Climate News, good & not so good—an archive
This page is the 2022 & 2023 Archive. Find the 2024 archive here. And for the current weekly news and updates, link to JustCreation.org.
Archived from December 2023
APTN News, Indigenous communities impacted by climate change first, contribute to it the least: report Two related reports out of Canada from Indigenous Climate Action detail climate change impacts, and the challenge of addressing those impacts without adequate input from Indigenous communities. Read the reports.
Deaths from Fossil Fuel Air Pollution. From The Guardian, Air pollution from fossil fuels ‘kills 5 million people a year’. Of more than 8 million deaths worldwide from outdoor air pollution, 61% linked to fossil fuels, finds study. Take a deeper dive into air pollution numbers and causes from World Health Organization, Household air pollution. Read the study.
Feminist Climate Justice and Action. Press Release from UN Women, As climate change pushes millions of women into poverty, UN Women calls for a new feminist climate justice approach. From Relief Web, New report shows how feminism can be a powerful tool to fight climate change. From Feminism in India, UN Women Report Says Climate Change Is A Feminist Issue. The recent UN women's report shows how to achieve feminist climate justice through four dimensions – Recognition, Redistribution, Representation and Reparation. Read the report.
Catastrophic Tipping Points. Read about the study in Nature, Catastrophic change looms as Earth nears climate ‘tipping points’, report says. Polar ice, coral reefs and other Earth systems could cross irrevocable thresholds soon, but urgent action could stave off the worst effects. From Carbon Brief, Q&A: Climate tipping points have put Earth on ‘disastrous trajectory’, says new report. Read the report.
Oil & Gas Greenwashing. Read about the report from Greenpeace, Report highlights greenwashing practices from Big Oil and Gas harming health, climate and affordability.
New Arctic and Permafrost Studies. Read from Phys.org, New study sheds light on how much methane is produced from Arctic lakes and wetlands: read the study. And read about permafrost mapping from Scientific American, Researchers Just Created the World's First Permafrost Atlas of the Entire Arctic. See the project by Nunataryuk, Permafrost Matters Mapping Project.
Arctic Report Card 2023. Adding to the above, the annual NOAA (National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration) Report Card for the Arctic was just published. Read about it from NPR, Arctic "report card" points to rapid and dramatic impacts of climate change. Read the report.
New Antarctic Icesheet Study. Read about the study from The Conversation, Antarctic study proves glacier has undergone irreversible retreat – highlighting potential for widespread ice loss. Read the study in Nature, Recent irreversible retreat phase of Pine Island Glacier. Read also how Americas home-town scientists are key leaders to study essential climate impacts, outcomes, and trends in places like Antarctica. From Nebraska Today, Husker expertise featured in new Antarctic study.
Migratory Birds and Wild Animals, Impacts. From CMS (Convention on the Conservation of Migratory Species of Wild Animals) Major New UN Report Finds Climate Change is Severely Impacting Migratory Species of Wild Animals. Read about the study from ZSL (Zoological Society of London), Future of 200 Migratory Bird Species Put at Risk by Cyclones and Droughts. Read the report.
Archived from November 12, 2023
Faith Voices in the News This Week
Tree Tenders. Among those who care for the trees in various cities in the US are the Germantown Interfaith Power and Light Tree Tenders, nice work PAIPL! Read about the effort from Washington Post, Meet the tree tenders. These volunteers help keep their city streets green.
Solar Churches Leading the Way. Congrats to Shalom Mennonite Fellowship for leading by example and finding ways to inspire others to follow. From CNET, What a Microgrid in Arizona Teaches Us About Energy Resiliency. I toured a solar-powered church that shows how the microgrid model can provide stability for communities in the face of a worsening climate.
Pipeline Witness. Over the vehement objections from citizens, environmental organizations and faith groups across the west, FERC allowed the expansion of the GTN pipeline—from the AP, Feds OK natural gas pipeline expansion in Pacific Northwest over environmentalist protests. Faith groups such as Earth Ministry/Washington Interfaith Power and Light and Muslims for Community Action and Support are once again taking action. From FaVS News in Spokane, Vigil for Community Safety Promotes Faith-Based Opposition to GTN Pipeline Expansion.
Injustice and Witness. Global faith leaders are organizing in Africa with GreenFaith and others. From GreenFaith, Africa Faith Leaders Condemn Mistreatment of Graves by Total. From AP, A TotalEnergies pipeline project in East Africa is disturbing community graves, watchdog says.
COP28 Faith Leaders Meet. Faith groups have always had a presence at COP. Over the last decades, as the peril of continued burning of fossil fuels becomes more known and more urgent, these gatherings have grown. This week’s Global Faith Leaders Summit included over 200 faiths represented. A few reports, from Vatican News, Faith Leaders Summit highlights role of women, youth; From Interfaith Power and Light, Global Religious Leaders Summit in Abu Dhabi; From Al Arabiya English, Global faith leaders unite to declare support for urgent climate action at COP28.
Good News
Caretakers and Stewards. When people step up to seek, study, and restore, good things happen. It is how it is supposed to be, without this, we lose so much. Here are some wins: A number of states are working to save the coastal black-throated green warbler, including North Carolina and Virginia. Care and protection also for the grassland striped skink in Northeastern Queensland, the white-clawed crayfish in North Norfolk, England, the American Marten in Pennsylvania, and the Hellbender in Ohio.
Electrification. Wow! Two to celebrate a green energy transition. First, looking at you, Kentucky! Solar plus batteries and the potential to close seven fossil fuel utilities. From Electrek, Kentucky just greenlit a 900% solar increase plan – why that’s a big deal. Also from Electrek, a big win in Maryland, The world’s largest steel mill will get a second life as a wind turbine factory.
Celebrating Wildlife. A little comedy to endear us to God’s marvelous creation? Yes! First, the 2023 Comedy Wildlife Photos are up for viewing! And bonus, scientists think they have finally figured out exactly what a starfish is, and its weird. From Live Science, 'A disembodied head walking about the sea floor on its lips': Scientists finally work out what a starfish is.
A Bug Snug. Biodiversity is key to restoration of nature and the wellbeing of all living things. A big win in Europe this week with the announcement of a new agreement across the region to restore biodiversity. But there’s something practical here, too, that each of us can do. We can ensure habitat in our own backyards, from The Conversation, Want a healthier lawn? Instead of bagging fall leaves, take the lazy way out and get a more environmentally friendly yard. And, perhaps the most fun at all—and perfect for youth groups—make a bug snug!
Archived from October 30, 2023
Faith Voices in the News This Week
Clergy Stand against Fossil Fuels. From Common Dreams, Clergy to Vanguard: Stop Funding Fossil Fuels! Vanguard must decarbonize, massively scale up sustainable investments, adopt a human rights policy, and use its power to hold the worst climate actors accountable.
Chaplaincy and Eco-Chaplaincy, an online conversation. The Chaplaincy Institute shared a conversation among friends this week. Find the video: ChI Talks: Adventures of a rookie Eco-Chaplain-in-training with Robin Slaw and Lou Masko
Headwinds at the highest levels. From Grist, The pope leads 1.4 billion Catholics. Getting them to care about the climate is harder than he thought. Pope Francis is among the most significant religious leaders in the world. But even he can’t bend the emissions curve on his own.
Partnerships for clean buildings. Full disclosure, I have been a Minnesota Interfaith Power and Light fan for a while now. Their latest effort in collaboration is worth sharing. From Sahan Journal, Diverse coalition aims to curb emissions in Minnesota buildings. Minnesota is making progress in lowering greenhouse gas emissions in electricity production, but emissions from buildings remain high. Clean Heat Minnesota hopes to change that.
More solar! Another celebration of church and solar, a match of sunshine and glory. Congrats to Harrisburg’s Tree of Life Lutheran Church and others. From Lancaster Online, How Pennsylvania churches are addressing climate change by tapping the power of the sun.
UCC Churches - solar and heat pumps. A shout out from the United Church of Christ news to member congregation embracing solar energy and electric heat pumps. New energy for solar and heat pumps arising in UCC congregations.
What other are saying. Melissa Deckman, CEO of Public Religion Research Institute, writes a commentary for The Hill, writing the ‘what if’ that rises from the most recent PRRI study on religion and the environment. What if the faith community would really step up? The faith factor: Can religion help to win support for the environment?
Good News
Rewilding! Celebrating Blue Butterflies and Pine Martens! How precious is this earth and all the creatures in it. In praise of rewilding! From The Guardian, ‘A joy to watch’: UK rewilding brings endangered species back from brink. Local wildlife restoration starting to boost populations of dormice, birds, butterflies and others – and helping humans along the way.
Species resilience and recovery. A few good news stories to celebrate here, good news for corncrakes from The Guardian, Hope endangered corncrake can be saved as numbers increase in Scotland. Conservationists optimistic turning point reached in effort to prevent red-listed bird from extinction in Britain. And good news as well for puffins and the mini galaxy plant. From Inside Climate News, The Plucky Puffin, Endangered Yet Coping: Scientists Link Emergence of a Hybrid Subspecies to Climate Change and from New Scientist, Plant presumed extinct sprouts in a road after more than 40 years.
Food and Carbon Reductions. This might usually go in the ‘reports’ section, but I appreciate how good this news is. We often feel like our efforts cannot add up to much. But it matters what we do—with real results! 'Small swaps' to climate-friendly diet can significantly reduce carbon footprint, improve health: Study.
Ocean Restoration. Coral reefs are on many people’s minds, we are on an emergency course to save and care for them as pollutants swirl and ocean waters warm. Two good news stories here, a celebration of human endeavor and persistence. From Bazaar, Marine Biologists Doubted Him. Now, He’s Revolutionizing Coral Reef Restoration. As CEO and founder of Coral Gardeners, Titouan Bernicot is revitalizing the ocean, one underwater coral nursery at a time. And adding, from IFL Science, the joyful discovery of two adorable mini-squids, Two Super-Cute New Pygmy Squids Discovered Hiding In Japanese Coral Reefs.
Green Transition & Electrification. There are so many good stories in this category these days. I’m sharing two, from The Cool Down, 25 states agree to quadruple money-saving home addition installations in US: ‘Almost a miraculous solution.’ And from USA Today, Former coal-fired power plant demolished to make way for offshore wind electricity connection. A giant smokestack that was part of the New Jersey landscape for millions of beach tourists was imploded Thursday to make way for the site's new use as a connection point to the electrical grid for offshore wind power.
The feedback is working! Activists, policy makers and regular citizens know that in order to truly curb fossil fuels, funds must switch and flow away from oil and gas and toward renewables. This voice is being heard. From Oil Price, Oil Refiners Struggle To Access Financing As Banks Shun Fossil Fuel Projects.
Archived from October 22, 2023
Faith Voices in the News This Week
What people of faith can do to make a difference. While the author of this article does not write from within a faith community or tradition, this article is both practical and insightful—and a call to act. From Earth.Org, Faith in Action: How Religious Communities Can Lead the Fight Against Climate Change.
Green Team Gardens and Solar. Big shout out to St. Paul’s in Pennsylvania and the leadership of their Green Team. They have planted for prayer and pollinators, and installed solar as well. From Lancaster Online, St. Paul Lutheran Church in Lititz invests in eco-friendly projects, from 'Sacred Grounds' to solar panels.
Hope as action. A fantastic effort from the UCC resulted in 8,000 climate justice postcards delivered to EPA as ‘tangible prayer for hope’, article from United Church of Christ News. The action included a trip to lawmakers’ offices and postcards with award-winning, hand designed artwork.
Laudato Si Throw Down. It was legit refreshing to see the conversation around faith, climate action, and the Pope featured in a secular news source! The headline speaks for itself, from Inside Climate News, Q&A: The Pope’s New Document on Climate Change Is a ‘Throwdown’ Call for Action. A professor who has studied Francis’ writings on climate says he singles out the U.S. for overconsumption and takes “aim” at the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops’ denialism.
Good News
Save the toads! Frogs last week (and this week, too, see below) and so to balance things out we better lift a shout out for toads, too! Especially the endangered Wyoming Toad, a little wriggling guy the US Fish and Wildlife Service have been keeping an eye on. With numbers dwindling, they have upped their game. See the article from High Country News, New refuge provides hope for critically endangered toad. One of the most endangered amphibians in North America faces threats but also possibilities.
Behold the chicken frog. Okay, okay. Yes, frogs this week too. Because, ‘chicken frog.’ It’s good news and I can’t resist. From Mongabay, Sliver of hope as ‘mountain chicken’ frog shows resistance to deadly disease. There is other good news in species support and restoration, too. From Hakai Magazine, Galapagos Giant Tortoises Prove Their Worth as Ecosystem Engineers. A decades-long project to restore Galapagos giant tortoises is changing the face of the island of Española.
Watershed Restoration. There are a million dams in Europe—but restoration of waterways have begun. Read more from Euronews, Restoring European rivers: a win-win scenario for humans and nature. Restoration will need a return to wild-flowing rivers, but also river clean up. Help is on the way for that, too! From Electrek, This efficient electric boat will cleanup pollution in canals and waterways with zero emissions.
Rewilding Wetlands. And in the theme of watersheds and restoration, an inspiring story from Oregon. A farmer in the Klamath Lake watershed converted 70 acres of farmland to wetlands. From The Guardian, ‘This place wanted to be a wetland’: how a farmer turned his fields into a wildlife sanctuary.
Innovation for Sustainability. A couple of great articles showcasing on-the-ground innovation. From Quartz, The Bahamas is introducing the world's first carbon-negative construction tech. A new home debuted by a sustainable materials firm can remove as much carbon as 5,200 trees. And from Mongabay, Banana fiber sari offers sustainable, biodegradable alternative in Bangladesh.
Electrification & Green Energy. Whew. Some whizbang new possibilities and more. From Clean Energy Revolution, New EV battery offers 3,000 miles of range per charge. From The Guardian, Surging renewable energy sees record supply to Australia’s electricity grid. At one point in September nearly 100% of eastern Australia’s demand could have been met by renewables. From CNBC, America’s first major offshore wind farm installs first of 62 huge turbines from GE unit. And from BBC, Scotland’s biggest offshore wind farm at full power.
Archived October 16, 2023
Faith Voices in the News This Week
The power of Green Teams. From the Ledger-Inquirer, from Columbus, Georgia, These Western Georgia churches are coming together to combat climate change. See how Two faith traditions, Episcopal and AME, find resilience and resolve together in addressing climate and systemic injustices.
Faith engaging city leaders. In person and live-streamed from the First Parish Unitarian Universalist Church in Framingham, Mass. The Universalist Oct. 21: Framingham City Council Candidates to Field Questions on Climate Action
From lawn to pollinator meadow. While not new (established 2019) the Hope Meadow is blooming and making news. Hope UMC in Ephrata, PA, re-imagined their large church lawn as a pollinator meadow. It is now a biodiversity hot spot, with a website to celebrate.
Regenerative Intentional Living. Yale Divinity School is launching The Living Village, which brings faith-centered Intentional living together with regenerative life commitments. Updates on the project can be found here. The latest, here: Breaking new ground in eco-theology.
Good News
New Species. And yes, it’s laughing at you! A new Australian species of small frog—there are 248 frog species in Australia—now named the Western Laughing Tree Frog for its unique chuckling call, has hopped into the news this week. It is not the frog pictured above, the new one is brown, but the discovery is a chance to celebrate frogs in general. From the Miami Herald, ‘Charismatic’ creature heard ‘laughing’ in backyards of Australia. It’s a new species.
Charismatic Mega-Fauna. Sometimes it is painful that the human attention span is so short—and so drawn to drama. But this can be helpful, too, when you think about how humans experience empathy and engage with stories. As we tell the story of Noah’s ark, for example, the ‘two by twos’ are usually lions and elephants rather than banana slugs or cottonmouth snakes. As educators and preachers, this research helps us better understand and engage in climate storytelling, From Phys.org Flagship individual animals found to boost conservation efforts.
Fishery restoration. Fish and fisheries are important to creation and nature, but also to human economies and gastronomies. Fish are delicious! I have enjoyed watching short videos from a now-famous “lobster guy” on TikTok, who catches and releases lobsters—and gives them snacks—all while explaining how sustainability of the fishery is maintained over generations. This week’s good news from NOAA brings similar good news: From Collapse to Sustainability: West Coast Groundfish Are Back
Electric right-sizing. I loved this sweet and sustainable story on a right-sized ice-cream truck. The truck in this case is a vespa, a vespa equipped with a little fridge and low carbon foot print. A great idea and great example of how we can right-size and electrify our lives. From Electrek, Forget ice cream trucks and check out this electric ice cream Vespa scooter instead.
Possibilities arise. Have faith! As we learn and pray about sustainable systems and a restored earth, we will gain the eyes to see the possibilities and riches right in front of us. From Wired, Abandoned Farms Are a Hidden Resource for Restoring Biodiversity. A billion acres of old farmland—an area half the size of Australia—has fallen out of use. Ecologists say the lands and degraded forests are neglected resources for rewilding and for capturing carbon.
Archived from October 9th, 2023
Water and Forest Conservation. When local efforts are supported, wonderful things happen!! A new study demonstrates yet again the impact restoration of forests can have. From Mongabay, Restoring degraded forests may be key for climate, study says. Empowering local people, youth and women, makes a difference. From UN News, First Person: How youth and forests tackle Honduras’ water crisis.
Species Restoration. It’s always good news when a baby is born. That news is even sweeter when it is a Sumatran baby rhinoceros. From CNN, Sumatran rhino birth offers glimmer of hope for species almost hunted to extinction.
Momentum for Clean Buses. Parents groups have been working to prevent the air pollution harm to children, and a big part of that in the school yard is trading up for electric. From Grist, In Baltimore, yellow buses are going green. Cities all over the country are beginning to transition their school bus fleets to electric — a boon for the climate, and for students’ health.
Small Town. Small Church. Big Solar. It can be a challenge to get big services into small, rural towns—even when people are counting on it, such as energy. Some good news on this front from CleanTechnica, USDA $9.7 Billion Rural Community Clean Energy Program Receives 150+ Letters Of Interest. Rural Electric Co-operatives have stepped up to take advantage of historic financing from the Inflation Reduction Act that will lower power bills and create more resilient communities across America.
Faith Voices in the News This Week
See also my posts linked above celebrating the events and resources of the Season of Creation, including this week: Season of Creation, a call for great thanksgiving.
