G1. Progressive Green

Adam Currie is Campaign and Movement Support Manager at 350 Aotearoa. In this piece, prompted by a photograph of the glacier collapse on the Tibet/Nepal border, Adam reflects on grief, scale, and the difference between despair and honest reckoning — and issues a gentle challenge: one climate commitment, made and kept, this September.

Credit: Chinese mountaineer Zhia Yitie

Take a look at this photo. It isn’t remarkable until you look closer. It shows the aftermath of the tragic glacier collapse on the Tibet/Nepal border. The pale stream running down the center is where the ice came away.

What made me double-take wasn’t what had fallen, but what remains.

Look closely at the glacier. Almost all of it is still there. Then think of the tens of thousands of other glaciers across the Himalayas and Hindu Kush. Picture yourself running away from a surging torrent caused by a collapsed glacier – as thousands in Nepal actually did. Imagine a circle widening across the globe from this one place: rivers, coastlines, towns, ecosystems and lives, all shaped by how much more warming we allow. And it’s so easy in our detached lives to not think about any of this – although perhaps less so for the increasing numbers of us struck by climate-fuelled disasters across the world.

It’s difficult to comprehend the scale of the damage still ahead of us, and there is plenty to grieve; not least the 1300+ folks killed by the flash floods. Our hearts and prayers go out to everyone affected — those who lost loved ones, homes, and communities in this disaster.

But let’s resist the urge to give up before we’ve truly lost. Because the same image also tells us something hopeful: there is still so much damage we can prevent.

The climate crisis isn’t a cliff we either fall off or don’t. There’s no single line that, once crossed, seals our fate — and no single line that, if held, saves us. It’s more like a boulder rolling down a long slope: it’s already moving, and we can’t stop it outright, but we can still shape how fast it goes and how much damage it does on the way down.

A recent UN report confirmed that the world is now set to breach the 1.5°C warming threshold within the next few years. That’s real, and it’s serious. But the same report makes a crucial point: breaching 1.5°C is not the same as losing. How far the boulder rolls, and how much it flattens on the way, is still being decided — by the emissions we cut or don’t cut, starting now.

That’s why every fraction of a degree matters: each one changes what happens on the way down, a slightly worse drought, a stronger storm, another flooded town. And that’s why every tonne of carbon we keep out of the atmosphere matters too — not because any one tonne will stop the boulder, but because collectively, our tonnes decide how hard it lands.

I am writing from New Zealand, where there is a whakataukī – or saying – “Kia whakatōmuri te haere whakamua” or “I walk backwards into the future with my eyes fixed on the past,” has always resonated with me, and never been more relevant toda

I remember the solidarity after the climate-fuelled destruction of Cyclone Gabrielle in 2023. People flooded into the area with shovels, food, generators, boats and above all, kindness. Roads were cut off and homes were destroyed, but communities still found ways to reach one another. Hope in moments like that one was never about pretending the damage is small; but is refusing to let the damage be the only thing that defines what happens next.

As I wrote in 2020, there’s no point in a ‘climate sprint’ into the future without learning from and honouring the climate-fuelled disasters that have already happened, or forgetting the mātauranga and ways of living that communities have carried for generations. Sure, a few technological ‘advancements’ may or may not give us a bump. But the key solutions are in the past – living within our means, leaning into hard work/discomfort, sharing, living in the right relationship with others and the land.

None of us controls the whole picture. But everyone reading this has some small piece of it within reach.

So, as September and spring begin, I encourage us all to make one new climate commitment for this month. Just one thing you will actually do differently. The commitment could be anything. Write to someone dealing with a climate disaster here or overseas. Turn up to a planting day. Donate to 350.org. Ground yourself in your community. Volunteer for a climate org. Reach out to someone you’ve lost touch with and pull them a little closer into your community.

The glacier in this photograph is partly gone, but most of it is still there. It’s the same with our humanity. This government and the philosophy behind it are doing their best to undermine the bonds that tie us to each other, and make us retreat into our shells. We’ve lost a lot. But most of us are still here. Monty Python might say, “Always look on the bright side of life.” To that I would add: if we truly believe in the bright side, we have to walk towards it.

 

Credit to Chinese mountaineer Zhia Yitie for the photo, and 350.org pioneer Bill McKibben for bringing our attention to it.

 

The post Finding Steady Ground on a Glacier still Standing: A Letter from Aotearoa appeared first on 350.

Hilary Swank letter urging Gov. Gavin Newsom to sign diaper ingredients disclosure bill Anthony Lacey September 11, 2026

Attached is actor and children’s health advocate Hilary Swank’s letter urging California Gov. Gavin Newsom to sign AB 1901, a diaper ingredients disclosure bill.

File Download Document hilary-swank-letter-to-gov-newsom-ab-1901.pdf Areas of Focus Family Health Women's Health Children’s Health Toxic Chemicals California Guest Authors Hilary Swank September 11, 2026

Among the stressors global heating will place on society there’s the fact that adapting to a hotter world is going to cost a ton of money. Stormwater systems, dams, and sea walls will need to be upgraded to withstand more intense flooding. Schools and hospitals designed to retain heat will need to be refitted to withstand punishing heatwaves.

In New York State alone, the costs of adapting public infrastructure due to the climate crisis is projected at $519 billion by 2050. That’s one state in one country. Multiply that across the world and you’re talking many, many trillions.

The question is: who is going to pick up the tab?

This question has vexed global climate talks for years. Low and middle income nations have done the least to cause global warming. Yet, they’re being hit hardest by punishing climate extremes. In response, Global South leaders have pushed the world’s wealthiest nations to pay their fair share for climate damages for decades.

This pushing is what helped create (the still shamefully underfunded) multilateral financing mechanisms, such as the Loss and Damage Fund and the Least Developed Countries Fund ― which are designed to move money to the world’s poorest countries to support climate mitigation and adaptation. 

Much more needs to be done to ensure nations that have benefited the most from fossil fuel-driven development are financially supporting those nations hit hardest by climate change: The estimated cost of the rebuilding from the deadly Nepal disaster is $5 billion, but they might not even get $20 million from the UN’s Loss and Damage Fund.

Here in the US, the question of who is going to pay the costs of adapting to a hotter, harsher world has become a key question at the local and state levels, too. 

This was the central observation of New York’s Climate Superfund Act. Passed in the twilight of 2024, the Climate Superfund Act requires the largest fossil fuel corporations to pay $75 billion to New York State. Payments would be made in annual $3 billion instalments over a 25 year period. 

This bill makes perfect sense. After all, somebody’s going to have to pick up New York’s $519 billion climate tab – and the industry that caused the problem should pay their fair share. 

Unfortunately, last week, New York’s efforts experienced a setback when a federal judge ruled that it cannot enact the legislation. While the case is sure to be appealed, it’s a frustrating development at a time the costs of the climate crisis are becoming ever more clear.

But a single court ruling in a single court can’t stop a movement. Climate superfund legislation has been introduced in sixteen states and one ruling in a single court district does nothing to stop other states from implementing their own Climate Superfund laws.

And across the world, additional efforts to make polluters pay are proliferating like wildflowers after a rain. 

In July, Portugal passed a 33% windfall tax on extraordinary profits earned by oil companies due to the Iran War. A bill to that end has also been introduced in the US Senate, and been championed by French campaigners and leading UK politicians. 

This year, legislation introduced in California, Hawaii, and New York would enable state attorneys general to sue fossil fuel companies for economic losses from climate disasters. 

In Connecticut, a bill we’re working on would place a 5% surcharge on fossil fuel companies’ insurance policies, raising millions for climate resilience programs; the bill passed out of the appropriations committee with a supermajority last year. It could well pass in 2027. 

The fossil fuel industry clearly sees these attempts for accountability as a serious threat. Big Oil’s puppets in Congress have introduced legislation that would provide the fossil fuel industry with near total immunity from lawsuits and legislation designed to make it pay for climate damages.

This front of the climate fight will enter a new phase next month, as the Supreme Court hears arguments in the Boulder vs Suncor case. If you’re in DC, you should join the People Vs Big Oil rally at the Supreme Court on October 5th.

No matter the outcome of the Supreme Court case though, the question of who is going to pay for the climate crisis is only going to become more salient in the years ahead.

Our job in this fight is to bring a new common sense into being: Polluters should pay for the harm they have caused. 

In Solidarity
– Alec Connon, Stop the Money Pipeline coalition director 

News & Updates from the Coalition

– Calls to Investigate Musk & DOGE gain traction

Members of Congress are responding to our calls to hold investigations into Elon Musk and DOGE in the new Congress. Since last month, we’ve secured new commitments from 8  elected officials, including Rep. James Walkinshaw (VA), Senator Cory Booker (NJ), and Rep. Mark Desaulnier (CA). See what they’re saying here. 

Check out our latest campaign video, made in collaboration with our friends at Feds Work for You and featuring a former FDA worker who was fired by DOGE last year. Months before the cyclospora outbreak, he warns our food supply will become less safe due to Musk’s disastrous mass firings at the FDA.

To get all the latest campaign updates, sign the petition here.

– Insure our Communities

Last week, news broke that as insurance companies abandon communities vulnerable to climate disasters, millions of Americans are being forced onto subprime insurance policies that offer less coverage and fewer protections. 

In the coming months, we’ll be announcing a major new campaign to hold insurers accountable and pass legislation to make insurers and fossil fuel companies pay for their role in the climate crisis.

If you’re in New York State, take two steps to support this effort right now:

• Complete the Insure our Communities survey – we’ll use the responses to this survey to advocate for the game changing Insure our Communities Act. If passed, the IOC Act would force insurance companies to stop underwriting new coal, oil, and gas projects, raising the costs of all new fossil fuel expansion. The survey takes 15 minutes to complete.

• Join us on Weds, Sept 23rd at City Winery in Manhattan for our New York Climate Week panel event: An Honest Conversation about the Insurability Crisis. We’ll be joined by NY Assemblymember Gallagher and Assemblymember Forrest’s legislative director, Mirabel Sandler, as we discuss how the climate crisis is driving the affordability crisis, why the Insure our Communities Act is a key part of the solution – and what you can do to help pass it in 2027.

 – Unplug AI Week of Action

Between September 19-24, our partners at Planet Over Profit, Climate Defenders, NYCC, RAN and Public Citizen, are organizing a week of action targeting the Big Tech companies driving the AI data center buildout. 

The data center build out is a huge threat to our climate goals. US power emissions could rise 20% from data center build out. Not only that but data centers raise our energy bills and pollute our communities, all in service of entrenching Big Tech’s political power over our lives.

The goal of the Unplug AI Week of Action is to make it crystal clear that Big Tech is a climate villain and challenge Big Tech’s political power. Join the Unplug AI Week of Action here.

