It was such a whirlwind week in coverage information, we’re that includes two gadgets that ought to issue into your sustainability crew’s decision-making within the months forward.

1. Extra safety for extra of the ocean

The primary growth, the formal adoption of the Excessive Seas Treaty by United Nations member states after many years of bickering, units up a mechanism for shielding marine areas that lie exterior of the jurisdiction of nationwide governments. That’s something that lies greater than 200 nautical miles offshore of a given nation — mainly two-thirds of the ocean.

Other than affecting extra conventional industries, akin to maritime delivery and fisheries, there are two locations the place this can actually matter for these engaged on local weather plans. First, it might have an effect on how we use the ocean for carbon sequestration, and restrict the areas the place this will likely be allowed. It’s additionally certain to arrange much more fights over deep sea mining, a apply criticized for its potential to disturb the largely unexplored and unmapped ocean flooring.   

2. Larger quotas for biofuels

The U.S. Environmental Safety Company adopted new mandates for biofuels that may assist scale back the nation’s dependence on fossil fuels — and it appears only a few persons are glad about them. 

What you need to know: The foundations improve the quantity that have to be blended into the U.S. gasoline combine over the following three years, from 21.54 billion gallons in 2023 to 22.33 billion gallons in 2025. One major purpose is to cut back dependence on international oil.

Among the many issues coated: Cellulosic biofuels (created from grasses, wooden, algae or different vegetation), biodiesel (created from vegetable oils and animal fat) and ethanol. Sure, sustainable aviation gasoline falls into the combination.  

The whole quantities required underneath the brand new coverage are larger than earlier variations, however biofuels business teams say they don’t go far sufficient. Particularly, some are upset by the exclusion of a plan to create credit for electrical car charging stations powered by gasoline created from renewable sources, akin to methane sourced at landfills or ranches. “Seen along side the company’s current proposed tailpipe emissions requirements, it’s now clear that the Biden Administration is dangerously overestimating the pace at which the nation will have the ability to transition to zero emissions automobiles, and on the similar time underestimating the nation’s need to eat lower-carbon liquid fuels within the meantime,” wrote NATSO, which represents truck stops and journey plazas, in a press release.

The underside line: State-level low-carbon fuels packages akin to those in California and Oregon, which give credit to firms looking for to decarbonize transportation, are nonetheless vitally necessary. Look ahead to extra to emerge. Additionally, try extra information, with a selected twist on sustainable aviation fuels, in our colleague AJ Artis’ article.