Recent Events

Trump’s Big Beautiful Bill Threatens Renewables

On Thursday, the House of Representatives finalized a bill that, among other provisions, slashes tax breaks for renewable energy while expanding fossil fuels in the United States. The bill will phase out tax credits for wind and solar power, although some support for sources such as geothermal energy and nuclear energy will remain. By contrast, fossil fuel producers will enjoy additional tax breaks and lease sales in areas such as the Gulf of Mexico and Alaska. Also, tax breaks for the purchase of new or used electric cars are on their way out. Even with less governmental support, renewable energy remains a compelling solution to mounting unsustainable emissions in America.

Vatican Publishes Mass on Environment

On Thursday, the Vatican released a new rite for Mass which can “be used to ask God for the ability to care for creation.” In essence, this release is meant to signal the church’s commitment to protecting the environment. One day previously, Pope Leo released a message for a day of prayer regarding “care for creation”, expressing concerns about “the evidence in various parts of the world that our earth is being ravaged.” Writing further, he emphasized how “environmental justice” could “no longer be regarded as an abstract concept or a distant goal” but had become “an urgent need that involves much more than simply protecting the environment.”

Record-breaking European heatwave

A heatwave in Europe has temperatures in many areas over 100 degree Fahrenheit. In France, some areas were over 108 degrees. In many of these places, such high temperatures have broken records. In Europe, air conditioning is more of a luxury than in consistently warmer areas, so Europeans without AC are currently using resources such as public pools to cool off. Climate change will cause the worsening of such events, and put a special burden on areas where infrastructure doesn’t already exist to deal with extreme weather events. In the words of a European climate expert after the heatwave, “with climate change, we’re bound to see more intense, longer, and more frequent heat waves, and that’s exactly what we’re seeing.”

Growing Decrease in Insect Populations Poses Significant Threats to Ecosystems Around the World

Being summertime, there is a high likelihood that you have encountered tiny ants crawling around the entrances of your home or been bitten by pesky mosquitoes. Though we tend to think of these insects as being nothing more than a slight nuisance in our day-to-day lives, alongside the roughly 900,000 other documented insect species, they play a huge role in maintaining ecosystems all throughout the world. Insects are by far the most diverse group of animals that live on planet Earth. They make up roughly two-thirds of the entire animal species on Earth, and this statistic does not even account for the millions of insect species that have not been discovered yet. The sheer number and diversity of insects results in them playing significant roles in helping maintain ecosystems.

Insects are responsible for many processes that are integral in maintaining ecosystems. Perhaps the most important, they serve as one of the primary pollinators for plants across the globe. Insects are responsible for the pollination of over 85% of wild flowering plants and over 75% of agricultural crop species. Without them, many plants would be unable to reproduce. This poses a severe risk, as decreases in pollination would lead to lower crop production and potential food shortages in many areas of the world. Additionally, insects are essential for decomposing and recycling organic waste. Insects help put nutrients back into the environment for producers to use. Without many of the decomposers in ecosystems, energy would be unable to be recycled, leading to failures in food webs. Besides the functions mentioned above that insects serve, they are essential species for almost all freshwater and terrestrial ecosystems in the world. The continual decrease of insect populations poses a severe risk, as insects are the primary source of food for secondary consumers. As the population of insect species continues to decrease, other organisms will be forced to adapt at a rate that is unachievable in order to survive and find food. As a result, the decline in insects will have negative effects in the ecosystems that they are in, as the equilibrium will be disrupted.

The primary causes for decreasing insect populations all across the world can be attributed to synthetic pesticides, habitat loss, and climate change. Over the past 100 years, human industrialization and agriculture have resulted in unprecedented amounts of habitat loss for animals all throughout the world. As our needs and wants become greater, other species suffer from a loss of biodiversity in their ecosystems. As a part of the rise and automation of agriculture in the past two centuries specifically, the use of synthetic pesticides has become a common practice. Derived from chemicals used for deterring and killing unwanted pests that may destroy crops, synthetic pesticides often end up killing more than just harmful pests. They kill insects that are necessary for crops to grow such as pollinators and helpful parasitoids. Without the managed and controlled use of synthetic pesticides, there can often be unintended consequences that arise in the neighboring environments where the pesticides are being used. There is great severity in the decline of insect populations; in one long-term study in Germany, it was found that flying insects across 63 insect reserves dropped 75% in less than 30 years. Though all places in the world may not be experiencing the same drops in population, it is evident that this population decrease is happening. Even in parts of the world like the Arctic where human disturbance is much less compared to other places, the trend remains the same. Insect populations are decreasing, and this is serious.

Without proper action taken to address this predicament, ecosystems across the entire world will be affected in ways unprecedented to what humanity has seen before. This, alongside countless other factors that are driving climate change, causes habitats and environments for animals and humans alike to become increasingly unstable. Without immediate action taken to address these issues, there is no telling what the future will look like in regards to the way we live and see it today.

Tips: A Sustainable July 4th

The holidays are always time for fun and oftentimes people forget about sustainability. Here are a few tips to keep in mind during your holiday.

• As always, remember to compost: Composting is beneficial to the environment in many ways. It reduces waste, improves soil health, benefits plant growth, and of course, helps fight climate change.

• Avoid Disposable Products: Disposable products tend to create pollution, contribute to resource depletion, and generate greenhouse gas emissions. By reusing plates and utensils, we can cut down on a range of environmental problems.

• Choose Natural Bug Repellents: Lots of parties are held outside and with it being bug season, mosquito bites are not uncommon. Natural repellents have less of a negative environmental impact because they are biodegradable, made from renewable resources, and less likely to cause environmental buildup. Choose natural repellents that include essential oils and plants.

• Leave Nothing Behind: Most 4th of July trips are held at the beach and parks with tons of family and friends. Except this often results in littered public spaces with paper plates being blown away and forgotten utensils littered on the ground. Do your part and help pick up any litter when you leave.

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— BEE Leadership