• Health

EPA Dismisses Science on Pesticide Chlorpyrifos Citing Lack Of “Raw Data”

• children
• chlorpyrifos
• Earthjustice
• pesticides
• science
• transparency

The Trump Administration announced last week that it has rejected the settled scientific evidence linking the pesticide chlorpyrifos to serious health problems, particularly in children. This pesticide, which is widely used on soybeans, almonds, grapes, and other crops, has been proven to harm children’s neurological development. 

Why this matters: Under the false flag of transparency, EPA is putting children at greater risk. 

• Energy

One Great Headline: “Renewables to Quench Pepsi’s Thirst for Power”

• #cleanenergy
• clean energy
• climate change
• PepsiCo
• renewable energy
• science

H/T to renews.biz, an energy news platform, for that headline, and to PepsiCo for making it possible.  PepsiCo, one of the largest companies in the world — with a global carbon footprint — announced plans this week to transition to 100% renewable electricity across all of its company-owned and controlled operations globally by 2030 and […]

• Politics

Trump’s Continued Public Science Denial Costs Lives

• climate deniers
• coronavirus
• COVID-19
• science
• Trump

There’s been a lot of outrage at President Trump’s baseless dismissal of climate change at a press conference in California this past week. As the LA Times explained, the science shows us that when it comes to wildfires, the last 10 years have shattered records, and 2020 tops them all. Lives are at stake and […]

• Forests

Should Joshua Trees Be Designated Endangered in California?

• California
• conservation
• endangered species
• Joshua Tree
• renewable energy
• science

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.

• Sustainability

Is America Foisting Its Plastic Problem On Africa?

• chemical
• environment
• fossil fuel
• health
• Kenya
• plastic waste
• pollution
• racism
• science

By Julia Fine, ODP Contributing Writer The New York Times reported this week that an industry group “representing the world’s largest chemical makers and fossil fuel companies” is attempting, as part of a trade deal being negotiated now, to get Kenya to “reverse its strict limits on plastics,” as well as to get the country […]

• Water

Chicago Announces Plan to Replace Lead Pipes, Michigan to Pay $600M To Flint Victims

• Chicago
• Flint
• Flint Water Crisis
• lead pipes
• lead poisoning
• safe drinking water
• science

The New York Times late last night broke the story that the State of Michigan has agreed to pay close to $600 million to victims of the Flint water crisis, in a settlement that will be announced later this week.

Why This Matters:  Children with elevated levels of lead in their blood are more likely to have learning disabilities and increased behavioral difficulties — it causes irreversible damage to children’s development, according to the report.  Lead is unsafe at any level. It’s time to get the lead out of our environment.