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Researchers have found a way to make plastic waste suck up excess carbon dioxide.

The newly discovered chemical technique seems like a win-win for a pair of pressing environmental problems.

In the journal ACS Nano, researchers report that heating plastic waste in the presence of potassium acetate produces particles with nanometer-scale pores that trap carbon dioxide molecules.

These particles can be used to remove CO2 from flue gas streams, the researchers say.

Point sources of CO2 emissions like power plant exhaust stacks can be fitted with this waste-plastic-derived material to remove enormous amounts of CO2 that would normally fill the atmosphere, says James Tour, professor of chemistry and of materials science and nanoengineering at Rice University. It is a great way to have one problem, plastic waste, address another problem, CO2 emissions.

A current process to pyrolyze plastic known as chemical recycling produces oils, gases, and waxes, but the carbon byproduct is nearly useless, Tour says. However, pyrolyzing plastic in the presence of potassium acetate produces porous particles able to hold up to 18% of their own weight in CO2 at room temperature.

In addition, while typical chemical recycling doesnt work for polymer wastes with low fixed carbon content in order to generate CO2 sorbent, including polypropylene and high- and low-density polyethylene, the main constituents in municipal waste, those plastics work especially well for capturing CO2 when treated with potassium acetate.

The lab estimates the cost of carbon dioxide capture from a point source like post-combustion flue gas would be $21 a ton, far less expensive than the energy-intensive, amine-based process in common use to pull carbon dioxide from natural gas feeds, which costs $80-$160 a ton.

Like amine-based materials, the sorbent can be reused. Heating it to about 75 degrees Celsius (167 degrees Fahrenheit) releases trapped carbon dioxide from the pores, regenerating about 90% of the materials binding sites.

Because it cycles at 75 degrees Celsius, polyvinyl chloride vessels are sufficient to replace the expensive metal vessels that are normally required. The researchers note the sorbent is expected to have a longer lifetime than liquid amines, cutting downtime due to corrosion and sludge formation.

To make the material, waste plastic is turned into powder, mixed with potassium acetate and heated at 600 C (1,112 F) for 45 minutes to optimize the pores, most of which are about 0.7 nanometers wide. Higher temperatures led to wider pores. The process also produces a wax byproduct that can be recycled into detergents or lubricants, the researchers say.

The Department of Energy and Saudi Aramco supported the research.

Source: Rice University

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Heating trick gets plastic waste to suck up CO2 - Futurity: Research News

Reaching 1.5C of global heating is now pretty much inevitable, and we will reach it somewhere around 2035, no matter what we do. Thats the conclusion from the latest climate projections, which suggest even if we reach net zero emissions within the next 30 years, we will be stuck with at least that level of heating until 2070 or so.

Staying below 1.5C of global warming is currently not plausible, says Jochem Marotzke, from the Max Planck Institute for Meteorology in Hamburg, Germany.

The calculations, which are published in the journal Weather and are based on data from the recent Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) report, plot future global heating relative to average temperature for the period 1850 to 1900. Starting in 2010, when the 20-year average global temperature (2001-20) was 0.99C above the baseline, the projections suggest the world could become anywhere between 1.4C and 4.4C hotter by 2090, depending on which emissions scenario we follow.

If emissions remain at their current high level then we can expect to reach 2C above pre-industrial levels by mid-century. But if emissions are reined in fast and reach net zero by about 2070 the low emissions scenario then we can be reasonably confident about avoiding 2C of heating.

However, burgeoning greenhouse emissions in recent decades mean that we have baked in at least 0.5C of heating between 2010 and 2045, even if we were to pull out all the stops and slash emissions as fast as possible.

There is still a slim chance of avoiding 1.5C of heating, but it can only happen if we follow the very low emissions scenario whereby carbon dioxide emissions drop to zero within 30 years and the climate system works in our favour.

Sensitivity to carbon dioxide and warming resulting from historic emissions would have to be on the lower end of the uncertainty range, says Marotzke.

