NHC Director Ken Graham provides an update on Hurricane Delta. NOAA
Hurricane Delta is set to batter southwest Louisiana later today, as residents there prepare to be hit once again by a storm that has rapidly intensified, experts say, largely because of global warming.
<p>Hurricane Delta, the sixth storm so far to meet scientists' threshold for <a href="https://newsletter.climatenexus.org/e2t/tc/VVqc7S3kg3BlW4l2r149fYKkyW15bp5B4gZtmDN6TZ7st3p_97V1-WJV7CgH_wW7x651w8fYJ6WW3BmKKh5Y9TlZW6gk1MG8zwY45VB_Kqm4qF5cGV6HmBz8CnvZZW75DQSQ3bg5NbW17SFnZ2DDh1fW5dzkM37bKNZgW6swNLK7K9hb7VV_fcP5WCBwxW1vWh7m5VxbqVW824V6V1kSHtWW4l3Qcs5sXdJ1W6QY_z95fGp9cVpc04z263hv2W16HRh-54z8F2N5c0_KJlwG9vW14z4zn1BCYNhM152SpXQflwV4g3Wx134hZ_W655DbX4HG_3hW4byG5Q8yJ8hhW7sT63X7PC5-tW3B3_0V3vv-nL3k9K1" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">rapid intensification</a>, exploded from an unnamed storm into a 140 mph monster in just 36 hours. </p><p>"It's more likely that a storm will rapidly intensify now than it did in the 1980s," NOAA climate and hurricane scientist Jim Kossin told the AP. </p><p>The proportion of storms rapidly intensifying in the Atlantic has nearly doubled since 1982, according to a study published last year by Kossin and Princeton climate scientist Gabriel Vecchi, who both told the AP climate change, caused by burning gas, oil, and coal, is clearly playing a major role. </p><p>The increase in storms' rapid acceleration is fueled by oceans heated by climate change.</p>
<p>For Louisiana residents, the danger — and trauma — of repeated storms in such close succession is visceral. </p><p>Hurricane Laura slammed two trees through Janice Duren's Lake Charles home less than two months ago, "And we're fixing to get hit again. You might as well hang it up," Duren told the New York Times from the New Orleans hotel to which she evacuated. </p><p>"It looks like somebody put a bomb off down there [in Lake Charles]," she said. "And you turn around and put another hurricane on top of that? … It'll be double the trouble, but we don't have half the help we need." </p>
<p><strong>For a deeper dive:</strong></p><p><a href="https://apnews.com/article/climate-climate-change-oceans-storms-weather-108ee106d20ab2ab4880011b78e71981?utm_campaign=Hot%20News&utm_medium=email&_hsmi=97053490&_hsenc=p2ANqtz-9rfPWaJ6Nsgh39ouOfPSVKLef_r_36cgDAWETlEjtp8tpqk44rnqrSGV2cUhMxE6r-Bx_aNmAc_sHwmpEd7T1u6OVYZAxEDfqVNZe5bQKwL7iONB0&utm_content=97053490&utm_source=hs_email" target="_blank">AP,</a> <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2020/10/08/us/hurricane-delta-gulf-coast.html?utm_campaign=Hot%20News&utm_medium=email&_hsmi=97053490&_hsenc=p2ANqtz-9L8dBGijtdmosL7fZ-AhP8JzCMAsoEo3Hg5Cx2BT9hQIeEt-UeZ9n11ZEcI-A6jtpa7KshrW1hcQjCrTjgMqC6-u9r_Lf_kZ13472yV_R_acUPuWA&utm_content=97053490&utm_source=hs_email" target="_blank">New York Times</a>, <a href="https://www.cbsnews.com/news/hurricane-delta-gulf-coast-atlantic-hurricane-season/?utm_campaign=Hot%20News&utm_medium=email&_hsmi=97053490&_hsenc=p2ANqtz--gu8ZAhbKFXA8RN9r7lvrxdNKwmCrKnZUBg-sMIhlFJvBBj_yuAb8vf_Ibcsf8VaBHNWUuV_Mv7LXMVE_2rxxjazB6d7QRikhy1BReEtFy5tuPIns&utm_content=97053490&utm_source=hs_email" target="_blank">CBS</a>, <a href="https://www.cnn.com/2020/10/09/weather/hurricane-delta-friday/index.html?utm_campaign=Hot%20News&utm_medium=email&_hsmi=97053490&_hsenc=p2ANqtz-8AbL2KE9vKkKCAyqPtu1p0hQl44_aarTg85BTDEme8YR6ds5rqA-LIarZ7ePPoXpfvWt4_QD_ADpJH5rDtYwn76fvYyjgOXQhaJnwdc71esCA3us0&utm_content=97053490&utm_source=hs_email" target="_blank">CNN</a>, <a href="https://www.nationalgeographic.com/science/2020/10/still-reeling-louisiana-braces-for-hurricane-delta/?utm_campaign=Hot%20News&utm_medium=email&_hsmi=97053490&_hsenc=p2ANqtz-8vR9mG-ez9w7Ze3HSVTmqUDczekLhL90YZLf4xc4MC6VKVAgOYIeBTUgu9gyYI8qh0z4w7wCFiHbgZMVcRf3-KSiTPOJQBYBlBUfZmK9hUS-syqWU&utm_content=97053490&utm_source=hs_email" target="_blank">National Geographic</a>, <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2020/oct/08/hurricane-delta-louisiana-winds-flooding?utm_campaign=Hot%20News&utm_medium=email&_hsmi=97053490&_hsenc=p2ANqtz-8DeglbJVv7uGemAVvk6k0hsPUK-Iioud-Jb_5Y6T98nSH3GzqZhz-AlhApt1zn4BqjCPUamv_6GkT7RMPiOtc9dpcmc8h0tIkiw0v40jxPgNDeIkI&utm_content=97053490&utm_source=hs_email" target="_blank">The Guardian</a>, <a href="https://www.eenews.net/climatewire/2020/10/09/stories/1063715877?utm_campaign=Hot%20News&utm_medium=email&_hsmi=97053490&_hsenc=p2ANqtz-93N8qM3j32oSXm8jaOZhFBgdHQOvSCLbcT7RX9kTCMTlCXtrwvIC1ZL-_CpqSvhLfRlFDMJHU7YDswb7OzBqkTP-HnyNHOy_ZuxoxP96dERjGHe70&utm_content=97053490&utm_source=hs_email" target="_blank">E&E</a>; Climate Signals background: <a href="https://www.climatesignals.org/climate-change-hurricanes?utm_campaign=Hot%20News&utm_medium=email&_hsmi=97053490&_hsenc=p2ANqtz-9flwzQxQkArxXK_2x651Pu8knSQrQ82oA9N7AFLNBNm9UdggkNJau51twuNiFMRw0DRomvxXLrEy30ePcbmSVCqALnrM_27o3Ywwjysx_wTKy1po0&utm_content=97053490&utm_source=hs_email" target="_blank">Hurricanes</a>; <a href="https://www.climatesignals.org/events/atlantic-hurricane-season-2020?utm_campaign=Hot%20News&utm_medium=email&_hsmi=97053490&_hsenc=p2ANqtz-8r-WjyhSE8jWLf0B3BsLjKv9L6sQyj6liBIqlu7WIVX7i58XG6-ik4pCXrvDbk4n7gkPPGpXhZOTgpSpuAHEZzLE2aJzd9zXSrOoHAjvP6bFtQBk0&utm_content=97053490&utm_source=hs_email" target="_blank">2020 Atlantic Hurricane Season</a><br/></p><p><em>For more </em><a href="http://ecowatch.com/climate-change-news/" target="_blank"><em>climate change</em></a><em> and </em><a href="http://ecowatch.com/business/renewables/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"><em>clean energy</em></a><em> news, you can follow Climate Nexus on </em><a href="https://twitter.com/ClimateNexus" target="_blank"><em>Twitter</em></a><em> and </em><a href="https://www.facebook.com/ClimateNexus/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"><em>Facebook</em></a><em>, and sign up for daily </em><a href="http://climatenexus.us4.list-manage1.com/subscribe?u=d1f5797e59060083034310930&id=7c84c08aaa" target="_blank"><em>Hot News</em></a><em>.</em></p>From Your Site Articles
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Oil refinery owned by ExxonMobil on Feb. 28, 2020 in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. Barry Lewis / InPictures via Getty Images
ExxonMobil plans to increase its annual carbon-dioxide pollution by more than 20 million tons per year over the next five years, Bloomberg reports.
<p>The increases, which come from the company's own analysis of its direct emissions, are equivalent to 17% of its current carbon pollution — about the yearly emissions of the country of Greece — but account for only about one-fifth of the total greenhouse gas pollution caused by burning Exxon's <a href="https://www.ecowatch.com/tag/fossil-fuels">fossil fuel</a> products. Unlike many European oil majors, Exxon has refused to make efforts to curb its greenhouse gas pollution. Earlier this year, Exxon was removed from the Dow Jones Industrial Average and it is currently facing lawsuits from about a dozen jurisdictions alleging it knew, withheld, and denied important information about the impact of fossil fuel consumption on <a href="https://www.ecowatch.com/tag/climate-crisis">climate change</a>.</p><p>As reported by E&E News:</p><blockquote>The Bloomberg report shines a spotlight on Exxon at a time when its large European rivals are announcing plans to boost investments in renewables and slash carbon emissions. The gulf has been building slowly for years.</blockquote><blockquote>....</blockquote><blockquote>BP and Shell are now among a host of European oil giants committing to net-zero emissions by midcentury. BP has gone further still, pledging to cut oil production 40% over the next decade. Shell is reportedly mulling a similar move.</blockquote><p><strong><span></span>For a deeper dive:</strong></p><p><a href="https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2020-10-05/exxon-carbon-emissions-and-climate-leaked-plans-reveal-rising-co2-output?sref=oUjKJw8m&utm_campaign=Hot%20News&utm_medium=email&_hsmi=96772406&_hsenc=p2ANqtz--Fy8y-j0EILZSP7dsLGPtWpPpw3fyGbi-OsL57rpB7jdBHfuVStzp_i4oCA7MKixkO6OSfBkk9NHCHK0I5bsnmAVHeFQ&utm_content=96772406&utm_source=hs_email" target="_blank">Bloomberg</a>, <a href="https://www.eenews.net/stories/1063715573?utm_campaign=Hot%20News&utm_medium=email&_hsmi=96772406&_hsenc=p2ANqtz--_V6-G2F9Lxl73BZK_VLFkcChfWQZ8la4akulFn6N-r3Mopt1vY6OOsAJSmhaYYEBa9ThpuOe49D75i0srrfprmkVLGQ&utm_content=96772406&utm_source=hs_email" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">E&E</a></p><p><em>For more </em><a href="http://ecowatch.com/climate-change-news/" target="_blank"><em>climate change</em></a><em> and </em><a href="http://ecowatch.com/business/renewables/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"><em>clean energy</em></a><em> news, you can follow Climate Nexus on </em><a href="https://twitter.com/ClimateNexus" target="_blank"><em>Twitter</em></a><em> and </em><a href="https://www.facebook.com/ClimateNexus/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"><em>Facebook</em></a><em>, and sign up for daily </em><a href="http://climatenexus.us4.list-manage1.com/subscribe?u=d1f5797e59060083034310930&id=7c84c08aaa" target="_blank"><em>Hot News</em></a><em>.</em></p>
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A Marathon Oil refinery in Melvindale, Michigan on June 9, 2020. The Federal Reserve bought $3 million in the company's bonds before they were downgraded, bringing taxpayers' total stake to $7 million. FracTracker Alliance
A new report shows the U.S. government bought more than $350 million in bonds issued by oil and gas companies and induced investors to loan the industry tens of billions more at artificially low rates since the coronavirus pandemic began, Bloomberg reported.
