11-4: Five quick things for your Saturday

Winter's coming. We all have chores to do. Let's make this simple: Five quick hits to keep you up to date on our environment and health.



Gov't climate report at odds with Trump and his team

Coverage of the federal climate assessment takes Trump to task:

AP's Seth Borenstein:

As President Donald Trump touts new oil pipelines and pledges to revive the nation's struggling coal mines, federal scientists are warning that burning fossil fuels is already driving a steep increase in the United States of heat waves, droughts and floods.

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Drop us a line at feedback@ehn.org ("Attaboys" always welcome).

Three top stories for Saturday

  1. New Jersey sets new PFOA level below Vermont standard. New Jersey last week set its safe drinking water standard for the chemical PFOA at 14 parts per trillion, 30 percent lower than Vermont's standard. (Vermont Public Radio)
  2. Louisville neighborhoods use trees to fend off heart disease. The poets were right all along: Trees are a drug, in ways marvelous and often misunderstood. We underestimate at our peril the powers of a walk in the woods. (USA Today) (thanks to Univ. of Louisville's Alex Carll for pointing us to that story)
  3. Will the bird that dodged a bullet pay the price of peace? "Armed conflict is good for preventing deforestation." (Mike Shanahan, Under the Banyan)

One must-read opinion

As ice shelves crumble and the Twitter president threatens to pull out of the Paris accord, author Jonathan Franzen reflects on the role of the writer in time of crisis (The Guardian)

One beautiful thing

Those are my kids (and dog), at 6:30 a.m. on a Saturday. Eleven inches of snow fell overnight in Bozeman, Montana.

It's ski swap weekend here, and people are already to find a sweet deal on winter gear. I told my kids we weren't moving the car until the driveway was clear.

Amazing how much energy a motivated kid has.

Today's gift in Bozeman is reminder for us all: Get outside and enjoy the weather. It's beautiful out there.

A view of a deer standing in a forest

How climate change could affect hunting and fishing in Georgia

Climate change is altering Georgia ecosystems, threatening fish, deer, and turkey populations for outdoorsmen.
A couple of fishermen bring net into a boat

Facing a super El Niño, fisheries demand disaster relief reform

Fishers nationwide lack insurance protections, while late federal relief forces many of them out of business.
A view of a fleet of fishing boats at a dock

The Louisiana fishermen refusing to go down with the ship

Cameron, Louisiana, used to be the largest exporter of seafood in the U.S. Now, it’s one of the largest exporters of liquefied natural gas.
A night time view of the Brooklyn Bridge with the city in the background

Newsom counters Trump's stance on climate issues while in New York

California Gov. Gavin Newsom has met with world and business leaders to advance climate action and clean energy in New York.
Two energy workers on a roof shaking hands with solar panels in the background

Trump cut their climate jobs. This secretive network found them new ones

Climate Reserve has been quietly building a lifeline for America's lost climate workforce, one job at a time.
A worker inspecting an oil well in a snowy location

Manitoba’s orphan wells, explained

The province has far fewer orphan wells than other western provinces. Is that the result of successful regulators — or a lack of robust oversight?
A man with a hard hat and neon vest on, posing in front of an oil refinery

Germany to abandon fossil fuels by 2045. How does the rest of Europe compare?

Germany has become the third country in Europe to unveil a national roadmap away from fossil fuels. But experts say targets still 'fall short'.
From our Newsroom
Multiple Houston-area oil and gas facilities that have violated pollution laws are seeking permit renewals

Multiple Houston-area oil and gas facilities that have violated pollution laws are seeking permit renewals

One facility has emitted cancer-causing chemicals into waterways at levels up to 520% higher than legal limits.

Regulators are underestimating health impacts from air pollution: Study

Regulators are underestimating health impacts from air pollution: Study

"The reality is, we are not exposed to one chemical at a time.”

Pennsylvania governor Josh Shapiro speaks with the state flag and American flag behind him.

Two years into his term, has Gov. Shapiro kept his promises to regulate Pennsylvania’s fracking industry?

A new report assesses the administration’s progress and makes new recommendations

silhouette of people holding hands by a lake at sunset

An open letter from EPA staff to the American public

“We cannot stand by and allow this to happen. We need to hold this administration accountable.”

wildfire retardants being sprayed by plane

New evidence links heavy metal pollution with wildfire retardants

“The chemical black box” that blankets wildfire-impacted areas is increasingly under scrutiny.

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