Global News & Policy – Ecosystemic Magazine

National Strategy to Prevent Plastic Pollution: EPA’s Objective C

26Aug

By Esme HyattNo Comments

Global News & Policy

National Strategy to Prevent Plastic Pollution: EPA’s Objective C

Image by Warren Hansen Written by Esme Hyatt EPA released the draft “National Strategy to Prevent Plastic Pollution” Focusing on Objective C of the plan, which has to do specifically with preventing trash from entering waterways The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) recently posted the Draft National Strategy to Prevent Plastic Pollution. This report was derived from the Save Our Seas 2.0 Act passed in 2020. Title 3 of the act requires the EPA to create a plan to reduce consumer plastic released into the ocean. Additionally, the plan has been released to the states and the public for comment. (Toto, 2023) There are three objectives to the report. According to the EPA, Objective A addresses reducing pollution during plastic production, Objective B focuses on improvi...

26Aug

By Amelia PNo Comments

Global News & Policy

A New Solution to End Pollution

Image by Anupa Uthsara Written by Amelia Petty At UC San Diego, researchers have developed a new type of plastic material that can biodegrade in a natural ocean environment. This material, called polyurethane foam, could potentially replace petroleum-based plastics that end up in our oceans and pollute the water for centuries. The popular commercial plastic used today does not break down naturally for hundreds of years, leaking toxins into the water, as well as breaking off into microplastics which are dangerous to ocean life, and eventually humans. While this groundbreaking invention gives an optimistic view on the future of ocean pollution, its commercial use across the world is still a long way off. What makes this polyurethane foam so innovative is its ability to brea...

How Can Cities Plan for Severe Environmental Disasters and Implement Sustainable Solutions?

28Jan

By Gracie DNo Comments

Global News & Policy

How Can Cities Plan for Severe Environmental Disasters and Implement Sustainable Solutions?

By Gracie Dogramaci Kristy Drutman, a Jewish and Filipino environmentalist, uses social media platforms to educate and inspire the public about specific current environmental issues. She describes various ways of highlighting the issues specific communities face, including research initiatives, partnerships with an organization, or a campaign with a nonprofit (Drutman 2023, pg. 1). Drutman says her work is mainly through experimentation when it comes to displaying content on social media discussing an issue (Drutman, 2023). Artwork by Rosie Schrag There are a multitude of sustainable solutions for environmental disasters. Therefore, Drutman is always thinking about how to create more awareness around those who are generating current solutions, as opposed to people “reinventing t...

Rural Communities are Vulnerable and Need Our Attention

28Jan

By May ChanNo Comments

Community News & Policy, Global News & Policy

Rural Communities are Vulnerable and Need Our Attention

By May Chan Inhabitants of rural areas might love their large stretches of field and woodland, or the ability to recognize every face at the local post office, but the small size of their community and relative isolation can work against them when a storm hits, floodwaters rise, or a fire blazes. In our interview with Kristy Drutman, she discussed the problem of plastic pollution in rural areas and the links between incarceration and natural catastrophes. Her interest in this subject demonstrated how vulnerable rural areas are to both natural and man-made calamities. Due to a number of variables, such as inadequate access to emergency infrastructure, geographic isolation, and financial instability, rural areas are frequently more vulnerable. To begin, rural areas have medical infras...

A Summary of The Inflation Reduction Act

10Nov

By Riley SheltonNo Comments

Global News & Policy

A Summary of The Inflation Reduction Act

Riley Shelton Signed into law on August 16, 2022 by President Joe Biden, the Inflation Reduction Act is meant to lower prescription drug costs, curb inflation, lower healthcare insurance, and incentivize clean energy. Pouring $370 billion (Penn Today, 2022) into legislation addressing climate change, this bill is extremely progressive in terms of environmental legislation. By Elson Bankoff This bill was initially proposed by Biden as the “Build Back Better Act.” It was meant to make the largest public investments into social, infrastructural, and environmental programs since the New Deal during the Great Depression. Passage of the Build Back Better Act was halted when West Virginia Senator Joe Manchin (Democrat) pulled his support due to his opinion that the bill consisted of ov...

