Deep Dives
Thought-provoking research providing extensive learning opportunities

Challenging the Need for Deep Seabed Mining From the Perspective of Metal Demand, Biodiversity, Ecosystems Services, and Benefit Sharing

Miller, K.A. et al., Frontiers in Marine Science Energy Solutions

The extraction of minerals from the seabed of the deep oceans is of increasing interest to investors, mining companies and some coastal states.

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The truth behind corporate climate pledges

Jocelyn Timperley, The Guardian Energy Solutions

Facing a reckoning over their contribution to the climate emergency, companies are coming out with a record number of pledges.

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The blue carbon wealth of nations

Bertram, C. et al., Nature Climate Change Energy Solutions

Carbon sequestration and storage in mangroves, salt marshes and seagrass meadows is an essential coastal ‘blue carbon’ ecosystem service for climate change mitigation.

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Powering Sustainable Aviation Through Consumer Demand: The Clean Skies for Tomorrow Sustainable Aviation Fuel Certificate (SAFc) Framework

World Economic Forum Energy Solutions Tourism

As aviation – one of the world’s most carbon-intensive industries – rebounds following COVID-19, initiatives such as SAFc can support a net-zero pathway.

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Cleaner burning aviation fuels can reduce contrail cloudiness

Voigt, C. et al., Nature Energy Solutions Tourism

Contrail cirrus account for the major share of aviation’s climate impact. Yet, the links between jet fuel composition, contrail microphysics and climate impact remain unresolved.

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Unlocking a Renewable Energy Future: How Government Action Can Drive Private Investment

Hutchinson, N. et al., World Resources Institute Energy Solutions

The private sector is poised to invest billions of dollars to massively speed up, scale and support the energy transition. However, many investors, particularly in the private sector, are deterred by some of the risks related to renewable energy investments.

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Becoming #GenerationRestoration: Ecosystem Restoration for People, Nature and Climate

Dickson, B. et al., UNEP Energy Solutions Fisheries & Aquaculture Plastics & Pollution Shipping & Ports Tourism

To launch the UN Decade on Ecosystem Restoration, UNEP has released this synthesis report as a call to action for anyone and everyone to join the #GenerationRestoration movement to prevent, halt and reverse the degradation of ecosystems worldwide.

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“How do we manage fisheries in the midst of climate change?” Q&A with EDF’s Eric Schwaab

Rhett A. Butler, Mongabay Energy Solutions Fisheries & Aquaculture

Schwaab spoke about how to increase the resilience of fisheries to climate change; U.S. oceans policy, including what the country has gotten right and wrong; and more in a recent interview with Mongabay founder Rhett A. Butler.

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Energy Transition

Vivan Sorab, CREO Energy Solutions

The need to decarbonize the global economy together with a drop in prices of renewable power have accelerated the energy transition, though its magnitude remains its greatest hurdle.

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The Second World Ocean Assessment (Volume II)

United Nations Energy Solutions Fisheries & Aquaculture Plastics & Pollution Shipping & Ports Tourism

The Second World Ocean Assessment (WOA II) is the major output of the second cycle of the Regular Process for Global Reporting and Assessment of the States of the Marine Environment, including Socioeconomic Aspects. It is the newest outcome of the only integrated assessment of the world’s ocean at the global level covering environmental, economic and social aspects.

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The Second World Ocean Assessment (Volume I)

United Nations Energy Solutions Fisheries & Aquaculture Plastics & Pollution Shipping & Ports Tourism

The Second World Ocean Assessment (WOA II) is the major output of the second cycle of the Regular Process for Global Reporting and Assessment of the States of the Marine Environment, including Socioeconomic Aspects. It is the newest outcome of the only integrated assessment of the world’s ocean at the global level covering environmental, economic and social aspects.

Read more → (more than an hour read)


Cities Confront Climate Challenge: How to Move from Gas to Electricity?

Jonathan Mingle, Yale Environment 360 Energy Solutions

Ending the use of fossil fuels to heat homes and buildings is a key challenge for cities hoping to achieve net-zero emissions.

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The Potential of Zero-Carbon Bunker Fuels in Developing Countries

Englert, D. et al., The World Bank Energy Solutions Shipping & Ports

Across the maritime industry, there is general agreement that shipping must undergo a rapid energy transition. This implies a shift from fossil bunker fuels, such as the predominant heavy fuel oil (HFO), to a new generation of alternative bunker fuels.

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Gauging Economic Consensus on Climate Change

Peter Howard & Derek Sylvan, Institute for Policy Integrity Energy Solutions

Thousands of economists have spent years or decades studying the interaction between climate change and the economic systems that underlie modern life. The views of these experts can help clarify how climate change will likely affect our society and economy, and how policymakers should approach greenhouse gas emission reduction efforts.

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Red seaweed (Asparagopsis taxiformis) supplementation reduces enteric methane by over 80 percent in beef steers

Roque, BM et al., PLoS ONE Energy Solutions Fisheries & Aquaculture

Livestock production, particularly ruminants, contributes to anthropogenic greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions globally. These emissions are estimated to be 7.1 Gt carbon dioxide (CO2) equivalents annually which accounts for approximately 14.5% of the global anthropogenic GHG emissions. The majority of GHG emissions from livestock production is in the form of methane (CH4), which is produced largely through enteric fermentation and to a lesser extent manure decomposition.

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New age of sail looks to slash massive maritime carbon emissions

Andrew Willner, Mongabay Energy Solutions Shipping & Ports

Today, startup companies like Fair Transport (with its retrofitted wooden vessels Tres Hombres and Nordlys); modest sized proof-of-concept firms, with purpose-built vessels like Grain de Sail; and large cargo ship retrofits and purpose-built vessels like Neoline’s new large cargo vessels, are starting to address CO2 emissions.

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Will the Race for Electric Vehicles Endanger the Earth’s Most Sensitive Ecosystem?

Tara Lohan, The Revelator Energy Solutions

Materials needed to make the batteries for electric cars and other clean technology is driving interest in deep-seabed mining, and scientists fear the cost to the ocean will be steep.

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25 badass women shaping climate action in 2021

Heather Clancy, GreenBiz Energy Solutions

Given the devastating economic toll the COVID-19 pandemic has had on women and girls, the imperative to mark International Women’s Day carries more weight than usual this year.

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Marine Energy in the United States: An Overview of Opportunities

Kilcher, L., Fogarty, M. and Lawson, M., National Renewable Energy Laboratory Energy Solutions

This report summarizes the best available data on U.S. marine energy resources at the national, state, and regional scales. Results are primarily based on U.S. Department of Energy (DOE)-funded marine energy resource assessments for wave, tidal currents, ocean currents, ocean thermal gradients, and river currents.

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5 Reasons the US Should Cut its GHG Emissions in Half by 2030

Greg Carlock and Dan Lashof, World Resources Institute Energy Solutions

Climate change already affects millions of Americans, from worsening asthma and other respiratory problems to spurring destructive and costly hurricanes, wildfires, heat waves and other extreme weather. 

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