Pollution

Carrier Global beat analysts' estimates for the first-quarter profit and raised its forecast for 2025, anticipating a strong demand for its HVAC products and aftermarket repairs. The demand for air conditioners has increased due to the rising temperatures in the world, fueled by climate changes and increasing levels of air pollution. As more buildings must now meet energy regulations, the company has also benefitted from the rapid adoption by heat pumps that are energy efficient. Trane Tech, a competitor, also beat its quarterly forecasts this week due to strong demand for air conditioners. Carrier said that it would "fully mitigate"...

The U.S. House of Representatives voted on Wednesday to revoke the Environmental Protection Agency’s approval of California’s plans for a growing number of zero emission heavy-duty trucks. The House also voted on repealing an EPA waiver granted in December by former president Joe Biden to California's "Omnibus", low-NOx regulations for heavy-duty highway vehicles and off-road engines. Separately, the U.S. House will vote on Thursday against California's historic plan to stop selling gasoline-only cars by 2035. This plan has already been adopted by eleven other states. The EPA granted a waiver for the plan under the Clean Air Act in December....

Kristalina Georgeieva, the Managing Director of the International Monetary Fund (IMF), said that it will remain "laser-focused" on preventing balance-of payments crises. It will also incorporate concerns raised by President Trump into its policies. Georgieva said at a press conference held during the IMF and World Bank spring meetings that representatives of the Fund’s 190 member countries would discuss the directives issued by U.S. Treasury Sec. Scott Bessent. Bessent also expressed his support for the multilateral crisis lending institution. Bessent called on the IMF and World Bank on Wednesday to focus on their core missions, macroeconomic stability, and development. He...

Three people familiar with the plans of Brazil, which is hosting this year's United Nations Climate Summit, said that their main objective was to persuade Europe, China, and other developing countries to reduce greenhouse gas emissions to keep global temperatures well below 2 degrees Celsius. Sources said that the goal was set on Wednesday when President Luiz inacio Lula da So and U.N. Sec.-General Antonio Guterres convened 17 leaders from large and small economies to an online closed meeting to discuss stronger commitments to their 2035 emissions targets. Brazilian diplomats work closely with U.N. officials in order to encourage countries...

The U.S. Supreme Court appeared to be sympathetic to fuel producers' bid to challenge California's vehicle emission standards and electric cars in an air pollution case under federal law. This is a case that involves the Democratic-governed State's ability to combat greenhouse gases. The Justices heard arguments from a Valero Energy sub-division and groups representing the fuel industry in their appeal of a lower courts ruling that they did not have the legal standing required to challenge the 2022 U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's decision to allow California to set its own rules, separate from the federal government. Both conservative and...

The U.S. House of Representatives will vote next week on the Republican plan to repeal Biden's approval of California’s landmark plan that would end the sale of only gasoline vehicles by 2035. The office of House Majority leader Steve Scalise said that on Wednesday, lawmakers would vote to repeal the waiver given by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency in December to California allowing it to mandate at minimum 80% electric cars by 2035. These rules have also been adopted by 11 other states. The question remains as to whether Congress has the power to revoke the waiver under the Congressional...

A White House official stated on Tuesday that the White House does not have immediate plans to strip non-profit climate-focused organizations of their tax-exempt status. This was said as these groups prepared for a series of executive orders. A White House official said that "no such orders are currently being drafted or discussed". More than 5,000 people listened in on a Zoom call held by the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) and Public Citizen last week to learn how charities could prepare for an executive action that may be taken as early as Earth Day, Tuesday. A reporter attended the...

Non-profits in the United States that are focused on climate change prepare to fight against a possible action by the Trump Administration to revoke tax exemptions this week. Climate change groups have circulated memos in the last few weeks outlining the rumored executive action they expect from Donald Trump. This includes a change to IRS regulations to remove climate changes from the list of charitable topics that qualify and blocking the use U.S. grant funding to fund overseas projects. Concerns were raised after Trump made comments criticizing the charitable status granted to Harvard University. This was seen as an initial...

