EJToday: Top Environmental Politics Headlines

L.A. Pumps Owens Valley Groundwater, But Tribes Want It Back [9]

"In the Owens Valley, Los Angeles not only siphons water from streams, but also pumps groundwater from wells. Leaders of Native tribes are calling for the city to take less water and are pushing for negotiations on water rights. They say pumping from wells has dried up springs and meadows."

Agriculture [10]
Climate Change [11]
Environmental Justice [12]
Environmental Politics [13]
Laws & Regulations [14]
People & Population [15]
Water & Oceans [16]
Public [17]
California [18]
Source: LA Times [19], 10/22/2025
- Read more about L.A. Pumps Owens Valley Groundwater, But Tribes Want It Back [9]
"Record Annual Rise In Atmospheric CO2 Levels Alarms UN Climate Body" [20]

"The United Nations warned Wednesday that CO2 levels in the atmosphere saw their biggest annual jump on record in 2024, driven by fossil fuel emissions, wildfires and weakening natural absorption by land and oceans. The findings come ahead of November’s COP30 climate summit in Brazil, with scientists warning of a “vicious cycle” of feedback effects that could push the planet past critical tipping points."

Climate Change [11]
Energy & Fuel [21]
Environmental Politics [13]
Laws & Regulations [14]
Pollution [22]
Science [23]
Public [17]
International [24]
Source: France 24 [25], 10/22/2025
- Read more about "Record Annual Rise In Atmospheric CO2 Levels Alarms UN Climate Body" [20]
"Fears Of Heat-Rationing For Millions In US As Shutdown Delays Energy Aid" [26]

"Millions of Americans face having to ration heating this winter as the US federal government shutdown and mass layoffs by the Trump administration cause unprecedented delays in getting energy assistance aid to low-income households, a group that helps people pay energy bills has warned."

Disasters [27]
Energy & Fuel [21]
Environmental Health [28]
Environmental Justice [12]
Environmental Politics [13]
Laws & Regulations [14]
People & Population [15]
Public [17]
National (U.S.) [29]
Source: Guardian [30], 10/22/2025
- Read more about "Fears Of Heat-Rationing For Millions In US As Shutdown Delays Energy Aid" [26]
"White House Halts $11B For Water Projects In Blue States" [31]

"The Trump administration is “pausing” more than $11 billion in water infrastructure projects to 12 Democrat-controlled states, White House Office of Management and Budget Director Russ Vought said Friday."

Agriculture [10]
Economy & Business [32]
Environmental Politics [13]
Infrastructure [33]
Laws & Regulations [14]
Water & Oceans [16]
Public [17]
National (U.S.) [29]
Source: E&E News [34], 10/22/2025
- Read more about "White House Halts $11B For Water Projects In Blue States" [31]
""Fix Our Forests Act" Draws Mixed Reactions" [35]

"A U.S. Senate committee hearing Tuesday revealed the dramatically differing views regarding the potential benefits of the Fix Our Forests Act, a bipartisan proposal that critics say would lead to logging of old-growth trees and weaken the country's environmental laws."

Biodiversity [36]
Climate Change [11]
Disasters [27]
Environmental Politics [13]
Forests [37]
Laws & Regulations [14]
Natural Resources [38]
Public [17]
National (U.S.) [29]
Source: National Parks Traveler [39], 10/22/2025
- Read more about ""Fix Our Forests Act" Draws Mixed Reactions" [35]
"The Government Is Shut Down. But Not for Fossil Fuels." [40]

"More than 700,000 federal employees have been sidelined and thousands more are at risk of being fired as the government shutdown drags on." "Federal workers who issue permits for oil, gas and mining operations are on the job, along with those working to repeal pollution limits."

Climate Change [11]
Economy & Business [32]
Energy & Fuel [21]
Environmental Health [28]
Environmental Politics [13]
Government [41]
Laws & Regulations [14]
Pollution [22]
Public [17]
National (U.S.) [29]
Source: NYTimes [42], 10/21/2025
- Read more about "The Government Is Shut Down. But Not for Fossil Fuels." [40]
Interior Reveals Plans To Fire Hundreds Of National Park Service Employees [43]

"The Interior Department plans to lay off more than 2,000 employees, including hundreds of National Parks Service (NPS) workers, according to a Monday court filing."

Biodiversity [36]
Environmental Politics [13]
Natural Resources [38]
Public [17]
National (U.S.) [29]
Source: The Hill [44], 10/21/2025
- Read more about Interior Reveals Plans To Fire Hundreds Of National Park Service Employees [43]
Senate Poised To Approve Industry Lobbyist To Lead Chemical Safety At EPA [45]

"The US Senate is poised to approve Donald Trump’s nomination of an industry lobbyist to lead the US Environmental Protection Agency’s chemical safety office."

