Temperature Limits for Umpqua River Basin

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency established a temperature Total Maximum Daily Load for waters in the Umpqua River Basin. A TMDL is the calculation of the maximum amount of a pollutant allowed to enter a waterbody in order to meet water quality standards. Elevated water temperatures are detrimental to aquatic life, particularly salmonid fishes.

Australia Offers “Climate Visas” to Citizens of Tuvalu

In late June, Australia began offering a new “climate visa” to citizens of Tuvalu, a low-lying island nation threatened by rising sea levels. About half of Tuvalu’s 10,000 residents have already applied for the visa, which is a first-of-itskind program. The move comes as saltwater contaminates Tuvalu’s drinking water and rising tides threaten to submerge its land, potentially making it one of the first countries uninhabitable due to climate change.

Private Jet Emissions

A new study from the International Council on Clean Transportation highlights the disproportionate environmental impact of private jets, each emitting the greenhouse gas equivalent of 177 cars. In 2023, emissions from business jets were equivalent to the total of all flights departing from London’s Heathrow Airport.

H&M Partners with Circulose

H&M Group has partnered with Circulose to replace a significant amount of virgin viscose with its recycled material across brands like H&M and COS. The deal marks Circulose’s third major partnership since relaunching under new leadership in June 2024. All three initiatives aim to reduce the use of new materials by using Circulose’s recycled alternatives.

AI Drives Surge in Google’s Carbon Emissions

Google’s carbon emissions have increased by 51% since 2019, primarily driven by the energy demands of artificial intelligence. The company’s electricity consumption rose by 27% year-on-year due to the growing need for data centers to power AI. Despite investments in renewable energy, Google is struggling to curb its overall emissions as its energy needs rapidly increase.