🌱Green New Deal fervor infecting more than just Democrats

In weeks prior, I discussed the electroshock effect that the roll out of the Green New Deal had on Democratic presidential candidates. It seemed as though politicians who were either quiet or unimpressive on climate change suddenly presented themselves as staunch defenders of the planet and wholly opposed to fossil fuel development. The momentum of that energy has begun to spill over into the private sector and even a bit into the Republican Party. Though President Donald Trump and other vocal Republicans continue to deny the existence of climate change and the influence of humans on warming, others are jumping on the political bandwagon that's heading full speed toward the 2020 election. Though climate change is unlikely to become the number one issue of the 2020 election, it's clear that the topic is rising in the ranks alongside health care, immigration and tax reform. How, if it all, will moves toward sustainable growth, renewable energy and waste reduction in the private sector accelerate politicians alignment with pro-climate policies? Will that alignment translate into actual policy, or will it remain a political tactic during the primary and into the general election? Still a year and half away, there's still plenty of room for growth, or collapse, of the issue in the political sphere. For more than 100 years, Yosemite National Park's Lyell Glacier has given scientists and recreationists alike a peek into how the Earth formed. But in 2014, it disappeared leaving in its wake clues to what the world may look like has global warming continues to alter the natural world. [Read More +]( [March Temperatures in Alaska: 20 degrees hotter than usual]( Temperature records were set across Alaska in March, mimicking the trend that warming in the Arctic as a result of climate change is happening about twice as fast as other areas of the world. [Read More +]( [Republicans drafting alternative to Democrat's Green New Deal]( Some see the effort as a "remarkable shift" on climate by Republicans; others see it as an empty gesture. [Read More +]( [Ex-oil lobbyist confirmed to lead US Interior Department]( David Bernhardt was confirmed as the new Secretary of the Interior this week. His past dealings as an oil and gas lobbyist, personal calendar and conflicts of interest have been extensively questioned by environmental groups and Congressional Democrats. [Read More +]( [More than 3,500 Amazon employees demand corporate climate change plan]( More than 3,500 Amazon employees sent the company a letter demanding it develop a detailed climate plan to reduce its collective carbon footprint. [Read More +]( [Shell leaves trade group over climate change]( Oil giant Shell decided to leave a major lobbying group after it found “material misalignment” over climate policy. [Read More +]( What else we're reading this week - These countries have [prices on carbon](. Are they working? via The New York Times - The Weather Channel released a [chilling video]( on climate change via Grist - Antarctica team to search [world's oldest ice]( for climate change clues via New Scientist - Bill banning firefighting foam that [contaminated]( a Colorado aquifer advances in Legislature via The Gazette Quote of the day: “We all have some differences with one piece of legislation or another. But in proposing what she has proposed, together with Sen. Markey, Congresswoman Ocasio-Cortez has in fact offered more leadership in one day or in one week than President Trump has in his lifetime on (climate change).”  -Former Secretary of State John Kerry to Congress Tip of the day: Plant native plants instead of grass in your yard. [Native Plants Finder]( customizes your search based on your zip code to show what's ecologically viable. [Subscribe now!]( A free weekly environment briefing that comes to you. No algorithms, clickbait or ads – just what's worth reading. I've got your back Hi, my name is Liz Forster. I am an environment reporter and have a particular interest in public land management, natural disasters, climate change and ecology, among other topics. I received a degree in Environmental Policy from Colorado College and have worked for a Colorado newspaper since. Subscribe and each week, I'll comb through newspaper's headlines and send you the latest, most pertinent environment news. Questions, comments, suggestions? Email me at liz.forster@gazette.com or follow me on Twitter at @lizmforster. You're receiving this email because you signed up for Environment Weekly emails The Colorado Springs Gazette, L.L.C. | 100 E. Pikes Peak Ave., Suite 100, Colorado Springs, CO 80903 [Unsubscribe {EMAIL}]( [Update Profile]( | [Our Privacy Policy]( | [About our service provider]( Sent by noreply@gazette.com