22 November 2017
Climate change is making these lizards dumber
A new study suggests that warmer temperatures in the nest may affect these lizards' eggs - making them dimmer when they grow up.
news.nationalgeographic.com
A new study suggests that warmer temperatures in the nest may affect these lizards' eggs - making them dimmer when they grow up.
The Supreme Court has provisionally allowed the Biden administration's Environmental Protection Agency to enforce limits on carbon emissions from power plants, despite ongoing legal challenges from Republican-led states.
In short:
Key quote:
“People across America are suffering through intensifying storms and other disasters because of climate change.”
— Vickie Patton, general counsel, Environmental Defense Fund
Why this matters:
The Supreme Court’s decision to let the EPA temporarily enforce power plant emission limits is a small but tenuous win for the Biden administration in the uphill battle for climate action. The case still faces scrutiny in lower courts and opposition. Read more: Reflections on the Supreme Court’s Decision in West Virginia v. EPA.
Environmental activists around the world face escalating threats, legal retaliation, and violence, with a new report calling for stronger protections as the climate crisis deepens.
Keerti Gopal and Mathilde Augustin report for Inside Climate News.
In short:
Key quote:
“If we are sued into silence, who will fight for the planet, its people and our future? There is no climate solution without climate defenders, and legal threats to climate defenders make it impossible for us to do our work.”
— Alfred Brownell, founder of CliDef
Why this matters:
Environmental defenders play a vital role in protecting ecosystems and promoting sustainable development. Increasing violence and legal crackdowns on these activists threaten both human rights and global efforts to combat climate change.
Read more: Three environmental defenders killed per week on average in 2023
Global electricity use is projected to grow significantly faster than expected, complicating efforts to reduce carbon emissions and limit global warming.
In short:
Key quote:
“With higher energy use, even fast renewables growth doesn’t translate to fast falls in carbon-dioxide emissions.”
— Dave Jones, global insight director at Ember
Why this matters:
As electricity demand climbs, reliance on coal and fossil fuels could persist longer, making it harder to curb global warming. Without faster deployment of renewable energy, nations risk missing their climate goals and worsening the impacts of climate change.
Read more:
The European Union will push to limit global warming to 1.5°C at the upcoming COP29 climate summit but faces criticism for vague timelines on phasing out fossil fuels and funding the transition.
In short:
Key quote:
“The EU's rhetoric on phasing out fossil fuels is welcome, but empty without matching financial support for developing countries.”
— Chiara Martinelli, director of CAN Europe.
Why this matters:
Without concrete steps to phase out fossil fuels, achieving the 1.5°C target could remain elusive. Inadequate financial commitments further threaten climate progress, especially for developing nations already facing severe climate impacts.
Planned blue hydrogen projects in Europe may produce emissions on the scale of Denmark's annual output, raising concerns over their environmental impact as EU officials debate whether to subsidize this technology as a low-carbon solution.
In short:
Key quote:
"We should be very cautious with blue hydrogen. We should not buy into a false sense of complacency that it is a low-carbon fuel."
— Lorenzo Sani, power analyst at Carbon Tracker
Why this matters:
While blue hydrogen is promoted as a cleaner fuel, it still relies heavily on natural gas, raising concerns about methane leaks and CO2 emissions. Without strict regulations, the technology may hinder the transition to truly green energy.
The Small Business Administration has exhausted its disaster loan program funds following Hurricanes Helene and Milton, halting new loans until Congress allocates more money.
In short:
Key quote:
“Speaker Johnson has promised that this and other disaster programs will be replenished when Congress returns, so Americans should continue to apply for these loans. SBA will continue to process applications and will disburse loans as soon as Congress provides the needed funding.”
— President Joe Biden
Why this matters:
Millions of disaster survivors, businesses, and homeowners depend on SBA loans to rebuild. Delays in securing new funding could slow their recovery, compounding the impact of the storms.
The climate movement’s fixation on disinformation overlooks practical challenges communities face in adopting green energy, missing opportunities to drive real change on the ground.
In short:
Why this matters:
Disinformation discourse distracts from addressing legitimate public concerns about climate policies. Engaging communities directly and addressing their doubts about renewable energy could lead to more effective climate solutions.
Related coverage:
Groups are choosing to repair broken lines of communication and visualize the transition for its true potential to mitigate climate change – the common enemy.
Environmental activists are struggling with paranoia, panic attacks, and depression. Now, a growing network of mental health shelters in South America hopes to fill a void in care.
"At some point, they will kill you and kill all of us," environmental leader Yuvelis Natalia Morales Blanco was told.
An EHN analysis finds nearly half were related to flaring.
“Coalitions become this interesting way to create buy-in.”
A plastics treaty for the climate and health must address overproduction of plastics and head off the petrochemical and plastic industry’s planned expansion.