Pollution








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North America

Energy Markets

European truck shares drop on U.S. reversal of electric vehicle rules

The shares of European truck manufacturers fell Thursday after the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency announced that it would begin efforts to reverse Biden's administration's vehicle emission rules. Analysts say that trucking fleet companies had expected to "pre-buy", trucks before the new rules came into effect, which would have driven up demand. This is unlikely to happen now. Pal Skirta, an analyst at Metzler, said that the market is likely to assume the tighter regulations are going to be reversed. This means there's no expectation of a surge in pre-purchases for the second half 2025-2026. Skirta stated that this was the...

Energy Markets

Trump administration targets Biden electric vehicle regulations

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency announced on Wednesday that it has begun efforts to reverse Biden's administration's vehicle emission rules, which would force automakers into building an increasing number of electric cars. This is just the latest of the Trump administration’s sweeping actions to undo prior efforts to encourage automakers to produce electric vehicles. The previous administration had rescinded a plan to have at least 50% new vehicles be EVs by 2030. The EPA The agency said that it would review its 2024 rules, which would reduce tailpipe emissions from passenger vehicles by almost 50% by 2032 as compared to...

Environment

EPA tightens up regulation on US waterways

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced on Wednesday 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 and be durable." He said that the previous administration's definition "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...

Environment

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...

Pollution

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...

Pollution

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...

Pollution

Trump targets world-leading greenhouse gases observatory in Hawaii

Sources said that the Trump administration was considering canceling the lease for a support office of a well-known Hawaiian climate research station. This raises concerns for the future of important work tracking the impact on global warming of carbon emissions. Elon Musk's Department of Government Efficiency, which is led by billionaire Elon musk, has proposed that the leases of over 20 offices rented by U.S. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration be terminated in order to save money. On the DOGE's website, there is a listing for a NOAA office located in Hilo, Hawaii, and an estimate on how much money...

Climate Change

Data shows that only seven countries will meet WHO standards for air quality in 2024.

Data showed that only seven countries met the World Health Organization's (WHO) standards for air quality last year. Researchers warned, however, that the fight against smog will become even more difficult after the United States stops its global monitoring. According to data compiled by Swiss air monitoring firm IQAir, Chad and Bangladesh had the highest average smog levels in 2024. These levels were more than 15-times higher than WHO guidelines. IQAir stated that only Australia, New Zealand and the Bahamas made the cut, as did Barbados, Grenada Grenada, Estonia, and Iceland. There are significant data gaps in Asia and Africa...

Climate Change

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...

Environment

US military cancels climate studies, which Pentagon chief calls "crap"

The U.S. Military is canceling over 90 studies. This includes some that U.S. Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth dismissed, calling climate change "crap." Over the last decade, military and intelligence officials identified climate change as a potential threat to security. This includes natural disasters that occur in densely-populated coastal areas or damage to American bases around the world. Hegseth wrote on X Sunday: "(Department of Defense does not do climate-change crap)." Hegseth was appointed to the new Trump administration by President Donald Trump on January 25, 2017. A Pentagon official account posted a screenshot from a news story that quoted...

Climate Change

Environmental NGO Sues Trump’s EPA and Citibank for Funding Freeze

A nonprofit environmental group sued the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency on Saturday and Citibank, requesting billions of dollars to fund solar and other projects that have been frozen by the bank due to the Trump administration's cuts in federal spending. Climate United Fund claims that by freezing grant money approved by Joe Biden’s administration, "EPA has acted in order to prevent Citibank's disbursement of funds, harming Climate United and its borrowers as well as the communities they are serving." This is just one of many lawsuits filed by nonprofits, state attorneys general, and others to fight President Donald Trump's Republican...

Environment

United States quits board of UN climate damage fund, letter shows

A letter obtained by revealed that the United States had withdrawn from the U.N.'s board of hard-negotiated climate damages fund, which is dedicated to help poor and vulnerable countries cope with climate-change-fueled disasters. The withdrawal is just one of the many steps taken by the Trump administration to end U.S. climate change support. It comes as part of a wider pullback from multilateral initiatives by the richest nation in world. Since January 1, it has stopped the participation of U.S. climate scientists in global assessments, pulled out of funding deals that help countries reduce their coal use, as well as...