And while stopping carbon dioxide emissions will enable us to stabilise global temperatures, well need to stop all greenhouse gas emissions if we want to produce a decline in global temperature. Some emissions like methane from agriculture are much harder to reduce, says co-author Chris Jones from the Met Office Hadley Centre in Exeter, UK.

The impact of global heating is already being felt in the form of more intense and frequent extreme weather events. From the heatwave in Antarctica in recent weeks to catastrophic flooding across Europe last July, researchers are increasingly confident that many of the weather extremes being seen can be attributed to human greenhouse gas emissions.

Accepting that more heating and therefore even more intense and frequent extreme weather events are on the way makes mitigation measures more crucial than ever. The risk from extreme weather increases substantially for the communities that are unable to protect themselves because of poverty, says Marotzke. This is especially true for low-lying countries, who will have to deal with the impact of rising sea levels for centuries to come due to the oceans delayed response to global heating.

Some regions, such as Germany, have already experienced more than 1.5C of long-term heating and in the coming years the chances of any individual year passing the 1.5C mark will become increasingly likely.

The latest forecasts show a 40% chance of temporarily exceeding 1.5C in the coming five years, says Doug Smith from the Met Office.

But all is not lost. There are certainly pathways which will achieve the goals of the Paris agreement, if governments choose to actively pursue them, says Jones. He stresses that 1.5C and 2C of heating are not thresholds beyond which the world ends.

Even if we miss 2C, for example, then achieving 2.5C is still viable and much better than 3C or 4C. The severity of impacts increases with warming level, but there is no real threshold between safe and dangerous, just a gradual worsening, he says. The future is still in our hands and we can still avert the worst to come.

The rest is here:

When will the world reach 1.5C of global heating? - The Guardian

Offshore

Off of the Jensen Beach area, the bottom bite has picked up.

Lots of lane and mutton snapper are being found, with plenty of keepers making their way to the coolers recently. They are mostly being caught on live baits, grunt plugs and butterfly ballyhoo with long leaders.

Lane and yellowtail snapper are being caught on some of the shallower reefs in the area.

More and more cobia are being found in the waters off of St. Lucie and Martin County. In 60 to 90 feet watch for them following sharks, rays and turtles.

This past Sunday there was a really good blackfin tuna bite reported off of the Jensen Beach area with plenty of dolphin and sailfish being found in the same areas. All are hitting live baits including threadfin herring, pilchards and goggle eyes. Whether drifted, slow trolled or on kites those three are the key.

If you're looking for those live baits the guys at Stuart Live Baits in Manatee Pocket have got them.

Working mostly the inshore reefs off of Jupiter, Capt. Bill Taylor said he had his clients into some good-sized yellowtail snapper and lane snapper on Wednesday. He said they were using squid and threadfin herring for bait.

Though they were getting some nice yellowtail and lanes, a lot of baits were being taken by the millions of triggerfish that have moved into the area recently.

In addition to snapper, there have been increasing numbers of cobia moving into and through the Jupiter area.

Though there have been banded rudderfish out a little deeper off of Jupiter, many of those are being stolen by sharks before they can be reeled into the boat.

Some boat captains have agreed to limit the number they're taking to only three because they are in the area to spawn.

Off of Boynton Beach, anglers have been catching a few dolphin. Though they have been scatttered, fish up to 15 pounds are being caught trolling naked ballyhoo and skirted bonito strips in 200 out to 650 feet of water. Look for the color changes, any debris and birds.

Wahoo between six and 20 poundsare also being taken on the troll in 180 to 350 feet. Rigged swimming mullet, fished on top, have been very productive as have ballyhoo and bonito strips behind small Ilander-type lures.

There has been some decent sailfish and small blackfin tuna action recently. They have beenhitting live pilchards and sardines fished from kites on the east winds. Working those baits along the current edges between 190 to 275 feet of water has been key.

