BeyondKONA: Politics & Policy
Power, politics, money, and finally policy are undeniably linked in every modern democracy, and Hawai’i is no different in this regard, yet the Aloha spirit can set Hawai’i apart from mainland and global political influences. Vested interests may work to divide us, but we are one island and one community living together here on Hawai’i Island.
Outsized voices seek to fulfill special interest agendas; some succeed by influencing government policy that benefits a few at the expense of many. Hawai’i can transition to a home grown clean energy economy that benefits all, and supports sustainable lifestyles once successfully practiced by the ancient Hawaiians serving as our guide for the 21st century.
Hawaii’s rich environment and its people are its primary assets. Community participation is the political engine that drives policy and solutions — both require public voices to be heard loud and clear in our island community and across the state legislature. All good things are possible when guided by science, progressive governance, cultural and economic fulfillment.
- Care infrastructure is key to an equitable, green recovery from the Covid-19 crisisby Megan McLaughlin on April 20, 2021 at 9:45 pm
As federal policymakers confront the parallel crises of the COVID-19 pandemic, climate change, and racial injustice, a significant investment in our nation's […]
- House GOP launches climate messaging ahead of summitby Megan McLaughlin on April 20, 2021 at 9:17 pm
House Republicans yesterday launched a climate messaging campaign ahead of President Biden's Earth Day summit this week, laying out their opposition to […]
- Biden to pledge to cut U.S. greenhouse gas emissions by at least half by 2030by Megan McLaughlin on April 20, 2021 at 9:04 pm
President Biden will announce plans this week to slash U.S. greenhouse gas emissions by at least half by the end of this decade, as part of an aggressive push […]
- Also roaring back from pandemic: Earth-warming emissionsby Megan McLaughlin on April 20, 2021 at 8:57 pm
Global warming emissions are expected to spike this year as the world emerges from the coronavirus pandemic and economies begin to recover.
- Green stimulus plan could create 1.2m UK jobs in two years, research findsby Megan McLaughlin on April 20, 2021 at 8:54 pm
A stimulus programme focused on green and digital infrastructure, research and development, energy and care work could create more than 1.2m jobs within two […]
- Good solutions-focused news for Earth Dayby EHN Staff on April 20, 2021 at 8:38 pm
Great news for Earth Day: We had three major successes this spring. Each shows how one action sparks another – then another. We're excited by that […]
- Louisiana race an energy fight between Dems in 'Cancer Alley'by Megan McLaughlin on April 20, 2021 at 8:38 pm
This weekend's special House election in southern Louisiana is a contest between two starkly different visions for an area dominated by the oil, natural gas […]
- Australia’s third-largest carbon emitter says it must transition to renewables and curtail coal plantsby Megan McLaughlin on April 20, 2021 at 8:32 pm
Australia's third-largest greenhouse gas emitter and Queensland's largest power generator, Stanwell Corporation, has revealed plans to transition its business […]
- How politics is shaping Biden’s infrastructure proposalby Megan McLaughlin on April 20, 2021 at 8:24 pm
From weatherization funds to electric vehicles, the White House made compromises to enlist a broad coalition that includes labor and communities of color.
- A climate change guide for kidsby Megan McLaughlin on April 20, 2021 at 8:21 pm
If you're a kid, almost every year you've been alive has broken a temperature record, or come close. You've witnessed huge wildfires, intense droughts and […]
- Poll shows New Yorkers worry about climate change as Earth Day arrivesby Megan McLaughlin on April 20, 2021 at 8:11 pm
New Yorkers by a wide margin are concerned about air and water pollution as well as climate change, according to a poll released by the Siena College Research […]
- Net zero emissions ten years later than Apple, promises HPby Megan McLaughlin on April 20, 2021 at 7:48 pm
HP says that it will halve its 2019 greenhouse gas emissions by 2030, but doesn't plan to hit net zero until 10 years later, in 2040.
