4/22 Earth Day, US greenhouse gas, carbon surge, Tacoma fuel ban, recycling worth, Fairy Cr protest, SR3, no discharge

Flag of Earth [James Cadle]

Earth Day
Earth Day is an annual event on April 22 to demonstrate support for environmental protection. First held on April 22, 1970, it now includes a wide range of events coordinated globally by EARTHDAY.ORG including 1 billion people in more than 193 countries. (Wikipedia)

Biden commits the U.S. to cutting greenhouse gas emissions in half by 2030
President Biden on Thursday declared America “has resolved to take action” on climate change and called on world leaders to significantly accelerate their own plans to reduce greenhouse gas emissions or risk a disastrous collective failure to stop catastrophic climate change. In a show of renewed commitment after four years of the Trump administration’s unvarnished climate denial, Mr. Biden formally pledged that the United States would cut its emissions at least in half from 2005 levels by 2030. Lisa Friedman reports (NY Times)

Carbon emissions on track to surge as world rebounds from pandemic
Global carbon emissions are expected to surge this year as parts of the world begin to rebound from the coronavirus pandemic. They are on track to reach the second largest annual rise on record, according to a new projection by the International Energy Agency. Global energy demand is on track to surpass 2019 levels, alongside continued growth in alternative energies, the Paris-based organization found. Miriam Berger reports. (Washington Post)

Tacoma bans use of fossil fuels in new city buildings. Are commercial, residential next?
Tacoma is prohibiting all new city-owned buildings from using natural gas and other fossil fuels energy sources for heating, lighting and power and will explore a similar rule for new residential and commercial buildings. Tacoma City Council unanimously passed a resolution Tuesday that requires new city-owned buildings, and buildings undergoing major renovations, to use low-carbon fuels such as biodiesel, renewable diesel, renewable natural gas or electricity. The new policy will become effective Jan. 1, 2022. Allison Needles reports. (Tacoma News Tribune)

Is recycling worth it anymore? People on the front lines say maybe not
Recycling works, but it’s not magic. As America continues to lead the world in per capita waste production, it’s becoming more and more clear that everybody — from manufacturers to consumers — “over-believes” in recycling. This is a story about responsibility and what happens when everyone keeps trying to pass it off to the next person — and what happens, when finally, there is no next person. Annabel Edwards reports. (NPR)

Activists wait for RCMP to clear old-growth logging blockades on Vancouver Island
A group of activists say they have no intention of ending their anti-logging blockades on Vancouver Island, despite a court injunction and opposition from the political leadership of the Pacheedaht First Nation. Since August, dozens of people have blocked access to roads in Fairy Creek to prevent Teal Cedar, a division of the Teal-Jones Group, from logging the old-growth forest within its 595-square-kilometre tenure... When CBC News visited the area this week, activists, who call themselves forest defenders, said they and hundreds of supporters are ready to be arrested by the RCMP. (CBC)

SR3 SeaLife Rescue Center brings critical care closer for Pacific Northwest marine animals
Even as human impacts cause increasing numbers of animal strandings along beaches in Washington and Oregon, there has been a gap in critical care for them. Till now, there was no marine wildlife hospital in either state dedicated to rehabilitating hurt or sick animals. Enter the SR3 SeaLife Rescue Center in Des Moines, which officially opens Thursday, marked by an Earth Day ribbon-cutting celebration and virtual tour hosted online at 2 p.m. SR3 stands for Sealife Response, Rehab and Research. Bellamy Pailthorp reports. (KNKX)

Mobile app helps boaters follow Puget Sound No Discharge Zone rule
Boating season is right around the corner, and knowing where to pump out your boat’s wastewater is important for following the Puget Sound No Discharge Zone (NDZ) rule. In August 2020, Washington Sea Grant, along with the Washington State Parks Clean Vessel Act grant program, announced that Pumpout Nav, a free app for boaters, had expanded to Washington state. This app is available for both iOS and Android and allows boaters to find one of nearly 200 pumpout and dump stations in Washington, along with hundreds of pumpout facilities in Oregon and California. (My Edmonds News)

Now, your tug weather--
West Entrance U.S. Waters Strait Of Juan De Fuca-  238 AM PDT Thu Apr 22 2021   
TODAY  SW wind 5 to 15 kt becoming E to 10 kt in the afternoon.  Wind waves 2 ft or less. W swell 6 ft at 9 seconds. TONIGHT  NW wind to 10 kt becoming SW after midnight. Wind  waves 2 ft or less. W swell 5 ft at 8 seconds.

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