Wildfires spike air pollution, bring climate to the fore
Tuesday, September 15, 2020
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Wildfires across the West continue to rage. At least 35 people have died from the blazes, but even as residents flee flames, they are unable to avoid the smoke. People on the west coast are struggling to live with the world's most polluted air. Portland currently has the world's worst air quality by far, while cities such as San Francisco, Los Angeles, and Seattle have worse air quality than almost anywhere outside of the United States.
Smoke is dramatically impacting the life of many. People have reported waking up throughout the night, burning eyes, coughs, headaches, nausea, and dizziness. Many also fear its impacts on mental health as people already months into a virus-induced socially-distanced lifestyle are forced indoors.
The dramatic impacts of wildfires on Westerners have drawn the attention of presidential candidates from both parties, who both made appearances to discuss the subject yesterday. The disaster has highlighted their differing perspectives on climate change and its impacts on extreme weather and environmental disasters. While scientists increasingly warn that climate change is driving extreme weather events like the western fires, a view Biden adopts, Trump blames the phenomenon on poor forest management.
Migratory birds found dead
Hundreds of thousands of migratory birds, if not millions, have been found dead all across New Mexico, Colorado, Texas, and Mexico. Biologists suspect that the wildfires raging across the West, which are exacerbated by climate change, may have forced birds into migration before they had enough fat reserves to survive the journey. Other birds may have had to change their migratory pathways, while still others may have inhaled smoke and sustained lung damage. Studies on the exact cause of death may take weeks.
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FOIA documents reveal Interior's 2018 push to manage Yellowstone bison like cattle
Billings Gazette
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Struggling to live with relentless smoke as America has world's most polluted air
Washington Post | New York Times
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Opinion: Pendley has no regard for the people or lands he is illegally serving
Colorado Sun
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At least 35 dead in wildfires that continue across the West, shut down Sequoia National Park
Washington Post | Visalia Times Delta
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Senator Tom Udall and Representative Deb Haaland promote biodiversity measures
E&E News
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Permian Basin crude oil pipeline cancelled as market struggles to recover from COVID-19
Carlsbad Current-Argus
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Drillers rush ahead of election, spike permitting activity by 80%
E&E News
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Opinion: Let’s celebrate passage of the outdoors act. Now we need the CORE Act.
Colorado Sun
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 No one’s here."
— Security guard at Bureau of Land Management Headquarters in Grand Junction, Colorado Sun |
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What do cowboys have to do with climate change? At @OrganPipeNPS, historic structures like Gachado Line Camp are threatened by increasing storm events. How can we protect our history? Learn more in our new animated video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qVxG0NxkrHg
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