Health
Check out our
interview with Paul Billings, national senior vice president of public policy at the
American Lung Association, about the connection between climate change and worsening air quality. (GMMB)
Tropical Storm Bertha brought flash flooding to Miami, Florida and South Carolina this week following unprecedented levels of rainfall, signaling a new normal for severe weather across the U.S. (Our Daily Planet)Record-breaking temperatures have engulfed the Arctic and northern Asia in an unprecedented
heat wave, setting off wildfires in the region and driving levels of sea ice to their lowest point in history. (Earther)
Equity
A new
study found that residents of low-income neighborhoods in Southern California face greater vulnerability to extreme heat-related
fatalities due to a lack of access to household air conditioning. (Los Angeles Times)
New research out of the University of Utah found that schools with more students of color experience disproportionately poor air quality due to their location near roadways and industrial activity. (OneZero)
Politics & Economy
The European Union has unveiled an $826 billion green stimulus package that will fund renewable renovations for homes, increase renewable energy capacity and boost clean vehicle sales, among other measures. (Reuters)
Bucking a trend among nearly all major Western oil and gas companies, ExxonMobil has refused to set a deadline for reducing its greenhouse gas emissions, insisting that this is the job of consumers and governments rather than individual corporations. (The Washington Post)
A coalition of 23 states has sued the Trump administration over its rollbacks to fuel efficiency standards for automakers, citing increases to air pollution that put public health at risk. (The Hill)
A recent report revealed that nearly 400 EPA employees failed to report potential violations of the agency’s scientific integrity policy in 2018, with a majority citing scientific interference by managers and senior leaders. (The Hill)
Action
A federal judge in Montana has invalidated 440 oil and gas leases sold by the Trump administration’s Bureau of Land Management in favor of wildlife habitat conservation. (The Hill)
The Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals has validated lawsuits brought by eight California communities alleging that fossil fuel companies knowingly sold products harmful to the atmosphere and residents. (San Francisco Chronicle)
Health workers from more than 200 organizations have signed a letter to world leaders urging stimulus packages that prioritize a shift to renewable energy and reduced greenhouse gas emissions to protect public health. (The Guardian)
Kicker
Need a summer playlist? Check out this “Hot 10” list of songs about the climate.
