At least 13 people have died and 20 others are injured in a bus crash that occurred in Bolivia

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• Petrobras, Brazil's drilling vessel operator, will remove corals from the drilling vessel that will be used in Foz do Amazonas

  Documents seen by revealed that Brazil's Petrobras had received approval from the environmental agency of the country to remove corals from undersides of the drilling vessels it intends to use in Foz do Amazonas. Monday, the firm's request for a vessel to drill off of the coast of northern Amapa State was granted if the firm obtains the long-sought exploration license in the environmentally sensitive area. Corals are a potentially invasive specie if they were moved to another biome. This process must be supervised by Ibama - Brazil's environmental agency. Petrobras considers the Equatorial margin as the most promising frontier in oil exploration. Petrobras hopes to start drilling this year if the license is granted. Petrobras' plans to drill were again thwarted last month when Ibama’s technical staff recommended that the body deny a drilling license in the northern part of the Equatorial Margin. This area shares the same geology as nearby Guyana where Exxon Mobil has developed huge fields. Petrobras' exploration head Sylvia dos Anjos told the CERAWeek Conference in Houston on Tuesday that the company is "optimistic". Ibama, in May 2023 denied Petrobras’ request for an offshore oil drilling license off the coast Amapa State, citing concerns about the environment. Ibama has yet to make a final decision on the appeal filed by Petrobras. (Reporting from Fabio Teixeira, Rio de Janeiro. Additional reporting by Marianna Pararaga, Houston. Editing by Bill Berkrot.)

• COP30 President cites limitations of global climate summits

  The model of gathering world leaders under complex rules to negotiate agreements is beginning to show its limitations, according to the president of the next summit, Brazilian diplomat Andre Correa do Lago. In a letter published on Monday, he outlined his vision for the COP30 Summit in the Amazonian city of Belem. He said climate negotiators should be critical of themselves and deal with the "outside perception" that talks have lasted for more than three decades without much progress. He wrote: "We must move beyond negotiations and help put what we have agreed into practice." Correa do lago, at a press event, said that the UNFCCC summits, which are held to monitor compliance with the Paris Agreement of 2015, are currently the best venue for climate talks, but they have limitations. He claimed that despite the recommendations made, the organization has no control over the organizations responsible for implementing them. Climate change has been further hindered by global setbacks. U.S. president Donald Trump withdrew from the Paris Agreement, and he blocked funds for Ukraine to help it in its war against Russia. This forced Europe to increase defense spending using resources that could have otherwise been used to invest in climate solutions. Correa do Lago, Brazil's Minister of Environment, said that the country will encourage other countries to take advantage of the G20 or the International Monetary Fund to press for action against global warming. He said that Brazil also wants to give other actors more voice, including civil society groups, Indigenous communities and indigenous communities. Correa do Lago said to reporters that he will call two international meetings before COP30 with global leaders to discuss countries' commitments to reduce emissions of greenhouse gasses. Only 13 countries submitted their pledges by the February deadline. Reporting by Manuela Andréoni and Lisandra paraguassu, Editing by Brad Haynes & Howard Goller

• Argentina's YPF expects 2024 adjusted EBIDTA to increase 15% to $4.65 Billion

  YPF, the state-owned oil company in Argentina, reported on Friday a 15% increase in its adjusted earnings for the full year before interest, tax, depreciation, and amortization (EBITDA), which reached $4.65 billion. The company attributed this increase to a recovery in local fuel prices, an increase in oil exports, and the expansion of shale production. The company reported that oil production from Vaca Muerta - one of the world's largest shale gas and oil formations - would increase by 26% in 2024 to 122,000 barrels of oil per day on average, with 138,000 bpd during the last months of 2018. It also reported that the average exports to Chile were 35,000 bpd. This is a 174% increase compared to last year. The company stated that its investment target of $5.04billion in 2024 was on track. 63.5% went to non-conventional properties in Vaca Muerta. YPF reported that it had issued $540 million of bonds in September and $800 million in January 2024. In January, it issued $1.1 billion of bonds to refinance $757 millions of debt and purchase 54% of Sierra Chata - one of the most promising blocks of gas in Vaca Muerta. Walter Bianchi, Alexander Villegas and Kirby Donovan contributed to the reporting.

