Activists defending their communities against development of extractive industries and land grabs face high rates of criminalization, physical violence and murder around the world, according to a study.
A shipping disaster in the North Sea has sparked fears of an environmental catastrophe after a cargo vessel carrying sodium cyanide collided with a fuel tanker, raising concerns about toxic leaks into vital marine ecosystems.
The cargo ship Solong, carrying sodium cyanide, crashed into the tanker Stena Immaculate off the coast of the English city of Hull, leading to significant damage and massive fires.
Scientists warn that potential leaks of bunker fuel and sodium cyanide could devastate marine life, with jet fuel already confirmed to have spilled into the water.
The crash occurred in an ecologically sensitive area home to seabirds, seals, and migratory birds, raising concerns about long-term impacts on food webs.
Key quote:
“We are extremely concerned about the multiple toxic hazards these chemicals could pose to marine life.”
— Paul Johnston, Greenpeace Research Laboratories, University of Exeter
Why this matters:
If sodium cyanide leaches into the water, the consequences could be deadly, not just for marine life but for entire ecosystems. This stretch of ocean is a crucial habitat for seabirds, seals, and migratory species, all of which now face an invisible but potent threat. For now, emergency crews are scrambling to contain the damage, but as with so many industrial disasters, the true cost may take years to reveal itself.
The U.S. Supreme Court has declined to hear a challenge from Republican-led states that sought to block lawsuits holding fossil fuel companies accountable for their role in climate change.
The court’s decision allows lawsuits from Democratic-led states — such as California, Connecticut, and Minnesota — to move forward against oil giants like Exxon Mobil and BP for allegedly misleading the public about climate change.
Nineteen Republican attorneys general attempted to shut down these cases, arguing they could disrupt interstate commerce, but the Supreme Court refused to intervene.
The ruling is the latest signal that courts are willing to let states hold fossil fuel companies financially responsible for their greenhouse gas emissions.
Key quote:
“This was never anything more than an attempt to run interference, help the defendants in our cases avoid accountability, and play politics with the Constitution.”
— Keith Ellison, Minnesota attorney general
Why this matters:
This decision opens the door for states to press forward with lawsuits that could force oil companies to pay for climate damages, potentially setting a precedent for holding polluters accountable.
The United States has pulled out of two key international climate finance initiatives, limiting support for developing nations facing climate disasters and slowing efforts to transition away from coal.
The U.S. withdrew from the "loss and damage" fund, which helps vulnerable countries recover from climate disasters, and from the Just Energy Transition Partnership, designed to support coal-dependent economies shifting to clean energy.
A U.S. Treasury Department spokesperson said the move aligns with Trump’s “America first” policy on international agreements, while critics argue it undermines global climate efforts.
The decision reduces a $13.8 billion pledge to South Africa’s energy transition by $1 billion and is expected to affect projects in Indonesia as well.
Key quote:
“By turning its back on international climate financing, the U.S. is failing its moral obligation as a historic polluter, abandoning the global community and shirking its share of our collective responsibility.”
— Namrata Chowdhary, chief of public engagement for 350.org
Why this matters:
Wealthier nations have long pledged financial help to poorer countries that bear the brunt of climate change but contribute little to its causes. The U.S., historically the world's largest carbon emitter, had been a key participant in global climate finance efforts. Its withdrawal leaves developing nations with fewer resources to recover from disasters and shift away from fossil fuels. The decision may further strain relations between industrialized and developing countries as climate change costs continue to rise.
Think your old clothes find a new home after you drop them in a donation bin? Think again. An investigation tracking 15 geolocated garments reveals a global trade that buries the Global South in textile waste, feeding pollution, exploitation, and an unsustainable fashion industry.
Clothing discarded in Europe and the U.S. often ends up in African and Asian nations, where much of it is unsellable and dumped in massive landfills or burned, releasing toxic chemicals.
A tracking experiment found that seven out of 15 donated garments traveled over 65,000 km, passing through warehouses, resale markets, and waste sites, leaving behind a significant carbon footprint.
Despite rising textile waste, recycling options are limited, and fast fashion continues churning out low-quality clothing that degrades too quickly to be reused or repurposed.
