Eco Report – November 3, 2023

And now for your environmental reports:

The Michigan Senate voted to require that all of the state’s energy come from sources that do not emit climate warming gases by 2040.

“This legislation is a major milestone in ongoing efforts to ensure a greener and more environmentally conscious Michigan,” said Sen. Sean McCann (D-Kalamazoo), Chair of the Senate Energy and Environment Committee. “These policies will safeguard public health and better protect our environment now and for future generations, and my colleagues and I will continue to work to address the climate crisis and combating the harmful pollution that plagues our farms, air and Great Lakes.”

Senate Bill 271 sets targets for a clean energy future. Those targets include establishing a 100% clean energy standard set to be achieved by 2040, and an 80% clean energy standard by 2035. 

—Norm Holy

The newly delisted 21 species emphasize the ESA’s importance in trying to protect species before their declines become irreversible. Human activity is the number one driver of species decline and extinction due to habitat loss, overuse, invasive species and diseases.  “Federal protection came too late to reverse these species’ decline, and it’s a wake-up call on the importance of conserving imperiled species before it’s too late,” said USFWS Director Martha Williams in the USFWS press release.

As the world population and temperatures rise, the pace of extinctions will increase. So far, attempts to halt climate change have fallen way short. By 2100, we may be losing 1,000 species per year. E. O. Wilson, the dean of American biologists, predicted the current mass extinction would cause 1 million plants and animals to go extinct.

—Norm Holy

The plan, which included Governor Holcomb, has not had a single environmental impact study completed.  At a meeting on September 28th, the IEDC’s contracted hydologist presented data from only four days of testing during the wettest part of the year.

Residents reported sulfurous water, gravel in their wells, and problems with their filters.  No study was done regarding the flora and fauna that might be dependent on the aquifer.

The “water grab” will have negative effects on both residents of Indiana and Illinois and their natural resources.  At this time, there is no water protection laws in place in the State of Indiana.  Members of the group are asking others in Indiana to reach out to the IN DNR and the EPA for more testing.

—Julianna Dailey

Arctic coastal communities that are used to largely un-trafficked waters are likely to experience major changes as shipping in the Arctic increases. As shipping increases, it may interfere with communities’ subsistence harvesting of fish and marine mammals, foul their coastlines if they spill fuel or other toxic substances or impose a heavy burden upon their limited search and rescue and response capabilities in the event of an accident.

There is an urgent need to protect the Arctic. As cold-water fish (e.g., cod) move out of the Gulf of Maine , it is critical that sanctuaries are in place to receive them.  Given that global warming will be with us for centuries, cold-water species will need the Arctic.

—Norm Holy

“The ice this year is so far out of the range of all the other years that it’s a really exceptional year,” said Ariaan Purich, a climate scientist at Monash University in Australia.

Antarctica has ice both on land and a massive continental ice sheet. The icebergs that calve off from the big glaciers help to protect the main mass from melting.  Less sea ice could mean that the continental ice sheet melts and breaks faster, contributing to faster sea-level rise around the world.  That sea ice supports a whole ecosystem of wildlife, including both Adélie and emperor penguins. Last year, several emperor penguin colonies suffered a widespread loss of their chicks when the ice broke up early.

What will happen during the coming summer to the so-called ‘Doomsday’ glacier – an Antarctic glacier that buffers warming seas from the large Antarctic ice sheet – could melt much faster than predicted. Officially called the Thwaites Glacier, it is monitored closely by researchers. When it breaks free, it could be catastrophic for the planet.  Should the Thwaites Glacier and its surrounding ice basins melt, it could raise sea levels by anywhere between three and 10 feet. This, combined with the Florida-sized glacier’s buffering role in the ocean, has given it its apocalyptic Doomsday nickname. There is nothing we can do at this point to prevent Thwaites from breaking free – it’s too late. It may not break free this summer, but the outcome is certain.

—Norm Holy

And now we turn to Zyro Roze as he explores the origins of the first Little Free Library and the self-service solar powered tea station that formed the initial components of the revolutionary socio-cultural movement that became Portland’s City Repair Project which is now branching out into communities all across the country.

We also celebrate ecologists, tree huggers, soil builders and an assortment of champions who actively protect and restore our natural world, particularly those who are active in south central Indiana.  All levels of experience and all ages are welcome, and we provide the training you’ll need.  WFHB also offers internships.  To volunteer for Eco Report, give us a call at (812) 323-1200, or e-mail us at: [email protected]. 

And now for some upcoming events:

Take an Introduction to Hydroponics class at the Allison-Jukebox Community Center on Saturday, November 4th, from 5 to 6:30 pm.  Learn an alternative way of gardening using water rather than soil.  Register at bloomington.IN.gov/parks.