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Gov. Newsom leads on public health, except when it comes to the oil industry

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.

By Rosanna Esparza and Ashley Hernandez, The Sacramento Bee ACTION ALERT: Send Governor Newsom a message now to reverse his decision and halt fracking. Highlights California Governor Gavin Newsom approved 24 new fracking permits for the state in the midst of shelter-at-home mandates as the COVID-19 pandemic rages on. Though Newsom is doing great at … Read more

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Climate change won’t stop for the coronavirus pandemic

By Abrahm Lustgarten, ProPublica Highlights Inevitable climate-change fueled catastrophes such as wildfires and hurricanes will increase the challenges presented by the COVID-19 pandemic. Climate change has amplified the threats of natural disasters over the years and will prove disastrous as the pandemic rages on worldwide The U.S. National Climate Assessment warned that scientists and officials … Read more

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Trump’s move to suspend enforcement of environmental laws is a lifeline to the oil industry

By Marianne Levelle, Inside Climate News Highlights The Trump administration suspended U.S. environmental laws due to calls for help from the American Petroleum Institute. The suspension of the rules will ultimately lead to more pollution, making more people in frontline communities susceptible to health risks, including COVID-19.  The Environmental Protection Agency announced a policy that … Read more

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Air pollution linked to far higher Covid-19 death rates, Harvard study finds

by Damian Carrington, The Guardian Highlights New research from the Harvard TH Chan School of Public Health suggests that air pollution is linked to higher death rates for people that have contracted COVID-19 compared to those living in areas with cleaner air. Living in a polluted city in the past has an effect on death … Read more

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Renewable energy industry eyes next coronavirus stimulus bill

by Ben Geman, Axios Highlights The renewable energy sector is advocating for aid during the next phase of COVID-19 stimulus relief as projects are canceled,  layoffs widen, supply chains are disrupted, and companies risk missing deadlines to use tax credits The first bills were mainly emergency rescue and stabilization plans, but the next phase could … Read more

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UBS says investors should prefer green bonds over regular debt

By David Caleb Mutua, Bloomberg Highlights According to UBS Global Wealth’s head of credit, Thomas Wacker, sustainable bonds are a “defensive opportunity” that credit investors should favor over non-green, investment-grade corporate notes The fossil fuel industry has no presence in the green bond market and are feeling the impacts of the turning economy due to … Read more

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Building a clean, affordable, resilient, equitable, and safe energy system to meet this moment

Rooftop PV installation on the Forest County Potawatomi Tribe administration building

by Janina Turner and Stacey Meinzen As we reel from the COVID-19 pandemic and think about the longer-term consequences, many of us are likely wondering how things will be in the fall. Many of us remember the Public Safety Power Shut-offs of 2019 that meant no electricity for refrigeration, heat, the internet, and in some … Read more

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As coronavirus infects markets, sustainable funds prove their mettle

by Naveena Sadasivam, Grist Highlights: Clean energy-based investments, known as Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) funds, are performing better than fossil fuel backed investments during the current financial decline. ESG funds were not considered safe investments by naysayers, but the hits taken throughout the year are not nearly as bad as their fossil fuel counterparts  $30 … Read more

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Coronavirus: ‘Nature is sending us a message’, says UN environment chief

Suburbia_by_David_Shankbone

by Damian Carrington, The Guardian Highlights Destruction of wildlife and the climate crisis is hurting humanity. Covid-19 a ‘warning from nature, according to the UN’s environment chief, Inger Andersen. To prevent further outbreaks, both climate change and the destruction of the natural world for farming, mining and housing have to end, as both drive wildlife … Read more