- The links between air pollution and long-term physical and mental health, and how renewable energy can change thingsby Megan McLaughlin on April 20, 2021 at 7:29 pm
The World Health Organization estimates that outdoor ambient air pollution caused 4.2 million deaths in 2016. While many of these deaths are in low- and […]
- Waste firm hit with $2.1 million lawsuit over Magothy runoff that stopped yellow perch spawnby Megan McLaughlin on April 20, 2021 at 7:20 pm
The state of Maryland is keeping its recent promise to hold a waste management and recycling company accountable for stormwater runoff that washed sediment […]
- These 5 Pittsburgh-area initiatives are positive for the planetby EHN Staff on April 20, 2021 at 7:19 pm
Earth Day will be observed for the 51st year on Thursday.
- Pittsburgh plans to expand the number of public, private charging stations for electric vehiclesby EHN Staff on April 20, 2021 at 7:15 pm
In a 37-page study, the city has set goals of 200 charging stations on city property and 2,000 on private property by 2030.
- Poll shows US adults most worried about water pollution among major environmental concernsby Megan McLaughlin on April 20, 2021 at 7:04 pm
Concern over water contamination surpassed the five other environmental challenges listed in the survey.
- Pangaia launches new collection with a Naomi Campbell campaignby Megan McLaughlin on April 20, 2021 at 6:55 pm
Dubbing it "Air-Ink," Pangaia has taken the PM 2.5. particulate matter from air pollution and turned it into a dark black pigment.
- What is Earth Day's connection to your health?by Megan McLaughlin on April 20, 2021 at 6:45 pm
Earth Day on April 22 puts a spotlight on the planet's health - which, doctors say, is closely tied to your own.
- Why a shift from the United Mine Workers is so importantby Megan McLaughlin on April 20, 2021 at 6:31 pm
The fact that the nation's largest coal miners' union is eyeing a future in which it will move away from fossil fuels is extraordinary.
- Japan’s nuclear wastewater lies exposed amid ban on sales of scorpionfish from Fukushima watersby Megan McLaughlin on April 20, 2021 at 6:22 pm
The Japanese government's sales ban on black scorpionfish caught in Fukushima waters shows it lied about its nuclear contamination claims, experts say, urging […]
- Nuclear waste structures in Washington state are stabilizedby Megan McLaughlin on April 20, 2021 at 6:16 pm
The U.S. Department of Energy has confirmed that two underground structures at the decommissioned Hanford nuclear reservation in Washington state have been […]
- Systemic racism continues to plague pandemic response: Derrick Z. Jacksonby Derrick Z. Jackson on April 20, 2021 at 11:23 am
On March 29, Eric, the most prominent lay leader at my church in Cambridge, Massachusetts, perished from COVID-19. He was one of 685 people across the United […]
- ExxonMobil’s climate pitch to Biden: A $100B carbon project that greens hateby Jim Germond on April 20, 2021 at 11:22 am
The oil and gas giant is pushing its carbon capture and sequestration technology to drive the type of speedy emissions reduction the White House is expected to […]
- Research surprise unveils how common herbicide kills beesby Megan McLaughlin on April 20, 2021 at 11:20 am
Many studies already claimed the nation's most-used weedkiller was lethal to bees, but new research indicates its much-maligned active ingredient - glyphosate […]
- Formosa Plastics Group faces tough opposition on proposed Louisiana plantby Megan McLaughlin on April 20, 2021 at 11:18 am
Formosa Plastics Group, a Taiwan-based giant, wants to build a vast new plant along the lower Mississippi River in Louisiana. But the complex is increasingly a […]
- Allegheny County launches air quality dashboardby Autumnspanne1 on April 20, 2021 at 11:00 am
Allegheny County has launched a new dashboard to present the public with data about air quality at several of its monitors.
