
Photo by Kier in Sight Archives on Unsplash
05 September 2023
Climate change in Iraq: A warning for the rest of the world
Once a verdant and fertile land, even as recently as the 1980s, Iraq becomes more arid each year as desertification spreads.
A prolonged drought on Hawaiʻi’s Big Island is forcing ranchers to sell off large portions of their herds and rethink the future of grass-fed beef in the islands.
In short:
Key quote:
“It’s hard to make grass-fed animals without grass.”
— Guy Galimba, rancher at Kuahiwi Ranch
Why this matters:
Hawaiʻi’s ranches, which occupy nearly a fifth of the state’s land, are vital not just for local beef but for stewarding ecosystems prone to fire and erosion. Drought puts this entire system at risk. When grass disappears, so does the ability to graze livestock, leading to more imports and reduced food security. Rising temperatures, shifting rainfall patterns, and declining reliability of climate cycles like El Niño are creating a volatile situation, with ranchers forced to make hard decisions. And unlike on the mainland, they can’t just truck in replacement cattle or move operations. The deep-rooted paniolo culture, built over centuries, now faces an uncertain future. If these lands dry up, they don’t just stop producing beef — they become more vulnerable to wildfires and development.
Read more from Honolulu Civil Beat's series Hawaii Grown.
Teens in western Massachusetts are joining Greenagers, a local nonprofit, to work outdoors building trails and protecting ecosystems — gaining both job experience and a deeper bond with the natural world.
In short:
Key quote:
“My kid didn’t really want to go outside, or know what to do outside, and now they can’t get enough of it.”
— Will Conklin, founder and executive director of Greenagers
Why this matters:
As more young people report screen fatigue and rising mental health struggles, outdoor work programs like Greenagers offer a counterbalance rooted in physical effort, social connection, and nature. These experiences can foster environmental literacy and a sense of belonging — two qualities increasingly rare in a digital-first world. Studies show that spending time outdoors improves cognitive function, emotional well-being, and even sleep. Programs that combine stewardship and job skills can also offer pathways to future careers in conservation or science. In a warming climate, the ability to understand, protect, and repair natural ecosystems becomes not just useful but urgent, particularly for younger generations who will face its long-term impacts firsthand.
Related: Teen-run conservation group helps Minnesota youth cope with climate stress through action
President Donald Trump approved disaster aid for Texas within days of deadly flooding, but several other states and Native American tribes waited months for similar relief due to new federal review policies.
In short:
Key quote:
“FEMA is built to move fast when lives and infrastructure are on the line. But it can’t do that if our highest levels of elected leadership treat disasters as inconvenient — or worse, as inconsistent with a selected narrative.”
— FEMA official with extensive disaster response experience
Why this matters:
When disaster aid is delayed, people already reeling from floods or fires can find themselves living in unsafe homes or temporary shelters for months. Federal disaster relief often funds essentials like clean water, food, and emergency housing — things states and tribes cannot always cover alone. As extreme weather events grow more frequent and destructive, uneven aid can deepen divides between well-resourced states and those with limited infrastructure. These gaps often hit rural and Indigenous communities hardest, forcing them to navigate bureaucratic hurdles while facing compounding crises such as damaged roads, closed hospitals, or contaminated drinking water. Delays can also slow rebuilding, leaving residents exposed to future storms and heat waves.
Read more: Texas flood response prompts scrutiny of FEMA delays and leadership
Lobbyists for American natural gas companies are pressing European officials to loosen new methane pollution rules as trade negotiations with the Trump administration near an August 1 deadline.
In short:
Key quote:
“It’s very clear that the industry and the State Department are putting a lot of pressure on the EU to just give us a pass on this methane rule and commit to our dirty LNG.”
— Lorne Stockman, research co-director for Oil Change International
Why this matters:
Methane traps more than 80 times as much heat as carbon dioxide over a 20-year period, making leaks from gas wells and pipelines a powerful driver of short-term warming. Europe’s attempt to police methane in imported fuel could ripple far beyond its borders, forcing exporters like the U.S. to confront hidden emissions in their supply chains. The standoff also exposes tensions in energy policy: Europe’s push for cleaner imports collides with America’s desire to expand gas sales amid declining domestic demand and competition from renewables. How these rules are enforced will shape not only trade but also the global fight to rein in climate-warming pollution from the oil and gas sector.
Read more: Methane emissions are rising at a record-breaking pace
Internal records show more than a quarter of U.S. Forest Service firefighting positions are unfilled as wildfires surge nationwide, contradicting agency assurances to lawmakers that staffing is at full strength.
In short:
Key quote:
“There is definitely a lot of tension in the system this season. It’s sort of like that medieval torture device that stretched people – just one more crank.”
— a fire captain with the U.S. Forest Service
Why this matters:
Wildfires are growing larger and more intense as climate change drives hotter, drier conditions across the United States. A shortage of trained firefighters and leaders heightens the danger, leaving communities vulnerable to faster-spreading blazes and threatening the safety of crews on the front lines. Without adequate staffing, fire suppression can lag behind fire growth, forcing mass evacuations and increasing property and ecological damage. These gaps also strain remaining workers, who face longer deployments and greater fatigue, compounding injury risks. The crisis comes as many regions are already grappling with water shortages, degraded air quality from smoke, and mounting costs for disaster recovery and health impacts.
Read more: Wildfire response overhaul sparks backlash as Trump centralizes firefighting authority
The Trump administration announced plans Wednesday to fast-track AI infrastructure projects by easing environmental and land-use rules, igniting opposition from climate advocates.
In short:
Key quote:
“Under this plan, tech giants get sweetheart deals while everyday Americans will see their electricity bills rise to subsidize discounted power for massive AI datacenters.”
— JB Branch, big-tech accountability advocate with Public Citizen
Why this matters:
AI datacenters draw enormous power and water, straining grids and ecosystems in ways that mirror heavy industry. Many facilities cluster near low-income and minority neighborhoods already hit by pollution from highways, refineries, and warehouses, compounding health risks such as asthma and heat stress. As AI adoption surges, its environmental footprint could rival that of older extractive sectors, yet oversight remains limited. Cutting federal safeguards could shift costs — in energy, water scarcity and public health — onto surrounding communities and taxpayers, while accelerating climate emissions at a moment when scientists warn deep cuts are needed to limit global warming.
Read more: Wall Street firms move to buy electric utilities as data centers drive energy demand
National Science Foundation (NSF) workers are blowing the whistle on political interference that’s threatening the agency’s integrity and mission.
In short:
Key quote:
“Unfortunately the damage, the dismantling of NIH, NSF, EPA and others is having already immediate effects on people, and there will be also irreparable long-term effects.”
— Dr. Jesus Soriano, president of the American Federation of Government Employees Local 3403
Why this matters:
Science agencies like the NSF some of the most foundational research in climate science, clean energy, public health, and environmental protection. Undermining that mission chips away at the ability to prepare for the next pandemic or tackle the climate crisis with real data and solutions. It could take years, even decades, to undo the damage.
Read more:
One facility has emitted cancer-causing chemicals into waterways at levels up to 520% higher than legal limits.
“They're terrorizing these scientists because they want to keep them silent.”
"The reality is, we are not exposed to one chemical at a time.”
A new report assesses the administration’s progress and makes new recommendations
“We cannot stand by and allow this to happen. We need to hold this administration accountable.”
“The chemical black box” that blankets wildfire-impacted areas is increasingly under scrutiny.