Catch up on the latest sustainability news:

Philadelphia is experiencing some of the largest rain changes in the country. This summer, Philadelphia may have gotten a glimpse of the more extreme weather patterns to come with climate change. On July 11, parts of Philadelphia were inundated rapidly during a sudden rainstorm; nearly one inch of rain fell in just five minutes in some areas. Storms such as these are becoming more common because warmer air can hold more moisture. Philadelphia Water Department

Trolley tunnel closes for repairs. The SEPTA trolley tunnel will be closed for the remaining weekends in September to make repairs. Closures are taking place from 2 a.m. Saturday through 5 a.m. Monday. Buses will run from 40th Street Station to Market. A spokesperson for SEPTA said that the repairs are necessary in order to avoid possible power outages. WHYY

Young Philadelphians can become climate activists. Mayor Parker and the School District of Philadelphia are handing out microgrants to young Philadelphians to carry out climate projects. Anyone ages 15-24 may apply to receive a $3,000-$5,000 grant to complete a project addressing climate challenges in their neighborhood, such as extreme heat, flooding, or lack of greenery. Applications are open on the city’s website. 

Protesters call for data center moratorium. On Monday, protestors gathered at City Hall to demand a moratorium on data center construction in Philadelphia. Two sites were marked as capable of holding a large-scale data center back in July: the Bellwether District and 2600 Grant Ave. Mayor Cherelle Parker said that she will formalize a task force regarding data center development this week. The Philadelphia Inquirer

Fall foliage predictions are looking promising. Forestry specialists are predicting a colorful fall due to weather patterns leading up to the season. A particularly wet and cold winter meant trees remained watered longer over the darker months. Scientists say that the trees will likely peak in late October. The Philadelphia Inquirer

Cover photo: Fall foliage, courtesy of Jeremy Thomas via Unsplash

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Angie Bacha (she/her) is a Philadelphia-based solutions journalist and recent Erasmus Mundus Master's in Journalism, Media and Globalisation student in Aarhus, Denmark. Previously, she worked as a student journalist at Community College of Philadelphia and Editorial Intern at Resolve Philly. Some other hats she has worn: Human Rights and Theatre Studies graduate; teaching artist; carpenter; AmeriCorps volunteer; and rock climbing gym shift supervisor. View all posts by Angie Bacha