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Research Institute (<keyword id="20370739" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="cmfri" source="keywords">CMFRI</keyword>) have successfully deciphered the genome of the <keyword id="23138296" type="General" weightage="100" keywordseo="asian-green-mussel" source="Orion">Asian green mussel</keyword> (Perna viridis), a discovery poised to revolutionise the understanding of this vital <keyword id="662896" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="marine-species" source="Orion">marine species</keyword>. This is the first-ever <keyword id="184804" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="chromosome" source="Orion">chromosome</keyword> level genome sequencing of a marine invertebrate species from India. Earlier, CMFRI had come out with a similar genome finding for Indian oil sardine. The Asian green mussel, Kallummakkaya in local parlance, is an important aquaculture species in the family Mytilidae contributing substantially to molluscan aquaculture. CMFRI's research found that the mussel's genome contains 723.49 Mb in size and is anchored into 15 chromosomes, according to a CMFRI release here on Thursday. The research was published in the journal Scientific Data by Nature Group. "The development will be a game-changer in boosting sustainable mussel aquaculture in the country, as this research will help gain insights into its growth, reproduction and disease resistance", said Dr Grinson George, Director of CMFRI. The findings will benefit the aquaculture sector by improving genomic selection and breeding practices, leading to enhanced productivity and resilience in fisheries, he added. A team of researchers from CMFRI led by Principal Scientist Dr Sandhya Sukumaran carried out this study with funding support from the Department of Biotechnology (DBT), New Delhi. The team includes Dr A Gopalakrishnan, V G Vysakh, Dr Wilson Sebastian, Dr Lalitha Hari Dharani, Dr Akhilesh Pandey, Dr Abishek Kumar and Dr J K Jena. According to scientists, this will help develop new strategies to combat diseases in the mussel. "Genomic investigations on this species are vital to understand genes, gene combinations and signaling pathways leading to the parasitic diseases, which constitute a major threat to Asian green mussel aquaculture in India causing substantial mortalities in farms," said Dr Sandhya Sukumaran. According to the scientists, the genome assembly of green mussels will emerge as a valuable tool for exploring <keyword id="6355291" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="cancer" source="Orion">cancer</keyword> mechanisms and developing new therapeutic strategies. "A total of 49654 protein-coding genes were identified, including 634 genes associated with the cancer pathway and 408 genes associated with viral carcinogenesis. This indicates that this species is a novel model organism for cancer research," Sukumaran said. This advancement promises to significantly enhance our understanding of cancer pathways and facilitate the discovery of novel treatments, she added. Apart from its aquaculture prospects, Asian green mussels play a vital role as a bio-monitor as it is capable of accumulating heavy metals and other environmental pollutants in large quantities. Understanding the genome assembly will provide valuable information about the genomic pathways involved in response to pollutants. "The genetic markers to be developed from this research could be used to monitor pollutants in aquatic bodies, a significant milestone in safeguarding the aquatic environment," Sandhya said. Scientists believe that the genome decoding of this species would enhance knowledge regarding the effect of environmental pollutants on biological systems, as this bivalve is adaptable to local environmental stressors like variations in pH, temperature, salinity and air exposure.

CMFRI scientists crack genetic code of Asian green mussel

A day ahead of the final Budget presentation, India released the <keyword id="20613906" type="General" weightage="100" keywordseo="economic-survey" source="keywords">Economic Survey</keyword> 2023-2024, outlining a plethora of optimistic — and some bittersweet — indicators of the health of the nation’s economy. When you consider the climate-related aspects of the report, there’s a ton of good news: we have achieved massive strides in clean power generation, while cutting out a ton of dirty emissions from our products. However, scroll down to the bottom of the report, and you find a scathing criticism of the “western” approach to climate change. Here's a closer look at why, and what clues do such narratives hold about India's <keyword id="22513472" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="environmental-strategy" source="keywords">environmental strategy</keyword> in coming years. <h2>Problems with the “Western way”</h2>The major criticism, as per the survey, is that the Western approach to climate change is far too alarmist. They argue that this “one-size-fits-all” attitude often fails to account for the diverse needs of countries like India. To that end, it also points out that the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) promotes "accelerated and equitable mitigation pathways" that don't always align with the developmental priorities of <keyword id="20353838" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="developing-nations" source="keywords">developing nations</keyword>. Additionally, the report notes that Western solutions often prioritise market-based strategies to sustain high consumption levels rather than addressing the root issue of overconsumption. The survey emphasises that <keyword id="20224417" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="sustainable-living" source="keywords">sustainable living</keyword> is deeply ingrained in <keyword id="19983840" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="Indian-culture" source="keywords">Indian culture</keyword>, which contrasts sharply with the consumption-driven lifestyle prevalent in the West. This focus on high consumption misses the mark, as it doesn't consider the environmental impact of such lifestyles. And for the most part, this bit is true; Indian history is enriched with traditions that emphasise the conservation of nature. As <a href="https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1155/2017/3828609">per estimates</a>, religious practices have preserved an estimated 1.5 lakh sacred groves across India, and natural conservation efforts can be traced back to the time of Ashoka. <div type="Article" hostid="261" msid="111925936" title="Economic Survey 2023-24: Where does India stand on the employment, and what&amp;#39;s next?" mstype="2" mssubtype="0"></div>Therefore, it may not be entirely inaccurate to say that in India, sustainability isn't a new concept; it's a way of life. Traditional Indian practices like using reusable materials, upcycling, and embracing minimalism have always promoted sustainability. The survey highlights that these practices are now threatened by Western capitalist ideals that equate consumption with progress. By returning to these roots, India can offer a model of sustainability that's both practical and culturally relevant. <h2>Fixation on technical solutions</h2>The Economic Survey also critiques the Western obsession with high-tech solutions, such as solar-powered buildings and electric vehicles. These solutions require substantial financial and infrastructural resources that many developing countries simply don't have. Moreover, they often overlook the broader environmental impact and lifecycle costs associated with urban sprawl and high-density living. Instead, the survey suggests that simpler, more holistic solutions might be more effective and sustainable. <div type="Article" hostid="261" msid="111774972" title="Economic Survey shows India&amp;#39;s energy needs to grow 2.5x, healthy growth in formal employment" mstype="2" mssubtype="0"></div>However, this does not mean that India refuses to embrace greener tech. Not only has the country launched various initiatives to promote energy efficiency and reduce carbon emissions, it also aims to to generate 40% of its energy from non-fossil fuel sources by 2030. As per the report, India is the only G20 country on track to meet the 2°C warming commitment under the Paris Agreement, with significant investments in <keyword id="19895602" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="renewable-energy" source="keywords">renewable energy</keyword>, particularly solar power. <h2><keyword id="20269618" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="Mission-LiFE" source="keywords" meta.keywordsubtype="org" meta.entityname="Mission LiFE" meta.hostid="261" meta.entityid="Mission LiFE">Mission LiFE</keyword>: A sustainable initiative</h2>In order to help reinforce and rejuvenate the Indian way, the survey highlights Prime Minister Modi's Lifestyle for Environment initiative, or Mission LiFE. This initiative underscores individual responsibility in combating climate change, drawing from ancient Indian philosophy that advocates for a naturally sustainable lifestyle. By focusing on small, individual actions that collectively lead to significant environmental benefits, Mission LiFE contrasts sharply with the Western top-down policy approach. This grassroots strategy could be key to achieving real, lasting change, the report asserts. <div type="Article" hostid="261" msid="111927198" title="On the right track — Economic Survey 2023-24 outlines India’s commendable climate action" mstype="2" mssubtype="0"></div>All in all, the report challenges the dominance of Western policies and offers a pathway that could be more adaptable and relevant for other developing nations facing similar challenges. With its ongoing progress towards climate goals, India is well-placed to lead by example, showcasing a sustainable and culturally attuned approach to environmental stewardship.

Why did the latest Economic Survey of India heavily shun the ‘Western ways’ of climate action?

