carbon pollution
Newsletter
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European heatwaves in 2023 led to nearly 50,000 deaths due to carbon pollution
New research reveals that carbon pollution and escalating heatwaves caused about 50,000 deaths in Europe in 2023, as the continent warms faster than the global average.
In short:
- The study published in Nature Medicine highlights the devastating impact of heatwaves in Europe, with nearly 50,000 heat-related deaths in 2023, primarily in southern countries like Greece, Italy and Spain.
- Although adaptation measures have helped reduce mortality rates by 80% compared to two decades ago, the number of deaths remains alarmingly high due to rapid warming and increasing heatwaves.
- Scientists emphasize the importance of urban planning, early warning systems and public health measures to mitigate heat risks, alongside individual actions such as staying hydrated and checking on vulnerable individuals.
Key quote:
“Europe is warming at twice the rate of the global average – we can’t rest on our laurels.”
— Elisa Gallo, environmental epidemiologist at ISGlobal and lead author of the study.
Why this matters:
As Europe continues to warm at twice the global average rate, increasing heatwaves pose severe health risks. Effective adaptation strategies and public awareness are critical to preventing future heat-related fatalities.
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Rethinking highway expansion in the face of climate concerns
As the U.S. grapples with climate change, activists are challenging the traditional expansion of highways, highlighting the environmental and community impacts.
In short:
- Activists are pushing against highway expansions, citing increased emissions and harm to communities, especially low-income areas and communities of color.
- A coalition named Freeway Fighters is advocating for a national moratorium on highway expansion, while some states consider stricter emissions targets for new projects.
- Despite the push for electric vehicles, the U.S. transportation sector remains a significant source of carbon emissions, with highway expansions contributing to the problem.
Key quote:
“We don’t often think of it in those terms, but expanding highways is essentially like building new oil pipelines.”
— Ben Crowther, policy director for America Walks
Why this matters:
Highway expansions not only contribute to climate change by increasing carbon emissions but also affect community health and exacerbate social inequalities. Racism and political disenfranchisement underlie transportation inequities.
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Credit: Ted Auch/FracTracker Alliance/Flickr
Louisiana's big step in carbon capture
Republicans and Democrats in fossil fuel-friendly Louisiana, swayed by the promise of state permitting authority and generous tax incentives appear to have come together on carbon capture and storage.
In short:
- Louisiana now has the authority to approve carbon capture projects, a change met with mixed reactions.
- Environmental concerns include potential health risks and the impact on overburdened, predominantly Black and low-income communities.
- The state aims to use this industry to create jobs and promote economic growth, despite skepticism about its long-term benefits and safety.
Key quote:
“We’re building in monitoring and oversight measures to ensure that the state — regardless of who is in the governor’s office — complies” with federal law.
— Michael Regan, EPA Administrator
Visit EHN's energy section for more top news about energy, climate and health.
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Credit: Ted Auch/FracTracker Alliance/Flickr
Oil-friendly Louisiana now has the power to approve carbon capture projects
The EPA is handing over permitting power to the state's regulators. What could go wrong?
Credit: Uladzimir Zuyeu/BigStock Photo ID: 431375807
Microplastics are the not-so-secret ingredient in marine snow
Particles of tiny, degraded plastics coated with biofilms sink to the seafloor, carrying carbon with them.
Capturing carbon with seaweed: What we know, what we don’t, and what we’re totally unsure about
Towering underwater kelp forests are often likened to trees, but seaweed carbon sequestration is far more complex than in soil-bound ecosystems.
Europe just launched the world’s first carbon tariff. Will the United States follow suit?
In the U.S., where climate policy has been highly politicized, the concept of a carbon tariff has recently emerged with rare bipartisan support.
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