 – BlackRock loses billions over climate concerns

The Dutch pension fund, Recreation Pension Fund (RPF), is divesting €450 million ($525 million) from BlackRock, owing to climate concerns. This makes RPF, the fourth major European pension fund to break ties with BlackRock, the world’s second-largest funder of fossil fuels. This news also follows analysis suggesting that BlackRock recently lost a $52 billion mandate from Japan’s Government Pension Investment Fund (PIF), owing to a shift in the pensions climate policies. If this is accurate, total divestment from the US-based asset managers, BlackRock and State Street, owing to climate concerns now stands at more than $102 billion. 

Meanwhile, New York City Comptroller Mark Levine has announced a search for new asset managers for the city’s pension funds and that “limits on carbon” will be a factor considered by the City. Currently, New York City invests approximately $60 billion of its funds with BlackRock.

– Two wins from the frontlines of fossil fuel expansion.

Two important developments from the Gulf South, which is home to the world’s largest buildout of new fossil fuel projects. First up, a federal court revoked a license for the Texas Gulflink deep-sea crude oil export terminal project planned off the coast of Brazoria County, Texas. 

Next up, one of Japan’s largest public financing institutions, JBIC, announced it would be investigating complaints filed by community advocates over its financing of the Freeport Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) export project. JBIC has provided more than $2.6 billion in financing for the construction of the Freeport LNG project, so this could potentially be a big deal. More here. 

– Align Your Money With Your Values

• Our partners at Third Act host an interactive on-line learning series every month on how we can take action to prevent our bank deposits, credit cards, home/auto insurance premiums, and investments from being used to finance the fossil fuel industry… and instead fund local businesses, community development, and the buildout of renewable energy. 

  The next learning session is on Monday, Sept 14th at 1PT/4ET. RSVP here.

– Costco campaign

The Costco Clean Up Your Credit Card campaign is still going strong. Last week, a coalition of frontline community organizations delivered a letter signed by nearly 500 Texans and Louisiana’s to Costco’s regional office in Plano, Texas. Shortly after, the team got confirmation from a local warehouse that this delivery caused the regional office to send a note to the nearby warehouses in the area, telling them that they are passing our concerns up to leadership.

We’ve also gotten an overwhelmingly positive response from Costco HQ employees, dozens of which have agreed to share our concerns internally with their teams. Check out this fun video of our canvassing efforts. 

Reach out to sarahlasoff@stopthemoneypipeline.org if you want to hear about upcoming on-the-ground campaign opportunities in San Antonio, TX, across Louisiana, or around the Seattle area.

And to close out this month’s newsletter, here’s a photo of Sarah – on helium, apparently  – outside of Costco’s HQ:

The post September Newsletter: Who’s going to pay? appeared first on Stop the Money Pipeline.

If you feel like you’ve heard less from us recently, there’s a good reason for that. We’ve been deep in campaign research, developing what we think will be a central pillar of our strategy for the next several years.

We’re not ready to announce our plans yet, but we can say that we’re looking very closely at the insurance industry. 

It may be one of the dullest industries on earth, but the insurance industry is a key player in the energy transition, one that could hasten the end of fossil fuels, or slow down the energy transition considerably. 

Between 2004 and 2024, one-third of all weather-related payouts made by the industry ― totalling $600 billion ― could be directly attributed to climate change.

In a sane world, this would push insurance companies to recognize that Big Oil poses an existential threat to its business model, cease their support of oil and gas, and scale up support of renewables.  

Instead, insurance companies, such as State Farm, Chubb, and Liberty Mutual, are passing the full costs of the climate crisis onto their customers ― and doubling down on oil and gas.

Between 2019 to 2025, insurance companies hiked home insurance premiums by an average of 70 percent across the country, causing insurance costs to become a major challenge for millions of homeowners and prospective home buyers. 

As many as 1 in 8 homeowners can no longer even get home insurance, leaving them financially exposed in the event of a climate-driven extreme weather event damaging their property. 

At the same time as implementing record-breaking rate hikes, CEOs are making more money than ever. In 2025 ― the most profitable year for the property and casualty insurance industry in decades ― the CEOs at the 10 largest insurers banked a whopping $134 million, a 27% increase from 2024.

And as Big Insurance sticks working- and middle-class Americans with the bill for the climate crisis, it’s fueling the flames of the climate crisis further still.  

Insurance industry trade groups regularly lobby against climate policy and recently filed an amicus brief, siding with oil and gas companies in an impending Supreme Court case. Worse still, insurance companies continue to enable oil and gas expansion, both as a major investor in fossil fuels and by providing insurance coverage to new coal, oil, and gas projects.  

U.S. insurance companies are also falling well behind their global peers in terms of revenue growth from renewables, as they fail to insure clean energy projects. 

So to summarize, here we have an industry that’s:

• Making life less affordable for tens of millions of Americans 

• Making record profits and boosting CEO pay 

• Fueling the climate crisis by lobbying against climate policy, backing oil and gas expansion, and failing to adequately support the clean energy sector

 

Fortunately, unlike every other pillar of the financial industry, insurance companies are regulated at the state level. 

That means that any state legislature or Insurance Commissioner that cares about stopping the climate crisis and protecting people from the predations of corporate greed can pass legislation and regulations curtailing the industry to that effect. 

A lot of these efforts are already in motion. In Connecticut, Senate Bill 453 would place a surcharge on the premiums insurance companies charge on fossil fuel projects to raise money for climate resilience projects. In California and Hawaii, campaigns are underway to get state Attorneys General to sue oil and gas companies to recoup the costs borne by consumers from climate-driven insurance premium rate hikes. 

In New York, we’re building a coalition around the Insure our Communities Act. The strongest insurance-related, anti-oil and gas bill in the country, the Insure our Communities Act would compel any insurance company that wants a license to do business in the state of New York to stop underwriting new oil and gas projects. 

But I’ve probably said enough for now. As I said at the start of this newsletter, we’re still in the process of developing our campaign plans.

Over the next month or two, we’ll be continuing to figure out the best way that we can take the fight to the insurance industry head on, fighting to get mega corporations like State Farm to pay their fair share for the climate crisis, take care of communities, and end their support of oil and gas.

If you want to support this work, you can make a donation here. We look forward to sharing more soon.  

In Solidarity
– Alec Connon, Stop the Money Pipeline, coalition director

News & Updates from the Coalition

– Calls to Investigate Musk & DOGE gain traction

As it becomes clear that Musk’s dismantling of USAID has killed countless children around the world, our Investigate DOGE campaign has secured commitments from five Members of Congress to support investigations and hearings into Musk and DOGE in the new Congress ― Rep. Robert Garcia (CA), Rep. John B. Larson (CT), Rep. Ro Khanna (CA), Rep. James Talarico (TX), and Senator Kirsten Gillibrand (NY). 

But to make investigations and hearings into Musk and DOGE a reality, we need many more Members of Congress to stand up and fight to hold the world’s richest man to account.

Email your Members of Congress now and urge them to hold Musk and his DOGE bros to account. 

 

– Santander backs off a dangerous LNG project

In April, 33,000 of you sent emails to Santander’s leadership, demanding the bank stop financing new fossil fuels. In May, we joined Rainforest Action Network and Amazon Watch to meet their senior management and push them to stop backsliding on climate.

Now, in response to years of organizing from partners in Mexico and Latin America, Santander has felt the need to publish a statement claiming that it is not financing the controversial Saguaro and AMIGO LNG projects, both of which would threaten biodiverse marine ecosystems and lock in decades more fossil fuel pollution.

This claim contradicts a public statement made in October 2024 by the CEO of the company behind Saguaro LNG, who named Santander as one of the financial advisers for the project.

The fact that Santander now feels compelled to publicly distance itself from these toxic projects is a notable victory for the growing global campaign on Santander.

 

– Supporting state leadership through Local Leads, Global Impacts

Through our year-long leadership development program, Local Leads, Global Impacts, we have the honor of supporting and coaching a cohort of talented, dedicated campaigners across the country. One of the cohort members is 350 Seattle’s campaigns director, Aki Chatterji, who is leading the Make Polluters Pay WA campaign. 

As 65,000 people are evacuated from Spokane in the face of terrifying wildfires, and Big Oil makes record profits, it’s never been clearer that Big Oil, not everyday people, should pay for the wildfire response and recovery in Spokane and elsewhere, and that Big Oil, not everyday people, should pay for the cooling centers, affordable clean energy, healthy housing and other climate resilience solutions our communities need to survive.

If you’re in Washington State, get plugged into the Make Polluters Pay WA campaign by sending an email to your state legislators urging them to Make Polluters Pay.

You can also find more ways to plug into the campaign here.  

 

– And fighting off Big Oil’s attempts to gain legal immunity

With arguments before the Supreme Court between the City & County of Boulder and Suncor and Exxon-Mobil set to begin on October 5th, Big Oil is desperately trying to win legal immunity from the many lawsuits and pieces of legislation seeking to hold fossil fuel corporations accountable for their decades of lies, deception and pollution that have led us to the world of climate disasters we’re now living through. This includes efforts from Big Oil to pass a “legal immunity shield” in Congress, pass state bills invalidating climate lawsuits and legislation, and pleading their case in the courts. 

Two weeks ago, more than 5,000 of you sent emails to your Members of Congress, urging them to sign onto an amicus brief on the side of Boulder in the impending SCOTUS case that starts in October. In response, more than 90 Members of Congress added their name to the legal briefing, the most sitting Members of Congress to ever sign on to such a legal manoeuvre. 

Learn more & join the No Immunity for Big Oil campaign here.

– Aligning your money with your values

Last month’s annual Banking on Climate Chaos report reminded us just how bad the big Wall Street banks are: More than one-third of the $900+ billion commercial banks provided to fossil fuel companies in 2025 came from just ten US megabanks. 

So, we were glad to see our partners at Green America also reminding us that you can ensure your money isn’t going into new fossil fuel projects by finding a better bank. Check out their amazing Get A Better Bank tool to learn how. Incredibly, every $1,000 in a major Wall Street bank has the emissions equivalent of a return flight between New York and Seattle.

– If bombing an elementary school isn’t a redline. What is?

Anthropic CEO Dario Amodei recently admitted he doesn’t know if Anthropic’s AI was used in the bombing of the Shajareh Tayyebeh Elementary School which killed nearly 200 people, including 120 children. Amodei also claimed that regardless of whether his company’s AI was used in the strike, it was not a violation of its use-case “redlines” because “a human made that final call, not Claude.”

To call out the role of AI companies in the Iranian school bombing and the US war machine, we teamed up with Tesla Takedown to deploy art-installation actions at the offices of Anthropic, Google, Amazon, OpenAI, Microsoft, and Tesla, leaving child-sized body bags, flowers, audio of bombings and children playing, and a banner that read: Stop AI School Bombings.

Because, at the end of the day, if bombing an elementary school full of children doesn’t cross one of your red lines, there’s something deeply wrong with you and your company. 

