U.S. crude and natural gas production reached all-time record highs last year, putting President Joe Biden in a tricky political spot as the 2024 presidential campaign heats up and casting doubt on the industry’s ability to cut emissions.
Recent Supreme Court decisions have curtailed federal agencies' power to regulate pollution and address climate change, signaling a shift toward judicial control of environmental policy.
The court overturned the Chevron doctrine, limiting agencies’ ability to interpret laws, and created new legal grounds for lawsuits challenging regulations.
Decisions like Ohio v. EPA weakened protections against interstate pollution, affecting public health and regulatory scope.
Upcoming cases could further erode foundational environmental laws like NEPA, impacting agency decisions on fossil fuel projects and many other matters.
Key quote:
“These days, it doesn’t feel like you can really think deeply about the law. It is simply a political battle.”
— Erik Schlenker-Goodrich, executive director of the Western Environmental Law Center
Why this matters:
Judicial constraints on regulatory agencies risk undermining decades of environmental progress, making it harder to combat climate change and protect public health. State-level measures can mitigate some impacts, but they are limited in scope compared to federal actions.
Michael Regan will leave his role as administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency (E.P.A.) at the end of December after overseeing landmark climate policies and advancing environmental justice initiatives.
Michael Regan led the E.P.A. through significant climate initiatives, including emissions reductions and clean energy programs.
He worked to rebuild the agency’s morale, staffing and scientific integrity after reductions during the Trump administration.
Jane Nishida, the acting deputy administrator, will serve as acting head for the remainder of the Biden term.
Key quote:
“Together, we confronted climate change with the urgency science demands. We set the strongest standards in history and put billions of dollars to work to spur clean energy development, create good-paying American jobs and lower costs for families.”
— Michael Regan, outgoing E.P.A. administrator
Why this matters:
The E.P.A. plays a critical role in addressing climate change and protecting public health. Regan’s departure comes as climate regulations face potential rollbacks under the incoming Trump administration, raising concerns about the agency's direction and the future of U.S. environmental policy.
Navigating climate change debates at holiday gatherings can be challenging, but an expert suggests prioritizing mental health and tailoring discussions to a family's values.
Holiday discussions on climate change often reflect family dynamics, not just the issue itself.
Expert Solitaire Townsend recommends stepping away from debates that harm your peace or relationships.
Focus on relatable, personal examples and small-scale solutions to encourage constructive conversations.
Key quote:
“Remember that the world desperately needs a lot more love, respect, and laughter right now rather than more big vicious family bust ups.”
— Solitaire Townsend, co-founder of Futerra
Why this matters:
Holidays often bring different perspectives together, providing a unique opportunity to share insights about climate issues. Approaching these talks with empathy and focusing on common ground can foster understanding without creating conflict.
Churches and faith-based organizations in Appalachia have become critical responders to Hurricane Helene's devastation, blending aid with evangelism in ways that have both inspired and unsettled communities.
Faith-based groups have played a central role in providing disaster relief after Hurricane Helene, offering supplies, home repairs and financial assistance.
Some relief efforts include a focus on evangelism, leading to tension with recipients who feel uncomfortable with religious outreach.
Churches and religious networks are crucial in rural areas, leveraging their community ties and adaptability to fill gaps left by federal and state agencies.
Key quote:
“Helpers that come into crisis situations, whether you are faith based or religious or not, you have a lot of power in that situation.”
— Sarah Ogletree, disaster relief coordinator
Why this matters:
Faith-based organizations often step in where government responses fall short, offering lifesaving aid. However, blending aid with proselytizing can create barriers to equitable assistance. Understanding this dynamic is essential as disasters increase in frequency and severity.
A record 40 activists are set to spend Christmas in UK prisons after receiving severe sentences for climate and pro-Palestinian protests, sparking concerns over diminishing rights to dissent.
Forty protesters, aged 22 to 58, will be in prison for actions tied to climate protests and Gaza-related activism, including blocking roads and disrupting arms supply chains.
Legal experts and civil liberties groups criticize the harsh sentences and new laws restricting protest rights, with some describing the UK as leading in incarcerating environmental activists globally.
Public opinion remains divided, with polls showing significant support for jailing disruptive protesters while activists argue the sentences suppress essential dissent.
Key quote:
“Prison is used as a deterrent, but we must not allow it to deter us. We must not allow fear to win over hope. We must not lose the dream that we can create a better world together.”
— Anna Holland, imprisoned activist
Why this matters:
These developments reflect broader tensions between public protest rights and government measures to maintain order. The criminalization of non-violent dissent could suppress movements critical for addressing global crises like climate change and conflict, raising fundamental questions about democratic freedoms.
Amid Arizona's booming data center industry, thousands of Navajo Nation residents remain without electricity, while utilities prioritize meeting corporate power demands.
Navajo Nation residents like Thomasina Nez live without electricity, struggling to meet basic needs while power companies serve data centers.
Arizona’s utility board rejected a $4 million plan to bring electricity to Navajo Nation, but approved an 8% rate hike to fund infrastructure for growing power demands.
Data centers consume a significant share of Arizona’s electricity, pushing utilities to revive coal and gas plants despite environmental concerns.
Key quote:
“We’ve been without [power] for quite a long time… for them to get more power, it’s kind of not right.”
— Thomasina Nez, Navajo Nation resident
Why this matters:
The energy demands of Big Tech are exacerbating existing inequities, leaving vulnerable communities, like many on the Navajo Nation, without basic services. With utilities focused on profits and corporate customers, many residents face health risks, high costs and environmental damage.
The World Bank approved a $6.3 billion investment in the Rogun Dam in Tajikistan, which will be the world’s tallest dam, but faces criticism for its displacement of tens of thousands of people and downstream ecological impacts.
Additional projects, including the $100 billion Grand Inga megaproject in the Democratic Republic of Congo and the Upper Arun Dam in Nepal, are under negotiation despite risks like cost overruns and environmental degradation.
Critics argue that cheaper, greener alternatives like solar and wind offer better solutions, especially as large dams become less competitive due to rising climate risks and high initial investments.
Key quote:
“The World Bank is revisiting projects it once dropped because of obvious risks, but those risks did not go away.”
— Eugene Simonov, coordinator of the Rivers Without Boundaries International Coalition and a researcher at the University of New South Wales, Canberra
Why this matters:
Large dams promise renewable energy for underserved regions but carry steep costs, including displacement, ecological harm and financial risks. As costs fall for alternative sources of renewable energy, critics question whether the World Bank’s focus on mega dams aligns with global climate and equity goals.
Legal and industry experts say there are uncertainties about the future of hydrogen hubs, a cornerstone of the Biden administration’s clean energy push.
