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US ramping up production of nuclear energy; EV manufacturer Fisker goes bankrupt; Amazon switches packaging materials to cut down on plastic waste; Hawaii settles youth climate lawsuit.
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EarthX is a media company dedicated to inspiring people to care about the planet. We take an omni channel approach to reach audiences of every age through its robust 24/7 linear channel distributed across cable and FAST outlets, along with dynamic, solution oriented short form content on social and digital platforms. EarthX is home to original series, documentaries and snackable content that offer sustainable solutions to environmental challenges. EarthX is the only network that delivers entertaining and inspiring topics that impact and inspire our lives on climate and sustainability.
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US ramping up production of nuclear energy; EV manufacturer Fisker goes bankrupt; Amazon switches packaging materials to cut down on plastic waste; Hawaii settles youth climate lawsuit.
About EarthxNews:
A weekly program dedicated to covering the stories that shape the planet. Featuring the latest updates in energy, environment, tech, climate, and more.
EarthX & EarthXtra
Love Our Planet.
The Official Network of Earth Day.
About Us:
At EarthX, we believe our planet is a pretty special place. The people, landscapes, and critters are likely unique to the entire universe, so we consider ourselves lucky to be here. We are committed to protecting the environment by inspiring conservation and sustainability, and our programming along with our range of expert hosts support this mission. We’re glad you’re with us.
EarthX is a media company dedicated to inspiring people to care about the planet. We take an omni channel approach to reach audiences of every age through its robust 24/7 linear channel distributed across cable and FAST outlets, along with dynamic, solution oriented short form content on social and digital platforms. EarthX is home to original series, documentaries and snackable content that offer sustainable solutions to environmental challenges. EarthX is the only network that delivers entertaining and inspiring topics that impact and inspire our lives on climate and sustainability.
EarthX Website: https://earthxmedia.com/
Follow Us:
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TVTranscript
00:00Power up. The U.S. passes a bill aimed at ramping up production of nuclear energy across the
00:08country. Plus, a California-based electric vehicle maker goes belly up. It's one of several
00:14startups to file for bankruptcy in recent years. We'll explore what industry analysts say may have
00:21contributed to the company's downfall. And Amazon is switching out some of its packing materials
00:26in an effort to cut down on plastic waste.
00:36Hello and welcome to EarthX News, where we focus on conservation, sustainability, and the environment.
00:42I'm Christina Thompson. Let's get into some of the biggest headlines facing our planet.
00:47The U.S. Senate passes a bill aimed at giving nuclear energy a boost. In an 88-2 vote, the
00:54upper chamber overwhelmingly approved the Advance Act, a clean energy measure lawmakers say will
01:00make it easier, cheaper, and faster to permit and build new nuclear reactors. Lawmakers also say
01:07the policy would help promote the development of new wave projects, like small modular reactors,
01:12known as SMRs, and incentivize deploying American nuclear technologies overseas.
01:18As the U.S. tries to revive an aging nuclear energy industry at home and bolster cutting-edge
01:24technologies abroad. Congressional leaders say the bill represents one of the most significant
01:29actions Congress has taken to advance clean energy since the passage of the Inflation Reduction Act a
01:35couple of years ago. The measure now heads to President Biden's desk, where he's expected to sign it.
01:40More than a dozen youth environmentalists reach an agreement with the state of Hawaii in a high-profile
01:47environmental lawsuit. Leonardo Feldman has that story.
01:52Hawaii has agreed to settle a lawsuit that was filed by young environmental advocates. The Aloha
01:57state will take action to decarbonize its entire transportation system by 2045. The state's Democratic
02:04Governor Josh Green expressed content with the settlement that was reached.
02:08I shared with the young plaintiffs that I appreciated their advocacy and their strength
02:15this last several years because I was lucky enough to work on environmental causes when I was 17
02:20and to work on the impact of acid rain and climate change then. And so our generation just hasn't done
02:27a good enough job. Green shared the same sentiment expressed by the young advocates who asserted
02:32that Hawaii is extremely vulnerable to environmental changes.