From Spanish River Park up to The Breakers there have been king mackerel up to 12 pounds and cobia up to 30 caught in 200 feet into as shallow as 25 feet. Drifting dead sardines on one-ounce drift rigs has been effective. Bouncing cobia jigs off the bottom and slow pitching vertical jigs has also beenproductive.

The bite along the reefs off of Boynton Beach remains slow.A few yellowtail snapper, grunts and porgies have been hitting cut squid and shrimp fished on the bottom in 50 to 80 feet of water.

Like many areas off of Palm Beach County, sharks remain a big problem off in waters off of south countyand it has been hard to get many nice fish to the boat lately.

Whether it's a monster or a minnow, if you've got a good fishing photo send it to us at eritz@pbpost.com

The snook bite in the St. Lucie River keeps getting better and better with plenty of slot, overslotand underslot fish being caught along the docks, bridges and seawalls as well as the fenders at the Stuart Causeway. Live baits are king right now, especially croakers and pilchards. If you're looking for croaker, the Snook Nook has them and are the 'croaker brokers' of Jensen Beach right now.

At Bear Point and Middle Cove, anglers are getting good numbers of sea trout. Top water lures are working best in the mornings and when that bite starts backing off switching to shrimp on a jig head or an artificial like a Monster 3X can keep the action going.

Also in the St. Lucie River have been some massive jack crevalle lately. Though they will hit just about anything, they seem to be focused on live baits.

The pompano bite along the St. Lucie County beaches is still good with a lot of bigger fish being taken now. Electric Chicken Crab and Sand Flea Fishbites are working best.

The whiting and croaker bite along the same beaches has continued to improve. First trough is the area to target.

Working the Intracoastal Waterway from Singer Island and heading south, Capt. Pat Smith has had his clients into good numbers of snook, tarpon and some big jack crevalle the past few days. Using DOATerroreyz or big live baits including sand perch and mullet has been producing good hits.

Though he wasn't targeting them, Capt. Pat Smith caught a huge black grouper while fishing from the beach in the central county area. He said it hammered a live pilchard. The fish was immediately released as it was out of season.

There were some bluefish and some big jack crevallein the same areas.

Anglers working the Intracoastal Waterway from Boynton Inlet up to the Flagler Bridge are reporting catches of snook, ladyfish, jack crevalle and small sharks. Usinglive shrimp fished around the cuts and docks during the falling tides or trolling small Yo-Zuri crystal minnows has been great forlight tackle fun. The sharks can be caught while fishing cut mullet or bonito chunks along the channel edges.

For past reports and other fishing-related information click here

Despite the wind blowing pretty hard on Wednesday, Capt. Larry Wright had his clients into 16 bass by 9 a.m. fishing in the Kissimmee River. He said they were using live shiners.

Though on Wednesday, he said they hadn't had anything all that spectacular size wise, he said the day before they had an eight pounder and a seven pounder the day before that.

In the lake itself, theIndian Prairie area has been one of the hot spots the past week with just inside the outside grassline being the target area.

If you're determined to use an artificial bait, white spinner baits and watermelon red Skinny Dippers have been offering some success.

Even though the spec season is wrapping up, there have been a few last hurrahs this week. One group of four anglers landed 152 of the tasty panfish during a trip. They were using white jigs.

With the consistent south and southeast winds the past few days, the north end of the lake has gotten somewhat churned up and makinga lot of areas pretty murky. The cold front that is forecast to push through the area on Friday, and the northwest winds that will accompany it, should settle things down quickly and have the water looking good again as early as Saturday morning.

Clown knifefish along with peacock, sunshine and largemouth bass are being around structure including docks, culverts and bridges as well as along the weed edges and canal mouths. Live shiners and shad on a one-thirtysecond- to one-eighth-ounce jig heads have been working well.

