Monterey County Local Sustainability News Articles and Digest

Land Use & Development Animals Sustainability State of California

Central Coast Ranch That Is Home to Endangered Species to Be Preserved

02/23/2024
The Wildlife Conservation Board voted to award $10.3 million to the Land Conservancy of San Luis Obispo County to preserve the 27,000-acre Camatta Ranch in Santa Margarita.

From CalMatters...

Environment Sustainability Government

California’s Polluted Communities Could Miss Out on Billions Under Flawed System

02/22/2024
The state’s environmental tool skews which communities are designated as disadvantaged, researchers say. Some immigrant neighborhoods could be left out, while other groups are overrepresented.

From SF Gate...

Environment Animals Sustainability

Eager Crowds Are Threatening a Bay Area Beach Ecosystem, Scientists Warn

02/14/2024
Foragers at the beaches in Half Moon Bay might be damaging the area’s reef.

From Los Angeles Times...

Transportation Sustainability State of California

California EV Sales Are Falling. Is It Just Temporary, or a Threat to State Climate Goals?

02/14/2024
California electric vehicle sales dropped significantly in the last half of 2023, raising questions about the state’s ability to phase out gas-powered cars.

From The Lutrinae...

Education Agriculture, Food & Gardening Sustainability

The Green Roof Project: Planting Seeds With Purpose

02/12/2024
Environmental studies students have rolled out a campaign to gather support from faculty and students, and they believe they now have the research to support implementing a green roof on campus.

From Monterey Herald...

Environment Animals Sustainability

The Wild Pig Problem in Monterey County

02/09/2024
Pigs running down the streets of Salinas? “It’s not too far-fetched,” says one trapper. After incessant rain, Monterey County is experiencing a big pig problem.

From CalMatters...

Business, Economy & Jobs Elections & Politics Sustainability State of California

Legislators Unveil Measure to Ask Voters for $1 billion Offshore Wind Bond

02/08/2024
The funds would help California ports expand to handle giant wind turbines and other equipment. California’s first offshore wind farms are on a fast track off Humboldt County and Morro Bay.

From CalMatters...

Sustainability State of California

Why CA Legislators Want to Ban More Plastic Bags

02/08/2024
State Senators Ben Allen and Catherine Blakespear announced a new measure to ban plastic bags statewide—particularly the thicker ones billed as “reusable.”

From Los Angeles Times...

Health Sustainability

As Climate Hazards Converge, More Californians Are Living in Harm’s Way

02/02/2024
When wildfire smoke and extreme heat combine, they create “a synergistic effect” or an “additional burden” on people’s health, researchers say.

From CalMatters...

Transportation Sustainability

Californians Bought Record Numbers of Electric Cars as Industry Eyes Slowdown

02/01/2024
Some automakers are reducing production of electric cars and Tesla sales have dropped. Can California sustain its record pace and meet the state mandate?

From California Healthline...

Health Sustainability State of California

Back From COP28, California Climate Leaders Talk Health Impacts of Warming

01/31/2024
As Californians increasingly feel the health effects of climate change, state leaders are adopting sweeping policies they hope will fend off the worst impacts.

From CalMatters...

Water Animals Sustainability State of California

Saving Salmon: Newsom Unveils Blueprint for Ending Decades-Long Decline

01/30/2024
Chinook and other salmon runs are collapsing. Conservation groups call it too little, too late. Plan includes dam removals and restoring river flows.

From Los Angeles Times...

Environment Sustainability

A Fire Burning Inside an L.A. County Landfill is Raising Alarms Over Toxic Air

01/29/2024
As an underground fire burns deep within Chiquita Canyon Landfill, air regulators are raising alarms over the possible spread of toxic vapors.

From The Lutrinae...

Education Sustainability

Working Together to Create a Sustainable Campus

01/29/2024
California State University, Monterey Bay has big plans in the coming years: complete campus sustainability by 2030.

From CapPublicRadio...

Environment Water Sustainability

‘Hot Droughts’ Are Becoming More Common in the Arid West, New Study Finds

01/28/2024
Take a period of limited rainfall. Add heat. And you have what scientists call a “hot drought”—dry conditions made more intense by the evaporative power of hotter temperatures.

From Monterey Herald...

Education Sustainability

Monterey County School Districts Are Split on Electric School Buses

01/28/2024
Alisal Unified School District has added a sixth coach to its growing fleet of electric school buses, retiring another old diesel rig for a shiny new yellow e-bus.

From CalMatters...

Sustainability

Since California Cut Home Solar Payments, Demand Has Plunged 80%

01/25/2024
Experts worry that the steep decline could stall the state’s battle against climate change. Solar power is critical to meeting California’s ambitious requirement to switch to carbon-free electricity.

From Santa Cruz Sentinel...

Environment Water Sustainability Community Service & Support

Students Make Waves to Protect Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary

01/19/2024
Students throughout the nation have been engaging in environmental stewardship projects, as part of NOAA’s Ocean Guardian School program.

From Monterey County Weekly...

Animals Agriculture, Food & Gardening Sustainability

After a Two-Month Delay, Commercial Crab Season Opens on the Central Coast.

01/17/2024
Image for display with article titled After Two-Month Delay, Commercial Crab Season Opens on the Central Coast.

Two things that are true, but also come into conflict, are that most people love to eat crab, and most people love whales.

From Monterey Herald...

Transportation Sustainability

Joby Aviation Electric Air Taxi Charger Coming to John Wayne Airport

01/12/2024
Joby Aviation signed an agreement for the first electric air taxi charger installed at a California airport in anticipation of air taxi service in the greater Los Angeles area.

Monterey County Local News: Sustainability