— New methods for removing carbon dioxide from the atmosphere will need to scale up quickly to meet targets established under the Paris Agreement, according to a new study from UW-Madison authors.
The study, led by Prof. Gregory Nemet of the university’s La Follette School of Public Affairs, was published last week in the scientific journal Joule.
Researchers found two gigatons of carbon dioxide are currently being removed from the atmosphere each year, though just 0.1% of that is due to “novel” carbon dioxide removal methods. The rest is due to forestry practices, according to an overview from the university.
But that pace falls well short of what needs to occur to limit atmospheric warming to 2 or 1.5 degrees Celsius, according to the study. Modeling shows “we need to remove hundreds of gigatons of carbon dioxide from the atmosphere over the course of the century to meet the Paris Agreement and ensure the sustained wellbeing of our planet,” the university says.
This international treaty was adopted in 2016, outlining nearly 200 countries’ commitments to reduce and limit greenhouse gas emissions. The United States rejoined the agreement in 2021 under President Joe Biden after previously withdrawing under then-President Donald Trump.
Ongoing conventional carbon dioxide removal methods include reforestation, wetland restoration and improved forest management. But other approaches that “have only been deployed at small scale” so far include carbon capture and sequestration, direct air carbon capture and storage, and biochar, a form of charcoal made by heating biomass in an oxygen-free environment.
Expanding these non-forestry approaches will be necessary for meeting the atmospheric warming goals of the Paris Agreement, according to the study. Authors found they would need to scale up by a factor of 1,300 by the middle of the century.
Jan Minx is the study co-author and a researcher with the Mercator Research Institute on Global Commons and Climate Change in Germany. He says the formative phases for these new removal methods — taking place between first commercialization and rapid scaling up — need to be “at least as active as the fastest historical analogues” to have a true impact.
“This will require more serious commitments toward novel removal technologies than are currently in place,” he said in a statement. “The required levels will only be feasible if we see substantial development of novel [carbon dioxide removal]’s formative phase in the next 15 years.”
Study results will be included in the United Nations’ annual Emissions Gap Report for 2023, according to the release.
See the full study here: https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S254243512300449X
— Exact Sciences is suing a Missouri business called Geneoscopy for patent infringement.
The Madison-based cancer diagnostics business alleges the other company’s ColoSense at-home test for detecting gastrointestinal diseases uses methods for processing stool samples that are covered by one of its own patents.
The suit, filed in the U.S. District Court for the District of Delaware, seeks to prevent Geneoscopy from promoting, using or selling ColoSense in the United States.
Exact Sciences’ Cologuard test for colorectal cancer screening is described in the complaint as “the first and only noninvasive stool or fecal DNA-based test” approved by the FDA for screening average-risk patients for this cancer. It was first approved in 2014, the filing shows, and has been used more than 13 million times since then.
“As a company deeply rooted in innovation, we understand the vital role of intellectual property, and we will vigorously defend our patents,” Exact Sciences Chairman and CEO Kevin Conroy said in a statement.
Geneoscopy, founded in 2015, says it has “invented a unique noninvasive diagnostic platform” using human biomarkers found in stool samples. In an emailed statement responding to the lawsuit, the company said it is committed to innovation and deeply respects intellectual property rights.
“We are highly confident in the strength of our intellectual property and freedom to operate, and we strongly reject Exact Sciences’ infringement claims,” the company said. “Geneoscopy will vigorously defend its ability to bring its patented innovation to clinicians and individuals and offer more options for accurate, convenient colorectal cancer screening.”
Meanwhile, Exact Sciences argues Geneoscopy’s efforts to market and sell the product represent an ongoing infringement of its patent. In a press release last week, Geneoscopy announced a multi-year distribution agreement with LabCorp, through which the North Carolina-based company would distribute the ColoSense test upon FDA approval.
The complaint says the alleged infringement is “particularly egregious” because Exact Sciences sent a cease and desist letter on May 1 detailing its claims.
In response to that letter, Geneoscopy requested on May 22 that the United States Patent and Trademark Office reexamine Exact Sciences’ patent. But that effort in October “was ultimately rejected, resulting in the USPTO affirming the patentability of all of the originally issued claims” of the patent, according to the complaint.
Exact Sciences says it holds at least 70 U.S. patents and 140 internationally issued patents for Cologuard, and has more than 80 pending patent applications.
See the filing: https://d2ft3j3kbsqj8w.cloudfront.net/-/media/Project/ExactCore/Documents/111723-Complaint.pdf
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— Lawmakers and backers of a bipartisan bill to encourage grass-based managed grazing practices say the proposal would lower transition costs while providing opportunities for new farmers.
