#2024 Ocean Decade Conference

[meteorologistaustenlonek]

"⏰ The clock is ticking... A final friendly reminder to all ocean enthusiasts: submit your posters & oral presentations for the 2024 #OceanDecade Conference by Dec 1. Seize this incredible opportunity to contribute to the global vision for our ocean!"

[kp777]

By Olivia Rosane

Common Dreams

May 15, 2024

"It's past time our leaders take this simple step and stop funding activities that are completely at odds with protecting our climate," one advocate said.

More than 200 environmental and climate advocacy groups sent a letter to Congress on Wednesday demanding that lawmakers stop funding the extraction of fossil fuels on public lands and waters.

The letter argues that Congress' annual approval of taxpayer funds to subsidize oil and gas drilling and coal mining "undermine" the international agreement reached at the United Nations COP28 climate conference last year on the need for "transitioning away from fossil fuels."

"Congress has coddled the fossil fuel industry for decades, scarring millions of acres of public lands in the process," Ashley Nunes, public lands policy specialist at the Center for Biological Diversity, said in a statement. "It's past time our leaders take this simple step and stop funding activities that are completely at odds with protecting our climate."

"Every year that Congress keeps supporting status quo drilling on public lands and offshore waters is a missed opportunity that locks us into a hotter and more dangerous future."

The Center for Biological Diversity was one of 234 groups behind the letter, which was addressed to Senate Appropriations Chair Sen. Patty Murray (D-Wash.), Appropriations Vice Chair Sen. Susan Collins (R-Me.), House Appropriations Chair Rep. Tom Cole (R-Okla.) and House Appropriations Ranking Member Rep. Rosa DeLauro (D-Conn.). Specifically, the letter asks that the lawmakers "zero out funding for all fossil fuel extraction on public lands and offshore waters" in the Department of the Interior's budget for the coming fiscal year.

"Despite the urgency of the climate crisis, year after year, and regardless of the which political party retains control of Congress, Congress continues to direct the Department of the Interior to authorize fossil fuel extraction on our public lands and oceans," the letter states. "This zombie funding continues despite its harmful and lasting impacts to tribal nations, frontline communities, and other groups, as well as its harm to public health, public lands, the climate, and wildlife populations."

The FY 2024 budget, for example, directed more than $160 million toward fossil fuel management on public lands and waters. The amount earmarked for oil and gas management on public lands alone jumped by almost 90% from 2016 to 2023, from $59.7 million to $112.9 million.

Despite calling the climate crisis an "existential threat," U.S. President Joe Biden has approved almost 10,000 permits for oil and gas drilling on public lands in three years, a similar rate to his predecessors and more in his first two years than former President Donald Trump. Under Biden's watch, the U.S. became the leading producer of oil both in the world and in human history. The groups who signed the letter attributed this in part to Congress' "status quo funding" of fossil fuel programs on public lands.

The letter comes as humanity just sweltered through its hottest year on record, atmospheric carbon dioxide levels made a record jump, and a vast majority of top climate scientists recently surveyed said they predicted 2.5°C of warming by 2100, largely because of a lack of "political will" to phase out fossil fuels and embrace the renewable energy transition.

Indeed, the latest Production Gap analysis concludes that governments' plans through 2030 would produce more than twice the amount of fossil fuels that would be compatible with limiting global heating to 1.5°C above preindustrial levels.

"Climate scientists around the world are pleading for change, but Congress continues to let fossil fuel polluters run wild on our public lands," Nunes said. "Every year that Congress keeps supporting status quo drilling on public lands and offshore waters is a missed opportunity that locks us into a hotter and more dangerous future."

In particular, the green groups made the following recommendations for FY2025:

Ending Bureau of Land Management (BLM) funding for new oil and gas approvals;

Ending BLM funding for new coal leases and permits;

Ending Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM) funding for all new oil and gas exploration, production, and drilling leases;

Ending the provision of the Inflation Reduction Act that requires Interior to put up at least 2 million acres of land and 60 million of water annually for oil and gas leasing before it can install any new wind and solar;

Putting $80 million toward BLM renewable energy programs; and

Putting $80 million toward BOEM renewable energy programs.

"Congress must end business as usual funding of fossil fuel extraction on public lands and waters," the letter concludes. "If Congress fails to change course, it will simply be impossible to limit warming to below 1.5°C and ensure a livable planet for future generations."

[smute]

Global temperatures soared to a new record in September by a huge margin, stunning scientists and leading one to describe it as “absolutely gobsmackingly bananas”.

The hottest September on record follows the hottest August and hottest July, with the latter being the hottest month ever recorded. The high temperatures have driven heatwaves and wildfires across the world.

September 2023 beat the previous record for that month by 0.5C, the largest jump in temperature ever seen. September was about 1.8C warmer than pre-industrial levels. Datasets from European and Japanese scientists confirm the leap.

The heat is the result of the continuing high levels of carbon dioxide emissions combined with a rapid flip of the planet’s biggest natural climate phenomenon, El Niño. The previous three years saw La Niña conditions in the Pacific Ocean, which lowers global temperature by a few tenths of a degree as more heat is stored in the ocean.

Conditions have now rebounded to an El Niño event, which releases ocean heat and drives up temperatures. It’s all but certain that 2023 will be the hottest on record and 2024 may even exceed that, as the heating impact of El Niño is felt most in the year after it begins.

“September was, in my professional opinion as a climate scientist, absolutely gobsmackingly bananas,” said Zeke Hausfather, at the Berkeley Earth climate data project.

Mika Rantanen, climate researcher at the Finnish Meteorological Institute, said: “I’m still struggling to comprehend how a single year can jump so much compared to previous years.” Prof Ed Hawkins, at the University of Reading, UK, said the heat seen this summer was “extraordinary”.

Samantha Burgess, at the EU’s Copernicus Climate Change Service, said: “The unprecedented temperatures for the time of year observed in September have broken records by an extraordinary amount. 2023 [is] on track to be the warmest year and about 1.4C above pre-industrial average temperatures. Two months out from [the UN climate conference] Cop28, the sense of urgency for ambitious climate action has never been more critical.”

The heat hit record levels within many countries too, including France, Germany, and Poland. The UK saw its joint hottest September on record, the Met Office reported, in data that goes back to 1884.

In Australia, climate scientist and author Joelle Gergis said: “Observations of Australia’s climate in September are shocking. Figures show where maximum temperatures were the highest on record, with many areas 3C to 5C above average. Rainfall deficits are primed for drought. Summer is going to be brutal.”

While human-caused global heating and El Niño are the biggest factors causing the record-breaking temperatures, other factors may be contributing small increases as well, Hausfather said. These include an uptick in the 11-year solar cycle, cuts in sun-blocking sulphur emissions from shipping and industry and a volcanic eruption in Tonga that released a large amount of water vapour, which traps heat.

In August, the Guardian asked 45 leading climate scientists from around the world about the record-breaking temperatures. They said that, despite it certainly feeling as if events had taken an alarming turn, the broad global heating trend seen to date was entirely in line with three decades of scientific predictions.

Increasingly severe weather impacts had also been long signposted by scientists, although the speed and intensity of the reality and the unexpected vulnerability of many populations scared some. The off-the-charts sea temperatures and Antarctic sea ice loss were seen as the most shocking events.