<ul class="summary-list"><li>Big tech companies have pulled back on PERM applications, often the first step to a green card.</li><li>Huge layoffs by Google, Amazon, Meta and other tech companies have made the process harder. </li></ul><a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/category/big-tech">Big tech</a> companies have backed off <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/america-immigration-needs-reform-losing-workers-2023-3">green card</a> applications in a big way because the process has become tougher and there's less competition for talent.This situation is making it harder for foreign tech workers to stay in the US, and it may mean overseas candidates have to search far beyond Silicon Valley and New York City for jobs in the industry.<a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/google-requests-update-immigration-rules-hire-top-ai-talent-2024-5">Google</a> stopped so-called PERM applications in January 2023, the same month it laid off 12,000 employees. PERM is a certification process run by the Department of Labor. It aims to ensure that admitting foreign workers into the country doesn't impact US workers' job opportunities, wages, or working conditions. It's often the first step toward a green card.Earlier this year, Googlers were told the company wouldn't restart the PERM process until at least Q1 2025, according to a current employee with direct knowledge of the matter. A Google spokesperson declined to comment."Tech companies have been following Google's lead and taking their foot off the pedal in terms of green card applications," said <a target="_blank" href="https://www.benachcollopy.com/ava-benach/">Ava Benach</a>, founding partner of Benach Collopy, a leading immigration law firm in Washington DC. "Google has an outsized influence here," she added. "It has a reputation for treating workers well and leading on these things, so if Google stepped back, then this gives other tech companies cover to step back, too."<h2>Amazon and Meta moves</h2>Earlier this year, <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/amazon-suspended-us-green-card-applications-foreign-workers-2024-4">Amazon</a> told employees it would continue to pause all new PERM filings through 2024, according to an internal announcement seen by Business Insider.Amazon said in the memo it had initially paused PERM applications in 2023 and decided to keep these suspended until the end of this year after reviewing "labor market conditions and immigrant requirements."While <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/mark-zuckerberg-plan-meta-make-money-from-ai-2024-4">Meta</a> continues to undertake green card sponsorships for international hires, the process has become painfully slow. Getting a green card through Meta is now taking "a year or more," a current employee with knowledge of Meta's hiring processes said.<h2>PERM is a lot harder now</h2>A wave of <a target="_blank" rel="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/amazon-layoffs">job cuts</a> by Google, Amazon, Meta, and other tech companies has made the PERM process more complicated.Companies now have to demonstrate that laid-off employees are not qualified for the jobs intended for foreign workers. They also <a target="_blank" rel=" nofollow" href="https://bashyamglobal.com/blog/the-impact-of-layoffs-on-the-perm-process/">have to notify people</a> who were laid off in the past six months about job openings before filing PERM applications for foreign workers."With more US workers available for open positions, the labor market test fails and so the process becomes a waste of time and money for these tech companies," Benach explained. "If tech companies have done layoffs relatively recently, they also have to notify laid off workers of new positions that may be going to foreign workers," she added. "If some of these people say 'yes, I'm interested,' then you're out of luck with the green card application."Meta's <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/layoff-angst-meta-employees-face-tough-reviews-reorgs-2024-3">multiple rounds</a> of <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/meta-vps-leave-ahead-of-thousands-more-layoffs-2023-5">mass layoffs</a> reduced the company's headcount by over 20%. The company is now <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/meta-rehiring-workers-from-layoffs-2023-8">hiring again</a>, but it is having to work harder to explain to US Citizenship and Immigration Services why international workers are needed."It's hard to justify PERM after laying off people," the Meta employee told BI.<h2>Supply and demand</h2>Big tech companies may also be less willing to pursue green cards because of changes in supply and demand across the tech labor market.The industry went on a record hiring spree in the previous decade, and this only intensified during the pandemic boom. When big tech companies were fighting over a limited supply of tech talent, the PERM process was a useful weapon to wield."This is a cumbersome, arduous process that no one likes. It often happens when companies are competing intensely for talent," Benach explained. "Saying 'we'll do your green card for you,' is a great perk to attract the best tech employees.""So when, like now, there are more tech workers on the market, these companies don't have to do this as much," she added. "They are not all scrambling for talent anymore, or at least not as much."<h2>Alternatives for foreign tech workers</h2>What should foreign tech workers do if their current employer is taking too long with PERM applications, or has stopped the process entirely?Benach advises candidates to look outside of the Bay Area and New York City for tech jobs in the US. Many other employers across the country need people with science, technology, engineering, and math qualifications, she noted."It's not just Google and the other big Silicon Valley companies," Benach said. "Other companies in other parts of the country are in desperate need of tech workers."Labor market tests for the PERM process are by their nature local. And there are fewer tech workers in other parts of the country, with some people unwilling to move far for jobs. So this makes the green card process potentially easier outside of places like the Bay Area and NYC, she explained.<h2>Big Tech is trying alternatives, too</h2>In an email to BI, an Amazon spokesperson said the company is working with affected employees to find "alternative immigration pathways" to extend their stay in the US.To get around PERM hurdles, some companies are opting to classify international hires as applicants for a <a target="_blank" href="https://www.uscis.gov/newsroom/alerts/uscis-updates-guidance-on-national-interest-waivers">National Interest Waiver</a>, the Meta employee noted.An NIW application can be done without corporate sponsorship, so an employee can "self-petition" without a specific job offer in hand. This process classifies foreign candidates as people with specific skills and experience that would benefit the US if they became permanent residents.NIW applications jumped in 2023, according to <a target="_blank" href="https://www.uscis.gov/sites/default/files/document/reports/stem_related_petition_trends_eb2_and_o1a_categories_factsheet_fy23.pdf">data</a> from the US Citizenship and Immigration Services.<h2>Google wants to change the roles</h2>Google is trying to fix PERM bottlenecks. On Wednesday, <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/google-requests-update-immigration-rules-hire-top-ai-talent-2024-5">it filed a letter with the Department of Labor</a> arguing for changes that broaden the list of roles that can be fast-tracked to a green card.This "<a target="_blank" href="https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2023/12/21/2023-27938/labor-certification-for-permanent-employment-of-foreign-workers-in-the-united-states-modernizing">Schedule A</a>" list focuses on jobs the Labor Department considers to be poorly supplied with talent. It hasn't been updated in 20 years, and Google argues the list hasn't evolved to meet the needs of the modern labor market.Google is in particular need of AI experts and the company says it will be hard to hire them all."We project that our need for AI Engineer roles, including Software Engineer, Research Engineer, and Research Scientist roles, will increase significantly in the coming years," Google wrote in the letter. "AI advancements offer incredible promise, but the lack of skilled professionals threatens to hinder their full potential."Are you a foreign tech worker struggling with a green card application? Get in touch:Contact Hugh Langley through the encrypted messaging apps <a target="_blank" rel=" nofollow" href="https://signal.org/download/">Signal</a> and <a target="_blank" rel=" nofollow" href="https://telegram.org/">Telegram</a> (<a target="_blank" rel=" nofollow">628-228-1836</a>) or via <a target="_blank" rel=" nofollow" href="mailto:hlangley@businessinsider.com">email</a>.Contact Kali Hays at <a target="_blank" href="mailto:khays@businessinsider.com">khays@businessinsider.com</a> or on <a target="_blank" rel=" nofollow" href="https://signal.org/download/">Signal</a> at 949-280-0267.Contact Eugene Kim, via Signal or Telegram (<a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" class="c-link">+1-650-942-3061</a>) or email (<a target="_blank" href="mailto:ekim@businessinsider.com">ekim@businessinsider.com</a>).Reach out using a nonwork device. Check out Business Insider's <a target="_blank" rel="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/insider-guide-to-securely-sharing-whistleblower-information-about-powerful-institutions-2021-10">source guide</a> for other tips on sharing information securely.

