Protecting New England Together
by Veronica EadyOn August 15, Massachusetts lost a powerful voice for justice. Michaelann Bewsee was a fearless ally and treasured friend whose passion and selflessness profoundly impacted the lives of her neighbors in Springfield and beyond for generations. In her honor, we want to share this piece, originally published in March of 2015, about her work to…
New England, and the Climate Crisis, Is Heating Up
by Bethany KwokaThis past July was the hottest month in recorded history. And it followed the hottest June humans have ever seen. In fact, if you include 2019, the past five years have been the hottest five years on record. From New England to New Delhi, temperatures are rising fast, fueling deadly heat waves, severe droughts, and dangerous conflicts. We’re experiencing a climate crisis.
Pet Deaths Underscore Need for Urgent Action on Toxic Algae
by Caitlin Peale SloanIn the last couple of weeks, the news has reported tragic stories of healthy dogs dying shortly after swimming in toxic algae-choked waters. These stories highlight the dangers of the algae pollution problem here in Massachusetts, where dog owners have been warned to keep their pets out of waters across the state. This is one of many reasons why CLF is fighting so hard to clean up our waters.
Maine Must Do the Right Thing for Right Whales
by Emily GreenHumans pose the biggest threat to right whales’ survival, and it’s our responsibility to stop killing them. Last month, however, Maine’s state leadership rallied against a proposal that would help save our iconic whale. Fishing and right whales can co-exist, but it’s going to take close collaboration and forward-looking leadership, not obstruction. Maine must be part of the solution if we are to save the right whale from extinction.
Waterkeeper Boat Ride Leads to New Sustainability Committee in Exeter
by Melissa PalyA group of Exeter activists turned a trip on the Great Bay-Piscataqua Waterkeeper boat into a town-wide call to better protect water resources, conserve energy, and be a more sustainable community. After their boat ride last fall, the four women worked to create Exeter’s Sustainability Advisory Committee, which recently for met for the first time.
Vermont Makes Slow Progress in Getting Electric Vehicles on the Road
by Sandy LevineGetting serious about tackling the climate crisis means getting around without burning fossil fuels. Unfortunately, most cars and trucks still run on gasoline, which pollutes both our air and our climate. In fact in New England, the exhaust from cars, trucks, and buses accounts for more than a third of our climate-damaging emissions. This needs to change. Vermont needs to put at least 50,000 electric cars and trucks on the road by 2025 to meet the goals set forth in the State’s energy plan. With only around 3,000 on the road right now, we are far from on track to get there.
Big Oil Can’t Shirk Its Responsibility to Communities
by Jacqueline GallantExtreme weather caused by climate change may damage coastal infrastructure by degrading equipment containing hazardous chemicals or by flooding storage facilities. But fossil fuel companies like ExxonMobil and Shell would rather take their chances and do nothing to ready their facilities. CLF knows, however, that these companies have a legal duty (not to mention an ethical one) to adapt their facilities to the foreseeable effects of climate change.
Update: Eversource’s Northern Pass Project Gets Final Rejection
by Melissa BirchardUPDATE: On July 19, 2019, the New Hampshire Supreme Court upheld the State’s rejection of the Northern Pass project. After the Site Evaluation Committee denied Eversource a permit to build in 2018, the energy company appealed the decision to the State Supreme Court. However, the Court stood behind the permit denials, rejecting the controversial transmission line for…
Massachusetts Considers Bills to Slash Pollution from Cars, Trucks, and Buses
by Rebecca GarvermanAir pollution poses a serious threat to our health, and the emissions from cars, trucks, and buses are some of the most dangerous. In Massachusetts, this pollution does not affect all communities equally.
Disappointing Decisions Mark Rhode Island Legislative Session
by Amy MosesThis session, the Rhode Island General Assembly missed opportunities to make progress on a wide range of environmental issues. CLF and other environmental organizations pushed for action on the climate crisis, toxic chemicals, and plastics pollution, but no substantial new laws were enacted. It was not a total loss, however, as we were successful in preventing passage of some harmful measures.
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