The scientists said that the exceptional events of 2023 could be a normal year in just a decade, unless there is a dramatic increase in climate action. The researchers overwhelmingly pointed to one action as critical: slashing the burning of fossil fuels down to zero.

Source

[zara24smit]

DRINKING WATER SOLUTION: ALLATRA at the forefront of the best technologies!

The world is on the verge of an ecological catastrophe. Global warming, caused by human activity, is irreversibly changing our planet. Groundwater temperatures are rising, threatening millions of people. Access to clean water, which we have used so thoughtlessly, is becoming impossible. How can we save ourselves? How can we secure the future for our children?

The answer is simple: we need a consolidation of the efforts of all humanity! This is exactly what the ALLATRA volunteer movement calls for. We must bring together the best minds of the planet, direct scientific potential towards solving global problems.

ALLATRA volunteers are already doing this! We have gathered all available information about the climate crisis, united scientists, and presented an effective solution to save the planet at the Prague Summit on May 11, 2024.

What is this solution?

ALLATRA proposes the introduction of atmospheric water generators (AWGs). 

This technology will not only provide humanity with clean water, but also improve the ocean's ability to draw heat from the atmosphere. AWGs will help remove microplastics from the ocean and reduce the number of extreme weather events. All this will give our planet a chance to recover!

It is important to emphasize that the use of AWGs is in line with the Sustainable Development Goals adopted by the UN General Assembly. This means that we are not only solving the climate problem but also building a future for all the peoples of the planet!

Read more about the technology in my previous articles:

Why is ALLATRA taking important steps to address climate issues today? Because WATER WILL BECOME UNDRINKABLE in the near future!

Groundwater temperatures could rise by 3.5°C over the next few decades, making them undrinkable for billions of people.

This alarming forecast is based on the world's first global groundwater temperature model, developed by an international team of researchers including Dr. Gabriel Rau from Newcastle University and Dr. Dylan Irvine from Charles Darwin University.

The model predicts that changes will occur everywhere. But the most significant warming will occur in Central Russia, Northern China, parts of North America, and the Amazon rainforest, Australia.

The research findings have far-reaching consequences for water quality, ecosystem health, and human safety. Dr. Rau explains that warmer groundwater contains less dissolved oxygen, which could lead to fish dying in rivers that depend on groundwater during dry periods.

Of greatest concern is the potential impact on drinking water safety. 

The increase in temperature can promote the growth of pathogenic microorganisms, creating significant risks to human health, especially in regions where access to clean drinking water is already limited.

Warming groundwater also carries economic risks, potentially disrupting the operation of sectors such as agriculture, manufacturing, and energy production, which rely heavily on groundwater resources. 

While the world grapples with multifaceted climate change challenges, this research underscores the urgent need for comprehensive strategies to mitigate global warming and its impact on vital water resources.

We need to massively implement alternative technologies to safeguard human health.  We need to ensure everyone has access to water resources, thus allowing the planet to restore its compensatory mechanisms and cleanse itself.

We urge everyone to join the ALLATRA movement! Together, we can overcome the climate crisis and preserve our planet for future generations! 

Please subscribe to my channel and support this article with thunderous applause, a like, a share, and a comment.

#AWGs #Ocean #ClimateChange #SustainableFuture #ALLATRA #GlobalAction #SaveOurPlanet #un

[culturesofresistancefilms]

1/04/2024

South Korea—Our allies at the Korea Federation for Environmental Movements (KFEM) continue to report about Japan's dumping of radioactive wastewater from the Fukushima Daiichi plant into the Pacific Ocean. Last month, the tsunami-damaged nuclear power plant completed its third release of treated and diluted radioactive wastewater into the sea.

In early November, to protest the release, KFEM held a press conference with other environmental organizations calling on the South Korean government to condemn the release of contaminated water and to impose a ban on seafood imports from Japan. From the press release:

“The third discharge of Fukushima nuclear contaminated water has just begun. It is said that 3,17 tons of contaminated water will be dumped into the sea again for about 7800 days from today. In the samples of the contaminated water discharged this time, a higher concentration of radioactive substances was detected than in the second discharge, which is of high concern to many people.”

The plant began the first wastewater release in August and will continue to do so for decades. KFEM is dedicated to continuing to put pressure on the South Korean government through protests, teach-ins, and awareness campaigns. Follow them to keep track of their progress:

Read more about the support of KFEM by our sister organization, the Cultures of Resistance Network, here: https://culturesofresistance.org/.../korea-federation.../

[sail-southern]

The Ocean Race and IOC/UNESCO: contributing towards the science we need for the ocean we want || The Ocean Race

In the lead up to the 2024 Ocean Decade Conference, The Ocean Race - the round-the-world race often described as the toughest test of a team in sport and now an ongoing platform for making a meaningful difference to ocean health - today shared the impact of the data collected by teams and sailors through the race’s science on board programme. This vital data is shared with scientists striving to understand the complexities of the ocean and improving climate and ocean science and helping to inform policy and meteorological reports.

The Ocean Race team brought the spirit of ocean racing to over 100 participants in a satellite event co-organised with UNESCO’s Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission (IOC/UNESCO), the only UN body responsible for supporting global ocean science and services. The event gathered representatives from the world of science, research, sailing and policy at the Barcelona Maritime Museum and included panels entitled: 'Offshore Racing and Science' and 'Understanding our Ocean'.

Full Article Here…

[ricmlm]

2024 Ocean Decade Conference - Highlights

[a-solitary-sea-rover-backup]

In the lead up to the 2024 Ocean Decade Conference, The Ocean Race - the round-the-world race often described as the toughest test of a team in sport and now an ongoing platform for making a meaningful difference to ocean health - today shared the impact of the data collected by teams and sailors through the race’s science on board programme. This vital data is shared with scientists striving to understand the complexities of the ocean and improving climate and ocean science and helping to inform policy and meteorological reports.

The Ocean Race team brought the spirit of ocean racing to over 100 participants in a satellite event co-organised with UNESCO’s Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission (IOC/UNESCO), the only UN body responsible for supporting global ocean science and services. The event gathered representatives from the world of science, research, sailing and policy at the Barcelona Maritime Museum and included panels entitled: 'Offshore Racing and Science' and 'Understanding our Ocean'.

“These days The Ocean Race undertakes sophisticated scientific observations as it circumnavigates the planet,” said the UN Secretary-General’s Special Envoy for the Ocean, Peter Thomson, who called for collaboration and support from the private sector while noting partnerships and teamwork will be key to halting and reversing the decline in ocean health. “Collecting more than 4 million data points to date, and using innovative equipment to sample things like oceanic microplastics and eDNA, we are talking about what may be the most comprehensive science programme of any sporting event.”

“The Ocean Race is not just a race; it's a human achievement, pushing teams to their limits as they race across the ocean. Amidst fierce competition, every team and crew member works as citizen scientists on the high seas, gathering crucial data about the ocean’s health,” said Richard Brisius, the Race Chairman of The Ocean Race.

