Researcher Denise Moreno-Ramirez utilizes oral histories to deepen environmental science research, highlighting community impacts from neglected toxic sites. Emma Peterson reports for Inside Climate News. In short: Denise Moreno-Ramírez, growing up in Nogales, Arizona, faced unrecognized health crises in her community, linked to historical contamination. Her PhD project, "Voices Unheard," collected firsthand accounts from locals, enhancing scientific data with personal stories and emphasizing overlooked community histories. This approach reclaims the value of oral histories in scientific re ..read more

A recent American Lung Association report states that climate change and wildfires are reversing progress on air pollution, impacting 131 million Americans with unhealthy air. Evan Bush reports for NBC News. In short: The "State of the Air" report shows an increase of 12 million people living in polluted areas since last year. Climate-related disasters, particularly wildfires, are major contributors to deteriorating air quality. Policies and technology exist to mitigate this issue, but lack of political will remains a barrier. Key quote: “It is distressing to find that so many people are l ..read more

Indigenous leaders express growing concerns about the environmental and social impacts of green energy projects. Anita Hofschneider reports for Grist. In short: Leaders from across the globe gathered in New York at the United Nations Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues. A report presented on the first day of the forum argue that the green economy perpetuates extractive practices, often ignoring Indigenous rights. The Indigenous leaders called for a ban on deep-sea mining as well as mining in sacred lands. Key international reports and conferences emphasize the disproportionate impact on In ..read more

The shipping sector is moving away from heavy fuel oil to greener alternatives in response to stringent global regulations. Chris Baraniuk reports for Hakai Magazine. In short: New regulations by the International Maritime Organization require significant emission reductions, prompting the search for sustainable fuels like methanol, hydrogen, ammonia and experimenting with electricity and nuclear power. Methanol shows promise due to renewable production methods, but challenges in global availability persist. Ammonia emerges as a strong candidate despite its toxicity, with ongoing developmen ..read more

Advocates seek judicial intervention to manage life-threatening heat in Texas prisons this summer. Pooja Salhotra and William Melhado report for The Texas Tribune. In short: A legal complaint challenges the lack of air conditioning in most Texas prisons, labeling it as cruel and unusual punishment. The suit represents all inmates in such conditions, citing past deaths and ongoing risks during the intense summer heat. Despite some new air conditioning installations, most facilities remain uncooled, raising health and safety concerns. Key quote: “What is truly infuriating is the failure to a ..read more

Following a complaint about misleading climate advertisements in the UK, the Financial Times and Reuters have removed Saudi Aramco's content promoting its environmental initiatives. Joey Grostern reports for DeSmog. In short: The withdrawn content includes advertorials and a podcast, alleged to overstate the effectiveness of Aramco's "advanced fuels" in reducing carbon emissions. The New Weather Institute's complaint prompted the removal, accusing the content of presenting biased information favoring oil-dependent technologies over electric vehicles. The Advertising Standards Authority is c ..read more

Trudi Warner, a retired social worker and climate activist in England, won a significant legal battle against government lawyers who sought to prosecute her for contempt of court during a jurors' rights protest. Sandra Laville reports for The Guardian. In short: Warner was accused of contempt for a silent protest advocating jury independence in climate trials in April 2023. Her protest highlighted the historical right of juries to acquit based on conscience, echoing a famed case known as the Bushel case. Her case was dismissed, marking a victory for her and her supporters. Key quote: "I ju ..read more

Indigenous youth leaders shared their unique challenges and solutions at this year's United Nations forum on Indigenous issues. Taylar Dawn Stagner reports for Grist. In short: This year's United Nations Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues focused on listening to Indigenous youth's interests and concerns. The young leaders from across the globe expressed a wide array of concerns, from the dual vulnerabilities of Indigenous and LGBTQ+ communities in Greenland due to climate change to struggles for self-determination exacerbated by external political pressures and environmental concerns. Ke ..read more

Member of the European Parliament Philippe Lamberts warns of the potential collapse of the EU's green deal due to rising far-right influence. Lisa O'Carroll reports for The Guardian. In short: The EU green deal aims to restore biodiversity and improve environmental health but faces jeopardy from far-right parties, prominent member of the Green group, Philippe Lamberts, said. Recent legislative efforts on nature restoration and pollution controls have been weakened or discarded ahead of EU elections. Criticism is directed at centrist politicians, including French president Emmanuel Macron, f ..read more

This is a republishing collaboration with Centro de Periodismo Investigativo, where this originally published. See the full series, Caribbean People at Risk from Sargassum Invasion. In the quiet seaside village of Capesterre on Marie-Galante island in Guadeloupe on April 18, 2023, the air-quality monitoring institute Gwad’Air issued a “red alert” to warn people away from coastal areas. The culprit was sargassum. After washing ashore for days, the floating seaweed was emitting a dangerous level of hydrogen sulfide gas as it rotted on the beach. To read a version of this story in Spanish click ..read more