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An Indigenous Marine Sanctuary May Soon Be Established Along The California Coast

Today is World Ocean’s Day, a chance to celebrate ongoing actions towards ocean protection. One such endeavor on the U.S. west coast is also an opportunity to uplift Indigenous leadership via the proposed Chumash Heritage National Marine Sanctuary in central California.

The Great Climate Migration

Laura Hinerfeld and her husband, Dale Geist, never thought they’d leave California. But after the Complex fires of 2017 killed 24 people, ravaged 7,000 structures and crept too close to their house in Sonoma, they talked about it for the first time.

California officials approve plan to crack down on microplastics polluting the ocean

California aims to sharply limit the spiraling scourge of microplastics in the ocean, while urging more study of this threat to fish, marine mammals and potentially to humans, under a plan a state panel approved Wednesday.

‘We can’t make it rain’: California farmers left out to dry as US government allots no water

Officials are preparing for yet another critical water year in California as the state – along with most of the American west – remains mired in drought.

Codornices Creek daylighting activists celebrate $1M restoration project

Snug along the Albany border on Kains Avenue is a verdant new Berkeley open space where monarchs fly among the yellow oxalis flowers common throughout the neighborhood.

What is the L.A. port’s shipping backlog doing to Southern California’s environment?

James Fawcett of the USC Sea Grant program at USC Dornsife explains how the line of ships floating off the coast waiting to offload goods is making a mark on the local environment.

Energy sector methane emissions 70% higher than reported: IEA

The global energy sector's methane emissions are massively underreported, the International Energy Agency said in a report, seeking more transparency and stronger policy action

Norwalk Looking at New Development at Youth Authority Property

Norwalk Council continues to take input on the plan to build a transit-oriented eco-community on the former 32-acre California Youth Authority property at 13200 Bloomfield Avenue.

The chemical 1,2,3-TCP was used to farm in the Central Valley from the 1940s through the 1980s. Dangerous remnants continue to poison local drinking water.

On the dusty outskirts of Bakersfield, Rosa Perez and her family are living without a basic housing amenity — clean water. Though they pay the water bill each month, what comes out of the taps is laced with a chemical that California admits could make the family of four more likely to develop cancer. Perez, 43, would rather spend some of her meager farmworker income on bottled water than see that come to pass.

Beach erosion, bluff collapse, flooding: What a foot of sea level rise could mean for San Diego

Climate change is warming oceans and melting glaciers, accelerating the rise of tides and coastal flooding at a frightening pace. A recent scientific report confirmed the United States will see another foot of sea level rise by 2050 — as much increase as the country experienced over the entire last century.

'You Can't Recycle Your Way Out': California's Plastic Problem and What We Can Do About It

California dumps more than 12,000 tons of plastic into landfills every day — enough to fill 219 Olympic-size swimming pools, according to CalRecycle, the state's recycling and waste management agency.

More than 400 toxic sites in California are at risk of flooding from sea level rise

When Lucas Zucker talks about sea level rise in California, his first thoughts aren’t about waves crashing onto fancy homes in Orange County, nor the state’s most iconic beaches shrinking year after year.

The world's growing concrete coasts

The world’s coastlines are turning to concrete, at a huge cost to wildlife and the climate. But new technologies may offer a way to shore up coasts while benefiting biodiversity.

COVID-19 makes clear the need for private and public investment in local water systems

As rates increase to support clean drinking water, there are significant, valid concerns around water affordability.

How COVID-19 and Climate Change Are Making Heat Deadlier

Scientists say 2020 is on track to be among the hottest years on record. They know this from a worldwide network of sensors and satellites that constantly monitor land and ocean temperatures.

The COVID-19 Plastic Pandemic

The coronavirus pandemic was a respite for nature everywhere. The air was cleaner, trekking trails were pristine, the summit of Mt Everest was deserted, and worldwide carbon emission dipped by -26%.