[hardynwa]

Oyetola calls for collaborative engagement to boost international trade

Mr Adegboyega Oyetola, Minister of Marine and Blue Economy, has assured Nigerians of his ministry’s unwavering commitment to collaborative engagements with stakeholders in the international trade community. Oyetola gave the assurance at the 2024 International Customs Day organised by the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) with the theme: “Customs Engaging Traditional and New Partners with Purpose,” on Friday in Lagos. He said the support was aimed at achieving a more sustainable use of ocean and coastal resources for economic growth and development. Oyetola noted that the Nigeria Customs Act 2023 would create a favourable environment for trade, opportunities and partnership between the public and private sectors. “In this era of increased interdependence, customs and its stakeholders must work hand in hand to ensure the overall success of initiatives that will help unlock the immense potential of collaboration and increase revenue generation. “At this juncture, let me commend the leadership of customs for agreeing to abandon the physical examination of cargoes at our ports and priotising the use of scanners. “This development will not only increase revenue, it will ensure ports efficiency and competitiveness. And it will reduce drastically the cargo turnaround time,” he said. Earlier, the Comptroller General of Customs, Adewale Adeniyi, said the theme for the year’s celebration aligned with its core objectives and three-point agenda namely consolidation, innovation and collaboration. Adeniyi added that the agenda had been the agency’s guiding principles over the last seven months of his administration. He said the declaration documents reached at the recent Comptroller General of Customs conference in December 2023, after an exhaustive consultation with stakeholders, was presently undergoing implementations. Adeniyi said the implementation of the documents would address multiple alerts, reduction of customs checkpoints and improvement in officers conduct. “As customs do their part, we call on all stakeholders to reflect on the documents and do their part, as customs commitment to implementing this resolutions remain very firm. He said customs would continue to support initiatives and strengthen relationship with stakeholders towards improving efficiency at the port. The customs boss disclosed that a Time Release Study (TRS), a significant initiative that underscores their efficiency and transparency to trade facilitation, would be launched in February. Adeniyi described the TRS as comprehensive exercise aimed at optimising processes and reducing the time it takes for goods to be released from the ports and border stations. Also, Mr Ian Saunders, the Secretary-General, World Customs Organisation, noted that this year, customs would embark on a path that challenges them to both reaffirm their long-standing partnerships, and to boldly forge new alliance. “The world has changed dramatically over the decade with unprecedented challenges, including rapid technological advances, environmental and health crises, and complex geopolitical and economic dynamics,” Saunders said. He said the global customs community needs a forward-thing approach supported by stakeholders to tackle these unprecedented challenges. “The theme for 2024 is a strategic call for action, everyone should broaden their perspectives, think creatively, and embrace innovative approaches,” he said. Also speaking, Mr Mohammed Bello-Koko, the Managing Director, Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA), said they were already recording gains from the renewed collaboration with customs. Bello-Koko said the collaboration had led to noticeable reduced cargo dwell time and ship waiting time and ports decongestion. “This collaboration also gives life to their commitment to the deployment of the Port Community System (PCS) which the NPA has propelled to the final phase of consultancy under the technical guidance of the International Maritime Organisation (IMO). “The PCS is germane to promoting efficiency and making our ports competitive as it lays the groudwork for the National Single Window. “Our commitment to positioning the Lekki Deep Seaport as transhippment hub to service the maritime needs of our landlocked neighbours will also benefit greatly from this collaboration “This alignment of vision between NPA and Nigeria Customs Service portends great fortune for trade facilitation and national prosperity, and maximising the opportunities inherent in our littoral assets as a maritime nation rests heavily on this collaboration,” he said. Highlights of the occasion was the Stakeholders Award given to NPA, NSC, National Association of Nigeria Licensed Agents, National Association of Government Approved Freight Forwarders, the Nigerian Union of Journalists and the Nigerian Guild of Editors, among others. Read the full article

[sciencespies]

NASA to delay next New Frontiers competition

https://sciencespies.com/space/nasa-to-delay-next-new-frontiers-competition/

NASA to delay next New Frontiers competition

WASHINGTON — NASA will delay the next call for proposals for the New Frontiers program of planetary science missions by two years, a move that could also change what missions will be eligible to compete.

In a May 12 statement, NASA said it was postponing the release of the announcement of opportunity (AO) for the fifth New Frontiers mission. NASA had planned to release a draft version of that AO in October, with the final version released a year later. The agency said the draft AO will now be released in October 2023, and the final version in October 2024. Proposals will be due to NASA 90 days after the release of the final AO.

“While there had been plans to begin the proposal cycle in 2022, the delays are driven by other missions being in peak development and COVID-related challenges in the broader Planetary Science Division portfolio,” the agency said in a brief statement about the postponement.

In a separate message to the planetary science community, NASA said its decision to postpone the launch of the fourth New Frontiers mission, Dragonfly, from 2026 to 2027, contributed to the decision to postpone the AO for the next New Frontiers mission. NASA said in September that it postponed the launch because of factors unrelated to the mission itself, such as broader pressures on NASA’s planetary science budget caused by the pandemic.

“It was purely a headquarters decision to address some of the cost phasing challenges that we have,” Lori Glaze, director of NASA’s planetary science division, said of the Dragonfly delay at a meeting of the Outer Planets Assessment Group (OPAG) in February.

The delay in the next New Frontiers competition is intended to keep that mission’s budget from overlapping with Dragonfly. “The updated AO schedule estimate allows selection of the fifth New Frontiers mission at around the time of Dragonfly’s launch, thereby avoiding the budget strain of having two New Frontiers missions in development at the same time,” NASA said in its message to the science community.

At various meetings earlier this year, Glaze and other NASA officials offered no indications that the New Frontiers AO would be delayed. At a NASA town hall meeting March 18 during the Lunar and Planetary Sciences Conference, Glaze said NASA was preparing to hold a “community town hall” in the spring about the New Frontiers AO to provide “more information about what we expect to go into the draft AO, which will be released in the fall.”

The two-year delay in the next New Frontiers competition, though, has consequences beyond schedule. Unlike the Discovery program of lower-cost planetary science missions, which is open to nearly all solar system destinations beyond Earth, New Frontiers is limited to a handful of potential destinations and mission types, based on guidance from the planetary science decadal survey.

NASA had not finalized the list of “mission themes” for the New Frontiers 5 AO as of earlier this year. Among those considered were a comet surface sample return mission, a mission to Jupiter’s volcanic moon Io, a lunar geophysical network, a sample return mission to the moon’s South Pole-Aitken Basin, a Saturn probe, a mission to Saturn’s icy moon Enceladus and a Venus orbiter.

In a presentation at the OPAG meeting in February, NASA’s Curt Niebur said that list of mission themes would depend on other factors, such as the outcome of an ongoing Discovery competition, where NASA will select up to two missions this summer. The inclusion of a lunar sample return mission would also depend on selection of landing sites for NASA’s Artemis human lunar exploration program.

However, the National Academies is currently working on a new planetary science decadal survey, due to be released in the spring of 2022. That could provide a new list of potential destinations for New Frontiers missions different from the one NASA had been considering, upending planning that was already underway under the original schedule.

“The new AO release date places the fifth New Frontiers mission firmly in the time period being deliberated upon by the ongoing planetary science decadal survey,” NASA said in its notice to scientists. The agency, it added, “intends to use the results of this decadal survey, expected in early 2022, to guide the New Frontiers 5 AO.”

The decadal survey, though, is not the only factor in determining the list of potential New Frontiers mission themes. Before NASA held the competition for the fourth New Frontiers mission, it added an “Ocean Worlds” theme in response to congressional direction to create an “Ocean Worlds Exploration Program” that included Jupiter’s moon Europa and Saturn’s Enceladus and Titan. That allowed the Dragonfly mission, a drone that will fly in Titan’s atmosphere, to compete and be selected for development.