<p><br/></p><p>The Federal Reserve itself bought debt from 19 <a href="https://www.ecowatch.com/tag/fossil-fuels">fossil fuel</a> companies, including 12 that have since been downgraded by independent credit-rating agencies, according to the <a href="https://prismic-io.s3.amazonaws.com/bailout/1b1e1458-bbff-49bc-a636-f6cbd47a88af_Big+Oils+Billion+Dollar+Bender.pdf?utm_campaign=Hot%20News&utm_medium=email&_hsmi=96461767&_hsenc=p2ANqtz-9lkS8M1whibNfOIgBIeYw7xEHCmkaqbdzHnxpnmBv5tP-z0LtVPd2pfOUa1gzYCUpidv97oXiSUwzGyTu4Lq4Mjn46UA&utm_content=96461767&utm_source=hs_email" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">report</a>, released Wednesday by Public Citizen, Friends of the Earth and Bailout Watch. Since the Federal Reserve began bailing out corporate debt markets in March, a total of 56 oil and gas companies have issued $99.3 billion in debt, including some to companies that have said they may have failed without the cash. By announcing it would buy corporate debts, the reports authors write, the Fed effectively reduced the risk to investors who might otherwise not have purchased the oil and gas companies' debt. "The Treasury and Fed have provided a massive safety net for the oil industry, whose business model was failing before the pandemic," Alan Zibel, research director of Public Citizen's Corporate Presidency Project, told Bloomberg.</p><p>According to the report:</p><blockquote>"The bailouts engineered by Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin and Fed Chairman Jerome Powell are just the latest example of how corporate-friendly <a href="http://www.ecowatch.com/trump-watch/">Trump</a> appointees have scrambled to help the fossil fuel industry. The dirty-energy sector has been a key source of support for Republicans as well as a consistent pipeline for Trump administration staffers."</blockquote><p><strong>For a deeper dive:<br/></strong><a href="https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2020-09-30/critics-see-bailout-in-federal-purchase-of-oil-companies-debt?sref=oUjKJw8m&utm_campaign=Hot%20News&utm_medium=email&_hsmi=96461767&_hsenc=p2ANqtz-_X9Yfkb87NtvhRiN7aifq0cuWRm5YtvWvoNUv99nbIDalbnG8LVA6gE3qevteWTuSLcEvCenYQSDvLeth5a1rOQJF2Qw&utm_content=96461767&utm_source=hs_email" target="_blank">Bloomberg</a><br/><em><br/>For more </em><a href="http://ecowatch.com/climate-change-news/" target="_blank"><em>climate change</em></a><em> and </em><a href="http://ecowatch.com/business/renewables/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"><em>clean energy</em></a><em> news, you can follow Climate Nexus on </em><a href="https://twitter.com/ClimateNexus" target="_blank"><em>Twitter</em></a><em> and </em><a href="https://www.facebook.com/ClimateNexus/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"><em>Facebook</em></a><em>, and sign up for daily </em><a href="http://climatenexus.us4.list-manage1.com/subscribe?u=d1f5797e59060083034310930&id=7c84c08aaa" target="_blank"><em>Hot News</em></a><em>.</em></p>
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Smoke from the Glass Fire rises from the hills on September 27, 2020 in Calistoga, California. Justin Sullivan / Getty Images
Just days after a new report detailed the "unequivocal and pervasive role" climate change plays in the increased frequency and intensity of wildfires, new fires burned 10,000 acres on Sunday as a "dome" of hot, dry air over Northern California created ideal fire conditions over the weekend.
<p>In Napa County, the <a href="https://newsletter.climatenexus.org/e2t/tc/MVsnnZz8yLxW6P5d-B4dc0qsW8LzBkh4gwXy7N9cd5Jc3p_b1V1-WJV7CgWgFVy0qkd5XbdwLW5rt4gV4w-xTxV-h4Sg7DzJBzW5VDwxQ3l7DhlVCBttb6m7nxWW8h_xDy6FQdyWN1MjKcdcmhpSW2PLWml7pwBvcW1F6-cJ2tvc7YVLFDBf6T5bxTW23C4-w3v4S8DN8Q-7gX1b8vjW7qpRrH4rKWlkW30JwJZ855nXJW19qdGb16-Nl-W3j2wJ85gX-N5W23Yjdj2WwgVkW1jYthC6rq58qW84KgzL4s_BFqN1gy5rt_sw_1W6SFvpr79sx-dW8BvcQr56DrDjW4QJnYK7VYJQqW3pXL934WSgQ_VkF-F63ZtxGzW3LYfZW47SGGpW8QTrvx7qv7wjW6fxRYj96cjcGW42NZpM87shmPW6_T2nL6KbSm_2jj1" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Glass Fire</a> burned more than 2,500 acres, forcing at least 2,000 residents and a hospital to evacuate and threatening about 2,200 structures. </p><p>The fire tore through vineyards and jumped two rivers Sunday evening and was zero percent contained as of late Sunday night. </p><p>"It's a cremation," Craig Battuello, whose family has raised grapes in St. Helena for more than a century, told KPIX.</p>
<p>As of Monday morning, the Shady and Boysen Fires, burning near the Sonoma-Napa county line were believed to be spot fires from the Glass Fire. </p><p>Further north, the <a href="https://newsletter.climatenexus.org/e2t/tc/MVsnnZz8yLxW6P5d-B4dc0qsW8LzBkh4gwXy7N9cd5Jc3p_b1V1-WJV7CgCKFW50rbql5Kh3Q5N2KHP3P2ScQpW1P-1sG1C8V06W2CLx6N7GgT9BW8qGKpg2vggG-N8vd4vHfRgblW8zkwnS7lVrSGVcvmJ783gfdwW6jC5L78V29r2W2c49zy50gjRHW1ZlstL5wlHn9W6XZmDT55sqxNVCbwwc7xFcL0W6_mQlr1b_tzxN15BHn-N0nvsW6xCrys8JvpZRN2yl4Z979WpGW9jcx4F5zKNh_W4fwqXR5CcvncW4RDx9Z3wWt60N10kQLMKP46nW2JkYKK1j91VMW8928mj2dj6KdW7KgRGL7GLxJyW7yzmXm8dT1KxW8ZDR5K92wwwvW7W69vt7mSF4TW2BvFh62rGtxHW2Mr1r98ZFby7W98zv6k3y1t0n2jH1" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Zogg Fire</a> had burned 7,000 acres as of Sunday evening. </p><p>Electricity will be shut off for 65,000 Northern California customers in 16 counties to prevent the spread of the fires.</p>
<p><strong>For a deeper dive:</strong></p><p>Increased frequency and intensity: <a href="https://www.bbc.com/news/science-environment-54278988?utm_campaign=Hot%20News&utm_medium=email&_hsmi=96174415&_hsenc=p2ANqtz-8qp2mUDhBu291ydfwMMiNGyBDHagoosg_k0IqcpI7CtDhXLM4ZmHgVGa2PRKbaxWoLM6t_MPwLlThcOqkbF70YlOx1D3YHNqvErsDeqFeQuAoxwfg&utm_content=96174415&utm_source=hs_email" target="_blank">BBC</a>, <a href="https://www.eenews.net/climatewire/2020/09/25/stories/1063714657?utm_campaign=Hot%20News&utm_medium=email&_hsmi=96174415&_hsenc=p2ANqtz-9sDZNbxU236xY4m-Wo12Sv03RABQinScs_T_bXj4OydAg0HafEAxz-H2tjZKojcYTytgAwY8kgfctp1KmPD3T51QSw1yqzM2Lj9nwXcoZ5f1nJLS4&utm_content=96174415&utm_source=hs_email" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">E&E</a>; Weekend conditions: <a href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/weather/2020/09/27/california-wildfires-winds-heat/?utm_campaign=Hot%20News&utm_medium=email&_hsmi=96174415&_hsenc=p2ANqtz--eGMrt1syferudaktlGVVKMEY0GtRdCEFE9kh0KVmGUeUqMyFxCIQ0uuU2lQiOoEr4QLg9SDVH3DRcvNTzOD1qgp5_WGz9BcjX4N6GuTxUYJeS0iY&utm_content=96174415&utm_source=hs_email" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Washington Post</a>, <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2020/sep/25/california-heatwave-temperatures-wildfires?utm_campaign=Hot%20News&utm_medium=email&_hsmi=96174415&_hsenc=p2ANqtz-852YwT7VEURpg5t5xAoR9oxVViLPVsN2P0wwSp11Y3ArzCpfgKhMttNcRhmr_ZAomIiv3yOhYRU9x44rztsRiJh1QWy3JUwMnn5w_RhEaPG7mkePg&utm_content=96174415&utm_source=hs_email" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">The Guardian</a>, <a href="https://www.sfchronicle.com/bayarea/article/Hot-temperatures-high-fire-danger-and-slightly-15599419.php?utm_campaign=Hot%20News&utm_medium=email&_hsmi=96174415&_hsenc=p2ANqtz-_deidYKtyzBYgRzfz2uTLKmxXv7ayQ9lx4prpYBmk0kLTr7XmVEO45lydcOhKT74ojRRHrUShZFsnjD4TQoNdt38iAOjvFlvIkNgg1flRtlzrqUkw&utm_content=96174415&utm_source=hs_email" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">San Francisco Chronicle</a>; Fires: <a href="https://www.cnn.com/2020/09/28/us/california-wildfires-zogg-fire-glass-fire-monday/index.html?utm_campaign=Hot%20News&utm_medium=email&_hsmi=96174415&_hsenc=p2ANqtz-_6pqkRWXQh8abROXh8Hd8JX9gf5cB1_tgZjEct1oPBJU-OrfFF6Q8f60lOTKo-GU2tzseTSf9Kv0RNIhWzEacsX3m07IuEMen-BjYaTXskOaX9vMk&utm_content=96174415&utm_source=hs_email" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">CNN</a>, <a href="https://sanfrancisco.cbslocal.com/2020/09/28/wildfire-erupts-near-st-helena-evacuations-underway-in-neighborhoods-near-silverado-trail/?utm_campaign=Hot%20News&utm_medium=email&_hsmi=96174415&_hsenc=p2ANqtz-8mQ894hiDyvTPS1n2NPmnSWmEw4Lq7lWXD4R9cqHT4X8F9PuphlEQ31smYpTnEAm9eJ1U4o02_809pVEuttvmBz9a4J9bK1xqiiT0eCKP6tAb7aQk&utm_content=96174415&utm_source=hs_email" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">KPIX</a>, <a