Climate Change

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency announced on Friday that it had terminated 388 of its employees who were hired in the past two years. It said this would align their workforce with President Donald Trump’s "energy dominance policy agenda". The agency stated that it conducted a "thorough" review of its probationary employees, which are those who have been in their positions for less than 2 years. In a press release, EPA spokesperson Molly Vaseliou stated that the agency terminated 388 probationary staff after a thorough evaluation of its functions. This was done in compliance with President Trump's Executive Orders. The...

These are the most popular stories in the British business pages. These stories have not been verified and we cannot vouch their accuracy. The Times – The UK could face 21% tariffs for exports to the US following President Trump's order that imposed reciprocal levies against countries with VAT. Experts have warned of significant economic consequences. Unilever chose Amsterdam over London to spin off its ice-cream division for 13 billion pounds (16,33 billion dollars). This is a blow to UK capital markets in spite of government efforts to ensure the listing. The Guardian – Steve Madden acquired UK footwear brand...

He said that the head of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency wants to terminate contracts signed by the previous administration for the distribution of $20 billion in grant funds to fund clean energy projects and transportation in disadvantaged areas. In a message on X, EPA Administrator Lee Zeldin stated that he would ask the Inspector-General, Congress, and Justice Departments to work together with the agency in order to terminate the contracts with eight regional organizations who were named as financial agents, and rescind the grant money that was awarded under the Biden EPA’s Greenhouse Gas Reduction Fund. The Biden EPA...

A U.S. forecaster stated on Thursday that La Nina conditions exist and will continue in the near future. There is a 66% probability of transitioning to ENSO neutral conditions between March and May 2025. Why it's important La Nina is an occurrence that is part of a larger El Nino Southern Oscillation cycle (ENSO), which involves water temperatures in central and eastern Pacific Ocean. ENSO neutral is when the water temperature stays near average and the crop yields are more stable. CONTEXT The Japanese weather bureau stated earlier this week that no signs of El Nino, or La Nina, were...

The top U.S. Securities regulator revised its guidance on Wednesday, giving companies more power to bypass shareholder resolutions presented for annual meetings. This reverses a 2021 change and is seen as a major blow to activists who are pressing companies to address environmental, social, or governance issues. In recent years, such resolutions have been the focal point of many corporate gatherings as investors became more interested in issues like climate change and workforce diversity. Stock issuers, as well as some Republican politicians, have criticized the trend. They see it a distraction. Mark Uyeda is one of the critics. He was...

California Insurance Commissioner Ricardo Lara requested that the commission's members provide $1 billion to support the FAIR Plan, which is backed by the state. Wildfires devastated large areas of Los Angeles and the surrounding area last month. Lara directed the people responsible for the FAIR Plan, an insurance program that helps property owners who can't find coverage on private markets, to hire more staff. She also told them to use all funds available including reinsurance and reserves. Officials have reported that two fires, one on each side of Los Angeles, burned an area the size of Washington, D.C. from January...

U.S. Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth stated on Tuesday that he wished to increase the overall U.S. military spending. He also played down any concerns about an audit pending by Elon Musk, which is aimed at identifying billions in waste within the Pentagon. Hegseth, speaking in Germany on his first overseas trip, said that he was already in contact with Musk. He also expressed confidence in efforts to cut costs by billions of dollars and make the Pentagon more effective. Hegseth, speaking of Musk's Department of Government Efficiency, said: "There are plenty of places at the Pentagon where we would...

The acting chair of U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission announced on Tuesday that the agency is asking a judge to halt proceedings in a suit over a rule on climate disclosures, which was adopted by his predecessor and quickly stayed after controversy. In a press release, Republican Mark Uyeda, acting SEC chairman, stated that the rule was "deeply flawed" and would cause significant damage to our capital markets and economy. The SEC, under former SEC Chair Gary Gensler (a Democrat whose political party controlled three of the five positions), introduced a requirement that companies disclose a range of climate-related business...

