The Wheels On The Bus Are Going Electric

And The EPA Just Doubled Down On It

😊  The Good News - Earlier this year the EPA announced $500 million in funding for school districts to purchase electric school buses in order to improve children’s health and the climate. After thousands of districts across all 50 states applied for the support, the EPA announced an additional $465 million in funding to keep up with demand. 

🥾  Follow This Path - Studies have shown that children who take the bus to school are exposed to up to 70% more air pollution than those who travel by personal vehicle. The high demand for electric buses won’t just help greatly reduce the air pollution children are exposed to… it also serves as an important example of just how popular climate action can be!

The Mitochondria Is The Powerhouse Of The Cell But What About Angola?

😊  The Good News - Angola soon could be the powerhouse of African agriculture thanks to the $230 million Angola Commercial Agriculture Project. The World Bank-backed project aims to increase the country’s agricultural productivity and climate resiliency in order to help the #1 oil producer in Africa fight climate change and transition to a green economy. 

🥾  Follow This Path - The continent of Africa only receives a fraction of climate funding despite experiencing some of the worst impacts of climate change. Climate-associated risks will increase with every small increase in warming, making resiliency strategies critical in the world’s most affected regions. It’s exciting to see projects like the one in Angola prioritize those regions to fund natural disaster protection and help transition the nation to a fossil-fuel-free economy.

With Liberty And [Climate] Justice For All

😊 The Good News - Last Week the EPA announced the launch of the Environmental Justice and External Civil Rights Office. The office will have hundreds of employees across the country, and they will help underserved communities in their fight for environmental justice through funding and technical assistance.

🥾 Follow This Path - Prioritizing environmental justice was one of President Biden’s campaign promises, and I’m glad he is following through with it. There have been centuries of wrongdoings by the US on EJ initiatives, and the establishment of this office offers hope that we’re moving in the right direction.

Ding Dong! The Dirty Pipeline Deal Is Dead

😊 The Good News - Senator Joe Manchin has removed his controversial permitting reform bill from the Congressional spending bill, thanks to pressure from indigenous and Appalachian activists. This reform, which argued a push for a faster energy permit process, would have prioritized fossil fuel development and created an ecosystem for climate injustice to thrive.

🥾 Follow This Path - I used to do environmental permit reviews for a living, so I can safely say that permitting reform is needed - but not the kind Manchin proposed. We need officials to establish permitting reforms that prioritize clean energy and climate justice instead of fossil fuels and big oil. 

Denmark Owns Up To Injustices, Will Others Do The Same?

😊 The Good News - Denmark has become the first nation to put its money where its mouth is when it comes to climate loss and damage funding. The country has committed $13 million to help developing nations that have been affected by climate change. These countries have small carbon footprints yet are the most vulnerable to climate change.

🥾 Follow This Path - Many nations have made commitments like Denmark, but action has yet to follow suit. Denmark could be the climate leader we’ve been waiting for, and I hope that other wealthy nations fall in line and provide frontline communities with the help they deserve.

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