Wildfires have burned across Oregon this year, but a few tips could help people protect themselves against their damaging impacts.

Fires have burned more than a million acres so far this year, in what has become an annual occurrence for Oregon.

Scott Leonard, a program manager with Energy Trust of Oregon, said smoke from wildfires has consequences for people's health.

He said it's important to keep unhealthy air out by closing gaps around windows and doors, and sealing around air conditioners.

"People know what it's like to have a drafty house," said Leonard. "So if you're feeling drafts, you can do things like add weather stripping to keep the smoke from drifting into your house, making sure just really that there's a seal on any kind of crack or gap in the shell of the home."

Leonard said people can also switch their HVAC systems to fan only to clean up air from the outside, but they should make sure to switch it back to auto once smoke is no longer an issue.

He suggested that people check and regularly change their air filters and also be aware of other sources of unhealthy indoor air, like candles and certain kinds of stoves. These can worsen bad air conditions.

Leonard said people can look into air purifiers as well.

"Consider putting in a portable air purifier or a high efficiency filter," said Leonard. "This going to help keep the indoor air clean. And run that purifier as often as possible at the highest fan speed."

Leonard noted that Energy Trust of Oregon offers instant discounts on air purifiers and incentives for other upgrades that make homes more energy efficient.

He added that moves to make homes more energy efficient can also make them more fire resistant - such as through rigid installation, installing triple pane windows, and sealing attic vents.

"So if you seal your attic vents," said Leonard, "what you're doing is you're preventing any type of wildfire embers that are floating around in the air from being sucked up into your attic and essentially igniting the attic from the inside."




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For over 30 years, the Mile High Youth Corps has helped young adults get skills and build career pathways - in construction, health care, conservation, and other fields across 24 Colorado counties.

This year, the group is working with the new American Climate Corps to tackle some of the challenges created by climate change.

CEO Kia Abdool said this work is especially important to today's youth.

"It's a groundbreaking workforce training and service initiative, that will empower tens of thousands of Americans to work fighting the impacts of climate change," said Abdool. "And that something our youth 18 to 24 are really excited about."

The new climate corps, launched by the Biden administration, is modeled after President Roosevelt's Civilian Conservation Corps created to help lift the nation out of the Great Depression.

The initiative hopes to put 20,000 young adults to work nationally. Some 900 are based in Colorado.

Climate corps members are already at work installing in-home energy and water saving measures in metro Denver, and learning sustainable and climate-resilient farming practices in southwestern Colorado.

Abdool said they are also removing thirsty invasive plant species to protect the state's critical water resources.

"But I think the special sauce that Mile High Youth Corps has is about the community within Mile High Youth Corps," said Abdool. "The opportunity for corps members to lean on each other, to collaborate, to take leadership opportunities within their own crews."

The program may also play an important role in reducing climate anxiety, which has been on the rise among youth.

Worry over the existential threat of climate change can cause panic attacks, insomnia, and depression.

Abdool recalled a conversation with one corps member who told her that while previous generations may have been concerned about climate change, they weren't able to make a difference.

"And she said 'and I have an opportunity to be able to do something about it, in an environment that I love, while being outside,'" said Abdool. "'It's the best job in the world.'"




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The Environmental Protection Agency is investigating underreported methane emissions from landfills nationwide, and a recent report names Michigan as a major offender.

Methane is a potent greenhouse gas and a key focus in combating climate change. Experts warn methane emissions are spiraling out of control as they leak from landfills.

The advocacy group Industrious Labs reports Michigan landfills emit enough methane to equal 11 million metric tons of carbon dioxide, resulting in more waste per capita than any other state.

Kathrine Blauvelt, circular economy campaign director for Industrious Labs, highlighted the issue.

"Your landfills take in a lot of waste from out of state," Blauvelt pointed out. "You also have one of the lowest recycling rates in the nation. So, that brings Michigan to the place of being sixth in the whole country in the highest landfill methane emissions."

Blauvelt noted the good news is, the EPA and Gov. Gretchen Whitmer hold the pen to introduce tougher requirements for methane emissions standards, particularly with the clean energy legislation signed into law last year in Michigan.

Blauvelt said the EPA looked at dozens of inspection reports, which revealed a large amount of unchecked methane emissions at landfills in Michigan. She warned the situation is likely to be even worse than the numbers currently indicate, due to the emergence of what she calls "methane super-emitter events."

"That's your really, really large -- you can see it from space, you can see it from air -- emissions of methane," Blauvelt explained. "Those are now being detected across the globe by technology."

Blauvelt also mentioned the EPA only requires landfills to conduct methane leak inspections four times a year, using what she described as inadequate methods.

"They have a human being do it, walking across, you can imagine, many, many miles," Blauvelt observed. "It could hot, right? That can be dangerous for the person to walk a landfill. So, it's not surprising that landfills are missing these big methane leaks."

She argued employing drones, satellites and other technology would help to safely and more accurately locate methane leaks.


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A New Mexico advocacy group is reminding lawmakers the state must revise its approach to extreme heat, air pollution and the oil and gas industry if families and communities are to survive the changing climate.

Despite major wildfires in recent years, the state has only three air-quality monitors, all placed in major cities.

Charles Goodmacher, founder of Do Good LLC, said at a recent hearing of the Water and Natural Resources Committee, the number could be increased by attaching them to the statewide network of weather stations.

"Then local communities could be much more aware of when they need to issue warnings to people to stay inside or to wear masks and other precautions," Goodmacher explained.

Las Cruces typically records the state's hottest summer temperatures, followed by Albuquerque. Multiple studies have shown hotter temperatures increase anger and aggression, which is thought to increase crime; another major topic facing lawmakers. The advocacy group wants a statewide public health and climate program established and a $10 million fund created to help towns and cities address climate needs.

Data show the Southwest is the fastest-warming area in the lower 48 states and Goodmacher suspects it could be contributing to New Mexico's increased crime in the past five years. He argued climate effects have been traced to negative impacts on the state budget.

"Loss of income to our rural and agricultural parts of the state. Farmers and ranchers are having to change their crops or change which breed of cattle," Goodmacher pointed out. "These kinds of things are happening already in New Mexico."

Efforts to reduce crime have been a major focus in New Mexico this month, with the governor holding a special legislative session. The governor's proposals were not approved, but lawmakers did OK funding to pay for those affected by the recent South Fork and Salt wildfires.