Breakthrough Institute

TMC Commends U.S. Congress on Bill to “Provide Financial, Diplomatic, or Other Forms of Support for Seafloor Nodule Collection, Processing and Refining” and Advancing International Regulations for Seafloor Resources

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Mercredi, mars 13, 2024

The bill is endorsed by a coalition of leaders across the offshore energy industry, marine mineral exploration, and global research centers.

Key Points:

The bill is endorsed by a coalition of leaders across the offshore energy industry, marine mineral exploration, and global research centers.
Additionally, we eagerly await the forthcoming Pentagon report on nodules as directed by the House Armed Services Committee.
The Pentagon’s ability and willingness to support a feasibility study for a domestic refinery could help establish mineral independence for the U.S. in nickel, cobalt and manganese.
The newly introduced Responsible Use of Seafloor Resources Act aims to ready the United States for the commercial availability of seafloor nodules, an abundant source of critical minerals.

New Slate of Officers and Board Members Elected at EnerGeo’s 53rd Annual Membership Meeting

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Jeudi, février 22, 2024

Ex officio member, EVP, Exploration, TGS, CGG, Woodside Energy, Shearwater, SLB, PGS, Breakthrough Institute, CNCP, Energy, Fairfield Geotechnologies, Independent, Management

Houston, Feb. 22, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Today, EnerGeo Alliance successfully concluded its 53rd Annual Membership Meeting where members elected new directors and officers.

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Houston, Feb. 22, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Today, EnerGeo Alliance successfully concluded its 53rd Annual Membership Meeting where members elected new directors and officers.
Andrea Lovatini (Director, Exploration Data and Geosolutions, slb) and Irene Waage Basili (CEO, Shearwater ) have been elected directors for 2-year terms (2024-2026).
The virtual EnerGeo Alliance Annual Membership Meeting featured keynote speakers Dr. Vijaya Ramachandran , Director for Energy and Development at The Breakthrough Institute and Cameron Grebe , IOPER (International Offshore Petroleum Environment Regulators) Chair.
Industry executives Irene Waage Basili (CEO, Shearwater) and Andy Drummond (EVP, Exploration & Development, Woodside Energy ) shared their perspectives on the industry’s future.

Breakthrough Institute Endorses Bill to Improve Climate Data Coordination at USDA

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Jeudi, février 1, 2024

Education, USDA, Data, Congress, Member of Congress, Legislation, Science, Research, Breakthrough, Food, Farmer, Breakthrough Institute, Bangladesh Technical Education Board, Face, Data collection, Technology transfer, Renewable energy

WASHINGTON, Feb. 01, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The Breakthrough Institute endorses the Improving Coordination of Agriculture Research and Data Act , introduced this week by Congresswoman Julia Brownley (D-CA), along with Congresswoman Jasmine Crockett (D-TX).

Key Points:

WASHINGTON, Feb. 01, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The Breakthrough Institute endorses the Improving Coordination of Agriculture Research and Data Act , introduced this week by Congresswoman Julia Brownley (D-CA), along with Congresswoman Jasmine Crockett (D-TX).
This legislation includes proposals for the Department of Agriculture (USDA) to establish a new scientific advisory committee focused on agriculture climate research; create a “Rural Climate Alliance Network'' to strategically align agricultural climate research, data systems, and technology transfer; and direct USDA to issue a report to Congress that identifies the research, data systems, and technical assistance needs of farmers, ranchers, foresters and rural communities.
These efforts will ensure the federal agriculture climate research agenda is driven by science and coordinated with producers to address both immediate and long-term climate challenges.
As the adoption of climate-smart agriculture practices continue to expand, it is now more important than ever that USDA programs and agencies actively coordinate their climate research, data collection, and monitoring efforts.

New Study Reveals Important Insights on the Carbon Footprint of Beef Production

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Mercredi, décembre 13, 2023

Carbon footprint, Livestock, Research, Manure, UC, PLOS, Doctor of Philosophy, Breakthrough Institute, Breakthrough, Carbon, Climate, Economics, Soil

Many companies claim to sell carbon-neutral beef or reduce their carbon footprint by offering grass-fed alternatives.

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Many companies claim to sell carbon-neutral beef or reduce their carbon footprint by offering grass-fed alternatives.
Specifically, the study found that grass-fed beef operations had 20% higher emissions from production than grain-finished systems and a 42% higher carbon footprint overall when considering carbon sequestration and land use.
A 10% increase in beef production per acre was associated with a 4.8% decrease in emissions from production and a 9.0% decrease in carbon footprint, encompassing production emissions, soil carbon sequestration, and carbon opportunity cost.
According to co-author Linus Blomqvist “studies looking at the carbon footprint of beef have long been incomplete, often just including the production side and sometimes also accounting for carbon sequestration on grazing land.

New report details the 3 trillion euro cost of Europe's anti-science stance on new genomic techniques

Retrieved on:

Mardi, octobre 24, 2023

The report further projects that this could compound to over €3 trillion over a decade.

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The report further projects that this could compound to over €3 trillion over a decade.
Dr Sheila Ochugboju, director of the Alliance for Science, commented: "This report details the high cost of saying no to scientific innovations.
The report discusses the scientific community's concern regarding the EU's position on NGTs, especially in light of the global advancements in bioeconomy.
In its conclusion the report underscores the economic considerations for the EU surrounding the adoption or non-adoption of NGTs.

Breakthrough Institute Highlights Critical Minerals' Role in Clean Transportation to Congress and Media

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Jeudi, septembre 28, 2023

The briefing highlighted some of the emerging challenges related to the United States’ shift toward clean energy and an increased adoption of electric vehicles (EVs).