Big Tech's big green card problem

<ul class="summary-list"><li>Chinese policymakers see the global energy transition as a pathway to boost the yuan, Zongyuan Zoe Liu wrote.</li><li>China's currency is used in key commodity markets that are essential in decarbonizing.</li></ul>While the US dollar reigns supreme in global finance, especially in commodities markets, China sees an opening to elevate the yuan: the shift to renewable energy.That's according to Zongyuan Zoe Liu, a China scholar at the Council on Foreign Relations, who pointed to developments in key resources that are critical for green technologies like EV batteries and wind turbines. "These policymakers and scholars see the ongoing energy transition as an opportunity for the nation to raise the global standing of the renminbi in commodities markets; to them, there's no guarantee that the US dollar's dominance in our current fossil fuel-powered global economy will persist in a decarbonized world," Liu wrote in <a href="https://www.noemamag.com/china-wants-to-ditch-the-dollar/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Noema Magazine</a>.That's as China is a dominant supplier of resources essential to turning economies green, such as rare earth minerals and critical metals such as cobalt.To take advantage of this, the country has established a number of commodity exchanges where prices are quoted in yuan, she pointed out. These include the Bautou Rare Earth Products Exchange in 2014 and the Ganzhou Rare Metal Exchange in 2019. In a similar vein, authorities have also established yuan-denominated exchanges focused on oil and copper, another metal used in green energy as well as other industries.Yet despite those advances, Beijing remains concerned about its heavy dependence on the US dollar for pricing and settling commodities contracts, Liu added. To that end, the country has also turned to multilateral partnerships. Groups such as the BRICS bloc and the Shanghai Cooperation Organization have not only helped China advocate for a less dollar-centric financial system, but have also bolstered the country's reach in the global commodity trade, she highlighted.For instance, China and Brazil, two BRICS members, are some of the largest lithium producers, while Iran may be added to that list. The Middle Eastern country, a member of both groups, also holds the world's largest zinc reserves."In this context, as a non-Western group of countries, SCO potentially represents a potent coalition of exporters and importers of commodities centered around using the renminbi to finance the entire commodities lifecycle from production to trade to consumption," Liu wrote. To strengthen currency ties between trade partners, Chinese authorities have long advocated for the use of local currencies, while also promoting ideas of regional integration and settlement systems, such as an SCO development bank.Meanwhile, BRICS countries have been vocal proponents of de-dollarization, and some of the group's newest members <a href="https://markets.businessinsider.com/news/currencies/dedollarization-dollar-dominance-new-brics-china-yuan-currency-sanctions-debt-2023-12">could be the most aggressive about rolling back the dollar</a>.Still, it's not China's aim to completely topple the dollar in international finance as that would be financially ruinous for the nation, given its heavy investment in US assets, Liu said. But Beijing's efforts shouldn't be ignored. "Should China successfully wean the world off the US dollar and the renminbi increase its status as a global currency or the dominant currency, it would reshape the global trade system and the international political landscape," she warned.

China sees the transition to green energy as a chance to elevate the yuan and dedollarize key markets

<ul><li>The <keyword id="69007" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="world-economic-forum" source="Orion">World Economic Forum</keyword> has picked ten breakthrough technologies that show promise for the future. </li><li>Flexible batteries, <keyword id="15777223" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="generative-ai" source="Orion">generative AI</keyword>, <keyword id="7931350" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="sustainable-aviation-fuel" source="Orion">sustainable aviation fuel</keyword>, wearable sensors for plants and <keyword id="432748" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="green-computing" source="Orion">green computing</keyword> are some of them. </li><li>Many other biological breakthroughs like designer phages, metaverse for mental health, brain-machine interfaces and more have made it to the list. </li></ul>The world is changing fast with new dangers and permacrisis afoot. However, the good news is that a number of breakthrough new technologies are working to make it a better place. The World Economic Forum has picked ten such for 2023 — right from deep biology that can look into the cells to flexible batteries that can be twisted, bent and stretched. To make it to this coveted list, the technologies must offer promising major benefits to societies and economies, be disruptive, attractive to investors and researchers; and expected to have achieved considerable scale within five years. “New technologies have the power to disrupt industries, grow economies, improve lives and safeguard the planet – if designed, scaled and deployed responsibly,” said Jeremy Jurgens, Managing Director, World Economic Forum and Head of the Centre for the Fourth Industrial Revolution. In the past, the WEF has picked many such winners — like the genetic-engineering tool CRISPR-Cas9 which was featured in 2015, went on to win the Nobel Prize five years later. “It is now being used to create insect and drought-resistant crops in harsh growing conditions around the world,” said Jurgens. Messenger ribonucleic acid (mRNA) vaccines, earned their place in the 2017 report, became the technology underpinning the majority of Covid-19 vaccines protecting lives worldwide. AI-led molecular design made it onto the 2018 list. Since then, Deepmind’s AlphaFold predicted the structure of 200 million proteins, and the first AI-discovered drugs have entered clinical trials. Let’s look what technologies made it to this year’s list: Flexible batteries: Bend, twist &amp; stretch The world is going flex – with rollable computer screens to smart clothing. And the systems that power them should be so too. Flexible batteries, made of lightweight materials that can be easily twisted, bent or stretched, will soon hit the market and make standard rigid batteries a thing of the past. “The rapidly escalating development of wearable devices, flexible electronics and bendable displays demand power sources that match the agility of these systems,” the report says. One study forecasts that the global flexible battery market will grow by $240.47 million from 2022-2027, accelerating at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 22.79%, says WEF. Several companies like LG Chem, Samsung SDI, Apple, Nokia are are actively developing and commercialising flexible battery technology. Generative AI: Sparring partner to conventional thinking Imagine an algorithm that can draw the image that a human holds in his mind? That’s one example of the boundless potential of generative AI which can design drugs, aid in architecture and engineering — in addition to what ChatGPT does. NASA engineers are working to use this technology to build lightweight spaceflight instruments. But this technology needs to build something more, trust. “To build public trust in generative AI, applications should meet agreed-upon professional and ethical standards. Care should be taken to mitigate AI bias based on training data, with a focus on including “outlier” data and novel societal conventions,” WEF says. It should also address copyright attribution and more. With correct controls, generative AI can demonstrate the boundaries of knowledge, and act as a sparring partner to challenge conventional thinking. Sustainable aviation fuel: Moving up, with challenges ahead The road-bound cousins of aeroplanes – cars, bikes and more are going green at a rapid pace. However, the cost of making the aviation sector, which contributes to 2-3% of CO2 emissions annually, is enormous. Enter sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) that’s produced from biomass, and non-biological resources. Now it makes up for 1% of the global jet fuel demand, but must rise to 13-15% by 2040, WEF says. “Such an increase will require the creation of 300-400 new SAF plants; and airlines, manufacturers and fuel companies are working around the clock to enable this level of scale,” the report says, adding that availability and collection of raw materials, along with the need for sustainably produced green hydrogen, remain major challenges. Designer Phages: Virus that carry ‘genetic scissors’ Viruses, as scary as they are, can be engineered to benefit humans. Key to this engineering are phages – viruses that selectively infect specific types of bacteria. Upon infection, a phage injects its genetic information into the bacterium. With ‘genetic scissors’, these phages can execute a set of instructions – they can change a bacterium’s functions. It can be made into a therapeutic molecule or to become sensitive to a certain drug and more. “Phages are also being designed as feed supplements to enhance the growth of livestock, treat certain plant diseases and eliminate dangerous bacteria in food supply chains,” WEF says. Locus Biosciences and Eligo Biosciences are using this approach to combat antibiotic-resistant bacteria. Metaverse for mental health: Augmenting connections The Covid-19 pandemic has pushed the mental health crisis to such an extent that the world is falling short of health providers. The conditions are ripe for metaverse-enabled mental health treatment, WEF says. “Maturing interface technologies could further augment social and emotional connections between distant participants,” the report says. Many players are already working on it with gamification and other ways which can also reduce the stigma attached with mental health. Noninvasive neurotechnologies can provide feedback attuned to a user’s emotional state. For example, Neurable headsets use electrodes to measure emotion and can adjust music accordingly. Eventually, the metaverse will also connect to therapeutic neurotechnologies, such as direct brain stimulation to treat intractable depression,” WEF adds. Wearable plant sensors: The new frontier Traditionally, crops have been monitored via soil testing and visual inspections, both of which are expensive and time-consuming. Recent tech advancements have been monitoring crop health via low-resolution satellite data, which has gone on to sensor equipped drones and tractors which provide information. The next frontier is monitoring individual plants – with wearables. “These sensors are small, non-invasive devices that can be attached to crop plants for continuous monitoring of temperature, humidity, moisture and nutrient levels,” the report says. Growvera and Phytech have developed micro-sized needle sensors that insert into a plant’s leaves or stems to measure changes in electrical resistance, but challenges remain in terms of expense and the reading of the data might need specialised expertise. It needs data analytics tools that can help farmers ‘read it’ and make informed decisions. Spatial omics: Unravelling evolutionary secrets Humans are made of millions of cells —- but what happens inside them? Spatial omics might actually help us ‘see’ the biological processes, how they work in detail that was unprecedented before. A spatial omics study of samples from people who died from Covid-19 revealed that SARS-CoV-2 causes widespread disruption of cellular pathways across all tissues. Scientists have also identified a set of neurons that help paralysed mice walk, sooner. But this technology needs to be democratised, WEF believes. It had a total market value of $232.6 million in 2021 and an estimated revenue of $587.2 million in 2030. While academic and translational research centres made up 89% of the market in 2020, the market is dramatically expanding to include pharmaceutical and biotech industries. Flexible neural electronics: Biocompatible now Brain-machine interfaces (BMIs) allow electrical signals the brain produces to be captured by sensor hardware – and are already being used for patients with epilepsy, and create prosthetic limbs connected to the nervous system. But the current implants are made of hard material like chips, which can scar humans and cause substantial discomfort. They cannot bend or adapt to brain movements so, over time, they “drift” in position, decreasing the accuracy. But now researchers developed these circuits on biocompatible materials that are soft and flexible. It can deepen understanding of conditions like dementia and autism; and can also be used to develop cardiac pacemakers and more. But eventually, it holds the potential to true human-AI interfacing – but since the data from the brain is sensitive, privacy and ethical use guidelines must be established. Sustainable computing: Optimism ahead Every time we search on Google, send email or use any form of AI, we are connecting to data centres — which consume an estimated 1% of the electricity produced globally. And, this will only grow. There is no single “green data” magic bullet, but the coming decade will see strides toward net-zero-energy data centres. The first is to use cooling systems to dissipate the heat. Stockholm is using heat from data centres to heat homes. Then, AI itself can come with a solution for the heat it is generating, but analysing and optimising energy use in real-time. DeepMind has successfully demonstrated the potential of AI-powered energy management, achieving up to a 40% reduction in energy consumption at Google’s data centres. Crusoe Energy instals its modular data centres at sites where methane flaring occurs to enable cloud computing infrastructure to be powered by methane gas that would otherwise have been released directly into the atmosphere. “Given the wave of innovation and investment in this area, there is reason to be optimistic about the years ahead,” WEF says. AI-facilitated healthcare: Easing access Ever since the pandemic governments and academic teams alike have been using AI and ML models to improve access to patient care – to cut down the long delays many patients experience. This can aid developing nations in particular. India, for example, has a widely dispersed population of over 1.4 billion and has embraced an AI-based approach to enhance medical outreach. “The Indian government has enabled physicians to engage remote communities through assistive technologies, with requisite privacy safeguards in place,” the report says. However, hurdles to this system remain like patient compliance and national security concerns. “Moreover, any system that curates personal data on the health and welfare of a vast population must function within the bounds of a carefully crafted legal and ethical framework,” WEF says.

