November 17, 2023
Environmental Justice
Environmental Justice
Dead Chicks and Rotting Meat: South Africa Declares ‘Disaster’ Over Power Cuts
Summary
South Africa President Cyril Ramaphosa proclaimed a "state of emergency" due to daily power disruptions of up to 10 hours. The outages are caused by an aged network of coal-fired power plants, which Eskom, the dysfunctional state power provider, is trying to keep operational. South Africa has had power interruptions for over 16 years, but the last several months have been the worst. Mr. Ramaphosa appointed an electricity minister and claimed the proclamation would boost power projects and exclude food producers and other important businesses from power disruptions. In interviews, energy and economic experts blamed a century of mismanagement for Eskom's problems. The utility, which largely serviced the white minority and subsidized power for major sectors like mining under apartheid, thus many profitable enterprises did not pay their due amount. Jesse Burton, a researcher at the Energy Systems Research Group at the University of Cape Town, said low prices still make it hard for Eskom to pay maintenance expenses. Analysts think radical steps like going into debt or implementing a tiered tariff structure that subsidizes the poor and taxes wealthy firms would alleviate the energy crisis.
December 17, 2023
Environmental Racism
Environmental Racism
Black Americans once owned millions of acres of land after the Civil War, but today, nearly 90% of it is no longer in their hands due to violence, eminent domain, and discriminato
November 16, 2023
Economic Justice
Economic Justice
Vice President Harris, as part of the Biden-Harris Administration's commitment to advancing women's economic empowerment globally, launched the Women in the Sustainable Economy
November 14, 2023
Environmental Racism
Environmental Racism
Houston City Council allocated $5 million to relocate people from cancer clusters identified by the Texas Department of Health and Human Services.
November 14, 2023
Climate Change
Climate Change
Environmental justice communities need real change—not a rebrand of the same discriminatory plans that slow the clock on fighting the climate crisis and reinforce the status quo.
November 14, 2023
Environmental Justice
Environmental Justice
Community organizations that serve and are led by people of color are banding together to secure billions of federal dollars earmarked for environmental and climate causes.
November 11, 2023
Climate Change
Climate Change
Ohio and Pennsylvania are leading the way in the completion of a more robust national charging network, but the scale of the work ahead remains significant
November 10, 2023
Environmental Justice
Environmental Justice
Shalom Mennonite Fellowship, a church in Tucson, Arizona, exemplifies the potential of microgrids for enhancing energy resiliency, especially in the face of climate challenges.
November 10, 2023
Economic Justice
Economic Justice
Grist reported on a study from Stanford University revealing the effectiveness of controlled burns in reducing the risk of high-intensity wildfires.
The article delves into a paper by James Hansen, often referred to as the godfather of climate science, and his colleagues.
November 8, 2023
Energy Justice
Energy Justice
On November 8, 2023, Texas voters approved Proposition 7, allocating $10 billion in low-interest loans for new gas power plants, a move criticized as favoring the fossil fuel.
November 7, 2023
Environmental Justice
Environmental Justice
The article highlights the impact of the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law (BIL), officially known as the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA), over the past two years.
November 7, 2023
Environmental Justice
Environmental Justice
The article explores the challenges faced by developing countries, particularly South Africa, in transitioning from coal to clean energy with the support of the Global North.
November 6, 2023
Environmental Justice
Environmental Justice
On November 6, 2023, the Houston Chronicle reported that the Midtown Redevelopment Authority, tasked with acquiring lots to prevent gentrification in Houston's Third Ward.