SEARCH

How Wildlife Crossings Save Animals and People *By Alina Bradford Most people have seen a hapless turtle, deer, or skunk trying to scuttle to the other side of a road or highway. As urbanization and infrastructure expansion continue to encroach on natural habitats, man-made wildlife crossings [see video] or “green bridges” have emerged as a vital solution for wildlife. These innovative structures help ensure safe passage, thus reducing roadkill and preventing fatal or crippling collisions between animals and vehicles. Green bridges also help animals move freely, ensuring they can find food, mates, and new territories. This movement is crucial for keeping wildlife populations healthy and diverse. What Are Wildlife Crossings? Wildlife crossings are special structures designed to help animals safely cross busy roads, highways, and railways. The main goal of wildlife crossings is to reduce the number of wildlife-vehicle collisions, which can be dangerous for both animals and humans. According to the National Conference of State Legislatures (US), an estimated 1 million to 2 million motorists collide with large wildlife each year. According to the National Conference of State Legislatures (US), an estimated 1 million to 2 million motorists collide with large wildlife each year. These collisions cause around 200 human deaths, 26,000 injuries, and $8 billion in property damage. Wildlife crossings can take the form of overpasses, underpasses, bridges, or tunnels. Overpasses often look like natural bridges covered with soil and plants, giving animals a safe path over the road. Underpasses and tunnels that run beneath the road are perfect for smaller animals or those that prefer enclosed spaces. These crossings are often paired with fences to guide animals to the safest routes and keep them off the roads. Animal bridges aren’t just government initiatives. Conservation groups and organizations work with local governments to devise the best plans for local wildlife. One organization that is a driving force in wildlife crossings in North America is the Pacific Forest Trust. It has been preserving, restoring, and managing forests in the Cascade-Siskiyou region in Oregon for more than two decades. “Our belief in the importance of wildlife crossings has only grown stronger, especially as climate change pushes species to adapt and find cooler spots to call home,” said Laurie Wayburn, co-founder and president of Pacific Forest Trust. “Take our projects, like additions to the Cascade Siskiyou National Monument, Mountcrest Working Forest, and Mount Ashland Demonstration Forest. They're not just forests, they're lifelines for wildlife, connecting them to other protected areas and giving them safe pathways to migrate.” There are thousands of wildlife crossings globally, including over 600 green bridges in the Netherlands and over 1,000 in the United States. How Common Are Wildlife Crossings? Wildlife bridges started as just an idea in the 1950s in France and have since become increasingly common as countries recognize their benefits for both wildlife conservation and public safety. While exact numbers are hard to determine, there are thousands of wildlife crossings globally, including over 600 green bridges in the Netherlands and over 1,000 in the United States. One of the most iconic wildlife crossings is the Banff National Park's series of overpasses and underpasses in Alberta, Canada. These vegetation-covered structures blend into the natural landscape and provide safe passage for wolves, grizzly bears, elk, and other species. According to a 2007 research article, the crossings reduced large animal wildlife-vehicle collisions in the area by over 80%. Another impressive example is Utah's $5 million Parleys Canyon wildlife overpass. Spanning six lanes of Interstate 80, this overpass is specifically designed for large animals like deer and elk. In 2021 alone, the bridge had over 1,200 animal crossings. In Australia, the Christmas Island crab bridges protect millions of red crabs during their annual migrations. These unique, mesh-like crossings, which allow crabs to easily climb and walk over roads, have become an essential part of the island’s ecosystem management. Crabs on Christmas Island bridge.  ©Leah Noble (left) Sarah Coote (right). Parks Australia The Cost of Wildlife Crossings While wildlife crossings save lives, they can be quite expensive. Successful wildlife crossings include fencing to funnel animals toward the crossings, signage to alert drivers, and landscaping to make the structures more attractive to wildlife. Wildlife crossings vary in size depending on the species they are designed to accommodate. Overpasses are typically 165 to 230 feet wide, providing enough space for animals to feel safe. Underpasses come in various dimensions, but they are generally designed to mimic natural conditions to encourage wildlife use. Generally, overpasses can cost between $1 million and $7 million to construct, while underpasses range from $250,000 to $600,000. Research has shown that building these crossings is actually less expensive than the animal and car collisions that happen without them. Research has shown that building these crossings is actually less expensive than the animal and car collisions that happen without them. For example, before the construction of the wildlife crossings, the Wyoming Department of Transportation estimated that wildlife-vehicle collisions at Trapper’s Point, Wyoming, were costing over $500,000 each year. The state estimates that the wildlife crossings—which, for example, cost $2.5 million to $7 million for a double span overpass—will pay for themselves in about 17 years, according to The Center for Large Landscape Conservation in Bozeman, Montana. Effectiveness of Wildlife Crossings Wildlife crossings have proven highly effective in reducing animal-vehicle collisions. Studies show an average reduction of 80% to 90% in collisions in areas where these crossings are installed. The Interstate 5 wildlife crossing in Oregon is a prime example of a successful project from start to finish. “Since 2020, we've been working as part of the Southern Oregon Wildlife Crossing Coalition to champion safe passage for animals across Interstate 5 in the Siskiyou Crest, one of the most heavily traveled roads in the nation and a major ‘kill zone’ for wildlife in both Oregon and California,” said Wayburn. “Wildlife deaths have fallen by nearly 86% in other parts of Oregon where wildlife corridors have been built. That's why we're excited about the Interstate 5 wildlife crossing, as it will foster habitat connectivity and protect elk, deer, mountain lions and many other species, large and small.” New Developments in Wildlife Crossings Exciting developments continue in this field. For example, the Pacific Forest Trust is working on creating "wildways," natural corridors that bridge public and private lands. "While man-made wildlife crossings over roads like bridges and tunnels under highways have garnered significant attention, Pacific Forest Trust is at the forefront of a growing movement toward creating natural corridors—we like to call them ‘wildways’—that bridge public and private lands to ensure safe passage for wildlife across property ownerships,” said Wayburn. “This is especially important as wildlife are increasingly on the move due to challenges posed by climate change, such as extreme heat, wildfires, and increased fragmentation from development pressure.” The Pacific Forest Trust is working on creating "wildways," natural corridors that bridge public and private lands. An example of this approach is a project to conserve  7,500 acres of private forest on Mount Shasta's slopes that involves the landowner, forest management group, the Pacific Forest Trust, and the State of California. This project aims to protect forest health, create a climate-resilient habitat connecting public lands, and support around 250 species, including the gray wolf and Pacific fisher. “With nearly 60% of US forests being privately owned, replicating such 'super wildway' projects nationwide becomes crucial for reducing fragmentation and facilitating secure wildlife migration amid climate and environmental challenges,” said Wayburn. Going Beyond Traditional Boundaries Wildlife crossings are a crucial innovation in preserving biodiversity and enhancing road safety. As more countries and states recognize the value of these lifesaving structures, it is expected that there will be an increase in their number worldwide. “Our ideas about habitat protection need to evolve from a ‘fixed boundary’ or zoo-like approach that expects animals and plants to remain within designated places,” said Wayburn. “Public lands alone cannot protect these species,” she added. “To ensure we have this amazing diversity of plants and wildlife, we need to embrace private lands, including those managed for financial return, as part of the solution. Since biodiversity loss is closely linked with climate change and forest loss, we must integrate more active, private lands conservation into our strategies.” *Alina Bradford is a safety and security expert who has contributed to CBS, MTV, USA Today, Reader’s Digest, and more. She is currently the editorial lead at SafeWise.com.