- Manchin backs labor-organizing bill while standing against carbon tax and fossil fuel bansby Autumnspanne1 on April 20, 2021 at 10:58 am
Sen. Joe Manchin, D-W.Va., joined the head of the mine workers' union to call for federal funding for fossil fuel technology like carbon capture, slammed a […]
- 30x30: How important are private lands in meeting conservation goals?by Autumnspanne1 on April 20, 2021 at 10:52 am
Experts say expanding public lands won’t be enough to achieve science-based calls for more protected areas.
- Yellen picks investor as Treasury climate czar, sparking backlash from the leftby Autumnspanne1 on April 20, 2021 at 10:47 am
John Morton will lead the department's new "climate hub."
- Earth Day Celebration at Port of Seattle Seeks to Protect Ocean, Endangered Orcas From Vessels in Salish Seaon April 20, 2021 at 12:00 am
- Biden Administration Protects Endangered Pacific Humpback Whale Habitaton April 20, 2021 at 12:00 am
- Western Yellow-billed Cuckoo Gains 298,845 Acres of Protected Critical Habitat in Seven Western Stateson April 20, 2021 at 12:00 am
- After $6 Million Agreement, Dismissal Sought for Lawsuit Challenging Placer Ranch Developmenton April 20, 2021 at 12:00 am
- Britain can’t slash emissions without clamping down on the ‘polluter elite’ | Peter Newellby Peter Newell on April 19, 2021 at 9:00 am
To move towards zero carbon, the government must focus on overconsumption by the wealthy and powerfulWhile the government gears up to hold the Cop26 summit in […]
- Coalition Moves to Defend Biden Administration’s Oil, Gas Leasing Pauseon April 19, 2021 at 12:00 am
- Pandemic made 2020 ‘the year of the quiet ocean’, say scientistsby Jonathan Watts on April 17, 2021 at 6:00 am
Human-generated sounds faded substantially at height of Covid lockdown, studies showCoronavirus – latest updatesSee all our coronavirus coverageThe […]
- Beijing skies turn yellow as sand and dust engulf Chinese capital – videoon April 16, 2021 at 7:37 am
The skies over Beijing turned yellow and air pollution soared to severe levels as a giant cloud of sand and dust particles rolled into the city, […]
- New Study: Undisclosed Inert Ingredients in Some Popular Roundup Products Found to Be Highly Toxic to Bumblebeeson April 16, 2021 at 12:00 am
- Lawsuit Filed to Obtain Protection for Rare Southern Nevada Wildflower, Beeon April 16, 2021 at 12:00 am
- Judge Rules Against Federal Sheep Station Grazing in Idaho’s Centennial Mountainson April 16, 2021 at 12:00 am
- Amazon’s warehouse boom linked to health hazards in America’s most polluted regionby Sam Levin in Los Angeles on April 15, 2021 at 10:00 am
Research shows warehouses, which have proliferated in California’s Inland Empire, bring pollution that disproportionately affects people of colorAmazon […]
- Lawsuit Seeks Endangered Species Act Protections for 19 Species Left to Languish by Trump Administrationon April 15, 2021 at 12:00 am
- Legal Agreement on Placer County Project Requires Climate Pollution Cuts, Secures Funding to Protect Wildlife Habitaton April 15, 2021 at 12:00 am
- Federal Court Halts Proposed Rock Creek Mine in Montana’s Cabinet Mountainson April 15, 2021 at 12:00 am
- Ecuador Court Urged to Protect Endangered Frogs From Mining Project, Enforce Constitutional ‘Rights of Nature’on April 15, 2021 at 12:00 am
- Corte de Ecuador insta a proteger ranas en peligro de extinción de proyecto minero y hacer cumplir los 'derechos de la naturaleza' constitucionaleson April 15, 2021 at 12:00 am
- 200 Groups to Biden: Align Federal Fossil Fuel Programs With U.S. Climate Goalson April 14, 2021 at 12:00 am
- Lifesaving Critical Habitat Protection Proposed for Panama City Crayfishon April 14, 2021 at 12:00 am
- Biden EPA Urged to Set Climate Pollution Capon April 14, 2021 at 12:00 am