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Less Than 10% of U.S. City-Dwellers Have Nearby EV Charger as Dixie Fire Rages

With EV adoption rising, charging access remains a hurdle. Meanwhile, the Dixie Fire's growth underscores the urgent need for climate action.

On the right there are car, plants, current pole, grass and soil. On the left there are plants,...
On the right there are car, plants, current pole, grass and soil. On the left there are plants, flowers, trees, fencing, house and a pole. Sky is sunny.

Less Than 10% of U.S. City-Dwellers Have Nearby EV Charger as Dixie Fire Rages

In a stark reminder of the challenges ahead, less than 10% of people in the U.S.'s 50 largest cities have access to a public electric vehicle charger nearby. Meanwhile, the Dixie Fire in California has grown to become the second largest in the state's history. Globally, experts warn that global warming will worsen for the next three decades due to delayed fossil fuel emission cuts.

The Dixie Fire, which started in July, has burned over 960,000 acres, surpassing the 2018 Mendocino Complex Fire to become the second-largest wildfire in California's history. The fire's growth is a stark example of the increasing frequency and intensity of wildfires, a trend linked to climate change.

In the realm of climate policy, U.S. climate envoy John Kerry has called for aggressive climate action from major economies. His plea comes as the U.S. Senate easily votes to advance its bipartisan infrastructure bill, which includes significant investments in clean energy and climate resiliency. However, internal tensions persist among U.S. electric cooperatives over their reliance on coal.

ExxonMobil has been suspended from a climate alliance due to its lobbying against climate action. The decision was made by the organization managing the alliance, following pressure from Greenpeace and activist shareholders who have criticized the company's stance on climate protection. Despite these setbacks, immediate climate action is still seen as crucial to mitigate some of the worst effects of climate change.

Some major electric companies have been criticized for overlooking environmental justice action. This comes to light as extreme heat disproportionately affects some urban communities in the Midwest, highlighting the need for a more equitable approach to climate action.

As the Dixie Fire continues to burn, it serves as a stark reminder of the urgent need for climate action. The exclusion of ExxonMobil from a climate alliance and the criticism faced by major electric companies underscore the challenges ahead in the fight against climate change. However, with the U.S. Senate's advancement of the infrastructure bill and the ongoing calls for aggressive climate action, there is hope that progress can still be made in the face of these challenges.

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