href="https://www.sfgate.com/bayarea/article/calistoga-st-helena-deer-park-wildfire-evacuations-15600692.php?utm_campaign=Hot%20News&utm_medium=email&_hsmi=96174415&_hsenc=p2ANqtz-9F4-Wab7eZREhnULDmGIV0k9x_NThFQU5_MSquHuNaZDkQ7bRH6a4Yu-qDDXa55xAVioefHg3tLRHunHs43IHEeaKIrF1QvA6KBmbV5pgy7QjydDY&utm_content=96174415&utm_source=hs_email" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">San Francisco Gate</a>, <a href="https://www.cbsnews.com/news/california-wildfires0st-helena-wine-country-napa-county-today-2020-09-28/?utm_campaign=Hot%20News&utm_medium=email&_hsmi=96174415&_hsenc=p2ANqtz-9P0BbBx9nYT3T_1W-lOffDYHQEjYmkZbDQQIibib1tKlKDaqb51l8wXnA6X5XEXFXkzvfGhFT2z79GUksHfelxxg4MVYL0bPHMOlCY5A65LlPsFHc&utm_content=96174415&utm_source=hs_email" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">CBS</a>, <a href="https://www.pressdemocrat.com/article/news/early-morning-napa-county-fire-grows-to-800-acres/?utm_campaign=Hot%20News&utm_medium=email&_hsmi=96174415&_hsenc=p2ANqtz-9Exio8Ld8lxE0RHLM1p_BgKjdAw9k32hG2HsVJiYGLt3RNPgtSKhF03njhfHjzZlgD9DRwXqHzr10D8ESwuVg7A9wh0Rp9bPno6hjxvZ3wuXPRzPo&utm_content=96174415&utm_source=hs_email" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">The Press Democrat</a>, <a href="https://www.sfchronicle.com/california-wildfires/article/Wildfire-breaks-out-near-St-Helena-in-Napa-15600677.php?utm_campaign=Hot%20News&utm_medium=email&_hsmi=96174415&_hsenc=p2ANqtz-99w-thHE2aSzf_q6Xk1dgS6yrogihar09euhVC0DLPcYKVgtV0q10OqQhPZWSfU4T404sedEO8ONHYXClq4HmIwj3L2Qe3_8lbm7JIt2LVUjLJxCc&utm_content=96174415&utm_source=hs_email" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">San Francisco Chronicle</a>, <a href="https://abc7news.com/wildfires-trigger-new-evacuation-orders-in-napa-county/6619307/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">ABC-7 KGO News</a>, <a href="https://www.mercurynews.com/2020/09/27/fire-breaks-out-in-napa-as-forecasters-predict-hot-smoky-week/?utm_campaign=Hot%20News&utm_medium=email&_hsmi=96174415&_hsenc=p2ANqtz-91dr7E9vqo3PKR-X9I3GwmK5scJrwMwNSrP6keEdMz9OtJtMplme2bHxd5_ifedEYGRxjWBUN_ENqITOVBN2pUdFobXvQHWm5LUisYU0sJcru9b4Q&utm_content=96174415&utm_source=hs_email" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Mercury News</a>, <a href="https://krcrtv.com/news/local/fire-breaks-out-in-igo?utm_campaign=Hot%20News&utm_medium=email&_hsmi=96174415&_hsenc=p2ANqtz-_YUqKikCN8aIADKO_iTe_OqXWKrw5UUYBNuwNHJX914J9zo_nLfPjCd-7DlhquzwJJgLe53hGZYorAMbJ5AOb1Rdx0xVYXjwwjj12TjjjHrZSqmSs&utm_content=96174415&utm_source=hs_email" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">KRCR</a>, <a href="https://sfist.com/2020/09/27/napa-county-glass-fire-grows-to-over-800-acres-more-evacuations-underway-structures-burned-as-blaze-continues-ballooning/?utm_campaign=Hot%20News&utm_medium=email&_hsmi=96174415&_hsenc=p2ANqtz-9ltVJVENifXl3oUfL35FYoQ3V3kLoZchjPypQecv1NlGERt1mMFbUPlwXdxHLOeAV8faIokxuwaY3ytvFDyz795UAyxF-uYAMOrgf-OfhGLD196vg&utm_content=96174415&utm_source=hs_email" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">SFist</a>, <a href="https://www.sfchronicle.com/california-wildfires/article/California-blazes-exploding-New-evacuations-from-15602171.php?utm_campaign=Hot%20News&utm_medium=email&_hsmi=96174415&_hsenc=p2ANqtz-9dkNr9eCqgGEvxi7dOEa1aCUevyW70sAoQecnkS5HXDhUnLD7j22Q0CbtWWj-QIZOAHcVir2IcolKHa58GHN4jLhEp03DjMLML6hxI0-aY6EQnV3w&utm_content=96174415&utm_source=hs_email" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">San Francisco Chronicle</a>, <a href="https://weather.com/news/news/2020-09-27-california-napa-county-glass-fire-impacts-evacuations?utm_campaign=Hot%20News&utm_medium=email&_hsmi=96174415&_hsenc=p2ANqtz-9dHhWSMpBzxlxna9RotW7frfqtFg37auwCIa7aomquA5T0AocvkVfG4cXDC46SDmnLmRY5H4DZleZFT5J6o5pqaqGxhrrOfvJpMSabN5m_8ToB39A&utm_content=96174415&utm_source=hs_email" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Weather Channel</a>; Climate signals background: <a href="https://www.climatesignals.org/climate-change-wildfires?utm_campaign=Hot%20News&utm_medium=email&_hsmi=96174415&_hsenc=p2ANqtz-9zQsXAgonNscvqMBp2K5xbAheSFH5-kQT_5wAP3h2PJMHU4BrnyEMk0rDW8Y7i6GEy__b9ICr4Wq88tNUf6Y10Q4t9gWyCHDhIjx7tiiHjVdBBP8A&utm_content=96174415&utm_source=hs_email" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Wildfires</a>, <a href="https://www.climatesignals.org/events/western-wildfire-season-2020?utm_campaign=Hot%20News&utm_medium=email&_hsmi=96174415&_hsenc=p2ANqtz-_jlihPzlQ5DGWbcnHKcnMuMmAZLm2WudQwftKMhR4ey5l8X06_xMSJqNkdNBq4nj6SMP1pr2rIH_4BDtVYCZ5dB2V6pRZ_Ka6CMg6qOQFA0koy2Z8&utm_content=96174415&utm_source=hs_email" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">2020 Western wildfire season</a><br/></p><p><em>For more </em><a href="http://ecowatch.com/climate-change-news/" target="_blank"><em>climate change</em></a><em> and </em><a href="http://ecowatch.com/business/renewables/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"><em>clean energy</em></a><em> news, you can follow Climate Nexus on </em><a href="https://twitter.com/ClimateNexus" target="_blank"><em>Twitter</em></a><em> and </em><a href="https://www.facebook.com/ClimateNexus/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"><em>Facebook</em></a><em>, and sign up for daily </em><a href="http://climatenexus.us4.list-manage1.com/subscribe?u=d1f5797e59060083034310930&id=7c84c08aaa" target="_blank"><em>Hot News</em></a><em>. </em></p>From Your Site Articles
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Inmate firefighters arrive at the scene of the Water fire, about 20 miles from the Apple fire in Whitewater, California on August 2, 2020. Josh Edelson / AFP / Getty Images
Incarcerated people who fight wildfires in California will be better able to work as firefighters after returning home under a new law.
<p>Gov. Gavin Newsom signed the bill Friday, which will allow former inmate firefighters to petition courts to expunge their records and waive parole time — removing barriers to getting jobs fighting fires professionally. </p><p>Formerly incarcerated people were barred from obtaining EMT licenses, effectively preventing them from advancing in careers as professional firefighters despite their obvious qualifications. </p><p>Inmate firefighters perform life-threatening work alongside professional fire crews while receiving just dollars per day. </p><p>Michael Gerbe told NPR he expects the new law will change his life. </p>
<p>Gerbe, who was convicted of robbery when he was 19, worked to contain the Thomas Fire, the Mendocino Complex Fire, the Ferguson Fire, the Carr Fire, and the Camp Fire in Paradise. </p><p>Now that he will be eligible to obtain an EMT license, Gerbe said, "I could be of more help, I could be of more assistance. </p><p>So the news is huge, and it's not only huge for me, it's huge for the community I serve, because with me being an EMT, I could do more for the community that I serve." </p>
<p><strong>For a deeper dive:</strong></p><p><a href="https://www.npr.org/2020/09/11/912193742/california-bill-clears-path-for-ex-inmates-to-become-firefighters?utm_campaign=Hot%20News&utm_medium=email&_hsmi=95181545&_hsenc=p2ANqtz-_8x-aziv_Z_HLYaX1_pMeabshV_WdFQmj9jP--FLC2qZGuSrBvaTZEGUOAdc6rRZyXaX-8cWjyhkELO4PONKRV6D4I3lkYlqf_F0iJvWIC0UMTYsg&utm_content=95181545&utm_source=hs_email" target="_blank">NPR</a>, <a href="https://apnews.com/0edcd41500327c198f288a348cfba552?utm_campaign=Hot%20News&utm_medium=email&_hsmi=95181545&_hsenc=p2ANqtz-8PP04pxoVFBWRS8OM4Jx85i09vdbIWa-_IqH7ZbKSpXSMeufLMJChbg4oogMXuX7DPbqR4DtAslX4E-jZsLtN7cZ3iYireTuqiRR1gNIYmjwjZI5Y&utm_content=95181545&utm_source=hs_email" target="_blank">AP</a>, <a href="https://www.kpbs.org/news/2020/sep/07/prison-crew-pros-firefighters-who-beat-odds-and-ar/?utm_campaign=Hot%20News&utm_medium=email&_hsmi=95181545&_hsenc=p2ANqtz-8meWWu95JAEeZGEM4m40_SVmntsxWGRnMEFGJKZyTPqXAMG1Vhno76f_T-EoWRkcej954m19XRakS0dqqqWydW_krFhFwjQeoii-FSC5YFYZCJ_LQ&utm_content=95181545&utm_source=hs_email" target="_blank">KPBS</a>, <a href="https://sdvoice.info/legislature-passes-bill-that-would-allow-inmate-firefighters-to-continue-in-profession-when-released/?utm_campaign=Hot%20News&utm_medium=email&_hsmi=95181545&_hsenc=p2ANqtz-8yOnqvXvUKQF7a_-jxrtWAbNGaoNyLHEvM1tiXAJbMIFkQIE2FOTTUNDdRuWrUcH6DqBwtKICCIDRxhkCWV2JyI8ClIyGYjVrFMdDAyzDWKHrVkuc&utm_content=95181545&utm_source=hs_email" target="_blank">San Diego Voice</a>, <a