Wearables for plants, bacteria eating viruses, and 8 technologies in 2023 that can change the future

<ul class="summary-list"><li>Newly arrived Afghans to the US are on a temporary legal status that's set to expire next year.</li><li>Advocates are urging Congress to ensure a pathway to permanent residency for Afghan allies.</li></ul>As tens of thousands of newly arrived Afghans to the United States are trapped in legal limbo, Congress can take a crucial step to alleviate that stress – and should do so immediately. That's been the rallying cry of veterans groups, community activists, faith leaders, resettlement agencies, and immigration organizations for months. The coalition has been <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/afghan-allies-united-states-evacuation-anniversary-withdrawal-2022-8">advocating</a> for Democrats and Republicans to ensure a pathway to permanent residency for these Afghans, many of whom served alongside American troops in the 20-year war in Afghanistan before the Taliban seized power in August 2021.The US has <a href="https://www.dhs.gov/news/2022/09/27/operation-allies-welcome-announces-departure-all-afghan-nationals-national">welcomed</a> more than 88,500 Afghans since then, and a majority of them were granted a temporary legal status known as humanitarian parole. But that protection is set to expire in 2023, leaving Afghan evacuees to navigate America's complex and slow-moving immigration system to seek permanent residency – a process that could take years, or possibly decades, with no guarantee.The Afghan Adjustment Act, legislation introduced over the summer by bipartisan groups in the House and Senate, would change the legal status of Afghan evacuees to permanent residency, providing them with certainty to start their new lives and work in the US without the risk of deportation.The urgency to pass the bill is greater than ever as Congress takes its final legislative sprint before lawmakers leave for the holidays, and the incoming House Republican majority is unlikely to consider the issue, advocates say. "It's the final call. This is crunch time. And this is when we can get this done," said Safi Rauf, a Navy reservist and Afghan American who's been leading efforts to advance the bill. "It's a matter of national security. It's a matter of moral injury for our veterans. And it's just the right thing to do."<div type="image" title="Lindsey Graham" height="3853" width="7707" msid="96259599" hostid="261" sizebytes="4138902"></div><h2>Convincing Republican senators </h2>The House <a href="https://www.congress.gov/bill/117th-congress/house-bill/8685/cosponsors">version</a> of the Afghan Adjustment Act has 143 co-sponsors, including 10 Republicans. But the problem for advocates lies in the evenly divided Senate, where 60 votes are needed to advance legislation. Rauf and advocates have demonstrated outside the US Capitol since September, standing "firewatch," demanding Congress to act. For five weeks in the fall, the so-called firewatch hit the road. Rauf, along with his brother, Zabih, and veterans Matt Zeller and James Powers, drove more than 7,600 miles cross-country to <a href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/national-security/2022/12/10/afghan-adjustment-act/">pitch</a> the Afghan Adjustment Act to senators.Advocates say they're not worried about Democratic votes and are seeking more GOP support. Five Republicans senators have endorsed the measure. One of the latest co-sponsors, Sen. Jerry Moran of Kansas, pledged his support on Wednesday. "Veterans of the Afghan War are now calling for Congress to provide safety and certainty for their allies and friends who assisted them in battle," Moran said in a statement. "We must answer that call and establish a pathway for our Afghan partners to begin a new life in the United States."Rauf, who met with Moran's office in Kansas, hopes the news will encourage other Republicans "to look at the bill critically and decide whether they support veterans or that's only a talking point for them at rallies."Advocates need five more votes. Among the GOP members they're trying to convince include Sens. Susan Collins of Maine, Mitt Romney of Utah, Thom Tillis of North Carolina, John Cornyn of Texas, Richard Shelby of Alabama, Ben Sasse and Deb Fischer of Nebraska, and Mike Crapo and Jim Risch of Idaho, according to Zeller. Sen. Lindsey Graham, an original sponsor of the bill, said he's "hoping" action will take place soon."We have a moral obligation as a nation to do something within reason to deal with the folks that we brought here," the South Carolina Republican said. "I'm not gonna turn my back on them.""I think this is not the last war we're going to be in," he continued, "And how you treat these people determines a lot about how we will go forward as a nation in other conflicts."Republicans against the bill say they're concerned about the vetting of Afghan evacuees, pointing to government watchdog reports that found some gaps in the process. A major opponent to the measure is Sen. Chuck Grassley, the top Republican on the Judiciary Committee, which deals with immigration matters. But the bill's supporters say the criticisms are baseless because passing the Afghan Adjustment Act would actually address any national security concerns: Afghan evacuees were already screened before they arrived, and the legislation requires them to undergo additional, rigorous vetting before they apply for permanent legal residency. "There really actually isn't a very good reason to oppose this bill," Zeller said, "Other than that the people who are against it often are against all matters of immigration."Another key argument made by advocates to foster GOP support is the "moral injury to veterans" – American soldiers, not just their Afghan allies, are being negatively impacted by Congress' inaction."This is very much an issue where both American and Afghan American or Afghan lives are at stake," said Shawn VanDiver, a veteran who founded AfghanEvac, a nonprofit composed of 200 groups dedicated to helping Afghan allies. "We've seen people take their own lives over this. We've seen the crushing loss that has come, and it's really easy to just do the right thing here."Still, it's been a "challenge" to secure congressional support for the Afghan Adjustment Act, VanDiver said."It's just a matter of priority, right?" VanDiver said. "There's no monied interests behind Afghan refugees, so there's no big lobby in favor of them. There's no massive army of well-paid folks. Nobody showed up on buses. It's all people power, it's all veterans, working families, anybody who's worked with Afghans, or Afghans themselves, organizing to do this. And that takes a little bit of doing to get the attention.""But I think we have their attention," he added. "And I'm hopeful that it'll get in."<div type="image" title="Demonstrators outside US Capitol" height="2100" width="4200" msid="96259601" hostid="261" sizebytes="376720"></div><h2>'We owe these Afghans'</h2>Currently, Afghan evacuees have two methods to obtain lawful permanent residency: either apply for a special immigration visa or for asylum.Both of those systems are severely backlogged and face long processing times, according to the bill's supporters. As of the <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/afghan-allies-united-states-evacuation-anniversary-withdrawal-2022-8">summer</a>, there are more than 74,000 SIV applications in the pipeline – from both Afghan evacuees and allies still in Afghanistan. For asylum, there are an estimated 400,000 cases pending. Beyond that, many Afghan evacuees cannot afford legal services, and the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services lack the capacity to handle all of their cases, according to Spojmie Nasiri, an immigration attorney based in Northern California."The process for asylum versus the process through the Afghan Adjustment Act are completely different," said Nasiri, who's been heavily involved in legal efforts for Afghan evacuees. The bill is "more streamlined and individuals would be able to obtain their green card faster," she added.Krish O'Mara Vignarajah, president of the Lutheran Immigration and Refugee Service, a resettlement group that's been advocating "nonstop" for the Afghan Adjustment Act, said the current legal route for permanent residency for Afghan evacuees is like "trying to put a square peg in a round hole.""That's not a program that was meant for the kinds of allies and the nature of their work, advancing our values and our mission," said Vignarajah, whose group has served around 14,000 Afghan evacuees since the US military withdrawal.Some of the bill's provisions include expanding eligibility for Afghan evacuees to apply for special immigrant visas, directing President Joe Biden to establish a taskforce to assist Afghan evacuees through the process, and ordering the State Department to create an office in Afghanistan to aid Afghan allies, such as issuing visas for those eligible. (The US embassy in Kabul suspended operations after the Taliban takeover.)The Afghan Adjustment Act is similar to other measures enacted after times of conflict in Iraq, Vietnam, and Cuba, enabling evacuees from those countries to change their legal status in the US from temporary to permanent. Advocates say the US has a responsibility to Afghan evacuees because they fought for the American mission in Afghanistan for two decades."It would be an unprecedented failure if this Congress didn't provide what previous congresses have given every modern wartime evacuee population," Vignarajah said."For these families, it's the prospect of a life and death decision of whether the US only provides temporary safe harbor or real permanent protection," she added. "It's a moral stain for our country if we fail to keep our promise." Congress has a lengthy list of priorities to tick off during its final stretch in session, including approving a sweeping package to keep the government funded through fiscal 2023. At the moment, one prospect to advance the Afghan Adjustment Act is by attaching it to that larger spending bill, advocates say. But negotiations on the omnibus are ongoing, and whether the Afghan Adjustment Act will be included is up in the air. "I'm really hopeful that it will be. I don't actually have a sense of whether or not it's going to be," VanDiver said. "Usually you kind of get an idea. Right now, I think it could go either way, and that's scary because we owe these Afghans."Lawmakers are expected to pass a short-term continuing resolution to avert a government shutdown through December 23. Yet without a deal by then, passage of the Afghan Adjustment Act appears doomed, advocates say, keeping Afghan evacuees in perpetual legal limbo. "Simply put, if we don't get a vote in the next two weeks, we are likely never going to get a vote on this bill, at least not for the next two years," Zeller said, adding that "there is almost no way" the measure would move forward under GOP House leadership beginning January 3.<a href="https://www.cbsnews.com/news/afghanistan-troop-removal-biden-approval-opinion-poll/">Public</a> <a href="https://apnews.com/article/immigration-afghanistan-united-states-veterans-only-on-ap-512f1f9465371fdd02ae94feee62852f">polling</a> shows that an overwhelming majority of Americans say the US should help Afghan evacuees and support efforts to do so. In the meantime, advocates are urging their fellow Americans to step up to the plate."Every American that believes in the American ideals should be calling their senators and urging them to support the Afghan Adjustment Act," Rauf said.

