Latest news with #carbonstorage
Malay Mail
4 days ago
- General
- Malay Mail
‘We were born into the peatlands': Inside Indonesia's grassroots battle for the swamps
LEBUNG ITAM, July 26 — Indonesian environmentalist Pralensa steered his boat through a shallow canal in the marshy peatlands near his village, an environment he fears may soon disappear. His oar stirred up rich organic material in the brackish water, evidence of the layers of plant matter that make peatlands vital carbon dioxide stores and key to biodiversity. Indonesia has more tropical peatland than any other country, but it is also quickly losing this poorly understood ecosystem. That affects local residents and wildlife but also has global impacts, because converted peatland can release vast quantities of planet-warming carbon dioxide. Just 18.4 per cent of Indonesia's peatlands remain 'undisturbed', a 2023 study found, with vast tracts now palm oil or timber plantations. Pralensa worries a similar fate awaits much of the swampy peatland around his village of Lebung Itam in South Sumatra. An aerial view of a palm oil plantation (right) and a peatland forest in Bangsal, South Sumatra June 10, 2025. — AFP pic Locals say palm oil firm Bintang Harapan Palma has already begun digging canals to drain the peatlands for planting. 'We protested... we told them this is a community-managed area,' said Pralensa, who, like many Indonesians, uses a single name. 'According to them, they already have rights to this land.' Bintang Harapan Palma did not respond to AFP's request for comment. Peatlands are an in-between place -- seemingly neither water nor land -- an environment that slows plant decomposition and forms carbon-rich peat. Covering just 3 per cent of the world's surface, they hold an estimated 44 per cent of all soil carbon. Indonesia's peatlands are home to endangered orangutans, as well as economically important fish species. They also help prevent flooding and drought, lower local temperatures and minimise saltwater intrusion. For Pralensa, peatlands are no less than a 'spiritual bond'. 'From the moment that we exist, that we're born, we are aware of this peatland. We encounter it every moment of every day,' the 44-year-old said. Angkut Join, the head of Bangsal village, poses for a picture at the edge of the seasonally dry peat swamp in Bangsal, South Sumatra June 10, 2025. — AFP pic Catastrophic fires Indonesia's peatland has long been converted for agriculture, drained of the water that is its lifeblood, with severe consequences. Dry peat is highly flammable, and fire can smoulder underground and reignite seemingly at will. Peatlands were a leading cause of Indonesia's catastrophic 2015 fires, which burned through an area about 4.5 times the size of Bali and cost the country some $16.1 billion, or about two per cent of GDP, according to the World Bank. The blazes sparked calls for action, including a moratorium on new peatland concessions. Government regulations adopted the following year banned several damaging activities, including burning and drying out peatland. The environment ministry did not respond to questions submitted by AFP. Marda Ellius, one of the plaintiffs in the lawsuit against three companies accused of causing wildfires, poses on a hammock next to the seasonally dry peat swamp in Bangsal, South Sumatra June 10, 2025. — AFP pic 'Weak oversight and law enforcement in Indonesia allow the exploitation of peatlands to continue,' said Wahyu Perdana at peatland preservation NGO Pantau Gambut. And fires still happen 'almost every year,' said Rohman, a farmer in Bangsal village, around two hours west of Lebung Itam. Like Lebung Itam, it is ringed by plantations on converted peatland. Bangsal residents could once rely on vast wetlands to feed their distinctive buffalo, which dive beneath the water to graze. Fish traps supplied additional income, along with small rice paddies. Now, buffalo are hemmed in by plantations, while fish are affected by walls that keep the plantations dry, and fertilisers and herbicides flushed out by rain. Indonesia has more tropical peatland than any country, but it is also quickly losing this poorly understood ecosystem. That affects local residents and wildlife but also has global impacts, because converted peatland can release vast quantities of planet-warming carbon dioxide. — AFP pic 'We must protect nature' Plantation infrastructure prevents water from subsiding properly when the rains end, complicating rice planting And then there is the seasonal haze. 'It's difficult to do anything' when it descends, said Rohman, with visibility sometimes dropping to just a few metres. Everything from 'economic activity to children playing and learning is very disrupted'. Rohman, 53, was one of several plaintiffs from Bangsal and Lebung Itam who filed a landmark lawsuit over the fires. They argued three companies with nearby timber plantations on peatland bore legal responsibility for the health, economic and social impacts of local fires. Filing the suit was not an easy decision, said Bangsal schoolteacher Marda Ellius, who alleges a company named in the case offered her money and help for her family if she withdrew. 'I kept thinking that, from the beginning, my goal here was for the environment, for many people,' she said. 'I chose to continue.' Water buffalo graze on aquatic plants in the seasonally dry peat swamp in Bangsal, South Sumatra June 11, 2025. — AFP pic AFP could not reach the companies named in the suit. Major firm Asia Pulp & Paper (APP), which buys from the three companies, did not respond. This month, a local court rejected the suit, saying the plaintiffs lacked standing. 'The pain cannot be described,' plaintiff Muhammad Awal Gunadi said of the ruling. 'It was tough because we were facing corporations. The group has pledged to appeal, and Bangsal's villagers are lobbying local government for a new designation to protect their remaining peatland. Healthy peat is 'like the lungs of the Earth,' said Bangsal resident and buffalo farmer Muhammad Husin. 'Hopefully, if we protect nature, nature will also protect us.' — AFP
