EJToday: Top Environmental Politics Headlines

Kerry Skeptical of Oil Firms' Claims That Tech Will Handle Greenhouse Gases [9]

"U.S. climate envoy John Kerry on Tuesday urged the world to be “very skeptical” about claims from oil and gas producers that emerging technology soon will allow people to adequately capture the climate-wrecking fumes emitted by their cars, planes and businesses."

Climate Change [10]
Energy & Fuel [11]
Environmental Politics [12]
Journalism & Media [13]
Pollution [14]
Science [15]
Technology [16]
Public [17]
International [18]
Source: AP [19], 06/14/2023
- Read more about Kerry Skeptical of Oil Firms' Claims That Tech Will Handle Greenhouse Gases [9]
"North Carolina Republicans Send Green Investment Ban To Governor" [20]

"A ban on green investing has cleared North Carolina’s GOP-controlled legislature as part of a broader Republican crusade against big businesses that champion sustainability and workplace diversity."

Climate Change [10]
Economy & Business [21]
Environmental Politics [12]
Laws & Regulations [22]
Public [17]
SE (AL AR FL GA KY LA MS NC PR SC TN) [23]
Source: AP [24], 06/14/2023
- Read more about "North Carolina Republicans Send Green Investment Ban To Governor" [20]
NC Lawmakers OK Bill Blocking Local Government Energy Fuel Prohibitions [25]

"The North Carolina General Assembly gave final approval Tuesday to legislation that would prohibit local governments from adopting ordinances preventing the expansion of certain energy services based on fuel type — one of two energy bills the legislature could wrap up this week."

Climate Change [10]
Energy & Fuel [11]
Environmental Politics [12]
Laws & Regulations [22]
Public [17]
SE (AL AR FL GA KY LA MS NC PR SC TN) [23]
Source: AP [26], 06/14/2023
- Read more about NC Lawmakers OK Bill Blocking Local Government Energy Fuel Prohibitions [25]
UN Mulls Limiting Influence of Fossil Fuel Industry at Global Climate Talks [27]

"Politically, a growing number of civic groups, as well as elected officials in several countries, say the growing influence of fossil fuel companies in the climate negotiations threatens the UNFCCC’s fundamental credibility, as well as its ability to help rein in the emissions from burning oil, gas and coal."

Climate Change [10]
Energy & Fuel [11]
Environmental Politics [12]
Laws & Regulations [22]
Public [17]
International [18]
Source: Inside Climate News [28], 06/13/2023
- Read more about UN Mulls Limiting Influence of Fossil Fuel Industry at Global Climate Talks [27]
"Fossil Fuel Company Net Zero Plans 'Largely Meaningless,' Report Says" [29]

"The number of fossil fuel companies setting net-zero emissions targets has risen sharply over the past year, but most fail to address key concerns, making them "largely meaningless", a report showed on Monday."

Climate Change [10]
Economy & Business [21]
Energy & Fuel [11]
Environmental Politics [12]
Journalism & Media [13]
Public [17]
International [18]
Source: Reuters [30], 06/13/2023
- Read more about "Fossil Fuel Company Net Zero Plans 'Largely Meaningless,' Report Says" [29]
"Protest Derails Chaco National Park Celebration" [31]

"It was supposed to be a homecoming of sorts for U.S. Interior Secretary Deb Haaland, after her agency spent many months hosting public meetings and talking with Native American leaders about curbing the pace of oil and gas development in the San Juan Basin and protecting culturally significant sites."

Activism [32]
Energy & Fuel [11]
Environmental Justice [33]
Environmental Politics [12]
Laws & Regulations [22]
Natural Resources [34]
People & Population [35]
Religion, Faith and Spirituality [36]
Public [17]
National (U.S.) [37]
Southwest (AZ NM OK TX) [38]
Source: AP [39], 06/13/2023
- Read more about "Protest Derails Chaco National Park Celebration" [31]
"States Sue DuPont, 3M in Search of Funds for PFAS Cleanup Costs" [40]

"States facing mounting costs over the cleanup of “forever chemicals” have directed their attention at chemical manufacturers, with a flurry of lawsuits coming as the companies reach large settlements over similar pollution claims."

Chemicals [41]
Environmental Health [42]
Environmental Justice [33]
Environmental Politics [12]
Laws & Regulations [22]
Pollution [14]
Water & Oceans [43]
Public [17]
National (U.S.) [37]
Source: Bloomberg Environment [44], 06/12/2023
- Read more about "States Sue DuPont, 3M in Search of Funds for PFAS Cleanup Costs" [40]
UN Paris Meeting Presses Ahead With Binding Plastics Treaty — US Resists [45]

"At a May-June meeting in Paris, the United Nations Intergovernmental Negotiating Committee (INC) agreed to create, and submit by November, a first draft of an international plan to end plastic pollution by 2040. The United States declined to join the 58-nation “High Ambition Coalition” to create a legally-binding cradle-to-grave plan to address plastic production and use."