Total Global Battery EV and Plug-In Hybrid EV Units Surpassed 40 Million in 2023 In its tenth annual Global EV Outlook released in April, the International Energy Agency provided an overview of recent developments in electric mobility, including trends in electric vehicles (EVs) and projections of EV charging infrastructure and battery demand. A key finding is that there were about 40 million electric cars on the road in 2023, a 14 million increase from the previous year. In 2023, global electric car sales (and new car registrations) neared 14 million, having increased by 3.5 million from the previous year. The most sales were made by China (60%), followed by Europe (25%) and the US (10%). The global stock of fuel cell electric vehicles reached around 87,600 at the end of 2023, an increase of 15,400 (about 20%) from the previous year. The highest stock is in Korea (almost 40%), followed by the US (about 30%) and China (just over 20%). The number of available models for electric cars was nearly 590 in 2023, with a 15% year-on-year increase. The average range of small electric cars and large higher-end models was stagnant, at around 150 km (93 miles) and 360 km to 380 km (223 miles to 236 miles), respectively. On the other hand, medium-sized electric cars and electric SUVs had improvements in their range, at around 380 km (236 miles). Sales of electric buses have been decreasing since the peak of nearly 90,000 in 2017 (aside from 2022), with almost 50,000 sold in 2023. Electric truck sales were about 54,000 in 2023, a 35% increase from the previous year. Seventy percent of these sales were made by China. Demand for electric vehicle batteries was about 750 gigawatt-hours in 2023, a 40% increase from the previous year. In 2024, the projected total electric car sales are around 17 million, with over 3 million already sold in the first quarter. Sources: https://www.iea.org/reports/global-ev-outlook-2024

Research—and common sense—affirm that the sense of touch plays an important role in human life. Now a new study concludes that there is “clear evidence” that therapeutic touch is beneficial across a large number of physical and mental health conditions and in people of all ages. It is well known that babies thrive with loving touch, and that regular, consensual hugs, kisses, and massages contribute to physical health and mental well-being throughout life. However, scientists have sought to understand the mechanics behind the healing powers of touch and how these can be harnessed for greater efficacy across various ailments. A group of scientists associated with the Netherlands Institute for Neuroscience conducted a meta-analysis of dozens of studies on touch intervention therapies involving almost 13,000 people. Their study, published in the journal Nature Human Behaviour, found that touch interventions have a “medium-sized effect” on people’s ailments. The studies all included “a touch versus no touch control intervention,” the authors said. They found that “touch treatments” were particularly effective with regulating cortisol levels; increasing newborns’ weight; and reducing pain, depression, and anxiety in adults. The scientists also looked at personal versus impersonal interventions. They found that touch interventions with “objects or robots” brought similar physical health benefits to skin-to-skin interventions. However, skin-to-skin interventions brought greater mental health benefits than other types of interventions. Regarding who was providing the touching, the meta-analysis found no difference in health benefits for adults when touch interventions were administered by a “familiar person” versus a health care professional. However, among newborns, parental touch was by far the most beneficial. The team further found that more touch interventions were positively associated with improved outcomes for depression, anxiety, and pain reduction in adults. The magnitude of their data, the scientists said, supported their conclusion that “touch interventions can be systematically employed across the population to preserve and improve our health.” Source: https://www.nature.com/articles/s41562-024-01841-8

*By Laurie Burras The global shutdowns during the COVID-19 pandemic generated at least one healthy activity: They pushed more people to plant community vegetable, fruit, and flower gardens, especially in urban areas. The time-honored activity of communal gardens and farms has long spared communities from hunger during war, natural disasters, and economic downturns. But will this trend grow? Some see a bright future for community gardens. “Community gardens in the U.S. are growing faster than ever,” the nonprofit Trust for Public Land said in a pre-pandemic post in 2018. “The number of garden plots in city parks has increased 44% since we started keeping track in 2012. Today there are more than 29,000 garden plots in city parks in just the 100 largest U.S. cities—up 22% from just a year ago.” More recently, a 2024 study, based on responses from 70 community garden coordinators in 43 cities in multiple countries, found that community gardening offered “multiple social, economic, and health benefits” during the COVID-19 years. The study’s Swiss and German authors, who published their findings in January in Urban Forestry & Urban Greening, cautioned that while the pandemic sparked a clear surge in shared-space gardening, “it remains unclear how it affected the overall trend in demand for community gardens.” The rise in community gardening between 2018 and 2022 “underscores the crucial role of community gardens in an urbanizing world, especially during challenging times.” However, they concluded that the rise in community gardening between 2018 and 2022 “underscores the crucial role of community gardens in an urbanizing world, especially during challenging times.” Therefore, “[i]t is essential for urban planners to prioritize meeting this increasing demand [for community gardens] as part of their efforts to make cities more sustainable,” the researchers wrote. The ‘Lowly Potato’ Staved Off Hunger Community gardens in the US and UK have been around for around 130 years when government programs were created to help feed people. A notable American episode happened in the 1890s during a national economic downturn. In Michigan, Detroit Mayor Hazen “Ping” Pingree was faced with a huge unemployed and hungry population. He asked for public approval “to use vacant land–much of it held speculatively–for gardens and potato patches,” according to an article in HistoricDetroit.org. The response was huge; applications for garden plots poured in, and people began planting vegetables, especially the “lowly potato,” the Free Press wrote in October 1935. “Pingree's potato patches broke the back of hunger,” the newspaper said, adding that the communal strategy was “nationally acclaimed and copied” in other cities. A Smithsonian Community of Gardens article, “Pingree’s Potato Patches,” gave more details: “In 1894, 975 families raised $14,000 worth of crops on 430 acres of land. By 1897, the program in Detroit reached its peak, with 1563 families participating, before tapering off by 1901 as economic conditions improved.” Famed Wartime ‘Victory Gardens’ During World War II, the legendary “Dig for Victory”  gardens in the UK were matched by American Victory Gardens—some 18 million gardens were planted in US cities and farmlands, according to the May 1943 issue of Popular Mechanics.  