Public Health

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Scientists unveil a plan to prevent the next pandemic (and save nature at the same time)

by Shannon Osaka, Grist Highlights Preventing forest destruction, ending wildlife trading, and surveillance measures on emerging diseases before they spread are the tactics scientists are hoping will prevent the next pandemic, as published in the nature journal Science Forest destruction, particularly in tropical areas, causes animals to venture into human-populated areas in search of a … Read more

Categories Carbon Sequestration Public Health
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The rise of leaky wells and taxpayer liabilities

Fracking rig operates next to a walking and bike way for residents of Signal Hill drilling into the Los Angeles Oil Field. Photo by Sarah Craig.

A rapidly growing movement is underway in California to call out Governor Gavin Newsom for ramping up approval of fracking and drilling permits. This comes at a time when the effects of fossil fuel pollution on public health is of grave concern and many oil and gas companies may abandon leaky wells because of bankruptcy with falling demand for their products.

Categories Clean Energy Climate Justice Fossil Fuels Public Health
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It will take more than a few cycle lanes to make green, pandemic-proof cities

from Climate Home News Highlights Cities worldwide are looking at ways to reduce car transportation by increasing bike lanes and pedestrian-only areas Carlos Moreno, planning advisor to Paris mayor Anne Hidalgo, says that the transformation of cities needs to align with Paris Agreement targets within the next 10 years Though the pandemic reintroduced many people … Read more

Categories Public Health Transportation
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How wildfires make COVID more dangerous

by Julia Rosen, The New York Times Highlights With wildfire season fast approaching, concerns about fire smoke as it relates to the COVID-19 pandemic are rising Scientists worry that wildfire smoke will have effects for months as a recent study in Montana showed that smoky summers led to more severe flu seasons the following winter People … Read more

Categories Public Health
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What greater good? COVID is unmasking America’s collective action problem

Climate Action Now

by Shannon Osaka, Grist Highlights The failure of Americans to wear protective masks in order to keep themselves and those around them safe highlights a collective action issue the country faces The climate crisis is the world’s most notorious collective action problem because all countries would need to participate and lower emissions all together Political … Read more

Categories Public Health
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California set to require zero-emissions trucks but timeline lags science

by Hiroko Tabuchi, The New York Times Highlights The California Air Resource Board unanimously voted in a new rule requiring more than half of all trucks sold in the state to be zero-emissions by 2035 This rule is expected to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, improve air quality, and establish California as an EV manufacturing hub … Read more

Categories Climate Targets Public Health Transportation
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U.S. states have spent the past 5 years trying to criminalize protest

by Naveena Sadasivam, Grist Highlights Minnesota has recently been the site of continued protests focused on racial equality and police brutality. The state has also seen many protests concerning the building of new fossil fuel infrastructure such as large pipeline projects. Over the past four years, state lawmakers have introduced ten bills criminalizing protests that … Read more

Categories Climate Justice Fossil Fuels Public Health
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Unequal impact: The deep links between racism and climate change

Protesters march against oil pipeline in solidarity with Native People at Standing Rock in 2016 rally by John Duffy

by Beth Gardiner, Yale Environment 360 Highlights Elizabeth Yeampierre, co-chair of Climate Justice Alliance, shares the correlation between the United States’ racist past and the current climate crisis Climate movements typically center around conversation and protecting wildlife while not advocating for the protection of Black and Brown people who are directly impacted by climate change … Read more

Categories Climate Justice Fossil Fuels Public Health
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Deforestation, oil spills, and coronavirus: Crises converge in the Amazon

by Rachel Ramirez, Grist  Highlights Brazil now has the second-highest number of documented COVID-19 cases, with 400,000 confirmed cases and 25,000 deaths According to the Articulation of Indigenous Peoples of Brazil, an indigenous rights organization, the mortality rate among the indigenous population of nearly one million is double that experienced in Brazil overall The entire Amazon region … Read more

Categories Climate Justice Public Health