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Kilauea eruptions pump dangerous mercury into Hawaiian air
Lawrence Lichtenfeld Waste Management & EnvironmentalAs Hawaiian residents scramble to save important mementos from molten lava flows, Kilauea is putting on a spectacular display of Earth’s grandeur. But the red spray of liquid stone and bursts of natural glass shards erupting from the corona of the volcano hint at the dangers the latest activity holds. In addition to the volcano’s visible destruction, the chasm is a bubbling cauldron of chemicals and toxins.
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California’s new home construction law embraces solar power
Michelle R. Matisons Waste Management & EnvironmentalThe year 2020 marks a sunny turn for solar enthusiasts in California. That is the year that solar panels are required for all newly constructed single-family homes and small multifamily apartment-style buildings of three stories or less. When the California Energy Commission recently voted unanimously to make solar panels mandatory for these construction projects, the room was packed to capacity. But there was little debate that this is a good idea.
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Renewable energy jobs are growing worldwide
Scott E. Rupp Waste Management & EnvironmentalThe renewable energy sector created more than 500,000 new jobs globally in 2017, with the total number of people employed in renewables surpassing 10 million for the first time. Per the International Renewable Energy Agency’s report, "Renewable Energy and Jobs," jobs in the sector increased 5.3 percent in 2017, for a total of 10.3 million people employed worldwide. China, Brazil, the United States, India, Germany and Japan have remained the world’s largest renewable energy employers, per the report, representing more than 70 percent of all of the sector’s jobs.
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Can lawsuits spur climate change action?
Michelle R. Matisons Waste Management & EnvironmentalWhether or not you believe humans are responsible for climate change, we are all inundated with information about climate change and what we can do to fight back. Recycling, driving less, buying green, opposing pipelines, stopping fracking and supporting alternative energy are all examples of common climate-conscious actions.
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Trade tensions: China, US dispute over tariffs grows
Seth Sandronsky ManufacturingWith $50 billion in tariffs already on the way, President Donald Trump on April 5 directed the U.S Trade Representative to explore placing an additional $100 billion of tariffs on Chinese goods entering the U.S. The threat of higher prices on Chinese exports to the U.S. (and the expected retaliation from China) shook financial markets on Thursday and Friday.
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Trump trade-off: China imposes tariffs on US goods
Seth Sandronsky Civil & GovernmentThe world's two largest economies are not feeling the love on trade. China imposed $3 billion of tariffs on a range of U.S. goods on Monday. The bottom line on the impact is straightforward: tariffs hike prices for businesses and consumers in both nations.
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Rainwater harvesting comes of age across the (dry) land
Bill Becken Waste Management & EnvironmentalThere are those in vehement denial of the research and data indicating that water resources across the planet are growing increasingly scarce. For others, it's abundantly clear: Climate change, overdevelopment and population growth are leading to severe shortages of potable water.
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Emerging bioplastic feedstock, material and application trends
Don Rosato EngineeringNew biomaterial technology trends that emphasize sustainability are advancing rapidly across the bioplastics supply chain. Let's take a look at some emerging bioplastic feedstock, material and application highlights from among other sources, the recent 2018 European Biopolymer Summit and World Bio Markets conferences.
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How to earn (and keep) project sponsor support
Deborah Ike Business Management, Services & Risk ManagementAs the project manager, your relationship with the project sponsor can make or break a project. If you work well together and understand each other's working style, that can make even the most challenging project easier to manage.
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Plastics industry pushes for more recycling infrastructure
R.V. Scheide Waste Management & EnvironmentalSomething must be done to stem the flow of plastic waste into landfills, waterways and oceans, and members of the plastics industry are working closely with recycling advocates and other stakeholders to ensure funding for recycling projects is included in the infrastructure spending bills currently being considered by Congress.
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