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
FBI Documents Reveal Early Monitoring of Native Activists in Anti-Pipeline Movement
Summary
Newly released FBI documents obtained through a Freedom of Information Act request indicate that the U.S. government initiated a decade-long campaign against the anti-pipeline movement, specifically monitoring Native activists involved in protests against the Keystone XL pipeline. The FBI’s Minneapolis office launched a counterterrorism assessment in February 2012, a year earlier than previously known, focusing on actions in South Dakota. The documents suggest that, before pipelines like Keystone and Dakota Access gained national attention, the federal government was formulating a broad law enforcement strategy to counter civil disobedience against fossil fuel extraction. The FBI characterized Native American groups as a potential threat, citing their involvement in constitutionally protected activities as potential sources of criminal activity. The State Department also collected records on activists, revealing an unprecedented domestic surveillance network. Activists and attorneys argue that the government's response to the Keystone XL campaign laid the groundwork for the militarized reaction to subsequent environmental and social justice movements.
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