities across New York could have access to the funding they have long needed to breathe new life into our most underserved neighborhoods. More trees mean cleaner, greener, and much cooler communities. I’m grateful for Governor Hochul’s partnership ensuring that these federal dollars are put to good use building a cooler and greener future for New York.”
Representative Paul Tonko said, “Thanks to our Inflation Reduction Act, we’re taking action to deliver critical resources directly to communities here in the Capital Region and across New York State. This significant infusion of federal funding will help plant trees, increase canopy cover, and build more resilient urban forests – all while addressing climate change and advancing environmental justice. As we continue to build on the successes of the IRA, I’m thrilled to see the benefits of our historic legislation taking root right here at home.”
Representative Pat Ryan said, “Tree coverage is an absolute necessity for a thriving city and these historic investments will increase canopy cover, improve climate resilience, and create good-paying jobs along the way. I’m proud that this $240,824 will add to the $528,600 from the landmark Inflation Reduction Act that I delivered for Kingston’s urban forestry program last year. I’m looking forward to continuing to work with officials at every level of government as we make the Hudson Valley a sustainable and vibrant home for generations to come.”
To further progress New York’s climate goals, Governor Hochul’s 2024 State of the State address established a goal of planting 25 million trees statewide by 2033 — a $47 million effort supported by the Clean Water, Clean Air and Green Jobs Environmental Bond Act and the FY25 Enacted Budget. The goal will invigorate the state’s tree planting efforts through multi-year annual grants to municipalities to plant trees in support of resilient reforestation and urban forests, modernize DEC’s Colonel William F. Fox Memorial Saratoga Tree Nursery and engage the next generation of environmental stewards.
The U.S. Indo-Pacific Command hosted the annual Senior Leaders Forum (SLF) for the State Partnership Program (SPP) here, Sept. 10-16.
SPP links a state’s National Guard with the military or security forces of a partner country in a cooperative, mutually beneficial relationship that supports theater campaign plan objectives. SPP establishes connections between National Guard units and partner nations, fostering long-term, advantageous relationships. These partnerships work to improve global security, deepen mutual understanding, and promote greater cooperation on a range of defense and security issues.
“One of the greatest things that the State Partnership gives us is longevity of relationships,” said United Kingdom Royal Navy Cdre. Jonathan Lett, J5 Deputy for Policy, USINDOPACOM. “The relationships and the partnerships that the National Guard builds in this region just go on for years and years and years. They grow up together. They develop together.”
The State Partnership Program, which started over 30 years ago with just 13 partners, has expanded to include 106 partner nations.
In the Indo-Pacific, there are currently 16 relationships, made up of nine US states and one territory: Alaska is partnered with Mongolia; Idaho with Cambodia; Hawaii with the Philippines and Indonesia; Montana with Sri Lanka and Maldives; Nevada with Tonga, Fiji, and Samoa; Oregon with Bangladesh and Vietnam; Rhode Island with Timor-Leste, Washington with Malaysia and Thailand; and Guam with Palau and a shared partnership with the Philippines.
“I champion the State Partnership program in this area of responsibility, said Cdre. Lett. “On a daily basis, Guardsmen are out there as a genuine force multiplier for the United States and for USINDOPACOM. It’s fantastic. I celebrate the amazing work they do and congratulate them on it!”
During the forum, more than 50 officials from all partner states, including adjutant generals, State Partnership Program directors, bilateral affairs officers and other senior leaders learned about key topics and areas of concern. This enabled them to observe what has been successful, the challenges each one faces, and the actions they are taking with their partner nations; as well reviewing initiatives and discussing their programs with INDOPACOM staff and other National Guard units.
“It’s important to have this Senior Leader Forum because it helps highlight all the excellent work that SPP partnerships are doing out into the region,” said U.S. Army Maj. Dustin Petersen, State Partnership Program Director for the Nevada National Guard. “There’s something to be said about being together with likeminded people, being in the COCOMs building, and hearing it from all the players and stakeholders into the region and show how we are aligned with the national vision.”
Highlighted presenters also noted the importance of current initiatives including: Women, Peace and Security, Overseas Humanitarian Disaster and Civic Aid, Climate Resilience, Office of the Command Surgeon and the Defense Security Cooperation Agency.
“We do everything we can to really strengthen our friendships, our partnerships and mutually benefit each other,” Petersen explained. “At some point we might have to lean on one another. And it’s better to build our friendships now, it’s hard to surge trust, it’s better to have it before there’s anything going wrong.”