These patriotic gardens freed up agricultural produce and transportation resources for the war effort and helped offset shortages of agricultural workers and food supplies at home. In 1979, the grassroots, non-profit advocacy group, American Community Gardening Association, began its mission of expanding community gardens. Today, it says it has over 1,000 individual and 252 organizational members, and links 2,100 gardens across Canada and the US, “ranging from family allotments to tiny pollinator pocket parks, and from school gardens to urban farms.” The US’ Largest Community Garden Shiloh Field Community Garden (SFCG), a 14.5-acre garden in Denton County, Texas, describes itself as the largest community garden in the United States. The late Gene Gumfory started it in 2009, with a commitment to feeding farm produce to the hungry, including fresh fruit, and eggs. Nancy DiMarco, Shiloh Field’s volunteer coordinator and project manager, explained: “Shiloh is primarily a [volunteer] working farm with about 15 acres. We do have about 55 community plots that are 15 feet by 15 feet that anyone from Denton can rent for a year at no cost, as long as they are maintained. They make up a fraction of the area that is in production, though.” Training is included, although, according to Amy Proctor, a SFCG Board member, Shiloh does not have “a set training program.” Community gardening volunteers “learn the specific task they will work on that day. … We have had some groups from corporations come out and work. They seemed to love the tasks we had them do, and all had to work together as a group to complete [them],” she said. DiMarco added, “Community gardens are all about teamwork, as we’re completely volunteer driven. … We have had nearly 6,000 volunteers. … We focus on providing food to those who don’t have access. … Typically, those who receive the food don’t volunteer to work at Shiloh. All volunteers … care deeply about serving. “We partner with about 20 different food banks and kitchens throughout Denton County who feed people who need access to fresh vegetables and fruits. Once our produce is harvested, it is delivered to agencies like Our Daily Bread, Salvation Army, Cumberland Children’s Home, Freedom Food Pantry, to name a few.” Shiloh Field is an example of the many benefits of community gardening, like reducing food insecurity in the local community, fostering human collaboration, and having an “outdoor classroom” to learn about many aspects of gardening. [R]esearch … found evidence that community gardens made a substantial difference in the lives of [participating] families. A small, community-based participatory research study by academics with the Oregon Health & Science University in Portland found evidence that community gardens made a substantial difference in the lives of families. Before the 2009 gardening season began, researchers asked 38 families, representing 163 people, about their food concerns. They found that 31.2% of families were worried they would not have enough money for food. After the gardening season, the households were polled again, and the number of households with food security concerns dropped to 3.1%—a 90% decline, said the 2012 study published in the Journal of Community Health. “A community gardening program can reduce food insecurity, improve dietary intake and strengthen family relationships,” the Oregon researchers concluded. A Communal Farm in San Francisco At 3.5 acres, Alemany Farm is San Francisco’s largest urban farm. It is organized as a communal production farm, managed by paid staff and community volunteers, with the purpose of providing community members with free food, opportunities to volunteer, and participate in hands-on education. Alfredo Hernández, executive director of the Friends of Alemany Farm, points out the differences between a communal farm and a community garden: “We are an open harvest farm, not a community garden. Volunteers work Monday and Saturdays.” Communal farms produce more food than community gardens, promoting even more food security. “We bring in teams of folks as apprentices to flip beds of lettuce or other produce. We have a food pantry that we deliver to weekly. We also donate to free farm stands. We give [annually] 13 tons of food all for free. This huge farm is run by volunteers and a handful of paid employees on government grants and corporate donations.” Experienced Alemany Farm volunteers teach other volunteers as they work. Volunteers are invited to take fresh produce home with them. Interns who work alongside Alemany Farm managers help in all aspects of growing food and maintaining the 3.5-acre organic farm. The farm offers workshops, internships, and team-building opportunities for corporate groups. On the East Coast, the District of Columbia’s Department of Parks and Recreation has community gardens, communal farms, and non-profit partner urban farms. “During the [COVID-19] pandemic, the [Washington DC] mayor deemed them [communal farms] essential. … The volunteers grow produce and do as much as possible.” Joshua Singer, a farm manager for the DC Communal Farm program, explained some of the differences: “Community gardens have individual plots… Sometimes you can’t get a plot, or you have to be on a waiting list for a long time.” In contrast, he said, “Communal farms have no waiting list. We offer classes and produce. During the [COVID-19] pandemic, the [DC] mayor deemed them essential. … The volunteers grow produce and do as much as possible.” “Then we have non-profit farms,” Singer said. “They’re run by non-profits. We give them the [city] land and they run them for free.” An example in Southeast District is the Virginia Avenue Community Garden (VACG). It is a community garden with individual plots that opened in 2004 to serve local families. Gardeners grow everything from organic produce to flowers. VACG garden manager Kimberly Hahn estimated that 88 garden plots “provide food to at least twice as many people, as plots are often worked by couples, friends, and families with children.” In addition to the benefits of their own plots, gardeners must help maintain the common land. All VACG gardeners “are required to attend two community cleanup days where they learn about and help maintain shared resources like compost bins or blackberry brambles.” VACG gardeners planted and maintain over 15 fruit trees, all along the garden’s fence so that the surrounding community can pick fruit from outside of the garden. Excess fruits and vegetables have been provided to community organizations, such as SOME (So Others Might Eat) and to the homeless; and funds have been raised by the garden members and donated to SOME on an annual basis. The garden has made plots available to schools, scouts, and other organizations, without charge, and VACG members have taught classes on gardening and assisted in starting gardens at various schools. “Instead of classes, education on gardening and maintaining the common areas takes place informally.” Hahn explained that “[m]embers join with a range of gardening experience. Instead of classes, education on gardening and maintaining the common areas takes place informally.” Gardeners get educated about “the nuts and bolts—where and when to plant, how to address a particular problem—[it] happens mainly through individual conversations between gardeners.” “Gardeners can also join teams that focus on certain areas to learn more about them. For example, they’ll learn about native pollinator plants on the east flower garden team, or how to keep soil acidic on the blueberry patch team.” Benefits Beyond Food Research on community gardens has found additional benefits that are not solely food related. For instance, community gardens contribute to the beauty of a neighborhood, and research shows that they reduce littering, and overall crime. Gardening has been shown to aid mental and physical health, decreasing feelings of isolation and boosting self-esteem. Community gardens offer space for people to connect and to work together. Finally, community gardens help restore ecosystems. Gardens add green space, reduce storm water runoff, and provide habitat for pollinators and other wildlife. Improved soil quality from gardens increases plant biodiversity and improves water filtration. The number of community gardens and farms is expected to increase in the next few years putting a dent in the issue of food insecurity and helping to turn food deserts into food oases. *Laurie Burras is a former news editor for an international academic magazine. She studied at the Graduate School of Engineering at the University of Pennsylvania and currently resides in Philadelphia.