#Space

[morganbelarus]

Trump Proposes To Open Nearly All US Waters To Offshore Drilling

In a huge reveal today, the Trump administration said it plans to release the largest number of offshore oil and gas lease sales in US history. If approved, it would permit drilling in almost all US continental-shelf waters, including protected areas in the Arctic and Atlantic Oceans.

The move rolls back a ban on new offshore drilling off the coasts of Florida and California. It also lifts a ban on drilling put in place by the Obama administration that protected more than 100 million offshore acres along the Arctic and Eastern seaboards.

In total, this means more than a billion acres will be considered for oil and gas production. This includes areas where drilling has been blocked for decades.

The draft identified 47 areas for potential oil and gas production, which industry companies can buy leases for between 2019 and 2024. 

Interior Secretary Ryan Zinke said in a statement the proposal could increase federal revenue by $15 billion. 

Only one of 26 planning areas would be off limits to oil and gas exploration. The plan does not include Alaska's Bristol Bay, existing marine sanctuaries, or areas around Hawaii and US territories.

Today's proposal comes after the passing of Congress' tax bill last month that included a decision to open 1.5 million acres of the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge in Alaska to oil and gas drilling. Not only that, but just two weeks ago the Interior Department suspended a study conducted by the National Academies of Science, Engineering, and Medicine on the safety of offshore oil and gas drilling platforms.

The Bureau of Ocean Energy Management, which oversees offshore leasing, promised that the environment would be protected. 

However, current opposition of the proposal cite safety concerns and potential environment impacts like the Deepwater Horizon accident in 2010.

New Hampshire Senator Maggie Hassan (D) tweeted: "Offshore drilling has caused some of the greatest man-made natural disasters of our time."

A coalition of more than 60 environmental groups have denounced the plan, saying it would impose "severe and unacceptable harm" to America's oceans, coastal economies, public health and marine life.

"These ocean waters are not President Trump's personal playground. They belong to all Americans and the public wants them preserved and protected, not sold off to multinational oil companies," read a statement sent to IFLScience that was signed by leaders of the Sierra Club, Natural Resources Defense Council, League of Conservation Voters, and other environmental groups.

More than 140 municipalities have publicly opposed offshore drilling activities in the Atlantic, the environmental group Oceana said in a statement.

Diane Hoskins, campaign director for the group, called the plan "absolutely radical" and "is a clear example of politics over people, ignoring widespread local and state opposition."

Supporters of the proposal, on the other hand, say it will create jobs and secure the United States as a major energy producer.

US Chamber on Global Energy Institute praised the proposal in a statement, saying it "unlocks the vast potential of American energy and expands [the] ability to export oil and gas to allies around the world." Continuing the plan will "help cement America's role as an energy superpower, creating jobs and contributing to [its] economy."

It should be noted that the new plan does not immediately clear drilling, and finalizing it could take up to 18 months. Challenges are also expected from the courts and congress.

"Nothing is final," Zinke added today at a news conference. "This is a draft program. The states, local communities and congressional delegations will all have a say" before the proposal becomes final.

The public has 60-days to comment on the proposed program, which is the first of two opportunities for public comment on the plan.

To comment on the proposal, go to the BOEM website. Comments will be accepted July 3 through August 17, 2018.

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[maritimecyprus]

(http://www.MaritimeCyprus.com) The United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD) has published the Review of Maritime Transport 2019 study, presenting in it a fall in maritime trade growth. The report highlights trade policy crosscurrents, geopolitics and sanctions, environmental worries, fuel economics and tensions regarding the Strait of Hormuz, all of which have contributed to slower growth in merchandise trade.

World maritime trade lost its momentum in 2018 due to increased uncertainty, rising tariff tensions between the US and China, as well as concerns regarding other trade policy and political crosscurrents. These relate to a no-deal Brexit, which sent waves through global markets, according to UNCTAD’s Review of Maritime Transport 2019.

As a result the report shows volumes in the sector increased by only 2.7% last year, below the historical averages of 3% and 4.1% recorded in 2017.

As of 1 January 2019, the top five shipowning economies were Greece, Japan, China, Singapore and Hong Kong China, accounting for more than 50 per cent of the world’s tonnage (table 2.6). Data for the last five years reveal that Germany, Japan and the Republic of Korea have been losing ground, while Greece, Singapore, China and Hong Kong, China have sustained an increasing trend.

In terms of the commercial value of the fleet, the top five shipowning countries in 2019, representing 45 per cent of the world total, are Greece, Japan, the United States, China and Norway. Greece is among the leading owners of oil tankers, bulk carriers and gas carriers; Japan and China, of bulk carriers; Germany, of container ships; and the United States, of ferries and passenger ships.

“The dip in maritime trade growth is a result of several trends including a weakening multilateral trading system and growing protectionism. It is a warning that national policies can have a negative impact on the maritime trade and development aspirations of all,” commented UNCTAD Secretary General, Mukhisa Kituyi.

Not only affected by a slowdown in the global economy during 2018, seaborne trade also faced other difficult headwinds such as geopolitical tensions, while preparing for an expected surge in ship fuel costs because of the IMO 2020 sulphur cap.

Taking these factors into consideration, UNCTAD expects international maritime trade to grow at an average annual growth rate of 3.4% over the 2019 – 2024 period, driven mainly by growth in containerized, dry bulk and gas cargoes. However, uncertainty is still a worrying theme in the current maritime transport environment, with risks tilted to the downside.

Isabelle Durant, Deputy Secretary General of UNCTAD, provided her comment on the report and how the industry will be affected, saying that the maritime sector is key for many reasons. Namely, in the challenges of today with climate change, digitalization and geopolitical tensions between the US and China, Ms Durant said that maritime has to adapt to change in order to reduce its emissions, respect the ocean, and also adapt to the new economic model that is being developed everywhere.

Moreover, regarding how shipping can better position itself to the changing global environment, she added that, “We don’t have to wait for new regulation coming from the public authorities. The fact that the industry on its own is working on international level to find a way to change and adapt to new rules and then maybe influence the decision of the consumers is important”

Indicating slower maritime trade, growth in global port traffic was also reduced, with container port traffic increasing by just 4.7% in 2018, from a 6.7% growth rate in 2017.

Additionally, container trade growth weakened. In fact, in 2018 volumes only increased by 2.6%, compared with 6% in 2017. This was matched with a sustained delivery of mega container ships, with container fleet supply capacity in 2018 increasing by 6% as compared to 4% in 2017. These developments further compressed freight rates in 2018. What is more, chemical tankers and bulk carriers have shown stable growth, unlike the oil tanker segment, which saw declining growth.

However, in spite of the setbacks, a milestone was reached, as the total seaborne trade volumes grew to 11 billion tons.

What is more, the maritime transport industry also saw the LNG sector increasing, because of intensifying pressure to promote cleaner energy sources. Bulk carriers, oil tankers and container ships recorded the highest level of ship deliveries, with LNG carriers recording the highest growth rate at 7.25%.

Nevertheless, the report warns that while global growth could swing in a positive direction, the balance of risks to the outlook remains poor.

Specifically, the risks are high for the most vulnerable economies, with the report highlighting a growing connectivity divide between the most and least-connected countries. As a matter of fact, various small island developing states are among the countries with the lowest shipping connectivity, as they face a vicious cycle where low trade volumes discourage investments in better maritime transport connectivity, and faced with low connectivity, merchandize trade becomes costly and uncompetitive.

