Our hearts are aching for those caught in the devastation of Hurricane Helene, which impacted members of our own team. While they, their families, and their homes are fine, being amid so much destruction takes a toll. Bob Inglis and Price Atkinson, we are thinking of you and I know our entire EcoRight community is wishing all those in the storm’s path a speedy rebuild.
Because our podcast producer extraordinaire is still without power, there will be no EcoRight Speaks episode this week but please stay tuned… we will get these episodes out as soon as Price is back in action.
In the meantime, Bob was interviewed for the Press Play With Madeleine Brand podcast about Hurricane Helene and the importance of conservatives embracing climate action.
Another good listen…
Check out Green Tea Party Radio’s recent episode featuring Citizens Climate Radio producer Peterson Toscano, who has a soon-to-be-released true-crime style climate podcast, Hot Mess. I will be featured in this limited run, six-part series and had so much fun sharing what I know.
Get a preview here:
This week’s must read: Researchers estimate climate change caused 50 percent more rainfall from Helene (The Weather Channel)
The conditions brought by Hurricane Heleme were made more intense by climate change, according to a report released by researchers at Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory. “Our best estimate is that climate change caused over 50% more rainfall during Hurricane Helene in some parts of Georgia and the Carolinas,” their researchers found. “In a warmer climate, it’s simple physics that for every 1 degree Fahrenheit of warming, the atmosphere can hold up to about 4% more moisture… Helene traveled over anomalously warm sea surface temperatures that were made at least between 200-500 times more likely along that track due to climate change, and those hotter sea surface temperatures allow tropical systems to carry more of this rainmaking moisture out of the Gulf.”
Climate change indeed has huge consequences.
And a good read from Mary Anna… Florida’s water crisis: Rising seas threaten the Sunshine State’s most precious resource (The Invading Sea and the Palm Beach Post)
“In the recent aftermath of Hurricane Helene, the city of St. Petersburg turned off the power at one of its sewer treatment plants to protect it from storm surge. After Hurricane Ian, wastewater plants overflowed along the western coast of Florida. Meanwhile, residents in Orlando were asked to limit how often they flush toilets, take showers, wash dishes and do laundry because of overflowing sewers,” she writes. “When these systems overflow, untreated sewage can mix with floodwaters, leading to contamination of drinking water sources and posing significant public health risks. To address these challenges, Florida must invest in climate-resilient infrastructure, including upgrading water treatment facilities, building more flood defenses and protecting wetlands that act as natural buffers against flooding. While these actions will cost money, the cost of inaction will be far greater.”
Meanwhile, in Galveston…
Usually, you just hear my voice and read my words, so suprise: I talk with my hands! Thanks to Larry Linenschmidt, who kindly took this photo of me emphasizing something meaningful to the crowd at the Citizens’ Climate Lobby Third Coast Regional Conference. I don’t want to give too much away as next week’s podcast episode will focus on my time there. But I do feel compelled to share that I have never had so much fun at a conference. Whoever says that?
I attribute the good time to: excellent planning on the part of Susan Adams and her team; the level of admiration and respect everyone had for each other; and a diverse mix of participants. It was such an honor to deliver a keynote and extra meaningful to meet the Larrys in person, especially devoted EcoRighters Larry Howe and Larry Linenschmidt.
Don’t forget: next week is Florida Climate Week. So much great content, including a panel with Bob Inglis and Carlos Curbelo, moderated by yours truly.
That’s it for me. I will see you next week!