36. Wildfires in the West and Climate Change PT. 2

Dale Feik is the Chair of Washington County Citizen Action Network and Project Director of Hillsboro Air & Water. Located in Washington County in OR.

So far this year, fires in Oregon, Washington, and California have burned some 5 million acres, marking the West Coast’s worst fire season in at least 70 years. The blazes have killed at least 35 people, destroyed hundreds of structures, and caused extreme air pollution that has threatened the health of millions of residents. Millions up and down the coast have spent weeks living under thick clouds of smoke and ash. Ecologists also fear the wildfires could inflict lasting damage on species and ecosystems.

Data from two NASA satellites that can detect heat, shows fire activity in California, Oregon and Washington in 2020 has already eclipsed even the worst previous year.

With Dale we talk about his experience with the wildfires in Portland, OR, what work he’s doing/ done to combat air pollution, how wildfires are linked with climate change, and what his hope for the future is.

Contact and connect with Dale: [email protected]

21 Youth Suing Congress: https://www.nationalgeographic.com/news/2017/03/kids-sue-us-government-climate-change/

https://www.ourchildrenstrust.org/juliana-v-us

https://www.washingtonpost.com/climate-environment/2020/01/17/federal-appeals-court-tosses-landmark-youth-climate-lawsuit-against-us-government/

Carbon Fee: https://citizensclimatelobby.org/basics-carbon-fee-dividend/ https://insideclimatenews.org/news/07032019/carbon-tax-proposals-compare-baker-shultz-exxon-conocophillips-ccl-congress

Wildfires in the west: https://www.sciencemag.org/news/2020/09/wildfires-continue-western-united-states-biologists-fear-vulnerable-species

https://www.cnn.com/2020/08/14/us/gallery/western-wildfires-2020/index.html

https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2020/09/24/climate/fires-worst-year-california-oregon-washington.html