Chemicals [41]
Consumer [46]
Energy & Fuel [11]
Environmental Politics [12]
Laws & Regulations [22]
Pollution [14]
Waste [47]
Water & Oceans [43]
Public [17]
International [18]
Source: Mongabay [48], 06/12/2023
- Read more about UN Paris Meeting Presses Ahead With Binding Plastics Treaty — US Resists [45]
"Where Republican Presidential Candidates Stand on Climate Change" [49]

"As wildfires in Canada have sent masses of smoke over the United States this week, engulfing much of the Northeast in a yellow haze of hazardous air pollution, scientists are clear that we are seeing the effects of climate change. But the Republicans campaigning for the presidency have largely downplayed the issue and rejected policies that would slow rising temperatures."

Climate Change [10]
Environmental Politics [12]
Public [17]
National (U.S.) [37]
Source: NYTimes [50], 06/09/2023
- Read more about "Where Republican Presidential Candidates Stand on Climate Change" [49]
"Most Nations Aiming For Net-Zero Emissions Fail To Meet Targets: Study" [51]

"A new scientific assessment of government commitments to eliminate greenhouse gas emissions found most lack credibility and would put the world on track to experience catastrophic global warming by the end of this century."

Climate Change [10]
Environmental Politics [12]
Journalism & Media [13]
Public [17]
International [18]
Source: Bloomberg [52], 06/09/2023
- Read more about "Most Nations Aiming For Net-Zero Emissions Fail To Meet Targets: Study" [51]
"The Revolving Door At Public Utilities Commissions? It’s Alive And Well" [53]

"If the words “public utilities commission” put you to sleep, you’re not alone. These are the government agencies that regulate utilities — companies that supply us with electricity, gas, water and more. All 50 states have them — and as boring as they sound, their work affects our daily lives."

Climate Change [10]
Consumer [46]
Energy & Fuel [11]
Environmental Health [42]
Environmental Justice [33]
Environmental Politics [12]
Infrastructure [54]
Laws & Regulations [22]
Water & Oceans [43]
Public [17]
National (U.S.) [37]
Source: LA Times [55], 06/09/2023
- Read more about "The Revolving Door At Public Utilities Commissions? It’s Alive And Well" [53]
Oil State Hired Biggest PR Firms To Buff Its Climate Image. It Didn’t Help. [56]

"One of the world’s wealthiest oil states is engaged in a wide-ranging public relations and lobbying campaign to cast itself as an environmental leader before it hosts the United Nations’ next climate talks in November. But the United Arab Emirates’ efforts are colliding with a barrage of criticism from lawmakers and environmentalists in both the U.S. and Europe, who scoff at the idea that the oil-flush nation is committed to helping shift the world off planet-heating fossil fuels.

Climate Change [10]
Economy & Business [21]
Energy & Fuel [11]
Environmental Politics [12]
Journalism & Media [13]
Public [17]
International [18]
Source: E&E News [57], 06/08/2023
- Read more about Oil State Hired Biggest PR Firms To Buff Its Climate Image. It Didn’t Help. [56]
Chemical Industry Used Big Tobacco’s Tactics To Conceal Evidence Of PFAS Risks [58]

"Like the tobacco industry before it, the chemical industry managed to keep PFAS’s health risks hidden from the public for decades. A new peer-reviewed study dissecting PFAS producers’ public relations strategies provides a smoking gun timeline composed of industry studies and comments from DuPont and 3M officials showing they knew the dangers, but publicly insisted the chemicals were safe."

Chemicals [41]
Consumer [46]
Environmental Health [42]
Environmental Politics [12]
Journalism & Media [13]
Pollution [14]
Water & Oceans [43]
Public [17]
National (U.S.) [37]
International [18]
Source: Guardian [59], 06/08/2023
- Read more about Chemical Industry Used Big Tobacco’s Tactics To Conceal Evidence Of PFAS Risks [58]
‘Absolute Scandal’: UAE State Oil Firm Able To Read Cop28 Climate Summit Emails [60]

"The United Arab Emirates’ state oil company has been able to read emails to and from the Cop28 climate summit office and was consulted on how to respond to a media inquiry, the Guardian can reveal."

Climate Change [10]
Economy & Business [21]
Energy & Fuel [11]
Environmental Politics [12]
Journalism & Media [13]
Public [17]
International [18]
Source: Guardian [61], 06/08/2023
- Read more about ‘Absolute Scandal’: UAE State Oil Firm Able To Read Cop28 Climate Summit Emails [60]
"Virginia Panel Votes To Exit Carbon Trading Market" [62]

"A Virginia regulatory board on Wednesday voted to withdraw the state from the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative, or RGGI, fulfilling a directive from Virginia Gov. Glenn Youngkin but triggering the threat of legal action from environmental groups who say the board overstepped its authority."

Climate Change [10]
Economy & Business [21]
Environmental Politics [12]
Laws & Regulations [22]
Public [17]
Mid-Atlantic (DC DE MD PA VA WV) [63]
Source: Washington Post [64], 06/08/2023
- Read more about "Virginia Panel Votes To Exit Carbon Trading Market" [62]

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