href="https://witnessla.com/formerly-incarcerated-firefighters/?utm_campaign=Hot%20News&utm_medium=email&_hsmi=95181545&_hsenc=p2ANqtz-9pF3_Mnw4imeHRSsE0XUcVrzvu1BSe32BaN9TZbnYODjTc0h2Xomb-EfznKHgRG8hJP0siXrGGtdvM1gjdjQVEEXbQcp6w85XcTZS5dWoJEnedU4c&utm_content=95181545&utm_source=hs_email" target="_blank">Witness LA</a>, <a href="https://www.kqed.org/news/11837644/newsom-signs-law-paving-way-for-former-inmates-to-become-professional-firefighters?utm_campaign=Hot%20News&utm_medium=email&_hsmi=95181545&_hsenc=p2ANqtz-8pdFu7zZllXy_MPShGCWC5uNtLKjPfetVu-YYzNEIcoSiy6b-609VnxBP-MGk5sM6fahj44a7OrkAcNwI6cQtJhOLoLbvBQDT_is-D32LKF27YQao&utm_content=95181545&utm_source=hs_email" target="_blank">KQED</a>, <a href="https://www.fresnobee.com/news/california/fires/article245580415.html?utm_campaign=Hot%20News&utm_medium=email&_hsmi=95181545&_hsenc=p2ANqtz-_SIVrqrdwnOrw2goEuHMcGi7YjHXbdx9i1ndGEZlasnoCguVIi5WN6J2Mr4i-ezL3Ws8BdW4VMWPhAK-vZqUBcyMLLla0CvHbHiHLXIaJi13g5ttE&utm_content=95181545&utm_source=hs_email" target="_blank">Fresno Bee</a>, <a href="https://kcbsradio.radio.com/media/audio-channel/governor-newsom-signs-bill-to-allow-formerly-incarcerated-firefighters-to-join?utm_campaign=Hot%20News&utm_medium=email&_hsmi=95181545&_hsenc=p2ANqtz-9ilPG5wOpM-H4S6TefrutCpjJAirQeNyvfM0YNacZ8eYttrhGX2UL6_HzOGIJJDI7cz1KHxZdgGH3na8eT9LYyI_4d5W716_ZsL9JcrA74BebSMZU&utm_content=95181545&utm_source=hs_email" target="_blank">KCBS Radio</a>, <a href="https://ktla.com/news/california/new-california-law-removes-barriers-for-former-inmate-firefighters-to-get-jobs/?utm_campaign=Hot%20News&utm_medium=email&_hsmi=95181545&_hsenc=p2ANqtz-9M7-7mTg5DuOWovpI1FvZtRad6VBQFN-D-2FUgzUebF2gMr_WzHQfIro2kR-kT4I5SHpwUf5hSAnhM29p129h9Nn9exaSJi_9VgV0ZkVKrqB5JJ_4&utm_content=95181545&utm_source=hs_email" target="_blank">KTLA</a>, <a href="https://earther.gizmodo.com/california-passes-law-to-help-inmate-firefighters-pursu-1845038023?utm_campaign=Hot%20News&utm_medium=email&_hsmi=95181545&_hsenc=p2ANqtz-_zZ5A5RnaYKUlz2x-b3qdE0d7ea0Bi9SzSQqMZuWkVN5E-X1htFbRjwTYMyXN2KdcLmGBdgXsdyc2u7obhzh-snW0va_rdMKZbWHGXGkzQm1enjBQ&utm_content=95181545&utm_source=hs_email" target="_blank">Earther</a>, <a href="https://www.cnn.com/2020/09/11/us/california-inmate-firefighters-expungement-law/index.html?utm_campaign=Hot%20News&utm_medium=email&_hsmi=95181545&_hsenc=p2ANqtz--eGXTV8d2O7kyfoZbH3B8mM1m-AMCOGOK7raHulTqPq6hJ_tyBWbX3OagiWFHyzkz6zf0pOzHdPHfFh0nl2P6EZX_KVzYHYyjCCruJdI4OncFqGqE&utm_content=95181545&utm_source=hs_email" target="_blank">CNN</a>, <a href="https://www.cbsnews.com/news/california-bill-allows-inmate-firefighters-pursue-career-after-incarceration/?utm_campaign=Hot%20News&utm_medium=email&_hsmi=95181545&_hsenc=p2ANqtz-_k5KtEmx9p9FXQmlcGMcxmFeFhVwhX5kmRCDQ3MA6lAAg6lO1niUh8EWukuB0R50wS6wAp_1xmel_bur2GDQp6QHCOm7EXDEgxmS6P7PapnriRa74&utm_content=95181545&utm_source=hs_email" target="_blank">CBS</a>, <a href="https://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/proposed-california-law-would-make-it-easier-former-inmate-firefighters-n1239833?utm_campaign=Hot%20News&utm_medium=email&_hsmi=95181545&_hsenc=p2ANqtz--qoGJV4S4uw4HmWEysiVp402kZ4JVN0bd8SVxaqn2m39wYefnIVOQoirOuLXYM9TfOWRsqDrYr2veyCopD_cNe7KiQiT8d9kgyyxHHJVy1cfumCdg&utm_content=95181545&utm_source=hs_email" target="_blank">NBC,</a> <a href="https://www.vox.com/science-and-health/2020/9/12/21433678/wildfires-california-law-inmate-firefighters-fire-departments-release?_hsmi=95181545&_hsenc=p2ANqtz-_6f7oFH1cu6q2peQ1dWt0NEaRvgNGqGEuudI3HNJaRsQocN93K8UgZCuBIsFvM3LkfNIpdI605vALAC0F2Pgzo8WB-rMozUjc-uwJXwRQw0xETOmg" target="_blank">Vox</a>, <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/live/2020/sep/11/fires-oregon-california-washington-wildfires-live-news-updates-today?page=with%3Ablock-5f5bd2138f08ec7b9ce78adf&utm_campaign=Hot%20News&utm_medium=email&_hsmi=95181545&_hsenc=p2ANqtz--eh0fOgwp5zNuSq_lQsaIcn-LYRZyoWfUM_qhsNB9bpMZqKWQwUk-JeduC3GEFBosgNf_ia_41M0pfDmllgws2PhzIYHTtZXn4gm5BcipdRbl4pcs&utm_content=95181545&utm_source=hs_email#block-5f5bd2138f08ec7b9ce78adf" target="_blank">The Guardian</a>, <a href="https://www.axios.com/newsom-california-inmate-firefighters-wildfires-5254e522-3781-48c1-a439-26281ad12053.html?utm_campaign=Hot%20News&utm_medium=email&_hsmi=95181545&_hsenc=p2ANqtz-8SUEshxLZQYy1pP3eKAghalNv3j703o7kCJytztttsbn3So9yERZ28QXaGZlrpxfLJ_-HS91sYQVfp9vwuFNYQrMQK5P2sCVgEKX3Zl60wqm1aiJ4&utm_content=95181545&utm_source=hs_email" target="_blank">Axios</a>, <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/california-makes-it-easier-for-inmate-firefighters-to-become-professionals-2020-9?utm_campaign=Hot%20News&utm_medium=email&_hsmi=95181545&_hsenc=p2ANqtz-9rNgjnVMOJa70aD779tgkvsZemlzAL7U_81gWMx6YkMkCZzzSkAkLtMtgT8Y7QUJrqhH0CdqKrpYMOgbH6sBB9KvxhL9LWU5iH2C0slZydGgKHFMs&utm_content=95181545&utm_source=hs_email" target="_blank">Business Insider,</a> <a href="https://thehill.com/homenews/state-watch/516157-newsom-signs-legislation-allowing-pathway-for-inmate-firefighters-to?utm_campaign=Hot%20News&utm_medium=email&_hsmi=95181545&_hsenc=p2ANqtz-8Zmo4vxW5URQ4MM5Unf01PXrPMXrgUlbg05zA_qj8CD1HytvJJYjfdXMDtTMecs7353u8whO_a8X55BopvqtWcCZ8o3P999ZtJT9bsMUdkWOX85Pc&utm_content=95181545&utm_source=hs_email" target="_blank">The Hill</a>, <a href="https://kesq.com/news/2020/09/12/new-california-law-gives-inmate-firefighters-a-better-chance-at-getting-jobs-in-the-field/?utm_campaign=Hot%20News&utm_medium=email&_hsmi=95181545&_hsenc=p2ANqtz-_oBLpPSiBipeCUxCw0F7BUXWOwrpGa5-y0LDAoXBg9wFMCjoXINHOWZikueQ0p828xWiLNbSosrMoAY8AftL1L-mt4nWH_Zy3vEEdfb0fYEhVM0EU&utm_content=95181545&utm_source=hs_email" target="_blank">KESQ</a>,<a href="http://www.malibutimes.com/news/article_296cc722-f3b4-11ea-9a52-bbbfee1893fa.html?utm_campaign=Hot%20News&utm_medium=email&_hsmi=95181545&_hsenc=p2ANqtz--4RhT9PuXYY_qyKF3CMCJ4XHxAptvJMKWcFqtYxcrmJLEY5Y7cGkoqlceHAqrSQue2A-3VZvEyVm4U8wKBiV27NNCzMNmWOlx1UhJPCXBsK06Hv3Y&utm_content=95181545&utm_source=hs_email" target="_blank"> Malibu Times</a>, <a href="https://abc7.com/inmate-firefighters-california-incarcerated-cdcr-gavin-newsom/6419175/?utm_campaign=Hot%20News&utm_medium=email&_hsmi=95181545&_hsenc=p2ANqtz--9p9Qx7SROoGJhQGabPEq8u3Yo_wvLHgT5j-Y1d9Q3ytryCHVM1qXpAJ7aQZxZGRqNNF98Tq60kLn5M3H0358D4xXapwVfJ8aqJuwlhMTHri1hcUc&utm_content=95181545&utm_source=hs_email" target="_blank">ABC7</a>; Commentary: <a href="https://www.sfchronicle.com/opinion/article/New-California-law-gives-ex-inmate-firefighters-15561394.php?utm_campaign=Hot%20News&utm_medium=email&_hsmi=95181545&_hsenc=p2ANqtz-9PdTIHqTNmu8TlOn2Yfyrq6aZFidCCkZmJMANA8dVrmJqF8h_0LnYjdHQsYVMcnf3hqJpSB29V_DQvk55c1h2lGkhYHTNKC3ICbH-lisfakHkB1ok&utm_content=95181545&utm_source=hs_email" target="_blank">San Francisco Chronicle</a>, <a href="https://www.sfchronicle.com/opinion/article/New-California-law-gives-ex-inmate-firefighters-15561394.php?utm_campaign=Hot%20News&utm_medium=email&_hsmi=95181545&_hsenc=p2ANqtz-_8WCLHRrqCrtmC3Blp7yy9X18ZTkyF1RrNNzRCEaKYxetqna69saLKkLhqm83lMR5_TeAx_WsGA1NNG9IT0zSi2ZALGipApFVjapymHVAHelScnyE&utm_content=95181545&utm_source=hs_email" target="_blank">Sarah Shourd op-ed</a></p><p><em>For more </em><a href="http://ecowatch.com/climate-change-news/" target="_blank"><em>climate change</em></a><em> and </em><a href="http://ecowatch.com/business/renewables/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"><em>clean energy</em></a><em> news, you can follow Climate Nexus on </em><a href="https://twitter.com/ClimateNexus" target="_blank"><em>Twitter</em></a><em> and </em><a href="https://www.facebook.com/ClimateNexus/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"><em>Facebook</em></a><em>, and sign up for daily </em><a href="http://climatenexus.us4.list-manage1.com/subscribe?u=d1f5797e59060083034310930&id=7c84c08aaa" target="_blank"><em>Hot News</em></a><em>.</em></p>From Your Site Articles
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Households of color are far more likely to spend a disproportionately high portion of their income on energy bills. Wavebreakmedia / iStock / Getty Images Plus
Low-income households and households of color are far more likely to spend a disproportionately high portion of their income on energy bills, according to a new report from The American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy.