Scientists Find New Method to Extract Vital Metals from E-Waste Rare earth minerals are essential for modern devices, such as computers, cell phones, and wind turbines, but there is growing concern about the environmental pollution and human health risks associated with mining these minerals. There are currently recycling practices to collect rare earth materials from electronic waste, but these separation methods are costly and time-consuming. A breakthrough technology may be at hand. As recently reported, the US Department of Energy’s Pacific Northwest National Laboratory (PNNL) announced that researchers have developed a new way to separate critical rare earth minerals from e-waste. PNNL material separation scientists Qingpu Wang, Chinmayee Subban, and Elias Nakouzi presented their findings at the 2024 Materials Research Society (MRS) Spring Meeting on April 25, 2024, in Seattle. In their MRS presentation abstract, the scientists said their process showed “great potential” for “urban mining,” a term for the process of capturing critical minerals from e-waste sites. Advances in urban mining could both boost e-waste recycling and reduce the need for conventional rare earth mineral mining. In their abstract, the trio added that using their e-waste technology would require “a paradigm shift” from current practices. According to Science Daily, the PNNL team has already succeeded in “selectively recovering manganese, magnesium, dysprosium, and neodymium,” each being critically important to the electronics industry. The team’s novel method exploits the different reactions of various metals to being submerged in a chemical reaction chamber with two different liquids continuously flowing through it. In their model, metals form solids “at different rates over time,” allowing for them to be separated and purified for reuse. Describing their process in the journal RSC Sustainability, the team said, “Simply by placing a mixed salt solution on top of a hydrogel loaded with a precipitating agent, we obtained spatially separated precipitates [minerals] along the reactor.” This one-step process, they said, is expected to be broadly adaptable to material separation from complex waste streams with diverse chemistries, thus "enabling more sustainable materials extraction and processing” in the future. Sources: https://pubs.rsc.org/en/content/articlelanding/2024/su/d3su00403a https://www.pnnl.gov/news-media/critical-minerals-recovery-electronic-waste https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2024/04/240423184756.htm https://www.mrs.org/meetings-events/spring-meetings-exhibits/2024-mrs-spring-meeting/symposium-sessions/presentations/detail/2024_mrs_spring_meeting/2024_mrs_spring_meeting-4009789

High Voltage Direct Current (HVDC) Lines Seen as Crucial to Bring Renewable Energy to the Grid *By Rick Laezman The growth of renewable energy is not only reshaping the way society consumes power, it is disrupting conventional thinking in the energy industry on many levels, including storage, grid management, and distribution. A sea change in the method of long-distance power transmissions is one example. Traditionally, transmission of electric power has been performed by high voltage lines carrying alternating current or HVAC (High Voltage Alternating Current). Increasingly, that role is being usurped by lines carrying high voltage direct current, or HVDC (High Voltage Direct Current), because of their superior ability to transmit power generated by renewables. This shift has been so significant that many in the energy industry believe a large-scale conversion to an HVDC transmission grid is essential. Fully assessing the strengths and weaknesses of HVDC and taking the necessary steps to properly expand its use is likely to become a strategic imperative in the fight against climate change. What is High Voltage Direct Current (HVDC)? Electricity, invisible to the human eye, is a fascinating and mysterious phenomenon. On a very basic level, it is typically perceived as tiny electrons, like little balls of energy, travelling along wires to form a current that turns on homes’ lights and powers household appliances. But the concept gets more complex. There are two very different forms of electrical current. A current can flow in one direction from the source (power plant) to the receptor (device or appliance). It flows through and out of that receptor, returning to the source again—always in the same direction in a continuous circular movement. This is referred to as direct current or DC. Somewhat counterintuitively, electricity may also flow in a back-and-forth motion, or alternating current, also known as AC. This flow travels from the source to the receptor, and back, also on a loop. But instead of always travelling the loop in one direction, it switches its direction once it completes one round and then travels in the opposite direction in the loop repeatedly and rapidly, back and forth, constantly alternating its direction. A device or appliance harnesses the energy from that current by connecting to and drawing power from the back-and-forth motion on the receiving end. What does all this have to do with renewable energy and high voltage transmission lines? When the nation's electric transmission infrastructure was first being built, DC power systems were more expensive and more complex to install. Consequently, AC became the predominant and standardized form of high voltage transmission, and most power from utilities is currently transmitted over HVAC lines. With advanced technology, high voltage direct current (HVDC) is increasingly recognized as superior to transmit renewable energy over long distances. However, because of the rapidly expanding capacity of renewable energy, the role and the value of HVDC is also rapidly expanding. With advanced technology, HVDC is increasingly recognized as superior to transmit renewable energy over long distances, and many see it as an indispensable tool for meeting the larger goal of bringing sufficient supply of renewable power online to meet carbon reduction goals. According to the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE), HVDC is more efficient and less expensive at long distances and can connect asynchronous systems or grids that operate on different frequencies. The reasons for this can be found in the distinct and unique characteristics of AC and DC power. Disadvantages of High Voltage Alternate Current (HVAC) The alternating nature of AC creates phenomena that do not exist in DC power. For example, the back-and-forth motion of alternating current generates a type of energy called reactive power. It is an essential element of AC current, although it is not part of the power that is consumed by appliances and devices on the receiving end. This reactive power leads to losses of power in an AC system and causes it to not travel well over long distances. Reactive power in HVAC lines also creates a magnetic field between the lines and the ground below. This magnetic field, or capacitance, also contributes to a loss of power, which is referred to as capacitance line loss. In addition, AC current creates a so-called corona discharge, which involves the casting off of electrons into the air surrounding a conducting wire (audible sometimes along overhead long-distance HVAC lines as a humming sound). This also leads to power loss. And finally, AC is affected by the so-called “skin effect,” in which power travels only at or near the surface of a conducting wire. HVAC lines require larger, bundled lines to compensate for the loss of power. These larger, thicker wires also add to the cost. Consequently, HVAC lines require larger, bundled lines to compensate for the loss of power. These larger, thicker wires also add to the cost. Moreover, HVAC lines are typically installed high above ground to minimize capacitance line loss, although this leaves the lines vulnerable to outages caused by high winds. Advantages of HVDC In contrast, reactive power and the skin effect do not occur in DC, and the corona discharge is much less significant. HVDC lines also do not need to be installed high above ground because they do not experience capacitance. All these factors make HVDC transmission lines more efficient, less expensive, and able to carry more energy over longer distances than their AC counterpart. Because DC power does not operate on a frequency, it can connect multiple asynchronous power systems without disrupting the frequency of either one. The DOE notes that the US power grid is divided into three such AC systems: the Eastern interconnection, the Western interconnection, and the Texas interconnection. Transferring power between these grid regions without disrupting the frequency of either system is only possible with direct current (DC) links. HVDC and Green Power All HVDC’s advantages make it ideally suited to transmit power generated by renewable energy sources. Most renewables, such as utility-scale solar, wind, hydro, and geothermal, generate power in remote locations that are far removed from populated areas and thus have the greatest need for power. These generating sites require sufficient transmission infrastructure to carry power over long distances—and over large bodies of water and land masses—to meet the targeted consumer demand. The nation's existing transmission infrastructure is insufficient to meet this challenge. In some cases, adequate infrastructure does not exist near renewable generating sites and needs to be built from scratch. In other situations, existing HVAC lines are not up to the task, so they need to be replaced or