Progress on drinking water, sanitation and hygiene in schools

Global school closures in response to the COVID-19 pandemic affect up to 1.6 billion children and present an unprecedented risk to their education and wellbeing.

Waiting for water: On the Navajo Nation, long lines, scarce resources, a cry for solutions

Many on the Navajo Nation don't have running water. The coronavirus adds urgency to efforts to build infrastructure, but solutions will be costly.

Chemical Used to Line Plastic Bottles Is Linked to Premature Death

The chemical bisphenol A, or BPA, which is ubiquitous in plastic bottles, can linings and receipts, has been linked to numerous health issues because it disrupts hormone function.

Climate change report forecasts hard times for Kern County agriculture

A new report warns Kern County agriculture will face tough challenges in the decades ahead as climate change makes irrigation water scarcer and weather conditions more variable and intense.

Warmer Ocean Waters Impacting More Than The Environment

This year’s Atlantic hurricane season got off to an early start in May, but even though there was a brief reprieve from tropical storms — thanks to a plume of Saharan dust earlier this month – we are once again seeing an increase in storm activity.

San Diego Mayor signs order allowing gyms and religious institutions to use city parks

San Diego Mayor Kevin Faulconer announced Tuesday that gyms and places of worship would be able to use San Diego’s parks to conduct operations outside beginning Monday morning.

One Answer To The Lack Of Equitable Access To Park Space Across California

The safer at home orders have made the outdoors essential spaces for Californians to get fresh air, exercise and take a mental respite from the new normal under COVID-19.

Death Valley soars to 130 degrees, potentially Earth’s highest temperature since at least 1931

Typically, such blazing heat records fall during July, which is the Northern Hemisphere’s hottest month

Study of human tissues finds plastic particles in every sample

One of the great unknowns when it comes to plastic pollution is what kind of threat tiny fragments can pose to the health of living organisms.

Plastic pollution dumped into oceans will triple by 2040

Despite the growth of biodegradable materials and bans on single use plastics, a recent study finds that there could be 600 million tons of plastic in the oceans by 2040, which is equivalent to the weight of over three million blue whales.

Plastic pollution in Atlantic at least 10 times worse than thought

More than 10 times as much plastic has been found in the Atlantic ocean than previously estimated to be there, showing the the world’s plastic problem is likely to be much greater than realised.

COVID-19 Has Worsened the Ocean Plastic Pollution Problem

Eight million metric tons of plastic waste enter the oceans every year. This equates to one garbage truck’s worth of plastic being dumped into our oceans every minute.

New Report Finds Latino Connections to the Ocean and the Coast Provide Opportunities for Community Engagement and Advocacy in its Protection

As the world celebrates #OceanWeek, the news@HispanicAccesssreport “Nuestro Océano y la Costa: Latino Connections to the Ocean and Coast” finds that Latinos could become one of the leading voices in its protection.

The Indisposible Podcast - Step Inside With Letise Lafeir

Like millions around the world right now, at UPSTREAM we’ve been talking a lot about racial justice in America. We’ve been holding in our hearts the countless Black Americans who’ve effectively been treated as disposable in our society and justice system.

Plastic pollution: World’s oceans may have more than double the amount of tiny plastic particles than scientists thought

There might be more than double the amount of tiny plastic particles in the world’s oceans than previously thought.

The end of plastic? New plant-based bottles will degrade in a year

Carlsberg and Coca-Cola back pioneering project to make ‘all-plant’ drinks bottles

Boiling Point: Why climate change matters more than ever during the coronavirus pandemic

Welcome to the first edition of Boiling Point, a newsletter about climate change, energy and the environment in California and the American West.

Coronavirus pandemic threatens to undo progress on plastic pollution

Environmentalists and recyclers express concerns that hard-fought gains are being rapidly reversed as the sustainability debate is "parked."

In South LA., oil wells owned by the archdiocese were making people sick long before the coronavirus

The 21 oil wells down the street from Marco Sanchez front door are named after one of the 12 apostles.