<p>The report comes as tens of millions of American households face possible utility shutoffs by the end of this month as protections enacted in the wake of the pandemic expire. Twenty-five percent of American households, but a full two-thirds of low income households are described as having a "high energy burden," spending double the national average on energy bills as a portion of their income. Compared to white households, Black households spend 43% more of their income on energy costs, Hispanic households spend 20% more; and Native American households spend 45% more.</p>
<p>Racist policies like redlining have made households of color more likely to live in inefficient housing with old, energy-guzzling appliances and HVAC systems, Earther reported. Communities of color have been hit disproportionately hard by the COVID-19 pandemic, and "between having to stay at home to be to protect yourself and to remain socially distant, along with increased heat from the summertime weather … we found customers will see an increased energy bill of up to $50 per month," Joseph Daniel, a senior energy analyst with the climate and energy program at the Union of Concerned Scientists, who did not work on the report, told Earther. </p>
<p>As reported by USA Today, Ariel Drehobl, a senior research associate at the American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy and the lead author on the report, described a "combination of factors" contributing to the crisis:</p><p>"We see that low-income communities of color and other economically disadvantaged communities often have similar characteristics, such as living in communities that have experienced racial segregation, high unemployment, high poverty rates and poor housing conditions, which are all due in part to systemic policies."<span></span></p>
<p><strong>For a deeper dive:</strong></p><p><a href="https://www.smartcitiesdive.com/news/67-of-low-income-households-face-high-energy-burden-aceee/584961/?utm_campaign=Hot%20News&utm_medium=email&_hsmi=95047537&_hsenc=p2ANqtz--EZR87m0Dcnnc819t3emyZM_g10tlSOznpbjED6GZZqd45Vzf8XI3L5FCqYTOl9UDnCAv4tZons6Yms2m_6fAmawv2-g&utm_content=95047537&utm_source=hs_email" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">SmartCities Dive</a>, <a href="https://earther.gizmodo.com/poor-households-spend-nearly-four-times-as-much-on-util-1845010294?utm_campaign=Hot%20News&utm_medium=email&_hsmi=95047537&_hsenc=p2ANqtz-8rtCyo7ex3IpVNwXJoSq1S3Io2ZNFi8Hm-Rf9PV9PEIeydS00SXkhM8tEgOydEcIG-KBZWlh_wqcmcQO49QnuTiEq3dA&utm_content=95047537&utm_source=hs_email" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Earther</a>, <a href="https://www.usnews.com/news/cities/articles/2020-09-10/report-highlights-energy-bill-inequities-in-us-cities?utm_campaign=Hot%20News&utm_medium=email&_hsmi=95047537&_hsenc=p2ANqtz-9Oj6V4V7ps-b5jf9uVoy1nh80QLVh-DxSJIcr6kWCBqRKZKfc4wOQoWX9DaS6KZdF3rzZmHbdiSonMb7AolohDJ6YyVQ&utm_content=95047537&utm_source=hs_email" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">U.S. News & World Report</a>, <a href="https://grist.org/justice/report-black-households-spend-almost-50-percent-more-on-utilities-than-white-households/?utm_campaign=Hot%20News&utm_medium=email&_hsmi=95047537&_hsenc=p2ANqtz-_cCdYL8ZsUJhjcXduHxa-3IFyRJDsSlPSTSKGFJ33Ddk9IjpQRIJYUO76NvzmgiP5qMgPMecXoD96gribhgwyo_vGwZg&utm_content=95047537&utm_source=hs_email" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Grist</a></p><p><a href="https://grist.org/justice/report-black-households-spend-almost-50-percent-more-on-utilities-than-white-households/?utm_campaign=Hot%20News&utm_medium=email&_hsmi=95047537&_hsenc=p2ANqtz-_cCdYL8ZsUJhjcXduHxa-3IFyRJDsSlPSTSKGFJ33Ddk9IjpQRIJYUO76NvzmgiP5qMgPMecXoD96gribhgwyo_vGwZg&utm_content=95047537&utm_source=hs_email" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"></a><em>For more </em><a href="http://ecowatch.com/climate-change-news/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"><em>climate change</em></a><em> and </em><a href="http://ecowatch.com/business/renewables/" target="_blank"><em>clean energy</em></a><em> news, you can follow Climate Nexus on </em><a href="https://twitter.com/ClimateNexus" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"><em>Twitter</em></a><em> and </em><a href="https://www.facebook.com/ClimateNexus/" target="_blank"><em>Facebook</em></a><em>, and sign up for daily </em><a href="http://climatenexus.us4.list-manage1.com/subscribe?u=d1f5797e59060083034310930&id=7c84c08aaa" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"><em>Hot News</em></a><em>.</em></p>From Your Site Articles
- Natural Disasters Disproportionately Impact Poorer Communities ... ›
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First-of-its-Kind Report Finds Climate Change Poses 'Major Risk' to U.S. Financial System
09 September
Politics
This is the first federal government report of its kind to focus on the effects of climate change on financial markets. Robertogfena / Wikimedia Commons / CC by 4.0
A massive, first-of-its-kind report, commissioned by Trump appointees and compiled by dozens of analysts from firms across the economy, says "climate change poses a major risk to the stability of the U.S. financial system and to its ability to sustain the American economy."
<p>The findings themselves are not entirely new, but the fact that they were published by the Commodity Futures Trading Commission, the regulatory body charged with overseeing the complex financial instruments that set the prices of commodities like corn, wheat, and oil, carries significant importance. </p><p>This is the first federal government report of its kind to focus on the effects of climate change on financial markets. </p>
<p>"It was shocking when they asked me to do this," Robert Litterman, the chairman of the panel that produced the report and a founding partner of Kepos Capital, told the New York Times. </p><p>"This is members of the entire community involved in financial markets saying with one voice, 'This is a serious problem, and it has to be addressed.'"</p>
<p><strong>For a deeper dive:</strong></p><p><a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2020/09/08/climate/climate-change-financial-markets.html?smid=em-share&utm_campaign=Hot%20News&utm_medium=email&_hsmi=94874373&_hsenc=p2ANqtz-_GWMht0msr3FV1Xf2nU0JyUKXAS4oLv4vz-Om82vxLSIJbO6g-Hoc4abyHF9XN68ZiNzPLz3GJs657bT7E3Dtk5St26yOIWAAzaMt1BKv9HGhaf5Q&utm_content=94874373&utm_source=hs_email" target="_blank">New York Times</a>, <a href="https://login.politicopro.com/?redirect=https%3A%2F%2Fsubscriber.politicopro.com%2Farticle%2F2020%2F09%2Fcftc-report-climate-change-poses-serious-risk-to-financial-system-1990308%3Futm_campaign%3DHot%2520News&utm_medium=email&_hsmi=94874373&_hsenc=p2ANqtz--5bZHK86iwDFjQm-C_voC50lMzypE62jS7nTaMFKPrXvqcTy3T7DbCBTSEpjEv-PL2zJ0uGlwEc3tEsZh1nqtDdo8Bc0UgwJhcpAH9MjnF7lUwj_I&utm_content=94874373&utm_source=hs_email" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Politico Pro</a>, <a href="https://www.reuters.com/article/us-climate-change-market-risks/u-s-regulator-homes-in-on-climate-risks-to-u-s-markets-idUSKBN1YF2D5?utm_campaign=Hot%20News&utm_medium=email&_hsmi=94874373&_hsenc=p2ANqtz--H0EH387MWUZNZ8k4V8X9XvPYIxdUCRvU_IKbt6eJ3maA7w4YflYSUN9IC-5pw7lXb7_M-EJDPnvgVCNa6xc5NDwAsVELfja-Q-JOP9kjcqYNMyxE&utm_content=94874373&utm_source=hs_email" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Reuters</a>, <a href="https://nymag.com/intelligencer/2020/09/federal-doc-warns-of-financial-disaster-of-climate-change.html?utm_campaign=Hot%20News&utm_medium=email&_hsmi=94874373&_hsenc=p2ANqtz-8OrmxZVuEqVClJXfDHCIqGPv4HR3Z7xfE55UbC8Q6E0hbOlfbSe3kmjcAfOnoG3UBgA7DkdJkgbqdP41PMUH2oQzCiFwutTj-ZhcvzYaNzlHbUnJQ&utm_content=94874373&utm_source=hs_email" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">New York Magazine</a><br/></p><p><em>For more </em><a href="http://ecowatch.com/climate-change-news/" target="_blank"><em>climate change</em></a><em> and </em><a href="http://ecowatch.com/business/renewables/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"><em>clean energy</em></a><em> news, you can follow Climate Nexus on </em><a href="https://twitter.com/ClimateNexus" target="_blank"><em>Twitter</em></a><em> and </em><a href="https://www.facebook.com/ClimateNexus/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"><em>Facebook</em></a><em>, and sign up for daily </em><a href="http://climatenexus.us4.list-manage1.com/subscribe?u=d1f5797e59060083034310930&id=7c84c08aaa" target="_blank"><em>Hot News</em></a><em>. </em></p>From Your Site Articles
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Pollution From Oil Wells and Industrial Sites Hit by Hurricane Laura Remains Unknown
28 August
Climate
An LNG processing plant is seen in Cameron, Louisiana on August 26, 2020. Andrew Caballero-Reynolds / AFP / Getty Images
The full extent of the damage wrought by the storm formerly known as Hurricane Laura will only continue to grow as the weakened storm continues inland and pollution from petrochemical plants and other industrial sites is discovered.
