California commits to using climate science in water decisions
This resolution is the first commitment by a water-related state agency to use climate science in all permits, plans, policies, and decisions.
North & Central America
Diet, including eating less beef, dropped Americans’ carbon emissions by 9%
A decline in carbon-intensive foods like beef and orange juice has shrunk individuals’ carbon footprints between 2005 and 2014.
The United States Supreme Court rules in favor of special education students
The decision in Endrew F. v. Douglas County School District could have far-reaching implications for the 6.5 million students with disabilities in the United States.
Infant mortality rates fall 15 percent over last decade in United States
The biggest drop 29 percent is for deaths from sudden infant death syndrome, also known as SIDS, the team at the National Center for Health Statistics found.
Berkeley becomes first city to divest from U.S.-Mexico border wall companies
The Bay Area city won’t do business with government contractors that work on Donald Trump’s pet project.
Police departments in the 7 cities of Virginia have all appointed LGBT liaisons
Police in Chesapeake, Suffolk, Norfolk, Hampton, Portsmouth and Virginia Beach had already created the position. Local law enforcement agencies are taking proactive steps to foster a relationship with the LGBT community and establish an ongoing dialogue to better serve the community.
A majority of Americas now oppose discriminatory transgender bathroom bills
Majorities of Americans support legal protections for lesbian, bisexual, gay and transgender people, opposing laws that force transgender people to use bathrooms according to the gender on their birth certificate and that allow business owners to refuse to service to LGBT people based on religious beliefs.
Maryland House votes to ban fracking by veto-proof margin
The majority, including a handful of Republicans, voted to ban the practice after hearing arguments that science shows that the risk of earthquakes, water contamination and health problems increases in fracked areas.
Breckinridge Capital adopts Social Progress Index to reward cities for inclusiveness.
Specifically, the framework follows the Social Progress Index in assessing how a community meets basic human needs for healthcare, sanitation and safety; provides foundations of wellbeing, including environmental quality; and offers opportunities, such as access to advanced education and personal choice.
Wind overtakes hydro as renewable energy leader in the U.S.
According to new data released on Monday 6 March, installed wind capacity in the U.S. surpassed hydroelectric generating capacity, long the nation’s largest source of renewable energy, in 2016.