Government websites scrubbed under Trump orders Experts warn that green policies put vulnerable communities at risk Courts file lawsuits against the government for data removal Adam Smith Following a series of executive orders issued by President Donald Trump, thousands of U.S. Government web pages have been altered or removed. The orders target what the administration refers to as "gender ideologism extremism" (or environmental policies). To make rational and effective public health policies, you must have access to accurate, comprehensive data. Charles Gaba is a healthcare data analysts who works to support information on the Center for Disease Control and Prevention's...

President Donald Trump On Tuesday, after signing a promotion order, the government reverted to older standards in light bulbs, toilets, showers, and other water-using devices. Plastic straws Rejecting a plan for reducing single-use plastics. Trump said that he would ask the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to return to the water standards of his first White House tenure, which would affect washing machines, dishwashers and sinks. In a private post on his social media platform, Trump said he had directed EPA Secretary Lee Zeldin to "immediately go back to [his] Environmental Orders", calling them commonsense. Trump said, "I am looking forward...

The European Union has asked a group of experts in sustainable finance to advise them. They have proposed a change to the rules that classify climate-friendly activities. This, they claim, will reduce the reporting burden for companies by one third. The proposal for a simplified green investment rulebook is being made ahead of an extensive review of EU sustainability rules, and at a time when Brussels is preparing plans to reduce red tape in green finance. EU member countries such as France are putting pressure on the EU to simplify the rules for doing business. Meanwhile, the deregulation efforts of...

Eleven U.S. States, as well as dozens of counties and cities file lawsuits Climate action lawsuits demand payment Supreme Court declines to review a key case By Carey L Biron The U.S. Supreme Court now has given tacit approval to legal efforts that allow local officials to use public nuisance laws or consumer protection laws to ask major oil and gas companies for funds to cover climate change related losses and upgrades. Richard Wiles of the Center for Climate Integrity said that "the Supreme Court's ruling creates a path for communities and state to seek climate justice in state courts."...

Brazil sets basic rules on its carbon market Largest polluters, farmers escape cap to emissions Protecting natural areas will receive more funding By Andre Cabette Fabio The rules don't limit emissions from agriculture, which is the top sector in the country for carbon pollution, accounting for 74% of all emissions. "We missed the chance to bring agribusiness into a regulated sector, which would not only limit emissions but also promote sustainability," said Gabriela Savian. She is the deputy director of policy at IPAM, the Amazon Environmental Research Institute. According to Natalie Unterstell of Instituto Talanoa in Brazil, a climate policy...

The environmental regulator of Chile said that Canadian mining company Lundin will have to permanently close the Alcaparrosa Copper Mine in Chile after a sinkhole opened up near the mine in 2022. Lundin had stopped work on the site when a sinkhole of more than 60 meters in depth opened up in the Tierra Amarilla Village in northern Chile. However, it had pushed for the restarting of mining at Alcaparrosa. The SMA regulator in Chile said that they had determined that Lundin is responsible for the sinkhole and that the company must close the mine. They also fined the company...

Chilean stateowned miner Codelco stated on Tuesday it is preparing a 25% cut in its indirect emissions by 2030, as part of a bigger decarbonization plan and as market needs grow for more traceable copper. WHY IT'S IMPORTANT Codelco is the world's biggest copper manufacturer, and mining is a greatly polluting market. Studies point to mining as accountable for 4% to 7% of greenhouse gas emissions worldwide. CONTEXT Codelco prepares to cut its so-called Scope 3 emissions, which are indirect emissions put out by its providers and the most tough to minimize. These contaminating inputs include dynamites, refractories and lubricants,...

Brazil's newly nominated head of the planned 2025 COP30 environment summit in the Amazonian city of Belem alerted on Tuesday that President Donald Trump's. decision to withdraw the United States from the Paris Arrangement. would cast a shadow over the talks. We are still examining President Trump's statements,. but there is no doubt they will have a substantial effect on. preparation for COP30, Ambassador Andre Correa do Lago told. press reporters on Tuesday quickly after he was named to the post. Trump withdrew the U.S. from the 2015 pact right after. taking workplace for a second non-consecutive term on Monday,....

