Multisitio 2

BERKELEY, Calif., March 3, 2021 /PRNewswire-PRWeb/ — Deep Isolation, a leading innovator in nuclear waste storage and disposal solutions, will discuss horizontal borehole disposal as an option for spent fuel from advanced reactors at the upcoming Waste Management Symposia.

Rod Baltzer, Chief Operating Officer at Deep Isolation, will present a session titled «Disposal of Radioactive Wastes from Advanced Reactors in Horizontal Boreholes» as part of the High-Level Radioactive Waste, Spent Nuclear Fuel/Used Nuclear Fuel track, 7 a.m. to 10:10 a.m. PST on March 11. Baltzer is responsible for Deep Isolation’s waste management operations, domestically and internationally, including interactions with communities, utilities and government entities. He has more than 20 years of experience in leadership positions in the nuclear waste industry.

Baltzer’s presentation will include insights derived from the recently published Electric Power Research Institute (EPRI) study, «Feasibility of Borehole Co-Location with Advanced Reactors for Onsite Management of Spent Nuclear Fuel.» The report indicates that locating a deep borehole repository at the site of a hypothetical advanced reactor in the southeastern United States could be a potentially safe and cost-effective waste management technology option.

«The EPRI study is important as it evaluates new pathways for future nuclear waste disposal,» said Deep Isolation CEO Elizabeth Muller.

«We’ve seen a heightened interest in advanced reactors this past year, and I’m excited to discuss the back-end of the advanced nuclear lifecycle,» Baltzer said. «I’ll discuss why we think that a borehole repository can provide a safe and cost-effective disposal option for advanced reactors.» Baltzer will hold office hours on March 8 from noon-2 p.m. PST, for those wishing to ask questions before his session, and on Thursday, March 11, from 7-10 a.m. PST, during the session.

Also on the agenda for Deep Isolation will be a session on stakeholder engagement.

Jim Hamilton, Director of Partnerships, will participate in the panel session, «Stakeholder Involvement in Consolidated ISF Storage, Disposal, and Transportation Initiatives,» 7-8:30 a.m. PST, on March 11. Hamilton has more than 25 years of experience in the public, private, and NGO sectors and has advised the U.S. Department of Energy on its spent fuel management program.

The panelists will discuss elements needed for success in engaging various stakeholders at all levels of a project’s lifecycle and will share best practices and lessons learned from current and previous projects.

«We have been talking with and listening to stakeholders across the waste management spectrum from the company’s inception, and it remains a key element of our success strategy,» Hamilton said. «While we do not have a disposal location yet, the work we are doing now will put us in a good position to continue to earn stakeholder support for our future implementation.»

Visit wmsym.org to register for the conference.

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ABOUT DEEP ISOLATION
Deep Isolation is a leading innovator in nuclear waste storage and disposal. Founded upon values of environmental stewardship, scientific ingenuity, and social responsibility, Deep Isolation offers a solution that leverages directional drilling technology to safely isolate nuclear waste deep underground.

Press Contact:

Kari Hulac – Deep Isolation                                                                        
media@deepisolation

Media Contact

Kari Hulac, Deep Isolation, +1 9255492634, media@deepisolation.com

Twitter, Facebook

SOURCE Deep Isolation

ANN ARBOR, Mich., March 3, 2021 /PRNewswire/ — The most populous cities in the Great Lakes, and several former manufacturing hubs, face serious challenges from climate, unemployment, and lower quality of life –– but can enhance their livability for people and nature if they route more funding and investment into green infrastructure, according to a new study. Led by San Francisco based sustainable investing expert HIP Investor, Inc. (HIP) and supported by national consulting firm Environmental Consulting & Technology, Inc. (ECT), this report is one of the products of a coalition named the Resilient Infrastructure Sustainable Communities (RISC).

