Disasters

"San Francisco is banning reusable shopping bags to prevent outside germs from entering grocery stores as the coronavirus pandemic affects cities around the country,"

"The Trump administration has directed all agency rulemaking activities to continue despite growing calls from lawmakers, state attorneys general, and regulated entities to postpone consideration of any rule that doesn’t address the novel coronavirus pandemic."

"Postponing the annual round of global climate talks reduces political pressure for nations to stiffen their goals to cut greenhouse gases, a major setback to the environmental movement."

"Sixteen named storms, including eight hurricanes, are forecast for the 2020 Atlantic hurricane season, according to early predictions released Thursday by experts at Colorado State University.

Four of the hurricanes will become major storms of Category 3 to 5, with sustained winds of at least 111 mph, the projections indicate for the season that runs from June 1 to November 30.

"As the National Park System continues to shut down in piecemeal fashion, a few complete units here, some visitor centers there, the National Parks Conservation Association is calling for the entire park system to be closed during the coronavirus pandemic."

"In less than a week, the federal Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced two policy changes that could have far-reaching consequences for the air above Massachusetts."

"Water temperatures in the Gulf of Mexico are running more than three degrees above average, increasing the prospects for severe thunderstorms and tornadoes this spring and potentially stronger hurricane activity in the summer and fall."

"This year’s United Nations-sponsored climate talks, widely regarded as the most important climate meeting of the past four years, were postponed on Wednesday because of the coronavirus pandemic."

"In Sandwich, New Hampshire, a town of 1,200 best known as a setting for the movie “On Golden Pond,” broadband is scarce. Forget streaming Netflix, much less working or studying from home. Even the police department has trouble uploading its reports."

"Few industries have survived the novel coronavirus pandemic unscathed — and the renewable energy sector is no exception. But market watchers say there are signs that wind and solar companies are in a better position to rebound from the crisis than their counterparts in the oil and gas industry."