climate change

Since the 1970s, the amount of insects at Canada's Long Point Bird Observatory has plummeted by 60%, according to a new study led by the University of Michigan. Because of this, today's birds are smaller and facing greater challenges to their breeding success compared with previous generations. Charlotte Probst, lead author of the new study and a doctoral student in the U-M School for Environment and Sustainability (SEAS), discussed the findings with WEMU’s Caroline MacGregor.

The march toward carbon neutrality in Ann Arbor continues. In enacting the measures needed to make the A2ZERO plan work by the goal date of 2030, it has to be approached from a variety of angles. That includes boots on the ground. That’s where the Ann Arbor Climate Corps comes in. It helps bridge the gap between city policy and neighborhood level implementation, and it’s been working so far. But now, there is the potential elimination of federal AmeriCorps funding. Maggie Halpern is program manager for Ann Arbor Climate Corps. In her conversation with WEMU's David Fair, she talks about what options are being considered, should that come to pass, and the work the Climate Corps will continue doing in Ann Arbor.

There is a growing local food network in Washtenaw County. As high prices increase food insecurity, more homegrown food can help. Further, local farmers are creating better connections with the general public, and that is helping to combat the climate crisis by helping reduce transportation-related emissions. There is also potential for more local economic impact. WEMU's David Fair talked with Ryan Poe, the founder of The Hungry Locavore, about local agriculture as part of our carbon neutrality and food insecurity solutions.

Climate change has brought more unpredictable weather, and that has resulted in more severe storms and more flooding, more dams at risk and that, of course, puts property and lives in danger. Around here, we depend on the Huron River. The Digital Water Lab at the University of Michigan has set a network of real-time sensors to improve water monitoring, flood response and coordination among dam operators. WEMU's David Fair got a lesson in how that works in a conversation with U-M Professor of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Branko Kerkez.

This year’s Earth Day theme is “Our Power, Our Planet.” A free program offered by the City of Ann Arbor exemplifies that theme by helping residents plant new trees. WEMU’s Ana Longoria has the story.

Ann Arbor’s Office of Sustainability and Innovations will be hosting for the first time the fourth annual A2 Climate Teach-In after taking up the mantle from the previous organizers. WEMU’s Ana Longoria has the story.

The EPA has reversed the so-called "endangerment finding". It is the legal basis for the nation's federal effort to combat climate change. The White House says it led to over-regulation and is costing people money. Scientists and researchers worry about the setbacks it may cause. WEMU's David Fair and Michigan League of Conservation Voters executive director Lisa Wozniak explored these issues with the Holcim Professor of Sustainable Enterprise at the University of Michigan, Andy Hoffman.

This winter in Washtenaw County has been notably colder and snowier than most of the past decade. It has created inconveniences and hardships. But there may be some benefits to all of the snow and cold. Snowier winters play an important ecological role beyond what we experience at the surface. WEMU's David Fair was joined by U-M Biological Station researcher, Dr. Olivia Vought to explore this winter’s environmental benefits and how it all works.

The federal administration is cutting environmental programs and funding and further reducing regulations on polluting. The political environment in Washington, in and of itself, is toxic. On the February edition of WEMU’s "1st Friday Focus on the Environment," WEMU's David Fair and Michigan League of Conservation Voters executive director Lisa Wozniak were joined by Democratic Michigan Senator Elissa Slotkin to discuss policy and politics.

The annual Detroit Auto Show opens to the public on January 17th. Electric vehicles are already embedded in local climate policy as a required component of meeting adopted emissions targets. Affordability has become a significant issue, and these cost pressures affect communities differently within Washtenaw County. WEMU's David Fair looked at the impact of EV’s in our community with Charles Griffith from the Ann Arbor-based Ecology Center.