Forbes
5 days ago
- Science
- Forbes
Gardening In A Time Of Climate Change--Rising to the Challenge
The UK's Kew Gardens is unveiling a floral call to climate action by showcasing how plants, trees, fungi and soils in gardens might help store carbon while illuminating measures to help them survive rising temperatures and extreme weather now and in the future A unique, environmentally provocative, horticultural installation is being unveiled to the public tomorrow (25 July) at one of the world's most prestigious scientific institutions, the Royal Botanic Gardens (RBG) Kew in southwest London. The Carbon Garden is designed to be a thing of beauty but also an explicit statement of the reality now facing legions of green-fingered enthusiasts worldwide: namely that climate change is turning both the world and the potting shed upside down. For visitors, perhaps the most striking, initial, feature will be the garden's pavilion which has been created by the Mizzi Studio led by Maltese-born Jonathan Mizzi who is both a designer as a well as passionate advocate for climate action. The fungi-style pavillion in Kew garden's new Carbon Garden designed using natural materials by ... More Mizzi Studio The pavilion is inspired by the symbiotic relationship between the plant and fungal kingdoms, and is created using low-carbon, natural materials. The deliberate echo of fungi in the design in part reflects how science has recently and rapidly understood the role fungi play in feeding plants and protecting them from pests, but also their pivotal role in fostering healthy soils and capturing vast amounts of carbon. By one recent estimate from Australian scientists, mycorrhizal fungi underground may be abs0rbing as much as 75 per cent of the annual carbon emissions from the fossil fuel industry. The pavilion also has a roof designed to capture and funnel water into a rain garden, underlining as climate change deepens, better management of water is going to be crucial for plants and humans. Another striking feature in the Carbon Garden is the way colourful plants have been arranged to reflect how temperatures have changed since the birth of the industrial revolution. The 'stripes', which change from cool blues to hot reds, starkly reflect how climate change is driving a warmer world. The bar-code like colours have become expressions of concern and solidarity on campaigners' T shirts to coffee mugs and web sites since they were created by University of Reading scientist Professor Ed Hawking in 2018. Richard Wilford, head of Garden Design at RBG Kew and the person behind the new garden's design, told the BBC that the 'stripes' flower bed and other features are a 'unique opportunity to showcase our ongoing research, combining scientific insight with thoughtful design and beautiful planting". The Carbon Garden also has borders where plants need to tolerate, and encouraged to evolve, to the Mediterranean like conditions that could soon prevail in southern England if nations fail to meet the safety limits of the 2015 Paris Climate Agreement. Research has revealed that the conditions of London might be like Barcelona in Spain by 2050. The research indicates that species like cherry hackberry (Celtis cerasifera), native to China, Montezuma's pine (Pinus montezumae), native to Central America, and spoon oak (Quercus urbani), native to Mexico should withstand projected climate conditions. And this has informed the planting of new trees as part of the Carbon Garden that should, based on the studies, thrive well into the 2090s. Already some scientists are warning that the top safety target of the Paris global agreement—to keep an average temperature rise world-wide no higher than 1.5 degrees C—may be lost in just a handful of years without rapid, scaled up action. Could gardeners become a new and powerful voice for climate action alongside more traditional campaigners like Friends of the Earth, Greenpeace, Fridays for Future and WWF? Only time will tell. But they certainly represent a large group in certain key countries. By some estimates there are 27 million gardeners in the UK alone. Other surveys suggest around a third to just over 40 per cent of households in the UK, Austria, Australia, Germany and the United States of America are gardeners. Mr Wilford says inspiring action is a key part of the Carbon Garden's aim: 'How we adapt to this changing climate and how we can slow the rate of climate change are important messages in the Carbon Garden'. Richard Wilford, head of garden design at the Royal Botanic Gardens Kew "Kew hopes that the Carbon Garden will inspire similar ideas in other countries. Towns and cities that are already having to deal with catastrophic weather events are having to find solutions quickly. By encouraging people and authorities to be proactive, it may be possible to lessen the more extreme consequences of climate change,' he added. The Carbon Garden is not Kew's only commitment to climate action and awareness building. It already has pledged to go beyond net zero and achieve a climate positive profile for its operations by 2030. As part of this aim, Kew Gardens has also announced plans to restore two of its popular and iconic heritage buildings to help meet its climate goals. Kew's Palm House and Waterlily House, originally dating from the 19C will see the replacement of 16,500 glass panes with high-performance sealed glazing and the use of bespoke silicone gaskets to reduce heat loss. There will also be the installation of a fully electrified air and water source heat pump systems alongside upgrades of the rainwater storage and irrigation systems to both build reslience against extreme weather and climate change risks.