Chemicals [46]
Consumer [47]
Environmental Health [28]
Environmental Politics [13]
Laws & Regulations [14]
People & Population [15]
Pollution [22]
Science [23]
Public [17]
National (U.S.) [29]
Source: Guardian [48], 10/21/2025
- Read more about Senate Poised To Approve Industry Lobbyist To Lead Chemical Safety At EPA [45]
Calif. Suit Says Plastic Bag Makers Lied About Products Being Recyclable [49]

"California ramped up its efforts to curb plastic pollution Friday — suing three plastic-bag makers, alleging the companies falsely claimed their products were recyclable."

Chemicals [46]
Consumer [47]
Energy & Fuel [21]
Environmental Politics [13]
Laws & Regulations [14]
Waste [50]
Public [17]
National (U.S.) [29]
California [18]
Source: AP [51], 10/21/2025
- Read more about Calif. Suit Says Plastic Bag Makers Lied About Products Being Recyclable [49]
New Fla. Law Blocks Communities' Efforts to Be More Sustainable and Resilient [52]

"Manatee County’s commissioners didn’t expect to be threatened with removal from office for considering two measures meant to enhance disaster resilience in this fast-growing county on Florida’s Gulf Coast."

Climate Change [11]
Disasters [27]
Environmental Politics [13]
Infrastructure [33]
Laws & Regulations [14]
People & Population [15]
Planning & Growth [53]
Water & Oceans [16]
Public [17]
SE (AL AR FL GA KY LA MS NC PR SC TN) [54]
Source: Inside Climate News [55], 10/21/2025
- Read more about New Fla. Law Blocks Communities' Efforts to Be More Sustainable and Resilient [52]
Illinois requires Climate Education in Schools. Now Teachers Plan How. [56]

"It’s the seventh state to pass a law requiring climate education in public schools. The requirement will kick in next fall."

Climate Change [11]
Environmental Politics [13]
Environmental Studies [57]
Laws & Regulations [14]
People & Population [15]
Public [17]
National (U.S.) [29]
Great Lakes (IL IN MI MN OH WI) [58]
Source: Inside Climate News [59], 10/21/2025
- Read more about Illinois requires Climate Education in Schools. Now Teachers Plan How. [56]
FEMA Blocks Most Aid Applications After Deadly July 4 Texas Flood [60]

"Only about one-fifth of applicants for federal disaster assistance from Kerr County have been deemed eligible to get financial help so far, leaving hundreds without governmental aid more than three months after deadly floods ravaged the county on July 4."

Climate Change [11]
Disasters [27]
Environmental Health [28]
Environmental Justice [12]
Environmental Politics [13]
Government [41]
Laws & Regulations [14]
People & Population [15]
Public [17]
National (U.S.) [29]
Southwest (AZ NM OK TX) [61]
Source: Texas Tribune [62], 10/20/2025
- Read more about FEMA Blocks Most Aid Applications After Deadly July 4 Texas Flood [60]
"Banking Alliance Aimed At Limiting Fossil Fuel Investments Collapses" [63]

"A coalition formed to align the international banking sector’s investments with global climate goals has disbanded nearly four years after it was launched."

Climate Change [11]
Economy & Business [32]
Environmental Politics [13]
Public [17]
International [24]
Source: Mongabay [64], 10/20/2025
- Read more about "Banking Alliance Aimed At Limiting Fossil Fuel Investments Collapses" [63]
US Blocks Global Fee On Shipping Emissions As IMO Meeting Ends [65]

"With trade threats from President Donald Trump, the U.S. derailed the world’s first global carbon fee on shipping as an international maritime meeting adjourned Friday without adopting regulations."

Climate Change [11]
Economy & Business [32]
Energy & Fuel [21]
Environmental Politics [13]
Infrastructure [33]
Laws & Regulations [14]
Pollution [22]
Transportation [66]
Water & Oceans [16]
Public [17]
National (U.S.) [29]
International [24]
Source: AP [67], 10/20/2025
- Read more about US Blocks Global Fee On Shipping Emissions As IMO Meeting Ends [65]
"ICE Detainees Face Greater Risk From Extreme Heat Than Most Prisoners" [68]

"Detainees at U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement facilities may be more vulnerable to extreme heat exposure than people housed in federal, state and county prisons, according to a Washington Post analysis, and this disparity is likely to grow as ICE expands the nation’s immigration system."

Climate Change [11]
Environmental Health [28]
Environmental Justice [12]
Environmental Politics [13]
People & Population [15]
Public [17]
National (U.S.) [29]
Source: Washington Post [69], 10/20/2025
- Read more about "ICE Detainees Face Greater Risk From Extreme Heat Than Most Prisoners" [68]

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