The Institute for Energy Economics and Financial Analysis said that reopening coal plants decommissioned to achieve this goal would be "no longer economically viable". IEEFA reported that Trump's executive order could delay the closing of coal-fired plants and encourage restarting of 102 coal-fired units recently closed. The report states that the units have had a total generation capacity of 36.566 megawatts for the last four years. However, only a few are likely to be reopened. As coal plants age, their maintenance costs rise. This in turn increases the cost of generation. IEEFA stated that in addition to these costs any...

Focus of policymakers on emissions from buildings and homes Renters are concerned that home renovations could lead to displacement Pennsylvania protects tenants with green push By Carey L Biron As homes and buildings contribute more than one-third of the U.S. greenhouse gases, policymakers are now pushing landlords for weatherization, energy efficiency improvements and replacing old fossil fuel appliances. There is growing concern, however, that these incentives may also encourage landlords to increase rents or evict tenants under the pretext of eco-friendly upgrades. Rent regulations and other protections are needed to keep tenants in their homes. Federal funding of tens of...

Two sources with knowledge of the matter have confirmed that the Trump administration intends to cancel a contract for an assessment of climate change in order to guide government policy. The administration will terminate the contract with ICF, the global advisory firm that works on the National Climate Assessment. This is a comprehensive report on climate change in the United States published every five-years. ICF is the largest employer of U.S. The U.S. Global Change Research Program, an agency established by Congress in 1990 for the coordination of research and investment related to climate change and overseeing the last five...

Early in January, Tony Collier and Jacqueline Collier watched helplessly as the Eaton Wildfire destroyed dozens of homes in their neighborhood, Altadena, California. The interior of their home is badly damaged, but the exterior is intact. The couple visits their home every week and is worried about air pollution. "The trucks pass by 10 times, sometimes with their doors open. Our house has been cleaned two times, but there is still soot. We know the debris comes from trucks. Jacqueline Collier, 64, said: "It's dangerous." Due to the widespread concern about toxic contaminants found in smoke, ash and debris, LA...

Scientists said that climate change made the worst wildfires ever seen in South Korea twice as likely. They also warned that such disasters may become more common if temperatures rise. The fires that raged in the southeast of the country lasted for almost a week. They killed 32 people and destroyed around 5,000 structures before being brought under control at the end of March. The fires spread over 104,000 hectares (257,00 acres), which is nearly four times as much land as South Korea's worst fire season of 25 years ago. After combining observations with climate models, a 15-member team from...

Official data released in march showed that China's glacier areas have shrunk 26% due to global warming. 7,000 small glaciers have disappeared completely, and the glacial retreat has intensified in recent years. According to a UNESCO study, glaciers are disappearing more quickly than ever. The largest glacial mass losses on record occurred in the past three years. Environmental groups warn that the shrinking of important water towers will lead to a greater competition over water resources. The retreat of the glaciers also presents new disaster risks. China's glaciers can be found mainly in the north and west of the country....

Japan's agricultural, forest and fishery exports rose by 3.7% in 2024 to reach a new record, despite China banning seafood imports after the Fukushima nuclear plant water discharge. The Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries said that exports in 2018 totaled 1.507 trillion yen, up from 1.454 billion yen by 2023. Kazuyoshi Nakasugi, deputy head of MAFF’s export policy planning department, noted that it was the 12th consecutive year of growth and a new record. He also pointed out that exports from China and Hong Kong were down, but exports in other parts of Asia and the United States increased....

Advisers to incoming U.S. President Donald Trump are advising he waive environmental reviews for federally moneyed vital minerals jobs to enhance domestic production of products utilized in electric lorries, electronics and weapons, according to a file seen . Implementation would show a significant shift in how Washington evaluations proposed mines on federal lands and aims to guarantee that projects receiving loans, grants or other federal government support are able to assist the U.S. cut reliance on China, the world's. largest miner and processor of lithium, cobalt and other. important minerals. The consultants, entrusted by Trump's transition group to develop. policy...

