Toronto in Eco Trouble
Faygle Train – People tend to associate Canada with nature, camping, and strong environmentalism. Unfortunately, Canada is experiencing the climate crisis just like other countries are. The problems look different from West Coast to East Coast, but one thing is the same: it’s time to act.
Virginia’s Changing Climate
Faygle Train – Virginia is being hit hard by climate change. The Barrier Islands along Virginia’s Atlantic coast are experiencing sea-level rise, leading 260,000 people to be at risk of in-land flooding. Summers are getting much hotter and muggier, putting 160,000 vulnerable Virginians, like children and the elderly, at risk of heat-related health complications. This heat is even lengthening mosquito season!
New Jersey, New Future
Faygle Train – New Jersey is the sixth-fastest warming state in the US. Higher ozone and smog levels from excessive car and truck use, as well as from boats accessing and lingering in local ports, is worsening asthma for more than 700,000 people. In the 2019 State of the Air report, 10 counties across New Jersey rated F, the worst grade possible for ozone air quality! The rising temperature has other environmental effects, like a growing mosquito season in Atlantic City.
Chicago in Crisis
Faygle Train – Chicago is one of many cities in the Midwest experiencing human-caused climate change, and in summer seasons, they are feeling it more than ever.
Indiana – Leaking Coal Ash
Leo Dee – Indiana still generates over 70% of its electricity from coal and has over 60 million cubic yards of coal ash stored in leaky pits. Some local wells have over 20 times the permitted amounts of arsenic and 3 times the amount of lead – the water is being poisoned.
Portland – Salmon Catastrophe
Leo Dee – June 11th 2019 was the hottest June 11th since records began! Wildfires, alone, cost Oregon a record half a billion dollars in 2018. And ocean warming reduced salmon numbers by 80% in just three years (from 2014-2016).
LA – Hollywood Haze
Leo Dee – Whilst 2018 was another record year for tourism in LA, it was, sadly, also another record year for ozone pollution. The temperature hit 111 degrees at UCLA in July 2018 (a new record high). And LA retains its record as the smoggiest city in the US.
San Antonio – Out of Fuel
Leo Dee – Texas is experiencing severe weather extremes. In August 2017, Hurricane Harvey caused a record $125 billion in damage! And 72% of San Antonio’s gas stations ran out of fuel as panic ensued. The April 2016 hailstorm caused $1.4 billion in damage, the costliest in the history of Texas.
North Carolina – Water Everywhere but not a Drop to Drink!
Leo Dee – North Carolina recorded record rainfall in 2018. Wilmington received over 8 feet of rain, smashing its previous record (set in 1877) by over 150%! The September storm caused almost 8 trillion gallons of polluted water to spill over into oceans. And North Carolina’s water quality (already one of the worst in the States) fell to a new low.