Google's New Urban Search Function
Now you can search Google Maps for info on subway + bus crowding
June 28, 2019
UN: Climate Talks Sputter Out
With Saudi Arabia rejecting the science underpinning the latest IPCC report, UN talks won't result in new climate action commitments
Help Wanted: Distributed Organizing Associate Director
The Sierra Club is looking for someone to join their team who is a leader with experience developing distributed organizing models + strong management + project management skills. Understanding + commitment to practicing equity, inclusion + justice + championing anti-racist policies are core values + required job skills. Salary range: $68,500-128,000
Finland: Elections Matter
With its ascendant Green Party, Finland warns the EU of the high political consequences if it fails to deliver on climate action
France: Heat Emergency
Today is the hottest day in the history of France.
— Eric Holthaus (@EricHolthaus) June 28, 2019
Officially, Carpentras France has set a new national temperature record: 44.3°C (111.7°F)
The old record (44.1°C) was set in August 2003, during the height of one of the deadliest heat waves in history.https://t.co/Z7agFffOvT pic.twitter.com/6dpapeFbUa
June 27, 2019
Quote Of The Day
“We have reached a point where the best-case outcome is widespread death + suffering by the end of this century, + the worst case puts humanity on the brink of extinction.” Philip Alston, UN Special Rapporteur on extreme poverty + human rights, warning in a new report that the planet faces a “climate apartheid.”
NYC Green House Gas Inventory
Using data from buildings, transport + waste water treatment plants NYC issues its latest deep dive Greenhouse Gas Inventory + sheds light on progress toward cutting its climate-changing emissions 80% by 2050
How Jet Travel Speeds Climate Disruption
Jet plane contrails are air pollutants that add to climate change, increased air travel will make things worse
Greenland: The Big Melt
What to expect now that Greenland is melting in human time, no longer in geological time?
Charging Up Around Town
The City will install 100 street-accessible electric vehicle chargers, 6 of them in Park Slope, in 2019
The Media, The Candidates, The Climate
"The first Democratic debate failed the planet" sums up both media questions + candidate remarks on our climate crisis
June 26, 2019
Activists Call For 'Climate Emergency' Declaration
Activists call on the NYC Council to pass a 'climate emergency' resolution as it holds hearings on 7 renewable energy + energy storage bills
Science At Work: Climate Attribution Studies
Absence + Evidence is a serious long form piece by a climate scientist examining a climate skeptic's op-ed column," To claim or imply that something is disproved by systematically ignoring evidence to the contrary is another thing entirely. To do so is to undermine discourse. It’s simply misleading and irresponsible."
How To Decarbonize And Thrive
Here's one pathway for California to decarbonize both its building stock + vehicles cost-effectively, but no done-deal
Coal-Lover Leaving EPA
Bill Wehrum, who helped write the Trump administration’s most significant rules zapping climate change protections + supporting the coal industry, resigns. Guess he thinks "mission accomplished"
June 25, 2019
Florida Media To Partner On Climate Coverage
Six Florida newsrooms will work together + partner to better cover climate change in the state
Climate Emergency Is A Health Emergency
Why are health professionals calling climate disruption an emergency + demanding solutions rank high for political action?
June 24, 2019
The Da Vinci Climate Code
Learn lessons from Da Vinci drawings about today's climate catastrophe, a new book claims
First The Cheers, Now The Sweat
Now that NY has a big climate action law, it's time to do the nitty gritty work of putting it into action + making sure it succeeds
Setting The Climate Bar High And Wide
Presidential contender Jay Inslee releases a five-prong plan for phasing out US fossil fuel production
Investing In 20 Century Tech Is A Loser Strategy
The states investing in greenhouse gas reduction are really investing in the modernization of their energy systems
June 21, 2019
How Climate Disruption Disrupts
Climate disruption has been called a global threat multiplier by the US Defense Department
The New Interboro Rapid Transit
The old IRT opened in 1904, now a NY Assemblymember introduces a bill calling for the study of a new transit line connecting the Bronx, Queens + Brooklyn
June 20, 2019
Yes, Congress Can Protect Climate Science
Nitty gritty suggestions for how Congress can wield its budget powers beyond appropriations to protect climate science activities
Congestion Pricing Update
The MTA + NYC's Department of Transportation are taking the first necessary steps to rolling out a congestion pricing program
The EJ Take On NY's New Climate Law
NY's Climate Leadership + Community Protection Act does a lot, but climate justice activists call out the missing pieces + the need for vigilance around necessary funding
Urban Climate Triage
Live in a US coastal city? What will it cost to have a future?
