public health
Newsletter
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Duke Energy pushes to weaken pollution rules on coal and greenhouse gases
Duke Energy and other utilities have asked the Trump administration to roll back Biden-era regulations on coal ash disposal and greenhouse gas emissions, arguing they are costly and unworkable.
In short:
- The Biden administration’s rules require coal plants to cut emissions or close by 2032 and mandate that new natural gas plants reduce carbon dioxide emissions by 90%. Utilities say the rules force them to adopt expensive, untested carbon capture technology.
- The second regulation expands coal ash disposal rules to more power plants, aiming to curb contamination from toxic chemicals like arsenic. Utilities claim this exceeds regulatory authority and increases costs.
- Environmental advocates argue these rules are needed to protect public health and the environment.
Key quote:
“The public record reveals that nearly all coal plants have contaminated groundwater with dangerous toxic chemicals above federal standards. Any new regulation proposed by the Trump administration will have to address this alarming situation.”
— Lisa Evans, senior counsel at Earthjustice
Why this matters:
Scientists warn that continued reliance on fossil fuels, particularly coal, is incompatible with efforts to curb global warming. Despite these risks, some utilities continue to resist stricter environmental regulations. Industry groups argue that tougher rules on coal ash disposal and carbon emissions would be costly and could disrupt power supplies. But delays in adopting cleaner energy sources leave communities vulnerable — not only to the long-term consequences of climate change but also to immediate health risks from toxic waste and polluted air.
Related: North Carolina town takes utility giant to court over climate inaction
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Credit: California Governor/Flickr
States step up climate action as Trump rolls back policies
As Trump moves to dismantle environmental protections and withdraw support for clean energy, state leaders and advocates are taking charge of climate action through legal challenges, new policies and renewable energy expansion.
In short:
- New York is forging ahead with climate legislation despite delays on key carbon pricing programs. A state agency is positioned to expand wind and solar, though its leadership is hesitant, frustrating advocates.
- California is bracing for legal battles, setting aside $50 million to fight Trump’s policies, including his attacks on EV mandates and emission rules. The state’s environmental advocates are pushing for new laws to hold fossil fuel companies accountable.
- Red states are benefiting from Biden-era clean energy incentives, with Republican lawmakers and labor unions urging the federal government to preserve renewable energy tax credits.
Key quote:
“Building decarbonization doesn’t need federal money or approval.”
— Patrick Crowley, president of the Rhode Island AFL-CIO
Why this matters:
Climate action isn’t waiting on Washington. With federal support in flux, states are proving they can drive the clean energy transition — whether through policy, investment or the courts.
Read more: Labor and environmental groups can both win in the clean energy transition. Here’s how.
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Credit: teresa cotrim/Pixabay
Keeping Africa’s solar future bright with repair and reuse
Solar power has transformed life across Africa, but as millions of panels and lights break down, local repair initiatives are stepping up to keep communities powered and reduce waste.
In short:
- Africa’s solar capacity has grown nearly tenfold since 2014, but an estimated 75% of off-grid solar products in sub-Saharan Africa no longer function, leading to mounting waste and energy access issues.
- SolarAid, a nonprofit, is training “solar entrepreneurs” and repair agents in Zambia and Malawi to fix broken solar devices, extending their lifespan and creating jobs in local communities.
- Repairing solar equipment, rather than replacing it, is a model the Global North could learn from, but barriers like limited spare parts and manufacturer resistance pose challenges.
Key quote:
“It’s short-sighted to think all we have to do is install a bunch of panels and it stops there.”
— Tobias Hanrath, professor of engineering at Cornell University
Why this matters:
Repairing instead of replacing creates jobs, strengthens energy security and challenges the throwaway culture that dominates wealthier nations. But to thrive, Africa’s solar revolution needs a system that values keeping things running over tossing them away.
Read more:
Electronic waste from just this year will outweigh the Great Wall of China.
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Credit: National Cancer Institute/Unsplash
Trump’s science freeze leaves researchers in limbo
The Trump administration’s abrupt freeze on federal science communication and grant processes threw researchers into chaos, delaying critical projects and threatening the future of public health research.
In short:
- The administration halted communications at the National Institutes of Health (NIH), Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and other agencies, stalling grant reviews and disrupting scientific meetings.
- Clinical trials, including experimental cancer treatments, are now uncertain, while labs struggle to buy supplies or repair essential equipment.
