Ecobite Episode 5: Climate Tech 101 with Grace Donnelly of Climate Tech VC

Posted by Ecobot on Aug 8, 2023 1:45:00 PM

As Executive Editor of Climate Tech VC (CTVC), Grace Donnelly tracks and reports on venture capital investment into climate technology companies. “Knowing where money is coming from is a great way that journalism helps track power dynamics in our world.” It’s also a good indicator of what solutions the market believes will work.

“Climate tech” includes companies working on energy, on carbon management, land use, building built environments, food and agriculture, and all kinds of different industries and sectors that need to reduce emissions in order to meet our climate goals, Donnelly explained. A business journalist by trade, Donnelly joined CTVC in February 2023. 

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Topics: climate, Ecobot, technology, cleantech

USACE's Antecedent Precipitation Tool (APT)

Posted by Ecobot on Aug 1, 2022 9:20:00 AM

Have you used USACE’s Antecedent Precipitation Tool (APT)? With many USACE districts now recommending or requiring ATP data alongside jurisdictional reports, the Tool has an important place in the wetland delineation and monitoring process. 

This topic was covered in the 24th episode of Ecobot's webinar series, Convergence of Wetland Science and Technology. View recorded episodes here. 

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Topics: wetlands, climate, monitoring, US Army Corps of Engineers, USACE, technology, section 404, environmental permitting, wetland delineation, efficiency software, apt, Antecedent Precipitation Tool

Kelp Forest Monitoring & Remote Sensing

Posted by Ecobot on Apr 12, 2022 10:42:00 AM

The KelpRes project in Galway, Ireland gives a glimpse of the ecological importance of kelp forests.

This topic was covered in the 16th episode of Ecobot's webinar series, Convergence of Wetland Science and Technology. View recorded episodes here. 

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Topics: climate, scientists, ecosystem, science, kelp

Challenges & Successes of State 404 Assumption

Posted by Ecobot on Feb 17, 2022 8:46:00 AM

Hear from practitioners in New Jersey and Michigan about the  successes and pitfalls of state 404 assumption in both states.

This topic was covered in the 20th episode of Ecobot's webinar series, Convergence of Wetland Science and Technology. View recorded episodes here. 

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Topics: wetlands, climate, ecosystem, Clean Water Act, EPA, Navigable Water Rule, 404, wetland delineation, natural resource identification, wetland mitigation, 404 assumption, Florida

Impacts of Proposed Revisions to WOTUS Rules

Posted by Jeremy Schewe, PWS on Sep 5, 2019 4:13:50 PM

Updated on 2/17/2020:  On January 23, 2020, the new WOTUS rules went into effect, limiting federal jurisdiction to wetlands that are connected via surface water, excluding ephemeral streams and isolated wetlands. With this new  ruling, the US loses nearly 18% of its stream protections and as much as 50% of wetland protections. States like Nevada and Arizona lose upward of 85% of their water protections. Again, the question stands: if the impetus for this rule change is to save money and time on regulations, why is no one talking about technology?

 

Updated on 10/02/2019On September 12, 2019, the US Environmental Protection Agency finalized its repeal of a 2015 Obama Rule for jurisdictional WOTUS by the federal government.  This change will largely impact the 22 states where the Obama Rule has been in effect.  This decision will create nationwide regulatory confusion and lawsuits.  I will continue to stay abreast of the details and provide relevant updates on new publications.

 

As the Chief Scientific Officer of Ecobot, it is crucial that I address the pending changes to the rules of implementation of the Clean Water Act proposed by the current administration.  While all regulations must be occasionally looked at in order to evolve with the times, the proposed changes, if implemented, would be a great tragedy to the both the environment and the economy of the United States.  The proposed changes to the protection of “the Waters of the United States” (WOTUS) would be a major backward step in responsible progress of our country and the world at large.

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Topics: wetlands, climate, Ecobot, resilience, conservation, US Army Corps of Engineers, WOTUS, Clean Water Act, EPA, USACE