Effects of the Climate Crisis Spotlight: India

8Nov

By Lucas FlahertyNo Comments

Global News & Policy

Effects of the Climate Crisis Spotlight: India

Lucas Flaherty Industrialization and urbanization have led to an increase in carbon emissions and temperature. While developed nations contribute to this trend the most, the effects of the subsequent climate crisis are often felt most in developing areas. Some of these nations hardly contribute pollution to the atmosphere, while others have less of a choice as they must support a rising population. This is the case in many parts of India, a rapidly developing country where adverse climate conditions threaten its citizens. India’s diverse topography renders it highly vulnerable to the effects of climate change. Considered the fifth most vulnerable country to climate change, India has spent increasing amounts of money in recent years fighting climate change’s dangerous effects (UNICEF...

Understanding the Supreme Court EPA Ruling as a Youth Climate Activist

31Jul

By Helen ManciniNo Comments

Global News & Policy

Understanding the Supreme Court EPA Ruling as a Youth Climate Activist

By Helen Mancini The Supreme Court’s EPA vs. West Virginia ruling was expected news for most Americans concerned with US climate policy. The week before, every environmental activism group and media outlet flooded social media feeds with headlines precidicting, correctly, that the conservative court would restrict the EPA from regulating the greenhouse gas emissions of power plants. But, in such a fast moving digital world, headlines quickly shifted before many people could grasp a deeper understanding of the ruling once it passed. Much of the climate movement is made up by young people, who, at the time, may have been too busy with school finals and the start of summer plans to learn more about the case. The legal jargon, too, may have deterred young people from gaining a deeper under...

The Statewide Overlap Between Reproductive Injustice and Environmental Injustice

22May

By Ariana ThorntonNo Comments

Global News & Policy

The Statewide Overlap Between Reproductive Injustice and Environmental Injustice

This map depicts the states that will be most impacted by climate change and where women are most likely to lose their reproductive rights if the Supreme Court Strikes down Roe v. Wade. The climate crisis is a prevailing challenge closely linked with reproductive injustice. Of all the states likely or certain to ban abortion if the US Supreme Court overturns Roe v. Wade, a majority was graded "C" or below by Climate Central and ICF International for their climate change preparedness. The intersection doesn't stop here. The intensity of Hurricane Harvey--exacerbated by climate change--forced abortion clinics to close down. Texas's anti-abortion legislation, coupled with storm-caused logistical and financial barriers, meant that many people went without essential care. Commun...

22May

By Sophie CaoNo Comments

Global News & Policy

Democracy Gaps

By Sophie Cao The Constitution begins with the phrase “We the people” and with it, the American government establishes our defining democratic process. On the outside, America truly appears to have one of the highest functioning democracies in the world. After all, there are checks and balances between the three branches of government, amendments protecting individual rights to free speech, no religious obligations, local governments, state governments, and federal governments–– all with policymakers elected by voters. Additionally, there is a multi-party political system in America, which gives voices to a wide range of political opinions. However, the pillars of democracy in the United States are gradually crumbling apart as a result of two main gaps. One gap in the democrat...

Abortion and Environmental Issues are Healthcare Issues

22May

By Anya VedantambeNo Comments

Eco-STEM, Global News & Policy

Abortion and Environmental Issues are Healthcare Issues

By Anya Vedantambe When I, as a middle schooler who was living through a politically turbulent time in early 2020, heard rumors of a disease sweeping across the globe, I experienced mixed emotions. It was a disease and could of course shatter the lives of many–– but a tiny part of me was slightly grateful that the whole world would experience something, something that could draw us closer and possibly bridge political divides. 2020 me believed that disease and health issues could be the one thing that could bring the world together, because no one wanted to be sick. What happened over the course of the next two years shocked me. Mitigation strategies for the pandemic somehow became just as politicized as many of the other issues on which there were large partisan divides. Even now, in...