upgraded. In some cases, adequate infrastructure does not exist near renewable generating sites and needs to be built from scratch. HVDC transmission technology has improved over the years, and the costs have been greatly reduced. It is now widely recognized as the superior technology to get more renewable energy capacity to the grid where it can meet consumer demand and help cut carbon emissions. Because HVDC does not experience capacitance line loss, transmission lines can be installed underground and even under the water, dramatically reducing the cost of their installation and making the renewable generating sites feasible and cost-effective. HVDC Installations Around the Globe Developers recognize these advantages, and projects are underway across the globe. Some have been completed and are operational. One such project was an international collaboration: NordLink was developed jointly by Norwegian power company Statnett, Norwegian and German grid company TenneT, and German investment bank KfW. The NordLink transmission line travels over 623 kilometers (about 387 miles) between a hydropower facility in Tonstad, Norway, to wind power facilities in Wilster/Nortorf, Germany. Most of the transmission line, about 516 kilometers (320 miles), travels under the North Sea. The project, which became operational in 2021, creates a unique and vital link between the two countries. It has the capacity to transmit 1,400 MW (megawatts) of renewable energy, enough to power about 3.6 million households. Perhaps more importantly, it can transmit power both ways. The transmission line consists of a double cable made of positively and negatively poled cables. With this setup, NordLink can transmit power from the Norwegian hydropower station to Germany or from the German wind farms to Norway, according to supply and demand. This allows the Norwegian hydroplant to act as a sort of battery that stores power for the wind farm that can be discharged when the wind is not blowing. It also allows both countries to dramatically increase their access to renewable power sources. Another project, the Champlain Hudson Power Express® (CHPE), will deliver 1,250 MW of clean power to more than a million homes in New York City. Renewable energy generated by existing hydropower facilities in Canada will travel over nearly 340 miles of HVDC transmission cables that will be installed along the route. When completed, the lines will run along waterways, roads, and railroad rights-of-way to achieve the most direct route and minimize visibility. They will also run underground and underwater, through Lake Champlain, and along and under the Hudson River. This $6 billion project will help New York meet its clean energy goals. The city has been striving to increase its access to renewable energy ever since the nearby Indian Point nuclear power plant was retired in 2021. The CHPE project owner, Transmission Developers, says the project will have many benefits. Environmentally, the project will help New York City access cleaner renewable power. In doing so, it will reduce carbon emissions and displace fossil fuels. Economically, the project will help lower electricity costs for consumers, as well as increase jobs, economic activity, and tax revenues for the region it serves. The project is not without critics. Opponents argue that the route may harm local fish populations and Native American communities. The Future of HVDC Many more HVDC transmission projects have been completed or are underway, and future expansion is expected worldwide. However, HVDC does have its disadvantages. The most significant of these is high capital costs caused by the need to invest in expensive converter stations that transform AC power to DC before it can be transmitted. For this reason, HVDC is only cost-effective for distances that exceed certain break-even points, such as more than 60 km (or 37 miles) for lines underwater and 200 km (or 124 miles) for overhead lines. It’s at these points that the advantages of HVDC outweigh its costs. As the DOE notes, transitioning from AC systems will require “adjustments to grid planning standards and modeling techniques to adequately plan for the technical differences of HVDC systems.” Nevertheless, the benefits of HVDC and its potential role in helping the world transition to more green power generation cannot be overlooked. Developers recognize this and appear to have embraced the technology. The market research firm DNV projects at least 46 new HVDC projects to be installed around the world over the next decade, equating to a 94.3 GW addition of HVDC transmission capacity and at least 18,000 km (close to 11,200 miles) of HVDC cable. The American Council on Renewable Energy (ACRE)  asserts that the US is “lagging behind” in the deployment of enough HVDC lines to meet increased demand. It argues that a combination of misconceptions, lack of standards, supply chain challenges, and regulatory hurdles combine to impede progress. It recommends collaboration among grid planning authorities, transmission owners, equipment manufacturers, industry groups, the DOE, and others to address these challenges and remove barriers so that the industry can properly expand. *Rick Laezman is a freelance writer in Los Angeles, California, US. He has a passion for energy efficiency and innovation. He has covered renewable power and other related subjects for over ten years.

Over 140,000 Wildlife Seizures Recorded from 2015 to 2021 In its third edition of the World Wildlife Crime Report, which covers data from 2015 to 2021, the UN Office on Drugs and Crime provided an overview of government seizures of illicitly trafficked plants and animals and associated criminal activities. A key finding is that over 40% of 1,652 animal species seized are classified as “threatened” or “near threatened.” Of the over 4,000 total plant and animal species recorded in the seizures, 1,652 of them were mammals, birds, reptiles, and amphibians. Over 40% of the 1,652 species were classified as “threatened” or “near threatened” according to the IUCN Red List, including birds (206 out of 751), mammals (231 out of 444), reptiles (190 out of 405), and amphibians (23 out of 52). Mammals had the highest percentage of being subjected to intentional harvest (73% of 444), followed by amphibians (62% of 52), reptiles (59% of 405), and birds (31% of 751). Some 83 species out of the 1,255 live species (mammals, birds, reptiles, and amphibians) seized were listed as invasives. The top three animal species affected by illegal wildlife trade based on standardized seizure index are rhinoceros (29%), pangolins (28%), and elephants (15%). For plant species, the top three are cedars and other Sapindales (47%), rosewoods (35%), and agarwood and other Myrtales (13%). Corals and “others” had the highest percentage shares of seizure records, both at 16%. This is followed by crocodilians (9%) and elephants (6%). The shipping origin of most seizure records (56%) was unspecified or unknown. This is followed by Sub-Saharan Africa (19%) and South Asia (9%). Top individual commodities by percentage of seizure records were coral pieces (16%), live specimens (15%), and medicines (10%). Global cocaine seizures have been increasing from 901 tons in 2015 to 2,098 tons in 2021. Methamphetamine seizures in East and Southeast Asia have almost tripled from 64 tons in 2015 to 172 tons in 2021, although it decreased by 1 ton from 2020. Sources: https://www.unodc.org/documents/data-and-analysis/wildlife/2024/Wildlife2024_Final.pdf https://www.unodc.org/unodc/en/data-and-analysis/wildlife.html

Prices for Key Energy Transition Metals Dropped in 2023 Amid Increased Demands Following Supply Growth In its second annual Global Critical Minerals Outlook, released in May, the International Energy Agency reviewed rising demands of critical metals, such as copper, lithium, nickel, cobalt, graphite, and rare earth elements. These demands are fueled in part by the deployment of clean energy strategies to limit global warming to 1.5 °C (2.8 °F) under the Net Zero Emissions by 2050 Scenario (NZE Scenario) and the APS (Announced Pledges Scenario). A key finding is that demands for critical energy transition metals need to increase by 1.5 to 8.7 times to meet NZE Scenario targets. Demand for key energy transition metals continued to rise in 2023 from 2021, with copper at 25,855 kilotons (kt) from 24,928 kt, lithium at 168 kt from 101 kt, nickel at 3,104 kt from 2,759 kt, cobalt at 215 kt from 181 kt, graphite at 4,632 kt from 3,920 kt, and rare earth metals* at 93 kt from 78 kt. Demand growth expanded in 2023 from the previous year, with lithium at the highest with about 30%. Nickel, cobalt, graphite, and rare earth elements expanded by 8% to 15%. However, dramatic price increases for metals seen in 2021-2022 fell sharply in 2023. This led to a 10% contraction in the market size for energy transition minerals and brought the aggregate market value of these minerals to $325 billion. The slowing growth of electric vehicle battery sales, coupled with China’s expansion of battery plants, added to the pressure. The world’s top metal producers remained the same: Chile has the most copper (5,311 out of 22,508 kt, or 23.5%), Australia has the most lithium (84 out of 194 kt, or 43.2%), Indonesia has the most nickel (1,787 out of 3,451 kt, or 51.7%), the Democratic Republic of the Congo has the most cobalt (157 out of 240 kt, or 65.4%), and China has the most natural graphite (1,320 out of 1,617 kt, or 81.6%) and rare earth metals (47 out of 75 kt, or 62.6%). In the NZE Scenario, demand for key energy transition metals needs to grow by 1.5 to 8.7 times from 2023 to 2040, with certain percentages set aside for clean energy. Copper needs to grow by 1.5 times to nearly 40,000 kt (50%), lithium by 8.7 times to about 1,400 kt (91%), nickel by 2.1 times to about 6,500 kt (56%), cobalt by 2.2 times to about 470 kt (59%), graphite by 3.9 times to about 18,000 kt (63%), and rare earth metals by 1.8 times to about 160 kt (41%). Under the APS in the same time frame, copper needs to reach 36,378 kt (with 16,343 kt or 44.9% for clean energy), lithium needs to reach 1,326 kt (with 1,203 kt or 90.7% for clean energy), nickel needs to reach 6,238 kt (with 3,381 kt or 54.2% for clean energy), cobalt needs to reach 454 kt (with 260 kt or 57.2% for clean energy), graphite needs to reach 16,023 kt (with 9,839 kt or 61.4% for clean energy), and rare earth metals need to reach 169 kt (with 64 kt or 37.8% for clean energy). *In this report, rare earth elements also include neodymium, praseodymium, dysprosium, and terbium. Source: https://origin.iea.org/reports/global-critical-minerals-outlook-2024

