children's health
Reno’s battle with rising heat: How citizen scientists are mapping the crisis
Reno, Nevada, is heating up faster than any other U.S. city, and a growing network of citizen scientists is mapping its most sweltering neighborhoods to help cool them down.
In short:
- Reno has seen a temperature rise of 7.6°F since 1970 — far above the national average — making extreme heat a growing threat.
- Community-led mapping projects, supported by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, track street-level temperature differences, revealing disparities as high as 23°F within the city.
- The data helps local officials target solutions, from tree planting to reflective materials, to mitigate heat risks, especially in lower-income areas.
Key quote:
“Heat is a hyper-local impact. It imperils people really differently on a neighborhood-by-neighborhood, and sometimes block-by-block, level.”
— Max Cawley, director of climate research and engagement at the Museum of Life and Science
Why this matters:
Extreme heat is already the deadliest weather event in the country, and without intervention, cities like Reno will become even more dangerous for those who can’t escape the scorching streets. Armed with temperature sensors, volunteers are mapping out heat islands and giving city planners the data they need to plant more trees, install reflective roofing, and design cooler public spaces — especially in lower-income areas where air conditioning isn’t a given.
Read more: How youth can battle extreme heat in their communities
Extreme weather is shutting down schools worldwide
Heat waves, storms, and floods disrupted schooling for at least 242 million students in 2024, with low-income countries hit hardest.
In short:
- Nearly half of Manila’s schools closed during a heat wave in 2024, reflecting a global trend where extreme weather forces students out of classrooms.
- Missing school due to climate-related disasters can lead to long-term academic setbacks, especially for students in middle and high school.
- Experts call for climate-resilient schools, including better infrastructure and educational policies to help students adapt to disruptions.
Key quote:
"It can be a small event, but it can also be life-altering. For many children, routine and predictability are more important than for adults. They don't necessarily have the coping skills to handle anything that disrupts this."
— Megan Kuhfeld, senior research scientist at NWEA
Why this matters:
As climate change intensifies, school closures due to extreme weather are becoming more frequent, affecting education and child development. Students in vulnerable regions face not just lost classroom time but also mental and economic challenges that make returning to school difficult. Learning gaps from prolonged disruptions can have lasting consequences, deepening educational inequality. Schools must prepare for an era where unpredictable weather is part of the academic calendar.
Related:
The rain is cleaner, but now it’s full of plastic and forever chemicals
A generation after acid rain was largely eliminated, scientists say rainfall is now carrying something even more insidious — microplastics and forever chemicals that are nearly impossible to remove.
In short:
- Decades of environmental policy cleaned up acid rain, but modern pollutants like microplastics and PFAS (forever chemicals) have taken its place, contaminating rainfall worldwide.
- Microplastics from roads, clothing, and oceans get swept into the atmosphere and fall with the rain, while PFAS, used in nonstick cookware and water-resistant fabrics, persist in the environment for centuries.
- These pollutants seep into drinking water sources, and while treatment plants can remove some, a significant amount remains, exposing people and wildlife to chemicals linked to cancer, kidney disease, and immune disorders.
Key quote:
"It’s much worse than the acid rain problem. With acid rain, we could stop emitting acid precursors and then acid rain would stop falling. But we can’t stop the microplastic cycle anymore. It’s there and it’s not going away."
— Janice Brahney, biogeochemist at Utah State University
Why this matters:
Even if you don’t drink untreated rainwater, these pollutants are making their way into tap water, food, and even human brains. Water treatment plants can catch some of it, but not enough. And with microplastics now found in human lungs, blood, and even placentas, the long-term health consequences are still unfolding.
Read more: Toxic PFAS pollution is likely at more than 57,000 US locations.
EPA to shut down environmental justice offices, leaving vulnerable communities exposed
The Trump administration is dismantling the Environmental Protection Agency’s environmental justice offices, ending efforts to reduce pollution in low-income and minority communities.
In short:
- The EPA, under Administrator Lee Zeldin, is closing all regional and national offices focused on environmental justice, halting a decades-long initiative to protect communities disproportionately impacted by pollution.
- The move follows the administration’s broader push to eliminate programs tied to diversity, equity, and inclusion, with officials dismissing environmental justice as “forced discrimination.”
