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In the Democratic Republic of Congo, in the Beni region of North Kivu province, activists from local climate justice group Extinction rebellion Rutshuru held a peaceful rally at the end of February 2026 supported by Stay Grounded’s Global Action Pot. With airport expansion projects and aviation growth experiencing an immense boost in the Central African country, they called for an end to the…

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In a stunning victory last week, a Federal District Court in South Dakota ordered a graphite mining company to immediately halt an exploration project before destroying a sacred site in the Black Hills National Forest. 

Ming threatens a sacred site

In late April 2026, a mining company started drilling at Pe’ Sla. This landscape has a high mountain meadow, grasslands, and forests sacred to many Lakota, Dakota, and Nakota peoples. In 2016, the US Government recognized this sacred area.  It dedicated more than 2,000 acres into trust for four Tribes: the Rosebud Sioux, Shakapee Mdewakanton Sioux Community, Standing Rock Sioux, and Crow Creek Sioux. In 2024, the US Government agreed to protect a two-mile radius surrounding a portion of Pe’Sla. Despite this, a mining company staked claims within the protected area. And, in February 2026, the US Forest Service unlawfully allowed mine exploration. 

Legal action and protests

During the Spring season, for thousands of years, Native peoples gather at Pe’Sla to perform ceremonies.  When members of the NDN Collective discovered new roads, drilling, and blasting activities near Pe’Sla, they filed a lawsuit. Earthworks, Black Hills Clean Water Alliance, and nine federally recognized Great Sioux Nation Tribes joined in the suit. This kicked off a week-long occupation at Pe’Sla by many Tribal leaders and youth, led by NDN Collective.  

On May 5, the Court granted an injunction to temporarily stop building and drilling activities until the lawsuit concluded. Two days later, the mining company packed up, withdrew their plans, and pledged not to mine there again. On May 18, the Court issued an order ending mining activities but allowing the operator to clean up and restore the lands to their previous condition.   

Mining affects Indigenous Peoples’ rights

Graphite, along with minerals like nickel and lithium, is used for batteries for electric vehicles, cleaner energy projects, and military technology. Pressure to mine more, especially for these minerals, has driven rushed mining. In the US, this rush is happening with support from the Trump administration. 

Mining often happens on Indigenous Peoples’ land, and the United States is no exception. Impacts on people and the environment happen everywhere mining occurs, but these mines can also permanently change sacred and culturally significant places. 

A just transition to sustainable energy demands solutions that honor Indigenous Peoples’ sovereignty and stewardship. Projects like the exploration at Pe’Sla do the opposite.

Better laws could protect sacred places

What happened at Pe’Sla isn’t an isolated incident. It reveals the weakness of the 1872 Mining law, the statute that still governs almost all public lands mining, including in the sacred Black Hills. Under this law, any person may claim public lands as their own for a small fee. They can begin drilling, blasting, construction, and other exploration, sometimes without even asking permission.  

To remedy this, Congress should pass durable reforms to the 1872 Mining law to protect Pe’ Sla and all sacred landscapes from mining without public notice nor meaningful consultation with affected Tribes. Senator Lujan’s Mining Waste, Fraud, and Abuse Prevention Act will do just that. 

Here, the Tribes and nongovernment organizations won because the Forest Service unlawfully excluded the mine project from environmental review and public and Tribal input.  The leadership and organizing from the Tribes and NDN Collective ultimately helped secure this victory. 

But asking a judge to step in every time a mine threatens Pe’Sla or any other sacred place is not a good system. Congress should pass meaningful mining reform and provide a better way.

The post Victory at Pe’Sla  appeared first on Earthworks.

A poll from consumer advocacy group PowerLines found broad distrust of elected officials and limited understanding of utilities’ business models. Experts told Utility Dive the disconnect could worsen.

We are currently accepting applications for our Indigenous Youth Farmers Program.

Completing this application should take about 20-30 minutes. Applications are due by 11:59 PM on Friday, June 19, 2026. No farming experience required.

What is the Indigenous Youth Farmers Program?

• A unique opportunity for Indigenous youth to learn both urban and rural farming practices, meet and build community, and practice traditional lifeways centering Indigenous knowledge and values.
• Learn from local Indigenous teachers, Imagine Water Works staff, and each other.
• Attend 6 workshops, including two educational field trips.
• Co-steward The Imagination Farm with support from peers and mentors.

Who is eligible to apply?

• Louisiana youth, ages 16-24 with North, Central, or South American Indigenous ancestry. If you are unclear on this qualification please contact deja@imaginewaterworks.org
• No farming experience is required.
• If you are younger than 16 or are unable to fully participate, we welcome you to attend our field trips! To receive more details and an invitation to our two field trips, share your contact information with us here: https://forms.gle/TVnhvBeZfscnmu4M8.