The West Palm Beach Fishing Clubs annual Marine Yard Sale will be held 8 a.m. to noon onSaturday. Held at the clubs historic headquarters at 201 Fifth St., West Palm Beach, the event will feature a huge variety of used items. Incredible deals can be found onrods,reels, marine hardware, offshore and inshore lures, dock lines, gaffs, marine artwork, boat propellers, fly fishing tackle and many more marine-related items.Proceeds support the youth education and marine conservation efforts of the Palm Beach County Fishing Foundation, the Fishing Clubs charitable affiliate. Forinformation:https://westpalmbeachfishingclub.org/;561-832-6780

All fishing report information courtesy ofAlec at the Snook Nook in Jensen Beach, Black Dog Fishing Charter, Capt. Pat Smith, Capt. Bruce Cyr and Capt. Larry Wright.

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Snook, cobia action heating up ahead of approaching cold front - Palm Beach Post

Right Time Group of Companies Acquires Wardlaw Heating and Cooling | ACHR News This website requires certain cookies to work and uses other cookies to help you have the best experience. By visiting this website, certain cookies have already been set, which you may delete and block. By closing this message or continuing to use our site, you agree to the use of cookies. Visit our updated privacy and cookie policy to learn more. This Website Uses CookiesBy closing this message or continuing to use our site, you agree to our cookie policy. Learn MoreThis website requires certain cookies to work and uses other cookies to help you have the best experience. By visiting this website, certain cookies have already been set, which you may delete and block. By closing this message or continuing to use our site, you agree to the use of cookies. Visit our updated privacy and cookie policy to learn more.

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Right Time Group of Companies Acquires Wardlaw Heating and Cooling - ACHR NEWS

LULEA, Sweden (AP) For hundreds of years, raging blast furnaces fed with coking coal have forged steel used in cars, railways, bridges and skyscrapers.

But the puffs of coal-fired smoke are a big source of carbon dioxide, the heat-trapping gas thats driving climate change.

According to the World Steel Association, every metric ton of steel produced in 2020 emitted almost twice that much carbon dioxide (1.8 tons) into the atmosphere. Total direct emissions from making steel were about 2.6 billion tons in 2020, representing around 7% of global CO2 emissions.

In Sweden, a single company, steel giant SSAB, accounts for about 10% of the countrys emissions due to the furnaces it operates at mills like the one in the northern town of Lulea.

But not far away, a high-tech pilot plant is seeking to significantly reduce the carbon emissions involved in steel production by switching some of that process away from burning coking coal to burning hydrogen that itself was produced with renewable energy.

HYBRIT or Hydrogen Breakthrough Ironmaking Technology is a joint venture between SSAB, mining company LKAB and Swedish state-owned power firm Vattenfall launched in 2016.

The cost of renewable energy, fossil-free energy, had come down dramatically and at the same time, you had a rising awareness and the Paris Agreement in 2015 to reduce global emissions, said Mikael Nordlander, Vattenfalls head of industry decarbonization.

We realized that we might have a chance now to outcompete the direct use of fossil fuels in industry with this electricity coming from fossil-free sources, he added.

Last year, the plant made its first commercial delivery. European carmakers that have committed to dramatically reducing their emissions need cleaner steel. Chinese-owned Volvo Group became the first carmaker to partner with HYBRIT. Head of procurement Kerstin Enochsson said steel is a major contributor to their cars carbon footprint, between 20 and 35%.

Tackling only the tailpipe emissions by being an electric company is not enough. We need to focus on the car itself, as well, she said.

Demand from other companies, including Volkswagen, is also sending a signal that there is demand for green steel. Steelmakers in Europe have announced plans to scale up production of steel made without coal.

The HYBRIT process aims to replace the coking coal thats traditionally used for ore-based steel making with hydrogen and renewable electricity.

It begins with brown-tinged iron ore pellets that react with the hydrogen gas and are reduced to ball-shaped sponge iron, which takes it name due to pores left behind following the removal of oxygen. This is then melted in an electric furnace.

If the hydrogen is made using renewable energy, too, the process produces no CO2.

