Environmental Politics

Congressional Infrastructure Bill Loaded With Local Stories

The massive infrastructure measure signed into law last week is a potential mother lode of stories for environmental journalists. If that is, they can figure out where the money is going. The latest TipSheet takes an initial look at the $1.2 trillion plan and offers guidance on how to track down reportable local and regional projects.

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"Northeast States Abandon Cap-And-Trade Plan For Cars"

"The Transportation and Climate Initiative — a cap-and-trade program covering cars in three Northeastern states and the District of Columbia — was abandoned last week after Connecticut Gov. Ned Lamont (D) and Massachusetts Gov. Charlie Baker (R) pulled the plug on the program."

Source: E&E News, 11/23/2021

Rural Reporter Turns Routine Permit Into Award-Winning Investigation

It was a seemingly mundane legal notice about a surface water discharge permit. But when Wyoming journalist Angus Thuermer Jr. took a closer look, he discovered that it would mean massive discharges of pollutants into local waters. Inside Story explains how Thuermer revealed the truth about the plans, prompting local protests and, ultimately, a withdrawal of the permit.

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"COP26: The Truth Behind The New Climate Change Denial"

"As world leaders met at the COP26 summit to debate how to tackle climate change, misleading claims and falsehoods about the climate spiralled on social media. ... We've looked at some of the most viral claims of the past year, and what the evidence really says."

Source: BBC News, 11/22/2021

"The Real Reason Gas Prices Are So High Right Now"

"It's not the Biden administration's energy policies nor Big Oil illegally manipulating prices."

"On Wednesday, amid a fresh surge in gas prices, the Biden administration announced that it had asked the FTC to investigate whether oil and gas companies were doing anything illegal to manipulate prices. Republicans have countered that it’s a cheap political stunt and blamed President Joe Biden’s energy policies.

Source: Earther, 11/22/2021

"A Power Struggle Over Cobalt Rattles the Clean Energy Revolution"

"The quest for Congo’s cobalt, which is vital for electric vehicles and the worldwide push against climate change, is caught in an international cycle of exploitation, greed and gamesmanship."

Source: NYTimes, 11/22/2021

Canada’s Tar Sands Destruction Challenges Existence of Land and People

"Oil companies have replaced Indigenous people’s traditional lands with mines that cover an area bigger than New York City, stripping away boreal forest and wetlands and rerouting waterways."

Source: Inside Climate News, 11/22/2021

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