June 19, 2019
Make America Coal Again
The EPA overturns federal rules to limit carbon emissions from power plants + gives states the authority to let dirty plants stay open longer
June 18, 2019
For The Birds
BIRDLINK has arrived at Sara D Roosevelt Park! Created by artist Anina Gerchick, this 12-foot-tall living sculpture features 2,000 native plants to help fuel migrating birds on the Lower East Side. Grand opening is 6/25, 4-7pm. Free & open to the public! https://t.co/V4z0YBJdHp pic.twitter.com/n2L6QosCYv
— NYC Audubon (@NYCAudubon) June 17, 2019
On The Mayor's Don't Do List
Mayor de Blasio gives a thumbs down to a City Council proposal to create a NYC Department of Sustainability + Climate Change
Lenders Seek To Sink Carbon
11 major lenders agree to make carbon emissions metrics part of their loan decisions to the shipping industry
June 17, 2019
The Stripes Tell The Story
Inspired by @ed_hawkins’ #ShowYourStripes initiative. I have built an @ArcGISOnline map showing temperature (and precipitation) stripes for... wait for it...
— Jared Rennie (@jjrennie) June 17, 2019
Every single county in the Contiguous United States. https://t.co/pe0sor2KCE pic.twitter.com/IiWjv89eI6
Le Mot Juste
There's a crisis in Canadian journalism about calling what's happening now a climate crisis
NY Legislature Goes Greener
The Climate + Communities Protection Act, a bill setting a 2050 carbon neutrality goal for NY, will be passed in the State legislature this week
Ireland: Decouple Carbon Emissions From Economic Growth
With 180 recommended actions Ireland sets its sights on becoming a growing economy with net-zero carbon emissions by 2050
Australia: Elections Matter
Once voters opted to keep Australian conservatives in power, the government approved construction of a fiercely-contested coal mine
June 14, 2019
Facing The Future: What NYC Can Learn From San Francisco
San Francisco's search for lost waterways can help this coastal city boost its defenses against climate chaos
Interactive Urban Flooding Map
An on-line map that shows areas vulnerable to floods in Charleston, South Carolina + allows resident input
Putting Building Energy Info To Work
Toronto's got building energy use data, here's a guide for the commercial building market to put it to work
June 12, 2019
The Weird Weather Forecast
We broke down what the climate crisis will do to the United States — region by region. https://t.co/Za3WtMggOt
— grist (@grist) June 12, 2019
Under The Sea: Living Things In Hot Water
As rising temperatures heat up the oceans, 17% of marine life could die off by 2100, life on Earth won't be the same
Making Queens More Climate Secure
Here's a plan, which engaged a comprehensive community engagement process, for making the diverse Corona, Jackson Heights + East Elmhurst neighborhoods more climate resilient
Dire Financial Risks Of Climate Disruption
Climate disruption impacts could harm the economy as much as the mortgage meltdown of 2008, US financial system regulator warns
June 11, 2019
Renewing Rikers With Renewables
Closing NYC's Rikers Island jail is an opportunity to open a large-scale solar power array, Councilmember Constantinides leads the way
Congressional Testimony: 8 Takeaways On Economic Impacts Of Climate Change
Public Policy Professor Solomon Hsiang tells the Congressional budget committee, "Because we now understand that human actions are affecting the climate of the United States, it is in the nation’s best economic interest that we consider whether our actions increase or decrease the value of this national asset."
