Daily Archives: October 24, 2021

Published on October 23rd, 2021 at 09:00am EDT

Even without a job offer, you may be eligible for two immigration pathways if you wish to live and work in the Canadian province of Saskatchewan.

The Saskatchewan Immigrant Nominee Program (SINP) is among a number of Provincial Nominee Programs (PNP) that offer immigration options for international applicants without a job offer.

While the most popular immigration route in Canada is known as the Express Entry system, there is an equally promising route called the PNP.

Express Entry is based on a Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) in which points are accumulated based on human capital factors. While in most cases Express Entry candidates do not require a job offer, having one will result in a much higher number of points, and therefore a better chance of being invited to apply for permanent residence in Canada.

Canadas PNP, on the other hand, was introduced to ensure a more balanced distribution of the benefits of immigration throughout the country. The program gives participating provinces and territories the opportunity to nominate a set number of economic immigrants for permanent residence each year. PNPs are quite different from one province to another, with each province determining its own set of nomination requirements.

In order to immigrate to Canada through a PNP, you must first be nominated by the province or territory.

Discover if Youre Eligible for Canadian Immigration

Nine Canadian provinces and two territories participate in the PNP, Saskatchewan is one of them.

Saskatchewan is a prairie province located in Western Canada. The provinces economy is based primarily on agriculture and natural resource industries such as forestry and fishing. It also plays a major role in the production and supply of agricultural products needed by the fastest-growing economies in the world.

The Saskatchewan Immigrant Nominee Program (SINP) provides pathways for immigration to Canada. Through the SINP, Saskatchewan nominates non-Canadians who wish to settle in the province and gives successful candidates the opportunity to become permanent residents of Canada.

Among the various streams that are operated under the SINP, there are two very active provincial nomination streams that do not require job offers. The first is the Saskatchewan Express Entry-linked stream, which does, however, require one to have an active profile in the federal Express Entry system in order to apply.

The Express Entry sub-category is an enhanced PNP, which means it is linked to the federal Express Entry system. Express Entry candidates who receive a provincial nomination from the province of Saskatchewan are awarded an additional 600 points toward their CRSscore. This award effectively guarantees them a chance to apply for Canadian permanent residence.

In order to be considered for an invitation to apply for a provincial nomination under this stream, candidates must create an Express Entry profile and express their interest in settling in Saskatchewan.

The second is the Saskatchewan Occupation In-Demand stream, which does not require one to have an Express Entry profile. The stream is designed to bring skilled workers to fill labour market needs. To be eligible, an applicant must have at least one year of work experience in one of the positions included on Saskatchewans Occupations In-Demand list.

Saskatchewan regularly issues invitations through these two streams. So far this year, 2,733 Saskatchewan Express Entry and 3,433 Occupations In-Demand candidates have been invited. In all, 6,166 invitations have so far been issued through these two streams in 2021. This is close to the number of invitations issued by Ontario through its Human Capital Priorities Stream, another PNP stream that does not require a job offer and is considered as one of the most active in the country.

This sub-category is for candidates who do not have a job offer in Saskatchewan but have experience in an in-demand occupation. More specifically candidates must meet these requirements:

This sub-category is for applicants who do not have a job offer in Saskatchewan but are highly qualified in an occupation in demand. More specifically candidates must meet these requirements:

Discover if Youre Eligible for Canadian Immigration

CIC News All Rights Reserved. Visit CanadaVisa.com to discover your Canadian immigration options.

Read more from the original source:

Immigrate to Canada without a job offer: Saskatchewan PNP - Canada Immigration News

This story was originally published by the Guardian and is reproduced here as part of the Climate Deskcollaboration.

When he was a little boy in the 1980s, Wang Xiaojun was taught to be proud of his home town of Lliang in the north-western Chinese province of Shanxi. Shanxi is Chinas biggest coal-producing region, and Lliang was a significant base for the army during the second world war.

Nestled in the mountains of the dusty Loess Plateau, Lliang, a city of 3.4 million people, has had less to shout about in recent years. A series of corruption scandals in the city brought down several high profile officials shortly after President Xi Jinping came to power in 2013; there are concerns over the high number of babies born with congenital defects, blamed by experts on air pollution; and, last week, a huge flood forced coal mines to close just as China scrambles to tackle its energy crunch.

Coal is the main source of power generation in China, but Xi has vowed to change that. The country has been the worlds biggest producer of greenhouse gas emissionsfor more than a decade now. A year ago, Xi pledged his countrys carbon emissions would peak by 2030, then achieve carbon neutrality by 2060. Last month, he announced China would stop building new coal-fired projects overseas in a move that analysts say could be pivotal in tackling global emissions.

Ending a dependency on coal at home has proved trickier. Shortly after he took office, Xi began to plan on low-carbon and sustainable development of resource-based cities. But since September, China has been experiencing its own coal dilemma, with power shortages spread across key regions, causing a ripple effect to the global economy. To tackle the crisis, officials ordered more than 70 mines in Inner Mongolia to increase coal production by almost 100 million tons early this month. And on 29 September Shanxi promised to supply coal to 14 other regions across China to ensure sufficient energy throughout this winter.

Outside China, there is a fear that Beijing may be rethinking its promises on decarbonization. That mood darkened last week, when it emerged that Xi would not be attending Cop26 in person. It is a worry that some veteran China analysts dismiss as over-interpretationXi has not left the country since January 2020 and was always unlikely to make an exception for Cop26, particularly as it is being hosted by a western nation.

They argue that Beijings recent whac-a-mole approach merely reflects the messy reality of the countrys energy transition. To residents in Shanxi, however, Chinas reliance on dirty coal is a vicious circle that the province of 37 million people can not easily pull itself out of, despite the promises from central government. It is not about whether China can be less reliant on coal eventually, it is rather about what will happen to a province like ours afterwards, Wang, who now works as a climate campaigner, toldthe Observer.

As an activist, of course Id like to see my home town move away from coal. After all, I grew up only knowing the sky is grey and coal is the only source of energy. But I also worry what will happen to a province whose economy overwhelmingly depends on coal and heavy industries, and the millions of people whose livelihoods are reliant on them.

In Lliang, villages like Wangs are often built atop barren mountains to avoid constant floods. Until the 1980s, most of the boys would grow up to become farmers. Then coal became a valuable commodity as China began to expand its economy. But a few years ago, as coal depleted underneath some mountains, many villages collapsed and people died. Those who survived moved away. In Wangs old village, only three elderly people are still there, he said. They are reluctant to move. Its where they spent most of their lives.

Growing up with coal miners in the village, Wang saw with his own eyes how dangerous mines could be. Seven years ago, when working in a coal mine, Wangs 38-year-old cousin, Wang Xiaobing, was caught in an accident. A ceiling collapsed and he lost his lower left leg. He was sent home after the incident. But, with a young family to support and lacking the skills to switch career, Xiaobing eventually went back to his former mine as a driver. Shortly after, he developed lung and liver illness and died two years ago.

You see, the addiction to coal is not just on a national level, but also on a personal level. Its not easy to move away from, Wang said. A lot of people here, including another relative of mine, are unhappy with [media] talk of climate change and the [the governments] effort to reduce coal consumption. To us, this is bread and butter. Without it, what would Lliang look like?

They need to start to prepare for a coal-free future right now before its too late.

Stories like this have been commonplace across Chinas coal regions in the past two decades.In the decade between 2000 and 2010, on average 4,870 people died in mine accidents every year. In the US, the figure was only 33. The figure began to decrease dramatically in the last decade as the government imposed strict safety rules for mine owners and nationalized many mines.

Han Jinsong (not his real name), a 50-year-old former coal miner in the city of Fengyang, said that while also working as a miner, his elder brother was hit by a mine car and stayed in hospital for about six months. He became disabled and the coal mine he worked at compensated for once, he said. Thats it.

Han added: Despite all these tragedies, its unrealistic for China to move away from coal. Youve seen the recent power shortages spread across the country. Now the government has to reopen coal mines to meet the accelerating demand. Its always going to be a dilemma.

Its a reality that senior officials have openly admitted. Chinas energy structure is dominated by coal power. This is an objective reality, said Su Wei, deputy secretary-general of the National Development and Reform Commission in Beijing, in April. We have no other choice. For a period of time, we may need to use coal power as a point of flexible adjustment.

The rise and fall of Lliangas well as other coal-heavy citiesis also the story of Chinas changing economic and social structure, said Judith Audin, a French sociologist who writes about the coal industry in Shanxi province. In 2010, when Shanxi coal bossa term used as a symbol of Dickensian Chinaoften appeared in social media, Lliangs GDP growth was ata staggering 21%. In 2020, it was only 2.7 percent.

Local officials have been talking about transition for a long time. When Lliangs economy was booming a decade ago, billions were poured into road construction and apartment buildings. But by 2015, supply had far exceeded the demand. Coupled with a decrease in coal consumption,the local economy crashed, and the mayor was sacked on corruption charges.

Across Shanxi, there have been other experiments in recent years, too, said Audin. In Datong, Chinas coal capital, the coal mining land is now covered in solar panels and wind turbines.

But even if these efforts were eventually successful, to what extent will these new energy businesses absorb the excess labour left by coal mining? Audin said. And how would the authorities deal with the generations of coal miners and their families whove helped power China but who have no other skills in the new economy?

Read more from the original source:

China, Coal, and COP26: Can the World's Top Emitter Shake Its Dirty Habit? Mother Jones - Mother Jones

Neil Mayfields dog a 2-year-old boxer named Penny has their two-mile walking route near Madeira Canyon Park in Henderson memorized. Its their morning ritual these days, before or after he walks the familys other dog.

The daily fresh air wasnt always a given for her owner. Mayfield, 51, spent two decades working in the food and beverage industry, logging long hours in often windowless environments. His days were robotic: a demanding shift, a drive home, limited time with his wife and children, household chores and a few hours of sleep before doing it all over again.

Then the pandemic hit. The former assistant food and beverage director was one of thousands sidelined by the 78-day shutdown of the Las Vegas Strip. His furlough ended when casinos reopened in June 2020, but employment only lasted a few months. By October, Mayfields gaming company employer, which he did not want to name, consolidated operations and laid him off. He was suddenly back home, shepherding his young sons, now 7 and 11, through distance learning rather than battling with tourists to keep their face masks on, navigating staffing shortages or worrying about catching COVID-19.

When they let me go, I was like, thank goodness, he said. We all had like a foxhole mentality when we went into work.

Mayfield said the unplanned time off work, as unnatural as it felt initially, gave him time to reassess his life priorities. Now, his involuntary departure from the workforce has morphed into a personal decision not to return at least for the time being.

Hes not alone. Despite federal unemployment benefits expiring in early September and higher wages in some industries, workers arent necessarily flocking back to the job market.