The newly released report, «Climate Risks and Opportunities in the Great Lakes Region,» (https://www.risc.solutions/toolkits-and-reports/), developed by leaders in sustainability, engineering, and climate action, focuses on the importance of intervention opportunities. These include the risk of flooding and other climate risks; workforce development opportunities such as the re-hiring of existing and skilled workers; closing the gaps in health and wealth, especially in communities of color; and innovative funding sources to pay for these improvements and projects.

The research was focused on the eight U.S. Great Lakes states, comprising 653 counties, and in particular the 216 counties within the Great Lakes Basin. The analyses integrated over 100,000 data points of 15 factors to create an innovative composite scoring system. This study evaluated items such as flood risk, impervious surfaces, unemployment rates, skilled worker density, health and well-being, vulnerability index, and financing capacity – into one overall score of readiness for implementing green stormwater infrastructure. The final readiness score was found to have a strong correlation with diversity of the population, i.e., people of color.

«Communities across the Great Lakes basin are threatened by the changing climate, and threats are not affecting communities equally,» says Steve Cole, vice president of programs at the Great Lakes Protection Fund, which supported this work. «This report illustrates where vulnerable populations are, and where conditions are favorable to increase community resilience by investing in green stormwater infrastructure. These investments could bring much-needed attention and new jobs to underserved communities while mitigating the environmental risks they face.»

RISC is led by ECT, and includes collaborators from across the country, including HIP, New York based climate-action nonprofit CDP, Chicago-based community-expert Center for Neighborhood Technology (CNT) and think/action-tank The Delta Institute, and Ann Arbor area based American Society of Adaptation Professionals.

«Accelerating talk and action on important investments will help strengthen our communities, people and nature,» says Sanjiv Sinha, Ph.D., RISC’s Project Leader and a senior vice president at ECT, «Members of the RISC team are currently engaged in the greater Milwaukee and Buffalo regions on large-scale investments in green stormwater infrastructure, and other priority regions can benefit from their models.»

«Funding and financing climate action, especially in the Great Lakes, is lagging the visionary goals that many cities, counties, and states have set, such as 100% greenhouse gas reductions by 2030,» says R. Paul Herman, CEO of sustainable-investing expert HIP Investor Inc. and a coauthor of the report. «Investing in green infrastructure today can create green jobs, stronger communities, and more resilience, which also fulfill the U.N. Sustainable Development Goals.»

 Leading candidates for critical green stormwater infrastructure investment include:

• Cleveland metro area and Cuyahoga County, Ohio;
• Milwaukee metro area and Milwaukee County, Wisconsin;
• Chicago metro area and Cook County, Illinois; and
• Detroit metro area and Wayne County, Michigan.

Smaller cities and mid-sized counties are prime candidates as well:

• Lucas County, Ohio;
• Lake County, Indiana;
• Ingham County, Michigan;
• Erie County, Pennsylvania;
• Isabella County, Michigan; and
• St. Joseph County, Indiana.

(The report provides ranked data on all 653 counties in the US Great Lakes region.)

«The focus on equity and equality in cities and communities is essential, as the analysis in the report shows,» says Ron Harris, Chief Resilience Officer of the City of Minneapolis, and member of the leadership cluster for RISC. «Cities are increasingly tasked with solving major, competing issues. Cities that do not become fully equitable will always be in a recovery mode.»

The full report provides lists, maps and graphics to tell the story of the communities most in need of action to survive the climate and engage their workforces.

Further details on RISC’s work can be accessed at www.risc.solutions.

The Great Lakes Protection Fund is a permanent, private, not-for-profit corporation that launches innovative solutions to improve the health of the Great Lakes. Since 1989, the Fund has awarded more than $90 million in support to catalyze the continuous development of new technologies and practical regional actions to improve the health of the Great Lakes. Learn more about the Fund: http://glpf.org/.  

