News items for May 23, 2019

Hand Covered in Crude Oil by Rainforest Action Network used under CC BY-NC 2.0

• 1. Why Big Oil has started backing a carbon tax

  It’s clear oil companies want a carbon tax done on their terms. They’re eager to avoid something like the Green New Deal, which would rapidly transition away from fossil fuels and fossil fuel infrastructure.

  Grist Carbon Policy, Carbon pricing, Carbon Tax

• 2. How some of America’s richest towns fight affordable housing

  Invisible walls created by local zoning boards and the state government block affordable housing and, by extension, the people who need it.

  ProPublica Affordable housing, Upzoning

• 3. Views: America’s cities are unlivable. Blame wealthy liberals

  The demise of a California housing measure shows how progressives abandon progressive values in their own backyards.

  New York Times Affordable housing, Upzoning

• 4. Listen: ‘Deceptive solution’ or bridge fuel?

  In this second segment in a three-part series, environment reporter Bellamy Pailthorp talks with Tarika Powell, researcher for Seattle-based Sightline Institute, about what Powell calls deceptive arguments in favor of LNG.

  

• 5. Bankrupt coal company funded climate denialism

  Court documents show Cloud Peak Energy gave contributions to leading think tanks that attack the link between fossil fuels and climate change, and to several conservative advocacy groups that attempt to undermine policies for renewable energy.

  The Intercept Cloud Peak Energy, Coal, Energy, Thin Green Line

• 6. Amazon workers demand Bezos act on climate crisis

  Amazon’s chief executive officer, Jeff Bezos, refused to address employees demanding the company take action on the climate crisis at its annual shareholder meeting on Wednesday.

  The Guardian Climate Action

• 7. Tackling housing inequality through upzoning

  Cities are gaining political traction for policies that once seemed out of the question.

  City Lab Housing, Land Use, Upzoning, Urban Planning, Urbanism, Zoning

• 8. Indigenous pipeline protester interrupts Trudeau

  Will George of the Tsleil-Waututh Nation in North Vancouver stood up and called Justin Trudeau a liar and a weak leader. “Climate leaders don’t build pipelines.”

  Vancouver Sun Fossil Fuel, Indigenous Activism, Justin Trudeau, Thin Green Line, Trans Mountain Pipeline

• 9. Are we starting to see progress toward Vision Zero?

  The graph, compiled by Streetsblog, shows the rate of change in traffic fatalities using 2010 as a baseline.

  Streetsblog Cars

• 10. Anchorage adopts Climate Action Plan

  More than 100 pages, the document sets ambitious goals, like reducing the city’s carbon emissions by 80% in about 30 years. But it’s primarily a set of non-binding proposals to guide municipal entities toward more environmentally friendly policies.

  Alaska Public Media Alaska, Climate Action, Climate Change, Climate Crisis, Climate Policy, Energy

More News from May 23, 2019

• Drowning in 414 million pieces of plastic

  Stretches of beach littered with an estimated 414 million pieces of garbage, mostly buried underneath the sand. Almost all of it consisted of plastic items like straws, toothbrushes and shoes, according to a study published last week.

  Alaska Dispatch News Plastic, Plastics, Pollution, Waste

• EPA looks to cut research on children’s health risks

  Research projects that led to discoveries about how environmental hazards affect children are in jeopardy

  Associated Press Air pollution, Environment, Health, Pollution

• Jordan Cove re-evaluates spending while waiting for permits

  Pembina has decided to limit spending on the $10 billion project while it waits for responses

  The World Link Fossil Fuel, Jordan Cove, LNG, pembina, Thin Green Line