Nevadas labor participation rate a metric that refers to people who are working or actively looking for jobs has fallen several percentage points since the beginning of the pandemic. In September, the seasonally adjusted rate stood at 61.6 percent, down from 64.9 percent in February 2020, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. The states chief economist, David Schmidt, said the pandemic has created some unusual volatility in month-to-month data, but even if numbers are revised after benchmarking, he expects the broad trend to be lower labor participation.

Nationally, the labor participation rate remained relatively static in September at 61.6 percent, though thats 1.7 percentage points lower than in February 2020.

The labor force participation rate is having an effect on the state unemployment rate, which measures people who are out of a job but actively seeking work. The Department of Employment, Training and Rehabilitation (DETR) reported Thursday that Nevadas unemployment rate had dipped slightly, from 7.7 percent in August to 7.5 percent in September, which Schmidt said in a news release was due in part to the people leaving the labor force, an occurrence typically seen when coming out of a recession.

So why are people permanently leaving or postponing their return to the workforce? Economists and others who study labor trends say its likely a mixed bag of reasons, ranging from early retirement or career burnout to child care concerns and lifestyle changes. For others, its an inability to work certain jobs as the pandemic, and related mitigation efforts, continue.

While not entirely surprising, they say, its also a landmark moment in labor.

Itll be a big, you know, asterisk in history books for labor force adjustment, said Brian Bonnenfant, a project manager at UNRs Center for Regional Studies.

In June, Mayfield and his wife, a special education coordinator for the Clark County School District, began broaching the big question: Should he return to work?

It was increasingly clear that their sons would be attending in-person school full time in the fall, rendering his duty as distance learning coach unnecessary. But the preceding eight months had given the family a window into what their life could be: no more frenzied schedules, missed holidays or prolonged exhaustion. Mayfield cooked more meals, walked their two dogs and did the laundry, giving his wife time to decompress after work. They watched their family relationships blossom, not to mention their health.

I got regular sleep again, and I stopped feeling like I had been beaten with a baseball bat every morning, he said.

The couple took a hard look at their finances, talked to their children and discussed lifestyle changes that could trim expenses. Mayfield didnt oppose going back to work. His phone already had been ringing with job prospects in the food and beverage industry. His wife and children, including a college-aged daughter, didnt want him returning, though.

So he hasnt, at least for now.

Would they have made this change had the pandemic not upended his work life? Probably not, Mayfield says.

I think it forced people to reevaluate things, he said. I think people reconnected, not only with family members but with themselves. There really was not a lot to do besides some serious introspection.

Nikki Tarbell and her family came to a similar decision..

For 16 years, Tarbell worked as a master control operator for the City of Las Vegass government-access television channel. The citys four-day work week meant she typically left her Henderson home at 7 a.m., not to return until roughly 6:30 p.m., leaving her husband responsible for feeding their two children and shuffling them to and from day care. That grind came to a halt when COVID-19 emerged and Tarbell was allowed to work from home.

But the city ended its remote-work policy in mid-March. The decision upset Tarbell, who didnt want her unvaccinated children, then in kindergarten and third grade, back in day care and exposed to the virus. At the time, schools were just resuming some in-person learning. She and her husband had determined that they only felt comfortable allowing their son and daughter to attend classes in person, while wearing masks, if they came straight home after school

Like Mayfield and his wife, Tarbell and her husband, a data analyst for Boyd Gaming, sat down to pencil out the finances. They created a budget, examining where they could save money and exist as a one-income household. For instance, Tarbell said they realized they could do without landscapers if she had more time to take care of those tasks, and they would also save $25,000 without child care.

She submitted her resignation letter to the city, noting she had never missed a beat or dropped a ball while working remotely.

Every family is different, she wrote. There is not a one size fits all solution out there for childcare in the middle of a pandemic and where the schools are still not fully opened.

The decision felt jarring at first, Tarbell said, in part because she had always felt the need to be financially independent. She watched her own mother struggle after her parents divorced when she was 12. But a realization was slowly dawning on her: She was no longer stressed, fighting tears on weeknights after long work days, commutes and making sure their children got fed and completed their homework.

She felt more present than ever as a wife and mother.

I am still a feminist. I am still capable. I am still smart. I still have an education, she said. But, also, I need to take this time in my life to reevaluate, like, what is important? I missed so much of my childrens young lives because I was working.

During the pandemic, women have departed the workforce at a greater rate than men, whether voluntarily or because of the caregiver roles they often play for children or other family members. An analysis by the National Womens Law Center found that 309,000 women (aged 20 and older) left the American labor force entirely in September, marking the biggest drop in female participation since September 2020.

Anne Price, president of the Oakland-based Insight Center for Community Economic Development, said the shifting workforce landscape should serve as a wakeup call for the government and private sector.

Were really seeing a birds-eye view of what peoples work lives really look like, she said. I think it should give us reason to pause and say, you know, we need better policies in place. People need sick leave. They need paid leave. They want to work with dignity.

Bonnenfant, from UNRs Center for Regional Studies, said he expects those who have left the workforce to return eventually, perhaps after reimagining their work possibilities.

My hope is a lot of them will turn into entrepreneurs and figure out that they can do stuff without an employer that they can make money doing X, Y, Z, he said. Im hoping a lot of them will realize theres a lot of flexibility in making money out there.

Thats the direction Mayfield is considering. He has long dreamed of opening a cozy lounge, featuring jazz music and sophisticated drinks, ideal for a date night. But he is in no hurry.

The longtime food and beverage worker wants to see how the market shakes out before making any big investments. For now, hes savoring his morning walks with the dogs, relaxing evenings with his family and the ability to play handyman around the house all activities once nearly impossible because of his work schedule.

Tarbell, meanwhile, isnt sure what the future holds. Maybe graduate school. Maybe trade school. But like Mayfield, she, too, is content feeling untethered.

I was working in television for 20 years, where you work in a dark room staring at monitors, she said. I have been outside every day, clipping trees and replanting things and painting things and working with my hands and sweating and it has been awesome. I needed that life change.

Mayfield and Tarbell also say they feel grateful and fortunate. Not everyone can leave the work world behind for a time.

The COVID-19 economic recovery has been K-shaped, Bonnenfant said, meaning some business sectors and populations have recovered more quickly, while others are suffering. For those on the downward slope of the K, it may be impossible to leave a job or stay out of the workforce for a prolonged period.

There's a lot of households and individuals that can't afford to play the labor market game or sit out for a while and take care of their mental health and their families, themselves, he said.

Hunter Birkeland is among those who left the workforce but cant afford to remain jobless for long.

The UNR student moved from Las Vegas to Reno in August to resume in-person classes. She hoped to find part-time employment up north, but Birkeland is legally deaf and needs a job that doesnt involve heavy interaction with customers or other people. The mask mandate has stripped her ability to read lips, making it difficult to communicate.

Prior to moving, she worked at a grocery store and a distribution center in Las Vegas. The former proved to be a daily hassle, even after the store moved her to a back-of-house position cutting fruits and vegetables.

Whenever I did go out to put stuff out, I would have customers get mad at me because I didnt understand what they were saying, she said.

Birkelands attempt to find a new job that accommodates her disability hasnt panned out, leaving her scraping by with $15 to $20 in her bank account. Birkeland said she has applied for more than a dozen jobs and sought help through both a state agency and the on-campus Disability Resource Center. Although she has picked up gig-economy jobs, such as delivering food for DoorDash, she wants a stable paycheck.

The 20-year-old said she checks her bank account at least twice a day, fearful that hidden fees or mistaken subscriptions will drain her last few dollars.

I can't do anything, and I don't have a credit card because of my student loans, she said.

Schimdt, the states chief economist, said one of the challenges moving forward is making sure people like Birkeland who want to re-enter the workforce can find an avenue to do so. It may be a matter of retraining or other solutions, he said, that ensure if someone wants to work, theres an opportunity out there for them.

Birkeland hopes she found that opportunity. She interviewed for a clerical filing position through the universitys veterinarian department on Wednesday.

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An era of reflection: Why some people aren't rushing back to the workforce - The Nevada Independent

NZC-TSX NORZF-OTCQB

(All figures are presented in US Dollars unless otherwise stated)

VANCOUVER, BC, Oct. 21, 2021 /CNW/ - NorZinc Ltd. (TSX: NZC) (OTCQB: NORZF) (the "Company" or "NorZinc") is pleased to announce the results of a Preliminary Economic Assessment ("PEA") for its 100%-owned Prairie Creek Project ("Prairie Creek" or the "Project") in the Northwest Territories, Canada. The PEA incorporates an updated Mineral Resource Estimate providing an economic assessment for a 2,400 tonnes per day ("tpd") mine plan with a life of mine of 20.3 years.

PEA Highlights Include:

After-tax NPV8% of $299 million using base case metal prices of $1.20/lb zinc, $1.05/lb lead and $24/oz silver (pre-tax NPV8% of $505 million)

After-tax IRR of 17.7% (pre-tax IRR of 21.4%) based on initial Capex of $368 million, including $35 million of contingency, with significant opportunity to improve initial costs through cost optimization

At recent zinc spot price of approximately $1.50/lb zinc, after-tax NPV8% increases to US$479 and IRR increases to 22.8%,

LOM C1 by-product costs of $0.19/lb Zn and C3 by-product costs of $0.60/lb Zn (C1 co-product costs of $0.73/lb ZnEqi and C3 co-product costs of $0.92/lb ZnEq), placing Prairie Creek in the lowest third of zinc mines once in operation

Average annual payable ZnEq production of 261 Mlbs, including 2.6 Moz of average annual silver production, over a 20-year life of mine, with a payback of 4.8 years

Total cumulative LOM EBITDA of $2.5 billion; average annual EBITDA of $123 million

Updated Mineral Resource Estimate includes 9.8 M tonnes of total Measured & Indicated ("M&I") Resources at 22.7% ZnEq, a 15% increase in total M&I tonnage from the September 2015 Mineral Resource Estimate and 6.4 M tonnes of total Inferred Resources at 24.1% ZnEq

Updated definitive Feasibility Study to commence immediately and will incorporate the investigation of numerous identified opportunities to add value by optimizing capex and opex input costs

Project represents a majorly de-risked project with world-class potential in one of the most favourable and stable jurisdictions in the world

"The completion of the PEA is yet another significant milestone for NorZinc as it showcases the true potential of the Prairie Creek deposit, demonstrating a robust throughput rate of 2,400 tpd over a long mine life of over 20 years, highlighting the potential value and benefit this project has to deliver to all stakeholders," commented Rohan Hazelton, CEO of NorZinc Ltd. "While the PEA considers historical data with a reinterpreted mineral resource, it outlines a solid base-case for management as we continue on the planned path towards financing and development of the Prairie Creek Project. The modified permits for the expanded throughput rates are well underway with approvals expected in late Q1 2022."

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"We have identified multiple opportunities for further operational and economic optimization, which we will continue to investigate as we move towards the next step of completing an updated Feasibility Study for the Project, particularly in relation to input costs relating to both the initial and sustaining capital and operating costs as well as the ore sorting strategies aimed at optimizing processing. The fundamentals for zinc, our primary product, are strong and are enhanced by the recent addition of zinc to Canada's Critical Mineral List which highlights the minerals critical to the building of a clean and digitized economy. Silver is also expected to continue to play a significant role in the development and financing of the project as the market demand for silver streams is high."