Ports can also benefit from shipping connectivity, from leveraging digitalization and next generation technologies for efficiency and productivity gains.

In the meantime, key structural trends that started over a decade ago, are beginning to transform the maritime transport landscape. The industry is currently transitioning away from patterns observed before the global financial and economic downturn hit the world economy.

Commenting on this, Shamika N. Sirimanne, director of UNCTAD’s division on technology and logistics, stated that, “Today, the maritime sector is dealing with much more than market uncertainty and short-term cyclical factors. Other factors that are structural and existential, such as technological disruptions and climate change are at play and are redefining the sector.”

Ahead of slower global economic and trade growth compared with the pre-2009 era of bullish growth rates, global maritime transport is increasingly now shaped by new demand and trade patterns, growing regionalization of supply chains and rebalancing in China’s economy, along with a larger role of technology and services in value chains and logistics.

It is also facing intensified and more frequent natural disasters and climate-related disruptions, thus making climate-risk assessment, adaptation and resilience building for seaports and other coastal transport infrastructure an increasingly urgent priority.

To address these new risks, the industry has adopted an accelerated environmental sustainability agenda, with an increased awareness of the impact of global warming, and the necessity of fast-tracking the energy transition towards cleaner fuel sources. The IMO 2020 Sulphur Cap regulation is a prime example.

The effects of this change are already being felt, as some services, like those in container shipping and shipbuilding, are merging, while others are expanding their scope to contain landside and logistic operations.

Furthermore, some are calling for more governmental support for shipbuilding activities or financing for the technology needed to develop zero-emission vessels.

Nevertheless, while adapting to the new normal may include some possible challenges, the report highlights that it could also open some opportunities. Supporting this process calls for enhanced planning, adequate response measures, as well as flexible and forward-looking transport policies that anticipate change.

Click below to download full UNCTAD report:

  Source: United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD)

  UNCTAD – Maritime transport review 2019 – Greek owned Fleet ranks first (www.MaritimeCyprus.com) The United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD) has published the Review of Maritime Transport 2019 study, presenting in it a fall in maritime trade growth.

[businessliveme]

Qatar Leads LNG Expansion Push as Inventories Grow

(Bloomberg) — Shrugging off a global supply glut that’s left liquefied natural gas prices struggling to recover from a three-year low, the world’s biggest producer of the fuel said it’s on track to expand production. Qatar, which has seen its share of the global LNG market shrink to less than a quarter from a third over the past five years, is pushing hard to retain its standing as nations from the U.S. to Russia and Mozambique start their own projects. The Gulf nation said it has invited companies including Exxon Mobil Corp. and Royal Dutch Shell Plc to bid for work expanding its part of the world’s biggest natural gas field.

“We are on track,” Qatar’s Energy Minister Saad Sherida Al-Kaabi said Tuesday in an interview with Bloomberg TV in London. “By the first quarter, we will have secured all the contracts to start production in 2024.”

The remarks echoed those of other LNG producers speaking at the Oil & Money conference in the U.K. capital. Undisturbed by sinking prices, limited storage options or the presence of environmental protesters calling for an end to fossil-fuel pollution, the producers are working to expand what’s already the quickest-growing part of the oil and gas industry.

Read also: Aramco Eyes LNG Deals in Next Year in New Gas Strategy

They see natural gas as the greenest fossil fuel, a cleaner-burning substitute for coal that utilities and industry need to generate electricity and create heat for processes such as steel and cement making.

Across town, protesters from Extinction Rebellion assembled near Parliament for a second day of rallies aimed at calling attention to the dangers of global warming. It was part of a global campaign that resulted in at least 698 arrests in 11 cities on Monday, according to the London-based group.

LNG producers led by Qatar are pushing ahead, shrugging off both the activists and deteriorating economics of compressing gas into a liquid for shipment on ocean-going tankers. That includes Tellurian Inc., which plans to sell all the volumes from its Driftwood LNG project in Louisiana by the end of this year.

“We have absolutely no fear,” Charif Souki, the company’s co-founder who also started America’s largest LNG exporter Cheniere Energy Inc., said at the Oil & Money conference. “We are going to be sold before the end of the year.”

Thomas Earl, chief commercial officer at Venture Global LNG Marketing, said the industry is expanding despite trade tensions between the U.S. and China.

‘Difficult Subject’

“It’s a difficult subject,” Earl said at the conference. “But the trade war hasn’t affected global growth of the LNG market. We’re working very hard in China” and expect to sell out cargoes from the Calcasieu LNG plant in Louisiana.

That optimism contrasts with the current conditions in the LNG market, where prices have slumped. Although spot prices in Asia, the biggest market, have recovered about 35% from their low in July, they are still near the lowest on record for the time of year.

But traders are not able to benefit from the seasonal increase as the northern hemisphere starts to turn on its heaters, with limited storage options in Asia and European inventories nearing maximum capacity.

Even so, the biggest players LNG are pushing ahead with multibillion-dollar plans to bring more capacity into the market.

Qatar is seeking to boost its LNG production capacity to 110 million tons a year starting in 2024 from 77 million tons. The move will generate $40 billion in additional export revenue.

State-run Qatar Petroleum, where Al-Kaabi is also the chief, wants to build four new liquefaction plants, known as trains. It’s negotiating a possible partnership with energy majors and expects to have all contracts in place by the first quarter of next year.

The expansion will be based on fuel coming from the massive North Field, Qatar’s portion of the world’s biggest offshore reservoir shared with Iran.

Competition for the LNG top spot has reached a new level this year as Australia is catching up following the start of new liquefaction plants. While it is now more likely to overtake Qatar as the biggest producer next year, rather than in 2019, others, including the U.S. and Russia all have ambitious plans to boost production of the fastest-growing fossil fuel.

Qatar Petroleum in April issued a tender to build carriers for the LNG expansion, seeking to initially deliver 60 LNG carriers, with potential to exceed 100 over the next decade.

The post Qatar Leads LNG Expansion Push as Inventories Grow appeared first on Businessliveme.com.

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[courtneytincher]

