News items for September 17, 2021

Oil drilling. Photo: @evat via Twenty20.

• 1. Fossil fuel subsidies are one of Canada’s biggest climate conundrums

  In 2009, when Canada and other G20 nations first pledged to tackle fossil fuel subsidies, a collective promise was made to do away with “inefficient” subsidies. But the term inefficient has never been defined, allowing successive governments wiggle room.

  The Narwhal Environmental policy, Fossil fuels

• 2. Yes, other countries are making more progress on housing: Case 4

  Bold strokes against residential lockdown.

  Sightline Institute Housing Shortage, hyperlocalism

• 3. Why civil rights and protecting the planet go hand-in-hand

  When environmental disasters strike, those already discriminated against can be hit hardest. But marginalized communities can also set a model for resilience.

  DW Civil rights, Environmental Justice

• 4. Drought challenges Central OR farmers low on water

  Oregon farmers who grow 60% of the world’s carrot seed have been without irrigation water for weeks as drought ravages the American West

  Oregon Public Broadcasting Drought, Farming

• 5. The environment question

  The core reality is that, in the absence of any other change, the electrification of automobiles is not going to have any appreciable impact on the fiscal solvency, capacity, and prosperity of a city, town, or neighborhood.

  Strong Towns Electric Vehicles, Urban Design

• 6. The climate crisis inequality all the Canadian parties are ignoring

  Marginalized and racialized people are hurt the most. Four experts weigh in on what politicians should be promising.

  The Tyee Climate impacts, First Nations

• 7. Climate change increases rare earth elements in the Snake River

  The Snake River could be heading for troubled waters: According to a recent study, climate change-driven changes in its hydrology are releasing more rare earth elements. It’s a finding that could have broader implications for water quality across the West.

  High Country News Climate Change, Water Quality

• 8. Growing uncertainty in the Central Valley

  California produces much of America’s food—and now a drought and a pandemic have put the system on edge.

  New Yorker Food production, Pandemic

• 9. Envisioning a car-free Aurora Avenue in Seattle

  Critics might say that such a change is impossible, but cities the world over are re-thinking mobility in the midst of changing work patterns due to Covid, our worsening climate crisis, and the pedestrian safety crisis.

  The Urbanist Car-Less, Traffic

• 10. 9 questions about the Civilian Climate Corps, answered

  Lawmakers want to put thousands of young people to work to fight climate change. Here’s what that could look like.

  Washington Post Climate Action, Environmental policy

More News from September 17, 2021

• Low oxygen levels off Pacific Northwest coast more troubling than ever

  The Northwest for two decades has had a “hypoxia season” that begins in mid-summer, said OSU marine ecologist Francis Chan, and climate change is making those low-oxygen seasons worse.

  The World Link Hypoxia, Oceans

• An outdated grid has created a solar power economic divide

  Utilities have upgraded the infrastructure for rooftop power in richer neighborhoods, but low-income areas don’t have the same capacity.

  Wired Inequality, Solar power