Month: November 2016

In 2015, a group of 21 young people filed a lawsuit against the federal government arguing that by failing to act on climate change, the government was infringing on the next generation’s Fifth Amendment right to life, liberty, and property. Now, a judge has ruled that their lawsuit can proceed to trial, denying the motions to dismiss by fossil fuel industry representatives [PDF].

In her opinion, U.S. District Court Judge Ann Aiken (Oregon District, Eugene Division) wrote, “Federal courts too often have been cautious and overly deferential in the arena of environmental law, and the world has suffered for it” [PDF].

James Hansen, a leading climate scientist who is also acting as a plaintiff in the case, elaborates in a press statement that “we must ask the Court to require the government to reduce fossil fuel emissions at a rate consistent with the science.”

The lawsuit, brought by kids between the ages of 9 and 20, comes at an especially significant time, considering President-elect Donald Trump’s false claim that climate change is a “Chinese hoax” (it is not) and his avowed plans to cancel last year’s international climate agreement and appoint a climate-change denier to head the Environmental Protection Agency.

As the air outside gets frosty, it’s time to start thinking about taking your puffy winter jackets out of storage. A bulky coat is great for protecting kids from the weather outside, but when worn in a car seat it can pose a serious threat many parents may not be aware of.

Kids and Cars vice president Sue Auriemma met with TODAY to explain the worst-case-scenario situation. If a child is wearing heavy winter-wear, they’re at risk of coming loose from their car seat, no matter how tightly strapped in they feel. A child-sized dummy wearing a winter coat was buckled into a car seat at an official crash test lab to demonstrate the hazard: When a 30-mph crash was simulated, the force flung the dummy straight from its jacket and seatbelt.

Luckily there are other ways to keep your child warm in the car this winter without compromising his or her safety. Auriemma recommends laying their coat over them once they’re buckled in or using a blanket for the same purpose.

In some cases, your child’s coat may be light enough to leave it on. Consumer Reports recommends testing this by first strapping them in with their jacket on and tightening the harness until you can no longer pinch the strap between your thumb and forefinger. Take your child out of the seat and strap them in again, this time without the jacket. If you’re now able to pinch the belt between your fingers, the harness is too loose to wear with a winter coat.

Kids aren’t the only ones who are at risk when they wear their coats under their seatbelts. Adults should also remove their puffy jackets before buckling in. Once they have that step taken care of, drivers can focus on staying cautious and alert on the winter roads.

[h/t TODAY]