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The briefing highlighted some of the emerging challenges related to the United States’ shift toward clean energy and an increased adoption of electric vehicles (EVs).
Specifically, the emphasis was on the significant role of critical minerals and their broader implications for U.S. public policy.
Nunes' remarks highlight the looming challenges in achieving set EV adoption goals, underscoring the pertinence of the institute's report.
The research unveiled deep insights into the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)'s new proposed rules, targeting an increase in nationwide EV sales.

130 Leading Corporations, Startups, Universities, Non-profits, and Research Stakeholders Unite in Support of a $750 Million Investment for the Foundation for Food and Agriculture Research

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Mardi, septembre 19, 2023

Breakthrough Institute, FFAR, Breeding, University, Agricultural Act of 2014, Research, Congress, Australian Centre for International Agricultural Research, National Institute of Food and Agriculture, Weather, Letter, Renewable energy, Agriculture, Food

FFAR, established in the Agriculture Act of 2014, has demonstrated its indispensable role in addressing vital food and agriculture research needs.

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FFAR, established in the Agriculture Act of 2014, has demonstrated its indispensable role in addressing vital food and agriculture research needs.
From 2002 to 2019, U.S. public investment in agricultural research declined 30%, and international competitors like China, Brazil, and India have surpassed the U.S in research funding.
“FFAR is a vital source of funding for climate-smart research and development in food and agriculture,” says Daniel Blaustein-Rejto, Director of Food and Agriculture of The Breakthrough Institute.
The proposed $750 million would ensure the food supply chain remains sustainable, innovative, and robust enough to support an ever-growing global population.

New Peer-Reviewed Article by The Breakthrough Institute Highlights Fundamental Category Error in Climate Science and Communications

Retrieved on:

Mardi, août 22, 2023

Breakthrough Institute, Policy, Climate, Hurricane Harvey, Weather, Trust, Climate change, Climatic Change (journal), Risk

BERKELEY, Calif., Aug. 22, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- A new peer-reviewed article by Dr. Patrick Brown, Co-Director of the Climate and Energy Team at The Breakthrough Institute , argues that a genre of studies that purports to blame large portions of extreme weather impacts on climate change are based on a fundamental category error.

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BERKELEY, Calif., Aug. 22, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- A new peer-reviewed article by Dr. Patrick Brown, Co-Director of the Climate and Energy Team at The Breakthrough Institute , argues that a genre of studies that purports to blame large portions of extreme weather impacts on climate change are based on a fundamental category error.
In his article published in Climatic Change titled, “When the fraction of attributable risk does not inform the impact associated with anthropogenic climate change,” Brown contends that this error has to do with a miscategorization of weather and climate phenomena as discrete countable events rather than recognizing the reality that those phenomena are on a continuum of intensity.
In perhaps the most high-profile instance of this mischaracterization to date, a study that made global headlines inflated the economic damages from Hurricane Harvey that could be blamed on climate change by a factor of five.
“If we want science to regain trust and for policy decisions to be made on the most accurate information, the relationship between climate change and extreme weather much be quantified and communicated as accurately as possible.”

Breakthrough Institute Announces Support of Bipartisan Bill to Bolster Financing for Innovative Food Businesses

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Jeudi, août 10, 2023

Breakthrough Institute, Food, American Rescue Plan Act of 2021, Farmer, Student Aid and Fiscal Responsibility Act, Bass, Congress, Investment, USDA, Climate, Transport, Legislation, Fiscal, Renewable energy, Molinaro

WASHINGTON, Aug. 10, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The Breakthrough Institute announces its support for the Food Supply Chain Capacity and Resiliency Act , a bipartisan bill introduced by Representatives Ro Khanna (D-CA-17), Shontel Brown (D-OH-11), Max Miller (R-OH-7), and Marc Molinaro (R-NY-19).

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WASHINGTON, Aug. 10, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The Breakthrough Institute announces its support for the Food Supply Chain Capacity and Resiliency Act , a bipartisan bill introduced by Representatives Ro Khanna (D-CA-17), Shontel Brown (D-OH-11), Max Miller (R-OH-7), and Marc Molinaro (R-NY-19).
This proposed legislation aims to enhance financing opportunities for agricultural and food businesses, with a focus on improving the resilience and productivity of the U.S. food system.
The Food Supply Chain Guaranteed Loan Program, initially authorized by the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 as part of USDA's Build Back Better initiative.
These investments were intended to expand capacity and foster a more resilient, diverse, and secure U.S. food supply chain.

Breakthrough Institute Appoints Varun Sivaram to Board of Directors

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Lundi, juillet 10, 2023

Breakthrough Institute, United Nations, ReNew Power, Policy, Special, Stanford University, Energy, Stanford Woods Institute for the Environment, Aspen, Council, United, Foreign policy, City, Aspen Institute, Breakthrough, Pharmaceutical industry, Renewable energy, Management

BERKELEY, Calif., July 10, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The Breakthrough Institute , a global research center that identifies and promotes technological solutions to environmental and human development challenges, is pleased to announce the appointment of Varun Sivaram to its Board of Directors.

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BERKELEY, Calif., July 10, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The Breakthrough Institute , a global research center that identifies and promotes technological solutions to environmental and human development challenges, is pleased to announce the appointment of Varun Sivaram to its Board of Directors.
Mr. Sivaram has been a board member or advisor for the United Nations, the World Economic Forum, Stanford's Woods Institute and Precourt Institute, the Aspen Institute, ITIF, the Energy for Growth Hub, and the cities of Los Angeles and New York City.
“We have been fellow travelers with Varun for years, and we’re really excited to now have him on our board,” said Breakthrough’s Executive Director Ted Nordhaus.
Previously, Varun has offered counsel on Breakthrough Institute research projects, spoken on panels at Breakthrough events, and been published in the Breakthrough Journal.