News items for August 10, 2020
Vancouver bikeways by Paul Krueger used under CC BY-NC 2.0
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1. Metro Vancouver greenways plan maps out 830 km of paths
The 30-year plan maps out a network of 830 kilometres of regional greenways, 52 per cent, or 480 kilometres of which are in operation.
Vancouver Sun
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2. British Columbia’s looming extinction crisis
Canada’s westernmost province markets itself as ‘Super, Natural, BC,’ but more than 2,000 species of animals and plants are at risk of disappearing, and unlike six other provinces, BC still has no endangered species law.
The Narwhal
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3. WA to create fund for undocumented workers hurt by Covid
Undocumented workers who lost income because of the coronavirus pandemic, but were passed over for federal assistance, will finally be getting some help in Washington state, thanks to a new $40 million relief fund.
Crosscut
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4. New program allows Indigenous inmates to grow plants for spiritual use
A special plot of land has been set aside at the Washington State Penitentiary in Walla Walla. It is sacred ground that has been blessed by tribal leaders from the community outside. And it’s been devoted to a work program that allows Indigenous inmates to grow medicinal plants needed in traditional ceremonies, such as sweat lodges.
KNKX
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5. Seattle’s Latino community calls for action amid high virus rates
While Latinos are 13% of Washington’s population, they comprise 44% of the state’s positive COVID-19 cases.
Seattle Times
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6. Parks combat summer heat, but not with equal access
A new report from the Trust for Public Land (TPL), a nonprofit focused on protecting parks and nature, revealed that public parks serving nonwhite communities are on average half the size of those serving majority-white populations, and serve five times as many people per acre.
Grist
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7. Black people in Portland struggle to be heard amid protests
Chaotic and often violent protests against racial injustice have topped the headlines for days, but lost in the shouting are the voices of many Black Portland residents themselves, and their feelings about the unrest are nuanced and diverse.
Seattle Times
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8. Quarantine will have ‘negligible’ impact on climate crisis
Drop in emissions was a blip, say scientists, and a green recovery is vital to halt global heating.
The Guardian
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9. Why climate change will make your bad commute worse
Weather causes approximately 15 percent of congestion, according to the Federal Highway Administration. With climate change escalating, scientists expect extreme weather events such as heat waves, snow storms, hurricanes and floods to increase in both frequency and intensity, gridlock will only grow.
Washington Post
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10. The Bakken boom goes bust
More than a decade ago, fracking took off in the Bakken shale of North Dakota and Montana, but the oil rush that followed has resulted in major environmental damage, risky oil transportation without regulation, pipeline permitting issues, and failure to produce profits.
DeSmogBlog
More News from August 10, 2020
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How Vancouver plans to cool down the hottest parts of the city
A horde of cyclists and electric vehicle drivers will soon take to the streets of Vancouver to map out the hottest and coolest parts of the city, a move that will help inform future plans to mitigate rising temperatures.
CBC British Columbia
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These old laws could be standing in the way of your state’s carbon cuts
Some states with legally binding targets to reduce their carbon emissions to net-zero have yet to fully grapple with outdated policies that favor fossil fuels.
Grist
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Global warming’s costly and dangerous impact on military bases in AK
In Alaska, it is not only wildlife and native communities that are deeply affected by warming temperatures, but also Cold War-era US military bases.
Seattle Times