Climate Crisis, Environmental Destruction, and Social Justice: Resources

Let me tell you a little about myself, so you have some idea of whom is the author.  I am a Professor Emeritus of Sociology at Purdue University Northwest in Indiana; what that means is I was a Professor who has retired and whose 18 1/2 years of service was recognized by the Board of Trustees of Purdue University.  I have traveled around the world, and have done research on six of the planet’s seven continents; altogether, I’ve published four books and over 265 articles (in peer-reviewed and specialty journals, general interest magazines, and newspapers) in the United States and 11 other countries.  Much of my research has been done on working people and their organizations around the world.

However, I have a different background than most academics.  I spent four years in the US Marine Corps (1969-73), although fortunately was not sent to fight in Vietnam, and I got politicized while on active duty and “turned around.”  I ended up with the rank of Sergeant, and I got an Honorable Discharge.  After getting out, I completed college and then traveled around the country, doing all kinds of different jobs.  Later, I got into printing and worked on printing presses themselves for over nine years.  Later, taught high school and did office work.  I decided to go back into academia, and got my Master’s Degree in 1991 from the Institute of Social Studies in The Hague, The Netherlands, and then completed a PhD in Sociology at the University of Illinois at Chicago (UIC), at the age of 51 in 2003.  (I was born in 1951.)

Over my years of teaching, I’ve become more and more interested in environmental-related issues.  I’ve taught an upper-division undergraduate course (SOC 404) on “Environment and Social Justice” since 2006.  I have encouraged students to present course-related research in public fora, and have links to some of these below.  I have also been the Labor/Economics topic editor for the community-based journal, Green Social Thought, since 2008 (you might want to check out GST!)

I think these issues are crucial: climate change is NOT a myth, and we humans need to address this or we risk the beginning of extinction of people, animals and most plants by the turn of the next century.

Please contact me at kscipes@pnw.edu should you have questions, and I’ll do my best to answer them.  I also seek chances to speak to community groups, religious congregations, and unions about this subject, both in person in Northwest Indiana or via Zoom if elsewhere. (Should you want to know more about my academic career, please go to https://www.pnw.edu/personal-faculty-pages/kim-scipes-ph-d/publications/ for a list of my writings, often with links to the original article.)

For a couple of recent articles about myself and my work, see:

—  November 1, 2022.  “‘Dr. Kim Scipes:  Building a Network of Compassion in a World Waiting to Be United’ by Kayla Vasilko.”  Purdue Journal of Service-Learning and International Engagement, Vol. 9, Issue 1, Article 8.

—  October 20, 2022.  “Fighting for a Better World” by Edmund Lawler.  The Beacher (Michigan City, IN), Vol. 38, No. 41.

Climate Change is Real and It’s Happening Now

By Kim Scipes, PhD

It’s 54 degrees today (December 28, 2022); a few days ago, it was -6.  Measured on the Fahrenheit scale.  This is late December in Northwest Indiana:  something is not right.

No, something is not right.  We are living in a time of great environmental change; those in the know call it a climate “crisis.”  Scholarly arguments have been made that if we don’t do something extremely soon, the beginning of the extinction of humans, animals, and most plants will begin in the year 2100, less than 80 years from now.  This is already affecting all of us now, and the impact will grow greater on our children, and even more on our grandchildren, many who (hopefully) will be alive in 2100.

The reality is that humanity collectively is facing a global climate crisis.  And our politicians—of BOTH parties—and our other social and religious leaders have failed us so far.

Let me put it in a way hopefully each reader can understand:  see if this makes sense to you or not.

The Earth is surrounded by a very narrow band of chemicals we call the “atmosphere”; it’s made of approximately 78% nitrogen and 21% oxygen.  This atmosphere acts as a protector to the planet.  When energy from the sun hits this atmosphere, most of it skips out into space, like a flat rock on a placid pond.  Some of this heat is allowed inside the atmosphere to warm the Earth, and even some of it gets repelled back into space as it hits the ice existing on the planet (depending on the place and the season being discussed).

This situation has existed for the last 11,700 years and it’s generally been stable.  This is the time during which all human civilizations have emerged and developed.

Things changed after World War II or very shortly thereafter, we’ll use 1950 as our “best guess.”  Since then, humans have been producing so much of everything that we’ve been attacking our protective atmosphere.  Let me explain.

When we produce goods and services, we use energy.  Our main sources of energy for the last 250 years or so have been coal, oil, and natural gas; collectively, these are known as “fossil fuels.”

When fossil fuels are utilized—whether from a factory or out of an electricity generating plant, or out of the tailpipe of our vehicles—they emit carbon dioxide and related gasses; collectively, these are known as “greenhouse” gasses.  These greenhouse gasses—mostly carbon dioxide (CO2), methane (CH4), and nitrous oxides (NOx), along with water vapor—in turn, attack the atmosphere, weakening its ability to protect the planet, and letting more heat inside the atmosphere.

Because of more heat, the Artic and Antarctic, Greenland, and glaciers around the world are melting, which reduces their ability to reflect heat back outside the atmosphere.  Hence, more heat is getting inside the atmosphere, and once it’s inside, more and more of it is trapped, further heating the Earth.  The average temperature of the Earth has warmed over two degrees Fahrenheit since the 1880s, when reliable temperature records began being kept.

Again, this causes more and more ice to melt, trapping more heat, further increasing the temperature.  This is called a positive feedback loop—and it is not good.

This increased heat leads to higher ocean levels, stronger hurricanes, increased numbers and intensities of wildfires, more flooding (and ironically, more draught), and a bunch of other detrimental effects.

So, the essential relationship is the more greenhouse gasses released, the more damage to the atmosphere, leading to more warming and many related problems.

Greenhouse gasses get measured—and these are tiny amounts—by the amount of carbon dioxide (and equivalent chemicals) in the atmosphere.  By an elaborate process, climatologists (people who study the climate) have been able to account for the amount of the variation of the Earth’s temperature and the amount of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere going back 800,000 years.  (No misprint.)  It’s pretty amazing.

What they’ve found is that while the Earth’s temperature has increased and decreased over these 800,000 years, the carbon dioxide level has also increased and decreased; but at no time has the carbon dioxide level ever surpassed 300 parts/million.  Until 1950.  The amount of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere today, given by NASA, is 419 parts/million.  (See the chart and related information for yourself at https://climate.nasa.gov/evidence/.)  The seven hottest years in human history have been the last seven:  again, the more carbon dioxide in the atmosphere, the hotter the planet.

It is these cumulative changes that have affected the atmosphere and the planet—and those of us living here.  Our climate in now unstable.  After all, it’s 54 degrees in Northwest Indiana today.

We need to have a society-wide and world-wide discussion on how we humans can respond.  We must stop emitting greenhouse gases into the atmosphere, and we must try to remove carbon dioxide that’s already there.  Either we do this, or our descendants, animals and most plants will die.  And in the not-to-distant future.

—

Kim Scipes, PhD, is a Professor Emeritus of Sociology at Purdue University Northwest in Westville, IN.  He has been teaching a course on “Environment and Social Justice” since 2006.  He can be contacted at kscipes@pnw.edu, and is willing to speak on these issues to social, religious and community groups throughout the Region.  The opinions are the writer’s.

https://science.nasa.gov/climate-change/evidence

If you scroll down on this page, you will see over 800,000 years (really!) of research on heating and cooling of the planet.  What you see is that for over 800,000 years, the carbon dioxide (CO2) component of the atmosphere has never exceeded 300 ppm (parts per million).  Carbon dioxide and equivalent gasses attack our atmosphere, weakening its protection from the Sun; it has been this protection has provided a stable climate on Earth for the past 11,700 years.

By using oil, natural gas, and coal–collectively known as “fossil fuels”–to provide energy for us, when they burn, they cause “greenhouse gasses”–such as carbon dioxide (CO2), methane (CH4), nitrous oxides (NOX) and water vapor–and these greenhouse gasses attack the atmosphere, weakening it and the protection it gives us and the planet.

As of April 23, 2024, according to NASA, the CO2 component of the atmosphere is 425 ppm.  It is this attack on the atmosphere that is causing climate change, leading to an unstable climate that is causing ice to melt in Artic and Antarctic, which in turn is intensifying hurricanes and typhoons, increasing the amount of flooding and draught, causing the oceans to rise, etc.  These problems, in turn, create health problems for humans, especially the very young and very old, and especially as temperatures increase.

We ignore these warnings at our own risk.

For latest NASA findings related to the warming of the plant, go to “2023 Was Hottest Year on Record” at NASA Analysis Confirms 2023 as Warmest Year on Record – NASA.

Areas of Specific Interests

Focus on INDIANA:

2024.  Rosane, Olivia.  “‘Sirens Are Blaring’:  WMO [World Metropolitan Organization] Says 2023 Shattered Key Climate Metrics.”  Common Dreams, March 19.