What are the additional benefits?

• A $300 stipend at the end of the program
• A Certificate of Completion
• Food, snacks, and sport drinks while on site
• A sense of belonging and a “home base” at the farm, now and in the future, with continued mentorship from all who are connected to the farm
• Completion of the program qualifies each farmer for IWW’s Imagination Farmers Program, an ongoing paid opportunity to continue stewarding the Imagination Farm, and/or IWW’s Imagination Responder Program which activates during and after major hurricanes and floods.

What is The Imagination Farm?

The Imagination Farm (TIF) is a Two-Spirit, Creole Indigenous farm and sacred intergenerational space where those most impacted by climate change can explore, imagine, and share solutions for our future. TIF feeds both our stomachs and our spirits. We encourage experimentation, collaboration, education, imperfection, and creativity, as we collectively build in the midst of ongoing climate catastrophe. More about the farm can be found HERE.

Where do we meet? The Farm is located at 2718 Painters St., New Orleans. We will be going on site visits and will provide transportation between the farm and field trip sites within New Orleans and Terrebonne Parish, LA. Funds for transportation support are limited. We will do our best to meet everyone’s needs via ride shares and carpooling. Ride share support will be available for the following parishes: Orleans, Jefferson, St. Bernard. When is the program?

August-November 2026, plus graduation, with the opportunity to stay connected to volunteering and other paid opportunities through the Imagination Farmers Program and Imagination Responders Program.

What is the application timeline?

• Friday, June 19th @ 11:59pm: Applications are due.
• Early July: All applicants will hear back on the status of their application, and select applicants will be invited to the 2nd round.
• Late July: All 2nd round applicants will be notified, and select applicants will be invited into the program. All applicants will receive an invitation to our two field trips.

Use the form below to apply by June 19th. Loading…

This program is made possible by many Imagine Water Works friends, with leadership from Ida Aronson, Déja Jones, and Chenier “Klie” Kliebert.

Issues with the application? Try the direct link here: https://forms.gle/k4AHaVx4FZx85z2c7. How can I support this program?

Your support will help us pay for meaningful workshops, transportation, first aid, and farm tools, and will ensure that the program can thrive for years to come. To donate, use our donation link here and specify that your donation is for the Indigenous Youth Program. If you are a philanthropic organization and would like to partner with us to help support this program, please email klie@imaginewaterworks.org. 

Donate to support our work

The post Apply Now! Indigenous Youth Farmers Program appeared first on Imagine Water Works.

Depending on your teenage years, the mere mention of superlatives could either bring back fond memories or resurrect deeply buried trauma. Either way, forget about all that—these superlatives are...

Consumer and renewable energy advocates say the stock transaction gave Blackstone an early stake in TXNM Energy before regulators could negotiate acquisition-related conditions or customer protections. The companies deny wrongdoing.

America must rebuild its nuclear fuel supply chain to reduce geopolitical risk, writes Centrus Energy CMO John Donelson. “No one company can do it alone.”

As adoption of GLP-1s grows, food waste experts expect these drugs to alter food waste patterns. This creates an opportunity for restaurants, retailers, and hotels to adapt and help keep food out of landfills. 

Around 12 percent of adults in the United States have tried a GLP-1 drug like Ozempic and Wegovy, according to a study published in JAMA. The nonprofit ReFED reports that their uptake is driving a decrease in demand for groceries, a desire for small portion sizes, and a shift in eaters’ food preferences. As this happens, levels of surplus food are changing as well.

Dana Gunders, ReFED’s Executive Director describes these drugs as “a life change moment.” Adopting is not unlike learning to cook after first leaving home or having a child, she explains. All of these alter the way eaters interact with food.

GLP-1 users tend to be more mindful of surplus food on their plates, ReFED finds. “When people go on GLP-1s, their waste tends to go up,” Gunders tells Food Tank. She adds that it’s not surprising as eaters get used to a new appetite. “But over time, they do tend to get a little bit better and in some cases, waste has gone down a little bit.”

But as eaters shop differently, it may take some time for grocers to adapt. “It’s like an earthquake in the food sector and that’s probably even more true in the retail space,” Emily Broad Leib, a Clinical Professor of Law and Director of Harvard Law School Center for Health Law and Policy Innovation, tells Food Tank. 

Eventually, Broad Leib believes that retailers will catch up because “they want to be selling the right things and making the money they can make. But she thinks that incentivizing policies can encourage them to act faster and find ways to manage surplus without sending it to the trash. 

Restaurants also have an opportunity as they work to meet the needs of this new demographic. “I anticipate we will see a lot more restaurants coming out with menus and offerings that offer more flexible or customizable portion sizes. And we know there’s a lot of interest in that,” Gunders says. 