Catholic groups heed the Pope’s call for urgent action. From the Religion News Service RNS, Environmental faith groups laud Pope Francis’ new climate exhortation. ‘As this summer has shown, and as Laudate Deum emphasizes, we no longer have time to spare,’ Jose Aguto, executive director of Catholic Climate Covenant, said in a statement.
Call for a Superfund Response to Climate Disaster. The Interfaith Climate Justice Community joined other faith voices in calling for a robust financial response to the cost of climate-fueled disasters. From the Buffalo News, Another Voice: Faith community supports the Climate Change Superfund Act.
Statement of the Heart. People of faith across Australia gathered in support of Indigenous activists, youth, and communities, and pledging to support the inclusion of Indigenous voices in governance. From the South Sydney Herald, Religious and multicultural groups pledge Yes. Read the Uluru Statement from the Heart.
Green Team! Small steps, big faith. A lovely profile in the local Santa Cruz, CA, Green Valley News, be inspired! Read Susan and Jon’s story and be inspired to start a green team of your own. Ready to do it: Couple spur church, others to go green.
Archived from October 2nd, 2023
Conservation can be fluffy! A story of a little anteater new to science and busily charming everyone. From Hakai Magazine, This Fluffy Little Anteater May Very Well Be a New Species. Thousands of kilometers from their nearest relatives, these silky anteaters eke out a living in a pocket of mangroves on Brazil’s Atlantic coast. Click the link for photos and your daily dose of ‘awwww! It’s so fluffy!’
Climate Corps, It’s happening! From Inside Climate News, Biden Creates the American Climate Corps, 90 Years After FDR Put 3 Million to Work in National Parks. The new workers will remove wildfire fuel in forests, install EV chargers in cities, retrofit thermostats in low-income homes and, it is hoped, move on to union jobs in the clean energy economy. from Earthbeat, New American Climate Corps aims to boost clean energy, jobs for young people
Land Restoration, Resilience, and Land Back. From Native News Online, LA's Largest-Ever Land Back an 'Important Step' in the Movement. The 12 acres were restored to the Gabrielino Shoshone Nation of Southern California and will become the Chief Ya’anna Learning Village for land management and resilience. Native people’s involvement with resilience goes beyond forests and food, also, with Native owned businesses and mentorship in green industry on the rise. From Minnesota MPR News, A vision for green energy — and jobs in underserved communities
Bumble Bees. Yes, there is a bumble bee atlas. And yes, as of right now half of bumble be species in the Pacific Northwest are at risk. For the good news, here, look for those shouldering the effort to change all that for the good. Reported in High Country News, To protect wild bumblebees, people have to find them first. For six years, hundreds of volunteers have counted bumblebees across the Northwest. Their data is shaping pollinator conservation nationwide.
Green Transition. New things to share as innovation continues, two from Elektrek, Honda unveils $10K electric N-Van e with 130-mile range that can power your home, and US solar is booming – here’s the newly released data. The wind industry is also booming, and proving it can be responsive to quality of life concerns, such as when Kansas then Washington State legislated the dimming of lights on turbines. Another from Elektek (on a roll!) A new wind farm in Kansas trailblazes with light-mitigating technology.
Rewild your garden. Thank you, Better Homes and Gardens, for this great ‘just go do it’ article. It couldn’t be simpler, more important, or more rewarding. Rewilding May Be the Most Low-Key Gardening Trend Out There—This Is All It Takes. Focused on restoring the natural state of your outdoor space, this technique is as sustainable as it is effortless.
Faith voices:
Young people bring Interfaith Relief. This is the future of faith, people! I love everything about this, and am so grateful to the organizers who are ensuring a faithful response to those in need. From the Williams Record, Students organize bake sale to benefit Morocco, Libya in show of interfaith unity.
Congregations in action. This is the kind of congregational work that will make the difference in the effort to renew our earth. From the Greenfield Recorder, Faith Matters: Uniting to protect our sacred earth: An invitation to an autumn open house, hosted by the Interfaith Council of Franklin County. Big ups to the Interfaith Council of Franklin County and a deacon at First Congregational Church of Ashfield/UCC.
Necessary Conversations. Shout out to Indian Creek Community Church in Wyoming this week for hosting the essential conversations we need across the board in every community. From 59 News, Community outreach meeting for environmental concerns in Wyoming County.
Profiles in Leadership and Faith. Two profiles this week of Jewish leaders whose work has moved us to a better world, and continues to do so. From the Jewish Chronicle, remembering the life and work of Neville Sassienie. From Jewish News of Northern California, After 50 years, pioneering female rabbi is still practicing peace — and protesting.
Forgive us our debts. When it comes to global debt, real questions need to be asked around who has caused the debt in the first place. In a world where the super rich charter private flights for their dogs while children go hungry, we must take a good, hard Luke 16:19-31 look at ourselves. From Earthbeat, Catholics ask Biden to deliver debt relief to countries most at risk from climate change Sign on letter: Forgiveness of debt and the restructuring of debt must be included on the US agenda for COP28
Archived from September 18th, 2023
There is definitely good news this week!! Find good news in my faith voices this week page and here from Clean Technica and an increasing push reported here for accountability from oil giants, as well as important first steps toward addressing disastrous mining practices.
And—
What I want to do in the news section this week is highlight some independent Indigenous News outlets and encourage you to bookmark and add at least one of these to your usual browse.
Native News Online. A great weekly read with everything from commentary to collaborations to what’s happening in the community. They also have a D.C. Policy round-up. A recent article developed by Native News Online and Grist is a fantastic deep dive into agroforestry, restoration, colonialism, and the American Chestnut Tree, A Transgenic American Chestnut Tree is Coming. Who Is It For?
ITC (Indian Country Today). ITC covers a wide variety of topics about and by Indigenous people. One story from this week, Iñupiaq woman focuses on New Mexico renewable energy. Community solar development company donates $7.2M to Indigenous organizations in the state
High Country News is a western region magazine covering ‘12 western states and hundreds of Indigenous communities.’ This one is a subscription, and full disclosure I subscribe. They cover Indigenous issues broadly, but have a Indigenous Affairs section, also. One recent article, The long tail of toxic emissions on the Navajo Nation. Communities contend with ongoing air quality issues tied to gas and oil wells.
NDN Collective. This outlet is an empowerment magazine for Indigenous people and the Indigenous voice, experience, and perspective. This week they made a push of visibility for the continued detainment of Leonard Peltier, ‘A stain of injustice’: Hundreds gather, 35 arrested in front of the white house calling for release of Leonard Peltier.
APTN. Founded as the first Indigenous broadcaster in Canada, APTN (Aboriginal People’s Television Network) remains a news and television programing provider operating primarily in Canada in English, French, and Indigenous languages. APTN includes the broadcasting side, but also the APTN News online. A sample story from this week, As Chinook salmon season comes to end in Yukon, worry and hope for the future remains. First Nation’s chief says 2023 season another disappointing year.
IndigeNews. This outlet focuses on storytelling, engaging and reporting on stories from the experiences of those they cover. A story this week, Rueben George walks in the footsteps of his grandfather with new memoir ‘It Stops Here’. The səlilwətaɬ leader and grandson of Chief Dan George reflects on the unfolding impacts of colonization and what it means to embrace spirit.
Indigenous News Network carries news from global indigenous communities and has a number of special sections including Stop the Hate and also Poetry.
Archived from September 11th
Africa Climate Assembly. The Africa Climate Assembly wrapped up last week with mixed outcomes. The Assembly itself was important in bringing people together from across Africa to speak directly to the climate crisis. Frustration, though, was deeply felt. From Nation, Kenya, Youth raise voices for climate justice, demand action From the New York Times (gift link) At Africa’s First Climate Summit, a Clear Call to the World: Invest in Us. The inaugural summit in Kenya’s capital, attended by tens of thousands, was imbued with frustration at Western financial institutions. And from Tuko, African Clerics Blast Global North for Hijacking Africa Climate Summit, Demand for Action, Not Promises
Good News
Pollinator Garden! Gratitude to Bethel AME Church in Wilmington, Delaware, uplifting hearts and the creation by helping build a pollinator corridor. Read about the effort to protect critical pollinator species from the US Fish and Wildlife Newsletter, Save the Pollinators, Save the Planet. The Bethel AME project was also partly funded by the National Wildlife Federation’s Sacred Grounds program. Learn more about helping pollinators from US Fish and Wildlife.
Rewilding. Two great stories of restoring nature and the impact rewilding has for wildlife whether the project is big or small. From Scientific American, Biodiversity Flourishes in Historic Lawn Turned Wildflower Meadow. An experiment at the University of Cambridge highlights the environmental cost of a well-manicured lawn. And from New Scientist, Huge rewilding project will release 2000 white rhinos across Africa. African Parks, a conservation group, has acquired a huge collection of southern white rhinos from a private estate in South Africa and plans to release them into the wild.
Net Zero & Mining. This effort has a long, long way to go, but even so just to begin is really good news. From International Mining, First of its kind Net Zero Standard devised for diversified mining sector. This is an effort of Climate Action 100+ which focuses on investor engagement. Quoted in the article is Laura Hillis, of the Church of England Pensions Board, who says that mining touches many sectors, such as automobiles and steel manufacturing. To address climate, we to be strategic and ambitious about resilience and sustainability in investment.
Clean Energy. Hydrogen, Solar and Wind—oh, my! The tech rollout is a learning and development process, and here’s some good news on that. Hydrogen: From SciTechDaily, Scientists Develop New More Efficient Method to Produce Green Hydrogen, and from Clean Technica, Toyota Plunges Into Crowded Hydrogen Fuel Cell Truck Pool, With A Bang. Solar: Two from Electrek, Largest US community solar panel purchase in history just happened with 1.5 GW order and Greenbacker, which owns nearly 1GW of solar, makes a deal to recycle it all. Wind: From Clean Technica, 20,000 Communities Demand Local Wind Turbines.
Repentance and Reprieve. If to repent is to ‘turn’ away and cease from doing harm, the US has repented twice this week, it repented of drilling in Alaska, and repented of harm to forests. From the New York Times (gift link) Biden Administration to Bar Drilling on Millions of Acres in Alaska. The administration will cancel oil and gas leases in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge and set aside more than half of the National Petroleum Reserve. From NPR, Judge: Trump-era rule change allowing the logging of old-growth forests violates laws.
Archived from September 3rd
Back to nature. I loved this story and this is so very much needed and necessary! Our church grounds are sacred grounds, our worship communities are holy ground. From CNA Ireland’s bishops decide to return 30% of Church grounds to nature by 2030
Youth & the Africa Climate Assembly. There are so many young people speaking out. This week I want to amplify the voice of young people gathering together to be seen and heard as the Africa Climate Assembly meets next week. From Nation, Kenya, Youth raise voices for climate justice, demand action
Green Voices Rising. In Forbes but from UNICEF a great article showcasing the energy, passion, and urgency of youth who are facing the crisis. In general, UNICEF is a tremendous contributor for the health and wellbeing for children and youth, especially in times of crisis. The Green Rising: How UNICEF Is Mobilizing Youth To Drive Climate Action
Forests and Elephants. From Mongabay A forest gave Cambodia’s captive elephants a new life. Now they’re paying it back. This is a sad and sweet story. What started as a place of refuge and sanctuary for older elephants in captivity, has become a story of what happens when animals and humans work together to preserve the precious earth, life, and forests we all share.
Communities, Conversation, and Environmental Justice. This OP-ED in The Hill speaks to the reality that the robust conversations we need—from policy makers to taxi drivers and in every congregation—are indeed happening. How a South Carolina faith leader and a California congressman are fighting for environmental justice.
Species Restoration. Three hopeful stories as we celebrate Puffins, the return of Takahē, and why species rights may help. From the AP, Maine’s puffin colonies recovering in the face of climate change, from The Guardian, Prehistoric bird once thought extinct returns to New Zealand wild, and from Washington Post (gift link), Countries are starting to give wild animals legal rights. Here’s why.
Children and the Right to a Clean Environment. The UN’s Committee on the Rights of the Child published a document nations are legally obligated to safeguard the environment for future generations. The document isn’t legally binding, but an important step all the same. From The New York Times (gift link), Children Have a Right to Sue Nations Over Climate, U.N. Panel Says
People Power - Keep it in the Ground. Ecuador and California in a historic show of the people’s power to vote, vote to keep fossil fuels in the ground. From Amazon Watch, Yasuní Victory Shows Us the Way to End Amazon Crude, and from Clean Technica, In Historic Vote, California Becomes Largest Economy In World To Call For Fossil Fuel Non-Proliferation Treaty
Archived from August 27th
Good News
Octopus Garden. There is yet so much more to learn and learn and learn about this wonderful earth. From Mashable: 10,000 feet down, scientists find 'enormous' octopus colony The garden full of tentacles is located 3,200 meters down off the California coast.
Marine Conservation. Some welcome conservation news. After decades of effort by tribal members, the Biden administration has proposed a marine sanctuary off the coast of California, an 5,600 square mile area with a thriving ecosystem of kelp, sea otters and whales. Read about the effort to establish the Chumash Heritage National Marine Sanctuary from NPR: After decades, a tribe's vision for a new marine sanctuary could be coming true and Biden proposes vast new marine sanctuary in partnership with California tribe.
Restoration: Rivers & Mangroves - Two great stories of can-do restoration. Sometimes you have to keep at it, such was the effort of a group in the UK who raised alarms over chicken farm runoff and other pollution running into the Wye River. Some positive changes have already been made, the hope is to amplify the effort. From Phys.org: 'Citizen scientists' battle to save historic UK river Across the world in Mozambique, 22 women spend their days planting trees in mud to rebuild the Mangrove forest. Mangroves protect the shore from erosion and are a treasure of biodiversity. From UN Environment: How a salt-loving tree is helping to protect Mozambique from climate change
Renewable Deployment! The build out of renewable infrastructure continues! Some quick numbers. From Reuters: Column: India’s massive renewables deployment helps meet record power demand. From Clean Technica: Solar Up 20X, Fossil Fuel Use Down In California. From Canary Media, Chart: Global renewables deployments to hit record levels in 2023. New IEA figures show the industry is bouncing back from pandemic-related delays and supply-chain woes, thanks in large part to onshore wind growth.
Archived from August 14th
Held v Montana. This morning Judge Seeley, First Judicial District Court in Montana handed down her ruling in the case of Held v Montana, ruling fully in favor of the 16 youth plaintiffs suing for their constitutional right to a clean environment!! Links for more Read the statement from Our Children’s Trust, Read the ruling, Read more about the trial and background of the plaintiffs. From The Guardian ‘Game-changer’: judge rules in favor of young activists in US climate trial; and from the Flathead Beacon in Montana Judge Rules in Favor of Youth Plaintiffs in Montana Climate Lawsuit.
Faith Voices Addressing Climate
Over the last few weeks there has been a good bit of news from faith groups, churches and denominations addressing the climate crisis. And seen together, wow. It’s real hope rising.
Prayers in the Alps. The ice caps of the Alps are melting away. An ecumenical group of clergy and people of faith climbed the highest peak in Germany to raise lament and sorrow for the harm of climate change. From Lutheran World, Climate change: Requiem for a glacier in Germany.
Prayer for Natural Disasters. Speaking to the disasters and suffering worldwide, the Dalai Lama raised prayers and called for the world to stop burning fossil fuels. From Buddhist Door Global, Dalai Lama Offers Prayers for a World Beset by Natural Disasters. The Catholic Pope also raised prayers for the climate crisis, from the Catholic News Agency Pope Francis telegrams Greece and Italy to express concerns about wildfires and storms
Relief and Prayers for Maui. In response to the worsening climate crisis and especially the three fires in Maui, the Greek Orthodox Church in America raised concerns, prayers, and a relief effort. From Orthodox Observer News, Maui Devastated By Three Concurrent Fires
A local retreat - A biodiversity commitment. In the run up to the Season of Creation, a Catholic church group ended a retreat two weeks ago in Yorkshire with ‘a commitment to protect earth’s biodiversity.’ Read the story in ICN, Christians Aware: 'Making Space for Nature.'
The Rights of the People and Forest of the Amazon. The leaders of South American countries gathered as pressure builds to ensure protections for the Amazon, it’s forests and Indigenous peoples. Article from The Hindu, Amazon nations seek common voice on climate change, urge developed world to help protect rainforest
Christian Aid Divestment. One of the biggest charities in the UK, Christian Aid, “cut ties” with Barclay’s Bank and activist groups such as Christian Climate Action (CCA) are celebrating. From The Independent, Christian Aid cuts ties with Barclays over fossil fuels financing. Even as they celebrate this step, CCA is unrelenting, seeking to keep building on the divestment action, Vigils at Charities Banking with Barclays. As CCA continues to gain voice and traction in the UK, efforts in the US are seeking comparable outcomes. At a recent rally in Connecticut, Episcopalian Rev. Bullitt-Jonas called out Chase Bank and fossil fuel destruction Climate Advocates Call Out Chase Bank’s Dirty Record
Faith and COP28. Preparations for COP28 are underway with the Minister for Tolerance and Coexistence Sheikh Nahyan bin Mubarak Al Nayan confirming that a faith pavilion will be included with the hope of faith leaders gathering to address climate change. From ANI, Faith Pavilion at COP28 will unite everyone to tackle climate change head-on: Nahyan bin Mubarak read also from ANI, Muslim Council of Elders, UAE Office of Special Envoy for Climate Change sign agreement to organise Faith Pavilion at COP28
Climate Change and the Black Church. An interview by the Washington Informer and Word in Black with Rev. Dr. Ambrose Carroll Sr., spiritual leader and pastor with Green the Church, on why engagement from the black church is an important part of addressing climate change, Why Green The Church Connects Faith With Climate Justice
Jewish Youth seek Action. An article from and by Jewish youth who are seeking real action from the faith community and the wider community to address climate change. The article shares stories from youth from age 12, demanding change. From the Jewish Telegraphic Agency, Young Jews are demanding action on climate change. Another article, this one from The Wisconsin Jewish Chronical, celebrates the Ecology rabbi of the future, an activist and future Rabbi working for change.
Rabbi’s Call for Action. An opinion piece ran in Religion News Service, RNS, from two Rabbis leading engagement in the work of the Climate Crisis. It’s a call to action, from Rabbi Jennie Rosenn, founder and CEO of Dayenu, and Rabbi Jonah Dov Pesner, director of the Religious Action Center of Reform Judaism and senior vice president of the Union for Reform Judaism. Tisha B’Av is Jews’ day to lament destruction.