Oregon Air Force National Guard Maj. Angelica Hayes, Oregon’s bilateral affairs officer (BAO) in Vietnam, is new to the position. She speaks on how beneficial attending the Senior Leaders Forum has been for her.
“I’ve had a lot of theory, a lot of how I’ll fit in, what I’ll be doing but now I am actually there doing it and getting some hands-on application,” Hayes said. “So, coming here is just reinforcing and reconnecting all those theories and making sure I am applying and making those connections correctly.”
The new BAO expresses the importance of recognizing networks and connections when it comes to the success of SPP and personal growth.
“The biggest thing that I think I’m getting out of this is just the networking, meeting a lot of people that are in the area, hearing their challenges or their successes is helpful when I go to problem-solve in the future,” Hayes said. “We’re building relationships in the nation, with our partner nation, but we are also building relationships within each other. That’s going to make us more successful if we have to respond to any type of emergency in the future.”
Source: The White House
Around the world today, our people and economies are increasingly impacted by the severe consequences of the climate crisis. Coastal communities and military bases are threatened by storms and flooding. Extreme heat, now a regular phenomenon with each passing summer, costs lives, reduces productivity, and damages critical infrastructure. Vital breadbaskets face historic droughts, and are no longer able to regularly deliver on the food security needs of their regions. Record-breaking fires ravage forests, spill into communities, and pollute the air.
The U.S. national security community has long understood climate change to be a “threat multiplier,” intensifying existing security threats and vulnerabilities, and decreasing resilience. But today, the devastating impacts of the climate crisis increasingly are themselves the new direct threats from which we must protect our communities. We are witnessing cycles of cascading climate impacts and increasing instability, at home and across the globe.
U.S. national security requires addressing the growing impacts of the climate crisis.
As described in our recent U.S. National Climate Assessment, growing climate vulnerabilities have profound impacts for U.S. national security, economic, and strategic interests. As our military is increasingly called upon to respond to disasters, we risk stretching defense resources. At the same time, our critical infrastructure—including relatively new infrastructure resulting from the increased investments in the clean-energy transition—risks being degraded more rapidly by the changing environment. Around the world, changing temperature, precipitation, ecosystems, and ocean conditions threaten supply chains, increase prices, affect the affordability and availability of insurance, and strain public coffers, forcing all levels of government to shift funds away from other priorities. And alongside these strains, we are witnessing vicious cycles of fragility, where communities may have limited capacity to recover from one disaster to the next. Simply put, climate hazards are threatening the long-term stability of our governments, our economies, and our global security.
The United States has prioritized the need to both mitigate and build resilience to these strategic threats. This new U.S. Framework for Climate Resilience and Security prescribes three actions for turning this prioritization into implementation.
Assess Climate-Related Threats and Opportunities: Without assessment of the impacts of climate change on our security and defense, it is difficult for our leaders to adapt to a rapidly changing environment or to plan strong responses. The United States has state-of-the-art scientific capabilities, and thanks to this strategic edge, we are able to predict where climate impacts will exacerbate threats–and act effectively in advance.
Partner for an Integrated Approach: Each federal department and agency has unique capabilities and comparative advantages in our response to climate hazards, but coordination is critical to efficiently and effectively meet the needs of our communities. Similar partnerships must also extend to partners overseas at the national, regional, and local levels, civil society, the private sector, philanthropies, and international organizations, to enable the effective use of resources and information, and to incorporate and respond to the needs of those who are impacted most.
Invest in Collective Resilience: Increasing the resilience of our own investments—including those in our supply chains, physical installations, or the provision of emergency assistance when challenges arise—advances national security objectives and yields economic results. As our deployment of mitigation resources intensifies through the clean energy transition, we must protect them with commensurate consideration for and investment in resilience that can not only protect lives, and livelihoods, but avoid or lessen future humanitarian and economic assistance needs.
Ultimately, these are the investments for which Americans across the country, and our partners across the world, are asking. These are not just about the rising threats of the climate crisis, but ultimately they are critical ingredients for ensuring economic security. Realizing these goals will protect lives and property, prepare first responders and defense forces, and improve livelihoods globally.
We will bring to bear the leadership of the United States to confront these threats, and bring our cutting-edge analysis, partnership, and investment to partners globally. In doing so, we will be able to turn many of these growing vulnerabilities into strategic opportunities. Through these efforts, we will build a more resilient and sustainable global security—one that asserts that projecting and withstanding climate shocks and disruptions is better done through partnership and investment.
