Assistant Director of Earth and Environmental Science Pamela Grothe discussed research on the lack of green spaces in redlined communities in Virginia on “With Good Reason,” which aired Saturday, May 22 through Friday, May 28. With Good Reason airs Sundays at 2 p.m. on Fredericksburg’s Radio IQ 88.3 Digital and at various times throughout the week on stations across Virginia and the United States. Check the website for show times.

Planned Destruction: It’s difficult to imagine that the highway was someone’s home. But it was. LaToya S. Gray (Virginia Commonwealth University) says a once thriving Richmond neighborhood known as the Harlem of the South fell victim to intentionally destructive city planners. And: You don’t have to look far to connect racial inequities to environmental issues. Jeremy Hoffman (The Science Museum of Virginia) says that many formerly redlined neighborhoods experience up to 16 degree hotter days in the summer than green lined neighborhoods within walking distance. Aside from jumping in a pool, trees are our best bet to cool summer heat.. Pamela Grothe (University of Mary Washington) says we have to be intentional about putting trees in the right places.

Assistant Professor of Earth and Environmental Science Pamela Grothe discussed GM’s plan to phase out gas-powered vehicles with Courthouse News.

Pamela R. Grothe, assistant professor of earth and environmental sciences at the University of Mary Washington, believes this is a positive first step that will inspire other automakers to follow suit.

“Tackling climate change needs an all-hands-on-deck approach – we need companies, like GM, to commit to a carbon neutral future rather than waiting for government policies. I think GM’s move to a carbon neutral future will encourage other auto makers to do so, especially since they have already laid out the framework on how to do it,” she wrote in an email.

She added, “GM’s commitment to electrify their fleet and invest in renewable charging infrastructure will not only reduce carbon emissions related to transportation, but will lead to better air quality and human health.” Read more.

Assistant Professor of Earth and Environmental Science Pamela Grothe presented on Sunday as part of former Vice President Al Gore’s 24 Hours of Reality: Countdown to the Future, a digital and global conversation about the climate crisis and its solutions in communities around the world. The presentation focused on the local impacts and solutions of the climate crisis in Virginia, especially as they relate to COVID-19, voting and how people can become agents of change. The presentation was led by Julie Kay, a Climate Reality Project Leader and the co-founder of Fossil Free Fredericksburg. She was joined by Grothe; Bridget McGregor, an organizer with the Virginia League of Conservation Voters; and Allison Grant, member of the UMW President’s Council on Sustainability. The presentation ended with a question and answer panel. Read more.