Climate, Environment and Energy News

Thurs, March 27, 2025:
Earth’s soil is drying up. It could be irreversible; The losses in soil moisture already pose issues for farming, irrigation systems and critical water resources for humans. But new research shows how the declines are contributing to sea-level rise more than previously thought. WP

Wed, March 26, 2025:
Trump admin considers killing big energy projects in Dem states; The cuts, if carried through, would politicize the federal funds that Congress and the Biden administration awarded to seven regional applicants as part of the bipartisan infrastructure law.Politico

Thurs, March 13, 2025:
A breakdown of major EPA deregulatory moves around water, air, climateAP
“The EPA will reconsider policy on topics including power plant emissions standards; toxic emission limits on power plants; wastewater rules for coal and other power plants; uses for oil and gas wastewater; petrochemical emergency planning; and greenhouse gas reporting requirements”

Wed, March 12, 2025:
EPA’s Zeldin terminates $20 billion in Biden climate grantsPolitico
EPA targets dozens of environmental rules as it reframes its purpose – NYT
In a barrage of pronouncements on Wednesday the Trump administration said it would repeal dozens of the nation’s most significant environmental regulations, including limits on pollution from tailpipes and smokestacks, protections for wetlands, and the legal basis that allows it to regulate the greenhouse gases that are heating the planet. But beyond that, Lee Zeldin, the administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency, reframed the purpose of the E.P.A. In a two-minute-and-18-second video posted to X, Mr. Zeldin boasted about the changes and said his agency’s mission is to “lower the cost of buying a car, heating a home and running a business.”

Tues, March 11, 2025:
NASA cuts Chief Scientist and climate expertNYT

Tues, March 4, 2025:
Supreme Court strikes down EPA rules on discharge of water pollutionWP

Thurs, Feb 27, 2025:
FBI takes up EPA probe amid pushback from judge, prosecutorsWP
Effects of climate change on GDP in the 21st century – CBO

Wed, Feb 26, 2025:
EPA urges WH to strike down landmark climate finding: Trump officials are weighing whether to repeal the “endangerment finding,” which says that greenhouse gases pose a threat to public health and welfare. – WP

Tues, Feb 18, 2025:
Senior DOJ prosecutor quit after being told to investigate Biden climate spendingCNN
DC federal prosecutor resigns after declining to take part in Trump administration plan to freeze EPA grant funding – WP

Fri, Feb 7, 2025:
Trump energy secretary allowed 23-old DOGE rep to access IT systems over objections from GCCNN
Transportation Dept suspends EV charger program; billions set to flow to fast EV chargers at riskWP
NOAA restricts contact with foreign nationals – WP

Thurs, Feb 6, 2025:
Dem letter to EPA demanding answers on illegal cutsMurray/DeLauro

Wed, Feb 5,
2025: Imminent Purge of EPA Employees will undermine agency’s obligations to protect human health and the environmentRM Pingree

Tues, Feb 4, 2025: EPA spending freeze continues despite court orders – Politico

Mon, Feb 3, 2025: Trump Admin. tells more than 1,000 EPA employees they could be firedNYT

Fri, Jan 31, 2025: USDA ordered to scrub climate change from websitesPolitico

Tues, Jan 28, 2025:
Sea temperatures hit record highs for 450 straight days in 2023-24 which helped fuel massive hurricanesBloomberg

Fri, Jan 24, 2025: Trump’s inflation fix centers on energy emergency that doesn’t existNYTimes

Wed, Jan. 22, 2025: WH narrows executive order restricting IRA fundsThe Hill

Tues, Jan. 21, 2025: Trump (again) starts year-long process to withdraw US from the Paris global climate framework – AP  In addition, Trump rolled back rules aimed to speed the transition to electric vehicles, eliminated restrictions on exports of liquefied natural gas, and temporarily halted offshore wind lease sales in federal waters and a large wind farm in Idaho. – WashPost

Thurs, Jan 9, 2025: Hottest year ever sees world breach 1.5c global warming targetBloomberg

Thurs, Dec 18, 2024: The Risks of Climate Change to the U.S. in the 21st CenturyCBO

Tues, Dec 3, 2024: Climate Change, Disaster Risk, and Homeowner’s InsuranceCBO

Tues, Nov 26, 2024: Benchmark Projection of Greenhouse Gas EmissionsCBO

Wed, Nov 13, 2024: Climate Change, Disaster Risk, and Homeowner’s InsuranceCBO
“Climate change is increasing the severity of natural disasters, including hurricanes, floods, and wildfires. Losses are likely to continue to rise. Climate change is also increasing the uncertainty about projected losses from natural disasters. That uncertainty is one factor causing private insurers to reduce the availability and affordability of insurance.”

Mon, Nov. 11, 2024: Extreme weather cost global economy $2 trillion in 10 years, U.S. worst hitAxios