2024.  “What is Climate Change?”  This is a compilation of latest understanding of climate change by Dr. Tony Nielson, PhD, in Environmental Humanities at the University of Glasgow, Scotland.  Well worth a look!

2023. Campanale, Mark and Pip Wheaton. “We’re Living Through a Carbon Bubble:  Here’s What We Can Do About It.” Forbes, March 26, 2021.  NOTE:  This article was originally published in 2021, but I just found it today.  This was published in Forbes, a business magazine.  Its importance is such that I felt worth republishing:  we must stop burning fossil fuels because they are emitting greenhouse gases, which are attacking our atmosphere, the only thing protecting humans, animals and most plants from increasing solar energy from the Sun.

2023.  Conley, Julia.  “‘It Doesn’t Have to Be this Way’: Major Plastics Fire Triggers Toxic Fear in Indiana.” Common Dreams, April 12.

2023.  Lydersen, Kari.  “EPA Coal Ash Settlement Raises Hope for Cleanup Along Lake Michigan and Beyond.” Energy News Network, March 1.

2023.  Scipes, Kim. “Climate change is real and it’s happening now.” Northwest Indiana Times, January 8.  (Posted above in section titled “Basic Understanding of Climate Change.”)

2023. DeVore, Molly.  “Region’s Resilience:  Greenhouse Gas Inventory Illustrates Industry’s Impact on NWI, Workers to Engage Local Communities in Solution.”  Northwest Indiana Times, updated January 7 (originally October 16, 2022).

2022.  “What’s Happening Along Lake Michigan?”  A collection of items by a local organization called Just Transition Northwest Indiana about issues effecting Lake Michigan in Northwest Indiana, with a particular interest in coal ash.

2022.  DeVore, Molly. “Cleaning the Calumet: Efforts to Remediate Grand Calumet River Continue with New Project.” Northwest Indiana Times, November 6.

2022.  Gopalakrishnan, Sruthi. “Coal Ash 101:  Everything You Need to Know About this Toxic Waste.” Great Lakes Now, September 13.

2022.  Leane, Diana and Sarah Ale.  “Leaking Landfills:  Unregulated Coal Ash Poses a Buried, Brewing Threat to Lake Michigan and Beyond, New Lawsuit Says.”  Great Lakes Now, August 25.

2022.  Edwards, Beth. “Northern Indiana Residents Doubt Outcome of Coal Ash Cleanup.”  Great Lakes Now, April 25.

2022. Bowman, Sarah. “New Report Finds Indiana Has the Most Dirty Waterways in the US:  Agriculture is the Main Culprit.” Indianapolis Star, March 24.

2022.  Dolan, Bill. “Indiana’s Waters, Though Cleaner, Are Still the Worst, Environmental Groups Say.” Northwest Indiana Times, March 18.

2021.  Lydersen, Kari. “Amid a Statewide Coal Ash Crisis, Indiana Residents Demand a Complete Cleanup at Lakeside Plant.”  Energy News Network, July 14.

2019.  Environmental Protection Agency.  “EPA Announces a $26 Million Cleanup of Grand Calumet River in Northwest Indiana.” May 20.

2019.  Houser, Matthew.  “How Many Americans Believe in Climate Change?  Probably more than you think, research in Indiana suggests.”  The Conversation, September 5.  (This article provided by PNW graduate student Kayla Vasilko.)

2018.  Indiana Climate Change Impacts Assessment (IN CCIA).  “Indiana’s Past & Future Climate:  A Report from the Indiana Climate Change Impacts Assessment.”  March.

This is from Purdue University’s Department of Agriculture, and is EXCELLENT.  Excellent, understandable data, clearly presented.  Really gives a detailed portrait of the impact of climate change on Indiana’s present and future, with excellent comparison to past climate situations.  Only problem for today is that this is from 2018 and earlier, and the seven hottest years on the planet have taken place mostly since then, so this under-reports things for today.  Still, an excellent job.  We are trying to find if there have been subsequent reports, and will update as we find them.  (This site provided by PNW student Kaitlyn Vasilko.)

2018. Mikiti, Ilah, Adam F. Benson, Thomas J. Luben, Jason D. Sachs, and Jennifer Richmond-Bryant. “Disparities in Distribution of Particular Matter Emission Sources by Race and Poverty Status.” American Journal of Public Health, Vol. 108, No. 4, April  480-485.  DOI: 10.2105/AJPH.2017.304297.

Focus on UNITED STATES:

2024.  Erdenesanaa, Delger.  “Places Moving Quickly to Turn Back Climate Change.”  New York Times, April 23: A-4.

2024.  Bhatia, Aatish.  “Carbon Dioxide Levels Have Passed a New Milestone.”  New York Times, April 20.

2024.  Rosane, Olivia.  “‘Sirens Are Blaring’:  WMO [World Metropolitan Organization] Says 2023 Shattered Key Climate Metrics.”  Common Dreams, March 19.

2024.  Plumer, Brad and Nadia Popovich.  “A New Surge in Power Use is Threatening US Climate Goals.”  New York Times, March 14.E

2024.  Porritt, Jonathon.  “Mainstream Climate Science:  The New Denialism?” JonathonPorritt.com, March 7.

2024.  Nielsen, Tony.  “What is Climate Change?”  This is a compilation of latest understanding of climate change by Dr. Tony Nielson, PhD, in Environmental Humanities at the University of Glasgow, Scotland.  Well worth a look!

2024.  Wallace-Wells, David.  “How Hot Was It Last Year?” New York Times, January 17.

2024. Bardan, Roxana. “NASA Analysis Confirms 2023 as Warmest Year on Record.” NASA, January 12.

2024. Erdenesanaa, Delger.  “Climate Change is Driving a Sharp Drop in Snow Levels, Study Finds.” New York Times, January 10.

2024.  Zhong, Raymond and Keith Collins.  “See How 2023 Shattered Records to Become the Hottest Year.” New York Times, January 9.

2023.  Zhong, Raymond. “Earth was Due For a Hot Year, But This Hot?” New York Times, December 29: A-1, A-6.

2023.  Ngo, Madeleine. “Electric Vehicle Network is Years Away.” New York Times, December 27:  B-1, B-4.

2023. Erdenesanaa, Delger. “Global Fossil Fuel Emissions Are Still Rising, Report Finds.” New York Times, December 5: A-10.

2023.  Plumer, Brad and Nadia Popovich. “Where the World Is (and Isn’t) Making Progress on Climate Change.” New York Times, December 4: A-8.

2023.  Bearak, Max, Dianne Searcey, and Mira Rojanasakul.  “Promise of Corn-Powered Jets Undercut by Water Supply Perils.” New York Times, December 1: A-1, A-14.

2023.  Smith, Haley and Ian James.  “Six Takeaways from the US Climate Report.” Los Angeles Times, November 14.

2023.  “5th National Climate Change Assessment.” Released by US Department of Agriculture, November 14.

2023.  Carter, Peter.  “Climate Emergency Update, September 2023:  Biosphere Collapse.“ A 26-minute video with extensive data and explanations.  Among other things, argues that he heat of the oceans is rising as equivalent of 10 Hiroshima bombs PER SECOND are being exploded in oceans.

2023. Anthes, Emily. “How Megafires are Remaking the World.” New York Times, October 15.

2023.  Victor, David G. and Veerabhadran Ramaathan. “Don’t Focus Only on Emissions.” Los Angeles Times, October 15.

2023. Hausfather, Zeke. 2023. “I Study Climate Change.  The Data Is Telling Us Something New.” New York Times, October 13.

2023.  Edmonds, Colby. “Heat Waves, High Water, Hurricanes:  Schools Are Not Ready for Climate Change.” New York Times, October 13.

2023. Popovich, Nadja and Adam Pearce. “It’s Not Your Imagination:  Summers Are Getting Hotter.” New York Times, October 7.

2023. Messersmith-Glavin, Paul. “Any Antidote to Climate Anxiety Involves Organizing.” Z Network, October 7.

2023. Weiland, Noah. “Soaring Temperatures Are Taking a Toll on Workers.” New York Times, October 6: A-11.

2023. Rosane, Olivia. “Pope Francis Urges Climate Action as World Nears ‘Breaking Point’.” Common Dreams, October 4.

2023. Rosane, Olivia. “‘Absolutely Gobsmackingly Bananas’: Early Data Shows September 2023 Hottest on Record.” Common Dreams, October 3.

2023. Fitz, Don.  “Degrowth:  How Anti-worker Would It Be?” Green Social Thought, October 3.

2023.  Tabuchi, Hiroko and Blacki Migliozzi.  “Seeking Oil, ‘Monster Fracks’ Grow Thirstier Yet.” New York Times, September 27: A-1.

2023.  Goodman, J. David. “Texans Pay High Prices to Preserve Power Grid” New York Times, September 27: A-9.

2023. Davenport, Coral. “Biden Compels Federal Agencies to Factor Climate Change into Budgets.” New York Times, September 22: A-14.

