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Are We Ready for the Next Pandemic? [1]

If you’ve been pondering what recent Cyclospora, Legionella and Ebola outbreaks tell us about the state of preparedness for future pandemics, Backgrounder has some sobering insights. A reminder of the uneven response to COVID-19 and a look forward at how current Trump administration policy has weakened public health structures and likely left us unready for what’s ahead. 

SEJ Publication Types: 
Backgrounders [2]
Topics on the Beat: 
Disasters [3]
Government [4]
Health [5]
People & Population [6]
Policy [7]
Science [8]
Region: 
National (U.S.) [9]
International [10]
Visibility: 
Public [11]
  • Read more about Are We Ready for the Next Pandemic? [1]

Empowering Guatemalan Villagers Plagued by Plastic [12]

"Indigenous Xinca villagers burn plastic to dispose of it and stoke cooking fires, unwittingly exposing themselves, their children and environment to deadly pollutants. An ambitious project aims to change that."

Chemicals [13]
Consumer [14]
Energy & Fuel [15]
Environmental Health [16]
Environmental Justice [17]
Environmental Politics [18]
Laws & Regulations [19]
People & Population [6]
Pollution [20]
Waste [21]
Public [11]
Central America & the Caribbean [22]
Source: Inside Climate News [23], 08/17/2026
  • Read more about Empowering Guatemalan Villagers Plagued by Plastic [12]

The Real Reason Data Center Gas Power Plants Are So Dirty [24]

"A massive new gas plant in Texas will be built with much less efficient technology than regular gas plants. It’s far from the only data center power project to rely on dirty turbines."

Air [25]
Climate Change [26]
Economy & Business [27]
Energy & Fuel [15]
Environmental Health [16]
Environmental Justice [17]
Environmental Politics [18]
Infrastructure [28]
Laws & Regulations [19]
People & Population [6]
Pollution [20]
Technology [29]
Public [11]
National (U.S.) [9]
Source: WIRED [30], 08/17/2026
  • Read more about The Real Reason Data Center Gas Power Plants Are So Dirty [24]

EPA Sued For Approving Semiconductor Chemicals That May Pose Health Risks [31]

"Environmental and community groups sued the Trump administration on Friday over its approval of two chemicals for use in semiconductors despite posing health risks."

Activism [32]
Chemicals [13]
Environmental Health [16]
Environmental Politics [18]
Laws & Regulations [19]
People & Population [6]
Pollution [20]
Technology [29]
Public [11]
National (U.S.) [9]
Source: The Hill [33], 08/17/2026
  • Read more about EPA Sued For Approving Semiconductor Chemicals That May Pose Health Risks [31]

Calif. Pesticide Agency Hopelessly Captured by Industry, Critics Charge [34]

"State regulators face calls to better protect low-income, Spanish-speaking immigrants from pesticide exposure in agricultural communities."

Agriculture [35]
Chemicals [13]
Environmental Health [16]
Environmental Justice [17]
Environmental Politics [18]
Laws & Regulations [19]
People & Population [6]
Pollution [20]
Public [11]
National (U.S.) [9]
California [36]
Source: Inside Climate News [37], 08/17/2026
  • Read more about Calif. Pesticide Agency Hopelessly Captured by Industry, Critics Charge [34]

Federal Job Cuts Are Making Wildfires Harder to Fight [38]

"The Trump administration pushed out thousands of veteran U.S. Forest Service staff. An ‘extraordinary’ fire season is testing those who are left."

Climate Change [26]
Disasters [3]
Environmental Health [16]
Forests [39]
Government [4]
Natural Resources [40]
People & Population [6]
Public [11]
National (U.S.) [9]
Source: New York Times [41], 08/17/2026
  • Read more about Federal Job Cuts Are Making Wildfires Harder to Fight [38]

Meet The Man Circumnavigating The Arctic Ocean, Alone [42]

"When sailing alone, even sleep is dangerous. Matt Rutherford knows this all too well. As he travels the Arctic, far from his home port of Annapolis, Md., the moments Rutherford does get to rest are precious. "It just becomes extremely difficult to get any sleep because if you hit the ice, you essentially die," he said."

Activism [32]
Journalism & Media [43]
People & Population [6]
Transportation [44]
Water & Oceans [45]
Public [11]
National (U.S.) [9]
Antarctica & Arctic [46]
Source: NPR [47], 08/14/2026
  • Read more about Meet The Man Circumnavigating The Arctic Ocean, Alone [42]

Scientists Warn Senate TSCA Overhaul Could Put Children At Greater Risk [48]

"A group of over 30 scientists, health professionals, and public health advocates is urging the Senate not to weaken the Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA), a move they say will put children in harm’s way from toxic chemicals and pollutants."

Activism [32]
Chemicals [13]
Environmental Health [16]
Environmental Justice [17]
Environmental Politics [18]
Laws & Regulations [19]
People & Population [6]
Science [8]
Public [11]
National (U.S.) [9]
Source: The New Lede [49], 08/14/2026
  • Read more about Scientists Warn Senate TSCA Overhaul Could Put Children At Greater Risk [48]

Tropical Storm Lala Brings Hurricane Watch To The Big Island Of Hawaii [50]

"Tropical Storm Lala formed Thursday in the Pacific Ocean and a hurricane watch has been issued for the Big Island of Hawaii, where it could bring heavy rain and flooding this weekend, forecasters said."

Climate Change [26]
Disasters [3]
People & Population [6]
Water & Oceans [45]
Public [11]
Alaska and Hawaii [51]
Source: AP [52], 08/14/2026
  • Read more about Tropical Storm Lala Brings Hurricane Watch To The Big Island Of Hawaii [50]

White House Reviews Expanding Hunting And Fishing In Wildlife Refuges [53]

"A proposal to expand hunting and fishing access within wildlife refuges advanced this week to the White House review stage." "The Fish and Wildlife Service has proposed opening 14 refuges to new hunting or sport fishing access."