New York Times
7 days ago
- Science
- New York Times
North Carolina's Bogs Have a Dirty Secret, and That's a Good Thing
Depending on how it's treated, this North Carolina soil can be a blessing or a curse. In its natural state, the soggy, spongy soil known as peat stores exceptional amounts of planet-warming carbon. Peatlands cover only about 3 percent of land on Earth, but they sock away twice as much carbon as all the world's forests put together. They also offer protection from wildfires, floods and drought, and support rare species. But decades ago, in peatlands across North Carolina, people dug ditches to drain the waterlogged earth, often to fell old-growth trees or plant new ones for timber. As peat dries, its virtues turn upside down. The soil itself becomes highly flammable. Even without burning, drained peat starts to emit the carbon it once stored, converting a climate solution into a climate problem. The land no longer soaks up floodwaters. And in times of drought, there's little water for the ecosystem to fall back on. Now, nonprofit, state, federal and private sector scientists and engineers have teamed up on what amounts to a series of giant plumbing projects. They are coaxing water to stay on the land to restore moisture to the peat. Tell Us About Solutions Where You Live Want all of The Times? Subscribe.
National Post
22-07-2025
- Business
- National Post
SLB Awarded Carbon Storage Contract for Northern Endurance Partnership Project in UK
Article content SLB secures comprehensive carbon storage solutions contract for pioneering CCS infrastructure Article content LONDON — Global energy technology company SLB (NYSE: SLB) has been awarded a technologies and services contract for carbon storage site development in the North Sea by the Northern Endurance Partnership (NEP), an incorporated joint venture between bp, Equinor and TotalEnergies. Article content Article content NEP is developing onshore and offshore infrastructure needed to transport CO 2 from carbon capture projects across Teesside and the Humber — collectively known as the East Coast Cluster — to secure storage under the North Sea. Article content SLB will deploy its Sequestri™ carbon storage solutions portfolio — which includes technologies specifically engineered and qualified for the development of carbon storage sites — to construct six carbon storage wells. The project scope includes drilling, measurement, cementing, fluids, completions, wireline and pumping services. Article content 'Technologies and services tailored for carbon storage will play a critical role in shifting the economics and safeguarding the integrity of carbon storage projects before and after the FID,' said Katherine Rojas, senior vice president of Industrial Decarbonization, SLB. 'We are excited to be a part of this groundbreaking CCS project in the UK, leveraging the proven carbon storage technologies in our Sequestri portfolio and our extensive expertise delivering complex CCS projects around the world.' Article content The NEP infrastructure is crucial to achieving net zero in the UK's most carbon intensive industrial regions. NEP, via the Endurance saline aquifer and adjacent stores, has access to up to 1 billion metric tons of CO 2 storage capacity. The infrastructure will transport and permanently store up to an initial 4 million metric tons of CO 2 per year with start-up expected in 2028. Article content About SLB Article content SLB (NYSE: SLB) is a global technology company that drives energy innovation for a balanced planet. With a global footprint in more than 100 countries and employees representing almost twice as many nationalities, we work each day on innovating oil and gas, delivering digital at scale, decarbonizing industries, and developing and scaling new energy systems that accelerate the energy transition. Find out more at Article content Cautionary Statement Regarding Forward-Looking Statements: Article content This press release contains 'forward-looking statements' within the meaning of the U.S. federal securities laws — that is, statements about the future, not about past events. Such statements often contain words such as 'expect,' 'may,' 'can,' 'estimate,' 'intend,' 'anticipate,' 'will,' 'potential,' 'projected' and other similar words. Forward-looking statements address matters that are, to varying degrees, uncertain, such as forecasts or expectations regarding the deployment of, or anticipated benefits of, SLB's new technologies and partnerships; statements about goals, plans and projections with respect to sustainability and environmental matters; forecasts or expectations regarding energy transition and global climate change; and improvements in operating procedures and technology. These statements are subject to risks and uncertainties, including, but not limited to, the inability to achieve net-negative carbon emissions goals; the inability to recognize intended benefits of SLB's strategies, initiatives or partnerships; legislative and regulatory initiatives addressing environmental concerns, including initiatives addressing the impact of global climate change; the timing or receipt of regulatory approvals and permits; and other risks and uncertainties detailed in SLB's most recent Forms 10-K, 10-Q and 8-K filed with or furnished to the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission. If one or more of these or other risks or uncertainties materialize (or the consequences of such a development changes), or should underlying assumptions prove incorrect, actual outcomes may vary materially from those reflected in our forward-looking statements. The forward-looking statements speak only as of the date of this press release, and SLB disclaims any intention or obligation to update publicly or revise such statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise. Article content Article content Article content Article content Article content Article content media@ Article content Article content Article content