2023.  Erdenesanaa, Delger. “Hottest August on Record Caps a Scorching Summer.” New York Times, September 22: A-14.

2023. Sengupta, Somini. “UN Chief Implores Leaders to Improve on Climate.” New York Times, September 20: A-11.

2023. Millet, Lydia.  Opinion. “America Still Stands in the Way of Solving Climate Change.” New York Times, September 20: a-26.

2023. Davenport, Coral. “Biden Plans a Crackdown on Industries’ Emissions” [if he wins a second term].  New York Times, September 18: A-1.

2023. Sengupta, Somini, Hilary Howard and Delger Erdenesenao. “Fingers Pointed at President; Protesters Demand End to Fossil Fuels,” New York Times, September 18: A-19.

2023. Tankersley, Jim. “Climate Law is Reshaping Investment in the US.” New York Times, September 18: B1.

2023. Conley, Julia. “NOAA [National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration-KS] Finds Carbon Concentrations Highest in 800,000 Years as Sea Level Rise Hits Record.” Common Dreams, September 7.

2023. Conley, Julia. “‘Climate Breakdown Has Begun’: Summer of 2023 Was Hottest Ever Recorded.” Common Dreams, September 6.

2023. Bogage, Jacob. “Home Insurers Cut Natural Disasters from Policies as Climate Risks Grow.” Washington Post, September 3.

2023. Searcy, Dionne and Mira Rajanasakul. “Big Farms and Flawless Fries are Gulping Water in the Land of 10,000 Lakes.” New York Times, September 3.

2023. Trimble, Stephen. Opinion. “The Atomic Bomb Laid Down the Marker for Humanity’s Era of Catastrophic Change.” Los Angeles Times, September 3.

2023. Reese, Phillip. “Heat Related Fatalities Keep Rising.” Los Angeles Times, September 2.

2023. Conley, Julia. “Biden’s Infrastructure Report Pushes ‘Disastrous Water Privatization Schemes,’ Watchdog Says.”  Common Dreams, September 2.

2023. Briscoe, Tony. “Study Ties Dementia Risk to Pollution Exposure.” Los Angeles Times, August 31.

2023. Johnson, Jake. “Global Air Pollution is Cutting More Than 2 Years Off Average Human Life Expectancy:  Report.” Common Dreams, August 29.

2023. Borenstein, Seth. “Study:  Corporate Carbon Damages Likely in Trillions.” Associated Press, August 29.

2023. Dean, Sam. “Farmers Insurance Lays Off 2,400 Workers as Insurers Pullback from California.” Los Angeles Times, August 29.

2023. Orenstein, Carmi, ed. “The Rippling Effect:  Climate Change and Our Water Cycle.” Science and Environmental Health Network (SEHN), August 29.

2023. Rojanaskul, Mia, Christopher Flavelle, Backi Migliozzi, and Eli Murray. “America is Using Up Its Groundwater Like There’s No Tomorrow.” New York Times, August 28.

2023. James, Ian. “Debate Grows Over a Reservoir’s Emissions.” Los Angeles Times, August 28.

2023. Conley, Julia. “UN Affirms Climate Change Threatens Children’s Rights, Potentially Bolstering Youth-led Lawsuits.” Common Dreams, August 28.

2023. Nilsen, Ella. “As Young Conservatives Try to Get Climate on the Agenda in 2024, Denial Takes Spotlight Instead.” CNN, August 26.

2025. Wilkins, Brent. “Thousands Evacuated After Chemical Leak and Massive Fire at ‘Cancer Alley’ Oil Refinery.” Common Dreams, August 25.

2023. Conley, Julia. “US Billboard Campaign Blasts Fossil Fuel Giants for Causing Extreme Heat.” Common Dreams, August 24.

2023. Flitter, Emily. “Niche Industry Upends Disaster Insurance.” New York Times, August 22.

2023. Sengupta, Somini. “Extreme August Arrives with a Warning:  Expect More.” New York Times, August 22: A-1.

2023. Smith, Mitch, Lauryn Higgins, and Ann Hinga Klein. “Central US Swelters Under Heat Dome, Forcing Cancellations and Precautions.” New York Times, August 22.

2023. Gelles, David. “With TikTok and Lawsuits, Gen Z Takes on Climate Change.” New York Times, August 21.

2023. Arango, Tim, Jack Healy, and Damien Cave. “Maui Knew Dangerous Wildfires Had Become Inevitable.  It Still Wasn’t Ready.” New York Times, August 21.

2023. Tempest Williams, Terry. “47 Days in Extreme Heat and You Begin to Notice Things.” New York Times, August 18.

2023. James, Ian. “Colorado River Basin Among Most Water-stressed.” Los Angeles Times, August 17.

2023. Campanale, Mark and Pip Wheaton. “We’re Living Through a Carbon Bubble:  Here’s What We Can Do About It.” Forbes, March 26, 2021.  NOTE:  This article was originally published in 2021, but I just found it today.  This was published in Forbes, a business magazine.  Its importance is such that I felt worth republishing:  we must stop burning fossil fuels because they are emitting greenhouse gases, which are attacking our atmosphere, the only thing protecting humans, animals and most plants from increasing solar energy from the Sun.

2023. Pare, Sarcha. “We Could Be in a 16 Years into a Methane-fueled ‘termination’ Event Significant Enough to End in an Ice Age.” Live Science, August 16.

2023. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA). “It’s Official: July Was the Hottest Month on Record.” NOAA, August 13.

2023. Nyad, Diana. Opinion, Guest Column: “What It’s Like to Swin in an Ocean That’s 100 Degrees.” New York Times, August 14.

2023.  Los Angeles Times Editorial Board. “Editorial:  Say Goodbye to Grass That’s Only There for Looks.  California Can’t Afford to Waste Water.” Los Angeles Times, August 13.

2023. Hiltzik, Michael. Column. “Employers and Government Aren’t 202Protecting Workes from Extreme Heat. Unions Might.” Los Angeles Times, August 13.

2023. Cook, Jonathan. “Climate Change: Why Action on the Crisis is All Hot Air.” Z Network, August 12.  This is an excellent overview of many concerted actions by business and governments around the world to keep people from confronting the depths of the current climate crisis, which we ignore to our increasing peril.

2023. Mandivilli, Apoorva. “The Extreme Heat May Be Getting to Your Head:  Uncovering the Effects of Climate Change on Mental Health.” New York Times, August 10:  A-1.

2023. Sullman, Adela and Ellen Frances. “Climate Change May Worsen Spread of West Nile Virus:  What to Know.” Washington Post, August 10.

2023. Fuller, Thomas. “Maui Town is Devastated by Deadliest Wildfire to Strike Hawaii.” New York Times, updated August 10.

2023. Chapman, Michelle. “Unprecedented Damage from Storms is Upending the Insurance Industry.” Los Angeles Times, August 10.

2023. Smith, Dana. “What Extreme Heat Does to Your Body.”  New York Times, August 9.

2023. Wilkens, Brett. “Report Details How Big Ag Overexploitation is ‘Draining the Colorado River Dry’.” Common Dreams., August 8.

2023. Corbett, Jessica. “Sanders Aims to Convince Fox News Readers Climate Action ‘Is a Moral Responsibility’.” Common Dreams, August 8.

2023. Corbett, Jessica.  “A Record 15 Billion-Dollar Disasters Have Hit US So Far This Year:  NOAA” (US National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration).  Common Dreams, August 8.

2023. Krugman, Paul.  “Climate is Now a Culture War Issue.” New York Times, August 8: A-21.

2023. McKibben, Bill. “Instead of Moving to Escape Climate Chaos, Build Social Trust Where You Are.” Z Network, August 6.

2023.  Stokes, Leah C. Opinion:  “Carbon Hypocrisy by Southern California Edison.” Los Angeles Times, August 5.

2023.  Los Angeles Times Editorial Board. Opinion:  “Heat Waves Are Disasters, Like Hurricanes and Floods.” Los Angeles Times, August 3.

2023.  Herrera, Jack. “Her Bedroom was 100 Degrees During Phoenix Heat Wave–and her A/C was Out.”  Los Angeles Times, August 3.

2023.  Engelhardt, Tom.  “Me First.”  Tom Dispatch, August 3.

2023.  Healy, Jack.  “Phoenix’s Month in Hell:  31 Days of Extreme Heat Tests a City.”  New York Times, August 1: A-10.

2023.  Davenport, Coral. “Extreme Heat is Costly Drain on Productivity.” New York Times, July 31:  A-1.

2023.  Einhorn, Catrin.  “A Desperate Push to Save Florida’s Coral:  Get It Out of the Sea.” New York Times, July 31.

2023.  Bosman, Julie. “Blistering Heat and Wildfire Smoke Spread Misery Across the Midwest.” New York Times, July 27.

2023.  Harrison Warren, Tish.  “Heat Deaths Aren’t Just About Temperature.”  Opinion piece, New York Times, July 26: A-19.

