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Climate Change Desk
The urgency of addressing human causes of climate change has long been apparent. To amplify this issue that's paramount to us all, KPBS has launched a Climate Change Desk to step up our coverage of this existential threat including reported stories and interviews with experts and newsmakers.

Roundtable: The Climate Crisis Gets Political
- Feb. 19
- By Bennett Lacy, Mark Sauer
A deep freeze in Texas and elsewhere becomes the latest political fight over how to deal with climate change, San Diego's push to step up enforcement of COVID-19 violations doesn't materialize and local college students weigh in on the debate over whether to forgive student loan debt.

Public Power Agency Preparing Launch With Clean Energy Emphasis
- Feb. 18
- By Andrew Bowen
The new government entity, called San Diego Community Power, will launch March 1 with half of its electricity coming from renewable sources.

San Diego Aims for Resilience To Face Climate Crisis
- Feb. 16
- By Maureen Cavanaugh, Pat Finn
Heat, flooding, drought, wildfires. San Diego, facing the four horsemen of the climate apocalypse, has realized its own climate action plan won't provide enough armor. So, the city is looking for resilience, by finding ways to mitigate the most dire effects of climate change in our future.

Conservation Groups Announce Intent To Sue EPA Over Air Pollution In San Diego
- Feb. 11
- By City News Service
Two conservation groups Thursday filed a formal notice of their intent to sue the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency for its alleged failure to ensure San Diego County and other regions across the country rein in harmful air pollution.

Scripps Researcher Finds Ozone-Eating Chemical Level Falling
- Feb. 10
- By Erik Anderson
Ozone-eating chemicals surged unexpectedly in 2013, but levels are falling again after scientists identify rogue manufacturers.

SDG&E, UC San Diego Partner To Study Extreme Weather
- Feb. 4
- By Erik Anderson
UC San Diego researchers are sharing resources to better understand how climate-driven extreme weather will impact the Southern California region.

San Diego Kicks Off Public Outreach On Pending Utility Deals
- Jan. 29
- By Andrew Bowen
City officials are trying to gather input on what should be required of the city's electric and gas utility.

Roundtable: A New Approach At The Border
- Jan. 29
- By Bennett Lacy, Mark Sauer
President Joe Biden takes steps to undo some of former President Trump's controversial immigration policies, California's public schools experience a significant drop in enrollment during COVID-19 and a San Diego Congressman joins a bipartisan effort to deal with climate change.

San Diego County Sets Plan For Zero Carbon Emissions By 2035
- Jan. 28
- By City News Service
Supervisor Terra Lawson-Remer said a zero-carbon policy will reduce the burden on working families and provide well-paying jobs, and thanked the hundreds of residents who support the plan and signed a petition in favor of it.

Students Ask San Diego School Board's Help In Halting New Oil Drilling Permits
- Jan. 26
- By Erik Anderson
San Diego high school students hope their school board joins them in the fight against fossil fuels.

Southern California Rainfall Likely To Be Below Average For Year
- Jan. 22
- By City News Service
The Scripps Institution of Oceanography at UC San Diego has placed the odds of reaching an average amount of precipitation in Southern California this year at just 20%.
Upper Colorado River Drought Plan Triggered For First Time
- Jan. 22
- Luke Runyon / KUNC
The 24-month study released in January by the Bureau of Reclamation, which projects two years of operations at the river’s biggest reservoirs, showed Lake Powell possibly dipping below an elevation of 3,525 feet above sea level in 2022.

New President Gives Environmentalists Hope For Planet's Future
- Jan. 21
- By Erik Anderson
Environmentalists are hopeful the Biden administration will reverse the destructive climate policies under the Trump administration.

San Diego Climate Leaders Weigh In On Biden's Climate Plan
- Jan. 18
- By Brooke Ruth, Mark Sauer
Joe Biden will be sworn in as the 46th president this week. A new administration means a new approach to the existential threat of climate change, a threat the president-elect calls, “the greatest challenge facing our nation and the world."

Santa Ana Winds, High Temperatures Stoke Wildfire Fears
- Jan. 15
- By Erik Anderson
Wildfire fears come in the midst of a planetary hot spell — 2020 was one of the hottest years on record.