Feb. 23, 2023 www.investigatemidwest.org Midwest Center for Investigative Reporting
What states have targets to reduce GHG?
Just half of U.S. states lack targets to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, affecting the country's progress in mitigating climate change.
Most states (23 states and two territories) with existing targets are part of the U.S. Climate Alliance, a bipartisan coalition of governors committed to reducing greenhouse gas emissions in line with the goals of the Paris Agreement created in 2017.
Today, five of the 10 states classified by the USDA as heavily agricultural lack targets to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, even though agriculture is the fourth-largest emitter.
— Mónica Cordero, Report for America corps member
Graphic of the Week: Half the states have no greenhouse gas reduction goals
Mònica Cordero, Investigate Midwest and Report for America corps member
The United States has vowed to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 50% to 52% by the decade's end. President Joe Biden reaffirmed that goal in his November address at the Climate Change Convention (CDP27).
SEARCH YOUR STATE: See the interactive U.S. map to find what is happening in your state.
RELATED STORY: Despite national goals, agricultural greenhouse gas emissions continue unchecked
Supreme Court denies Tyson Foods’ request to hear workers’ COVID-19 death cases in federal court
Madison McVan, Investigate Midwest
On Tuesday, the U.S. Supreme Court denied a petition by Tyson Foods’ lawyers requesting that wrongful death suits brought by the families of four Tyson employees who died of COVID-19 be heard in federal court.
Nearly three years after the employees of Tyson Foods’ Waterloo, Iowa, facilities died in the early months of the coronavirus pandemic, the family’s lawsuits have yet to be resolved.
Tyson did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
Read more.
From the Ag & Water Desk
The following stories are a product of the Mississippi River Basin Ag & Water Desk, an editorially independent reporting network based at the University of Missouri School of Journalism in partnership with Report For America and funded by the Walton Family Foundation. Investigate Midwest is part of this network.
During the 2021 drought, nearly 800 Minnesota farmers with high-capacity wells pumped 6.5 billion more gallons of water than their permits allowed, state records show. “That’s quite a bit of overuse,” said Randall Doneen, a section manager for the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources. “We’re trying to get people back into compliance.” This story is by James Shiffer, Star Tribune.
Iowa study: Blocking carbon pipelines would devastate ethanol production
Iowa, the state with the world’s largest ethanol production, could lose as much as 75% of its ethanol production to neighboring states if lawmakers or other state officials block carbon pipelines from crossing the state, according to a study by the Iowa Renewable Fuels Association. This story is by Chris Clayton, DTN/The Progressive Farmer.
Other news
New U.S. climate law could make Midwest water contamination worse
Embedded in the new statute, the Inflation Reduction Act, are more than $140 billion in direct payments and tax incentives for renewable fuels and cleaner electrical generation to help reduce greenhouse gas emissions 40% below 2005 levels by the end of the decade. The statute also includes $19.5 billion for the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s new “climate smart” crop production practices. This story is by Keith Schneider, Circle of Blue.