"Overall, this PEA demonstrates compelling economics which provides management with greater conviction in early-stage financing discussions already taking place. And while metallurgy continues to be a consideration, management is confident in the quality and marketability of our concentrate. We have strong interest and demand for our concentrates as recently reaffirmed with our MOU with Boliden."

Table 1: Highlighted Results from PEA

After-Tax Net Present Value ("NPV") (Discount Rate 8%)

$299M

After-Tax Internal Rate of Return ("IRR")

17.7%

After-Tax Payback Period

4.8 Years

Pre-Production Capex

$368M

Sustaining Capex and Closure Costs

$332M

Average Annual Payable Silver

2,551 koz

Average Annual Payable Zinc

122 Mlbs

Average Annual Payable Lead

101 Mlbs

Life of Mine ("LOM")

20.3 Years

Total Resource Mined

17.2 Mt

Average ZnEq[i] Diluted Grade of Mineral Resources Mined

17.10%

Gross Revenue After Royalty (LOM)

$6,274M

After-Tax Free Cash Flow (LOM)

$1,121M

Average Annual EBITDA

$123M

C1 Costs over LOM (By-Product)

$0.19/lb Zn

C3 Costs over LOM (By-Product)

$0.60/lb Zn

C1 Costs over LOM (Co-Product)

$0.73/lb ZnEq

C3 Costs over LOM (Co-Product)

$0.92/lb ZnEq

Zinc Price - Flat (LOM)

$1.20/lb

Lead Price - Flat (LOM)

$1.05/lb

Silver Price - Flat (LOM)

$24.00/oz

FX Rate (CAD:USD)

1.25

The PEA was prepared in accordance with National Instrument 43-101 Standards of Disclosure for Mineral Projects ("NI 43-101") and led by Ausenco, with contributions from Global Mineral Resource Services, Mining Plus and F. Wright Consulting.

The reader is advised that the PEA summarized in this press release is preliminary in nature and is intended to provide an initial, high-level review of the project's economic potential and design options. The PEA replaces and supersedes the Company's previous 2017 Feasibility Study on the project. The PEA mine plan and economic model includes numerous assumptions and the use of Inferred Resources. Inferred Resources are considered to be too speculative geologically to have economic considerations applied to them that would enable them to be categorized as mineral reserves, and there is no certainty that the PEA will be realized. Mineral Resources that are not mineral reserves do not have demonstrated economic viability.

Figure 1: After-tax cash flow by year of production (CNW Group/NorZinc Ltd.)

Table 2: Capital Costs Summary

Capital Cost Summary

Pre-Production (US$M)

Mining

$51

Site Preparation

$1

Process plant1

$41

Paste Tailings Plant

$28

Surface Infrastructure2

$41

All Season Road (ASR)

$89

Total Direct Costs

$251

Site Indirects3 (including EPCM)

$39

Owner's costs - Operational Readiness & Fuel

$25

Owner's costs - Capitalized Pre-production

$18

Total Directs, Indirects and Owner's costs

$333

Contingency

$35

Total Pre-Production (Initial) Capital

$368

Notes to table:

1.

Includes dense media separator, mill building remediation, process plant upgrade

2.

Includes site utilities, process plant mobile equipment, ancillary buildings, water treatment plant, water storage pond, waste rock pile, winter road maintenance and management, underground infrastructure

3.

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NorZinc Announces Positive PEA Including After-Tax NPV8% Of US$299M on Extended 20-Year Mine Life at Higher 2400 tpd Throughput - Yahoo Finance

COVID-19 will be around for years to come, but as more people get vaccinated, it likely will become more like the flu, hospitalizing and killing some of the most vulnerable but not posing a major threat for most people, experts say.

"The pandemic itself will end, although it may take a lot longer than people think," said Dr. David Battinelli, senior vice president at New Hyde Park-based Northwell Health. "In all likelihood, the virus itself will never go away."

Experts say the coronavirus may never be eradicated, but it could one day become like the flu, with some people dying of COVID-19 every year but most people not getting seriously ill.

Vaccinations are critical to getting New York to where there are only a small number of cases, rather than large outbreaks.

School-based mask mandates could be lifted as early as next spring or summer, if cases fall enough and vaccination rates rise high enough.

Vaccination rates and whether a more contagious or vaccine-resistant virus variant emerges largely will determine the trajectory of the pandemic, as well as the future of pandemic-related restrictions such as vaccine mandates and mask-wearing in schools, experts say. Variants could cause some years to be worse than others and may lead to annual vaccinations.

Resistance to vaccination, the highly contagious delta variant, natural immunity from previous infection that is weaker than once thought, and vaccinated people contracting and spreading the virus has made controlling the pandemic more difficult than scientists had believed, said Sean Clouston, an associate professor of public health at Stony Brook University.

The number of COVID-19 cases, hospitalizations and deaths rose sharply in New York through most of the summer, as they did nationwide, but rates remained significantly below those in states with low vaccination rates. In the past few weeks, the numbers have roughly plateaued statewide and on Long Island, with positivity rates remaining between 2% and 3%, statewide hospitalizations hovering just above 2,000 a day and deaths usually between about 20 and 40 a day.

Yet there are big differences among the states regions. Those with higher vaccination rates and more restrictions, such as New York City with its broad vaccine mandates tend to have lower positivity and death rates.

That pattern will continue, within New York and nationwide, Clouston predicted.

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There still will be some COVID-19 cases in high-vaccination areas, but larger outbreaks mostly will be in less-vaccinated locales, unless a vaccine-resistant variant develops, he said.

Long Island and the rest of the New York City metropolitan area, with its relatively high vaccination rates, likely will reach a point in which cases remain consistently low, said Stephanie Silvera, an epidemiologist and professor of public health at Montclair State University in New Jersey.

In Nassau County, 72.2% of all residents were fully vaccinated as of Wednesday, and in Suffolk 65.7% were, compared with 57.2% nationally.

"There will be a certain background level of COVID that will be expected, but it will move from pandemic to endemic," Silvera said.

When that will occur is difficult to forecast, because of so many unknowns, including future vaccination rates, she said.

Yet in a highly mobile society, the region will remain vulnerable to visitors bringing in more contagious, and potentially vaccine-resistant, variants from other places throughout the country and world, she said.

Silvera predicted that, as with the flu, there one day could be annual COVID-19 shots, with adjustments to the vaccine to respond to different variants. And, like the flu, COVID-19 might be more severe some years than others, with cases higher during colder weather, when people spend more time indoors, she said.

For people not vaccinated against the coronavirus, COVID-19 is far more deadly than the flu, and it will remain that way, Silvera said.

And just as the flu can be more severe in seniors and people with certain medical conditions, so is COVID-19, even for fully vaccinated people, Battinelli said.

"Your risk will be relatively low" because the COVID-19 vaccine greatly reduces the likelihood of hospitalization or death even for most vulnerable people, he said. "But its not zero."

Battinelli predicted that eventually even higher-risk people will live their lives without constantly thinking about COVID-19.

"Before this, did people say, Gee, Im 85 years old and I could catch the flu and die this year? Its not top of mind," he said.

The flu caused 140,000 to 710,000 hospitalizations nationwide each influenza season between 2010 and 2020, with annual deaths varying between 12,000 and 52,000, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Last flu season, there were 748 deaths, according to CDC data provided to the Journal of the American Medical Association. Thats largely because of mask-wearing, social distancing and other COVID-19 prevention measures, experts say.

More than 730,000 Americans have died of COVID-19, according to the Johns Hopkins Coronavirus Resource Center.

The best way to move closer to a pre-pandemic norm, and to protect people at higher risk for severe COVID-19, is to get vaccinated and to wear masks in public indoor settings, "to keep community transmission rates as low as possible so people who are older and more vulnerable can continue their lives with some semblance of normalcy," Silvera said.

"Otherwise, people with conditions like multiple myeloma or who have had an organ transplant or have other significant immunocompromised conditions are going to have to really isolate very carefully, because it really is a life or death risk for them," said Silvera, pointing to the death Oct. 18 of Colin Powell, who was at particularly high risk because he was 84 and had multiple myeloma. "For most of us, who are otherwise healthy and maybe on the younger end of the age spectrum, were going to be able to go about living our lives closer to pre-pandemic normal than it was."

Clouston said one COVID-19-related change that he hopes becomes permanent is wearing masks in hospitals, nursing homes and other places with large numbers of people who are medically vulnerable.

"If all we do is continue masking in hospitals and health care settings, well probably save tens of thousands of peoples lives a year," from COVID-19 and other diseases, he said. "Thats a very implementable outcome that is maybe culturally acceptable," even among those who are otherwise anti-mask.

Silvera said mask mandates for school children should remain in place throughout the fall and winter, when COVID-19 cases likely will rise as people spend more time indoors. But they could be relaxed next spring or summer, if child and adult vaccination rates are high enough and transmission of the virus is low enough.

Vaccine mandates should remain in place probably for "a couple of years at least," Battinelli said. Those mandates are the best way to counter the "politicization" of vaccines that has kept many people from getting the shot, he said.

More vaccinations also will help stabilize the U.S. economy, said Herman Berliner, a professor of economics at Hofstra University in Hempstead.

"Public health is inextricably woven with the economy," he said.

The supply chain problem is connected to the pandemic, because with the economy uncertain, suppliers have been unsure how many of their products to manufacture, and COVID-19 outbreaks have caused some countries to partially shut down manufacturing, affecting U.S. inventories, he said.

If U.S. cases surge again, Americans will be less likely to travel, eat in restaurants and go to theaters, further harming the economy, he said.

"You want COVID to be under control," he said. "Unless the vaccination numbers continue to increase, thats not going to happen."

COVID-19 also will continue to exacerbate mental health conditions for many, said Heather Berti, a social worker and clinical supervisor at the nonprofit CN Guidance & Counseling Services in Hicksville.

Many people with anxiety or depression who even before the pandemic often avoided leaving home remain isolated, with the pandemic helping enable that isolation, she said.

"If this is going to be with us for the next, whatever, 20 years, we need to learn how to cope with it and how to protect ourselves and still be able do things that we enjoy," she said.

David Olson covers health care. He has worked at Newsday since 2015 and previously covered immigration, multicultural issues and religion at The Press-Enterprise in Southern California.

See more here:

Experts predict COVID-19 will be around for years to come - Newsday

By Kate Cough of The Maine Monitor

NEWRY The richest known hard rock lithium deposit in the world lies a few miles northeast of the ski slopes of Sunday River and not far from Step Falls, where swimmers can wade in shallow pools formed by hundreds of feet of cascading granite ledge.

Smaller deposits have been known in Maine for decades, but this recent discovery, just north of Plumbago Mountain in Newry, is the first to have a major resource potential.

