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.
- Planning for a climate crisis helped a small Indonesian island battle covid-19by Megan McLaughlin on December 2, 2020 at 12:30 am
In remote villages on Lombok, a rugged Indonesian island east of Bali, resilience to global warming means figuring out how to maintain water and food supplies […]
- 4 solar fights critical for 100% clean electricityby Megan McLaughlin on December 2, 2020 at 12:07 am
Residential solar policy isn't as widely tracked as the presidential election, but it is decided in much the same way: state by state. That's important as […]
- Biden plan to end U.S. fossil fuel subsidies faces big challengesby Megan McLaughlin on December 1, 2020 at 11:42 pm
President-elect Joe Biden's promise to end U.S. fossil fuel subsidies worth billions of dollars a year for drillers and miners could be hard to keep due to […]
- World awaits action by 'suicidal' Australia, says former climate chiefby Megan McLaughlin on December 1, 2020 at 11:27 pm
Australia hears another scathing assessment of its climate record as the race towards next year's United Nations climate meeting in Glasgow begins.
- Researchers explore how climate change is framed on social mediaby Megan McLaughlin on December 1, 2020 at 11:11 pm
Past studies have analyzed climate change coverage in the news media, but a new study is the first to dig into the content of Facebook posts from […]
- San Diego coastal marshes may become important tools to battle climate changeby Megan McLaughlin on December 1, 2020 at 10:44 pm
The plants in the salt marsh grow fast, sucking a lot of carbon dioxide out of the air and some of that carbon gets trapped as plants die and new ones grow […]
- Venus figurines offered a model for surviving climate change, new theory saysby Megan McLaughlin on December 1, 2020 at 10:00 pm
According to a new theory, Venus figurines, one of the world's earliest examples of art, weren't symbols of beauty or fertility, as has been previously […]
- So you've got climate anxiety. Here's what you can do with itby Megan McLaughlin on December 1, 2020 at 9:55 pm
No matter where you fall on the eco-anxiety spectrum, on a scale from low-key stressed to lying up at night in a dread spiral, you could probably use some […]
- Saving forests to fight climate change will cost $393 billion annuallyby Megan McLaughlin on December 1, 2020 at 9:48 pm
Limiting global warming to 1.5 °C over pre-industrial levels is only possible if we make better use of the world's forests, which collectively act as a […]
- How to donate to fight climate change (effectively)by Megan McLaughlin on December 1, 2020 at 9:34 pm
Let's say you want to donate $25 to fighting climate change. Where should your money go?
- This year’s record-breaking Atlantic hurricane season is raising more concerns about climate changeby Megan McLaughlin on December 1, 2020 at 9:22 pm
It was clear before the 2020 Atlantic hurricane season started that it was going to be busy. Six months later, we're looking back at a trail of broken records, […]
- How climate change is targeting affordable housingby Megan McLaughlin on December 1, 2020 at 8:59 pm
Rising seas risk inundating housing markets in coastal cities that lack options for low-income residents, says a new study.
- Biden shortlist for key post shows environmental justice focusby Megan McLaughlin on December 1, 2020 at 8:46 pm
Candidates for head of Council on Environmental Quality signal likely prioritization of environmental policies to ensure cleaner air and water for poor and […]
- Pollution complicates COVID-19 fight in Indiaby Megan McLaughlin on December 1, 2020 at 8:40 pm
People in Delhi are going into the worst season for air pollution as new cases of COVID-19 are rising. Doctors in India are looking at the link between air […]
- Russia's Nornickel says it will spend $600 million collecting Soviet-era Arctic wasteby Megan McLaughlin on December 1, 2020 at 8:28 pm
Russian mining giant Norilsk Nickel, hit by a fuel spill at an Arctic power station in May, will spend $600 million by 2030 collecting Soviet-era waste around […]
- Aftermarket truck mods pollute as much as 9 million extra pickupsby Megan McLaughlin on December 1, 2020 at 8:18 pm
As automotive subcultures go, intentionally modifying your truck's diesel engine to make extra pollution is one of the more antisocial ones out there.
- How to fix a food system that's not designed to feed peopleby Laura Pyle on December 1, 2020 at 8:05 pm
We have been led to believe that Big Agriculture is the most efficient and effective way to feed a growing population, but this argument ignores the damage it […]
- Heat waves kill more people than any other weather disaster. These cities have a plan.by Laura Pyle on December 1, 2020 at 8:02 pm
Climate change is making cities unlivable for millions. Surviving rising temperatures means tackling inequality and rethinking who cities are really for.