 

– And, finally, keeping our eyes on Costco until we win

Costco’s 13 million co-branded credit cards are with Citibank, the #1 funder of toxic petrochemicals in the U.S. and the world’s 3rd largest funder of fossil fuels in recent years. Costco’s contract, which is worth 13 million credit cards, goes up for bid next year, so we’re doing everything possible to let Costco know we want them to choose a better credit card partner! 

If you’re in Texas and Louisiana, sign on to the Gulf South letter to Costco urging Costco to choose a credit card partner that is not destroying communities in the Gulf South.

If you’re in the Seattle area and want to canvass Costco headquarter employees, shoot our Seattle-based organizer Jake an email: jake@stopthemoneypipeline.org. And for all the latest updates, follow the campaign Instagram.

To close out this month’s newsletter, here’s Jake and the crew speaking about the campaign at a recent campaign event:

 

– Not read enough about insurance in this newsletter? Read on!

Later today at 2ET, our friends at AFR are hosting an informational webinar: Skyrocketing insurance costs hitting renters: How cities and affordable housing providers are fighting back. RSVP here.

On the call a panel of experts will discuss how cities and affordable housing developers can push back against skyrocketing insurance costs, and NYC Mayor Mamdani’s Housing Commissioner Dina Levy, will share updates on the Mayor’s affordable insurance program.

The post August Newsletter: Big Insurance – gouging customers and siding with Big Oil. appeared first on Stop the Money Pipeline.

Guest post written by Nyla Hankins, a Dogwood Alliance North Carolina Legislative Fellow Community organizer, Anita Cunningham, reached out to me about joining Dogwood Alliance’s North Carolina Legislative Fellowship. At […]

The post Whose Story Is Missing? The Power of Being Informed first appeared on Dogwood Alliance.

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Over the last few years, the online gaming landscape in Sweden has experienced considerable growth, drawing in both residential and global gamers. With the advent of technological improvements, svenska gambling establishment online systems have actually come to be significantly prominent, providing a broad selection of games and betting options. This write-up delves into the dynamics that have added to the blossoming popularity of online gambling enterprises in Sweden and checks out the crucial aspects that players need to think about.

The growth of on the internet gambling establishments in Sweden is not simply a pattern however a representation of broader social changes and customer choices. As internet connectivity boosts and mobile modern technology breakthroughs, more Swedes are turning to on the internet platforms for their gambling requires. This shift has necessitated regulatory adjustments and has driven development within the industry.

The Regulatory Landscape of Svenska Casino Site Online

One of the critical components shaping the Swedish online gambling enterprise market is its governing structure. The re-regulation of the Swedish video gaming market on January 1, 2019, noted a considerable shift in the industry’s procedure. Under the brand-new system, online betting operators need to obtain a Swedish license to use their solutions legitimately. This action aimed to ensure consumer security, advertise liable gambling, and remove unlicensed operators from the market.

The Swedish Betting Authority, or Spelinspektionen, plays an important role in supervising the market, guaranteeing that certified operators follow rigorous standards. These regulations cover elements such as fair gaming practices, anti-money laundering steps, and advertising and marketing criteria. This durable regulatory environment is created to cultivate a safe and fair video gaming experience for players.

In spite of the strict regulations, the demand for accredited svenska casino site online systems remains durable. Lots of players value the protection and justness that certified casinos offer, contributing to their expanding popularity.

• Mandatory consumer identity confirmation.
• Rigorous marketing and bonus offering standards.
• Implementation of the self-exclusion plan, Spelpaus.
• Regular audits for video game fairness and security.

These steps underscore Sweden’s commitment to producing a well balanced ecological community where players can appreciate betting sensibly, while companies operate transparently.

Key Functions of Svenska Casino Site Online

The success of on the internet gambling establishments in Sweden can also be credited to the exceptional user experience they supply. Many systems emphasize seamless navigating, making it easy for players to find their preferred games. The assimilation of advanced technology guarantees a glitch-free pc gaming experience, which is critical in keeping customer involvement.

Anybody knowledgeable about svenska gambling establishment online will identify the extensive range of games readily available. From timeless table video games like blackjack and roulette to cutting-edge video clip slots and live dealer video games, there’s something for everyone. These platforms also often include games certain to Swedish culture, adding a local touch that resonates with domestic gamers.

One more substantial attribute of Swedish on the internet casino sites is their dedication to accountable nightwin app gaming. Players have accessibility to tools that help them set limits on their costs and time spent on the system, strengthening a healthy and balanced method to betting.

Repayment Approaches and Protection

Safeguard and varied payment alternatives are another foundation of the svenska casino site online experience. Gamers can pick from a range of repayment methods, including credit rating and debit cards, e-wallets, and even straight bank transfers. This versatility ensures that gamers can transfer and take out funds in a manner that ideal suits their preferences.

• Visa and MasterCard for instant transactions.
• Popular e-wallets like Skrill and Neteller.
• Trustly for seamless financial institution transfers.
• Advanced security technology for information protection.

The concentrate on safety and security is critical, with security innovations utilized to protect individual and financial info. This guarantee of security more boosts the depend on gamers have in these systems.

Future Potential Customers of Svenska Gambling Enterprise Online

As the market remains to advance, the future of svenska gambling establishment online looks promising. Recurring technical developments, such as online reality (VR) and augmented truth (AR), are set to redefine the online gaming experience. These modern technologies guarantee to supply more immersive and interactive video gaming experiences, potentially attracting a new age of gamers.

In addition, the expanding trend in the direction of mobile video gaming is expected to intensify as more gamers select the convenience of using their smartphones and tablets. This shift provides opportunities for drivers to establish mobile-optimized platforms that cater particularly to the needs of mobile individuals.

Conclusion: Welcoming the New Age

The svenska gambling establishment online market is positioned for ongoing development, driven by technological developments and a helpful regulatory structure. Gamers can expect boosted gaming experiences, boosted by durable safety measures and compelling video game offerings.

As Swedish players remain to accept online betting, drivers will require to stay adaptive, guaranteeing they meet the advancing demands of their target market while maintaining the greatest requirements of stability and obligation.

The post The Surge of Svenska Casino Site Online: A Comprehensive Overview appeared first on test.

They can be easy to miss, but in the climate fight there are positive signs: Globally, clean energy investment has doubled fossil fuel investment two years in a row; despite Trump’s best efforts, solar and wind continue to dominate new power plant construction in the US; China’s emissions appear to have peaked in 2024.    

Scratch an inch deeper however, and the climate math is scarier than ever. Eight years on from the IPCC’s landmark 2018 report that warned we had twelve years to slash global emissions to avoid dangerous climate feedback loops, emissions are higher than ever.

Today, we’re beginning to live with the consequences of our failure to heed the warnings. According to modeling commissioned by the Economist, the recent European heatwave probably killed 12,000 people in three days; at least 25 people died due to heat stress in New Jersey over the holiday weekend; deadly rainfalls are currently pummeling Mumbai and much of China. 

Last month saw the release of two major reports that highlight how we’ve gotten into this mess. Released in early June, Banking on Climate Chaos is the world’s premier annual assessment of bank financing of fossil fuels and its topline findings were stark: bank financing for fossil fuels increased sharply between 2025 and 2024. Citibank, Wells Fargo, JPMorgan Chase: all financed more coal, oil, and gas in 2025 than the year before.

Released a couple of weeks later, Investing in Climate Chaos analyzes the world’s largest investors in fossil fuels. It revealed that even major investors that you might expect better of are failing the most fundamental of climate tests. Three of the four pension funds with the largest holdings in fossil fuels are California and New York’s public pensions.  

Reading these two reports, in the lead up to the country’s birthday celebrations, one other major takeaway jumped out to me: no other nation is as responsible for the fossil fuel expansion fueling deadly climate change as our own. Nobody else is even close. 

The numbers speak volumes: 

• US investors are responsible for 62% of all institutional investments in fossil fuel corporations.
• 8 of the world’s top 10 investors in fossil fuels are US-based.
• More than one-third of the $900+ billion commercial banks provided to fossil fuel companies last year came from just ten US megabanks. 

I suppose the fact that the United States is beating heart of fossil finance shouldn’t come as a shock. For years, as China has been making strides to becoming the world’s first electrostate, we’ve been doubling down on becoming the world’s largest petrostate.

The US first overtook Saudi Arabia to become the world’s largest oil producer in 2018. By 2024, the US was producing twice as much oil as Saudi Arabia, the world’s second-largest oil producer. 

It’s hard not to look at just how much the US has become the heartland of the fossil fuel industry and the great web of finance that holds it up and conclude that, one way or another, the climate fight will largely be won or lost here, in the belly of the Big Oil beast.

The fossil fuel industry, after all, is the largest obstacle to climate action, whether at the global, national, or local level. There is no solving the climate crisis without directly taking on and figuring out a way of defeating the fossil fuel industry.

This is why, here at Stop the Money Pipeline ― even as we expand our campaigns to tackle the rise of authoritarianism ― we’re never going to take our eye off our original mission of severing the financial umbilical cord between Wall Street and Big Oil.  

And even if the reports out last month highlight how challenging that is going to be, the heat and the storms pummeling so much of the world are also a reminder of how essential it is, too. 

In Solidarity
– Alec Connon, Stop the Money Pipeline coalition director

News & Updates from the Coalition

– BlackRock’s $42 billion problem

The New York City Comptroller, Mark Levine, has announced that the city’s pension plans are beginning a new search for asset managers to manage their massive investments – and the city will factor climate criteria into how it will assess its hiring of new asset managers. This could mean BlackRock, the world’s second-largest investor in fossil fuels, losing out on $40 billion worth of business, owing to its failure to support climate action. 

Such a move would follow hot on the heels of massive European (and possibly Asian) pensions pulling billions from BlackRock. Who knows? Maybe Larry Fink will soon start to get the message: climate action is good for business.

– No Immunity for Big Oil

After New York and Vermont passed “Make Polluters Pay” bills in 2024 which would force major oil companies to help pay for the climate damages they caused, Big Oil made pushing Congress to pass a blanket “immunity shield” its top priority. In response, Republicans have introduced federal legislation that would prevent Americans from holding Big Oil financially or legally liable for climate damages, ever again. 

Last week, 4,000+ of you sent emails to your Member of Congress demanding that they oppose legal immunity for Big Oil. If you haven’t done so yet, you can send an email to your Member of Congress here. Once you send an email, we’ll follow up with other ways for you to take action on this. 

– Got a 401(k)? Want it to support climate action, not fossil fuels?

Stand.earth has released this great step-by-step guide to help you push your employer and your retirement plan to offer pension options that support a just transition. They also released this briefing, highlighting exactly the kind of dirty fossil fuels many of our retirement plans are currently invested in.

– Holding Musk accountable

There have been many travesties under the Trump Administration, but allowing the world’s richest man to destroy USAID and kill countless children in the process is one of the deepest. That’s just one reason why the new Congress must commit to hold investigations and hearings into DOGE – we deserve to understand exactly what happened to our data, and exactly what the impacts of Musk’s actions were. 

