A new, extensive report examining the impacts of climate change around the world warns that the effects of climate change are more widespread with further-reaching consequences than previously thought. Compiled by 270 authors from 67 countries, the report [1] was released on February 28 by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC; www.ipcc.ch), the United Nations (UN) body for assessing the science related to climate change. With the world focused on the immediate global concerns of the devastating war in Europe and the pandemic that has not yet loosened its grip around the globe, news of the stark warnings outlined in the IPCC report may have been somewhat overshadowed.
Losses, damage and displacement of people due to extreme weather events, including droughts, wildfires, heatwaves, cyclones and floods; stresses to our food supply, water scarcity and an increase in disease are some of the devastating effects of climate change cited by the report. Along with a warning that extreme events are projected to increase in magnitude and frequency with irreversible changes, the report calls for urgent global action to avert the worst-case scenarios. Stressing the importance of immediate action, IPCC Working Group II Co-Chair Hans-Otto Pörtner said “The scientific evidence is unequivocal: climate change is a threat to human wellbeing and the health of the planet. Any further delay in concerted global action will miss a brief and rapidly closing window to secure a liveable future.” The next report by the IPCC, focusing on mitigation of climate change, is expected to be released in April of this year.
Food insecurity
The projected impacts of climate change as outlined in Chapter 5 of the IPCC report include that some regions will no longer be suitable for crops or livestock, outdoor workers and livestock will be more exposed to extreme weather conditions, food safety will be impacted by higher temperatures and humidity, and fisheries and aquaculture productivity will decline. There are, of course, other factors in addition to climate change heightening concerns about global food security, such as increasing population, economics and effects of the pandemic.
Alternate sources of protein for food are being pursued to help address food shortage concerns. One alternate protein source for human consumption mentioned in the IPCC report and also recommended as an area where chemical engineers can have an impact in the report “New Directions for Chemical Engineering” by the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering and Medicine (Washington, D.C.; www.nationalacademies.org) is laboratory-grown meat. Also called “clean meat” or “cultivated meat,” this protein source is produced by growing animal cells in a controlled environment. According to McKinsey & Company [2], the cultivated-meat market could reach $25 billion by 2030, depending on consumer acceptance and price. Approval of consumption of the laboratory-grown meat by regulatory authorities is also a factor. Interest in this field is growing quickly, with pilot plants already in operation. For more, see our Newsfront in this issue, “A Taste of Foods to Come,” pp. 13–16.■
Dorothy Lozowski
Dorothy Lozowski, Editorial Director
Featured Conference
November 9-11, 2026Irving Convention Center | Dallas, TX
Explore this topic and more — live at Clean Americas. Join environmental, health, safety, and emergency response professionals tackling the industry's most urgent hazards. View Conference Program →
When a major incident strikes, the people stepping into Incident Command aren't always the ones who trained for it. Engineers, operators, trades supervisors, and compliance specialists may suddenly find themselves filling Command and General Staff roles — not because they volunteered, but because the situation demands it. Panelists will share practical strategies for leading without positional authority, tools and frameworks that help personnel rapidly orient to ICS roles, and approaches for closing the gap between day-to-day job functions and emergency command readiness before the next incident makes it urgent.
Speaking
Scott Andrews (Trans Mountain Canada Inc., Manager Emergency Management)
Kelly Codlin , MSPH, CIH (Marathon Petroleum Company, Emergency Preparedness Director)
Nick Hickson (Texas A&M Engineering Extension Service (TEEX), Hazmat Training Manager)
Josh Dubach MSc, CEM (Onterris, Senior Response Management Consultant)
This session will examine produced water as the largest waste stream in the oil and gas industry and one of its most pressing emerging challenges. It will address the growing volumes of produced water, the increasing regulatory and public scrutiny of constituents such as PFAS, salts, and Naturally Occurring Radioactive Material (NORM), and the operational implications for management, treatment, reuse, and disposal. The discussion will also explore how operators, regulators, and communities are redefining approaches to produced water management in response to environmental, technical, and stakeholder pressures.
Speaking
Steve Pepper, Ph.D., (Onterris, Director of Response Management)
Charles Maguire (Railroad Commission of Texas, Advisor, Oil and Gas Division)
Prof. Shane Walker Ph.D. (Texas Produced Water Consortium, Director)
Ray Cheatham (Onterris, Energy Sector Leader)
This session will present a detailed case study of a large-scale lithium-ion battery fire response that extended over 12 months. Attendees will explore the hazards associated with thermal runaway events, the operational challenges of suppressing lithium battery fires, and the response strategies that proved effective in this prolonged incident. The
Drawing on insights from U.S. EPA Region 9 wildfire response efforts, the session will also highlight tactics such as hazard characterization, air monitoring and evaluation, and household hazardous waste collection and disposal. Participants will leave with a stronger understanding of the complexities involved in large-scale battery fire incidents and the critical factors to consider when planning and executing an effective response.
Speaking
Robert W. May PG (Clean Harbors, Senior Vice President, Branch Services and Sales)
Crosley Welch (Missouri Department of Natural Resources, State On-Scene Coordinator)
Samuel Cheek , CSP, RRPT (U.S. EPA, Region 6, Federal On-Scene Coordinator)
Christopher Myers (U.S. EPA, Region 9, Federal On-Scene Coordinator)
This session introduces use of remote sensing technologies to detect, characterize and monitor spills across marine and coastal environments. Discussion will highlight how tools can integrate into modern spill response workflows to improve safety and support data-driven decision making.
