Climate Change

‘Historic, dangerous, prolonged and unprecedented’ heat wave swells over Pacific Northwest

In a record-breaking heat wave that’s swept the Pacific Northwest, The Washington Post has followed the event as it is documented by local newspapers and weather forecasters. This past week, temperatures in the Pacific Northwest have consistently...Read more

Hurricane Ida power failures prompt calls for more solar energy, tougher grids

When Hurrican Ida hit New Orleans, it took out eight major transmission lines delivering electricity to the New Orleans metro area, after Hurricane Laura severely damaged lines last year as well. One resident Jenel Hazlett was fortunate to have solar panels and a battery backup system...Read more

A carbon pledge, a bag ban, a tree plan: Philly’s year in environmental news and what’s next

This article highlights the biggest environmental news coming from Philadelphia in the year 2021. 

  • "Philadelphia vowed to be carbon neutral by 2050. One strategy for meeting this goal comes from Philly's Building Energy Performance Program, which requires all non-residential
  • ...Read more
U.S. Power Crisis Leaves Millions Cold, Dark as Blackouts Expand

This article discusses the power crises occurring in the United States due to the overlapping slow disasters of climate change and COVID-19, revealing inadequacies in energy infrastructure (e.g. electrical grids, power plants) which are overwhelmed by energy demands in areas experiencing extreme...Read more

Power companies back EPA climate authority at Supreme Court

The Supreme Court is set to hear a pivotal case regarding the federal government's authority to reduce carbon emissions on February 28th, 2022. The case was launched by coal companies and Republican-led states that asked the justices to limit EPA’s options to regulate emissions under the...Read more

Philly is ready to start fighting climate change again

As President-Elect Biden stated, there is a pontential for the US to re-enter the Paris Agreement for climate change goals to be achieved by 2050. Philadelphia had continued to follow the climate provisions thanks to Mayor Kenney's commitment even despite President Trump's withdrawal from the...Read more

Thousands without power during record-breaking heat

On June 27th, 2021 Portland General Electric said 2,574 customers in Clackamas County, 1,291 customers in Multnomah County, 605 customers in Washington County and 765 customers in Yamhill County were without power due to extreme heat-related outages in the Pacific Northwest. 

Portland...Read more

Without action on climate change, heat is projected to become major global killer

This article talks about several studies documenting the impacts we are going to face if we do not address extreme heat now. That said, projections show that, without any measures taken to address extreme heat, climate change will increase annual deaths by heat that are comparable to annual...Read more

Energy Use and Greenhouse Gas Emission - Inventory for Greater Philadelphia

This document provides a 2018 overview of energy use and greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions in Greater Philadelphia. This report can be used to provide foundational knowledge regarding the state of energy use in the region. Read more

Do you think climate change is impacting Philly?

Other than the normal - like I said the normal changes in the environment, or in climate, and the changes in utilities and things of that nature, which has a big impact. I don't know, I'm trying to figure out what they could do to be more efficient in terms of providing clean energy to us...Read more

Subscribe to Climate Change