Signed,
John PodestaSenior Advisor to the President for International Climate Policy
Jake SullivanAssistant to the President for National Security Affairs
The full U.S. Framework for Climate Resilience and Security can be found here.
Around the world today, our people and economies are increasingly impacted by the severe consequences of the climate crisis. Coastal communities and military bases are threatened by storms and flooding. Extreme heat, now a regular phenomenon with each passing summer, costs lives, reduces productivity, and damages critical infrastructure. Vital breadbaskets face historic droughts, and are no longer able to regularly deliver on the food security needs of their regions. Record-breaking fires ravage forests, spill into communities, and pollute the air.
The U.S. national security community has long understood climate change to be a “threat multiplier,” intensifying existing security threats and vulnerabilities, and decreasing resilience. But today, the devastating impacts of the climate crisis increasingly are themselves the new direct threats from which we must protect our communities. We are witnessing cycles of cascading climate impacts and increasing instability, at home and across the globe.
U.S. national security requires addressing the growing impacts of the climate crisis.
As described in our recent U.S. National Climate Assessment, growing climate vulnerabilities have profound impacts for U.S. national security, economic, and strategic interests. As our military is increasingly called upon to respond to disasters, we risk stretching defense resources. At the same time, our critical infrastructure—including relatively new infrastructure resulting from the increased investments in the clean-energy transition—risks being degraded more rapidly by the changing environment. Around the world, changing temperature, precipitation, ecosystems, and ocean conditions threaten supply chains, increase prices, affect the affordability and availability of insurance, and strain public coffers, forcing all levels of government to shift funds away from other priorities. And alongside these strains, we are witnessing vicious cycles of fragility, where communities may have limited capacity to recover from one disaster to the next. Simply put, climate hazards are threatening the long-term stability of our governments, our economies, and our global security.
The United States has prioritized the need to both mitigate and build resilience to these strategic threats. This new U.S. Framework for Climate Resilience and Security prescribes three actions for turning this prioritization into implementation.
Assess Climate-Related Threats and Opportunities: Without assessment of the impacts of climate change on our security and defense, it is difficult for our leaders to adapt to a rapidly changing environment or to plan strong responses. The United States has state-of-the-art scientific capabilities, and thanks to this strategic edge, we are able to predict where climate impacts will exacerbate threats–and act effectively in advance.
Partner for an Integrated Approach: Each federal department and agency has unique capabilities and comparative advantages in our response to climate hazards, but coordination is critical to efficiently and effectively meet the needs of our communities. Similar partnerships must also extend to partners overseas at the national, regional, and local levels, civil society, the private sector, philanthropies, and international organizations, to enable the effective use of resources and information, and to incorporate and respond to the needs of those who are impacted most.
Invest in Collective Resilience: Increasing the resilience of our own investments—including those in our supply chains, physical installations, or the provision of emergency assistance when challenges arise—advances national security objectives and yields economic results. As our deployment of mitigation resources intensifies through the clean energy transition, we must protect them with commensurate consideration for and investment in resilience that can not only protect lives, and livelihoods, but avoid or lessen future humanitarian and economic assistance needs.
Ultimately, these are the investments for which Americans across the country, and our partners across the world, are asking. These are not just about the rising threats of the climate crisis, but ultimately they are critical ingredients for ensuring economic security. Realizing these goals will protect lives and property, prepare first responders and defense forces, and improve livelihoods globally.
We will bring to bear the leadership of the United States to confront these threats, and bring our cutting-edge analysis, partnership, and investment to partners globally. In doing so, we will be able to turn many of these growing vulnerabilities into strategic opportunities. Through these efforts, we will build a more resilient and sustainable global security—one that asserts that projecting and withstanding climate shocks and disruptions is better done through partnership and investment.
Signed,
John Podesta Senior Advisor to the President for International Climate Policy
Jake Sullivan Assistant to the President for National Security Affairs
The full U.S. Framework for Climate Resilience and Security can be found here.
Union Minister for Environment, Forest and Climate Change, Sh. Bhupender Yadav to participate in the Beach Clean-Up Campaign in Mumbai tomorrow to mark the International Coastal Clean-up Day International Coastal Clean-up Day is observed every year on the third Saturday of September.