We get iron, and then we get water vapor instead, said SSABs chief technology officer Martin Pei. Water vapor can be condensed, recirculated, reused in the process.

We really solve the root cause of carbon dioxide emissions from steel making, he said.

Steel is a recyclable material, but demand for the alloy is expected to grow in the coming years, amid a push to transform society and build wind turbines, solar plants, power transmission lines and new electric vehicles.

Steel is a superb construction material. It is also possible to recycle steel again and again, said Pei. You can reuse steel as many times as possible.

The only problem today is the current way of making steel from iron ore emits too much CO2, he said.

By the end of this decade, the European Union is attempting to cut overall CO2 emissions in the 27-nation bloc by 55% compared to 1990 levels. Part of that effort includes making companies pay for their C02 emissions and encourage the switch to low-carbon alternatives.

Swedens steel industry has set out plans to achieve fossil-free operations by 2045. SSAB in January brought forward its own plans to largely eliminate carbon dioxide emissions in its steel-making processes by the end of the decade.

The companies are well aware of their possibilities and limitations in the current processes and that they have to do something about it, said Helen Axelsson, director of energy and environment at Jernkontoret, the Swedish steel producers association.

But according to the World Steel Association, over 70% of global steel production takes place in Asia, where steel producers dont have access to the same quantities of old scrap steel as countries that have been industrialized for a longer time. Thats another reason why average emissions per ton of steel are higher in the global south.

Filip Johnsson, a professor in energy technology at Gothenburgs Chalmers University, said the vast amounts of renewable electricity necessary to make hydrogen and cleaner steel could make rolling out the HYBRIT process difficult in other parts of the world.

I would say that the major challenge is to get loads of electricity and also to provide it sort of constantly, he said.

The small Lulea pilot plant is still a research facility, and has so far produced just a couple of hundred tons. There are plans to construct a larger demonstration plant and begin commercial deliveries by 2026.

___

Follow all AP stories on climate change issues at https://apnews.com/hub/climate.

___

Associated Press climate and environmental coverage receives support from several private foundations. See more about APs climate initiative here. The AP is solely responsible for all content.

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'Green steel' heating up in Sweden's frozen north - The Associated Press

With energy prices soaring concern about how to keep your home warm without breaking the bank is high on most people's minds. And there are some tips around on some of the cheapest ways to help keep the heat up after gas and electricity bills went up by 54%.

The NHS warns that cold weather can lead to health complications and has some tips for people.

READ MORE:Weather warning for Wales issued

Money Saving Expert Martin Lewis has been researching the issue and his team have found that the common theme is "heat the human, not the home."

"This is a guide I really wish we neednt be publishing," he says on his long-running website MoneySavingExpert, "the reason I asked Sarah and the team to put this together is due to my overflowing e-mail bag of desperation from people who cant afford their energy bills."

He added he "regretfully" advises to see the guide not as a traditional Money Saving Expert hint and tricks type piece.

He added: "It's more that were trying to help provide some options and information for those that may need to drastically cut down on energy usage due to financial desperation and some help for others who may want to do it out of a commitment to green issues."

His research team have been looking at whether wearing heated USB gloves, hand warmers, an electric gilet or an electric blanket to get warm without having to heat the entire house can help.

They say: "Wearing the right clothes can make a huge difference when living in a cooler house. But many MoneySavers also recommend getting extra warmth from electric blankets, heat pads, footwarmers and so on."

The guide points out that it costs only 14 to buy a cheap electric blanket which in turn, costs 3p an hour to run, even in today's climate of rising costs. That equals a cost per week of 1.37 if used for seven hours a day.

An electric gilet, basically a heated jacket, would cost 46 to buy and just 4p per week to run, while USB gloves would cost 4p per week to run and just 5 to buy.

Another easy ways to reduce your bills is by turning your thermostat down, even slightly. According to MoneySavingExpert, for each degree you cut the thermostat, you can expect to cut bills by around 4%, or about 65 a year on average for a typical home.

