On Christmas Day, a natural gas processing plant in southwest PA caught fire, and several sources said that anyone calling the DEP emergency line to report the incident got only a voicemail. DEP denied these claims. DEP critics said the agency is ineffective in dealing with industry and communicating with the public. “They could have provided a much more detailed and … [Read more...] about Will Democrats shape real climate action?
climate change
Obscene treaty symbolizes what’s wrong
The Energy Charter Treaty referred to in the story is obscene — putting corporate profits over the lives of future generations and punishing governments that try to protect their people. (Although most governments today also seem to put corporate profits ahead of people.) Whether it's coal, oil, or natural gas, we need to keep it in the ground! No elaborate — and often bogus … [Read more...] about Obscene treaty symbolizes what’s wrong
Against Overproduction
Don Fitz Robert Pollin repeats a message often seen in writings defending alternative energy (AltE): while they briefly shake their heads at capitalist waste, they deny an overproduction problem. In his response to my article on “Be Careful What Energy You Wish For,” his message comes through that there are no limits on what can be done to the Earth’s ecosystems that AltE … [Read more...] about Against Overproduction
Response to Don Fitz
Robert Pollin Don Fitz’s response to my two interviews that Z generously republished makes two major assertions: 1) Reducing overall consumption and working fewer hours provides a viable path on its own to stabilizing the global climate; and 2) Renewable energy sources, such as solar and wind power, are not really “clean” even though they supply energy without generating CO2 … [Read more...] about Response to Don Fitz
Be Careful What Energy You Wish For
Don Fitz's response to Robert Pollin Climate change is an existential problem confronting humanity and Robert Pollin offers well thought-out plans in his first and second articles. There is only space here to respond to these themes: (1) We can reach zero CO2 emissions by 2050; (2) An enormous expansion of alternative energy (AltE) can create far more jobs than would be lost … [Read more...] about Be Careful What Energy You Wish For
Implementing Bethlehem’s Climate Action Plan
Editor's Note: All three reports were prepared before the IPCC's August 9 release of part 1 of the Sixth Assessment Report, which only confirms the urgency of the interns' recommendations! Editor's Note: This is the primary report from the Climate Action Project (summer 2021) ; it is complemented by reports that focus on development ('Build Sustainably — for Business … [Read more...] about Implementing Bethlehem’s Climate Action Plan
When the Water Is Low
by Tara Zrinski Tara Zrinski resides with her family in Hanover Township, Northampton County, and serves on the County Council. She has taught Philosophy at both Northampton and Lehigh-Carbon Community Colleges and is an energy consultant for Trinity Solar. She has been an advocate for clean … [Read more...] about When the Water Is Low
Land Conservation
by Maclaine Oskin Development and construction through the years has overtaken our land with asphalt and concrete, making commercial districts and office buildings abundant while the number of trees and open space dwindles. The Lehigh Valley, with an ever-growing population and robust mixed economy, continues to develop. As a result, it becomes even more critical to protect … [Read more...] about Land Conservation
Patagonia 2018
by Avery Schuyler Nunn The planet inspires almost every facet of my being and is the subject of my work. These photos document the receding glaciers in Patagonia, specifically capturing a moment in which the ice is calving. These Patagonian glaciers have been forming for millions of years. (Scientists estimate that this formation began during the last Ice Age, … [Read more...] about Patagonia 2018
Climate Justice
by Audrey Dai Climate justice. These two simple words are probably not as familiar as the now politically infused “climate change”. Instead, these words emphasize how environmental changes are an issue of civil rights, and how these changes will disproportionately affect each of us living on this planet, just some more than others. And this is regardless of your political … [Read more...] about Climate Justice