If you haven’t signed our campaign petition to Congress yet, you can join 50,000 others and 50+ organizations and unions in signing here. Once you sign the petition, we’ll follow up with more ways to plug into this campaign.

– Making Citibank pay for its environmental racism

If the news that big banks have increased their support of fossil fuels again has got you angry, here’s one thing you can do: plug into our campaign to call on Costco to dump Citibank, and take its 13 million credit cards with them.

If you’re in Texas or Louisiana, sign this Gulf South letter to Costco. If you’re in the Seattle area, email Sarah to plug into flyering Costco HQ employees.

– Vs. Goliath

A new award-winning, four-part documentary series from Tikkun Olam Productions & Fossil Free Media, VS. GOLIATH, follows everyday people, including many friends of STMP, across the country as they stand up to the fossil fuel industry. Check out the trailer here.

Fossil Free Media is hosting virtual screenings of a VS. GOLIATH episode on the first Tuesday of each month. Each screening will be followed by a Q&A panel with activists featured in the episode, and serve as an opportunity for viewers to learn, strategize and get inspired for the fights that lie ahead.

RSVP and details for each screening:

• July 7th (TODAY!) — VS. GOLIATH: Cancer Alley 
• August 4 — VS. GOLIATH: Appalachia
• September 1 — VS. GOLIATH: Greater Chaco
• October 6 — VS. GOLIATH: Port Arthur

– Insures make record profits

Have you noticed your home insurance getting more expensive lately? If so, you’re not alone. In the face of a huge rise in climate-driven disasters, homeowners in almost every state are facing skyrocketing premiums and many cannot even get insurance any more.

But here’s the thing, as a new report from Public Citizen and Revolving Door Project reveal,  insurance companies are raking in record profits, even as they raise rates for the rest of us.

Oh and at the same time as raking in record profits and hiking rates for all of us, the insurance industry has weighed in on the side of Big Oil in a pending Supreme Court case, arguing that local and state governments shouldn’t be allowed to sue fossil fuel companies for climate damages. 

All of which is, of course, all the more reason to pass legislation like the Insure our Communities Act in New York…

– And a reminder: just how much we really are a petrostate

To close out this month’s newsletter, here’s a graphic from Statista that really hammers home just how much the US has become the world’s number one petrostate. Here’s to all of you working, in a million different ways, to change this:

The post July Newsletter: The climate fight will be won or lost here. appeared first on Stop the Money Pipeline.

What does the Pacific Ocean have to do with the electricity you need to charge your phone?

Quite a lot, actually.

Scientists are monitoring the development of El Niño, a natural climate pattern that begins with unusually warm ocean temperatures in the Pacific. It might seem a long way from South Africa, and it is, but changes in the Pacific can influence weather patterns thousands of kilometres away.

For Southern Africa, that can mean hotter and drier conditions, putting more pressure on water supplies and agriculture while increasing the risk of fires.

In the Western Cape, officials are already warning that the months ahead could bring higher temperatures, increased fire risk and greater pressure on water resources.

We don’t often connect what is happening with the climate to what is happening in our energy system. But we should. Our electricity system doesn’t operate in a vacuum. It operates in a world that is getting hotter, drier and more extreme. That changes things.

More extreme heat can drive up electricity demand as households and businesses try to keep cool. Fires, floods and severe storms can damage power lines, substations and other infrastructure used to distribute electricity. Water shortages can create additional challenges for parts of the electricity system that depend on reliable water supplies.

These impacts can have very real consequences. Damaged infrastructure can leave people without power. Rising demand can put an already stretched system under even more pressure. Repairs and replacements can increase costs. When the grid is under pressure, electricity becomes scarcer and more expensive.

When we connect the weather and electricity, one thing becomes clear: climate change is changing the conditions in which our electricity system has to operate.

South Africa’s electricity system isn’t exactly starting from a position of strength. We’ve spent years dealing with loadshedding, load reduction, breakdowns and expensive diesel backup, all of which have made the system unreliable, unaffordable and inaccessible.

Unpredictable weather caused by climate change adds another layer to these challenges.

At the same time, South Africa is in the middle of a major reform of its electricity system. We’re talking about electricity market reform, new generation, transmission infrastructure, electricity pricing, the future of Eskom, the role of renewable energy, and how to make electricity more affordable and accessible.

These decisions will shape our energy future. That means we can’t just ask, “Will the lights stay on?” We also need to ask, “Will the energy system we’re building be resilient to climate change?”

We may not have all the answers yet. But the current reforms give us an opportunity to think beyond simply producing more electricity and start thinking about the kind of energy future we want and need.

One that is reliable.

One that people can afford.

One that everyone can access.

One that can withstand a changing climate.

 

 

Written by: Boitumelo Masipa for 350.org

Sources:

Western Cape warns of El Niño risks as summer heat, fires and water pressure loom 

Transforming our energy system to ensure reliable and affordable electricity for all | South African Government 

The post Can South Africa’s Electricity System Weather What’s Coming? appeared first on 350.

When Donald Trump was elected, we knew our strategy would need to change. Up until that point we’d been laser focused on pushing Wall Street to stop backing Big Oil ― but when the world changes, your strategy needs to as well.

That’s why, in early 2025, we officially expanded our mission to have a twin approach: fighting fossil fuels, and fighting the rising threat of fascism in this country. 

Since then, a lot of our campaigns have centered on Elon Musk. We’ve supported the Tesla Takedown movement; pushed pension funds and local governments to break ties with Musk; and led a campaign to get thousands to cancel their T-Mobile contracts, owing to its ties with Musk and Trump. 

Our focus on Musk is down to a simple fact: in the fight to preserve democracy, Elon Musk remains a uniquely dangerous threat. 

Since January, Musk’s AI, Grok, has created and distributed millions of fake, nonconsensual sexualized images of women and girls, including thousands of sexualized images of children. 

Between last October and mid-April, Musk posted on X about white grievance politics 850 times, posting nearly daily about white supremacist conspiracy theories such as their being a “genocide” happening against white people. This week, Musk has been busy encouraging race riots in the UK. 

And, after spending nearly $290 million to get Trump elected, Musk caused untold harm in his role at DOGE. Tens of thousands of dedicated public servants were fired, core functions of the government were shredded, and Musk destroyed USAID, an act that killed more than 500,000 of the world’s poorest children in just the twelve months that followed. 

Former DOGE staff, who worked under Musk, are under investigation for stealing the sensitive data of every living American, and for stealing huge troves of data related to labor union organizing and labor complaints. 

That’s why we’ve launched the DOGE Accountability campaign, calling for Members of Congress to commit to hold Congressional hearings and investigations into DOGE in the new Congress.

So far, our petition to Congress has been signed by over 50,000 individuals, 50+ organizations, the labor unions SEIU and CWA, which represent nearly 3 million workers, and the Climate Justice Alliance, a network of 95 leading environmental and climate justice groups across the country.

Next up, between June 12th and June 18th, we’re organizing a week of action. All across the country, activists like you, who care about holding the world’s richest racist accountable, will deliver copies of the campaign petition to their Members of Congress and urge them to hold Musk and DOGE accountable.

You can sign up here to deliver a petition, and help build the people power needed to push the new Congress to hold Elon Musk accountable. Once you’ve signed up, our campaign lead, Nancy, will plug you into an organizing meeting and share everything you need to join the week of action.

I’m genuinely excited about the momentum this campaign has generated already. Not only because it would be really satisfying to see Musk squirm before Congressional hearings, but because it’s critical that the new Congress stands up to billionaires like Musk. 

What kind of message does it send if Musk can destroy huge swathes of the government and not face any accountability for his actions? What kind of message does that send the rest of the tech oligarchs and billionaires?

That’s why this campaign matters: it’s about showing there are meaningful checks on the power of billionaires; it’s about sending a message to the entire billionaire class: if you break the law, you will be held accountable. 

So, join the week of action and be a part of a movement taking on the world’s richest far-right extremist,

In Solidarity
– Alec Connon, Stop the Money Pipeline coalition director

News & Updates from the Coalition

– Meeting with Santander Bank’s leadership

In April, 33,000 of you sent emails to Santander executives, calling out the bank for rolling back climate promises, financing fossil fuel expansion, and supporting Big Oil’s latest attempt to water down global climate policy.

This week, I joined other representatives from the STMP network to meet with the bank’s top sustainability managers. During the meeting, they made their frustrations at receiving 33,000 emails clear – a sure sign of the effectiveness of the tactic. 

And while we didn’t come to an agreement with the bank during the meeting, we did make it  crystal clear: so long as Santander continues to undermine the energy transition, they can expect push back.

– Insuring communities, not fossil fuels.

The insurance industry is emerging as a critical villain in the climate story. Not content with abandoning communities while continuing to underwrite new fossil fuel projects, the top insurance lobbying group recently filed an amicus brief siding with Big Oil in the pending Supreme Court case over whether local governments can sue fossil fuel companies for damages from climate disasters.

That’s why one of our top priorities right now is building the power required to pass the Insure our Communities Act in New York. If passed, this bill would force insurance companies doing business in New York to stop insuring new coal, oil, and gas projects.

If you’re in New York State, you can join the Insure our Communities New York campaign here.

And no matter where you are, join our partners at Green America on June 16th for a webinar discussing how the largest property insurance companies are fueling the climate crisis, and how you can find climate-smart option insurance options.

– Gulf South environmental justice leaders visit Tokyo

This month, Gulf South-based environmental justice leaders, Manning Rollerson, Gwendolyn Jones, and Melanie Oldham, traveled from Texas to Tokyo to submit a first-of-a-kind series of coordinated complaints against the Japanese financiers of Freeport LNG.

These complaints are a key first step in holding Japanese financiers – some of the largest funders of the build out of LNG in the Gulf South – accountable for funding harmful LNG projects across the Gulf South. The complaints detail the 2022 explosion, health harms, and climate & environmental damage done by Freeport LNG. Read more here and here; watch here and here.

– Letting Costco know: the Gulf South demands it dumps Citibank

The recently-released Toxic Finance report revealed that Citibank, Costco’s credit card partner, is the #1 funder of petrochemicals in the United States. So, we’re teaming up with Texas Campaign for the Environment to deliver copies of the Toxic Finance report to every Costco warehouse in Texas and Louisiana to let Costco know that Gulf South community members want toxic Citi out of our Costcos.

If you live in Texas or Louisiana, join a team delivering a report to your local Costco or sign the letter to Costco here.

– Trump’s latest climate idiocy

The stupidity of the Trump Administration on climate change should surprise no one, but this month saw several noteworthy developments.

Yesterday, the Administration announced $700 million of investment in the coal industry – a move that comes shortly after Trump paid Total Energy $1 billion to not build wind farms in the country.

And in early May, Trump’s Security and Exchange Commission moved to rescind the climate disclosure rule implemented under the Biden Administration, robbing investors of critical information to assess companies’ climate transition plans. STMP partners at the Sierra Club and Green America have useful breakdowns of what this means. back. 