The World Health Organisation (WHO) and NHS say 18C is usually enough for healthy adults, with slightly higher temperatures needed for the very old or young.

Cutting down on your water bill can also help save on energy costs as, if you use less water, you're likely heating less water too.

Depending on your water supplier, you might be able to get a free water-saving shower head which could save a typical family around 2%, or about 35 a year on average for a typical home.

For those on Welsh Water, you'll have to use the online savings calculator to access the shower heads for free. You can find it here.

Cutting just a minute off your shower time could save 75 a year in energy bills and a further 105 a year in water bills if you have a meter 180 a year for an average four-person household, according to MoneySavingExpert.

One piece of advice often cited by energy saving experts is making sure furniture is not covering radiators, as this can block heat from filling your home. A sofa or chair will trap heat, meaning youre paying for the warmth but not feeling the benefit of it.

When you do have the heating on, it is recommended that you keep the doors of rooms shut. This is so that the heat remains within the designated space and stops cold air entering.

Putting clingfilm on windows is one of the more bizarre tactics energy savers have come up with in recent years, but the Energy Saving Trust says this one actually works. Putting a sheet on your window traps a small layer of air which can help stop heat escaping, providing an extra layer of glazing if it is airtight. However, specialist secondary glazing is probably preferable as it'll last longer.

Read more:

Ways to spend less on heating that actually works - Wales Online

Its been two years, but the sanitizing kiln that will provide a local foundation with more mattresses for people in need of bedding is finally here. Keith Moneymaker and Amy Sexauer can barely contain their excitement.

Moneymaker, the second-generation owner of Sweet Dreams Mattresses and More in Southern Pines and Sanford, established the Dreams 4 All Foundation in 2016. Sexauer, the executive director, is a military veteran who joined the organization in the summer of 2019.

The local nonprofit has delivered new or reused/sanitized mattresses to families facing economic hardship or adversity and fire departments across the area. To date, it has assisted more than 3,000 families and organizations, including local fire stations, Habitat for Humanity of the N.C. Sandhills, Tambra Place, Bethany House, Friend to Friend, and Samaritan Colony, among others.

Moneymaker and Sexauer have also pledged to give every Ukrainian refugee arriving in North Carolina a bed. If you are operating a business in your community, the first thing you need to consider is what you are doing for that community, Moneymaker said.

While both know this is potentially an expensive pledge, they feel confident we can do it with our customers and supporters, Moneymaker said. While the mattresses will be donated, Dreams 4 All will be purchasing frames, box springs and coordinating all deliveries across the state. The nonprofit is hoping to raise $100,000 for the effort from anyone that feels called to give a dollar or a thousand or any other amount.

This new kiln does not look like the normal pottery sealer. It looks more like the back of a delivery truck covered in aluminum foil.

Keith Moneymaker (l) with Corey Lane and Amy Sexauer with her daughter inside the giant kiln at the Sweet Dreams warehouse in Aberdeen. Ted Fitzgerald/The Pilot

Regardless of appearance, it does the job. The mattress inspector, the fire inspector, the building inspector, the gas installation people and the kiln company representative all concurred on Friday.

Moneymaker hopes that this kiln will now allow his nonprofit to stockpile clean mattresses for when they are needed most.

Prior to the arrival of the kiln, Dreams 4 All was not able to provide large numbers of sanitized mattresses all at once or as quickly as needed. Sexauers team had to send the mattresses away individually for the sanitization process.

Moneymaker has shared his nonprofit model with mattress retailers, where these businesses can join Dreams 4 All as affiliate partners.

The idea is they will be able to do what Ive done here, he said. Im teaching them how to give back to their own communities.

Sexauer believes the sincerity of this nonprofit has translated to others wanting to get on board.

We have leaned into our relationships to help and ask for support, she said. Our authenticity for helping people has been obvious.

