UH Office of Sustainability

The ruling revokes leases sold in the Gulf of Mexico, in the largest oil and gas lease sale in U.S. history. It says the Interior Department failed to consider the greenhouse gases it would produce.

A federal judge canceled major oil and gas leases over climate change | Houston Public Media

On Jan. 13, 2022, from 1-2 p.m., NOAA Central Library and the National Sea Grant Office will present a a synthesis of big picture findings of the ten-year Gulf of Mexico Research Initiative. Click the link below for more information!

register.gotowebinar.com

"There is little historical precedent for expanding solar energy, which contributed less than 4 percent of the country’s electricity last year, as quickly as the Energy Department outlined in a new report. To achieve that growth, the country would have to double the amount of solar energy installed every year over the next four years and then double it again by 2030."

From 4% to 45%: Energy Department Lays Out Ambitious Blueprint for Solar Power The department’s analysis provides only a broad outline, and many of the details will be decided by congressional lawmakers.

The United States and China — the world's top two greenhouse gas-emitting countries, which together account for about 40% of the world's annual carbon output — announced Wednesday they have agreed to cooperate on limiting emissions to address the global climate crisis.

U.S. and China announce surprise climate agreement at COP26 summit U.S. climate envoy John Kerry told NPR the declaration spurs mutual accountability. "I'm absolutely convinced that that is the fastest, best way to get China to move from where it is today," he said.

The U.S. has contributed more heat-trapping pollution than any country over time and has been the prime driver of global climate change. The national debate about how to address the problem has raged for decades, but progress toward a solution has been slow. Whenever presidents or Congress have introduced measures to slash emissions to avoid the most catastrophic effects of climate change, they've been repeatedly derailed.

How decades of disinformation about fossil fuels halted U.S. climate policy Most Americans want the government to tackle climate change, but decades of industry lobbying and misinformation have repeatedly worked together to prevent meaningful action.

Very cool!

Houstonians can now drop off kitchen scraps for composting as part of a new pilot program | Houston Public Media The goal is to divert food waste from going into the city's landfills, which are reaching their limits.

Only about 12 percent of investment in the energy sector by private equity firms went into renewable power, like solar or wind, since 2010, though those investments have grown at a faster rate. You can read the details today.

The Firms That Help Keep Oil Flowing Secretive investment funds are putting billions into fossil fuel projects, buying up offshore platforms and building new pipelines.

What an amazing conference! Don't miss out!

Registration is now open for Harris County's One Health Conference! This year's conference will be held virtually on Saturday, October 16 and Sunday, October 17 from 1:00 PM to 4:00 PM CST both days. Learn more & sign up here:
https://bit.ly/3oyvzE6

Hey Coogs! Did you know that you get discounted BCycle membership as UH students? Check the link our below for details on how to get the discount as well as some maps on where you can get to on a BCycle from campus.

UH BCycle Partnership UH BCycle Partnership Houston BCycle is a bike share program in Houston, Texas, operated by Houston Bike Share, a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization. With 90+ stations and 635+ bikes throughout central Houston, you can check out and return a BCycle at any station 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. In F...

Stay safe out there Coogs!

Good morning! Tropical Storm Nicholas has a better defined center of circulation this morning, and it has reformed north of where forecasters believed it to be earlier. This, combined with an expectation that Nicholas will now move a little bit more quickly once inland, have led to some changes in timing and rainfall amounts in the forecast. As a reminder, we’re continuing to predict Stage 3 flood conditions for some parts of the greater Houston area through Wednesday. Some, but not all, of our region will see prolonged heavy rainfall beginning later tonight. Here's what we know:

https://spacecityweather.com/tropical-storm-nicholas-is-nearing-the-texas-coast-heavy-rains-coming-with-it/