Planet Week: Europe’s aggressive plan to cut emissions
Welcome to Planet Week, where we highlight the last week of environmental news and what it means for our Planet.
Welcome to Planet Week, where we highlight the last week of environmental news and what it means for our Planet.
Last week, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates reached a deal over oil supplies, Florida broke its annual manatee death record, and Greenland suspended oil exploration.
In case you missed it, here’s what else happened around the Planet:
Monday, July 12
EPA approved toxic chemicals for years
Oil companies have been pumping “forever chemicals,” long-lasting compounds known to harm people and wildlife, into the ground for years… with the Environmental Protection Agency’s consent.
According to documents reviewed by The New York Times, the EPA approved three toxic substances, used during the fracking process, despite having evidence in 2011 of the health risks. We don’t know where the chemicals have been deployed, but the FracFocus database shows that over 100 companies used these chemicals in more than 1,000 wells in the United States.
UN’s plan to protect nature
On Monday, the United Nations released a set of 21 proposals meant to protect nature, including funneling $200 billion a year to developing countries. But some environmentalists say the pledge falls short.
“It’s absolutely crucial for all of society to be able to see themselves within this framework and identify what contribution they can make to protecting biodiversity,” Thomas Brooks, an ecologist at the International Union for Conservation of Nature, told Reuters. “This agreement is not there yet.”
As written, parts of the draft are too vague and open to interpretation, with no specific plan to link global targets to national targets, said Brooks. Fortunately, the proposals will likely be revised before all 196 countries vote on them at October’s U.N. Convention on Biodiversity.
Tuesday, July 13
Democrats’ next infrastructure play
U.S. Democrats took President Biden’s infrastructure plan one step further last week. On Tuesday, Democrats hashed out the details of a sweeping $3.5 trillion budget, which would fund many of Biden’s climate goals, including incentivizing clean energy and electric vehicle charging stations, reports The Washington Post.
The plan is part of the Democrats’ larger strategy to pass part of Biden’s infrastructure bill by budget reconciliation, which would sidestep the filibuster in the Senate. That means the Democratic Party needs every member on board, even the most conservative members like Joe Manchin (D-WV), who has already voiced concerns over the budget’s climate provisions.
Wednesday, July 14
Europe’s ambitious climate plan
Across the pond, lawmakers are also figuring out ways to drive climate action. On Wednesday, the European Commission proposed a huge legislative package to meet the European Union climate targets of slashing emissions 55% this decade.
POLITICO outlines 10 key policies in the package, which include phasing out gas-powered cars, taxing carbon-heavy imports like steel and cement, revamping a carbon-pricing program, and expanding renewable energy.
But don’t celebrate just yet. Industry groups and leaders are already pushing back on some of the proposals. Government officials in Hungary blasted the plan, calling it “untenable and unacceptable.” To soften this opposition, E.U. officials set aside funds to compensate those who lose out during the massive transition to clean energy. Bloomberg has more.
Amazon’s troubling reversal
As the world’s largest rainforest, the Amazon is typically seen as a reliable carbon sink. But new research finds that it’s quite the opposite: Rather than absorbing carbon, parts of the Amazon actually release carbon into the atmosphere. And climate change and deforestation are driving the trend.
Between 2010 and 2018, the study finds that southeastern Amazonia transformed from a carbon sink to a carbon source. Additionally, eastern Amazonia, which is subject to destructive wildfires, emitted more than western Amazonia. The findings raise concerns over possible tipping points.
“If you’re thinking a tipping point [for] the Amazon [is when] it becomes a carbon source, this region is at a tipping point,” Luciana Gatti, lead author of the paper, told Mongabay. “My question is, if we stop now with fires and deforestation and start the very important repair process for forests, could we reverse the picture? I don’t know.”
Thursday, July 15
Deadly floods hit Western Europe
Over several days, heavy rains flooded parts of Germany, Belgium, Switzerland, and the Netherlands, swelling rivers, destroying homes and businesses, and killing at least 125 people. Rescue efforts spanned into the weekend, as hundreds of people are still missing, reports The Associated Press.
Unsurprisingly, scientists are warning that as the Planet warms, catastrophic events like this will become increasingly common. That’s because warmer air can hold more moisture, sucking up water in one area and dumping it in another. Deutsche Welle has more on that.
Friday, July 16
Heat, wildfires scorch the West
The U.S. West can’t catch a break. The region is facing a triple crisis of heat, drought, and wildfires, all of which are made worse by climate change. And as the region enters its driest, hottest weeks, it’s only getting worse.
Twelve U.S. states are battling active wildfires. In Southern Oregon, firefighters are trying to contain the Bootleg fire, which has ravaged an area larger than New York City. In California, the largest fire of the season just broke out. The number of wildfires in the Golden State is now on pace to break last year’s record season.
Meanwhile, another heat dome just hit the West, with triple-digit temperatures spanning the northern Rockies and southern Canada. All the while, overnight temperatures are offering no reprieve, as more nighttime temperature records were broken last month than in any previous June on record. The Guardian explains the compounding problems.
Bonus
Conservation wins
There’s a lot of bad news bias in climate coverage. So, let’s start the week, and end the newsletter, with some good news: A baby beaver was born for the first time in 400 years in the United Kingdom, and gray wolves are making a comeback on Isle Royale in Michigan. Both species were close to, if not already, extinct before conservation efforts began.
Have a great week,
Brandon and Sam