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EPA stops collecting data on pollutants released by farms
The EPA, under administrator Andrew Wheeler, stopped collecting data on ammonia and hydrogen sulfide emissions from large concentrated animal feeding operations (CAFOs) in June 2019. This policy, which faced opposition from 99 percent of 87,473 public comments, removes a reporting requirement for farms emitting 100 pounds or more of these pollutants daily. The document asserts that this lack of data hinders the ability of emergency responders and communities—particularly low-income communities and communities of color—to protect themselves from health risks associated with CAFOs, such as respiratory issues and elevated blood pressure.
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Document type: Fact sheet
Why do farmers take up biodigesters?
The assessment found that while small and mid-sized privately owned biodigesters provide health, environmental, and economic benefits, the 'community biodigester' model envisioned by Bangladesh's ILMM policy is not currently operational due to a lack of social capital and group financing. Adoption depends on access to finance, technical knowledge, livestock, and land.
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Document type: Briefing
2019 ARCTIC COUNCIL CONSERVATION SCORECARD OVERVIEW
The 2019 Arctic Council Conservation Scorecard finds that Arctic states are generally failing in their roles as stewards of the region, particularly regarding the regulation of marine shipping and the recognition of Indigenous peoples as full partners. While states performed well in ecosystem-based management and environmental impact assessments, they showed slow progress in safeguarding biodiversity and protecting conservation areas against climate change risks. The report specifically highlights a lack of governance in shipping and warns that new oil and gas developments are inconsistent with the Paris Agreement's 1.5-degree warming target.
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Document type: Fact sheet
Climate Change Toolkit for Health Professionals
The document explains the greenhouse effect and the role of human activities in increasing radiative forcing, noting that global warming has reached approximately 1°C since pre-industrial times. It details the global emissions profile by sector and the projected risks associated with 1.5°C versus 2°C warming, emphasizing that the latter significantly increases risks to human health, food security, and biodiversity. The text outlines the evolution of international climate governance from the UNFCCC and Kyoto Protocol to the Paris Agreement and its Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs). To limit warming to 1.5°C, the document argues for a transformative shift in the energy mix by 2050, including a drastic reduction in fossil fuel consumption and a move toward renewable energy and carbon dioxide removal technologies.
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Document type: Guide
Health Risks in Pennsylvania from Oil and Gas Air Pollution
The document reports a significant increase in hazardous toxic air pollution and cancer risks in Pennsylvania linked to the oil and gas industry between 2011 and 2014, highlighting the vulnerability of over 1.6 million residents and 300,000 students living near operations.
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Document type: Fact sheet
Integrated Resource Plan 2018 – groundWork comment
The commentary argues that the IRP 2018 is a form of 'climate denial' that lacks a meaningful carbon constraint and continues to prioritize coal and gas over cheaper, cleaner renewables. It highlights the severe health costs of air pollution from Eskom and criticizes the public consultation process as exclusionary. The authors advocate for a total phase-out of coal, the rejection of new extractive gas projects, and a transition to a socially owned renewable energy system that creates jobs and ensures energy justice for the poor.
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Document type: Statement
THE 2017 NATIONAL FRAMEWORK FOR AIR QUALITY MANAGEMENT IN THE REPUBLIC OF SOUTH AFRICA
The 2017 National Framework for Air Quality Management serves as the operational blueprint for the National Environmental Management: Air Quality Act (AQA) in South Africa. It defines the roles of national, provincial, and municipal governments in managing atmospheric emissions and outlines a governance cycle comprising information management, problem identification, strategy development, standard setting, and enforcement. Key tools introduced include the South African Air Quality Information System (SAAQIS) and the South African Atmospheric Emission Licence and Inventory Portal (SAAELIP). The framework also details the process for declaring priority areas, managing listed activities through Atmospheric Emission Licences (AELs), and fulfilling international obligations regarding greenhouse gases, ozone-depleting substances, and persistent organic pollutants.
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Document type: Report
Growing the Good
The report examines the environmental and health impacts of the global livestock sector, highlighting its role in greenhouse gas emissions, deforestation, and antimicrobial resistance. It argues that current consumption trends are incompatible with the Paris Agreement and Sustainable Development Goals. The document analyzes the rise of plant-based and cultured meat alternatives as disruptive innovations and criticizes the lack of government policies to drive a transition, noting that existing subsidies often support intensive farming. It recommends shifting subsidies, implementing meat taxes, and updating dietary guidelines to promote sustainable, low-emission food systems.
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Document type: Report
CATF Statement on EPA NSPS Methane Proposal
The Clean Air Task Force strongly opposes the EPA's proposal to weaken methane leak detection and repair standards for the oil and gas industry, arguing that such rollbacks will increase emissions of methane and volatile organic compounds (VOCs), harming public health and the climate.
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Document type: Statement
Growing the green economy – in your back garden
The guide outlines how urban gardens in the UK can mitigate the urban heat island effect, reduce energy consumption, and lower carbon footprints through strategic planting, water conservation, composting, and home-grown food production.
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Document type: Guide
Comments on AER DRAFT Directive 060: Upstream Petroleum Industry Flaring, Incinerating, and Venting and Directive 017: Measurement Requirements for Oil and Gas Operations
The Canadian Association of Physicians for the Environment (CAPE) submitted comments on May 27, 2018, regarding the Alberta Energy Regulator's (AER) Draft Directive 060 and Directive 017. CAPE argues that Alberta's proposed methane regulations are generally less stringent and less enforceable than federal regulations, potentially leading to higher emissions and associated public health risks from co-pollutants.
