The climate crisis is upon us, and its impacts are both depressing and deeply harmful. Here in Portland, more and more of our summer days are spent avoiding wildfire smoke, extreme heat, or both.
Even as climate change worsens, however, news coverage of the crisis has declined. This might lead some people to believe climate change isn’t a big deal, or that other people don’t care about it. The Mercury decided to dedicate our August issue to climate stories in part to acknowledge that the destruction of our planet is, in fact, a big deal—and that people do care about it.
Read the climate issue to find out what’s happening with Portland’s “ticking time bomb” on the river, learn about the real-life impacts of the Portland Clean Energy Fund, and the many locals who have volunteered to help during a disaster. Also in the issue:
• How Portland is creating a green workforce
• Reflections on climate grief
• What did Multnomah County learn from the deadly heat dome five years ago?
• A look at how climate change is impacting Willamette Valley wines
• What’s up with the Ross Island lagoon (and Willamette River algae blooms)?
Read these stories and more online or in PRINT at hundreds of locations near you. Read up, get mad/sad/inspired, and stay safe and cool. We’ll need you to get through what’s to come.
