Causes

PITTSBURGH — Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro ran on a promise to regulate Pennsylvania’s oil and gas industry more stringently. Two years into his term, the Environmental Health Project, a public health advocacy nonprofit focused on fracking, has published a report that assesses the Shapiro administration’s progress.

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A North Dakota jury found Greenpeace defamed pipeline builder Energy Transfer during protests against the Dakota Access Pipeline, awarding $250 million in defamation damages. What does it mean for environmental activism and free speech?

Karen Zraick reports for The New York Times.

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Executives at a Houston conference warned that global overbuilding, slow economic growth, and policy uncertainty are shaking the foundation of the petrochemical industry as it faces pressure to go greener.

Alexander Tullo reports for Chemical & Engineering News.

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Government raids in Dhaka reveal the ongoing failure of Bangladesh’s plastic bag ban, as consumers and businesses continue to rely on cheap, single-use polythene bags.

Mohammad Al-Masum Molla reports for Mongabay.

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British Columbia’s energy regulator granted Canadian Natural Resources Ltd. a long-term exemption from pipeline decommissioning rules without public disclosure, raising concerns about transparency and industry influence.

Matt Simmons and Zak Vescera report for The Narwhal.

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Seven Indigenous nations in Michigan have walked away from federal talks over a proposed oil pipeline tunnel, citing a lack of meaningful engagement and treaty violations.

Izzy Ross reports for Grist and Interlochen Public Radio.

In short:

  • The tribes oppose Enbridge’s Line 5 tunnel project, which would replace part of a 72-year-old pipeline under the Straits of Mackinac, a critical freshwater corridor between Lake Michigan and Lake Huron.
  • Their withdrawal follows the Army Corps of Engineers’ move to fast-track permitting under President Trump’s energy emergency order, which tribes say dismisses their environmental and legal concerns.
  • Tribal leaders and legal advocates argue that the project threatens water resources and violates both U.S. treaty obligations and international law requiring Indigenous consent.

Key quote:

“Tribal Nations are no longer willing to expend their time and resources as Cooperating Agencies just so their participation may be used by the Corps to lend credibility to a flawed [Environmental Impact Statement] process and document.”

— Letter from seven Indigenous nations to the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers

Why this matters:

Buried beneath the Straits of Mackinac, where Lake Michigan and Lake Huron converge, Line 5 has become a flashpoint in the battle over fossil fuel infrastructure, Indigenous sovereignty, and environmental protection. The aging oil and gas pipeline — operated by Canadian energy giant Enbridge — moves millions of gallons of crude and natural gas liquids daily through a region that holds 20% of the planet’s surface freshwater. A proposed tunnel to house a replacement segment beneath the lakebed has drawn fierce opposition from tribal nations, who warn it risks catastrophic spills and continued desecration of sacred territory.

Related: Trump donor’s company set to profit from Michigan pipeline deal

Dow has applied for federal approval to build small nuclear reactors at its Seadrift, Texas, facility to cut greenhouse gas emissions and reduce its reliance on natural gas.

Jennifer McDermott reports for The Associated Press.

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Lee Zeldin, once a climate-conscious Republican from New York, is now steering the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency to roll back regulations, slash staff, and align with Trump and Elon Musk’s deregulatory vision.

Lisa Friedman reports for The New York Times.

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People living near petrochemical plants may be breathing in far more danger than federal standards account for, according to new research on toxic air mixtures.

Amudalat Ajasa reports for The Washington Post.

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Alberta is weighing whether to scrap its industrial carbon tax, a move that could upend a major emissions reduction policy and jeopardize renewable energy investments across the province.

Drew Anderson reports for The Narwhal.

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President Trump’s proposed tariffs on Mexican and Canadian imports could disrupt fresh produce supply chains, drive up grocery prices, and lead to increased food waste across the U.S.

Frida Garza reports for Grist.

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President Trump has halted a $4.7 billion federal program to clean up abandoned oil and gas wells, putting state-level efforts to reduce pollution and methane emissions on hold.

Nick Bowlin reports for High Country News.

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Indoor cannabis cultivation now accounts for about 1% of U.S. electricity use, emitting more greenhouse gases than bitcoin mining and all other crops combined, researchers say.

Nicolás Rivero reports for The Washington Post.

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Fossil fuel firms are pressuring President Trump and suing states, researchers, and advocacy groups in a mounting campaign against new state laws that would make them pay for past climate-related damage.

Maxine Joselow and Anna Phillips report for The Washington Post.

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Rachel Rothschild, a law professor whose legal research helped states design laws to make fossil fuel companies pay for climate-related damage, is now the target of a lawsuit backed by coal industry donors.

Coral Davenport reports for The New York Times.

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As Texas faces a looming water crisis, energy companies and lawmakers are considering using nuclear heat to treat toxic oilfield wastewater for reuse, but the process could consume more energy than many U.S. states generate.

Dylan Baddour reports for Inside Climate News.

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In his Senate confirmation, Chris Wright pledged support for clean energy, but since taking office, he’s promoted fossil fuels and attacked renewables in conservative forums.

Abrahm Lustgarten reports for ProPublica.

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A federal judge ruled that the Biden administration overstepped its authority in canceling oil and gas leases in Alaska’s Arctic National Wildlife Refuge, sending the issue back to the Interior Department.

Becky Bohrer reports for The Associated Press.

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