And that potential is staggering: At current market prices, the deposit, thought to contain 11 million tons of ore, is valued at roughly $1.5 billion. Measuring up to 36 feet in length, some of the lithium-bearing crystals are among the largest ever found.

Formed three miles underground during the cooling of granite magma, the crystals rose to the surface over hundreds of millions of years as the mountains above them crumbled and eroded. Now partially exposed, the deposit is estimated to have a higher percentage lithium content by weight than any other in the world.

This is going to be a very important source of lithium in the future, said Dr. William Skip Simmons, a mineralogist at the University of New Orleans and co-author on a recent paper describing the findings. A more detailed sampling and analysis needs to be done, said Simmons, but the crystals are undeniably world-class.

Lithium is prized because it is lightweight and can store lots of energy, making it an important component in batteries for electric vehicles and as reservoirs for excess energy generated by wind turbines and solar panels. Demand for lithium-ion batteries is expected to grow between 5- and 10-fold by the end of the decade, and the world must ramp up production quickly to move away from fossil fuels.

This find could contribute to that. But under Maines recently enacted mining laws, its unclear whether it will ever be extracted.

We know that the Maine mining laws are such that theres not one single active mine in Maine, said Mary Freeman, who owns the land with her husband, Gary, a co-author on the paper describing the find.

Wed have to get clarification from the state, said Freeman, when asked whether the couple planned to apply for a mining permit. They dont have an area of the rule that explains this kind of work.

Maines metallic mining law was designed to protect the states natural resources and keep its water clean. But the state, and its residents, will also need lithium-ion batteries to store energy from wind and solar panels, and run electric vehicles.

Yet lithium is a metal, and state regulations passed in 2017 prohibit mining for metals in open pits of more than three acres, which would be the only way to cost-effectively extract lithium at Plumbago North.

I dont know of any underground and manganese or lithium mines in the world, said Dr. John Slack, a geologist who co-wrote a separate upcoming paper on critical minerals in Maine.

Because those metals have a relatively low cost, in terms of their concentration per ton or per ounce, you need to excavate large volumes of rock cheaply in order to economically and profitably produce the metal youre interested in.

Commercial mining has resulted in a long list of disasters, from collapses and explosions to rivers dyed a sickly shade of orange.

Some of the gravest environmental concerns revolve around mining for base metals such as copper, lead and zinc which often occur in bands of rock rich in iron sulfides. When exposed to air or water, iron sulfides create sulfuric acid. And once the production of sulfuric acid has begun, it can be difficult to stop, polluting waterways for decades, a phenomenon known as acid mine drainage.

Indeed, Maines most famous mines are perhaps better known for their aftermath than what they produced.

In the late 1960s, the Callahan Mining Corporation was given permission to drain a 75-acre coastal estuary in the town of Brooksville and turn the area into an open-pit mine. The company extracted roughly 800,000 tons of copper and zinc before flooding the area, turning it into Goose Pond.

The former mine is now a Superfund site, and a 2013 study by researchers at Dartmouth College found widespread evidence of toxic metals in nearby sediment, water and fish. Cleanup costs, borne by taxpayers, are estimated between $23 million and $45 million.

With events like this in mind, lawmakers, environmental advocacy groups and the Maine Department of Environmental Protection crafted the 2017 metallic mineral exploration and mining law. It passed after years of deliberation and several failed attempts, and is considered one of the most stringent mining laws in the nation.

The law bans metallic mineral mining in, on or under public lands, lakes, outstanding rivers, coastal wetlands and high-value freshwater wetlands. Open-pit mines of more than three acres arent allowed, nor are mines that would require treatment of toxic wastewater in perpetuity or the ponds storing wet mine wastes.

In an effort to avoid what happened in Brooksville and elsewhere, the law also requires companies to set aside money for cleaning up or treating any environmental contamination for at least 100 years after the mines closure.

In the four years since the laws passage, only one company, Wolfden Resources Corp. of Canada, has attempted to go through the process. Earlier this month the company withdrew its application for a zoning change required to begin the Department of Environmental Protection permitting process after state commissioners moved to deny the application, citing numerous deficiencies.

Wolfden CEO Ronald Little told commissioners the company planned to submit a new application after hiring a consultant more familiar with Maines regulations.

Several geologists applauded the 2017 law, but said it means Maines lithium and manganese deposits (Aroostook Countys manganese reserves are thought to be the largest in the country) may never be extracted as long as open-pit mining is banned.

It starts being extremely expensive if you do underground mining. So its just not a viable way to produce a deposit like [Plumbago North], said Simmons, the University of New Orleans mineralogist.

But those reserves also would not present the same type of potential environmental issues as Wolfdens proposed project on Pickett Mountain and other base metal sulfide deposits in Maine, such as Bald Mountain. Thats because the Plumbago North deposit does not occur in, or contain, sulfide-rich rocks, said Slack and Simmons. Mining for lithium there would instead be similar to quarrying for granite or gravel.

Those rocks being exposed now have been sitting there for 200 million years and they havent dissolved away, said Simmons. I dont understand why metal mining would be applied to this type of mine at all. It doesnt make any sense to me.

Slack agreed that the deposits shouldnt fall into the same category as mining for base metals such as zinc and copper in sulfide-rich rocks.

The environmental restrictions implemented in the new Maine mining law were long overdue, he said, but unfortunately I think the law went way too far in completely banning open-pit mining for these kinds of purposes.

In an email, the DEP mining coordinator, Mike Clark, said it has been three or four years since department staff visited Plumbago North, which at that point was operating similar to a granite quarry and gemstone prospecting operation.

At less than an acre, said Clark, the quarry was small enough that it was not required to file a notice of intent.

Asked whether the new law would apply to lithium mining at Plumbago North or elsewhere, Clark wrote: The Department would evaluate a specific proposal and make that determination based on detailed information.

Acid mine drainage, however, is not the only environmental problem Maines law attempts to prevent. Many of those who spoke in favor of the law when it was passed were against open-pit mines altogether, which are often hugely disruptive to the local ecology.

The call to restrict open pit mining thats the open sore in the face of the Earth argument, said Dr. Martin Yates, laboratory manager and instructor at the School of Earth and Climate Sciences at the University of Maine. Once youve opened a hole like that, its not really going to grow back.

Nick Bennett, staff scientist at the Natural Resources Council of Maine, who was deeply involved in the most recent laws passage, said Maines mining laws were not designed to deal with lithium and manganese.

They very likely present a whole bunch of different issues, Bennett said. If those became something someone wanted to mine and process in Maine, I think wed have to look at best available practices.

Mary Freeman said the couple would wait to learn more about the reserves and speak with the DEP before deciding what to do with the find.

I think its quite exciting for Maine to have this, Freeman said. Maine has kind of stepped forward as being leaders in paying attention to the environment. You see the windmills, you see the charging stations for electric vehicles. I live down in Florida, and we dont have that.

The couple has prospected for gems in Oxford County for years and kept buying land in the area because they were interested in the type of coarse granite thats common there.

These were explored years ago. They were full of holes when we bought them, said Freeman of the land. Geologists had known of small crystal deposits of this type, but there hadnt been much active exploration for years. We just went exploring to see what was out there Lo and behold, there were these enormous crystals. We were like wow.

Freeman is aware that Maines mining laws are strict and wasnt certain if the lithium could ever be excavated. If they are able to extract it, she said, the couple would likely send the material elsewhere for processing.

Were also very interested in making sure the forests and the land are maintained, said Freeman, but if we could do something positive toward green energy, Id be honored to do that.

The Freemans arent interested in selling the property and would like to continue exploring there as long as possible.

I dont expect our find will be life-changing and, to be honest, we are happy, so we dont want to change our lives anyway, unless we can slow down aging, wrote Freeman in an email. Gary is up there every day exploring. I will be retiring soon and cant wait to spend more time up there too.

The United States has extensive lithium reserves but produces less than 2 percent of the worlds annual supply, much of it from a single large-scale mine, Silver Peak, in Nevada. Most of the worlds lithium extraction occurs in a handful of operations in Australia, Argentina, Chile and China, which also dominates the processing and battery construction industry, with other countries in Asia.

U.S. officials are attempting to change that. In March, President Bidens energy secretary, Jennifer Granholm, announced $30 million in grants aimed at increasing domestic supply of critical minerals, including lithium, an important component in the batteries of electric vehicles.

America is in a race against economic competitors like China to own the EV market, and the supply chains for critical materials like lithium and cobalt will determine whether we win or lose, said Granholm. If we want to achieve a 100% carbon-free economy by 2050, we have to create our own supply of these materials, including alternatives here at home in America.

The shift to a mineral-intensive world is well underway. A typical electric car requires six times the mineral inputs of a conventional car, and an onshore wind plant requires nine times more mineral resources than a gas-fired power plant, according to the International Energy Agency.

In an email, Phil Coupe, managing partner at ReVision Energy, said Maine will require significant energy storage in the form of batteries to fill gaps when the sun isnt shining or the wind isnt blowing.

Battery storage is the fastest growing part of ReVisions business, said Coupe, who said the discovery in western Maine was revelatory and called on the legislature to study whether Maine could quickly and safely ramp up its extraction.

If we are able to extract Maines lithium deposits in a way that is not environmentally destructive, then I think we have a tremendous opportunity to help accelerate the transition to renewable energy + storage while strengthening Maines economy, Coupe wrote.

Some minerals can be substituted for others manganese has begun to appear in batteries as an alternative to cobalt but lithium appears likely to remain an important component of batteries and other appliances, from air conditioners to electric stovetops.

By 2030, the International Energy Agency estimates that supply from existing mines and projects under construction will produce only half the amount of lithium and cobalt necessary to meet international needs.

There is a role for recycling as well: Unlike fossil fuels, metals can be melted down and reused, some indefinitely. Its a resource that remains largely untapped: Less than 20 percent of electronic waste is formally recycled, according to U.N. estimates. But even with robust recycling programs, its unlikely the world will ever be able to move away from mining entirely.

The mineral requirements of non-fossil fuel technologies should not deter the world from a rapid shift away from fossil fuels, Slack said. When it comes to mining, societies will have to strike the right balance between environmental protection and their needs. Its a difficult issue that requires a lot of thought.

There are also environmental justice concerns at stake. With production of many minerals dominated by a handful of countries in Africa, Asia and Latin America many with track records of human rights and environmental abuses some are pushing for the U.S. to shoulder more of the burden for the minerals it consumes.

We are altering the environment, said Ian Lange, associate professor of economics and business at the Colorado School of Mines. If we just dont let the U.S. mine any of these things, then were going to buy them from these places that dont have the same labor and environmental safeguards the U.S. does.

Most of the worlds lithium is extracted from rocks or brine. Deposits below the salt flats of Chile, Argentina, and Bolivia together referred to as the lithium triangle are estimated to contain more than three-quarters of the worlds supply. (It may also be possible to extract lithium from seawater, but researchers have yet to find a way to compete with cheaper lithium mining on land.)