– No immunity for Big Oil

With the fossil fuel industry’s puppets in Congress introducing a bill that would give the fossil fuel industry blanket immunity from any laws or lawsuits that could hold them accountable for climate damage, now is a good time to call your Member of Congress and urge them to oppose this poisonous bill.

– Fundraising gala report back

Last month, we had a great time at Brighter Futures, our annual community celebration and fundraising gala. We were joined by movement leaders Bill McKibben and Dr. Roishetta Sibley Ozane, as well as climate activist and professional cellist, John Mark Rozendaal, who performed Bach on his cello.

In the end, not only did we have a grand ol’ time, but we blew past our fundraising goal, raising nearly $11,000 for critical climate work. Thank you to all of our friends who donated auction items, and to everyone who chipped in. If you weren’t able to make it, but would like to make a donation you can do so here.

– And finally, don’t forget: it’s time to hold Musk accountable

Join the DOGE Accountability Week of Action here.

The post June Newsletter: Congress must hold Musk accountable. appeared first on Stop the Money Pipeline.

Safer choices: What to know about eyelash serums JR Culpepper September 8, 2026

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Growing demand for the  “clean girl aesthetic” and lightweight, minimalist makeup, has influencers and everyday buyers reaching for eyelash serums.

These lash serums range from prescription, prostaglandin-based medications that grow your lashes to cosmetics with hydrating ingredients that may give your lashes a fuller look.

All that goodness can come with a cost, though: potential exposure to toxic chemicals that could lurk in some products, making it tougher than usual to choose which is best for you.

EWG has done the work for you by finding safer lash serum alternatives that avoid harmful ingredients.

Prostaglandin-based eyelash serums

Prostaglandins are lipids that, similar to hormones, can act like messengers to manage your body’s everyday processes. They are sometimes referred to as “hormone like” chemicals. Some eyelash serums use these chemicals to lengthen lashes’ growth phase. 

One Food and Drug Administration–approved medication for eyelash growth, bimatoprost,  is a prostaglandin derivative. It was originally studied for lowering eye pressure. But scientists noticed patients using the eyedrops were growing longer, thicker eyelashes. After more tests, the FDA approved bimatoprost as an eyelash growth serum, in 2008.

Today you can find cosmetic serums with prostaglandin-like chemicals that are not FDA-approved. These blur the line between drugs and cosmetics because, although sold as personal care products, they may have drug-like effects. 

Eyelids are more sensitive than other parts of your skin, so they’re easily irritated.

Prostaglandin-like chemicals have many adverse side effects, such as darkening of your iris or eyelid, eye irritation and fat loss around your eyes. 

To avoid these ingredients in cosmetics, check lash serum labels for ingredients that end in “-prost” or “-prostone.” If you struggle with lash growth and are looking for clinical results, consult your dermatologist about FDA-approved options before reaching for prostaglandin-based cosmetic products.

Non-prostaglandin eyelash serums

Lash conditioning serums without prostaglandin can also help make lashes look fuller without hormone–like ingredients, though they do not generally grow your lashes. 

Eyelash conditioning serums and even some types of mascara use moisturizing ingredients, vitamins and more to promote lash health. 

Emollients like castor oil are low hazard and can help hydrate or condition lashes. Amino acids like glutamic acid or alanine are also low-hazard serum ingredients that may help strengthen and protect lash structure. 

Still, the eye and the surrounding area are sensitive, so EWG recommends trying a product on a different part of skin first, then applying it only to your lashes. Always avoid getting products in your eye.

We’ve curated a list of EWG Verified® and low-hazard lash serums rated a 1 or 2 – meaning low hazard –  in Skin Deep®, EWG’s free, searchable database of personal care products. Products that bear the EWG Verified® have been evaluated by our scientists and meet our strictest standards of safety and transparency. 

You can find these products in store or online on sites such as Amazon, CVS and Walmart. Scan products for details on the go with our Healthy Living™ app.

EWG Verified® Kleem Organics Eyelash & Eyebrow Enhancing Serum

Available for $29.99.

PURCHASE HERE

View details ATTITUDE Oceanly Mascara + Serum

Available for $27.99 on Amazon.

PURCHASE ON AMAZON

View details Cliganic Castor Oil

Available at Target, Walmart and on Amazon for $18.89 .

PURCHASE ON AMAZON

View details FLORISAN Organic Castor Oil

Available for $27.99 on Amazon.

PURCHASE ON AMAZON

View details Cimouy Organic Castor Oil

Available on Amazon for $22.98.

PURCHASE ON AMAZON

View details DIME Eyelash Boost Serum Rating

Available on Amazon for $48.

PURCHASE ON AMAZON

View details Rated 1 in Skin Deep Essynaturals Eyelash & Brow Enhancing Serum

Available for $18.95 on Amazon.

PURCHASE ON AMAZON

View details Sea-el Skincare, Castor Lash & Brow Serum

Available for $17.49 on Amazon.

PURCHASE ON AMAZON

View details Rated 2 in Skin Deep Milani Highly Rated Lash & Brow Serum

Available for $12.99 on Amazon.

PURCHASE ON AMAZON

View details Neutrogena Lash + Brow Enhancer Serum

Available at Walmart and on Amazon for $12.97.

PURCHASE ON AMAZON

View details Grande Cosmetics GrandeDRAMA Intense Thickening Mascara, Black

Available for $25.99 on Amazon.

PURCHASE ON AMAZON

View details Areas of Focus Personal Care Products Cosmetics Guest Authors Chimdi Ikpe, Science intern September 9, 2026

5 healthier school lunches you can pack in minutes Anthony Lacey September 8, 2026

Food companies sell a lot of pre-packaged lunches wrapped in bright colors, new flavors or other ways to get kids’ attention. In fact, the company behind Lunchables used some of the same research and marketing strategies that boosted tobacco companies’ sales of cigarettes.

The food companies’ goal is keeping kids hooked on their products – not keeping them healthy.

While they’re appealing to parents stretched for time, these pre-packaged lunches are often highly processed. They can contain dozens of ingredients, including food chemicals with potential health harms, and don’t necessarily provide the nutrition kids need.

The good news: You don’t need much extra time in your morning routine to pack something better.

What does a less-processed school lunch actually look like?

Here are five less-processed lunches that you or your kids can build in minutes. 

Image

Crackers and cheese (2 minutes)

• Whole grain crackers like Triscuits
• Cheese
• Roasted seeds (sunflower, pumpkin)
• Clementine
• Cucumber

Image

Hummus and pita (2 minutes)

• Hummus
• Whole grain pita
• Cheese
• Carrots
• Apple

Image

Peanut butter pita (3 minutes)

• Whole grain pita
• Nut butter (sunflower, peanut*)
• Banana
• Popcorn
• Cucumber

* Make sure to check your school’s nut policy.

Image

Tuna plate (4 minutes)

• Whole grain cracker such as Triscuits
• Canned tuna
• Cheese
• Carrots
• Applesauce

Image

Chips and salsa (4 minutes)

• Whole grain chips
• Salsa
• Black beans
• Cheese
• Pear

These combinations are all flexible. Swap in whatever fruits, vegetables or sides – like popcorn, nuts or seeds – you already have on hand. Add a dip or sauce if that encourages your kid to eat healthier food.

And remember that not every single meal has to be perfectly balanced. What matters most is what your kid eats over the course of the day or week, not a single lunchbox.

Other ideas to try

Beans can be a major value-add. They’re affordable, high in protein and fiber, and ready to use straight from the can. Add some chickpeas to a hummus and pita plate, or black beans to chips and salsa, for a nutrition boost.

If your kid likes leftovers, you can also keep things simple and cook one batch of whole grain pasta or rice for the week. Add your choice of vegetables and protein – like cherry tomatoes and cheese cubes in a pasta salad, or frozen edamame in brown rice – to make it a meal. This is also a great place to add some chicken or other meat from last night’s dinner.

If lunch doesn’t feel complete without something sweet, a piece of dried fruit or a handful of chocolate chips makes an affordable treat with far fewer additives than most packaged candy or fruit snacks.

When in doubt, check EWG’s Food Scores for more information on food ingredients, processing and nutrition. Use EWG’s Healthy Living™ app to scan products right on grocery store shelves.

A few foods worth skipping – try these instead

Here are some old favorites that don’t stack up when it comes to nutrition – and what to consider as alternatives.

Processed meat. There’s a reason deli sandwiches didn’t make the cut for less-processed lunches. Despite their popularity, particularly for lunches, processed deli meats like turkey, ham, salami and roast beef have been strongly linked to cancer. 

Cheese, beans, hard boiled eggs, plain yogurt, nuts and seeds all deliver protein without that potential health risk.

Enriched bread. Many kids and adults alike eat a lot of bread, crackers and snacks made with enriched flour, which don’t offer much in the way of real nutrition. It can be hard to find a whole-grain bread without all the additives, despite how many options seem to be available. 

Whole grain pitas and woven wheat crackers tend to be easier to track down and contain some healthy fiber.

Less-processed pantry staples

Keeping a few of these foods on hand can help you pack school lunches and snacks in a pinch.

Produce

• Apples
• Bananas
• Carrots
• Cucumbers
• Pears

Dairy, eggs and refrigerated

• Cheese. Avoid orange powders, sprays and spreads; sticks and bricks are better choices
• Eggs. Use EWG’s meat and dairy label decoder to see what the certifications actually mean
• Hummus. Look for these five ingredients – chickpeas, tahini, salt, oil and lemon juice – plus seasonings like garlic.
• Yogurt. Choose yogurt free of added colors, flavors and sweeteners (including added sugar and artificial sweeteners)

Canned goods

• Black beans. The label should list beans only, or can include some salt
• Chickpeas. The label should say chickpeas (or garbanzo beans) only, and may include some salt
• Salsa. Look for just vegetables, herbs and spices you might use at home

Snacks and pantry

• Applesauce. Skip any added colors, flavors, and sweeteners (including added sugar and artificial sweeteners)
• Chocolate chips. For a sweet treat, look for cocoa butter and five or fewer ingredients total
• Dried fruit. For a sweet treat, stick to just the fruit without added sugar
• Nut butter. Just nuts or seeds with salt – avoid added sugar and hydrogenated oils
• Popcorn. A short ingredient list is the goal: popcorn, and maybe a little oil and salt
• Roasted nuts or seeds. Nuts or seeds and a little salt is all you need
• Whole grain crackers. Look for woven wheat: whole grains and salt, nothing more
• Whole grain chips. Like whole grain corn with some oil and salt, the shorter the ingredient list, the better

Breads and bakery

• Whole grain pita. Look for whole grains and five or fewer ingredients total

Areas of Focus Food Ultra-Processed Foods Women's Health Children’s Health Food Chemicals Authors Sarah Reinhardt, MPH, RDN September 8, 2026

GFC members and allies are helping to build a new gender-just map of community-led solutions for forests, people and the planet.

What does a real solution to the climate and biodiversity crises look like?

