From the Inuit to the City of Portland, a chorus of local entities are fed up with the lack of environmental initiatives and standards set at the national level, especially as pertaining to transportation-caused pollution, and many have begun to sue.
"GLOBAL CLIMATE CHANGE HAS BECOME a very local problem for the Inuit. In the Arctic, average temperatures are increasing around twice the average global rate. The results have included increasing precipitation, thawing permafrost, melting glaciers, and rising river flows and sea level. These environmental changes threaten Inuit hunting culture, food security, and health. For example, the wildlife herds and marine and freshwater fisheries, from which they obtain food, have significantly diminished in size.
Climate change has a devastating impact on vulnerable populations around the worldâ€"not just on those who live in the Arctic. Island states face rising sea levels, changes in rainfall patterns and prevailing winds, and variability in wave action. Alpine communities, such as those in and near Nepal's Sagarmatha [Everest] National Park are endangered as melting glaciers create alpine lakes that overflow their boundaries. The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change has concluded that although some areas might experience beneficial impacts from climate change, most parts of the world will likely experience detrimental effects."
"The Inuit petition is just one of a wide range of activities by communities and entities around the world reacting to the failure of national and global entities to address climate change effectively. While these measuresâ€"whether in the Arctic Circle, the Pacific Northwest, or Australiaâ€"may seem too small-scale to address such a transnational problem, combating climate change effectively requires an engagement of its local dimensions."
Thanks to Jess McCuan
FULL STORY: Transporting Climate Change

Planetizen Federal Action Tracker
A weekly monitor of how Trump’s orders and actions are impacting planners and planning in America.

Chicago’s Ghost Rails
Just beneath the surface of the modern city lie the remnants of its expansive early 20th-century streetcar system.

Amtrak Cutting Jobs, Funding to High-Speed Rail
The agency plans to cut 10 percent of its workforce and has confirmed it will not fund new high-speed rail projects.

Ohio Forces Data Centers to Prepay for Power
Utilities are calling on states to hold data center operators responsible for new energy demands to prevent leaving consumers on the hook for their bills.

MARTA CEO Steps Down Amid Citizenship Concerns
MARTA’s board announced Thursday that its chief, who is from Canada, is resigning due to questions about his immigration status.

Silicon Valley ‘Bike Superhighway’ Awarded $14M State Grant
A Caltrans grant brings the 10-mile Central Bikeway project connecting Santa Clara and East San Jose closer to fruition.
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