2023.  Salzman, Avi. “America’s Bet on Wind Power Is Running into a Big Problem.” Barron’s, July 21.

2023.  Roth Sammy.  “Boiling Point:  This Heat is Not Normal.”  Los Angeles Times, July 18.

2023. Healy, Jack. “In Phoenix, Heat Becomes a Brutal Test of Endurance.” New York Times, July 11.

2023.  Levenson, Michael. “Heat Wave and Blackout Would Send Half of Phoenix to ER, Study Says.” New York Times, May 24.

2023.  James, Ian. “7 States Reach a Deal to Cut Water Use.” Los Angeles Times, May 23.  (See also “Plan Goes with California’s Flow” (A-1) and Editorial, “Water Deal is Only a Temporary Reprieve” (A-10).

2023. Flavelle, Christopher.  “To Save a River, 3 States Agree to Curtain Use.” New York Times, May 23.

2023. James, Ian. “Breakthrough Colorado River Deal Reached, Outlining Big Water Cuts for Three Years.” Los Angeles Times, May 22.

2023.  “Sociology:  Guide to Analysis or to Action in the Global Climate Change Crisis?  A Call for Action by the Social Sciences and the Humanities.” Class, Race and Corporate Power, Perspectives Section (not peer-reviewed):  April.

2023.  Cole, Juan. “Glaciers in Swiss Alps Lost 6% of Mass Last Year, as Climate Emergency Brings Brutal Heath Waves.” Z Network, April 23.

2023. Tabuchi, Hiroko.  “Toxic Chemicals Crisscross US as Rail Freight.” New York Times, April 18, A-1, A-9.

2023. Zhong, Raymond. “One Thing Those Spines Won’t Protect Them Against:  Climate Change.” New York Times, April 15: 17.

2023.  Flavelle, Christopher. “Biden Administration Proposes Evenly Cutting Water Allotments for Colorado River.” New York Times, April 12: A-1, A-14.

2023.  Stancil, Kenny.  “Biden’s Colorado River Plan Fails to Address ‘Abuse’ of Water by Big Ag and Big Oil:  Watchdog.”  Common Dreams, April 12.

2023.  Dance, Gabriel JX. “Bitcoin Devours Energy, and Others Pay a Price.” New York Times, April 11.

2023.  Conley, Julia. “‘Abnormal’ Sea Level Rise in US South Making Hurricanes More Devastating, Study Shows.” Common Dreams, April 10.

2023.  Sanders, Monica, interviewer.  “How Wendy Nystrom of Environmental Social Justice is Helping Promote Sustainability and Climate Justice.” Authority Magazine, April 9.

2023.  Conley, Julia.  “Potent Heat-Trapping Methane Emissions Saw 4th Largest Annual Increase in 2022, NOAA.” Common Dreams, April 7.

2023. Tempest Williams, Terry. Opinion. “I Am Haunted by What I’ve Seen at the Great Salt Lake.” New York Times, March 25.

2023. Maharidge, Dale. Opinion.  “The Colorado River is Running Dry, But Nobody Wants to Talk About the Mud.” New York Times, March 24.

2023.  Gray, Bryce and Josh Renaud. “Floods are Getting More Severe and Frequent Around St. Louis.  Here’s Why.” St. Louis Post-Dispatch, March 18.

2023.  Greenhouse, Steven.  “How Rising Temperatures Are Becoming a Labor Story.” Z Network, February 3.

2023.  Higuera, Philip, Jennifer Balch, Maxwell Cook, and Natasha Stavross.  “Western wildfires destroyed 246% more homes and buildings over the past decade–fire scientists explain what’s changing.”  The Conversation, February 1.

2023.  Los Angeles Times Staff.  “Colorado River is Overused and Shrinking:  Inside the Crisis Transforming the Southwest.”  Los Angeles Times, January 26.

2023. Rojansakul, Mira, Elena Shao and Nadja Popovich. “Despite Rainstorms, California is Still in Drought.” New York Times, January 20: A-17.New

2023.  Tabuchi, Hiroko.  “Exxon Scientists Saw Global Warming, as Oil Giant Cast Doubt, Study Says.”  New York Times, January13: B-4.

2023.  Ottenberg, Eve and John Bellamy Foster. “Markers and Technology Won’t Solve Climate Crisis.  We Must End Capitalism.” Green Social Thought, January 2.

2023.  Smith, Adam. “2022 US billion-dollar weather and climate disasters in historical context.”  NOAA (National Oceanic Atmospheric Administration), Climate.gov.  January 10.  [Charts are taken from–and better viewed at NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information (NCEI) “U.S. Billion-Dollar Weather and Climate Disasters” (2023).]

From “US Billion-Dollar Weather and Climate Disasters”:

• Overview:

The U.S. has sustained 341 weather and climate disasters since 1980 where overall damages/costs reached or exceeded $1 billion (including CPI adjustment to 2022). The total cost of these 341 events exceeds $2.475 trillion.

• 2022 in Context…

In 2022, there were 18 weather/climate disaster events with losses exceeding $1 billion each to affect the United States. These events included 1 drought event, 1 flooding event, 11 severe storm events, 3 tropical cyclone events, 1 wildfire event, and 1 winter storm event. Overall, these events resulted in the deaths of 474 people and had significant economic effects on the areas impacted. The 1980–2022 annual average is 7.9 events (CPI-adjusted); the annual average for the most recent 5 years (2018–2022) is 17.8 events (CPI-adjusted).

2022.  Lipton, Eric.  “Motivated by Federal Aid, Utilities are Embracing Clean Energy.” New York Times, November 30: A-1

2022.  Engelhardt, Tom.  “Future Heat Wave?” Tom Dispatch, November 20.

2022.  Zhong, Raymond.  “Study Concludes Greenhouse Gas Emissions Made Summer Hotter and Drier.”  New York Times, October 6: A-13.

2022. DePillis, Lydia. “Recalculating on Climate.” New York Times, August 28: B-1, B-5.

2022.  Levenson, Michael. “Authorities Identify Remains Found in Parched Lake Mead.” New York Times. August 26: A-12.

2022. Shao, Elena. “Climate Change Added to Texas Flooding, Study Finds.” New York Times, August 26: A-13.

2022.  DeBuys, Williams. “New Mexico’s Megafires Mark a Turning Point.” Tom Dispatch, July 22.

2022. Zhong, Raymond. “Climate Change Raises Risk of Major Wildfires.” New York Times, February 23: A-6.

2022. Fountain, Henry. “How Bad is the Western Drought? Worst in 12 Centuries, Study Finds.” New York Times, February 14.

2021.  Flavelle, Christopher, Anne Barnard, Brad Plumer, and Michael Kimmelman.  “Overlapping Disasters Expose Harsh Reality:  The US is Not Ready.”  New York Times, October 26.

2021. Popovich, Madia, Luvia Albeck-Rypka and Kendra Pierre-Louis. “The Trump Administration Rolled Back More than 100 Environmental Lists.  Here’s the Full Count.” New York Times, January 20.

2020. Flavelle, Christopher. “Mankind’s Feats Place California at Climate Risk.” New York Times, September 21: A-1, A-15.

2020.  Fountain, Henry.  “The Arctic is Shifting to a New Climate Because of Global Warming.”  New York Times, September 14.

2020.  Flavelle, Christopher. “As Californians Flee Devouring Infernos, So Do Their Insurers.” New York Times, September 3: B-1, B-6.

2020.  E. Knickmeyer, C. Bussewitz, J. Flesher, M. Brown, and M. Casey. “Trump Administration Allows Thousands of Corporations to Bypass Environmental Rules.”  Associated Press/PBS, August 24.

2020.  Davenport, Carol. “EPA Weakens a Rule Regulating Methane, Even as Leaks are Worsening.” New York Times, August 14: A-24.

2020.  Flavelle, Chrisopher and Henry Fountain. “Pileup of Disasters Reflects Reality of Climate Change.”  New York Times, August 5: A-21.

2020.  Gillis, Justin. “When Utility Money Talks.” New York Times, August 3: A-21.

2020. Tabuchi, Hiroko. “Methane Emissions Hit a Record High in 2017.” New York Times, July 15: A-19.

2020.  Flavelle, Christopher.  “Climate Change is Transforming the Time-Honored Home Loan.” New York Times, June 20: A-21.

2020.  Flavelle, Christopher.  “Exposure to Pollution and Heat is Tied to Pregnancy Risks, Affects Black Mothers Most.” New York Times, June 19: A-24.

2020. Plumer, Brad and Nadia Popovich. “Fossil Fuel Emissions Come Roarding Back as the World Opens Up.” New York Times, June 18: A-6.

2020.  Tabuchi, Hiroko. “Virus Is Yet Another Deadly Risk in Shadows of US Smokestacks.” New York Times, May 18: A-1, A-8.