Solar and the Local Church. Local churches are installing solar and every one of them is worth celebrating. A shout out to St. Andrew’s Episcopal Church in Lewisville, PA, from Episcopal News Service, Central Pennsylvania Episcopal church installs solar panels to save money, care for creation. It even made the local paper, The Daily Item, St. Andrew's in Lewisburg installing solar panels as part of 'creation care'
Restoration. Local churches were among the community organizations that received restoration and resilience grants in Maryland. Congrats! Maryland Awards $3 Million in Climate Resilience Grants to 13 Community Projects
Age, Disability, and Climate Change. In a truthful op-ed from Cynthia Astle, a longtime Methodist and Methodist Editor, she speaks her truth about the worsening realities of escalating heat, the hurts of real people, and laments the time of climate change. From Baptist News Global, The climate canary is dead.
Mennonites in Action. In addition to the Generation Z Energy and Spirit Challenge, listed in the Boost, above, just in general the Mennonite Church is choosing to be active in addressing climate change. Read a recent statement from the denomination, MC USA Executive Board expands its Peace and Justice ministries to include Mennonite Creation Care Network
In community, local relief in times of disaster. Two stories of disaster and recovery in the American South. Both tell of the struggle to find equilibrium and stability again, and both speak to the work of Amish and Mennonite groups offering tools and ongoing support. From the Washington Post, Recovering from twin Southwest Virginia floods: ‘A rough, rough ride’ and from Grist, Old nightmares and new dreams mark the year since Kentucky’s devastating flood
Empowering Women. As the climate crisis shows the importance of caring for the vulnerable, mitigating effects, and listening to those with lived experience dealing with cultural and spiritual stress, women are coming on strong. It is already known that women will suffer more, as well as that empowering women across the board will help us all get through it. The church is also engaging these very conversations. From Buddhist Door Global, Daughters of the Buddha: Progress on the Path of Female Ordination – A Conversation with Ven. Dhammananda Bhikkhuni. And from CNN, More women are aiming to become church leaders. Together, they could change American Christianity
Good News
Renewable Transition! Some very welcome news indeed from the New York Times this week, this link is a gift article, The Clean Energy Future Is Arriving Faster Than You Think, “The United States is pivoting away from fossil fuels and toward wind, solar and other renewable energy, even in areas dominated by the oil and gas industries.” A corroborating article from a state where oil and gas as well as climate change are dominating forces, from Alaska’s Anchorage Daily News, A year after passage, landmark climate law is creating a ‘different world’ for Alaska renewables
Empowering Latino Leaders. In recognizing that climate change is only one of the huge transitions humanity is facing, it is more important than ever to make sure every community has the tools and empowerment it needs. From Inside Climate News, Monitoring Air Quality as a Lesson in Climate Change, Civic Engagement and Latino Community Leadership
Celebrating Global Youth! - Mongabay is as usual awesome as it offers us three hopeful stories of global youth from Indonesia, Malawi, and Kenya, For International Youth Day, three youth conservation success stories
The Rights of Nature. This important concept and necessary conversation arises over and over again in the conversation to remedy environmental destruction. The latest article bringing this again to the fore is from Brazil, where the Indigenous Wari seek to protect the river Laje with legal recognition as a living entity with rights. From the AP Indigenous leader inspires an Amazon city to grant personhood to an endangered river
River Restoration. Another river story worth sharing, this one from US Fish and Wildlife speaking to the restoration of the Conasauga River in Georgia. Much money, effort to restore Conasauga's long-ago luster
Archived from August 7th
Renewing Waterways! Dam removal is working, and bringing hope. This article from The Guardian is from April, Dam fine work: record number of barrier removals helps restore rivers across Europe “More than 300 barriers were taken down last year, boosting the health of waterways and the wildlife they support, say experts.” And this week from The Mercury News As work begins on the largest US dam removal project on the California-Oregon border, tribes look to a future of growth.
Conservation and Restoration in Brazil - Two from Mongabay. There are a few avenues to achieve conservation of essential habitat. One is to work the system, and gain property rights in order to protect: To safeguard a rare Brazilian woodpecker, an NGO bought out its habitat. This is a good mechanism that has been leveraged other places. The other is more lasting, bringing the old way together to a new way, respecting the restoration of life itself, How seed networks across Brazil are helping to restore biomes
Plovers! Restoring Nature. Three stories connected to plovers to give you hope. From UC Santa Barbara’s The Current, a resilience project to mitigate sea level rise and support species such as the Snowy Plover, Dune restoration could increase the resilience of Southern California's urban beaches to sea level rise. And in the UK, a nature recovery project connects 176,000 hectares for wildlife recovery, Nature recovery projects to boost wildlife and access to nature, “Curlews, short-snouted seahorses and natterjack toads [and Ringed Plovers!] set to be benefit as six nature recovery projects are launched.” Not to be left out, in news from the US Fish and Wildlife Service, Piping Plovers—four of them!—have been reintroduced at Illinois Beach State Park to help with species recovery.
Renewables! Wind and solar news! Wind gains ground in the coal-state of Wyoming, with the Governor at the podium - Wyoming, long known as a top coal producing state, makes a big move into wind energy. A big green-light for an offshore project in the Atlantic from Electrek, The US announces 4-8 GW of new offshore wind areas in the Atlantic, and closing the loop to ensure real sustainable solar panels from the AP The first generation of solar panels will wear out. A recycling industry is taking shape.
Archived from July 31
Deep Dive - Goldendale, Yakama & Christian Youth
This, the necessary work of restoration of communities and collaboration for a true society of well-being is all about Relationship. Relationship. Relationship. Across cultural contexts and experiences, the voices of Indigenous people are being heard. The stories are needed. This last month, youth from the Greater Northwest Area of the United Methodist Church went for an immersive experience to Goldendale, WA, home of the Yakama Nation. Their story: Youth and youth workers experience Yáych’unal (Courage) in Yakama. The Yakama are currently fighting a proposed hydro-electric storage project that threatens their ceremonies and food practices. Read more When your neighbor says no: green colonialism and Indigenous consent
Good News
Endangered Species Win! Climate change causes and worsens endangerment of animal (and all) species. Even as humans hope to stop the worsening effects, the reality is that adaptation must occur right now. New rules for how endangered species means ‘saving’ these animals has a better chance. From the Wildlife Society USFWS finalizes rule allowing endangered species release outside historical range. From the Denver Gazette Climate change driving expansion of Endangered Species Act From the Southern Environmental Law Center New rule from U.S. Fish and Wildlife helps conserve Southern species from climate change
US Environmental Policy Win! - The question of what will happen with NEPA (National Environmental Policy Act) has been answered—and it’s good news. NEPA had historically included provisions to protect—or at least listen to—communities when citing energy and other projects. NEPA had come under attack, but now those protections are back. Read about it from Earthjustice, Earthjustice Hails Biden Administration’s NEPA Phase II Proposed Rule and The Wilderness Society The Wilderness Society pleased with release of long-awaited NEPA rule
Worker Heat Protections. The Biden Administration announced support for workers who are laboring in a climate-heated world, often with out protections required for the ‘new abnormal.’ From CNBC ‘The era of global boiling has arrived,’ says UN boss, as White House announces provisions to protect workers from extreme heat. The moral work of addressing worker protections is also coming from voices of faith, including this op-ed from Baptist News Global I was thirsty and you made me work in the heat without water
Renewables! Innovation, sustainable tech and essential electrification efforts, a run-up of some good news: From CleanTechnica Solar Energy Desalination Plants Increasingly Provide Water For Africa. From DeBrief Forget solar panels, here come rain panels. From Maritime Executive Japanese Team Develops “Game Changer” Floating Vertical Axis Wind Turbines And two from Electrek The first US utility-scale offshore wind farm just got the first US-built offshore substation and In a ‘watershed moment,’ interconnecting the US grid just got a lot more efficient
Restoration! A great story of reclamation and restoration from AP Mangrove forest thrives around what was once Latin America’s largest landfill.
Not-good News
Coal at All Time High. Despite tremendous efforts of so many, the recent coal report from the IEA brings bad news indeed. From CNBC IEA says coal use hit an all-time high last year — and global demand will persist near record levels. Read also the report.
Gulf Stream Collapse. Another scary study, as the studies pile up. Gulf Stream could collapse as early as 2025, study suggests. A note of reassurance, this study is good because scientists are doing their job to investigate, learn and communicate. This is one study, there are other factors also to consider. Keep hope ahead.
Mountain Valley Pipeline. Really awful news with the Mountain Valley Pipeline this week. From Politico Supreme Court clears path for Mountain Valley Pipeline construction to resume. Keep watch on Appalachian Voices and 7 Directions of Service for what responses to this ruling might be the next steps to stop this project. Read an earlier article, also, about people of faith and resistance to the Atlantic Coast and Mountain Valley Pipeline. Community Resistance: A Tale of Two Pipelines
Yes, the heat is climate change. A key part of learning about what we face with climate change is being able to see the effect. Scientists have worked to show the attribution, how extreme events can be directly attributed to climate change. From Inside Climate News: This Summer’s Heatwaves Would Have Been ‘Almost Impossible’ Without Human-Caused Warming, a New Analysis Shows. Read also the analysis from World Weather Attribution Extreme heat in North America, Europe and China in July 2023 made much more likely by climate change.
Even Cactuses are suffering in this heat. From the Weather Channel, Iconic Saguaro Cactus Can’t Take The Phoenix Heat, and Reuters, Saguaro cacti collapsing in Arizona extreme heat, scientist says
Archived from July 24th, 2023
Deep Dive - Migration
Climate change is a threat amplifier. It pushes the scales to destabilize communities and ecosystems. Migration is partly a result of this destabilization, though there are many contributing factors including (and especially) the consequences of decades of extractive economics. Texas has been at the center of not only migration, as migrants cross the border north into that state, but also enforcement of violent anti-migrant policies and practices.
Faith groups are and have been raising a moral hue and cry at cruel and deadly tactics at the border. Then last week, from whistle blower witnesses, news broke widely of drownings due to buoys and razor wire Texas recently loaded into the Rio Grande, a river crossing for migrants. The story has exploded internationally with headlines like this one Texas trooper says they were told to push children into Rio Grande and deny migrants water. (This deep dive ran a little long, read more here about this and the action and advocacy of the faith community.)
Good News
Frog love! Nature positive solutions - more cuteness! This article is from the Atlantic is paywalled, but I could not resist: You Should Build a Frog Pond “People are adding bee hotels and bat houses, and planting milkweed ... Our cities can be wetlands too...” This could be a super fun activity, also, for all ages! A quick google search turns up a lot of ideas for frogs, toads, and bees…
Rainforest Restoration! An effort to leverage carbon credit revenue to support farmers in restoration efforts means trees are being planted, and forest ecosystems protected. Good news from Mongabay From cardamom to carbon: Bold new Tanzanian project is regrowing a rainforest
Stopped! No LNG in Florida Panhandle. Efforts of organizers resulted in a much welcome victory for the planet this week. “Nopetro had called for the LNG plant to be constructed on 60 acres adjacent to the historically Black community of Port St. Joe, a rural coastal town.” That town and others pushed back and stopped the project. After Litigation and Local Outcry, Energy Company Says It Will Not Move Forward with LNG Plant in Florida Panhandle
Renewables! A bunch of good news so a quick round up here. A rural English village switched—all of them!—to heat pumps. Touting necessary rural initiative and resilience, they are Pumping hot: inside Britain’s first heat pump village. EV battery recyclers are using IRA incentives to design closed-loop material recycling, Dead EV batteries turn to gold with U.S. incentives. And recycling for wind turbines gets a prize-incentive boost, Wind Turbine Recycling Gets $5.1 Million Boost, $5.1 Million Competition Aims To Strengthen a Circular Wind Energy Economy in the United States
Species Preservation. Two good news efforts to share, from the BBC First white-tailed eagle in 240 years born in south of England, and from Electek In an industry first, artificial ‘bird nests’ have been built near an offshore wind farm.
Clean Energy. Geothermal really doesn’t get the press I think it deserves. A reminder that this is a really promising technology. From Engadget, 'Breakthrough' geothermal tech produces 3.5 megawatts of carbon-free power
Mixed News
Vegan Diet & Carbon. This may be good news or bad news, depending on what is in your fridge. But, Vegan diet has just 30% of the environmental impact of a high-meat diet, major study finds.
Not-good News
Burning, Burning, Fossil Fuels, heat, fires. It seems incomprehensible, yet The Guardian reports G20 countries fail to reach agreement on cutting fossil fuels. Meanwhile, Heatwave set to be Greece’s longest as extreme weather continues in Europe …as firefighters battle 79 forest blazes; and ‘It’s brutal’: Europeans tell of sleepless nights and dizzy spells in heatwave and ‘A horrible way to die’: how extreme heat is killing Italian workers.
Women & Rising Temperatures. We know that when stressors come, it is the most vulnerable who suffer most. A new study in nature shows that over 61,000 people died across Europe in the summer of 2022, many of them were women. From Carbon Brief, Heat-related deaths ‘56% higher among women’ during record-breaking 2022 European summer, study.
Disinfo & Lobbying Campaigns. Three reports from DeSmog, Revealed: Media Blitz Against Heat Pumps Funded by Gas Lobby Group, Gas-linked companies’ attack on electric heating confuses consumers and another US Oil-Linked Pressure Group Attacks EU Green Policies, Breaks Lobbying Rules. These revelations have led to inquiry, Transparency Watchdog Calls on EU to Strengthen its Lobbying Rules After DeSmog Investigation
Setbacks in ‘Cancer Alley.’ Many people of faith have been following the story of ‘Cancer Alley’ in Louisiana, and the work especially of Sharon Lavigne, founder of the local activist group Rise St. James, as they deal with legacy pollution and the proposed Formosa Plastics plant in St. James Parish. New from the Washington Post, EPA closes civil rights investigation into Louisiana pollution.
Archived from July 17th, 2023
New Climate Word:
Polycrisis. Add this one to ‘megadrought’ and ‘bombcyclone’ and ‘pyrocumulonimbus tornado.’ We are experiencing ‘ climate polycrisis’ defined by the UN this way: “The impacts of climate change are causing existing hazard events to become more intense and occur with greater frequency. These impacts combine with other risks and threats such as conflict, epidemics or inflation, creating compound crises, a phenomenon increasingly referred to as a polycrisis.” My question of course is, where do we go from here? And when will it be enough to stop burning fossil fuels?
Deep Dive - heat
June 2023 was the hottest June on record, and this week of July record temperatures are being made including temps of 126º in Sanbao, China and a heat index of 152º in the Persian Gulf (Gulf water was 90º+)—this is the kind of heat humans cannot survive. And from Vox It’s even hot in Antarctica, where it’s winter. With both land, air, and ocean temps high, here is an explainer as to how the ocean can be so hot The ongoing marine heat waves in U.S. waters, explained. A good opportunity, too, to share this link again from a couple of weeks ago, from VOX How heat waves form, and how climate change makes them worse. (More on heat and oceans from earlier news here.) Mom’s Clean Air Force has a helpful fact sheet for those with outdoor ministry & faith events this summer, available in English and Spanish.
Good News
Sweet Armadillos! Nature positive solutions at their cutest. Mongabay reports on the efforts in Brazil to protect and redirect armadillos when their sweet tooths (teeth?) get them into trouble with local bee keepers. Sweet solution: Armadillo-friendly honey helps Brazil beekeepers, giant armadillos
Four Million Mangrove trees! Iraq and the UN are working together to restore carbon-rich and resilient, climate-important mangrove forests by planting 4 million mangrove trees. From Arab News Iraq plants mangrove forest to fight climate disaster
Securing Biodiversity. The EU is moving ahead with plans to protect and restore nature. From Inside Climate News European Union Approves Ambitious Nature Restoration Law “European countries hope healing forests, wetlands and oceans will help them meet their climate and biodiversity targets, and bolster food security.”
Green Bank. I don’t have time for a deeper dive on this today, but the Green Bank is important and a key part of the climate recovery legislation passed by the Biden Administration. What this means, tho, is the as clean energy projects surge globally, this funding is like adding good fuel to a good fire. From PBS WATCH: Biden administration makes $20 billion ‘green bank’ available for clean energy projects
Plug those wells! And in even more good news, The Hill reports Biden administration announces $650 million to plug orphaned gas and oil wells.
Not-so-good News
Reparations to those harmed. Despite the most harms affecting those people, species, and lands that are not at fault for climate change, the BBC reported that the US refuses climate reparations for developing nations
Rural Impacts. There are global impacts and suffering due to climate change, but there is also suffering in the US. Lack of access to health care, 1950s infrastructure, and outdoor labor put rural people at increased risk. Rural Americans find little escape from climate change
Archive from June 26th, 2023
Good news:
Natural Lands Restoration. A new study underscores the importance of saving natural lands in order to meet essential goals for saving species and ecosystems—which has an effect also on climate change, water quality and so much more. Read an article about the study in Mongabay To meet U.N. climate, biodiversity goals, 79% of plant cover must be saved, study Read the study Retaining natural vegetation to safeguard biodiversity and humanity. And, here’s the good news, In Africa, where there has been much deforestation, small farmers are restoring forests. Read the story in Yale 360 As Africa Loses Forest, Its Small Farmers Are Bringing Back Trees.
Clean Energy. A trio of encouraging stories! Two from CleanTechnica: Cargo Ships Return To Wind Power, Again, and this includes some of the big names in shipping. Also, in Wind Powers Africa, a breakdown of what and where clean projects in Africa are being built. Another big story from Electrec, A landmark US clean energy transmission line just broke ground, which will carry electricity from Wyoming to the Southwest.
Faith and Divestment. I shared this last week but I am sharing again as I am just so pleased—the Church of England is divesting: Jesus vs. Big Oil: Church of England divests. In addition, a number of United Methodist Conferences this month voted to divest funds, including personal, conference, and denominational funds (depending on the resolution). Some take effect immediately, others go to the next step. But it’s all good news!