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Document type: Statement
UrbanCircle
The UrbanCircle project, an initiative by the Stockholm Environment Institute (SEI), focuses on transforming urban waste streams—including wastewater, excreta, and food waste—into valuable products like fertilisers, biogas, and dry fuels. Using the Naivasha sub-county in Kenya as an initial study site, the project employs a three-step process: inventorying waste and demand, co-developing future scenarios with stakeholders, and using the REVAMP (Resource Value Mapping) tool to estimate economic costs and benefits. The initiative argues that shifting from a linear to a circular economy can reduce environmental degradation, mitigate greenhouse gas emissions, and create new business opportunities for local entrepreneurs.
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Document type: Briefing
Joint NGO Statement on BLM Methane Rule Circuit Court Victory
A coalition of NGOs issued a statement following a U.S. District Court ruling that granted a preliminary injunction against the delay of the Bureau of Land Management's (BLM) methane waste rule. The court found that the BLM failed to follow legal requirements for agency rulemaking, relying on "opinions untethered to evidence" rather than reasoned analysis. The statement highlights that the 2016 rule requires oil and gas companies to reduce methane venting and flaring and perform leak detection and repair on federal public lands. The NGOs argue that allowing methane waste results in significant financial losses for taxpayers, public health risks from toxic pollutants like benzene, and increased climate emissions due to methane's potency as a greenhouse gas.
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Document type: Statement
CATF Statement on CTGs Rollback
The Clean Air Task Force (CATF) condemns the Trump Administration's move to roll back the EPA's October 2016 Control Techniques Guidelines (CTGs), which provided a framework for oil and gas companies to reduce smog-forming pollution in areas exceeding national limits and within the Ozone Transport Region. CATF argues that these guidelines are a "vital blueprint" for states to address dangerous emissions and that their removal harms vulnerable communities. The organization references its own 2016 report, "Gasping for Breath," which linked 750,000 annual childhood asthma attacks to oil and gas industry pollution, and pledges to oppose the proposal during the public comment period.
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Document type: Statement
CATF Statement on BLM Methane Rule Rollback
The Clean Air Task Force (CATF) has issued a statement opposing the Trump Administration's proposal to roll back the Bureau of Land Management's (BLM) 2016 Methane Waste Rule. The 2016 Rule aimed to reduce the venting and flaring of natural gas, primarily methane, on American public lands to protect public health, the environment, and U.S. Treasury revenue. CATF characterizes this proposal as part of a broader pattern of easing oversight for the oil and gas industry, noting previous failed attempts to repeal or delay the rule via the Congressional Review Act and unlawful administrative delays. The proposal is now entering a 60-day public comment period.
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Document type: Statement
What Americans Need to Hear from EPA Administrator Scott Pruitt
The Clean Air Task Force challenges EPA Administrator Scott Pruitt on the repeal of the Clean Power Plan, the suspension of methane New Source Performance Standards for the oil and gas industry, and the rollback of air toxics policies, arguing these actions contradict the EPA's mandate to protect public health and rely on scientific evidence.
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Document type: Statement
Achieving 1.5 degrees in the real world: Opportunities, barriers and trade-offs
The document argues that while the 1.5°C target is technically achievable, it is hindered by a lack of political will, insufficient institutional capacity in developing nations, and tensions between rapid decarbonisation and sustainable development goals. It highlights a significant investment gap, noting that the energy sector alone requires an additional $458 billion annually through 2030. The authors suggest that the traditional consensus-based international cooperation model is insufficient and advocate for 'coalitions of the willing' involving non-state actors and philanthropic support to build capacity in disadvantaged regions.
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Document type: Briefing
Surplus food from farms and firms onto forks
The report argues that redirecting surplus food—edible food that is not 'true waste'—can alleviate hunger for 13 million South Africans while providing cost savings and tax benefits to food firms. It highlights that 95% of food waste in South Africa occurs before the consumption stage, with agricultural production (26%), processing/packaging (25%), post-harvest handling (24%), and distribution/retail (20%) being the primary sources. The document details the environmental impact, noting that Food Forward's donation of 4,400 tonnes of food in 2017/8 avoided 17,400 tonnes of greenhouse gas emissions. It identifies barriers such as liability concerns and date labelling, while proposing solutions like 'Good Samaritan' legislation and the use of technology platforms like FoodShare to coordinate logistics.
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Document type: Report
INSIDER: The Climate Effect of the Trump Administration
The document analyzes the potential impact of the Trump administration's reversal of climate policies, such as the repeal of the Clean Power Plan, on U.S. emissions. It synthesizes data from seven organizations, estimating that 2025 emissions under Trump's policies would range from 5.6 to 6.8 GtCO2e, exceeding the U.S. Paris Agreement target. It also examines the potential for states, cities, and companies—represented by the 'We Are Still In' campaign—to offset these increases through clean energy transitions and local policy defense.
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Document type: Briefing
Bridging the Gap: The Role of Short-Lived Climate Pollutants
The document discusses the role of short-lived climate pollutants (SLCPs) in closing the 'emissions gap'—the difference between current Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) and the trajectories needed to keep global temperature rise below 2°C or 1.5°C. It identifies methane, tropospheric ozone, black carbon, and hydrofluorocarbons as primary targets for reduction, noting that while some strategies target single pollutants, most affect multiple. The text emphasizes that SLCP reductions, especially when combined with CO2 reductions, can limit long-term warming.
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Document type: Report