Latest news with #MattHansen
Yahoo
05-06-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Tehama County supervisors table urgency ag well ordinance
Tehama County Supervisor Matt Hansen ended up being the of member of the board to support an interim urgency ordinance presented to the board during its June 3 meeting to implement requirements for new agricultural wells in areas of concern within the county. 'If we table this it gives us time to come up with a solution, to step up to the plate and make a decision and I don't think we are there yet,' said Supervisor Rob Burroughs. By a vote of 4-1 the urgency ordinance was tabled until the Feb. 3, 2026 board meeting. Hansen voted against the motion. Comment from the public was both for and against the proposed ordinance, the split pretty much between those whose livelihood is agriculture and those who believe agriculture wells in the county are part of the reason for domestic wells drying up and the groundwater shortage problem. Another issue to be addressed by the ordinance is a reported ground subsidence reportedly from new sources of groundwater extraction in impacted areas of the county. 'It is the purpose and intent of this ordinance to protect the public health and safety from the negative impacts of reduced access to water, poor groundwater quality and subsidence,' the proposed ordinance stated. The area of concern included the groundwater subbasins of Red Bluff, Corning and Antelope. For several years now, Tehama County has been developing documents to be in compliance with the state's Sustainable Groundwater Management Act regulations. Justin Jensen, Tehama County deputy director of Public Works/Water Resources, said there are documents already on the books regulating agriculture well permit applications as the county continues to address the groundwater and surface water implications.
The Guardian
21-05-2025
- Politics
- The Guardian
Fires drove record loss of world's forests last year, ‘frightening' data shows
The destruction of the world's forests reached the highest level ever recorded in 2024, driven by a surge in fires caused by global heating, according to 'frightening' new data. From the Brazilian Amazon to the Siberian taiga, Earth's forests disappeared at a record rate last year, losing an area the size of Italy to agriculture, fires, logging and mining, according to analysis from the University of Maryland hosted on Global Forest Watch. In tropical regions, home to the most biodiverse and carbon-dense forests on the planet, fire became the leading driver of loss for the first time since global records began. However, fire is not a natural part of tropical ecosystems. Boreal forests in Canada and Siberia continued to burn last year. Prof Matt Hansen, co-director at the University of Maryland's Glad Lab, who led the analysis, described the new figures as 'frightening', while Elizabeth Goldman, co-director of Global Forest Watch, said the update was 'unlike anything we've seen in over 20 years of data'. In 2024, forest loss in Brazil reached rates far above any level recorded under the far-right president Jair Bolsonaro, fuelled by fire and the worst drought on record in the Amazon. The country accounted for 42% of all primary rainforest loss in the tropics, losing more than 25,000 sq km (10,000 sq miles). The data differs from Brazil's official statistics, which uses a different definition of deforestation that does not include fire. In Bolivia, the loss of previously untouched forest continued to rise, ranking second behind Brazil in overall loss for the first time, driven by drought, fire and government policies promoting agricultural expansion for soya, cattle and sugar cane. The loss of Bolivia's primary forest has increased nearly fivefold since 2020, reaching more than 14,000 sq km (1.4m hectares). In the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) and Congo-Brazzaville, loss of pristine rainforests reached the highest levels recorded. The countries are home to the Congo basin rainforest, the world's second largest after the Amazon. At the Cop26 climate conference in Glasgow, more than 140 world leaders pledged to halt deforestation by the end of the decade, but less than four years later countries are way off track: forest loss must fall by 20% a year from 2024 levels to meet the target by 2030. 'The signal in these data is particularly frightening,' said Hansen 'Rising global temperatures are making forests hotter and drier, and as a result, more likely to burn. Given human ignition, even remote rainforests can burn uncontrolled. 'We have a lot of work to do to confront such a widespread, destructive and increasing fire dynamic.' Goldman called the record-breaking losses 'a global red alert'. She said: '[It is] a collective call to action for every country, every business and every person who cares about a livable planet. Our economies, our communities, our health – none of it can survive without forests.' Of the 20 countries with the largest areas of pristine forest, 17 are now losing trees at a faster rate than when the 2021 Glasgow deal was signed. But despite the record loss, there were areas of hope. The loss of primary forest in Indonesia and Malaysia remained relatively low, with the latter dropping out of the top 10 for the first time. Prof Peter Potapov, co-director of Maryland's Glad Lab, said the world risked entering a dangerous new cycle. '2024 was the worst year on record for fire-driven forest loss, breaking the record set just last year. If this trend continues, it could permanently transform critical natural areas and unleash large amounts of carbon – intensifying climate change and fuelling even more extreme fires. 'This is a dangerous feedback loop we cannot afford to trigger further,' he said. Find more age of extinction coverage here, and follow the biodiversity reporters Phoebe Weston and Patrick Greenfield in the Guardian app for more nature coverage
Yahoo
08-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
New act announced for Southampton Summer Sessions
Rising indie star Matt Hansen is set to support Train at the Southampton Summer Sessions. The Los Angeles-based singer-songwriter, who has amassed a following of 2.5 million on TikTok, will perform on Saturday, June 28. Hansen has made a name for himself with soulful covers and original music, boasting more than 400 million streams of his independently released singles. His latest hit, Let Em Go, is a testament to his powerful vocals and raw storytelling. This summer, he will bring his unique sound to Southampton, supporting Train at Guildhall Square. The June 28 performance will see Hansen join an impressive lineup of previously announced artists, including McFly, The Human League, Simple Minds, and Rag'n'Bone Man. Hometown hero Craig David will also perform in an eagerly awaited gig, as well as UB40 ft. Ali Campbell, The Stranglers and Ocean Colour Scene. Day tickets for the Southampton Summer Sessions are available via and Fans can follow @smmrsessions on social media for the latest updates and announcements.