Bad news:
Heat waves. This is just going to be recurringly bad news. Intense heat waves right now in Texas, Mexico, and China. A couple articles from Inside Climate News address the issue in Texas, Texas Cities Set Temperature Records in Unremitting Heat Wave. And, is it climate related? Yes. Climate Change Made the Texas Heat Wave More Intense. Renewables Softened the Blow. Covering China, news from the BBC Beijing heatwave: China capital records hottest June day in 60 years. Is it climate related? Yes. “A study released last month found climate change had made heatwaves 30 times more likely in Asia.” What to do? Oregon for one is suing. From Common Dreams Oregon County Sues Big Oil and 'Misinformation Agents' Over Deadly 2021 Heatwave, and from DeSmog Oregon County Sues Fossil Fuel Entities and Enablers for Contributing to Deadly 2021 Heatwave
Georgia Peaches. The disruption is real. Prayers up for farmers everywhere, and especially in Georgia as the peach crop is basically a total loss. From the Washington Post Wild weather swings have devastated Georgia’s peaches
Oceans - Species Migration. I have written a number of time before about the warming ocean. I have written of ocean plastic pollution and carbon pollution (bringing both acidity to the water, and heat). It was record heat last year, and record heat this year, too. Fisheries close, and ocean animals are at risk of disease and dislocation just like humans are. Recently—and this is good news—nations met together to craft a first ever-ocean treaty. But also—and this is bad news—OPEC plans to increase oil production. Emissions, despite a huge build-out of renewables, rose almost 1% last year as we continue to extract and burn fossil fuels. And I say all this because we really need context for stories like this one: The Atlantification of the Arctic Ocean Is Underway. The headline hides this news: Temperatures in both the Atlantic and Arctic Oceans have risen and species continue to move, die off, and relocate. The ecosystems of each ocean are changing, and we do not yet know the extent of what the real consequences will be for this. It is clear, tho, and it has been clear: We must seal every oil well. We must stop extracting and burning fossil fuels.
Archive from June 18th, 2023
Deeper Dive - Held v Montana — trial underway: Last week and continuing this week is Held v Montana, the first youth-driven climate lawsuit in the US that has gone to trial. Read an article from Inside Climate News about the lawsuit Love of the Land and Community Inspired the Montana Youths Whose Climate Lawsuit Against the State Goes to Court This Week and from the Flathead Beacon Expert Cites Montana’s ‘Incredible’ Renewable Energy Potential, Teenage Plaintiffs Mourn Inaction as Climate Trial Hits Halfway Point
Background: The lawsuit was brought by 16 young plaintiffs, and calls the state to attend to its core values as enshrined in its constitution, that “The state and each person shall maintain and improve a clean and healthful environment in Montana for present and future generations. [and]…The legislature shall provide adequate remedies for the protection of the environmental life support system from degradation and provide adequate remedies to prevent unreasonable depletion and degradation of natural resources.” From the AP Youth environmentalists bring Montana climate case to trial after 12 years, seeking to set precedent.
Spotlight—Thacker Pass: Updates as construction has started on the Lithium Mine at Thacker Pass is Nevada. From Underscore News At Thacker Pass, Extraction and Resistance Come to a Head
Spotlight—Plastics: The plastics treaty really seems to be happening. Those in the global north need to keep their leaders focused. As always, our siblings in the global north deal with the bulk of the harm. An article from The Guardian Whisper it, but the boom in plastic production could be about to come to a juddering halt And a documentary from DW that tells the story that needs to be heard: https://youtu.be/NVH1Wi-Wv_Y
Good News:
Divestment Church of England. Faith communities keep working on this! The latest from the Church of England Over 200 Church of England clergy call for fossil-free pensions
Rewilding the land—and community. More lovely and hopeful news from the UK From window boxes to farms, UK’s rewilding gurus bring out their bible
Great Plains Restorative Agriculture. A new kind of know-how is shaping restorative farming and food production in the Midwest and Great Plains thanks to Indigenous teaching. Indigenous farmers hope their knowledge of regenerative practices can influence others
Transparency at COP28. Perhaps because COP28 will be held in Dubai this year and there may be a heavier than usual presence from fossil fuel interests, the UN has ruled that: Oil, gas and coal representatives will have to disclose their industry ties at future climate meetings, the UN says. Read another article about this, too, in the AP UN chief says fossil fuels ‘incompatible with human survival,’ calls for credible exit strategy
Clean Transition. Raise it up! Not only has Danskammer Energy Paused Plans to Construct a Methane Gas Plant in Newburgh, NY, but windpower is going up, up, up! The World’s Largest Operating Offshore Wind Farm Stands Complete! And sustainability for wind turbines is improving, Denmark’s largest offshore wind farm will feature recyclable wind turbine blades
Bad News:
Groundwater Depletion & Earth’s Orbit. Humans are having a huge impact, not only are we depleting our water reserves, we are literally changing the balance of our planet in doing so. Humans have pumped so much groundwater, we’ve shifted Earth’s axis
Heat still rising. Europe hit the 1.5C threshold this month. It has been the Hottest ever start to June as global temperatures spike Carbon levels in the atmosphere are still going up. From the Guardian Fears of hottest year on record as the recent temperature spike doesn’t yet include the effects of El Nino.
Seeking Justice in Louisiana: Despite all the years of press and attention to what is happening in St. James Parish, LA, and despite the tremendous and ongoing efforts of local organizers, Lawmakers reject plea from Cancer Alley residents for fence line air monitoring
Archive from June 11th, 2023
Deeper Dive - Held v Montana — trial starts June 12
Last week I shared the HUGE and important win for the 21 American youth who are plaintiffs in Youth v Gov, a lawsuit filed in August 2015 filed a lawsuit in US District Court stating that “through the government's affirmative actions that cause climate change, it has violated the youngest generation’s constitutional rights to life, liberty, and property, as well as failed to protect essential public trust resources.” Those 21 youth plaintiffs are now preparing for trial! You can watch their story on Netflix.
This week we dive into Held v Montana. The trial STARTS TODAY. Read an update from Montana Free Press & Flathead Beacon Montana youth prepare for trial in bellwether climate case against state. Read also the latest from AP Youth environmentalists bring Montana climate case to trial after 12 years, seeking to set precedent.
The lawsuit was brought by 16 young plaintiffs, and calls the state to attend to its core values as enshrined in its constitution, that “The state and each person shall maintain and improve a clean and healthful environment in Montana for present and future generations. [and]…The legislature shall provide adequate remedies for the protection of the environmental life support system from degradation and provide adequate remedies to prevent unreasonable depletion and degradation of natural resources.”
You can watch the proceedings in person via livestream at St. Paul’s United Methodist Church in Helena, Montana, on facebook. Also engage via this link which is a one-stop link tree for how to tune in. Click here to read the complaint.
There are a number of lawsuits by youth filed now around the world, including one more in the US. In June 2022, 14 youth in Hawaii, Navahine F. v. Hawaiʻi Department of Transportation filed a lawsuit seeks a clean transportation system and decarbonized economy. Read the complaint. This case is heading for trial in September.
Spotlight—Mountain Valley Pipeline
This made the ‘bad news’ section last week, and the news isn’t getting any better here, yet. The devastating truth shared by the UN is that if we hope to keep global temperature rise under 1.5C there can be no new fossil fuel infrastructure. And again, in Mongabay U.N. climate chief calls for end to fossil fuels as talks head to Dubai. This means projects like the MVP (and the Willow Project!) are being built at the peril of the creation—species, people, and the planet as we know it. The real peril these projects pose have forced everyday people to demand that President Biden declare a #ClimateEmergency in order to bring tools to bear to address the urgency of transition.
More from MVP news this week, from the Virginia Mercury What’s next for the court cases challenging Mountain Valley Pipeline? As company seeks dismissal of legal cases after congressional intervention, enviro groups look for other paths to halt project and video reporting from Gray Washington News Bureau Mountain Valley Pipeline: White House Rally Was Years In The Making. And from last week, from the Charleston Direct Mail 'I expect to see severe damage': Safety risk concerns mount as Congress fast-tracks Mountain Valley Pipeline
Spotlight—Forests & Smoke
The ongoing tragedy of burning forests in Canada led to fresh (unfresh) misery for those on the American East Coast. Years of choking smoke in western states inflicted misery now shared by siblings in the east. Across social media tips were offered to help those suffering, but the reality is that whether you are in a mining town, standing in traffic, or breathing in a burning forest, those fine particulates can attack your health. Tips include a fine-particulate n95 mask, and duct-taping house filters to portable fans. Another tool essential to west coasters are the Air Quality Index AQI apps that tell you exactly how healthy or unhealthy the air is today. The best air quality index apps to check wildfire smoke near you
Attribution science tells us that the forest fires we are experiencing today have some climate change causation. There are mitigating steps that can help, but what we really must do is protect forests, protect mature forests, harden our homes and communities, and stop burning fossil fuels. From Politico: New Trees Are No Substitute for Old Trees The fires in Canada underscore the need to let our current mature forest grow old. Perhaps most frustratingly, addressing air quality and climate change is notoriously hard to accomplish: from The Lever News, Oil Lobby Pushed Pollution Loophole for Wildfire Smoke
Good News:
Clean Energy. We just have to keep at it, keep at it. It’s starting to add up. From Electrek The largest floating solar farm in North America is officially online. And from CleanTechnica Hoosiers To Lead Rural Solar Power Revolution Indiana has been drifting around in the solar power doldrums, but it is poised to lead the transtition to agrivoltaics throughout the US agricultural industry. (My favorite part of this story were the photos of sheep in pasture! Go Indiana!) From Renew Economy Graph of the Day: Solar is creating fastest energy change in history And another from CleanTechnica Crossover — Solar & Wind Power Producing More Electricity Than Fossil Fuels In EU and A very cool look at wind turbines going up in Normal, Ohio.
Fish Doorbells. How are these stories so adorable? Please sign me up for anything and everything to do with doorbells for fish. Ring the ‘Fish Doorbell’ To Help Fish Migrate in the Netherlands Utrecht’s Fish Doorbell has helped thousands of fish swim upstream to reproduce.
Species Recovery. Climate change was a factor in the massive species die-off of millions of sunflower sea stars. Since then, biologists and more have been seeking ways to save and replenish these sea creatures. Some hope in the news: 25 endangered sunflower sea stars found in Newport's Yaquina Bay: 'It’s unprecedented'
Faith and Plastics. Raise it up for the workers, activists, and scientists around the world working to stop plastic pollution. And an especial shout out for these young people in Zimbabwe! #beatplasticpollution Catholic youth show commitment to protecting the environment through participation at World Environmental Day
Bad News:
A Livable Earth. The truth is hard to grapple with. From ProPublica: Climate Crisis Is on Track to Push One-Third of Humanity Out of Its Most Livable Environment “…3 to 6 billion people, or between a third and a half of humanity, could be trapped outside of that zone, facing extreme heat, food scarcity and higher death rates, unless emissions are sharply curtailed or mass migration is accommodated.”
Carbon still rising—424ppm: Carbon levels in the atmosphere are still going up. From NOAA Broken record: Atmospheric carbon dioxide levels jump again Annual increase in Keeling Curve peak is one of the largest on record
Record breaking Ocean Heat: More alarm as ocean temperatures rise and rise. From the Guardian ‘Headed off the charts’: world’s ocean surface temperature hits record high Scientists warn of more marine heatwaves, leading to increased risk of extreme weather
Archive from June 4th, 2023
Deeper Dive - Youth v Gov:
A HUGE and important win for the 21 American youth who in August 2015 filed a lawsuit in US District Court stating that “through the government's affirmative actions that cause climate change, it has violated the youngest generation’s constitutional rights to life, liberty, and property, as well as failed to protect essential public trust resources.”
Their challenge went all the way to Ninth District and SCOTUS, but was denied a hearing at the last moment by Justice Roberts in 2018. Since then, the group has been working to amend their complaint. On June 1st they won their right to amend and proceed to trial. What are they doing right now? The 21 youth plaintiffs are now preparing for trial!
Read a profile of one of the young plaintiffs, then 10 year old Levi Draheim, in UUWorld: The Youth are at the Gates.
You can watch their story on Netflix:
The legal challenge has enjoyed tremendous support from young people, climate activists and people of faith—especially the UCC and Unitarian Universalists. While Juliana vs the United States was first group of young people to go mainstream with a legal challenge to destruction-by-climate-change, there are many others.
Continued Spotlight:
Mini-Grants for Mining Activists The Western Mining Action Network (WMAN) and the Indigenous Environmental Network are offering “financial grant assistance to communities threatened or adversely affected by mining in the U.S. and Canada.” Next deadline is October 1st. Learn more.
Plastics Treaty: We went into more depth with this last time, see the reports above (or the reports page) as well. This week diplomats met to begin work on a global plastics treaty. The Hill has the basic information of an initial agreement—a first draft by November: International negotiators agree to craft treaty to end plastic pollution. Read also the press release INC Chair to prepare zero draft of international agreement on plastic pollution as Paris negotiations end
Good News:
Ramping up Action in Canada. The recent study of Christian young people by Tearfund and A Rocha Canada showed 90% were concerned about climate change and loss of nature. They have launched a venture called Creation Collective with opportunities to take action. Read the story in Christianity Today: Canadian Christians Launch Collective for Climate Action
Caretaking of Creation. A story to inspire set in the midst of the real life challenges of civil strife and environmental threat. Uganda’s first wildlife veterinarian offers her story in a new book: A Ugandan vet's amazing story of her work to save mountain gorillas
Nature in the Backyard. I loved this local news, woodsy story of the restoration of a suburban backyard into nature’s garden. From the Hamilton Spectator, Rose Janson transformed her downtown Hamilton backyard into a walk in the woods
Birding. Not sure why (is it Chicken Math?) but birding seems to be on the wing at the moment. Despite some hard truths written here, it is overall a hopeful article from Inside Climate News: Not Winging It: Birders Hope Hard Data Will Help Save the Species They Love—and the Ecosystems Birds Depend On
Ordaining Trees: This is a throw-back article from 2018, but it is such a beautiful story it needs refreshing. To Protect the Environment, Buddhist Monks are Ordaining Trees, from Sojourners.
Bad News:
Mountain Valley Pipeline. Heartbreak for those who have spent years fighting to stop the Mountain Valley Pipeline as fast tracking of the pipeline was part of the negotiated outcome of the debt ceiling deal. Of the many posts and articles I saw, I want to amplify Appalachian Voices, the June 2 rally to stop the pipeline, and this song. Also, from the Charleston Direct Mail 'I expect to see severe damage': Safety risk concerns mount as Congress fast-tracks Mountain Valley Pipeline
Oil and Africa. Even as the President of the United States enters into an agreement to fast track the Mountain Valley Pipeline, internationally pipelines are also causing risk to ecosystems and humanity. The Guardian months ago called the East African Crude Oil Pipeline (EACOP) and its vast carbon emissions ‘monstrous.’ Members of the Laudato Si Movement have raised vocal opposition to the project: Catholic climate activists criticize Tanzania bishops for backing oil pipeline Also addressing pipelines and oil spills on the African Continent, new reporting from Mongabay Spotlighting oil majors’ ‘ecocide’ of Niger Delta: Q&A with Michael J. Watts. Attribution studies make the destruction clear: Deadly drought in Horn of Africa ‘would not have happened’ without climate change.
Forests. The United Church of Canada released a Statement on the wildfires burning across Canada last week. The wind and heat fueled fires continue to burn, about 200 across the country according to Washington Post half still uncontained ‘Unprecedented’ Canadian fires intensified by record heat, climate change. Meanwhile to the south of that border in Indiana, the US grapples with the need to protect mature an old growth forest Log and Burn, or Leave Alone? Indiana Residents Fight US Forest Service Over the Future of Hoosier National Forest. Moving south again, a recent study of Indigenous communities in the Brazilian Amazon showed Indigenous land rights key to curbing deforestation and restoring lands. For those in the US, there is currently an important land-use comment period addressing the protection of mature and old growth forests. The comment period closes June 20th. You can submit your comment directly through the Federal Register, or though the organizing group Climate Forests.
Archive from May 26th, 2023
Deeper Dive - Plastics.
Some bubbling in the news about a Plastics Treaty this week, as May 26 - June 2 is the Second Session of the Intergovernmental Negotiating Committee on Plastic Pollution with the goal to ‘to develop an international legally binding instrument on plastic pollution, including in the marine environment.’ Here’s an explainer from The Grist: World agrees to negotiate a ‘historic’ treaty on plastic pollution The WWF is very engaged in this effort, their pages raise a call for a treaty to end plastic pollution.
Two new reports (see report section above) are available ahead of the second session of treaty negotiation, including a report from the UN and Greenpeace. The UN report focuses the feasibility of recycling and reductions from an economic perspective: Turning off the Tap: How the world can end plastic pollution and create a circular economy. The GreenPeace report focuses on the chemical pollutants and problems that shine yet more light on the problems of recycling, including that recycled products can be more toxic: Forever Toxic: The science on health threats from plastic recycling.
A few key articles that help summarize the issues this week: From the Grist Experts sound the alarm on toxic chemicals ahead of plastic treaty negotiations ; From The Guardian: Developing country voices will be excluded at UN plastic talks, say NGOs [as] Limits on numbers at Paris summit mean some of those ‘most needing to be heard’ will not be in attendance and an opinion piece from Common Dreams: Don't Let Big Oil Sabotage Global Plastics Treaty, 170+ Groups and Scientists Tell UN.
While global nations work on formalizing the treaty, regionally there is some progress—actual good news!—to address plastic pollution, including in the Pacific Northwest: A cascade of victories against plastic pollution in the Pacific Northwest
Continued Spotlight
Goldendale - A key water permit has been issued and the project continues to proceed despite the efforts of the Yakama to stop it. Said Councilmember Jeremy Takala, “…our church is our land.” From the Seattle Times: Proposed pumped-storage energy project on sacred Yakama Nation site gets key permit
Earth & Spirit. I wasn’t really sure where to put this, but definitely wanted to share. As we grapple with the teachings of our faith traditions, and weigh those teachings against what we see in our natural world, a lot of questions rise up. I see this happening and I think this article captures this: ‘Big Earth energy’: A new era of nature spirituality is here
Good News:
World Bicycle Day June 3. On yer bike! An adorable headline from The Scotsman encouraging people to celebrate that green conveyance, the humble bike. There are events planned to highlight the good clean fun of biking, read about the effort from the United Nations. And a nice article from EcoAmerica: Bikes, Equity, & Climate Change
Eat Honey! Faith and Pollinators. Yum! Rev. Tim Olsen shares biblical wisdom and beekeeping in this lovely article on CreationCare.org, Eat Honey, For It Is Good (Did you know World Bee Day is May 20th? Mark your calendar for next year.)