2020.  Friedman, Lisa.  “Study Finds a Link Between Air Pollution and Virus Deaths.”  New York Times, April 8: A-16.

2017.  “Executive Summary:  Highlights of the Findings of the US Global Change Research Program: Climate Science Special Report.”  Washington, DC:  US Global Change Research Program.  This is the official report of the US Government; a new one looks like it will be released in mid-2023, but this is the latest.  NOTE:  Things are much more definitive today (May 14, 2023) than when this report was published.

Focus on the rest of GLOBE and GLOBAL PROCESSES:

2024.  Hasnat, Saif and Mike Ives.  “Asia Heat Wave Bakes Millions, Disrupting Work and Agriculture.”  New York Times, April 23: A-4.

2024.  Bhatia, Aatish.  “Carbon Dioxide Levels Have Passed a New Milestone.”  New York Times, April 20.

2024.  Rosane, Olivia.  “‘Sirens Are Blaring’:  WMO [World Metropolitan Organization] Says 2023 Shattered Key Climate Metrics.”  Common Dreams, March 19.

2024.  Plumer, Brad and Nadia Popovich.  “A New Surge in Power Use is Threatening US Climate Goals.”  New York Times, March 14.

2024.  Porritt, Jonathon.  “Mainstream Climate Science:  The New Denialism?” JonathonPorritt.com, March 7.

2024.  Nielsen, Tony.  “What is Climate Change?”  This is a compilation of latest understanding of climate change by Dr. Tony Nielson, PhD, in Environmental Humanities at the University of Glasgow, Scotland.  Well worth a look!

2024.  Wallace-Wells, David.  “How Hot Was It Last Year?” New York Times, January 17.

2024. Bardan, Roxana. “NASA Analysis Confirms 2023 as Warmest Year on Record.” NASA, January 12.

2024. Erdenesanaa, Delger.  “Climate Change is Driving a Sharp Drop in Snow Levels, Study Finds.” New York Times, January 10.

2024.  Zhong, Raymond and Keith Collins.  “See How 2023 Shattered Records to Become the Hottest Year.” New York Times, January 9.

2023.  Zhong, Raymond. “Earth was Due For a Hot Year, But This Hot?” New York Times, December 29: A-1, A-6.

2023.  Ngo, Madeleine. “Electric Vehicle Network is Years Away.” New York Times, December 27:  B-1, B-4.

2023.  Erdenesanaa, Delger.  “Octopus DNA Shows Climate Change is Threatening West Antarctic Ice Sheet.” New York Times, December 22: A-11.

2023.  Gelles, David and Manuela Andreoni.  “The Year in Climate Culture.” New York Times, December 21.

2023.  Carter, Peter.  “Climate Emergency Update, September 2023:  Biosphere Collapse.“ A 26-minute video with extensive data and explanations.  Among other things, argues that he heat of the oceans is rising as equivalent of 10 Hiroshima bombs PER SECOND are being exploded in oceans.

2023. Anthes, Emily. “How Megafires are Remaking the World.” New York Times, October 15.

2023. Hausfather, Zeke. 2023. “I Study Climate Change.  The Data Is Telling Us Something New.” New York Times, October 13.

2023. Popovich, Nadja and Adam Pearce. “It’s Not Your Imagination:  Summers Are Getting Hotter.” New York Times, October 7.

2023. Conley, Julia.  “43 Million Children Forced From Homes Over Six Years Due to Climate Disorders.” Common Dreams, October 6.

2023. Rosane, Olivia. “Pope Francis Urges Climate Action as World Nears ‘Breaking Point’.” Common Dreams, October 4.

2023.  Erdenesanaa, Delger. “Hottest August on Record Caps a Scorching Summer.” New York Times, September 22: A-14.

2023. Sengupta, Somini. “UN Chief Implores Leaders to Improve on Climate.” New York Times, September 20: A-11.

2023. Zhuang, Yan. “Australian Region Sees ‘Catastrophic’ Fire Conditions.” New York Times, September 20: A-11.

2023.  Conley, Julia. “NOAA [National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration-KS] Finds Carbon Concentrations Highest in 800,000 Years as Sea Level Rise Hits Record.” Common Dreams, September 7.

2023. Conley, Julia. “‘Climate Breakdown Has Begun’: Summer of 2023 Was Hottest Ever Recorded.” Common Dreams, September 6.

2023. Conley, Julia. “‘Climate Breakdown Has Begun’: Summer of 2023 Was Hottest Ever Recorded.” Common Dreams, September 6.

2023. Rosane, Olivia. “‘This is Unprecedented’: Record-breaking Rain Brings Deadly Flooding to Greece, Turkey, Bulgaria.” Common Dreams, September 6.

2023. Rosane, Olivia. “‘The Reckoning’: 500 Groups Endorse March to End Fossil Fuels.” Common Dreams, September 5.

2023. Kitsantonis, Niki. “Warming Set the Stage for 2023. Canada’s Record Fires, Study Finds.” New York Times, August 23: A-10.

2023. Dzombak, Rebecca. “Damselfish in Distress:  Warmer Seas Might Be Clouding Their Brains.” New York Times, August 23: A-4.

2023. Stevis-Gridneff, Matina and Niki Kitsantonis. “Greece Battles Its Most Widespread Wildfires on Record.” New York Times, August 23: A-1.

2023. Sengupta, Somini. “Extreme August Arrives with a Warning:  Expect More.” New York Times, August 22: A-1.

2023. Tempest Williams, Terry. “47 Days in Extreme Heat and You Begin to Notice Things.” New York Times, August 18.

2023. James, Ian. “Colorado River Basin Among Most Water-stressed.” Los Angeles Times, August 17.

2023. Campanale, Mark and Pip Wheaton. “We’re Living Through a Carbon Bubble:  Here’s What We Can Do About It.” Forbes, March 26, 2021.  NOTE:  This article was originally published in 2021, but I just found it today.  This was published in Forbes, a business magazine.  Its importance is such that I felt worth republishing:  we must stop burning fossil fuels because they are emitting greenhouse gases, which are attacking our atmosphere, the only thing protecting humans, animals and most plants from increasing solar energy from the Sun.

2023. Pare, Sarcha. “We Could Be in a 16 Years into a Methane-fueled ‘termination’ Event Significant Enough to End in an Ice Age.” Live Science, August 16.

2023. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA). “It’s Official: July Was the Hottest Month on Record.” NOAA, August 13.

2023. Nyad, Diana. Opinion, Guest Column: “What It’s Like to Swin in an Ocean That’s 100 Degrees.” New York Times, August 14.

2023. Cook, Jonathan. “Climate Change: Why Action on the Crisis is All Hot Air.” Z Network, August 12.  This is an excellent overview of many concerted actions by business and governments around the world to keep people from confronting the depths of the current climate crisis, which we ignore to our increasing peril.

2023. Hiltzik, Michael. Column. “Employers and Government Aren’t Protecting Workes from Extreme Heat. Unions Might.” Los Angeles Times, August 13.

2023. Johnson, Jake. “Study Warns Buring Fossil Fuels ‘Anywhere in the World’ Is Destructive to Antarctica.” Common Dreams, August 8.

2023.  Erdenesanaa, Delger. “Researchers Tie July Heat Waves to Climate Change.” New York Times, July 25: A-6.

2023. Zhong, Raymond.  “Warming Could Push the Atlantic Past a ‘Tipping Point’ This Century.” New York Times, July 25.

2023.  Kitsantonis, Niki. “Wildfires on Greek Island Forces Thousands to Scramble for Refuge.” New York Times, July 24: A-4

2023.  Rowell, Andy.  “We Underestimated the Speed and Scale of the Climate Crisis, Scientists Warn.”  Oil Change International, July 21.

2023.  Mullany, Gary, Delger Erdenesanaa, and Aaron Boxerman.  “Around the Globe, Searing Heat with No Sign of Relief.” New York Times, July 21.

2023.  Noor, Dharna.  “Big Oil Quietly Walks Back Climate Pledges as Global Heat Records Tumble.” Guardian, July 21.

2023.  Keller, Richard C.  “Extreme Heat is Killing More People–And Worst is Yet to Come.” USA Today, July 21.

2023.  Riggio, Olivia.  “As Skies Turn Orange, Media Still Hesitates to Mention What’s Changing Climate.” FAIR (Fairness and Accuracy in Reporting), July 19.

