Colleen E. Reid, University of Colorado Boulder

When wildfires spread into neighborhoods, they burn all kinds of materials found in cars and houses and everything around them – electronics, paint, plastics, furniture.

Research shows that the mix of chemicals released when human-made materials like these burn is different from what is emitted during a vegetation fire and is potentially more toxic. The smoke and ash can blow under doors and around windows in nearby homes, bringing in chemicals that are absorbed into furniture, walls and other indoor surfaces and continue off-gassing for weeks to months.

As people return to smoke-damaged homes after a wildfire, there are several steps they can take to protect their health before starting to clean.

Elevated levels of metals and VOCs

In 2021, after the Marshall Fire swept through neighborhoods near Boulder, Colorado, my colleagues and I at Colorado universities and labs heard from many residents who were worried about the ash and lingering smells inside their homes that had otherwise survived the flames.

In homes that my colleagues were able to quickly test, they found elevated levels of metals and PAHs – polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons – in the ash. We also found elevated VOCs – volatile organic compounds – in airborne samples. Some VOCs, such as dioxins, benzene, formaldehyde and PAHs, can be toxic to humans. Benzene is a known carcinogen.

At the time, we could find no information about physical health implications for people who have returned to smoke-damaged homes after a wildfire. So, to look for patterns, we surveyed residents affected by the fire six months, one year and two years after the fire.

Even six months after the fire, we found that many people were reporting symptoms that aligned with health risks related to smoke and ash from fires.

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More than half (55%) reported that they were experiencing at least one symptom six months after the blaze that they attributed to the Marshall Fire. The most common symptoms reported were itchy or watery eyes (33%), headache (30%), dry cough (27%), sneezing (26%) and sore throat (23%).

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All of these symptoms, as well as having a strange taste in one’s mouth, were associated with people reporting that their home smelled differently when they returned to it one week after the fire.

Many survey respondents said that the smells decreased over time. Most attributed the improvement in smell to the passage of time, cleaning surfaces and air ducts, replacing furnace filters, and removing carpet, textiles and furniture from the home. Despite this, many still had symptoms.

We also found that living near a large number of burned structures was associated with these health symptoms. We found that for every 10 additional destroyed buildings within 820 feet (250 meters) of a person’s home, there was an associated 21% increase in headaches and a 26% increase in having a strange taste in their mouth.

These symptoms align with what could be expected from exposure to the chemicals that we found in the ash and measured in the air inside the few smoke-damaged homes that we were able to study in depth.

Lingering symptoms and questions

There are a still a lot of unanswered questions about the health risks from smoke- and ash-damaged homes.

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For example, we don’t yet know what long-term health implications might look like for people living with lingering gases from wildfire smoke and ash in a home. We found a significant decline in the number of people reporting symptoms one year after the fire. However, 33% percent of the people whose homes were affected and responded to a later survey still reported at least one symptom that they attributed to the fire. About the same percentage also reported at least one symptom two years after the fire.

We also could not measure the level of VOCs or metals that each person was exposed to. But we do think that reports of a change in the smell of a person’s home one week after the fire demonstrates the likely presence of VOCs in the home. That likely has health implications for people whose homes are exposed to smoke or ash from a wildfire.

Tips to protect yourself after wildfires

Wildfires are increasingly burning homes and other structures as more people move into the wildland-urban interface, temperatures rise and fire seasons lengthen.

If your home survives a wildfire nearby, here are some of the steps to think about before starting to clean:

• When you’re ready to clean your home, start by protecting yourself. Wear at least an N95 (or KN95) mask and gloves, goggles and clothing that covers your skin. Cleaning can send some of those gases and ash into the air again.
• Keep people with heart or lung diseases, older adults, pregnant women, children and pets away from cleanup activities.
• Vacuum floors, drapes and furniture. A recent scientific study documents how cleaning all surfaces within a home can reduce reservoirs of VOCs and lower indoor air concentrations of VOCs. Once the air outside has cleared, open windows to let clean air in.
• Avoid harsh chemical cleaners because they can react with the chemicals in the ash.
• Clean your HVAC filter and ducts to avoid spreading ash further, and change filters monthly until the smell is gone. Portable air cleaners with carbon filters can help remove VOCs and particles.
• If your car smells of smoke, consider changing the cabin air filter.

This is an update to an article first published Dec. 23, 2024.

Colleen E. Reid, Associate Professor of Geography, University of Colorado Boulder

This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article.

