Extreme Weather - Inside Climate News

Louisiana’s ‘Business-Friendly’ Climate Response: Canceled Home Insurance Plans

By Terry L. Jones, Floodlight — Sat, 20 Jul 2024 09:00:00 +0000

Under a new state law, residents will no longer be protected from homeowners’ policy cancellations, higher deductibles or big rate increases.

By Terry L. Jones, Floodlight

This story was originally published by Floodlight, a nonprofit investigative newsroom focused on climate accountability.

As States Recover from Climate-Related Disasters, They Also Must Prepare for Future Ones

By Kiley Price — Fri, 19 Jul 2024 20:20:01 +0000

New policies for flooding and wildfires could help people prepare for future damages.

By Kiley Price

This summer has brought a revolving door of climate-fueled disasters across the U.S.—from Hurricane Beryl in Houston to the wildfires tearing through California.

Funds to Help Low-Income Families With Summer Electric Bills Are Stretched Thin

By Martha Pskowski, Jenaye Johnson — Fri, 19 Jul 2024 09:00:00 +0000

A federal program helps people in poverty cover the costs of heat and cooling. But advocates say it disadvantages states like Texas and Arizona, even though extreme heat is a key cause of weather-related deaths.

By Martha Pskowski, Jenaye Johnson

In San Elizario, Texas, tucked between cotton fields and the U.S.-Mexico border fence, nearly 30 percent of the population lives below the poverty line.

Rooftop Solar Was Having a Moment in Texas Before Beryl. What Happens Now?

By Dan Gearino — Thu, 18 Jul 2024 13:00:00 +0000

The Lone Star State has seen a recent surge in small-scale solar development. Grid instability could push more residents to consider adoption.

By Dan Gearino

While much of the Houston area suffered through heat and electricity failures following Hurricane Beryl last week, Bill Swann never lost power.

NATO Report Outlines Growing Climate Risks to Global Security

By Kiley Price — Tue, 16 Jul 2024 19:29:45 +0000

Extreme weather is fueling global conflict—and hampering NATO’s ability to address it, according to a new analysis.

By Kiley Price

Last week, world leaders from more than 30 countries across North America and Europe gathered in Washington to discuss the top security threats facing members of NATO, the North Atlantic Treaty Organization.

Baltimore Judge Tosses Climate Case, Hands Win to Big Oil

By Aman Azhar — Sat, 13 Jul 2024 09:05:00 +0000

Environmental groups say judges across the country believe cases like Baltimore's should hold oil companies accountable in state courts for environmental harm.

By Aman Azhar

In a first of its kind decision, a Maryland judge on Wednesday tossed Baltimore City’s climate suit against major oil giants on the grounds that it is not the role of the state courts to address a global issue like climate change.

Hurricane Beryl Was a Warning Shot for Houston

By Dylan Baddour — Fri, 12 Jul 2024 09:05:00 +0000

The category one storm dealt the city disastrous damage. Houston’s first direct hit from a hurricane in decades showed how vulnerable the nation’s energy capital remains.

By Dylan Baddour

When Hurricane Beryl entered the Gulf of Mexico, the city of Houston had little reason to believe it was about to take its first direct hit from a tropical cyclone in decades.

In the South, Sea Level Rise Accelerates at Some of the Most Extreme Rates on Earth

By Amy Green — Thu, 11 Jul 2024 09:05:00 +0000

The surge is startling scientists, amplifying impacts such as hurricane storm surges and nuisance flooding and testing mitigation measures like the Resilient Florida program.

By Amy Green

JACKSONVILLE, Fla.—For most of his life, Steve Salem has led an existence closely linked with the rise and fall of the tides.

UN Expert on Climate Change and Human Rights Sees ‘Crucial and Urgent Demand’ to Clarify Governments’ Obligations

By Katie Surma — Thu, 11 Jul 2024 09:00:00 +0000

“The world hasn’t been making progress on this fast enough.” Elisa Morgera’s role is to get countries thinking about, and acting on, the many human rights consequences of the climate crisis.

By Katie Surma

When scorching temperatures rocked the East Coast last month, heat-related emergency room visits in New York City soared 600 percent compared to average June figures. At the same time, heat took the lives of 1,300 Hajj pilgrims visiting Mecca. And in recent weeks, high temperatures have caused hundreds more deaths in Asia, Europe, Mexico and Egypt.

Will the Nation’s First Heat Protection Standard Safeguard the Most Vulnerable Workers?

By Liza Gross — Wed, 10 Jul 2024 09:00:00 +0000

The long overdue federal heat standard proposal gets many things right but will take years to enact, and enforcement will be key, says climate health expert Juanita Constible.

By Liza Gross

The Biden administration finally proposed federal heat protection standards last week, more than half a century after federal experts first outlined the need for such rules.