<p>More than 1,400 active oil wells sit in the path Hurricane Laura carved through Louisiana's coastline, some of which are decades old and especially vulnerable due to the state's receding coastline. </p><p>"I have a lump in my throat thinking about them," Bob Bea, a specialist in catastrophic risk management and former well manager for Shell, told the New Orleans Advocate. </p><p>The environmental damage caused by leaking wells, as well as from pollution spread from other damaged industrial sites, may not be discovered for days as officials focus on search and rescue tasks in the wake of the storm.</p>
<p>The storm's rapid intensification, fueled by exceptionally warm sea-surface temperatures, likely made matters worse but overconfidence from regulators and oil companies is also to blame, according to Bea. </p><p>"When it comes to how we manage our platforms, pipelines, and wells, we here in the U.S. are not world leaders in risk management," he said. </p><p>"We're not Canada or Norway. We're not even a Third World country." </p>
<p><strong>For a deeper dive:</strong></p><p><a href="https://www.nola.com/news/business/article_8106c25c-e86b-11ea-a890-fb56159b024e.html?utm_campaign=Hot%20News&utm_medium=email&_hsmi=94133008&_hsenc=p2ANqtz-_VLOWHPFC592Gm_5D57qGB9LRL98MiRz3oGxdSpC7qsuf2cd_S4qAmA5Ps3kfhIcCRgU5Ia0C1DuRpa5L2RCX2SZb4dxbFgw9OUG6YFovxlBT8l3E&utm_content=94133008&utm_source=hs_email" target="_blank">New Orleans Advocate</a>; Potential industrial pollution: <a href="https://apnews.com/1887dbe11dec8c0db2f41988599382fc?utm_campaign=Hot%20News&utm_medium=email&_hsmi=94133008&_hsenc=p2ANqtz-9dhp6AZcLb4AA5AUQRI20P8OFVHGu_7tB-IXKvNWtCzHjNPK8eOi1FpDpKWgIC_sH8pDi3bD6OqZciElqQ4Se8wxi0v6_cgxaeYTeHPGbCLsFHgLA&utm_content=94133008&utm_source=hs_email" target="_blank">AP</a>, <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2020/08/27/climate/hurricane-laura-fire-pollution.html?searchResultPosition=3&utm_campaign=Hot%20News&utm_medium=email&_hsmi=94133008&_hsenc=p2ANqtz-8esde0511EKliwyNlN6Ts0ewK1sJvLLsOr8ximeb95eof33jzMzW6aI3DpdD7vZjU4-D0X4w-O1IrmO0_okgfQ5axh0I7uZw-BYBnRs122VkMadJI&utm_content=94133008&utm_source=hs_email" target="_blank">New York Times</a>, <a href="https://www.wsj.com/articles/americas-energy-corridor-narrowly-averts-direct-hit-from-hurricane-laura-11598539350?utm_campaign=Hot%20News&utm_medium=email&_hsmi=94133008&_hsenc=p2ANqtz--wHrEUgGUYgpBwo_asKLbIC1xgahQH9DJyFcU4-r-Ubq-FZFycnVnewxrJRTFguz6q9t7y7NDVUxyfDPXQdF95XWB4Wd0dfwIrhOFMpkU6vWhRo1c&utm_content=94133008&utm_source=hs_email" target="_blank">Wall Street Journal</a>, <a href="https://www.buzzfeednews.com/article/emmanuelfelton/hurricane-laura-could-lead-to-an-environmental-disaster-on?utm_campaign=Hot%20News&utm_medium=email&_hsmi=94133008&_hsenc=p2ANqtz--v564n6L9bIwptZCCIdB--FxYL_N3AV4pZ2JheOXD4p8NYUEFAvhIHBG2rldHsPGQ82vP9y-RCUwsFDd9isz3-L6coCQiq4fe2XFhHhK0N0pqwCto&utm_content=94133008&utm_source=hs_email" target="_blank">Buzzfeed</a><br/></p><p><em>For more </em><a href="http://ecowatch.com/climate-change-news/" target="_blank"><em>climate change</em></a><em> and </em><a href="http://ecowatch.com/business/renewables/" target="_blank"><em>clean energy</em></a><em> news, you can follow Climate Nexus on </em><a href="https://twitter.com/ClimateNexus" target="_blank"><em>Twitter</em></a><em> and </em><a href="https://www.facebook.com/ClimateNexus/" target="_blank"><em>Facebook</em></a><em>, and sign up for daily </em><a href="http://climatenexus.us4.list-manage1.com/subscribe?u=d1f5797e59060083034310930&id=7c84c08aaa" target="_blank"><em>Hot News</em></a><em>.</em></p>From Your Site Articles
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Trending
Steve Culver cries with his dog Otis as he talks about what he said was the, "most terrifying event in his life," when Hurricane Harvey destroyed most of his home on August 26, 2017 in Rockport, Texas. Joe Raedle / Getty Images
The psychological toll of climate change-fueled disasters, now compounded by the coronavirus pandemic, is mounting and the U.S. is unprepared. These are the findings of a project by the Center for Public Integrity and Columbia Journalism Investigations, in collaboration with 10 local and regional outlets.
<p>The U.S. has faced nearly 40 <a href="https://newsletter.climatenexus.org/e2t/tc/VVwCdY9fvdJJW83rnwh117254W15bp5B4fc8ywN4CDgd_3p_97V1-WJV7CgP_1W81C3NF6bjdbjW4L74GN4t2z3hW4vZ5rs46MSnsW2lYGv_1-BvLRW1GYqz79k0KR_W7sxm1f9jR2GVW5GQCty3FTXTqW8F9xvf64zjrwW45PFR32661hCW2yP80r1Rgt6bVmhd-z5ycL8SN9d1wzHSbtC-W5dxz457-Hb6KW2V5yzT2tJfFVW36xVxl7sgqpHW6ypwgw14ShndW49lj6W7cLmtHW83mTX31tgSVWN38svz6HQd40MDLCZ1MPgxJW6nbgwn3N1HCFW2BfQkp8z2GQPW7KBY946hPTddW2QbTMT7LmxXB36c71" target="_blank">billion-dollar disasters</a> in the past decade, more than ever before. </p><p>One such event, Hurricane Harvey in 2017, caused half of Houston-area residents to struggle with powerful or severe emotional distress in its aftermath, according to a Rice University <a href="https://newsletter.climatenexus.org/e2t/tc/VVwCdY9fvdJJW83rnwh117254W15bp5B4fc8ywN4CDgd_3p_97V1-WJV7Cg-glN5B-DXP3NjX8W20xx8C7PHNw4N7YDTR5_BtbbW3-FD_42BFWkQW7R0yZy6NXQ7VN7Cc9wrWXTlzW8vmdH53xYkLDW2l25DH6dsgzvW16dTQx7K278KMRjw1Lsqs7PW6Fpqmh4xYxhVW8yQZHd4b6ymvW11M2823SxV02W2z2DM-3M2WwrV64wwZ5ct_vBW1mG0jt3bzh3lW61b3vN5Tv5t8W1zsYwc4kNd8bW5xhw5m7D2ww-W8L1f4T6NDsM1MWQq4wndbNPW8mWklj5Zf95JW27yx7C7jHxmyVV-TnB66Zv8V3lvk1" target="_blank">survey</a> to be published Wednesday. </p><p>Meanwhile, the main federal vehicle for addressing the psychological trauma of weather and climate disasters, the Crisis Counseling Assistance and Training Program, run by the Federal Emergency Management Agency, has distributed about as much in post-disaster assistance over its three decades of existence ($867 million) as one agency within the Department of Defense <a href="https://newsletter.climatenexus.org/e2t/tc/VVwCdY9fvdJJW83rnwh117254W15bp5B4fc8ywN4CDgfV3p_b1V1-WJV7CgPpRW23np3-1-VhCSW32jnJp2XqbH7W3S-Ytq5ff3qQW2FRHZC3CP3f1Vdp44c1Tsg0GVrfCCm9cTVXbW58mLgQ1NG0LBW3-8Qc55jRc64W2jFSB94mFsNLW10nYbB8jPxQRN50DR4zsYZlVW4Yhg2r1Lgfx8W8Rj-fx5CpkSbW5hqLcB9hDmfNV9MqbJ5SpVXrW4ZL95L42tGCBW6pWjGr2RvvbtW43y0Y_61hkG-N8_WtjTcXt4wW27-YDT5JS9PJW9lH7cw27VFYVW3NQ51N2DrLDlW8dCKlC5McKs0W7VL3Ww6lslcmW74pXDW54yxf9W3NdR968xzbm8N8pp78dpg_wmW1w__w53Bgl80VQgSy18LYDNpW7kN2p97bq7VR3hmt1" target="_blank">lost track of</a> in a single year.</p>
<p>Even if the government were to fully fund and support comprehensive mental health care for disaster survivors, it would be insufficient without action to mitigate the underlying reality of climate change, advocates argue. </p><p>"After a disaster, if the government does not declare a climate emergency and start acting like it, it's just such a betrayal," said Margaret Klein Salamon, a psychologist who started the advocacy group The Climate Mobilization after living through Superstorm Sandy. </p><p>Providing mental-health support while failing to fight climate change, "is like a Band-Aid. How can we trust a government that does so little to protect us?"</p>
<p><strong>For a deeper dive:</strong></p><p><a href="https://thelensnola.org/2020/08/25/disasters-are-driving-a-mental-health-crisis/?utm_campaign=Hot%20News&utm_medium=email&_hsmi=93959797&_hsenc=p2ANqtz-_IYMaLPEzuxx3m5lRW1kpZ3zuggy4rNynJgDAn-LyPI8qs-Nfeow8gDZmaDzIEJoVeqgOodYxiSecyOyAwk6rrQEjXp28w35U6gg4evV8nCv447Hw&utm_content=93959797&utm_source=hs_email" target="_blank">The Lens</a>, <a href="https://www.calhealthreport.org/2020/08/25/disasters-are-driving-a-mental-health-crisis/?utm_campaign=Hot%20News&utm_medium=email&_hsmi=93959797&_hsenc=p2ANqtz-8O2txDji7oE7ZNnEk93fIEaGiM8-mpoTI-d1Cy6MibxAxqgN5T3zdyEeFn0zYURJ-2VHdMIFLUljXuttQ805nEyjwYfvxF38aksTU3D2Fux5Xfcfw&utm_content=93959797&utm_source=hs_email" target="_blank">California Health Report</a>, <a href="https://www.thestate.com/news/state/south-carolina/article245105365.html?utm_campaign=Hot%20News&utm_medium=email&_hsmi=93959797&_hsenc=p2ANqtz-9nj3S4ydlBCfo9HRx9AcjJXy2mb7b5PQgEKQs3wSXxt1JJNctDkTNBoccH9nMpuTAG2KaZYQMz_dUvHoDgkTIjKGVRRUWZcJVXUBO2aYtzCMTdNvY&utm_content=93959797&utm_source=hs_email" target="_blank">The State</a>, <a href="https://www.sideeffectspaublicmedia.org/post/flood-devastated-town-2019-and-residents-are-still-struggling?utm_campaign=Hot%20News&utm_medium=email&_hsmi=93959797&_hsenc=p2ANqtz--tF4OEOjQd7QwIYWNHPJMDrp6VuExDz3GuLopN4W7q4WSD55ryYkcPvh_egxcapZLCybTwjLNpheJow9RCWmsQYZdfdvROdygmf8mDu5i9nz_uVmE&utm_content=93959797&utm_source=hs_email" target="_blank">Side Effects Public Media</a>, <a