News items for April 22, 2024
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1. ‘Every part of this soil is sacred’
We must restore respect for our shared home.
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2. Carbon dioxide levels have passed a new milestone
There’s 50% more carbon dioxide in the air than before the Industrial Revolution.
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3. Is Portland still a bike-and-transit pacesetter?
The answer is yes, but not like it used to be. The number of people who bike or use public transit in Portland has nose-dived over the last decade, and while it’s slowly building back up, it’s not anywhere near the city’s heyday.
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4. Seattle City Council rejects affordable housing development bill
The pilot program would’ve offered incentives to develop mixed-use buildings while partnering with community organizations.
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5. The Recovering America’s Wildlife Act is still a bipartisan unicorn
If passed, RAWA would secure an annual $1.3 billion for wildlife agencies and $97.5 million for conservation work by tribal nations. Since it was first introduced in 2021, it has been backed not only by environmental groups but by corporations. In a polarized Congress, the bill has earned unusually broad bipartisan support.
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6. Youth call for free public transit across BC
What if public transit for youth was a public good? The Transit for Teens campaign aims to make that a reality across British Columbia.
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7. Indigenous peoples rush to stop ‘false climate solutions’
The next international climate meeting, COP29, could make carbon markets permanent. Indigenous leaders are calling for a moratorium before it’s too late.
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8. Air quality data is now widely available. What should communities do with it?
With air quality sensors now costing as little as $100, some communities are hoping for more federal guidance on how to use them to support decision-making and regulation.
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9. The EPA is cracking down on PFAS. But not in fertilizer
Farmers spread treated human waste on their crops. It’s full of forever chemicals.
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10. On Earth Day, Biden is launching a new site to apply for the Climate Corps
“For young people of all backgrounds, no matter their qualification, no matter their zip code, there will now be pathways and positions that they can fill that help them gain the skills to succeed in the clean energy economy.”
More News from April 22, 2024
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We love the ocean, but can’t agree on what it means to protect it
An early Biden administration analysis suggests the country is meeting a key marine conservation goal, but ocean advocates warn against including areas where fishing is allowed.
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The Supreme Court takes on homelessness
Weighing the legality of camping obscures the real issue, which is how, in a nation of roughly 650,000 unhoused people, the federal, state and local governments can make sure there are enough beds for people to sleep in. Forcing unhoused people to the next town does not create housing that is affordable or available.
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Climate solutions do exist. These 6 experts detail what they look like
We asked six climate scholars for the questions they ask themselves whenever they come across something claiming to be a climate solution.