Technical Mapping Advisory Council – FEMA: “TMAC 2023 -Special Flood Hazard Area and Fill Interim Report. “There is general agreement that changes in our Nation’s land surface and climate, due to both human and natural causes, are resulting in increased flooding and damage. The best way to combat both the current and future threat of… Continue Reading
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Category Archives: Environmental Law
The Consequences of Elon Musk’s Ownership of X
The New York Times [read free]: “Now rebranded as X, the site has experienced a surge in racist, antisemitic and other hateful speech. Under Mr. Musk’s watch, millions of people have been exposed to misinformation about climate change. Foreign governments and operatives — from Russia to China to Hamas — have spread divisive propaganda with… Continue Reading
Data – Information is Beautiful
“We love data. And we love getting data good and tight and comprehensive. The technical term for that is “juicy”. Juicy data. In fact, 80% of the work involved in creating an infographic is data-gathering, shaping and checking. Making the data juicy. So here, naturally, is a big-ass spreadsheet of all our best data.” You… Continue Reading
The 2023 state of the climate report: Entering uncharted territory
The 2023 state of the climate report: Entering uncharted territory. BioScience, biad080, https://doi.org/10.1093/biosci/biad080 Published 24 October 2023. “Life on planet Earth is under siege. We are now in an uncharted territory. For several decades, scientists have consistently warned of a future marked by extreme climatic conditions because of escalating global temperatures caused by ongoing human… Continue Reading
The Bird Migration Explorer
Audubon – “The Bird Migration Explorer captures the joy of birds and the wonder of migration through a series of interactive maps built using the latest and best-available migration and conservation science. Using this unique digital platform, visitors to the Bird Migration Explorer can learn about the full annual cycle for 458 species of migratory… Continue Reading
Share of Europe’s territory at high risk of fire has doubled in the last 50 years
European Data Journalism: “Since 1971, the share of Europe that experiences high or higher weather risk has risen from 20% to almost 40%. But there are big differences between countries. Portugal, Spain, Greece and Italy come up every year when we talk about major forest fires. You don’t have to look far back to remember… Continue Reading
E-Bike Environment and Economics Impact Assessment Calculator
“RMI’s E-Bike Environment and Economics Impact Assessment Calculator for Cities simplifies the process of assessing the impact of mode-shift from electric bikes (e-bikes) for policymakers, transportation officials, advocates, and other interested stakeholders. The tool estimates the impact of e-bikes as a substitute for short vehicle trips, based on a city-wide mode-shift to e-bikes goal; it… Continue Reading
Longer Commutes, Shorter Lives
The New York Times Magazine – The Costs of Not Investing in America [read free] “For decades, spending on the future put the nation ahead of all others. What would it take to revive that spirit?…The lack of recent progress is not a result of any physical or technological limits. In other parts of the… Continue Reading
Climate-exacerbated wildfires cost the U.S. between $394 to $893 billion each year in economic costs, damages
Joint Economic Committee, Democrats – Report [PDF]: “Wildfires represent a growing threat to the health and well-being of communities across the country. The United States has already seen a devastating string of catastrophic wildfires this year in places like Maui, the western United States, and Louisiana as these disasters become more and more damaging due… Continue Reading
Climate Change and Human Health Glossary
NIH Climate Change and Human Health Glossary – “A glossary of terms used to describe the science of climate change and its impacts on human health. The goal of this glossary is to help standardize language, enable data harmonization, and encourage clear communication on climate change and health among scientists, health care providers, policymakers, advocates,… Continue Reading
They Carry Us With Them: The Great Tree Migration
Emergence Magazine: “When we think of migration, what often comes to mind is the seasonal movement of animals from one region to another: a repeated, patterned journey in which creatures are drawn in one direction toward a food supply or resource, and in the other direction toward breeding grounds. Humpback whales, for example, spend their… Continue Reading
The growing energy footprint of artificial intelligence
Joule / Full text free to read: “Alex de Vries is a PhD candidate at the VU Amsterdam School of Business and Economics and the founder of Digiconomist, a research company dedicated to exposing the unintended consequences of digital trends. His research focuses on the environmental impact of emerging technologies and has played a major… Continue Reading
