By Jeremiah Budin, The Cool Down “The technologies are there, and it is a matter [of] whether relevant stakeholders will be aware of the seriousness of this issue.” Landfills are major contributors to the overheating of our planet, releasing massive amounts of methane into the atmosphere. However, a new study suggests that not only can landfills be …
The Largest US Dam-Removal Effort to Date has Begun
By Alka Tripathy-Lang, Ars Technica As US dams age, removal is always an option—and it can be done well. Wending its way from the Olympic Mountains to the Strait of Juan de Fuca, Washington’s Elwha River is now free. For about century, the Elwha and Gilnes Canyon Dams corralled these …
China Proposes New Target for Better Air Quality
Reuters People cross a street in the Sanlitun shopping district on a polluted day, in Beijing, China, November 6, 2021. REUTERS/Thomas Peter/File Photo BEIJING, Jan 11 (Reuters) – China has proposed new targets for improved air quality as part of its green and low-carbon development, state news agency Xinhua reported …
From Austin to Anchorage, U.S. Cities Opt to Ditch Their Off-Street Parking Minimums
By Lauren Wamsley, NPR The city council in Austin, Texas recently proposed something that could seem like political Kryptonite: getting rid of parking minimums. Those are the rules that dictate how much off-street parking developers must provide — as in, a certain number of spaces for every apartment and business. …
Map Shows Nation’s Most Extreme Weather Disasters that Hit in 2023
By Jack Lee, San Francisco Chronicle The United States contended with 28 billion-dollar disasters in 2023 — the most recorded in one calendar year, according to a new report by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. The tally breaks the previous record of 22, set in 2020. The total cost for the disasters …
These ‘Tiny Forests’ are Popping Up in Cities around the Country – and They’re Having a Shocking Effect on Communities
By Leo Collis, The Cool Down Some say the best things come in small packages, and that might be true when it comes to these tiny forests. Around the world, many nations are creating small forests of native plants to encourage biodiversity and to bring a number of benefits to local residents …
State Makes History With its First Offshore Wind Project: ‘The Next Chapter in Our Great History’
By Jeremiah Budin, The Cool Down The exact size and expected energy output of the two plants have yet to be revealed. Louisiana is set to break a clean energy milestone in the United States, launching the first two offshore wind farms in state waters. The projects, known as Cajun Wind and Diamond Offshore …
In Coastal Communities, Sea Level Rise May Leave Some Isolated
By Tatyana Wooodall, Phys.Org Number of coastal communities where it is predicted that only Black (Red), only Hispanic (Green), or both communities (Blue) will be disproportionately impacted by sea level rise. Amid the threat of dramatic sea level rise, coastal communities face unprecedented dangers, but a new study reveals that …
New Scorecard on U.S. Food Companies Trapped on the Pesticide Treadmill
By Green Money Global Food companies fail to address pesticide risk, reliance, and growing harm. As You Sow recently released its third “Pesticides in the Pantry” report, ranking 17 major food manufacturing companies on their progress in pesticide reduction and the adoption of regenerative agricultural practices. Compared to As You Sow’s 2021 report, the …
US National Park Service to Offer 6 Days of Free Entry at All Sites in 2024
By Forrest brown, CNN What could be better than five days of free entry all US National Park Service sites? Well, you’ll get six chances in 2024. The NPS has upped the ante for next year by bringing in an additional day that celebrates Juneteenth. The free entry includes all 63 …