Biodiversity [54]
Consumer [14]
Environmental Politics [18]
Fish & Fisheries [55]
Laws & Regulations [19]
Natural Resources [40]
People & Population [6]
Water & Oceans [45]
Wildlife [56]
Public [11]
National (U.S.) [9]
Source: E&E News [57], 08/14/2026
  • Read more about White House Reviews Expanding Hunting And Fishing In Wildlife Refuges [53]

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Links
[1] https://www.sej.org/publications/backgrounders/are-we-ready-next-pandemic [2] https://www.sej.org/category/sej-publication-types/backgrounders [3] https://www.sej.org/category/topics-beat/disaster [4] https://www.sej.org/category/topics-beat/government [5] https://www.sej.org/category/topics-beat/health [6] https://www.sej.org/category/topics-beat/people-population [7] https://www.sej.org/category/topics-beat/policy [8] https://www.sej.org/category/topics-beat/science [9] https://www.sej.org/category/region/national [10] https://www.sej.org/category/region/international [11] https://www.sej.org/taxonomy/term/81 [12] https://www.sej.org/headlines/empowering-guatemalan-villagers-plagued-plastic [13] https://www.sej.org/category/topics-beat/chemicals/toxics [14] https://www.sej.org/category/topics-beat/consumer [15] https://www.sej.org/category/topics-beat/energy [16] https://www.sej.org/category/topics-beat/environmental-health [17] https://www.sej.org/category/topics-beat/environmental-justice [18] https://www.sej.org/category/topics-beat/environmental-politics [19] https://www.sej.org/category/topics-beat/laws [20] https://www.sej.org/category/topics-beat/pollution [21] https://www.sej.org/category/topics-beat/waste [22] https://www.sej.org/category/region/international/central-america-caribbean [23] https://insideclimatenews.org/news/16082026/project-aims-to-help-guatemalans-plagued-by-plastic-pollution/ [24] https://www.sej.org/headlines/real-reason-data-center-gas-power-plants-are-so-dirty [25] https://www.sej.org/category/topics-beat/air [26] https://www.sej.org/category/topics-beat/climate-change [27] https://www.sej.org/category/topics-beat/business [28] https://www.sej.org/category/topics-beat/infrastructure [29] https://www.sej.org/category/topics-beat/technology [30] https://www.wired.com/story/real-reason-data-center-gas-power-plants-are-so-dirty/ [31] https://www.sej.org/headlines/epa-sued-approving-semiconductor-chemicals-may-pose-health-risks [32] https://www.sej.org/category/topics-beat/activism [33] https://thehill.com/policy/energy-environment/6030328-epa-chemical-approval-lawsuit/ [34] https://www.sej.org/headlines/calif-pesticide-agency-hopelessly-captured-industry-critics-charge [35] https://www.sej.org/category/topics-beat/agriculture [36] https://www.sej.org/category/region/national/california [37] https://insideclimatenews.org/news/14082026/california-regulators-face-calls-to-better-protect-immigrants-from-pesticides/ [38] https://www.sej.org/headlines/federal-job-cuts-are-making-wildfires-harder-fight [39] https://www.sej.org/category/topics-beat/forests [40] https://www.sej.org/category/topics-beat/land [41] https://www.nytimes.com/2026/08/14/climate/wildfires-forest-service-trump-cuts.html?unlocked_article_code=1.51A.jAr0.LlVSLo8FpQO_&smid=url-share [42] https://www.sej.org/headlines/meet-man-circumnavigating-arctic-ocean-alone [43] https://www.sej.org/category/topics-beat/journalism/media [44] https://www.sej.org/category/topics-beat/transportation [45] https://www.sej.org/category/topics-beat/water [46] https://www.sej.org/category/region/international/antarctica-arctic [47] https://www.npr.org/2026/08/08/nx-s1-5923345/circumnavigate-arctic-ocean-matt-rutherford-10000-mile-odyssey [48] https://www.sej.org/headlines/scientists-warn-senate-tsca-overhaul-could-put-children-greater-risk [49] https://www.thenewlede.org/2026/08/scientists-health-advocates-warn-senate-tsca-overhaul-could-put-children-at-greater-risk/ [50] https://www.sej.org/headlines/tropical-storm-lala-brings-hurricane-watch-big-island-hawaii [51] https://www.sej.org/category/region/national/alaska-and-hawaii [52] https://apnews.com/article/tropical-storm-hernan-pacific-hawaii-potential-cyclone-0b0e5bdd17a068acd797e20c0e2c4f9d [53] https://www.sej.org/headlines/white-house-reviews-expanding-hunting-and-fishing-wildlife-refuges [54] https://www.sej.org/category/topics-beat/biodiversity-1 [55] https://www.sej.org/category/topics-beat/fisheries [56] https://www.sej.org/category/topics-beat/wildlife [57] https://www.eenews.net/articles/white-house-begins-review-of-plan-to-expand-hunting-and-fishing-in-wildlife-refuges/ [58] https://www.sej.org/category/topics-beat/people-population?page=22 [59] https://www.sej.org/category/topics-beat/people-population?page=19 [60] https://www.sej.org/category/topics-beat/people-population?page=20 [61] https://www.sej.org/category/topics-beat/people-population?page=21 [62] https://www.sej.org/category/topics-beat/people-population?page=24 [63] https://www.sej.org/category/topics-beat/people-population?page=25 [64] https://www.sej.org/category/topics-beat/people-population?page=26 [65] https://www.sej.org/category/topics-beat/people-population?page=27 [66] https://www.sej.org/category/topics-beat/people-population?page=398