Ukraine Russia attack

Ukraine, war and our world

Waking up to a world at war

It is hard to think about the environment when lives are being torn asunder by war.


I woke up this morning yearning for peace, mourning the harm and loss Ukrainians are experiencing, and hoping for better collective wisdom to guide us through this insanity.

At the top of my inbox this morning was a note from Katelyn Jetelina, a University of Texas epidemiologist who publishes the newsletter "Your Local Epidemiologist."

Posting on a global pandemic feels "insensitive without addressing a different kind of pain and suffering and tragedy that millions will soon face," she said. I concur.

Her wisdom is worth sharing:

"Just like the pandemic, many will also fall victim to mis and disinformation—a new tool that enemies have found to work swimmingly well in a time of anxiety and confusion. Please be sure to find (and share) only solid sources; preferably ones with a reporter on the ground in Ukraine. There are such things as disaster epidemiologists, so I hope they come to the forefront, too, ... to share the public health perspective of war or, more accurately, the devastating interaction between war and pandemic."

War and energy

With Russia serving as Europe's largest energy producer, early reporting has focused on how the global response is hindered by the EU's need for Russian natural gas.

But Russia is also a major provider of nickel, copper, cobalt – all necessary materials for alternative energy sources necessary in the transition away from fossil fuels.

Two stories of note:

Could Russian sanctions hobble U.S. clean energy push?

Norilsk Nickel Russia

Hans Olav Lien/Wikimedia Commons

Politico's Jael Holzman explores the metals market—and how reliant clean energy technologies are on exports from autocratic countries like Russia and China.

Key quote:

“Our concern is that our energy markets are so tied up with nations that do not share our values.”

Worth your time...

The Coming Energy Shock

Gasoline shortage florida 2021

CWMc/flickr

The Atlantic looks at the global energy market, Russia's immunity from foreign sanctions, and the havoc Russia could inflict on world markets.

"Any Russian retreat from world oil markets will jolt prices in ways that will be felt at gas pumps around the world."

Keep reading...

Some good news

In dark times I often turn back to Gary Snyder's short poem, "For the Children."

I need this today, and his advice at the end is worth carrying forward:

stay together
learn the flowers
go light

I'm grateful to our researcher, Autumn Spanne, who found this morsel of good news on the website Reasons to be Cheerful:

More women than ever are contributing to the next IPCC climate report

Women's Science March San Francisco

Matthew Roth/flickr

“Things are changing,” Miriam Gay-Antaki, an assistant professor of geography & environmental studies told reporter Jessica Kutz.

“People are realizing that attending to gender is not a nuisance but something that a lot of people actually want.”

Read the good news...

Residents from Pennsylvania's Mon Valley region listen to local and national candidates speak about environmental issues
Credit: Kristina Marusic for EHN

Pennsylvania voters press local, national candidates on fracking just days before election

Environmental justice communities near fracking want more answers — less political football.

PITTSBURGH — Fracking took center stage on Wednesday night, when political candidates who will be on the ballot in Pennsylvania on Election Day answered questions about environmental justice from local environmental advocacy groups and community members.

Keep reading...Show less
Senator Whitehouse & climate change

Senator Whitehouse puts climate change on budget committee’s agenda

For more than a decade, Senator Sheldon Whitehouse gave daily warnings about the mounting threat of climate change. Now he has a powerful new perch.
drilling well with a sun setting behind it

Governments fund fossil fuels despite massive health risks, Lancet report says

A new Lancet report finds that government subsidies for fossil fuels are driving an escalating global health crisis, with extreme weather and pollution increasingly affecting populations worldwide.

Saul Elbein reports for The Hill.

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Sign for Valencia, Spain
Rodrigo Vera/Flickr

Spain's devastating floods reveal gaps in regional preparedness

Spain’s recent catastrophic floods have left at least 92 people dead, with fingers pointed at regional leaders for delayed warnings, underscoring Europe's struggle to prepare for climate-fueled disasters.

Karl Mathiesen, Aitor Hernández-Morales and Zia Weise report for Politico.

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Two sided colored pencil that says "inhale" and "exhale"

Young Americans deeply worried about climate impacts

A national survey of 16,000 people aged 16-25 shows most young Americans are highly anxious about climate change, with the emotional toll linked to personal experiences of severe weather and political affiliation.

Nina Dietz reports for Inside Climate News.

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sketch art of five people facing a larger man with hands on hips looking back at them

Climate threats may drive rise in authoritarian leadership

As climate disasters become more severe, research suggests the social impact of such crises may lead more countries to favor authoritarian leaders who promise security over democratic values.

L.V. Anderson reports for Grist.

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Two women sitting outside with a group

Latina voter groups emphasize climate issues in election campaigns

Latina voter campaigns are spotlighting climate change, aiming to mobilize Latinas who see climate action as crucial for their families’ health and safety.

Dorany Pineda reports for The Associated Press.

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person holding a thermometer with a sunny city skyline in the background

New heat regulations could have prevented deaths among US workers

A proposed national heat safety standard aims to protect millions of workers from fatal heat exposure, as rising temperatures increase risks for outdoor laborers across the U.S.

Amy Maxmen reports for KFF Health News.

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From our Newsroom
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Coal-based steelmaking in Pennsylvania causes up to 92 premature deaths and $1.4 billion in health costs every year: Report

Just three facilities near Pittsburgh cost the state $16 million in lost economic activity annually, according to a new report.

COP16 UN biodiversity

Pollution is one of the top drivers of biodiversity loss. Why is no one talking about it at COP16?

“Chemicals are really at the center of this triple planetary crisis of pollution, biodiversity and climate change.”

COP16 UN biodiversity

La contaminación es una de las principales amenazas de la biodiversidad. ¿Por qué nadie habla de ella en la COP16?

“Las sustancias químicas están realmente en el centro de esta triple crisis planetaria de contaminación, biodiversidad y cambio climático”.

clean energy transition

Op-ed: Labor and environmental groups can both win in the clean energy transition. Here’s how.

Groups are choosing to repair broken lines of communication and visualize the transition for its true potential to mitigate climate change – the common enemy.

environmental defenders

‘Living under this constant threat’: Environmental defenders face a mounting mental health crisis

Environmental activists are struggling with paranoia, panic attacks, and depression. Now, a growing network of mental health shelters in South America hopes to fill a void in care.

fracking opposition

Opposing fracking cost one Colombian activist her mental health. She’s fighting to win it back.

"At some point, they will kill you and kill all of us," environmental leader Yuvelis Natalia Morales Blanco was told.

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