Brine extraction, in which minerals are pumped to the surface and left to evaporate in massive pools for months or years, is relatively simple and inexpensive. But the process consumes huge amounts of water in some of the driest places on earth.

There are attempts underway in California to extract lithium from underground volcanoes below the Salton Buttes. A new technology, in which the metal is extracted from brine already being used in geothermal plants to generate electricity, is being touted as an environmentally friendly alternative. But similar efforts have failed in the past and the geothermal electricity also requires billions of gallons of water for cooling each year.

Lithium is also mined using traditional methods, in open pits, from rocks like those found at Plumbago North. The reserves at Plumbago North are thought to contain roughly 11 million tons of ore far less than the 77 million tons in the worlds largest hard-rock lithium mine, in Greenbushes, Australia. Maines reserves, however, are exceptional in the size of the crystals and the richness of the deposit.

The Freemans and researchers at Plumbago North knew the crystals they found were extraordinary as soon as they uncovered them. To determine the concentration of lithium, they sent bulk samples for analysis at labs in Australia and Germany.

The results, said Simmons, were astonishing. The deposit showed an average lithium oxide content of 4.68 percent by weight. Thats three times the average concentration of the worlds top 10 hard rock lithium mines. By comparison, the worlds second-richest hard rock lithium deposit, the Bernic Lake mine in Manitoba, has a lithium oxide content of 2.76 percent by weight and contains roughly eight million tons of ore.

The Freemans have not yet filed an application to extract the deposit, which was first described last year. But with lithium in everything from stove tops to smartphones, the discovery raises the question: What role should Maine play in metallic mineral production in an increasingly mineral-intensive world?

Minerals, whether theyre critical or not, we as humans dont have a say in where they are, Slack said. We in the U.S. and Maine need to seriously discuss the issue and realize that we have to mine those metals somewhere to support renewable energy. We have to face that head-on.

It will likely take years before any lithium is produced at the site, if Maine laws allow it at all. Even without the threat of acid mine drainage, permitting a mine raises numerous environmental and social concerns.

But finding new lithium resources and quickly getting them out will also be necessary to meet our renewable energy goals.

Many very educated people who are environmentally conscious dont want mining anywhere, said Slack, and yet they fully support, in many cases enthusiastically, renewable energy. You cant have your cake and eat it, too.

This story was originally published by The Maine Monitor. The Maine Monitor is a local journalism product published by The Maine Center for Public Interest Reporting, a nonpartisan and nonprofit civic news organization.

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Staggering $1.5 billion lithium deposit discovered near Newry - Bangor Daily News

As the leaders of 197 countries gather for the UNs global Cop26 summit to discuss their efforts to combat climate change, including international pressure to phase out fossil fuels, an ongoing energy crisis has left India scrambling to acquire more coal.

Power cuts and warnings of extended blackouts as a result of the potential coal shortage in Asias second-fastest-growing economy has been yet another reminder of how heavily India relies on coal for its electricity generation even after making progress in renewable energy.

More than two-thirds of Indias electricity is still generated by coal-fired thermal power plants. And it is the second-largest producer and consumer of coal after neighbouring China.

The burning of coal to generate electricity is responsible for 40 per cent of all global carbon dioxide emissions from fossil fuels, and mining it comes with a host of environmental hazards. Experts are clear that if global warming is to be kept below 2C the target of the Paris Agreement the use of fossil fuels needs to be dramatically scaled down.

At Cop26, there will be a push for large economies like Indias to commit to more ambitious climate goals and it has been confirmed that Indias prime minister Narendra Modi will be attending the summit, boosting hopes that India will use the platform to announce actions.

According to its 2015 Nationally Determined Contributions (NDC) under the Paris Agreement, India has set a target of reducing emissions intensity relative to GDP by 33 to 35 per cent by 2030, to achieve about 40 per cent of its electricity from renewable sources and enhance its carbon sink by planting trees.

While India has been able to create the worlds fourth-largest renewable energy structure, this does not automatically mean the country will be ceasing coal combustion anytime soon. Phasing out coal Indias cheapest source of electricity will have major implications for the countrys economy.

The partly government-owned Coal India Limited provides about 85 per cent of Indias domestic production of coal and is the worlds largest coal mining company, contributing revenues to the government and support to millions of people who depend on the sector for jobs and pensions.

Coal is deeply entrenched into the national economy [of India] and more so when we look sub-nationally with the mining and utilisation lens, Dr Rahul Tongia, a senior fellow at the Delhi-based think tank Centre for Social and Economic Progress (CSEP), tells The Independent.

The government recently announced India would reach the target of 175 gigawatts (GW) renewable energy generation by 2022, sounding hopeful of meeting the 2030 target of achieving 450 GW of renewable energy installed capacity including nuclear and large hydropower by 2030.

But according to World Resources Institute (WRI) Indias climate programme director Ulka Kelkar, the 450GW target is not an easy one for India.

It requires India to triple its renewable energy capacity in less than a decade, she says. Even though renewable energy has become cost-competitive compared with coal, this 450 GW target will require substantial investments, land, and the right pricing and financial incentives.

India could consider including this domestic target in its next NDC under the Paris Agreement, she adds.

Currently, Indias installed non-fossil fuel capacity is 39 per cent, close to its NDC target of 40 per cent, with the rest still coming from fossil fuels. But installed capacity refers to the maximum generation the given infrastructure is capable of, rather than actual power produced. Since generation from renewables like wind, hydro and solar varies depending upon the speed of the wind or visibility of the sun, the output remains erratic.

Dr Tongia says India should adopt a holistic approach for a smooth and timely transition. Pushing off structural changes as well as avoiding transparent accounting until later on will only make the problem that much harder in the future, he adds.

While coal is currently the cheapest energy source, the cost of renewables and battery solutions is steadily reducing meaning that even from a business perspective, reducing the amount of coal in Indias energy basket makes sense.

Not only are renewables becoming cost-competitive compared with coal, it is also getting a policy push due to Indias renewable energy targets, Ms Kelkar says.

Some Indian states like Gujarat, Chhattisgarh, Maharashtra, and Karnataka have announced that they will not build new coal power plants, as have major public and private electricity companies including Indias largest power utility National Thermal Power Corporation (NTPC), she adds.

Such a transition cannot happen overnight; there are still coal power plants being built there today. Despite the push for renewables, India is one of three countries with the largest number of planned coal power plants in the world, after China and Indonesia.

India is one the top three countries still investing in thermal coal power plants

(Statista)

India has the worlds fifth-largest proven coal reserves enough to last it for more than a century. And despite Mr Modis expressed goal of establishing the country as a global leader in green energy, the fact is that Indias energy needs are growing at a rapid rate.

India is already the third-largest carbon emitter in the world, contributing 7 per cent of global emissions in 2019, after China and the US which are responsible for 27 per cent and 14 per cent respectively. Unlike those countries, it hasnt committed to a target year for achieving carbon neutrality.

India is expected to take over China as the worlds most populous country by 2027, and up until now making electricity widely available to its massive population has been a key policy goal for the government. A village in remote Manipur officially became the last in the country to be linked up to the national grid only in 2018 though coverage remains patchy.

Indias per capita electricity consumption is just a third of the global average; bringing power to more people will be an inevitable factor in developing the country. So despite international pressure to keep it in the ground, even if the proportional share of renewables increases in India in the coming years, experts believe the total amount of coal burned will not see a peak anytime soon in the nation.

This is a very significant decade for Indias energy transition because the country is planning to meet almost all its new and unmet energy needs from clean energy sources. The country is also aiming to leapfrog to green hydrogen - a clean fuel that will be key to industrial decarbonisation.

Ulka Kelkar, Director, Climate Programme, WRI India

The growth rate of electricity from coal has certainly come down, but its premature to consider a peaking of coal-fired power. Coal dominates electricity production today, Dr Tongia notes. Even under scenarios of very high renewable energy penetration by 2030, India may just about reach the plateau of its coal generation around then.

The patchy nature of some renewables means that a lot of developed nations are utilising other non-coal fossil fuels like natural gas to help smooth their energy transitions. But the UK and US reduced their coal consumption not predominantly because of the rise of renewable energy but because they had access to a cheap source of natural gas, which India lacks, Dr Tongia says.

He suggests a more realistic goal for India might be to reduce emissions by improving the efficiency of its coal-fired power systems instead of getting rid of the resource completely. Dr Tongia says in a few years, India will have to figure out whether it requires new coal capacity beyond the few tens of gigawatts under construction already.

Dr Tongia adds that the rising demand for cooling as a result of the warming climate will also drive the need for not just new electricity per se, but electricity at the right time in a firm or dispatchable manner.

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Cop26: Can India wean itself off coal to deliver on climate goals? - The Independent

October 22, 2021 | Austin, Texas | Press Release

The Office of the Governors Committee on People with Disabilities (GCPD) today announced the winners of the 2021 Lex Frieden Employment Awards. Named for disability rights champion and Texan Lex Frieden, the awards are bestowed upon Texans who have displayed a commitment to empowering their employees, co-workers, and fellow Texans with disabilities. The awards coincide with Texas Disability Employment Awareness Month which is celebrated every October in the Lone Star State.In Governor Greg Abbott's 2021 Texas Disability Employment Awareness Month Proclamation he noted, "The often-used slogan for the Lone Star States approach to commerce is that 'Texas is wide open for business.' This openness and dedication to inclusion and diversity in business has long been a truly Texan staple of our strong economy. An important part of this workforce are Texans with disabilities: strong, resilient workers who make invaluable contributions to our state and economy on a daily basis. Not only must we enhance Texas workforce so it better serves Texans with disabilities, we must also engage in disability employment awareness to ensure all Texans have an equal opportunity to contribute to the workforce and participate in building the Texas of tomorrow."The winners will be honored during the Texas HireAbility Employer Forum and the Lex Frieden Employment Awards ceremony, which will be held on Thursday, October 28, 2021 from 9:00 AM 12:00 PM in Austin with options for either in-person or virtual attendance. Free registration is available at: https://zoom.us/webinar/register/WN__Xp8KEELSAqFmi2_Gco1qQThe Employer Forum features employer panelists with strong diversity and disability employment initiatives and expert legal and HR resource panelists that will provide their perspective on how Texas employers can build a lasting disability inclusive workplace. The keynote speaker features Special Guest Tracy Minish, Mission Control Operations Manager at the NASA Johnson Space Center. Tracy has worked for NASAs Manned Flight Programs for more than 35-years and has been legally blind since college. While working at NASAs Johnson Space Center, Tracy has traveled the world and is a strong disability advocate. Tracy will share his story, discuss his journey at NASA, and talk about how a culture of disability-inclusion creates better teams.Large Employer Lockheed MartinLockheed Martin has been recognized as one of the best places to work for disability inclusion for the sixth straight year. This Fort Worth-based corporation received the top score on Disability:INs 2020 Disability Equality Index, which recognizes employers for creating equitable and accessible opportunities for all potential employees. Their Able & Allies Business Resource Group continuously works to increase access and opportunity for employees with disabilities, developing strong partnerships with corporate allies who are committed to advancing disability inclusion and equality across their businesses in the United States and around the world. A commitment to diversity and inclusion in the workplace helps drive innovation at Lockheed Martin by ensuring a range of perspectives are represented.

