Toxic work culture at national parks?
What we're writing
National Park Service wrestles with harassment
The National Park Service protects stunning听natural treasures and helps visitors learn about US听history 鈥撎齞ifficult chapters included. But this year,听allegations of sexual harassment have put听pressure on the NPS to focus on challenges within its own work culture, and to protect its own employees.听//听Amanda Paulson听
NOTE TO OUR READERS:听We won't publish a newsletter next weekend, but听look forward to being听back in your in-box听again on New Year's weekend.听The Inhabit team wishes you happy and peaceful holidays!
In U-turn, EPA says fracking can be threat to water
A final EPA report 鈥� differing in tone from a draft version 鈥� documents听instances of drinking water contamination, highlights听the insufficiency of evidence on听how frequently contamination exists, and offers some steps to reduce the risks.听//听Amanda Paulson
Trump energy team isn't a one-note band
Support for fossil fuels is an obvious and expected theme in the president-elect's energy team. But there's some nuance, too. That听team includes an Energy nominee who knows wind power can work, a State Department nominee who has supported the Paris climate deal, and an Interior nominee who's not big on selling off federal lands.听 //听Zack Colman
'Trump digs coal.'听But how much of it?
Trump pledged to revive jobs in the hard-hit coal industry, but market forces including cheap natural gas make that very tough to do. And, while some pro-coal steps can be taken, the Trump team draws key personnel more from oil and gas regions than from听coal country. //听Mark Trumbull
Canada puts a price on carbon: what the move means
Canada isn't the first to do this, but the move is a landmark one for its scale and regional flexibility 鈥� and because the country is a major fossil fuel producer. //听Henry Gass
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Bill Gates leads a $1 billion clean energy fund
A group of billionaires, including Mark Zuckerberg (Facebook),听Richard Branson (Virgin), and Jack Ma (Alibaba), are targeting innovation in transport, farming, buildings, and electricity generation. "Too often we let what we think we know limit what is possible," Mr. Ma says. "When it comes to energy, people say you cannot make money, meet demand, and also benefit the environment. But we can, and we will." 听//听Lonnie Shekhtman
What we're reading
Solutions are within reach, but scientists say it's a "very short window of opportunity...."鈥嬏�// CNN
Berlin, for one, has taken听notable steps to reduce air pollution,听imposing rules on diesel trucks and installing pollution filters on buses. // The Guardian
Researchers look听at America's outdated grids听and prices, and offer听a toolkit designed to encourage energy-wise听choices by utilities and consumers, including on distributed-energy resources. // MIT Energy Initiative
What's trending
Carbon going down, economy going up
Tough challenges lie ahead as nations try to听reduce听emissions without hobbling economic growth. So it's worth noting signs of progress. The chart above shows Sweden's path before and after a carbon tax. Carbon pricing is in the news with a move by Canada to embrace that approach (see story above by Inhabit's Henry Gass).听
DOE refuses to give climate-scientist names to Trump
"There are significant Civil Service protections in place, but a person could easily be marginalized or ostracized."听//听Todd Eberly, professor of political science at听St. Mary鈥檚 College of Maryland, quoted in 海角大神
How an听app might help restore trust in Flint's water
"One of the driving factors with this crisis has been trust.... With these tools, you can actually see what's being done. We've increased transparency."听//听Mark Allison, Flint resident and a computer scientist听at the University of Michigan, Flint.
