Huge swarm of AI bots flooded vape ban consultation to influence outcome, study finds
Experts said it is thought to be the first time AI has been used to coordinate an attempt to interfere a major health policy in the UK
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Experts said it is thought to be the first time AI has been used to coordinate an attempt to interfere a major health policy in the UK
Greenhouse gas emissions have now hit an all-time high, with CO2 growth rates tripling since 1960, a study has found.
Oxfam says investing by rich in disaster recovery widens inequality and gives incentive to delay climate actionThe world’s wealthiest people are not just profiting from the polluting causes of climate breakdown, they are also increasingly cashing in on the catastrophic consequences, according to a study by Oxfam.The global equality organisation has found that the richest 0.1% of the world’s population are heavily invested in disaster preparedness, recovery and reconstruction – a market that is projected to grow from $70bn to $92bn a year by 2029. Continue reading...
Skeptical Science is partnering with Gigafact to produce fact briefs — bite-sized fact checks of trending claims. You can submit claims you think need checking via the tipline. Do nearby wind turbines decrease home values by an average of 75%? Research has found much smaller effects on nearby home prices, and those effects fade with time and distance from turbines.
One 2024 study analyzing data from 1997 to 2020 found that visible turbines were associated with an average sale price decrease of about 1.1%, largely affecting urban areas. The effect disappeared within 10 years of installation and was not statistically significant for installations after 2017, indicating that the 1.1% average likely overstates future wind project impacts.
Another 2023 study examining half a million transactions across 34 states found that announcing a project within one mile could initially reduce nearby home values by up to 11% compared with homes 3-5 miles away. However, values recovered to within 2% of pre-announcement levels in 5 years of operation.
These effects have declined in recent years, which researchers suggest may reflect greater familiarity with turbines; responsible siting and community involvement can further reduce impacts. Go to full rebuttal on Skeptical Science or to the fact brief on Gigafact This fact brief is responsive to quotes such as this one.
Sources U.S. Department of Energy Do Wind Turbines Lower Property Values? PNAS The visual effect of wind turbines on property values is small and diminishing in space and time Energy Policy Commercial wind turbines and residential home values: New evidence from the universe of land-based wind projects in the United States American Clean Power Land-based Wind Turbines do not Affect Property Values Center for Rural Affairs Wind energy and property values Columbia Law School Sabin Center for Climate Change Law Rebutting 33 False Claims About Solar, Wind, and Electric Vehicles Please use this form to provide feedback about this fact brief.
This will help us to better gauge its impact and usability. Thank you! About fact briefs published on GigafactFact briefs are short, credibly sourced summaries that offer "yes/no" answers in response to claims found online. They rely on publicly available, often primary source data and documents.
Fact briefs are created by contributors to Gigafact — a nonprofit project looking to expand participation in fact-checking and protect the democratic process. See all of our published fact briefs here.
Paper straws can actually be worse for the environment, according to studies.
It’s no secret that Puerto Rico has an energy problem. An aging electrical grid and frequent hurricane activity have left the island with an unreliable power supply. Frequent and prolonged blackouts have led many Puerto Ricans to turn to solar energy. Ricardo Fonseca, owner of Ingenious Solution Services, has been installing solar and battery storage… The post Case study: Puerto Rican apartment complex relies on battery power appeared first on Solar Power World.
A major study comparing 200 U.S. farms found that advanced regenerative farming practices increased soil carbon storage by nearly 40% compared with conventional methods while supporting greater biodiversity.
Hannah Ritchie offers advice based on her many years studying the data behind clean energy, electric vehicles, and other climate solutions.
At the midpoint of the last century the region had 1,450 glaciers and a new study reveals the extent of losses.