• Climate Change

In Puerto Rico, Battling Coronavirus and Climate Change

• climate crisis
• COVID-19
• hurricane
• Hurricane Maria
• pandemic
• Puerto Rico
• severe weather

There are five confirmed cases of coronavirus in Puerto Rico so far, but the residents of the island are taking big steps to try to prevent the further spread of the disease, such as a strictly-enforced curfew from 5 a.m. to 9 p.m. and the closure of ‘non-essential’ businesses like shopping malls or recreation centers.

Why This Matters: Puerto Rico is now home to 3.5 million Americans and it is “one of the world’s most storm-vulnerable regions,” according to the Associated Press.

• Climate Change

The VA Has Not Updated Its Climate Assessments and Plans In Five Years

• climate change
• Puerto Rico
• Veterans Affairs (VA)

While the Defense Department has had to provide annual reports to Congress on the expected impacts of climate change on military installations and operations, the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) had not done a similar assessment since 2014. 

Why This Matters:  There are many facilities providing vital services to veterans that have been already or will be detrimentally impacted by climate change. Veterans already experience inexcusably long wait times for services and health care in some regions of the country — those should not be longer on account of climate change impacts that should have been anticipated by the agency.

• Weather

Dorian Heading Toward Puerto Rico, Expected to Become a Hurricane

• Flooding
• Florida
• hurricane
• Hurricane Dorian
• Puerto Rico
• rain
• wind

Tropical Storm Dorian, a “compact” storm that is expected to be upgraded to a Category 1 hurricane by the time it passes the Dominican Republic and to impact Puerto Rico by tonight or early tomorrow, according to CNN.  CNN also reported that a team of over 200 people from nearly 30 different fire departments in South Florida were deployed to the Caribbean and Puerto Rico on Monday, according to CNN affiliate WPLG-TV. 

• Politics

One Republican Lawmaker Blocks $19 billion in Disaster Aid

• disaster
• disaster relief
• floods
• Hurricanes
• Puerto Rico

Representative Chip Roy, a Republican from Texas, blocked the $19.1 billion federal disaster package, which had passed the Senate last week and was zipping through the House by unanimous consent without a recorded vote because many members had already left D.C. for the district work week.

• Politics

As President Trump Perpetuates Falsehoods About Disaster Aid, the Fed Prepares For Climate

• climate change
• disaster funding
• Florida
• Hurricane Michael
• Puerto Rico

Last night the President went to Panama City, Florida ostensibly to deliver disaster aid to a part of the state that was nearly wiped off the map thanks to Hurricane Michael last fall.  He also toured Tyndall Air Force Base that was completely destroyed by the hurricane.  Both areas are struggling to rebuild while federal disaster relief funds remain tied up in Congress due to the President’s refusal to agree to additional disaster relief for Puerto Rico in the same disaster relief package. 

• Week Ahead

The Week Ahead: May 6-10

• climate change
• Cyclone Fani
• disaster relief
• Flooding
• Puerto Rico
• Royal Baby
• wildfires

Happy Monday #FriendsofthePlanet!  We hope you had a great Cinco de Mayo and that you’ve recovered from Game of Thrones or the NBA or NHL Playoff excitement.  How about that quadruple overtime game in Portland on Friday night not to mention the controversial finish in the Kentucky Derby!  It is going to be another busy […]

• Climate Change

Military Struggling to Deal With Climate Disasters and Environmental Emergencies

• burn pits
• climate change
• Flooding
• Hurricane Michael
• lead
• mold
• Offutt Air Force Base
• Puerto Rico
• toxic chemicals
• Tyndall Air Force Base

The military is struggling to cope with a series of climate change related disasters and other environmental health and safety emergencies.  Defense News reported yesterday that funding ran out yesterday for relief efforts at Tyndall Air Force Base related to Hurricane Michael, which prevents the start of all new work and puts more than 120 projects planned to begin after May 1 on hold indefinitely.  Disaster funding is stuck in Congress because the President insists that it not include more funds for Puerto Rico’s hurricane damage.

• Climate Change

States Carrying Clean Energy Forward, Feds Prioritize Carbon Capture

• carbon capture
• clean energy
• Idaho Power
• power plant
• Puerto Rico

The move to clean energy keeps going strong at the state and local level, with several announcing their intention to move to clean energy and do it by at least 2050.   

• Climate Change

Water Infrastructure Crumbling Under Climate Change Pressures

• Green New Deal
• Hurricane Maria
• Lake Okeechobee
• levees
• Midwestern floods
• Puerto Rico
• water infrastructure

The U.S. flood control system of levees and dams are worn out and not up to the threat that climate change is posing them.  On Sunday, The New York Times reported that across the flooded Midwest, the vaunted federal levee system that was supposed to protect towns and farmland from devastating floods “is now so full of holes that many [there] ruefully describe it as ‘Swiss cheese,’” leaving many areas without flood protection at all. 

• People

Women’s History Month Kickoff Interview: Jean Case, On Being Fearless

• Be Fearless
• Case Foundation
• climate change
• Jose Andres
• National Geographic
• National Geographic Society
• Planet or Plastic
• Puerto Rico
• World Central Kitchen

Jean Case, the Chairman of the National Geographic Society and CEO of the Case Foundation, is a philanthropist, investor and internet and impact investing pioneer, and is now the author of a best-seller called “Be Fearless.”