Equity and Environmental Justice Archives | Great Lakes Now https://www.greatlakesnow.org/category/politics-policy-environmental-justice/equity-and-environmental-justice/ Great Lakes Now shares stories about the unique culture and history of the Great Lakes basin Fri, 16 May 2025 16:39:26 +0000 en-US hourly 1 https://www.greatlakesnow.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/08/cropped-gln-avatar-32x32.jpg Equity and Environmental Justice Archives | Great Lakes Now https://www.greatlakesnow.org/category/politics-policy-environmental-justice/equity-and-environmental-justice/ 32 32 EPA Outlines New PFAS Strategy Amid Expert Concerns https://www.greatlakesnow.org/2025/05/epa-outlines-new-pfas-strategy-amid-expert-concerns/ Wed, 14 May 2025 17:56:57 +0000 https://www.greatlakesnow.org/?p=42525 EPA Outlines New PFAS Strategy Amid Expert Concerns

Catch the latest updates on what’s happening with PFAS in the Great Lakes region. Check back for more PFAS news roundups every other week on our website.

On May 14, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced their plan to roll back significant portions of the Biden administration’s first nationwide drinking water standard for PFAS.

Read Now at Great Lakes Now.

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Great Lakes Moment: Government downsizing, defunding and deregulating at what environmental cost? https://www.greatlakesnow.org/2025/05/great-lakes-moment-government-downsizing-defunding-and-deregulating-at-what-environmental-cost/ Mon, 05 May 2025 20:22:31 +0000 https://www.greatlakesnow.org/?p=42367 Great Lakes Moment: Government downsizing, defunding and deregulating at what environmental cost?

Great Lakes Moment is a monthly column written by Great Lakes Now Contributor John Hartig. Publishing the author’s views and assertions does not represent endorsement by Great Lakes Now or Detroit PBS.

There is always room to improve program effectiveness and efficiency in government, as well as business, nongovernmental organizations and other institutions.

Read Now at Great Lakes Now.

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‘Everyone deserves clean air,’ says a Chicago EPA worker who fears her job will end https://www.greatlakesnow.org/2025/04/everyone-deserves-clean-air-says-a-chicago-epa-worker-who-fears-her-job-will-end/ https://www.greatlakesnow.org/2025/04/everyone-deserves-clean-air-says-a-chicago-epa-worker-who-fears-her-job-will-end/#respond Tue, 01 Apr 2025 15:28:24 +0000 https://www.greatlakesnow.org/?p=41732 ‘Everyone deserves clean air,’ says a Chicago EPA worker who fears her job will end

By Juanpablo Ramirez-Franco, WBEZ

This coverage is made possible through a partnership between WBEZ and Grist, a nonprofit, independent media organization dedicated to telling stories of climate solutions and a just future. Sign up for WBEZ newsletters to get local news you can trust.

Read Now at Great Lakes Now.

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Waves of Change: Meet JustAir Co-Founder and CEO Darren Riley https://www.greatlakesnow.org/2025/01/waves-of-change-meet-justair-co-founder-and-ceo-darren-riley/ https://www.greatlakesnow.org/2025/01/waves-of-change-meet-justair-co-founder-and-ceo-darren-riley/#respond Fri, 31 Jan 2025 20:26:06 +0000 https://www.greatlakesnow.org/?p=40591 Waves of Change: Meet JustAir Co-Founder and CEO Darren Riley

Waves of Change is an online interview series highlighting the diverse faces and perspectives shaping the environmental justice movement throughout the Great Lakes region.

This month, we spoke with Darren Riley, co-founder and CEO of JustAir, a Detroit-based organization whose mission is to use data, technology and analysis to protect the 20,000 breaths each person takes every day.

Read Now at Great Lakes Now.

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Waves of Change: Meet Protect the Porkies founder Tom Grotewohl https://www.greatlakesnow.org/2024/11/waves-of-change-meet-protect-the-porkies-founder-tom-grotewohl/ https://www.greatlakesnow.org/2024/11/waves-of-change-meet-protect-the-porkies-founder-tom-grotewohl/#respond Wed, 20 Nov 2024 16:32:12 +0000 https://www.greatlakesnow.org/?p=39578 Waves of Change: Meet Protect the Porkies founder Tom Grotewohl

Waves of Change is an online interview series highlighting the diverse faces and perspectives shaping the environmental justice movement throughout the Great Lakes region.

