"Part of the challenge is that biochar doesn’t exactly fit into the standard American farming curriculum. It’s neither a fertilizer nor a pesticide, and it doesn’t supercharge crop production. 'It’s not something that’s likely to double yield,' said Milton McGiffen, a cooperative extension specialist and agricultural researcher at the University of California, Riverside. Still, McGiffen said, biochar’s benefits are clear, particularly when it’s added to soils that have a lot of sand or clay and struggle to hold on to water and nutrients."
In Defense of Green Growth
Before further buying into the degrowth narrative, policymakers and citizens should look to history, economics, and science. Green growth and economic freedom have alleviated poverty, accelerated innovation, and delivered meaningful climate progress.
It’s Time to Rescue Science from “The Science”
Our New Primer Tries to Capture What Actual Scientists, Not Activists, Are Saying About Climate Risk
In climate fight, Europe’s olive, wine farmers turn to tech and tradition
"Spanish farmer Miguel Moreno was an early adopter of so-called cover crops. He began growing grasses alongside trees almost 30 years ago to stop water draining away down the hill on his 74-hectare olive grove in the southern region of Andalusia."
Scientist successfully grows coral reefs using a new system
"'We wanted it to be something we could mass produce at a reasonable price. And easy for a diver or a remotely-operated vehicle to deploy," said Foster. 'We've deployed several different prototypes of our coral skeletons. And we've also tested this on four different species.'"
Invasive Species: An Environmental Threat Multiplier
To reduce the costly impacts of invasive species, policymakers at the federal, state, and local level must continue to make prevention and eradication an environmental priority.
Maui’s neglected grasslands caused Lahaina fire to grow with deadly speed
"But what’s really necessary to keep communities safe, Pickett said, is action from large private landowners and elected officials. Neither party has meaningfully engaged with HWMO’s proposals, she said, including large-scale investments in brush abatement programs and putting resources toward enforcing fire codes."
How Reflective Paint Brings Down Scorching City Temperatures
"Cooling technologies mitigate this. Green roofs absorb heat before it penetrates the buildings beneath. Super-reflective coatings reflect the sun’s visible light and invisible infrared radiation away from surfaces to keep them cooler. And an ultra-white paint developed at Purdue University promises even more protection, although the product isn’t commercially available yet. Each strategy helps reduce energy use."
Deforestation in Brazil’s Amazon falls 66% in August
Reuters reports that deforestation in Brazil’s Amazon has declined by 66% in August. “Deforestation in the Amazon causes the loss of many species and their habitats, negatively impacts indigenous people and their health, causes fire, an increase in CO2 emission, soil erosion, flooding, desertification, pollution of rivers and lands, and negatively alters water cycle around...
There’s a Better Way to Fight Wildfires, Indigenous Groups Say
"As it gets late in the afternoon, the winds will start to die right down. Then we’ll start coming in and doing all of our night burns so we can get more control of that fire and make it do exactly what we want. If you come into one of our burns, what we call cold burns, you can literally walk along with the fire, touch the soil. Green grasses are still there."