Weekly Climate News

March 4, 2021

  • The U.N. has suspended climate projects in Myanmar after the military seized control of the Myanmar government in a coup executed on Feb. 1.  

  • Claude Nyamugabo, environmental minister of the Democratic Republic of Congo, has been brought to court on accusations of illegal allocation of logging claims in the Congo rainforest to a Congolese cleaning company and two Chinese firms. 

  • The U.S. said it will terminate funding for “carbon-intensive” fossil fuel projects overseas. 

  • Environmental racism has impacted the health of marginalized communities for decades. Read this article on environmental justice advocates fighting pollution in Black communities by calling for civil rights protections to be included in the National Environmental Policy Act. 

  • Arkansas, Kansas, Minnesota and Montana, among other U.S. states, have proposed stricter penalties for protests against fossil fuel and pipeline projects. 

  • The gulf stream is weakening as a result of climate change. Check out this interactive article.

  • Mexico City initiated a plastic ban, which has raised concerns for women’s access to period products. 

  • New initiatives in the travel industry suggest a future of sustainable travel for the post COVID-19 world. 

  • More than 100 Chicagoans, motivated by environmental justice concerns, are involved in a hunger strike in protest of the city’s proposed location for a scrapyard in Southeast Chicago.

  • Seville, Spain, is using oranges to generate electricity. 

From conservation to polarization: The political history of environmentalism in the US

From conservation to polarization: The political history of environmentalism in the US

“As a case of partisan polarization and politics, environmentalism, broadly speaking, is one of the most curious and important ones out there,” Adam Hilton, assistant professor of politics at Mount Holyoke College, said. The transformation of environmental issues’ place in the political sphere over the past century is unique, from its bipartisan origins to the Republican Party’s reversal of support for sustainable initiatives.

Winter storm Uri barrages Texas, leaving many without heat, electricity and running water

Winter storm Uri barrages Texas, leaving many without heat, electricity and running water

An unusual snowstorm hit Texas and nearby states with sub-freezing temperatures on Feb. 12, 2021, and has since led to the death of 26 people. President Joe Biden announced a state of Emergency as Texas faced the chilliest temperature on record in the past three decades. Snowfall at around 10 inches and low temperatures have disrupted the state’s energy grid, jeopardizing the lives of over 4 million Texans, many of whom were forced to live without heat, electricity and running water for several days.

Changes in clouds and the ozone layer reveal human impacts on the atmosphere

Changes in clouds and the ozone layer reveal human impacts on the atmosphere


Human activity has a significant impact on the Earth’s atmosphere. The disastrous consequences of changes to the atmosphere have been widely researched regarding carbon emissions, but changing cloud formation and holes in the ozone layer play significant roles as well. Clouds are responsible for simultaneously reflecting the sun’s heat and trapping it in the atmosphere. The ozone serves as a protective layer in absorbing ultraviolet radiation from the sun. It is predicted that as climate change progresses, clouds will diminish in frequency, allowing more solar energy to reach the Earth.

Impacts of long-term sleep deprivation

Impacts of long-term sleep deprivation

The National Sleep Foundation recommends that young adults should sleep for 7-9 hours per evening. For a college student who takes an 8 a.m. class, that means going to sleep before midnight to get eight hours of sleep, not including the time necessary to get ready in the morning or have breakfast.

Weekly Climate News

Feb. 25, 2021

  • The European Union has poured 440 million euros into failed or incomplete gas pipeline projects in the past decade.  

  • The United States has officially rejoined the Paris Agreement. 

  • Avalanche warnings have been issued for areas in Washington and Oregon due to recent rain and snowfall.  

  • A Russian gas tanker has foraged a round trip along the Northern Sea Route, marking the first time a ship has made the voyage across the Arctic at this time of year. The trip was made possible due to melting sea ice. 

  • The Perseverance Mars rover has captured pictures and videos from its recent descent onto Mars. 

  • John Kerry, U.S. special presidential envoy for climate, said there are nine years left to avert the worst consequences of the climate crisis.

  • Despite a damaged economy resulting from the COVID-19 pandemic, the U.S. had a record-breaking number of renewable energy installations in 2020. Wind and solar energy increased by 61 percent, adding 33.6 gigawatts of energy to the grid and producing enough energy to power about 11 million American homes for one year. 

  • While the Earth faces a looming crisis of animal species extinction, many animals that were projected to be completely eradicated have been recovering.  

Celebrating Black Environmentalists

Celebrating Black Environmentalists

Over the past year, widespread connections between racism, poverty and environmental inequality have been made clear. The life and work of the following Black environmentalists acknowledge these connections and advocate for an inclusive climate movement while simultaneously protesting the racism in its roots.