ReFED’s research shows that three-quarters of people on GLP-1s would prefer one restaurant over another if they can choose their portion size. And restaurants are noticing the trend. But when it comes to hotels and other businesses offering large buffets, the transition may take longer, Gunders and Broad Leib say.

“I feel like that sector has been talked about a lot less,” Broad Leib says. “That message is a lot harder to get directly up the chain in the hospitality sector because individual consumers aren’t the ones paying necessarily.”

Listen to or watch the full conversation with Emily Broad Leib and Dana Gunders on Food Talk with Dani Nierenberg to hear about the business case to help hotels tackle this challenge, policy opportunities to reduce waste, and long-term implications of GLP-1s.

Articles like the one you just read are made possible through the generosity of Food Tank members. Can we please count on you to be part of our growing movement? Become a member today by clicking here.

Photo courtesy of Jay Wennington, Unsplash

The post What Do GLP-1s Mean for Food Waste? appeared first on Food Tank.

It’s a Friday morning at the Audubon Center for Birds of Prey, and the phone rings at the guest relations desk. Volunteer Phyllis Hall answers, and her calm-yet-authoritative voice coaches the...

Over the course of five years, 3,525 volunteers spent 234,495 hours counting birds in every corner of the state. That’s the equivalent of nearly 10,000 days of volunteers scouring the state...

“I'm interested in the successful continued operation of PJM, but definitely I want to help them get through this period,” FERC Commissioner Judy Chang told Utility Dive. She called the proposed NextEra-Dominion merger “interesting.”

Initiative Supports Technologies To Improve Energy Efficiency and Building Performance in Existing Buildings

Governor Kathy Hochul today announced $15 million is now available to advance innovative building solutions in New York State through the Innovation for Affordable Building Electrification program. The initiative supports the adoption of technologies that can be scaled in existing buildings to improve energy efficiency, electrification or load management to enhance building performance and reduce costs. 

“New York State is a leader in advancing scalable building solutions and making the latest efficiency solutions more accessible to building owners,” Governor Hochul said. “Through the Innovation for Affordable Building Electrification program, we are ensuring that modern building solutions work in harmony to make energy go further while balancing reliability with comfort and affordability.” 

The Innovation for Affordable Building Electrification program administered by the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA), provides funding to develop and demonstrate a new or improved product or solution to better control energy use, increase load flexibility, lower emissions, and improve indoor air quality in existing residential and commercial buildings. Eligible applicants include but are not limited to researchers, educational institutions, manufacturers, labs, building owners and managers, or trade associations, among others. Solutions that benefit low- to moderate-income or disadvantaged communities, as identified by New York’s Climate Justice Working Group, will be prioritized. 

NYSERDA President and CEO Doreen M. Harris said, “NYSERDA is interested in partnering with innovators and industry leaders to accelerate the development and adoption of next generation building technologies that can deliver real value and benefits for New Yorkers. By investing in solutions that support building electrification and improve energy performance, we are accelerating the delivery of cutting-edge technologies to market that help manage energy demand, reduce strain on the grid and lower costs for occupants and building owners alike.” 

Proposals must address one of three energy topic areas that improve building performance: 

• Efficiency – permanent load reduction solutions including, but not limited to, building envelope components or materials, ventilation and air sealing. 
• Electrification – clean and affordable heating and cooling solutions including, but not limited to, heat pump systems for space conditioning and domestic hot water. 
• Load Management – grid-interactive building solutions including, but not limited to, electric load and energy asset management, electrification-enabling equipment and integration of storage. 

Proposals are due on July 23, 2026, by 3:00 p.m. ET. For more information on this funding opportunity please visit NYSERDA’s website. 

Additionally, all applicants also have the option of submitting a Letter of Intent to NYSERDA to receive feedback on the eligibility, not merits, of their proposal prior to submitting a final version. Proposers interested in submitting the optional Letter of Intent must do so any time prior to July 2, 2026, by 3:00 p.m. ET. 

NYSERDA will host a webinar on June 3, 2026, at 1:30 p.m. ET to provide more details on the solicitation, project requirements, and the application process. 

Public Service Commission Chair Rory Christian said, “Catalyzing innovative solutions within the buildings sector, which remains one of the largest contributors to the state’s greenhouse gas emissions, is fundamental to achieving the state’s climate goals. The funding announced today by Governor Hochul and NYSERDA will ensure that residential and business consumers experience health, affordability, and other quality of life benefits in tandem with progress toward state goals.” 

Building Energy Exchange CEO Richard Yancey said, “New York State’s building stock represents one of our greatest opportunities — and obligations — for climate action. The Innovation for Affordable Building Electrification program reflects exactly the kind of forward-thinking investment needed to move promising technologies from concept to scale in the buildings where New Yorkers live and work. At the Building Energy Exchange, we see every day how critical it is to equip our industry with practical, affordable solutions — and we’re excited to see this initiative prioritize the communities that stand to benefit most.” 

