Caroline Alden

Tuning in…the House Science Committee's energy and environment subcommittees are hosting a joint hearing on “Evaluating the Potential of Marine Carbon Dioxide Removal Approaches” today. This topic has been gaining traction across science, industry, and government, with the White House mCDR Fast-Track Action Committee working to develop a plan for a comprehensive federal research strategy. A few key things to know:  🌟Even with steep emissions reductions, all model scenarios limiting warming beneath 2℃ by 2100 require some form of carbon dioxide removal–and the ocean may have a role to play. 🌟To date, no mCDR approach has been validated or proven to be safe, effective, and ethical to operate at a scale needed to meet global climate goals. Multiple approaches, with many projects operating at different locations, may be necessary to meet carbon drawdown needs. 🌟No industry specific legislation, regulations, or legally binding agreements exist to govern mCDR field research. Given some of the very big unknowns here, it is CRITICAL that we approach this emerging field with “smart from the start” strategies that safeguard marine resources and provide opportunities for robust and ongoing consultation, education, and engagement with communities. Looking forward to learning more from NOAA, DOE, and others as they discuss some of these issues.  #OceanClimateAction

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Excited to share the "Baseline Allocation for Assessed Risk" (BAAR) Model, a novel baseline setting tool for nature-based solutions projects! The model: 🌳Offers a consistent approach to setting nested baselines for nature-based solutions projects 🌍Accurately maps deforestation risk to help ensure finance reaches the areas it is most needed 🌳Enhances market integrity with a model capable of providing early, reliable baseline data, building confidence for investors, project developers, and local communities 🌍Integrates advancements in remote sensing and carbon market policies.

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NOTICE of Certification for the Final Supplemental Environmental Impact Report for the Pulse Flows Component of the Water Storage Investment Program Groundwater Projects From the Department of Water Resources: The California Department of Water Resources (DWR), in compliance with the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA), has certified  the Final Supplemental Environmental Impact Report (Final SEIR; SCH # 2022080216) for the Pulse Flows Component of the Water Storage Investment Program Groundwater Projects (Pulse Flows Component). #Environmentaldocuments #WaterStorageInvestmentProgram

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Well, it’s official: I’m excited to share that I’m launching a new venture - Frisson Systems After years of working in climate tech for heavily regulated industries (O&G), and from my time in the office of Colorado Governor Jared Polis, I have seen firsthand how much untapped potential there is in government agencies that is lost due to outdated administrative processes. That’s why I founded Frisson Systems. At Frisson, we empower government agencies to create and deploy AI-driven tools tailored to their specific needs. Our no-code platform bridges the digital skills gap, making advanced technology both accessible and secure for the public sector. We’re already in discussions for pilot programs with government organizations, and I’m confident that Frisson will help improve efficiency and close the digital divide in government. I’m incredibly grateful for the experiences that led me here, particularly my time at Project Canary, where I learned the importance of innovation and resilience in the face of serious challenges. I’d love for you to check out what we’re building. You can learn more by visiting our website, or feel free to email me at [email protected] if you’d like to chat further. https://lnkd.in/eBBqcP_B Onward to this exciting new chapter! #AI #GovTech #PublicSectorInnovation #DigitalTransformation #NoCode #GovernmentTechnology #AIForGood #StartupLife #TechForGovernment #FrissonSystems

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There’s still time to register for the CLF California Carbon Report webinar! 📆 June 27 at 2 PM ET 📚 Check out the report here: https://lnkd.in/gq9NC8Wg The CLF recently published the California Carbon Report which explored the magnitude and timing of embodied and operational carbon emissions for 30 real building projects in California. This study included estimating the whole life carbon impacts of buildings over time, exploring variability across different projects, and identifying top contributors to carbon emissions. Please join the authors of the report for a webinar on June 27th at 2PM ET, where they will share more details about the methodology used, additional findings, and how this research can support the design and policy communities towards decarbonizing real-world buildings. 🔗 Register here: https://lnkd.in/grhuFKun Let us know if you have any questions in the comments 👇

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Our findings just published in Nature communications underscore the potential consequences of anthropogenic warming, suggesting that it could trigger extensive aridification with lasting effects that may persist for tens of thousands of years. This research is important for understanding past climate dynamics and informing future climate projections https://rdcu.be/dQ3ut

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“Rethinking flexible hydropower operations” A recent study developed a new framework for hydropower management that uses operational flexibility to balance economic and ecological objectives that are, respectively, maximized through unrestricted hydropeaking and maintaining natural flows. It is called “FREE” (Flexible Releases for Economics and the Environment). FREE integrates operational flexibility by permitting reservoir releases to deviate from inflows when power generation is most economically valuable. Operational flexibility is characterized by the magnitude and frequency of deviations from an inflow-equals-outflow regime and is applied seasonally to reflect varying economic and ecological needs throughout the year. FREE is implemented using an optimization model applied to three hydropeaking facilities on the mainstem Connecticut River that are currently in a relicensing process.  Estimated effects of operational flexibility are quantified on annual and seasonal scales, with economic goals measured by power and revenue, and ecological goals by a proxy measure: the Richard-Baker flashiness index. To explore operational flexibility, two inflow regimes were investigated: existing inflows, which are altered by upstream hydropower operations, and estimated unaltered inflows. An insightful discussion is provided by Pfeifle et al. (2024) in River Research and Applications, “Timing is everything: Rethinking flexible hydropower operations for the economy and environment”

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