Moneymaker agrees. Ive found the more I give, the more mattresses I sell. What you give comes back tenfold. It is a beautiful, well-balanced business charity model.

Dreams 4 All has also partnered with several large mattress companies, including Tempur- Pedic, Sealy, and Stearns & Foster.

On Thursday and Friday, the first Dreams 4 All National Summit takes place with meetings, discussions and planning with the hopes that other mattress businesses across the country will participate in the process of accepting used mattresses. The guest speaker is Mike Erwin, executive director of Team RWB, a health and wellness organization focused on veterans. Afterward, attendees will participate in a large mattress delivery to Samaritan Colony in Rockingham, a nonprofit residential treatment facility helping men and soon women struggling with substance abuse problems in the Sandhills area.

Moneymaker shared what he believes is the simple secret of the success he has seen with this non-profit process. This model is better for the community and the environment, improving culture and morale, enhancing support networks, all the while building businesses.

To learn more about Dreams 4 All Foundations work in the Sandhills or to make a donation, contact Dreams4All17@gmail.com or (910) 992-6382.

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Heating Up With New Kiln, the Kindness of Clean Used Bedding Grows - The Pilot

Tenants living in well-insulated homes in Germany will have to shoulder the lions share of their CO2 costs for heating, while the burden in inefficient buildings will fall on landlords, reports Clean Energy Wire.

The less CO2 a building emits, the higher the proportion tenants should pay, according to a tiered model agreed by the ministries of justice, buildings and the economy.

The German government said the split is socially fair and will boost emissions reductions in the building sector, which is lagging behind in the countrys energy transition.

Landlords have an incentive to invest in energy-efficient renovations. Tenants remain motivated to reduce their own energy consumption, said buildings minister Klara Geywitz.

The new system will ensure that an outdated heating system and leaky windows will translate into higher CO2 costs for landlords because tenants have less options to reduce consumption in this scenario, said Robert Habeck, Germanys economy and climate minister.

Conversely, a landlord who has renovated the building well in terms of energy efficiency can also apportion the costs because it now falls on the tenants to save energy, he added.

On average, the splitting mechanism will save tenants between 12 and 72 per year, according to price comparison website verivox, reported Tagesspiegel.

Consumer advocacy groups welcomed the agreement but criticised it because it will only start applying as of next year.

Since the beginning of 2021, Germany has applied a carbon price in the building sector for CO2 emissions caused by the combustion of fossil fuels in order to make the switch to climate-friendly alternatives more attractive.

A tonne of emissions currently costs 30, leading to additional heating costs of 130 to 190 per year in an average flat, but the price is set to rise to 55 by 2025.

As long as the distribution of costs remains an unsolved issue, landlords can pass them on in full to tenants, which is highly controversial in a country where a relatively high proportion of people do not own their home.

The move has been criticised by environmental NGO Environment Action Germany (DUH), which said the split was a win for landlords.

What seems fair at first sight is a cleverly packaged proposal to continue to leave the main burden of the CO2 price on the tenants, tweeted Elisabeth Staudt of DUH.

While heating costs are soaring, landlords continue to charge the CO2 price on their tenants.

Especially in view of the current crisis situation, it is incomprehensible why tenants still have to wait until the beginning of 2023 for relief, highlighted Barbara Metz, director of DUH.

According to her, landlords should carry the full burden of CO2 pricing, as they are the ones who have the ability to conduct renovations and heating system change to lower the CO2 emissions of buildings.

Particularly absurd: even tenants in the worst [CO2-emission performing] building classes have to contribute to the CO2 price, she added.

The German model to price CO2 in heating may have ramifications in the EU as well, where the European Commission has proposed an EU-wide carbon price on heating and road transport fuels.

The German government supports the Commissions proposal but raised doubts about creating a social climate fund (SCF) to alleviate the burden on the poorest citizens, noting that the move would require renegotiating the EUs long-term budget.