Medium Employer - Kumori Sushi & TeppanyakiGCPD recognizes Kumori as the 2021 Medium Employer of the Year (26 to 500 employees) for fostering a diverse and accessible workplace. They are the first Modern Japanese restaurant with 11 locations in San Antonio and Rio Grande Valley. Kumori believes everyone deserves to excel in competitive employment and treats employees as if they were family with a strong commitment to see each employee succeeds. Currently over 10% of employees at Kumori have a disability and are employed in a range of positions from cooks to HR personnel and management.

Small Employer - ServiceMaster Commercial Cleaning by LegacyGCPD recognizes Heidi Avedician, owner of ServiceMaster by Legacy as the 2021 Small Employer of the Year (25 employees or less). This El Paso cleaning and disinfecting company boasts that 25% of her staff are people with disabilities. The positions held by employees with disabilities are mainly, but not exclusively, operational support roles - the ones that the company could not succeed without.

Non-Profit Organization - Endeavors UnlimitedGCPD recognizes Endeavors Unlimited. They believe that everyone deserves a chance to obtain and maintain gainful employment in a position that fits their skills and abilities. Approximately 75% of the employees have disabilities, and Endeavors encourages all employees to grow and develop. They promote advancement through providing accessible training and learning opportunities at all levels. They have been recognized by the National Organization on Disability as a Leading Disability Employer in 2020 and 2021 due to the organizations focus and policies towards individuals with disabilities.

Entrepreneur Gregory StavinohaThe Entrepreneur award is awarded posthumously to Gregory Stavinoha. Mr. Stavinoha was legally blind and successfully operated a business in the Mickey Leland Federal Building in Houston Texas through the Federal Randolph Sheppard program from 1996 until his recent passing in September 2021. The business included food service, vending, and the production and sale of United States Passport photographs. Mr. Stavinoha was an outstanding business mentor to other aspiring entrepreneurs with disabilities wishing to achieve his same level of success.

Martha Arbuckle Paralyzed Veterans of America (PVA) Texas ChapterIn 2017, the Texas Chapter PVA recognized the shortage of accessible parking places for people with disabilities due to the overuse of eligible Disabled Veteran (DV) license plate users by people without a mobility disability. Working with the Texas Legislature over the past four years, following many sessions providing testimony and educating the legislature on this issue, SB 792 87th Legislature was signed into law by Governor Abbott, becoming effective January 1, 2022. This law will ensure better availability of accessible parking spaces across the state for anyone with a mobility disability and valid parking placard or accessible tag.

Governor's Trophy Award Kristi AvalosThe Texas Governors Trophy award goes to Kristi Avalos, the CEO of Accessology Too, LLC. Ms. Avalos is a longtime advocate for people with disabilities, beginning her journey in 1977 when she worked at a convalescent home for children. She was later hired by American Airlines to implement the Air Carrier Access Act and in 1990 created Accessology to provide training and consulting services on ADA compliance to architects, contractors, designers, building owners, universities, municipalities, commercial lenders, attorneys, and others throughout the nation. For more than 30 years, Ms. Avalos has provided onsite direction and expert technical support to bring state and local governments into compliance through their legally mandated Transition Plans. Her entire adult life is dedicated to removing barriers for people with disabilities and bridging the gap between what people with disabilities need/want and what business or agencies can provide. As a consultant for many large projects around the country, Ms. Avalos insists upon developing advisory boards made up of individuals with disabilities, giving each group a voice within their own community.About the Lex Frieden Awards:The Employment Awards are given in four categories - Small Employer (25 or fewer employees), Medium Employer (26 to 500 employees), Large Employer (more than 500 employees), and Non-Profit Employer (any size; includes Government Agencies). Each category serves to recognize employers in Texas who have fostered a diverse and accessible workplace and who have developed innovative ways to integrate people with disabilities into the workplace, going beyond the requirements of the ADA and other laws regarding workplace practices.

The Governors Trophy Award is the Governor's Committee's highest honor and is awarded to the person who has achieved the highest success in enhancing the empowerment and employment of Texans with disabilities. The Governor's Trophy recognizes long-term commitment and outstanding efforts at both the community and state level to a professional or volunteer in the field of disability issues.

The Martha Arbuckle Award recognizes the most innovative local committee project and is presented in memory of Austin's long-time disability advocate Martha Arbuckle. The project does not necessarily have to be from a formal Mayors Committee, but from any committee, organization, or collective that works together on an innovative project that helps raise awareness of disability issues or that promotes inclusion in the community.

The Entrepreneurship Award is awarded to a living entrepreneur with a disability who has shown extraordinary ingenuity and drive to create and sustain a successful business that has created jobs, accessible services, or other aspects of benefit to people with disabilities.

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Governor's Committee On People With Disabilities Announces 2021 Lex Frieden Employment Awards Winners - Office of the Texas Governor

By Amaechi Ogbonna

The precipitous free fall of Nigerias currency particularly at the parallel segment of foreign exchange market is becoming a bitter pill that many Nigerians are finding difficult to swallow.

Indeed businesses, households and other stakeholders are not finding it funny at all, particularly against the backdrop of its negative impact on cost of living.

That however explains that the government and even the Central Bank of Nigeria are taking drastic steps to stem the tide of depreciation leading to the clampdown on bureau de change operators and lately the AbokiFX.

According to the Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria, Mr Godwin Emefiele, the undue interrence and manipulation of this set of operators have been partly responsible for the sorry state of the naira in recent times, hence the regulators sledge hammer.

But regardless of the logic around the development, there seems to be a strong consensus among economic experts and the business community that the strength of any nations economy can better be guaged by the strength of its currency, and further underscores the popular sentiment by Vladimir Lenin, the founder of the Bolshevik revolution who once argued that if you want to destroy a country, you destroy its currency in the first place According to Lenin, inflation is a cheat and a fraud on those who save their money in currency.

For Nigeria, the Naira exchange spike has already triggered severe panic in nearly all sectors of the economy with many concluding that all is definitely not well with the currency hence the need for urgent regulatory measures.

For those who care to know, this was the torturous path that the Zimbabwean dollar went before becoming one of worlds worthless currencies in recent years.

Amid the various monetary policies already or currently being implemented by the Central Bank of Nigeria,(CBN), some commentators have observed that with the Naira exchanging at N575/$1, it has recorded its poorest run in the history of the foreign exchange policy administration, as the regulators and the business community not taking the development for granted.

It was indeed in the light of this that the apex bank recently took the battle to the footsteps of currency manipulators after baring bureau de change operators from ts official window.

But beyond efforts by the apex bank to restore the value of the currency, many have blamed the nairas recent abysmal descent and constant state of flux on the rising claim of invisibles like school fees, medical tourism, overseas training, food importation bill, building materials, electronics, luxurious lifestyle of many Nigerians, raw materials among others.

For instance, the United States Mission in Nigeria says there are more students from Nigeria in universities and colleges across America, than those from other African countries.

According to Susan Tuller, the US mission country consular coordinator, Nigeria sends students to study in the United States more than any other country in Africa. With over 13,000 Nigerians studying in the United States, Nigeria is the 11th country for sending international students to America. Thats really huge, so you guys will have lots of friends and acquaintances that come from Nigeria once you get there,.

To sustain this number in the US school system, sponsors of these young men and women would have to source forex for their fees and upkeep which would naturally put pressure on the Naira.

Its therefore quite obvious that the collapse of medical, educational and the nations manufacturing sectors over these years is a major contributory factor to the continued pressure on the currency thereby setting it for its free fall.

Indeed at no time in years past, had Nigerias growing appetite and lifestyle that now tend to fancy foreign manufactured goods to the detriment of locally made ones had mounted so much pressure on the local currency than now.

Only a fortnight ago, Leather Products Manufacturers Association of Abia State (LEPMAAS) lamented that the high cost of raw materials used in shoe production, was threatening their production capacity and jobs in the sector.

Its president Okechukwu Williams said his members now find it difficult to produce shoes, at the current exchange rate of the dollar as six of the eight important components used in shoe production are still being imported taking the prices of finished products beyond the reach of many across with skyrocketing snd frequent spike in exchange rates.

He said: Seventy percent of the materials we use in shoe production is imported from China, Italy or other countries where shoe and leather raw materials are produced.

He further stated And for us here, it is not goodnews that in the 50 to 60 years the Aba shoe industry has existed in Nigeria, no conscious effort is made to reduce the quantity of imported raw materials used in manufacturing leather products. The industrialist lamented

Also reviewing the turn of event s in the nations economy, Dr Muda Yusuf, Economist and CEO, Centre for the Promotion of Private Sector Enterprise (CPPE) opined, What we are experiencing in the foreign exchange market today is largely the consequence of the CBN policy choice of a fixed exchange rate regime and administrative allocation of forex. It is a policy regime that has created a huge enterprise around foreign exchange round tripping, speculation, over invoicing, capital flight among others.

The responses of the apex bank largely amounts to tackling the symptoms of a problem rather than dealing with the causative factors. The the CBN does not seem to believe in or trust the market mechanism. Yet market systems are time tested as instruments of efficient resource allocation in leading economies around the world.

Yusuf further stated, Of course market failures are recognised in economics, and these are exceptions that can be identified in dealt with.

According to him Suppressing the market is like swimming against the tide. It is a difficult battle to win.

The NAFEX Window is a subsidised window.

Managing a subsidy regime is typically a herculean task. We have seen this happen with fertiliser subsidy essential commodities subsidy and petrol subsidy. The story cannot be different with foreign exchange.

The way out of this foreign exchange conundrum is for the CBN to allow the market to function. It is also imperative for the apex bank to de-emphasize demand management and focus on strategies to stimulate forex inflows. A fixed exchange rate regime is a major disincentive to inflows and and creates enormous pressure of demand for forex. It is a contradiction in terms.

The CBN needs to give the market a chance. Its current approach would continue to deepen distortions in the economy, perpetuate roundtripping, fuel speculation, suppress forex supply and boost underground economy.

While sharing his own thoughts on what the government can do to stem Nairas free fall, Daniel Dickson-Okezie, Chairman Lagos Chamber of Commerce and Industry, SMEs subsector, said that the exchange rate challenge stems from the fact of the country is deteriorating to a net importer of all it consumes which incidentally has become the tragedy of the economy. To solve this problem, he called for the retooling of the nations production infrastructure to reduce importation manufactured goods and raw materials so as to conserve forex.

We need to improve our production particularly in the area of agriculture. If we produce, the lesser we import and that is the better. We really need to reduce our imports and export more.

In the past few years, some manufacturing companies have closed shop and relocated to nearby West African countries. If we produce more and export more our GDP will grow and the value of the naira will improve. if we import less, we will be in a better position.

