![garden image](https://www.dailyclimate.org/media-library/garden-image.jpg?id=51212960&width=1200&height=600&quality=85&coordinates=0%2C19%2C0%2C19)
Big Stock Photo
29 January
What the new USDA gardening map tells us about climate change
The USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map was recently updated after more than a decade. It confirms what anyone who’s planted seeds recently already knows.
When Venture Global began building one of the world’s largest liquefied natural gas hubs in Plaquemines Parish, residents found themselves battling water shortages, clogged roads, and overwhelmed emergency services.
In short:
Key quote:
“I don’t care if I have to live in a cardboard box – I want out.”
— Denise Orgeron, resident
Why this matters:
Beyond Plaquemines, this is a story of environmental disruption across the Gulf Coast, where industrial expansion is reshaping both the landscape and the lives of the people who call it home. Health and well-being are on the line, and many are starting to wonder whether the price of progress is simply too high. Read more: LNG production comes with a price, Gulf Coast communities warn.
C-Quest Capital's program to distribute cleaner cookstoves across Mozambique, intended to reduce emissions and improve lives, has fallen short, with many stoves unused or broken, raising concerns about the credibility of carbon credits generated by the project.
In short:
Key quote:
“This is clearly not the best they could do.”
— Victoria Jose Arriscado, cookstove recipient in Mozambique
Why this matters:
The failure of projects like C-Quest’s undermines trust in the carbon credit market, a critical tool in global efforts to combat climate change. Poor execution not only fails to deliver promised environmental benefits but can also worsen conditions for the communities they aim to help.
Related:
As students in Jasper prepare to return after devastating wildfires, experts stress that schools nationwide need better climate crisis response plans.
In short:
Key quote:
"There's even more evidence implicating air quality in such things as cancer, and so it's really important that we recognize that — not just for the kids, but for the teachers that might be exposed to these conditions long term."
— Dr. Joe Vipond, past president of the Canadian Association of Physicians for the Environment
Why this matters:
As climate change drives more extreme weather, schools must prepare to protect students' physical and mental health during and after these events. Without proactive planning, the risks to children’s well-being will only increase.
Vice President Kamala Harris has softened her position on banning fracking, but oil, gas, and environmental advocates remain uncertain about her broader energy policies.
In short:
Key quote:
“There are so many other critical energy policies where the vice president’s perspective remains an open question.”
— Dustin Meyer, head of policy at the American Petroleum Institute
Why this matters:
KamalaHarris’ revised stance reflects a balancing act between economic and environmental concerns. As the election nears, her position could influence key swing states where fracking is economically significant.
Related EHN coverage:
A supercharged February storm brought record rainfall to Los Angeles, testing and validating new infrastructure designed to absorb water and prevent catastrophic flooding.
In short:
Why this matters:
As climate change intensifies storms, cities must adapt by integrating green infrastructure to manage water more effectively and mitigate flood risks.
Read more:
Child marriages in Pakistan are on the rise as extreme weather events like floods force impoverished families to marry off young daughters for financial survival.
In short:
Key quote:
“These are marriages of survival prompted by the monsoon season and the reason behind marrying off a girl is to reduce the feeding costs at home during the climate calamity.”
— Mashooque Birhmani, founder of NGO Sujag Sansar
Why this matters:
As climate change intensifies, vulnerable populations, especially young girls, face growing risks of exploitation. Addressing child marriage requires urgent action to protect the rights and futures of these children.
Related:
North Dakota’s Energy and Environmental Research Center is searching for a new partner for its hydrogen hub after Marathon Petroleum withdrew from a major project, citing changing market conditions.
In short:
Key quote:
“Shifting from cheap and dirty to cleaner comes with a higher price.”
— Frank Wolak, president and CEO of Fuel Cell and Hydrogen Energy Association
Why this matters:
Securing clean hydrogen production is imperative for reducing carbon emissions and supporting sustainable agriculture. The project’s success could position North Dakota as a leader in low-carbon energy.
Related EHN coverage:
The rules as we understand them are changing before our eyes.
“I’m optimistic we can get this right.”
"It's important to make queer and LGBTQ+ people central to research and policies and not add them in as an afterthought."
Peter Dykstra – newsman, provocateur, friend and former publisher of The Daily Climate – passed away Wednesday.
“We know this is a business, and you want to make a profit, but consider the communities next door.”
Currently, the federal data on extreme heat and wildfire smoke itself constitutes a major disaster.