Europe

Pollution

The sewage that contaminates Britain's waterways and oceans is a stain.

Under the dark seas of southern England, 400 millions mussels are encrusted on ropes that hang from buoys scattered over an area as large as the largest airport in the country. The Holmyards built Europe's biggest offshore mussel farming in Lyme Bay. They believed that it would be able to handle the millions of gallons sewage that is pumped into UK water each year. Even if the bacteria are far away, they can still pollute the water and block exports for several weeks to Europe. This could damage the business of a company that produces sustainable food. Sarah Holmyard, the...

Environment

UK's Thames Water rescue plan faces creditor-group appeal

Thames Water, Britain’s largest water supplier, was again in court on Tuesday when a group junior creditors filed a lawsuit over a debt lifeline of 3 billion pounds ($3.9 billion), which is needed to keep the company afloat. The water industry is facing a backlash from the public. Thames Water's mismanagement is being blamed for the sewage pollution of rivers and its 18 billion pounds of debt, which has brought it to the brink. Thames Water avoided an emergency state rescue by securing court approval in February for new loans. However, a group of junior creditors as well as a...

Environment

Ministers of health say that Europe needs to diversify its drug supply to combat the current health crisis.

A group of ministers recommended that Europe reduce its dependency on a few countries for essential drug supplies, such as anaesthetics and antibiotics. This would help the bloc be better prepared for future health crises. The 11 health ministers from the European Union made this recommendation in advance of Tuesday's deadline for EU Commission proposals on a draft Critical Medicine Act. In a letter published by Euronews, they stated that "between 80% and 90 percent of antibiotics are manufactured in Asia. This includes China." The letter was signed by the German Health Minister Karl Lauterbach. The CMA said that the...

Western Europe

Benelux

Energy Markets

Stellantis applauds EU decision to relax car emission standards

Stellantis, an automaker, said that it was pleased with the announcement by the European Commission on Tuesday. The Commission announced it would soften the carbon emission standards for cars in the EU. The Commission of the European Union, which is the executive body of the Union, has yielded to European automakers' pressure by announcing that it will give them three years instead only one to reach new CO2 emissions targets for their cars. After meeting with auto industry executives, unions, and campaign groups, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen announced that she would instead propose compliance based upon the...

Climate Change

EU proposes to give automakers three years for CO2 targets

On Monday, the European Commission gave in to pressure from European carmakers and granted them an extra three years to reach CO2 emissions targets for 2025. Ursula von der Leyen, President of the Commission, told a press conference that the EU executive will make a proposal this month to allow for compliance over three years rather than just one. To meet the targets, European automakers must sell more electric cars. They lag behind their Chinese and U.S. competitors in this segment. "The goals remain the same." "They have to meet the targets but it means that more breathing room for...

Pollution

Vivici, a Dutch startup that produces alternative proteins, receives a $34 million funding.

Vivici, a Dutch startup that produces food ingredients, announced on Monday it had received funding of 32.5 million Euros ($34 million) to increase its production. The company produces a dairy protein using a process known as 'precision fermenting'. This is a refined version of brewing in which microbes multiply to produce animal proteins or enzymes. Vivici believes that the demand for alternative protein will be driven by the need of food producers to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, and to lessen their vulnerability to seasonal agricultural swings. "The whey market, which is closest to us, is already a $13-billion market," Vivici...

Carbon Emissions

US EPA sends Congress a Biden-approved California EV Plan

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency announced on Wednesday that it had submitted to Congress, for review and possible repeal, the Biden Administration's approval of California’s landmark plan to stop the sale of gasoline only vehicles by 2035. The new Trump administration's decision gives the Republican-led Congress a shot at repealing the Biden decision that granted California a Clean Air Act waiver for its program in accordance with the Congressional Review Act. Donald Trump, as a presidential candidate, promised to revoke approvals given by the EPA for California to require more EVs. He also pledged to tighten vehicle emission standards. These...

