
By Curtis Morrison
Your help is needed. Voting in the Global Youth Video Competition is underway through Friday. The competition features the best youth climate projects happening around the globe.
Two youth entrants, whose videos receive the most views, will receive a round-trip travel to COP22 in Morocco in November, and have the opportunity to serve as a youth reporter for COP22, responsible for assisting the UNFCCC Newsroom team with videos, articles and social media posts.
Video entries for the competition, which come from young people between the ages of 18 and 30, are classified into two categories. The first category, climate action, includes entries explaining activities to help to address climate change. The second category, public awareness, includes entries showcasing efforts to raise public awareness around climate change.
The video entry above was submitted by 18-year-old Jacob Lebel, of Roseburg, Oregon, one of 21 youth plaintiffs who sued the U.S. government in federal court. The youth's complaint, filed last year, itemizes the climate impacts already faced by Jacob's family farm, including "rising temperatures and a dwindling water supply," as well as expert predictions that "large destructive wildfires, aggravated by record-low snow packs and consistently drier and hotter conditions, will become increasingly common in Oregon."
Last week, Jacob joined his co-plaintiffs in Eugene for a hearing on the government and fossil fuel industry's motions to dismiss their lawsuit.
"Young people like Jacob are the engine behind the work we do," said Julia Olson, the executive director and chief legal counsel for Our Children's Trust, the Oregon-based non-profit who is assisting Jacob with his lawsuit. "His presence and voice in Morocco would simply be fantastic."
The video competition is sponsored by tve and the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change.
Curtis Morrison, J.D., is a freelance writer and a social media strategist for Our Children's Trust, the Oregon-based non-profit who is assisting Jacob with his lawsuit.
People across New England witnessed a dramatic celestial event Sunday night.
EcoWatch Daily Newsletter
By David Reichmuth
Over the last month, I've seen a number of opinion articles attacking electric vehicles (EVs). Sadly, this comes as no surprise: now that the Biden administration is introducing federal policies to accelerate the roll out of electric vehicles, we were bound to see a reaction from those that oppose reducing climate changing emissions and petroleum use.
The majority of EVs sold in 2020 were models with a starting price (Manufacturers Suggested Retail Price) under $40,000 and only a fifth of models had a starting price over $60,000.
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Smoke from wildfires may be more harmful to public health than other sources of particulate matter air pollution, according to a new study.
On Friday, China set out an economic blueprint for the next five years, which was expected to substantiate the goal set out last fall by President Xi Jinping for the country to reach net-zero emissions before 2060 and hit peak emissions by 2030.
The Great Trail in Canada is recognized as the world's longest recreational trail for hiking, biking, and cross-country skiing. Created by the Trans Canada Trail (TCT) and various partners, The Great Trail consists of a series of smaller, interconnected routes that stretch from St. John's to Vancouver and even into the Yukon and Northwest Territories. It took nearly 25 years to connect the 27,000 kilometers of greenway in ways that were safe and accessible to hikers. Now, thanks to a new partnership with the Canadian Paralympic Committee and AccessNow, the TCT is increasing accessibility throughout The Great Trail for people with disabilities.
Trans Canada Trail and AccessNow partnership for AccessOutdoors / Trails for All project. Mapping day at Stanley Park Seawall in Vancouver, British Columbia with Richard Peter. Alexa Fernando
<p>This partnership also comes at a time when access to outdoor recreation is more important to Canadian citizens than ever. <a href="https://www150.statcan.gc.ca/n1/daily-quotidien/200527/dq200527b-eng.htm" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Studies from the spring of 2020</a> indicate that Canadian's <a href="https://www.bnnbloomberg.ca/moneytalk-mental-health-during-covid-19-1.1567633" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">mental health has worsened</a> since the onset of social distancing protocols due to COVID-19. </p><p>The <a href="https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/coronavirus/in-depth/safe-activities-during-covid19/art-20489385" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Mayo Clinic</a> lists hiking, biking, and skiing as safe activities during COVID-19. Their website explains, "When you're outside, fresh air is constantly moving, dispersing these droplets. So you're less likely to breathe in enough of the respiratory droplets containing the virus that causes COVID-19 to become infected."</p><p>TCT leadership took this into consideration when embarking on the accessibility project. McMahon explains that there has never been a more important time to bring accessibility to the great outdoors: "Canadians have told us that during these difficult times, they value access to natural spaces to stay active, take care of their mental health, and socially connect with others while respecting physical distancing and public health directives. This partnership is incredibly important especially now as trails have become a lifeline for Canadians."</p><p>Together, these organizations are paving the way for better physical and mental health among all Canadians. To learn more about the TCT's mission and initiatives, check out their <a href="https://thegreattrail.ca/stories/" target="_blank">trail stories</a> and <a href="https://thegreattrail.ca/wp-content/uploads/2021/01/TCT_2020-Donor-Impact-Report_EN_8.5x14-web.pdf" target="_blank">2020 Impact Report</a>.</p>