Congress must approve a pathway to permanent residency for Afghan allies in the US before the year ends, advocates urge: 'We owe these Afghans'

<ul class="summary-list"><li>President <keyword id="99719" type="PERSON" weightage="60" keywordseo="Joe-Biden">Joe Biden</keyword> is offering foreign-born <keyword id="421559" type="PERSON" weightage="60" keywordseo="farm-workers">farm workers</keyword> the chance to immediately apply for permanent residency.</li><li>Biden's <keyword id="50403" type="ORGANIZATION" weightage="60" keywordseo="Immigration">immigration</keyword> proposal would also give agriculture industry workers the right to <keyword id="2132510" type="PERSON" weightage="60" keywordseo="overtime-pay">overtime pay</keyword>.</li><li>Each year, over 200,000 temporary agricultural workers come to the United States.</li></ul>President Joe Biden is presenting a sweeping immigration reform bill to Congress on his first day in office, prioritizing a sharp rebuke to the Trump years. It would award permanent residency to farm workers who have kept the country fed throughout the pandemic, offer a pathway to citizenship for Dreamers - giving hope to one son of farm workers and brother of a Dreamer.Those who receive green cards would also be fast-tracked for citizenship, part of an effort to provide a path to legal status for more than 11 million undocumented people currently in the US.The bill, which Biden is introducing within hours of his inauguration, will also incorporate the central feature of legislation that Vice President-elect <keyword id="180909" type="PERSON" weightage="60" keywordseo="Kamala-Harris">Kamala Harris</keyword> <a href="https://ufw.org/harrisheatbill10120/">introduced as a senator</a>, extending overtime pay to all who toil in the agriculture industry.Read more: <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/how-to-get-job-biden-administration-white-house-hiring-career-2020-11?r=oo-pol" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Joe Biden is hiring about 4,000 political staffers to work in his administration. Here's how 3 experts say you can boost your chances of getting one of those jobs.</a>To receive permanent residency, temporary agricultural workers - who have spent at least 100 days in four of the last five years working in the US as part of the H-2A visa program - would be eligible for residency if they pass a criminal background check. Residency, among other things, would give potentially hundreds of thousands of farm workers the freedom to leave an abusive employer, something effectively denied them under the H-2A program, where visas are tied to a company sponsor (<a href="https://www.wilsoncenter.org/article/h-2a-program-2020">over 200,000</a> such visas are issued each year, the vast majority to Mexican nationals)."This bill is fundamentally different than what any other president has ever done in emancipating farm workers so they can escape pervasive fear and behave like free men and women," United Farm Workers President Teresa Romero, a member of Biden's transition team, said in a statement.<h2>A reprieve for Dreamers</h2>As The Washington Post <a href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/biden-immigration-plan/2021/01/18/f0526824-59a8-11eb-a976-bad6431e03e2_story.html">reported on Tuesday</a>, the "centerpiece" of the Biden administration plan is an eight-year path to citizenship for millions of undocumented Americans, providing them temporary status for five years and then a green card for three; those who pass a background check and pay their taxes would ultimately receive citizenship.In addition to farm workers, those brought to the United States as children, as well as adults who fled natural and human disasters in Central America and elsewhere, would also be eligible to immediately receive permanent residency.Biden is also poised to issue a slew of executive orders reversing his predecessor's more controversial policies, such as the de facto "Muslim ban" prohibiting travelers from countries such as Iran, Iraq, Libya, and Somalia. The Post reported that he is also likely to reinstate a program providing temporary legal status to minors from Central America.<h2>The real-world impact of Biden's proposal, should it become law</h2>Ruben, an 18-year-old college student in Washington, is one of five children born to farm workers who came to the US from Mexico (Insider is withholding his last name due to parents' undocumented status). He spent summers picking apples and blueberries - backbreaking work that has led him to pursue a career in medicine.He's relieved that the Trump era is over. Former President Barack Obama may have deported millions, but Ruben said he did not demonize and instill fear in millions quite like his successor did, "stereotyping Latino immigrants and just yelling out whatever he thought.""My grandma was here and she would watch the news every day, "Ruben said, "and she would just panic. We just told her to stop watching."Ruben campaigned for Biden, spending over a month in Arizona knocking doors in a state where the Latino vote delivered a knockout to Trump's hopes for a second term. He's hopeful that the stress of the last four years can give way to some optimism, purchased with his contribution to getting out the vote. For him, there's the chance that his family, including an older brother who is a DACA recipient, could stop living in fear.His parents, however, in the US since 2001, have lived through two rounds of presidents pledging to make the immigration system a little more humane. Still, Biden's proposal, the most liberal in decades - with two houses of Congress to clear before becoming law - is to them no less than a potential godsend."They're kind of shocked," Ruben said. "They're pretty religious, so they just have faith in God that this one's going to pass."Have a news tip? Email this reporter: <a href="mailto:cdavis@insider.com">cdavis@insider.com</a>

