National (U.S.)

An analysis of dozens of studies suggests that political affiliations, worldviews and values were the most significant predictors of a person’s beliefs about climate change.

"Dozens of surveys and studies have attempted to figure out which factors most heavily influence individuals’ beliefs about climate change and their support for climate-friendly policies. But because there have been so many published recently, scientists argue that it’s been difficult to keep up with the overall trends these studies have been revealing.

"In the latest sign of China's growing dominance in renewable energy, a Chinese firm has for the first time topped a reputable global ranking for wind energy production—ending the reign of US giant GE, which fell to third place."

"The ailing coal industry must face the costs of cleaning up spent mines even as companies get pushed toward bankruptcy, the U.S. Interior Secretary said on Tuesday."

"Exposure to multiple fumigants commonly used together in California may increase cancer risk, says new report."

"Leading researchers have called on the world’s largest association of Earth and space scientists to reject sponsorship from ExxonMobil, because of the oil company’s record of funding climate denial."

"American greenhouse gas emissions increased by less than 1 percent in 2014, according to new Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) data released this week."

"U.S. authorities have asked the German carmaker Volkswagen to produce electric vehicles in the United States as a way of making up for its rigging of emission tests, the German newspaper Welt am Sonntag reported."

"Negotiations between Enbridge Inc. and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency have been extended again over a fine that could exceed $100 million for violations under the Clean Water Act in the pipeline operator’s 2010 Kalamazoo River disaster."

The Agriculture Department's Wildlife Services agency kills predators like coyotes, wolves, and bears that conflict with livestock raised by ranchers. Sometimes their methods are extremely cruel. Sometimes they kill endangered species. Oversight, when it exists, is hampered by secrecy.

"Continuing a decades-old dispute, General Electric Co. is sharply objecting to a new federal plan that would force it to spend hundreds of millions of dollars to remove massive amounts of toxic chemicals from the Housatonic River, which the company polluted for nearly 50 years."