• Trump administration wants to exempt dirty US coal plant from soot regulations

  According to sources familiar with the situation, the Trump administration plans to reverse pollution rules that reduce soot emission from U.S. power plants. This is a move to keep some of America's dirtiest coal-fired plants operating. Because they are small enough to enter the bloodstream, soot particles have a negative impact on health. The plan is in line with Trump's executive orders of January 20, which directed the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to review measures that affect energy reliability. They also declared a National Energy Emergency to increase government powers for boosting fossil fuels and electricity production. The White House did not respond to a request for comment immediately. Three people who have been briefed about the issue say that one of the targets is the Biden-era rule for 2024, which lowers the limits on particulate matter emissions from coal plants by almost 70%. Federal regulatory filings reveal that the EPA of former President Joe Biden said it thought it was reasonable to adopt a stricter standard because 91% existing coal plants already met it. The Trump administration said that it hopes to keep coal plants operating and restart those that have been shut down in order to meet the expected increase in demand for electricity in the coming years. The EPA has not responded to messages seeking comments. BENEFITS FOR THE BIGGEST EMITTERS About 200 coal-fired power plants remain in the U.S. They generate about 16% of electricity for the country. Rolling back the soot limit would benefit the country's most polluting coal plants. The EPA claims that the only coal plant in the United States without pollution controls is the Colstrip Power Plant in Montana. Talen Energy is the minority owner and operator of the plant. They have joined with more than 20 other states to challenge Biden's stricter regulations in Washington D.C. Circuit Court of Appeals. According to court documents, Trump's EPA administrator Lee Zeldin requested that the court postpone the oral arguments scheduled for the 27th of March to give the new leadership time to review the underlying regulation. "EPA intends closely to review the 2024 Rule." The agency's prior positions on the 2024 rule might not reflect the final conclusions it comes to after the review. Talen did not return a message seeking comment. NorthWestern Energy Group Inc. estimates that complying with Biden’s stricter limits could cost plant owners at Colstrip between $350 and $665 million. NorthWestern, after acquiring the interests of Avista Corporation and Puget Sound Energy, will be the majority owner of Colstrip by the end of the year. The utility will use the 1,500 megawatt plant that ran at about 80% last year to feed electricity to Montana's data centers, and to a 3,000 megawatt transmission line, 415 miles long, between Colstrip, North Dakota, and Bismark. NorthWestern didn't respond to a request for comment. The plant is known to have exceeded even the lowest federal limits of particulate matter. EPA disclosures reveal that in 2018, the plant's soot pollution was out of control and forced it to shut down for over two months. Talen Energy has agreed to pay $450,000 in fines to settle these air quality violations. The Biden-era limitations, if the Trump administration does not act, will require compliance by 2027. (Reporting by Tim McLaughlin, Editing by Richard Valdmanis & Nia Williams).

• The chair of the Bank Climate Coalition wants to change rules

  After the withdrawal of many of the largest banks, and in light of the fact that the real economy is not able to meet more ambitious climate change action, the chair of the world's leading coalition for banking climate policy has asked its members about possible changes. Shargiil Bahir, Chief Sustainability officer and Executive Vice-President at First Abu Dhabi Bank, said that the decision, which was announced to members on Tuesday evening, reflected also recent developments in science and policy, methodology and regulation. He refused to provide details on the proposals, but, under condition of anonymity a source who had direct knowledge said that they included dropping the need to align lending to a goal to cap global warming at 1,5 degrees Celsius (3.6 degree Fahrenheit), above the preindustrial average. Since more than a decade, the Net Zero Banking Alliance (NZBA), which is a group of climate-sceptics in the United States, has been reviewing its membership rules. However, since Donald Trump's second term as president was confirmed by the U.S. Congress and the election of his successor to the office. Before Trump's inauguration, the six largest U.S. banking institutions left the alliance. They were joined by Australian, Canadian and Japanese lenders. Morgan Stanley, a U.S. Investment Bank, was the first major bank to lower their expectations in October for the impact they hoped to achieve by reducing loan-book emission. Bashir stated that "NZBA is constantly evolving its offering to respond to changing external conditions and member needs". Since NZBA's founding four years ago, external factors have changed rapidly in ways that affect the banking industry’s ability to assist clients to achieve net-zero. Barbara Lewis edited this article.