Posted On: 20 SEP 2024 7:07PM by PIB Delhi
Union Minister for Environment, Forest and Climate Change, Sh. Bhupender Yadav will participate in the Beach Clean-Up Campaign on 21 September 2024 (tomorrow) at Juhu Beach in Mumbai. This campaign is being organized in collaboration with the Ministry of Earth Sciences and the State Government. The Beach Clean-up Campaign will be exercised at more than 100 beaches across coastal States/UTs.
The Ministry launched a Beach Cleaning Drive and introduced the campaign #IamSavingMyBeach on World Environment Day 2018 with the theme “Beat Plastic.” Since 2018, the Ministry has regularly organised beach cleaning activities across all coastal States/Union Territories in collaboration with all coastal States and UTs Governments.
The International Coastal Clean-up Day (ICCD) is observed annually on the third Saturday of September. This day aims to inspire people to clean up beaches, raise awareness about the importance of preserving and protecting the world’s oceans and waterways, and address the issue of marine trash.
In 2021, the Ministry organized beach cleaning activities at all 10 Blue Flag Certified Beaches as part of the 75th Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav celebrations. In 2022, the MoEFCC, in collaboration with the Ministry of Earth Sciences, conducted a beach cleaning initiative under the “Swachh Sagar, Surakshit Sagar/Clean Coast Safe Sea” campaign in celebration of International Coastal Clean-up Day (ICCD). The campaign spanned over 75 days across 75 beaches, where more than 15,000 volunteers collected over 1,500 tons of garbage and waste along the Indian coastline.
In 2023, under its G20 Presidency, the Ministry launched the Janbhagidari movement to enhance community participation and raise awareness about the sensitivity of ocean and coastal pollution. This initiative focuses on beach cleaning efforts across all coastal states and union territories. The Mega beach cleaning event was held at Juhu Beach in Mumbai on 21st May 2023, wherein more than 1000 participants (including G20 delegates) having representation of local dignitaries (public representatives), community, NGOs, NCC, NSS, Coast Guards, Corporations, State and Central Government officials participated. A national level Inter-School painting competition for school students of classes 8 to 12 was organized wherein more than 5900 students participated.
In this drive at Juhu Beach, nearly 850 kg of litter, consisting of around 500 kg of plastics and other litter, including single-use plastics and food wrappers, were collected. In India, about 17392 volunteers participated spread across 35 beaches in all coastal States/UTs including Juhu Beach in Mumbai and about 35243 Kg trash collected. Out of which 25% consisted of plastic, followed by glass 11%.
Headline: Public Opening of New Fort Fisher Visitor Center, Earthworks, and Archaeology Lab Postponed
Public Opening of New Fort Fisher Visitor Center, Earthworks, and Archaeology Lab Postponed jejohnson6
KURE BEACH
The N.C. Department of Natural and Cultural Resources and the N.C. Division of State Historic Sites have postponed the public opening of Fort Fisher State Historic Site’s new visitor center, earthworks, and underwater archaeology lab due to damage and flooding associated with Tropical Cyclone 13.
Originally set for Sept. 27, the public opening of the site has been postponed. The event will be rescheduled for a future date to be announced.
Fort Fisher temporarily closed to the public in mid-April 2024 to allow staff members to relocate offices, artifacts, and exhibits to the site’s new and long-awaited 20,000 sq. ft visitor center. The new visitor center is expected to serve more than 1 million annual visitors.
Known as the Gibraltar of the South, Fort Fisher protected the port of Wilmington during the American Civil War until it fell to US forces in January 1865. In 1961, the site was designated a National Historic Landmark. Its original visitor center was built to accommodate an expected 25,000 visitors a year. It is part of the Division of State Historic Sites within DNCR.
About the North Carolina Department of Natural and Cultural Resources The N.C. Department of Natural and Cultural Resources (DNCR) manages, promotes, and enhances the things that people love about North Carolina – its diverse arts and culture, rich history, and spectacular natural areas. Through its programs, the department enhances education, stimulates economic development, improves public health, expands accessibility, and strengthens community resiliency.
The department manages over 100 locations across the state, including 27 historic sites, seven history museums, two art museums, five science museums, four aquariums, 35 state parks, four recreation areas, dozens of state trails and natural areas, the North Carolina Zoo, the State Library, the State Archives, the N.C. Arts Council, the African American Heritage Commission, the American Indian Heritage Commission, the State Historic Preservation Office, the Office of State Archaeology, the Highway Historical Markers program, the N.C. Land and Water Fund, and the Natural Heritage Program. For more information, please visit www.dncr.nc.gov.