2023. Hunziker, Robert. “The Greenland Threat Escalates.” Green Social Thought, July 14.

2023.  Edwards, Dave.  “‘I Hope to God I Am Wrong’-Climate Change Going Through the Roof.” Media Lens, July 6.

2023.  Hunziker, Robert.  “The Ocean Red Zone.” Green Social Thought, July 6.

2023.  Hunziker, Robert.  “Planetary Heat is Happening Fast, and Faster.” Green Social Thought, June 26.

2023.  Frederick, Franklin.  “Global Warming and Water Privatization.”  Green Social Thought, June 26.

2023.  Hunziker, Robert.  “France’s Global Warming Predicament.” Green Social Thought, June 17.

2023.  Plumer, Brad.  “Heat Will Likely Soar to Record Levels in Next 5 Years, Analysis Says.” New York Times, May 17.

2023.  Mukharji, Adit.  “After the Worst April-May, Indians and Pakistanis Must Demand These Urgent Climate Actions.” Z Network, May 16.

2023. Hunziker, Robert.  “The Ocean Heat Bomb Ignites.” Z Network, May 13.

2023.  Shao, Elena.  “Forecasters Say El Nino is Returning, Bringing Higher Global Temperatures.” New York Times, May 4: A-4.

2023.  Angus, Ian.  “Insect Apocalypse in the Anthropocene, Part I,” Z Network, April 30.

2023.  Angus, Ian.  “Insect Apocalypse in the Anthropocene, Part II.”  Z Network, April 30.

2023.  Angus, Ian.  “Insect Apocalypse in the Anthropocene, Part III.” Z Network, April 30.

2023.  Ricks, Jenny. “Pandemic and Climatic Crisis Usher in a New Age of Inequality.” Common Dreams, April 29.

2023. Conley, Julia. “Ocean Warming Study So Distressing, Some Scientists Didn’t Even Want to Talk About It.” Common Dreams, April 25.

2023.  Hunziker, Robert.  “Monster Heat Hits 1/3rd of World Population.” Countercurrents.org, April 25.

2023. Zhong, Raymond. “Here Are the Places Most at Risk from Record-Shattering Heat.” New York Times, April 25.

2023.  Hollam, Roger and Chris Hedges. “‘The System is Not Moving Fast Enough.” The Real News, April 24.

2023.  Hunziker, Robert. “El Nino Threatens Unparalleled Heatwaves.” Countercurrents.org, April 22.

2023.  Stancil, Kenny.  “With Climate Indicators ‘Off the Charts,’ UN Chief Calls Policies of Rich Nations a ‘Death Sentence’.” Common Dreams, April 21.

2023. Hunziker, Robert. “Ozone Troubles, Once Again. ” Green Social Thought, April 18.

2023.  Ogborn, Teddy.  “Can You Fight for Climate Justice Without Being Anti-war?” Countercurrents.org, April 15.

2023. Hunziker, Robert. “Disturbing Sea Level Studies.” Countercurrents.org, April 15.

2023.  Wilkins, Brett.  “Over 500 Creative Agencies Have Now Pledged Not to Work for Fossil Fuel Industry.” Common Dreams, April 13.

2023.  Zhong, Raymond.  “As World Warms, Droughts Come on Faster, Study Finds.”  New York Times, April 13.

2023.  James, Ian. “Federal Government Considers Major Water Cuts to Protect Colorado River.” Los Angeles Times, April 11.

2023.  Stancil, Kenny.  “‘Unsustainable Consumption’ by Rich Driving Urban Water Crises.” Common Dreams, April 11.

2023.  Nikiforuk, Andrew.  “The Rising Chorus of Renewable Energy Skeptics.” Z Network, April 10.  VERY IMPORTANT ARTICLE.

2023.  Stancil, Kenny.  “1,300+ Scientists Urge JP Morgan Shareholders to Vote for End to New Fossil Fuel Financing.”  Common Dreams, April 10.

2023. De Regil, Alvaro J. “The Unbearable Unawareness of Our Ecological Existential Crisis.” MR on line, April 8.

2023. Conley, Julia.  “Biden EPA Announces Power Plant Rules to Curb Mercury, Other Toxins.” Common Dreams, April 5.

2023. Stancil, Kenny.  “AprSays New Melting Study ‘Frankly Scary: Even to Me‘. Common Dreams, April 5.

2023. Einhorn, Catrin.  “A Fishing Ban Looks Certain as California Salmon Stocks Crash.” New York Times, April 4.

2023.  Gurtov, Mel. “The Climate Time Bomb.” Counterpunch, April 4.

2023. Corbett, Jessica.  “‘Incredibly Disturbing’ Docs Reveal Oil Giant Shell Knew More about Climate Impacts Even Earlier.” Common Dreams, April 3.

2023. Scipes, Kim. “Making Sense of the Latest IPCC Report (2023).” Z Network, April 3.

2023. Tigue, Kristoffer.  “Corporate Interests ‘Watered Down’ the Latest IPCC Climate Report, Investigations Find.” Z Network, April 2.

2023. Spratt, David. “IPCC [Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change-KS]: Separating the Science from the Politics?” Climate Code Red, March 30.

2023.  “Winters, Joseph.” “Immediate Action is Needed to Ensure a ‘Livable Future for All‘, UN Report Says.  Grist, March 20.

2023.  Rosane, Olivia. “This is the Make-or-Break Decade for Climate Action, IPCC Warns.  EcoWatch, March 20.  (INCLUDES LINK TO IPCC SUMMARY FOR POLICYMAKERS–read the report itself.

2023.  “Gauging Extremes in World’s Rainfall.  New York Times, March 20: A-4.

2023. Hunziker, Robert. “Amazon Rainforest Destabilizes the World.” Green Social Thought, March 18.

2023.  Patel, Kasha. “A Warmer World Causes Extreme Drought and Rain.  ‘Indisputable’ New Research Proves It.”  Washington Post, March 13.

2023.  Bennett, Paige. “Retailers With Highest Maritime Shipping Emissions Named in New Report.” EcoWatch, March 1.

2023. Hunziker, Robert. “Climate Code Red Analysis and Sea Level Warnings.” Green Social Thought, February 26.

2023.  Zhong, Raymond. “Climate Scientists Warn of a ‘Global Wildfire Crisis’.” New York Times, February 23.

2023.  Cozzi, Laura, Olivia Chen, and Hyeji Kim.  “The World’s Top 1% of Emitters Produce Over 1000 Times More C02 Than the Bottom 1%.” International Energy Agency, February 22.

2023. Berwin, Bob.  “Antarctic Researchers Report an Extraordinary Marine Heatwave That Could Threaten Antarctica’s Ice Shelves.” Inside Climate News, February 19.

2023.  Davenport, Carol. “How Climate Change is Making Tampons (and Lots of Other Stuff) More Expensive.” New York Times, February 18.

2023.  Stancil, Kenny.  “Pesticide Use and Climate Crisis Locked in ‘Vicious Cycle’ Backed by Polluting Industries.” Common Dreams, February 17.

2023. Peoples of the Global South.  “Manifesto for an Ecosocial Energy Transition from the Peoples of the South.” Foreign Policy in Focus, February 10.

2023. Rosane, Olivia. “Extreme Weather 101: Everything You Need to Know.” EcoWatch, February 7.

2023.  Berwin, Bob. “One of the World’s Coldest Places Is Now the Warmest it’s Been in 1,000 Years, Scientists Say.” Inside Climate News, January 22.

2023. Klare, Michael.  “Climate Change Will Supersede Everything:  The Pentagon’s Massive Intelligence Failure on China.” Tom Dispatch, January 22.

2023. Kelleher, Shannon. “Report Shows ‘Vicious Cycle” Between Pesticide Dependence and Climate Crisis.” Truthout, January 21.

2023. Hunziker, Robert. “The Invisible Global Heat Danger Zone.” Green Social Thought, January 19.

2023. Drugmand, Dana. “New Report Highlights Pesticides’ Overlooked Climate Connection.” DeSmog, January 17.

2023. Cole, Juan. “Oceans Heating Up as Though We Were Constantly Blowing up Atomic Bombs in Them.” ZNetwork, January 15.

2023. Stancil, Kenny. “Stop ‘Caving to Fossil Fuel Industry’, Experts Say.” Common Dreams, January 13.

2023.  Berwin, Bob. “Scientists Report a Dramatic Drop in the Extent of Antarctic Sea Ice.” Inside Climate News, January 8.

2023. Stancil, Kenny. “Oxford Study Warms Extreme Heat and Drought to Hit 90% of World Population.” Common Dreams, January 6.

2023.  Ottenberg, Eve and John Bellamy Foster. “Markers and Technology Won’t Solve Climate Crisis.  We Must End Capitalism.” Green Social Thought, January 2.

2023. Weisbrod, Katelyn. “Snapshots, Hotshots and Moonshots:  Images of Climate Change in 2022.” Z Network, January 1.

2023.  Ottenberg, Eve and John Bellamy Foster. “Markets and Technology Won’t Solve Climate Crisis:  We Must End Capitalism.” Truthout, January 1.

2023.  Chambers, Bala. “Environmental Defenders Join Forces Across Argentina to Stop Mining Boom.” Waging Nonviolence, January.

