Watch 1PM Weekly News - August 21st, 2023
This week Shelby covers 7 breaking news stories--from the great win for young climate activists who sued the state of Montana for the right to a clean environment, to updates on the devastation in Maui from wildfires.
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Montana Youth Climate Lawsuit
For our first story, we have great news from the state of Montana. Sixteen youth plaintiffs filed a lawsuit against the state in twenty-twenty based on language in the Montana Constitution that guarantees quote “the right to a clean and healthful environment.” They alleged that the state violated their rights by encouraging the use of fossil fuels that degrade the environment and contribute to poor health outcomes. Last week, a state court ruled in favor of the plaintiffs, striking down a policy that barred consideration of greenhouse gas emissions in fossil fuel permitting. An attorney representing the suit called the result quote “a game-changer that marks a turning point in this generation’s efforts to save the planet.”
- https://www.nytimes.com/2023/03/24/climate/montana-youth-climate-lawsuit.html
- https://www.washingtonpost.com/climate-environment/2023/08/14/youths-win-montana-climate-trial/
- https://grist.org/article/montana-youth-win-a-historic-climate-case/
Devastating Maui Fires
Next, we have updates on the wildfires that ravaged Maui. Over one hundred people have died, and search and recovery efforts are still underway. Thousands more have been displaced and are staying in shelters, hotel rooms, and other temporary housing situations. Early estimates show three point two billion dollars in insured property losses. That said, many residents are eager to return to a sense of normalcy. Public schools have begun the process to reopen, and a main access road has resumed traffic.
- https://apnews.com/article/hawaii-wildfires-recovery-maui-lahaina-identifications-4e444bc0217bc1e0779f87e641a1b235
$450 Million Allocated to Puerto Rican Solar Energy
Last week the US Department of Energy announced almost half a billion dollars to create solar energy infrastructure in Puerto Rico. The funding stems from the one billion dollar Puerto Rico Energy Resilience Fund established in December 2022. Hurricane Maria rocked the island and took out power for months in 2017 and Hurricane Fiona knocked out power again in 2022. The energy grid is in dire need of revitalization, and this move from the Department of Energy shows that renewables will be a major part of that.
- https://grist.org/energy/doe-commits-450m-to-install-rooftop-solar-for-highest-need-puerto-ricans/
- https://www.nytimes.com/2022/09/19/us/puerto-rico-power-hurricane-fiona.html
Inflation Reduction Act Anniversary
Next, the US passed the Inflation Reduction Act one year ago. The law aimed to address issues like drug prices, corporate taxes, and climate change. Since then, over one hundred new clean energy manufacturing facilities have been announced. Worldwide investors are contributing funds to US-based green energy systems like solar and wind. And government agencies have set new goals and enacted regulations to reach climate goals. Still, as of April 2023, polling showed that forty percent of registered voters didn’t know about the Inflation Reduction Act. There’s more work to do to spread the word about the impact of the legislation and what it can mean for everyday Americans.
- https://www.canarymedia.com/articles/clean-energy/the-us-passed-a-major-climate-law-one-year-ago-heres-how-its-going?utm_campaign=canary&utm_medium=email&_hsmi=270126806&_hsenc=p2ANqtz--yFeFuVL4Xry2ljB8R4nIwT4s5Po50wkD3zCZ3AtraQs7MQUFBu5ewW1FNQO83jxQamRJ1xTZMLPX_1AyIUtBKkMZfLw&utm_source=newsletter
- https://www.nytimes.com/2023/08/16/us/politics/biden-inflation-reduction-act.html
Heritage Foundation Rolling Back Climate Progress
In related news, the US-based Heritage Foundation has already developed a proposal to push back on climate progress should a republican be elected president in the next term. The proposal, called Project twenty-twenty-five, was written with collaboration from a variety of right-leaning groups. The project’s presidential transition guide includes a chapter for the Department of Energy that recommends the elimination of three agency offices that contribute to green energy transitions and proposes cutting funding to the grid deployment office. The twenty-twenty-four election will be critical to determining if the US can continue to move toward a greener future or put climate-deniers in state and federal offices.
1 Million Oil Barrels Recovered From Ocean
Meanwhile, the United Nations has concluded the removal of over one million barrels of crude oil from an abandoned supertanker off the coast of Yemen. The total cost of the cleanup effort is more than one hundred and forty million dollars, and it took two years to fundraise the project. Twenty million dollars is still needed to remove the final two percent of oil remaining and conclude cleanup. The removal of the oil will prevent potentially catastrophic leaks or even explosions that would have led to the closure of all ports in Yemen and surrounding regions, cutting off vital trade, including food and medical supplies.
Endangered Species Act 50th Anniversary
Finally, 2023 marks the fiftieth anniversary of the US Endangered Species Act. The law legally protects threatened or endangered wildlife and has contributed to conservation of countless species. The US Department of Fish and Wildlife Service is asking Americans to celebrate this milestone by taking further steps to protect wildlife. Suggestions range from planting a pollinator garden to volunteering your time. The full list will be linked in the show notes so you can take action.