New Mexico groups call for state to block oil and gas near schools

Environmental groups have called on Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham to expand a buffer zone to prevent oil wells within a mile of schools in New Mexico, writes Adrian Hedden in the Carlsbad Current-Argus.

In a nutshell:

According to a report by the Center for Biological Diversity, over 34,000 students attend schools within a mile of oil wells, while 24,000 are within a half mile, exposing them to harmful emissions. Environmental groups are urging Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham to implement a ban on new oil wells within a mile of schools and phase out existing wells within a designated health buffer zone. Although existing regulations and emission control requirements are in place, advocates emphasize the need for more protective measures, such as establishing a statewide buffer zone around schools.

Key quote:

“Many schools in the southeast and northwest corners of the state are enclosed by dozens and even hundreds of oil and gas wells, endangering the health of all those who attend and work at these schools, especially young people who are more vulnerable to pollution,” a letter to Gov. Lujan Grisham stated.

The big picture:

Living, working, or attending school in close proximity to oil wells can have serious health implications. Exposure to emissions from these facilities, including volatile organic compounds and other pollutants, has been linked to an array of health issues. These may range from respiratory problems such as asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease to more severe conditions like cancer and developmental disorders, particularly concerning for children whose bodies are still developing.

Read the article at the Carlsbad Current-Argus.

Huanjia Zhang reported that people living within 2.5 miles of oil and gas wells in California are exposed to levels of air pollutants linked to asthma, cancer, cardiovascular diseases, preterm birth, and other long-term health defects.

Hilary Beaumont reported that California will soon have the largest oil drilling setbacks in the U.S. Experts say other states can learn from this move.

flooded street with three car rooftops peaking above water

Climate change ‘beyond scientific dispute,’ National Academies report says

The report is a sharp rebuttal to a recent Trump administration's report, and Republicans have already targeted the report as “a blatant partisan act.”
several rows of solar panels on a roof

Climate activist Bill McKibben to Houston: It’s solar’s time to shine

Speaking in the heart of the oil industry, climate activist Bill McKibben said solar power has become the cheapest and fastest-growing energy source, offering Texas a path to lead the clean energy transition.

Coral reef and associated marine life
Photo by Shaun Low on Unsplash

Corals won’t survive a warmer planet, a new study finds

Most corals in the Atlantic Ocean will soon stop growing. Many are already dying, leaving shorelines and marine ecosystems vulnerable.
Outer Banks  home built on stilts

Watch the sea claim yet another house in N.C.’s Outer Banks

Erosion, rising seas and churning storms have caused the collapse of a dozen homes on that stretch of seashore over the past five years.
Oysters with knife and one oyster opened
Photo by Mitili Mitili on Unsplash

Ghanaian women try to sustain oyster farming threatened by climate change

In Ghana, women are struggling to sustain oyster farming, a key livelihood in coastal mangroves. Hundreds of women were trained in farming methods for oysters, including mangrove planting and preservation, and selective oyster harvesting, to lessen the impact of climate change.
A power plant in the distance with smoke arising from towers
Photo by Paul Pastourmatzis on Unsplash

Dominion’s proposed peaker plant flouts environmental justice, community says

The utility’s environmental justice analysis lacks community health data, according to attorneys representing affected residents.
People  in downpour and flooded streets

Mexico City floods meet an unlikely culprit: dog poop, hair, and the wrong bins

Mexico City's rainy season has smashed records, but clogged drains tell a different story. Behind flooded intersections lies a quieter culprit: plastic bags of dog waste and fist-sized tangles of pet hair, turning storms into neighborhood disasters.
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.

Stay informed: sign up for The Daily Climate newsletter
Top news on climate impacts, solutions, politics, drivers. Delivered to your inbox week days.