Speaking
James Hanzalik (Clean Gulf Associates, Vice-President)
Gordon Staples (MDA Space Ltd., Senior Radar Applications Scientist)
Grant Coolbaugh (Applied Research Associates / Ohmsett, Mechanical Engineer)
Speaking
Allyson Purcell MEP, CEM (ConocoPhillips, CMER Director)
Michael Delio (Maxum Petroleum, EHS & SECURITY MGR)
This session provides a practical, ground‑level introduction to the essential steps required after a battery undergoes a thermal event. We’ll break down how to assess site conditions, stabilize and prepare damaged cells or packs, select appropriate containment and packaging methods, and navigate the regulatory landscape that governs transport and disposal. The lecture emphasizes real‑world decision‑making, safety considerations, and compliance requirements, giving participants a clear framework they can apply immediately in field operations or emergency response planning.
Speaking
Mark Steadman (The Battery Network, Program Manager)
Environment, Health, Safety & Security
Climate change and food security
| By Dorothy Lozowski
A new, extensive report examining the impacts of climate change around the world warns that the effects of climate change are more widespread with further-reaching consequences than previously thought. Compiled by 270 authors from 67 countries, the report [1] was released on February 28 by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC; www.ipcc.ch), the United Nations (UN) body for assessing the science related to climate change. With the world focused on the immediate global concerns of the devastating war in Europe and the pandemic that has not yet loosened its grip around the globe, news of the stark warnings outlined in the IPCC report may have been somewhat overshadowed.
Losses, damage and displacement of people due to extreme weather events, including droughts, wildfires, heatwaves, cyclones and floods; stresses to our food supply, water scarcity and an increase in disease are some of the devastating effects of climate change cited by the report. Along with a warning that extreme events are projected to increase in magnitude and frequency with irreversible changes, the report calls for urgent global action to avert the worst-case scenarios. Stressing the importance of immediate action, IPCC Working Group II Co-Chair Hans-Otto Pörtner said “The scientific evidence is unequivocal: climate change is a threat to human wellbeing and the health of the planet. Any further delay in concerted global action will miss a brief and rapidly closing window to secure a liveable future.” The next report by the IPCC, focusing on mitigation of climate change, is expected to be released in April of this year.
Food insecurity
The projected impacts of climate change as outlined in Chapter 5 of the IPCC report include that some regions will no longer be suitable for crops or livestock, outdoor workers and livestock will be more exposed to extreme weather conditions, food safety will be impacted by higher temperatures and humidity, and fisheries and aquaculture productivity will decline. There are, of course, other factors in addition to climate change heightening concerns about global food security, such as increasing population, economics and effects of the pandemic.
Alternate sources of protein for food are being pursued to help address food shortage concerns. One alternate protein source for human consumption mentioned in the IPCC report and also recommended as an area where chemical engineers can have an impact in the report “New Directions for Chemical Engineering” by the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering and Medicine (Washington, D.C.; www.nationalacademies.org) is laboratory-grown meat. Also called “clean meat” or “cultivated meat,” this protein source is produced by growing animal cells in a controlled environment. According to McKinsey & Company [2], the cultivated-meat market could reach $25 billion by 2030, depending on consumer acceptance and price. Approval of consumption of the laboratory-grown meat by regulatory authorities is also a factor. Interest in this field is growing quickly, with pilot plants already in operation. For more, see our Newsfront in this issue, “A Taste of Foods to Come,” pp. 13–16.■
Dorothy Lozowski
Dorothy Lozowski, Editorial Director
Featured Conference
When a major incident strikes, the people stepping into Incident Command aren't always the ones who trained for it. Engineers, operators, trades supervisors, and compliance specialists may suddenly find themselves filling Command and General Staff roles — not because they volunteered, but because the situation demands it. Panelists will share practical strategies for leading without positional authority, tools and frameworks that help personnel rapidly orient to ICS roles, and approaches for closing the gap between day-to-day job functions and emergency command readiness before the next incident makes it urgent.
This session will examine produced water as the largest waste stream in the oil and gas industry and one of its most pressing emerging challenges. It will address the growing volumes of produced water, the increasing regulatory and public scrutiny of constituents such as PFAS, salts, and Naturally Occurring Radioactive Material (NORM), and the operational implications for management, treatment, reuse, and disposal. The discussion will also explore how operators, regulators, and communities are redefining approaches to produced water management in response to environmental, technical, and stakeholder pressures.
This session will present a detailed case study of a large-scale lithium-ion battery fire response that extended over 12 months. Attendees will explore the hazards associated with thermal runaway events, the operational challenges of suppressing lithium battery fires, and the response strategies that proved effective in this prolonged incident. The
Drawing on insights from U.S. EPA Region 9 wildfire response efforts, the session will also highlight tactics such as hazard characterization, air monitoring and evaluation, and household hazardous waste collection and disposal. Participants will leave with a stronger understanding of the complexities involved in large-scale battery fire incidents and the critical factors to consider when planning and executing an effective response.
This session introduces use of remote sensing technologies to detect, characterize and monitor spills across marine and coastal environments. Discussion will highlight how tools can integrate into modern spill response workflows to improve safety and support data-driven decision making.
This session provides a practical, ground‑level introduction to the essential steps required after a battery undergoes a thermal event. We’ll break down how to assess site conditions, stabilize and prepare damaged cells or packs, select appropriate containment and packaging methods, and navigate the regulatory landscape that governs transport and disposal. The lecture emphasizes real‑world decision‑making, safety considerations, and compliance requirements, giving participants a clear framework they can apply immediately in field operations or emergency response planning.