State water board must act to protect the Bay-Delta and California’s fishing industry

State law requires the board to protect all aspects of the Bay-Delta estuary, including wildlife habitat, fishing, drinking water quality and more.

How Much Water Do We Really Need To Drink?

The humble liquid comprises about 60% of our body weight and allows our internal organs to perform at their best.

Trump is fuming about California water. A federal judge just gave him another reason to vent

President Donald Trump has been an eager fighter in California’s water wars. As a presidential candidate, he vowed to bring more water to San Joaquin Valley farmers during a rally in Fresno.

Climate change and Covid-19 increase pressure on potable water resources

Last summer was among the hottest on record in Europe, with record high temperatures that sent millions of people across the continent seeking shelter from the heat.

Opinion: Pandemic Underscores Importance of Access to Parks for All Californians

As the COVID-19 pandemic has unfolded across the country, Californians have found solace in close-to-home parks and open spaces.

California’s ocean waters are glowing in the dark — and the videos are stunning

Southern California’s ocean waters are glowing in the dark thanks to cool science.

San Diego shakes up citywide approach to parks with focus on access, amenities

In new planning document, the city is throwing out a tried-and-tested acreage formula for a system that should mean better parks for all neighborhoods

World Climate Change Makes Repeat 'Dust Bowl' Twice As Likely

Due to global warming, the United States is today more than twice as likely to endure a devastating "dust bowl" scenario than during the Great Depression, researchers said Monday.

Six Places Where Oceans, Rivers And Marine Life Have Rebounded During The Coronavirus Pandemic

The vibrancy with which the planet has rebounded to the global lockdowns (covering half the world’s population), has revealed how resilient wildlife is, and how quickly nature can recover if given a break.

Mussels that clump together in reefs may ingest triple the plastic

The impact of plastic on the many species that call the ocean home is a huge unknown, but scientists are starting to piece together the kinds of risks this pollution poses to the marine ecosystem.

Climate Change Is Making Hurricanes Stronger, Researchers Find

An analysis of satellite imagery from the past four decades suggests that global warming has increased the chances of storms reaching Category 3 or higher.

Coronavirus is causing a flurry of plastic waste. Campaigners fear it may be permanent

All of the defining images of the coronavirus pandemic seem to feature one thing: plastic.

Silence is golden for whales as lockdown reduces ocean noise

Curtailing of shipping due to coronavirus allows scientists to study effects of quieter oceans on marine wildlife

How urban parks promote public health

The COVID-19 pandemic has altered humans’ relationship with natural landscapes in ways that may be long-lasting.

How to Read and Understand Plastic Recycling Symbols

What can and can't be recycled confuses many people, so before you drop another bottle into the recycling bin, take look on the bottom

Climate change has doubled extreme fire weather days in California, study shows

While the world wrestles with the immediate impacts of the coronavirus crisis, the more gradual climate crisis continues to accelerate in the background.

'Horrible hybrids': the plastic products that give recyclers nightmares

From singing birthday cards to baby food pouches, a growing trend of mixing materials is making recycling even harder

Segregation and local funding gaps drive disparities in drinking water

As droughts become more frequent and intense, the fragmentation of water service in the U.S. among tens of thousands of community systems

Estuaries are warming at twice the rate of oceans and atmosphere

Study of 166 rivers, lakes and lagoons in Australia shows fisheries face big challenges

How Climate Change Is Putting Doctors In The Hot Seat

A 4-year-old girl was rushed to the emergency room three times in one week for asthma attacks.

For Californians Without Water Access, Coronavirus Adds Another Layer of Struggle

As Californians shelter at home amid the COVID-19 outbreak, an estimated 1 million of them lack access to clean drinking water, largely in rural parts of the state.

Sea-level rise could double extreme coastal flood events every five years

Extreme flooding events in some US coastal areas could double every five years if sea levels fueled by climate change continue to rise

A better way to recycle plastic

A French startup has pioneered a new way of using enzymes to recycle plastics more efficiently than current methods.