State Senator Kevin Parker said, “New York’s clean energy future depends on our ability to invest in innovation that makes sustainability affordable, accessible, and practical for every community. This funding represents a critical step toward modernizing our building infrastructure, lowering energy costs for families and businesses and ensuring that disadvantaged communities are not left behind in the transition to a cleaner economy. By supporting cutting-edge technologies in energy efficiency, electrification, and load management, New York is continuing to lead the nation in building a more resilient, equitable and sustainable future.” 

Assemblymember Didi Barrett said, “Today’s energy challenges require innovative solutions. This funding will help develop and demonstrate new solutions to decarbonize our state’s existing building sector, the largest source of statewide emissions, all while increasing efficiency, managing demand and reducing cost.” 

Today’s announcement builds on New York State’s investments in energy technologies, new products, and solutions to address energy costs, demand and a reliable electric grid. NYSERDA invests over $96 million per year through its Innovation and Research programs to attract world class energy innovators, reduce risk for private investors and remove barriers to clean energy adoption in New York State. Every $1 of NYSERDA funding leverages $15 in additional investment from private and public sources. NYSERDA has partnered with over 900 companies that have helped make more than 300 products commercially available for consumers, businesses and utilities. 

Funding for this program is provided through the New York State Public Service Commission’s 2025 Innovation and Research Order, which funds statewide clean energy innovation and research programs from 2026 through 2030.

New York State’s Climate Agenda
New York State’s climate agenda calls for an affordable and just transition to a clean energy economy that creates family-sustaining jobs, promotes economic growth through green investments, and directs a minimum of 35 percent of the benefits to disadvantaged communities. New York is advancing a suite of efforts to achieve an emissions-free economy by 2050, including in the energy, buildings, transportation, and waste sectors.  

 

Solar power is on the rise around the world as the cost of solar panels goes down and societal acceptance of the technology rises. The world added record-breaking solar power installations in 2025, and capacity is expected to more than double in the next five years, according to the International Energy Agency.

But there’s one inescapable issue darkening the skies for the transition to clean solar energy: dirty coal plants. Researchers in the UK have found that pollution from coal is significantly reducing the amount of power we could be getting from solar panels.

From 2017 to 2023, annual solar energy losses “from existing systems were, on average, equivalent to one-third of the energy added by new PV installations,” the researchers write in a paper published in the journal Nature Sustainability.

When power plant furnaces burn coal, it releases not just carbon dioxide but also sulfur dioxide. This gas reacts with other molecules to become small particles called sulfates. Called aerosols, these tiny particles get suspended in the air and reflect sunlight.

 

.IRPP_ruby , .IRPP_ruby .postImageUrl , .IRPP_ruby .centered-text-area {height: auto;position: relative;}.IRPP_ruby , .IRPP_ruby:hover , .IRPP_ruby:visited , .IRPP_ruby:active {border:0!important;}.IRPP_ruby .clearfix:after {content: "";display: table;clear: both;}.IRPP_ruby {display: block;transition: background-color 250ms;webkit-transition: background-color 250ms;width: 100%;opacity: 1;transition: opacity 250ms;webkit-transition: opacity 250ms;background-color: #eaeaea;}.IRPP_ruby:active , .IRPP_ruby:hover {opacity: 1;transition: opacity 250ms;webkit-transition: opacity 250ms;background-color: inherit;}.IRPP_ruby .postImageUrl {background-position: center;background-size: cover;float: left;margin: 0;padding: 0;width: 31.59%;position: absolute;top: 0;bottom: 0;}.IRPP_ruby .centered-text-area {float: right;width: 65.65%;padding:0;margin:0;}.IRPP_ruby .centered-text {display: table;height: 130px;left: 0;top: 0;padding:0;margin:0;padding-top: 20px;padding-bottom: 20px;}.IRPP_ruby .IRPP_ruby-content {display: table-cell;margin: 0;padding: 0 74px 0 0px;position: relative;vertical-align: middle;width: 100%;}.IRPP_ruby .ctaText {border-bottom: 0 solid #fff;color: #0099cc;font-size: 14px;font-weight: bold;letter-spacing: normal;margin: 0;padding: 0;font-family:'Arial';}.IRPP_ruby .postTitle {color: #000000;font-size: 16px;font-weight: 600;letter-spacing: normal;margin: 0;padding: 0;font-family:'Arial';}.IRPP_ruby .ctaButton {background: url(https://www.anthropocenemagazine.org/wp-content/plugins/intelly-related-posts-pro/assets/images/next-arrow.png)no-repeat;background-color: #afb4b6;background-position: center;display: inline-block;height: 100%;width: 54px;margin-left: 10px;position: absolute;bottom:0;right: 0;top: 0;}.IRPP_ruby:after {content: "";display: block;clear: both;}Recommended Reading:As coal pollution declines, crops begin to flourish

 

For their new study, the researchers used satellite data to map and assess more than 140,000 solar installations worldwide. They combined this data with air pollution data to calculate how much sunlight dims and how this reduces electricity generation. The researchers traced the origins of the aerosols and found that they came mainly from coal-fired power plants.

