A new report from the American Lung Association shows that more than 4 in 10 Americans live with polluted air — 135 million people living in 217 counties. This pollution hits communities of color hardest, as people of color are 61 percent more likely than white people to live with unhealthy levels of air pollution, […]
Tag: Health
Deb Haaland is making room for marginalized communities in the Interior Department
Newly appointed Secretary of the Interior Deb Haaland has pledged to address the concerns of U.S. communities that have disproportionately suffered from pollution and environmental degradation. In her role as the primary steward of America’s public lands, Haaland promised last week to incorporate diverse perspectives and prioritize environmental justice across the agencies of the Department […]
First GMO mosquitoes to be released in the Florida Keys
This story was originally published by Undark and is reproduced here as part of the Climate Desk collaboration. This spring, the biotechnology company Oxitec plans to release genetically modified, or GM, mosquitoes in the Florida Keys. Oxitec says its technology will combat dengue fever, a potentially life-threatening disease, and other mosquito-borne viruses — such as Zika — mainly transmitted by the Aedes aegypti mosquito. While […]
Climate action could save ‘millions of lives’ through clean air, diet and exercise
Meeting Paris goals would bring health benefits aside from tackling global heating, research says Thousands of lives lost to air pollution, inactivity and unhealthy diets could be saved each year if the UK takes the action needed to tackle climate change, researchers have said. Across the world, millions of lives could be saved if countries […]
Where can you be safe in this world? Maybe we’re asking the wrong question | Jane Rawson
The overarching project of my life has been making myself safe. But what is the point if everyone else is drowning and burning and starving? This is part of a series of essays by Australian writers responding to the challenges of 2020 I am descended from people who factor a flat tyre into a drive […]
In the staggering dislocation of 2020, I think of the many gifts my parents gave me | Christos Tsiolkas
For most Australians, two events of biblical solemnity will define this year: fire and plague. How should we respond? This is part of a series of essays by Australian writers responding to the challenges of 2020 As soon as my partner and I completed two weeks’ quarantine after returning from Europe in late March, I […]
Australia on the frontline: ask an expert about climate change and its effects
Your chance to put questions to climate scientists and academics as well as experts on controlling bushfires From unprecedented bushfires in forests that used to be too wet to burn to warming seas that have killed giant underwater forests, Australia is experiencing the effects of the global climate crisis more rapidly than much of the […]
Voters can help bring an end to climate anxiety | Letters
Readers discuss the psychological impact of the climate crisis and suggest ways to tackle it As a parent of two children, aged nine and 12, I read with deep concern, though not surprise, your article on the rise of climate anxiety among young people (Take action to reduce anxiety, psychologists advise, 10 February). I remember […]
This is the age of the megafire – and it’s being fuelled by our leaders | Tim Flannery
In the face of the climate disaster it helped create, the Australian government has given us only lies and denial Unprecedented wildfires have recently devastated California, the Amazon, southern Europe, Siberia and Australia. It’s safe to say that we’ve entered the era of the climate-fuelled megafire. But because fire conditions depend on local vegetation, topography […]
Rising temperatures could imperil future of Boxing Day Test cricket, report warns
Event may need to be played at night or in shoulder season as climate crisis exposes players and fans to unprecedented levels of extreme heat The Melbourne Boxing Day Test may have to be played at night or moved away from Christmas to November or March as the number of extreme heat days rises over […]