Let's take a deep breath and look at some positive news

Let's take a deep breath and look at some positive news

Weekend Reader, Sunday March 25

We often hear from readers about the lack of positive news on our pages. Yup. We cover the environment and climate change, and for the most part, the news isn't good. But exceptions to the rule abound.


Here's a parade of upbeat stories from just the past week.

From Science Magazine: Buried in the 2,000+ page omnibus spending bill passed by Congress are some of the biggest increases in funding for scientific research in the past decade. NOAA, USGS, the National Science Foundation, and DOE's Science Office will all see larger budgets.

Another rider buried in the budget bill would prohibit federal funds from being used to build the border wall through the Santa Ana National Wildlife Refuge in Texas. (NBC News)

And the immense $1.3 trillion spending bill initially included 80 anti-environment riders. But cuts to EPA's budget and DOE's Renewables Office were removed from the bill. (Inside Climate News)

Big Oil's lead attorney in a climate lawsuit brought by the cities of San Francisco and Oakland acknowledged in court that human-caused climate change is real. The trial continues. (Associated Press)

And in Oregon, another suit brought on behalf of 21 young people against the U.S. Government for climate inaction has cleared a major hurdle. A federal judge denied a government move to dismiss the suit as too broad.

The New York Times has an optimistic report on China's pollution cleanup efforts

Fortune reports that McDonald's is launching an ambitious plan to cut its greenhouse gas emissions by one-third.

There's a great story about using predators instead of pesticides to protect crops: Cherry orchards in Michigan use kestrels (a small falcon species) to drive off smaller birds who feed on cherries.

Miami TV meteorologist John Morales wrote an eloquent rant in refusing an invitation to moderate a climate "debate" featuring the Heartland Institute. (AGU)

Factcheck.org dissects a recent op-ed by Rep. Lamar Smith, the climate-denying Chair of the House Science Committee. It isn't pretty. Let's hear it for factcheckers.

Octoparole? The Canadian Press reports on the Vancouver Aquarium's release of a giant Pacific octopus into the wild. The female octopus was showing signs of mating behavior, but had no prospects in the Aquarium's tank. Now, it's cruising the Pacific.

As for more good news, please feel free to send us anything you see. Or, like the kids in Washington DC and elsewhere this weekend, feel free to make your own.

Top Weekend News

The New York Times reports on near-record low Arctic ice cover this winter.

Drought and rising temperatures could drastically increase wildfires in the western U.S. (Outside Online)

Former EPA Administrator Gina McCarthy appeared on Real Time with Bill Maher. It's worth six minutes to watch.

From CleanTechnica: New research finds that extreme temperature fluctuations can be linked to a higher rate of heart attacks.

While we were focused on guns, Canada focused on pipelines: Over 100 arrests, including two members of Parliament, took place at a protest of the construction of the Trans Mountain Pipeline.

Opinions and Editorials

The Jacksonville, FL Times-Union editorializes on the U.S. military's preparedness for climate impacts.

The Montana Standardspanks its home-state cabinet member, Interior Secretary Ryan Zinke.

On PRI's Living On Earth, Peter Dykstra and Steve Curwood talk about an oil company scrubbing the word "oil" from its name; using animals to take the place of farm chemicals; and a crucial court case about DDT.

This Week in Trump's Science/Environment Purge

House Oversight Chair Trey Gowdy, best known for his pursuit of Benghazi, is now seeking answers on Interior Secretary Ryan Zinke's $139,000 expenditure on new office doors. Dare I say "Door-Gate?"

As the Senate debated the massive $1.3 trillion spending bill, Idaho Senator Jim Risch briefly stalled the proceedings. A rider to the bill called for re-naming an Idaho Wilderness Preserve after the late Cecil Andrus, former Idaho Governor and Risch's political archrival.

EPA may be preparing to side with automakers in lowering fuel efficiency standards. (Auto News)

At Vox, David Roberts warns of another attempt to bail out dirty power plants.

Scales of justice with green trees and water on one side and polluting industry and smokestacks on the other.
Credit: digitalista/BigStock Photo ID: 324918955

EPA slashes key staff fighting pollution in low-income communities

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency is firing hundreds of staffers who worked to protect overpolluted, underserved neighborhoods, effectively gutting its environmental justice efforts.

Rachel Frazin reports for The Hill.

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Sunrise in the woods

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a large body of water surrounded by mountains.

Elon Musk-linked aide gains sweeping control over U.S. Interior Department operations

A former oil executive with ties to Elon Musk now holds expansive authority to reshape operations at the Interior Department, raising alarms among conservationists and longtime federal employees.

Dino Grandoni and Maxine Joselow report for The Washington Post.

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Clear blue water beside mountain covered with snow.

Arctic cold once defended Canada — now climate chaos threatens military readiness

A warming Arctic is complicating Canada’s military operations, with unpredictable weather destroying equipment, thwarting training, and eroding the region’s role as a natural line of defense.

Leyland Cecco reports for The Guardian.

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man in black coat standing near round logo with world flags.

World Bank tones down climate messaging as Trump allies threaten U.S. withdrawal

The World Bank has scaled back public climate advocacy as it navigates the political risks posed by President Trump’s administration and its review of U.S. involvement in global institutions.

Sara Schonhardt and Zack Colman report for POLITICO.

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a lego man standing next to a wooden cross also made of legos.
Credit: Worshae/Unsplash

Evangelical churches in Indiana turn to solar and sustainability as an expression of faith

A growing number of evangelical churches and universities in Indiana are embracing renewable energy and environmental stewardship as a religious duty, reframing climate action through a spiritual lens.

Catrin Einhorn reports for The New York Times

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A firetruck parked next to a hillside on fire

Lawsuits allege that insurers colluded to limit wildfire coverage and shift costs to state plan

Two lawsuits allege that major insurance companies coordinated to drop coverage in wildfire-prone California areas, pushing homeowners onto a costly, state-backed insurance plan.

Trân Nguyễn reports for The Associated Press.

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Two men in baseball caps, yellow shirts and shorts installing solar panels on a roof.

Solar tax credit trading brings clean energy to underserved communities — but faces political risk

A tweak in tax law that made clean energy credits transferable has helped small developers build solar and wind projects in low-income areas, but congressional Republicans may roll back the benefit as part of federal budget talks.

Syris Valentine reports for Grist.

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From our Newsroom
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.

People  sitting in an outdoors table working on a big sign.

Op-ed: Why funding for the environmental justice movement must be anti-racist

We must prioritize minority-serving institutions, BIPOC-led organizations and researchers to lead environmental justice efforts.

joe biden

Biden finalizes long-awaited hydrogen tax credits ahead of Trump presidency

Responses to the new rules have been mixed, and environmental advocates worry that Trump could undermine them.

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