They found that in 2023 aerosols reduced global solar electricity output by 5.8%, or 111 terawatt-hours of energy; that is equal to the amount generated by 18 medium-sized coal-fired power plants. The losses were highest in China, where solar and coal are expanding and are often located close to each other. China had the largest aerosol-related solar energy losses worldwide, reducing national solar power generation by 7.7% in 2023.

The phase-out of coal power around the world has been slow, the researchers write, and this study presents yet another way that coal could interfere with the world’s clean-energy transition. “Looking forward, the physical interaction between coal-based aerosols and solar PV performance is likely to become an increasingly critical constraint on the global energy transition,” they say.

Source: Rui Song et al. Coal plants persist as a large barrier to the global solar energy transition. Nature Sustainability, 2026.

Image: ©Anthropocene magazine/AI-generated

New data released today by Groundwork Collaborative and The Century Foundation shows how President Trump’s reckless economic policies and war in Iran are driving up the costs of summer cookouts and travel season. Prices for backyard barbecue staples jumped 13% on average since last year, more than four times the rate of inflation. Burgers will run families 20% more, Kraft Heinz ketchup jumped 14%, and grilled corn on the cob costs nearly twice as much as it did last year. Even a to-go plate will also cost families more as aluminum foil prices climbed 18%.

If working families manage to get through the holiday weekend within budget, their summer travel plans may still be out of reach. Airfare prices are up 26% and expected to keep rising this summer, while gas prices are hovering around $4.50 nationally. As Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy wraps up his family’s seven-month, all-expenses-paid road trip, working families are wondering whether they’ll be able to afford traveling at all this summer. All in, reports find that the Duffy’s corporate-sponsored vacation would cost at least $900 in fuel expenses – and that’s not including the luxury cruise the family was given to cap off their trip. Trump and his Cabinet couldn’t be more out of touch with working families this Memorial Day weekend.

Groundwork’s Chief Economist, Breyon Williams, released the following statement:

“Trump’s senseless tariffs and illegal war are robbing American families of their relaxing summer vacation. From the ticket counter to the cookout, consumers are scaling back and going without in the face of Trump’s summer sticker shock.”

Janelle Jones, Senior Fellow at The Century Foundation, shared her response:

"Prices are rising because of tariffs and the war—two decisions the president made and can undo whenever he wants but by his own admission he doesn't spend any time thinking about Americans' financial situation. Families are getting squeezed on the price of everything and leaders in Washington don't seem to be paying attention."

Eat Up: Barbecue Essentials More Expensive Thanks to Trump

• Beef, hot dog, and bratwurst prices are through the roof (up 20%, 12%, and 28% respectively) as consumers consider firing up the grill this holiday weekend.
• Fresh produce prices have increased under Trump thanks to higher fertilizer prices and a struggling farm economy. Tomatoes cost 22% more, while corn prices have increased 98% and lettuce is up 19%.
• Trump’s war in Iran has also driven up the price of plasticware popular at cookouts: disposable plasticware prices are up about 20% compared to last year due to the unrest in the Middle East. These price impacts will last beyond summer barbecue season.

Flights, road trips, and even staycations will cost more this summer

• A family of four can expect to pay an extra $300 on plane tickets this summer as Trump’s war drags on. All major U.S. carriers have announced price hikes of about $10 per checked bag heading into vacation season, on top of skyrocketing airfare.
• Budget airline Spirit shut down this month partially due to unexpected increases in jet fuel costs while airline CEOs anticipate passing higher operating costs onto consumers via price hikes.
  • Southwest Airlines CEO Andrew Watterson revealed to shareholders in a recent call that there have been five industrywide fare hikes so far this year, and he anticipates more on the way.
  • United CEO Kirby also admitted prices will not come down, saying “The longer consumers pay these prices and airlines get used to this revenue stream, the more likely it is [to hold].”
• Flyers who can afford higher prices will be crammed onto smaller planes with fewer flight options.
  • Airlines have cut over two million seats and 12,000 flights worldwide in late April and early May, an unprecedented level of cancellations.
  • United Airlines has removed over 21,000 flights from its summer schedule, while Delta and American cut nearly 12,000 combined.
• Gas prices are at the highest level since 2022, hitting around $4.55 nationally, up more than 50% from $2.98 before the president’s war in Iran started.
• Working families looking forward to a restful staycation at home may find it more difficult as temperatures rise: Trump’s tariffs have driven up the cost of HVAC systems, and his administration has ended tax credits Americans relied on to upgrade their air conditioning.

