• Ocean

Illegal Fishing in Galapagos Threatens Ecosystem and Economy

• China
• Galapagos
• Galapagos Marine Reserve
• IUU fishing
• Oceana
• satellite
• transshipment

The LA Times’ Susanne Rust reported on a brewing controversy surrounding China’s notorious “distant water” fishing fleet — it’s 17,000 vessels strong and has conducted dubious fishing operations off the coasts of West Africa, Argentina, and Japan.

Why this Matters: The Galapagos Islands hold a bounty of flora and fauna; 20% of the species found in the Galapagos aren’t found anywhere else in the world.  Illegal fishing in the region is anything but new, but in late August 2020, the number of illegal fishing vessels exploded.

• Water

Addressing the Sources of PFAS Contamination

• California
• Forever Chemicals
• PFAS

by Natasha Lasky, ODP Contributing Writer On Tuesday, September 29, Gavin Newsom signed into law a measure that bans a class of over 4,000 toxic chemicals known as per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) from firefighting foams due to their impacts on human health. This ban came weeks before a  peer-reviewed study by scientists at the […]

• People

Coney Barrett’s Climate Controversy

• Amy Coney Barrett
• climate change
• controversy
• science

President Trump’s Supreme Court nominee, Judge Amy Coney Barrett, created a bit of controversy during her nomination hearing before the Senate Judiciary Committee last week when she called climate change itself “controversial.” 

Why This Matters:  Judge Barrett many questions with the same refrain — she refused to discuss her “policy” views on questions as obvious as do “poll watchers” who are armed intimidate voters, whether birth control should be decriminalized, or if same-sex marriage should be allowed.

• Air

Methane Leaks Globally Rise Dramatically Despite COVID-Related Slowdowns

• coal
• greenhouse gas emission
• kayrros
• leaks
• methane
• methane gas
• oil and gas

In 2020, oil and gas use is down but methane leaks are up dramatically during the same time period according to a study by the energy data firm Kayrros, Reuters and The Washington Post reported.  Oil and gas companies had pledged to cut their greenhouse gas emissions.

Why This Matters: Methane is a highly damaging greenhouse gas in its first 20 years after being emitted — it’s 80 to 90 times more potent than carbon dioxide during that time period.

• Forests

“Season Creep” is Affecting Fall Folliage

• climate change
• fall
• foliage
• invasive species

If you’ve ever noticed that there’s something off about the timing and duration of fall foliage where you live–you’re not imagining things! As with many ecological processes, human activity is shifting the arrival of our seasons through what’s described as “season creep.“ As the Washington Post wrote this past weekend: “Human activities transform not just […]

• Politics

What science and democracy have in common: us, hopefully

• COVID-19
• democracy
• science

This piece was originally featured in the Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists and has been reprinted with permission.  by Adam Sobel Donald Trump has said, several times in the week up to and including September 29’s presidential debate, that he will not commit to a peaceful transfer of power should he lose the election in […]