02:36We are the most isolated landmass on the planet. We're dependent, too dependent on fossil fuels.
02:43We're vulnerable to climate change impacts like sea level rise, coastal erosion,
02:48extreme weather events as we saw in Maui, coral bleaching, which is devastating.
02:54The plan for zero emissions within approximately two decades impacts ground transportation,
03:00sea and inter-island air transportation.
03:02They've published a decarbonization strategy for us to help us reach those goals. And it includes a lot
03:08of what we've been talking about, guys, like reducing consumption, incentivizing our fleet,
03:15working with Department of Transportation, encouraging hotels to also change the way they do things with
03:20their fleets.
03:20It is worth noting that this agreement can now be enforced under the law. For EarthX, I'm Leonardo Feldman.
03:28Leonardo Feldman, thank you.
03:30Gen Z likes to say that they are eco-friendly, but do they really know what it means?
03:35A new LinkedIn report says only one in 20 Gen Zers have the necessary green skills to tackle the climate
03:42crisis. The research found the generation is so underskilled they actually pose a risk to climate
03:49progress. Green skills is a blanket term used to define the various abilities and expertise pertaining
03:55to environmental causes, including skills relevant to renewable industries, climate action planning,
04:01impact assessment and sustainability initiatives. The networking platform surveyed over 7,000 workers
04:08in the age group across the globe and found just one out of eight in the wider workforce have the
04:14necessary skills to push forward the climate agenda. At the current rate of progress, businesses risk
04:20failing their net zero targets because of inexperienced Gen Zers. Among the Fortune 500 companies, 47% of
04:27those companies have set ambitious 2030 targets for emissions reductions. By that year, it is estimated only
04:34one in 10 of Gen Z workers will have the green skills needed, according to LinkedIn. The report did suggest
04:40strengthening digital and STEM skills for those younger workers looking to get into green jobs.
04:46A company in Iowa is testing out recycling their wind turbines. It's a feat that has been unsuccessful
04:52for many companies across the United States. But a subsidiary of Alliant Energy, a major wind energy
04:58producer in the state, is making a push. The blades are often made of fiberglass and resin, which makes them
05:05both strong enough but also flexible enough to convert wind into energy. But their strength is what makes them
05:11tricky to discard when they have exceeded their typical 20-year lifespans or when companies replace them
05:17with more efficient versions. They have frequently been taken to landfills or incinerated, which can be argued
05:23cancels out their environmental benefits. Electric vehicle maker Fisker files for bankruptcy. The announcement
05:30came from the California-based company just after the EV manufacturer failed to secure an investment from a
05:37big automaker to keep afloat. Reuters reports Fisker was in advanced talks with Nissan to invest in the
05:43startup, but negotiations fell through. Now the U.S.-based company is in talks to sell its entire fleet of about
05:514,300 cars to a business that leases cars to Uber and Lyft drivers. Fisker is one of several American EV
05:58startups that have gone under in recent years. Industry analysts attribute the downfall to slower than expected
06:04demand, rising costs, and investor interest in EVs other than Tesla drying up. The company has faced several
06:11significant issues with its operations as well as the launch of its first product, an electric SUV called the
06:18Ocean. Amazon says it's ditching plastic packing pillows in North America. The e-commerce giant recently announced it
06:25will now stuff packages with 100% recycled paper to keep products safe while in transit. Amazon says the
06:33move will avoid the use of almost 15 billion air pillows a year in the region. In a recent news release,
06:40the Seattle-based online retailer said the move was the largest effort to reduce plastic packaging
06:45to date. The company began transitioning away from plastic filler in October of 2023,
06:51when it announced its first U.S. Automated Fulfillment Center to eliminate plastic delivery packaging.
