climate justice
Credit: Steve Jurvetson/Flickr/Photo courtesy of The Metals Company
New Zealand’s treasured seabed faces threat as mining battles intensify
A new law fast-tracking mining approvals in New Zealand threatens to reignite a long-standing battle between the community and a mining company over the protection of the Taranaki seabed.
In short:
- Trans-Tasman Resources has been trying to mine iron sands off the South Taranaki coast, facing fierce opposition from locals for over a decade.
- A pro-mining government is pushing a law that could fast-track mining projects, bypassing lengthy environmental consent processes.
- The local community, including environmental groups and Māori iwi, fears the mining could devastate marine life and local livelihoods.
Key quote:
“We’re pro-business … but this [area] is far too important to wreck – [mining] is going to wreck it for a lot of years.”
— Phil Morgan, former dairy farmer and avid fisher
Why this matters:
As the government weighs economic gain against environmental protection, the battle for New Zealand’s sea-floor riches is more than just a local issue—it’s a global one, with implications for how we value and protect our planet’s natural resources in the face of growing industrial pressures. Read more: Forty years of “just around the corner.”
Keep reading...Show less
Credit: NASA Goddard Space Flight Center/Flickr
Harris could redefine climate leadership in 2024
Vice President Kamala Harris' entry into the presidential race has ignited hope among environmentalists that her administration could push climate action further than President Biden’s, particularly by holding Big Oil accountable and addressing historic injustices.
In short:
- Harris has a history of challenging the oil industry and supporting environmental justice, making her a strong contender for advancing climate policies.
- Her choice of running mate, Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz, strengthens her climate credentials, especially given his success in making Minnesota carbon-free by 2040.
- Despite skepticism from the Trump campaign, Harris’ focus on real-world benefits and her ability to communicate climate issues resonate with many voters.
Key quote:
She has a record of "making sure that Black and brown and low-income communities aren’t disproportionately impacted by corporate pollution."
— Kaniela Ing, national director of The Green New Deal Network
Why this matters:
While she’s likely to continue Biden's pragmatic approach, Kamala Harris's history as a prosecutor and a champion for justice could bring a fresh perspective to the fight against climate change. Read more: Robbie Parks on climate justice and mental health.
Keep reading...Show less
Credit: The National Guard/Flickr
Rural Kentuckians left out of federal flood protection efforts
The federal government’s flood risk assessment tool overlooks rural areas like Eastern Kentucky, leaving communities unprotected and underfunded after devastating floods.
Claire Carlson and Elizabeth Miller report for Climate Central and the Daily Yonder.
In short:
- Kentucky’s rural communities, despite repeated flood disasters, are classified as "low risk" by FEMA, limiting federal support.
- The National Risk Index used by FEMA undervalues rural areas due to lower financial assets, leading to biased disaster funding.
- Local leaders and residents are advocating for better federal support and preparing for future disasters with limited resources.
Key quote:
“There’s a bias against, I think, rural communities, especially in the flood dataset.”
— Chad Berginnis, Executive Director of the Association of State Floodplain Managers
Why this matters:
The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) labels these areas as “low risk” for flooding, not because the floods are rare, but because the financial stakes are lower compared to urban centers. In simpler terms, these communities are too poor to warrant the full federal safety net. Read more: Rising waters: Aging levees, climate change and the challenge to hold back the Ohio River.
Keep reading...Show less
Credit: Alessandro Biascioli/BigStock Photo ID: 429026054
Indigenous youth are leading the charge in climate lawsuits.
Across the globe, Indigenous youth are taking governments and companies to court, fighting for the future of their land and culture against the devastating impacts of climate change.
In short:
- The Lāhainā wildfire in 2023, fueled by climate change and colonialism, destroyed Kaliko's home, pushing her to join a successful lawsuit to decarbonize Hawaii's transportation system.
- Indigenous youth globally are increasingly leading climate lawsuits, challenging governments and corporations to protect their lands and traditions.