It might be an agroecological farming system rooted in traditional knowledge. It might be a community defending its territory from extractive industries. It might be women organising to protect forests, strengthen food sovereignty or build more equitable forms of community governance.

And it is not just about what communities are doing. It is also about what makes these solutions possible, and just as importantly, what stands in their way.

These questions are at the heart of a new Gender-Just Real Solutions Map for Forests and Communities being developed by the Global Forest Coalition (GFC), with support from Bread for the World (Brot für die Welt) and the Rosa Luxemburg Foundation (RLF). Over three online sessions held in July and August, GFC members and allies from across the Global South have been working together to shape the ideas, criteria and methodology that will underpin the map.

The process began in July with a discussion about what a false solution is, and what makes a solution real. Participants shared examples from their own territories and explored how community-led alternatives differ from false solutions that can reproduce environmental destruction, inequality and corporate control. Importantly, the group agreed that the map should focus on concrete, localised practices rooted in particular territories, rather than treating “solutions” as generic or easily scalable commodities.

The second session put gender justice at the centre. Rather than treating gender as simply a question of whether women are represented or participate, participants explored who does the work, including unpaid care and domestic work; who makes decisions; who controls land, resources and income; and what would make an initiative genuinely gender-just. The discussion also considered how the map itself can challenge the underlying colonial and patriarchal systems that shape relationships between people, territories and nature.

Members of a community forest user group are managing their community forest in Nawalparasi district. Nawalparsi FECOFUN

As Jaqueline Santos of FASE, a GFC member group in Brazil, explained, women in Pará play a leading role in agriculture and in protecting their territories. She also highlighted the importance of women’s groups and support networks in rural communities, where women facing violence can struggle to access formal systems of support.

“Their perspective, their understanding of what constitutes a territory, and their knowledge of what must be preserved and protected are given much greater prominence and attention by women,” said Santos. “In Brazil, we have a situation where it’s very difficult to report violence in the city. In rural areas, it’s very difficult to file a report (…) There’s an entire system that doesn’t support women who have been victims of violence. The state is designed for men. We work intensively on the issue of violence with support groups. There must be women’s groups in these communities, because there’s no space for women in groups where men participate,” she said. 

The third session then turned to a question that is crucial for understanding how real solutions can flourish: what conditions do they require?

Participants discussed ecological, social, economic, political and cultural conditions, including community organising, legal frameworks, self-determination, autonomous governance, community-led financing and gender-responsive practices. They also identified barriers ranging from extractive projects and land grabbing to patriarchal policies, colonial legal frameworks, bureaucracy, lack of funding and the criminalisation of environmental defenders.

Ariella Kabunga of the Integrated Program for the Development of the Pygmy People in Kivu (PIDP) stressed that gender justice requires more than gender-just laws on paper. Women must be able to participate meaningfully in decision-making, influence decisions and take on positions of responsibility.

“We need political and legal frameworks to ensure equal rights for women. But it is not enough to have gender-just laws and policies. It is also necessary to ensure the dissemination, application, and monitoring implementation at the national, local, and community levels. Community organizations and structures must integrate gender into their policies, programs, budgets and decision-making mechanisms,” Kabunga said. “Another fundamental condition is the effective participation of women in decision-making processes. It is not enough to invite women to a meeting. They must have the opportunity to express themselves, influence decisions, and hold positions of responsibility.”

These discussions are now helping to build the map itself. The first set of inclusion and exclusion criteria is being shared with participants for validation and further input, while GFC and the Critical Geography Collective (CGC) are also working with participants to develop a protocol for protecting information and safeguarding data.

The emerging methodology will ensure that the map is not simply a collection of points on a screen. Each entry will tell a story: What is the initiative? Why is it a real solution? Who is involved? Where and when is it happening? And how has it been made possible? Users will be able to explore different kinds of initiatives, from agroecology and forest protection to traditional knowledge, sustainable livelihoods and territories free from extractivism, as well as the conditions that have enabled them to flourish.

The map will therefore be a space to see and learn from each other’s experiences, forms of resistance and social action, rather than imposing a single model of what a solution should look like. As the project’s methodology notes, real solutions are diverse, territorial and shaped by the communities themselves. The map is intended to grow from that diversity and remain open to continued revision and learning.

Ultimately, the goal is to make visible what too often remains invisible: the people, practices, rights and conditions that already offer pathways towards protecting forests, biodiversity and communities, without relying on markets to put a price on nature.

The Gender-Just Real Solutions Map for Forests and Communities is expected to launch in November 2026, with the database continuing to grow beyond the initial launch.

Stay tuned — the map is taking shape.

A map built collectively

The Gender-Just Real Solutions Map is being developed collaboratively with the Critical Geography Collective (CGC) and GFC members and allies working with communities and movements across the Global South. Organisations participating in the design of the map, its criteria and its initial entries include:

• Bangladesh Environmental Lawyers Association (BELA) — Bangladesh
• Federation of Social and Educational Assistance Organisations (FASE) — Brazil
• Fundación de Expresión Intercultural, Educativa y Ambiental (FUNDAEXPRESIÓN) — Colombia
• Colectivo VientoSur — Chile
• Programme Intégré pour le Développement du Peuple Pygmée au Kivu (PIDP) — Democratic Republic of Congo
• Instituto para el Futuro Común Amerindio (IFCA) — Honduras
• Federation of Community Forestry Users Nepal (FECOFUN) — Nepal
• National Forum for Advocacy Nepal (NAFAN) — Nepal
• Centro de Desarrollo Ambiental y Humano (CENDAH) — Panama
• Zambia Social Forum (ZAMSOF) — Zambia
• Global Tapestry of Alternatives (GTA) — global network
• Latin American and Caribbean Platform for Climate Justice (PLACJC) — regional network

Have a real solution to share? 

We are also inviting organisations and community groups to suggest initiatives or projects that they think meet the map’s criteria. If you know of a community-led initiative that could belong on the map, please contact Valentina Figuera Martínez, GFC’s Gender Justice and Forests Campaign Coordinator, who is leading the project, at valentinafmartinez@globalforestcoalition.org.

The version of record of this op-ed was published in The Hill Times on September 2, 2026. 

By Peter Massie (Director, Geothermal Energy Office, Cascade Institute) and Jax Jacobsen (Communication Lead, Geothermal Energy Office, Cascade Institute)

Whitehorse sits atop a promising geothermal resource—maybe one of Canada’s best, and developing geothermal energy would strengthen this country’s national security by strengthening relations with Arctic allies.

Northern territories and cities desperately need affordable energy. At the same time, Canada’s armed forces require a steady and inexpensive source of power to patrol and protect the North.

Continue reading.

The post Canada has an energy conundrum in the north: geothermal energy is the answer appeared first on Cascade Institute.

Most fast food chains have concerning chemicals on the menu Iris Myers September 3, 2026

When you’re trying to decide what to get at your favorite fast food spot, it can be hard to know exactly what you’re eating – including whether it’s made with potentially harmful ingredients. 

That’s because restaurants aren’t required to make their ingredients public. And due to a decades-long legal loophole called “generally recognized as safe,” or GRAS, many of the chemicals used in our food haven’t actually been reviewed for health or safety. Food companies, not the Food and Drug Administration, are deciding what’s safe to put in what you eat.

We took a closer look at menus from 12 of the top fast food chains in the U.S. to find out which were still using food chemicals with potential health and safety risks:

• Arby’s
• Burger King
• Chick-fil-A
• Chipotle
• Domino’s
• KFC
• McDonald’s
• Panera
• Pizza Hut
• Subway
• Taco Bell
• Wendy’s

Beyond the ingredient lists, our findings reveal a bigger picture: U.S. food policies are falling short of helping people eat healthy.

Food chemicals appear on most fast food menus

We looked at how many popular chains used chemicals from EWG’s Dirty Dozen™ Guide to Food Chemicals. This guide spotlights some of the top food chemicals that experts recommend avoiding because of their potential health harms.

Because fast food chains don’t have to make ingredient lists public, EWG’s review of menu items was limited to the most recent information available online. It isn’t a comprehensive look at all fast food, but it does reveal some clues about how chemicals of concern are used in the places we eat.

At least one Dirty Dozen chemical appeared on almost every menu we reviewed, with the exception of Chipotle. 

Subway and Panera also appeared to use fewer chemicals of concern in their food, while McDonald’s used most of EWG’s top chemicals of concern somewhere on its menu.

Artificial dyes and other common additives

The most common additive on fast food menus was artificial dyes, which appeared on all menus except for Chipotle’s and Subway’s. Dyes were mostly used in artificially flavored beverages like sodas, lemonade and milkshakes, though not every chain posted drink ingredients.

Sodium nitrite, a meat preservative linked to cancer, appeared on more than half of the menus reviewed. Used in processed meats like sausage, ham and pepperoni, sodium nitrite was frequently found in foods from Pizza Hut, Subway, Domino's, McDonald’s and Wendy’s. 

Titanium dioxide, an additive European regulators say is no longer safe in food, was listed in about half of the menus – mostly in dressings. It also appeared in Taco Bell’s vanilla creamer, which is used in  some of its dirty sodas, Refrescas and coffee drinks.

Artificial sweeteners like aspartame and sucralose showed up often in “zero sugar” beverages.

TBHQ, a preservative with potential toxicity, was used at pizza chains like Domino’s and Pizza Hut. Most Pizza Hut crusts were made with TBHQ, as were its chicken wings and breadsticks.

What should families in a fast food world eat?

It’s not practical to expect people to become experts on every food chemical. That’s why EWG advocates for policies that make healthy eating easier for everyone.

The FDA recently proposed to narrow the GRAS loophole, but far more is needed to make sure the food supply is safe.

In the meantime, you can scan nutrition facts and ingredient lists when they’re available, and try to avoid long lists of ingredients you wouldn’t find in your home kitchen.

If you’re grocery shopping, check EWG's Food Scores, which rates more than 150,000 products on nutrition, ingredients and processing and flags ultra-processed foods for you. Shoppers on the go can also use EWG’s Healthy Living app.

Areas of Focus Food Ultra-Processed Foods Food Chemicals Authors Sarah Reinhardt, MPH, RDN Guest Authors Adam Levin, EWG communications intern September 3, 2026

Adding folic acid to food can save newborn babies. A misleading food 'safety' bill could block that Anthony Lacey September 2, 2026

• The “FRESH” Act would block states from regulating chemicals in food or requiring folic acid fortification, proven to reduce birth defects
• The food industry group Americans for Ingredient Transparency is pushing the bill that could gut states’ food safety authority
• Congress should reject the FRESH Act. EWG is rallying against it in Washington, D.C., on September 15 with partners and supporters.

Food companies are pushing a bill in Congress, the FRESH Act, as a food safety measure. It isn’t.

The bill, if enacted, would block state laws regulating chemicals in food, known as preemption. And its preemption provisions are so broad it could harm public health far beyond the chemicals the measure would allow in food, according to a new Harvard Law School analysis. 