To talk to a Groundwork expert about rising prices and the economic fallout of Trump’s agenda, email press@groundworkcollaborative.org.

As Trump took to Twitter to threaten a potential nuclear strike on Iran in April, many users on the platform and other social media cried...

The post A Bug’s Life: Almost thirty years later, Pixar’s forgotten film is more relevant than ever first appeared on Spring.

The Clean Air Task Force estimates that the state’s need to expand interregional transmission could be reduced by 28% to 53% through enhanced geothermal deployment.

A new paper generated a fair amount of consternation and eye-rolling when the authors claimed that New Orleans, the largest city in Louisiana, is at risk of being surrounded by open water by the end of the century. 

As human-caused global warming continues to drive sea level rise, coastal Louisiana, the paper states, has likely “already crossed the point of no return.” Under the current warming trajectory, the projected loss of the remaining coastal wetlands in southern Louisiana puts over 1 million residents “in harm’s way,” according to the authors. Though that may sound shocking, it wasn’t the controversial part of the paper, which was published in Nature Sustainability this month — at least not to some outspoken critics. 

Instead, the authors were criticized for arguing that New Orleans should consider managed retreat, or relocating further inland to higher ground to avoid the worst climate impacts.

“[P]lease stop saying ‘relocate New Orleans.’ That’s not going to happen,” wrote Christopher Ard, an 11th-generation New Orleanian, in an opinion column in The Lens, a local nonprofit newsroom. Ard added, “If people want to move, they will,” and that researchers should instead use “words like ‘abandon’ or ‘give up on’ or maybe even ‘find somewhere new,’” to describe this out-migration. “Relocate just sounds silly,” he wrote. 

In their paper, the authors estimate coastal Louisiana could face 3 to 7 meters (about 10 to 23 feet) of sea level rise and further predict that parts of the state’s shoreline will move inward by 100 kilometers (62 miles), closer to Baton Rouge. And while they acknowledge that the timeline for these processes is unclear, they insist that the region has a matter of decades to plan for migration away from these dangers, not centuries. The paper does not propose how and when those living in the Mississippi River Delta should move, but rather urges that preparing for projected sea level rise “is a long process that cannot be put off.”

Left out of the paper’s scope is what happens to people whose jobs and livelihoods are tied to the coastline — like fisherpeople — in a managed retreat scenario. Louisiana is the second largest producer of seafood in the United States, after Alaska, and New Orleans is a central hub for fisheries that catch shrimp, crabs, and fin fish from the wild, as well as harvest oysters, catfish, crawfish, and alligators.

“For the fishermen in the state of Louisiana, the loss of, or not being able to use New Orleans as a hub, as a source of infrastructure, as a place to sell seafood — New Orleans consumes a lot of seafood as a market — would be devastating,” said Jeffrey Plumlee, an assistant professor at the School of Renewable Natural Resources at Louisiana State University. 

An abandoned boat sits in coastal waters in Venice, Louisiana.
Drew Angerer / Getty Images

It’s important to note that while the paper advocates for managed retreat from the coast, the authors caution against overstating the impacts of sea level rise. “Eventually, yes, this is not going to be a livable place anymore,” said Torbjörn Törnqvist, one of the paper’s co-authors. But “New Orleans is still going to be around by the end of the century,” he said — it just may look a lot more like Venice, Italy, a city completely surrounded by open water.

Such a process would undoubtedly impact the seafood industry in Louisiana, which has already been hit hard by worsening hurricanes — among other factors that have turned the fishing profession into precarious work. Severe storms have badly damaged critical infrastructure for fisheries, like ice houses and fuel docks. When those facilities are destroyed — or if they’re never repaired or replaced — the work becomes harder, and people start looking for opportunities elsewhere.

Additionally, young people see the challenges of the industry and start considering other lines of work. “It’s called ‘the graying of the fleet,’” a term that describes how the fishing workforce is aging, said Plumlee. 

This process is not dissimilar from what is happening in southern Louisiana more broadly, where the population has fallen four times in the last five years according to census data. That population decline is not only or specifically tied to extreme weather or environmental conditions.

“What you notice in coastal Louisiana is the aging of the population. Young people are leaving to go find jobs and places where they have more opportunities,” said Beth Fussell, a sociologist and demographer at Brown University, who peer-reviewed the managed retreat paper. This out-migration, she says, “most likely has nothing to do with their perception of environmental risk.” It’s true that it is difficult to say with certainty who qualifies as a climate migrant or climate refugee — and in the case of coastal Louisiana, Törnqvist and his co-authors acknowledge movement out of this area is “multi-causal.” But it’s undeniable that environmental factors also shape what jobs and economic opportunities are available — for example, insurance companies have been raising prices or even pulling out of Louisiana entirely. 