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The California high-speed rail project, a bold vision aimed at transforming transportation across the state, is making strides in the Central Valley, despite facing a rocky road filled with challenges and delays. On January 6, 2025, California Governor Gavin Newsom joined California High-Speed Rail Authority CEO Ian Choudri to celebrate a significant milestone in the construction of the railhead—a staging area for laying down tracks for the future bullet-train route that will connect cities from Merced to Bakersfield.

What’s Happening at the Railhead?

Located between Wasco and Shafter in Kern County, the new railhead site marks the beginning of laying down steel rails for high-speed trains. This pivotal area will serve as the operational hub for transporting materials necessary for track installation, indicating a promising step towards making the high-speed rail a reality.

“Finally, we’re at the point where we’re going to start laying down this track in the next couple of years,” remarked Newsom, emphasizing the significance of this development. The railhead is not just another construction site; it symbolizes the persistent efforts to change the face of transportation in California.

A Journey Full of Hurdles

The high-speed rail project has been no stranger to controversy and challenges. First conceived to provide swift travel across California, the project’s history tells a tale of fluctuating timelines and ballooning costs. Originally initiated in 2013, the construction has continuously faced delays, with the anticipated completion date pushed from 2018 to 2026 for the first segments alone.

In a significant contrast to initial expectations, the financial requirements have surged, with costs for construction packages skyrocketing from a combined estimate of well under $2 billion to an updated total that now exceeds $8 billion across various contracts. This upward shift in expenditure has raised eyebrows and concerns, prompting scrutiny from both political figures and members of the public.

For instance, the first construction package, stretching from north of Madera to Fresno, originally bid at under $1 billion, now faces an anticipated completion at a staggering value of over $3.7 billion. Such changes have led to questions surrounding the project’s management and efficiency.

The Political Landscape

Adding complexity to the situation is the shifting political terrain as federal support has been uncertain. With President-elect Donald Trump slated to take office soon, there is apprehension regarding the potential withdrawal of federal funding that has supported California’s ambitious plans. Historical context reigns as the Federal Railroad Administration canceled nearly $1 billion in previously awarded grants during Trump’s first administration. However, the recent Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, passed in 2021, has provided a glimmer of hope by funneling additional funds towards the project.

State leaders, including Governor Newsom, maintain an optimistic outlook despite the political uncertainties. “We are in a very different place at this sacred moment,” he stated, reminding stakeholders of the project’s momentum.

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Looking Ahead

The road ahead remains both exciting and uncertain. The California High-Speed Rail Authority is on the cusp of awarding contracts for track installation, alongside contracts for the purchase of trainsets set for testing operations. The goal is to have the Merced-Bakersfield line operational between 2030 and 2033, a target that promises to reshape commuting experiences in California.

As we move closer to achieving this transformative project, it’s essential to keep in mind that progress in such a complex endeavor requires not only engineering feats but also perseverance amid bureaucratic and fiscal challenges. The upcoming years will undoubtedly be pivotal in determining whether this bold vision of high-speed travel will reach its destination, but for now, California is laying the tracks for a new transit future—one spike at a time.

Stay tuned for more updates as we follow the California high-speed rail project through its journey from ambitious dream to infrastructural reality!

California High-speed Rail Related Links:

California high-speed rail California High-Speed Rail Update ( Fresno Bee) https://www.fresnobee.com/news/local/high-speed-rail/article298078633.html

HSR official website: https://hsr.ca.gov/

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Carlos Lopes, University of Cape Town

As we approach the global annual climate change conference, COP29, the need for increased public finance from the global north to address climate adaptation in Africa has become more urgent than ever.

However, framing the finance debate solely around this need risks deepening mistrust and downplaying the scale of the challenge. The financial burden of addressing climate change, coupled with limited fiscal space, creates a precarious situation for many African countries. African countries bear no historical responsibility for causing the climate crisis. However, they rely heavily on external financing to solve climate change problems.

Unfortunately, much external climate finance comes from loans rather than grants. This only worsens Africa’s debt burden. There is also not nearly enough money being channelled to Africa to pay for climate change adaptation.

At COP29, African negotiators will undoubtedly focus on reducing dependence on debt, and improving access to finance. I’m an economist who specialises in climate change and governance, with a long background at the United Nations and the African Union. Without robust commitments from public financial institutions, Africa will continue to face the dual crises of climate vulnerability and debt.

African countries must use COP29 to tackle systemic biases that inflate risk perceptions, minimise African achievements and inflate its problems. These biases drive up borrowing costs, and worsen commodity dependence.

