 People
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Remembering Senator John McCain
As you likely saw over the weekend, six-term US senator and Vietnam War hero, John McCain, surrounded by his family, passed away at the age of 81 after a year-long battle with brain cancer. Senator McCain was a lover of the outdoors and an avid hiker who, even after his diagnosis, still made time to hit the hiking trails and enjoy the natural wonders of his beloved home state of Arizona. In fact, on the centennial of the National Park Service in 2016 he made his love for Arizona’s nature quite evident in saying:
“In Arizona, we are blessed with breathtaking sites, including three national parks, 13 national monuments, two national recreational areas, two national historic sites, a national memorial, a national historical park and a national heritage area. Reflecting on the beauty of our state, former Senator Barry Goldwater once stated, ‘Arizona is 113,400 square miles of heaven that God cut out.’ That love for our state and its natural wonders, and the commitment to preserving them for future generations, is something shared deeply by everyone lucky enough to call Arizona home.“
While Senator McCain’s record on the environment has been mixed, he was a prominent Republican voice to acknowledge climate change and introduced the Climate Stewardship Act of 2003, the first major bill in the Senate to address it. There was no doubt that he profoundly loved our country and wanted all Americans to be able to enjoy the splendors it offers. Just last year McCain reintroduced the 21st Century Conservation Service Corps of 2017, bipartisan legislation that would increase national service opportunities for America’s youth and returning veterans to protect, restore and enhance America’s great outdoors. The Senator was greatly respected in the Senate and served as a friend and confidant to his colleagues, even those across the aisle. He will be sorely missed but never forgotten.
Why This Matters: When Senator McCain was asked the inscription he wanted on his tombstone he replied, merely, “He Served His Country.” John McCain’s devotion to America, his dedication to public service, comradery to his colleagues and decency as a man and politician is truly remarkable. His legacy is a constant reminder that it’s our responsibility to take our civic duties seriously and fight for the issues we believe in. As President Obama said on Saturday, “Few of us have been tested the way John once was, or required to show the kind of courage that he did, but all of us can aspire to the courage to put the greater good above our own. At John’s best, he showed us what that means.”
They just don’t make them like John McCain anymore. Our thoughts and deepest sympathies are with the McCain family during this difficult time. May they find solace in the outpouring of love and respect shown to their father and husband and the lasting example he has set for generations to come.
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 Land
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Outdoor-Friendly Cities That Won’t Break the Bank
For outdoor lovers, cities with easy access to trails and beaches often come with a hefty cost of living. Fortunately, there are hidden gems throughout the country where you don’t have to be a millionaire to enjoy access to the great outdoors. realtor.com® determined the top 10 affordable outdoor cities by analyzing the following:
- Number of national parks within a four-hour drive (perfect for a weekend camping trip), using Google Maps data
- Number of state parks or beaches within a one-hour drive (envision afternoon getaways), using Google Maps data
- Restaurants with outdoor seating, using Yelp data
- Annual months of mild weather, with daily highs between 60 and 80 degrees, using National Weather Service data
- Bicycle-friendliness rating from the League of American Bicyclists
- Median home prices under $300,000, using realtor.com data
The winners were:
- Greenville, SC
- Pittsburgh, PA
- Morgantown, WV
- Greensboro, NC
- Dayton, OH
- Tampa, FL
- Chico, CA
- Atlanta, GA
- Knoxville, TN
- Buffalo, NY
Why This Matters: Being outside is good for our health and living in a city surrounded by nature makes it easier to reap the benefits of the great outdoors. Want to find a weekend hike near you? Check out a site like AllTrails to get you started!
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This story was brought to you by the National Wildlife Federation. To learn more about how the National Wildlife Federation can help you connect your family with the outdoors, click here.
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 Climate Change
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Photo: Petr David Josek/AP
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Drought in Central Europe Exposes Cautionary “Hunger Stones”
Europe has been experiencing an exceptionally hot summer which experts believe is a signal of long-term changes to the climate. The heat has also brought significant drought throughout Europe and in the photo below you can see how this year’s heat wave has taken its toll on vegetation in northern Germany, Denmark and Sweden. The first image shows how green the vegetation looked on June 30 and how it appeared dry and brown around two weeks later. In fact, as the Guardian reported, farmers across northern and central Europe are facing crop failure and bankruptcy as one of the most intense regional droughts in recent memory strengthens its grip. States of emergency have been declared in Latvia and Lithuania, while the sun continues to bake Swedish fields that have received only 12% of their normal rainfall.
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The drought has also revealed carved boulders, known as “hunger stones,” that have been used for centuries to commemorate historic droughts — and warn of their consequences in the Elbe River (which stretches from the Czech Republic to Germany). NPR reported that, the biggest stone is also chiseled with the years of hardship and the initials of authors. Researchers added that “It expressed that drought had brought a bad harvest, lack of food, high prices and hunger for poor people. Before 1900, the following droughts are commemorated on the stone: 1417, 1616, 1707, 1746, 1790, 1800, 1811, 1830, 1842, 1868, 1892, and 1893.” One of the stones on the banks of the Elbe is carved with the words “Wenn du mich siehst, dann weine“: “If you see me, weep.”