Climate Change

US EPA approves California plan to ban gas-only cars and trucks starting in 2035

The U.S. Environmental Defense Company said on Wednesday it has actually approved California's. landmark plan to end the sale of gasolineonly vehicles by 2035. The choice in the last weeks of President Joe Biden's. administration establishes a battle over the future of California's. lorry regulations. President-elect Donald Trump has sworn to. rescind approvals granted by the EPA to California to need. more EVs and tighter car emissions standards. EPA Administrator Michael Regan granted a waiver under the. Clean Air Act to California to implement its plan to need. that by 2035 a minimum of 80% of new automobiles sold be...

Pollution

UN aviation company at 80 challenged by climate change, rising traffic

A worldwide blueprint for modern flight struck 80 years ago this week deals with fresh tests managing modification and rising air traffic in the establishing world, a senior official at the UN's aviation agency told Reuters. On Thursday, the UN's International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) is combining regulators and market executives consisting of from Boeing and Airplane in a. unique session at the Chicago site marking its birthplace. Without any policing powers, ICAO utilizes consensus to set. requirements on everything from runways to seat belts. The company. was created after the United States welcomed more than 50 allies. to agree...

Climate Change

Leading emitter China tells World Court that UN treaties cover states' climate responsibilities

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...

Environment

Vanuatu advises World Court to acknowledge environment modification damages

Vanuatu on Monday prompted the United Nations' top court to recognise the harm triggered by climate change in its judgment on the legal responsibility of nations to fight it and attend to the effects of them contributing to worldwide warming. Vanuatu, one of the little island states that has spearheaded the effort to get the World Court to provide a so-called advisory opinion, was the first of more than 100 states and worldwide organisations to give its views throughout 2 weeks of proceedings. We find ourselves on the front lines of a crisis we did not produce, a crisis that...

Carbon Emissions

Dutch court to rule on Shell appeal versus landmark environment order

A Dutch court will choose on Tuesday whether to uphold a landmark environment judgment against Shell, which in 2021 ordered the oil and gas business to greatly lower greenhouse gas emissions. The judgment by The Hague district court purchased Shell to cut its absolute carbon emissions by 45% by 2030 compared to 2019 levels, including those caused by the use of its items. The appeals court in The Hague can either uphold or dismiss the entire ruling, or it can customize it, for instance by omitting emissions triggered by Shell's customers. The judgment comes as the COP29 climate summit occurs...

Fossil Fuels

Dutch court to rule on Shell appeal against landmark climate order

A Dutch court will decide on Tuesday whether to support a landmark climate ruling against Shell, which in 2021 bought the oil and gas business to sharply reduce greenhouse gas emissions. The judgment by The Hague district court purchased Shell to cut its absolute carbon emissions by 45% by 2030 compared to 2019 levels, consisting of those brought on by the use of its products. The appeals court in The Hague can either uphold or dismiss the whole ruling, or it can modify it, for example by excluding emissions triggered by Shell's consumers. The judgment comes as the COP29 climate...

Environment

Dutch group takes legal action against Stellantis over supposed emissions cheating

An independent structure on Wednesday filed a class action claim in the Netherlands versus Stellantis over alleged emissions test unfaithful by among its predecessor business, Fiat Chrysler, a. file seen revealed. According to the lawsuit, submitted by the Dutch non-profit. foundation Fiat Chrysler Investors Healing Stichting, from at. least 2014 until 2017 Fiat Chrysler failed to divulge it had. installed illegal software application in its automobiles aimed at covering. emissions, the structure's legal adviser said in a declaration. As a result, (it) considerably harmed investors purchasing. and/or holding Fiat Chrysler shares, the statement from law. company Scott+ Scott stated. Stellantis...

Climate Change

World Court to hold hearings in case that may define countries' climate responsibilities

The International Court of Justice stated on Friday it would hold public hearings starting Dec. 2 in an advisory viewpoint case that may end up being a reference point in specifying nations' legal commitments to eliminate climate change. The ICJ, referred to as the World Court, is the United Nations' highest court for dealing with worldwide conflicts. In 2023, the U.N. General Assembly asked it for an official viewpoint on questions consisting of whether large states that add to greenhouse-gas emissions might be liable for damages caused to small island nations. While the ICJ's advisory viewpoints are not binding under...