Education
climate change
Health
Grading Philly’s Climate Goals
The City pledged to reduce emissions from its buildings, cut energy use, and transition to 100% renewable electricity. | From: Green Philly (Read more.)
Education
Climate change challenges Philly schools with no A/C
Emlen is one of more than 100 schools in the School District of Philadelphia — or about 60% — that lack central air conditioning. Coats estimates just about a third of the classrooms at Emlen have functional window units, but his second-floor classroom is not one of them. | From: Plan Philly (Read more.)
Civic and Community Engagement
Bill would charge Philly developers for trees not replaced
With temperatures rising due to climate change, Philadelphia city officials and advocates want to increase the city’s tree cover to help keep neighborhoods cool. But the city has been losing trees in recent years. | From: WHYY (Read more.)
Civic and Community Engagement
Philly residents will measure heat and pollution for NOAA study
One blistering day this summer, dozens of Philly residents, trained as “community scientists,” will drive specially equipped cars through most of the city to collect temperature and air-quality data as part of a study overseen by the federal Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. | From: The Inquirer (Read more.)
Community and Family
Guest Commentary: PGW’s Gas Leak Failure
At least 50 percent of Philadelphia’s gas mains are made of cast iron, including the one on my block. Cast iron is no longer permitted when new gas mains are installed, because it is known to corrode and crack easily, especially during freeze-thaw cycles. This increases the likelihood of leaks, and some of them result in deadly explosions like one that happened in South Philly two years ago this month. | From: The Citizen (Read more.)
Community and Family
What COP26 means for the City of Brotherly Love
As world leaders negotiate climate standards, here’s what it means for Philadelphia. | From: Green Philly (Read more.)
Latest
Climate activists set their sights on Pennsylvania PUC
Pennsylvania climate activists have set their sights on the state’s utility regulator. The interfaith group POWER wants Gov. Tom Wolf to appoint new members of the Public Utility Commission who are dedicated to climate justice and ending environmental racism. They say they’ve met with Gov. Wolf and put out a call for candidates as part of an effort to reform the PUC and increase the use of renewable energy. | From: WHYY (Read more.)
Community and Family
Pools Out for Summer: How COVID-19 stole another Philly institution this Summer
Philadelphia Public Pools are a community asset often overlooked, despite thousands of people relying on them year after year. Summer 2020 was devoid of the nearly one million memories made at the Philly’s Public Pools. | From: Green Philly (Read more.)
coronavirus
Environmental Racism in Philly: a “Dirty” History.
The everyday conditions amplify the reality that black and people of color are most affected by the impacts of climate change, amongst other issues. But just like redlining, environmental injustices and Pollution segregation continue to plague our city, more specifically the low income, predominately black neighborhoods in Philly. | From: Green Philly (Read more.)