All articles tagged with #climate and environment
A wind-driven brush fire near Simi Valley, the Sandy Fire, expanded rapidly to over 830 acres and forced about 28,000 residents to evacuate as firefighters battled the blaze from the ground and air; shifting winds have at times slowed its spread.
The Trump administration is drafting a 10-year framework that would mandate water reductions along the Colorado River—potentially up to 3 million acre-feet annually across California, Arizona, and Nevada—reassessed every two years. The plan, discussed with state leaders in Phoenix, aims to stabilize shrinking reservoir levels at Lake Mead and other bases amid ongoing drought and climate-change impacts, with a federal decision expected in the summer.
California officials say two common ambient air contaminants, acrolein and ethylene oxide, may pose cancer risks more than 10 times benzene (about 800 in 1 million), prompting a 45‑day public comment period as OEHHA updates risk values; the finding emerges amid federal rollbacks on ethylene oxide and ongoing concerns about California’s air quality.
California, Arizona and Nevada propose a two-year plan to cut more than 3.2 million acre-feet of Colorado River water through 2028, with Arizona taking the largest share (about 760,000 ac-ft per year, California 440,000 ac-ft, Nevada 50,000 ac-ft), as Lake Mead sits at 31% capacity and Lake Powell at 24% amid record-low snowpack, in a bid to stabilize the river while seven states continue talks on a longer-term deal.
Trump’s border-wall expansion in the Arizona desert damaged a rare Indigenous intaglio—a roughly 200‑foot ground etching resembling a fish and thought to be at least 1,000 years old—after heavy machinery cut a 60–70‑foot swath inside Cabeza Prieta National Wildlife Refuge. The project’s DHS waivers to bypass environmental and Indigenous protections have alarmed Native communities and conservationists as hundreds of miles of barriers are rapidly built across the border, prompting calls for accountability and greater site protection.
The Interior Department will pay two energy firms, Golden State Wind and Bluepoint Wind, a total of $885 million to abandon their federal offshore wind leases off California, redirecting the investment into oil, gas, and LNG projects. Golden State Wind can recover about $120 million in lease fees after committing to invest in conventional energy assets, while Bluepoint Wind will invest up to $765 million in a U.S.-based LNG facility, with the government reimbursing that amount upon completion. The Morro Bay project, which could have produced up to 2 GW (roughly 1.1 million homes), is effectively terminated. This follows a $1 billion deal with TotalEnergies and signals a shift away from offshore wind toward fossil fuels, drawing scrutiny over legality and impact on California’s clean-energy goals, though some remain optimistic about future wind development in the state.
Rising energy costs and supply disruptions tied to global conflict are spilling from households into Africa and South Asia, threatening forests and conservation programs as people switch to more wood fuels and funding for parks and wildlife protection tightens, risking biodiversity in the region.
A dangerous, multi-day heat wave is forecast for Southern California and much of the U.S. Southwest next week, with highs near 100°F or more (Downtown Los Angeles around 101°F). The National Weather Service has issued an extreme heat watch and a Monday heat advisory as temperatures rise 25–35 degrees above normal. The heat threatens babies, young children, and the elderly, prompting Mayor Bass to urge cooling centers at city facilities; residents should stay indoors, hydrate, and limit sun exposure to early morning or evening hours. While wildfire fuels are currently moist, the dry heat could accelerate drying with no significant rain in sight. Downtown L.A. could approach its 1879 March record of 99°F, potentially breaking it.
A January pipe collapse led to a sewage spill into the Potomac River, spotlighting aging wastewater infrastructure in the DC region and sparking renewed worries about the resilience and environmental/public-health implications of U.S. water systems.
A powerful atmospheric river storm unleashed several feet of snow, triggering a catastrophic avalanche in the Sierra Nevada north of Lake Tahoe. After five days of perilous search-and-rescue work in deep snow and whiteout conditions, authorities recovered all nine bodies, ending the deadly incident that killed six skiers and three Blackbird Mountain Guides. The disaster is being described as the deadliest avalanche in modern California history, with agencies across state and local levels aiding in the long, strenuous recovery effort and identifying the nine victims.
California filed a federal lawsuit challenging the Trump administration’s cancellation of about $2.7 billion in Biden-era clean-energy funding, including $1.2 billion for a hydrogen hub, arguing the cuts violate congressional authorizations and threaten jobs, energy prices and the U.S. lead in clean energy; the suit is joined by several other states and cites due process and separation of powers.
A midwinter heat wave grips much of California as a persistent high-pressure ridge stretches from the San Francisco Bay Area to Alaska, pushing temperatures about 15–20 degrees above normal through the week and likely into Super Bowl Sunday. Inland areas could reach near 90 F, the Bay Area mid-to-upper 80s, with Santa Ana winds gusting up to 50 mph in the mountains. Light rain and cooler air may appear next week, while overall wildfire risk remains low thanks to lingering moisture, though small fires are still possible.
The Supreme Court will hear Monsanto/Bayer’s appeal seeking immunity from Roundup lawsuits alleging health risks from glyphosate, a decision that could limit or reshape how state courts hear such claims and affect ongoing and future litigation over the herbicide.
Azerbaijan, hosting the COP29 climate conference, faces criticism for promoting fossil fuels and suppressing dissent. Rights groups accuse the government of cracking down on activists and journalists critical of its oil and gas dependency. President Ilham Aliyev defends fossil fuel use, calling it a necessity, while critics argue the conference is being used for 'greenwashing.' An open letter from climate experts suggests excluding countries not committed to phasing out fossil fuels from hosting future COP events. Azerbaijan's human rights record and its geopolitical maneuvering to host the event have also drawn scrutiny.
The upcoming COP28 summit, set to take place in the UAE, must address the gaps in global climate action, according to Deputy-Secretary-General Amina Mohamed. The summit's main focus will be the Global Stocktake, which will assess progress towards the goals of the 2015 Paris Agreement. The Pre-COP meeting in Abu Dhabi is a crucial opportunity for countries to lay the groundwork for negotiations at COP28, and UNFCCC Executive Secretary Simon Stiell emphasized the need for clear and decisive action to combat climate change.