Results for: Climate Change

Pennsylvania has become the first state in the nation to achieve a clean energy threshold, with at least half of the electricity needed to power 16 state government agencies coming from solar energy within one to three years. The state’s Project to Utilize Light and Solar Energy (PA PULSE) will provide more reliable, affordable electricity while reducing carbon emissions. The 10 solar arrays will generate 361,000 megawatt hours of electricity, equivalent to the power needed for 35,000 homes annually. Pennsylvania is also setting new clean energy portfolio standards, aiming for 50% of its energy sources to come from zero or near-zero emissions by 2035.

The captivating feeding behavior of humpback whales off Vancouver Island’s northern coast has earned them a spot in the renowned Planet Earth III documentary series. Researchers from the Marine Education and Research Society have documented a unique trap feeding technique used by the whales, highlighting their importance in the ecosystem and their role in combating climate change. Despite a significant population decline between 2012-2022 linked to the marine heatwave known as ‘the blob,’ humpback whales have made a remarkable comeback after near extinction due to hunting.

Europe is experiencing an alarming rate of warming, with temperatures rising at approximately twice the global average. According to a joint report by the World Meteorological Organization and the European Union’s climate agency, Copernicus, the continent’s average temperature is now 2.3°C above pre-industrial levels. This warming trend is leading to severe consequences, including increased heat stress, glacier melt, economic losses, and health risks.

President Biden announced $7 billion in federal grants for solar projects in low- and middle-income communities, targeting Republicans who reject climate change policies. The grants will fund rooftop solar and community solar gardens, aiming to reduce emissions and save households money. Biden also expanded the green jobs training program American Climate Corps, mirroring the New Deal’s Civilian Conservation Corps.

Climate change, environmental racism, and economic inequality are pressing issues facing communities across the United States. From shrimpers in the Gulf of Mexico to wildland firefighters in Colorado to residents of Africatown in Alabama, communities are grappling with the impacts of these challenges on their lives and livelihoods.

From the decline of the shrimping industry to the struggles of wildland firefighters, environmental and social crises are hitting American communities hard. Drought, heat waves, and industrial pollution are exacerbating these problems.

Climate change and environmental injustices are threatening communities across the United States. From the struggling shrimping industry in Louisiana to the underpaid and overworked wildland firefighters in the West, the impacts are widespread. In Africatown, Alabama, residents face the legacy of slavery and the ongoing reality of environmental racism, while on Sapelo Island, Georgia, slave descendant families struggle to hold onto their ancestral land.

Spanish cava producer Freixenet has announced plans to temporarily lay off 615 workers, nearly 80% of its workforce, due to a severe drought in the Penedes area of Catalonia. The measure is expected to take effect in May, and the company has not specified the duration of the layoffs. This makes Freixenet one of the first companies in Catalonia to respond to the region’s worst drought on record with a layoff plan.

President Biden has announced $7 billion in grants for low-income households to go solar, as part of his administration’s efforts to address climate change. The grants are part of the EPA’s Solar For All program, which was funded through the American Rescue Plan Act. The Biden administration also announced an expansion of its American Climate Corps, which aims to employ 20,000 young people in climate-related jobs across the country.

Europe is experiencing a rapid warming trend, with temperatures rising at double the global average. The continent faces significant impacts on human health, glacier melt, and economic activity. Despite progress in renewable energy adoption, Europe remains vulnerable to extreme weather events and climate-related losses.