The United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD) reports that around 490 million people in Africa live in extreme poverty, surviving on less than $1.90 per day.
Environmental Justice Update: New York Becomes Second State to Require EJ-Focused Cumulative Impact Analysis
New York Governor Kathy Hochul signed the "Cumulative Impacts" bill into law, making New York the second state in the US to require an evaluation of "cumulative impacts" impacting specific communities before issuing or renewing an environmental permit. The notion of "Cumulative Impact" study is based on the idea that certain areas are ecologically "overburdened;" a facility that poses no hazard to non-overburdened communities may offer a higher threat to a place where industry is already concentrated. The Cumulative Impacts bill in New York changes the New York State Environmental Quality Review Act (SEQRA) to require a review of "cumulative impacts" on "disadvantaged communities" before approving or renewing a permit. Facilities operating in these "disadvantaged communities" would be required to file "existing burden reports" comprising information — including baseline environmental monitoring data acquired over the last two years — with certain exclusions for "minor" permits.
The U.S. is witnessing significant shifts in policies impacting distributed solar projects, ranging from small residential installations to large-scale projects.
The Colorado Energy Office and the state Department of Local Affairs have received a $17.2 million federal grant to enhance the resilience and reliability.
The city of Houston has sanctioned $5 million to facilitate the voluntary relocation of residents residing near the Union Pacific Railroad site, a cancer-contaminated area.
Inside Climate News reports on the Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA) initiative to address environmental justice by awarding $12 million in grants .
The New York Times, through J. David Goodman's reporting from Houston, discusses the significant impact of artificial shortages in the Texas electricity grid .
The Haystacks Community Solar Garden, located at the Grong Grong Solar Farm, offers a unique model allowing city residents to purchase "plots" in a regional solar farm.
Published on Grist, Paul Krantz delves into the environmental impact of tire pollution, a concern exacerbated by the increasing adoption of electric vehicles (EVs).
Forbes contributor Silvio Marcacci discusses President Biden's launch of the American Climate Corps, drawing parallels with President Roosevelt's Civilian Conservation.
Two new reports highlight the global impact of wildfire smoke on air quality. One study reveals that over two billion people worldwide were exposed to fire-related air pollution.
The article discusses the profound impact of location on health equity and environmental justice. It emphasizes that where people live significantly affects their health.
Research from UC Berkeley School of Public Health reveals that despite redlining, a discriminatory lending practice being outlawed since 1968, its legacy continues.
Brazil's supreme court has voted against a proposal to restrict Indigenous land rights, a decision hailed as a historic victory for the country's Indigenous communities.
The article discusses the impact of the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) on community solar programs in the United States one year after its passage.
The Biden Administration is allocating $1 billion in grants to address "environmental injustice" by planting trees in urban areas predominantly inhabited by minorities .