Grace Springer

New Intel chip factory raises questions about sustainability

6Apr

By Climate 360 NewsNo Comments

Economy, Featured, Kent State University

New Intel chip factory raises questions about sustainability

By Grace Springer Ohio Governor Mike DeWine announces the new Intel factories. Photo via Ohio.gov Since the explosion of sustainability movements across the world, companies have released corporate responsibility reports often with a section on how they plan to protect the environment for future generations. Intel has outlined several sustainability goals for the two new factories. These goals include aiming to run on 100% renewable energy, meeting exceptional water conservation standards and sending zero waste to landfills by 2030. “I’m not saying that Intel cannot do it — definitely they can if they wanted to. The problem is, at the end of the day, it kind of gets back to money,” Omid Bagheri, Ph.D., professor of economics at Kent State University told Climate360....

Western wildfires: A growing threat across the country

17Feb

By Climate 360 NewsNo Comments

Featured, Kent State University, Loyola Marymount University, Science

Western wildfires: A growing threat across the country

By Alex Kim, Grace Springer Smoke rising in this California forest as the blaze continues. Photo via Flickr As I’m writing this article in February, there is a wildfire burning in Laguna Beach, California, that forced evacuations — an occurrence that used to be rare at this time of year, but not anymore. Parts of Southern California are experiencing a heatwave that’s fueling winter wildfires that can potentially send smoke thousands of miles outside of California. Jana Houser, Ph.D., is a professor of meteorology at Ohio University. She told Climate360, “We [Ohioans] can periodically notice the effects of wildfires out west when the fires become so numerous and large that their smoke enters the jet stream of the upper atmosphere.” In July 2021, Public Health Dayton ...

Five questions about pandemics and climate change, answered

16Feb

By Climate 360 NewsNo Comments

Kent State University, Science

Five questions about pandemics and climate change, answered

By Grace Springer Photo via MaxPixel What is a pandemic? According to the Columbia School of Public Health, a pandemic is, “a virus [that] covers a wide area, affecting several countries and populations.” An outbreak is declared a pandemic when it is spread exponentially.  What types of diseases are affected by climate change?  There are two types of diseases that are affected by climate change—vector-borne diseases and zoonotic diseases. What are vector-borne diseases? According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), vector-borne diseases are diseases spread to humans by insects that feed on blood such as mosquitos and fleas. Due to global warming, these insects are increasingly able to survive in more areas of the world...

Proposed efforts to stop future pandemics also fight climate change

16Feb

By Climate 360 NewsNo Comments

Kent State University, Science

Proposed efforts to stop future pandemics also fight climate change

By Grace Springer Microbiologist tests specimen for COVID-19. Photo Via Flickr A new study published in Science Advances argues that steps must be taken now to avoid future pandemics as people continue to interact with wildlife that carry many different pathogens. Researchers defined three primary prevention methods to prevent the spillover of diseases from animals to humans, some of which benefit the planet as well. These methods include better pathogen surveillance, wildlife and hunting management and forest protection. Zoonotic diseases are pathogens that originate in animals before being spread to humans. Detection and containment of these pathogens before their spillover into humans would save lives and money. Dr. Marcia Castro, Andelot Professor of Demography ...

Citizens’ Climate Lobby national conference reignites the movement

18Dec

By Climate 360 NewsNo Comments

Community, Kent State University, Policy

Citizens’ Climate Lobby national conference reignites the movement 

  By Grace Springer Photo courtesy of Citizens' Climate Lobby Citizens’ Climate Lobby (CCL) held its virtual national conference last month with a major focus on carbon price, how to effectively lobby members of Congress and diversity and inclusion within the movement. The conference, which coincided with the end of COP26 and a historic vote on President Biden’s Build Back Better agenda, represented an important moment for the movement.   According to Flannery Winchester, CCL communications director, getting involved in climate movements is the best way to combat climate dread and anxiety.   “If you feel overwhelmed by the scale of the problem the best thing you can do is get active,” she told Climate360. “Like we say in CCL, ‘...