- Scientists fear this signals a broader attack on government-funded research, with long-term consequences for disease treatment and public health innovation.
Key quote:
“The NIH freak-out may have less to do with the present disruption (however long it lasts) than with what it signifies.”
— Ian Bogost, professor at Washington University in St. Louis
Why this matters:
This kind of disruption can ripple through entire fields, delaying the rollout of critical treatments and leaving patients hanging. With Trump allies pushing to gut federal science, researchers warn that the damage could outlast the administration, making the U.S. a less reliable leader in global health and innovation.
Read more:
Want to keep toxic chemicals out of the environment? Start with campaign finance reform.
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Credit: Tim Reckmann/Flickr
The White House's sustainable chemistry plan lacks bold goals to drive change
The Biden administration’s sustainable chemistry strategy was supposed to nudge the U.S. chemical industry toward safer, greener alternatives, but without clear benchmarks or regulatory teeth, it risks being little more than a well-meaning memo.
In short:
- On Dec. 19, the Biden White House released a long-awaited federal strategy for sustainable chemistry, outlining broad objectives but failing to establish concrete objectives or incentives to drive industry-wide change.
- The plan emphasizes research and development but does not adequately address the financial and regulatory barriers preventing new green chemicals from replacing entrenched, polluting alternatives.
- Without clear criteria for defining and funding safer chemicals, the federal government risks propping up existing toxic processes under the guise of sustainability.
Key quote:
“We must continue to work together to develop and advance bold goals for sustainable chemistry.”
— Joel Tickner, professor of public health at U-Mass Lowell
Why this matters:
The plan highlights research and development as key drivers of change, but history suggests that without financial incentives or strong regulations, industry players will stick with what’s profitable — even if that means clinging to toxic, fossil-fuel-based processes.
Read more:
What it will take for the EU to be a model for safe chemicals.
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Credit: Gage Skidmore/Flickr
RFK Jr. stirs up MAGA, MAHA and green politics
Robert F. Kennedy Jr.'s surprising shift from liberal environmental champion to far-right Trump ally raises questions about the growing divide in green advocacy.
In short:
- Kennedy, a former environmental attorney and NRDC veteran, now leads a faction of far-right environmentalists advocating for clean air, water and soil while rejecting mainstream climate science.
- This “para-environmentalism” emphasizes distrust of institutions, with a focus on local issues like pollution and regenerative farming over carbon reduction.
- The movement reveals deeper ideological fractures, complicating efforts to unify environmental goals under a Trump administration favoring deregulation.
Key quote:
"The left environmental movement literally got infiltrated and usurped by climate change. They’re so hyperfocused on that that they’re no longer focusing on the environment.”
— Reinette Senum, blogger, former mayor of Nevada City, California and a self-identified MAHA environmentalist
Why this matters:
Kennedy's pivot indicates a larger shift in the environmental movement, and the curious perception by some that left-wing environmentalism has largely abandoned environmental health issues not related to climate change. It's a potent reminder of how environmentalism can be reshaped — and weaponized — by political movements, and begs the question: Where do we go from here as the Trump administration lays out its deregulatory agenda?
Read more:
2024 election: Two radically different visions for environment, health.
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Credit: ekkasit919/BigStock Photo ID: 206727814
Reimagining office spaces as urban farms could solve food and real estate crises
Vacant office spaces are finding a second life as indoor farms, turning empty buildings into hubs for growing kale, cucumbers and more, while addressing urban food security and sustainability.
In short:
- Urban farms in repurposed office spaces are on the rise, spurred by high post-pandemic office vacancy rates and the need for local food production.
- These farms use cutting-edge technologies like hydroponics to grow diverse crops, offering greater water efficiency and proximity to consumers while reducing food miles and emissions.
- Challenges include high energy demands, zoning restrictions and limitations in crop variety, though advocates argue renewable energy and innovative designs could make indoor farming more sustainable.
Key quote:
"Most crops are now selected to be grown because of their ability to withstand a 1,500-mile journey. In our farm, we can select crops for other properties like their nutritional value or taste."
— Jacqueline Potter, Area 2 Farms
Why this matters:
If successful, these vertical farms could help redefine urban living, turning abandoned concrete jungles into fertile ground for sustainable, future-ready food systems.
Read more: It is time to respect the planet’s boundaries—and overhaul how we eat and waste food.
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