May 22, 2023
Environmental Racism
Environmental Racism
The Associated Press reveals the significant gaps in health outcomes between Black Americans and their white counterparts throughout their lives.
Houston is one of the only cities where most greenhouse gas emissions come from traffic
Summary
Traffic accounts for slightly more than half of Houston's recorded greenhouse gas emissions. This is the highest proportion among the biggest cities in the United States that provided emissions data to the Carbon Disclosure Project (CDP). The information was gathered via a survey conducted in collaboration with CDP and ICLEI - Local Governments for Sustainability, and it includes self-reported quantities of methane, nitrous oxide, and carbon dioxide, as well as other major greenhouse gases and carcinogens. The data is divided into 51 categories that were contributed by over 1,100 cities, states, and municipalities from across the globe. According to CDP city-level statistics, stationary emitters such as residences and companies, as well as power plants, often account for the lion's share of emissions in cities. This is not the case in Houston, despite its enormous oil and gas sector and expanding housing complexes. Although transportation is clearly a major source of greenhouse gases throughout the country, its prominence in Houston may be due to how effectively it is observed and how poorly other sources are monitored. For example, emissions from the Port of Houston, one of the major ports in the United States, moving 55 million tons of cargo annually and accounting for 20.6 percent of Texas' total gross domestic product, are not included in the city's reporting. Houston, out of all major Texas cities, is reporting data on the fewest known greenhouse gases and carcinogens, excluding more potent greenhouse gases such as sulfur hexafluoride and chemicals known as PFCs, which do not degrade in the environment and may pose serious health risks to both animals and humans, according to the CDC. Cities can only directly manage around 4% of their emissions, which is why enhancing data like this to guide public policy is critical.
May 24, 2023
Environmental Racism
Environmental Racism
Grassroots groups are collecting their own pollution data to increase accountability and demand environmental justice.
May 24, 2023
Carbon Emissions
Carbon Emissions
Three Texas oil & gas industry sites that caught fire had long violation records.
May 24, 2023
Environmental Racism
Environmental Racism
Houston residents protest proposed cutback in neighborhood drainage spending amid revenue surge
Carbon credits for nitrous oxide reductions could fill a key gap in international agreements and government regulations.
May 26, 2023
Climate Change
Climate Change
Supreme Court ruling on May 25, 2023, has curtailed the authority of the Environmental Protection Agency (E.P.A.) to regulate millions of acres of wetlands.
May 26, 2023
Environmental Racism
Environmental Racism
This article addresses the systemic racism and environmental injustice experienced by Latino farmworkers in the US, focusing on their exposure to the herbicide paraquat.
According to the American Red Cross, 64% of African-American, 45% of Hispanic/Latino, and 40% of white children have few to no swimming skills.
May 26, 2023
Climate Change
Climate Change
This article by Somini Sengupta discusses the dangerous feedback loops that extreme heat can trigger for hospitals and clinics in the United States.
Lawmakers in the United States are currently negotiating the national debt ceiling and in the midst of these negotiations, the future of clean energy and environmental protection.
April 26, 2023
Climate Change
Climate Change
Nearly two dozen lawsuits filed by cities and states aim to put fossil fuel companies on trial for deceiving the public about climate change.
Legislatures in a dozen states have passed “right of first refusal” laws that freeze out competition in transmission line projects, raising concerns about higher energy costs.
April 26, 2023
Climate Change
Climate Change
EPA’s upcoming climate rules are expected to rely on carbon capture technology.
April 26, 2023
Climate Change
Climate Change
Final investment decision for Rio Grande LNG project, set to be built in Brownsville, Texas by Bechtel, is set to be made in June, says its developer.
The Federal Railroad Administration launched a public database for complaints about blocked crossings in late 2019, and it has received over 28,000 reports of stopped trains.