06:58In 2015, the company launched the Ships in Product Packaging Program in an effort to reduce its
07:04packaging waste. Turning now to wildlife news, an invasive fish looks like it's popping up in Missouri.
07:11The fish has the head of a snake, can grow up to three feet long with python-like patterns and colors,
07:20and the ability to survive on land for several days. The state's Department of Conservation confirmed that
07:26a northern snakehead fish had been caught by a fisherman, marking the fourth observation of the
07:32invasive species in Missouri. When the fisherman realized that he had a snakehead fish, he said he
07:37left it on the pavement for several hours thinking it would die, but it never did. The predatory fish preys on
07:44native fish, so conservationists say if you find one, do not release it back into the water. The first time the
07:51invasive species was caught in the state was in 2019. Federal regulators are allowing a Native American
07:57tribe to hunt up to 25 whales over the next decade off the coast of their tribal reservation in Washington state.
08:04The United States largely outlawed whaling more than 50 years ago, after many species were hunted to
08:10the edge of extinction. But the Maka People's Tribal Council argued their whaling rights were enshrined in
08:17a 1885 treaty as part of a legal battle stretching across decades. Since the initial federal ban,
08:24the gray whales historically hunted by the tribe have made a population comeback, being removed from the
08:30endangered species list 30 years ago. According to federal estimates, their population size has
08:35climbed back up to around 20,000. Now tribal leaders say they're preparing their whale hunters
08:41who haven't been on an officially sanctioned whale hunt since 1999. A rise in sea urchins threatens
08:48Oregon's gray whales. According to a recent study published in the science journal Nature, the purple
08:53spiky marine species are destroying kelp forests by overfeeding, leading to loss of zooplankton
09:00ocean, which is the whale's primary food source. Researchers say a leading cause of the rapid
09:04expansion of the sea urchins is related to sea otters, the main predator of the marine invertebrates
09:10being wiped out of local waters by fur trappers more than 100 years ago. Over the last six years,
09:17scientists say they've observed fewer gray whales feeding in Oregon, and the whales that were observed
09:23had poor body conditions, likely due to a deficient diet. However, over the past year, scientists also say
09:29they've seen the whale's population rebound, likely due to fewer sea urchins that some research stations
09:34have been reporting. This, in addition to healthier kelp forests and a small increase in zooplankton,
09:40thankfully means a few more gray whales. Turning to international news, environmental protesters
09:46vandalize a historic landmark in England. Police say they are investigating after protesters spray-painted
09:54Britain's stonehenge with orange marks. Officials say two people have been arrested on suspicion of
10:00damaging the ancient monument. Police say it happened on the eve of the summer solstice celebrations.
10:07In video released by the environmental group Just Stop Oil, two protesters were seen running towards
10:12two of the structures and spray-painting as another person attempted to stop them. Britain's prime minister
10:19criticized the group's actions on social media. Just Stop Oil are a disgrace. The group, which has gained
10:25prominence in the UK for its disruptive environmental protests, wants the British government to end the
10:31extraction and burning of oil, gas, and coal within six years. In the past, Just Stop Oil demonstrators
10:37have been seen shutting down major roads, disrupting cultural and sporting events, and even throwing soup at a
10:44van Gogh painting. The EU approves a new environmental policy that could bring back biodiversity. Twenty
10:51environmental ministers voted to support the nature restoration law during a meeting in Luxembourg,
10:57meaning it can now pass into law. The first-of-its-kind regulation aims to restore at least 20 percent of
11:03the EU's land and sea areas within six years and all degraded ecosystems by 2050. The policy was met with some
11:11opposition from a few member countries. Finland, Hungary, Italy, the Netherlands, Poland, and Sweden
11:18all voted against the law, while Belgium abstained. They criticized the cost of the proposal and raised
11:24concerns over the heavy restrictions that could be placed on farmers. Meantime, the EU's environment
11:31commissioner praised the decision on social media, posting, quote,
11:35We are still on track to reverse the biodiversity loss. Let's now start work together and show that EU is still
11:42leading the way. Stay with EarthX News. We'll be right back.
