Hurricane Helene shifts climate change into focus for 2024 campaign
Hurricane Helene's destruction has thrust climate change into the spotlight of the presidential race, with both parties now debating the role of extreme weather and environmental policies.
In short:
- The hurricane killed at least 180 people, leaving thousands without essential services in the Carolinas, Georgia and Florida.
- President Biden and Vice President Harris have connected Helene's devastation to climate change, calling for stronger action, while Republicans argue for increased U.S. energy production.
- The storm's role in debates over the climate crisis marks a shift in the presidential campaign's focus, previously centered on other issues.
Key quote:
“Nobody can deny the impact of the climate crisis any more. They must be brain dead if they do.”
— President Joe Biden
Why this matters:
Hurricanes like Helene are growing stronger due to climate change, posing a real threat to public safety and the economy. As extreme weather increases, the debate over energy and environmental policy will shape the future of disaster resilience.
Related: Hurricane Helene's catastrophic flooding linked to climate change, says FEMA
Senator Whitehouse puts climate change on budget committee’s agenda
Heritage Foundation targets federal agencies with a flood of FOIA requests
The Heritage Foundation has submitted over 50,000 Freedom of Information Act requests to federal agencies, seeking information on employees and communications that could be politically sensitive, especially for a potential Trump administration.
In short:
- The Heritage Foundation has inundated agencies like the Department of the Interior and Homeland Security with Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) requests, focusing on key terms such as "climate change" and "diversity."
- The think tank is also pushing a plan to fire tens of thousands of civil servants if Trump regains office, aiming to overhaul the federal workforce.
- Government officials worry that this volume of requests disrupts agency functions and could intimidate public employees.
Key quote:
“It does ring some alarm bells as to whether this is part of an effort to either intimidate government employees or, ultimately, to fire them and replace them with people who are going to be loyal to a leader that they may prefer.”
— Noah Bookbinder, president and CEO of Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington
Why this matters:
The unprecedented volume of FOIA requests risks undermining the efficiency of federal agencies and may be part of broader efforts to reshape the U.S. government workforce to align with partisan goals.
Read more: Republicans’ growing distrust in science is a danger to public health
Trump's approach to disaster aid was influenced by politics, say former aides
A former White House adviser has claimed Donald Trump hesitated to provide wildfire disaster aid to California in 2018 because the state leans Democratic.
In short:
- Former Trump official Mark Harvey said Trump resisted approving California wildfire aid until he saw that some affected areas had Trump supporters.
- Trump allegedly used disaster response to favor areas that supported him politically, while delaying aid to those that did not, including Puerto Rico.
- FEMA's former administrator called for disaster response to be free from political influence, stating it should prioritize people over politics.
Key quote:
“You would hope that in major disasters like this, you could get the politics out of the disaster, and you would hope that we could focus on the people that are hurting.”
— Brock Long, former Trump FEMA Administrator
Why this matters:
When disaster aid becomes a political bargaining chip, it erodes trust in government to protect people regardless of party affiliation. Read more: Ripe for disaster declarations — heat, wildfire smoke and death data.
A marine biologist calls for urgent global action on plastic pollution
Richard Thompson, who first identified microplastics, warns that without international agreement on a global treaty, plastic pollution could triple by 2060.
In short:
- Microplastics, discovered by Thompson in 2004, are now found in ecosystems worldwide, posing threats to marine life and humans.
- Plastic production has doubled in the last two decades, and without action, it could triple by 2060, causing irreversible environmental harm.
- Thompson stresses the need for safer plastic designs and calls for strong global regulations at the upcoming treaty talks in South Korea.
Key quote:
“Nobody’s saying there’s no safe way to use plastics. It’s just that we need to start making them to be safer and more sustainable than we have done so far.”
— Richard Thompson, professor at the University of Plymouth
Why this matters:
Without a bold international agreement, we'll keep flooding the planet with a material that ecosystems and our bodies simply can’t handle. And while the environmental damage is obvious, the health impacts—from polluted air to microplastics entering our food chain—are only beginning to emerge. Read more: “Plastic will overwhelm us:” Scientists say health should be the core of global plastic treaty.