• EPA tightens up regulation on US waterways

  The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency announced on Wednesday that it would narrow the definitions of waters that could be federally regulated in order to comply with 2023 Supreme Court ruling. Republican legislators from agricultural states applauded this move. EPA Administrator Lee Zeldin stated that the agency would work to create a simple definition "that will stand the test of time". He said that the previous administration's definition of "waters of the United States" placed unfair burdens on American citizens and increased the cost of doing businesses. This announcement is part of what Zeldin called a "ping-pong" of policy changes around the regulation and protection of "waters in the United States", which are protected by the 1972 Clean Water Act against pollutants such as fertilizers, pesticides and mining waste. The EPA tried to expand its regulatory authority over wetlands and streams under the Obama and Biden Administrations. However, this was met with opposition from the industry, agriculture and Republican legislators who called it a sweeping move. The Sackett vs. EPA 2023 case established a standard that limits the ability of the EPA and Army Corps of Engineers to regulate certain types of wetlands which do not connect to navigable waterways and streams. Shelley Moore Capito of West Virginia, the chairwoman of the Senate Environment Committee, said: "By delivering a framework which is both clear, and legally sound and refining key terms, as well as rescinding previous vague and inconsistent guidelines, we bring predictability to all those who depend on clear, workable, water regulations." Environmental groups have warned against a narrowing of the definition of waterways that are regulated. This would negatively impact on wetland conservation.

• Tariffs on green EU products could hurt coal-dependent Western Balkans

  EU CO2 tax targets imports that are carbon-intensive Import tax on coal-powered electricity Western Balkan countries seeking exemptions from impact Joanna Gill The EU's carbon border adjustment mechanism will cover coal-fueled electricity, one of the Western Balkans most carbon-heavy products. This will impose a tax on imports that have a high carbon footprint. Janez Kopac - former director of Energy Community Secretariat - explained that the region's economic and geographical ties to the EU were "so immense" that it would be difficult for them to avoid the tariffs. The Energy Community Secretariat brings together the EU, its neighbours and other countries to create a pan-European integrated energy market. Coal accounts for 60% to 95% of electricity generation in the Western Balkans depending on which country you are looking at, and 60% of its exports. Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina (BiH), North Macedonia (Nord Macedonia), Montenegro and Serbia are located in Southeast Europe and share borders with six EU member states, making them the bloc's main trading partner. Energy analysts believe that the impending eco tariff will encourage the region to invest more in clean energy as it moves towards EU membership. If they don't, the financial consequences could be severe. Kopac said, "They'll adapt sooner or later but it will be rough for them." CARBON CURTAIN The new eco-tariff is going to affect countries in different ways depending on their carbon footprint. CBAM fees on imports to the EU would make electricity exports by Western Balkans costlier. Albania relies mainly on hydropower to limit its exposure. However, Bosnia and Herzegovina could lose over 220 million euro ($231,99 million) per year in revenue due to the sale of electricity to the EU. This is according to CEE Bankwatch - a network consisting of nongovernmental environmental organisations from central and eastern Europe. According to the CBAM readiness tracking tool of the Energy Community, Western Balkans countries' efforts to decarbonise are largely stagnant. Analysts claim that a lack investment in renewable energies and the continued subsidies by governments for coal plants, which are getting older, is preventing a green transition. This has led to governments seeking delays or exemptions under CBAM. The CBAM will not be implemented until the CBAM is fully implemented. This means that countries are unable to implement reforms prior to the CBAM's implementation. She said that there was a growing awareness among countries to decarbonise in order to "escape from the worst impacts." BRACKET FOR IMPACT The social and economic cost of switching from coal to cleaner energy is high. The German clean energy think-tank Agora Energiewende estimates the energy transformation of the Western Balkans to be around 40 billion Euros. This figure does not include retraining and severance payments for approximately 30,000 coal miners. Christian Egenhofer is a senior researcher at CEPS, a Brussels-based think tank, who specializes in energy policy. He said that eco-tariffs, rather than encouraging emigration from coal, could stymie the green transition of the Balkans by removing the cash required to finance the transition. He said, "These people don't need such incentives. They just need money." The EU has a Just Transition Fund worth 17,5 billion euros to protect workers and regions against the economic impact of energy transitions, such as plant closures. Western Balkans does not have such dedicated funding. The EU has provided up to 9 billion Euros to support the green and digital transformation and up to 20 Billion Euros of investment via the Western Balkan Guarantee Facility. This will cover all the reforms required to join the EU, not just the modernisation of energy sectors. Gallop, from CEE Bankwatch, said that the funds "were not enough in volume" to match investment required for a just and fair transition. Kopac said that no matter how much funding the EU provided, the Western Balkans states would still have to provide some of the impetus needed for change. "Perhaps, this is no longer a question that the European Union can answer," he said.