Recent rains in Argentina's farming heartland have not relieved issues that ongoing dry spell might even more injure crop yields, the Rosario grains exchange stated in a report launched on Monday. Argentina, a leading exporter of processed soybeans and other grains, has actually been struck by an almost month-long dry spell playing out in the Southern Hemisphere's summer. A current heat wave has intensified concerns for the crops. While rains fell over the nation's significant farmland last weekend, the grains exchange kept in mind in its weekly crop weather condition report that the precipitation differed widely over the area. It...

Steelmaker Ternium stated on Wednesday stated that wastewater from a plant in Mexico was not a contaminant, after the country's ecological watchdog Profepa said it had ordered Ternium to momentarily stop the flow of wastewater out of the site. Profepa said Ternium had actually been spilling its wastewater in a. tributary of the Atoyac river without a license, however Ternium said. this was not the case and that the problem with the regulator. was over continuous bureaucratic processes worrying. inconsistencies in the name of the company on licenses. The Atoyac river in central Mexico is one of the. most-polluted rivers...

Argentina's soybean and corn crops will have to endure a heat wave over the next couple of days that will affect their yields, leading meteorologist German Heinzenknecht said on Monday, before rains bring some relief by the start of the weekend. Argentina, a significant world provider of soy, corn and wheat, has actually seen its main agricultural area deal with a prolonged drought because the beginning of the Southern Hemisphere's summertime last month. Heinzenknecht, a meteorologist at the CCA environment consultancy, forecasted that a front of rain would be available in on Friday, introducing the start of a normalization in...

A hot, dry austral summertime is beginning to cause damage to Argentina's 2024/25 soybean and corn crops, the country's 2 primary grains exchanges said on Friday, after plentiful spring rains had until just recently provided excellent growing conditions. Argentina is the world's largest exporter of soybean oil and meal and the third biggest exporter of corn, along with a major wheat provider. Until a couple of weeks earlier, the Buenos Aires grains exchange (BdeC) had reported practically no indications of crop damage thanks to wet spring weather. As summertime started in late December, however, it started to see effect on...

A hot, dry austral summer season is starting to cause damages to Argentina's 2024/25 soybean and corn crops, the Buenos Aires grains exchange stated on Friday, after it had actually reported practically perfect growing conditions thanks to abundant spring rains. Argentina is the world's biggest exporter of soybean oil and meal and the 3rd biggest exporter of corn, in addition to a significant wheat provider. Till a couple of weeks ago, the exchange had reported virtually no signs of crop damage thanks to damp spring weather. Nevertheless, as summertime started in late December, it started to see effect on crops...

A justice on Brazil's top court on Thursday suspended a law from the nation's leading soyproducing state that would end tax breaks for firms following an agreement to not buy soy from deforested areas of the Amazon jungle. Justice Flavio Dino suspended the law from the western state of Mato Grosso from going into effect on Jan. 1 till a final choice is made by the court. WHY IT is necessary Brazil is the world's largest soy producer and exporter, and Mato Grosso is the top-producing state. The Amazon soy moratorium arrangement, applauded by scientists and conservationists, was willingly signed...

Peru's government on Thursday stated an ecological emergency situation in a northern coastal area, where state oil company Petroperu last weekend spilled a crude oil delivery into surrounding waters of the Pacific Ocean. A vessel carrying out pre-shipment maneuvers triggered the spill on Saturday at a terminal of Peru's Talara refinery in northern Peru. Petroperu has actually not stated how much crude was spilled into the sea, however Peru's ecological watchdog OEFA stated in a. preliminary report it has affected some 10,000 square meters of. surface seawater, and the environment ministry said it has. impacted a minimum of seven beaches,...

Chile's staterun copper miner, Codelco, will begin using explosives with a substantially lower carbon footprint at its Radomiro Tomic mine, the business revealed on Thursday. Dynamites are utilized in mines to break up rocks to more quickly process them and extract important metals. WHY IT is essential Codelco is the world's largest copper manufacturer and its choice to use alternative explosives underscores the increasing pressure on mining companies to boost their ecological standards and decrease greenhouse gas emissions. The pressure is especially high for copper mining which has traditionally been more carbon-intensive. BY THE NUMBERS The new dynamites are anticipated...