Biden unveils immigration proposal that offers green cards and overtime pay to farm workers and a pathway to citizenship for Dreamers

<a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/one-planet"></a><div type="image" title="Insider One Planet Banner" height="150" width="1200" msid="99472760" hostid="261"></div>In 2009, Benj Sykes wanted to make a career change. He started out in geology — "I've still got my coloring pencils," he joked to Insider — and worked his way up through the oil-and-gas industry, taking on roles at Shell and Hess Corp.Sykes was successful, but the ethical implications of his career choice were troubling him."I had young kids, and they kept challenging me," Sykes said. "I thought, you know what, I want to do something with a bit more purpose."He made the leap and became the head of technology innovation at the Carbon Trust, a UK organization that helps governments and businesses decarbonize. Later, in 2012, Sykes joined <a href="https://us.orsted.com/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Ørsted</a>, a Danish energy company. He said it "absolutely was" a personal decision to "move from black to green."Today, Ørsted is the world's biggest producer of offshore wind. It has wind farms in the US, Germany, and the UK, and it produces <a href="https://orstedcdn.azureedge.net/-/media/annual2021/annual-report-2021.ashx?la=en&amp;rev=9d4904ddf4c44594adab627f7e4c62be&amp;hash=BD463F56D8BEF7EB591136136FEFDF44" target="_blank" rel="noopener">90% of its energy</a> from renewable resources.Ørsted didn't start as a renewable-energy company, though. Like Sykes, it made a transition from black to green — and in doing so, it demonstrated it's possible for big energy companies to pivot to clean energy.The energy sector accounts for <a href="https://www.iea.org/commentaries/if-the-energy-sector-is-to-tackle-climate-change-it-must-also-think-about-water" target="_blank" rel="noopener">more than two-thirds of global greenhouse-gas emissions</a>, the International Energy Agency estimates. To limit the influence of climate change, those emissions need to rapidly decrease — which means that big energy companies need to change their operations.So far, though, the energy sector has been slow to make progress. A 2022 study found that <a href="https://www.lse.ac.uk/granthaminstitute/news/51-of-major-global-energy-companies-are-still-failing-to-disclose-their-decarbonisation-strategy/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">51% of the world's biggest publicly listed energy companies</a> had not set out a strategy to reduce their emissions. The sector has suggested that a transition to clean energy would be difficult and expensive. BP, for instance, <a href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/business/2023/02/07/bp-climate-emissions-oil-profits/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">recently scaled back its climate pledges</a>, citing poor return on investments.But Ørsted, which recorded <a href="https://www.wsj.com/articles/bps-ceo-plays-down-renewables-push-11675249471" target="_blank" rel="noopener">a net profit of $2 billion</a> last year, shows that the energy sector can change in a way that's both profitable and relatively fast.<h2>Going from oil to renewables </h2>When Ørsted started in 1972, it went by a different name: Dansk Naturgas. The company was established by the Danish government, which wanted to find a solution to Denmark's reliance on imported oil. Dansk Naturgas began extracting oil and natural gas in the North Sea. Production boomed.In the mid-2000s, renewable power started to become part of the conversation. In 2006, Dansk Naturgas merged with five wind-power companies and renamed itself DONG Energy. The merger meant the company had access to in-house wind-energy specialists — which gave it the expertise needed to make the shift to renewable energy.The 2008 financial crisis added pressure. As gas prices fell, DONG Energy faced a choice: innovate, or wait for the storm to pass."Anders Eldrup, our CEO at the time, said, 'You know what? We need to flip things around,'" Sykes told Insider.In 2009, DONG Energy announced its "85/15" vision: It wanted to convert its portfolio from 85% fossil fuels to 85% renewables by 2040.Sykes said leadership was key: "It was really driven by Anders, if I'm honest. I think he had the vision, and he brought his leadership in with him."DONG Energy got to work. It partnered with Siemens to make wind turbines, purchased a smaller company to help install the turbines, and worked with a vessel manufacturer to build installation ships.The biggest challenge? Reducing the cost of wind energy. "Scale has been absolutely key," Sykes said. "Our first offshore wind farm in the UK was 90 megawatts, and the one that we've just finished, Hornsea 2, is 1,400 megawatts — a huge expansion of scale."He added that technological breakthroughs and competition also helped bring down costs.Sykes said that human resources were also vital."We were able to bring people from our oil-and-gas business in," he said, including staff with knowledge of marine engineering, geoengineering, and electrical engineering.<h2>'It's 100% replicable'</h2>In 2017, DONG Energy sold the exploration and extraction side of its oil-and-gas business and renamed itself once again, this time after Danish physicist Hans Chrisitan Ørsted. Sykes said the company chose to sell the fossil-fuel assets because "we needed to make a decisive shift."According to professor Neil Strachan, an energy economist at University College London, the decision was financial, too. The oil-and-gas assets sold for just over $1 billion."They were able to then keep on going and have enough money to invest in capital-intensive wind farms," Strachan told Insider.The 2017 sale allowed the company to hit its target two decades ahead of schedule. By 2019, 85% of its portfolio was renewable energy.<div type="image" title="Photo of an offshore wind turbine in the middle of the ocean with a large ship to the left" height="4384" width="6577" msid="99472762" hostid="261"></div>The foundations of Ørsted's transition were laid long before it came up with official targets. Government policy was a key enabler. In 1990, the effects of fossil fuels were creeping up the agenda of the Danish government. Over the next two decades, it gradually upped its green policies, introducing subsidies to reduce the cost of wind power and setting goals to make Denmark fossil-fuel-free by 2050.Strachan said Ørsted benefited from the Danish government's positive support but added that didn't mean Ørsted's transition was unique."It's 100% replicable," he said. "It's not like there's this one narrow pathway — there's no reason why other firms can't make that transition."<h2>Other companies can follow</h2>In a <a href="https://idric.org/resources/briefing-paper-sunset-and-sunrise-offensive-exploratory-and-defensive-industry-strategies-in-socio-technical-energy-transitions/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">briefing paper</a> coauthored with Brunilde Verrier, Strachan outlined three broad strategies that big companies took in the face of change.First, there's the "defensive" strategy: A company makes only incremental changes, like cost cutting or downsizing.Then there's the "exploratory" strategy, where companies start to experiment with new options and collaborate with newer businesses. In the context of the energy transition, this could include partnering with a hydrogen startup.Finally, there's the "offensive" strategy, where companies actively drive innovation. For instance, a company might invest in renewable energy."These incumbents can be very innovative," Strachan said. "This idea that you just have startups who are the innovative ones and you have these incumbents always defensive is not true."Verrier told Insider that we needed the expertise of large incumbent industries to advance the energy sector's transition to net zero."They can actually shape future energy pathways, depending on the direction that they take," she said."If they choose to go towards adaptation and innovation and the transfer of their assets, then they can have an immense weight into accelerating the low-carbon transition," Verrier said. "The assets aren't just investments; it's physical and human skills as well."If energy companies don't change, they could get left behind, Verrier and Strachan said. Strachan highlighted Kodak as an example. The camera company dominated the market in the '80s and '90s but failed to adopt digital technology fast enough in the early 2000s. In 2012, the company filed for bankruptcy protection. Strachan said the energy sector needs to take heed of companies like Kodak who have left it too late, and added that no company was too big to fail.Most of the oil-and-gas "supermajors" — think: company names you see at the gas station — have tiptoed into the "exploratory" phase and started to make pledges to reduce their greenhouse-gas emissions.There are several ways for the supermajors to do this. They can improve their operations — for example, they can reduce methane leaks or electrify their equipment. Some are even pivoting to carbon-capture technology: Exxon Mobil, for instance, is developing <a href="https://corporate.exxonmobil.com/news/news-releases/2021/0201_exxonmobil-low-carbon-solutions-to-commercialize-emission-reduction-technology#:~:text=ExxonMobil%20Low%20Carbon%20Solutions%20is,emission%20energy%20solutions%20through%202025." target="_blank" rel="noopener">20 carbon-capture and -storage projects</a> around the world.Alternatively, the supermajors can switch to renewable energy and hydrogen. Shell, for example, says it has about <a href="https://www.shell.com/energy-and-innovation/new-energies.html#:~:text=Shell%20has%20now%20about%2050,the%20funnel%20of%20potential%20projects." target="_blank" rel="noopener">50 gigawatts of renewable energy in operation, under construction, or in development</a>.But, Strachan said, while Shell is "one of the largest renewable companies in the world," its investments in renewable energy are "substantially less" than its investments in fossil fuels. In 2021, <a href="https://www.globalwitness.org/en/press-releases/energy-giant-shell-misleading-us-authorities-investors-and-the-public-by-labelling-fossil-fuels-as-renewable/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Shell invested 1.5% of its total $19.7 billion expenditure into wind and solar power</a>.<h2>Activists have mixed opinions</h2>David Tong from the nongovernmental organization Oil Change International told Insider that the major oil-and-gas companies were responsible for the climate crisis and that they needed to be held accountable for it."We've looked at their climate pledges and promises and assessed them against what we needed to align with the Paris agreement," Tong said. "We found that all those companies' pledges were either insufficient or grossly insufficient."He added: "We won't solve the climate crisis with the same tools and the same companies that have caused it. There's no reason to believe that any of these companies are currently serious about the energy transition."Others think the supermajors can still make meaningful change. Mark van Baal is a shareholder activist. His campaign group, <a href="https://www.follow-this.org/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Follow This</a>, is trying to change oil-and-gas companies from the inside. It pressures the supermajors to reduce emissions in line with the <a href="https://unfccc.int/process-and-meetings/the-paris-agreement?gclid=Cj0KCQjw_r6hBhDdARIsAMIDhV_lMdQgdNer8pI1riCeavlFFfpWPSzVsta6jwtqi2Uq89KDsL8om6MaAmGVEALw_wcB" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Paris agreement</a> through resolutions submitted at annual shareholder meetings."I thought, these oil majors, they will hang on to this business model as long as the shareholders allow them to," van Baal told Insider.While van Baal has had some success, shareholders are hesitant to vote for his proposals."It's still an old boys network, I'm afraid," he said.Van Baal wants the supermajors to reduce their <a href="https://www.epa.gov/climateleadership/scope-3-inventory-guidance#:~:text=Scope%203%20Resources-,Description%20of%20Scope%203%20Emissions,scope%201%20and%202%20boundary." target="_blank" rel="noopener">scope 3 emissions</a> — or all the emissions made by customers using the company's products, plus all the emissions made by suppliers making the products that the company uses."Scope 3 is over 90% of their impact," he said."If we could do the energy transition without them, I wouldn't be doing this," van Baal added. "They have the brains, the billions, the global reach, the global market-making opportunities to scale this.""We need them, whether we like it or not."This article is part of "<a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/category/the-great-transition" rel="">The Great Transition</a>," a series covering the lofty changes across industries that are leading to a more sustainable future. For more climate-action news, visit Insider's <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/one-planet" target="_blank" rel="noopener">One Planet</a> hub.