Sheer that sheep! Sustainable Textiles. I have been glad to see a few articles this week about sustainability, fashion and fabrics. But this one was utterly charming and a showcase of sustainable, community handcraft. In a Sheep to Shawl competition, you have 5 people, 1 sheep, and 3 hours — good luck! That headline sums it up. :-)
Wildlife. More news of the adorable and this amazing planet with Lemurs and more! The ancient seafaring fauna of Madagascar
Bad News:
Struggling Farmers. In climate circles, there is a lot of information about the material problems in our food systems from the soil up. This article addresses the people who are struggling right at the center of climate change—floods and droughts—the pandemic, price fluctuations and more are adding stress and anxiety to farm life. This story speaks to that: Saving the Farm. Heartland Clergy Train to Prevent Agricultural Workers’ Suicides.
Climate Change and Biodiversity. To coincide with World Diversity Day (May 21st), acclaimed climate scientist and evangelical Katharine Hayhoe offered this piece published in Scientific American: One Planet, Two Crises: Tackling Climate Change and Biodiversity in the Fight for Our Future. Another article also speaking to the biodiversity crisis: Global loss of wildlife is ‘significantly more alarming’ than previously thought, according to a new study
Energy Investments. This is bad news wrapped in some good news. The good news is Solar investment set to overtake oil production and attract over $1 billion a day in 2023, IEA says The bad news is Fossil fuel investment set to exceed $1 trillion in 2023, 'more than double' levels needed for a net-zero future: IEA. Two headlines, same article.
Unlivable heat: A reminder that we are continuing to emit greenhouse gasses and we are on track for unsustainable and unendurable heat in many parts of the globe. An update on that reality from The Guardian: Global heating will push billions outside ‘human climate niche’ World is on track for 2.7C and ‘phenomenal’ human suffering, scientists warn
Archive from May 14th, 2023
Deeper Dive - Deep Sea Mining. The mining rush for minerals essential to a green transition is raising alarms. We have talked about this before... climate change is an emergency and must be addressed as such. But exploiting and extractive practices that destroy ecosystems is what got us into this mess in the first place. Real attention must be paid to repenting of destruction and seeking a path of true life-building sustainability. A few articles to reflect on here, from the Guardian Deep-sea mining for rare metals will destroy ecosystems, say scientists, a fact-sheet with the issues here Deep-sea mining. Materials for faith communities are available through Creation Justice Ministries as people of faith embrace a Blue Theology. Build appreciation of our oceans! I don't usually share podcast info, but this one resonates. The Ocean Declares | Horseshoe Crabs, Hospitality & Creatureliness, two marine biologists and three A Rocha interns
Continued Spotlight on Thacker Pass - I've been keeping up on the news surrounding Peehee mu’huh/Thacker Pass on the Oregon/Nevada border, where a hard-fought lithium mine is now under construction. Prayers for visibility and witness of the People of Red Mountain as they call for an end to construction, 'Peaceful protest' staged at Thacker Pass to halt construction of lithium mine
Good News:
Solar plus Pollinator. Big ups for Minnesota's Habitat Friendly Solar Program! The program helps bring solar installations and agriculture together for the benefit of clean air, clean energy, and lots of butterflies. A nice article in Clean Technica Army Of Butterflies To Win Solar Farm Wars, Despite Opposition
Rewild with Wildflowers. I loved this wildflower how-to from Better Homes and Gardens! A fun and very accessible trip to rewild your yard--and the temple grounds or church yard, too! When and How to Plant Wildflower Seeds to Rewild Your Yard
Sustainable Fashion. Mongabay is amazing as usual with its reporting, and very helpful today because I want to lift a shout out to the fashion and textile industries taking the 'fast fashion' problem seriously and turning toward lots and lots of new sustainable possibilities. Sustainable fashion: Biomaterial revolution replacing fur and skins
Loss and Damage. Okay, this is in the good news section but hear me out. The global south is desperately affected by fossil fuel emissions and the global north is almost exclusively to blame--all while profiting. A wealth tax could be well applied here. Wealth tax of 0.5% could cover UK’s share of loss and damage fund, says charity
Bad News:
La Nina Returns - Wildfires and Weather. With the sheer scale of fires across the globe for decades now, even in places like Siberia and Alaska, climate impacts seem inevitable. A new study looks at the effects of so much smoke in the atmosphere, and discovered yet another feed-back loop. The worse the climate, the worse the fires, the worse the climate. Black summer bushfires may have caused rare ‘triple dip’ La Niña, study suggests and How Wildfire Smoke from Australia Affected Climate Events Around the World
Packaging waste & McDonalds. How much waste? McDonalds--just McDonalds--is responsible for well over 2 billion pounds of waste every year. EU is attempting to address that waste, but McDonalds, with the power to change industries for the better, is apparently not helping. From DeSmog McDonald’s Leads Lobbying Offensive Against Laws to Reduce Packaging Waste in Europe
Illinois Dust Storm. The giant dust storm two weeks ago in Illinois that caused a 70+ car pileup and cost lives is a weather pattern made worse by agricultural practices and climate change. Folks across the midwest are trying to raise the alarm. From Scientific American More Frequent Dust Storms Could Be in Our Future; from Union of Concerned Scientists Illinois Dust Storm Disaster Is a Warning for Agriculture
Drought Crisis in Spain: Welcome rain--a lot of it--helped ease drought conditions in California this winter/spring. On the whole, tho, the challenges of changing climates continue. For countries experiencing expanding desertification, the change is alarming. ‘The country is becoming a desert’: Drought-struck Spain is running out of water
Archived from May 8th, 2023
Good News:
Profile in Strength. A great profile in Earthbeat of Sharon Lavigne. Her advocacy has made Rise St. James known across the climate justice movement. She is indeed a modern exemplar. Despite new EPA rule to reduce pollution, Catholic activist says fight to protect communities far from over.
Restoration. A restored mangrove ecosystem in the Philippines is also restoring the community. A Philippine town and its leaders show how mangrove restoration can succeed.
Sustainable Fashion. Another great article from Earthbeat. I'm putting this under 'good news,' as voices for sustainability bring changes to the industry. How to bring Laudato Si' into your wardrobe
Saving Salmon. A victory for salmon, thank you to the Sauk-Suiattle Indian Tribe for leading an effort to establish the rights of salmon that have led already to concessions, with hope for more to come. Lawsuit Asserting the ‘Rights of Salmon’ Ends in a Settlement That Benefits The Fish
Bad News:
Heat Waves. It seems repetitive to raise alarms over and over again as temperatures continue to rise, but heat broke records in Vietnam last week, reaching over 111 degrees. Vietnam records highest ever temperature of 44.1C
El Nino Returns. In depth reporting from Carbon Brief with a break down of temps and climate conditions so far this year compared to other years, and the expectation that El Nino will return. State of the climate: Growing El Niño threatens more extreme heat in 2023
Wildfires. Wildfires are burning out of control across Canada already this year. Two articles from local papers describe the destruction. From the Vancouver Sun, B.C. wildfires: Out-of-control blazes in northeast expected to worsen due to strong winds and from the Calgary Herald Alberta wildfires: Province declares state of emergency to manage 'challenging' situation
Archived from May 1st, 2023
Deeper dive:
Mineral Mining. I've been sharing over the last weeks about the challenges of an all-out frenzy for 'rare earth minerals.' The impacts from mining are extensive and deadly. I can't remember if I have shared this article yet, as it is co-published in other publications I like. A transition to clean energy was supposed to be equitable. Instead, it’s hurting Indigenous communities.
“I constantly receive information that Indigenous Peoples fear a new wave of green investments." In the face of the news that is concerning, it is good to also get to share some good news today - "the planned Llurimagua copper mine have been annulled – once and for all." Read from Rainforest-Rescue: Ecuador: Local people triumph over copper mine. It's been a quarter century long fight.
Good News:
Doctrine of Discovery. There can never be 'good news' associated with the Doctrine of Discovery. At the same time, Truth telling can be good news if it leads to real change. Last month, Pope Francis continued the process of repudiation of a doctrine that unleashed deep and irreversible harms. Last week, President of the Republic Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa stated "Portugal “must apologise and take full responsibility for colonial period”
Rose-Walters Prize to Tara Houska. Congratulations! Native American Attorney and Activist Tara Houska Honored with $100,000 Rose-Walters Prize for Global Environmental Activism. Help celebrate by supporting the effort to stop Enbridge Line 5 via this action link from Earthjustice: Tell Biden administration to shut down the Line 5 pipeline.
Community Solar. We are still headed toward the goal of a 100% clean grid by 2035. An article from Clean Technica celebrates new investments: US Department Of Energy Expands Support For Community Solar
Water Replenishment. Really this is mixed news, as the deluge/drought cycle in the American west is caused by worsening climate change. A good explainer here - California’s Climate Whiplash Still, water is a thing to celebrate, and the good news part of this is real, too: California to meet 100% of water requests for first time since 2006.
Bad News:
Fossil Fuel 'action' plans. Analysis: Shell admits 1.5C climate goal means immediate end to fossil fuel growth Analysis by Carbon Brief. This might have been good news, but the challenge here is that despite the conclusion by Shell, Carbon Brief writes "While Shell’s new scenarios are more closely aligned with the conclusions of independent research, its 1.5C pathway still contains relatively high levels of ongoing fossil fuel use.If the world followed Shell’s pathway, it would “overshoot” the 1.5C limit for decades..."
Ongoing Heat Waves in India. Reporting from Grist and Climate Desk: Deadly Heat Threatens the Well-Being of 1 Billion People in India, Increasingly severe heat waves will imperil the country’s development goals, slow economic growth, and heighten health risks, new research shows.
Indicator Species - Salmon. Fisheries are closed and salmon populations are diminishing as the ocean, rivers, lakes and streams warm up. This report from Alaska Public Radio State of salmon is no rosy picture, UAF professor says
Archived from April 17th, 2023
Deeper dive:
Mineral Mining. The last few weeks have included a deeper dive into the challenges presented by a new interest in the mining of minerals such as copper and lithium that power today's electronics and a hoped-for green revolution. A new clean economy has included a hope that this would include a new era of respect for nature and protections for land and land stewardship, and a turn away from construction, extractive and polluting industries that destroyed nature, contaminated water, and impacted indigenous land and poor regions to a greater degree. If there were rosy glasses, the rose is wearing off. Over the last weeks I have shared a number stories covering Indigenous and community challenges to proposed gold mines, lithium mines, copper mines, and more, in the US and internationally. As I have said before, I have no answers. We must grapple with this, however. Is there a hope of a clean energy revolution done 'in the right way.' Because the scale of minerals needed are vast. Electrification push will have enormous impacts on critical metals supply chain
Good News:
Seabird recovery. When given a chance, good research that results in robust policy works! New Research Reveals Scale and Success of Seabird Recovery Efforts Worldwide Researchers achieved gains for populations and nesting sites, even for some of the more difficult bird species This long-term study not only tracks outcomes, but offers key tools for continued learning and success.
Salt lake reprieve. The downpours in the west has brought a temporary reprieve to the destruction of drought to wildlife, agriculture, and hydropower. Utah’s Great Salt Lake risked disappearing. Unprecedented weather is bringing it back As the storms worsen and the drought/deluge cycles become the rule, reprieves can perhaps give precious years of study and action to improve infrastructure and resilience for threatened spaces.
Whale recovery. Another great example of where good research and sound policy has real results, this time for right whales off the coast of Maine. Landmark Law saved whales through marine industries change.
Bad News:
Plastics. A terrible fire in Indiana this week meant the challenges of 'recycling' plastic is again in the news cycle. Inside Climate News offers a very good article digging in to the reality of the piles of plastic pollution in the US Where There’s Plastic, There’s Fire. Indiana Blaze Highlights Concerns Over Expanding Plastic Recycling and NBC carried more immediate reporting on the fire. Indiana plastics fire spewed toxic chemicals, EPA tests find, including benzene and hydrogen cyanide. The harm of plastic is everywhere, and yet all of us have it in our homes and kitchens. How long you can use your vintage Tupperware and other plastic food storage products
Antarctic Melt & Ocean Current Collapse. With the melting of the glaciers of Antarctica accelerating, there is an acceleration also of frozen meltwater into the ocean, disrupting currents. This poses a risk to global climate that cannot be understated. The BBC chose the word Collapse. Read about the study also from The Guardian Melting Antarctic ice predicted to cause rapid slowdown of deep ocean current by 2050 The oceans have absorbed much of the heat energy, also, from the warming planet, with this article from Livescience The surface of the ocean is now so hot it's broken every record since satellite measurements began.
Fort Lauderdale Storms. Prayer for those in Florida impacted by thunderstorms and tornadoes, again a story of 'unprecedented' storms. Historic downpour in Fort Lauderdale dropped 88 billion gallons of rain
Archived from April 10, 2023
Tennessee State Representative Justin J. Pearson. In October of 2021, the Climate Cafe Multifaith welcomed Justin J. Pearson to come and share his efforts in South Memphis to stop the planned construction of the Byhalia Pipeline through the historically black township by the river. His work in community, building relationships, and calling for justice for people and the environment made an impact. And the project was stopped. A movement: from a pipeline to justice in Memphis In 2022, Justin ran for public office, and was elected to the Tennessee House of Representatives. During the last week, news media has covered the story of the tragic shooting at the Covenant School, followed by the thousands of children, teachers, parents, and others who went to the Tennessee capital to demand their representatives address gun violence. The escalation of these events resulted in the expulsion of two lawmakers, Reps Justin Jones and Justin J Pearson. Rep. Pearson has ran into trouble in the Tennessee House earlier this year, also, for wearing a dashiki, which is formal wear. State Rep. Justin Pearson criticized on House floor for wearing traditional West African garb. On Easter Sunday, Justin Pearson offered a guest sermon at the Church of the River in Memphis, you can listen to that sermon here. You can also find Rep. Pearson on Twitter @Justinjpearson
Deeper dive:
Mineral Mining. Adding this week: Some important reads this week, as it looks like we are continuing our deeper dive into this. This article from High Country News (HCN) speaks to the proposed Goldendale Energy Storage facility which would destroy native, first foods, seed banks. Green colonialism is flooding the Pacific Northwest. The Yakama Nation is fighting a pumped hydro storage development near Goldendale, Washington – but it’s just one of many. There is also the highly contested expansion of copper mining into Oak Flat, with Apache Tribal members leading a legal fight now at the 9th Circuit. The lawsuit addresses the question of Religious freedom, "under the Religious Freedom Restoration Act to protect the land known as Chi’chil Bildagoteel, an area of ancient oaks and traditional plants the San Carlos Apaches consider important for their ceremonies." Other proposed sites are Sheep Creek in the Bitterroot Mountains, with Friends of the Bitterroot voicing concern, and a proposed gold mine being resisted in Alaska: Three Alaska Native tribes have sued to block what they say would be one of the largest gold mines in the world To read the mining 'deeper dive' from last week: see the news archive.
Good News:
Mountain Valley Pipeline. Welcome news in West Virginia for those working to stop the Mountain Valley Pipeline. The Appeals Courts deal another setback to Mountain Valley Pipeline, vacating a water quality permit. Learn more about the history of environmental justice in West Virginia from a prior Climate Cafe Climate Justice in West Virginia—“the prettiest place in the World.”
Fee-Fo-Lay Café. Most everyone knows I appreciate a great conversation at a great cafe. Here is a story from Civil Eats to tell us How a Louisiana Café Became Home Base for Environmental Justice. This is a story worth your time of local people, small towns, local strength and more.
Natural Gas Fight. A victory in the fight to stop construction of a natural gas plant being built along the Yellowstone River in Montana and set to run for 30+ years. State District Judge Michael Moses ruled Thursday that Montana officials failed to adequately consider the 23 million tons of planet-warming greenhouse gases that the project would emit over several decades, and vacated the required air quality permit.
Bad News:
Emissions up, up, up. Really awful news, actually. The rate of emissions continues to grow. Greenhouse gases continued to increase rapidly in 2022 and this last week a CO2 reading at Mauna Loa was the highest yet in measured human history. Carbon dioxide hits highest sustained rate ever recorded as greenhouse gases creep toward "uncharted levels," NOAA says You can keep up on the CO2 measurements at The Keeling Curve, and/or follow @CO2_earth on Twitter.
Closed Fisheries. The reality of warmer water and drought in the west, and changing ocean temperatures have huge impacts to plants and animals. The collapse of salmon populations mean economic and ecological impacts up and down the food chain and economies across the west. US panel closes Chinook salmon ocean fishing for much of West Coast
First and Worst - Studies of Racism and Environment. Yet another study that shows that black and brown neighborhoods are hurt 'first and worst' by the impacts of environmental pollution and degradation. Inside Climate News offers an indepth look at the study and the people impacted History of Racism Leaves Black Californians Most at Risk from Oil and Gas Drilling, New Research Shows
Archived from April 3, 2023
Doctrine of Discovery. A set of Papal Bulls that enabled the thirst for conquest from Western powers has officially been rejected by the Vatican. The document gave permission for acquisition of lands, plundering of resources, genocide and other atrocities against non-Christian and non-western people that continued for hundreds of years. The harm was so deep it persists today. Read from Native News Online Vatican Rejects Discovery Doctrine. and from the National Catholic Reporter Vatican formally repudiates 'Doctrine of Discovery' used to justify colonization
Deeper dive:
Mineral Mining. Copper, Lithium, Titanium Dioxide, Cobalt and many other minerals and materials come from mining. With the revolution to renewables, this is about more than switching out oil for lithium. The question must be, how will we go about this? I appreciated this in depth article from Mongabay, centering the African experience with extraction industry, Will clean-energy minerals provoke a shift in how mining is done in Africa? The question is equally important in the US. Protected or important areas when targeted for mining can cause a lot of frustration and the stakes are high to preserve and protect, for example the fight now in Georgia, ‘Why mine so close?’: the fight to protect the pristine Okefenokee swamp. On the west coast, construction has started on a lithium mine that was heavily resisted by tribal communities in Nevada, Tribes’ Latest Challenge Thacker Pass Mine Rejected by Court; Construction Underway , all the while a property owner in Maine would very much like to have that mine on their property instead: Lithium is becoming more crucial in a warming world, but Maine’s huge deposits may never be mined because of environmental concerns. The question is raised, who gets to decide where a mine will go? And the answer is probably not the community, but the company with a profit motive to 'exploit opportunity' toward that profit. A path that could even stop at a moment's notice if profitability doesn't seem as attractive anymore, as may have happened in Idaho, A major Idaho cobalt mine was about to begin production. Its owner just changed course.
Good News:
Hidden Forest. A mis-drawn map led to something really good, the preservation of 144 acres of old growth, native forest in Minnesota. How a Map Mistake Saved a Forest of 300-Year-Old Trees What moved me most in this story is that forest harvesting had so changed the forest and landscape, that the preservation of these few acres are a testimony to what is lost, with proof that indeed this existed! And invites us to remember and restore.