2022.  Levy, S.R., Sternisko, A., Walker, P., Okorodudu, C., Ragin, D.F., Cook, H., Livert, D., Ryan, M., and Mancoll, S. “Following COP27, as the World’s Nations Enter 2023, SPSSI Urges Tangible Progress to Remedy Climate Injustice.” Society for the Psychological Study of Social Issues (SPSSI), December 20.

2022.  Osaka, Shannon.  “Scientists Thought Carbon Emissions Had Peaked; They’ve Never Been Higher.”  Washington Post, December 5.

2022.  Chung, Christine.  “UN Mission Warns of Risks to Great Barrier Reef.” New York Times, November 30.

2022.  Rubin, Alison J., Ben Hubbard, Josh Holder, Noah Throop, Emily Rhyne, Jeremy White, James Glanz, and Josh Williams. “Extreme Heat Will Change Us.” New York Times, November 25: A-8.

2022.  United Nations Human Rights.  “Global Climate Crisis is a Racial Justice Crisis:  UN Expert.”  October 31.

2022.  Ripple, William J., Christopher Wolfe, Jillian W. Gregg, Kelly Levin, John Rockstrom, Thomas M. Newsome, Matthew G. Bettson, Saleemul Huq, Beverly E. Law, Luke Kemp, Peter Kalmus, and Timothy M. Lenton.  “World Scientists’ Warning of a Climate Emergency, 2022.” BioScience, Vol. 72, No. 12: 1149-1155.

2022. Plumer, Brad and Henry Fountain. “A Hotter Future is Certain, Climate Panel Warns, But How Hot is Up to Us.” New York Times, updated November 11.

2022.  Zhong, Raymond.  “Study Concludes Greenhouse Gas Emissions Made Summer Hotter and Drier.”  New York Times, October 6: A-13.

2022. Fountain, Henry. “Methane Might Be a Bigger Climate Problem Than Thought, Study Says.” New York Times, September 29.

2022.  Shao, Elena, Nadja Popovich, And Mira Rojanasakul.  “How Hurricane Ian Became So Powerful.” New York Times, September 27.

2022. Horowitz, Jason. “Lakes and Rivers Dry Up in a Roasting Europe.” New York Times, August 19: A-1, A-5.

2022.  Mashal, Mujib and Hart Kumar.  “Floods and Heat Waves Jolt India’s Food Supply.”  New York Times, June 15: A-4.

2022. Popovich, Nadia and Tim Wallace.  “A ‘Perfect Recipe for Extreme Wildfire’ in New Mexico.” June 3: A-1, A-13.

2022. Stancil, Kenny.  “Rebellious Climate Scientists Have Message for Humanity: Mobilize, Mobilize, Mobilize.” Common Dreams, April 8.

2022. Zhong, Raymond. “Climate Scientists Warn of a ‘Global Wildfire Crisis’.” New York Times, February 22.

2022. Fountain, Henry. “Seen from Space:  Huge Methane Leaks.”  New York Times, February 4.

2021. Jaeger, Joel. “Climate-friendly Investments Can Create More Jobs Per Dollar than Polluting Alternatives.” World Resources Institute, October 18.

2021.  Ripple, William J., Christopher Wolf, Thomas M. Newsome, Jillian W. Gregg, Timothy M. Lenton, Ignacio Palomo, Jasper A. Eikelboom, Beverly E. Law, Saleeemul Huq, Philip B. Duffy, and Johan Rockstrom.  “World Scientists’ Warning of a Climate Emergency, 2021.” BioScience, Volume 71, Issue 9, September: 894–898,

2021. Countercurrents Collective. “GHG Concentrations, Sea levels, and Ocean Heat Hit Record Highs in 2021.” Countercurrents.org, September 1.

2021. Schultz, Isaac. “Ground Temperature Hits 118 Degrees in the Arctic Circle.” Gizmodo, June 22.

2020.  Plumer, Brad and Nadia Popovich. “Fossil Fuel Emissions Come Roaring Back as the World Opens Up.” New York Times, June 18: A-6.

2019. Jamail, Dahr. “Tomgram:  Dahr Jamail, Dealing with Climate PTSD.” Tom Dispatch: December 8.

2015.  Levy, Barry S. and Jonathan A. Patz.  “Climate Change, Human Rights and Social Justice.” Annual Global Health, Vol. 81, No. 3: 310-322.

2013.  “Lost in Translation:  Confidence and Certainty in Climate Science.” The Conversation, August 22.

Focus on Specific Issues

Health

2024.  Hasnat, Saif and Mike Ives.  “Asia Heat Wave Bakes Millions, Disrupting Work and Agriculture.”  New York Times, April 23: A-4.

2024.  Bhatia, Aatish.  “Carbon Dioxide Levels Have Passed a New Milestone.”  New York Times, April 20.

2023. Reese, Phillip. “Heat Related Fatalities Keep Rising.” Los Angeles Times, September 2.

2023. Briscoe, Tony. “Study Ties Dementia Risk to Pollution Exposure.” Los Angeles Times, August 31.

2023. Johnson, Jake. “Global Air Pollution is Cutting More Than 2 Years Off Average Human Life Expectancy:  Report.” Common Dreams, August 29.

2023. Tempest Williams, Terry.  Opinion. “47 Days in Extreme Heat and You Begin to Notice Things.” New York Times, August 18.

2023. Hiltzik, Michael. Column. “Employers and Government Aren’t Protecting Workes from Extreme Heat. Unions Might.” Los Angeles Times, August 13.

2023. Mandivilli, Apoorva. “The Extreme Heat May Be Getting to Your Head:  Uncovering the Effects of Climate Change on Mental Health.” New York Times, August 10:  A-1.

2023. Sullman, Adela and Ellen Frances. “Climate Change May Worsen Spread of West Nile Virus:  What to Know.” Washington Post, August 10.

2023. Smith, Dana. “What Extreme Heat Does to Your Body.”  New York Times, August 9.

2023. Healy, Jack. “In Phoenix, Heat Becomes a Brutal Test of Endurance.” New York Times, July 11.

2023.  Levenson, Michael. “Heat Wave and Blackout Would Send Half of Phoenix to ER, Study Says.” New York Times, May 24.

2023.  Szaro, Liz.  “Study Reveals Enormous Toll of Being Black in the US:  Higher mortality rate has led to 1.65 million excess deaths relative to white Americans over two decades” (1999-2020).  Los Angeles Times, May 17.

2023.  Corbett, Jessica.  “Study Ties Long-Term Air Pollution Exposure to Higher Heart Attack, Disease Risk.” Common Dreams, February 24.

2023.  Cimons, Marlene. “Sunny Highs to Shivering Cold:  Wild Weather Swings Take a Health Toll.” Washington Post, February 23.

2023.  Greenhouse, Steven.  “How Rising Temperatures Are Becoming a Labor Story.” Z Network, February 3.

2023. Stancil, Kenny. “Oxford Study Warms Extreme Heat and Drought to Hit 90% of World Population.” Common Dreams, January 6.

2020.  Flavelle, Christopher.  “Exposure to Pollution and Heat is Tied to Pregnancy Risks, Affects Black Mothers Most.” New York Times, June 19: A-24.

2020.  “Virus Is Yet Another Deadly Risk in Shadows of US Smokestacks.” New York Times, May 18: A-1, A-8.

2018. Mikiti, Ilah, Adam F. Benson, Thomas J. Luben, Jason D. Sachs, and Jennifer Richmond-Bryant. “Disparities in Distribution of Particular Matter Emission Sources by Race and Poverty Status.” American Journal of Public Health, Vol. 108, No. 4, April  480-485.  DOI: 10.2105/AJPH.2017.304297.

RACIAL JUSTICE

2023.  Szaro, Liz.  “Study Reveals Enormous Toll of Being Black in the US:  Higher mortality rate has led to 1.65 million excess deaths relative to white Americans over two decades” (1999-2020).  Los Angeles Times, May 17.

2023.  Burch, Audra D.S. and Eileen Guo. 2023.  “In Los Angeles, Black Residents Most at Risk in Major Floods.” New York Times, January 19:  A-12.

2022.  United Nations Human Rights.  “Global Climate Crisis is a Racial Justice Crisis:  UN Expert.”  October 31.

2018. Mikiti, Ilah, Adam F. Benson, Thomas J. Luben, Jason D. Sachs, and Jennifer Richmond-Bryant. “Dispartities in Distribution of Particular Matter Emission Sources by Race and Poverty Status.” American Journal of Public Health, Vol. 108, No. 4, April  480-485.  DOI: 10.2105/AJPH.2017.304297.

Southwestern United States, Colorado River Basin (special focus on Arizona, California, and Nevada)

2023. Tempest Williams, Terry. “47 Days in Extreme Heat and You Begin to Notice Things.” New York Times, August 18.

2023. James, Ian. “Colorado River Basin Among Most Water-stressed.” Los Angeles Times, August 17.

2023.  James, Ian. “7 States Reach a Deal to Cut Water Use.” Los Angeles Times, May 23.  (See also “Plan Goes with California’s Flow” (A-1) and Editorial, “Water Deal is Only a Temporary Reprieve” (A-10).