From black to green: How an oil-and-gas company pivoted to embrace wind energy &mdash; and is now raking in billions

<ul class="summary-list"><li>Urban gardening can offer a green respite for residents who want to grow food and find community.</li><li>Philadelphia recently announced it would buy 91 properties containing green spaces and gardens.</li><li>Studies show urban gardens can help keep neighborhoods cooler and perhaps reduce gun violence and depression.</li></ul>Victor Young breathed a sigh of relief earlier this summer.The urban garden he helped start nearly a decade ago on abandoned lots in West Philadelphia was finally protected.In June, <a href="https://www.phillyvoice.com/community-gardens-purchase-us-bank-liens-sheriffs-sales-city-council-buyback-plan/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">the city announced it would buy</a> 91 properties where gardens and green spaces had flourished but were at risk of being sold off for development — including a garden Young had cofounded named Five Loaves Two Fish."We'd been working to keep that garden growing as much as possible," Young told Insider. "The threat of developers coming in and taking that land after all that we had built was frightening."Over the years, Young had secured most of the land through the Neighborhood Gardens Trust, an organization that works with locals and city officials to obtain long-term leases or ownership of community green spaces.<div type="image" title="Victor Young" height="1656" width="2208" msid="102957174" hostid="261" sizebytes="111286"></div>The last lot, however, was owned by US Bank <a href="https://www.inquirer.com/news/philadelphia-community-garden-tax-lien-us-bank-gentrification-20211006.html#loaded" target="_blank" rel="noopener">because of a failed property deal with the city of Philadelphia</a> dating to 1997. Thousands of properties tied up in the deal sat neglected for decades, and locals transformed some into urban gardens. But as the city gentrified, these lots became more valuable and drew the interest of real-estate developers.Young, a board member of Neighborhood Gardens Trust, is part of a coalition of urban growers, advocacy groups, and local officials in Philadelphia trying to protect and expand the city's 450 urban gardens and farms. There is growing evidence that these spaces not only improve food security in many Black and brown neighborhoods but also reduce violence and <a href="https://www.epa.gov/heatislands/climate-change-and-heat-islands" target="_blank" rel="noopener">the "urban heat island" effect</a> that's exacerbated by the climate crisis."The problem in Philadelphia is that gardens are not seen as permanent use but temporary," Ash Richards, who in 2019 became the first urban-agriculture director at Philadelphia Parks &amp; Recreation, told Insider. "A solution is to make policies that provide a pathway to preservation that lowers barriers to access and ownership."Over the past few years, Richards collaborated with a grassroots coalition of Black and brown growers called Soil Generation <a href="https://www.phila.gov/media/20230421153052/Philadelphia-Urban-Agriculture-Plan.pdf" target="_blank" rel="noopener">to come up with the city's first-ever plan</a> to support urban agriculture. The plan, named "Growing from the Root," was finalized in April and includes nearly 90 recommendations for the city government to secure and support community gardens.The urban-agriculture office has a $290,000 budget this fiscal year, Richards, who hopes to increase funding in future years, said. One of the first priorities is establishing a resource center that provides training for growers and offers seeds, soil, and tools needed for gardens, Richards added. The office is also trying to make it easier for growers to apply online to lease land owned by the parks department, and it's translating the application into five languages.<div type="image" title="A woman at a community garden in Philadelphia" height="1703" width="1703" msid="102957175" hostid="261" sizebytes="247998"></div>But the changes must go beyond Philadelphia Parks &amp; Recreation, Richards said. Ensuring urban gardens aren't sold out from under growers who don't own the land — yet have been tending to it for years — requires additional actions by the City Council and other agencies. That includes Philadelphia's Land Bank, which was set up in 2014 to revitalize both public and private property left vacant or underused."The budget my office received is a start, but we have to make sure the work is funded and staffed," Richards said. "We can't rely on people volunteering their time for the next 10 years to get this done."Implementing the urban-agriculture plan could yield more benefits than a boosted supply of fresh, local food, Richards said. Many Black and brown neighborhoods don't have enough green spaces, which makes residents more susceptible to extreme heat. Gardens can help keep people cool and improve air quality.Jenny Greenberg, the executive director of Neighborhood Gardens Trust, said <a href="https://www.pnas.org/doi/10.1073/pnas.1718503115" target="_blank" rel="noopener">research had found that green spaces in Philadelphia reduced gun violence</a> and <a href="https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jamanetworkopen/fullarticle/2688343" target="_blank" rel="noopener">feelings of depression</a>."Having empirical evidence has made a big difference in being able to make the case that urban agriculture has economic benefits, as well as social and health benefits," Greenberg said. "Then there's the more-intuitive knowledge that these places build community and strengthen people's sense of connection."<div type="image" title="People gather at a community garden in Philadelphia" height="1200" width="1600" msid="102957177" hostid="261" sizebytes="308870"></div>That kind of connection is what Young set out to achieve at Five Loaves Two Fish with his cofounder, Beverly Giles Carter. They just held a going-away party for local high-school graduates who had worked at the garden for years, Young said. Now that the site is secured, they want to set up a larger program for students."We're growing food and building connections with the young and the old," Young said. "The garden is a place where people can commune, and it keeps negativity down in the neighborhood. So it's served its purpose as a place to feed people, rest, and communicate."

A growing urban-farming movement has transformed dozens of vacant lots in Philadelphia. Now with city backing, some crucial green spaces can flourish without the threat of development.