China's Growing Clout Looms Over Trump’s Dinner With Australia’s Leader

(Bloomberg) -- Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison’s lavish visit to the White House on Friday -- including the second State Dinner of Donald Trump’s presidency -- comes at a critical time as both nations seek to counter China’s growing influence in the South Pacific.A day of meetings and the formal Rose Garden dinner -- the first for an Australian leader since 2006 -- give Morrison the opportunity to remind Trump that new challenges to regional security are emerging seven decades after their nations’ alliance was cemented in World War II.While China’s growing economic might is the main catalyst of Trump’s trade war, diplomats in Washington and Canberra are increasingly concerned about Beijing’s geopolitical ambitions. There are signs China’s influence is spreading beyond the South China Sea to the Pacific Islands, a region traditionally under U.S. hegemony and on Australia’s doorstep.“Both countries have taken a long time to recognize the gravity of the challenge China poses in Asia and must now make hard choices to place real resources behind new initiatives in the region,” said Ashley Townshend, director of the foreign policy and defense program at the University of Sydney’s United States Studies Centre.China’s growing influence in the region was displayed in the past week, when the Solomon Islands broke off diplomatic ties with Taiwan in favor of Beijing.Military BasesSince 2011, China has spent at least $1.6 billion in loans and aid to develop 265 projects in the Pacific Islands, according to research by the Sydney-based Lowy Institute. While that’s dwarfed by the $8.6 billion spent by Australia and the U.S., mainly on programs to improve governance, education and health services, China has gained an advantage by funding and building much-desired transport and utility infrastructure.The U.S. is concerned Beijing’s end-game is to lure nations into debt traps as leverage to establish military bases in the region.Both Morrison and Trump are trying to counter China’s growing reach. Late last year, Australia unveiled a A$2 billion ($1.4 billion) infrastructure fund for the region, while the U.S. joined a group that includes Japan, the European Union and the Asian Development Bank to fund projects. Secretary of State Michael Pompeo last month visited Micronesia, where he held security talks with the Pacific Island leaders.But according to Malcolm Davis, a senior analyst at the Australian Strategic Policy Institute in Canberra, more needs to be done.“It’s really difficult to stop China in its tracks in the Pacific and we’re seeing that for some of these nations it’s very easy to be swayed by money,” said Davis. In his talks with Trump, “Morrison needs to make sure he makes every point a winning point. The U.S. needs to engage more resources in the region, that means a military step up as well as increased investment and foreign aid.”Pollution, Moon CooperationTrump administration officials say their defense discussions with Australia will also involve joint work on top foreign policy priorities of the president, including Australian assistance in maintaining freedom of navigation in the Strait of Hormuz as the U.S. weighs a response to the recent attack on Saudi Arabia’s oil facilities that U.S. officials have blamed on Iran. The leaders will also discuss joint efforts to address North Korea’s nuclear weapons program, according to a U.S. official who requested anonymity to discuss the upcoming meeting.But the White House also envisions discussions on cooperation in space, with an anticipated memorandum of understanding between NASA and Australia’s space agency on joint efforts to return to the moon by 2024, as well as automation and robotics technologies. This push comes despite Trump in June raising questions about NASA’s efforts to return to the moon -- even though he previously directed the agency to pursue that mission.The leaders are also expected to roll out joint programs to address recycling and waste management, with a particular eye toward reducing plastic waste in oceans that threaten the Great Barrier Reef and U.S. shorelines.And Australia and the U.S. will seek to further counter Chinese influence by rolling out a new plan to improve the supply and security of rare earths -- the vital elements needed in components for missile systems and consumer electronics. U.S. officials have surveyed sites in the Australian Outback region for new supplies after China signaled it could restrict shipments as part of the ongoing trade war. Earlier this summer, Trump ordered the Pentagon to spur production of a slew of rare-earth magnets used in consumer electronics, military hardware and medical research, amid concerns China will restrict exports of the products.Warm WelcomeThe last time an Australian leader received such a welcome in Washington was in 2006 when John Howard was hosted to a State Dinner by his close friend George W. Bush. Howard, who was visiting Washington when the Sept. 11 attacks occurred in 2001, was one of the first global leaders to pledge support for America’s war against al-Qaeda in the Middle East.Morrison’s visit will include an elaborate welcome ceremony on the South Lawn, a gift exchange, a bilateral meeting that includes the two countries’ first ladies in the Oval Office, a State Department Lunch hosted by Pompeo and Vice President Mike Pence, and a midday press conference at the White House.Morrison’s invite is another sign that relations with the U.S. president are off to a good start. Four months ago, Trump tweeted his congratulations to Morrison for a “GREAT WIN!” in Australia’s election, which like the president’s own victory came as a surprise to pundits. Both are conservatives with a strong Christian voter base. The only other State Dinner Trump has hosted was for French President Emmanuel Macron in April 2018.Australia has stood with American forces in every major conflict in the past 100 years. The Pine Gap facility in central Australia hosts a joint U.S.-Australia defense station used in global surveillance. Since the Howard-Bush era, the alliance between the Five Eyes intelligence partners has deepened. In 2011, then President Barack Obama secured a deal to base about 2,500 Marines in the northern Australian port of Darwin.Morrison’s government last month announced it would send military personnel, a frigate and surveillance plane to aid the U.S.-led coalition to protect ships passing through the Strait of Hormuz.Government officials in Canberra believe the red-carpet treatment for Morrison shows Trump recognizes Australia as an ally that pulls its weight and regards it as a model trading partner.Morrison is expected to meet intelligence officials at the Pentagon, inspect an Ohio paper-recycling mill built by Australian billionaire Anthony Pratt, attend an anti-terrorism event hosted by French President Emmanuel Macron in New York, and meet with other global leaders on the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly, which he is scheduled to address on Wednesday.To contact the reporters on this story: Jason Scott in Canberra at jscott14@bloomberg.net;Justin Sink in Washington at jsink1@bloomberg.netTo contact the editors responsible for this story: Ruth Pollard at rpollard2@bloomberg.net, Edward Johnson, Joshua GalluFor more articles like this, please visit us at bloomberg.com©2019 Bloomberg L.P.