• Democratic lawmakers criticize the Pentagon for cancelling climate studies

  Democratic lawmakers have criticized President Donald Trump’s administration for cancelling U.S. Military studies on the impacts of climate change. They claim that the move compromises national security because it ignores climate-related risks both at home and abroad. Scientists claim climate change increases the intensity and frequency hurricanes, floods and wildfires. In a previously undisclosed letter to U.S. defense secretary Pete Hegseth the lawmakers say that this translates to damage to military base, attracting U.S. soldiers to more relief missions, and allowing greater access by sea to the Arctic. In the United States, this issue is one of several that divides Republican and Democratic politicians. Trump, a Republican politician, has targeted climate change programs as part a larger effort to cut government spending. Hegseth wrote on X Sunday: "The Department of Defense does not believe in climate change crap." The Pentagon has announced that it will scrap 91 social sciences-related studies, covering topics such as global migration patterns, climate change impacts and social trends. This would save $30,000,000 in a single year. The list included canceled studies such as "Social Institutional Determinants for Vulnerability to Climate Hazards" and "Food Fights : War Narratives, Identity Reproduction and Evolving Conflicts." In a letter dated March 11, the four Democratic Senators Elizabeth Warren, Mazie Hiroo, Richard Blumenthal, and Tammy Duckworth wrote: "Your threats to reduce climate programs at DoD will put our national security at risk, putting thousands of American citizens' lives and billions of dollars in taxpayer funds at risk." The lawmakers pointed to billions of dollar damage done by U.S. military bases in the past few years. These included flooding at Offutt Air Force Base, in 2019, and storm damage caused at Andersen Air Force Base on Guam following Typhoon Mawar's strike in 2023. The U.S. military also loses training time as they respond to weather-related emergencies. They wrote: "Just last summer, over 6,500 National Guardsmen, 250 members of Army Corps of Engineers and 100 Marines mobilized for recovery efforts following Hurricanes Helene & Milton that devastated the Florida Gulf Coast. Many more responded to fires in Oregon Tennessee West Virginia Massachusetts Texas and California." The Pentagon, under the leadership of President Joe Biden during the previous administration had stated that it would include climate change risks in war simulations and military exercises. Trump's administration resigned from the U.N. board of the climate damage fund, which helps poor and vulnerable nations cope with climate-related disasters. The withdrawal of the United States from multilateral agreements is just one step taken by Trump administration. (Reporting and editing by Phil Stewart, Idrees Al; Chizu Nomiyama).