*By Yasmin Prabhudas Seagrass is a somewhat mysterious plant, but it is essential for a healthy marine environment. Seagrass can play an important role in capturing carbon, purifying water, and promoting biodiversity. Although estimated to cover up to 267,000 square kilometers (about 65.9 million acres) across the world, the exact extent is not fully understood, because large areas have not been mapped. What is known is that the plant can be found across 163 countries and territories, and there are 70 species, with the greatest diversity found in the Indo-Pacific Ocean. Project Seagrass, a charity based in the UK, is on a mission to fill in the knowledge gaps. It carries out scientific research to discover more about this valuable ecosystem while promoting seagrass conservation and restoration efforts around the world. What is Seagrass? Unlike seaweed, seagrasses have long blade-like leaves as well as roots, shoots, and flowers, creating dense underwater meadows in shallow, sheltered coastal areas. They grow on soft sediments like sand and rely on roots and rhizomes to keep them in place, notes the University of Western Australia. According to the Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History, the oldest known seagrass species— which could be up to 200,000 years old—is a “clone” of the Mediterranean Posidonia oceanica. The Thalassia testudinum, found in the Caribbean Sea and Gulf of Mexico, attracts amphipods and marine worms, which feed on its pollen. Further afield in Japan, the tallest seagrass species Zostera caulescens can grow up to 35 feet. Biodiversity and Healthy Fish Stocks Project Seagrass reveals that the plant plays an important role in supporting 20% of the world’s largest commercial fisheries, and communities around the globe depend on the fish found in its meadows. A whole host of marine species thrive in these areas—everything from shellfish and seahorses to sea turtles and manatees. A study undertaken by scientists, including Leanne Cullen-Unsworth, Ben Jones, and Richard Unsworth, who lead Project Seagrass, showed seagrass meadows were increasingly being used as fishing habitat across Cambodia, Tanzania, Sri Lanka, and Indonesia. Ben Jones said: “Seagrass was the most common habitat used for fishing. Nearly half of all households we talked to preferred fishing in seagrass over other habitats, such as coral, mangroves, open ocean, mud, and rock, for example. This was surprising because most people think of reef fisheries as the key tropical small-scale fishery, but we show that it’s actually engagement in seagrass fisheries that are much more characteristic of households.” “Seagrass was the most common habitat used for fishing. … This was surprising because most people think of reef fisheries as the key tropical small-scale fishery.” The research also found that 3 in 20 people across the region relied solely on seagrass meadows to provide them with their fishing ground. Coastal communities’ livelihoods are secured because of the reliability of fish stocks and invertebrates in seagrass meadows. Meanwhile, in the UK, seagrasses are not only home to numerous species of fish, they also help stabilize sandy beaches, and their roots can reduce coastal erosion. And, overall, the plants filter bacteria, pathogens, and pollutants to improve the quality of seawater. Carbon Storage Seagrass has a carbon capture function too. Its leaves, which are covered in a porous cuticle layer, are ideal for sequestering carbon dioxide. An estimated 27.4 teragrams (over 30.2 million tons) of carbon are absorbed every year, globally amounting to as much as 19.9 billion metric tons (21.9 billion tons). Although lower compared with seaweed, which is thought to retain some 153 teragrams (over 168.6 million tons) annually, seagrass nonetheless stores about 35 times more carbon than rainforests and accounts for approximately 20% of the carbon buried in the sea every year. This means the plant can help alleviate local acidification by an estimated 30%. Although lower compared with seaweed … seagrass nonetheless stores about 35 times more carbon than rainforests and accounts for approximately 20% of the carbon buried in the sea every year. Seagrass At Risk About one-fifth of the world’s seagrass meadows have disappeared over the past 100 years or so. In a review into seagrass ecosystems, Unsworth and Jones claimed: “[…] Bold steps are needed through improved legal instruments to halt damaging factors such as bottom trawling, prevent use of damaging boating activities, and to apportion responsibility for poor water quality that is causing the slow death of seagrass globally.” In the UK, for example, seagrass is now in a state of decline as a result of nutrient pollution from sewage and livestock waste, based on a study by Project Seagrass. Unsworth commented: “The world needs to rethink the management of our coastal environment that includes realistic compensation and mitigation schemes that not only prevent damage, but also drive the restoration, enhancement, and creation of seagrass habitat. We also need a major shift in how we perceive the status of our marine environment by examining historical information, not just recent ecological baselines.” Conservation and Restoration Project Seagrass’s scientific research informs the organization’s global program work—10 projects across 14 countries have been carried out involving more than 1,000 volunteers. Among them are an initiative to assess seagrass meadows and biodiversity in the Myeik Archipelago in Myanmar, a pilot nursery in south Wales to establish whether seagrass can be grown at scale to assist in restoration efforts, an examination of how a change in land use affects the coast in Quintana Roo in Mexico, and community action to help conserve seagrass in southeast Asia. Education, Volunteering, and Citizen Scientists Apart from raising awareness through education programs for school children, toolkits for researchers and student internships, Project Seagrass is keen to see people getting involved in practical restoration work. Mike Furness volunteered to help plant seagrass seeds along the Pembrokeshire coast in Wales as part of a group of some 30 to 40 people over four days. He said: “We were going to help to sow a seagrass meadow, not just a small patch but a whole ‘field.’ The logistics are daunting to think about—everything from feeding and accommodating the team to previously organizing hundreds of school children to fill and tie 20,000 small bags on to 20 km [12.4 miles] of ropes. Not to mention the harvesting and preparation of three-fourths of a million seeds. An astounding effort.” He explained: “The seeds had been harvested in late summer and needed to spend several months rotting out of the harvested grass before being sown. By late February, they were ripe for planting and being kept in their own dedicated fridge. If you’ve ever walked through a geothermal area amidst the steam of fumaroles [volcanic vents], you will know the smell that hits you when that fridge door is opened! It’s pungent. It’s sulfurous. It’s clinging. But, you know what, by the end of the day it virtually disappears. And on the morning of day two, when it hits you again, you begin to realize—that’s the smell of success, bring it on.” Since [SeagrassSpotter’s] launch in 2016, more than 3,500 users across 105 countries have recorded over 7,000 sightings and 45 different species of seagrass. A new version allows people to record data on where seagrass may once have been present. The organization’s website and mobile app SeagrassSpotter, used to record seagrass sightings and absences, encourages people to act as “citizen scientists.” Since its launch in 2016, more than 3,500 users across 105 countries have recorded over 7,000 sightings and 45 different species of seagrass. A new version allows people to record data on where seagrass may once have been present. Cullen-Unsworth, chief executive officer at Project Seagrass, said: “Over the last 10 years, we have successfully raised awareness of the importance of seagrass and the role it plays in tackling the biodiversity and climate crises. Now we must accelerate efforts to protect and restore this vital habitat. Everyone can have a part to play in securing a future for seagrass, and SeagrassSpotter is a great tool to engage and connect people in seagrass science and mapping all over the world.” *Yasmin Prabhudas is a freelance journalist working mainly for non-profit organizations, labor unions, the education sector, and government agencies.