- The decision coincides with the dismissal of a federal lawsuit against a Louisiana petrochemical plant that had been accused of raising cancer risks in a predominantly Black community.
Key quote:
“If anybody needed a clearer sign that this administration gives not a single damn for the people of the United States, this is it.”
— Matthew Tejada, former head of EPA’s environmental justice program
Why this matters:
In a move that feels ripped from an industry lobbyist’s wish list, the Environmental Protection Agency is shutting down every single office dedicated to tackling pollution in low-income and minority communities. For those who don’t have the money or political clout to fight back, environmental protections are disappearing fast.
Read more: America, this is what environmental justice is — and what we all stand to lose.
EPA reinstates dozens of environmental justice staff
Less than a month after sidelining its entire environmental justice workforce, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency is bringing back dozens of employees amid pressure from the White House and legal obligations.
In short:
- The EPA reinstated many of the 171 employees it had placed on leave from its environmental justice and civil rights office, following new White House guidance.
- Some returning staff say their work was legally required, and that the agency likely reinstated them to comply with statutory obligations.
- Critics argue the initial cuts were reckless, with former EPA official Matthew Tejada saying reinstated employees play a key role in ensuring federal policy reaches affected communities.
Key quote:
“These leaves were conducted indiscriminately and without any consideration of statutory requirements, or of the effect the firings would have on Americans.”
— Kyla Bennett, director of science policy at Public Employees for Environmental Responsibility
Why this matters:
While the reinstatement is a win for those fighting to keep environmental justice on the agenda, it also raises an uncomfortable question: If these roles were so essential that the EPA had to bring them back, why were they slashed in the first place?
Read more: America, this is what environmental justice is — and what we all stand to lose.
Scientists fight back against funding cuts and policy threats
The Trump administration’s attacks on science — slashing research funding, silencing researchers, and threatening grants — are pushing scientists out of the lab and into activism.
In short:
- Researchers across the U.S. are stepping into advocacy roles, protesting cuts to federal research funding and forming new groups to defend science policy.
- The administration’s attempts to freeze grants, censor research on diversity, and reduce funding for indirect costs have spurred a wave of petitions, congressional outreach, and grassroots organizing.
- Rallies, including the March 7 "Stand Up for Science" events in 32 cities, aim to spotlight the real-world impact of these funding threats and mobilize broader public support.
Key quote:
"The actions of this administration have already caused significant harm to American science and are risking the health and safety of our communities."
— Joint letter to Congress by the Union of Concerned Scientists and 48 scientific societies
Why this matters:
It’s a fight with real consequences. From clean air and water standards to pandemic preparedness, the administration's funding cuts and policy rollbacks aren’t just targeting abstract concepts — they’re putting lives at risk. Across the country, researchers who once stuck to peer-reviewed journals are stepping up to the mic and scientists are making it clear: They’re not going to take this one lying down.
Read more:
Americans are connecting climate change to health risks more than ever
Public awareness of climate-related health risks is rising, with more Americans recognizing the dangers of extreme heat, pollution, and respiratory issues, even as the federal government cuts funding for climate and health research.
In short:
- A survey from Yale and George Mason University found that 39% of Americans believe climate change is harming their health, an 8% increase since 2014.
- Trust in scientists, physicians, and public health agencies for climate-related health information has grown, despite declining trust in health professionals overall since the COVID-19 pandemic.
- The Trump administration has proposed major cuts to climate research funding and environmental regulations, even as public concern over climate-related health risks increases.
Key quote:
“The fact that we’re seeing such a strong uptick in public understanding that climate change is harming the health of Americans, we fundamentally are optimistic that that will build the public will for climate action.”
— Edward Maibach, director of GMU’s Center for Climate Change Communication and principal investigator on the survey
Why this matters:
Climate change is already affecting public health in measurable ways. Extreme heat, worsening air quality, and an increase in vector-borne diseases disproportionately impact vulnerable communities, including low-income populations, children, and the elderly. As public awareness grows, so does the potential for policy changes, yet government action remains uncertain. Meanwhile, misinformation about clean energy’s health effects continues to circulate, further complicating the conversation.
Learn more: Summer heat risks escalating in the US
