On Aug. 17, the Trump administration authorized the sale of leases for exploratory drilling in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge, a decision resulting from years of political debate and controversy. Drilling in the region would win President Donald Trump’s support from proponents of domestic oil production and those looking to maximize the economic potential of American resources.
Updates for August 3rd
• Are you taking daily sustainable action? Read this article on how to stay eco-friendly during a pandemic.
• A study recently published in the journal Scientific Reports, revealed that up to 171 million people today face the risks of coastal flooding from extreme high tides and storm surges, linked to rising sea levels resulting from climate change. Not only are the inhabitants of low-lying coastal areas in harm's way but trillions of dollars in economic assets worldwide are currently at risk.
• At least a quarter of Bangladesh is submerged from heavy rainfall, highlighting how those who have the least impact on climate change are often those who are the worst affected.
• Lockdowns as a result of COVID-19 have cut energy-related CO2 emissions by 17 percent, a new study finds.
• But as countries and states reopen, global greenhouse gas emissions are on the rise. Read this article (with infographics!) on what this increase implies.
• Due to climate change, poor governance and the coronavirus pandemic millions of Zimbabweans have gone hungry, but a community in Mwenezi, Zimbabwe, has a reliable food source. This resulted from an innovative plan initiated six years ago by a group of 200 women. Read this article to hear their story!
• A new push in the UK to promote and fund active travel has benefits for people’s health and the environment in curbing pollution. Read about it here!
• 10 Indigenous guardian projects across the country will be receiving federal funding for a third year. These Indigenous communities will allocate the funds towards monitoring and protecting the environment.
• COVID-19 shutdowns have produced cleaner air which has increased the effectiveness of solar panels around the world.
• Read this investigation into how the fossil fuel industry finances police groups in major U.S. cities!
• Monarchs show us that with climate change, small actions can have world-altering results. Read this article about the butterfly effect.
“Safety is hands down the goal but having great food needs to happen, especially during stressful and challenging times,” Richard Perna, director of Dining Services at Mount Holyoke College said. According to Perna, the past five months have been challenging for the dining staff, who have been constantly navigating and pivoting in response to COVID-19.
Recent weeks have seen a major victory for environmentalists and activists across the country, as the construction of three major fossil fuel pipelines came to a halt. For many Americans, this news came unexpectedly, as much of the public discussion about these controversial pipelines had been completely forgotten in the wake of other recent crises.
The interconnectedness of climate change and systemic racism begins early, with the pregnancy of a mother and the birth of a child. A review published in the Journal of the American Medical Association on June 18 found evidence that negative health effects caused by climate change start before birth.
Updates for July 20
Frozen ground in the Arctic is thawing, harming Indigenous people’s hunting livelihoods as well as destabilizing buildings and roads.
The third EU country to do so, Portugal announced closure of national coal plants, driven to this decision in response to rising carbon costs and competition from clean energy companies.
As a result of COVID-19, once manicured green spaces in cities across the world have been left to be rewilded with native flowers and grasses which have been attracting more diverse ecosystems of insects, birds and wildlife.
Zanzibar in East Africa, a global hotspot for seaweed production, is initiating a new program for sustainable seaweed production.
Joe Biden revealed a $2 trillion climate plan.
As methane emissions have reached a global high, Burger King will be treating cows to a new feed that includes lemongrass as part of an experiment on reducing the amount of methane cows burp into the atmosphere.
Trump overturns key environmental laws which will speed up approval for projects like pipelines and highways, which could negatively impact low-income and minority communities.
Read up on the links between racism and the environment with this resource list from The New York Times.
Read up on the disproportionate effects of the climate crisis on Indigenous peoples and people of color with this article from Vice: The Environmental Movement Needs to Reckon with Its Racist History
Read up on the factors that make communities of color more susceptible to climate disasters with this article from Grist: Why Racial Justice is Climate Justice
Read up on the intersectionality between defunding the police and the environmental movement with this article from Vice: Why ‘Defunding the Police’ Is Also an Environmental Issue
Read up on the challenges racism adds to climate activism and work with this article from The Washington Post: Racism Derails Our Efforts to Save the Planet
Security in the United States is currently a topic of discussion, centering around possibilities of reevaluating public safety, as brought up by racial justice protests and global security, as tested by the COVID-19 crisis. Alongside these systems is another operative institution meant to ensure protection to Americans, which comes at a steeper cost to the preservation and safety of our world than many realize.