Don't Forget - 2018 Fossil-Fueled Pollution Soared
In 2018, emissions from fossil fuel burning increased at the fastest rate in 7 years, expect confirmation of this preliminary analysis soon
New Delhi: 48 Degrees C, 118.4 Degrees F
'Delhi is burning. You can't imagine the heat. As you step out, it's a furnace on your body' - writes a colleague. Curious to see what the #climate attribution is here when scientists crunch the data. https://t.co/gFEVBfFRlc
— Ed King (@edking_I) June 10, 2019
June 10, 2019
CT: Onboard With Offshore Wind
The latest east coast state to get into offshore wind power is Connecticut, which will buy up to 30% of its electricity from this renewable energy source
Philly Plugs Into The Electric Bus
25 electric buses will hit the streets of Philadelphia this week
Hawaii - Unlocking Access To Energy Upgrades
Hawaii's GEM$ program makes it easy for everyone to fund home energy upgrades with on-bill financing
June 07, 2019
Union Support For GND
The Service Employees International Union, a Democratic-aligned union powerhouse, throws its weight behind the Green New Deal
Amsterdam: See Street Parking Vanish
Amsterdam is cutting 10,000 on-street parking spaces, see the difference
De Blasio Vision Zero Plan -- Too Slow
While the number of NYC traffic deaths has gone down with the Mayor's Zero Vision Plan, it's not zero + we still need to change the culture around ownership of the city’s streets
Hey DNC - Don't Muffle The Climate Crisis
True or false? The Democratic National Committee is wrong to reject a climate change-focused debate among the Party's Presidential contenders
June 06, 2019
Arctic Ice-Southern Heat Waves
Scientists find a link between declining arctic sea ice + heat waves in the southern US
UK: Climate Crisis Alarms
British voters now more worried about climate crisis than economy, crime or immigration. Thanks to youth activists like @GretaThunberg, #youthstrike4climate, @ExtinctionR, @sunrisemvmt, & so many more, public concern over environment reaching record highs. https://t.co/AjNP53kP3X
— Geoffrey Supran (@GeoffreySupran) June 6, 2019
Uber Copters To JFK
One way to cut traffic congestion, but it's not cheap
NY Climate Legislation Forecast
Without the Governor's support, what are the prospects for NY's sweeping climate action legislation?
Climate-Saving Is Life-Saving
Limiting global temperature increases to 1.5°C could avoid between 110 and 2,720 annual heat-related deaths
Answering Your Battery Questions
Are rechargeable batteries always the better choice + what's the right way to dispose of dead batteries?
June 05, 2019
Plastic Waste Isn't Beautiful
Next time you put on makeup, look at all the ugly plastic packing + waste you're paying for + switch to more attractive alternatives
No Ignoring The Green New Deal Now
With each day bringing another Green New Deal-like proposal from Democratic Presidential hopefuls, climate awareness for action is mainstreaming
Atlanta: Goal. Yes. Plan...
Atlanta has a goal of using 100% 'green' electricity by 2035, but does it have a plan to get there?
What A World
An incredible new animation of the movement of the continents, the great ice ages & ever-changing sea levels over the history of animal life, by Christopher Scotese. https://t.co/OOd1933iIp pic.twitter.com/Fjjat40FM3
— Peter🌋Brannen (@PeterBrannen1) June 4, 2019
June 04, 2019
Interviewing A Sunrise Movement Founder
Varshini Prakash is animating the new generation of climate activism. What does she want + when does she want it?
Modern Mobility
Congestion pricing is just one step toward improving urban mobility. For safe-street sharing + clean air, there's so much more that can be done
Climate's Corporate Impact: The Bottom Line
Expect disrupted financial impacts for corporations stemming from climate disruptions
June 03, 2019
CEQR: It's Broken. Fix It
NYC's environmental review process isn't doing its job, according to the Municipal Arts Society, what are the fixes needed now?
New Rooftop Solar Fee Proposed
With drops in new installations, what's the logic of imposing new fees on NY's rooftop solar power now?