News from a Changing Planet -- This Week on Earth #15

Good news from the UN and the White House, and outrages from Central Appalachia and coastlines all over the world.

Not sure what kind of turtle this is but it’s cute! and now it might be protected! Thanks UN! Credit Getty Images via Pew Charitable Trust

BBNJ, ACC: AN ALPHABET SOUP OF GOOD NEWS: The U.S. makes two big commitments to climate action and biodiversity. (New York Times, Washington Post)

This week, during the U.N. General Assembly in New York, the U.S. signed the Biodiversity Beyond National Jurisdiction (or High Seas) Treaty, which is a significant step in protecting the international oceans from exploitation and preserving their biodiversity, their ability to sequester carbon, and help maintain a habitable planet.

(Speaking of ocean biodiversity, check out these amazing images of whales, sharks and other sea life from above off Long Island)

Last month, I interviewed public service/climate action icon Monica Medina, former assistant secretary of state for oceans and international environmental and scientific affairs under President Biden and the current president and chief executive of the Wildlife Conservation Society, about this treaty and why it’s so important.

QUOTE OF THE DAY:

Former national climate advisor and EPA administrator Gina McCarthy:

I’m tired of arguing about greenhouse gas emissions. The issue is that people are unhealthy.

That interview was published Wednesday, the same day the U.S. signed the treaty. Now it’s in Congress’s hands to ratify it, but I’m not sure exactly what that means, since the U.S. has never adopted the original treaty (the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea) under which this new provision exists… we can all find out together!

A group of Civilian Conservation Corps men in Zion National Park. Credit Zion National Park Archives

And also Wednesday, huge exciting news: President Biden signed an executive order to create