- These legal battles, while often difficult, represent a powerful way for young people to transform grief and anger into action.
Key quote:
"This feeling of loss and grief of experiencing life with climate change — it impacts so many of our traditional ways."
— Beze Gray, Aamjiwnaang First Nation
Why this matters:
For indigenous people climate change is about more than rising sea levels or shrinking ice caps—it's about the loss of ancestral lands, the disruption of ecosystems they've relied on for generations, and the deep cultural connections that are being severed. Read more: Youth activism alone cannot save us: A case for intergenerational environmental coalitions.
Keep reading...Show less
Newsletter
Poverty greatly increases risk of death during heat waves
A new study reveals that low-income individuals in British Columbia are more than twice as likely to die during extreme heat events due to lack of resources and pre-existing health conditions.
In short:
- Research from the BC Centre for Disease Control shows people on income assistance are 2.5 times more likely to die in heat waves, compounded by health issues like schizophrenia and COPD.
- During the 2021 heat dome, temperatures soared to record highs, highlighting that chronic diseases combined with poverty increased mortality rates.
- To mitigate risks, British Columbia has distributed 15,000 free air conditioners to low-income households, aiming to distribute 28,000 units total.
Key quote:
“No one is at risk from extreme heat if they have safe indoor temperatures.”
— Sarah Henderson, scientific director, BC Centre for Disease Control
Why this matters:
Heat waves are becoming more frequent and intense due to climate change, disproportionately affecting vulnerable populations. Addressing this issue requires targeted policies to ensure safe living conditions and reduce health disparities in low-income communities.
Related:
Keep reading...Show less
Top Story
Credit: Divya777/Flickr
Democratic VP prospects and their climate stances
As Kamala Harris secures her position as the Democratic nominee, her choice for VP could influence her climate agenda, with potential candidates ranging from a senator confronting extreme heat to a transportation secretary pushing for green infrastructure.
In short:
- Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro has pushed for renewable energy and economic revitalization but remains ambivalent about fracking.
- Kentucky Governor Andy Beshear acknowledges climate change but navigates a Republican-led legislature, balancing fossil fuel use with renewable energy growth.
- Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg emphasizes evolving transportation policies to address climate impacts and promote electric vehicle infrastructure.
Key quote:
"Our climate is evolving. Our policies and our technology and our infrastructure have to evolve accordingly, too."
— Pete Buttigieg, U.S. Transportation Secretary
Why this matters:
The VP pick could shape national climate policy at a time when climate change impacts are intensifying, affecting everything from energy infrastructure to public health and environmental justice. Read more: In the race for clean energy, the US is both a leader and a laggard — here’s how.
Keep reading...Show less
Credit: The National Guard/U.S. Army National Guard photo by Staff Sgt. Matthew A. Foster/Flickr
Charging climate polluters with homicide
Climate experts and legal advocates are targeting major polluters like TotalEnergies, seeking to hold them criminally accountable for deaths caused by extreme weather events exacerbated by climate change.
In short:
- Elisa's mother died in a historic flood in France, prompting a lawsuit against TotalEnergies, accusing the company of involuntary manslaughter.
- The case is bolstered by attribution science, which links specific climate disasters to emissions from fossil fuel companies.
- Advocates argue that civil lawsuits haven't led to sufficient change, and criminal charges might push for more urgent action.
Key quote:
“The main objective of our litigation is really to hold [TotalEnergies] responsible for past decisions and past and current and future impacts of climate change.”
— Hadrien Goux, French nonprofit Bloom Association
Why this matters:
Legal and scientific minds are teaming up, using cutting-edge climate science to argue that these deaths aren't just tragic accidents but preventable outcomes of corporate negligence. It's a legal revolution with the power to shake up the entire industry and finally put human lives at the center of the climate conversation. Read more: Robbie Parks on climate justice and mental health.
Keep reading...Show less
ORIGINAL REPORTING
MOST POPULAR
CLIMATE
