Categories
POLITICS

Environmental Crisis in Ukraine: How Russia’s Invasion has Devastated the Natural World

The tragedies of war stretch across nearly all aspects of life, ranging from civilian displacement to infrastructure demolition. As a result, environmental damages can often be overlooked when considering the overall devastation caused by warfare. Due to humanity’s historical negligence in regard to environmental concerns, society no longer has time to ignore the consequences of […]

Categories
POLITICS

The City of Boston Votes to Ban Fossil Fuels in New Infrastructure

On September 14th, 2022, the Boston City Council voted to adopt a new pilot program in Massachusetts that limits or bans the use of fossil fuels in new building developments. With a 9-3 vote, this decision is a step closer to achieving Boston’s goal of net zero emissions by 2050. Boston will join a handful […]

Categories
POLITICS

Two ‘Forever Chemicals’ Proposed to be Labeled as Hazardous Substances

The US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced their proposal on August 26, 2022 to add two commonly-used per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) to the list of hazardous substances under the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act (CERCLA).  The proposed designation was first announced during its preliminary stage in late 2020. With the Biden-Harris Administration’s […]

Categories
POLITICS

A Low Point for the Highest Court: West Virginia v. EPA and its Implications

As the world stares down the barrel at the irreversible damage that can be done by climate change, experts are urging all countries to take responsibility and accountability for the amount of emissions they have produced. Across the pond, the United Kingdom has committed to lowering emissions by 78% by 2035. In stark contrast, the […]

Categories
POLITICS

The Prospect of Climate Refugees and the Urgency of Now

Global warming has been wounding our Earth for decades, but now a new prospect presents itself: climate refugees. In recent years, climate-induced migration has surged. Food insecurity, sea level rise, drought, poverty, and conflict, all exacerbated by climate change, have begun to force millions out of their homelands. The World Bank predicts that by 2050 […]

Categories
POLITICS

Forget Red and Blue This Election Season –– It’s Time to Vote Green

With the midterm elections just days away and millions of Americans already heading to the polls for early voting, the climate is heating up — in both a political and literal sense. In the two years since the last federal election, the United States has seen record-breaking temperatures, devastating floods, raging wildfires, and more. But […]

Categories
POLITICS

The European Green Belt: From Death and Division to Prosperity and Unity

Throughout the 20th century, industrial agriculture, city development, and the construction of highways forced numerous plant and animal species out of their habitats. Additionally, World Wars I and II caused significant destruction of natural areas in many parts of Europe. However, many species have proved their resilience, specifically along the Cold War-era border from the […]