Why This Matters: A study published in the journal Nature this summer states that “early 21st-century droughts in Europe have been broadly regarded as exceptionally severe, substantially affecting a wide range of socio-economic sectors.” This trend also “raises concerns about the consequences of extreme meteorological droughts” as the climate continues to warm, the researchers note. Adapting to drought is going to become the new normal for many regions of the world, nonetheless, we should take the inscriptions on the hunger stones to heart push our leaders to enact policies that reduce our carbon emissions.
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Politics
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New Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison Photo: Andrew Taylor, Associated Press
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Rift Over Climate Emissions Reductions Topples Oz PM
Former Prime Minister of Australia, Malcolm Turnbull, was forced out of office last week and one of the key issues causing his demise was an energy proposal the was intended to reduce electricity prices and address climate change by cutting emissions but caused a major schism within the ruling Liberal Party. The conservative wing of the Party pushed Turnbull out and the Party leaders selected Morrison in a compromise. Ironically, Morrison’s first pressing issue was a record-breaking drought that has wreaked havoc across the country for months — Morrison called it his government’s “most urgent and pressing issue” and promised to make it his top priority, according to The New York Times. Bushfires blaze out of control in Australia, during a season that does not resemble winter there, according to CNN.
The intra-party battle played out over the course of last week. Last weekend, according to a report by Ecowatch, Turnbull proposed modest emissions targets for the country’s energy sector. By Monday Turnbull had backed off the proposal under pressure from the party’s right-wing faction. That though resulted in a leadership challenge from another Liberal Member of Parliament on Tuesday that Turnbull only narrowly fended off. Turnbull continued to lose support throughout the week last week, according to Climate Change News, as ministers resigned across the government. Turnbull conceded his Prime Minister position on Friday without a fight.
Why This Matters: Political insiders in Australia say that Morrison was the more moderate of the replacement options, and thus his selection reduces the likelihood of Australia exiting the Paris climate agreement. But as Turnbull observed, “[e]missions issues and climate policy issues have the same problem within the coalition of bitterly entrenched views that are more ideological views than views based, as I say, on engineering and economics.” So although it could have been worse, this is a setback for progress on climate change in Australia.
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 Oceans
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Sea Level Rise Already Sinking Home Values on East Coast
Even though the actual sea level rise may not happen for decades, Axios reports that home values in low lying areas and flood-prone of the east coast have already lost billions in value according to several studies released this summer. The latest, from First Street Foundation, found that housing values in New York, New Jersey, and Connecticut dropped $6.7 billion from 2005 to 2017 due to flooding related to sea level rise. A previous study of 5 southeastern coastal states found that homes there lost $7.4 billion in value over the same period of time.
Earlier in the summer, the Union of Concerned Scientists released a nationwide study which found that “by the end of the century, homes and businesses currently worth more than $1 trillion could be at risk: as many as 2.4 million homes—roughly the equivalent of all the homes in Los Angeles and Houston combined—valued at approximately $912 billion and 107,000 commercial properties assessed at $152 billion.” The data for this study came from the online real estate company Zillow using a peer-reviewed methodology developed by the Union of Concerned Scientists for assessing areas at risk of frequent flooding.
Why This Matters: Aside from the obvious issues for homeowners along the coastline whose property values are eroding, there are many ripple effects on coastal cities and towns. According to the Union of Concerned Scientists, chronic flooding of properties in specific communities could result in unlivable houses and falling tax revenues that pay for schools, roads and emergency services for people living all along the coastline. By their analysis, the properties at risk by 2045 currently house roughly 550,000 people and contribute nearly $1.5 billion toward today’s property tax base, with even deeper revenue declines when commercial property, sales, and other business tax losses are factored in.
To Go Deeper: If you live in certain states, you can figure out whether your home’s value has been impacted by using First Street’s tool called “Flood IQ” by clicking here.
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 Animals
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One Hysterical Thing: Cute Dogs In “Poofy” Dresses
Thank you, New York Times! Like all beauty pageants, this one had sequins, feathers, tiaras, anxious contestants from all over the world barking at their handlers, and all for a great cause. What made this one stand out was that the contestants were dogs, hilariously festooned in over the top costumes, competing at the Fifth Annual International Cotillion in New York City on August 11. The Cotillion raised money for Yorkie 911, a shelter for rescue dogs, and many of the contestants were rescues themselves. But these dogs are highly pampered now! Take, for example, Gertie who has her own bedroom in her owner’s home in Madison, Wisconsin that includes two walk-in closets with “more than 50 gowns and 100 casual outfits, plus 100 accessories. Everything is custom-made.” As The Times reported, “It’s a family,” Laura Souza, (the founder of GGirl Productions that stages the Cotillion and other events to aid rescue dogs) said. “It takes you out of the world and away from all of your problems. You get to spend quality time with this little thing that loves you unconditionally. That’s the magic.” More photos and videos of the dogs can be found here. Enjoy the magic! Scroll through to see the male and female winners of the Cotillion. LOL!
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