skip to main content
skip to newscasts

Wednesday, November 6, 2024

Public News Service Logo
facebook instagram linkedin reddit youtube twitter
view newscast page
play newscast audioPlay

Donald Trump wins US presidency and the GOP flips the Senate; UT electric provider taps into the potential of 'virtual' power plants; Ohio State course bridges science and faith in polarized times; MI mayor prioritizes health, climate with 'health-in-all-policies' plan.

view newscast page
play newscast audioPlay

Trump wins the White House. Republicans will take over the Senate after flipping several seats, and seem to be on track to hold the House. In spite of bomb threats and charges of fraud, a very high-turnout election mostly went smoothly.

view newscast page
play newscast audioPlay

Abortion care can be five minutes away in California or 11 hours for women in Texas, rural living proves a mixed blessing for veterans, an ancient technique could curtail climate-change wildfires and escape divisive politics on World Kindness Day.

NY activists take action on companies causing climate change

play audio
Play

Wednesday, August 21, 2024   

Though New York's summer is winding down, climate change's effects remain.

This summer saw record-high temperatures which have only grown in the last decade. Reports show by 2050, the state is projected to experience more days with temperatures above 90 degrees.

Climate activists have been protesting companies contributing to fossil fuel use which leads to worsening climate effects.

Rev. Chelsea MacMillan, New York organizer for the nonprofit GreenFaith, said New York's climate changes resemble the national trend.

"Last year, the skies turned orange due to wildfire smoke coming down from Canada," MacMillan recounted. "We are going to see more and more of these climate disasters happening in our state and in New York City."

While extreme heat is one of the deadliest elements of climate change, storm damage is one of the costliest. Hurricane Beryl was one of several storms to flood many New York communities this year. All told, New York has seen around $23 billion in damage from "billion-dollar disasters" this year. Taxpayers were forced to pick up the $2 billion price tag for climate change costs in 2023 alone.

The Climate Change Superfund Act would require companies who've contributed to climate change to bear some adaptation infrastructure investment costs.

MacMillan and other activists are protesting banks financing fossil fuel projects. She said Citibank is one of the biggest contributors.

"Citibank has poured almost $400 billion into oil, gas, and coal companies since the Paris Climate Accords in 2016," MacMillan pointed out. "This is just unconscionable, like there's no way we can meet any of our climate goals if we keep putting money into fossil fuels."

While Citibank has been the top financier of expansion for fossil fuel companies since 2016, JPMorgan Chase contributed the most financing to fossil fuel companies last year. Since the Paris Climate Accord, JPMorgan Chase has invested more than $430 billion in fossil fuel projects and companies.

Disclosure: GreenFaith contributes to our fund for reporting on Climate Change/Air Quality, Energy Policy, and Environmental Justice. If you would like to help support news in the public interest, click here.


get more stories like this via email
more stories
Political scientists said even in elections where the youth vote surges in certain areas, it is still heavily outnumbered by older voting populations. (Adobe Stock)

Social Issues

play sound

As results continue to come into focus post-Election Day, factors like the youth vote are expected to be scrutinized. Experts said it is important …


Social Issues

play sound

Although Florida was not considered a swing state this year's election, its diverse demographics reflect national trends, and political observers are …

Social Issues

play sound

The brisk pace of voting continued on Election Day, and Michigan Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson expects the battleground state to shatter a 64-…


Some pro-Palestinian first-time student voters said they had a hard time grappling with casting a ballot for any candidate in the election given the U.S. military support for the war in Gaza.
(Adobe Stock)

Social Issues

play sound

pro-Palestinian groups are hosting a demonstration today starting at Red Arrow Park in downtown Milwaukee. The groups Students for a Democratic …

Environment

play sound

New funding from the federal Empowering Rural America program will allow the East Kentucky Power Cooperative to add more than 750 megawatts of solar e…

Social Issues

play sound

In Minnesota and across the U.S., poll workers are being praised for stepping up during another big election. Administrators hope the goodwill …

Social Issues

play sound

North Dakota voters have rejected a closely watched ballot question which called for largely doing away with local property taxes. Backers of …

 

Phone: 303.448.9105 Toll Free: 888.891.9416 Fax: 208.247.1830 Your trusted member- and audience-supported news source since 1996 Copyright © 2021