- Trump’s border wall construction threatens survival of jaguars in the USby Megan McLaughlin on December 1, 2020 at 8:01 pm
Researchers say a permeable border allowing the jaguar and other animals to move freely is essential, yet narrow slats in the new wall prevent all but the […]
- 'Mock Cop26' activists vote on treaty ahead of 2021 climate summit | Climate change | The Guardianby Megan McLaughlin on December 1, 2020 at 7:53 pm
Young people from 140 countries presented policies to UK climate action champion
- No 10 accused of 'cavalier attitude' to UK's climate summit duties | Cop26: Glasgow climate change conference 2021 | The Guardianby Megan McLaughlin on December 1, 2020 at 7:48 pm
Boris Johnson’s advisers did not understand how vital UN Cop26 talks were, former minister tells MPs
- Costa Rica warns Biden that pandemic, climate change will increase migrationby Megan McLaughlin on December 1, 2020 at 7:48 pm
The president of Costa Rica, Carlos Alvarado, asked US President-elect Joe Biden to lead multilateral action to face the economic impacts of Covid-19 and […]
- Delay to Low Emission Zone put poor at increased risk from pollutionby Megan McLaughlin on December 1, 2020 at 7:25 pm
Boris Johnson was today accused of putting poorer residents' lives at risk when he delayed introducing the Low Emission Zone during his tenure as Mayor of […]
- Toxic ‘forever chemicals’ found in pesticide used on millions of Mass. acres when spraying for mosquitoesby Pete Myers on December 1, 2020 at 5:44 pm
The PFAS compounds are found in a range of commercial products and never fully degrade. They have been linked to cancer, low infant birth weights, and a range […]
- The race to crack battery recycling—before it’s too lateby Jim Germond on December 1, 2020 at 12:23 pm
Millions of EVs will soon hit the road, but the world isn’t ready for their old batteries. A crop of startups wants to crack this billion-dollar problem.
- Brazil's Amazon: Deforestation 'surges to 12-year high'by Megan McLaughlin on December 1, 2020 at 12:20 pm
Deforestation of the Amazon rainforest in Brazil has surged to its highest level since 2008, the country's space agency reports.
- Air pollution where girl died in London 'should have been treated as emergency'by Laura Pyle on December 1, 2020 at 12:19 pm
Illegal levels of air pollution in the area where a nine-year-old girl lived and died should have been treated as a public health emergency, an inquest heard.
- Energy industry braces for Biden-era court clashesby Autumnspanne1 on December 1, 2020 at 12:13 pm
Oil and gas trade groups are gearing up for a new round of courtroom battles as they watch how far President-elect Joe Biden will go to regulate activities […]
- EU to ban use of lead shot by wetland bird huntersby Autumnspanne1 on December 1, 2020 at 12:13 pm
Regulation will help prevent deaths of 1m waterbirds by lead poisoning every year.
- Climate change: Temperature analysis shows UN goals 'within reach'by Autumnspanne1 on December 1, 2020 at 12:10 pm
Moves by China, along with the election of Joe Biden, make temperature targets more achievable.
- Whitebark Pine Proposed for Endangered Species Act Protectionon December 1, 2020 at 12:00 am
- Second Lawsuit Aims to Finalize Endangered Species Protection for North Carolina Catfish, Salamanderon December 1, 2020 at 12:00 am
- Conferencia de prensa en línea para lanzar el Plan de Acción Presidencial sobre el Plástico el 8 de diciembreon December 1, 2020 at 12:00 am
- Lawsuit Threatened Over Federal Failure to Update Marine Mammal Assessmentson December 1, 2020 at 12:00 am
- Air pollution where girl died in London 'should have been treated as emergency'by Sandra Laville on November 30, 2020 at 2:01 pm
Inquest into Ella Kissi-Debrah’s asthma death hears Lewisham council was slow to tackle issueIllegal levels of air pollution in the area where a […]
- Hawai‘i Court Rules Commercial Aquarium Collection Without Environmental Review Illegalon November 30, 2020 at 12:00 am
- Online Press Conference to Launch Presidential Plastics Action Plan on Dec. 8on November 30, 2020 at 12:00 am
- San Francisco Bay Oil Tanker Dredging Project Shelvedon November 30, 2020 at 12:00 am
- Disappearing Great Plains Fish Proposed for Federal Protectionon November 30, 2020 at 12:00 am
- Lawsuit Targets Feds’ Failure to Protect Endangered Mount Graham Red Squirrel Habitaton November 30, 2020 at 12:00 am
- Ted Hughes reflects on the Rio Earth Summit, 1972by Chris Hall on November 29, 2020 at 6:00 am
The great poet gets to grips with images of the planet in danger, even thenTo mark the Earth Summit in Rio in 1992, the poet laureate Ted Hughes wrote about an […]
- Denmark could dig up and cremate mink killed in Covid cullby Agence France-Presse in Copenhagen on November 27, 2020 at 5:28 pm
Fears nitrogen and phosphorus could be released in large quantities into soil at grave sitesCoronavirus – latest updatesSee all our coronavirus […]
- Boris Johnson’s 'jet zero' green flight goal dismissed as a gimmickby Damian Carrington Environment editor on November 25, 2020 at 12:32 pm
Experts says technology alone will not get close to solving aviation’s emissions problemsBoris Johnson’s “jet zero” goal of a […]
- California Court Strikes Down Limits on Fighting Dirty Power Plantson November 25, 2020 at 12:00 am
- EPA Finds Glyphosate Is Likely to Injure or Kill 93% of Endangered Specieson November 25, 2020 at 12:00 am
- Feds Propose More Than 6,000 Square Miles of Coral Habitat Protections in Florida, Caribbean, Pacificon November 25, 2020 at 12:00 am
- Audit Finds California Oil Regulator’s Rampant Legal Violationson November 25, 2020 at 12:00 am
- Formosa Plastics Opponents Ask Feds to Expand Environmental Justice Analysis of Suspended Permit, Hold Hearingon November 24, 2020 at 12:00 am
- European governments failing to protect citizens from air pollution, data revealsby Fiona Harvey Environment correspondent on November 23, 2020 at 11:45 am
Pollutants from farming, heating and vehicles beyond levels needed to ensure breathable airGovernments across Europe are failing to protect their citizens from […]
- Federal Court Rejects Permits for Kalama Methanol Refineryon November 23, 2020 at 12:00 am