White Oak River, North Carolina: Wetlands like these are useful for preventing floods, reducing erosion, and preserving biodiversity. But every wetland is unique, and it is important to understand the impacts of climate on a local level.
Credit: Norm Lane/Shutterstock
GAITHERSBURG, Md. — The U.S. Department of Commerce’s National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) has entered into a cooperative agreement with the University of Vermont (UVM) to establish a Climate Measurements Center of Excellence. The agreement includes an award of $2.7 million appropriated by Congress for this purpose and was made following a competitive process announced earlier this year.
“Our goal is to advance trust in measurements and technology in service to the nation. Effective measurements are key to understanding the dynamics of complex climate systems, and this center of excellence can amplify our impact and enable the development of equitable climate adaptation plans,” said Chuck Romine, the associate director for laboratory programs at NIST.
Climate impacts are felt differently from one region of the U.S. to another, and for communities to develop adaptation plans, they need more granular information than is currently available. The Climate Measurements Center of Excellence will support communities by providing standards frameworks, regional data, and the tools communities need to make decisions.
Climate impacts at the community level are expected to be diverse, complex and interrelated. Examples of possible impacts include diminished agricultural productivity, poor air quality, increased food costs, supply chain and commercial logistics disruptions, and public health issues. Preparing for and mitigating these impacts could be challenging for any one community alone. Therefore, the center will bring local climate researchers together to share resources and ideas and will serve as a hub for stakeholders including government climate offices, universities, nonprofits, industry and NIST.
The new center of excellence will establish and coordinate research teams that combine resources from the physical, biological and social sciences. It will also support the development of national standards and measurements for tracking hazards and risks associated with climate impacts. Throughout the three-year funding period, NIST will support the center through leadership, collaboration and community coordination.
The 2024 Enabling Native Researchers and Other Minorities Through Graduate Engineering (ENRGE) internship cohort. From left, Javier Moscoso, Chelsea Neely, Success Oluwole, Adrian Gomez, Zain ulAbdeen, and Danish Saleem. Photo by Josh Bauer, NREL
Internships offer students the opportunity to gain valuable experience in their field before joining the workforce—but for interns at the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL), they have the added motivation of contributing to meaningful work in energy efficiency and renewable energy. For interns in the Enabling Native Researchers and Other Minorities Through Graduate Engineering (ENRGE) program, undergraduate and graduate students at minority-serving institutions gain valuable experience in power, energy, and cybersecurity. It is funded by the U.S. Department of Energy National Nuclear Security Administration’s Minority Serving Institution Partnership Program, which aims to create and support a sustainable career pathway that prepares a diverse workforce of talented students to make immediate and significant contributions in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) fields.
ENRGE brings undergraduate and graduate students enrolled at minority-serving institutions with underrepresented backgrounds—such as Native, Black, Asian, Hispanic, and Latino Americans—to NREL for hands-on summer internships. The interns work on research projects that look at how human or natural threats may disrupt the U.S. electrical grid, assess the cybersecurity of distributed energy systems, or research pathways to strengthen the U.S. electrical grid.
“Many companies and teams look forward to new pools of student interns, as they’ll bring with them fresh ideas, new perspectives, and creative approaches to the projects or processes,” said NREL’s Danish Saleem, senior engineer and ENRGE program leader.
This past summer, JavierMoscoso, Adrian Gomez, ZainulAbdeen, and Success Oluwole participated in NREL’s second ENRGE summer internship program.
“We were fortunate to have Javier, Zain, Adrian, and Success this year at NREL,” Saleem said. “Their exceptional work, dedication, and contributions toward NREL’s clean energy goals was invaluable.”
Making the Personal Universal
Javier Moscoso. Photo by Josh Bauer, NREL
For Javier Moscoso, energy and climate issues hit home—that is, they affect him and all the people of Puerto Rico. “It’s a personal mission,” Moscoso said.
Hurricanes Maria and Fiona wreaked havoc on Puerto Rico in 2017 and 2022. Fiona knocked out power for 80% of the island’s customers who depended on an already fragile power system. Moscoso has witnessed the damage the hurricanes—and the loss of power—cause. He spoke with a woman using an oxygen tank earlier in 2024 about issues she faced when power goes away. She died following a power outage this summer. “I’m talking because I live this,” he said.