Proponents argue the bill would be a way to help reduce costs for farmers while supporting a practice that has environmental benefits, including promoting water quality.
Rep. Todd Novak, the lead author, told WisPolitics the bill builds on work by the Speaker’s Task Force on Water Quality he led in 2019 with Dem Vice Chair Rep. Katrina Shankland.
Novak, R-Dodgeville, who comes from a fifth-generation dairy, hog and beef farming family, said he believes animals are happier out in the fields than in a feedlot, adding the program would be an opportunity for new farmers.
“This would be a good program for them getting their feet on the ground, helping them out,” Novak said. “Some of the older farmers that are going out of dairy, and are going into raising beef or just stock animals, transitioning them out of that.”
Novak said the grant amount in the bill is a starting point and could be increased later on if the legislation is signed into law. The Assembly Agriculture Committee is set to hold a hearing on the bill on Tuesday.
See more on the bill at WisPolitics: https://www.wispolitics.com/2023/231117report/#story-1
— Two GOP lawmakers are seeking to increase fees for out-of-state archery and crossbow hunting licenses.
Sen. Romaine Quinn of Cameron and Rep. Treig Pronschinske of Mondovi are circulating legislation that would raise the fee for these licenses from $162.25 to $197.25, matching the fee for out-of-state gun hunting licenses.
2023 Wisconsin Act 19 raised the fee for out-of-state gun hunting to that level, according to the co-sponsorship memo, but made no changes to the licenses for bow and crossbow hunting.
“Wisconsin is known nationally as one of the top places to hunt,” the lawmakers wrote in their memo. “With this notoriety, non-residents flock to the state, making great contributions to our economy.”
They argue the bill would support continued economic growth and “equitable” license fees. The co-sponsorship deadline is 5 p.m. tomorrow, the memo shows.
That deadline comes as the state’s nine-day gun deer hunting season is underway, running through Sunday. State officials this week will announce preliminary harvest figures.
See a recent story on this year’s deer hunt: https://www.wisbusiness.com/2023/slow-erosion-of-states-hunting-population-continues-as-opening-weekend-approaches/
— The Wisconsin Sustainable Business Council is recognizing 24 companies for sustainability efforts through its Green Masters Program.
The council on Friday announced the businesses that achieved Green Masters status through the program, which is now in its 14th year. WSBC Managing Director Jessy Servi Ortiz notes the program helps companies “define, prioritize, measure, and manage” sustainability efforts and integrate them into their operations.
“It’s a platform aligned with internationally recognized standards that drives sustainable success and continuous improvement,” Ortiz said in a statement. “These companies’ commitment to sustainability has also awarded them enhanced bottom-line benefits and brand recognition.”
See the full list here: https://www.wisbusiness.com/2023/wisconsin-sustainable-business-council-announces-24-companies-have-achieved-green-master-status/
Find more program details here: https://www.wisconsinsustainability.com/greenmasters
#TOP STORIES#
# Teen work permits with 19th century roots would be eliminated under GOP bill
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#TOPICS#
# AGRIBUSINESS
– New members join WFBF promotion and education committee
http://wisconsinagconnection.com/story-state.php?Id=1011&yr=2023
# CONSTRUCTION
– Port project gets nearly $2M from feds
# ECONOMY
– Wisconsin’s broadband grant requests are 5 times higher than available funds
– Wisconsin lost 2,800 private sector jobs in October
– Appleton, Green Bay gasoline prices drop ahead of busy Thanksgiving travel season
# EDUCATION
– Evers tours UWEC nursing program, gets hands-on experience
# ENVIRONMENT
– Noll’s dairy farm wins Wisconsin Leopold conservation award
http://wisconsinagconnection.com/story-state.php?Id=1010&yr=2023
# HEALTH CARE
– Ascension names new presidents for Columbia St. Mary’s, Elmbrook hospitals
– Construction moves forward for Serenity Inns’ new 14-bed treatment facility
# LEGAL
– Former CFO of Kenosha-based Pacific Sands files shareholder lawsuit against company, seeks removal of CEO
# MANAGEMENT
– Ascension names presidents for three Wisconsin hospitals, including Columbia St. Mary’s and Elmbrook
# RETAIL
– Wisconsin grocer opening at Regency Mall in Racine as part of $110M redevelopment
– Small Business Administration encourages shopping small in Racine this season
# SPORTS
– With office market flat, Bucks eye ‘eatertainment’ or other uses for land north of Fiserv Forum
# TRANSPORTATION
– Thompson elected president of national transportation association
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# PRESS RELEASES
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