According to Lawrence Huang, a policy analyst at the Migration Policy Institute, the challenge of moving to a new place and finding new ways to make a living is exactly why people in low-lying communities like New Orleans should make plans sooner rather than later. 

“This is why starting early and planning now matters, because it takes such a long time to help people find new skills and new occupations,” said Huang. In a situation where a major U.S. city becomes unlivable due to sea level rise and decides to relocate, he added, “we’re going to have to re-skill people so that they can find jobs in their new location. That is the unfortunate reality.”

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If the notion of picking up a whole community and moving it sounds far-fetched, one only needs to look at recent history — and particularly, the experiences of Indigenous peoples — to see that Huang is right. In southern Louisiana, the Jean Charles Choctaw Nation, a state-recognized Native American tribe, received nearly $50 million from the federal government in 2016 to relocate to higher ground after the island on which the tribe lived lost 98 percent of its landmass due to severe coastal erosion and subsidence. 

The tribal nation is considered the country’s first climate migrants. In a 2022 interview with StoryCorps, Albert Naquin, the chief of the Jean Charles Choctaw Nation, noted that members’ ways of sustaining themselves shifted along with the geography of the island. “Where we used to walk at, now we use boat to travel in,” said Naquin. “And where we used to trap and raise cattle, now we shrimp.” Nevertheless, according to many tribal members, the relocation was a bust. “It’s not worth it. I wouldn’t recommend it to anybody,” one tribal member who relocated told The New York Times.

The issues with relocating are myriad, and go beyond what job one will have after migrating. Huang emphasized that, “Planned relocation and managed retreat are not popular terms and it’s because people don’t want to move.” 

Any conversation around climate-driven human migration, therefore, should “start from that point,” he argued. Still, he admitted, “It’s a good conversation to be having.”

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This story was originally published by Grist with the headline As seas rise, where will Louisiana’s fishers go? on May 21, 2026.

While China's push to modernize sparked a surge in burning coal, India is turning to increasingly cheap solar to meet its booming energy needs. Though it faces big hurdles, including a rickety grid, India's solar buildout could soon be a model for other emerging economies.

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Georgia is 1 of only 10 states that elects its utility commission — the board that has final say over how much nearly 3 million Georgians pay for electricity. The state’s public service commission, or PSC, also has substantial say over how that electricity is made and, because fossil fuel power plants are a leading producer of greenhouse gases, the PSC’s decisions directly influence Georgia’s climate future. 

From 2006 until last year, all five members of the PSC were Republicans. Democrats Peter Hubbard and Alicia Johnson won upset victories and have since made it more difficult for Georgia Power to have their decisions rubber-stamped. Those elections have had ripple effects in other utility commission races around the country: In Arizona, national activist groups on both sides of the aisle have gotten involved in the race; Alabama lawmakers overhauled their commission in an attempt to shield it from the chance that voters will oust its Republicans.

On Tuesday, Georgia held party primaries for two seats on the PSC. November’s elections, then, will be the Democrats’ next chance to win a majority presence on the commission, and could lead to more renewable energy in Georgia and more scrutiny of Georgia Power’s ongoing expansion plans.  

In the District 5 race, Democrat Shelia Edwards defeated opponents Craig Cupid and Angelia Pressley. Republicans Bobby Mehan and Josh Tolbert will square off in a runoff on June 16. Libertarian Thomas Blooming is also running for the seat.

“I’m running to be that third vote that’s going to help them change the trajectory of the PSC,” said Edwards in an interview before the primary. “And to bring some balance to something that’s been completely imbalanced for years.”

Edwards, Mehan, and Tolbert have all said they support clean energy, but the Republican candidates clarified they don’t support any sort of renewable energy mandate.

“I do not think there is a place on the commission for advocates,” said Tolbert. “It’s not a legislative body. It doesn’t set particular policies. Its job is to ensure that Georgians have reliable, affordable electricity.”

Tolbert’s main pitch to voters has been his technical expertise as an engineer with experience working in multiple types of power plants. Mehan, meanwhile, has said his business experience means he can find innovative solutions to problems. He described himself as a pro-gas, pro-nuclear, “all-the-above energy guy.”