Rewilding. New research backs up the push for restoring nature, "restoration and conservation of wild animals and their ecosystem roles as a key component of natural climate solutions that can enhance the ability to prevent climate warming beyond 1.5 °C." Read a breakdown from Inside Climate News: ‘Rewilding’ Parts of the Planet Could Have Big Climate Benefits "Restoring fish, bison, gray wolves and other animals in key regions is possible without risking food supplies, and could remove nearly 500 gigatons of CO2 from the atmosphere by 2100."
Renewables in Ukraine. With so much lost to violence since last February, Ukraine has declared its intent to become a European hub for renewable energy development.
Bad News:
Rising Water Tables. From the Grist, a good look at the challenges faced not just from rising seas, but also how drought and rising water levels affects groundwater. It’s not just oceans that are rising. Groundwater is, too.
Disappearing / Reappearing Lakes. Chaotic weather seems to be making chaotic lakes. Townsites and agriculture rely on a predictable landscape. But the flooding and snowpack from this year's storms in California means the resurgence of an old lake, A long-dormant lake has reappeared in California, bringing havoc along with it; while in Europe, lakes are drying up, This once-thriving lake has all but dried up. It’s a story repeated across Europe as the drought deepens
Tornados--Yes Climate Change is playing a role. Tragedy and destruction across the south and midwest as tornados brought heartbreak to neighborhoods in multiple states. Communities face major destruction after large tornadoes tear through the South and Midwest, leaving at least 22 dead. It sure seems that these storms are worse, are they? A new study says yes. Storms will worsen and also move east, bringing more severe impacts with them. Read an article about the latest study from the Grist. How climate change made the Mississippi tornadoes more likely Read the study.
Prayers this week for those celebrating Ramadan with fasting, Prayers for those celebrating Holy Week with Easter this coming Sunday. Prayers for those celebrating Passover and the Seder meal. I am thinking also this week of those who experienced the dozens of tornadoes in the US, and the trauma of a storm that hits so suddenly and leaves such wreckage of homes and neighborhoods.
Archived March 26th, 2023
Climate Action Banking - Third Act. Bill McKibbon's Third Act effort which takes aim at banks for funding fossil fuels and includes a working group of faith leaders. March 21 was a big deal, a couple of follow up article here: Climate activists target nation's big banks, urging divestment from fossil fuels and ‘We have money and power’: older Americans to blockade banks in climate protest
Deeper Dive - Water
UN 2023 World Water Conference last week in New York. Did you know? 2 billion people worldwide lack safe drinking water. (WHO/UNICEF 2021) and 3.6 billion people lack safe sanitation. (WHO/UNICEF 2021) Mixed results, summed up in this analysis from The Guardian: First global water conference in 50 years yields hundreds of pledges, zero checks Some of the good news was the creation of a new UN Scientific Panel with the goal of bringing the fragments together for a clearer look at the challenges expected with climate change, and an anticipated 50% increase in water needs by 2050. There is hope to be had in all of this despite the challenges, this headline from the UN New agenda sets sail with bold action as UN Water Conference closes. There is also a new report UN World Water Development Report 2023
In the courts:
Youth In Montana take on State Constitution. I understand the need for income, but paywalls are challenging when this information needs to be front and center and easy to access. If you get the NYT: In Montana, It’s Youth vs. the State in a Landmark Climate Case If you get Scientific American: First ‘Kids’ Climate Trial Will Be Heard in Montana Also the info is available from Our Children's Trust: Youth V Gov Montana.
Criminal Homicide. Thank you to CleanTechnica for a preview of an upcoming article in Harvard Environmental Law Review. At the Climate Cafe we have talked about the international Human Rights effort to create accountability for Ecocide, here's the Ecocide Law page.. In this article, Researchers Suggest Prosecuting Fossil Fuel Companies For Climate Homicide
Bad News:
Fish Kills in Kenya. Those relying on fish for food and to make a living are struggling from massive fish kills in Victoria Lake. Mongabay as usual with a worth-it deep dive. “What is happening is: We are losing our fish due to the pollution in the lake.” Fish kills leave Kenya’s Lake Victoria farmers at a loss, seeking answers
Plastic Rocks. The anthropocene is making a name for itself, and not in a good way. The sheer deluge of plastics from the late industrial age is literally making its way into rivers, fresh snow, falling rain, animal bodies, and now, the geologic record. Scientists make ‘disturbing’ find on remote island: plastic rocks
Mountain Permafrost and Falling Rocks. It has been evident for decades that the snow in the Alps is melting. White tarps have been standard use to cover bare patches and try to keep essential bits of snowpack from melting. Now the very permafrost is melting, causing the mountain ranges themselves to change. "As the frozen "glue" that helps hold the rock faces of the Alps together begins to thaw, mountaineers face a growing risk of sudden rockfall." How climate change is reshaping the Alps
Good News:
Land Protection. President Biden safeguarded 500,000 acres of sacred and tribal land in Nevada. Read from ICT Joe Biden designates Avi Kwa Ame a national monument And from High Country News Avi Kwa Ame is officially a national monument
Oil Well Clean Up. While the history is infuriating, it really is good news that something is being done. Louisiana plugs 100 abandoned oil wells with federal grant. The clean up started with 100 wells, so clean up will I hope continue. There are 3,150 abandoned wells in Northern Louisiana alone, with 4,500 in the state.
Sustainable Farming. Rice in Vermont?? That would be a yup. Yes, the climate is warming up, but also, some rice crops thrive in temperate zones. This article shares the efforts of sustainability advocates who now have a teaching farm, Duck, duck, rice: Vermont farm models diverse method of raising sustainable grains
Archived March 19th, 2023:
A busy week! Apologies, my time this week got short. A good week to suggest a couple of great sites to find helpful news about climate and community.
Mongabay, Inside Climate News, and a shout out to UM Insight, an independent United Methodist news site, where you will often find climate news in the faith context.
Prayers this week for Malawi, and for the people and nations affected by Cyclone Freddy. The cyclone wreaked havoc for 5,000 miles over 36 days with at least 500 people killed. Cyclone Freddy shattered records. People lost everything. How does the healing begin?
And, a little Good News:
Microgrid Resilience. Yet another first for community resilience with a new micro grid and battery storage build. Puerto Rico town celebrates ‘first-of-its-kind’ solar microgrid
Archived from March 12th, 2023:
Deeper Dive: Indigenous led finance
Wow! True sustainable reinvestment in community!! I want to share about something called Project Finance for Permanence (PFP) coming out of Canada. This is a 'first of it's kind Indigenous Finance Model,' read deep from Mongabay: Indigenous funding model is a win-win for ecosystems and local economies in Canada A summary nutshell from Mongabay, "Twenty-seven First Nations spent nearly C$109 million ($79 million) toward 439 environmental and economic development projects in their territories, including initiating research, habitat restoration, and guardian programs, that attracted returns worth C$296 million ($214 million)." The project began in 2007 in the Great Bear Sea, the success of that funding model proved itself, and is now being replicated in four more locations in Canada. Read a press release by Coastal First Nations and Nanwakolas Council Federal government commits to developing conservation finance model for Great Bear Sea. Read also an article from WWF Securing Sustainable Financing for Conservation Areas.The WWF article includes information on PFP and other efforts. Read the report: 15 Years of Conservation Finance in the Great Bear Rainforest and Haida Gwaii 2007-2022.
Bad News:
Plastics. Make no mistake, the plastic industry is not scaling back production despite the deluge of plastic in everything. According to reporting from Mongabay "It’s estimated that there are currently about 450 million metric tons of plastic produced each year, and production is projected to double by 2045." A new study issues a series of warnings, Common Dreams writes about the study, that Cleanup of Oceans 'Futile' If Plastic Production Continues at Current Rate: Scientist The study also finds that a growing plastic smog, now estimated to be over 170 trillion plastic particles afloat in the world’s oceans. And that's just the oceans. The resulting plastic catastrophe is effecting the health of an estimated 1,200 species, including seabirds. ‘Plasticosis’: the new disease killing seabirds and likely many other species.
Willow Project: Reports and denials this weekend about whether President Biden has or will allow the Willow Project in Alaska to move forward. This project has been absolutely rejected by the people who live in Alaska. Al Gore had this to say on Friday, Al Gore warns it would be ‘recklessly irresponsible’ to allow Alaska oil drilling plan The very latest early this morning about projects is Alaska and the Arctic: As Biden weighs the Willow oil project, he blocks other Alaska drilling.
Good News
Ocean species restoration The sunflower Sea Star populations all but died out from a wasting disease, upsetting vital ocean ecosystems, including an over abundance of sea urchins that ate too much kelp. Scientists got to work to better understand the issue and work toward solutions. They are making progress. How the Oregon Coast Aquarium is saving sea stars, one animal at a time
Witness for Climate. Those who attend the Climate Cafe know about the group Christian Climate Action, headquartered in the UK. A number of those involved with CCA view resisting fossil fuels as a key testimony from deep faith. The priest risking jail to protest climate inaction, Eighty-year-old Reverend Sue Parfitt on how Christianity inspires her eco-activism. The prayers, witness, and testimony of people of faith will make a difference.
Environmental Profile - Pope Francis. Pope Francis has brought climate leadership in a call for the Care of Creation to the forefront of the work of the Catholic Church. His leadership has given courage to many, and been a voice of purpose and influence world wide. Earthbeat published a profile of the Pope centering on his environmental leadership over the last decade. At 10-year mark, Pope Francis seen as a global leader on the environment
Wind Power. A huge shout out to Ukraine. Defying Russia’s assault, Ukraine completes a 114-MW wind farm
Archived from March 5th, 2023:
Deeper Dive: Ecology & Economics
Ocean / High seas treaty: A lot of news breaking on this new agreement. I can't find the text anywhere, yet, but then the language is freshly agreed-to. Here is the most recent, best article I can find on it Historic deal to protect international waters finally reached at UN Here are some backgrounders: Crucial high seas treaty stuck over sharing of genetic resources and ‘The most important talks no one has heard of’: why the high seas treaty matters
Forests vs Grasslands: This article from Scientific American centers is a story around what is happening in India, but it is a really good one to reflect on and here is why. Oil companies want to continue to profit from their product and use their infrastructure. That means, they want to implement or invent 'solutions' to the allow this. Solutions they favor include green energy delays and carbon capture technology. On the face of it, capture could make sense. But the challenge is that so far and barring some actual Hail Mary (and I mean Hail Mary) miracle, we cannot solve the carbon problem that way. The danger, then, is doubled, one that we are investing in something that won't work, and two tha the delay and siphoning of resources away from other solutions could have dire consequences. Tree and foresting is a real solution. Photos of forests can be splashed across shareholder reports to showcase green 'carbon' sink projects. Sadly, this isn't the way solutions will have to work. Trees are an important part of the solution, but they are just one part. We can't sacrifice other essential ecology--that also sinks carbon--for portfolios of forests instead. This article is a good reflection on that, We Must Stop Treating Grasslands as Wastelands
Indigenous Rights & a Just Transition.
Norway & the Sami. The news coverage brought Greta Thunberg to the headline, but the recent protests in Norway were about the efforts of the Indigenous people, the Sami, to have wind turbines that disrupt their herds removed from their lands. The question in the green revolution is, how are we going to proceed? If trampling the rights of communities to extract resources brought this mess on us in the first place, how is it that we continue these destructive practices still? A few articles on the protests February 27th Norway protests target wind farm on land used by herders, then March 1st Greta Thunberg detained by Norway police during pro-Sámi protest and March 3th Sámi protesters, Thunberg, end wind turbine demonstrations.
Lithium and Green Energy in the west. Two projects in the west highlight the moral challenges of replacing one extraction industry with another. When it comes to a just transition, what does that mean in respecting all communities, and ensuring equitable 'sacrifices,' if sacrifices are required. In Nevada, the People of the Red Mountain have been fighting a proposed lithium mine at Thacker Pass. Construction begins on controversial lithium mine in Nevada And in Goldendale, a green energy pumped hydro project was cited on Yakama land without consultation from the tribes. Green colonialism is flooding the Pacific Northwest
Ending this week with a little fun :-)
Fish Tale: Capybara! I'm ending this week's boost with a bit of fun that brings together medieval Lent, environmental conservation success stories, and the subject of recent GenZ memes: Capybara! Once hunted to endangered status and categorized as 'fish' for the purposes of Lent, these rodents-of-unusual-size have made an endearing comeback. For years, the Vatican referred to capybaras as "fish"
Archived February 27th, 2023:
Back to Basics: Communication around Climate Change is a 'repeat and repeat' and 'explain and explain' exercise. Here's a good current basics article: Is climate change truly a threat to humanity or are threats exaggerated?
Church, Youth, and Climate: Another Barna study, this one breaks down the connection between youth, faith, and social justice from Baptist News. American teenagers prefer to affiliate with congregations that support social justice causes and mental health
Coal Country. To be a person of faith in this work, I believe that means to recognize the deep human-ness in climate change. This article from Rolling Stone is deeply humanizing as not just coal miners but all of us grapple with what 'next' has to look like. Last Stand in Coal Country, Strikers Speak Out.
A 'de-growth' primer. What the heck do folks mean when they talk about 'de-growth'? This excellent article from Ecowatch breaks it down. Degrowth: Everything You Need to Know
Good news
Building Interfaith Relationships. A mosque, church and synagogue are already constructed, with a Hindu Temple and more planned in Abu Dhabi. This effort is not directly an action to address faith and climate, but relationship and compassion building part of the solution. Abrahamic Family House ‘changes all the rules’ of interfaith understanding
Conservation in war torn Ukraine. You would think I would put this under bad news, because of the atrocities of war. Yet, I am putting it in the 'good news' section, respecting the resilience, determination, and long term tenacity this deep dive article offers up as we grapple with compounding challenges. Amid war, Ukrainian biologists fight to protect conservation legacy
Rights of Nature. Wow! More of this, please. The Mayor and City Council of Bainbridge Island, a town in Washington State, have issued a proclamation calling for Rights for the resident Orcas. Read the article and proclamation: Rights of Nature movement continues to grow in Pacific Northwest
Bad News
Cleaning up Methane emissions. This article should go under 'good news,' as, I mean wow! It would take less than 3% of Big Oil’s profits to clean up methane emissions. Unfortunately, this goes under 'bad news,' because despite how do-able this is, the polluters won't do it.
Early Spring. And again, how can early cherry blossoms not be in the 'good news' section? Because it isn't good news. It is yet another bad news indicator of climate chaos and the risks we face in upsetting a millennial balance in greed for oil. Parts of US see earliest spring conditions on record: ‘Climate change playing out in real time’
Fracking. A double wickedness from gaslighting that is actually gaslighting. Despite the cries of citizens and scientists, fracking companies have resisted transparency for its harms and substances. Fracking Wastewater Causes Lasting Harm to Key Freshwater Species
Archived from February 19th, 2023:
Prayer Focus - Ohio
Toxic Train Derailment in Ohio this week. Special call for prayer for all those impacted by the train derailment and ecological disaster from vinyl chloride in Ohio this week. Prayers for people, rivers, watersheds, soils, air, animals, birds. The effects are devastating and far reaching. Here’s what the derailed Ohio train was carrying — and what was burned. My heart breaks and the sheer scale of the poison is unbelievable. In the PNW, many folks testified to improve rail safety and stop the railroads from monetizing safety and reducing crew sizes. I remember, too, the train disaster and years of fallout in Mosier, Oregon. Some articles focusing train safety and testimony as concerns oil and toxic transport by rail: Oil on the Tracks: Pacific Northwest Rises for Rail Safety; Crew Fatigue Persists As Oil By Rail Increases Risks; RWU Campaign to Oppose Single Person Crews; Who’s manning the train? Railroads want a one-person crew. This hurts. It seems reckless. Those affected will need real community care and support for decades.
Good news
Divestment! Thank you to yet another faith institution committed to divestment from fossil fuels as an act of faith. Diocese ends investments in fossil fuel. And thank you to Christian Climate Action for their advocacy for this effort!!
Spiritual Care. This article and study center ICU chaplaincy. But it is nice to see a study affirm the importance of spiritual care and acknowledge that healthy spiritual care can be an important part of healing and impact outcomes. I believe this study is relevant also to the spiritual care that is needed and will increasingly be needed as we grapple with the impacts of the climate crisis. Chaplains offer more than prayers: New study confirms impact on ICU families
Species Restoration. While technically this could be bad news, the good news here is really important. It is good news to see humanity stepping up to meet ecological challenges with intent to study challenges in order to restore wild populations. Maryland’s wild turkeys are disappearing. Experts want to know why. and Virginia researchers work to track and learn about eastern kingsnake
Bad News
Spills and more Spills. It's impossible to keep up with the number of spills and accidents. It's all the more frustrating when the spills are huge and expensive, like the Keystone Pipeline spill in Kansas right now Ice, muck and a $480 million price tag: the Keystone oil spill cleanup carries on in Kansas I wonder if with 200billion in profit and insurers still insuring fossil fuel companies, that $480 million is just 'ho-hum' daily money to a company like TC Energy. How can we get these spills to matter enough to those making billions to actually stop them?
Antarctic Ice Melt. ‘Extreme situation’: Antarctic sea ice hits record low
Climate Migration. We are just at the very beginning of what will be a really big challenge globally. Million of Americans are fleeing their homes because of extreme weather
Archived from February 13, 2023:
Deeper Dive
The Farm Bill. 2023 is the year of the Farm Bill, and the horse and cattle and soybean trading is well underway. Read a deep dive into what we can expect as the legislative season continues. Six Reasons Why You Should Care about the (So-Called) Farm Bill
Good news
Regeneration. I love a success story! How Nepal Regenerated Its Forests A long-running effort to restore the forest has activated 22,000 community groups in support of a renewed 2.3 million acre forest in Nepal.
Electrification. It's a beautiful thing! Chart: Americans bought more heat pumps than gas furnaces last year. The transition is underway. This is great news.