The climate finance gap

The African Development Bank has estimated that Africa needs between US$1.3 trillion and US$1.6 trillion in total climate financing every year between 2020 and 2030. This will enable African countries to meet their commitments to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, known as nationally determined contributions.

The Global Center for Adaptation estimates that Africa requires at least US$52.7 billion annually for adaptation every year until 2035. However, this figure could rise to US$106 billion. This is because data gaps allow for double counting of financial contributions. There is also very little transparency about the real amounts of climate finance being disbursed. Because nationally determined contributions are focused on mitigation, carbon depletion tends to be measured without accurate calculations of the amount of emissions that are captured, or carbon that is conserved.

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The United Nations Development Programme says that Africa’s nationally determined contributions mean the continent needs about US$2.8 trillion by 2030 for climate mitigation. However, Africa contributes only 4% of all greenhouse gas emissions currently. It needs funds for adaptation to adjust to climate change that is already changing the lives of many, rather than for mitigation.

But only about half of the climate finance received by Africa in 2022 was for adaptation (US$4.6 billion). The rest of the climate finance addressed mitigation or a mix of both, in line with the global north’s agenda.

Worse still, 64.5% of adaptation financing came from loans, which need to be repaid. This will increase the financial strain on African nations.

Loans versus grants for climate change adaptation

Multilateral financial institutions such as the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and the World Bank, and the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development through their Development Assistance Committee, handed out US$8.33 billion to Africa in 2022 for climate action. But most of this – US$5.4 billion – was loans. Only US$2.9 billion was grants, with a small fraction in equity investments.

These loans come with lower-than-market rates or extended repayment terms. But they still add to Africa’s external debt, which reached US$1.12 trillion in 2022. African countries’ debt repayments are twice what they get as climate finance.

The United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change says developed countries are responsible for financing climate adaptation in vulnerable regions. But loans that create a huge debt burden only enrich global financial institutions at the expense of African countries.

The effects of climate change are causing unprecedented floods, drought and other disasters across Africa. Yet it is becoming more difficult for African countries to access the climate finance they need to adapt to a warming world.

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Why is the situation worsening?

First, access to climate finance remains a bureaucratic nightmare with complex application processes. There also needs to be more transparency in fund allocation. The recently established Loss and Damage Fund could assist. It is meant to channel money to countries worst affected by climate change to pay for the damage caused.

Second, the focus on reforming Bretton Woods institutions and development finance institutions is shifting attention away from the obligations developed countries have signed up for. This distracts developing nations from making reforms in trade, taxation and financial regulations that could drive more meaningful results.

Third, there is a lack of liquidity (access to fresh money) needed to propel investment or allow countries to bridge their budget deficits. African countries are forced to juggle paying for healthcare, education and infrastructure development with paying back debt. Some spend more on debt repayments than healthcare.

Increased tax efficiency and domestic savings, such as the savings maintained by pension funds, could be used. This should be the priority while the fight for better international conditions continues.

Fourth, the distinction between development finance and climate finance is becoming an impediment to progress. The conversation should move away from getting African countries to prioritise greenhouse gas emission reductions at the expense of other development priorities. Climate action is under-implemented and underfunded. The focus must be on excessive dependency on aid and rather promote market incentives to encourage the private sector to invest in climate adaptation in Africa.

Fifth, African negotiators must address the structural barriers that limit access to finance. For example, biased risk perceptions by credit rating agencies prevent African countries from securing finance. Restrictive prudential rules from the Bank for International Settlements intended to preserve international financial system integrity have proven unfavourable to the transformation of the African economies.

Sixth, Africa should make use of regional climate finance platforms and set up cross-border climate change adaptation projects that benefit more than one country.

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This will allow Africa to pool resources, coordinate demands and make it easier to negotiate better terms for climate finance. Just energy transition partnerships create an opportunity for countries to secure renewable energy funding for the transition from fossil fuel. Success will depend on effective coordination and regional solidarity in international climate negotiations.

Seventh, African countries have strong potential to use carbon markets to finance climate initiatives, provided they have control over them. Nature-based solutions can go hand in hand with reforestation, sustainable land management or conservation, while generating carbon credits. These are additional funding opportunities for climate adaptation efforts in Africa.

This moment demands bold leadership and a united front to rewrite the rules. African countries must secure the commitments and resources at COP29 that are needed to build a sustainable future.

Carlos Lopes, Professor at the Nelson Mandela School of Public Governance, University of Cape Town

This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article.

https://stmdailynews.com/stories-this-moment

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