Read Next The Iran war is destroying oil demand. Could it also spark a shift to clean energy? Kate Yoder

Control of the commission does not hinge only on Edwards’ race, however. It will also come down to whether Hubbard can retain his seat. The race for District 3 could come down to a rematch between Hubbard and Fitz Johnson. Last year’s election in District 3, which Hubbard won, was only for a one-year term. Hubbard ran unopposed in the Democratic primary, but the Republican race was too close to call as of Wednesday afternoon. Johnson leads his primary opponent, Brandon Martin, by less than 3,000 votes. The results fall within the margin for a recount should Martin request one. Martin did not reply to requests for comment on the result. The winner will serve a full six-year term.

Unlike most candidates from both parties in the primary, Johnson says the commission has done enough to protect ordinary ratepayers from the costs of serving data centers — a hot-button issue as more data centers flock to the state and Georgia Power spends billions of dollars on new resources to serve them.

The commission’s votes on that utility expansion help drive home the repercussions of this election.

In December, after the two Democrats’ resounding election victory but before the new commissioners took their seats, the five Republican commissioners voted unanimously to approve Georgia Power’s proposal to add 10 gigawatts of energy, most of it made with natural gas.

Earlier this year, advocates pushed the commission to reconsider some of the new energy, arguing that the plan would generate more electricity than the utility’s own forecast calls for. The commission, they argued, overstepped its legal authority. The new Democratic commissioners voted to reopen the issue, but the effort failed — with all three Republicans voting against it.

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This story was originally published by Grist with the headline Georgia’s PSC elections have become a referendum on energy prices on May 21, 2026.

By: Joe Robison, Alliance to Save Energy, and Deepika Arora Sadahiro, Willow

The U.S. federal government operates more than 350,000 buildings and spends over $6 billion annually on energy. Many, especially federally supported housing, rely on outdated systems that drive up costs and limit performance. As affordability and reliability take center stage, smarter, low-cost control technologies offer a clear path forward.

Smarter building controls—like smart thermostats, sensors, and automated HVAC systems—optimize energy use by responding to real-time conditions instead of fixed schedules. The result: lower energy use, reduced utility bills, and improved comfort for residents—without major infrastructure upgrades.

Low-Cost Upgrades, Immediate Impact

Unlike large-scale retrofits, smart controls are low-cost and quick to deploy. Smart thermostats alone can reduce HVAC energy use by 10–15%, with even greater savings depending on building conditions.

For federally supported housing, these savings directly improve affordability. Residents benefit from lower bills, while property managers see reduced operating costs and better system performance.

Federal Sites Are Already Seeing Savings

Across federal facilities, pairing efficiency upgrades with smart controls has delivered 20–40% energy savings, often with strong payback periods, especially when paired with performance-based financing like Energy Savings Performance Contracts (ESPCs) and Utility Energy Service Contracts (UESCs).

These models allow agencies to deploy upgrades without upfront appropriations, using guaranteed savings to cover costs over time, creating a scalable pathway for federal housing providers.

Smart Controls Are Also Improving Air Quality in Commercial Buildings

The value of smart, responsive controls extends beyond thermostats. Real-world applications show how data-driven systems can improve both efficiency and occupant well-being.

Willow recently highlighted how demand-controlled ventilation (DCV) systems use occupancy data, CO₂ sensors, and HVAC controls to adjust airflow in real time in high-traffic buildings like airports, hospitals, campuses, and stadiums. Instead of fixed schedules, these systems increase ventilation when spaces are full and scale back when they are not.

This approach delivers multiple benefits:

• Improved indoor air quality
• Lower energy consumption
• Reduced equipment strain and longer system lifespans
• Operational cost savings without compromising comfort

A Scalable Path Forward

As energy demand grows and grid constraints tighten, cost-effective solutions are more important than ever. Smarter building controls offer a practical way to reduce demand, improve performance, and support grid reliability.

For policymakers, the opportunity is clear:

• Expand access to smart control technologies in federally supported housing
• Leverage existing financing mechanisms to scale deployment
• Integrate efficiency upgrades into broader affordability strategies

Efficiency remains the nation’s “first fuel” and one of the fastest, lowest-cost tools available today.

Delivering Affordability, Reliability, and Performance

Modernizing federal housing with smarter controls isn’t just about energy savings—it’s about delivering lower bills, better comfort, and more resilient buildings.

As real-world examples show, smarter, data-driven controls are already transforming building operations. Scaling these solutions across federal housing can unlock immediate savings while strengthening the energy system for the future.

Resources

• U.S. Department of Energy, Simulation-Driven Smart Thermostat Benchmarking
• ASHRAE Journal, Analysis of Indoor Environmental Conditions and Electricity Savings Using a Smart Thermostat
• Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory (LBNL), Benefits of Smart Ventilation
• LBNL, Evaluating GHG Mitigation Potential from ESPC Projects
• DOE, Energy Savings Potential and RD&D Opportunities for Commercial HVAC Systems
• Willow, Improving Air Quality and Conserving Energy with Demand-Controlled Ventilation