Over 30 Million People Displaced in 2022 Due to Natural Disasters In the eleventh edition of its World Migration Report, the UN’s International Organization on Migration provided an overview of global migrations. The report, focusing on data from 2022, includes global migration trends from various causes, including conflict and violence and disasters. A key finding is that 32.6 million new internal displacements of people in 2022 were from disasters. By the end of 2022, there were 60.9 million new internal displacements, of which 32.6 million (53%) were triggered by disasters. In Africa, the largest number of disaster displacements occurred in Nigeria (about 2.4 million), followed by Somalia (1.2 million), Ethiopia (873,000), and South Sudan (596,000). Pakistan had the largest number of disaster displacements in the world, with more than 8 million, in part due to widespread flooding. The Philippines had the second largest number of disaster displacements of nearly 5.5 million, largely in response to typhoons and tropical storms. China was third, with over 3.6 million. Bangladesh also experienced record-breaking floods in 2022, triggering over 1.5 million displacements. In Europe, France (45,000) and Spain (31,000) had the largest number of displacements, mostly triggered by wildfires. In Latin America and the Caribbean, Brazil had the largest number of displacements of 708,000 due to floods from heavy rains. This was followed by Colombia (281,000) from floods and Cuba (90,000) from Hurricane Ian. In North America, the US had 675,000 movements, almost half of which were due to Hurricane Ian. Canada had 15,000 displacements. In Oceania, Australia had the largest disaster displacements with 17,000 due to floods, followed by Papua New Guinea (9,600). Note: A “significant portion of the global total of displacements by disasters is usually associated with short-term evacuations in a relatively safe and orderly manner.” Sources: https://publications.iom.int/books/world-migration-report-2024

Carbon Taxes and Emissions Trading Systems Cover 24% of Global Carbon Dioxide Emissions Beginning in 2005 in the European Union, governments have been developing ETS (emission trading systems) and carbon taxes to offset greenhouse gas emissions. In the eleventh edition of its annual State and Trends of Carbon Pricing Report, the World Bank provided an overview of global carbon pricing activities. A key finding is that around 24% of global carbon dioxide emissions were covered by carbon taxes and ETS in 2024; this translates into an increase of over 400 million metric tons of carbon dioxide equivalent from 2023. There are now 75 carbon taxes and ETS globally, reflecting both national and subnational activities. While a combination of carbon tax and ETS is now implemented in Europe, Canada, Mexico, and other parts of the world, many of the 195 countries that signed the Paris Agreement in 2016 have yet to act. Carbon pricing instruments cover around 24% of global carbon dioxide emissions, or around 13 gigatons of carbon dioxide equivalent. This is up from 7% coverage seen a decade ago. Carbon pricing revenues in 2023 exceeded $100 billion for the first time. Over half of this revenue was used to fund climate- and nature-related programs. The recommended 2030 carbon price range ($63–$127 per ton of carbon dioxide equivalent) has been met in the Netherlands, Norway, Finland, and Sweden, while Switzerland, Liechtenstein, and Uruguay have exceeded this amount. ETS and carbon tax are both implemented in parts of Canada (British Columbia and Manitoba); the EU (including Spain, France, UK, and the Netherlands); and parts of Mexico. Carbon taxes are implemented in the Northwest Territories (Canada); parts of Mexico (including Zacatecas and Durango); South America (including Colombia, Chile, and Argentina); Ukraine; South Africa; and Asia (Japan, Taiwan, and Singapore). ETS is implemented in parts of Canada (including Alberta and Ontario); parts of the EU (including Germany, Italy, and Belgium); Kazakhstan; China; and parts of Oceania (including Australia, New Zealand, and Indonesia). In the US, ETS is implemented in Washington and California. The 11 Mid-Atlantic and Northeast states in the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative have active carbon pricing instruments as well. Most of Africa does not have ETS or carbon tax, but they are under consideration or development in Morocco, Mauritania, Senegal, Côte d'Ivoire, Botswana, and Kenya. Sources: https://openknowledge.worldbank.org/entities/publication/b0d66765-299c-4fb8-921f-61f6bb979087 https://icapcarbonaction.com/en/about-emissions-trading-systems

‘Managed Retreat’ Offers Relief for People in Endangered Homes and Communities *By Mark Smith They say home is where the heart is, but for someone’s heart to be at home they need to feel safe and secure. What happens when that safety and security are upended? What happens when natural disasters like flooding or wildfires wreak havoc? Do people and communities stay and rebuild, or do they face this new reality and move away and start again? This leave-or-stay dilemma is gripping ever-increasing numbers of communities that are faced with elements of the current climate crisis. The concept of the “managed retreat” is gaining traction as factors including flooding and rising sea levels have forced policymakers, engineers, and academics to shift their focus away from holding nature back—through technology such as sea walls—to simply getting out of nature’s way. But the idea of resettlement is not accepted by all, with the word “retreat” itself being too much for some to accept, especially when their roots in their current communities run deep. When 'Safe' Isn't Climate-related events that have detrimental impacts on communities around the world are on the rise. According to USA Facts, which relies on government statistics, over the last 40 years, the number of natural disasters in the US that cost over $1 billion has increased. In the 1980s, the US averaged three billion-dollar disasters a year, compared with an average of 13 such disasters a year in the 2010s. “Not only are natural disasters occurring more frequently, but the average cost and death toll from each is up as well,” USA Facts said. It added that the National Centers for Environmental Information, which has kept track of billion-dollar natural disasters since 1980, cites “climate change as a critical reason for the increase." Globally, natural disasters displace millions of people each year, said Our World in Data, another fact-based resource that collects data and research related to the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals and is published by Global Change Data Lab. Over the last century, deaths from disasters have “fallen significantly,” thanks to early warning systems, coordinated responses, and other relief efforts, noted Our World in Data authors Hannah Ritchie and Dr. Pablo Rosado. But “the economic costs of extreme events can be severe and hard to recover from. This is particularly true in lower-income countries,” wrote University of Oxford Professor Max Roser, founder of Our World in Data. A ‘New Normal’? Whether it is temperatures peaking at a sweltering 116° F in Sardinia or homes literally falling off English cliffs due to coastal erosion, many climate experts fear the world could be heading toward a worrying “new normal.” In fact, some studies predict damage from flooding may increase 160%–240% globally, and