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This issue unearths the glittering gems of good news that are hard to see through the hazy clouds of a pandemic, tear gas, and murder hornets. But just because they are hard to see doesn't mean that they aren't good news for our planet. We collected the shiniest gold nuggets so you can dive in for a swim, shamelessly, like Scrooge McDuck.

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CLIMATE SOLUTIONS ARE PANDEMIC SOLUTIONS

Two of our Climate MD docs wrote prescriptions for a healthier future.

Preventing the next pandemic at bargain-basement prices

" Salvation comes cheap, " said our Director Dr. Aaron Bernstein about the new paper he co-authored in Science. It found that the cost of preventing the next pandemic is 2% of what we're paying for COVID-19, then offered solutions for policy and practice. “I think in terms of bang for your buck, it's deforestation,” he said. “ Protecting forests gives you a whole suite of benefits , on top of the potential to reduce the risk of spillover” diseases from animals to humans. "P reserving forests also protects water supplies, discourages wildfires, and increases carbon dioxide storage, which can slow climate change," he said. Don't let this deal slip away!

Easing the pain of extreme weather in the pandemic

Extreme weather events make it harder to manage the spread of COVID-19, but we’ve got solutions. About 20 of them, in fact. Check out strategies for how local communities and states can reduce the risk of virus transmission during heat waves, hurricanes, and wildfires. New from our ClimateMD leader Renee Salas and colleagues in the New England Journal of Medicine .  How to prevent spreading COVID-19

RAPID-FIRE GOOD NEWS

It's like speed dating the facts of your dreams.

Transportation: It's electrifying!

The West Coast will build an electric highway extending the entire coastline, New York is scaling its charging infrastructure , 12 states plus D.C. will draft transportation policies to stem climate change (our researchers are exploring how they could influence equity and health ), and there are now about 7.3 million EV charging stations worldwide .   Ever wonder what New York City would be like if it gave up cars ? It's pretty and it smells better!

Renewables: The cool kids in town!

Thirty states and D.C. have directed utilities to get more electricity from renewable sources, New York wants to buy enough clean energy for 1.5 million homes , New Jersey wants to build a giant off-shore wind farm, and in fact, offshore wind is surging despite the pandemic. A 90% clean energy grid by 2035 is possible and cheaper than business as usual. The EU generated more power from renewables than fossil fuels this year , and Sydney, Australia is already running on 100% renewables . Good on ya, ‘mates!

Pipelines: Maybe just build renewables instead!

Two major projects had setbacks and one was canceled when the Dakota Access and Keystone XL pipelines faced legal challenges, and the Atlantic Coast pipeline shut down when lawsuits and delays made it too expensive to continue. Indigenous protests played a leading role in making climate change a human rights issue.

Jobs: Get paid to save Earth!

The U.S. added 106,320 clean energy jobs in June, and could potentially create 120,000 more jobs by plugging just 16% of the 2.1 million abandoned oil and gas wells nationwide. Building new wind and solar is cheaper than maintaining an existing coal plant. We don’t work in HR, but making the switch could probably create a few jobs too. Infographic: Green Stimulus for Oil and Gas Workers .

HOLLYWOOD TACKLES CLIMATE CHANGE

Bringing climate themes to a tiny screen near you.

This month we officially announced Reel Science , our web series featuring actors and scientists talking about the health impacts of climate change, produced in collaboration with the Environmental Media Association (EMA). Reel Science is our initiative to integrate more content about the health impacts of climate change and the benefits of climate solutions into movies, TV series, and other platforms. We don’t always toss around names, but when we do, they belong to: Kate Bosworth, who talked about trauma from compounding crises like COVID-19, climate change, and racial injustice. Eric Christian Olsen, who covered climate change and COVID-19, biodiversity and food systems, and why air pollution has led to COVID-19 disproportionately impacting people of color. Nikki Reed’s and Sarah Wright Olsen’s interviews will be released in the coming weeks. Stay tuned!

Watch Now

A BLUEPRINT FOR A GREEN RECOVERY

If they build it, we will thrive.

The C40 Mayors are setting the agenda for a green and just recovery , including improving mass transit networks, creating "15-minute cities," and making cities more resilient. These dreams aren’t just green pies in the skies—last week the EU announced $572 billion for a green recovery package that will boost their goal of becoming carbon neutral by 2050. For examples of green recovery plans that could also produce benefits in racial, gender, and economic equity, check out the Green, Resilient, and Equitable Actions for Transformation (GREAT) database from Climate Interactive.

🗳️ VOTING CHECKLIST 🗳️ 96 DAYS UNTIL NOV. 3

The most important climate action you can take is to make sure you’re registered and have a voting plan. Check your state’s vote by mail rules , then noodle on a future where we celebrate mandatory voting with democracy sausages .

Check your registration status (30 sec) Register to vote (2 min) Get your absentee ballot (2 min) Get election reminders (15 sec) Pledge to register, get reminder on your 18th birthday. (15 sec)

STAY CONNECTED

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