• Bolivia imports energy in crypto amid dollar and fuel shortages

  Bolivia's state-owned energy company YPFB plans to use cryptocurrency as a payment method for its energy imports, despite a severe shortage of fuel and dollars in the South American country. After years of declining natural gas exports, the country has been battling a dangerous decline in its foreign currency reserves. This has led to a fuel shortage in the country that is manifested by long lines of people at gas stations. After the government approved the use of digital assets as a way to meet demand, a spokesperson for YPFB, a state-run energy company, said that a system was in place to allow cryptocurrency to be used to buy fuel imports. The spokesperson added that "from now on, (cryptocurrency transactions) will be carried out", adding that the new buying system was designed to support national fuel subsidy in Bolivia due to a lack of hard currency. A spokesperson for the government said that YPFB has not yet used digital currency to buy energy imports but it is planned to do so. Bolivia, which was a net exporter of energy for many decades due to its vast reserves of natural gas, is now reliant upon imports, as the domestic production of gas has decreased amid a lack major new discoveries.

• Ecuador: upfront payment required for Sacha Oil Deal

  The deadline for the Chinese-Canadian group to pay an upfront payment of $1.5 billion to Ecuador to develop the most productive oil block in the country has passed, said the energy minister on Wednesday. This appears to have scuttled the deal. The consortium, which is made up of subsidiaries from the Chinese state energy giant Sinopec, and Canada's New Stratus Energy had until Tuesday evening to pay the money and the deal wouldn't go through without it. The Energy Ministry has awarded the Contract for 20 years The northeastern Sacha Field, which produced 77,000 barrels of oil per day last year, was awarded without any public bidding. The awarding of this contract has been criticized by unions, indigenous organizations, and opposition politicians. They have questioned whether Amodaimi Oil Company S.L. (the Sinopec subsidiary) and Petrolia Ecuador (the New Stratus affiliate) have the technical and operating capacity to operate the Block. Ines Manzano, the energy minister, told Ecuavisa local television on Wednesday that there was nothing more to say than that the deadline had expired. If this contract does not proceed, the president has stated that he will consider other options. The government said that it did not have the money or technology to increase production in Sacha. Petrolia is the only member of this consortium to have publicly commented on the deal. However, it did not respond immediately to a comment request. The contract included a $1.7 billion investment plan and a plan for increasing production from the field by 100,000 barrels per d ay within the first three year. Authorities had stated that, despite clauses which determined production distribution on the basis of the price of crude oil and the levels of extraction, the government's take, including upfront payment, taxes, and charges for transportation, would be about 82%. Reporting by Alexandra Valencia, Writing by Julia Symmes Cobb

• EU legislator group will challenge the combustion engine ban in this year

  The European Parliament's largest lawmaker group announced on Wednesday that it would attempt to overturn the European Union’s main climate policy for vehicles – a 2035 prohibition on the sales of new CO2-emitting cars – during a review this year. Supporters of the ban say that it is vital to Europe's green goals and for guiding automotive industry's low carbon transformation. Critics say the ban will hurt European automakers who are already facing a weak market, Chinese competition, and disappointing sales of electric vehicles. Jens Gieseke is the European People's Party (EPP)'s negotiator for car policies. He told the group that a review of the policy planned in the third quarter or fourth would be used to make amendments. The report will include proposals for changes, such as the sale of cars powered by combustion engines that run on biofuels and synthetic fuels beyond 2035. Gieseke said, "It would have been a mistake to prohibit the combustion engine." "If fuels have a lower carbon footprint, then this should be acknowledged." Ursula von der Leyen is the president of the European Commission and belongs to the EPP. She has, so far, resisted the pressure to weaken 2035, which she says offers investment certainty. The Commission, however, last week accelerated the review of 2026 policy for this year and gave in to the pressure of automakers, giving them three instead one year to meet the 2025 emission limit. Gieseke stated that if the other EU legislators agreed, then the 2035 goal could be included in the negotiations for the 2025 limit as soon as next month. Any changes to car policies must be approved by a majority in the European Parliament, and by a consolidated majority of EU member countries. Italy, the Czech Republic and Friedrich Merz's party, the likely successor to the German chancellor, have all pledged to revise 2035 as a target. A senior EU diplomat, however, said that for the time being, most countries do not support changing the 2035 target. The EPP currently holds 188 out of 720 seats at the European Parliament, but any change would require the support of other groups. Right-wing EU legislators favor changing the policy for 2035. Socialists, Greens and other EU lawmakers oppose lowering emissions targets and say that the focus should instead be on supporting carmakers in their transition to electric cars and catching up with Chinese rivals. Mohammed Chahim, a socialist EU legislator, warned that the "nostalgia for traditional vehicles" could stifle innovation during a debate in the European Parliament on Wednesday. He said, "I feel as if I was in the Nokia boardroom when the iPhone first came out." (Reporting and editing by Kate Abnett)