from Yahoo News - Latest News & Headlines

(Bloomberg) -- Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison’s lavish visit to the White House on Friday -- including the second State Dinner of Donald Trump’s presidency -- comes at a critical time as both nations seek to counter China’s growing influence in the South Pacific.A day of meetings and the formal Rose Garden dinner -- the first for an Australian leader since 2006 -- give Morrison the opportunity to remind Trump that new challenges to regional security are emerging seven decades after their nations’ alliance was cemented in World War II.While China’s growing economic might is the main catalyst of Trump’s trade war, diplomats in Washington and Canberra are increasingly concerned about Beijing’s geopolitical ambitions. There are signs China’s influence is spreading beyond the South China Sea to the Pacific Islands, a region traditionally under U.S. hegemony and on Australia’s doorstep.“Both countries have taken a long time to recognize the gravity of the challenge China poses in Asia and must now make hard choices to place real resources behind new initiatives in the region,” said Ashley Townshend, director of the foreign policy and defense program at the University of Sydney’s United States Studies Centre.China’s growing influence in the region was displayed in the past week, when the Solomon Islands broke off diplomatic ties with Taiwan in favor of Beijing.Military BasesSince 2011, China has spent at least $1.6 billion in loans and aid to develop 265 projects in the Pacific Islands, according to research by the Sydney-based Lowy Institute. While that’s dwarfed by the $8.6 billion spent by Australia and the U.S., mainly on programs to improve governance, education and health services, China has gained an advantage by funding and building much-desired transport and utility infrastructure.The U.S. is concerned Beijing’s end-game is to lure nations into debt traps as leverage to establish military bases in the region.Both Morrison and Trump are trying to counter China’s growing reach. Late last year, Australia unveiled a A$2 billion ($1.4 billion) infrastructure fund for the region, while the U.S. joined a group that includes Japan, the European Union and the Asian Development Bank to fund projects. Secretary of State Michael Pompeo last month visited Micronesia, where he held security talks with the Pacific Island leaders.But according to Malcolm Davis, a senior analyst at the Australian Strategic Policy Institute in Canberra, more needs to be done.“It’s really difficult to stop China in its tracks in the Pacific and we’re seeing that for some of these nations it’s very easy to be swayed by money,” said Davis. In his talks with Trump, “Morrison needs to make sure he makes every point a winning point. The U.S. needs to engage more resources in the region, that means a military step up as well as increased investment and foreign aid.”Pollution, Moon CooperationTrump administration officials say their defense discussions with Australia will also involve joint work on top foreign policy priorities of the president, including Australian assistance in maintaining freedom of navigation in the Strait of Hormuz as the U.S. weighs a response to the recent attack on Saudi Arabia’s oil facilities that U.S. officials have blamed on Iran. The leaders will also discuss joint efforts to address North Korea’s nuclear weapons program, according to a U.S. official who requested anonymity to discuss the upcoming meeting.But the White House also envisions discussions on cooperation in space, with an anticipated memorandum of understanding between NASA and Australia’s space agency on joint efforts to return to the moon by 2024, as well as automation and robotics technologies. This push comes despite Trump in June raising questions about NASA’s efforts to return to the moon -- even though he previously directed the agency to pursue that mission.The leaders are also expected to roll out joint programs to address recycling and waste management, with a particular eye toward reducing plastic waste in oceans that threaten the Great Barrier Reef and U.S. shorelines.And Australia and the U.S. will seek to further counter Chinese influence by rolling out a new plan to improve the supply and security of rare earths -- the vital elements needed in components for missile systems and consumer electronics. U.S. officials have surveyed sites in the Australian Outback region for new supplies after China signaled it could restrict shipments as part of the ongoing trade war. Earlier this summer, Trump ordered the Pentagon to spur production of a slew of rare-earth magnets used in consumer electronics, military hardware and medical research, amid concerns China will restrict exports of the products.Warm WelcomeThe last time an Australian leader received such a welcome in Washington was in 2006 when John Howard was hosted to a State Dinner by his close friend George W. Bush. Howard, who was visiting Washington when the Sept. 11 attacks occurred in 2001, was one of the first global leaders to pledge support for America’s war against al-Qaeda in the Middle East.Morrison’s visit will include an elaborate welcome ceremony on the South Lawn, a gift exchange, a bilateral meeting that includes the two countries’ first ladies in the Oval Office, a State Department Lunch hosted by Pompeo and Vice President Mike Pence, and a midday press conference at the White House.Morrison’s invite is another sign that relations with the U.S. president are off to a good start. Four months ago, Trump tweeted his congratulations to Morrison for a “GREAT WIN!” in Australia’s election, which like the president’s own victory came as a surprise to pundits. Both are conservatives with a strong Christian voter base. The only other State Dinner Trump has hosted was for French President Emmanuel Macron in April 2018.Australia has stood with American forces in every major conflict in the past 100 years. The Pine Gap facility in central Australia hosts a joint U.S.-Australia defense station used in global surveillance. Since the Howard-Bush era, the alliance between the Five Eyes intelligence partners has deepened. In 2011, then President Barack Obama secured a deal to base about 2,500 Marines in the northern Australian port of Darwin.Morrison’s government last month announced it would send military personnel, a frigate and surveillance plane to aid the U.S.-led coalition to protect ships passing through the Strait of Hormuz.Government officials in Canberra believe the red-carpet treatment for Morrison shows Trump recognizes Australia as an ally that pulls its weight and regards it as a model trading partner.Morrison is expected to meet intelligence officials at the Pentagon, inspect an Ohio paper-recycling mill built by Australian billionaire Anthony Pratt, attend an anti-terrorism event hosted by French President Emmanuel Macron in New York, and meet with other global leaders on the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly, which he is scheduled to address on Wednesday.To contact the reporters on this story: Jason Scott in Canberra at jscott14@bloomberg.net;Justin Sink in Washington at jsink1@bloomberg.netTo contact the editors responsible for this story: Ruth Pollard at rpollard2@bloomberg.net, Edward Johnson, Joshua GalluFor more articles like this, please visit us at bloomberg.com©2019 Bloomberg L.P.

September 19, 2019 at 10:03PM via IFTTT

[ntrending]

NASA's new mission to Titan is looking for life in all the right places

New Post has been published on https://nexcraft.co/nasas-new-mission-to-titan-is-looking-for-life-in-all-the-right-places/

NASA's new mission to Titan is looking for life in all the right places

Taking advantage of Titan’s dense atmosphere and low gravity, Dragonfly will explore dozens of locations across the icy world. (NASA/JHU-APL/)

The next few decades could bring a cascade of discoveries on extraterrestrial life. NASA announced on Thursday its decision to green-light Dragonfly, a octocopter drone designed to sniff out signs of life-giving chemistry on Saturn’s largest moon, Titan. Combined with the Europa Clipper mission, which should start orbiting Jupiter’s moon several years before Dragonfly touches down, the space agency is giving us our best shot by far at finding alien organisms.

If life exists in our solar system outside of Earth, it’s probably on a wet moon such as these two. But while Europa tempts us with a subsurface ocean—perhaps not so different from our deepest Antarctic reservoirs, which we know harbor microbial life—it’s an icy world with a habitat quite unlike our own. Titan, with the thickest atmosphere of any moon studied, is one of the most Earth-like bodies we know of.

“Titan has all the ingredients needed for life,” Lori Glaze, Director of NASA’s Science Mission Directorate’s Planetary Science Division, said during a press conference on Thursday. “We have the opportunity to examine the conditions that existed on early Earth when life formed” or even conditions, she said, “that harbor life today.”

The world isn’t a perfect analog for our own, but that makes it all the more exciting to study. What makes Titan both familiar and alien is its methane: at -290°F and under the pressure of an atmosphere thicker than Earth’s, what we experience as a gas exists as a flowing liquid. This liquid methane actually condenses in the atmosphere to form clouds, which make rain. It’s just like our planet’s water cycle, except without liquid water. The resulting storms have carved out lakes and rivers and valleys on the surface, creating a terrain that scientists believe will look very familiar.

Titan also has organic molecules, which are crucial to the evolution of life as we know it.

“There are chemical reactions going on [in the atmosphere] that actually cause very complex organic molecules to form, and they drift down,” Curt Niebur, NASA’s lead program scientist for New Frontiers, said in a press conference. “It’s almost like a light snow that’s always forming. And it’s that kind of complicated organic synthesis that really drives our interest.”

Dragonfly—which won’t look like a little backyard drone, but more like a flying Mars rover—will spend 2.7 years making a couple dozen short flights around Titan. Its ultimate goal is to make a total journey of around 108 miles, which is farther than all previous Mars rovers combined. It’s worth the trek: Dragonfly is gunning for the Selk impact crater, where scientists believe all three crucial ingredients for life may once have met. There’s evidence it once held liquid water, plus the organic molecules and energy (in the form of sunlight) found elsewhere on the surface.

Titan: a different pale blue dot. Cassini revealed this hazy moon is covered in lakes and rivers of methane. (NASA/)

Even if we don’t find signs of previously existing life there, the crater gives us a unique opportunity to peek at the chemical conditions of Earth back when biology got its start. “The great thing about Titan is that it’s very similar chemically to Earth before life evolved,” Niebur said. “We can’t go back in time on Earth and learn lessons about the chemistry that eventually led to life, but we can go to Titan and pursue those questions.”

Niebur is especially excited for humankind to see images of Dragonfly’s flight. The European Space Agency’s Huygens probe, which touched down on Titan in 2005 after hitching a ride with Cassini, sent beautiful pictures home. In fact, Huygens and Cassini provided data that will guide Dragonfly’s mission plan, and the drone will make its first descent not far from the spot we’ve already seen. But Dragonfly will ultimately provide a much better view. “We will get the experience as if we were riding along with Dragonfly, staring down at this very alien yet familiar surface that has these rivers and mountains, and I think that’s going to be just a tremendous experience for the public,” Niebur said. “I think it’ll look a lot like when you’re flying above Earth in an airplane.”

