Environment

Old Growth Forest Policy Made at the 19th Hole

Old Growth Forest Policy Made at the 19th Hole

Through an Executive Order issued March 1, 2025, there is to be an expansion of American timber production that meets goals to achieve “sound forest management, reduce time to deliver timber, and decrease timber supply uncertainty.” Approximately 100 million acres, the equivalent of 60% of our national forests, are to be within earshot of a chainsaw. In so doing, the Trump administration declares this a “new era” in national forest management. Legally protected forest land and parts of old growth forest are slated be part of the expanded production.

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Introducing Gulf of America – from the person who gave us Trump Tower

Introducing Gulf of America – from the person who gave us Trump Tower

For the last 475 years, the expanse of ocean from western Florida to southern Texas has been called the “Gulf of Mexico.” English geographer Richard Hakluyt referred to the “Gulfe of Mexico” in his work of 1589. With the stroke of a pen on February 9, 2025, the President of the United States signed Executive Order 14172 and renamed the body of water “Gulf of America.” In addition to “restoring American pride,” President Trump justified the name change by referencing territorial rights over much of the area and that those waters have “long been an integral asset to our once burgeoning Nation and has remained an indelible part of America.” Trump considers the Gulf a business asset.

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No shortage of Canaries in our Coastlines Signaling Catastrophe

No shortage of Canaries in our Coastlines Signaling Catastrophe

40% of the U.S. population line our coasts. That equates to approximately 130 million people residing in coastal counties. In addition to those who retire seaside, entire economies are integrated into the coastal industries of fishing, tourism, energy, shipbuilding, and recreation. Even a cursory glance using google maps shows how tightly clustered the built space is, all on only 10% of the total U.S. land mass. Shoreline communities have five times the population density as compared to the U.S. average.

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Why is LA on Fire?

Why is LA on Fire?

Why is LA on Fire? Environment Policy #178 | By: Arvind Salem | Submitted: January 13, 2025 Photo Credit: LAFD Photo | Cody Weireter __________________________________ Policy Summary The latest round of fires, something that has been plaguing Los Angeles, is a scary...

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What Happened to Climate Change as a Political Priority?

What Happened to Climate Change as a Political Priority?

In the midst of escalating environmental crises, climate change has surprisingly taken a backseat in political discourse. Despite initial commitments from the Biden administration to combat climate change through initiatives like the Paris Agreement and the Inflation Reduction Act, significant challenges remain. As fossil fuel production reaches unprecedented levels and partisan divides deepen, the urgency to prioritize climate policy faces increasing obstacles, leaving many to question the future of our environmental commitments.

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The Politics of Funding Climate Disasters

The Politics of Funding Climate Disasters

Back in the 80s, the United States on average faced what would now total a billion-dollars in natural disaster relief about every four months. The latest estimates from The Fifth National Climate Assessment find that our country is hit with a billion-dollar disaster every three weeks.

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