March 24, 2023
Environmental Racism
Environmental Racism
More than 21,000 unexpected pollution releases by Texas companies have released over 400,000 tons of air pollution in Texas from 2016 to 2022.
Understanding Challenges to Health Equity in Climate Action and Land Use Planning
Summary
Researchers investigated the challenges that stakeholders (government, community, and consultants) face while implementing a new California legislation (Senate Bill 1000) requiring environmental justice issues to be incorporated in municipal land use plans (i.e., general plans). The researchers' examination of 37 municipal and county general plans in areas identified by the state as having high levels of environmental injustice reveals that they have limited resources to implement policies and participate in significant community participation. However, one method that urban planners may use to assist overcome this difficulty is to adopt a strong public health framework. In their analysis, three of the 37 jurisdictions alluded to a prior health strategy (i.e., chapter or element) in their general plans as a significant forerunner for environmental justice issues. These communities started their outreach with a wide conversation about health as a way for locals to understand and connect to environmental justice in context. This contextual examination of current situations, as well as the identification of vulnerable people, provided as a guide for community engagement. Local public health agencies, meanwhile, aided urban planners in better understanding community and environmental health concerns. These collaborations were critical in driving community participation and obtaining, sharing, and evaluating data, as well as formulating environmental justice objectives and policies.
Black communities smothered 24/7 by toxic industries keep getting strung along, with no apology in sight.
Natural gas pipeline developers are pressing Congress and US energy regulators to speed up the permitting process as a way to build more projects that deliver energy to the Easter
March 24, 2023
Carbon Emissions
Carbon Emissions
According to the International Energy Agency (IEA), countries spent a record-breaking $1 trillion on fossil fuel subsidies in 2022.
March 24, 2023
Climate Change
Climate Change
The only way to stop the long-lasting harms of lead poisoning in children is to end exposure to the chemical — and with data-driven and community-based action, that’s possible.
March 24, 2023
Climate Change
Climate Change
The A. Donald McEachin Environmental Justice for All Act has been reintroduced by Representatives Raúl M. Grijalva and Barbara Lee, and Senators Tammy Duckworth and Cory Booker.
March 24, 2023
Environmental Racism
Environmental Racism
Advocates criticized Biden’s Council on Environmental Quality for excluding race as a key factor in its tool and have added the metric in their alternative version.
March 24, 2023
Environmental Racism
Environmental Racism
Residents of a Louisiana parish located in the heart of a cluster of polluting petrochemical factories filed a lawsuit in federal court.
March 24, 2023
Environmental Racism
Environmental Racism
Federal limits on particulate matter commonly known as soot could mean cleaner, safer air for Texans. But environmental experts worry Texas may snub rules.
March 30, 2023
Environmental Racism
Environmental Racism
Residents in industry-choked Randolph renew efforts to block the power company’s plans near their fragile town.
February 26, 2023
Environmental Racism
Environmental Racism
The US Department of Agriculture is rolling out a new $3.1bn program to make payments towards loans for farmers who are behind on loan payments or on the brink of foreclosure.
February 27, 2023
Environmental Racism
Environmental Racism
The U.S. EPA has ordered Union Pacific Railroad to investigate potential contamination in and around the former wood preserving facility in Greater Fifth Ward area of Houston, TX.
February 27, 2023
Environmental Racism
Environmental Racism
The revised version of the U.S. government's "disadvantaged communities" tool automatically considers more than 750 federally recognized tribal tracts disadvantaged.
February 27, 2023
Climate Change
Climate Change
The Gulf of Mexico is warming at twice the rate of the rest of the oceans on earth, according to a new study.
February 28, 2023
Climate Change
Climate Change
The protection of children from pesticide exposure varies from state to state in the US due to different laws and regulations.