The UN estimated that in 2000 some 1.6 billion people around the world, including many of the world’s poorest, derived at least part of their food, income or medical needs directly from the forest. The Congo rainforest is the second biggest rainforest in the world and has lost more than 600,000 hectares of primary forest in 2020, which is a 9 percent increase compared to 2019, according to recent data from the Global Forest Watch (GFW). The biggest drivers of deforestation in the Congo rainforest over the past 30 years have been small-scale subsistence agriculture, logging, urban expansion, and mining. What has the impact been on the DRC, the general region, and the globe at whole? We discuss this, the lack of global efforts, and more in this episode.

Global land use changes are four times greater than previously estimated | Nature 

Global land use change, economic globalization, and the looming land scarcity | PNAS 

Land degradation and climate change - resource | IUCN.

Climate change: Land degradation and desertification | WHO

Deforestation in Africa: Causes, Effects, and Solutions | Earth.Org

3 Surprising Ways Water Depends on Healthy Forests | World Resources Institute

Saving Africa’s forests, the ‘lungs of the world’ | Africa Renewal

Rainforests in Africa- Mongabay

How Colonialism Spawned and Continues to Exacerbate the Climate Crisis | Columbia news 

COP27: Conserving the Congo Basin rainforest | African Wildlife Foundation

US tech giants sued over DRC cobalt mine child labour deaths | Al Jazeera 

To save the Congo basin rainforest, end the conflict in the DRC | Al Jazeera

COP26: Landmark $500 million agreement to protect the DRC forest | UN.org

COP27 long on pledges, short on funds for forests | Mongabay.org 

Women for Forests | WECAN International

On Feb. 3, a Norfolk Southern train carrying toxic chemicals derailed in East Palestine, Ohio, igniting a fire and setting off fears of an explosion. The NTSB found that the accident was “100% preventable” and yet Norfolk Southern, the company responsible, firmly disagrees. Shortly after the derailment, 1,500 to 2,000 residents were told to evacuate. The EPA, Ohio officials, and the company responsible are all reporting different effects. It will take continuous testing to determine the scope of this accident. Still, what is being done to prevent these accidents that keep happening in America? We get into it in this episode.

Source links below:

Section of major I-95 highway in Philadelphia may take months to repair | CNN

EPA Residential, Commercial, and Agricultural Soil Sampling Results

EPA Updates from the East Palestine Train Derailment Emergency Response 

The Ohio Train Derailment: A Timeline - The New York Times

Environmental Disaster from East Palestine, OH Train Derailment | pennfuture

UC professor explains environmental harm caused by rail accidents | University of Cincinnati

Aches, rashes and fear: Trauma remains after Ohio derailment | AP News

Ohio Train Derailment: An Ecological and Human Health Disaster? | Earth.Org

Justice Department sues Norfolk Southern over derailment | AP News

Norfolk Southern’s Profits and Accident Rates Rose Before Ohio Derailment - NYT

Ohio senators introduce safety rules after toxic train derailment disaster | Guardian

Derailed: Investigating the US railroad industry | transport | Al Jazeera

Indigenous Climate Action

The  transportation sector is one of the largest contributors of GHGs and cars alone contribute to 29% of emissions in the US. The issue of renewable transport has plagued humanity longer than you think and the rise of electric vehicle sales may be part of the solution. Tesla, Toyota, Honda… all companies that have been less than honest with marketing tactics regarding environmental impact to varying degrees. Is the EV market plagued by greenwashing?

Source links below:

The History of the Electric Car | Department of Energy 

How electric vehicles help to tackle climate change | Carbon Brief 

Electric Vehicles: Technology Analysis | International Energy Agency 

Tesla 2022 Impact Report

Carbon disclosure rating 

Tesla’s carbon footprint is bigger than the company let on in the past | The Verge 

Nationwide Study of the Electric Vehicle Shopping Experience | Sierra Club 

Best Electric Vehicles of 2023 - Top-Rated EVs | U.S. News

Consumer Reports' top auto picks 2023 | CNBC

Best Electric Vehicles of 2023 | Kelly Blue Book 

Toyota accused of greenwashing in Greenpeace complaint filed to ACCC

EU Commission prepares to crack down on greenwashing with Green Claims law | EEB

South Korea establishing fines for corporate 'greenwashing' | Business & Human Rights Centre