A Lot Of You Had Questions About Coronavirus In The Water. We Have Some Answers.

The coronavirus pandemic is so new to us that things that seemed so certain — like the safety of our water supply — are suddenly raising questions.

The Power of Parks in a Pandemic

For city residents, equitable access to local green space is more than a coronavirus-era amenity. It’s critical for physical, emotional, and mental health.

Seattle Parks Will Be Open This Weekend

Last weekend, mayor Jenny Durkan closed 15 of Seattle’s most frequented parks in advance of a splendid weather weekend.

Majority of young Americans say climate change affects their major life decisions

Seventy-five percent of Gen Zers and 77 percent of millennials said climate change has affected their major life decisions, according to new research.

Coronavirus lockdown giving world’s oceans much-needed breathing space

The coronavirus lockdown is giving the world’s oceans much-needed breathing space, let’s hope we don’t go back to bad habits when it ends, writes the Ocean Conservation Trust.

COVID-19 Update: Coronavirus Reportedly Found In Sewage In Surprisingly High Levels

Wastewater-based epidemiology might be an effective way to track the disease in a particular population since the deadly novel coronavirus that causes COVID-19 was found in the feces of those who tested positive.

Cactus juice is the new plastic?

Plastic is everywhere — the average American consumes 70,000 pieces of plastic per year

Urban land could grow fruit and veg for 15 per cent of the population, research shows

Growing fruit and vegetables in just 10 per cent of a city's gardens and other urban green spaces could provide 15 per cent of the local population with their 'five a day', according to new research.

California is a climate leader. But here’s why it needs to move even faster

California is aiming to slash planet-warming emissions faster than ever over the next decade — and critics say state officials aren’t acting with nearly enough urgency.

Norway has a 97% recycle rate for its plastic bottle deposit return scheme (DRS)

The most effective DRS in the world can be found in Norway, colloquially known as “panting”, which has been in operation since the early 2000s.

Lego bricks could survive 1,300 years in the ocean

The ocean around the U.K. is strewn with Lego bricks.

Greenland's melting ice raised global sea level by 2.2mm in two months

Analysis of satellite data reveals astounding loss of 600bn tons of ice last summer as Arctic experienced hottest year on record

Everyone needs their lead pipes replaced, not just those who can afford it

Across the country, over 9 million homes still get their drinking water through a lead pipe.

California Water Board: Don’t flush disinfecting wipes down toilet

Sanitizing is on everyone's mind these days because of the coronavirus pandemic, but don't flush those disinfecting wipes and paper towels down the toilet.

California State Parks Temporarily Closes All Campgrounds in the State Park System: Non-campground outdoor areas of parks, including trails and beaches remain open

California State Parks announced today the temporary closure of all campgrounds in the state park system to support state and local efforts to slow the spread of COVID-19 (coronavirus).

Plastic Pollution’s Rapidly Mounting Toll

The number of marine species affected by plastic is over 900.

8 Plastic Wrap Alternatives for an Eco-Friendly Kitchen

We all know that plastic is bad for the environment, but how bad is it really?

Stanford researcher reveals influence of global warming on extreme weather events has been frequently underestimated

Analysis shows global warming is intensifying the occurrence of unprecedented hot spells and downpours faster than predicted by historical trends.

Rising waters threaten wells, drinking water systems

Four out of the five Great Lakes set water level records for February, according to the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers.

L.A. Scores $19M From State To Create, Fix Up Parks

Two existing city parks will be renovated, while two new parks will be built with the Prop 68 funds, Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti said.

Greenland Ice Melt Raised Ocean Level 2.2 Millimeters In Two Months

In 2002, a satellite called GRACE — Gravity Recovery and Climate Experiment — was launched.

Earth Day 2020 Will Survive The Coronavirus By Moving Online

A lot of things are closed or canceled due to the global coronavirus pandemic, but Earth Day is not one of them.