2023. Flavelle, Christopher.  “To Save a River, 3 States Agree to Curtain Use.” New York Times, May 23.

2023. James, Ian. “Breakthrough Colorado River Deal Reached, Outlining Big Water Cuts for Three Years.” Los Angeles Times, May 22.

2023.  Flavelle, Christopher. “Biden Administration Proposes Evenly Cutting Water Allotments for Colorado River.” New York Times, April 12.

2023.  Stancil, Kenny.  “Biden’s Colorado River Plan Fails to Address ‘Abuse’ of Water by Big Ag and Big Oil:  Watchdog.”  Common Dreams, April 12.

2023.  James, Ian. “Federal Government Considers Major Water Cuts to Protect Colorado River.” Los Angeles Times, April 11.

2023. Maharidge, Dale. Opinion.  “The Colorado River is Running Dry, But Nobody Wants to Talk About the Mud.” New York Times, March 24.

2023.  McEvoy, Dan. “Is the Western Drought Finally Ending?  That Depends on Where You Look.” The Conversation, March 16.

2023. Fountain, Henry. “The Salton Sea, an Accident of History, Faces a New Water Crisis.” New York Times, February 25.

2023. Wright, Pam. “Climate Change is Shrinking the Colorado River and It Will Only Get Worse, Scientists Say.” The Weather Channel, February 24.

2023.  Kaur, Anumita.  “Changes Needed to Save Second-Largest US Reservoir, Experts Say.” Washington Post, February 18.

2023. Partlow, Joshua.  “The Colorado River Drought Crisis:  How Did This Happen? Can It be Fixed?” Washington Post, February 5.

2023. Flavelle, Christopher.  “As the Colorado River Shrinks, Washington. Prepares to Spread the Pain.” New York Times, January 27.

2023. Los Angeles Times Staff. “Colorado River in Crisis: A Times Series on the Southwest’s Shrinking Water Lifeline.” Los Angeles Times Series. January 26.

2023. James, Ian.  “The River’s End:  Amid Colorado Water Cuts, Mexico Seeks to Restore its Lost Oasis.” Los Angeles Time, January 31.

2023. James, Ian. “‘A Living Spirit’: Native People Push for Changes to Protect the Colorado River.” Los Angeles Times, January 30.

2023. Hennessy-Fiske, Molly and Ian James.  “How Las Vegas Declared War on Thirsty Grass and Set an Example for the Desert Southwest.” Los Angeles Times, January 29.

2023. James, Ian. “Why Desert Golf Courses and Artificial Lakes Remain Untouched by the Colorado River Crisis.” Los Angeles Times, January 29.

2023. James, Ian. “In California’s Imperial Valley, Farmers Brace for a Future with Less Colorado River Water.” Los Angeles Times, January 27.

2023. James, Ian. “A River Guide’s View of Lake Powell’s Decline and the Depths of the Colorado River Crisis.” Los Angeles Times, January 26.

2023. James, Ian and Molly Hennessy-Fiske. “The Colorado River is Overused and Shrinking:  Inside the Crisis Transforming the Southwest.” Los Angeles Times, January 26.

2023. Healy, Jack. “Skipped Showers, Paper Plates:  An Arizona Suburb’s Water is Cut Off.”  New York Times, January 16.

2022. James, Ian. “In Arizona, Colorado Crisis Stokes Worry Over Growth and Groundwater Depletion.” Los Angeles Times, December 26.

2022.  Partlow, Joshua. “Disaster Scenario Raises the Stakes Seen at Colorado River Conference. Washington Post, December 17.

2022.  Partlow, Joshua. “Officials Fear ‘Complete Doomsday Scenario’ for Drought-Stricken Colorado River.” Washington Post, December 1.

2022.  Choi-Schagrin, Winston. “See How Far Water Levels in Lake Mead Have Fallen.” New York Times, July 22.

This was a student panel on Climate Change that was presented on December 8, 2022 at Purdue University Northwest at our Hammond, IN campus, with Zoom links to students at our campus in Westville, IN.

Panel was covered by regional newspaper, Northwest Indiana Times, which published a story by Molly DeVore, photographs by John Watkins, and a short video of my opening presentation.  Full coverage at https://www.nwitimes.com/news/local/lake/hammond/tackling-the-climate-crisis-at-home-purdue-northwest-students-discuss-climate-change-and-contamination-in/article_ac4710ac-9acf-562a-a2b2-84e7d0ad2f7d.html#tncms-source=login . December 12.  Finally posted on PNW’s web site at  https://www.pnw.edu/pnw-students-present-the-big-picture-on-climate-change/, December 19.

Rachael Taylor-SOC 404, December 2022:  “The Water Crisis in Northwest Indiana”

Peer-Reviewed Articles (in reverse order):

2022. “The Only Commonality is Uncommonality: Progressive Protest from the Mid-1980s, Globalization from Below, Environmental Devastation, Climate Change, and Questioning of Industrial Civilization.” Class, Race and Corporate Power, Vol. 10, No. 1, Article 4 (April).

2018. “Disaster Management in the Philippines: Media, Unions, and Humanitarian Action” in Robin Andersen and Purnaka L. de Silva, eds. The Routledge Companion to Media and Humanitarian Action.  New York and London:  Routledge: 321-328.

2017. “Addressing Seriously the Environmental Crisis: A Bold, ‘Outside the Box’ Suggestion for Addressing Climate Change and other Forms of Environmental Destruction.”  Class, Race and Corporate Power, Vol. 5, Issue 1, Article 2 (April).

Specialty Journals (NOT peer-reviewed):

RECENT PUBLICATIONS (SINCE FALL 2004–** MEANS PEER-REVIEWED ARTICLE; ++ MEANS PEER-REVIEWED JOURNAL)

• 2024.  “Review of Jason Hickel’s Less is More:  How Degrowth Will Save the World.”  Z Network, March 21.
• 2023. “Adam Aron’s The Climate Crisis:  Science, Impacts, Policy, Psychology, Justice, Social Movements. Z Network, December 26.
• 2023. “Organizing to Save the World:  Building Organizations from the Ground-up.” Green Social Thought, October 23.
• Sociology:  Guide to Analysis or to Action in the Global Climate Change Crisis?  A Call for Action by the Social Sciences and the Humanities.” Class, Race and Corporate Power, Perspectives Section (not peer-reviewed):  April.
• 2023. “The Growing Crisis of the Colorado River:  A Sign to Us All.”  Z Network, April 24.
• 2023. “Making Sense of the Latest IPCC Report (2023).” CommonDreams.org, April 4.
• 2023. “Climate change is real and is happening now.” Northwest Indiana Times, January 8:  B-1 and B 7.  On-line at https://www.nwitimes.com/opinion/columnists/guest-commentary/climate-change-is-real-and-it-is-now/article_faf5b79b-7748-51a4-80c3-8a20432a938c.html.  [NOTE:  Because the article is behind a paywall, I have posted the original article–for free–above on this page in section titled “Basic Understanding of Climate Change.”)
• 2018.  “Students to IDEM (Indiana Department of Environmental Management): Gary is Not a Dump; Our Education is More Important than a Dump!”  Substance, May 10.
• 2016.  “‘Houston, we’ve had a problem here’:  A Bold, ‘Outside the Box’ Suggestion for Addressing Climate Change and Other Forms of Environmental Destruction.”  Green Social Thought, December 11.
• 2008.  “It’s Time for a Deep Green Vision for the United States … and the World.”  Synthesis/Regeneration, No. 48, Winter 2008: 8-11.

 

Book Reviews:

Initiatives by PNW Faculty and/or Students:  uncertain whether they are continuing or not; please check

Purdue Northwest to host Environmental Science Summer Camp – Purdue University Northwest (pnw.edu)

Environmental Club – Student Life – Purdue University Northwest (pnw.edu)

Degree Program: Environmental Science Minor – Purdue University Northwest – Acalog ACMS™ (pnw.edu)

Water Institute Projects – Water Institute – Purdue University Northwest (pnw.edu)

–Local environmental organizations readers can get involved with

Journals/organizations/websites that focus on the environment (and often more):

— Climate Central.  This is an independent organization of scientists and journalists who provide accurate and accessible information on climate change and its impact, with a particular focus on sea level rise.

— Climate Feedback.  A network of scientists who review and provide feedback on media coverage of climate change and related issues, with the goal of promoting accuracy and avoid misinformation.

— Common Dreams. General resource, wide range of articles, occasionally on environment and related issues.

— Green Social Thought.  This journal published compelling news and analysis about the environment and social issues including development, war, food supply, etc., from a critical, left green perspective.

— Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change.  This UN body is the leading international organization for assessing the science related to climate change.

— Z Network.  General resource, wide range of articles, occasionally on environment and related issues.