Ames Alexander

The EPA website got the basics of climate science right. Until last week. The Trump administration purged 80 pages of facts about climate change — including that it's caused by humans.

The EPA purged basic facts about Climate from its website LAST WEEK—including how human activity releases planet-heating carbon dioxide into the atmosphere. The EPA says “natural processes,” like variations in Earth’s orbit and in solar activity, influence the climate.
grist.org/politics/epa...

Is New York City getting its composting program right? Critics argue the city could do more to tackle its food waste problem.

Is New York City getting its composting program right?
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Corn’s Clean-Energy Promise Is Clashing With Its Climate Footprint Corn dominates U.S. farmland and fuels the ethanol industry. But the fertilizer it relies on drives emissions and fouls drinking water.

A growing body of research reveals that America’s obsession with corn has a steep price: The fertilizer used to grow it is warming the planet and contaminating water. @amesalex.bsky.social reports via @floodlightnews.org:
buff.ly/HSG3h2P

The environmental costs of corn: should the US change how it grows its dominant crop? Amid concerns over greenhouse gas emissions, the Trump administration has abolished climate-friendly farming incentives

One recent study found that solar panels can generate as much energy as corn ethanol on roughly 3% of the land.

“It’s just a terrible use of land,” Searchinger, said of ethanol. “You can’t solve climate change if you’re going to make such terrible use of land.”
www.theguardian.com/environment/...

Corn’s clean-energy promise is clashing with its climate footprint Corn dominates U.S. farmland and fuels the ethanol industry. But the fertilizer it relies on drives emissions and fouls drinking water.

Promoted as a climate fix, a federal mandate to mix ethanol into gasoline is instead driving high emissions:

🌽 Ethanol production drives huge demand for corn
🚜 Corn is grown with heavy fertilizer use
🔥 That fertilizer releases nitrous oxide, a greenhouse gas 300x stronger than CO₂

This little-known ‘dark roof’ lobby may be making your city hotter As cities heat up, reflective roofs could lower energy bills and help the climate. But dark roofing manufacturers are waging a quiet campaign to block new rules.

Cities are getting hotter. And there’s one simple fix on the table: reflective roofs.

So why is a powerful industry fighting to stop them?

Brad Racino named Floodlight editor-in-chief Floodlight has chosen Brad Racino as our next editor-in-chief after a highly competitive national search that drew 240 candidates.

We’re thrilled to announce that Floodlight has chosen Brad Racino as our next editor-in-chief! 🎉 This follows a highly competitive national search that drew 240 candidates.

Please join us in welcoming Brad!

Corn’s clean-energy promise is clashing with its climate footprint Corn dominates U.S. farmland and fuels the ethanol industry. But the fertilizer it relies on drives emissions and fouls drinking water.

It was great talking with @amesalex.bsky.social for his exceptional story with @floodlightnews.org on the environmental and climate impacts of corn production. They mentioned my report with @albine14.bsky.social for @ewgofficial.bsky.social about continuous corn. floodlightnews.org/corn-ethanol...

Corn’s clean-energy promise is clashing with its climate footprint Corn dominates U.S. farmland and fuels the ethanol industry. But the fertilizer it relies on drives emissions and fouls drinking water.

In my latest story for Floodlight, I dug into the climate cost of America’s corn boom — the fertilizer, the emissions and the federal policies and incentives that have propped it all up.
Thrilled that The Guardian has also published this. floodlightnews.org/corn-ethanol...

Sign up for our newsletter Floodlight is a nonprofit newsroom that investigates the powers stalling climate action.

As social media algorithms prove increasingly fickle, one of the best ways you can support Floodlight is by signing up for our newsletter.

We only send it twice a month — just our latest investigations and stories straight to your inbox.

The working class community of Edgemere is among New York City's most flood prone neighborhoods but a decade after officials promised to cut flood risks in the long neglected neighborhood, critics… Inside New York City's Forgotten Coast

Edgemere in Queens was devastated by Hurricane Sandy. But while the city is building new protections in some areas, residents here are still waiting.

Floodlight went to hear their stories: “They’re fortifying Manhattan. So where’s the investment for us?”

‘We Are Forgotten Here’: As NYC Builds Seawalls, This Queens… A decade after city officials promised to protect Edgemere against floods, residents say the neighborhood remains just as vulnerable.

Few American cities are more vulnerable to sea level rise than New York City.

The coastal community of Edgemere, Queens was among the hardest-hit during Superstorm Sandy. A decade later, residents still wait for promised flood protections.

