People & Population

‘Earth Loses a Defender’: Pope Francis Fought for the Poor and the Planet

"Pope Francis’ care for the environment was telegraphed early in his papacy. His chosen name honored St. Francis, the Italian friar who proclaimed “Praise God for all his creatures.” As pope, Francis called for immediate action on climate change and exhorted the world’s Catholics to “better recognize the ecological commitments which stem from our convictions.”"

Source: Inside Climate News, 04/22/2025

Energy Efficiency Program Killed; Advocates Say Louisianans Will Pay Price

"In a move energy advocates say will increase electric bills for Louisiana residents and allow the state’s utilities to keep earning money for electricity they don’t provide, Louisiana’s energy regulators voted 3-2 Wednesday to scrap plans for an independently operated energy efficiency program more than 14 years in the making."

Source: Floodlight, 04/21/2025

Trump Admin Severs ‘Lifeline’ for Families Struggling to Pay Utility Bills

"A federal program that helps low-income households pay for heating and cooling costs is in limbo."

Source: Inside Climate News, 04/21/2025

"Trump Admin Reveals Timeline For Approving Resolution Copper Mine"

"The Trump administration gave notice Thursday that it’s advancing Arizona’s Resolution Copper mine, a divisive project that’s opposed by members of Native American tribes who are asking the Supreme Court to intervene." "The Forest Service on Thursday said it intends to advance the contentious Arizona project that some tribal members are asking the Supreme Court to halt."

Source: E&E News, 04/21/2025

Can a City on Fire Be Photographed? Yes, Says One Photojournalist

Will images of a burning Los Angeles last in our consciousness? EJ InSight editor Andrew Cullen makes a powerful argument that they will, illustrating the point with potent photographs of that disaster, as well as from recent hurricanes. An exploration of how photojournalists, working amid the destruction, strive to document not just the devastation but its deeper significance and its human toll.

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Covering Wildfire — Expert Advice on Emerging Issues, Recurring Risks

With wildfires becoming more extreme in every way, reporters covering them face new challenges along with familiar hazards. A pair of experienced wildfire journalists and others on the front lines offer advice on dealing with access restrictions, on-the-ground dangers, toxic exposure risks and traumatized survivors — as climate change speeds up the news cycle and misinformation muddies the reporting landscape.

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"CDC Scientist: Texas Measles Outbreak Response Hurt By Funding Cuts"

"A senior scientist overseeing the measles response by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said a recent pullback of pandemic funding from states has hurt Texas’s response to its growing outbreak, now linked to 90 percent of cases in the United States."

Source: Washington Post, 04/18/2025

Syngenta To Settle 1000s Of Lawsuits Claiming Paraquat Causes Parkinson’s

"Besieged by thousands of lawsuits alleging that its paraquat weedkiller causes Parkinson’s disease, Syngenta has entered into an agreement aimed at settling large swaths of those claims."

Source: The New Lede, 04/18/2025

"Court Blocks Enforcement of New Silica Dust Protections for Coal Miners"

"A federal appeals court has temporarily blocked enforcement of a new rule to limit silica dust exposure for coal and other miners. The rule, from the Mine Safety and Health Administration (MSHA), was imposed last year in response to an epidemic of severe black lung disease among coal miners."

Source: Public Health Watch/WVPB, 04/18/2025

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