The ENRGE internship allows Moscoso to work on important cybersecurity projects, but it also allows him to talk with NREL people—like Laboratory Director Martin Keller, who Moscoso met with earlier this summer—about the issues Puerto Rico faces. “Not having a strong cybersecurity background before coming here, I have felt comfortable with my team, and I was always eager to learn more and get out of my comfort zone,” Moscoso said. “It gives me the opportunity to test out what I like and see new things that I maybe didn’t think I would ever like or work with. I have come to familiarize myself with cybersecurity and how crucial it is in power systems today. If I’m honest, I have come to appreciate how impactful this experience will be for my future. I think there is no better place than NREL to be exposing myself to this through many readings, workshops, and conversations with mentors. I look forward to continue learning and contributing in the best way I can.”
Moscoso’s work at NREL involves looking at the cybersecurity of utility-scale batteries and distributed energy resources (DER) deployment for underserved communities on separate projects. He completed a literature review on the cybersecurity of DERs, and his background informed the case studies he wrote on Puerto Rico. “It’s my opportunity to give visibility to Puerto Rican communities,” he said.
Moscoso said that there is intention to everything he does, which is why the ENRGE internship was enticing. It allowed him to bring his personal story and experience to NREL, which he will then take back to Puerto Rico. Encouraged by his time at NREL and with ENRGE, he will begin graduate school in Puerto Rico, where part of his time will be spent continuing a renewable energy project he began before coming to NREL.
Prior to arriving at NREL, Moscoso engaged other students on the design and architecture of a solar gazebo to be constructed at the University of Puerto Rico at Mayagüez. The gazebo will provide power on campus for students in the event of an outage. Moscoso has presented on this project at NREL and to many national outlets. The project includes an educational component where talks will be given on renewable energy and energy consumption.
What started as a napkin drawing is morphing into a reality that will benefit other Puerto Ricans, and Moscoso hopes that this first gazebo can be replicated across the island.
“Javier serves as an excellent example of someone who took full advantage of the networking and professional development opportunities that NREL and the ENRGE internship offered,” said NREL’s Chelsea Neely, cybersecurity researcher and ENRGE program coordinator. “Almost every week, he came to me to tell me who he met at NREL and what research and development opportunities he was excited about. We are so proud of the impact he has made here at NREL and can’t wait to see him continue his mission towards clean energy transformation.”
Exploring a New Career Pathway
Adrian Gomez. Photo by Josh Bauer, NREL
The path to NREL was not a straight line for Adrian Gomez. From the U.S. Army to education in criminal justice, his background was outside of energy. When Gomez decided that the criminal justice route was not what he wanted, he enrolled in the Ecotech Institute to learn about sustainable technologies.
Then the school closed permanently.
Gomez returned to criminal justice briefly before he learned about ENRGE. When he found the ENRGE internship opportunity at NREL, it felt like a fit. “It’s the right choice,” he said. “Everything led up to this. This is something I can do.”
At NREL, Gomez brings a cybersecurity background to the Clean Energy Cybersecurity Accelerator—which aims to expedite the deployment of novel or emerging operational technology security solutions—and learned from researchers involved in the cybersecurity situational awareness tool designed for renewable energy systems. For the Clean Energy Cybersecurity Accelerator, Gomez researched cyberattack scenarios involving solar panels and what types of attacks might cause disruptions.
“It’s interesting to see how everything is interconnected—how everything in a system affects everything else,” Gomez said. Researching cybersecurity has made Gomez hyperaware of cybersecurity concerns. He is paying attention to what is happening in the world in that regard. “I’m vigilant about those interconnections and how my role in cybersecurity is involved in that sphere.”
Following the ENRGE internship, Gomez will return to school to pursue a master’s degree in cybersecurity.
“For someone new to research, Adrian embraced the uncomfortable, often nonlinear path his research took him down this summer,” Neely said. “I was impressed with his ability to take on new concepts and come away from this experience with research he felt proud of. With the encouragement of researchers at NREL, we’re thrilled to hear he’s decided to pursue an advanced degree in cybersecurity. We can’t wait to see what the future holds for him as he builds on the skills he has learned here at NREL.”
Meeting the Challenges of Cybersecurity Through Computational Science
Zain ul Abdeen. Photo by Josh Bauer, NREL
Zain ul Abdeen came to NREL with a background in machine learning and artificial intelligence through a previous internship in NREL’s Computational Science Center, which comes in handy when asked to anticipate and respond to cyberattacks on power systems. Zain had worked as a computational scientist prior to arriving at NREL, and his computational skills were put to good use on cybersecurity projects.