Inbound U.S. President Donald Trump's shift group is recommending sweeping changes to cut off assistance for electric cars and charging stations and to reinforce procedures obstructing automobiles, elements and battery materials from China, according to a file seen . The recommendations, which have actually not been formerly reported, come as the U.S. electric-vehicle shift stalls and China's greatly subsidized EV industry continues to rise, in part since of its superior battery supply chain. On the project path, Trump promised to alleviate policies on fossil-fuel cars and trucks and roll back what he called President Joe Biden's EV mandate. The shift...

China informed the leading U.N. court on Tuesday that existing U.N. treaties must supply the basis for its advisory viewpoint on states' legal commitments to fight international warming and address the repercussions of their historical contributions to it. The U.N. General Assembly, after a campaign led by small island states, asked the International Court of Justice (ICJ) to issue a viewpoint on nations' legal obligation for the negative impact of climate modification. One of those states, Vanuatu, on Monday asked the court to acknowledge the damages environment change had actually triggered and order reparations for its repercussions. China, one of...

The chairman of talks aiming for a global treaty to control contamination from plastics provided a file on Friday laying out procedures that could furnish the basis of a pact, in an attempt to spur conversations as a Dec. 1 deadline methods. South Korea is hosting delegates from about 175 countries at the fifth and final meeting of the U.N. Intergovernmental Working Out Committee (INC-5) to agree internationally binding guidelines on plastics, but this week's talks had moved at glacial speed. The document, provided by committee chair Luis Vayas Valdivieso and seen , featured concepts such as a. international list...

Negotiators at the 5th round of talks targeted at protecting an international treaty to suppress plastic pollution were aiming on Friday to accelerate slow procedures and reach a deal by a Dec. 1 due date. South Korea is hosting the fifth and final U.N. Intergovernmental Negotiating Committee (INC-5) conference to agree worldwide binding guidelines on plastics today. Up until Thursday, several delegates from around 175 nations taking part had actually revealed disappointment about the sluggish rate of the talks amid disagreements over treatment, multiple proposals and some negotiations even returning to ground covered in the past. In an effort to...

A 5th round of talks intended at securing a worldwide treaty to curb plastic pollution had actually seen sluggish development as the middle approaches, delegates said on Wednesday, fuelling doubts that a deal can be reached by a Dec. 1 deadline. South Korea is hosting the fifth and final U.N. Intergovernmental Negotiating Committee (INC-5) conference to yield a legally binding international treaty today. Although 3 of a prepared 7 days of talks have actually passed, they have yet to yield an agreed text, and talks on funding to aid developing nations execute the treaty had actually not completed line-by-line settlements,...

As delegates from 175 nations collected in Busan, South Korea on Monday for the 5th round of talks aimed at securing a worldwide treaty to curb plastic contamination, remaining departments cast doubts on whether a. last arrangement remains in sight. South Korea is hosting the 5th and seemingly last U.N. Intergovernmental Negotiating Committee (INC-5) meeting this. week, after the previous round of talks in Ottawa in April ended. without a path forward on capping plastic production. Rather, talks will be concentrated on chemicals of issue and. other steps after petrochemical-producing countries such as. Saudi Arabia and China highly opposed efforts...

As delegates from 175 nations gathered in Busan, South Korea on Monday for the fifth round of talks aimed at securing a global treaty to curb plastic contamination, sticking around departments cast doubts on whether a final arrangement is in sight. South Korea is hosting the fifth and ostensibly final UN Intergovernmental Negotiating Committee (INC-5) conference this week, after the previous round of talks in Ottawa in April ended without a path forward on topping plastic production. Instead the conference released an instructions for technical groups to focus on chemicals of concern and other steps after petrochemical-producing nations such as...

Numerous ecological campaigners marched on Saturday in the South Korean city of Busan to demand stronger international dedications to fight plastic waste at U.N. talks in the city next week. About a thousand individuals, including members of native groups, youths and informal waste collectors, took part in the rally, the organiser stated, with some bring banners saying Cut plastic production and Extreme plastic decrease now!. The activists marched around the Busan Exhibit and Convention Centre, where the fifth session of the Intergovernmental Negotiating Committee (INC-5) will take place from Monday to go over a legally binding international contract on plastic...