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by Amy Lupica, ODP Contributing Writer On Tuesday, the California Fish and Game Commission voted to accept a petition that will grant the Joshua tree, the famous twisty-limbed yucca plant native to the Mojave desert, endangered species status for one year while the state conducts a study. The plant is now considered a “candidate species” […]
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The World Wildlife Fund’s recently released 2020 Living Planet report made one thing clear: the past 50 years have been an unsustainable path for biodiversity. Humans need nature, and the costs of ignoring the staggering loss of global wildlife populations (68% since 1970) are immense for our wellbeing and for that of our planet. To […]
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Yesterday the Paulson Institute, The Nature Conservancy (TNC), and Cornell University released a major new report which takes the most in-depth and comprehensive analysis ever completed about biodiversity financing. Timed in conjunction with the run-up to the 15th Conference of the Parties to the Convention on Biological Diversity, the report highlights the total investment needed to […]
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The state of California is considering whether to formally designate southern California’s iconic Joshua Tree as an endangered species, and it seems that local developers and businesses, including the renewable power industry are pushing back and expressing concerns. The California Fish and Game Commission put off a decision last week on whether to study whether the famed tree is endangered, saying they needed more time look at the issue.
Why This Matters: Clashes like this between conservationists and the renewable energy industry are bound to increase. We will need to find ways to reconcile these competing environmental interests. Our future depends on it.
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One thing Democrats and Republicans in many southern states seem to agree on is that they don’t want oil and gas drilling off their coastlines. The Hill reported that last week the State of North Carolina sued the federal government for its continuing to prepare for offshore leasing in the Atlantic just off their coast. And in Florida, while President Trump has promised that he will not pursue oil and gas drilling there, even outgoing Republican Congressman Francis Rooney is worried about the President going back on his word if he is re-elected.
Why This Matters: The President’s fossil fuel commitments are hard to deny, even as he promises Florida a reprieve.
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US cities are spending millions in order to plant new trees, which represents “one of the best solutions cities have for fighting the ‘urban heat island effect’ in neighborhoods that are often blanketed with pavement and lack of greenery.” Climate change too.
Why This Matters: As we have reported previously, urban heat islands disproportionately affect Black neighborhoods due to a history of redlining and structural discrimination.
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