EPA Relaunches Climate Change Sub-Site Axed by Trump Administration:

“Climate facts are back on EPA’s website where they should be,” said EPA administrator Michael Regan in a press statement.
“Considering the urgency of this crisis, it’s critical that Americans
have access to information and resources so that we can all play a role
in protecting our environment, our health, and vulnerable communities.
Trustworthy, science-based information is at the foundation of strong,
achievable solutions.”

EPA Relaunches Climate Change Sub-Site Axed by Trump Administration: “Climate facts are back on EPA’s website where they should be,” said EPA administrator Michael Regan in a press statement.
“Considering the urgency of this crisis, it’s critical that Americans
have access to information and resources so that we can all play a role
in protecting our environment, our health, and vulnerable communities.
Trustworthy, science-based information is at the foundation of strong,
achievable solutions.”Read More

Oil firms knew decades ago fossil fuels posed grave health risks, files reveal: The oil industry knew at least 50 years ago that air pollution from burning fossil fuels posed serious risks to human health, only to spend decades aggressively lobbying against clean air regulations, a trove of internal documents seen by the Guardian reveal.

The documents, which include internal memos and reports, show the industry was long aware that it created large amounts of air pollution, that pollutants could lodge deep in the lungs and be “real villains in health effects”, and even that its own workers may be experiencing birth defects among their children.

But these concerns did little to stop oil and gas companies, and their proxies, spreading doubt about the growing body of science linking the burning of fossil fuels to an array of health problems that kill millions of people around the world each year. Echoing the fossil-fuel industry’s history of undermining of climate science, oil and gas interests released a torrent of material aimed at raising uncertainty over the harm caused by air pollution and used this to deter US lawmakers from placing further limits on pollutants.

Oil firms knew decades ago fossil fuels posed grave health risks, files reveal: The oil industry knew at least 50 years ago that air pollution from burning fossil fuels posed serious risks to human health, only to spend decades aggressively lobbying against clean air regulations, a trove of internal documents seen by the Guardian reveal.The documents, which include internal memos and reports, show the industry was long aware that it created large amounts of air pollution, that pollutants could lodge deep in the lungs and be “real villains in health effects”, and even that its own workers may be experiencing birth defects among their children.But these concerns did little to stop oil and gas companies, and their proxies, spreading doubt about the growing body of science linking the burning of fossil fuels to an array of health problems that kill millions of people around the world each year. Echoing the fossil-fuel industry’s history of undermining of climate science, oil and gas interests released a torrent of material aimed at raising uncertainty over the harm caused by air pollution and used this to deter US lawmakers from placing further limits on pollutants.Read More

Liberals eye more cash for rapid-housing program as demand outstrips available funds:
Hussen isn’t saying how much he wants, but it comes after the
government was overwhelmed with demand for its $1-billion rapid-housing
initiative.

The Liberals estimated the money could create up to 3,000 units by this
spring by helping cities and housing providers buy and quickly convert
rental buildings, motels and hotels into affordable housing, or purchase
easy-to-build units.

Liberals eye more cash for rapid-housing program as demand outstrips available funds:
Hussen isn’t saying how much he wants, but it comes after the
government was overwhelmed with demand for its $1-billion rapid-housing
initiative.
The Liberals estimated the money could create up to 3,000 units by this
spring by helping cities and housing providers buy and quickly convert
rental buildings, motels and hotels into affordable housing, or purchase
easy-to-build units.Read More

2/3 of Tropical Rainforests Destroyed or Damaged by Logging, Farming – The Energy Mix: While more than 50% of the impact on tropical rainforests since 2002 has occurred in the Amazon, Indonesian forests have also been ravaged,
with palm oil plantations the chief culprit. Ranking third for
rainforest destruction is Central Africa, with the Congo River Basin
suffering particularly from the incursions of farming (both traditional
and industrial), as well as logging.

As dense tropical forest vegetation constitutes the planet’s “largest living reservoir of carbon,” all of this activity could increase the potential for climate change, Reuters notes.

“It’s a terrifying cycle,” said report author and tropical forest
researcher Anders Krogh. He explained that more rainforest destruction
means less carbon stored, which in turn means rising global temperatures
that further weaken the forests that remain—all coming together to
create an accelerating feedback loop.

2/3 of Tropical Rainforests Destroyed or Damaged by Logging, Farming – The Energy Mix: While more than 50% of the impact on tropical rainforests since 2002 has occurred in the Amazon, Indonesian forests have also been ravaged,
with palm oil plantations the chief culprit. Ranking third for
rainforest destruction is Central Africa, with the Congo River Basin
suffering particularly from the incursions of farming (both traditional
and industrial), as well as logging.As dense tropical forest vegetation constitutes the planet’s “largest living reservoir of carbon,” all of this activity could increase the potential for climate change, Reuters notes.“It’s a terrifying cycle,” said report author and tropical forest
researcher Anders Krogh. He explained that more rainforest destruction
means less carbon stored, which in turn means rising global temperatures
that further weaken the forests that remain—all coming together to
create an accelerating feedback loop.Read More

Consultations Will Let Albertans Say ‘No’ to Rocky Mountain Coal Mining, Minister Promises: If the government wanted to assure Albertans its mind was really open
on the issue, it could start by stopping any further work on
exploration leases already sold, Katie Morrison of the Canadian Parks
and Wilderness Society told CP’s Bob Weber.

“I would have more confidence if they cancelled the exploration
permits…pending the outcome of these consultations,” she said in an
email.

“If they really have no predetermined outcomes, then companies should
not be able to continue to damage these landscapes and incur costs that
could be subject to compensation from Albertans later.”

Morrison said the further along coal companies get, the harder it
will be to implement land use plans and the more expensive it will be to
reclaim damage caused by exploration activities such as drilling and
road-building.

Consultations Will Let Albertans Say ‘No’ to Rocky Mountain Coal Mining, Minister Promises: If the government wanted to assure Albertans its mind was really open
on the issue, it could start by stopping any further work on
exploration leases already sold, Katie Morrison of the Canadian Parks
and Wilderness Society told CP’s Bob Weber.“I would have more confidence if they cancelled the exploration
permits…pending the outcome of these consultations,” she said in an
email.“If they really have no predetermined outcomes, then companies should
not be able to continue to damage these landscapes and incur costs that
could be subject to compensation from Albertans later.”Morrison said the further along coal companies get, the harder it
will be to implement land use plans and the more expensive it will be to
reclaim damage caused by exploration activities such as drilling and
road-building.Read More