Green Hydrogen. All around the world people and communities are working to develop energy systems that will re-power with green power. The rise of green hydrogen in Latin America
Not-so-good News
Wetlands loss. Wetlands are hugely important as a carbon sink and habitat. Study continues as to the scale of the loss, with a new study out this month in Nature. Most of the info is paywalled, but the key take-a-way is that this new comprehensive study shows that we have lost less wetland globally than we thought, so happy there. None-the-less, we have lost a huge amount, with the real numbers unmeasurable as prior to 1850 we don't have records. In the US, we have lost at least 40% of our wetlands. In Ireland, which was the worst, the loss is measured at 90%. Study finds global wetlands losses overestimated despite high losses in many regions
Rising Emissions. One of the truly challenging aspects of dealing with greenhouse gasses and the corporations that spew them has been to get real, fair, and accurate data about those emissions. As the technology improves to measure what is being emitted, the news is not good. Growing Body of Research Suggests Offshore Oil’s Methane Pollution Is Underestimated
Archived from February 6, 2023:
Attribution. We talk at the Cafe at times about 'attribution,' and that word has a specific meaning for climate change. We know storms are worsening and that heat is hot and carbon emissions are warming the planet. But, do we know it by standards of scientific measurement? And, importantly, can we prove it in a court of law? The work of attribution is the work of gaining the tools and learning how to measure causes and impacts of climate change. These measurements show the proof, so science can then attribute the extra power in hurricanes, the rising wet bulb temperatures, the droughts, and the costs to the economy and life on earth to emissions from fossil fuels. Here is an article from July 2022 Study Shows Economic Impacts of Greenhouse Gas Emissions with a link to such a study showing economic attribution. These studies are important for policy makers--confronted with the measurable truth, they may be more inclined to pass laws to curb emissions. They are also important for accountability. A few have made mighty profits, while the consequences to the many has been dispossession and depletion. Accountability comes in different ways, including a spiritual conversion away from destruction. But in the meantime, the courts are where this may well play out. A couple of examples: 13,000 People from the Niger Delta just Sued Shell for Years of Oil Spills and Four Indonesians take Swiss cement giant to court over climate.
Christians and Climate Change. Evangelicals are Changing the Conversation on Climate Change I believe attribution also changes the conversation within faith communities. When we can see the attribution to climate change as to why there are deep freezes in Texas and why it was minus 108° F wind chill in New Hampshire last week, those and all of the other impacts we are all experiencing, they shift the conversation.
Good news
Alaska - Pebble Mine. Great news for those who have been fighting the Pebble Mine Project in Alaska, The EPA vetoed Alaska’s proposed Pebble Mine
Not-so-good News
Alaska - Willow Project. Terrible news as Arctic Oil Project Advances as Biden Administration Says Yes to Carbon Bomb this despite all available evidence, including native villages being swallowed up by sea level rise and melting permafrost, Outrage as US government advances $8bn Alaska oil drilling plan
Reminder - Oil Profits. Big Oil Set To Report Record $200 Billion Profits For 2022 "The five biggest oil majors in the world are expected to report record profits for 2022 in the coming days, for around $200 billion in combined yearly earnings thanks to the jump in oil and gas prices last year."
Archived from January 30th 2023:
Good news
Land Preservation. Women Religious in Kentucky worked with local land conservancy to save farm, woods, and natural wild lands as an act of faithful love for the creation. Read more: Sisters of Loretto permanently preserve 650 acres of 'holy land' in Kentucky.
Service in Community. From the Anabaptist Mennonites, this video features young adults from 5 continents engaging community around creation care.
Indigenous Forests Thrive. I am often amused by studies that basically conclude that 'water is wet.' The wet water in this study is that forests thrive with indigenous stewardship. The best way to save forests? Legally recognize Indigenous lands.
Standing up in Utah. The Salt Lake Valley in Utah is home to the Mormon faithful, and those faithful are calling for action to save the Great Salt Lake. LDS environmentalists want their institution to address the Great Salt Lake’s collapse
Nature Positive Solutions. Some environmental solutions are more adorable than others, like this one. People are building artificial beaver dams in drought-stricken Montana. The project has begun with humans building the dams, but think of it as housing for the furry critters they hope will move in and keep things going.
Clean Energy Transition. Big news with big impact in reducing emissions New York City will replace its largest fossil fuel plant with wind power, in a US first This 27-acre waterfront oil and gas industrial site is going to be converted into a clean energy hub. Nice work, New York!
Tongass Protections. More big news is good news for the Tongass forest The U.S. reinstates road and logging restrictions on the largest national forest.
Not-so-good News
Glacier melted and gone. The largest glacier in the Northern Cascade mountains in Washington State has just melted away. RIP Washington’s Hinman Glacier, gone after thousands of years.
Sea Level Rise is Accelerating. New research shows that newer models of sea level rise and coastal inundation are about twice as bad as previously thought. Worst impacts of sea level rise will hit earlier than expected, says modeling study.
Plastics, genetics, and generational damage. The damage from chemicals in plastic are genetically lasting, from father, to son, to grandson. Health Impact of Chemicals in Plastics Is Handed Down Two Generations
Oil Profits. Big Oil Set To Report Record $200 Billion Profits For 2022 "The five biggest oil majors in the world are expected to report record profits for 2022 in the coming days, for around $200 billion in combined yearly earnings thanks to the jump in oil and gas prices last year."
Archived from January 23rd 2023:
DAVOS
Davos happened this week, the World Economic Forum convened its annual meeting in Davos, Switzerland, last week. There were faith conversations interspersed in the event, I can't find a faith-based take-a yet, but some articles of interest include
the APs Economic woes, war, climate change on tap for Davos meeting;
from the young Davos 2023: Young 'Global Shapers' hungry for change;
From Greta Thunberg Greta Thunberg Warns Davos Elite Will Throw Humanity 'Under the Bus' for Profits;
from Islamic-Relief Davos Diary – Islamic Relief at the World Economic Forum;
Jewish Insider's Daily Kickoff & the traditional Davos Shabbat Dinner;
a report from a local priest Catholic priest in Davos: ‘People are waiting for solutions’;
and strong words from the UN ‘Inconsistent with human survival’: UN chief slams fossil fuel industry expansion in Davos speech
Good News.
Species Restoration. Native Kiwi were released into the Makara Hills of New Zealand last November, and now? They are nesting. First wild kiwi egg laid in Wellington in over a century. Also, in China, sand mining was one of the troubles that lead to the listing of the world's only freshwater porpoise as critically endangered. Recent restoration efforts have brought good news.
Clean Energy Generation. Reading Oil Price too often feels like stabbing myself repeatedly in the heart. But the story reported here is a big thumbs up UK Wind Farms Are Producing Too Much Energy Now, to get the rest of the infrastructure to step up and celebrate, rather than restrain, this good energy production!
Solar Cars. 'Market' solutions are going to be a necessary part of this emergency clean transition. Congrats to new automaker Lightyear: Thousands Of Solar Electric Cars On Order
Not-so-good News
Catastrophic Ice-Melt. Every year the numbers seem impossible to ignore. And here we go again. So far, we are not headed in the right direction. Greenland sees hottest temps in 1,000 years. How its melting ice sheet has major impact on sea level
Salt Lake Collapse. I've posted about the collapse of Utah's Great Salt Lake and ecosystem before. The thing is, we often think of just a dried lake as a dried lake--a bummer outcome of climate change but 'oh, well.' There isn't an understanding of the cascade of consequences that result from ecosystem collapse--it extends well past affecting the 10 million migratory birds that come to the lake. Drying Great Salt Lake Could Expose Millions to Toxic Arsenic-Laced Dust, The largest saline lake in North America is on track to collapse within five years, a new report finds. When will it be enough?
Heat Waves Scallops. Heat waves take their toll on creatures and ecosystems as well as humans, disrupting formerly stable habitats and fisheries. Summer heat waves and low oxygen prove deadly for bay scallops as a New York fishery collapses
Archived From January 16th 2023:
From Indigenous Communities:
A growing respect for Indigenous lifeways. From Nature, Indigenous knowledge is key to sustainable food systems Agricultural sciences have for too long ignored traditional and local knowledge about crop plants and how best to grow them. That must change if the world is to ensure future food security.
Faith in the News
Faith groups help to save disappearing forests. Anglicans, Sikhs, Indigenous People and more are working the world over to restore and preserve forests.
Can the World’s Religions Help Save Us from Ecological Peril? An in depth article with faith leaders from Columbia University.
Good News.
Sustaining Biodiversity. A standout article from Aubudon Society addressing the need for 30x30 nature conservation,saving and preserving for nature 30% of both land and water. This can work! And areas best suited for this conservation are identified. Some are on private land, so two important things to be determined. First, how to preserve land owned privately, and two, what to do if we exceed 1.5 degrees celsius of warming. Study Identifies Areas Most Likely to Sustain Biodiversity in a Changing Climate
Resilient Agriculture. Another standout publication has been Civil Eats, getting to the depth of stories about our food and food system. This op-ed speaks to the potential of restorative agriculture to weather the new climate raining down on us. Op-ed: Some Regenerative Farms Are Weathering California’s Unprecedented Rainfall
Not-so-good News
Heading to 2c Warming. The reality in conversations starting 2023 is that it unless there is a drastic change, we will not meet the all-important 1.5 degree celsius cap in global warming. With this reality, some are scrambling to figure out how the worst can be prevented, as well as warning policy makers what breaking that 1.5 barrier will mean. From New Scientist Strong El Niño, could make 2024 the first year we pass 1.5°C of warming and in Japan Times (from Bloomberg) Earth on track to warm above 2 degrees despite climate action.
There is so much more to say this week, but I have run out of time. I'll leave us with this last bit of good news. From the Conversation 6 reasons 2023 could be a very good year for climate action.
From January 9th 2023:
From Indigenous Communities:
Ladakh herders endeavor to save future on climate frontier
E&E News : Native American tribes to get $75M for climate relocation
In first for Indonesia, government recognizes Indigenous Papuans’ ancestral forests
Alaska’s Arctic waterways are turning orange, threatening drinking water
Tribal nations fight for influence on the Colorado River and this is related to that story, also, ‘A 100-year tragedy’ for tribes in the Colorado River Basin and one from Arizona Biden signs water bills benefiting 3 tribes in Arizona
The fight of the Salmon People - Part of a Propublica Series.
The fight to protect the California black walnut tree. How protecting trees can fight gentrification
Good News.
Clean Energy! Finally, Some Good Climate News: The Biggest Wins in Clean Energy in 2022 "From major federal legislation to surging demand for EVs, the energy transition accelerated remarkably in the last 12 months." An accessible dive into clean energy adoption especially in 2022.
Fishery Restoration. A long overdue effort may finally be underway. Nearly $105 Million in Fish Passage Funding Recommended under Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, Including Significant Funding for Tribes
Education win! Starting in July ‘Face it head on’: Connecticut makes climate change studies compulsory Thank you, Connecticut!
Rewilding. I probably have an unpopular opinion, but I think part of our reassessment of nature-positive and farm-positive values is to convert every golf course into either a food forest or an actual forest. Rewilded former golf course in Cheshire to be transformed into public woodland
EVs! A three-fer of good news: America's first electric fire truck reports for duty in Hollywood and Amazon orders 100,000 EV delivery trucks, Rivian EDV: All about electric vans for Amazon and beyond adding, not just EVs for the prius set, Ford F-150 Lightning: Green Car Reports Best Car To Buy 2023
Stepping up. While the drought in Colorado isn't good news, that faith communities are stepping up really is. Thank you!! Colorado’s Religious Communities See Climate Action as a Moral Obligation
Bad News
Western Forests. Sadly this type of news is all too familiar. 'Firmageddon': Researchers find 1.1 million acres of dead trees in Oregon
Too-Warm Winter. How a ‘totally insane’ warm spell is upending winter around the world
Megadrought. Great Salt Lake on track to disappear in five years, scientists warn
Drought, Heat, Hunger. Climate Change is Driving Millions to the Precipice of a ‘Raging Food Catastrophe’
From 2022:
General News
Forced Migration - Sanibel Island an indepth look at the story of the land and communities of Sand Island off the coast of Florida, as hurricanes intensify and the sea levels rise. The Precarious Future of Sanibel Island
Indigenous Farming & The Farm Bill - Civil Eats has offered some really helpful articles at the intersection of food and climate change. This one is a deep dive to tell the story: Native Farmers Push for More Equitable Training and Support in the Farm Bill
Pipeline & Permitting Reform - the Sierra Club digs into the question of Permitting Reform, very helpful (thank you, Ann!) Yes, We Need to Build a Lot More Renewable Energy a Lot Faster. But Scrapping Environmental Laws Isn’t the Way to Do That.
Good News
Carbon Legislation - It matters what California does, because California's economy is the 4th largest economy in the world. Last week California released the final draft of a plan to achieve aggressive reductions over the next 20 years. California Releases Sweeping New Climate Action Plan to Reach Carbon Neutrality
Restoration - Coral Reef. No reef is in the news more than the Great Barrier Reef off Australia. With warming temps, real concern has followed bleaching and die offs. However, some good news, ‘A beautiful milestone’: coral grown in Great Barrier Reef nursery spawns for first time
Pollution Reporting - reports may seem boring, but it really matters who gets the funding to do studies. With accurate reporting of pollutants, citizens can better communicate problems and ask for solutions. Many communities have not had the resources to quantify the harm they have experienced. The EPA awards grants to monitor air quality in communities hurt by pollution
Not so good news
Gas leaks - all the emissions are bad enough, but everywhere there are leaks. Pipelines everywhere are leaking for all sorts of reasons, and not just the big pipelines, pipelines through cities and towns, too. States are spending billions to stem gas leaks, it's not working.
Ocean Temperatures - I get very sad to see headlines that say something is happening 'decades sooner' than thought. Higher surface temperatures will be detectable in Pacific Ocean decades earlier than previously predicted
General News
Livestock in the Global South. This article offers some perspective-taking for those in western countries eyeing a reduction in livestock as a means to reduce emissions. How this is done, and who it affects, are important considerations. Livestock is a form of climate justice in the Global South Authored by Simplice Nouala, Head of the Agriculture and Food Security Division at the African Union Commission
Good News
Conservation works! Endangered Frogs See ‘Population Explosion’ After 422 Ponds Were Built in Switzerland
Green Energy Innovation. There are always a number of newsy things every week addressing wow innovations. Here's one that caught my eye. “Artificial Leaf” To Produce Green Hydrogen
COP27 News
COP27 Loss and Damage. A lot of diplomatic cross talk this week, let's hope this one comes together. Learn more from a couple of good explainers, an analysis from The Guardian, Climate ‘loss and damage’: why it’s such a big deal at Cop27 and a primer from the Sierra Club (via Energy Mix) COP27 a "Make or Break Moment" for Loss and Damage Finance.
COP27 News Faith coverage: As COP27 begins, religious leaders, civil groups have a wish list. A great kick-off article from Catholic News. Ahead of COP27, faith leaders back global treaty to end the use of fossil fuels, another great article--addressing fossil fuel non-proliferation--from Earthbeat. Religious leaders talk climate action in Israel ahead of COP27 from Al-Monitor.
COP27 Actions: Those concerned about the climate are planning visible action over the next few weeks. In Amsterdam, this meant Climate activists arrested after blocking private jets in Amsterdam airport. There is concern, also, about how activism is going to be addressed in Egypt. Egyptian regime criticized as climate activist arrested in run-up to Cop27
For other COP27 news check the sites listed above, and keep an eye on news.un.org for official news like this COP27 begins a ‘new era to do things differently’, UN climate change chief declares as pivotal conference gets underway
General News
Indigenous Teaching & Adaptation. This story follows the challenges facing the Tewa People and their homeland Kha’p’o Owingeh in New Mexico as they deal with the devastating effects of climate change. Tribe seeks to adapt as climate change alters their ancestral home.
Good News
Agroforestry/Agroecology - Are we there yet? A few articles squaring up on this today, starting with why we need it Industrial Agricultural Needs To Be Replaced By Agroecology — Soon then read about what might be possible With New Federal Funding, Has Agroforestry’s Moment Arrived? from Civil Eats. Check out the right sidebar on this article, also, for a good range of complementary information. And, for a more technical view, an analysis Multistrata Agroforestry from Project Drawdown.
Restoration - Corals. With all the bad news about coral die offs and bleaching, the good news is that coral is very resilient given the opportunity to restore itself. This coral reef resurrected itself — and showed scientists how to replicate it
Clean Energy - Geothermal. I have shared news about other forms of clean energy, but Geothermal is another potentially clean energy source, and the possibility generated a little excitement this week. Could geothermal supply up to 50% of the world’s energy by 2050?
Clean Energy - Accelerated Transition. Why does it take tragedy to get things moving? We could have turned on the change years ago. But, well, its happening at last. EU Cutting €11 Billion In Gas Costs Via Record Growth In Wind & Solar
Not so good news
Antiquities - treasure and climate change. We touched on this a little at the Cafe last week, but a changing climate will threaten and potentially destroy heritage sites of global significance. 'In 100 years, all these antiquities will be gone': as Cop27 opens in Egypt, climate crisis is still taboo subject at art and heritage institutions
Mountain Valley Pipeline. We will talk more about this at the Cafe on November 15th, but for sure there is still trouble in this quarter. Mountain Valley says it ‘will not rest’ until its pipeline is completed
Fisheries Collapsing. This is no surprise to anyone who has been paying attention. Changing climate and fossil fuel pollution is changing our oceans and impacting ocean species. From Northern shrimp to Chinook salmon, climate change is wiping out profitable species for the fishing industry
Some Good News:
Emission slow downs and reductions. This is great news, a huge improvement but a long way to go. Global CO2 emissions from fossil fuels rose by less than 1% this year as renewables and EVs come online. The catch is that holding steady is not enough. Emissions have to stop, all emissions, including from other petrochemicals, too. The EPA is planning to regulate hydrofluorocarbons, super-light molecules that break down into CO2 in the atmosphere. EPA to further slash emissions from climate super-pollutants. The hyperbole 'slash' here is a little bit of clickbait, unfortunately, as new rules won't take effect until 2028. Not nearly quickly enough. Prayers up.
Greening Shipping Fossil fuels are everywhere, including powering the gigantic merchant ships that carry the goods of global trade to the tune of 55,000 merchant container ships annually. Greening global shipping is another necessary transition. Clarksons is the grand-daddy of global shippers. With barely a drop in the bucket Clarkson's is yelling about how great this is, Clarksons: There are 130 ammonia-ready and 6 hydrogen-ready vessels on order, but you know what, it's a start and that's good news. Adding also, wind power! World’s First Partly Wind-Powered Large Cargo Vessel Sails From Japan to Australia
Faith Representation! Thank you Rivers and Mountains Green Circle in New York for some awesome witness with a call to defund climate chaos. Find the story and photos here: Stop Funding Climate Chaos.