<ul class="summary-list"><li>Rep. <keyword id="9740457" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="60" keywordseo="marjorie-taylor-greene">Marjorie Taylor Greene</keyword> falsely accused undocumented <keyword id="70933" type="PERSON" weightage="60" keywordseo="immigrants">immigrants</keyword> of hosting "big barbacoas" at the <keyword id="38530" type="PERSON" weightage="60" keywordseo="Border">border</keyword>. </li><li>She is echoing GOP talking points raising alarm about the influx of migrants crossing the border.</li><li>The Biden administration is reversing many of Trump's harsh anti-immigrant policies. </li></ul>Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene, a far-right Georgia Republican who has embraced conspiracy theories, falsely accused undocumented immigrants of hosting "big barbacoas" on the border to celebrate President Joe Biden. "Hey @JoeBiden, all those illegals you are welcoming in our country are having big barbacoas right now at our border," she <a href="https://twitter.com/mtgreenee/status/1370205956940959749">tweeted</a> on Thursday night. "They aren't waiting until July 4th like you want legal American taxpayers to do, if they get the vaccine. You also forgot to thank President Trump for the shot!" Republican lawmakers have focused their messaging on the recent surge in migrants crossing the <keyword id="399516" type="PERSON" weightage="60" keywordseo="US-Mexico-border">US-Mexico border</keyword>, returning to former President Donald Trump's anti-immigrant playbook. They're attempting to raise alarm about "super-spreader caravans" of immigrants in much the same way that Trump wildly exaggerated the threat of violent "caravans" of criminals looking to invade the country.And they're blaming Biden's reversal of Trump's harsh anti-immigrant policies for the influx in unaccompanied migrant children who've crossed the border in recent weeks. Thousands of migrant children have been detained under Biden's new administration and the surge is causing delays in transferring the kids from federal facilities meant for adults to Department of Health and Human Services shelters. The Biden administration is loosening Trump's restrictions on refugees and asylum seekers, expanding family-based immigration, creating a pathway to citizenship and permanent residence for millions of undocumented foreign workers, and reducing mass deportations. Biden has also reversed Trump's "remain in Mexico" policy, which barred refugees and asylum seekers from staying in the US while their claims are processed and forced thousands into dangerous and squalid camps in Mexico. White House chief of staff Ron Klain said recently that the Biden administration "inherited a real mess" on the border and seeks to implement a more "humane" set of policies to deal with it. Biden pledged during a national address on Thursday night to make COVID-19 vaccines available to all adult Americans by May 1. And he said he expects the country to return to something resembling normal life by July 4, when he'll encourage small family gatherings. "July 4th with your loved ones is the goal," the president said.While Greene claimed that undocumented immigrants aren't "waiting until July 4th" to gather, she and other Republican lawmakers have aggressively resisted and undermined federal health officials' guidelines on gatherings, mask-wearing, social distancing, and other COVID-19 mitigation practices. Greene has called masks "<a href="https://www.cbsnews.com/news/marjorie-taylor-greene-incoming-house-member-says-masks-are-oppressive-covid-19-surge/">oppressive</a>" and long called for states to fully reopen. She's held her own gatherings, including her election victory party and town halls, with little regard for virus safety measures.

Marjorie Taylor Greene falsely claims 'all those illegals' are celebrating with 'big barbacoas' on the border while thousands of migrant children are being detained

<ul class="summary-list"><li><keyword id="11896956" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="60" keywordseo="texas" source="Orion">Texas</keyword> is the forefront of the <keyword id="11940458" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="60" keywordseo="redistricting" source="Orion">redistricting</keyword> battles across the US. </li><li>Had an earlier set of maps become law, Rep. Al Green would have challenged Rep. Shelia Jackson Lee. </li></ul>As Texas emerges at the forefront of the redistricting battles across the US, one Congressman is determined to ensure that his constituents are fairly represented. Rep. Al Green, a Democrat who has served as a Congressional representative for Texas' 9th District since 2005, was in office for the last redistricting cycle in 2010.The cycle resulted in a panel of federal judges declaring that the redistricting process was marked by Texas lawmakers <a href="https://www.texastribune.org/2017/04/20/court-texas-house-map-intentionally-diluted-votes/">"intentionally" diluting the voting power of voters of color. </a>Today, redistricting is just as contentious. A coalition of civil rights groups are suing Texas officials over district maps they argue contributes to the diminution of Latinos' political influence. And it's not just Latinos that will be hurt by the new maps, advocates say. Related Article Module: Redistricting efforts could destroy Black and Latino political power. Advocates are sounding the alarm.The maps, which were developed by the GOP-led Texas House of Representatives, create two additional majority white districts at the expense of one majority Latino district and would erase the state's sole majority Black district."This [voter suppression] is nothing new for Texas," Green, told Insider. "This is just the latest iteration of it that we're experiencing now." While Texas has a well-documented history of diminishing <a href="https://www.texastribune.org/2019/09/10/texas-enters-2021-redistricting-fewer-safeguards-voters-color/">the political influence of voters of color through redistricting</a>, the battle has only become more intense.This is the first since the Supreme Court's 2013 Shelby v. Holder decision that states won't have to get federal preclearance confirming their maps aren't discriminatory. Texas' new redistricting maps have been signed into law. But that's not stopping Green and many others from challenging them. <h2>Texas maps initially pitted Rep. Shelia Jackson Lee and Green together </h2>People of color were responsible for 95% of Texas' population growth from 2010-2020 and are the reason why Texas is gaining two additional Congressional seats. Yet neither of the new seats will be allocated to majority non-white districts. "We know that we are fighting racism on multiple fronts, but we still deny that it's happening when we're doing this redistricting," Green said. Had an earlier set of maps gone into effect, Green would have had to challenge Rep. Shelia Jackson Lee, who currently serves Texas' 18th District, during the next Congressional term. Green and Jackson Lee, who are both Black Democratic lawmakers, would have split Black Democratic voters in Houston. The race could have also potentially resulted in one fewer Black lawmaker in Texas."This is what I call gerrymandering," Green said. "In my opinion, you commit one of the most egregious offenses if you gerrymander a person who has been duly elected by the constituents of a given Congressional district." Green suggested it's especially salient that the original maps pitted two Black lawmakers against each other. "It's not a coincidence that many of these battles over redistricting are taking place in states that are rapidly diversifying, like Texas," Michael Li, senior counsel for the Brennan Center for Justice's Democracy program, told Insider. "Before, states like Texas were covered by section 5 of the <keyword id="12436880" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="60" keywordseo="voting-rights-act" source="Orion">Voting Rights Act</keyword>, but after it was gutted in 2013, protections for communities of color were lost," he said. While the proposed map was ultimately changed, there's still much work to be done to ensure Texans' voices are heard, say advocates. "It's an all-hands-on-deck situation," Marina Jenkins, the director of litigation and policy for the National Democratic Redistricting Committee (NDRC), a Democrat-led organization that works towards fair maps through litigation and other efforts, told Insider. "The redistricting process should reflect the growing political power of communities of color, but if you were looking at the [Texas] maps without the full context, you wouldn't be able to tell the extent to which the number of people of color in the state has grown," she added. <h2>Litigation and legislation are the way forward, argues Green </h2>Texas has enacted some of the most stringent voter suppression laws in the country. Gov. Greg Abbott signed Senate Bill 1 into law in September, legislation that bans drive-thru voting, implements additional ID requirements for Texans who <keyword id="12181421" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="60" keywordseo="vote" source="Orion">vote</keyword> by mail, among other <a href="https://www.statesman.com/story/news/2021/08/27/texas-voting-bill-sb-1-election-law-ballot-polls/5616452001/">stipulations.</a> To Rep. Green, these voter suppression laws signal the need for comprehensive <keyword id="11940459" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="60" keywordseo="voting-rights" source="Orion">voting rights</keyword> legislation, including the John Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act, which would restore parts of the Voting Rights Act of 1965. For advocates, the legislation represents their best chance at ensuring communities of color aren't excluded from the political process. Related Article Module: Candidates of color made history in elections across the country. Here's a breakdown of winners breaking barriersWhile the bill passed in the US House of Representatives in August, the filibuster presents a major challenge to it passing in the Senate. In the meantime, litigation continues from the voter advocacy groups ensuring Black and brown voices aren't erased. Green told Insider that "there's a good likelihood" he'll be one of the people fighting in court for fair maps. "You need to be engaged to protect the rights of people to select the person of their choice," he said.Litigation isn't perfect, particularly because the courts can be slow-moving. Li, of the Brennan Center, expressed concern that as these cases remain ongoing, Texas can move forward with "discriminatory maps." Yet he maintains that the lawsuits will nonetheless help "create the record" and a pathway for change. "It's important for people to understand that redistricting locks in power for 10 years and has enormous consequences for what our democracy looks like and whether people of color are represented," Li said. "This is a once-in-a-decade opportunity."

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