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Flawed economic models mean climate crisis could crash global economy, experts warn
States and financial bodies using modeling that ignores shocks from extreme weather and climate tipping points.
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'Our bodies bear the cost': Patagonia's firefighters battle blazes and austerity in ancient forest
Wildfires are still tearing apart the drought-stricken region of Patagonia, ravaging its once-pristine forests.
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‘We're tired of counting damages’: Call for climate funds after landslide devastates Sicilian town
Environmental groups are warning that Italy’s lack of investment in climate mitigation is leaving communities dangerously exposed, after a cyclone forced more than 1,500 people from their homes in southern Sicily.
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What happens to the human body in 49C heat? Australians are finding out
Doctors warn there are biological limits to temperatures we can survive, and exposure to extreme heat can provoke a heart attack.
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‘Exceptionally cold’: How a warming Arctic is pushing the US and Eastern Europe into a deep freeze
Warm Arctic waters and cold continental land are combining to stretch the dreaded polar vortex in a way that sent much of the United States a devastating dose of winter weather.
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The next president will face a climate reckoning
The climate crisis is battering the U.S., but the presidential debate barely touched on the issue, leaving many questions unanswered as Americans grapple with wildfires, hurricanes, and extreme heat.
In short:
- Extreme weather events, including wildfires and hurricanes, are causing widespread damage, yet presidential candidates have provided few concrete plans for addressing these disasters.
- The insurance industry is fleeing high-risk areas, leaving millions without coverage as climate impacts worsen, but this crisis remains largely ignored in political discussions.
- Kamala Harris and Donald Trump offer vague climate positions, with Harris focused on building on Biden’s climate policies and Trump advocating for more oil drilling.
Key quote:
“We can deal with this issue.”
— Kamala Harris, Vice President
Why this matters:
The climate crisis is no longer some distant, theoretical problem. It's here, smacking us in the face with wildfires, hurricanes, heatwaves, and floods. Regardless of their stance on climate policy, the next leader will have to answer for how they will protect American lives in the face of a changing, and increasingly hostile, environment. Read more: We mobilized to defend the EPA in Trump's first term. This time the stakes are even higher.
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Hurricanes can triple the amount of toxic contamination released into nearby communities
A new study in Environmental Science and Technology found that petrochemical manufacturers and refineries in Texas released higher amounts of toxic contamination during hurricanes.
In short:
- Compared to periods of normal weather, Hurricane Rita (2005) resulted in twice as many contamination releases, while Hurricanes Ike (2008) and Harvey (2017) caused releases to triple.
- Communities with a higher percentage of renters, higher poverty rates, and more Hispanic residents were more likely to experience an increase in contamination.
- Petrochemical refineries were responsible for the highest amount of contamination released during hurricanes.
Key quote:
“Low-income communities and people of color are disproportionately impacted by hurricanes and floods, leading to concerns that climate change will further exacerbate existing environmental health disparities.”
Why this matters:
As climate change continues to alter global weather patterns, extreme weather events such as hurricanes are becoming more common and more severe. With hazardous petrochemical sites disproportionately located within low-income communities of color, this study highlights how extreme weather can have significant environmental justice implications, as well as the need for better protections for fenceline communities.
Related EHN coverage:
- Oil and gas production responsible for $77 billion in annual US health damages: Study
- Air pollution linked to over 700 health conditions
More resources: Environmental Health News reporter Cami Ferrell covers the petrochemical industry in Houston. See her most recent reporting, ExxonMobil, LyondellBassel and Chevron among Houston’s top polluters: Report (leer este reportaje en español) and WATCH: Enduring the “endless” expansion of the nation’s petrochemical corridor (en español).
Follow Cami’s reporting via Instagram @ehnewsroom and TikTok @CamiReports.
Berberian, Alique et al. for Environmental Science and Technology. July 30, 2024
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