One of the problems of the countrys economic management strategy clearly is its policy summersault. The CBN seems to have run out of ideas and solutions. In the past few years, the CBN governor has done a lot. I think the person handling the macro-economic side or the monetary sector of the country has not been finding things easy. What is worrisome is that devaluation of currencies, does not help in anyway. We are still a mono economy, which is the oil that is fading.

We need to improve our economy, produce better. As one of the leaders of the organised private sector in Lagos, I can tell you that this government is not doing much to encourage export. Forget what you read on the pages of the newspapers. The ease of doing business is not real. The hurdles that exporters face are too many.

This includes Corruption, bad roads and other obstacles that are discouraging and killing businesses. On the possibility of reversing CBNs ban on BDCs, he argued that the problem was not actually the BDCs but some of those commercial banks, calling on the regulators to beam their light into what the banks are doing .

Investigating commercial banks

According to Okezie most fraudulent activities pass through commercial banks and as such if the government needs to sanction anybody, it shouldnt be the bureau the change operators but the banks as there is no type of financial crime that happens in this country that does not pass through the commercial banks.

He said Most of them are creating problems in the forex market. They should be investigated. The CBN as a regulatory agency, should compel its Bank Examination department to carry out routine checks on commercial banks; check their books, transactions, and do the other real regulatory action. But corruption stalls all that.

Fiscal activities of the government

The LCCI SMEs chair also lamented the high level in most government agencies urging a frontal attack on the issue is at every level.

Also commenting Mr Garba Kurfi, a senior stock and securities trader, said For me, rather than devaluing the Naira, the two exchange rates, the official and parallel rates should be merged.

He argued once that is done, dollar will be readily available and things will be better for all.

It does not make sense to sell my dollar at the official rate price of N417/$1 when a dollar is N575. So why dont we merged these two rates to get more dollar flow and Naira will get to its level and everyone will be at peace.

Nigeria was the only country where the central bank sell foreign exchange from its reserves to0 BDC operators. The question we ask ourselves is why it took us so long to ban their operation. The only exchange rate I can recognise today is the I&E window rate, which is the rate we expect everyone that wishes to procure foreign exchange to use. I dont recognise that there are any other rates in the market, He said.

In the same vein, the Founder/Head at Probusiness Consults and an economic analyst, Chukwuemeka Iheonunekwu, said that the free fall of the Naira is a hydra-headed monster that requires diverse and intensive intervention, adding that the currency might fall to over N1,000 per dollar before 2023.

I already suspect that the gap in FX supply will push it to N600 by this December as demand increases. One of the major troubles of the Naira is that the CBN managers believe they can use a duct tape strategy to prop up its value using income from oil. They dont want market forces to determine the Naira value because it would reveal that the Naira is much weaker than they want us to believe, he said.

According to Iheonunekwu, the CBN needs to fill up the gap in FX supply as soon as possible, Nigeria needs to move towards manufacturing across whole value chains and stop relying heavily on crude and move away from an import based consumer economy to an export based economy.

Theres also the problem of the CBN printing more money to augment government spending. This sparked a controversy recently and many people said there was nothing wrong with CBN printing more money to pay salaries and support government spending. What is wrong with that is the fact that printing more money always increases inflation, which, according to recent CBN data, is at 16.63 per cent today.

Continued here:

Resolving the Naira exchange conundrum - Daily Sun

1. Purpose of this document

This document provides an overview of the draft plan for the Severn River Basin District. It focuses on how the Environment Agency and Natural Resources Wales coordinate the work on catchments that are close to or are part of the border between England and Wales.

This document also provides links to other information and documents which together form the draft Severn River Basin Management Plan. These are:

The Environment Agency and Natural Resources Wales are seeking your views on the proposed updated environmental objectives and summary programmes of measures to protect and improve the water environment in the Severn River Basin District. Your responses will help ensure that the actions and approaches adopted in the updated plan support a green economy, wildlife and habitats, and contribute to everyones health and wellbeing.

There is an online consultation where you can leave your responses. Alternatively, if you are unable to access the online tool you can respond by emailing RBMPconsultation@environment-agency.gov.uk

The Severn River Basin Management Plan was first published in 2009, and then updated in February 2016. This is the consultation for the next update to the plan.

The purpose of this plan is to protect and improve the water environment for the wider benefit of people and wildlife in the Severn River Basin District.

The Severn River Basin District, which covers over 21,000km2, lies both in England and Wales. It extends from the Welsh uplands, through the rolling hills of the Midlands and south to the Severn Estuary.

Over 5 million people live in the river basin district. Although predominantly rural, it includes urban areas such as Bristol, Coventry, Cardiff, the South Wales Valleys and parts of the West Midlands conurbation.

The Severn River Basin District has a particularly rich diversity of wildlife and habitats, supporting many species of global and national importance. For example, the Severn Estuary and its surrounding area are protected for their bird populations, habitats and migratory fish species such as Atlantic salmon, shad, and lamprey.

To view a map showing the boundary of the Severn River Basin District visit the catchment data explorer.

Responsibility for coordinating the planning of the future of waters in England lies with the Environment Agency. For waters in Wales it lies with Natural Resources Wales. However, The Environment Agency and Natural Resources Wales work jointly in the Severn River Basin District.

Some waters in the river basin district form the boundary between Wales and England, or cross from Wales into England or England into Wales. Joint working on the cross border waters is therefore essential to ensure the water environment is protected and improved. The aim is to achieve this through collaborative working with the land managers and local groups.

Working together with partners increases the understanding of the priorities for action and helps to ensure that the appropriate measures are carried out.

In 2013, Defra launched the catchment based approach to help improve the quality of the water environment in England. This approach embeds collaborative working at the catchment scale, bringing a range of partners together to support integrated catchment management. This results in multiple benefits including improvements to water quality, enhanced biodiversity and reduced flood risk.

In Wales the Environment (Wales) Act 2016 outlines the policy framework to enable the environment to be managed in a more proactive, sustainable and joined up way. It includes a duty for Natural Resources Wales to produce area statements to help implement the priorities set out in the Welsh Governments Natural Resources Policy. There are seven areas or places in Wales, including the marine environment. Each area has a live area statement document summarising the challenges and opportunities relevant to that area, which were first published in April 2020. The delivery of area statements requires a new way of working and relies on successful collaboration with partners and stakeholders. The Wellbeing of Future Generations (Wales) Act 2015 made it a requirement for all public bodies to work towards the seven wellbeing goals and think about how their decisions will affect people living in Wales now and in the future.

There are 3 opportunity catchments in the Welsh part of the Severn River Basin District where Natural Resources Wales aim to target resources. These are: Taff and Ely; Central Monmouthshire; and Ithon. The Marine Area Statement also highlights actions to improve the quality of estuarine and coastal waters.

Catchment partnerships are now active in the Severn Uplands, Teme, and Wye helping to coordinate work across the England and Wales border. The aim of the catchment approach is to work collectively for the benefit of the whole catchment, rather than a piecemeal approach.

For example, the Wye catchment partnership is hosted by the Wye and Usk Foundation, with Natural Resources Wales and the Environment Agency working closely with the group. The partnership has a diverse membership with representatives from rivers trusts, wildlife trusts, government organisations, private forestry, farming unions, water companies, conservation trusts, and local companies, as well as interested individuals. More information can be found at the catchment based approach and the Wye and Usk Foundation websites.

The Environment Agency and Natural Resources Wales will continue to develop new projects, working collaboratively with a wide range of partner and stakeholder groups at both a local and catchment scale. Projects will be targeted in priority areas delivering a range of benefits and outcomes for people and wildlife. By taking an integrated catchment approach and through sustainable land management, the aim is to deliver reduced flood risk to local communities, improve water quality, enhance and create new habitat and protect water resources. Through the development of natural flood management pilot projects and local landowner engagement a variety of land management interventions to improve soil health have been delivered, thereby attenuating and storing more water in soils and upstream catchments. This has also reduced the risk of surface water run-off and associated diffuse pollution from agricultural sources that is currently driving many of the water quality failures, particularly phosphate.

With a changing climate, where weather extremes are becoming more pronounced and frequent, partners spanning Mid Wales, Shropshire, Telford and Wrekin, Herefordshire, Worcestershire and Gloucestershire came together forming the River Severn Partnership in September 2019.

This partnership will look to help people, businesses and environment to prepare for and be resilient to climate change impacts. This is across the rivers Severn, Teme, Warwickshire Avon and Wye. Proposals include options for flood risk management, improving water quality, environmental enhancement and developing an integrated approach to water resource storage and management.

The Severn Estuary Partnership works with the Environment Agency and Natural Resources Wales (along with local authorities, environmental groups, water companies, industry, and the private sector) to develop a sustainable and integrated approach for the Severn Estuary. A new strategy was published in 2017 to provide a strategic policy framework for the Severn Estuary, inform and support decision making, and to facilitate the Marine and Coastal Access Act (2009) related to cross border integration and an ecosystem based approach to management.

Monitoring and assessment of the water environment increases understanding of the impact of pollution and other pressures. Making this information available on data sharing systems such as catchment data explorer and Water Watch Wales enables everyone to access it and determine how their individual actions can contribute towards safeguarding the water environment.

Summaries for the whole Severn River Basin District are as follows.

Differences between chemical status classification results can be seen in cross border catchments for ubiquitous persistent, bioaccumulative and toxic chemicals (uPBTs) and in particular polybrominated diphenyl ethers and mercury. These differences are due to differences in the evidence that is available. The Environment Agency and Natural Resources Wales work closely together on chemicals classification. Each organisation has developed an approach that makes best use of the available evidence. Whilst the approaches to classification may differ, the measures applied to reduce uPBTs in the water environment are broadly comparable across England and Wales and are driven from national legislation. Monitoring the reduction of these chemicals in the environment will continue to ensure that measures are appropriate.

Nitrate vulnerable zones no longer exist in Wales. The Nitrate Pollution Prevention (Wales) Regulations (2013) have been revoked and replaced by the Water Resources (Control of Agricultural Pollution) (Wales) Regulations 2021.

There are:

There are:

The methodology and evidence used for monitoring and managing the water environment is regularly reviewed and updated to reflect the best available approach. Since the last update of the Severn River Basin Management Plan in 2016 some changes have been made, including:

changes to classification tools based on advice from the UK Technical Advisory Group and other technical experts. These include revised environmental standards for nitrogen in lakes and pH (Wales only) and the list of invasive non-native species identified as high risk

minor amendments to the water body network. The proposed changes to the water body network in England can be found in the River basin planning progress report and for Wales the River Basin Management Plan (RBMP) Overview Annex Wales

Many rivers, streams, lakes, estuaries and coasts are degraded and damaged by development, industry, agriculture, and modifications to provide flood protection.

The challenge of reducing flood risk is discussed in the separate consultation on flood risk management plans which will run from October 2021 to January 2022. However, work to improve the environment and reduce flood risk needs to be coordinated to deliver maximum benefits for both outcomes.