href="https://mendovoice.com/2020/08/disasters-are-driving-a-mental-health-crisis/?utm_campaign=Hot%20News&utm_medium=email&_hsmi=93959797&_hsenc=p2ANqtz-_egHOfDmvv0UVXNuLuCFyZxEOTHfsl4Thlpu-i7ufhW3xb5mENi1GfUZRyRiFgsLGj_7PDjSExcnLbkWbzXvhwU7odDwJ13jWbjt-YindYa2o31uo&utm_content=93959797&utm_source=hs_email" target="_blank">The Mendocino Voice</a>, <a href="https://www.iowawatch.org/2020/08/25/iowas-parkersburg-tornado-survivors-offer-support-hope-after-derecho-turmoil/?utm_campaign=Hot%20News&utm_medium=email&_hsmi=93959797&_hsenc=p2ANqtz-8nXffbOu60PrL7t9yhO-r2njCeypZnjoR3EkdT0uZBw_RI25Dj6TGPhdPwOzy09O5DTJlxaVfYaUtuumf-7T6YvR9aY4E4h2ytJl_bYRWNvucVy4c&utm_content=93959797&utm_source=hs_email" target="_blank">IowaWatch</a>, <a href="https://www.islandpacket.com/news/state/south-carolina/article245105365.html?utm_campaign=Hot%20News&utm_medium=email&_hsmi=93959797&_hsenc=p2ANqtz--l_UVm2BIOxx0WB-ydzSES88Md-qAbAo6cEEzBokxWpPkCe8lK_gTNBXmO-1RJCFHQ7ire2Nn2j66WrKDqUvnVmCwKRsRlHnb0Nvx7k_QG_q8YUEM&utm_content=93959797&utm_source=hs_email" target="_blank">Hilton Head Island Packet</a>, <a href="https://www.texastribune.org/2020/08/25/texas-natural-disasters--mental-health/?utm_campaign=Hot%20News&utm_medium=email&_hsmi=93959797&_hsenc=p2ANqtz-8s-Rbrv62GfG-dDJhjMplNrI9AtFD6Ao-N3JjE7ckblqW-F36aBm42Q_ISwTiYBNaM1BN2XX7R7TS8e22NU1cScaIVVcpyj7n1nCUQTrc1TS1TIX4&utm_content=93959797&utm_source=hs_email" target="_blank">Texas Tribune</a>, <a href="https://www.motherjones.com/environment/2020/08/disasters-are-driving-a-mental-health-crisis-the-only-federal-program-to-address-it-is-underfunded/?utm_campaign=Hot%20News&utm_medium=email&_hsmi=93959797&_hsenc=p2ANqtz--GuoNr5p1I8z_dvOBbUxJEH2Cd_sxwitDSRrA9LjhsDvPyyNpucO82ES5Ba_tgwyJg3hN3kBNuEqCYrwm86kU46TTDvMUg3a7J6F1rueXeh4ObPDY&utm_content=93959797&utm_source=hs_email" target="_blank">Mother Jones</a><br/></p><p><em>For more </em><a href="http://ecowatch.com/climate-change-news/" target="_blank"><em>climate change</em></a><em> and </em><a href="http://ecowatch.com/business/renewables/" target="_blank"><em>clean energy</em></a><em> news, you can follow Climate Nexus on </em><a href="https://twitter.com/ClimateNexus" target="_blank"><em>Twitter</em></a><em> and </em><a href="https://www.facebook.com/ClimateNexus/" target="_blank"><em>Facebook</em></a><em>, and sign up for daily </em><a href="http://climatenexus.us4.list-manage1.com/subscribe?u=d1f5797e59060083034310930&id=7c84c08aaa" target="_blank"><em>Hot News</em></a><em>.</em></p>
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EPA Has Granted More Than 3,000 Pollution Monitoring Exemptions to Oil and Gas Industry
26 August
Climate
Environmental regulators across the country granted more than 3,000 requests from polluting oil and gas operations, government facilities, chemical plants, and other facilities to stop pollution monitoring. PxHere / CC0
Environmental regulators across the country granted more than 3,000 requests from polluting oil and gas operations, government facilities, chemical plants, and other facilities to stop pollution monitoring and other procedures intended to protect human health and the environment, an expansive two-month AP investigation revealed.
<p>The Trump administration, under pressure from the oil and gas industry, allowed for the exemptions in late March because of the coronavirus pandemic. </p><p>"It's like saying, 'We're going to remove the radar guns and remove speedometers, but you still have to comply with the speed limit,'" said Eric Schaeffer, now head of the Environmental Integrity Project advocacy group. "That doesn't make sense." </p><p>While EPA claims the monitoring waivers do not constitute a license to pollute at will, without effective monitoring there is no way to know. </p><p>As a whole, the skipped leak inspections could be endangering oil and gas workers and allowing thousands of tons of greenhouse pollution to be emitted into the atmosphere, a former oil and gas engineer told the AP.</p>
<p>The investigation's findings run counter to statements made by the EPA in June that the coronavirus was not impacting compliance and monitoring, and that the industry was not seeking relief. </p><p>In fact, the industry actors aggressively sought and were granted exemptions, as early as March, to skip inspections of smokestacks, tank seals, flare stacks, and emissions monitoring systems, which could raise the risk of explosions. </p><p>"As surely as night follows day there are going to be an increased number of deaths from those causes," Philip J. Landrigan, director of the Program for Global Public Health and the Common Good at Boston College, told the AP.</p>
<p><strong>For a deeper dive:</strong></p><p><a href="https://apnews.com/3bf753f9036e7d88f4746b1a36c1ddc4?utm_campaign=Hot%20News&utm_medium=email&_hsmi=93878362&_hsenc=p2ANqtz-8llXBR1XSIHnBMwvxjlxSTzAmU1Yd25iuXcsHj4vE8oBH169XOVGeDGxaAruzlCNLYkhcXGNC0FJFTnyKho_GYG7zgOD__m50Rvc-lLDpvzw2fuhM&utm_content=93878362&utm_source=hs_email" target="_blank">AP</a></p><p><a href="https://www.mediamatters.org/broadcast-networks/three-years-corporate-broadcast-news-hurricane-coverage-failed-mention-specific" target="_blank"></a><em>For more </em><a href="http://ecowatch.com/climate-change-news/" target="_blank"><em>climate change</em></a><em> and </em><a href="http://ecowatch.com/business/renewables/" target="_blank"><em>clean energy</em></a><em> news, you can follow Climate Nexus on </em><a href="https://twitter.com/ClimateNexus" target="_blank"><em>Twitter</em></a><em> and </em><a href="https://www.facebook.com/ClimateNexus/" target="_blank"><em>Facebook</em></a><em>, and sign up for daily </em><a href="http://climatenexus.us4.list-manage1.com/subscribe?u=d1f5797e59060083034310930&id=7c84c08aaa" target="_blank"><em>Hot News</em></a><em>.</em></p>
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Trending
The peloton ride passes through fire-ravaged Fox Creek Road in Adelaide Hills, South Australia, during the Tour Down Under cycling event on January 23, 2020. Brenton Edwards / AFP / Getty Images
A professional cycling race in Australia is under attack for its connections to a major oil and gas producer, the Guardian reports.
<p>Santos, an Australia-based oil and gas company is the title sponsor of the Tour Down Under, a prestigious stage race held each January at the beginning of the professional cycling calendar. </p><p>Race organizers were forced to shorten or modify stages of in 2017, 2018, and 2019 due to extreme heat and in 2020 the peloton rode through areas hit by bushfires. </p><p>Organizers with Fossil Free South Australia criticized the hypocrisy of the event, so directly affected by climate change, for accepting sponsorship from an oil and gas company.</p>
<p>The interplay of professional cycling and climate change are myriad, if ironic. </p><p>Though cycling is promoted the world over as a form of low-carbon transportation, multiple World Tour teams are sponsored by fossil fuel companies and Middle Eastern petro-states, and the carbon footprint of the infrastructure around the professional peloton — from international air travel between races to the caravans of cars and motorbikes that follow the peloton on the road — is enormous. </p><p>Yet professional riders feel global warming's impacts acutely. One stage of last year's Tour de France saw temperatures above 40°C (104°F) with temperatures on the road, directly above the scorching pavement, as much as 20°C (68°F) hotter.</p>
<p><strong>For a deeper dive:</strong></p><p><a href="https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2020/aug/12/this-is-a-wake-up-call-how-will-pro-cycling-address-its-own-climate-crisis?utm_campaign=Hot%20News&utm_medium=email&_hsmi=93243956&_hsenc=p2ANqtz-89WdLT7XpWfvv3jnnmmZpN3ni_6AliBFTGSoRav6n9xGLRpezRzt0F0MGkhxKJlTzP49ynOGwQ4Wj17C7xOOIyhaORDMf-AtPkEy04YOyhfdCEvKM&utm_content=93243956&utm_source=hs_email" target="_blank">The Guardian</a></p><p><em>For more </em><a href="http://ecowatch.com/climate-change-news/" target="_blank"><em>climate change</em></a><em> and </em><a href="http://ecowatch.com/business/renewables/" target="_blank"><em>clean energy</em></a><em> news, you can follow Climate Nexus on </em><a href="https://twitter.com/ClimateNexus" target="_blank"><em>Twitter</em></a><em> and </em><a href="https://www.facebook.com/ClimateNexus/" target="_blank"><em>Facebook</em></a><em>, and sign up for daily </em><a href="http://climatenexus.us4.list-manage1.com/subscribe?u=d1f5797e59060083034310930&id=7c84c08aaa" target="_blank"><em>Hot News</em></a><em>.</em></p>From Your Site Articles
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Hurricane Florence on Sept. 12, 2018. ESA / A.Gerst / CC BY-SA 2.0
Hurricane forecasters predict the 2020 hurricane season will be the second-most active in nearly four decades.