12:05Officials from Germany and China came together for a round of high-level talks on the environment and
12:13the green transition for the first time. And it appears the two countries may have found some common
12:19ground. Shelby Wilder has that story. The first high-level meeting between China and Germany on
12:25environmental changes, the green transformation, and resource efficiency was held recently in Beijing.
12:32This conference aimed to enhance cooperation and dialogue between the two countries with a focus
12:37on industrial carbon reduction. German economy minister Robert Habeck led the discussions and
12:43emphasized that China's participation is crucial for achieving global climate goals. He highlighted the
12:50need for China to find alternatives to coal, which provided nearly 60 percent of the country's electricity
12:57in 2023. Habeck stressed that without China, it would not be possible to meet the
13:01global climate targets. Habeck's visit marked the first by a senior European official since the
13:07European Union proposed tariffs on Chinese-made electrical vehicle imports. Before his arrival,
13:14China warned that rising tensions over these tariffs could lead to a trade war with the EU. Habeck
13:20expressed hope for continued dialogue. I don't want them. I hope nobody in Europe wants the tariffs.
13:26So despite the diplomatic strains, the two countries managed to strengthen bilateral relations and
13:37announced plans to collaborate on various projects to improve energy efficiency in key sectors. For EarthX,
13:44I'm Shelby Wilder. Shelby Wilder, thank you. Tesla is making a major investment in a new type of car battery
13:52called the 4680 cell, which it hopes will be more effective than other batteries used by its competitors.
13:59The new battery format is being developed alongside Tesla's North American battery supplier, Panasonic,
14:06and is already being incorporated into newer models like the Tesla Cybertruck. In addition to the 4680s being
14:13less expensive and taking fewer raw materials to produce, they reportedly have up to five times the energy
14:20capacity of current EV batteries. The company says it intends to maintain a surplus of the new and
14:27improved batteries and that these cells will no longer be a bottleneck for their various models.
14:32Tesla's official X account has been documenting the development and production ramp up since early 2022
14:39and announced the production of their 50 millionth battery cell earlier this month. A group of scientists
14:45believe they've made a breakthrough in renewable energy storage. In a recent report, researchers from
14:51Stanford University say chemical compounds known as liquid organic hydrogen carriers or liquid batteries
14:59can serve as long-term storage for sustainable power sources like solar and wind. The study comes
15:05as scientists search for ways to reliably provide power to the grid without producing hydrogen gas during
15:12periods of low production, like when the wind stops blowing or the sun goes down at night. And the team
15:18in California feels the liquid battery technology may be the solution. The paper's lead author said,
15:24quote, This is basic fundamental science, but we think we have a new strategy for more selectively
15:29storing electrical energy in liquid fuels. As part of their research, the group of chemists said they
15:35discovered a catalyst system for storing electrical energy in a liquid fuel without generating gaseous
15:42hydrogen, which scientists say is a win. Now, as the U.S. creates policies aimed at boosting renewable
15:48energy based off their research, the scientists on the West Coast say this latest tech may improve
15:54options for renewable energy storage in the future. A massive renewable energy project gets the green light
16:00in Portugal. According to media reports, an international renewable energy company has obtained
16:06environmental approval from the government to build the country's largest wind farm. Officials say
16:12construction is set to begin early next year and the 274 megawatt facility would be able to support
16:19the annual consumption of about 128,000 homes. The energy company says the wind farm will be located in
16:26the northern part of the country and utilize an already existing grid injection point. Company officials
16:33say the project combines wind and hydropower, increasing the supply of clean energy, and reducing
16:39dependence on fossil fuels. Scientists say this hybrid approach enables more stable and efficient renewable
16:46production, minimizing the environmental impact. A new vegan-friendly version of Nutella is set to
16:53make its debut this year. The brand's parent company recently announced a tweak to the recipe to create
16:58the more sustainable option. According to a company press release, Nutella Plant Based will be replacing
17:05milk with vegetal ingredients and will be hitting store shelves in some European countries in the fall.
