Moore Foundation pledges extra $300m to boost conservation of Amazon
New targets include ensuring 247 million acres of freshwater and forest ecosystems, as well as Indigenous and local communities’ lands, are effectively managed.
California
Twitter launches privacy-protected site on the dark web to bypass Russia’s block
Russia has blocked access to Facebook and has limited Twitter in an attempt to try to restrict the flow of information about its war in Ukraine.
Judge restores protections for gray wolves across much of U.S.
U.S. District Judge Jeffrey White in Oakland, California, said the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service had failed to show wolf populations could be sustained in the Midwest and portions of the West without protection under the Endangered Species Act.
California lifts renewable energy target to 73% by 2032
The California Public Utilities Commission raised renewable energy procurement targets, plans for a more aggressive decarbonization plan, and includes increased reliability provisions.
Western monarch butterflies make a spectacular comeback in California
The population of monarch butterflies overwintering in California has increased a hundredfold, according to an annual count: more than 247,000 butterflies were counted in 2021, up from 2,000 butterflies in 2020.
LA City Council votes unanimously to end urban oil drilling
This big win follows on the heels of similar recent phase-out votes by the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors and Culver City Council.
California to build the world’s largest wildlife crossing
87 million dollars have now been secured to create a wildlife crossing across the 101 freeway in Liberty Canyon in the Santa Monica Mountains.
California becomes first U.S. state to require insurance to cover the cost of at-home STD tests
In addition to requiring coverage of costs for at-home test kits, the new legislation calls for increasing the number of health care providers that can offer STI tests.
Apple to start backing self-service technology repair
The program, Self Service Repair, will include tools, manuals, and Apple parts for users to fix their own products when something goes awry. It is set to launch in 2022.
Facebook to stop targeting ads based on race, sexual orientation, and politics
Facebook said it decided to make these changes to “address feedback from civil rights experts, policymakers, and other stakeholders on the importance of preventing advertisers from abusing the targeting options we make available.”