This week’s good climate news
With so much still to do to slow warming and avoid the worst impacts of climate change, it’s important to fortify ourselves by celebrating wins along the way.
New female baby orca spotted
A group of southern orca whales, known as J pod, has a new female calf! The lack of reproductive-aged females hinders the orca’s population growth, so the birth of a new female bodes well for the pod’s future.
While the calf was first spotted in March, it wasn't until this week that aerial photographs were able to confirm the newest calf is a female.
The largest plant on Earth
Scientists in Australia may have discovered the largest plant on Earth, a seagrass species covering 77 square miles, roughly 20,000 football fields. 4,500 years ago, a single seed may have spawned the massively fascinating plant.
Scientists were initially baffled when they took samples over 100 miles apart that suggested they were drawing from a singular Posidonia australis plant. In less exciting news, the plant does not have a nickname yet.
Solar and wind power coming to federal lands
It may soon be easier for clean energy projects on U.S. public lands to see the light of day. The Biden administration plans to cut rents and fees for wind and solar on federal lands, add more employees to expedite reviews and permits and improve interagency coordination.
Rents and fees for solar and wind power on federal land are expected to fall by about 50%.
Clean Water Act back in states' hands
The Biden administration restores power to states and tribes, reinstating their authority to block energy projects that pollute local rivers and streams. In the face of climate change, waterways are more crucial than ever before to people, communities, ecosystems and the economy.
This reverses a policy by the previous administration and restores the precedent of the previous 50 years.
Let’s take action on climate together
Get email alerts when your action will have the greatest impact.