The FRESH Act would make the Food and Drug Administration the sole regulator of food additives, stripping states of the authority to pass or enforce their own food chemical laws. 

In practice, Harvard’s analysis finds the bill’s preemption language covers almost anything that could become a “component” of food. That means the FRESH Act’s threats to the food supply are twofold: It would erase state bans on harmful food chemicals – and might roll back a range of other public health protections with it.

One consequence of the bill would be blocking state laws that require folic acid to be added to certain foods – a practice the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention called one of the greatest public health achievements in recent decades.

Benefits of folic acid fortification

The addition of folic acid to food – also known as folic acid fortification – is a public health measure designed to prevent neural tube defects in infants. Conditions like spina bifida can develop in the first weeks of pregnancy, often before someone even knows they’re pregnant.

The U.S. has required folic acid fortification in enriched grain products like bread and cereal since 1998. This policy may have helped to reduce the rate of neural tube defects by between 25% and 50%.

Many Latino communities benefit less from the federal fortification mandate, because they eat more tortillas and tamales – foods not captured in national fortification requirements. So some states, including Alabama and California, have extended that mandate to include corn masa flour. Florida introduced a similar bill to address health disparities, though it failed in committee.

The FRESH Act would wipe away those existing state laws and prevent any other state from pursuing future similar measures. 

Harvard’s analysis warns that the FRESH Act’s preemption language is broad enough to block new folic acid fortification laws from ever taking effect, and to erase the ones already on the books in Alabama and California.

Despite its industry backers calling the bill a way to ensure consistent food safety nationwide, it could also frustrate other public health measures. For example, it would likely block state allergen labeling requirements and lead and arsenic limits in baby food.

Stopping state food chemical laws

A group called Americans for Ingredient Transparency, which is backed by major multinational food corporations, is pushing the bill.

Their goal is simple: make the FDA the only regulator that matters when it comes to food additives, effectively shutting state efforts down.

But the FDA’s system for evaluating food chemical safety is effectively broken.

Under current law, food companies can add chemicals to food through a provision called GRAS, or “generally recognized as safe.” It is a regulatory loophole that has allowed thousands of chemicals into our food supply – some of which the chemical companies never even notified the FDA about. 

And a recent GRAS “reform” proposal from the FDA fails to fix the broken system. Although it would require companies to tell the FDA about new chemicals, it sets no deadlines for notification, allows companies to use new chemicals before the FDA has reviewed them, and fails to guarantee those chemicals are safe. 

It also permits existing GRAS chemicals to stay on the market without submitting any safety data to the FDA. 

The absence of federal leadership on food safety prompted many states to step up. In many cases, states are the sole line of defense against food chemicals that may harm our health. In 2025 alone, more than 30 states introduced nearly 120 bills addressing food chemical safety.

What needs to change – and what you can do now

Congress should reject the FRESH Act – and in the meantime, states should continue passing and defending their own food safety laws.

Join EWG in Washington, D.C., on September 15 for our Toxics Off the Table! rally to fight the FRESH Act and protect state food safety laws. Visit our website for more information.

Until there are enough policies in place to protect public health, EWG’s tools can help you navigate the food supply.

EWG’s Dirty Dozen™ Guide to Food Chemicals breaks down the most concerning additives currently allowed in our food. 

And our Food Scores database lets you search for more than 150,000 products rated on nutrition, ingredient and processing concerns. Use EWG’s Healthy Living™ App on the go.

Areas of Focus Food Ultra-Processed Foods Family Health Women's Health Children’s Health Food Chemicals Authors Sarah Reinhardt, MPH, RDN September 2, 2026

EWG letter objecting to the EPA's chlormequat tolerances Anthony Lacey September 2, 2026

Attached are EWG’s objections to the Environmental Protection Agency’s final rule setting chlormequat tolerances. EWG urges the agency to retain the tenfold children’s safety factor required by law.

File Download Document ewg-objections_to_chlormequat_tolerances_epa-ha-opp-2021-0290.pdf Areas of Focus Pesticides Authors David Andrews, Ph.D. August 31, 2026

EWG comments on EPA's proposed sixth Unregulated Contaminant Monitoring Rule Anthony Lacey September 2, 2026

Attached are EWG’s comments to the Environmental Protection Agency on its proposed sixth Unregulated Contaminant Monitoring Rule.

File Download Document ewg_ucmr6comments.pdf Areas of Focus Water Toxic Chemicals PFAS Chemicals Authors Varun Subramaniam, M.S. Tasha Stoiber, Ph.D. David Andrews, Ph.D. August 31, 2026

On August 26, 2026, a catastrophic flash flood swept down from the Bhote Koshi River near the Nepal-Tibet border, tearing through Rasuwa, Nuwakot, and Dhading districts in Nepal and destroying entire villages within minutes, leaving thousands missing and hundreds dead. This account is by Dikshya Subedi, a local in Kathmandu who has spent the past seven years working in climate advocacy across the Himalayan region. She is the country lead at SHE Changes Climate and founder of the youth-led organization Youth Action For Sustainable and Eco Nepal (YASEN), and writes here as someone whose own family was directly affected by the disaster.

That Wednesday morning started like any other. At around 9:30 AM, I saw the first news of a massive flood in Rasuwa, the beautiful mountainous district on the Tibet border. Lined with brightly coloured houses and where the Bhote Koshi River enters Nepal, Rasuwa is located a few hours from Kathmandu. Feeling confused and unsettled, I scrolled on, the way we sometimes do when something feels too big to look at directly. A few minutes later, my eyes landed on Facebook again, and this time the news was impossible to scroll past. The flash flood had hit  Devighat, Nuwakot, a quiet riverside town further downstream where my husband was born and grew up in, the place that held his entire childhood.

I called my aunt, who lives in Nuwakot. Her voice on the phone was shaking, terrified. “Nothing is left,” she told me. “Everything is destroyed.” Somehow, my uncle, aunt, and brother Manzil Rimal managed to evacuate from that flooded area just before the massive flood.  But that phone call broke something in me. The place where we used to visit my husband’s hometown for festivals, where we gathered as a family, where his memories live, turned into mud in ten minutes.

An aerial view shows houses covered in mud after flash floods at Devighat, Nepal’s Nuwakot district. Photo: Dikshya Subedi

I’ve worked in climate advocacy for several years. I’ve explained flood risks to government officials, helped authorities understand the danger maps for glacial lakes, and used the phrase “climate crisis” more times than I can count. But watching the impacts of the climate crisis arrive at your own doorstep, was beyond anything I could have imagined. I have spent years telling other people this could happen to them. I never imagined I would be the one making the phone call, listening to my aunt’s voice break on the other end.

There is a saying in Nepal: disaster won’t come by making noise. On that Wednesday, the people of Rasuwa, Nuwakot, and Dhading learned exactly how true that is. And so did I, not as an advocate this time, but as a daughter-in-law of that soil.

What happened

A sudden, catastrophic flash flood surged in from the Bhote Koshi River near the Nepal-China border on the morning of August 26. It tore downstream through Timure, Syaphrubeshi, and Betrawati in Rasuwa district, sweeping away entire villages within an hour. The floodwaters continued down the Trishuli River corridor, devastating communities further downstream in the districts of Nuwakot and Dhading. Devighat, my husband’s village, was severely affected.

Floodwaters caused severe devastation in Devighat. Photo: Dikshya Subedi

While the exact cause is still being investigated, scientists have traced the flood back to an over 2,000-foot-wide (approx. 600 meters) chunk of glacier that sheared off high in the Himalayas and plunged 7,000 feet (over 2 kms) into the Lhende Khola a tributary of the Bhote Koshi River, sending a flood wave downstream at speeds of up to 193 km/h. This is exactly the kind of event climate change triggers. Warming shrinks glaciers and makes them more likely to break apart. 

The death toll from the devastating Bhote Koshi flood in Rasuwa has reached 939, while 3,925 people remain out of contact, according to the latest update from National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Authority (NDRRMA). The highest number of bodies, 279, was recovered in Chitwan, followed by 216 in Nawalparasi Purba, 169 in Nawalparasi Paschim, 95 in Nuwakot, 65 in Gorkha, 55 in Dhading, 38 in Tanahun, and 23 in Rasuwa. Search and rescue teams, along with relief and medical response units, are still working around the clock. The government has set up dedicated teams for rescue, relief, health, communications, and infrastructure restoration, but the scale of destruction will take a long time to fully understand, let alone recover from.

The floodwaters along with mud and debris completely destroy homes, reaching levels above the rooftops. Photo: Dikshya Subedi

This is personal

For me, this is not something I am following from a distance through headlines. My husband’s home is in Devighat, Nuwakot, one of the places hit hardest. My uncle, aunt, and brother were there and saw the destruction with their own eyes: houses swept away, communities losing almost everything in a matter of minutes. Thankfully, my close relatives are safe. We have not lost anyone in our own family. But we have lost our house and factory, which is the main source of income that my parents and Uncle Aunt took many years to built on is swept away in  seconds. The place where we held countless family gatherings, where all of my husband’s childhood memories live, no longer exists.

Caption: Dikshya’s husband’s family home, buried under mud and debris from the flood. Photo: Dikshya Subedi

The reports coming out of Devighat now are hard to read. A village once known for its bustling market and Jalpa Devi temple one of the very popular temple is buried under mud so complete that only the upper floors of houses still break the surface – uprooted trees flung onto rooftops, electric pylons snapped like twigs. Search teams there are still pulling bodies from collapsed homes, working through mud so thick that sometimes all that’s visible of a victim is a foot. Survivors who’ve come back describe standing in the wreckage of houses they spent their whole lives building, with nothing left to salvage but the clothes on their backs, unsure whether the land is even safe to rebuild on. Watching what has happened to our neighbors, to the village that shaped my husband’s childhood, is heartbreaking in a way I don’t fully have words for.

The destruction left in Devighat in the aftermath of the flood. Photo: Dikshya Subedi

This is the part that people rarely talk about when they discuss climate advocacy: the work is never as abstract as it looks from the outside. I have spent years building the language – resilience, adaptation, loss and damage – that is supposed to help policymakers understand disasters like this one. Advocacy taught me the facts. This flood taught me what the facts actually cost.

Houses in Devighat left destroyed as mud and debris reach rooftops. Photo: Dikshya Subedi

It’s not climate change anymore; it’s a climate emergency

This disaster is a brutal reminder that climate change is not something we can keep filing away as a threat for later. We are already living its consequences here in the Himalayas. 

Global heating is melting the permafrost, the “glue” that holds our mountains together, and that’s raising the risk of glacier collapse more and more likely. A survey published within a day of this flood has now mapped over 3,600 glacial lakes across our river basins, 47 of them classified as potentially dangerous, and this one wasn’t even on the list, because the lake that burst didn’t exist the morning before. That’s how fast this hazard is moving.