At a meeting in Brussels on Monday (20 December), EU environment ministers criticised the European Commissions proposal for a social climate fund that would support vulnerable households through the energy transition. Their motives, however, diverged widely.

[Edited by Frdric Simon. Additional reporting from Clean Energy Wires Sren Amelang]

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Germany splits carbon tax for heating between landlords and tenants - EURACTIV

MIAMI (CBSMiami) A warm, breezy day ahead with highs in the upper 80s. The rain chance remains low but a stray shower will be possible.

Due to the building breeze, there is a moderate risk of rip currents at the beach and small craft should exercise caution.

Wednesday night will be mild and muggy with lows in the mid to upper 70s.

(CBS4)

Thursday will feel more like summer as highs soar to the low 90s as the winds shift out of the Southwest. Some areas may tie or break some records. The CBS4 Weather team is forecasting a high of 93 degrees in Miami which ties the current record of 93 set back in 1956.

(CBS4)

With the high humidity, it will feel more like the upper 90s. The rain chance increases due to the heating of the day and an approaching front. Showers and some storms will be possible around midday through the afternoon.

Friday will not be as hot as well see more clouds and the potential for spotty showers. Highs will be in the low 80s and closer to our normal high of 83 degrees.

(CBS4)

Once a cold front clears, cooler and drier air will move in just in time for the weekend. Well enjoy lower humidity and plenty of pleasant sunshine. Lows drop to the low 60s Saturday morning and highs in the upper 70s. It will likely be cooler by Sunday morning with some inland areas possibly falling to the upper 50s and highs in the upper 70s.

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Miami Weather: Warm & Breezy, Near Record Heat Later This Week - CBS Miami

In political circles, the final fewdays of thefirst quarter in a statewide election year brings fundraising emails fast and furious.

And some aren't quite as carefully crafted asa campaign mailer or news release.

Past Nellie Gorbeasolicitationsdescribed Gov. Dan McKee as the"appointed" governor, which isn't quite right.Their point was that McKee had not been elected governor, but his constitutionally prescribed elevation fromlieutenant governor to governor did not involve beingappointedbyanyone.

A recent fundraising email from Congressional candidate Sarah Morgenthau, using language echoing her launch video, says "My husband and I were married in our backyard in North Kingstown. Weve raised three amazing kids here." (The launch video does not include the word "here.")

Morgenthau's family lived in Washington, where she worked in the U.S. Commerce Department before moving to Rhode Island.

It is unclear exactly how much timeher children spentin Rhode Island and whether summering in a place is enough to be considered "raised" there.

"My family has owned a home here and paid taxes in [North Kingstown]for 40 years," Morgenthau wrote in an email when asked to clarify. "Carl and I were married in our backyard, our children were raised on RI beaches."

Election 2022 Updates: The latest news in the highest-profile 2022 races in Rhode Island

Political Scene: A rare opportunity crowds the race for Congress

Last Thursday, the final day of the first quarter,an email from Providence mayoral candidate Gonzalo Cuervo's campaign said its fundraising numbers"will be judged against our opponents including those who are raking in tens of thousands of dollars from special interests, municipal vendors, and lobbyists."

The night before, lobbyist Mark Ryan,law partner Tom Moses and former Mayor Angel Taveras hosted a fundraiser for Cuervo at the University Club with a $1,000 suggested donation.

Ryan, of course is a high-profilelobbyist at the State House. (Full disclosure: one of his clients is The Providence Journal.)

Related: RI candidates running for a seat and an office

Here's how Cuervo campaign manager Allan Reyes explains the message:

"Our email offered a contrast between our grassroots fundraising and our opponent raising large amounts of money from lobbyists and vendors," Reyes wrote in an email, referring to Brett Smiley. "In fact, he was fined by the state Ethics Commission for soliciting contributions from state vendors over which he exerted influence as Director of Administration in 2020. We would welcome a side-by-side comparison."

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Campaign emails heating up as the 1st quarter ends - The Providence Journal