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A group of environmental organizations urges the Biden administration to implement a national strategy to end plastic pollution by 2040, citing a low national residential recycling rate of 21% and the threat of plastic waste tripling in oceans by 2040. The letter proposes five key areas for action: establishing national reduction targets, advancing a circular economy through Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR), improving waste infrastructure, prioritizing environmental justice, and advocating for a legally binding global plastics agreement.

Earthjustice urges New York State to increase funding for water infrastructure and environmental protection while accelerating the transition from fossil fuels to electricity. The testimony specifically advocates for the NY HEAT Act to downsize the gas system, the RAPID Act to speed up electric transmission, and the Green Transit, Green Jobs bill to electrify bus fleets. It also calls for urgent action on childhood lead poisoning and the reduction of agricultural greenhouse gas emissions, while opposing 'false solutions' like hydrogen and renewable natural gas.

The Green Economy Coalition advocates for a fair green industrial strategy in the UK, criticizing the Labour Party for abandoning its £28 billion green investment pledge. The document highlights the US Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) as a successful example of structural policymaking that leverages private investment—estimated by Goldman Sachs at $3 trillion—into renewable energy. It argues that government leadership through clear, long-term commitments and mandatory net zero targets is essential to attract business investment, ensure energy security, and protect vulnerable workers during the transition from fossil fuels.

A coalition of NGOs and research institutions advises the U.S. Department of Energy to implement a comprehensive transparency model for the Regional Clean Hydrogen Hubs Program. The recommendations focus on four key areas: enabling community engagement through the release of project sites and benefit plans; building program credibility by sharing selection hypotheses and funding details; evaluating long-term impacts via public reporting of climate and environmental data; and fostering market development by sharing technical specifications and lessons learned from both successful and failed projects.

The briefing note calls for further reform of the Canadian Environmental Protection Act (CEPA) following Bill S-5, highlighting the need for enforceable national air quality standards, the removal of barriers to citizen lawsuits against polluters, improved labelling of hazardous substances in consumer products, and enhanced environmental protections on First Nations reserve lands to address systemic inequities and health risks.

CPI estimates that California requires an annual average of USD 62 billion from 2023 to 2035 to meet its climate goals, with zero-emission vehicles accounting for half of this need. While climate finance spending grew by 26% annually between 2019 and 2022, reaching USD 39 billion in 2022, a gap remains. The report notes that finance is distributed relatively evenly per capita by county and is not currently prioritized for areas with higher pollution metrics.

The report examines the integration of community benefits into the US DOE's Regional Clean Hydrogen Hubs program, emphasizing the shift from one-way notification to meaningful two-way engagement. It highlights the role of Community Benefits Plans (CBPs) and Community Benefits Agreements (CBAs) in mitigating social opposition and ensuring that 40% of benefits flow to disadvantaged communities under the Justice40 Initiative. Through case studies of failed projects in Wisconsin and the Midwest, the document illustrates how a lack of transparency, misalignment with local visions, and insufficient engagement can lead to project cancellation or significant delays.

The Biden administration has announced a shift in how it determines if gas export projects are in the public interest, effectively halting the Calcasieu Pass 2 (CP2) project and at least 13 other pending facilities. Earthjustice asserts that this move prevents the lock-in of decades of fossil fuel use and protects low-income communities of color from further pollution. The briefing highlights that CP2 alone would produce emissions equivalent to over 47 new coal-fired power plants and 20 times the annual carbon emissions of the Willow drilling project. Additionally, the document argues that increasing gas exports raises domestic energy and heating prices for U.S. households and contradicts Europe's transition to clean energy, as European gas storage is nearly full.

The document is a statement of solidarity with a general strike in Argentina on January 24, 2024. It criticizes the government of Javier Milei for implementing the Decree of Necessity and Urgency (DNU) and the 'Omnibus Law', which the author argues undermine national sovereignty and democratic rights. Key concerns include a 51% currency devaluation, the privatization of 41 state-owned companies, the repeal of laws protecting glaciers and native forests, and the creation of a domestic greenhouse gas emission market. The statement calls for the repeal of a security protocol prohibiting public demonstrations and urges international solidarity to protect the rights of the Argentine people.

Friends of the Earth International supports a general strike in Argentina on January 24, 2024, protesting the 'Ley Ómnibus' and a Decree of Necessity and Urgency (DNU) issued by President Javier Milei. The organization condemns measures including a 51% currency devaluation, the privatization of 41 state companies, the dismantling of social ministries, and the creation of a domestic greenhouse gas emissions market. It further denounces the government's 'Protocolo del Ministerio de Seguridad' for restricting the right to public protest and calls for international solidarity to protect democratic and environmental rights in Argentina.

The Clean Air Task Force (CATF) urges the EPA to finalize Phase 3 regulations for heavy-duty vehicles (HDVs) covering model years 2027-2032. The document highlights that HDVs contribute 59% of ozone- and particle-forming NOx emissions and 55% of particle pollution in the US, leading to significant health damages and deaths. It asserts that the industry is already transitioning toward zero-emission vehicles (ZEVs), citing new battery-electric and fuel cell electric vehicle (FCEV) models from manufacturers like Mercedes, Nikola, and Tesla. Furthermore, the document details extensive federal funding from the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) and the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA) intended to build out charging and hydrogen refueling infrastructure, arguing that these resources make strong regulatory standards feasible and necessary.

