November 8, 2024
Climate Change
Climate Change
As COP29 highlights the need for climate finance, experts emphasize a shift toward evidence-based metrics to maximize the impact of climate funding. A recent Environmental Defense
Black Communities Fight for Cleaner Air in ‘Cancer Alley’
Summary
St. John the Baptist Parish, Louisiana is located in Cancer Alley, an 85-mile industrial area between New Orleans and Baton Rouge that is mostly Black. The EPA's National Air Toxics Assessment Results show that the parish has one of the highest cancer risks from air toxics. In 2016, 82-year-old Robert Taylor founded Concerned Citizens of St. John Parish to hold government and business responsible for air quality in the parish, which encompasses eight municipalities. Taylor and his family live a short walk from one of the 150 chemical and petroleum factories along the corridor, Denka Performance Elastomer, which produces chloroprene waste when making wetsuits, hoses, computer sleeves, and more. In 2010, the EPA listed chloroprene as a possible human carcinogen, and mice and rats have shown neurological, immunological, and respiratory issues. Taylor's group petitioned the EPA and the Organization of American States, filed complaints with the EPA and the Civil Rights Division of the U.S. Department of Justice, marched through Cancer Alley to the governor's mansion in Baton Rouge, and traveled twice to Denka's headquarters in Japan and several times to Washington, DC, to advocate for change. Nearly half of children within a 1.5-kilometer (0.94-mile) radius of the Denka factory reported headaches, nosebleeds, or both in a University Network for Human Rights health survey. More than half of adults reported headaches, dizziness, or lightheadedness. One-third or more of local adults experienced chest discomfort, heart palpitations, wheezing, and eye and skin irritation. Epidemiologist and environmental engineer Vickie Boothe, MPH, compiled data from the Metropolitan Hospital Council of New Orleans and Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) showing that asthma-related emergency room visits among all parish residents are the highest in the state and third highest nationwide. Children living there are hospitalized for asthma at 2.5 times the rate in other parts of Louisiana and the US.
November 8, 2024
Energy Justice
Energy Justice
Key utility commission elections in Arizona, Montana, and Louisiana saw Republican victories, which could influence each state's approach to clean energy. In Arizona, a Republican
November 8, 2024
Climate Change
Climate Change
COP29 in Baku, Azerbaijan, faces major challenges with the recent U.S. election of Donald Trump and global economic strain. Key issues include setting a new climate aid goal, as d
November 7, 2024
Energy Justice
Energy Justice
Despite Donald Trump’s plans to re-exit the Paris Climate Accord, the renewable energy movement appears resilient. Wind and solar power, now the cheapest energy sources worldwide,
November 7, 2024
Environmental Justice
Environmental Justice
In the recent U.S. elections, voters in five states passed significant environmental ballot initiatives, allocating billions for climate resilience and conservation. Minnesota vot
November 7, 2024
Climate Change
Climate Change
A recent analysis reveals that emissions from private jet travel rose 50% from 2019 to 2023, driven by increased use of jets for short trips, some under 50 kilometers. Tracking
November 6, 2024
Climate Change
Climate Change
New research suggests that allowing rainforests to regrow naturally could store significant carbon while restoring biodiversity. The study, published in *Nature*, estimates that 8
November 3, 2024
Human Health
Human Health
Robert F. Kennedy Jr., if given influence over health policy under a Trump administration, could advance certain bipartisan health reforms. His ideas, such as capping drug prices,
November 2, 2024
Climate Change
Climate Change
Hurricanes not only cause physical destruction but also fuel disease outbreaks, as shown in recent studies on post-storm health impacts in the U.S. and Caribbean. Floodwaters from
November 1, 2024
Climate Change
Climate Change
Recurrent Energy, a subsidiary of Canadian Solar, has launched its Liberty Solar project near Houston, Texas, with operations beginning on October 31, 2024. Located in Liberty Cou
October 31, 2024
Climate Change
Climate Change
San Francisco’s Proposition K, set for a vote on November 5, seeks to close a 2-mile section of the Great Highway to cars, converting it into a park and recreation area. Supporter
October 30, 2024
Climate Change
Climate Change
The Biden-Harris administration has allocated $15.3 million to American Climate Corps projects in Philadelphia and Pittsburgh, aimed at reducing carbon emissions and enhancing gre
October 30, 2024
Energy Justice
Energy Justice
Footprint Project, a New Orleans-based nonprofit, is using solar-powered microgrids to replace traditional gas and diesel generators in disaster relief, aiming to cut emissions an
October 30, 2024
Climate Change
Climate Change
Florida’s escalating home insurance crisis, compounded by repeated hurricanes, has left many residents contemplating leaving the state. With average premiums topping $10,000 annua
October 28, 2024
Climate Change
Climate Change
The Biden-Harris administration has allocated over $7.4 million to Texas ports under the EPA’s Clean Ports Program, part of a $3 billion national investment targeting zero-emissio