September 20, 2023
Environmental Justice
Environmental Justice
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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.
"Will Lawmakers Sacrifice Our Health and Safety to Get a Debt Ceiling Deal?"
Summary
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 protections is at stake. Some lawmakers from both parties are pushing to streamline the process of approving energy infrastructure projects, arguing that it takes too long to obtain necessary permits. However, this issue has become a bargaining chip in the debt ceiling negotiations, potentially jeopardizing the communities that are most in need of a greener future. Fossil fuel and construction companies want to make it easier to obtain approvals for liquefied gas terminals, oil and gas pipelines, and other infrastructure, while renewable energy companies aim to expedite the delivery of clean energy and update electricity grids. The concern is that weakening key environmental protection laws, such as the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA), could have devastating consequences for marginalized communities that already suffer disproportionately from pollution and lack sufficient government protection. Balancing the need for clean energy development with environmental safeguards is crucial to avoid sacrificing the health and well-being of communities.
September 20, 2023
Human Health
Human Health
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.
September 21, 2023
Environmental Racism
Environmental Racism
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.
September 21, 2023
Energy Justice
Energy Justice
The article discusses the impact of the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) on community solar programs in the United States one year after its passage.
September 21, 2023
Civil Rights & Human Rights
Civil Rights & Human Rights
The Biden Administration is allocating $1 billion in grants to address "environmental injustice" by planting trees in urban areas predominantly inhabited by minorities .
September 22, 2023
Environmental Justice
Environmental Justice
The article discusses the need for President Joe Biden's American Climate Corps (ACC) to prioritize equity, especially for Black youth, drawing parallels .
September 22, 2023
Energy Justice
Energy Justice
In this article by Bill McKibben, published in The New Yorker on September 22, 2023, the author discusses the Biden Administration's upcoming decision.
September 22, 2023
Economic Justice
Economic Justice
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The article discusses the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission's (FERC) approval of the expansion of two liquefied natural gas (LNG) projects on the Gulf Coast.
September 15, 2023
Energy Justice
Energy Justice
On September 15, 2023, the state of California filed a significant lawsuit against major oil companies, including Exxon Mobil, Shell, BP, ConocoPhillips, and Chevron.
September 15, 2023
Food & Water Justice
Food & Water Justice
During a City Council candidate forum held on September 15, 2023, in Houston, the Union Pacific rail yard's contamination and its impact on the Fifth Ward.
September 15, 2023
Energy Justice
Energy Justice
An analysis by the independent market monitor revealed that the Electric Reliability Council of Texas (ERCOT)'s recent effort to ensure grid reliability.
September 15, 2023
Environmental Racism
Environmental Racism
A Deloitte report has highlighted the issue of "climate racism," which disproportionately impacts marginalized communities in Canada, particularly Indigenous and racialized groups
September 15, 2023
Environmental Justice
Environmental Justice
The US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) opened a civil rights investigation in 2022 into whether the State of Louisiana disproportionately burdened Black communities along.
September 15, 2023
Climate Change
Climate Change
In August 2023, Del Norte County in California faced a power crisis when wildfires threatened its only transmission lines, leaving its 27,000 residents in the dark.