by Finley Harckham It wasn’t long after my daughter was born that I became hyper aware of just how prevalent gas powered leaf blowers (GPLB) are: first in my neighborhood in Los Angeles, and then even more so, in the New England suburb we moved to. Before becoming a parent, I’ll admit I didn’t give […]
A nightmare on our streets – fighting the insidious gas-powered leaf blower Read More »
by Neil Auwarter “If you can’t lend a hand, then get out of the way.” –Bob Dylan In March 2023, Sonoma County, CA, enacted an ordinance prohibiting new gas stations in the county’s unincorporated areas. “Gas stations can be toxic sites . . . and we need to shift away from fossil fuels if we’re
Red state legislatures use preemption to stymie local climate change measures Read More »
by Larry Gosselin, Julie Lowe, and Richard Rollins Agrivoltaics, which pairs solar panels (photovoltaics) with agriculture, is a double-duty climate solution that yields benefits to farmers while minimizing the Nation’s need to use undeveloped natural lands for solar energy development. By putting aside the historical practice of devoting land to a single purpose, this approach
Agrivoltaics combines production of agriculture and solar power Read More »
by Lauren Dixon After living through a tornado in March of 2023, it became clear to me that people are not treated equally when it comes to the resources and support available after experiencing a natural disaster. While the relationship between tornadoes and climate change may not be entirely clear, we do know that a
Caring for the environment also means caring for fellow humans Read More »
by Neil Auwarter “A society grows great when old men plant trees in whose shade they shall never sit.” – Greek Proverb But imagine if the reverse was true. Imagine that many of your elders not only failed to plant trees, but actively cut down existing forests. And imagine those elders seemed intent to smash,
Young activists trade backpacks for briefcases to litigate against climate change Read More »
by Lauren Dixon Hyperconsumerism is the excessive and relentless consumption of products and services beyond our basic needs. This phenomenon is driven by various factors, such as social pressure, a desire for status and identity, the urge to keep up with the latest trends, and the belief that material possessions bring happiness and fulfillment. The
Hyperconsumerism, fast fashion and the climate crisis Read More »
by Richard Rollins Over the years, it’s become clear that local actions often provide the incentives that government officials need to take critical actions designed to help us step back from the brink of climate disaster. “Public will, especially as expressed through citizen activism, is an important influence on the policymaker process,” noted Yale University’s School
Community Climate Action Awards lay the foundation for transformative change Read More »
by Roberto A. Chia-Balmaceda It comes as no surprise to see that companies such as Dominion Energy, with an ingrained stake in the future of the fossil fuel industry, would want to market energy sources such as natural gas (aka methane, its primary component) in a way that makes it as palatable as possible, even
The myth of the methane transition fuel Read More »
by Abby Simpson Increased water temperatures, decreased ice cover, droughts, wildfires, floods, and stronger weather patterns caused by climate change are having a detrimental effect on the United States’ freshwater lakes and reservoirs. We must take urgent action now before the negative effects become irreversible. The U.S. is home to about 250 massive freshwater lakes
How climate change is affecting freshwater lakes Read More »
by Haley Morrison It’s time for the United States, the largest historical contributor to global climate change, to take a leading role in climate action and accountability, especially by reducing its use of natural resources. According to the World Bank the U.S. made up only about 4% of the global population as of 2020.1 When we