This month, we spoke with Tom Grotewohl, a resident of Wakefield Township in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula and founder of the Protect the Porkies campaign.

Read Now at Great Lakes Now.

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He’ll try, but Trump can’t stop the clean energy revolution https://www.greatlakesnow.org/2024/11/hell-try-but-trump-cant-stop-the-clean-energy-revolution/ https://www.greatlakesnow.org/2024/11/hell-try-but-trump-cant-stop-the-clean-energy-revolution/#respond Tue, 12 Nov 2024 20:13:20 +0000 https://www.greatlakesnow.org/?p=39410 He’ll try, but Trump can’t stop the clean energy revolution

By Matt Simon

This story was originally published by Grist. Sign up for Grist’s weekly newsletter here.

During his first time around as president, Donald Trump rolled back a bevy of environmental rules, withdrew from the Paris Agreement, and boosted the fossil fuel industry.

Read Now at Great Lakes Now.

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Can environmental law move beyond bedrock 1970’s legislation, while adapting to current and future challenges? https://www.greatlakesnow.org/2024/11/can-environmental-law-move-beyond-bedrock-1970s-legislation-while-adapting-to-current-and-future-challenges/ https://www.greatlakesnow.org/2024/11/can-environmental-law-move-beyond-bedrock-1970s-legislation-while-adapting-to-current-and-future-challenges/#respond Tue, 12 Nov 2024 19:17:16 +0000 https://www.greatlakesnow.org/?p=39404 Can environmental law move beyond bedrock 1970’s legislation, while adapting to current and future challenges?

A 2022 report titled Promises Half Kept at the Half Century Mark, by the Environmental Integrity Project, released on the Clean Water Act’s 50th anniversary said the law is “falling short of its original goals.”

Michigan, for example, has the 4th largest number of impaired lakes, reservoirs and streams assessed for water contact recreation in the U.S.

Read Now at Great Lakes Now.

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4 things to know about a youth-led court case against Ontario’s climate plans https://www.greatlakesnow.org/2024/11/4-things-to-know-about-a-youth-led-court-case-against-ontarios-climate-plans/ https://www.greatlakesnow.org/2024/11/4-things-to-know-about-a-youth-led-court-case-against-ontarios-climate-plans/#respond Wed, 06 Nov 2024 16:52:39 +0000 https://www.greatlakesnow.org/?p=39327 4 things to know about a youth-led court case against Ontario’s climate plans

By Fatima Syed, The Narwhal

The Great Lakes News Collaborative includes Bridge Michigan, Circle of Blue, Great Lakes Now at Detroit PBS, Michigan Public and The Narwhal who work together to bring audiences news and information about the impact of climate change, pollution, and aging infrastructure on the Great Lakes and drinking water.

Read Now at Great Lakes Now.

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Trump Wins, Planet Loses https://www.greatlakesnow.org/2024/11/trump-wins-planet-loses/ https://www.greatlakesnow.org/2024/11/trump-wins-planet-loses/#respond Wed, 06 Nov 2024 16:23:01 +0000 https://www.greatlakesnow.org/?p=39340 Trump Wins, Planet Loses

By Tik Root, Grist

This story was originally published by Grist. Sign up for Grist’s weekly newsletter here.

Donald J. Trump will once again be president of the United States.

The Associated Press called the race for Trump early Wednesday morning, ending one of the costliest and most turbulent campaign cycles in the nation’s history.

Read Now at Great Lakes Now.

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Public hearing draws on big questions about Upper Peninsula copper mining https://www.greatlakesnow.org/2024/11/public-hearing-draws-on-big-questions-about-upper-peninsula-copper-mining/ https://www.greatlakesnow.org/2024/11/public-hearing-draws-on-big-questions-about-upper-peninsula-copper-mining/#respond Tue, 05 Nov 2024 20:06:48 +0000 https://www.greatlakesnow.org/?p=39322 Public hearing draws on big questions about Upper Peninsula copper mining

By Izzy Ross, Interlochen Public Radio

This coverage is made possible through a partnership with IPR and Grist, a nonprofit independent media organization dedicated to telling stories of climate solutions and a just future.

In Gogebic County, on the western end of Michigan’s Upper Peninsula, towering old-growth evergreens carpet the landscape as it rolls down toward the deep blue of Lake Superior.

Read Now at Great Lakes Now.

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