Zain helped to test the performance of power system algorithms during adversarial attacks and built a model to detect anomalies in the system. With both, Zain was able to apply computational knowledge to specific challenges in cybersecurity. “We considered various kinds of attacks on the grid and how the algorithm was affected and how another model performed at detecting the attack,” he said.
A key component of Zain’s work is training models well enough that they are trustworthy when it comes to detecting and responding to attacks. That means designing robust systems that are well trained on possible scenarios and attacks.
“ENRGE is so well structured, and the mentors are very helpful,” he said. “They’re always there to help you solve a problem in your research. They listen, provide guidelines, and guide you in the right direction.”
“Zain’s final presentation of his projects this summer were incredibly impressive,” Neely said. “He made a big impact on his projects in such a short period of time. His successes clearly reflect the strong relationships he built with his mentors, Dr. Shuva Paul and Dr. Vivek Singh. We were very lucky to have his talents in the cybersecurity center this summer, and I can’t wait to read his next publications!”
Seizing an Unexpected Opportunity
Success Oluwole. Photo by Josh Bauer, NREL
When Success Oluwole went to her mentor and mechanical engineering department chair at Alabama Agriculture and Mechanical University, she asked him to keep his ears open for relevant opportunities. He called her up one day and directed Oluwole to an opportunity in the ENRGE program.
“I noticed it was a cybersecurity position and I’m quite in the mechanical engineering field,” she said. “So, I remember saying, ‘I’m not sure if this is the right fit for me.’”
The chair told Oluwole that she should not think like that—that she should be open to opportunities, even if the fit is not a direct match for her experience.
She applied to the ENRGE program. “I have always wanted to work at a national lab because I have research experience and working at the lab will give me more opportunities to do research full time,” she said.
When she interviewed for the role, it was the first time Oluwole had been interviewed by a panel, and she was nervous but optimistic, she said. When the offer came, Oluwole jumped at it. “The program gives people from minority communities the opportunity to work at a national lab. I’m Nigerian, and not many international students like me who come to this country have this opportunity. I knew working at NREL would be a great stepping stone for my career.”
Oluwole quickly realized that there was overlap between cybersecurity and mechanical engineering. She said she had the notion that there would be a lot of coding, but the actuality of the cybersecurity projects she worked on allowed her to use skills she brought with her to NREL.
She was able to deploy project management experience—data collection and budgeting—to help coordinate Liberty Eclipse, an annual full-scale cybersecurity preparedness exercise run by the U.S. Department of Energy. Oluwole also worked on a project involving cyber-informed engineering (CIE), which provides engineers a framework to integrate cybersecurity into the early design stages and throughout the life cycle of engineered systems. “I’ve been trying to apply the principles of CIE to the design, development, and operations of the wind turbines in the United States. I’ve been trying to apply the 12 principles of CIE to basically each level of a wind turbine,” she said.
“Success truly blossomed during her 10 weeks here at NREL,” Neely said. “She did a fantastic job collaborating with her mentor and I could tell she was really open trying things outside of her comfort zone. The fact that she left her experience better able to understand how cybersecurity affects her work as a mechanical engineer is a huge win for all of us. I feel so privileged to witness her growth and can’t wait to see what the future has in store for such a promising young researcher.”
Oluwole values the experiences she is gaining in the ENRGE program.
“Every single day since I started my internship here, I have been grateful, because this has been a blessing,” she said. “This program has been transformative. I’ve met great people. I’ve been able to apply my academic knowledge. I hope the program grows so that other people from minority communities can have the opportunities to learn like I have this summer.”
Before joining NREL, Oluwole did not have cybersecurity as a potential career path, but she is glad she has been able to gain this experience in an unexpected field.
ENRGE began with one intern in 2023 and has grown to four interns, two of whom have decided to pursue higher education as a result of their time in the program.
“Coming from diverse engineering and technical backgrounds, ENRGE interns learned to appreciate the importance of taking an interdisciplinary approach to the cybersecurity of energy systems,” Neely said. “Each of them has a very bright future as leaders in this important field. I hope their experience at NREL influences how they design and build critical cyber-physical systems of the future.”
Learn more about NREL’s ENRGE program and about NREL’s internship opportunities.