Globe and Mail
22-07-2025
- Business
- Globe and Mail
SLB Awarded Carbon Storage Contract for Northern Endurance Partnership Project in UK
Global energy technology company SLB (NYSE: SLB) has been awarded a technologies and services contract for carbon storage site development in the North Sea by the Northern Endurance Partnership (NEP), an incorporated joint venture between bp, Equinor and TotalEnergies. This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: SLB will deploy its Sequestri™ carbon storage solutions portfolio — which includes technologies specifically engineered and qualified for the development of carbon storage sites — to construct six carbon storage wells. NEP is developing onshore and offshore infrastructure needed to transport CO 2 from carbon capture projects across Teesside and the Humber — collectively known as the East Coast Cluster — to secure storage under the North Sea. SLB will deploy its Sequestri™ carbon storage solutions portfolio — which includes technologies specifically engineered and qualified for the development of carbon storage sites — to construct six carbon storage wells. The project scope includes drilling, measurement, cementing, fluids, completions, wireline and pumping services. 'Technologies and services tailored for carbon storage will play a critical role in shifting the economics and safeguarding the integrity of carbon storage projects before and after the FID,' said Katherine Rojas, senior vice president of Industrial Decarbonization, SLB. 'We are excited to be a part of this groundbreaking CCS project in the UK, leveraging the proven carbon storage technologies in our Sequestri portfolio and our extensive expertise delivering complex CCS projects around the world.' The NEP infrastructure is crucial to achieving net zero in the UK's most carbon intensive industrial regions. NEP, via the Endurance saline aquifer and adjacent stores, has access to up to 1 billion metric tons of CO 2 storage capacity. The infrastructure will transport and permanently store up to an initial 4 million metric tons of CO 2 per year with start-up expected in 2028. About SLB SLB (NYSE: SLB) is a global technology company that drives energy innovation for a balanced planet. With a global footprint in more than 100 countries and employees representing almost twice as many nationalities, we work each day on innovating oil and gas, delivering digital at scale, decarbonizing industries, and developing and scaling new energy systems that accelerate the energy transition. Find out more at Cautionary Statement Regarding Forward-Looking Statements: This press release contains 'forward-looking statements' within the meaning of the U.S. federal securities laws — that is, statements about the future, not about past events. Such statements often contain words such as 'expect,' 'may,' 'can,' 'estimate,' 'intend,' 'anticipate,' 'will,' 'potential,' 'projected" and other similar words. Forward-looking statements address matters that are, to varying degrees, uncertain, such as forecasts or expectations regarding the deployment of, or anticipated benefits of, SLB's new technologies and partnerships; statements about goals, plans and projections with respect to sustainability and environmental matters; forecasts or expectations regarding energy transition and global climate change; and improvements in operating procedures and technology. These statements are subject to risks and uncertainties, including, but not limited to, the inability to achieve net-negative carbon emissions goals; the inability to recognize intended benefits of SLB's strategies, initiatives or partnerships; legislative and regulatory initiatives addressing environmental concerns, including initiatives addressing the impact of global climate change; the timing or receipt of regulatory approvals and permits; and other risks and uncertainties detailed in SLB's most recent Forms 10-K, 10-Q and 8-K filed with or furnished to the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission. If one or more of these or other risks or uncertainties materialize (or the consequences of such a development changes), or should underlying assumptions prove incorrect, actual outcomes may vary materially from those reflected in our forward-looking statements. The forward-looking statements speak only as of the date of this press release, and SLB disclaims any intention or obligation to update publicly or revise such statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.