Climate change makes flashfloods like the one above in Nuwakot more likely due to glacier collapse triggered by global heating. Photo: Dikshya Subedi

What makes this especially unjust is the imbalanced cruelty of who pays: Nepal is responsible for roughly 0.1% of global greenhouse gas emissions, yet it ranks among the 10 countries most affected by climate change on the Global Climate Risk Index. Nepal’s finance minister, Swarnim Wagle, has put the initial rebuilding cost at US$4–5 billion, nearly a tenth of the country’s entire economy. But that estimate assumes this is a one-time cost. It isn’t. With the region’s glaciers and permafrost continuing to destabilize, a disaster like this one is not a low-probability outlier, it is the shape of what is coming again.

There is still room for hope

In the middle of all this grief, something has genuinely moved me: the response of young people.Within a day, young volunteers across Nepal had organized themselves into the Rasuwa Relief Group, tracking who was missing, making sure support reached those who needed it, even volunteering for risky ground operations. 

Locals and volunteers provide support and rescue in Devighat after the flood. Photo: Dikshya Subedi

I’ve sat in plenty of meetings where “youth engagement” was just a line on someone’s agenda, a box to check before the real decisions happened elsewhere. Watching this unfold in real time, I don’t need convincing anymore. No one assigned these young people this responsibility: they simply took it on, faster than any ministry could move, because these were their families too.

It doesn’t erase my grief. But it has given me hope.It’s proof that the years I spent showing up to advocate for the climate as it affects young people,did build something – a generation that doesn’t wait to be asked.

Things need to change now

The flood that took my husband’s hometown moved at 193 kilometers an hour. We need to move faster. And for that, we need three things:

1. Disaster preparedness and management: Climate response and preparedness cannot be the thing we get to eventually. It has to come first, before the next village disappears. We need early-warning systems, climate-resilient infrastructure, and locally led preparedness for the mountain communities already living with this risk.
2. Locally led adaptation: Youth and affected communities must be given real, resourced roles in local adaptation and early-warning planning, not token invitations after the mourning has begun. 
3. Real climate finance: Wealthy nations, most responsible for the climate crisis, need to stop treating funding as a favor delivered on their own timeline. Nepal needs that money now, not at the next summit. It needs to come as genuine compensation, not charity, and paid out as grants rather than loans that burden our country. It must reach impacted families directly and fast.

This isn’t a wish list; it’s the difference between a village saved in time and one that isn’t. My husband’s hometown is already gone. What we do next decides how many more we can save.

Dikshya in Devighat. Photo: Dikshya Subedi

 

“Yesterday, this was a climate and disaster story in the news; today, it is a story happening at my family’s doorstep. But the people of Rasuwa, Nuwakot, and Dhading are still here, still fighting, still helping each other. Let’s unite to rebuild together. 

The post Climate change suddenly became real when the flood buried my husband’s village in minutes appeared first on 350.

Agriculture’s climate emissions are rising but fully funding conservation can slow them Anthony Lacey September 2, 2026 Anne Schechinger, M.S. September 2, 2026 Overview

• Agriculture produces around 10% of U.S. greenhouse gas emissions, and the sector’s emissions are rising.
• Under current policies, that 10% could jump to between 18% and 41% by 2050.
• The next farm bill should prioritize and fully fund regenerative agriculture practices to stop the sector from becoming the largest source of emissions.

Agriculture could become the nation’s leading producer of greenhouse gases by 2050.

Most other sectors of the economy, especially transportation and electricity, are expected to reduce their greenhouse gas emissions dramatically in the coming decades. That decline is mostly due to voluntary industry efforts and changing technology.

Agriculture’s climate pollution is driven overwhelmingly by nitrous oxide and methane. Nitrous oxide accounts for 52% of agricultural greenhouse gas emissions, while methane accounts for another 46%. And the sector’s emissions keep rising – they’re projected to go up a quarter of a percent every year through mid-century.

That should be a wake-up call for Congress. 

Agricultural conservation practices – like riparian forest buffers, tree establishment, diversified crop rotations and nutrient management – can help reduce climate emissions or store carbon, so agriculture doesn’t become the biggest source of emissions. 

These practices also have other benefits, such as reducing air pollution and protecting waterways. 

But the billions of dollars both the House and Senate farm bills propose to cut from federal conservation programs would make it harder for farmers to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. 

Congress, through the farm bill, should maintain conservation program funding, and prioritize the money for regenerative practices, instead of continuing to send so much money to structural practices that bring little, if any, climate emissions reductions. 

Agriculture’s growing share of emissions

Agriculture is responsible for at least 10% of annual U.S. greenhouse gas emissions. When combined with emissions from fertilizer production, the sector’s share is even higher.

Climate models show that if the sector’s emissions increase slightly while emissions from other sectors fall, as projected, agriculture’s share of U.S. emissions will grow.

Agriculture ranks fourth among U.S. economic sectors for greenhouse gas emissions, behind transportation, industry and electricity and ahead of buildings and “other” sources.

But that ranking is unlikely to last.

Under policies in place today, agriculture’s share of emissions is expected to almost double by 2050, from 10% to 18%. Agriculture would move up to being the third largest greenhouse-gas-producing sector, after industry and transportation.

But the U.S. has previously made international climate commitments, including through the Paris Agreement, that have led to federal rules aimed at reducing greenhouse gases from most other sectors, including industry and transportation. 

Even though the Trump administration – in both the first and second terms – withdrew from the Paris climate pact, the industry and transportation sectors are still rapidly reducing their emissions.

There are no broad federal greenhouse gas rules in place to force cuts in agriculture’s emissions. As industry, transportation and other sectors lower their overall emissions, agriculture’s share rises – unless the sector also acts to cut emissions. 

Under the scenario in which the U.S. reduces total emissions to levels agreed on in the Paris Agreement, the agriculture sector would make up 41% of total U.S. emissions in 2050. In this scenario, agriculture would be the economic sector producing the most greenhouse gas emissions, because the other sectors would severely cut their emissions. (See Figure 1.)

Figure 1. U.S. emissions by economic sector in 2026, and predicted emissions in 2050 under two scenarios

Image

Source: EWG, using data from Energy Innovation’s Energy Policy Simulator.

Agriculture must reduce its emissions to avoid becoming the No. 1 source of U.S. climate emissions. (See Figure 2.) Scientists warn that if emissions from agriculture don’t go down, the worst impacts of the climate crisis will be inescapable.

Figure 2. If the U.S. follows its international commitments in other sectors, agriculture could top 40% of emissions by 2050

Image

Source: EWG, using data from Energy Innovation’s Energy Policy Simulator.

Nitrous oxide and methane are agriculture’s main climate emissions

Agricultural soil management is the main driver of the sector’s nitrous oxide emissions, particularly the widespread use of fertilizer on crops like corn. Microbes in soil turn nitrogen from fertilizer and manure into nitrous oxide.

Even though nitrous oxide makes up a small share of total U.S. greenhouse gas emissions, it is a potent greenhouse gas. Nitrous oxide stays in the atmosphere for over 100 years and has a global warming potential 273 times more powerful than carbon dioxide.

Global nitrous oxide emissions grew by 40% between 1980 and 2020, and they are expected to increase another 30% between 2020 and 2050. Corn production makes up over half of all nitrous oxide emissions from agriculture.

Nitrous oxide does not just contribute to climate change; it also depletes the ozone layer. And ammonia nitrous oxides can form with other compounds to create particulate matter, with exposure leading to premature deaths. 

Methane makes up the second largest share of greenhouse gas emissions from U.S. agriculture. Most agricultural methane emissions come from livestock. Enteric fermentation from beef and dairy cattle – their natural digestion process – accounts for about 25% of total U.S. methane emissions. 

Manure management also contributes to both methane and nitrous oxide emissions, making up 9% of total U.S. methane emissions and 4% of total nitrous oxide emissions. 

Methane does not stay in the atmosphere as long as carbon dioxide or nitrous oxide, but it has a global warming potential 28 times that of carbon dioxide over 100 years. 

Regenerative agriculture practices can reduce emissions

Conservation practices implemented on farm fields can help to lower agriculture’s greenhouse gas emissions.

A 2022 report from the Boston Consulting Group and the Walton Family Foundation found that practice changes could slash greenhouse gas emissions from farming by almost 22%. 

The report showed emissions could go down as a result of changes in fertilizer applications, tillage practices, grazing management, the use of cover crops, livestock feed additives, soil amendments and the targeted use of trees, among other practices. 

EWG found in a 2025 analysis that many conservation practices can reduce farming’s greenhouse gas emissions. Even if they are adopted on only a small number of acres, they can have a big climate impact. 

The conservation practices applied to Midwest corn acres that would most lower climate emissions are riparian forest buffers, tree or shrub establishment, hedgerow planting and windbreak establishment.

Other practices, including no-tillage, cover crops, and diversifying crops so there is a conservation crop rotation, would also reduce climate emissions. 

But federal conservation program funding needs to be prioritized for practices that help farmers reduce climate emissions and adapt to extreme weather conditions tied to intensifying climate change. 

EWG has identified a list of regenerative agriculture practices that decrease a farm’s greenhouse gas emissions and increase climate resilience. 

Farmers can receive funding to implement these regenerative practices from the Agriculture Department’s Environmental Quality Incentives Program, or EQIP, one of the largest federal conservation programs. 

But EQIP spending must be reformed. In 2025, only $660.9 million from EQIP, or 39% of all payments from the program, went to farmers for practices on EWG’s regenerative practice list. Only four of the top 10 paid practices were regenerative: cover crops, brush management, forest stand improvement, and pasture and hay planting. 

Prioritizing funding

Six of the 10 most funded practices that were not regenerative were structural, building or equipment practices, which together received $427.1 million. These are practices like irrigation pipelines and animal waste storage facilities, which rarely benefit the climate.

Farmers collected hardly any money for some of the conservation practices that are the best at reducing emissions. Two practices that would generate substantial emissions reductions on Midwest corn acres – riparian forest buffer and hedgerow planting – received only $423,000 and $735,000 from EQIP nationally in 2025, respectively. 

More conservation funding must be prioritized for regenerative practices that have climate benefits. Adoption of more of these practices could slow the growth of agriculture's greenhouse gas emissions so the sector does not produce the largest share of U.S. emissions by 2050.

The versions of the farm bill proposed by the House and Senate cut conservation spending by billions of dollars, including reducing funding for EQIP. 

If these cuts were to go into effect, they would hurt farmers and the climate. 

Join us for a free two-part training on September 30th and October 6th to learn from two experts on people's assemblies: Dr. Camila Vergara, an academic and organizer who was deeply involved in numerous assemblies held in Chile between 2020 and 2022 as part of the effort to enact a transformative new constitutional structure, and Denzel Caldwell, an organizer with the Black Nashville Assembly working to build black political power in Tennessee. 

The post 2-PART TRAINING: People’s Assemblies and The Revolutionary Potential of Grassroots Power appeared first on CELDF - Community Rights Pioneers - Protecting Nature and Communities.