#environmental policy

#environmental policy

After three consecutive years of climate negotiations hosted by authoritarian regimes, the return of the COP summit to a democracy could not come at a more decisive moment. When world leaders gather in Belem for COP30 this week, they will enter a country that has defied both authoritarianism and environmental collapse, a reminder that democracy delivers where despotism destroys.

US manufacturers who late last year asked the incoming Trump administration for a "regulatory reset" have seen roughly 80% of their specific regulatory requests acted on in just the first eight months of Trump taking office. The fast action across various agencies comes after 100 manufacturing industry groups sent a letter to then President-elect Donald Trump last December complaining of a "regulatory onslaught" under the Biden administration that the group said was "strangling" the economy.

Landfill tax is currently charged at two rates: a standard rate of £126.15 per tonne and a lower rate of £4.05 per tonne for inert materials like soil, concrete and bricks. The lower rate was introduced because these materials do not break down in ways that cause pollution. From April 2025, the government has proposed phasing out the two-tier system in favour of a single flat rate. Officials argue that this change will "simplify the system, reduce fraud, and better support environmental targets."

"HDOT's Energy Security Plan is a call to action. Together, we can create a transportation system that is cleaner and safer while fulfilling its purpose to connect our communities. The strategies outlined in this plan will help us build out the system for our future generations."

Many politicians love to play fireman, often visiting disaster scenes and advising real firefighters on how they can do things better. No politico does this more than President Trump, who frequently advises California governors they need to rake the forests to prevent fires.

The EPA estimates the Energy Star program has saved Americans over $500 billion in energy costs since it was established in 1992.

It is critical that federal policymaking is informed by the best available scientific evidence. Decades of climate research have yielded expanded understanding of how greenhouse gases affect the climate.

The Northeast Supply Enhancement pipeline, proposed by energy giant Williams, would bury about 17 miles of 26-inch-diameter, natural gas pipelines 4 feet under the ocean floor near Staten Island and the Rockaways, with around 10 miles of additional pipeline in New Jersey. According to Williams, the new infrastructure will move enough fracked gas from Pennsylvania to serve more than 2 million New York City homes.

Since the pilot's start in 2019, there have been 413,889 bike trips and 60,003 pedestrian crossings on the Richmond-San Rafael Bridge, showing significant use.

At the Geneva negotiations, 170 countries aim to finalize a global treaty to significantly curb plastic production, focusing on the entire lifecycle of plastic, from design to disposal.

The Trump administration's proposed rule aims to rescind the endangerment finding, undermining the government's legal authority to limit greenhouse gases essential for addressing the climate crisis.

New York State is allocating an additional $200 million to expand its electric school bus program, aimed at increasing the transition to zero-emission vehicles.

Rep. Troy E. Nehls introduced a resolution to halt a plan to kill 450,000 barred owls over three decades, aimed at protecting threatened spotted owls.

Fox said his company, Foxy Development, is moving forward with the project after scrapping some of the most ambitious environmental goals and obtaining new state funding to replace some of the lost EPA money.

Steve Reed expressed that the consistent lead of Reform UK over Labour in the polls reflects public disenchantment with politics and unmet promises over the past 14 years.

"Supporters of the approach believe the cull is necessary to avert disastrous consequences for the spotted owls. But the coalition argues the effort is too expensive, unworkable and inhumane."

The Mid-Barataria Sediment Diversion Project had been intended to rebuild upward of 20 square miles of land in southeast Louisiana to combat sea level rise and erosion on the Gulf Coast.

Ursula von der Leyen proposed new EU taxes on large companies, tobacco, and electronic waste as part of a 2tn budget aimed at addressing Europe's challenges.

The motion to rescind the climate emergency declaration in Durham has been condemned as a very dark day for the authority. The council has shifted its focus to a County Durham care emergency instead.

A group of Republican lawmakers expressed concern over Canadian wildfire smoke negatively impacting summer outdoor activities for Americans, urging Canada to take action for cleaner air.

The cost of a new electric car will soon be reduced by up to 3,750 after the government introduced grants to encourage drivers to move away from petrol and diesel vehicles.

"We hope this departure from Trump's anti-public lands agenda becomes the norm and isn't just a PR ploy to distract voters from the backlash some Republicans received after spending months trying to sell off these same public lands to the highest bidder."