Environmental Consulting & Technology, Inc. (ECT), is an employee-owned environmental consulting firm that provides practical solutions to complex challenges in power and energy, industrial, governmental, public private partnerships, and real estate markets. With professionals across 23 offices throughout the United States, ECT provides expertise in the areas of natural resources, air quality, water resources, compliance and site remediation. Learn more about ECT at: https://www.ectinc.com/about-us

HIP (Human Impact + Profit) Investor, Inc. is a leading provider of ratings, metrics, and data to investors seeking impact, including climate action. HIP annually transforms 5 million data points on people, planet, and trust into 130,000 impact ratings of 115,000 governments and non-profits, 10,000 global corporations, and 1,000 investment funds. HIP advises cities and counties on how to fund and finance climate action. HIP manages investment portfolios for climate action, great workplaces, sustainable real-estate. Learn more about HIP: www.HIPinvestor.com 

Contacts: Mike Scott, MCCI for ECT, 248.766.9482, mscott@mccicorp.com 
Carolyn Artman, MCCI for ECT, 313.269.4729, cartman@mccicorp.com 

View original content:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/new-report-provides-priority-list-for-flood-risks-and-green-infrastructure-investments-in-the-great-lakes-region-301239879.html

SOURCE Environmental Consulting & Technology (ECT)

Earth Week will also see Multiple Days Of Climate Action

On Earth Day, April 22, global activists, international leaders, and influencers will come together for the second-annual multi-hour Earth Day Live

WASHINGTON, March 3, 2021 /PRNewswire/ — EARTHDAY.ORG along with lead organizers Education International, Hip Hop Caucus, and Earth Uprising are organizing three separate parallel climate action summits on April 20 and 21 ahead of the Biden Administration’s global leaders’ climate summit. The parallel summits are focused respectively on climate literacy, environmental justice, and a broad range of youth-led climate-focused issues. Earth Week will also bring thousands of groups and millions of voices together to stand up for climate action and bring awareness to humanity’s greatest existential threat. On Earth Day, EARTHDAY.ORG will bring together its partners, activists, educators, researchers, musicians, artists, influencers and more for its second-annual Earth Day Live.

«This Earth Day, we have an important opportunity to challenge world leaders to see climate change for what it is – a pressing global security threat, one that threatens everyone and everything but particularly our most vulnerable people and places,» Kathleen Rogers, President of EARTHDAY.ORG, said.

April 20
The three days of climate action begin on April 20 with the global youth climate summit led by Earth Uprising, in collaboration with My Future My Voice, OneMillionOfUs and hundreds of youth climate activists. The global youth summit will consist of panels, speeches, discussions, and special messages with today’s youth climate activists including Greta Thunberg, Alexandria Villaseñor, and Licypriya Kangujam. The four-hour digital summit will address the progress that has been made on their main issues of concern, including the creation of green jobs, climate literacy, civic skill training, environmental justice, biodiversity protection and sustainable agriculture. In the lead up to the event, the youth organizers will put together a short list of demands that they want addressed at the Biden Administration’s climate summit.

«President Biden bringing together world leaders to discuss climate change on Earth Day is a major turning point in global climate action! This youth-led summit will bring together global youth climate activists to prepare a message for President Biden on the eve of his historic summit. Youth around the world are experiencing some of the worst effects of climate change right now. We’re suffering from extreme weather, pollution, civil unrest, and the loss of lives and livelihoods. Our summit will identify the key issues and solutions most important to youth. The future of our generation is at stake and it’s important for our voices to be heard!» Alexandria Villaseñor, Founder of Earth Uprising said.

«World leaders need to see climate change as an urgent political issue. The world is already experiencing adverse extreme weather events like floods, droughts, heat waves, cyclones, locusts and extremely polluted air at the same time. These are all the impacts of climate change. The United States must take a leadership role in the shift to sustainable production and consumption to end this crisis and shift from the carbon economy to the green economy. It must put in place policy that would draw investment into resource efficiency and reduction of waste. In doing so, it will provide a template for other developing countries as well,» Licypriya Kangujam, 9-year-old Climate & Environmental Activist said.

On the evening of April 20, the Hip Hop Caucus and its partners will present the «We Shall Breathe» virtual summit. This digital event will examine climate and environmental justice, connecting the climate crisis to issues of pollution, poverty, police brutality, and the pandemic, all within a racial justice framework.