17:12Company officials did not say which countries the product will be available in or how much it will cost,
17:17but said it will be vegan certified. The company's decision to release a vegan version of the spread
17:23comes amid increasing interest in plant-based diets throughout Europe. A 2023 survey found that 28% of
17:30Europeans eat one plant-based alternative once a week with milk alternatives being the most popular.
17:37Coming up, biologists are rescuing and rehabilitating a variety of marine life off the coast of Italy.
17:44Stay tuned, we'll have more on their efforts next on EarthX News.
17:55Welcome back. Severely wounded loggerhead turtles and seahorses are being nursed back to health
18:13at a special hospital for marine creatures on the Adriatic coast. Alex Salvi has that story.
18:18The Italian coast is renowned for its beauty, but for some species it's a safe haven, giving them a
18:25shot of a new life after traumatic events. A multidisciplinary team of scientists make up the
18:31Experimental Center for the Protection of Habitats, dedicated to rescuing and rehabilitating animals
18:37that are brought in after suffering serious injuries. They primarily deal with loggerhead turtles in the
18:43Adriatic Sea, with 80% of the air-breathing reptiles arriving at the facility with lung problems from
18:48being trapped underwater by trawling nets. Others are victims of boat propellers and fishing hooks,
18:54making this unlikely location the perfect spot for their release.
18:58This is an area of methane extraction platforms, which is a perfect spot for the release of the
19:03animals treated at the center, because here trawling is prohibited and fishermen cannot fish.
19:08An old fish market has been converted to a state-of-the-art marine conservation center.
19:15The turtles are housed in special tanks with masks that protect them from the light in order to allow
19:19them to sleep. Their diets consist of fresh squid, crab and fish, carefully logged next to their names,
19:25each one awarded due to their unique characteristics. Such as Kim Kardashian, who staff members say loves
19:32being in the spotlight, her sign reading, yes, I'm extremely beautiful. Many of the turtles recover quickly
19:38and are released back to the water, while others that require long-term attention will be sent to one
19:43of Italy's largest public aquariums for further rehabilitation. The center tracks the released
19:48turtles to better understand their movements, watching them return to their habitats in much
19:52better condition than they arrived. For EarthX, I'm Alex Salvi. Alex Salvi, thank you. A group of young
20:01environmentalists are retracing some of the most famous steps in history. Charles Darwin's voyages on
20:08board the HMS Beagle. 200 young naturalists from across the globe will be sailing in this historic
20:15reenactment, compressing five years of Darwin's journey into a two-year mission. It will be comprised
20:21of 32 distinct stops pulled from the historic voyage. The Darwin 200 project aims to train and inspire the
20:28next generation of conservationists around the globe through a range of research projects that study the
20:34original work of Charles Darwin. We're creating this community of Darwin 200 leaders and this network
20:43with conservation groups, with scientists, with each other, with their camera operators. And these people
20:50will then go back to their own countries with this newfound knowledge and this incredibly supportive
20:57network of fellow Darwin 200 leaders as well as scientists and conservationists. So far, the ship
21:05has traveled over 16,000 nautical miles across three continents and still has more than 60,000 additional
21:12miles to go before it returns to England. And before we leave you, talk about being at the right place at the
21:19right time. An Alaska man, Spencer Warren and the local police jumped into action to help save a baby moose
21:27in video captured on Warren's cell phone. You can see him and one officer racing to assist the calf
21:33after the little one got stuck between a float plane and a dock on a lake in southern Alaska. Within minutes,
21:40the men freed the animal and the youngster was back on land and reunited with its mom. That's it
21:45for this edition of Earth X news. Please join us again next week. I'm Christina Thompson.
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