The European Union’s Copernicus Climate Change Service reported that July was the third-warmest on record, following two consecutive years of record-breaking temperatures. Despite a slightly lower global average, extreme weather events persisted, highlighting the ongoing effects of a warming world. The average global surface air temperature in July was still significantly above pre-industrial levels, and the 12-month period ending in July exceeded the 1.5°C warming threshold. The agency emphasized that unless greenhouse gas emissions are reduced, extreme weather events are likely to continue.
Read More
The Trump administration plans to eliminate the EPA’s climate change and climate protection partnership divisions, impacting programs like greenhouse gas reporting and methane partnerships. Simultaneously, the Energy Star program, a widely recognized energy efficiency certification, faces closure despite bipartisan support and significant consumer benefits. These actions, part of broader EPA restructuring, contradict stated goals of reducing household energy costs and represent a major setback for climate change mitigation efforts. The elimination of these programs could significantly impact the measurement and regulation of US fossil fuel emissions. The EPA’s justification centers on internal organizational improvements, while critics cite the significant financial and environmental consequences of these proposed changes.
Read More
EPA Administrator Lee Zeldin announced a sweeping rollback of environmental regulations, aiming to overturn more than a dozen rules concerning emissions, pollution, and the scientific basis for climate action. This plan, described as ending the “Green New Scam,” seeks to reduce regulatory costs and boost business growth by reassessing rules impacting oil, gas, and coal industries. Key amongst the targeted regulations is the 2009 endangerment finding that establishes greenhouse gases as a threat, a decision environmental advocates vow to challenge legally. The move has sparked outrage from environmental groups and some EPA staff, who deem it unprecedented in scale and potentially damaging to public health.
Read More
John Q. Hosedrinker