Insurers walking away from Fossil Fuels This is great news. The Insurance Industry has come under organizing pressure to look realistically at their business bottom line in comparing the harm caused by fossil fuels. But regardless of why, it seems Insurers are backing out More insurers exit fossil fuel projects over climate change
Joy! Okay, I'm a little late to this, but NOAA put together 31 Dives of Halloween, 31 spooky ocean encounters, one for every day of October!
And not-Good News:
Plastics: A few articles here. Even as some communities have managed to send away plastic refineries, others are being built including one in Pennsylvania that is causing a lot of concern. Environmentalists Fear a Massive New Plastics Plant Near Pittsburgh Will Worsen Pollution and Stimulate Fracking. This webinar also addresses Plastics and the new plant, from Beyond Plastics. Generally, news of any week includes news of new plastic recycling efforts, including this week's Plastonix Inc. developed a way to recycle all types of plastic. Yes, I think that is good. But it's also a trap. Plastics are petrochemicals, they come from fracking and other means of extraction of fossil fuels. We must find alternatives. Environmental groups see a Trojan Horse in big plastic’s plan to scale recycling efforts: ‘Nobody needs more plastic’
Flooding in Nigeria - Catastrophes are devastating one region after another. Pakistan is still reeling from near country-wide flooding, and this week flooding of a similar scale hit Nigeria, with 1.4 million evacuees and a humanitarian and ecological crisis underway right now. Nigeria’s Floods Should Be Front-Page News Imagine if three-quarters of U.S. states were flooded.
Some Good News:
Green Team Energy! Shaare Tefila and Columbia Jewish Congregation celebrated Tashlich by casting away sins and cleaning up trash in Talbott Springs stream. Some great photos of faith-folk doing good things: Tashlich and Reverse Tashlich.
Colorado Conservation We are making progress on that necessary 30x30 conservation effort to preserve species including us! Biden designates Camp Hale in Colorado as his first national monument. The effort will prevent mineral mining in the area for a little while at least, and protect "50,000 acres that provide critical habitat for wildlife such as elk, lynxes and songbirds."
Species restoration: Trapping and habitat loss had wiped out Fishers in Washington state. But they are back! Tree-climbing carnivores called fishers are back in Washington’s forests. In the Galapagos, biologists helped rare penguins reestablish a breeding spot, The Galapagos penguin, one of the world's rarest, sees a glimmer of hope
More good news for energy solutions! Lots of good things in clean transition news, including Greece runs entirely on renewables for the first time in its history. Scotland is in position! Scotland generates record amount of renewable electricity. Governors are working together. Governors in some states are creating pacts to support economic growth of renewables, including in the west for California, Oregon, Washington, and British Columbia.
And the sheer, renewable power of joy: the bike bus! These kids ride a ‘bike bus’ to school. Residents line the streets and cheer.
And not-Good News:
Species Loss: animal species populations are in freefall, we have lost almost 70% of animal populations in 50 years, or 60% since 1970, according to two new reports: the World Wildlife Federation, WWF, Living Planet Report for 2022, and the almost finished UN Post 2020 framework, see the latest draft, to be finalized in December. The 15th UN Convention on Biological Diversity to be held in Montreal, Canada, from 5 to 17 December this year will address this loss. A great explainer from The Guardian: What is Cop15 and why does it matter for all life on Earth?
Crab Season Cancelled - One billion animals are missing. Alaska is the fastest warming state in the US, and last week "the Alaska Department of Fish and Game has, for the first time in state history, canceled the winter snow crab season in the Bering Sea." Alaska snow crab season canceled as officials investigate disappearance of an estimated 1 billion crabs
Storms add burden to Central America & Africa Tropical storms and hurricanes are bringing winds and flooding to El Salvador, Nicaragua and other Central American countries already dealing with drought, civil disruptions, and not yet recovered from previous storms. An English paper from Venezuela takes a deep dive into the storms and climate change for the region. Catastrophe in Las Tejerías: Contributing Factors and National Response. Meanwhile flooding continues across the globe, including in Nigeria with 500 dead and 1.4 million displaced.
Pakistan Floods - In depth A deep dive into the catastrophic flooding in Pakistan, the challenges of response and adaptation. One Nation Under Water Countries like Pakistan are on the front lines of climate change, despite the fact that they had almost nothing to do with it. Climate Justice and Loss and Damage in the Pakistan Flood Crisis
Empty Reservoirs and Dry Rivers In Nebraska, the Platte River, is all but completely dry, and a red flag warning went up last week. Nebraska is not the only place, unfortunately, facing extreme drought. The shift is weather patterns means rain is different. There are drier periods between rainstorms, then when the rain comes it's too much all at once. Nebraska's Platte River is dry, but so is the Mississippi. The mighty Mississippi is so low, people are walking to a unique rock formation rarely accessible by foot. The low levels in the Mississippi means salt water from the ocean can intrude into the river itself, contaminating aquifers and wetlands. Work on levees is underway. And finally, reservoirs in Oregon are desperately low.
Some Good News:
Green Economy. An in-depth article from the Atlantic The Climate Economy Is About to Explode. A new report suggests that the Inflation Reduction Act could be even bigger than Congress thinks. A couple folks flagged this, thank you! "the IRA’s programs... makes betting on clean energy one of the most certain economic trends of the next few years. Clean energy is now the safe, smart, government-backed bet for conservative investors. It’s really a shocking reversal of the past 40 years."
Hydrogen - Innovation for Transition A bunch of hydrogen energy and innovation articles this week to share, from planes to cars to giant trucks. Opinion: Battery-electric cars are the future? Not so fast. Hydrogen-powered cars will give them a run for their money. and The world’s first hydrogen-powered haul truck could help clean up the mining industry and Frankfurt-Tokyo In 1.5 Hours: Hydrogen Plane Promises Revolution and folks are also thinking about how hydrogen can be transported and delivered, The Green Hydrogen Pipeline & Shipping Question
More good news for energy solutions! I'm bundling these articles as they all get to the clean-energy effort. Good stuff here: 'Steam loops' under many cities could be a climate change solution and Tiny Oregon town hosts 1st wind-solar-battery ‘hybrid’ plant in North America and In 2021, 40% Of The Electricity Produced In The United States Was Derived From Non-Fossil Fuel Sources
30 x 30 - Conserving Land & Sea This time the good 30x30 news comes out of Australia. Australia to set aside at least 30% of its land mass to protect endangered species
Forest Conservation Forester Dominick DellaSala and a team has worked to map forestland across the US, including public and private forestland. The process has allowed identification of where exactly the most precious old forests are located, in an effort to protect them and maximize forest health and sequestration.
Clean up Efforts to clean up plastic are taking place around the world, leveraging local labor and effort. One such is: Indonesian program pays fishers to collect plastic trash at sea
And not-Good News:
Heat, drought, and croploss There are lots of stories like this one, as farmers grapple with depleted soils, heat domes, drought and more while civic policy makers fail to address the realities of the new climate. Beset by Drought, a West Texas Farmer Loses His Cotton Crop and Fears a Hotter and Drier Future State Water Planners Aren’t Considering
Natural Gas Yet more terrible news from the natural gas sector. Just in general, emissions are being significantly underestimated and underreported. For methane/natural gas this isn't just at well sites, refineries, and gas stoves, but all the lines and routes along the way. 14x More Methane Leaking From Gathering Lines Than U.S. EPA Estimates
Indigenous Navajo and drought The Navajo have lived on ancestral lands for thousands of years. The drought and lack of water, coupled with the inability of the nation to relocate to new sites, has impacted their way of life.
Air and Plastics Pollution Versions of these reports are by now familiar. We already know that air pollution is deadly, and recently Toxic air pollution particles found in lungs and brains of unborn babies as well as plastics for the first time in human breastmilk.
Some Good News:
Celebrating Biodiversity A lovely article on the biodiversity in Equador's Intag Valley.
Yes! We really can move FAST! (We just have to do it!) In Queensland, AU, the shift from coal to wind is underway. By 2035, the Australian state will say goodbye to coal. Winds of ‘radical change’: Queensland breaks up with coal in stunning week in energy
30 x 30 - Conserving Land & Sea Prof. Jamie Trammell spoke to how important the 30 x 30 conservation of land and sea is to addressing rapid climate change. In New Mexico, a bold move forward is taking on that mandate and the dialogue around how to do that well, with what goal in mind.
Saving Stillwater Lake It is one thing to say we need to clean, restore, and preserve wild places. It is quite a different thing to not only learn how to do that, but persevere for years to see such a project through. We are in for a decade of learning, but regular people can really, truly do this, and the payoffs are already being felt, such as the case of Stillwater Lake in MN.
California Bans Natural Gas by 2030 The end of natural gas is hugely important to humans and the planet. California is taking big steps forward to stop the proliferation of natural gas, and turn off the spigot.
And not-Good News:
US Waterways and Toxic Dumping
A new report out that studied waterways in the US in 2020 determined that 200M pounds of toxic chemicals dumped into US waterways in 2020. The analysis showed just 10 companies were responsible for half what was dumped, and the worst states were Texas, Indiana, Virginia, Louisiana, Alabama, North Carolina, Mississippi, Ohio, Kentucky and Illinois.
Natural Gas Natural Gas is methane and it often requires fracking to extract, wells, and pipelines. Specialized infrastructure is built into homes and businesses so that switching to something cleaner is really hard and expensive. On top ol all that, natural gas leaks and seeps at every stage, as well as causing emissions havoc through the practice of flaring. New study finds flaring source of five times more pollution than previously thought
Massive expansion of Oil and Gas Underway Oil and Gas globally is full-throttle forward with pipeline projects globally. Read more: Huge expansion of oil pipelines endangering climate, says report More than 24,000km of pipelines planned around world, showing ‘an almost deliberate failure to meet climate goals’ Scroll up for a link to the report.
Storm Update this week Over the last couple of weeks we have seen Typhoon Namadol, Typhoon Talas, Typhoon Noru, Hurricane Fiona and Typhoon Merbok --all storms causing significant damage, and the communities struck by these storms are still in the acute phase of clean up and recovery. Adding to that this week was the devastating Hurricane Ian that struck Florida, causing a reported 75 deaths to date, storm surge, flooding, wreckage, and as now a tropical storm, Ian is moving north to Maryland, Virginia, through the Carolinas.
Senate says NO to HFCs Senate Votes to Ratify the Kigali Amendment, to reduce the use of HFCs, a bypartisan effort to reduce this potent green house gas.
Global Youth Climate Strike An extra special Climate Strike this last week saw global participation of all generations organized by the young to demand action on climate. Al Jazeera got some great photos.
Indigenous Agriculture A great article from Climate Reality Project. Indigenous people's have practiced nature-based regenerative agriculture on their lands for generations. We need to both thank them and learn from them.
Nature and the Brain I love studies like these, though they also go in the 'water is wet' file. But hurrah, all the same. A new study shows just an hour in nature reduces stress with real benefits to brain health.
Tremendous Victory for Tiwi People The Federal Court in Australia ruled in favor of the Tiwi People and against the Santos Barbarossa Gas Project. Tiwi Traditional Owner wins legal challenge to Santos Barossa Gas Project
Doctrine of Discovery Following his meeting with First Nations People in Canada, with the help of Canadian Bishops, Catholic Pope Francis is working on a statement to reject the Doctrine of Discovery.
African Voices Vanessa Nakate is a dynamic young climate leader, and a leading voice for Africa. A great profile of her and her work ran in The Guardian. ‘Africa is on the frontlines but not the front pages’: Vanessa Nakate on her climate fight
Forest Fires and the US East Coast Folks associate forest fires with the US West and Southwest. But forests that have been thought 'unburnable' are at risk, including coastal forests, arctic forests, and forests of the US East Coast.
Species Loss Species loss from sudden climate change is already happening. A new study determined that More than one-tenth of the world's terrestrial genetic diversity may already be lost.
Salmon & the Klamath River The drought, heat, dams, heap challenge on challenge for the caretakers of the Klamath River, including indigenous caretakers of the Karuk tribe and scientists from NOAA. One thing can be navigated, but a landslide on top of everything else has further endangered Klamath River Salmon.
Storm Update this week Just a few days after the deadly Typhoon Namadol struck Japan on September 20th, Asia is bracing again as Typhoon Talas heads to shore bringing heavy rain and landslides. In addition, Typhoon Noru makes landfall in the Philippines. Meanwhile in the Atlantic, Hurricane Fiona took an unprecedented path up to Nova Scotia, knocking out power and destroying homes. Hurricane Ian is predicted to be a major hurricane in a few days as it heads toward Florida. And in the Bering Sea off Alaska--impossible without climate change--the tail end of Typhoon Merbok struck the coast wiping out coastline and cabins.
Manufacturers Step Up EVs Jeep among others announced a plan to electrify its entire lineup and produce 4 EVs by 2025.
Heartland Farmers work on conservation. Farmers in the Heartland are addressing climate change with soil conservation and other climate-forward efforts. This article frames this as a political stance, but the most important takeaway is that farmers want to address the climate impacts they see, and are glad for recent legislative financial support to help make the transition.
Activist, Indigenous & Citizen Victories Indigenous communities such as the Gwich’in people of northern Alaska are pushing back against oil in the Arctic and winning. Second oil company exits Arctic amid fierce Indigenous opposition, energy squeeze. And this week in the decade-long struggle in Louisiana, the state vacated the air permit for the Formosa Plastic plant, a key victory for citizen activists in St. James' Parish. Louisiana judge vacates state air permits for $9.4B plastics complex in chemical corridor. In Oregon, the long fight to close the Boardman Coal plant came to a satisfying demolition. Boardman smokestack demolished, marking the end of a coal-fired era in Oregon.
Wildlife Restoration Seventy years ago, the last Cheetah in India was hunted to extinction. And globally, Cheetahs are an endangered species. This week a project is underway to reestablish Cheetahs in India. Eight cheetahs from Africa were flown to India in preparation for release.
Storms this week The violent Typhoon Manmadol hit Japan a few hours ago with 150mph winds and an expected 2 feet of rain. 2 million were evacuated and 7 million urged to take refuge in shelters or sturdy buildings. In Alaska, the Governor declared a state of emergency the remnants of Typhoon Merbok flooded Alaska's western coast, cutting power and forcing evacuations.The latest from Anchorage Daily News. Hurricane Fiona made landfall with catastrophic flooding to Puerto Rico and power out across the territory. It heads next toward Dominican Republic.
Summer Heat Summer temperature broke 7000 records in 2022. This article and interactive maps from Washington Post show month and region and gives information about what happened this summer.
Heat & Agriculture Global warming impacts to agriculture are wide-ranging. Focusing on heat, researchers are discovering unusually high springtime temperatures can kill pollen and interfere with the fertilization of crops. This includes damage to the pollen itself and impacts also from the effects of heat on pollinators. Heat and excess atmospheric CO2 is a 1-2 punch for plants also when it comes to nutrients. The great nutrient collapse. The atmosphere is literally changing the food we eat, for the worse.
Australia passes big new climate legislation While there is a lot left on the table, this bill is a significant step forward to addressing climate change as coal-producing Australia, one of the world's biggest emitters joins the US is passing a Climate Change Bill and countries such as India and regions such as Europe seeking to make the big leap to clean energy.
Clean Energy Jobs Pull Ahead! A new report from the International Energy Agency shows that "for the first time ever, clean energy jobs outnumber those involved in producing, transporting, and burning fossil fuels." Wow! Read the report.
Abundance & Restoration On the Kukutali Preserve, which is by the Swinomish Tribe and Washington State Parks, the Swinomish people have build a 'clam garden,' a tribal harvesting method restored after 200 years. Read about the project. Restoration and innovation, and the importance of Indigenous skills, innovation, and experience were highlighted also in St. Paul this week as Indigenous people gathered for the National Tribal and Indigenous Climate Change Conference.
Western Wildfires As of today, following searing hot temps and 'red flag' conditions, there are now 94 wildfires burning in the American west. Falling ash, smoke, evacuations, and apocalyptic skies...Our forests are essential, and the warnings are clear. Prevent tree extinctions or face global ecological catastrophe, scientists warn
Climate Migration in the US In the US, 30% Of Americans Cite Climate Change As A Motivator To Move In 2022, with 64% saying they are considering a move this year.
Tipping Points The importance of keeping global warming to under 1.5C in order to avoid tipping points is not news. Unfortunately, we are still making like Titanic for the iceberg. Innovation, both new and restorative, and good legislation is unrolling. But we cannot relax our pace. World on brink of five ‘disastrous’ climate tipping points, study finds.
Good Faith news to celebrate!: The National Evangelical Association representing 45,000 Evangelical churches, have published a declaration for climate justice! Wow! My heart is so glad, a huge step! Bible demands action on climate change, Evangelicals say in new report and here's the report.
Good Community!: My community in Southern Oregon was hit by the Almeda Fire September 8th, 2020, and this launched us into the front row of places struck by climate-fueled disaster. This recent article tells a story not of the fire, but of watershed, forest preparation, and a community seeking to be fire-wise. This was first published in the Grist, but I am linking to our local paper, which carried the article, also. How Ashland put politics aside to save itself from fire.
Incentives work! Green Transport: Case study in Germany this summer, provide inexpensive transportation, affordable and accessible, and people will use it. Germany’s Cheap Summer Train Fares Prevented 1.8 Million Tons of Carbon Pollution
Pakistan Floods: The series of devastating series of 1000 year storms, 6 in the US alone over the last 5 weeks, are rivaled and exceeded by flooding in places like South Korea, and staggeringly, Pakistan where glacial melting and climate-fueled rain storms have created an inland sea. Three articles most relevant to us in this group: How Pakistan floods are linked to climate change, and Rich nations owe reparations to countries facing climate disaster, says Pakistan minister, and Faith-based and other relief efforts underway to assist Pakistan flood victims
Sea level Rise: We have new numbers of 'baked in' sea level rise, ove 2ft from melting ice in Greenland alone: Major sea-level rise caused by melting of Greenland ice cap is ‘now inevitable’ and the window for stopping a further 16+ feet is at the precipice: Antarctica’s ‘sleeping giant’ risks melting, threatens spike in sea levels.
The Amazon: "...crime, corruption and greed are speeding the destruction of the world’s largest rainforest." After Two Murders, a Brazilian Indigenous Leader Steps Up the Fight and A Failure of Enforcement, Deforesters are plundering the Amazon. Brazil is letting them get away with it.
For the current Weekly(ish), see JustCreation.org. Link here for 2024 News Archive.
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