In 2019, the Environment Agency and Natural Resources Wales consulted on the most important challenges to the current and potential future uses and benefits of the water environment, including protected areas, in the Severn River Basin District. Following the review of consultation responses, the challenges to be addressed by this river basin management plan were confirmed and are briefly described in alphabetical order below.

Further information on the challenges can be found in the English River basin planning process overview document and Welsh part of the Severn RBMP document.

The UK has already lost 90% of its wetland habitats in the last 100 years, and over 10% of freshwater and wetland species are threatened with extinction.

Urgent action is needed to reduce the pressures these habitats and species are facing and to increase their quantity, quality and connectedness so biodiversity can thrive. Water dependent habitat in the Severn River Basin District, for example saltmarsh in the Severn Estuary, is vital for helping to adapt to an uncertain future, particularly in helping to withstand and adapt to climate change and extreme weather conditions.

Without water none of us can survive. But how water gets to peoples taps and the effect that has on the environment is something most of us dont think about. Water taken from rivers, aquifers and reservoirs in the Severn River Basin District benefits all parts of the economy from farmers to energy producers, and society through drinking water, sports and recreation and fisheries.

There are areas where too much water is already taken. As the climate changes and population grows, demand for water will also grow. Over-abstraction damages rivers, springs, aquifers, lakes and wetlands, reducing the places where wildlife can live. It becomes more difficult for fish to reach the places where they lay their eggs (their spawning grounds) and where they feed.

Chemicals can impact human health and wildlife from direct exposure to the chemicals or from accumulation via the food chain.

Some chemicals in the Severn River Basin District are ubiquitous and are best managed at a national scale. Others are specific to an activity and their management should be focused at a local scale. Many chemicals are banned from production or use but are persistent in the environment for long periods. These continue to be monitored to demonstrate that existing controls are adequate, and concentrations are decreasing.

Climate change is and will continue to impact England and Wales through sea level rise and changes to weather patterns, such as, extreme rainfall, heat waves and drought.This will affect how our natural water assets function and reduce the services that those assets provide and the benefits that we receive as a society, such as drinking water, recreation and wellbeing.

Immediate and ambitious action to reduce the impact of climate change and put in place measures to adapt to it is vital.We need to work collaboratively to build resilience to future warming scenarios. If nothing is done the consequences for people and wildlife will be immense.

A non-native species is an animal or plant introduced, either deliberately or accidentally, into a place where it does not belong. They can hitch hike a ride on transported goods or other animals or even travel in the ballast of ships. Not all non-native species are damaging; for instance non-native food crops can have huge benefits. A species only becomes invasive if it has negative effects on the environment. Global trade, tourism and transport increase the problem world-wide. The problem is increasing every year.

The cost to society that invasive non-native species pose can be enormous. For example, Japanese knotweed grows in thick dense clusters that increase riverbank erosion and may reduce the capacity of river channels, possibly leading to increased flooding. But the effects are not just economic. Invasive non-native species can also damage wildlife habitat and human health.

Many people are more aware than ever that plastic has an impact on seas and wildlife, but its not just the plastic pollution that can be seen on beaches. Because of the way plastics (including micro-plastics) are produced, used and disposed of, these plastics can also pollute lakes, rivers and streams, soil and air.

For thousands of years rivers, estuaries, lakes and the coastline have been physically modified to support farming, industry, transport, including shipping, and by building places to live. Some of those physical changes are still essential. They help to provide protection from flooding, support the supply of drinking water and the production of food. Other changes have helped create iconic landscapes and architecture.

But as rivers have been diverted, covered, and straightened, the environment has been damaged. The legacy of structures and other changes means many of the rivers and waterways do not provide healthy and sustainable habitats for wildlife.

Rivers, streams and groundwater are an essential part of rural life and the rural economy. However, the way land and livestock are managed, including the use fertilisers and pesticides, results in pollution of rivers and groundwater.

Farming and rural land use is ever changing. We need to make soils, air and water healthier than they are now whilst growing enough food for everyone. A transition to a more sustainable agriculture will also contribute to the net zero target and climate change adaptation.

Pollution can come from the drainage off roads, transport, industries and housing. Historic pollution from factories and heavy industry has also left a legacy contaminating land, soils and water.

The climate emergency is intensifying the problems densely populated areas create. The impact of pollution from urban areas is particularly acute during heavy rainfall events following periods of prolonged dry weather. In dry weather pollutants build up on hard surfaces such as roads, and in drains. Heavy rainfall flushes all these pollutants into rivers and streams in one go which can damage wildlife.

In Wales, acidification continues to impact rivers and lake ecosystems due to the atmospheric deposition of sulphur and nitrogen compounds on sensitive upland soils. Afforestation with conifers in uplands and changes to drainage also increase the risk and impacts of acidification. The source of atmospheric pollution historically was coal-fired power stations. International controls and a shift to cleaner fuels has resulted in significant emissions reductions. Diffuse emissions from transport, domestic and agricultural sources still have a local impact.

The water industry plays a vital role in making sure that waste water from homes and businesses is safely treated and returned to the environment. Pollution from waste water has in the past damaged rivers, streams and coastal waters very badly. But the situation has improved a lot in the last 30 years. This is because the water industry have invested their customers money in better collection and treatment systems, and improved how they work with local people.

Despite these improvements, water industry activities are still one of the main reasons why waters are not in a good enough state. Work is underway to address these problems but more is needed. The water industry need to further improve their treatment systems and reduce incidents of untreated waste water being discharged to rivers and coastal waters.

Everyone can play a part in helping to reduce the effects of waste water by for example, thinking more carefully about what is poured down the sink and flushed down the toilet.

The summary programmes of measures have been reviewed to ensure the right measures are being delivered in the right place to achieve the environmental objectives in this plan. To meet the objectives, a combination of measures will need to be delivered across many sectors.

The summary programmes of measures can be found in the English draft river basin management plan summary programmes of measures and the Welsh part of the Severn RBMP document.

Actions to reduce flood risk are discussed in the Flood Risk Management Plans. However, by taking a collaborative place-based approach, measures developed primarily to achieve different outcomes (for instance increased flood resilience) will deliver multiple benefits, including helping to achieve the environmental objectives of this plan.

For example, the Severn Valley Water Management Scheme is looking to adopt a catchment based approach to flood risk in the Severn Catchment with the promotion of nature based solutions and environmental enhancements to compliment other more formal flood risk management interventions.

It is anticipated that the initial focus will be in the Upper Severn catchment within both England and Wales using nature based solutions, land use management change, and a range of interventions to store flood water and reduce flow in the River Severn. Such an approach could alleviate pressure on existing assets, reduce emergency response requirements and provide added resilience in terms of future water resources.

Many of the waters that are on or close to the border have common reasons for not achieving their water environment objectives. Working together provides better opportunities to access funding to support innovative projects to protect and improve the water environment.

The following sections highlight areas where the Environment Agency and Natural Resources Wales are working together with partners to control some of the main challenges in the cross border areas of the Severn River Basin District.

Throughout the cross border catchments, the Environment Agency and Natural Resources Wales work together to manage water levels and flows. This includes working on drought groups, the River Severn Drought Order and on abstraction licence consultations. The Environment Agency and Natural Resources Wales, are working together to licence new and previously exempt surface water and groundwater abstractions, ensuring the demand for water is more sustainable for the future.

Water Resources West (WRW) is one of five regional water resources planning groups set up in England. It is a joint partnership between United Utilities, South Staffs Water, Severn Trent Water and Dr Cymru with advisory support from the Environment Agency and Natural Resources Wales. Water Resources West are working to ensure sustainable use of water resources by providing a strategic oversight and co-ordination of water resource matters within the cross border river catchments, along with other catchments within the West of England. They are working with a range of stakeholders to ensure enough water is available to meet demands for people, environment and adapting to climate change.

The Environment Agency, the Wye and Usk Foundation and Natural Resources Wales are working in partnership to eradicate invasive non-native species on the River Wye. To date, they have been very successful but need to continue to remove the invasive plants on a regular and ongoing basis. The work also needs to be extended to other cross border catchments, for example the River Monnow.

The Environment Agency and Natural Resources Wales are also looking to develop joint protocols that reduce the risk of an accidental transfer of invasive non-native species during work on cross border rivers, for example whilst restocking eels.

Unlocking the Severn is a project to improve passage for twaite shad up the River Severn and River Teme by removing barriers to fish migration. For the River Severn action will be needed on the Severn Vyrnwy confluence on the border with Wales.

Action is also being carried out on the River Lugg cross border catchment to remove or lower barriers and install fish passes. This work will help migratory fish (such as salmon) and needs to be extended to the River Arrow where there are more than twenty weirs.

The Environment Agency and Natural Resources Wales are working collaboratively, with a range of stakeholders and partners, to address issues associated with how land and livestock are managed.

For example, the Nutrient Management Plan (NMP) Board sets out strategic direction and delivery objectives to reduce phosphate in the Rivers Wye and Lugg in line with the NMP. This is supported by a Technical Advisory Group (TAG). A number of options and measures are being proposed by the TAG to deliver the necessary phosphate reduction at key sites.

The Water Resources (Control of Agricultural Pollution) (Wales) Regulations 2021 have been introduced in Wales to reduce losses of pollutants from agriculture to the environment by setting rules for certain farming practices. The Regulations also set standards for silage making, storage of silage effluent and for slurry storage systems. They establish good practice requirements for nutrient management into one set of regulations.

Water quality modelling has been carried out for the next period of water company investment by Severn Trent Water and Dr Cymru with input from the Environment Agency and Natural Resources Wales. Further work is being undertaken to finalise schemes in order to maximise benefits within catchments and further improve discharges from sewage treatment works and combined sewer overflows.

In the English part of the Severn River Basin District the majority of water bodies have an objective of good ecological status. The actions planned for the period from 2021 are expected to achieve good ecological status by 2027 in 3 of the 432 water bodies that are not currently at good ecological status. For the remaining water bodies there is low confidence of meeting their objective by 2027. More information about these objectives can be found on the catchment data explorer.

Of the 287 water bodies in the Welsh part of the Severn River Basin District, 93 are already at good status. 22 water bodies will improve to good status by 2033 or 2039 as a result of the measures already in place or planned in the next cycle. An additional 147 water bodies have an objective of good status (unlikely) by 2027.

Achieving these objectives would also safeguard the quality of drinking water sources in drinking water protected areas and achieve improvement objectives for bathing waters, and the water bodies on which protected areas for the conservation of internationally important wildlife depend. More information on the objectives for protected areas can be found for England in European sites protected area summary tables and for Wales in the Welsh part of the Severn RBMP document.

Information on the progress made since the last update to the plan can be accessed in the River basin planning progress report for waters in England and the Welsh part of the Severn RBMP document for waters in Wales.

Read more here:

Severn Draft River Basin Management Plan summary and cross border catchments (England and Wales) - GOV.UK