• Health Rounds - Microplastics can contribute to drug resistant bacteria

  According to new research, microplastics can cause bacteria to become resistant. Researchers from Boston University said that E. coli bacteria exposed in test tubes to microplastics became resistant to several types of antibiotics commonly used. The report was published on Tuesday in Applied and Environmental Microbiology. In a press release, Neila Gross, the study leader explained that these tiny bits of plastic provide a surface to which bacteria can attach and colonize. They create a biofilm, a sticky substance which acts as a shield to protect the bacteria and keep them firmly affixed. Gross stated that "we found the biofilms on the microplastics are thicker and stronger than other surfaces, such as glass," which prevents antibiotics from penetrating through the shield. Researchers found that even after removing the microplastics from the test tubes the bacteria still retained their ability to form biofilms. In a press release, coauthor Muhammad Zaman stated that plastics do more than provide a surface on which bacteria can adhere. They also lead to the development and spread of resistant organisms. Researchers said that the findings were especially alarming for those living in areas of high density and poverty, such as refugee camps, where plastic waste accumulates and bacterial infection spreads easily. The researchers said that such environments should be checked for antibiotic-resistant bacteria, viruses and microplastics. Less dietary butter leads to fewer deaths According to data from an extensive study, adults who use plant-based oils in place of butter are less likely to die from cancer, heart diseases, or other causes. Researchers tracked 221,000 health professionals over a period of 33 years. All participants were healthy when the study began. They found that those with the highest butter consumption had a higher mortality rate of 15% compared to those with the lowest intake. Researchers reported that those who consumed the most total plant-based oil had a lower risk of death from any cause, during the study. This was presented at the American Heart Association's EPI/Lifestyle scientific sessions in New Orleans. In an email, Dr. Yu Zhang of the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, Boston, said via email. "Instead of reducing butter consumption even modestly and replacing it with oil-based plant products, can provide significant health benefits over the long term." Each 10-gram reduction in butter consumption and each increase in plant-based oil was associated with a significant decrease in the risk of dying from cancer, heart disease or any other cause. These data were also published in the Journal of the American Medical Association. The study is not a randomised trial, and therefore cannot prove that deaths are due to diet choices. An accompanying editorial points out that, even for participants with poor diets, butter and plant-based oils are associated with lower mortality. The editorial stated that "this suggests that substituting butter with plant-based oil may offer meaningful benefits to health even when dietary patterns are less than optimal." WILDFIRE SMOKE CAN IMPAIR SKIN PROBLEMS Doctors from San Francisco reported that short-term exposure to wildfire pollution was associated with an increase in acne clinic visits and prescriptions of acne medication by pediatric patients. This finding was presented at the American Academy of Dermatology's annual meeting held in Orlando. After the Camp Fire of 2018, researchers tracked California residents to see if they had increased their doctor visits for acne vulgaris or acne rosacea. They found that the increase began five weeks after it started. Three weeks after the fire began, the number of adult acne clinic visits increased, but this increase was not statistically significant. The same team of researchers had found previously that short-term air pollution associated with wildfires was linked to an increase in clinic visits due to atopic skin dermatitis or psoriasis. They concluded that the current study, which shows a similar effect on acne, supports their hypotheses that wildfire smoke is likely to affect most, if no all, inflammatory diseases of the skin. (Reporting and editing by Bill Berkrot; Additional reporting by Shawana Allyne Morris; Reporting by Nancy Lapid)