Just Before Harvey, Trump Admin Revoked Rules Requiring New Infrastructure to be Climate Resilient

Democracy Now!

Published on Aug 29, 2017

https://democracynow.org – Two weeks ago today, President Trump signed a widely overlooked executive order to revoke Obama-era standards that required federal infrastructure projects like hospitals to factor in scientific projections for the effects of climate change, such as increased flooding. Critics say the reversal will put more lives in danger by exposing U.S. infrastructure to the kind of damage inflicted by hurricanes and superstorms including Harvey, Sandy and Katrina. Obama’s order marked a rare climate change measure that was praised by both conservative and progressive groups. Trump announced the reversal during the now infamous press conference in the lobby of Trump Tower that was largely overshadowed by his remarks defending the white supremacist protesters behind the violent rallies in Charlottesville, Virginia. We speak with John Nichols, political writer for The Nation. His new book, “Horsemen of the Trumpocalypse: A Field Guide to the Most Dangerous People in America” is out today.

1,200 Die as “Devastating” Climate Change-Linked Floods Submerge Parts of South As ia

Democracy Now!

Published on Aug 29, 2017

https://democracynow.org – In the past month, more than 1,200 people have died amid flooding in Bangladesh, Nepal and India. This year’s monsoon season has brought torrential downpours that have submerged wide swaths of South Asia, destroying tens of thousands of homes, schools and hospitals and affecting up to 40 million people. Aid organizations are warning that this is one of the worst regional humanitarian crises in years, with millions of people facing severe food shortages and disease caused by polluted flood water. Flood victims in southern Nepal say they have lost everything. We speak with Asad Rehman, executive director of “War on Want”. He has worked on climate change issues for over a decade.

Hurricane Harvey: Zip Code & Race Determine Who Will Bear Burden Of Climate Change

Democracy Now!

Published on Aug 29, 2017

https://democracynow.org – Concern continues to grow over the environmental impact of Hurricane Harvey on the Houston area, home to more than a dozen oil refineries. The group Air Alliance Houston is warning the shutdown of the petrochemical plants will send more than 1 million pounds of harmful pollution into the air. Residents of Houston’s industrial communities have reported unbearable chemical-like smells coming from the many plants nearby. Stranded communities are “literally getting gassed by these chemicals,” according to Bryan Parras, an activist at the environmental justice group t.e.j.a.s. Those closest to these sites in Houston are disproportionately low-income and minority communities. We speak with Dr. Robert Bullard, known as the “father of environmental justice.” He is currently a distinguished professor at Texas Southern University. Dr. Bullard speaks to us from his home in Houston, which he needs to evacuate later this morning due to the rising Brazos River.

ecojustice
environmental justice

Dr. Robert Bullard: Houston’s “Unrestrained Capitalism” Made Harvey “Catastrophe W aiting to Happen”

Democracy Now!

Published on Aug 29, 2017

https://democracynow.org – The death toll continues to rise as massive amounts of rain from Hurricane Harvey flood Houston and other parts of Texas and Louisiana. The Houston police and Coast Guard have rescued over 6,000 people from their homes, but many remain stranded. Meteorologists forecast another foot of rain could fall on the region in the coming days. While the National Hurricane Center is now calling Harvey the biggest rainstorm on record, scientists have been predicting for years that climate change would result in massive storms like Harvey. We speak with Dr. Robert Bullard, known as the “father of environmental justice.” He is currently a distinguished professor at Texas Southern University. Dr. Bullard speaks to us from his home in Houston, which he needs to evacuate later this morning due to the rising Brazos River.

Death Toll from Hurricane Harvey Rises to 14 as Flooding Continues + Death Toll from Hurricane Harvey Rises to 14 as Flooding Continues

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WfKJYlryn4s?&start=5&end=103 Aug 29, 2017

The death toll from Hurricane Harvey is rising as massive amounts of rain continue to flood Houston and other parts of Texas and Louisiana. At least 14 people have died, including four children and their great-grandparents. The Houston police and U.S. Coast Guard have rescued over 6,000 people from their homes, but many are still stranded. So much rain has already fallen that the National Weather Service has had to add two new colors to its maps to indicate rainfall levels. Meteorologists forecast another foot of rain could fall on Houston in the coming days.

Concern is also growing over the environmental impact of the storm. Residents of Houston’s industrial communities are reporting strong gas and chemical-like smells coming from the many nearby refineries and chemical plants. Texas senators Ted Cruz and John Cornyn are both facing criticism for having voted against the $51 billion Hurricane Sandy aid package in 2013. More than 20 House Republicans in Texas also voted against the hurricane aid package.

We’ll have more on climate change and Hurricane Harvey after headlines.

Topics:

• Hurricane Harvey
• Doha Climate Summit 2012

Aug 29, 2017

Meanwhile, in more climate-related news, torrential downpours are causing extreme flooding in Mumbai, India, today. Weather officials are calling it the worst flooding in Mumbai in over a decade. In recent weeks, more than 1,200 people have been killed amid torrential downpours across South Asia. We’ll have more on climate change and flooding in South Asia later in the broadcast.

Dig into the Climate Ready Boston data with our new map explorer tool – Greenovate Boston 2017

Posted by Jessica Feldish 347gp on August 22, 2017 · Flag

We’re excited to introduce our newest tool for exploring the data used in Climate Ready Boston.

Climate change gets up close and personal with our new educational map explorer tool — you can now explore what the impacts of our changing climate will look in your neighborhood. The tool allows you to learn more about the data layers used in the Climate Ready Boston recommendations for protecting our City from a changing climate, and helps you better understand how projections are influencing resiliency solutions.

EXPLORE THE MAPS

The map explorer features location-based data from Climate Ready Boston. You can overlay the climate data with population demographics in order to better understand the social factors that intersect with, and contribute to, vulnerability.

The map displays the most up-to-date climate change information for Boston, and builds upon our knowledge base for keeping the data transparent, accessible, and readily updated. One of the strategies identified in the latest Climate Ready Boston report is to “Maintain up-to-date projections of future climate conditions to inform adaptation”, and we see this map explorer as a way to keep the conversation going about our findings and resiliency projects.

Additionally, you can now download the data of Climate Ready Boston — find it directly in the tool, or on the tool’s Boston.gov page. It will soon be available on the City’s open data portal, Analyze Boston.

You can launch the map explorer and download the Climate Ready Boston data here.

 

The latest Climate Ready Boston report was released in December 2016. The report was a data-driven set of recommendations for Boston to prepare for the impacts of climate change.

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