PREFIRE takes flight! Rocket Lab’s Electron rocket called “PREFIRE and...

NASA Climate Change 8 months ago

PREFIRE takes flight! Rocket Lab’s Electron rocket called “PREFIRE and Ice,” lifts off from Launch Complex 1 in Māhia, New Zealand at 3:15 p.m. NZST Wednesday, June 5, 2024 (11:15 p.m. EDT, Tuesday, June 4), on the second of two launches for NASA’s PREFIRE (Polar Radiant Energy in the Far-InfraRed Experiment). The PREFIRE mission, expected to last at least 10 months, consists of sending two CubeSats to asynchronous, near-polar orbits, to help close a gap in our understanding of how much of Earth’s heat is lost to space from the Arctic and Antarctica. NASA’s Launch Services Program, based out of @NASAKennedy, in partnership with @NASAEarth System Science Pathfinder Program, is providing the launch service as part of the agency’s Venture-class Acquisition of Dedicated and Rideshare (VADR) launch services contract. Image description: A landscape image shows a Rocket Lab Electron rocket taking off. The black and white rocket is in the middle of the image, with flames shooting from the bottom. To the right of the image is the white Rocket Lab atom logo on a black building. Photo credit: Rocket Lab #NASA #KennedySpaceCenter #Rocket #Launch #ReadyAimPREFIRE #Earth #EarthScience #Climate #CubeSat #EarthMission

Daily Sustainability Digest

Published about 8 hours ago



Chris Skidmore, the UK's former net zero advisor, and Patricia Espinosa, former UN climate chief, have launched the Global Clean Power Taskforce. The new coalition aims to address setbacks in global climate action policies and accelerate international cooperation in renewable energy and clean power infrastructure. This initiative highlights the ongoing commitment internationally to net zero carbon and sustainable development in energy production and consumption.

Leading global technology firms including Amazon, Google, and Meta have jointly pledged to triple nuclear energy capacity by 2050. This significant corporate collaboration underscores nuclear power's essential role alongside renewable energy sources, enhancing energy security and supporting the broader transition to sustainable, energy-efficient buildings and infrastructure worldwide.

The UK's Crown Estate has gained new authority to borrow and invest, unlocking approximately £1.5 billion in funding. These resources will significantly advance government sustainability and renewable objectives including renewable energy generation, nature restoration, and environmental sustainability in construction. The investment will further enable reductions in embodied carbon and whole life carbon within key infrastructure and building projects throughout the UK.

In Exeter, IHG Hotels & Resorts unveiled its first net zero carbon hotel, designed explicitly for eco-conscious guests. The new hotel is a prominent example of innovative green construction, sustainable design, and sustainable architecture, representing substantial progress towards carbon neutral construction within the hospitality industry. This project clearly demonstrates practical advances towards energy-efficient buildings and overall carbon footprint reduction.

A local UK council has announced plans to reduce fleet carbon emissions by 20% through conversion to Hydrotreated Vegetable Oil (HVO). This practical step provides a measurable reduction in carbon emissions, significantly decreasing the environmental impact of construction and infrastructure operations. The council's switch illustrates effective and sustainable building practices that can be replicated by local governments globally.

UK Secretary for Energy Security and Net Zero, Ed Miliband, has travelled to Beijing to strengthen cooperative international climate action, prioritising discussions on phasing out coal power. Miliband's diplomatic engagement with China contributes to stronger joint commitments on clean technology, sustainable urban development, circular economy initiatives, and enhancing global sustainability policy ahead of the upcoming COP30 summit.

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