The Global Research and Action Network for a New Eco-Social Contract (GRAN-ESC) proposes that the UN's 'Pact for the Future' adopt 'eco-social contracts' that integrate ecological, social, and economic elements. The submission advocates for a shift toward transformative, community-led sustainable development, the removal of fossil fuel subsidies, and the reform of the international financial architecture to support debtor nations in the 'Majority World'. Key recommendations include the legal recognition of the rights of nature, the creation of a UN taskforce on structural green and eco-social transition policies, and the implementation of deliberative processes like citizens' assemblies to ensure the inclusion of marginalised groups and future generations.

The report analyzes how the energy and transportation sectors drive air pollution in the U.S., noting that while the Clean Air Act has significantly reduced overall emissions since 1970, severe exposure disparities persist. It highlights that people of color and low-income populations are more likely to live in areas exceeding health standards, often near 'pollution hot spots' that current monitoring networks may miss. Through case studies in California, New Jersey, and Indiana, the document illustrates the specific health burdens—including asthma and cancer—borne by marginalized communities living near ports, incinerators, and coal plants.

The report identifies a shift in clean energy deployment challenges from technical and economic issues to social and institutional barriers, specifically community resistance to wind and solar projects. Based on workshops with 25 practitioners and researchers, it proposes four paradigm-shifting solutions: a 'fair share' policy to distribute infrastructure burdens across a state, 'off-the-shelf' visioning modules to help communities self-determine their desires before projects are proposed, the creation of local task forces supported by trusted facilitators to build capacity, and the development of co-ownership or co-management models to increase local benefits and acceptance. The document also highlights unresolved tensions, such as the conflict between the urgent need for rapid decarbonization and the time required to build meaningful community trust.

The document examines the vulnerability of the US gas-fired power plant fleet to extreme winter and summer weather, noting that gas plants are the primary source of generation failures during major storms. It argues that current resource adequacy metrics overvalue gas reliability and recommends transitioning to probabilistic modeling, increasing transparency, and prioritizing renewables, storage, and demand-side solutions to ensure a resilient power grid.

The document examines the reliability of natural gas power plants in the US, noting that they are disproportionately prone to failure during extreme weather, such as winter storms. It highlights the 2021 Winter Storm Uri as a critical example of how gas plant failures lead to catastrophic blackouts. To improve grid reliability and mitigate climate change, the author recommends transitioning to clean energy solutions—including renewables, energy storage, and demand-side efficiency—and urges regulators to restrict the approval of new gas plants.

New England's energy transition requires a massive shift from fossil fuel reliance to a decarbonized grid, with peak electricity demand projected to double to 55 GW by 2050. The report argues for a 'clean energy portfolio approach' combining solar, offshore wind, energy storage, and interregional transmission to ensure reliability and affordability. It highlights significant sociopolitical barriers, including community opposition and outdated permitting processes, and recommends comprehensive state-level reforms and proactive community engagement to accelerate deployment.

ClientEarth proposes a series of legislative reforms for the UK to accelerate its transition to net zero by 2050 and protect biodiversity. Key recommendations include the introduction of an Environmental Rights Bill to comply with the Aarhus Convention, the implementation of mandatory corporate transition plans, and a ban on fossil fuel advertising and carbon offsetting. The document also calls for the UK to withdraw from the Energy Charter Treaty, accelerate fine particulate matter (PM2.5) pollution reduction targets to 2030, and ensure 30% of land and sea are effectively protected by 2030. Additionally, it urges the government to address the 'Dieselgate' scandal by supporting affected consumers and funding a clean-up fund.

The Air Aware campaign, led by Youth@SAIIA as part of the global Breathe Cities initiative, focuses on empowering youth aged 13–25 in South Africa to advocate for clean air. The program utilizes a structured journey including 'Train-the-Trainers' workshops, the appointment of Youth Air Champions (YACs) who implement community-specific campaigns, and engagement with policy frameworks like the National Environmental Management: Air Quality Act 2004. Key activities included mapping air pollution hotspots in Soweto, linking air quality to biodiversity in the Waterberg Biosphere Reserve, and digital campaigns connecting plastic waste to air pollution. The initiative aims to culminate in a Youth-Led Conference on Air Pollution Policy and Implementation to integrate youth lived experiences into the City of Johannesburg's air quality governance.

The briefing highlights the negative environmental and social impacts of critical mineral extraction in Argentina, Indonesia, and Guinea, arguing that the UN Secretary-General's Panel on Critical Energy Transition Minerals must center the voices of affected communities to avoid 'green extractivism'. It documents issues such as the violation of Free, Prior and Informed Consent (FPIC) in lithium mining, pollution and labor abuses in nickel downstreaming, and the loss of agricultural land in bauxite mining. The document concludes with recommendations for governments and companies to protect indigenous rights, ensure transparency in GHG emissions, and end the criminalization of environmental defenders.