Key quote:
“The common public perception of used clothing donations as generous gifts to people in need does not fully match reality.”
— European Environment Agency
Why this matters:
Cheap, disposable clothing is fueling an environmental and public health disaster, particularly in countries that lack the infrastructure to manage the waste. While donation bins may feel like a responsible choice, they often sustain a system of overproduction, pollution, and exploitation. Without major reforms, the cycle will only worsen.
A generation after acid rain was largely eliminated, scientists say rainfall is now carrying something even more insidious — microplastics and forever chemicals that are nearly impossible to remove.
Decades of environmental policy cleaned up acid rain, but modern pollutants like microplastics and PFAS (forever chemicals) have taken its place, contaminating rainfall worldwide.
Microplastics from roads, clothing, and oceans get swept into the atmosphere and fall with the rain, while PFAS, used in nonstick cookware and water-resistant fabrics, persist in the environment for centuries.
These pollutants seep into drinking water sources, and while treatment plants can remove some, a significant amount remains, exposing people and wildlife to chemicals linked to cancer, kidney disease, and immune disorders.
Key quote:
"It’s much worse than the acid rain problem. With acid rain, we could stop emitting acid precursors and then acid rain would stop falling. But we can’t stop the microplastic cycle anymore. It’s there and it’s not going away."
— Janice Brahney, biogeochemist at Utah State University
Why this matters: Even if you don’t drink untreated rainwater, these pollutants are making their way into tap water, food, and even human brains. Water treatment plants can catch some of it, but not enough. And with microplastics now found in human lungs, blood, and even placentas, the long-term health consequences are still unfolding.
House Republicans have introduced a stopgap spending bill that would cut billions from energy and environmental programs, but Democratic opposition could stall the measure and push the government toward a shutdown.
The House will vote on a continuing resolution that would extend funding through September while cutting $13 billion in nondefense spending, including energy and environmental programs.
Democrats oppose the bill, arguing it gives the administration too much discretion over funding and forces cuts to disaster relief and climate programs.
Even if it passes the House, Senate approval remains uncertain, with at least seven Democrats needed to send it to President Trump.
Key quote:
“Republicans have decided to introduce a partisan continuing resolution that threatens to cut funding for healthcare, nutritional assistance, and veterans benefits through the end of the current fiscal year. That is not acceptable.”
— House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, D-N.Y.
Why this matters:
The bill could significantly reduce funding for agencies like the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, the Department of Energy, and the Federal Emergency Management Agency, affecting climate research, disaster relief, and water infrastructure projects.
For states like California, which have faced relentless wildfires and devastating floods, the potential loss of new disaster aid could make recovery efforts more difficult, leaving communities vulnerable. At the same time, a government shutdown — if negotiations fail — could further disrupt federal programs, delaying environmental protections, public health initiatives, and scientific research that helps forecast and mitigate climate risks.
A coalition that was awarded $7 billion for climate and housing projects has sued the Trump administration and Citibank, accusing them of unlawfully blocking access to the funds.
Climate United, a recipient of U.S. Environmental Protection Agency grants under the Greenhouse Gas Reduction Fund, filed suit to force Citibank to release the money and prevent the EPA from interfering.
The lawsuit argues the Trump administration is illegally withholding funds appropriated by Congress and violating contract law and the Constitution.
The EPA has criticized the fund as a “green slush fund,” but has not formally accused Climate United of misusing money or violating grant terms.
Key quote:
“EPA has failed to provide Climate United with a reasoned explanation for its actions or a meaningful opportunity to object or to be heard.”
— Climate United lawsuit
Why this matters:
The lawsuit highlights the ongoing battle over climate funding as the Trump administration seeks to undo Biden-era policies. The Greenhouse Gas Reduction Fund, the largest program in the 2022 Inflation Reduction Act, was designed to drive private investment in clean energy and infrastructure. Blocking these funds could stall renewable energy projects, slow efforts to cut emissions, and impact jobs in the green sector. The case also raises broader questions about an overreach of executive branch power in withholding congressionally approved funds.
Prisons, jails and detention centers are placed in locations where environmental hazards such as toxic landfills, floods and extreme heat are the norm.
www.vox.com