What is reef-safe sunscreen, and why is it important?

11Aug

By Climate 360 NewsNo Comments

Kent State University, Science

What is reef-safe sunscreen, and why is it important?

By Connor Fallon, Grace Springer Graphic by Connor Fallon Sunscreen is a product made to protect humans from the sun’s ultraviolet rays, however, some ingredients found in sunscreen put our marine life in danger. Reef-harming chemicals found in sunscreen are introduced into the environment when people wear sunscreen while swimming. Research says that 4,000 to 6,000 tons of sunscreen enters reef areas annually. These chemicals can also enter the ocean from overspray of aerosol sunscreens or through shower drains while rinsing off. Chemicals commonly found in sunscreens can cause permanent DNA damage to coral and the more than one million other organisms that call reefs home around the world. Coral reefs are also a vital contribution to...

What you need to know about the new Conservative Climate Caucus

23Jul

By Climate 360 NewsNo Comments

Kent State University, Policy

What you need to know about the new Conservative Climate Caucus

By Grace Springer The Conservative Climate Caucus, announced in mid-June, has over 60 congressional members. Photo by Louis Velazquez on Unsplash Recently, Rep. John Curtis, R-Utah, announced the formation of the Conservative Climate Caucus with the purpose of educating Conservatives on climate policies that fall in line with conservative values. Here’s what you need to know. The caucus acknowledges climate change as a threat but hesitates to call it a crisis The formation of the caucus marks a transition in the ideals of the Republican Party. Former President Donald Trump’s administration overturned several climate policies, most notably by leaving the Paris Agreement in 2020. Curtis rejects the label that Republicans do no...

Controversial policies result in Ohioans paying the price for dirty energy

8Jul

By Climate 360 NewsNo Comments

Energy, Kent State University, Policy, Video

Controversial policies result in Ohioans paying the price for dirty energy

By Grace Springer, Willow Campbell, Spencer Hayes, Madison Ledyard-King, Connor Fallon Perry Nuclear Power Plant cooling tower transfers exhaust heat into the air. Photo: Willow Campbell, Climate 360 COLUMBUS, OH — What has been dubbed by Vox and other news as “the worst energy bill of the 21st century” has put Ohio behind in the transition to renewable energy. Ohio House Bill 6 is energy legislation that provided bailouts in the form of subsidies to two nuclear power plants and two coal power plants. The bill also reformed energy efficiency standards in the state. The legislation passed by a slim margin in 2019 after a multi-million-dollar bribery scandal. The scandal involved several Ohio politicians including f...

22Jun

By Climate 360 NewsNo Comments

AUTHOR

Executive Producer, KSU My name is Grace, I am a second-year student at Kent State University majoring in Journalism with a minor in Media Advocacy. I am a member of Kent's athletic bands and an Executive Producer for Climate 360. I look forward to reporting on the state of the climate and working on finding solutions that will make a difference.

Organic cotton farming proves to have environmental benefits, yet still lacks popularity among cotton farmers and businesses

15Jun

By Climate 360 NewsNo Comments

Economy, Kent State University, Louisiana State University, Loyola Marymount University

Organic cotton farming proves to have environmental benefits, yet still lacks popularity among cotton farmers and businesses

By Kennedi Hewitt, Ava Borskey, Connor Fallon and Grace Springer When the cold weather comes around and people start searching for their most durable and fashionable heavy coats, brands such as Patagonia and Everlane are among the best rated clothing brands worn. However, in addition to being top manufactures for outdoor wear, Patagonia and Everlane are also renowned for their sustainable and transparent production practices, zero waste initiatives and environmental activism. Furthermore, they are celebrated for their commitment to using organic cotton over conventionally grown cotton. Organic cotton is often advertised as a cleaner and more sustainable material in the fashion industry. Like other organic crops, it’s grown without the use of pesticides,...