Weekly Climate News

Feb. 18, 2021

• Air pollution has been confirmed to result in 1 in 5 deaths annually around the world. 

• A NASA research team is going back to researching cloud formations after being impeded by the COVID-19 pandemic. They are working to understand how variations in aerosol particles from human and natural sources affect clouds. 

• A winter storm hit Texas, leaving many in frigid temperatures without power and electricity.  

• Elon Musk announced a four-year-long carbon capture contest that will award $100 million funding for the development of carbon removal technology. 

• U.S. government scientists said that America has the potential for a carbon-free future by 2050 if projected changes to wind and solar power are made. 

• Disha Ravi, a climate activist in India, was placed in jail for sharing information about the farmers’ protest with Greta Thunberg. 

• The U.K. government put a stop to construction plans for a deep coal mine after accusations of hypocrisy in regard to its current climate action arose. 

• Protests began in northern Minnesota to halt the progress of Line 3, an oil pipeline from the U.S. to Canada. 

Weekly Climate News

November 19, 2020

• U.K. Prime Minister Boris Johnson announced a 10-point plan for a “green industrial revolution” with the long-term goal of achieving carbon neutrality by 2050. The plan includes an increase in green investments along with the creation of 250,000 jobs in the sector. 

• The U.N. approved a fuel efficiency deal with the International Maritime Organization that allows shipping emissions to decrease by only 1 percent until 2030, despite much opposition to the inadequacy of the deal. 

• With no plans to achieve carbon neutrality before the end of the century, Russia is looking to expand its Arctic gas industry.

• U.S. President-elect Joe Biden stated that he will “name and shame global climate outlaws,” indicating that a hard line on climate will be drawn under the incoming administration. Potential climate outlaws may include Australia, Brazil, Russia, Mexico, Indonesia, China and Saudia Arabia.  

• The Trump administration will face challenges if it moves forward with its plan to sell the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge. 

• Gov. Gretchen Whitmer announced that Line 5, an underwater pipeline that provides Ontario with oil from refineries in Michigan, will be shutting down due to environmental concerns. The pipeline has been in operation since the 1950s.

• Tucson, Arizona, experienced record-breaking heat this September, which prompted city officials to declare a climate emergency. Read this article on where they stand now. 

• Astypalea, a Greek island in the Aegean Sea, will be replacing all fossil fuel cars with electric vehicles as part of its climate-neutral approach. 

• A new study found that urban greenery adds CO2 to the atmosphere through decomposition, which increases overall greenhouse gas emissions. 

Weekly Climate News

September 24, 2020

• China recently announced a plan to achieve carbon neutrality by 2060, a significant step forward for global climate action. 

• The U.K. is currently developing plans on climate action before U.N. climate talks to be held in Glasgow during the first two weeks of November, but has been challenged by a resurgence of COVID-19 cases. 

• Forest clearance in Indonesia has spiked during the global pandemic as travel restrictions have stopped environmental law enforcement. 

• Arctic sea ice reaches second-lowest ice coverage ever recorded, higher only than measurements from 2012. 

• 1 percent of the world is currently living in hot zones and by 2070, that could increase to 19 percent. Read this article about what this means for the population through an exploration of climate migration.  

• Some U.S. cities are planning “green recoveries” after COVID-19. Read about it here. 

• A newly released book on climate titled “All We can Save” highlights women climate leaders and offers solutions and encouragement. 

• A new data tool by NASA provides near real-time monitoring of forest fires and could  completely change the maintenance of blazes, particularly in the Amazon. 

• BP and other European oil companies have invested billions in the renewable energy sector, while many U.S. companies like Exxon and Chevron commit to fossil fuels. Read this article on why these companies have chosen divergent stances on climate change.