With @floodlightnews.org + @theguardian.com:

Floods are swallowing their village. But for them and others, the EPA has cut the lifeline. The Trump administration has pulled more than $2.7 billion in climate grants, hitting vulnerable communities the hardest.

Kipnuk, Alaska, is disappearing.

Flooding is eroding the permafrost bank protecting the village, and a $20 million EPA grant meant to stop it was abruptly canceled in May.

Pentagon retreats from climate fight even as heat and storms slam troops For decades, the military treated climate change as a threat. Now it’s backing away from plans to protect people and bases from extreme weather.

Troops are collapsing from heat exhaustion. Military bases are flooding. Planes can’t lift off in hotter air.

But the Pentagon’s new message under Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth: “We don’t do climate change crap.”

‘We are forgotten here’: As NYC builds seawalls, this Queens community feels left behind. A decade after city officials promised to cut flood risks in the Edgemere neighborhood, critics say it remains just as vulnerable.

‘We are forgotten here’: As NYC builds seawalls, this Queens community feels left behind.
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Trump moves to boost greenhouse, toxic emissions in Gulf states Expansions at five petrochemical plants in Texas and Louisiana could add the equivalent of more than 1 million cars’ worth of pollution, advocates say

The Trump administration has exempted 52 petrochemical facilities—many along the Gulf Coast—from new clean air rules, saying the move is in the “national security interests” of the U.S.

The Climate Solution Sitting in America’s Trash Cutting food waste is a huge potential climate win. Why are we ignoring it?

Reducing food waste is one of the most practical ways to slow climate change. Why are we ignoring it? @gaeacabico.bsky.social explains, with visual reporting by @floodlightnews.org:

Pentagon retreats from climate fight even as heat and storms slam US troops For decades, the military treated the climate crisis as a threat. Now it’s backing away from plans to protect people and bases from extreme weather

"For decades, the Pentagon viewed the climate crisis as a national security threat – not for environmental reasons, but because it undermined operations and readiness.

Now the Trump administration is dismantling that approach."

‘What’s happening to me?’ How toxic fumes are sickening pilots and passengers Despite the dangers, the airlines and regulators have not tackled the problem adequately, victims say.

Despite the dangers, the airlines and regulators have not tackled the problem adequately, victims say.

On flight to Charlotte, toxic fumes got into cabin. Their lives changed forever. “We just want people to be aware,” former flight attendant Sylvia Baird says. “Because it ruined my life. It ruined all of our lives.”

The story is running alongside this amazing piece by Theoden Janes: www.charlotteobserver.com/news/local/a...

‘What’s happening to me?’ How toxic fumes are sickening pilots and passengers Despite the dangers, the airlines and regulators have not tackled the problem adequately, victims say.

Just published this deep dive in The Charlotte Observer about a hidden threat for air travelers: toxic fumes that creep into airline cabins. It's a problem that sometimes leaves crews struggling to stay conscious, land planes safely, or simply breathe. www.charlotteobserver.com/news/local/a...

Trump move to boost greenhouse, toxic emissions in Gulf states Expansions at five petrochemical plants in Texas and Louisiana could add the equivalent of more than 1 million cars’ worth of pollution, advocates say

Trump move to boost greenhouse, toxic emissions in Gulf states
🗞️ floodlightnews.org/trump-petroc...

Developer offered $15M road to Mooresville, but lawmakers picked up the bill The money trail for a Mooresville connector road involves a political insider, undisclosed connections and dozens of campaign donations.

www.charlotteobserver.com/news/local/a...

Pentagon retreats from climate fight even as heat and storms slam troops For decades, the military treated climate change as a threat. Now it’s backing away from plans to protect people and bases from extreme weather.

floodlightnews.org/pentagon-rol...

Pentagon retreats from climate fight even as heat and storms slam troops For decades, the military treated climate change as a threat. Now it’s backing away from plans to protect people and bases from extreme weather.

The Pentagon is retreating from its longstanding commitment to plan for climate change — even as extreme heat, flooding, and smoke are hammering U.S. troops at home and abroad. My latest for @floodlightnews: floodlightnews.org/pentagon-rol...

Pentagon retreats from climate fight even as heat and storms slam troops For decades, the military treated climate change as a threat. Now it’s backing away from plans to protect people and bases from extreme weather.

For decades, the U.S. military properly treated climate change as a threat. Now, under President Convicted Felon, it’s backing away from plans to protect people and bases from extreme weather, even as heat & storms slam the troops. floodlightnews.org/pentagon-rol... h/t @sejorg.bsky.social

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