<p>Meteorologists at Colorado State University, a standard bearer for seasonal hurricane predictions, <a href="https://tropical.colostate.edu/Forecast/2020-08.pdf?utm_campaign=Hot%20News&utm_source=hs_email&utm_medium=email&utm_content=2&_hsenc=p2ANqtz-8zppZX1aY8kszJMl4pymaG2IVnBoxg_RsagLPapjJ8aGo2XQ968cLrBctxgq9xd2xxXARykY6pJeW2jeyJQXvoYQceuKtwcrqZPG5zx_5RuqYi30k" target="_blank">estimate</a> the 2020 season will see 24 named storms, including 12 total hurricanes and 5 major hurricanes. Each of those predictions are about double that for a normal season, and include storms that have already occurred. The 2020 season has already set numerous records for its early activity, with about 90% of the official season ahead. </p>
<p>Even if 2020 sees fewer storms than the new prediction — which is the most dire in CSU's 37-year history — officials may still run out of letters with which to name storms and be forced to use the Greek alphabet for overflow since the letters Q, U, X, Y and Z are not used. The only other time officials were forced to use the Greek alphabet was 2005 which included five hurricanes (Dennis, Katrina, Rita, Stan and Wilma) so destructive their names have been <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20200206163321/https://www.wmo.int/pages/prog/www/tcp/documents/FINAL-REPORT-HC-28.pdf?utm_campaign=Hot%20News&utm_source=hs_email&utm_medium=email&utm_content=2&_hsenc=p2ANqtz-8zppZX1aY8kszJMl4pymaG2IVnBoxg_RsagLPapjJ8aGo2XQ968cLrBctxgq9xd2xxXARykY6pJeW2jeyJQXvoYQceuKtwcrqZPG5zx_5RuqYi30k" target="_blank">retired</a> from future use.</p>
<p><strong>For a deeper dive:</strong> <a href="https://weather.com/storms/hurricane/news/2020-08-05-2020-atlantic-hurricane-season-august-forecast?utm_campaign=Hot%20News&utm_medium=email&_hsmi=92748923&_hsenc=p2ANqtz-9IeFic75USwIHEONdWfCYXQ8_7OUfGg935e2ZWAJ19r-S7PFFYnkEShxJuDADx--LfAWh9Re8qZUABmO28GxjuO6LAZQ&utm_content=92748923&utm_source=hs_email" target="_blank">Weather Channel</a>, <a href="https://thehill.com/homenews/news/510743-forecasters-predicting-extremely-active-hurricane-season?utm_campaign=Hot%20News&utm_medium=email&_hsmi=92748923&_hsenc=p2ANqtz--hsOZRdAx5CW0_AthIxD9BdjfNezoxng3dWCeggOgY1yRG8bNuG8vVBKT6Nj7gRdMdKIlp64NhEWe7lEG5AhMtAWbt0Q&utm_content=92748923&utm_source=hs_email" target="_blank">The Hill</a>, <a href="https://www.cbsnews.com/news/hurricane-season-2020-forecast-extremely-active-24-named-storms/" target="_blank">CBS</a>, <a href="https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation/2020/08/05/hurricane-season-2020-forecasters-new-prediction-storms/3300043001/?utm_campaign=Hot%20News&utm_medium=email&_hsmi=92748923&_hsenc=p2ANqtz-_Gv965dHJB2Gw4UflskHjum7HNV0oIQNQsmt6xf8c7UhOJWdzBmJg6KQG2Y2IUfwcf0SC_5breM_diZwqBsLGlIOCQ1Q&utm_content=92748923&utm_source=hs_email" target="_blank">USA Today</a>, <a href="https://www.news4jax.com/weather/2020/08/05/csu-now-predicts-24-named-storms-this-hurricane-season/?utm_campaign=Hot%20News&utm_medium=email&_hsmi=92748923&_hsenc=p2ANqtz-98p9Sx1J9aCYELsYqAxq_NvnUKiuPGenlr8RhjE5Vl0BXqwwrTb3-rNVWnqlQ1p_S822-x3M1kH4bO6BQX77k6fXOBQQ&utm_content=92748923&utm_source=hs_email" target="_blank">News4JAX</a>, <a href="https://www.wyff4.com/article/new-hurricane-season-outlooks-issued-by-csu-following-record-start/33526545?utm_campaign=Hot%20News&utm_medium=email&_hsmi=92748923&_hsenc=p2ANqtz-_Es88-ppyd952aYUVMbtPBKFjm-SCwIgxKgtJa7ARuuYvj0KrpWAJu9weBR8Yj1UNjbNavxkpfTUEgYhXTJXRgWhcpvQ&utm_content=92748923&utm_source=hs_email" target="_blank">WYFF4</a>, <a href="https://www.wfla.com/weather/tracking-the-tropics/tracking-the-tropics-experts-update-hurricane-season-forecast-to-extremely-active-with-24-named-storms/?utm_campaign=Hot%20News&utm_medium=email&_hsmi=92748923&_hsenc=p2ANqtz-8gI_x82R_Ym-JpgNAe36TIeCmpYq_tL0h3E4Po56Is0VXZV7SER6dHcOd5VKF6toR3zyS6NNJt0-HVF9CGsg6Qo3m93A&utm_content=92748923&utm_source=hs_email" target="_blank">WFLA</a>, <a href="https://www.wmbfnews.com/2020/08/05/first-alert-colorado-state-researchers-now-forecasting-one-most-active-hurricane-seasons-ever/?utm_campaign=Hot%20News&utm_medium=email&_hsmi=92748923&_hsenc=p2ANqtz-8LSCUABuP8V2moEiiA_iXxA_lWNdOdQI-Va28nwthmTdB4jA580tIZqCSvXRZ0oxjkjn6TK5jKuXAXmTS8eRePWvdbhw&utm_content=92748923&utm_source=hs_email" target="_blank">WMBF</a>; Climate Signals background: <a href="https://newsletter.climatenexus.org/e2t/tc/VWK7-l2CwspQW29Q6_46m2pk6W805GfB4dqjyxN8Qx57B3p_9rV1-WJV7CgGrpW7Gz0R23XF3ZhVh2zck28rYDSW7P0DJ56yhFp5W6kXZM-2D0FtpW611m4m2B03y1W4Zr1DR3bx5ypW7Bq_zT3SJD_sW30xvBb6-p0wmV9XJxQ90-YR5N7dQDz7chFMZW1lNKnQ4lfvs6VC1DRX1CmQQ2W3_G0_V67fz6dN3Yts2wmJTDBN7fJpJb9NfShW4HfVvQ5bWCw_W5J8BKs5Fp9NPW1VfTt35YDYcvW5jPjbQ2hRlfxW5HFfBx4MSlm0W16YyZy4fBq5KW6qGJcf4FPc-wN1gdKHLpgq9FW5nsZgC70ZgGyW3S9Z7q1V2NGsW31pbsQ1130MN3mPW1" target="_blank">2020 Atlantic hurricane season</a><br/></p><p><em>Reposted with permission from <a href="https://climatenexus.org/" target="_blank">Climate Nexus</a>.</em></p><p><em><em>For more </em><a href="http://ecowatch.com/climate-change-news/" target="_blank"><em>climate change</em></a><em> and </em><a href="http://ecowatch.com/business/renewables/" target="_blank"><em>clean energy</em></a><em> news, you can follow Climate Nexus on </em><a href="https://twitter.com/ClimateNexus" target="_blank"><em>Twitter</em></a><em> and </em><a href="https://www.facebook.com/ClimateNexus/" target="_blank"><em>Facebook</em></a><em>, and sign up for daily </em><a href="http://climatenexus.us4.list-manage1.com/subscribe?u=d1f5797e59060083034310930&id=7c84c08aaa" target="_blank"><em>Hot News</em></a><em>.</em></em></p><p><em><em><em>Correction: An earlier version of this story incorrectly described the Colorado State University's updated hurricane forecast. The forecast predicts the highest number of named storms of any forecast CSU has published, but would result in fewer storms than the 2005 hurricane season. Additionally, the reference to the amount of the hurricane season still to come should have referenced the Accumulated Cyclone Energy index, not the official hurricane season. This story has been updated.</em></em></em></p>From Your Site Articles
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New Study Finds Climate Change Denial Received Disproportionate Media Coverage for Decades
29 July
Climate
Mainstream news outlets gave disproportionate coverage to climate denial and opponents of climate action for nearly thirty years, a new study found. Dunk / Flickr / CC by 2.0
Mainstream news outlets gave disproportionate coverage to climate denial and opponents of climate action for nearly thirty years, a new study found.
<p>The <a href="https://newsletter.climatenexus.org/e2t/tc/VWBlt-2J6XS7W1lpH6s6XJdkzVkMXxJ4d31d-N8Vtb7Z3p_9rV1-WJV7CgZJ5VwxcsD3_mLHzN8p11YZzzNrhMsB-tL-GL39W3Xl14j6tVQRvW4rkg4Z3x9F45N4RSzL_L8n9fW99C-zL74LjF2W4PG4YX52wvrBVwkCW47D6yWQN3PTT0ZP6hNCW7xczbT6VmJhPW3b36K256-DVbW5dw5NY60BSKVW63MKlV14XmkGW2r4w965z49yQW552Mmr7Jd1gWVmPGnB2XYxdKF8JWD_nxk-FW6jNWjd6X4JwMW38bpKz8bXJ6-W2HtlmM12r12RW79lLl65CL9TsW54-4Pz7hcbCMW74vZ4q39BcNyW5mZgh-6pnvn7N8QLQm78N4pr3khc1" target="_blank">research</a>, published Monday in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, used plagiarism detection software to detect coverage of 1,768 press releases from 1985-2013 across nearly 35,000 articles in the New York Times, Wall Street Journal, and USA Today. </p><p>"The way climate change has been covered in the media could help us understand why there's so much public disengagement on this issue," Rachel Wetts, the study's author and an assistant professor at Brown University's sociology department, told the Independent. </p>
<p>Even though just 10% of all press releases contained messaging against climate action, they were twice as likely to garner coverage. </p><p>Edward Mailbach, director of the George Mason University Center for Climate Change Communications, called the study's conclusions unsettling. </p><p>"Rather than marginalize self-interested voices and give prominence to expert voices, these papers did just the opposite," he told Grist.</p>
<p><strong>For a deeper dive:</strong></p><p><a href="https://www.independent.co.uk/environment/climate-crisis-newspaper-coverage-science-denial-a9640706.html?utm_campaign=Hot%20News&utm_medium=email&_hsmi=92156159&_hsenc=p2ANqtz-8NX06pRZlyWhLQ20Z65ejydb_1XdQi1RtiE_UJnIK7AMToesasvCNHn1eS7sLXVXVr51lylXuLeEf2g4ZbCLQDp3RprMP1TrYeVX2ZC6O1sdgZpeY&utm_content=92156159&utm_source=hs_email" target="_blank">The Independent</a>, <a href="https://grist.org/climate/the-curse-of-both-sidesism-how-climate-denial-skewed-media-coverage-for-30-years/?utm_campaign=Hot%20News&utm_medium=email&_hsmi=92156159&_hsenc=p2ANqtz-_gnrtFekTRIFAQJGurbLGj5TSgtlmqcNze5iVlP6lCMd14DAqCHTsdbKVpborZHPlviIOuT0l8pGZWhRDxNBMJUzfMiMv3FiJ6HNpfTkCE4EdRx5w&utm_content=92156159&utm_source=hs_email" target="_blank">Grist</a></p><p><em>For more </em><a href="http://ecowatch.com/climate-change-news/" target="_blank"><em>climate change</em></a><em> and </em><a href="http://ecowatch.com/business/renewables/" target="_blank"><em>clean energy</em></a><em> news, you can follow Climate Nexus on </em><a href="https://twitter.com/ClimateNexus" target="_blank"><em>Twitter</em></a><em> and </em><a href="https://www.facebook.com/ClimateNexus/" target="_blank"><em>Facebook</em></a><em>, and sign up for daily </em><a href="http://climatenexus.us4.list-manage1.com/subscribe?u=d1f5797e59060083034310930&id=7c84c08aaa" target="_blank"><em>Hot News</em></a><em>.</em></p>From Your Site Articles
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