Flooding from Hurricane Helene leaves North Carolina mountain residents isolated and at risk
As floodwaters recede in North Carolina's mountain areas, residents face growing health risks due to contaminated water, power outages and blocked access to hospitals.
In short:
- Flooding damaged water treatment systems, leaving many residents without clean water or power for weeks.
- Mold, contaminated water and mosquito-borne diseases are growing concerns for health, especially for vulnerable populations.
- Road closures are preventing access to essential healthcare, with many residents stranded and unable to get vital treatments.
Key quote:
"People need water for drinking, preparing food, cleaning, bathing, even flushing toilets. Contact with contaminated water can cause serious illnesses."
— Jennifer Horney, professor of epidemiology, University of Delaware
Why this matters:
Prolonged exposure to unsafe water and disrupted healthcare services after extreme weather events can lead to serious public health crises. Addressing these issues quickly is vital to preventing long-term health impacts for vulnerable communities.
Related: Hurricane Helene devastates Asheville, a once climate-resilient city
Hurricanes’ hidden death toll lingers long after the storm ends
A new study reveals that tropical storms cause thousands of deaths over the years following the event, far exceeding the immediate death toll.
In short:
- Research shows tropical storms result in an additional 7,000-11,000 deaths over 15 years, more than initially expected.
- Long-term impacts like stress, financial strain and disrupted healthcare contribute to mortality years after the storm.
- Communities hit frequently, like Florida, suffer the most, with Black populations disproportionately affected.
Key quote:
“When things are invisible, politicians can’t respond to it, communities can’t fix it.”
— Solomon Hsiang, professor of global environmental policy at the Doerr School of Sustainability at Stanford University
Why this matters:
While hurricane deaths typically focus on the immediate aftermath, these findings highlight the need for long-term disaster planning and support. Vulnerable communities face lasting health and economic challenges that remain unaddressed.
Read more: Exploring the need for a new category in hurricane intensity
Hurricane Helene exposes Southeast's flood insurance gap
Hurricane Helene has left thousands in Georgia, North Carolina and South Carolina struggling to recover due to low flood insurance rates, highlighting a growing crisis worsened by climate change.
In short:
- Less than 2% of households in the hardest-hit counties of Georgia, North Carolina and South Carolina have federal flood insurance.
- Flood insurance is sold separately from homeowners’ insurance, leaving many low-income households vulnerable to devastating financial loss.
- FEMA aid offers limited relief, while other forms of assistance, like HUD funds, take years to arrive.
Key quote:
“These problems are not going to get any better in the future. They’re going to get worse.”
— Andrew Rumbach, housing researcher, Urban Institute
Why this matters:
As climate change intensifies flooding, the lack of flood insurance in high-risk areas threatens the financial security of millions of Americans. Without coverage, recovery from extreme weather events will grow increasingly difficult, deepening inequality in affected communities.
Read more: Climate change impacts insurance availability in high-risk areas
LISTEN: Mokshda Kaul on making the clean energy transition work for all
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Op-ed: Is plastic the biggest climate threat?
A plastics treaty for the climate and health must address overproduction of plastics and head off the petrochemical and plastic industry’s planned expansion.
Residents say Pennsylvania has failed communities after state studies linked fracking to child cancer
Last year Pennsylvania Department of Health studies showed increased risk of childhood cancer, asthma and low birth weights for people living near fracking. Advocates say not enough has been done since.
The fossil fuel industry is disproportionately harming low-income and minority women: Report
“Women, in all of their diversity, must be at the center of climate and energy decision-making.”
Op-ed: People need shelter from climate change — their health hangs in the balance
The discourse on climate resilience must include affordable housing policy solutions.
As Biden prepares to block the sale of U.S. Steel to Nippon Steel, pollution concerns persist in Pennsylvania
“Pennsylvania steel communities have lived with dangerous air quality for generations. That needs to end.”