The Northern Arapaho Tribe and the city of Cheyenne are applying for federal grants to fund clean energy projects, despite Wyoming's governor declining to participate. Jake Bolster reports for Inside Climate News. In short: The Northern Arapaho Tribe and City of Cheyenne are pursuing millions in federal funds for solar power and other green initiatives. Cheyenne aims to build solar farms and upgrade wastewater plants, while the Northern Arapaho focus on a solar micro-grid, energy-efficient housing and change the tribe's fleet to electric and hybrid vehicles. Both see these projects as key t ..read more

Recent findings reveal Europe as the continent warming the fastest globally, with significant impacts on public health and the environment. Jamey Keaten reports for The Associated Press. In short: Europe's average temperatures have risen to 2.3 degrees Celsius above pre-industrial levels, almost double the global increase. Extreme weather, including heatwaves and floods, caused significant economic losses and human fatalities across Europe last year. The economic losses of weather and climate events were estimated at more than 13.4 billion euros (about $14.3 billion) in 2023. Key quote: "E ..read more

Robert Kennedy Jr., historically an environmental advocate, shifts gears in his presidential campaign, blending environmental concerns with anti-establishment rhetoric. Scott Waldman reports for POLITICO. In short: Robert F. Kennedy Jr. launches a presidential campaign that deviates from his environmentalist roots, challenging both Biden and Trump supporters. Kennedy's platform includes a ban on natural gas exports and criticism of Biden's green energy subsidies, but lacks detailed policies on reducing greenhouse emissions. His rhetoric mirrors populist themes from the pandemic, as he appea ..read more

Workers in the disaster restoration industry are reporting significant health issues from exposure to dangerous substances while cleaning up after natural disasters. María Inés Zamudio, Nour Saudi, and Roxana Aguirre report for The Center for Public Integrity, Futuro Investigates and Columbia Journalism Investigations. In short: Disaster restoration workers, primarily Latino immigrants, face severe health risks from toxins like asbestos, lead and mold in poorly regulated conditions. Incidents include a worker being temporarily blinded and another left in a coma due to job site accidents; lo ..read more

Residents near Ohio's largest state park face changes as fracking expands, altering the region's character. Megan Henry reports for Ohio Capital Journal. In short: Terri Sabo, a local resident since 1983, expresses concern over the transformation of Guernsey County, Ohio, due to fracking-related industrialization. Recent state laws have expedited the leasing process for fracking in state parks, with multiple parcels near Salt Fork now contracted to energy companies. FracTracker Alliance reports over 1,400 fracking incidents in Ohio, with significant local opposition to increased industrial ..read more

Indigenous activists at the UN Permanent Forum urge a stop to carbon markets, citing detrimental effects on native communities. Maria Parazo Rose reports for Grist. In short: The Indigenous Environmental Network advocate for ending carbon markets, describing them as harmful and ineffective tools to stop climate change. The group presented their stance at the UN Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues, aiming to influence broader UN climate policies. Advocates are asking to modify article 6 of the Paris Agreement, which regulates carbon markets. They ask for embedding Indigenous rights and cons ..read more

Cargo ships are increasingly adopting advanced sail technologies to decrease fuel consumption and carbon emissions, leveraging designs inspired by airplane wings and enhanced with artificial intelligence. Nicolás Rivero reports for The Washington Post. In short: Sails resembling airplane wings and equipped with AI optimize wind usage to propel ships, minimizing reliance on traditional fuels. Industry adoption is slow but growing, with 39 large ships already equipped and more anticipated as manufacturers ramp up production. These technologies not only reduce operational costs and environment ..read more

HOUSTON — In honor of Earth Day 2024, EHN is publishing letters from eighth grade students at YES Prep Northbrook Middle School in the Houston-area neighborhood of Spring Branch, Texas. English educators Cassandra Harper and Yvette Howard incorporated the environment into a series of lessons in December last year. Each student conducted their own research to begin drafting letters to EHN about their concerns or hopes. EHN reporter Cami Ferrell visited their classrooms to share information about her personal reporting experiences in Houston. The collection of letters, some of which were light ..read more

International discussions continue in Canada, aiming to finalize a global treaty to combat plastic pollution by year's end. Valerie Volcovici reports for Reuters. In short: A potential global treaty on plastic pollution is being negotiated, with the aim to regulate the entire lifecycle of plastics, from production to disposal. Contentious debates focus on production limits and transparency requirements among nations and industry. The negotiations involve a wide range of participants, including nations, industry representatives, scientists and environmental groups, with final talks scheduled ..read more

A court settlement meant to compensate cleanup workers affected by the BP oil spill has largely failed, leaving many without proper aid. Travis Loller and Michael Phillis report for The Associated Press. In short: The settlement has paid out only a small fraction, with 79% of recipients receiving no more than $1,300 each. Legal hurdles and strict proof requirements have thwarted many workers' attempts to claim adequate compensation. Attorneys and experts criticize the settlement and claims process as insufficient and overly stringent. Key quote: "I wanted people to get their day in court a ..read more