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Category Archives: Environmental Law

Which birds are the biggest jerks at the feeder? A massive data analysis reveals the answer.

Washington Post: A massive data analysis reveals the answer. “Presenting the ultimate bird-feeder pecking order The interactions between birds in the park or at your backyard feeder may look like chaos, but they’re actually following the subtle rules of a hidden avian social order. Armed with a database of almost 100,000 bird interactions, experts known… Continue Reading

Harvard Youth Poll 42nd Edition Fall 2021

Harvard Kennedy School Institute of Politics: “A national poll of America’s 18- to 29-year-olds released today by the Institute of Politics at Harvard Kennedy School indicates that a majority of young Americans believe that our democracy is “in trouble” or “failing.” While most young Biden voters are satisfied with their vote, President Biden’s job approval… Continue Reading

Beneath the Bird Feeder

Photographer Carla Rhodes: “Wintertime allows me to partake in one of my favorite pastimes… Feeding the birds! During the warmer months, it’s simply unethical to hang a bird feeder in my area (Catskill Mountains, New York, USA) especially as they attract my curious, hungry neighbors… Black bears. “Beneath The Bird Feeder” is a photographic project… Continue Reading

Curtailing Methane Emissions from Fossil Fuel Operations Pathways to a 75% Cut by 2030

IEA: “A new international push is needed to bring down methane emissions from fossil fuel operations – particularly oil and gas – where leaks can often be prevented easily at little or no cost. Climate action cannot focus only on carbon dioxide. Governments and energy companies have major opportunities to reduce methane emissions, which provides… Continue Reading

Report – Reckoning with the U.S Role in Global Ocean Plastic Waste

National Academies: “The United States should create a national strategy by the end of 2022 to reduce its contribution to plastic waste in the ocean, including substantially reducing the amount of solid waste generated in the U.S., says a new report from the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine. The report also recommends the… Continue Reading

A new ratings industry is emerging to help homebuyers assess climate risks

Via LLRX – A new ratings industry is emerging to help homebuyers assess climate risks – Matthew E. Kahn studies environmental economics, and in his recent book, “Adapting to Climate Change: Markets and the Management of an Uncertain Future”, he explores how the rise of Big Data will help people, firms and local governments make… Continue Reading

The Most Detailed Map of Cancer-Causing Industrial Air Pollution in the U.S.

ProPublica: “It’s not a secret that industrial facilities emit hazardous air pollution. A new ProPublica analysis shows for the first time just how much toxic air pollution they emit — and how much the chemicals they unleash could be elevating cancer risk in their communities. ProPublica’s analysis of five years of modeled EPA data identified… Continue Reading

This New Tool Lets You See Floods From Around the World, Dating Back to 1985

Smithsonian Magazine: An innovative interactive map could aid future disaster planning, especially for vulnerable countries in the developing world. “Last month, the United Nations University released a free tool that generates high resolution maps of floods worldwide since 1985. The new resource comes after a year of historic water-related disasters, including severe floods in Western… Continue Reading

DC Fall Foliage Map

Casey Trees: “Check out our Fall Showstoppers of DC Map and see what trees you can spot on your walk or while you’re hanging in the park and see what color-changing trees you may find along the way. This map highlights the five showstopper fall color trees, as well as trees with significant fall color… Continue Reading

Stunning, Ultra-HD Short Films of National Parks

Kottke.org: “For the past 5 years, More Than Just Parks, an organization established by two self-professed “National Park nuts”, have been making short films about America’s National Parks and Forests. Each ultra-HD video is only 3-4 minutes long, extended trailers for the beauty and grandeur of parks like Zion, Grand Teton, and the Badlands and… Continue Reading

Global State of Democracy in 2021 Report

“Democracy faces perfect storm as the world becomes more authoritarian Many democratic governments are increasingly adopting authoritarian tactics, accentuated by the Covid-19 pandemic, while autocratic regimes are consolidating their power. The world is becoming more authoritarian as autocratic regimes become even more brazen in their repression. Many democratic governments are backsliding and are adopting authoritarian… Continue Reading