All articles tagged with #environmental policy
Washington state officials admitted to overstating the climate benefits of their carbon permit auctions, with revised estimates showing the projects will only reduce about 300,000 metric tons of pollution, far less than initially claimed, due to data errors and misreporting. The correction highlights concerns over the credibility of the state's climate initiatives and the potential diversion of funds to non-climate priorities.
The European Union has scaled back its plan to ban the sale of new combustion engine cars by 2035, now allowing 10% of new cars to be hybrids or internal combustion engines, due to pressure from car manufacturers. This move is seen as a setback for EU climate goals, which aim for carbon neutrality by 2050, and reflects industry concerns over energy costs and competition. The decision has raised environmental concerns, as it may slow progress in reducing vehicle emissions.
Despite ideological differences, Chinese and US bureaucrats exhibit similar behaviors driven by incentives, managing complex issues like foreign aid, environmental scandals, and pandemic response in comparable ways, which adds stability amid geopolitical tensions.
The article argues that the global warming crisis is overblown and losing credibility, citing the collapse of climate initiatives, over-exaggerated predictions, and shifting public and political attitudes, suggesting that the focus should now shift to practical energy solutions and addressing real environmental issues.
A recent study reveals that the US government provides over $30 billion annually in subsidies to the fossil fuel industry, benefiting major companies and contributing to environmental harm, despite the availability of cleaner energy alternatives and increasing awareness of climate issues.
The Trump administration announced the cancellation of $8 billion in climate-related projects across 16 states amid a government shutdown, with all affected states voting for Kamala Harris in 2024 and most led by Democratic governors, while also pausing $18 billion in New York City infrastructure projects to review for unconstitutional practices.
Over 85 climate scientists have issued a detailed critique of a recent U.S. Department of Energy report, accusing it of bias, errors, and lacking scientific rigor, while also highlighting ongoing legal challenges and debates over climate policy and data integrity.
London has begun a historic cleanup of 'Wet Wipe Island' in the Thames River, removing approximately 180 tons of flushed bathroom debris using heavy machinery, marking the UK's first large-scale mechanical removal of wet wipes from a river. This effort follows years of volunteer-led efforts and scientific research highlighting the environmental damage caused by wet wipes, which are contributing to microplastic pollution and harming aquatic life. The cleanup is part of broader policy measures, including a planned ban on plastic-containing wet wipes by 2026, aimed at reducing sewer blockages and improving water quality.
The UN plastics treaty is facing delays and challenges due to tactics aimed at obstructing climate action, hindering progress on global environmental efforts.
The US has sent letters to countries urging rejection of a UN plastic treaty that would limit plastic production and additives, positioning itself in opposition to over 100 countries and aiming to prevent binding caps on plastic manufacturing, reflecting its broader stance to prioritize industry interests over environmental measures in global negotiations.
A group of Republican lawmakers criticized Canada for wildfire smoke affecting US air quality, despite supporting a bill that increases fossil fuel production and greenhouse gas emissions, which contribute to worsening wildfires and climate change.
A recent study suggests that the significant reduction in air pollution in East Asia, especially China, has unintentionally accelerated global warming by removing a natural cooling effect, revealing the full extent of human-induced climate change and highlighting the complex interplay between pollution control and climate dynamics.
A new study suggests that the recent acceleration in global warming is partly due to the reduction of air pollution in East Asia, especially China, which had been masking the full extent of human-induced warming. The cleanup of pollutants like sulfur dioxide has removed a cooling effect, revealing more of the greenhouse gases' impact and causing faster surface warming. This artificial cooling effect, which has been in place for decades, is now diminishing as air quality improves, leading to an increase in observed global temperatures.
President Trump's 'Big Beautiful Bill' significantly reduces federal incentives for electric vehicles, including ending the $7,500 rebate early and eliminating credits for used EVs and commercial vehicles, which could slow EV adoption in the US. However, it avoids imposing a controversial annual EV tax, and introduces a new tax deduction for vehicle loan interest, potentially benefiting some consumers. The bill's passage may prompt immediate EV buyers to act quickly before incentives expire, while manufacturers face the challenge of making EVs more competitively priced.
The article discusses Europe's ongoing struggles with climate policy, highlighting controversies such as the selection of a Saudi Aramco staffer for a key climate science report, political conflicts within the EU over the Green Deal, and internal disagreements over greenwashing regulations, all amid broader global tensions and controversies.