EPA seeks public input on how to spend its Inflation Reduction Act funds

EPA seeks public input on how to spend its Inflation Reduction Act funds

On Nov. 4, 2022, the United States Environmental Protection Agency published a press release announcing “public engagement and input opportunities,” designed to gather feedback from the public on potential climate change and pollution reduction programs. These new programs are part of the Inflation Reduction Act, which was signed into law this past August, according to the press release. The EPA’s public engagement effort is made up of four elements: a “Request for Information,” expert input, a listening session and a webpage dedicated to the new programs, the press release stated. The RFI consists of six public dockets, each of which describes a potential program and has a section for comments.

Moon blushes red in the final total lunar eclipse for three years

Moon blushes red in the final total lunar eclipse for three years

The Earth and moon aligned with the sun on Nov. 8, 2022, to form the second total lunar eclipse of the year, and the last one until 2025, ABC News reported. The article explained that a total lunar eclipse is caused by the perfect alignment of the sun, Earth and moon, when the moon passes directly through the Earth’s shadow. NASA reported that totality occurred between 5:17 and 6:42 a.m. EST with partial and penumbral phases ending at 8:50 a.m. EST.

COP27 leads to new plans in climate mitigation as well as climate adaptation

COP27 leads to new plans in climate mitigation as well as climate adaptation

This year marks the 27th Conference of The Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change, also called COP27. From Nov. 6 to 18, climate activists, negotiators, ministers, mayors, civil society members, heads of state and CEOs will be gathered in Sharm el-Sheikh, Egypt for the largest annual gathering on climate change and climate action, according to the United Nations’ official website.

Remains of the first-known Neanderthal family discovered in Siberia

Remains of the first-known Neanderthal family discovered in Siberia

On Oct. 19, 2022, a group of researchers reported finding the remains of a Neanderthal family — the first discovery of its kind — to the scientific journal Nature. According to the Smithsonian Magazine, the remains were found alongside animal bones and stone tools inside the Chagyrskaya Cave in Siberia.

Europe turns to Africa for natural gas amid fossil fuel shortages

Europe turns to Africa for natural gas amid fossil fuel shortages

Much of Europe is facing a natural gas shortage, and will continue to feel the economic and social effects of this shortage through the gas storage refilling period in summer 2023, according to an International Energy Agency article. The article explains that this shortage is due to a halt in pipeline deliveries from Russia. The New York Times reported that because of this loss, Europe must find new sources of natural gas and oil, and has already begun searching.

Lula's victory could reverse the trend of Amazon deforestation

Lula's victory could reverse the trend of Amazon deforestation

On Oct. 30, 2022, Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro was ousted by candidate and former president Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva in one of the narrowest races in the country’s history, Bloomberg reported. The election has attracted widespread attention from the environmental community — including lobbyists, politicians and activists — given Bolsonaro’s notorious role in the deforestation of the Amazon rainforest, International Business Times said. Lula’s election has thus led to tentative hopes for a future of stronger conservation policy in the country.

Board of Trustees approves transition to geothermal energy

Board of Trustees approves transition to geothermal energy

Mount Holyoke College’s Board of Trustees recently brought the College a step closer to achieving carbon neutrality by 2037. The Board voted to transition the College’s heating and cooling system to one powered by geothermal energy. The decision was shared with the MHC community in the Oct. 19 edition of the MHC This Week newsletter, alongside other updates from the Board’s fall meeting. The transition to geothermal power, which the meeting summary referred to as the “College’s Energy Master Plan,” would reduce the College’s carbon footprint by an estimated 80 percent, per the summary.

Alaskan crabbing season cancelled due to extreme population decline

Alaskan crabbing season cancelled due to extreme population decline

October to January is generally the optimal season for fishing and harvesting all crab species for food, a Southern Living Magazine article stated. This is when most individual crabs are at their largest and when populations are at their peak. A major crabbing industry is centralized in the Bering Sea in Alaska. Its snow crab harvest in particular brings in approximately 132 million dollars each year, according to a Time article. This October, however, the Alaska Department of Fish and Game determined that the number of crabs in the Bering Sea this season was too low to open the fishery.

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