«Climate and environmental justice were on the ballot in November. The same Black and Brown voters that decided the election for President Biden, are the same communities that have been most impacted by environmental injustice and who are most threatened by climate disaster. This Earth Day, we expect President Biden to reinforce our affirmation that ‘We Shall Breathe’ by announcing bold climate action based on equity and justice domestically and globally,» Rev. Lennox Yearwood Jr., President and Founder, Hip Hop Caucus said.

April 21
On April 21, Education International will lead the «Teach for the Planet: Global Education Summit.» The multilingual virtual summit will span several time zones and feature prominent activists from every continent, focused on the crucial role that educators play in combating climate change and why we need transformative climate education now.

Susan Hopgood, President of Education International, said, «The fight against climate change must have an education face and a teacher’s voice in every area of the world. The planet is in crisis and I strongly believe that teachers and educators have a critical role to play in combating the environmental destruction, human suffering and social injustice that will certainly occur if climate change continues at current rates.»

«Teachers know that the most important long-term investment our societies can make towards a sustainable future is ensuring every student is literate about climate science and equipped with the civic knowledge and skills to change course,» David Edwards, General Secretary, Education International said. «All world leaders must commit to creating the necessary educational space and resources so that students learn the world’s most important lesson. In launching this campaign, the world’s educators are determined to realize our students’ right to know, do and exist.»

April 22
Parallel to the Biden Administration’s global climate summit, EARTHDAY.ORG will produce its second Earth Day Live digital event on April 22. The multi-hour multi-channel livestream will include segments taking place around the world starting at noon Eastern Time. Workshops, panel discussions, and special performances will focus on Earth Day’s 2021 theme, Restore Our Earth, which examines natural processes, emerging green technologies, and innovative thinking that can restore the world’s ecosystems. Topics will include climate and environmental literacy, climate restoration technologies, reforestation efforts, regenerative agriculture, equity and environmental justice, citizen science, cleanups, and beyond. World climate leaders, grassroots activists, nonprofit innovators, thought leaders, industry leaders, artists, musicians, influencers, and more will be involved.

For more information about Earth Day 2021, please visit: https://www.earthday.org/earth-day-2021/

About EARTHDAY.ORG
EARTHDAY.ORG’s mission is to diversify, educate, and activate the environmental movement worldwide. Growing out of the first Earth Day (1970), EARTHDAY.ORG is the world’s largest recruiter to the environmental movement, working with more than 150,000 partners in nearly 192 countries to build environmental democracy. More than 1 billion people now participate in Earth Day activities each year, making it the largest civic observance in the world. Learn more at: https://www.earthday.org

About Hip Hop Caucus
Formed in 2004, the Hip Hop Caucus (HHC) is a non-profit, non-partisan organization that leverages Hip Hop culture to encourage young people to participate in the democratic process. Through a collaborative leadership network, HHC addresses core issues affecting underserved communities. HHC programs and campaigns support solution-driven community organizing led by today’s young leaders. Learn more at: www.hiphopcaucus.org

About Education International
Education International is the global voice of educators and the world’s largest, most representative global organization of education unions. With more than 32.5 million members in 384 organizations in 178 countries and territories, Education International works to promote peace, democracy, social justice and equity through education and the collective strength of teachers and education employees. Learn more at: https://www.ei-ie.org

About Earth Uprising
Earth Uprising is a global, youth-led non-profit organization focused on climate education, climate advocacy, and youth mobilization. Through its strong network of activists from all around the world, partnerships with other groups, and local, national, and international campaigns and actions, it aims to bring attention to, and spur action based on the latest science regarding the climate crisis. Earth Uprising provides the tools, resources, and connections young people need to take direct action in their communities. Learn more at earthuprising.org

View original content:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/earthdayorg-and-global-partners-unite-for-three-parallel-climate-summits-301239855.html

SOURCE EARTHDAY.ORG