No. 167, Jan. 14, 2021

Hello Revelator readers,

Switching to renewables like wind and solar won’t solve the social-justice inequities already imbedded in our system, says energy and environmental law expert Shalanda Baker. We spoke with her about why we can’t solve our current climate crisis by following the same energy playbook and what it means to put justice concerns first.

Speaking of clean energy, will 2021 be the year offshore wind power takes off? It’s been held back by the Trump administration, but advocates and planners have kept moving forward. Now years of planning could finally come to fruition.

For decades consumers have been told it’s their duty to recycle and reduce waste. But shouldn’t that really be the manufacturers’ job? Our latest op-ed explores why plastic pollution is a producer responsibility.

Update:

Two gorillas at San Diego Zoo have tested positive for COVID-19, a stark reminder of the risks that tourism poses to wild populations.

Subscriber bonus: The Wild 5

Here are five more stories we’re watching this week.

1. The Washington, D.C., Siege Has Western Roots and Consequences (High Country News)

2. A Record 22 Billion-dollar Disasters Struck the U.S. in 2020 (The Washington Post)

3. Climate Change Is Hitting the Colorado River ‘Incredibly Fast and Incredibly Hard’ (The Arizona Republic)

4. Recovered Midwestern Bird Soars Off Endangered Species List (AP)

5. More Than 50 Countries Commit to Protection of 30% of Earth’s Land and Oceans (The Guardian)

What should we cover next?

Our stories rely on insight from experts, frontline activists and readers around the world — especially these days, when so much damage is being done behind the scenes, out of the public eye. We want to hear from you, so please drop us a line anytime.

Coming up:

We’ll have more about how offshore wind power could affect wildlife. Meanwhile we’ll continue to dig into what the Biden administration can accomplish on critical environmental issues.

Look for our latest links in next Thursday’s newsletter — or follow us on Twitter and Facebook for headlines as they go live.

As always, thank you for reading. Stay safe and connected.