flood deaths may soar 70%–83% by 2100, even under a scenario of a mere 1.5°C (2.7°F) increase in average global temperatures. Another study predicted that in the US by 2100, nearly 500 coastal communities and 4.2 million residents may face flood disruption due to rises in sea levels. With this kind of new reality in mind, experts are increasingly pondering what alternative approaches are available if mitigating against the intensifying magnitude of such extreme events is no longer possible. What Is a Managed Retreat? One view gaining ground is the belief that the only solution for impacted communities is to uproot and start again elsewhere. Known as “managed retreat,” the concept involves transferring people, possessions, and, if necessary, entire buildings to a safe location where a new community can be formed. “Managed retreat” involves transferring people, possessions, and entire buildings, if necessary, to a safe location where a new community can be formed. “It is this idea that there are places that will either be too expensive or too dangerous—or perhaps simply impossible—to maintain or to continue to rebuild in the same way after a disaster,” said Dr. Leah Dundon, director and an expert on managed retreats from Vanderbilt Climate Change Initiative at the Vanderbilt University School of Engineering in Nashville, Tennessee. “So, should we as a society consider moving humans or human structures away from that area permanently?” Resettlements, Then and Now The concept is not a new one, with the town of Niobrara, Nebraska, being the earliest US wholesale flood relocation. In March 1881, an ice dam on the Missouri River flooded up to 100 miles upstream, putting Niobrara under more than 6 feet of water. Residents chose to move their entire town, and in the space of just two months, buildings were removed from their foundations and dragged upslope by horses to a site just under 2.5km (about 1.5 miles) away. By January 1882, most homes and all the town’s commercial buildings were in their new places. More recently, the entire Louisiana town of Isle de Jean Charles was forced to pack up and move. Many of the inhabitants are members of or related to Native American tribes, such as the Biloxi-Chitimacha-Choctaw. But since 1955, the island has seen 98% of its land lost to coastal erosion; a major factor are the levees in the Mississippi River that disrupt natural sediment replenishment of the island’s marshes. More recently, the entire Louisiana town of Isle de Jean Charles was forced to pack up and move. In 2016, the community teamed up with the State of Louisiana to enter a competition run by the US Department of Housing and Urban Development. Known as The National Disaster Resilience Competition, it was the first fund of its kind “to help communities respond to climate change, save public resources, revitalize and modernize infrastructure, and improve access to opportunity for vulnerable populations.” Almost $1 billion was awarded to 13 states and communities. Entrants had to explain why they should receive a $48.3 million grant, with Isle de Jean Charles’s bid proving successful. Work then began to find a suitable new home. In December 2018, a 515-acre patch of rural land in Terrebonne Parish was bought for $11.7 million. A plan was put in place to build 120 homes, commercial and retail buildings, a community center and walking trails. Since August 2022, a total of 34 families have moved to the new community, while others have moved elsewhere in the state but retain the option of joining the community later. Challenges There are significant challenges to managed retreats. The financial cost can be huge, not just in terms of moving people and building new homes, but also compensating for loss of land or property. A 2019 article, “Managed Retreat in the US,” published in One Earth, estimated that $1.4 trillion of real estate is located within 700 feet of the US coast. As sea-level rises are projected to impact between 4 million and 13 million people, if 1 in 10 of these communities needed to be moved to a managed retreat, it would cost an estimated $140 billion, almost 30 times what the Federal Emergency Management Agency has so far spent on managed retreats. It is estimated that $1.4 trillion of real estate is located within 700 feet of the US coast. And uprooting from a home is often not just about money. It is about severing familiar connections, something known as “place attachment,” and it poses a significant challenge. “People become very attached to where they live and don't want to leave,” said Dundon, whose research has previously focused on the concept of managed retreats. She said psychology, rather than just logistics and finance, plays a huge part in making managed retreats viable. “Imagine if you lived in the same house your great-great grandparents lived in that has been passed down through the generations and suddenly you are told to leave, but you will get paid for the house.” The debate previously came to a head in California, where some of its coastline is vulnerable to rising sea levels. The California Coastal Commission told cities to look at retreat as a potential option, but many local governments rejected the idea. The situation in California has also led to legal challenges and political disagreement about the best way forward. Are Attitudes Changing? But according to Dundon, there may come a time where pragmatism—and cost—force more people to accept the idea. “I think many people will become more concerned, or at least familiar, with issues of retreat when they see extremely expensive prices for flood insurance.” Dundon said: “I think many people will become more concerned, or at least familiar, with issues of retreat when they see extremely expensive prices for flood insurance or cannot get a bank to write a mortgage on a house that is in an area of increasing climate risk.” She added that this level of acceptance differs around the world. Her research found that European countries seem to have a more developed process and case studies about successful retreats. “In the US,” she continued, “there are often obligations for local or other governments to maintain certain infrastructure once it is there and once people become dependent on it, so it may not be as easy for a local government to, for example, say they will not repair a road [the] next time it floods.” According to Dundon, the very word “retreat” also had connotations that left many people feeling uneasy when faced with the prospect of having to uproot. "The very phrase ‘managed retreat’ can be problematic. It sounds too defeatist to many, and people want their public officials to ‘do something’, not ‘retreat’,” she added.  But as attitudes and realities change, so too does the need to evolve and adapt at policy level, with new designs and disaster planning evolving to embrace the concept of managed retreats. Dundon said: “There is a lot of interest in sustainability design, resiliency planning and more, right across the globe, and I see a lot in the US. Climate change is something that is not going away. The question is how much worse will we let it get … adaptation to a world with a different climate has become the reality.” *Mark Smith is a journalist and author from the UK. He has written on subjects ranging from business and technology to world affairs, history, and popular culture for the Guardian, BBC, Telegraph, and magazines in the United States, Europe, and Southeast Asia.