The Biden Administration is pushing for Latinos to be better prepared for natural disasters and the effects of climate change.
Why it matters: A large percentage of Latinos live in the Southwest, where wildfires hit annually, and along hurricane-prone areas like Florida and North Carolina. But until a couple of years ago, the federal government didn't have enoughmaterials targeting Latinos about potential disasters.
New York City's new mandatory composting law could usher in an era when organic waste collection becomes commonplace in U.S. cities, just as its bottle and can recycling program sparked a nationwide movement after it passed in 1989.
Why it matters: Composting food and yard waste instead of burying it in landfills reduces methane emissions, which are a major contributor to climate change and are increasing.
The window for adhering to the Paris Agreement's 1.5-degree temperature target is narrow, but quick action before 2030 could help forestall potentially devastating climate change impacts, a new report finds.
Why it matters: The assessment, from the International Energy Agency, is likely to prove influential at the upcoming UN climate summit in Dubai later this year and in energy policy circles afterward.
Concern is increasing in New Orleans with every mile a wedge of salty water gains in its slow creep up the Mississippi River toward the city, but there's still much locals and officials don't yet know.
Why it matters: A major American city may not have safe drinking water within weeks due to the saltwater intrusion, and few options are available to mitigate the trouble it'll cause.
China's chief climate diplomat, Xie Zhenhua, has laid out that country's climate positions in advance of the UN climate summit in Dubai later this year.
Why it matters: China is the world's top current emitter of greenhouse gases, and it can either pave the way or block a new climate agreement.
Lego has halted efforts to make building bricks from recycled plastic instead of oil-based plastics, the Danish toymaker announced Sunday.
Yes, but: A Lego spokesperson said in an emailed statement Monday that the family-owned company was not abandoning its effort to make oil-free bricks. "On the contrary, we remain fully committed to making LEGO bricks from sustainable materials by 2032," he said.