There’s also hope that Titan’s suspected subsurface ocean might come up high enough to interact with its other life-giving ingredients, which would open up the possibility for some kind of life below the towering sand dunes and methane rivers.

“We’re absolutely thrilled,” said the mission’s Principal Investigator Elizabeth “Zibi” Turtle, who is based at Johns Hopkins University’s Applied Physics Laboratory in Laurel, Maryland. “The team has been working so hard over the past few years pulling together all the different aspects of this mission, and this has so much potential for science.”

Dragonfly is set to launch in 2024 and arrive at Titan in 2036, so our dreams of playing in an early-Earth sandbox will have to wait a while longer. But when we do get to Titan, whatever we learn is going to give us game changing insight on the origin of life as we know it.

Written By Rachel Feltman

[alamante]

Image copyright Dylan Maddux for Tonle

Image caption Some zero-waste brands, like Tonlé, make garments only from discarded and excess textiles

At a time when our waste and our environmental impact is firmly under the spotlight, news in early July that fashion brand Burberry had burned almost £30m ($40m) of stock has caused outrage.

The company admitted destroying the unsold clothes, accessories and perfume instead of selling it off cheaply, in order to protect the brand’s exclusivity and value. It added that it had captured the energy from the burning to try and make the process more environmentally friendly.

But how widespread is stock destruction at this level?

Orsola de Castro is the co-founder and creative director of activist group Fashion Revolution, who lobby brands on production transparency. She describes landfilling and burning as fashion’s “dirtiest open secret” and says she has been waiting decades for a story like Burberry’s to emerge.

The BBC contacted 35 high-end designers and high-street retailers to ask about their practice.

Only six replied with breakdowns or further information, and the rest said they could not help or did not respond at all.

The secretive nature of the industry makes it difficult to accurately quantify the scale of the problem – but with global production now exceeding 100 billion garments a year, groups are warning of “potentially catastrophic” environmental damage if current growth trends continue.

After more than 1,100 people died in a garment factory collapse in Bangladesh five years ago, pressure has also mounted on western retailers to be transparent about their supply chain.

Image copyright Fashion Revolution

Image caption Fashion Revolution was set up in response to the deadly Rana Plaza collapse, and ranks brands on transparency

Many now opt to publish end-of-year reports that detail progress on workers’ rights and environmental sustainability. The information about Burberry’s stock burning was released in one such report – and Orsola points out that the designer is in fact one of the most transparent.

So why is stock destruction even a thing?

Designer brands typically work on much lower stock levels than high-street retailers, so their waste stock should be lower.

Retailer Inditex (who own brands like Zara and Bershka) work on a similar model – buying small batches at the start of the season and using customer popularity to gauge how much more to produce.

Media playback is unsupported on your device

Media captionAre we buying too many clothes? Fashion bloggers on loving what you have and recycling

Larger commercial producers have greater stock levels and tend to first reduce prices to shift their product, then recycle or resell what is left. In some cases, external companies that specialise in moving on unsold goods are used by some retailers. Others have adopted initiatives to donate unwanted clothes to NGOs and social enterprises.

But environmental activists say fashion’s waste problem is much bigger than just unsold stock. They blame ‘fast fashion’ – a term describing our high rate of fashion consumption fuelled by the quantity of new clothes that go on sale.

Image copyright H&M

Image caption H&M have garment recycle points in their stores; its partner I:CO then sorts items into rewear, reuse and recycle

Research collated by the Ellen MacArthur Foundation suggests that global clothing production has doubled in the past 15 years, with garments on average being worn much less and discarded quicker than ever before.

The majority of used clothes we donate to charity have traditionally been re-sold abroad, but now even that demand is in decline. Demand in developing markets is however on the increase, with nations such as Rwanda instead opting to generate textiles independently, in part because of the low quality of donated products from fast-fashion retailers.

How is the industry changing?

While our passion for fashion is at least part of the problem, experts say the industry itself needs to be smarter with production to lessen environmental damage.

Media playback is unsupported on your device

Media captionWhat is the future of used clothing now that no one wants our used clothes anymore?

Initiatives for change are happening – the 2020 Circular Fashion System Commitment was adopted by dozens of brands at the Copenhagen Fashion Summit in May 2017.

The conference was organised by a group called Global Fashion Agenda, who want brands to adopt initiatives like using monofibres instead of synthetic and mixed-fibre fabrics, which are hard to break down in the recycling process.

Scientists have also warned that polyester-type materials are adding to the problem of ocean plastic pollution.

It is estimated that only 1% of our clothing is ultimately recycled into new garments because of this complexity – instead becoming items like insulation and cloths, which in turn may end up in landfill.

By May 2018, 12.5% of the global fashion market had signed up to the 2020 targets – including big global names like Nike, Asos and Gap.

Image copyright Nike

Image caption Sports brand Nike’s Grind range involves making products and sports surfaces from surplus and old footwear

Certain brands are capitalising on the environmental wave to set ambitious targets for themselves: Adidas for example have committed to only using recycling plastic in their shoes by 2024 and H&M says it hopes to only use sustainable materials in its production by 2030.

An end to fast fashion?

The UK government recently announced it would look into the environmental impact of fast fashion with the European Parliament also setting ambitious targets on circularity for consumer and business textile waste.

Jack Ostrowski, who runs a company that advises retailers how best to recycle their clothes, believes fast fashion it is not just an industry problem but a social one too.

“People simply don’t understand how big negative impact fashion industry is on the environment and how quickly that has to change,” he says. “It just simply cannot continue in the way it is now.”

He has developed an app that encourages consumers to recycle their clothes by offering incentives such as retailer discounts. He believes retailers who profit from clothes have a responsibility to better inform, facilitate and incentivise recycling from customers.

Image copyright Getty Images

Image caption Greenpeace has lobbied fashion retailers to detox its use of hazardous materials in production

The sentiment is echoed by activists such as Greenpeace, who say fashion’s circularity targets do not go far enough. They say the industry needs to stop marketing cheap fast-fashion altogether, advocating for a slowdown our current consumption level.

Part of fashion retailers’ advertising strategy to younger audiences is now through social media. Popular figures are brought on board for line collaborations and online influencers are sent goods for free to help promote them to their followers.

“There’s going to be a tipping point where consumers will start seeing this act of hoarding or hauling goods as negative,” Orsola from Fashion Revolution says.

“Which influencers right now will film themselves drinking from 50 different plastic straws because they’re 50 different colours? That would look so wrong right now but two years ago would have been fine.”

Image copyright Ragged Life

Image caption Bloggers such as Elspeth Morrison try to get younger people to creatively reuse their old clothes

She has worked in the fashion industry for years advocating for upcycling of products. This also has currency in the online world – with bloggers and social media accounts sharing advice on how to repair, reuse or repurpose our clothes in inventive ways.

Asked for advice on how to resist the temptation to spend, she recommends people return to engaging emotionally with their clothing – learning to love the things they own and taking longer to consider future purchases.

“Torture yourself a little bit! Because actually waiting for something, waiting to see if you really, really want it, waiting to see if it has a function in your life and then buying it is beautiful.”

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